Superpowered Worlds

[David Johnston]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

But science doesn't necessarily advance in certain fields just because we want it to. In fact, I could almost see it going the other way: early metals are so weak and useless that they abandon metalurgy altogether.

 

 

That could be true if the natives have resistant PD, although the use of even early metals for things like cooking utensils and wheels for their heavily loaded carts can't entirely be discounted. So, let's say they (typically) don't. That means they'll still want metal spear points to kill each other. Thinking about it, even if they have some resistant PD, a solid copper mace is still going to be tough enough to be useful for the common soldier.

[David Johnston]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

I'm thinking you couldn't pay me enough to be in charge of taxation and government on a world full of shapeshifters like the Skrulls or whatever Chameleon Boy's race is called. I guess anything we'd recognize as social order implies that the race themselves developped a way to tell each other apart; this might be useful for the heros if they can find out how...

 

OK, postulate a species of metamorphs. They can change their size within limited parameters, grow functional claws/horns/hooves and wings, and change their appearance to look like like any animal within their limits. They do probably need a sense by which they can identify each other since otherwise mating will be confusing. It's possible that they'd end up living in fairly small social groups and identify themselves with distinctive markings or emanations that remain consistent between forms, although it could be as simple as always speaking in the third person so they can be identified by dialogue.

 

Even more than the super-strong guys, though, their ability to develop tools from scratch is questionable. After all, they can manifest natural weapons and other simple tools to order. In order to get more advanced technology they might have to wait for obliging spacefarers to arrive and be copied.

[bigdamnhero]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

That could be true if the natives have resistant PD' date=' although the use of even early metals for things like cooking utensils and wheels for their heavily loaded carts can't entirely be discounted. So, let's say they (typically) don't. That means they'll still want metal spear points to kill each other. Thinking about it, even if they have some resistant PD, a solid copper mace is still going to be tough enough to be useful for the common soldier.[/quote']

I didn't think about cookware; good point. OK, so metalurgy probably wouldn't be abandoned altogether, but would develop differently. (Different how? Sorry, I'm too asleep today to be of much detailed help. )

 

OK, postulate a species of metamorphs. They can change their size within limited parameters, grow functional claws/horns/hooves and wings, and change their appearance to look like like any animal within their limits.

Even more than the super-strong guys, though, their ability to develop tools from scratch is questionable. After all, they can manifest natural weapons and other simple tools to order.

Well animal claws/horns/etc tend to have pretty limited penetration, so metal weapons would still be useful. But again I can see where technology might develp much more slowly on a world like this. Which doesn't really matter from a story perspective, as you can start the clock whenever you want; if technology developed half as fast as on Earth, you just say they've been around twice as long.

[transmetahuman]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

...although it could be as simple as always speaking in the third person so they can be identified by dialogue.

That's brilliant! Doesn't solve all the problems I was thinking of (requires the cooperation of the taxpayers, for example) but a really nice "bit" to add to a culture of shapeshifters. Repped!

 

Another thought I just had - if the shapeshifters are the only sapient species on their world, the ability to morph precisely enough to impersonate a specific animal/person wouldn't have much reason to evolve. Maybe if their reproductive method needs the help of other "mate-for-life" type spacies, or if the same mechanism which lets them copy species traits naturally works in a way that specific appearance is an automatic side-effect. But it's more likely to evolve if they share the planet with other sapients.

[dbsousa]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

But anyone who has tried that will be able to tell you just why they want a draft animal or motor to do it instead. How many people think they want a machine to cut their butter?

 

I use a machine to cut butter every day. Sometimes technology is driven by the need for precision, not brute force. Hence, the butter knife.

[input.jack]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Another "thought grenade" to consider: What if they were -granted- superstrength AFTER they had developed as a culture, to some degree?

 

What if their Power is relatively new?

 

What happens when suddenly EVERYONE in Mythic Greece gains a 1 ton lift?

[BNakagawa]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Hmm... let me see.

 

When I wrote up the Nehkojin for Digital Hero, I stated that their culture had ground to a halt at a certain point. Mainly because the Nehkojin didn't feel the need (or pressure) to advance beyond what they had. The had reached a comfortable level of technological development and where content. And when you consider most every Nehkojin was super-strong, touch, fast, and had energy manipulation powers, you can see why they'd not really see the need for anything else.

 

To quote:

 

"Nehkojin culture is also extremely old, and has seems to have remained virtually unchanged across the millennia since the Malvans first discovered them (and before that). Their innate powers, when coupled with their constant infighting, apparently led to a technological plateau, where the Nehkojin didn’t feel the need (or pressure) to continue to advance technologically beyond such developments as plate armor, swords and axes, cattle-drawn wagons, and wind-powered ships."

 

Ackpht! The proper place for a cat-person civilization to stagnate is right before flat-panel CRTs become commercially viable!

[David Johnston]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

That's brilliant! Doesn't solve all the problems I was thinking of (requires the cooperation of the taxpayers, for example) but a really nice "bit" to add to a culture of shapeshifters. Repped!

 

Another thought I just had - if the shapeshifters are the only sapient species on their world, the ability to morph precisely enough to impersonate a specific animal/person wouldn't have much reason to evolve. Maybe if their reproductive method needs the help of other "mate-for-life" type spacies, or if the same mechanism which lets them copy species traits naturally works in a way that specific appearance is an automatic side-effect. But it's more likely to evolve if they share the planet with other sapients.

 

And of course if they do then their tool use will ride along with what is developed by the other guys.

 

But really, given my mental picture of the metamorphs I was talking about, the precision which which one duplicates would probably be dependant on the skill with which one observes and then visualises precise details, so very few of them would be able to faultlessly mimic multiple individuals. It's a skill that would be as rare among them as it is rare for humans to paint flawless representations of the human face and body.

 

But even assuming there's difficulty enumerating shapeshifters, the answer is simple. Don't have income tax. Have business tax instead. There may be confusion about whether a given tax evader is really Joe A. Nonymouse, but there's no confusion about whether Joe's bar is in business and selling his trademark formaldyhyde shooters.

[Susano]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Ackpht! The proper place for a cat-person civilization to stagnate is right before flat-panel CRTs become commercially viable!

 

Otherwise where would they sleep?

[Captain Emu]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Exactly the same image is being used as part of an advertising campaign here in Russia. It was a bit weird to see it seeing it as your avatar.

 

Dare I ask what it is advertising?

[TheRavenIs]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

If a race of being have superpowers, and if not everyone is equal in that power, then those without will work to find away to equal or surpass those with them at higher levels.

 

If anyone remebers the BLOODE, the humans on the world of Ean had no powers. They had to either learn magic or develope technologies to do the work needed to feed those that had them.

[Susano]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

If a race of being have superpowers, and if not everyone is equal in that power, then those without will work to find away to equal or surpass those with them at higher levels.

 

If anyone remebers the BLOODE, the humans on the world of Ean had no powers. They had to either learn magic or develope technologies to do the work needed to feed those that had them.

 

I think you mean "The Blood" as in "Blood and Dr. McQuark."

[Vestnik]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Dare I ask what it is advertising?

 

It's some kind of mobile phone payment card thing with a bunch of different cards. One of them has your emu on it, the others have other animals.

[Vestnik]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Here's an idea. In a society of Beast Boys, would there be the problem of "going native"? If a Beast Boy starts spending a lot of its time as a dog, say, after a while does it start to identify more with dogs than with fellow Beast Boys? Perhaps it would eventually defect from Beast Boy society and go join a dog pack.

[David Johnston]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Here's an idea. In a society of Beast Boys' date=' would there be the problem of "going native"? If a Beast Boy starts spending a lot of its time as a dog, say, after a while does it start to identify more with dogs than with fellow Beast Boys? Perhaps it would eventually defect from Beast Boy society and go join a dog pack.[/quote']

 

What makes you think there would be any dogs left? Once the species develops shapeshifting, it fits into all ecological niches that are within the limits of its size changing ability and does so with the added advantage of human intelligence. It seems likely that it would displace anything except species that it can't duplicate.

[Vestnik]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

What makes you think there would be any dogs left? Once the species develops shapeshifting' date=' it fits into all ecological niches that are within the limits of its size changing ability and does so with the added advantage of human intelligence. It seems likely that it would displace anything except species that it can't duplicate.[/quote']

 

Here's a creepy thought -- once it displaces all other organisms, what does it eat? Other Beast Boys? Could be a planet at constant war to get prey from the other side. Or some Beast Boys could be kept artificially stunted to serve as food animals.

 

I really don't to visit Beast Boy world.

[Vestnik]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

I'm wondering about dating customs on Triplicate Girl's world. Does every sexual encounter end in a six-person orgy? I am so totally going around Beast Boy world and heading straight to Triplicate Girl world.

[David Johnston]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

I'm wondering about dating customs on Triplicate Girl's world. Does every sexual encounter end in a six-person orgy? I am so totally going around Beast Boy world and heading straight to Triplicate Girl world.

 

Dude, you are so going to come up short as a lover by their standards.

 

What do you mean, you only have two hands?

 

But on consideration, prey species may not be much in demand for as niches for the beasties. Although it does make it easier to fill your belly...

[Kenn]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

I figure DC's Martians tell each other apart via their telepathic abilities.

 

As far as a planet of "Beast Boys" filling every niche goes... would people want to fill every niche?

[TheRavenIs]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

I think you mean "The Blood" as in "Blood and Dr. McQuark."

 

Yes the "Blood" from "the Blood and Dr. McQuark". I have no idea why I spelled it in that way, other than I did.

 

TY Micheal

[BNakagawa]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

Beast-boy is vegetarian, so having a planet of them doesn't automatically require cannibalism.

 

Not that cannibalism is all that rare. Humans have practiced it here and there, and not just because of immanent starvation. Also, chimpanzees have been observed practicing it as well. Maybe that's what did in the yeti...

 

I could see playing the pity card on triplicate-lass' homeworld. You could always claim that your other two clones were killed in a horrible accident that has left you emotionally traumatized...

 

But for me, I'd skip all of that and book a one-way trip to Tamaran. I want to hang out with Starfire's folks. Something in the water makes all the chicks hawt, and they evolved from cats! WIN!

[Vestnik]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

I could see playing the pity card on triplicate-lass' homeworld. You could always claim that your other two clones were killed in a horrible accident that has left you emotionally traumatized...

 

 

It is my great fear that when the Legion breaks up, Triplicate Lass is going to end up like the cast of Different Strokes and wind up in the porn industry.

[PhaseKitty]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

But anyone who has tried that will be able to tell you just why they want a draft animal or motor to do it instead. How many people think they want a machine to cut their butter?

 

Not a useful comparison. It is necessary to haul the grain home, the veggies to market, etc. You use a cart. A person could do so, but draft animals make it soooo much more convenient. Thus, the tech for horse-hauling is invented. This sort of "soo much more convenient" thing drives tech development.

 

It is not necessary to cut butter; it isn't even necessary to have butter. Butter-cutting-gadgets level of shtuff won't drive technology.

 

You're talking about these übermuscles like they won't have the drive to make tech to do things they can do but that are hard to do. Or like they're such über-übermuscles they can haul any size wagon into town themselves.

 

After all, if they can haul a wagon of X kg themselves, why not get draft animals to haul one of 10X kg? Similarly, if they can thresh Z m³ of grain per hour, why not make a machine (them powered, animal powered, water powered) to thresh 25Z m³ per hour? Same for wood cutting, dirt digging, etc.

 

I can't see a race of sapients who wouldn't want to get important jobs done easier and faster.

 

[David Johnston]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

You're talking about these übermuscles like they won't have the drive to make tech to do things they can do but that are hard to do. Or like they're such über-übermuscles they can haul any size wagon into town themselves.

 

Any size they can make with pre-industrial technology. Make a wagon too big and you run into the problem of the strength limitations of the materials you make the wagon from, and most particularly the material from which you make the harness you'll be using to attacn your draft animals to the wagon even assuming you have draft animals with the same superpowers the natives have.

[Whitewings]

Re: Superpowered Worlds

 

You're talking about these übermuscles like they won't have the drive to make tech to do things they can do but that are hard to do. Or like they're such über-übermuscles they can haul any size wagon into town themselves.

 

Any size they can make with pre-industrial technology. Make a wagon too big and you run into the problem of the strength limitations of the materials you make the wagon from, and most particularly the material from which you make the harness you'll be using to attacn your draft animals to the wagon even assuming you have draft animals with the same superpowers the natives have.

 

To use a rough analogy, think of a wheelbarrow or a hand cart, both very common technologies. If our hypothetical ultra-strong people are in fact stronger than the potential draft animals, they might well decide that domesticating these weak creatures to haul stuff isn't worth the bother. We don't generally use dogs to pull things (yes, yes, dog sleds in the arctic, probably other exceptions, I said "generally"), it might well be the same for the mega-mights. Why domesticate and feed something that needs the upkeep of five people but can only do half the work of one?