(07/06/09 04:22 AM)

I managed to acquire GURPS Bio-Tech recently, and I've been considering doing a summary of what in it is available in the
IST-verse, along the lines of the Ultra-Tech survey I did a while ago. However, in doing so I've realized something that might be an enormous can of worms.

Essentially, according to the IST world timeline, in the 80s, genetic researchers discovered the genes for human intelligence and at the same time discovered
the genes for metahuman power -- and realized that the two were (IIRC) "inextricably linked". (This would mark a good point for where IST world
bio-tech achieved TL 9, because as far as I'm aware, real-world genetic researchers haven't identified any specific parts of the genome that contribute
to intelligence. Of course, I am not a biologist.)

Okay, here's where things get interesting. If the genes for intelligence -- sapience, in current GURPS terminology --
are inextricably linked with those for metahuman potential, then any creatures that are genetically engineered with those genes will have the same potential to
develop and express metahuman powers. This includes all sapient bioroids and uplifted animals. Furthermore, given that the metagenes are more or less random in
how they express, it is likely to be impossible to specifically engineer any specific powers.

Thoughts?

Chris Davies.

Before the main thread gets filled up with comments, I figured I should launch this. I figure anything longer than "Cool, I like that", particularly
discussions/negotiations for plot directions, should be held here rather than interrupting the main thread.

Let me start with a general bitch-and-moan:

I definitely want in on this, but the device I thought to use last time -- Peggy is the transformee rather than me -- turned out to be surprisingly hard to
work with. So I'm trying to figure out which toon would work for me, and I'm not coming up with a good answer. Evangelia and Range Sabre aren't
getting much play since I got them to 50. My current playing priorities -- and thus the most likely candidates for the transformation -- are Looney Toons,
Kawaiiko-chan, and Negi-kun -- and I can't decide which one I'd rather explore.

Looney is a fair choice. And I already long ago started mapping out the territory for this transform long ago with my incomplete material for the Xanadu
project. But it would also be the expected thing. I'm not sure I want to do the expected thing.

Negi-kun would be fun, but the underage thing might make some plot aspects difficult to navigate.

K-chan is probably the most problematic. She shares the same underage thing with Negi-kun, plus she's a villain. Worse, a dominator -- if it's
anything less than fully my personality in charge, I probably wouldn't be able to beat her in a battle of wills in order to wrest control from her. In
that case, I'd essentially reduce my participation to writing about K-chan's adventures in Realworldland. But writing her would be fun. (And
I'm not sure how much fun writing about me forced to live with body of a 14-year-old blonde Japanese psychopath would be.)

I'm still musing over this.

Hm. Are we going to recapitulate the "meet in New Jersey" aspect of the original thread? That might have some bearing on who I finally choose.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.

Look what Machi is hiding under those miko robes

Too bad Ayane...
__________________
Into terror!,  Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell

Game Preview
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"V, did you do something foolish?"
"Yes, and it was glorious."

Some graphics doodling today, and I'm quite proud of this one:



The official flag of the Soviet Air Force-In-Exile, adopted 2009 just before the Soviets' mission to Mercury. This flag has flown on all Soviet expeditions, and has been carried into battle by X-COM forces during the Boskone conflict (most famously flown from the steeple of the Church of the White Martyrs after the capture of Asteroid 1488).

The flag is based off the classic socialist/communist red flag, with the major changes being the device in the right third of the flag and the purple cross in the white canton.

The device is the Seal of the Soviet Air Force, also adopted in 2009. The Seal is composed of a rose - another socialist symbol - with the stem branching off into a double helix wrapped around a hammer, representing Science (possibly Mad Science) and Industry.

The cross in the canton defies general explanation, though it is believed to hold great significance to the Central Committee. Those in the know have called it St. Grimace's Cross, but what *that* means nobody's quite sure.
Mr. Fnord interdimensional man of mystery

FenWiki - Your One-Stop Shop for Fenspace Information

"I. Drink. Your. NERDRAGE!"

Just got back from seeing Transformers 2. One of the preview trailers was for a live action film of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Now I'm not an avid fan
of the series, but I know enough to be certain that there is no way to condense the whole thing down to 3hrs or less. (maybe they plan to make a trilogy?)
More off putting is that the director is M. Night Shamalan.
___________________________
"I've always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific." - George Carlin

I've had this faved for some time. But I'm just now getting around to posting a link to it here. This is the Mario theme music from the classic game
done on a steel drum band. My good friend Kirsten was in the band and posted this. She's the girl in the black shirt approximately in the center of the
group here.

This is just amazing fun to listen to. ^_^

Invincible Reichsman? O RLY?
Screenshot posted on the Official Forums
(It apparently took them 40 minutes, and they did post a bug report. =P)
EDIT 3: Initially folks were assuming that what they did was zorchgun Reichsman with leftover temps from a previous run. Apparently this is NOT the case - according to the folks who were on that team, they didn't zorchgun him, they just tried to beat him down really really hard. As demonstrated, it is possible - but look at their buff bars. They've got multiple stacked leadership buffs, an emp, a kin, and a sonic/sonic. And of course a crapload of blasters. And it still took 'em 40 minutes to do it.
But they DID do it. Hilarious.    
-- Acyl

Just an interesting exercise I went through: essentially finding quotes that break down a villian group's concept into its essence, for the most part.

They'll come at you sideways. It's how they think. It's how they move. Sidle up and smile. Hit you where
you're weak.

(Nemesis)

The truest evil is not achieved by the men who think themselves
the villain. The truest evil is done by the good man who
does what he feels he must, and thus he does it without hesitation.

(Malta Group)

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

(Carnival of Shadows)

Peace through Power!

(Arachnos)

Our methods have not differed as much as you pretend. I am but a shadowy reflection of you. It would take only a nudge to
make you like me. To push you out of the light.

(Praetorians)

Of course, it's not true, but the world only believes what the media tells them to believe... and I tell the media what to believe; it's really
quite simple.

(Crey)

For I do not intend to toil beneath another forever. The seeds of my victory have been carefully sowed, and will one day
bear a full harvest. I cannot say that you will have gained my respect, but I will acknowledge that you fought well. Drink deeply of your success. Bask in the
adulation of your peers. Savor this victory. Know that you have saved your world and this moment from the shadow of history. But you have only saved it for
now. Do not think that you have saved the world for your future. Know that you have saved this world for my coming dominion.

(5th Column/Council)

Mother Earth is here...and she's pissed!

(Devouring Earth)

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a
placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own
direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of
our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.

(Rularuu)

As long as there is man, there will be violence.

As long as there is violence, there will be war.

And as long as there is war... we will always have a job.

(Sky Raiders)
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."