 November 2, 2014 - 1:45pm | Wild, Wild Planet is a real B-rate film but has potential... Lots of what I call classic sci-fi set elements that work with SF. Space cars, fashions, and model city sets. Some plot elements: Bio-medicine funded by "the corporations", is growing organs of humans in space on Gamma 1 space station, they also can miniaturize these organs. People are going missing on Earth (U.D. = United Democracies) who are important. There is a conflict of opinion between the working class astronauts & the scientists about all the creepy organ growing & extending life or improving yourself with the GM organs. Nature vs Science theme. "The corporations" seem to be a group of different companies all experimenting and working out in space. One company is CBM (Chem-Bio-Med). The structure of this group of "corporations" seems to be a "director general" as a sort of President over them all with each company being represented by it's "board of governors" an investigation into a company requires the approval of the director general & that company's board of governors, however if it is determined something improper is going on all companies must completely cooperate together and with the U.D. authorities (including Space Command). They seem to be using a quasi-government structure. There is of course a top secret mysterious research facility/planet Delphus owned & run collectively by "the corporations"... in which the perfect specimen female goes to holiday at the invite of a scientist. Delphus is a barren rock of a planet (arid), low light, but breathable atmosphere. Basically "the corporations" are funding a scientific research that is to help humanity, but is actually being used by rogue scientists to create a new kind of mankind. A perfect mankind. They have created perfect people and mutants by abducting "superior specimens" (both high IQ people & athletes) regardless of age (yes gifted children are vanishing) and the shipping them to Delphus. (Delphus has a moon... which is used to determine time somehow). The mutants absorb/shrink the person who is then put in mini-life support and shipped back to Delphus unshrunk and experimented on... seems a bit of a stretch for SF the miniaturization part... but absorbing the DNA of another to collect them might not be (of course anyone who sees this including children are murdered, a mutant operative who fails is killed by other control operatives, some people appear to also to be absorbed to assassinate them.) The device used to kill by operatives that are the female controllers is a poison stabbing pen they wear, that causes the mutant male looking operatives bodies to disintegrate. The end goal is a neither female or male perfect humans that are created by merging two people of opposite genders. The male mutants are bald and have 4 arms, may be light sensitive, they are cat eyed and always wear sun glasses, the extra grafted on arms which are smaller and have hands that have metallic looking clawish nails that do the absorbing somehow. The female operatives are all beauty, brains & deadly: very capable in hand to hand combat & capable of taking on a trained normal male human and winning the combat, but like the mutants will disintegrate if stabbed with their deadly pen. The female operatives escort the mutant males. People from Delphus (such as the Mutants are shipped in company boxes on life support). Regular looking males & females from/on Delphus are conditioned, enhanced humans, and may also be normal humans either conditioned or part of the conspiracy to make a perfect society & race. Any human not found to be useful in this project is "eliminated" as useless therefore if a normal subject is tested and found inadequate they are terminated. Of course getting used, is also a death sentence, but some part of your DNA lives on in some fashion in the perfected humans. If you are a perfected single gender human and make a mistake you are taken to "rejection"... that does not sound good. Best multiple question test/rant by the mad scientist ever with comeback potential: "How can this be commander? Is this the doing of a mad scientist? Black Magic or Mumbo Jumbo? A nightmare? Nothing of the sort. This is the application of fact, facts beyond your kin." The hero is a bit dense so no obvious come back, but if you could have a mad scientist gloat this to a party, I am sure people would have smart funny responses.  Products advertised on Earth: Computer-doll a talking doll "that are never naughty, and they never talk back, and recommended by the educational council, computer-dolls make excellent companions" NewFace: "from the Martian Sea, it's a new life with New Face, and ... for women. A CBM product" (seems to be a product for men's faces as the male advertiser is putting something on his face, to be more attractive to women) Facial Serenity: "a tissue stimulate,... a CBM product" (female advertiser had some sort of green thing, it does not look like a gizmo, more like a creature with to antenna with round eyes at end... could be an alien or GMO plant too? What ever it is it sounds like it is probably a beauty aide) Newspapers still occur, and books are all white with titles in black lettering. Delphus City a Great Place for Vacation: Showers appear to produce blood instead of water. Scraps of people are liquified and used as part of the bio-liquid systems around the city, showers, reflecting pools, etc. The mediative mirror room: purpose to reflect image into infinity, which is symbolic of the perfected human race will reflect into the future across the cosmos. The mad scientist has a failure room where he keeps his surviving failures of mutant, graph and conditioning experiments alive. The Delphus Computer controls the city/facility. All sorts of mad scientist torture, brain washing, and body part rooms and gizmos. Cultural Customs: "The Great Moment" when 2 people are fussed into One. Anyway all the old style sets are fun and the story line I thought had some potential... maybe Delphus is a colony gone wrong, or Delphians survived and are now way out in space and discover Frontier Humans and decide to start improving the Frontier Humans... or maybe a rogue mad scientist & friends of a corporation have hit on this idea for some reason or other... maybe a Frontier ships discovers Delphus Culture and at first everyone thinks they are a new race of aliens that look human like, until they realize the truth & how much danger they are in. The final Delphian end product might be bi-sexual and all cat-eyed for instance, so could look very alien. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
 November 15, 2014 - 10:09pm | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB3SszYjEmA Hell, this preview is better than most modern movie previews. I think I will have to check it out!! Time flies when your having rum. Im a government employee, I dont goof-off. I constructively abuse my time. |
November 16, 2014 - 7:50am | Have fun it is classic old school bad sci-fi. But I really believe it could be tweaked for an adventure, corporate intrigue and an abattoir planet to vacation on... muw wah ha ha... if as a stand alone culture the Delphians could be very dangerous & devious after all they have a mission to perfect mankind & human society... naturally as a ref you could tweak the Delphians a variety of mutant, graphed, cyborg, gmo, and implant ways... Delphus just sounds like a SF human colony, so name wise it just fits. I like the theater "Butterfly" dance too, I could see that being performed on a regular Frontier world. CBM is so going to become a real company in my space as I really like their name... Chem-Bio-Med a major medical company. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
 November 16, 2014 - 9:57am | It looks on par, visually, with "the Shape of Things To Come" I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 19, 2015 - 11:43am | I had a few moments of contemplation today. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
 March 19, 2015 - 4:39pm | Heh, yes this one (and the three other movies in the series, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild,_Wild_Planet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Margheriti, "The Gamma One" series) along with "Battle in Outer Space" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_in_Outer_Space) and "The Green Slime" (which oddly enough wikipedia says is actually the FIFTH in the Gamma One series, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Slime) all were heavy influances to my SF universe Randy |
March 19, 2015 - 6:15pm | Yes the classics... Now I am thinking it is way to easy to turn them into the whole Space Nazi Cliche. So I am thinking something a bit different: Culturally these folks are descended from idealists that did not do the whole war, genocide, take over the planet thing, they just collected what they needed and left... now I am not saying they where moral or ethical per say just self righteous and off they went. In addition when looking at the film the driving personality in this cult of scientists kept his failures alive... but they were also not going to keep the melding outsiders alive after they proved useless DNA wise for the program, so as a culture they had no problem killing either. A bit off a paradox, but maybe not. The "failures" are part of the scientific process of experimentation, and each no doubt started out as a perfect specimen by the standards the scientists where using, thus in the minds of the elitists this are elites that have made great sacrifices voluntarily or forced for humanity, thus the new humanity has some responsibility towards them... also more practically you need to keep them around to study so you can improve the process and prevent such future failures. So the "failures" have scientific worth, which latter can be presented as much more to the descendants, brave martyrs and volunteers in the cause to save humanity... but a bunch of average flawed humans doomed to doom the survival of the species are not much use so to the recycling plant with them. Now flash forward to the future and you have a culture that discovers humanity is still alive and shock and horror technologically advanced. Well how do you process that scientifically and philosophically... go all Nazi? Maybe not, Delphusians are scientists at their core, they are first going to want to study the scrappy unevolved humans (as testament to the human spirit or to discover how natural selection is working out or what ever), and after all this means there must be exceptional humans in the surviving pool of normal unevolved humans that maybe are worthy of the process of scientifically enhanced evolution. Also philosophically the job of the Delphusians is to preserve humanity and imporve it and adapt it for the future and space... and here is humanity, not perfected of course, but they could be perfected and lifted-up to the benefit of humanity's continued future and is it not the duty of all Delphusians to continue the work of the founders to save & preserve the best of humanity for their future in space? So Delphusians though annoying, elitists, arrogant, condescending, egotistical, racist and intellectually rude folks may not actually be interested in genocide or galactic conquest... they will however want scientific samples for their studies (you know healthy subjects of humans possessing qualities they deem worthy). They will want to confirm the subjects are indeed human. They will want to study how the various human cultures have adapted to space and how evolved they are towards social perfection. They will want human and non-human technology. They may want to in fact present themselves as an alien species to normal humans so they can better infiltrate and study the old type humans... after all it will be easier to manipulate, guide and abduct people if they don't know you have a huge hidden agenda from the get go. Besides maybe Delphus needs some fresh blood in the breeding program... every biologist knows bio-diversity is good for a species. This brings up the physical body structures in the movie... we never see the final product because of the meddling heroes, but we can take some guesses: One it is the combination of a perfect male & female. We see lots of men and women, and the clone grafted collector dudes, we also get shown the scraps (body parts not used). So I am guessing the finished product has both male & female qualities... they did show a picture of mad scientist #1 was 1/2 his face & 1/2 his chosen girl's face, this would imply a whole body like that, not very practical when you get to the gender parts. So I was thinking something more along the lines of Human Hermaphrodites. Now interestingly when these first perfected persons where created it is a permanent genetic grafting and psychological marriage... after which if you think about it the custom of marriage would be pretty unneeded on either a spiritual level or a contract social level. So no marriage as that is an out dated custom, but of course they have friends some sort of "family" (not sure what that will be per say) and social standing. Reproduction I am thinking is all science, I mean why would you leave the future of humanity to messy mutable unpredictable genetic dice rolls of nature as a Delpusian... no way. I am not sure if they get pregos or if they grow the new generation in a tube or just clone their perfection, I am still musing on this... different methods have their pros and cons of course, but making babies the old fashion way is probably barbaric and illogical. Thoughts on these crazy guys welcome... "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
 March 20, 2015 - 10:38am | Only caught the end of Wild Wild Planet. Seen the sequel War of the Planets, which was pretty good for a laugh. War of the Planets involves the same heroes from Wild Wild Planet, only this time alien entities are possessing humans and want to take up residence on Earth, by possessing every one. Those that don't submit are disposed of, short term they are killed. Not quite as controversial as Wild Wild Planet. You should also realize that's a young Franco Nero (the original Dijango) in those movies. In every age, in every place, the deeds of men remain the same. |
March 21, 2015 - 3:48pm | @ tchklinza: the Alexandrians had a law that all ships arriving in port were searched and all documenta/scrolls/books were taken and copied and added to the library of Alexandria and the original was then returned to its owner. (BTW there were 2 libraries- the public one with estimated 10,000 volumes and the royal one with estimated 40,000 volumes IIRC). So your delphians could do something similar. Searching all arriving ships dowbloanding data bases and confiscating examples of tech for study. Their law gives them a limited period of time to examine and return tech items but if you rocket out pf system before its returned it becomes property of the state . I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 21, 2015 - 5:30pm | I like that idea. I figure these guys will be my next write up... a devious bunch of humanoid/humans, the best part is superior normal humans (PCS) could end up getting recruited, brainwashed "attuned" to the new culture and a merging partner chosen for them from Delphus DNA Human Ark... "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 22, 2015 - 3:31am | my gut reaction says NPC for your delphians as they should have higher stats to reflect the genetic manipulation of their background but then I started thinking about the racial ability score mods and I had this idea: 1. roll ability scores and arrange them in order 2. +20 to both sides of an ability pair (any pair 3. -20 from both PER and LDR abilities 4. players may then shift up to 10 points between abiltiy pairs as per the rules The Delphians can bread/ genetically modify for individuals with high STR/STA or high DEX/RS or high LOG/INT but their racial arrogance has the impact of giving them lower PER/LDR At some point in their history they recognized the impact of the lack of LDR and began attempting to deal with that in the same way they did for all the other abilities. If a delphian was bread for leadership then they roll and arrange abilities in order and simply -10 to PER because they are arrogant bastards anyway. The player may then shift up to 10 points within an ability pair as per the rules. Second Idea- no rolling up of ability scores- normal conception is abhorent since its effectively rolling the dice. Delphians have developed specific genetic lines and the player must pick one of these ability profiles. There is a profile with high STR/STA, another with high DEX/RS and another with high LOG/INT and etc for PER/LDR which again should have PER handicapped while LDR is only slightly enhanced. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 22, 2015 - 10:35am | Those are both great ideas. I had mostly been mulling the Delphusians over as NPCs too: There really are two ways Normal Humans are going to respond to being "recruited" either positively or negatively. I figured most established PCs will respond negatively so if they are "recruited" the Delphusians will probably have a specific plan as to what lines and purpose the PC's abilities will enhance. I really had not considered the Delphusians as PCs or an established PC wanting to become Delphusian, but it is an absolutely valid choice for a player and gives a ref a system for merging/changing an established Human NPC. I figure they are STL, but have been busy colonizing & developed their system when they have first contact with whom ever. Ideas welcome on System. In the movie Delphus appears to be a moon, but what sort of planet it is orbiting is never discussed. How about Nova Delphi for their capitol city's name or just Delphi? Based on the movie their main "planet" is lower light than Terra/Space Human HW, but they maintained normal Earth type light conditions in their buildings and gravity appears similar. So I figure their eyes might look normal but by now have been adapted so they function equally well in both light conditions. I also am thinking their stats will be naturally above average because of all the DNA tinkering and DNA guidance plans. The more I thought about their breeding habits the more I think they will fall into the test-tube crowd and consider normal human matting fowl and an act of animalism. This also allows for the introduction into their society of interesting tech, such as pleasure balls or rings, the need to get a license for reproduction/clone or be honored with being chosen to be allowed to be reproduce/clone. Also any Delphusian who becomes naturally pregnant will have probably committed a crime or at least be highly stigmatized, and their child if allowed to live will be stigmatized as well as they are "disadvantaged" from conception. "Only savages breed through copulation" would be their point of view. In fact after discovering they are not alone, not the only "humans" this will define & prove to themselves they are civilized and superior regardless of tech level advantage the "savages" have. In the movie they have what looks like a very rigid society in it's infancy forming, so I am thinking this will have continued... perfection within some sort of margin is what they are going for, individuals that do not meet "perfection" (for game play we should probably think some sort of expected standards) go to "rejection", which does not sound good for the individual. This could be a reason though for some Delphusians to leave Delphus space forever... running from "rejection". Delphus authorities might be all Logan's Run about this as from their point of view if a rejected individual ever makes babies they could destroy generations of work to save the species not to mention undermine their society into regression, barbarism & chaos. The society as a whole would see "runners" as anti-social and mentally ill of course, and would present them as a threat to other races they dealt with. Re-education and Re-socialization techniques are probably also employed by this culture and would have been necessary to achieve their society in the beginning and are probably highly developed by now in their society. Keep in mind individuals abducted in the movie go through a process of testing, being "attuned" and being "prepared" that clearly effects their minds, will power, and ability to mentally & physically resist becoming merged. The heroes in the film are rejected right away and so no one is waisting anymore time, energy and resources on prepping them for their new role in the new society. I noticed various gasses where popular in the film as well. Social Engineering will be very important to these folks. I doubt they will have a religion per say, they probably will be atheists. Science & Law are their religion. Law will be very important to them, for the sake of order and civilization... just 'cause your lawful that don't make you good. As a race & society they will be overall inclined to follow their laws just or unjust, ethical or unethical. I like the idea of creating lines of Delphusians that are naturally more gifted or prepared for certain fields of endeavor on top of a base Delphusian minimum standard or within the standard. Maybe an idea or two can be borrowed from Divergent, it would make sense they would test their youth to see what their natural tendencies & potentials are to make sure they are properly maximizing an individuals talents and harmoniously merging them with society for the maximum efficiency and societies needs and the individuals happiness. Some ideas from Divergent would be a good fit for their society, along with ideas from some other highly structured societies in sci-fi. Unlike Divergent though I do not think they would freak out if a youth showed themselves to be exceptional in all areas tested, as this a natural result of good racial engineering form their point of view. I can see some sort of coming of age ceremony where they join the part of society they tested best for. I definitely think I need to work on the significance of the room of mirrors in their society, as it is a room of reflection of humanity lasting forever, and going forth to the stars. And clearly a part of the founders philosophy expressed symbolically. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 22, 2015 - 9:33pm | Okay here is the First Draft in progress: I included your ideas jedion, I have not worked up any specific "lines" yet... but this is the first draft of various ideas: Delphusians: Physical Structure: The
Delphusians are a genetically engineered race of Space Humans. They appear as
very attractive, graceful and youthful looking Humans. They are Hermaphrodites
and are XXXY genetically. They never grow facial hair have small to moderately
sized breasts and many can pass for very attractive female humans with
unusually high strength. They also posses combined genitalia of both male and
female qualities. They will often disguise themselves as female normal humans
in human space. Delphusians can appear just like a normal human in skin, eye
and hair color or have a mix of features that are unusual for a normal human,
such as two different colored eyes or mixed colored eyes, eyes also come in a
variety of exotic colors, hair can be striped in two different natural colors,
and may have different human skin tone colors mixed usually in a checkered
pattern. Delphusians appear not to
age the same as other humans and appear youthful until the last 10 years of
their lives in which they rapidly age.
Average
Size: 1.9 m tall Average
Mass: 55 kg Average
Lifespan: 250 years Reproduction:
Cloning and Genetic Engendering Body
Temperature: 37 C
Senses:
The
planet that the Dlphusians where scientifically evolved on through genetic
engineering has naturally lower light conditions and as a result the
Delphusians can see in dim light far better than a normal human but are not
affected by normal lighting conditions in a negative way either.
Speech:
Delphusians
are capable of speaking any language a normal human can. Delphusians speak
their own language which is heavily influenced by ancient Greek, ancient Latin,
and scientific terminology.
Society And Customs:
Delphusians do not marry. Marriage is an outdated social construct
that was necessary for their "primitive and savage" ancestors but they as a
society have evolved beyond the need of marriage. Physical copulation is
abhorrent to this society and an aberration. Reproduction is achieved by using an
advanced combination of cloning, grafting and genetic engineering. All
Delphusians must either request and be granted a Genesis License for
reproduction rights or the must be honored with being chosen reproduction by
the Reproduction Council. A Delphusian that manages to give birth or become pregnant
has committed both a major social breach in excepted behavior and committed a
crime. Such individuals will be stigmatized even if the individual is cleared
of any wrong doing or anti-social tendencies, if not cleared they may be deemed
"rejection" (see below), and if a viable child brought to term even if
genetically sound by Delphusian standards will be considered "disadvantaged"
and always experience some level of prejudice within that society.
Children
are typically raised by their parent with the help of their communal group,
government socializers, government nurseries and schools. Child parent groups
can vary in size from 1 parent 1 child to up to 3 children of different ages.
Delphusians
live in small flexible communal groups of 3 to 5 adults and their children. A
Delphusians that choose to live alone or only in groups of two are considered
to be developing anti-social tendencies and are in need of help or intervention
from their friends, colleagues or government health professionals. Delphusians
who leave a group because of strife will have to seek counseling in most cases
before another group will accept them.
Delphusians
as a society are concerned with achieving perfection and harmony in all
ways. Delphusian society is highly
structured with all individuals going through an extensive, testing and
evaluation process throughout their lives. Children start being socialized and
evaluated for their perfect profession and harmonious integration into adult
society from conception in the test-tube. Delphusians do not see this as
limiting an individual but maximizing an individuals true potential in society.
The Delphusian Coming of Age ceremony called the "Qoui" is a community event in
which after thorourgh testing and evaluation the youth is advised of which
professional group or groups they are the best match for. Those individuals
that come up equally talented are encouraged to choose their passion. At the "Qoui" ceremony each individual
than announces its choice of profession, it is very rare for a youth not to
choose the recommended professional group.
Delphusians
society emphasizes pasifiism, law-abiding behavior, cooperation and harmony.
The culture and government is communist in nature. (Note the government is
actively encouraging trade with other space faring cultures and seems to be
very adept at making a profit.) The average Delphusian believes the individual
lives to perfect, preserve, and improve society and the human race. They are
not by nature a violent race but they are arrogant believing they are the best
of humanity. This is culture is atheist and that believe there is no
intellengance greater than that of the human mind and spirit, however they do
have many symbolic rituals or traditions that support community, cultural
preservation and biological responsibility. An example of this symbolism is the
"Naos". The Naos is a room or building that has mirrors that reflect the image
of an individual infinitely into eternity, larger facilities will also have an
eternal flame in the Naos or connected with the Naos. All large facilities,
community housing buildings and large ships will have a Naos chapel in them and
major cities will have buildings with grounds dedicated to meditation and
reflection. Many visiting aliens that have seen these Naos Templum call the
Mirrored Temples of Delphus some of the most beautiful sacred places they have
ever seen. Such "temples" often include reflecting pools, major works of art,
peaceful parks, use of abstract light reflection inside and outside. The mirror and the flame are
significant symbols to all Delphusians and are used in their mediatations and
community events. Delphusian
society puts a high social standard on being youthful, physically fit and
mentally fit. When a Delphusian begins to show the signs of aging, they retire,
enjoy life for a bit, put their affairs in order and usually have a "reunion"
ceremony in which friends and community gather. This is a festive occasion in
which the person's life and achievements are celebrated and at the end the
aging Delphusian is self euthanized and is cremated. Delphusians feel this is a dignified death with meaning.
A
Delphusian that fails to meet their societies standards is sent to "rejection".
Delphusian society will first try and help the individual through therapy
physical and mental, re-education, re-socialization and re-programming. However
if it becomes apparent the individual is not meeting the cultural expectations
and standards despite intervention they will be considered to be beyond hope and
a negative influence to the harmony of society; at no fault of their own of
course; however the consequences are still deadly. The Delphusians do not
consider this execution but euthanasia and a humane act of kindness, mercy and
dignity to put the terminally genetically flawed individual out of their
misery.
One
consequence of the impact of alien races and the discovery that humanity has
managed to survive and advance despite their flaws is some Delphusians have
begun trying to escape or question "rejection" by becoming "runners" or helping
"runners" escape. This is not considered socially responsible or sane behavior
by the average Delphusian. Such individuals are believed to be in great pain,
mentally confused and extremely dangerous by the average citizen. The
Delphusian government considers every "runner" to be highly dangerous to the
harmony of society, the long term biological viability of Delphusian human
race, and of course their authority. The Delphusian government will pursue
"runners" telling other governments that they are trying to bring a
psychologically unstable, ill citizen that is criminally insane citizen home
for treatment.
History:
Delphusians where founded by a group of idealists and scientists
who believed that humanity's end was near just as humanity had started to
actively colonize their home system. These founding intellectual elite where
convinced that mankind's progress, evolution and survival was in peril from
humanity it's self. The Doom's Day Clock was ever ticking closer to mankind's
demise. They believed that humanity either through stupidity, greed, and
religion or over population of the genetically flawed would destroy itself. As
a result of this belief a clandestine plan and conspiracy was put into motion
to save the best of humanity both biologically and culturally, the Delphi Cult
was born. Members of this cult began infiltrating companies that had many
interests in space and in scientific fields. The movement began identifying
"subjects" of all ages and professions that showed talent and where
exceptional, these individuals where tracked, and every aspect of their lives
studied including medical. Like minded individuals with similar world views
that humanity was doomed unless the superior minded and superiorly socially responsible
people did something where recruited to the cult and placed into key positions,
this gave this cult unprecedented access to resources both around the globe and
in space. Finally by recruiting top scientist into one specific human mega
corporation involved with chemical, biological, and medical technology the cult
was able to harness the power of greed through breakthroughs in medicine that
translated to huge profits all from research on a space station. The company
eager for even larger profits was easily persuaded into investing into a
research colony on a planet outside of the home system. With the colony
approved the Delphi Cult went into action abducting people and putting them into
cryogenic hibernation under a false name in a fake program unrelated to the
colony or company funding the colony, but of course these poor people were
latter put on the completed colony ship. Thus some colonists where willing cult
members while others where abducted. Naturally anyone who threatened the plan had
a tragic life ending accident /suicide or if they might supply a
skill/best of ability/good DNA that the Delphi Cult wanted they simply
went missing. In addition the cult took huge amounts of the human home world's
flora and fauna life as the Cult believed more than likely humanity would also
destroy all life on the planet. The Cult collected and a massed as much
scientific and cultural information it could that the Cult's head founders
thought was the best of humanities labors. They did this all carefully so that
when they launched CS Deucalion for the sponsor company's planet of choice no
one knew they had other plans. Once launched the ship set course not for that
planet of choice but a secret location far, far, far away and was never heard
from by the rest of humanity again until an exploration ship trying to map and
chart a previously uninvestigated system discovered this isolated culture.
The
scientists in charge of the Cult truly believed they were saving humanity from
extinction. Thus they set out to create the next step in human physical and
social evolution and save it by creating the perfected evolved human race and
perfected human society on Delphus.
Attitudes:
Delphusians;
until discovering humanity; in it's unevolved natural form was still alive and
well; believed they where the only surviving humans in the universe. The
results of discovering "unevolved humans" still exist has had consueceunces for
them and the civilizations around them. The Delphusian psychology is one of
elite superiority and they had to come to terms with the fact that they are
technologically behind not just alien races but "savage humans". Their
government has done this by emphasizing that they as a society have been
working to achieve biological perfection and social perfection first and now
they are ready to bring humanty's spirit to other endeavors. Culturally as the
Delphusians see themselves as preservers and saviors of humanity ideologically
they are not interested in the destruction of other humans, but rather in the preservation,
improvement and the future of the species. Thus the Delphusian mindset is to be
impressed with the scrappy survival of the "gegenes" (earth-born) but they are
distressed that they are still living as "savages". They have come to believe
that some of the "barbarians" can be uplifted from the state of "autochthones"
(indigenous barbarian tribes) or "ouranogenes" (space faring unevolved humans
or races) to the evolved form of human "autoastrones" (born of the stars,
evolved race) for the good of humanity's future.
The
government is highly interested in aquiring both alien and human technology.
They are very keen to study all things human but are also interested in knowing
about the other "barbarians". Any space craft that arrives in their space is
subject to being searched and all downloadable databases copied and new
technology confiscated for study, technology will be returned but by Delphusian
law it can be held for up to one month. It is also law that if the owner of the
technology leaves their space before the state returns them the items become
property of the state.
Delphusians
though annoying, elitists, arrogant, condescending, egotistical, racist and
intellectually rude by most other races standards and especially by normal
human standards are not actually interested in genocide or galactic conquest.
They are however devious, manipulative, believe the end justifies the means,
and are highly motivated to catch-up with the "savages".
Creating
A Delphusian:
The
Great Merging is the term used for the birth of the Delphusian race of humans
and an actual creation of an XXXY human by merging the complete DNA of an XX
and an XY humans into one being. The Delphusian government maintains several
redundant highly guarded and secure DNA banks of all original normal humans
used in the creation of the race and of various combinations and lines of XXXY
individuals. Modernly that most
common method for creating a child is take the XXXY parents DNA and recombine
it with DNA from another XXXY by highly trained genetic engineers to produce
another exceptional individual. With the discovery of the survival of the
primitive humans the Delphusian government has begun launching what they
consider a rescue mission to help the rest of humanity, they are currently
collecting DNA and occasionally "subjects" of normal humans they consider to be
exceptional in the hopes of "up-lifting" these poor wretched survivors and
adding and preserving their exceptionalness in the Delphusian race. Delphusian
DNA banks are also it turns out in need of fresh normal human DNA as the
extensive generational cloning before it was perfected has resulted in some
degeneration of the original stock.
Methods
for creating a PC or NPC:
Roll
them up:
1.
Roll the ability scores and arrange them in order
2.
+20 to both sides of an ability pair (any pair
3.
-20 from both PER and LDR abilities
4.
Players may then shift up to 10 points between ability pairs as per the rules
The
Delphusians have genetically modified the race for individuals with high
STR/STA or high DEX/RS or high LOG/INT but their racial arrogance has the
impact of giving them lower PER/LDR
At
some point in their history they recognized the impact of the lack of LDR and
began attempting to deal with that in the same way they did for all the other
abilities. If a Delphusian is created for leadership then they roll and arrange
abilities in order and simply -10 to PER because they are still arrogant
bastards anyway. The player may then shift up to 10 points within an ability
pair as per the rules.
No
rolling up of ability scores:
As
normal conception is abhorrent since it's effectively rolling the genetic dice.
Delphusians have developed specific genetic lines and the player must pick one
of these ability profiles. There is a profile with high STR/STA, another with
high DEX/RS and another with high LOG/INT and etc for PER/LDR which again
should have PER handicapped while LDR is only slightly enhanced.
All
Delphusians have a minimum
STR/STA,
DEX/RS, LOG/INT, of 50 score, PER/DR base score of 30.
An
additional + 20 should be assigned to the skill ability set or the abilities
that are most advantageous to the Professional lines imagined for this race.
Then allow the player to roll 1d10, allows the player to assign these however
they want.
The
Great Merging:
A
normal exceptional human (the PC) is subjected to The Great Merging. In this
Scenario if the PC has been abducted and cannot make the Great Escape before
the Great Merging Ceremony their stats are to be added together with a
Delphusian Profession line that would be logical to the Delphusians. If the PC
is a willing participant in the Great Merging than allow the PC to choose the
line. The Genetic Engineers will then choose one of the founding normal human
DNA strands of that line or recombine appropriate DNA from or from the XXXY
bank to create the opposite gender of missing DNA and then using vary advanced
Genetic Therapies merge and transform the new DNA into the individual, creating
a new Hermaphrodite Human. Once this procedure is done it cannot be undone.
During this therapy the normal human is subjected to being attuned to the other
DNA, various social and psychological programming and conditioning.
Once
the abilities have been added together then divide the stats by two and round
up to get the new abilities with the exception of PER/LDR, which should be
rounded down. The new person will retain all their previous skills and
knowledge but now will have a different personality and be completely
socialized to think like a Delphusian.
SYSTEM
OF ORIGIN:
Star:
Solaris
Planets:
Apollus Melanthos Melanina
moon Kelaino Delphus
moons Castalia, Phemonoe, Celaenos
moon Pythis Laphrius Noutius
Delphus:
Capital
City is called Parnassus. Government
ruling body is called the Council of Delphi. The figurehead of the government
is called the Leader. The government is made up of many different types of
council all dedicated to social engineering and perfection in their various
duties, skills and areas of expertise.
The
Delphusians are currently only at STL level of space faring, but have
instituted several programs meant to get them caught up with their neighbors in
all areas of technology they have found themselves lacking in. Input welcome: "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 23, 2015 - 10:12am | I'm thinking NPCs and probable opposition for the PCs. Since they dont copulate physically you may wish to tone down the "both sets of genitals thing and leave it as hermaphrodite. you've pack into this one discription just about every touch stone that would bother and or offend theistic, semi-homophobic American who fall to the right of center socio-politically (like I do) and yet I'd very much like the Delphians for use as an alien culture in game. Good job (i think).  I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 23, 2015 - 8:10pm | Well the concept still needs polishing up, I agree on the tone down part. Sacred Cows this culture has slayed for all: No minority protection, because anyone not succeeding is killed. Affermative action & Special Needs don't exist as everyone who could use it are dead. Actively brainwashes people, no free will, so no free thinking, freedom of thought let alone free speech, no questioning authority. Executions & eugenic programs & suicide all okay No self determination except for a privileged few concerning your career choice. No choice on who you are one with for eternity... marriage is the symbolic act of two souls/people being bound together spiritually forever traditionally a XX & XY pairing... they have made it physical with the merging & there are no homosexuals either as there are no XXXX or XYXY folks... both heterosexual & homosexual cultures have been destroyed. Human rights? What human rights? Civil Rights? This culture has no concept of that. Human Trafficking for experimentation... call Amnesty International, as these guys have got to be in violation. No diversity in the culture, they would have no concept of multiculturalism. No traditional gender roles No religion Conformity is normal Rebellious attitudes bad I tried to spread the love in all directions of disturbing "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 24, 2015 - 4:15am | I tried to spread the love in all directions of disturbing I got that, and by slaying every sacred cow in sight you actually came up with something creepy good for a game master to use. So many angle there for conflict and these arrogant bastards would be like, "What's your problem?" Which if role played right might actually evoke an emotional reaction at the game table by a player which would be cool to see. I think as far as sacred cows go that things rooted in political theory or even religion are less sacred by degree than things that strike a cord close to homophobia. I know a lot of people who consider themselves accepting of homosexuality - "My cousin is gay, or I work with a gay" and etc but if someone of the same gender was to touch them in a suggestive way they react quite strongly. I think at its heart is an attitude of homosexuality maybe ok as long as its not linked to me. While we do have aliens in the game who are hermaphrodidic the fact that the Delphians are so human will likely trigger some of this same response and lead to a rejection of the species write up out of hand- and almost no interest in using one as a PC. However, I have to admire your including something in there to offend the sensibilities of damn near everyone. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 24, 2015 - 4:32am | Perhaps... I also am trying to explore bio & cultural diversity in the various species. The tech exists, isolation exists to create the right conditions for strange, weird, wacky societies. The Alien with-in each species. Now they did start as a NPC idea. But they are in draft mode. I actually was following various things people have proclaimed to me to their logical end if the tech existed to do so. Unfortunately my logic takes me places the psyche of many don't like. These guys are based on real people ideologies exaggerated of course and rolled up together and trying to stay away from Nazi cliche. I am really not trying to offend, but create interesting places & cultures for folks... but I can see your point. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 24, 2015 - 4:49am | I am really not trying to offend, but create interesting places & cultures for folks... but I can see your point. I dont think you're trying to offend I edited my previous post for more clarity. There is a difference between offending someone which is usually very personal and offending someone's sensibilities which is not personal. Art can be designed to offend sensibilities and spark dialog on a topic and this is a good thing though some might not agree (Salmon Rushdie and the price on his head shows that) I fall to the right of center politically, religeously and sexually and my sensibilities were reacting to the write up and yet I still like your work. There is a point where enough sacred cows were slain that I felt like your purpose was not to push an idea or philosophy but that the purpose was something else and I needed to relax and appreciate the Delphians like I enjoy my gay cousin and co-worker. I think your work is thorough and well thought out. I would love to see it pollished and submitted to the zine. In fact, if you did not provide plot seeds/hooks for using them I would work on writing up a half dozen to go along with your article. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 24, 2015 - 10:38am | I would love for you to come up with hooks & ideas for use: "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
 March 24, 2015 - 7:14pm | So I finally watched the movie. I think I may have seen this on TV way back in the early 70s. You have taken a concept from the movie and made it way more modern and creepy. I like this as a sinister villain NPC that looks fairer and feels fowler as Frodo would say. I think these guys should have faces that you can't quite peg as male or female. I like the previously mentioned physique of muscular but feminine (small breasts) but I would also say here that one would have to look twice and think, is this guy a male of female when watching the body. Of course nudity would be a dead give away, but their choice of clothes would be classical, attractive, and not give away the exact gender like a Normal Strain Human (NSH?) would. -iggy |
March 24, 2015 - 8:05pm | NSH does equal Normal Strain Human or Normal Space Human, basically same as PSH (Pure Strain Human). Sugar coated creepy sums them up... plus some of the best bad guys are the arrogant bastard types... old Q comes to mind, now these guys can't snap their fingers and make it so, but I bet you with the right mad scientist toy they could be a real problem for a few PCs or an escapade in hiding one would still be a jerk to their "savage" friends and because of totally different world view even a liabilty. So much fun to be had with this culture... you bet they want GODco tech and know how too... and how are they going to get an FTL ship when they have none? So much mayhem potential. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 25, 2015 - 9:34am | I started thinking about the types of Jobs these guys would be, and what their society would need or not need... Okay there will be cops/enforcers, civil ones and probably special spacer ones that are stationed with crews on ships and space stations... so probably a lot like the Sandmen cliche but also a fair number would be along the lines of Political Officers. The Zebs idea of explorer will not work... this culture has not been exploring, and they do everything in groups. They would have teams of specialists once they start poking around. Artists, they will total have those all medias including pleasure. Archeologist, xenobiolgists not so much... I am thinking they will have a special Preserver Group, that includes jobs like historian, teacher, librarian, archeologist, anthropology would be pretty much a dead job till finding more humans. Solcilizers: The people who make sure everyone is staying socialized... sort of a social worker, pschologist and sociologist all rolled into one. Builder/Labor Group: they make stuff Planners: Social bengeners "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 25, 2015 - 9:34am | I started thinking about the types of Jobs these guys would be, and what their society would need or not need... Okay there will be cops/enforcers, civil ones and probably special spacer ones that are stationed with crews on ships and space stations... so probably a lot like the Sandmen cliche but also a fair number would be along the lines of Political Officers. The Zebs idea of explorer will not work... this culture has not been exploring, and they do everything in groups. They would have teams of specialists once they start poking around. Artists, they will total have those all medias including pleasure. Archeologist, xenobiolgists not so much... I am thinking they will have a special Preserver Group, that includes jobs like historian, teacher, librarian, archeologist, anthropology would be pretty much a dead job till finding more humans. Solcilizers: The people who make sure everyone is staying socialized... sort of a social worker, pschologist and sociologist all rolled into one. Builder/Labor Group: they make stuff Planners: Social bengeners "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 25, 2015 - 6:12pm | Call the socializers councilors like Deanna Troy but with an evil bent cloaked in "I'm here to help." there is an angle there for irritating a player of even threatening a PC. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 25, 2015 - 7:48pm | Call the socializers councilors like Deanna Troy but with an evil bent cloaked in "I'm here to help." there is an angle there for irritating a player of even threatening a PC.
Good point "I'm here to help"... councilors I like. Right up there with "For the advancement of science and the good of humanity" line used to justify ever unethical, creepy, nasty, sneaky human experiment on helpless people who don't know or can't say no. Just for fun how would an intro like this sound: What's happening? Who are you? Hell-o-o! What subject? Do you mean me? Who are you people? Your here to help? What do you mean I need help? I am confused! Of course I am upset! I still don't know where I am and who the hell you people are or why I am strapped down? What is that!? Relax! Why are you measuring my ears? What do you mean they are asymmetrical but that can be compensated for considering my superior genetic advantages? Hello um I the subject is right here, if you are going to discuss me please talk to me! Your going to enhance me? No really I am okay, enhance does not sound so good to me... Well sure I wouldn't mind being a few inches taller but... Wait, wait, wait you've found my perfect match you guys are not going to marry me off! Slavery is illegal! Oh not slavery? Marriage is an out dated primitive social construct? Your going to solve my gender inequality issues? What are you people babbling about?! Did I just hear genetic manipulation? My DNA is just fine, I'm good really. The Great Merging? Hey now, no more drugs, let me go.. I don't want to be en...han...ced...o-r...mer...g... "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 26, 2015 - 5:00am | Well working on the "jobs" I have concluded the increases in abilities might not be in pairs at all: Here's what I am thinking so far, feed back folks: Enforcers:STA,DEX,
INT,RS Preservers: LOG, PER Councilors:
LOG,INT,PER Planners:
LOG,LDR, Leaders:LOG/INT,LDR/PER Artists:INT,DEX, PER Builders:STR,STA, Science
& Medical: LOG/INT Tech
LOG Not PER/LDR stats will nevr be great, just they need tweeking for the type of jobs "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 28, 2015 - 8:03am | Tweeking the roll up: What do you all think? Roll
them up: 1. Roll the ability scores and arrange them in order as follows. a)
The highest score must always be placed in the primary ability pair for the
Delphusian Class being created. b)
The lowest score must be placed in the pair listed as lowest for that Class. c)
Each Class has several lines if a line has a secondary ability pair the next
highest roll must be placed there.
2.
Players than add the 7 ability skill points that come with the Delphusian Class
divided between the primary ability pair as they see fit.
3.
All ability pairs get a +5 with the exception of PER/LDR which receives a -15.
Note PER/LDR can not be lowered below 30 in creation.
4.
Player adds 5 ability points to any one ability score.
5.
Player now may modify the ability scores by subtracting points from one ability
and adding them to the other ability in that pair. No more than 10 points can
be shifted this way and point shifting must not lower an ability below 50.
6.
Divide the character's Reaction Speed score by 10. Round up any fraction and
the result is the IM. 7.
Note the special ability of Night Vision.
8.
75% of Delphusians are Ambidexterius . So roll to determine handiness. If the
PC is not Ambidexterious than let player decide whether he is right or left
handed.
9.
Name the Delphusian.
10.
Credits
11.
Skills & Your Line "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 29, 2015 - 3:41pm | Working on the class/line ideas: Maybe no secondary APs are needed after all... each Primary Pair when paired with a different lowest ability Pair creates up to 3 lines/jobs plus by adding the specific Skill that enhances an ability pair for example then creates 12 possibilities. Thus with 4 ability enhancing skills that is 48 possibilities: Endurance Class: Zeb's Enforcer STR/STA primary, PER/LDR lowest, Endurance Skill. STR/STA primary, INT/LOG lowest, Endurance Skill. STR/STA primary, DEX/RS lowest, Endurance Skill. DEX/RS primary, INT/LOG lowest, Endurance Skill. DEX/RS primary, PER/LDR lowest, Endurance Skill. DEX/RS primary, STR/STA lowest, Endurance Skill. INT/LOG primary, DEX/RS lowest, Endurance skill. INT/LOG primary, PER/LDR lowest, Endurance skill. INT/LOG primary, STR/STA lowest, Endurance skill. PER/LDR primary, STR/STA lowest, Endurance skill. PER/LDR primary, INT/LOG lowest, Endurance skill. PER/LDR primary, DEX/RS lowest, Endurance skill. Agility Class: STR/STA primary, PER/LDR lowest, Agility Skill. STR/STA primary, INT/LOG lowest, Agility Skill. STR/STA primary, DEX/RS lowest, Agility Skill. DEX/RS primary, INT/LOG lowest, Agility Skill. DEX/RS primary, PER/LDR lowest, Agility Skill. DEX/RS primary, STR/STA lowest, Agility Skill. INT/LOG primary, DEX/RS lowest, Agility skill. INT/LOG primary, PER/LDR lowest, Agility skill. INT/LOG primary, STR/STA lowest, Agility skill. PER/LDR primary, STR/STA lowest, Agility skill. PER/LDR primary, INT/LOG lowest, Agility skill. PER/LDR primary, DEX/RS lowest, Agility skill. Charisma Class: STR/STA primary, PER/LDR lowest, Charisma Skill. STR/STA primary, INT/LOG lowest, Charisma Skill. STR/STA primary, DEX/RS lowest, Charisma Skill. DEX/RS primary, INT/LOG lowest, Charisma Skill. DEX/RS primary, PER/LDR lowest, Charisma Skill DEX/RS primary, STR/STA lowest, Charisma Skill INT/LOG primary, DEX/RS lowest, Charisma Skill INT/LOG primary, PER/LDR lowest, Charisma Skill INT/LOG primary, STR/STA lowest, Charisma Skill PER/LDR primary, STR/STA lowest, Charisma Skill PER/LDR primary, INT/LOG lowest, Charisma Skill PER/LDR primary, DEX/RS lowest, Charisma Skill Intelligence Class: STR/STA primary, PER/LDR lowest, Intelligence Skill. STR/STA primary, INT/LOG lowest, Intelligence Skill. STR/STA primary, DEX/RS lowest, Intelligence Skill. DEX/RS primary, INT/LOG lowest, Intelligence Skill. DEX/RS primary, PER/LDR lowest, Intelligence Skill DEX/RS primary, STR/STA lowest, Intelligence Skill INT/LOG primary, DEX/RS lowest, Intelligence Skill INT/LOG primary, PER/LDR lowest, Intelligence Skill INT/LOG primary, STR/STA lowest, Intelligence Skill PER/LDR primary, STR/STA lowest, Intelligence Skill PER/LDR primary, INT/LOG lowest, Intelligence Skill PER/LDR primary, DEX/RS lowest, Intelligence Skill So this is a lot of possibilities... now to actually assign jobs... I will need to think on this. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
March 30, 2015 - 5:35am | I don't follow that. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
March 30, 2015 - 9:20am | Well I started fooling around with how to set up the PC creation or even pre-done stats... So the above is just in the first stage, each "skill" is tied to an ability pair: The idea is the highest roll must go in the primary, & the lowest into the ability pair listed as lowest... next to figure out what sort of jobs would do best with this sort of system... In PC creation you would apply all the +/- that apply to the race of course. I borrowed the "skill" from Zeb's in Zeb's basically that is a skill that comes with the profession type... For instance I am thinking a counselor needs Charisma, high INT/LOG a decent PER/LDR (for this race something better than 30) but probably not so much DEX/RS or STR/STA. So now I got to start figuring out how to match at least some of these to jobs... I am thinking though "pre-made" people that are even more standard maybe take the NPC minimum and then add to the primary a specific amount to make NPCs... just another idea. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
