Design a Species

[Monroe]

So we had a design a starfleet ship earlier and I was thinking wouldn't it be awesome to design a species? Like every week we decide on something about them. Like first we could do classification (i.e. amphibian, mammal), then we could do genders, then we could do senses, and so forth. Eventually working our way up to culture of the species. Are they great warriors who cut off their own arms before going into battle like the Thaddash or they hide from every trouble imaginable like the Spathi.

So good idea? Yay or nay?

[Teaos]

I like the idea.

Something I learned while running the Battleship design project: Be careful what order you do things, decisions all ready made will effect future decisions and while it would be possible to go back and re do something things can become very messy then.

Think of all the sections you'd want to do then try to come up with some order that will be best for the project.

This idea if done well could produce a really interesting and unique species, not just another alien of the week.

Do you want to just design the species or decide things like where they are in space? How much space do they control? Tech level? Politics? Culture ect.

Could be really good.

[Tsukiyumi]

I also like this idea, and officially endorse this thread.

[Monroe]

I think it'd be cool to design tech level, amount of space owned, that kind of thing.

[Teaos]

Would be cool, I'd do that after the biological design process though as that would effect culture/tech ect.

[Tsukiyumi]

I'd start with the type of species, then what sort of tech they'd need (or be able to use), then the level of advancement, then how much territory, then ship types, etc.

Teaos - nice concurrent post.

[shran]

It'd be even better if someone noted all of this and used the gathered tech to create the species in say, Spore.

[Sionnach Glic]

I like the idea.

[Mikey]

I'll play in your sandbox, too.

[Monroe]

It'd be even better if someone noted all of this and used the gathered tech to create the species in say, Spore.

That's actually what gave me the idea. My brother got Spore for christmas and I've been wanting to steal it from him:P

[Mark]

I have a predetory, feline race coming to mind. An expansionist species, only about 50 or so years behind the major powers. Like the Hirogen, they hunt, kill, and eat they're prey. But every member of the society is in the "military", and they have a forced reproduction regimen. Each woman MUST have at least three cubs, or face being "re-consumed" as a failure by her family. They are quickly expanding and they're population and size are beginning be noticed by other powers.

More will be revealed.............can anybody help me with a name? Or have anything else to throw in the hat?

[Mikey]

Hmmm. I was thinking of something non-bipedal, perhaps a "floating" species like the artists' imaginings of what may live on gas giants. Something that isn't territorially aggressive toward UFP worlds, because they'd be useless to them for habitation, but may require them for mineral resources - or, that have motivations regarding territory or expansion which are completely incomprehensible to the UFP.

[Teaos]

I'm just going to wait for the poll, but I've always been a fan of aquatic species.

[Mikey]

The problem I see with that - not an insurmountable one, considering that this is fiction - is fire. It's notoriously hard to have fire underwater, and it seems to be kind of a prerequisite for technological advancement.

Like I said, it's probably not a deal-breaker considering this is fiction, but I'd like to see the explanation. If there is a good one, I'd like to see an aquatic species too.

[Captain Seafort]

It's notoriously hard to have fire underwater, and it seems to be kind of a prerequisite for technological advancement.

Not to mention the fact that fused limbs are much more effective when it comes to swimming - which means no opposable thumbs. I seem to remember having a similar debate once before...