From: fts5792@rigel.tamu.edu (SRONCE, FRANK T)
Subject: Re: Sci-Fi Suggestions
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords: battlelords
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 15:47:00 GMT

In article <BuC5C1.F39@acsu.buffalo.edu>, v057qkmm@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (BABBLING SAGE) writes...
>>>						-Rob G.
[much deletions below]

>> 
>>Races:  Not quite.  From what I've seen in the rules, these the are the
>>problems (off the top of my head) from the various races:
>> 
>>Orion Rogues:  A society based on theivery and partying will not be able to
>>     manage amazing feats of technological splendor, nor would they be able
>>     to organize themselves to do anything tremendous.
> 
>	They had help from the Phentari. Read Lock N Load. 
>> 
>>Ram Pythons, Python Lizards:  Big, stupid, and combative.  Should not be
>>     included in a technologically advanced society.
>> 
>	They became part of the Alliance for a reason. read lock N load.
>	And it still wont explain it. But there is an underlying reason
>	to be explained later.
>	
>>Phentari:  A society solely hinged on war.  Not going to work, sorry.
>> 
> 
>	The strongest shall survive. Thats evolution. It has its problems.
>	Not nice, but actually rather efficient.
> 
>>Mazian:  Blind and water-based?  What the hell kind of roleplaying are youg
>>     going to do with a blob like that?  Sure, they can look like humans,
>>     but if they <can't read> (something their sonar doesn't compensate for!)
>>     what kind "espionage" duties are they going to be able to form.  I don't
>>     THINK so!
> 
>	Their sense of touch is so developed they can read ink with it.
> 
>> 
>>Eridani:  See Phentari.
> 
>	Honor is everything. The self is realized through discipline. 
>	Inferior life forms have no place. Brutal, but effective.
> 
>> 
>>The only races that are logical are humans, gen humans, mutzachans, zen rigeln,
>>tza zen rigeln (in small doses).  Chatilians maybe; but their telepathic powers
>>would be a bit upsetting, so they'd have to be dealt with carefully.  And then
>>the cats (name escapes me), are kinda silly.  How do they get their weapons
>>harnesses on?
> 
>	They have paws which function as crude hands. 

>	Wrong. if you had ever played the game with Larry, you would know
>that getting into combat should be avoided if at all possible. After all, 
>characters tend to DIE or get MAIMED when they are shot by automatic lasers.
>Its really better to roleplay. And it can be done because the races are 
>so varied.
> 
> 
>-> Bluerazor

Hmph. I'd still like to see a discussion of what's GOOD about the race designs.
So far they don't seem particularly original or varied. "War and Glory" aliens
are an OLD idea... As is taking a tougher, nastier non-tech race and equipping
them with weapons so they can fight your wars for you. And maybe the blobs 
could infiltrate some other races, but only being able to read by touch would
be pretty bad... and who expects INK to still be used in the future? Maybe for
warning signs, but not for hand-held computer screens and monitors. Why just
have a warning sign, when you can have a monitor with a warning message on it
normally that can broadcast other messages as needed?

Kiz
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc