 June 10, 2015 - 7:15pm | In Polyhedron #9 "Encounters" by Zeb Cook the pre-gen character is a minor member of PGCs Artifact Research and Development Team (he's an assistent xenopologist- whatever that is). As names go this one is not too catchy but ARDT could be turned to "Arties" or "Ardies" as a slang name. In Polyhedron #18 "Layover at Lossend" we're introduced to two pre-gen characters who belong to PGC's Scout and Exploration Team or SET naturally there would be some rivalry between the two groups and even some mixing. Also Galactic Taskforce mercenaries would back them up as needed. Arties would be easy to cast in the role of archeaologist in the vein of Beloq from Indiana Jones- little to no ethics just get the prize. They are well paid and have to sign non disclosure aggreements meaning they can be sued if they reveal things PGC does not want revealed like the fact that PGC has aquired X, Y or Z SETters is a modelled on a more classic scientific team and they mostly dont like being associated with the Arties. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 June 15, 2015 - 7:14pm | Oh the politics of science, archeology, and exploration... could be real good background info that adds depth, and storyline issues. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
June 15, 2015 - 7:53pm | I love the politics of science- astonomers are barred from recieving the Nobel prize because Nobel's wife had an affair with one- they sneak the prise to an astoronomer but for "advances in the field of physics". Now that's politics. I'm not seeing much in the way of content for this other than short write ups similar to those on cadres in Zebs. At best you could fluff it up with Organization patches/crests Could use a few good ideas to flesh out the above. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
June 16, 2015 - 5:18am | It would be more of something a ref to use to create motivation for NPCs behaviors and thus PCs to react to. Yeah Scientists try to act all above politics, all pristine motives for lady science & knowledge, such a load of bull... I have read some real political BS over the years in several fields, hell they will even destroy archeological sites hide artifacts if it goes against the PC in theory, I know about fake studies no data ever actually collected, or cooked data in several "hard" and "soft" fields... bad studies really piss me off as the media usually promotes them. Fake science for $, fame or politics makes me very annoyed. I love Science even if I don't have a degree, I hate seeing it misused. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
June 19, 2015 - 5:01am | "Science Goes to War" is a very good read and documents 6000 years of science and military advancement going hand in hand despite the modern myth that soldiers are evil and scientist are good , thank-you Hollywood. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
June 19, 2015 - 10:43am | Yeah the myth of the pure scientist, governments and big business fund the studies and usually they have agendas that are not always fluffy. I think Comic Books nail the truth of science better, there are an awful lot of real bad guys with Phd's in comic books... and having dealt with one too many egotistical jack ass I can safely say some folks don't care about the end game of what they do as long as they make a buck, get an award and have their ego stroked. I have met a lot of what I call functional sociopaths in my life time, yeah they are not going to go all mass murderer on you directly, but they are okay with any harm they cause others as long as it benefits them. "Never fire a laser at a mirror." |
