Master_Xan

My main question was whether or not teaming was faster then having them research indepentantly. I assume that teaming makes each mission more likely to succeed, but is it enough to equal or better the speed of having two missions going, each one indepentantly capable of success (even if the other fails?) I was always wondering about the traitor thing. How do I find traitors?

Here's a question I've always wondered about, and never really found the answer for... do you research faster if you put two researchers on seperate missions, or when you combine them into the same mission? Does having one of the researchers as a decoy do anything at all, does it make it less likely that the mission will be interrupted, or does it for some strange reason make you research faster? I also notice that occasionally, one of my research missions will be interrupted by the enemy. The same happens with them, which is particularly perplexing when I didn't even know that anybody was researching on that planet (sometimes I didn't even know they owned that planet at all! ). Occasionally this will happen with diplomacy missions as well. Any reason why? Or how to predict or interfere with this?

Hmm... I don't like the idea as you propose it, but I do like the spinoffs that are forming in my head... if I use something along those lines in my book, and by a miracle it does get published, am I going to get sued by you?

Was that this morning? I seem to remember getting on this morning and feeling strange... like something was different. It all started when I saw the list of registered users online, but I never really looked at the 'visitors' count.

Somewhat. I'm still exploring alternative magic systems, something that would free me from the post-apoc world. But I'm running out of ideas I like, so I did set up the timeframe for the book if I went ahead with what it currently is, setting up the plot basics and so forth. All very rough mind you, but enough that I could start writing the actual novel at any time. Although I'm trying to figure out view points before that, so I'm considering writing a few shorts first for practice (or maybe even expanding on the short I posted above).

I'm going to keep religion out of my writings, for several reasons. First off, I don't want to come across as preachy, which means I can't put in my own religion. Second, I don't know that I could write about people believing in a religion that I myself don't agree with (call it a side effect of believing my own religion so much). I could make up a religion, but it would end up having too many similarities to Mormonism, so I might as well make the characters Mormon... bringing me back to reason number one. In other novels though, it does introduce an interesting element. I like the religious issues that come up in the Wheel of Time books (the White Cloaks), as an example. If you wanted to know more about the fat-burning magic system, you'd have to read the book I based that short off of... the link is up there somewhere. If I recall, it wasn't how complicated the spell was that determined the amount of energy required, that only affected who was talented enough to pull the spell off. You burned more fat for more energy-intensive spells (which is why I had my mage use a life-drain spell to supply the energy for fireballs, otherwise he would have had to be more conservative in how many fireballs he cast). The view point is something I've yet to master. I can't seem to figure out exactly how to word things to get the best effect, partially because I don't even know the definitions of various view points well enough to really use them in my own writing. This is actually my biggest fear in writing a book; that I won't get the view point correct and end up with something that's either confusing, keeps switching view points, or just plain weird. (And I agree, if this were real it would make a few billionaires in America as they sell it as a diet... we might even get to be close to normal weight! But then we'd feel fine eating more... hmm, that could be bad.)

I would have guessed 20ish from some posts, and 14 from others, leading me to believe around 17 as a balance between the two.

Wisconsin... Telamuck Cheese factory, right? Tilamuck? No clue on the spelling. But I've been to a really awsome cheese place there, lots of tasty treats and plenty of ice cream!

Lower the amount of minerals required for him to build things, and the maintainance points required to keep them if you want some big battles. Not just ships however, as the AI will build everything under the sun, including special forces, troops, fighters, ships, and facilities. If you're really feeling gutsy, you can make their ships better. Increase their shields or shield recharge, mess with the weapon strength (but I suggest leaving the range alone). This will get halfway to your goal, the second part requires editing the AI value for those ships. If you don't, then the computer will run away even with their new super-ships. Because this isn't possible with Rebed, you need to download SWReditor. Run this one and play with the AI value... try and increase it to correctly match the changes you made to a ship (if you made the ship have 1.5 times better shields and weapons, then increase the value that much). I'd increase a ships stats by some sort of number, just helps to maintain the balance of the ship from before; so a ship that had relatively weak shields but good weapons will still be like that.

To be honest, I don't know what you're talking about either, and I'm a native English speaker...

Just to simplify what Snake already said, you can only do diplomacy missions on inhabited planets. Many planets in the Outer Rim don't have anybody living there, so there's nobody for a diplomat to talk to. If you do as Snake said (that is, plop down a troop regiment) then you have control of the planet. After building something, there are civilians working on the planet (so now its inhabited). It starts full on your side, but should the enemy gain influence there it is possible that you'll have to do diplomacy missions later on.

Most of the typewriters I've seen had some sort of 'delete' key... you'd move the paper back (either manually or with a key) and they hit the delete. It would stamp the misplaced letter out... usually. Myself I just prefer being able to go back and rearrange entire paragraphs at a whim, not to mention spelling and grammar checks, copy/paste, and all that other jazz. I know I'm spoiled. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Typing on a typewriter and on a computer are different. Different feel, some different keys, and you can't learn how to operate the software on a typewriter. There's a very good reason nobody ever uses them anymore, and that's because its much harder to correct mistakes. We used to have one, and I did use it a few times. Not nearly as easy as with a computer.

Pickles

Frost The above is a good book for anybody who likes fantasy novels. Its the basis for the short story I wrote, which for your reading pleasure I'll put right here! Tell me what you think of the style (and don't be surprised if its not perfect, I wrote the thing in about two hours). Remember, to do magic you must burn off some of your own fat for energy, meaning the mage in this story is about 300-325 lbs. (Begin Story) "Blasted mountain passes. I never did like trying to get around ill-kept, uneven paths, and having them strewn with rocks and up mountains just doesn't help. Nor does loosing my best donkey last month, leaving me with this frail thing that can hardly hold me up! I'd better be well paid for this job, or I'll never have enough for a better donkey, since they probably cost a fortune in this famine-stricken valley." Johnathan Rubera continues to mutter to himself as his donkey slowly plods down the last stretches of the mountain trail. Vinta will be in sight soon, or so the map John got before entering the mountains shows. That's where he's supposed to go; the town mayor is paying well for anyone who can either help with the famine, or at least deal with a group of brigands who are stealing food. Muttering as he is, John barely hears the moving of rocks before three figures step into view; one swiftly moving behind him, the other two blocking the path forward. "Ah, and what is some fat fool doing going into Vinta? Don't you know there's a famine?" This man appears to be the leader, as he is carrying a much finer sword than the other two. He doesn't appear to be much more capable of using it, however. "Dran, I think this one's a mage..." The second man, carrying a short sword and buckler, doesn't seem to like the idea of you being a mage. "Nonsense! See his eyes? I heard all mage's eyes glow funny colors, depending on how powerful they are!" "Dran..." "I know my way around mages, so you just shut up when I tell you this ain't one. Now fellow, got a name?" Thinking fast, wondering how many archers there are in the rocks around you and trying to remember why you weren't more cautious, you pretend fear as you answer "J-John R-RRubera. What do you want?" That last part may have been said to forcefully, but Dran doesn't appear to notice. "All I want is your food, my good fellow. And of course any coins you happen to have. Give me these, and my men and I will impede your progress no further." The man's accent pulls at you... perhaps a young nobleman, turned bandit? He seems too well educated (and arrogant) for almost anything else. But how would a nobleman get so poor as to not be able to afford food, even during a famine? "Well, what's it going to be John, the blade? Or the food?" Stalling by pretending to have problems getting off your donkey (which isn't too hard to pretend, stupid beast), you quickly prepare a few spells. If you don't do this right, you just may pay for your inattention with an arrow in the heart. "I t-think I'll just g-give it to you." "A very wise decision," drawls the bandit behind you. He appears to have a throwing knife in each hand. You'll have to deal with him first, while moving for cover in the rocks. "You must have misunderstood," you say in a shaky voice. "I'm going to give you something, but it isn't food." Forming the spell in your mind, you give voice to it under your breath as you point straight at the knife-bandit. With a jerk, his head snaps back, neck clearly broken. One of your simplest, and most effective, spells. "He is a mage! Shoot him, shoot him!" Diving for a large boulder, you make sure to look straight into the eyes of the leader as he advances on you. With the spell nearly ready, all you have to do is mutter the incantation and watch as his screaming body shrivels to the ground. The energy you took more then compensates for the fat you feel burning from yourself as you hold the spell, because this energy is feeding the second, less complicated series of fireballs you're directing with your left hand. Any normal mage would be hard-pressed to keep this kind of spell combination going for long, but with your pendant slightly glowing, your mind seems clear and more than capable of keeping straight the complex life-drain spell from the simpler, but more numerous, fireballs. The battle doesn't last long. The group was small, with only three archers hiding in the rocks. The first one your eyes found exploded in flame; the second was hurtled from his hiding place when the boulder he was hiding behind exploded. The third was in the process of drawing another arrow (his first having buried itself neatly inside your donkey's belly, which was thankfully between you and the archer at the time), when he too sprouted flames from his limbs as two smaller fireballs struck him. The short swordsman, seeing his comrades screaming in pain and rocks exploding from the mountainside where your fireballs, still seeking hidden archers, strike, decides he should be elsewhere. You had hoped to keep him alive for questioning, but it's only just barely that you manage to stop him with a lucky ball of flame. Screaming, he drops his sword and collapses. He dies before you can reach him. "Well, what a glorious welcome party this was. Thanks to Dran's generous contribution, I'm only a few pounds the worse for wear, but my donkey! Better kill it to stop that awful noise..." It's true; the donkey is making a most horrible sound as it dies. With a quick gesture and a muttered word, John dispatches it with the same spell he used on the knifeman. "Maybe I can sell the meat, these bandits’s equipment, and get a reward for killing them! I may yet have myself a new donkey after all!" Feeling pleased with himself at the speedy dispatch of the bandits, he begins collecting useable pieces of the bandit's equipment from the charred remains. It is soon, however, that he begins working his way down the path, much displeased at having to walk with all this junk in his arms, and even more displeased at the thought of returning to collect the rest, carefully hidden nearby. Even worse, how is he ever going to get the donkey meat down the rest of the mountain?

Actually, he nearly left out all forms of electronic entertainment, completely devoid of any form of video game except James Bond...

There was no chronology, other then what I thought of first...

Money doesn't teach. Money can't buy education. True, its hard to learn how to type without a computer, but regardless, its not the money that matters most. Regardless, I don't think we're talking about the same schools. That sounds like k-12, but I'm talking college. As far as I know, most colleges don't get anything from the government.

School in the US isn't bad. True, its often focused on making money, saving money, and looking good, rather then teaching. Add in the laziness, ignorance, stubberness, bigotry and political factors, and you've got one nice cup of tea. And if you don't know about the politics of a college campus, then believe me when I say you don't want to know. In all fairness, college is greatly dependant on your teachers. Many general ed classes are taught by more arrogant high school style teachers, who have even more freedom with what they teach (or don't teach). Once you move beyond the gen-eds, you get a fair number of actually motivated teachers. Its just the gen-eds that can really get you, and get you good.

I agree, unless you start preaching to us about how terrible gypsies and Jews are, then the picture and nickname are just fine.

There are a few simple joys in life. I shall attempt to name them: Chocolate First kisses Fire You could add to the list other such simple pleasures, like knives, swords, daggers, throwing stars, axes, kamas, spears... basically anything sharp. Oh, and explosives, big sticks, smoke (in all forms), pizza and video games. Also not to be left out is the ever elusive instance when you try to show off in front of a girl and actually manage to impress her. That last one is just a theory of mine, considering I've never accomplished it. Oh! Almost forgot shotguns, rifles, handguns, grenade launchers, blowguns, semi-auto weapons, fully-auto weapons... (Yes, I have handled a grenade launcher. Mixing explosives and guns together is a dangerously fun thing to do... )

Right up there with stupid lines: "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..." And this one isn't so much stupid, but rather a very good warning of what was to come: "Mesa Jar Jar Binks!"

Gotta hand it to ya Tofu, that is one nasty gif... actually, the genetic approach was sort of what I was going for. Looks like we're both thinking along the same line there. I liked your idea for the tatoos, though I'm not sure I followed you on the whole sucking things inside part. It is more of a modern idea, the fantasy part comes in later. After that second war, when technology is limited and people are scared of it... As the story goes, the altered DNA ends up being several recessive traits, allowing for different combinations that determine what all the person can do. In very powerful combinations, the person can cause pain and death in enemies, control the electrical impulses within their own body to speed up healing, or do the same thing for an ally. I'm even thinking about the possibility of allowing for limited precognition, based upon reading the electrical impulses of an enemy's brain as they are sent...

If it was Monty Python, then that race would be the evil bunnies (after all, that killer rabbit had to come from somewhere...) The post-apoc world is the only way I can adequetly explain my 'magic system'. But I don't like some aspects of that setting, so I'm looking at other ideas for a 'magic system'. I'm trying to avoid the standard sort of thing, you know incantations and hand symbols that magically make fireballs appear. I was really intrigued by the way it works in one particular novel (I think it was called "Frost," a great read I'd highly recommend). In that one, a mage uses his own body fat as the energy source to do magic, meaning that most mages have an ideal body weight of around 300 lbs. I actually wrote a short story based upon that idea, I might post it here later on to see what you guys think of it. (of course I'm at work right now, so can't) Anyway, I'd like to know what you think of my current idea for 'magic'. So here's the idea: (Simple explaination) After society had recovered from the first great war I mentioned earlier, a group of geneticists began illegal experiments involving human implants and altering DNA. Taking information gathered from sharks, they altered the DNA in a human fetus, and when the test children grew older gave them intense training and implants. The result was a human capable of detecting electrical fields put off by animals, humans, or electrical devices. A few subjects could even cause surges and spikes in electronics, or in animals, resulting in drained batteries, fryied components, or in the case of living things, pain or death. The project was cancelled when the public found out about it. A small group managed to continue the research in secret, and even managed to make it possible with less training and no implants. Through a series of events (including the outbrake of the second war), the researchers ended up dead and the subjects loose. The traits for detecting and manipulating electricty was passed on in their offspring... (Long explaination) After the first great war I mentioned previously, the world was set back technilogically. After several centuries (I forget the exact timeline, its written down somewhere ), they were getting back to where they were previous to the war, and in some instances ahead. A group of genetisists began illegally experimenting with implantation and alteration of human DNA, their goal to create a human with a '6th sense'. The first attempts went along the lines of eco location from bats and dolphins, with the idea of making soldiers that didn't need night vision goggles or firemen who could see easily in smoke. After years of research and several failed attempts, the group decided it wasn't plausable, and switched to a different method of getting a '6th sense'. Working with sharks, they were able to successfully modify human DNA and create a new addition in the brain, capable of detecting electrical fields put off by animals, humans, and electronic devices. But the range was very limited, so the group worked hard at amplifying the ability. With implants placed into the brain and intense training, they managed to make it work at longer distances, up to 50 feet in some cases. With all this research and experimentation, the scientists had amassed quite a bit of information over the years. This didn't go on without the notice of several powerful governments, but they allowed the illegal research to continue because of the implications for the techniques developed (and of course the actual product, humans capable of detecting electrical fields). But towards the end of their research, it was discovered that a fetus with the DNA modifications, and training coupled with implants later in life, could do more then simply detect electrical fields. By focusing on a power source, they could cause surges and spikes, depleting batteries or frying electrical components. Few of the test subjects could do this, but among them were a few who could do this even to animals, causing intense pain, blackouts, and death. As government officials were wondering what to make of this new development, several of the test subjects escaped. They were caught, but not before displaying their abilities to the public. The public outcry was such that the project was closed down, its scientists jailed and the research moved to secure government arhives. The subjects were executed. Unknown to the public or even the world's governments, a small group of the researchers escaped with copies of the data. Most of this group retired, but a few decided to continue the research. Over the years scientists joined them, and they saw much success. Their goals were to simplify the process, and to this end they attempted (and succeeded) to reduce the training required and even managed to eliminate the need for implants. They also sought to further amplify the abilities, with a focus on the new possibility of controlling electricity. Decades after the original project was shut down, world tension was mounting and war seemed inevitable. The hidden researchers had accomplished their goal, and by modifying a human fetus they could recreate the original results, but without implants and with less training then before. In addition, the new subjects could all cause power surges. They took their success to several world governments, but because of fear for public backlash they were turned down. A black ops mission saw to it that this second group of researchers were caught, along with the test subjects and all data. As before, the data was put into secure archives, but because of the sensitive nature of the project this time, the researchers and subjects were scheduled for execution. War broke out before the executions could take place. The facility where the researchers and test subjects where being held was attacked and taken by a rival country. Captured by another nation's military and with no desire to be lab rats all over again, the test subjects shorted out the circutry on their prison vehicle and escaped. The researchers made it all the way into their new captor's country, only to be killed in a bombing raid. The traits for electrical detection and manipulation were passed down in the test subject's offspring... (How's that for a loooooong explaination? )

I agree, the post-apocalypse land has been done too much. However, I'm having problems justifying the rest of the story (or redesigning it to fit) in any other setting. If not set in post-apoc, then the only good way to do it would be creating a new world altogether. Which sounds fine, except that too had been done quite a bit. Yet even then it would be all right, but then I can't explain how certain things came about unless they, too, are post-apoc... which just makes things as bad as before. I'm exploring other options, but for now its post-apoc. Hopefully that will be the only thing I have to do which has been done over and over and over before... (And characters is where I will spend the most time. I want my characters to be realistic, and most importantly I want the reader to be able to identify with them. Without interesting characters, there won't be a book, but rather a waste of my time.)