 November 14, 2011 - 2:46pm | With philosophy being a racial hobby there is the likelihood they'd have 100's if not a 1000 schools of philosophy. (Came across the reference to the Greek 100 schools and thought that the DRAL version would be 1000). I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
November 15, 2011 - 4:52am | Psychsorium the city of a 1000 stoa. Center of philosophical development on Terledrom, Fromeltar. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 November 24, 2011 - 6:51pm | NICE!!!  You made a 1000 Dralasites roll on the floor making whoopie cushion noises... everyday is a holiday in Psychsorium... no really, some days have seven or fifty-six... Oh humans!!  We discover a galactic community filled with multiple species of aliens, and the first thing we think about is "how can we have sex with them?".~ anymoose, somewhere on the net... so... if you square a square it becomes a cube... if you square a cube does it become an octoid? |
November 29, 2011 - 5:26am | The soul of Pyschsorium is the Forum. The Forum is a large open plaza dotted with fountains, art, cafes, shrubberies, and small market stalls. The oldest and most prestidgous stoa front the forum as well as the Library of Psychsorium. The forum is a place for debate. The commerce that goes on there is just a pretext, indeed much pretext goes on without actually any commerce happening. A stoa dedicated to the art of drawing in the customer arose in the past and its philosophy is focused on debate judo. Its practitioners are mostly cafe or market stall owners who are very good at posing questions and half questions to draw out the philosophy of a potential customer then using their judo like philosophy "throw" the customer. The winner wins the advantage in the commerce which results in either the stall owner lowering the price at a small percentage or the customer buying the pretext item at full price plus an up sell item "would you like batteries to go with that?" Cafe owners operate a little different. customers must buy before they will really engage them. Though recognized master debaters are prized customers that eat and drink free because their mere presence draws a crowd. Young dralasite philosophy students that are at the human level of senior in High school or Freshman in College begin to venture into the forum to have their debate skills sharpened. Knots of spetators will gather on the steps of the Library, by a fountain or on the steps of a stoa to witness great debators plying their craft and skill. Students listen and take notes for "coffee shop" debate among themselves later. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
November 29, 2011 - 5:54am | The Library is not so much a full library but more a library dedicated to one topic: Philosophy. It has small selections of other topics to round out its collection but its Philosophy section is on the order of 80% of the collection. The Librarians are all master debators that rose to prominence in their individual stoa. Offically they dont represent their stoa any more but unofficially they have still have their individual bias'. It's considered a great honor to be nominated to the ranks of Librarians (some are honorary librarians and remain at the head of their stoa). Despite their individual bias most of the librarians strive to remain neutral and will help young dralasites to find the monographs in the library that will best sharpen and challenge them in their particular school of philosophy. They are even quite adept at playing devils advocate even against their own heart felt beliefs. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
November 29, 2011 - 6:04am | The stoa masters and Librarians fulfill an important role in dralasite society: sort of an odd mix of master of ceremony, high priest, judge, and advisor. Often stoa masters and great debators are called on to arbitrate in matters but occasionally its deemed that the official neutrality of the Librarians is required and an odd number of them will be appointed to a panel. Any librarian with a past tie to a stoa involved in the dispute/debate is by custom expected to recuse himself from the panel. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
November 29, 2011 - 1:23pm | good stuff... there is so little information about the philosophy and mindset of the Dralasite, so much of what is available I feel over emphasises the comedy aspects... this is a very refreshing take, and I will need to take time absorbing it. All I have really ever been able to settle on about the psychology of a Dralasite, is "think and be motivated like an alien"... which just isn't much to go on in forming a philosophy. Oh humans!! We discover a galactic community filled with multiple species of aliens, and the first thing we think about is "how can we have sex with them?".~ anymoose, somewhere on the net... so... if you square a square it becomes a cube... if you square a cube does it become an octoid? |
November 29, 2011 - 4:56pm | I think Psychsorium should also have a hospital but perhaps with a dralasite twist. Need to keep in mind that this is very very much a dralasite city on a vrusk/dralasite planet. Its origin was as a dralasite community dedicated to a dralasite pursuit. There just was no reason for vrusk to be a part of this city; perhaps 5-15% vrusk in the total population of Psychsorium. BTW with a little bit more development and a map and this will get submitted to the zine as a location, perhaps with a mini adventure outline: Murder in Psychsorium. Toying with ideas for a murder mystery and a Malthar tie in. Comments welcome. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 December 1, 2011 - 12:23am | Thinking back to the SFman Dralasite Debate article the debates were held around circles and more traditionally tangle bowls. I have imagined that the seat of all Dralasite government is a great debate circle in a large round pillar supported dome. Here the debate and politics never end. -iggy |
December 1, 2011 - 8:37am | I don't view Psychsorium as a seat of government but as the seat of philosophical learning. To a certain degree the stoa masters and librarians occupy a position of influence and power but its more like that of a mideval bishop who advises the king. Well maybe not that much power but perhaps that much respect. However, the structure you described should be added to the city. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
December 2, 2011 - 11:24pm | Yes a similar structure but likely not as big as a government debate circle. It probably has different ornamentation or lines so as to make the two buildings be easily recognisable from a distance. That way dralasites know what the purpose of the debates in the building is. Your building will have a look that inspires education to a dralasite, mine would scream government. -iggy |
