Creating The Species Responsible For Alternia

[Renegade Electron]

Yes, this thread is about creating a species. I think this may have been done before, but there is a twist: One of this species’ sessions ended up creating Alternia. For just filling in the concept, we should brainstorm attributes of this society that helped form Alternia as a world these creatures would enjoy and create willingly.

Facts About The -3:

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* Romance is disallowed for these creatures, and reproductive functions are only to produce new members of the species. However, romantic feelings still exist despite being outlawed, so on Alternia romance is not just allowed but required.
* Members of this species do everything in groups, and weak members slow everyone down. The members of the species want to not have to compensate for weak members’ inabilities, so on Alternia the weaker members of the species are culled in their youth.
* Younger members of the species are not allowed to do much, because their guardians prevent them from doing anything deemed inappropriate. This is a source of annoyance for the youth, so Alternian adults are mainly all fighting in wars and the kids are raised by the more permissive lusii.
* -3 have a way too complex calendar. In Alternia it is simplified to almost-equal months, and in Earth it becomes so-so.
* -3 reside in M33 / Triangulum Galaxy, and are smaller in number than Alternia. The two galaxies (people confuse galaxy and universe WAY TOO MUCH) on Sollux's glasses are in fact Milky Way and M31 / Andromeda Galaxy, so it makes sense for -3 to create a bigger more varied species in a bigger galaxy.
~ As for M32 and M110 / LMC and SMC, I dunno. Maybe they represent two vassal species of the trolls / humans. Why would -3 want to do that and Alternians keep it, open to speculation.
~ -3 have a slightly asymmetric body structure. Nuff said.
* -3 are all equal in society levels, and consider it boring. That's why they make an entire Hemospectrum in Alternia.
* -3's arc number is 565. 180 / 57.3 = 3.1413612565445026178010471204188...
* Physical traits: the trolls have horns and only Earth animals but not humans have horns. As we haven't seen much common in Alternian fauna, we can't say much about -3 intelligent beings.
* -3 live in a dream world. However they (or at least the specific group that creates Alternia) think living in a dream world is bad, and go way overboard when having Alternians only dream of blood and shit like that.
~ -3 mainly just live in a dream world when they work. There is a chemical the -3 use to sleep, and they are capable of doing basic or repetitive tasks while asleep, so they work while sleeping and have their dreamselves interact. This also relates to why weaker ones are disliked - they get less accomplished before they wake up, so the others need to make up for it while awake.
* Fashion is extremely vital since fashion is nonexistant in Alternia, in fact, I belive that this race was quite frivolous, with many poems and mails, since those are nonexistant as well. (However, to lead to the insignificance of fashion and poetry on Alternia, some -3 see fashion as ridiculous.)
* Social balance, teamwork and friendship are very important to the -3, based on many of the other facts.
* The -3 all look very similar to equalize their society, so they differentiate themselves with clothes. However, because friendship is paramount, the -3 treat it not as a competition but they cooperate to create the best outfits for everyone.
* -3 consider their roleplaying boring. That's why they create Flarp in Alternia.
* -3's session arrangement: http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7...reesession.png
That gives 65 players. (The 12 names in golden are the trolls.)
The ten "?"s, along with GCAT, are the basis of Alternian DNA.

(As ideas come, I will add them to the first post.)

We will also need a name and general appearance for this species. My ideas are:
Name: Bugbears (like trolls, a preexisting “monster” species with varying interpretations
Appearance: I’m thinking of playing up the “bug” aspect and making these creatures vaguely insect-like. They would have large or compound eyes, some form of carapace or exoskeleton, and possibly antennae or extra limbs. However, they would still maintain a humanoid body shape.

Other possibilities to think of: The species' version of SBURB/SGRUB, roles in society, etc.

[Varkarrus]

Name: Spambots.
Appearance: Sillicoid based lifeforms with smoothish chrome skin, large eyes, and small nose/mouth.

[ASBusinessMagnet]

My ideas.

I'll be using codename "-3" for species, since Alternia that way would be -2 and Earth would be -1 (cycle's end.) (What's up with me using negative numbers. I already used an Aperture Intelligence tier "-1".)

1. -3 have a way too complex calendar. In Alternia it is simplified to almost-equal months, and in Earth it becomes so-so.
2. -3 reside in M33 / Triangulum Galaxy, and are smaller in number than Alternia. The two galaxies (people confuse galaxy and universe WAY TOO MUCH) on Sollux's glasses are in fact Milky Way and M31 / Andromeda Galaxy, so it makes sense for -3 to create a bigger more varied species in a bigger galaxy.
   a) As for M32 and M110 / LMC and SMC, I dunno. Maybe they represent two vassal species of the trolls / humans. Why would -3 want to do that and Alternians keep it, open to speculation.
   b) -3 have a slightly asymmetric body structure. Nuff said.
3. -3 are all equal in society levels, and consider it boring. That's why they make an entire Hemospectrum in Alternia.
4. -3's arc number is 565. 180 / 57.3 = 3.1413612565445026178010471204188...
5. Physical traits: the trolls have horns and only Earth animals but not humans have horns. As we haven't seen much common in Alternian fauna, we can't say much about -3 intelligent beings.
6. -3 live in a dream world. However they (or at least the specific group that creates Alternia) think living in a dream world is bad, and go way overboard when having Alternians only dream of blood and shit like that.
7. -3 consider their roleplaying boring. That's why they create Flarp in Alternia.
8. -3's session arrangement. http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7...reesession.png
   That gives 65 players. (The 12 names in golden are the trolls.)
   The ten "?"s, along with GCAT, are the basis of Alternian DNA.
   Notes: Fixed "chumhandles" AA, AC, CA, CC to GG, GT, TG, TT.
   
   

Keyholes:

1. The trolls can be both land-dwellers and sea-dwellers, and the humans can only be land-dwellers.
2. First guardians. While Alternia has a sufficiently intelligent First Guardian to lead their species to Sgrub, Earth has a spacetime continuum-warping dog and a resurrected chinchilla that wants to take over the universe.
3. Alternia has spiders as the (pretty much) main theme, and half of the Earth has a spider fear. (There are spiders on pretty much every Alternian doorknob.)

GOD THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG. EDITS UPCOMING. Nah, done.

[Renegade Electron]

I'm not sure how the land/sea dwelling will affect the -3, but I think we will have far more leeway if we don't make the -3 exclusively sea-dwellers. (Also consider that SBURB and derivatives thereof are generally more suited to land dwellers.) I think that maybe the -3 should be able to breathe in land or sea, and where they live is a matter of personal choice. This would make the land/sea dwelling split on Alternia was also derived from the -3's social equality.

As for first guardians, I'm not sure.

[ASBusinessMagnet]

And, as it happens on such occasions, I turn on Pesterchum and wait hopelessly that someone will respond.

WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO MAKE UP A NAME FOR -3'S IM PROGRAM.

EDIT: Also stuck -3 as a project in my signature for good.

EDIT 2: Comments on this thread.

1. Physical traits, appearance and body structure are one and the same thing.

[Renegade Electron]

I think we might want to finalize the general social attitude of the -3 before we decide a name for the IM program. For example, the trolls are all cranky and, well, trolls - so 'troll' is included in their program's name. Humans are more well-intended, so they have the milder 'pester.'

The -3 are probably fairly social, if we use the theory that they work in groups and the weak slow them down. Thus, they are probably not too malevolent towards each other (with the exceptions of weaker -3.) We'll probably want a fairly lighthearted term. I can't think of anything right now, but I'll keep trying.

On a similar note, as a follow-up we should try to figure out versions of "chumhandle" and "chumroll."

Also, if we keep in mind the Alternian spider theme/Earthian spider fear parallel, we need something that half of Alternia fears. Buckets maybe?

[ASBusinessMagnet]

Also, if we keep in mind the Alternian spider theme/Earthian spider fear parallel, we need something that half of Alternia fears. Buckets maybe?

Exactly. How dumb was I.

--

Now the big thing is the name for the "-3".

I attempted finding a one-word anagram for "minus three", but with no results.

Then I added an additional "a" (so it can have "ian") and bam, a somewhat acceptable result: "Eutherians". (Though, no M this time.)

[Nexev]

I belive fasion to be EXTREMLY VITAL since fasion is nonexistant in Alternia, infact, I belive that this race was quite frivalous, with many poems and mails. Since those are nonexistant as well.

As such I believe Alternia was created by MAILMEN.

[Gecky]

But if we are doing things that way, wouldn't that mean that the -3 will be the same as the -1?

[ASBusinessMagnet]

Okay we're going towards the opinion that -3 were something at one side, the trolls were something at the other side and the humans were something in between, as a perfect balance.

Thus the humans' Sburb session was fated to fail, but instead the humans were to "recreate" their civilization to some level.

I suddenly understand everything.

EDIT:

But if we are doing things that way, wouldn't that mean that the -3 will be the same as the -1?

Look at my post.

[Gecky]

Then the -3 will have to be a race that doesn't have a lot of differences between the members. Since trolls are very differentiated by the blood color, symbol, looks of the hive, interests. And the humans somehow.

[ASBusinessMagnet]

Then the -3 will have to be a race that doesn't have a lot of differences between the members. Since trolls are very differentiated by the blood color, symbol, looks of the hive, interests. And the humans somehow.

What we saw in this thread: social balance, teamwork, friendship are the main theme of the -3.

[Renegade Electron]

Then the -3 will have to be a race that doesn't have a lot of differences between the members. Since trolls are very differentiated by the blood color, symbol, looks of the hive, interests. And the humans somehow.

What we saw in this thread: social balance, teamwork, friendship are the main theme of the -3.

I belive fasion to be EXTREMLY VITAL since fasion is nonexistant in Alternia, infact, I belive that this race was quite frivalous, with many poems and mails. Since those are nonexistant as well.

Here's an idea: Since there are very few physical differences between the -3, they primarily use fashion and clothes as a way to differentiate each other. However, since teamwork and friendship are so vital to the -3, they probably don't treat it as a competition. Instead, they more likely cooperate so everyone gets the best outfits (probably they also give a lot of clothes for gifts as well.)

ADDENDUM: I opened a poll for the name (bugbears, spambots, or eutherians.) There are, at the time of writing, 29 days until it closes. This means it closes, at least for my time zone, on January 31. Vote for your favorite!

[ASBusinessMagnet]

What we got here.

An official introduction of planet Minus Three, aka The Justice Planet.

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Elsewhere in the paradox space, somewhere even "before" Alternia, we examine yet another planet, forgotten by time.

But we will strive to remember. What was this planet's name?

> Enter name.



The species living in the planet MAY be socially equal and sort-of boring, but that does not mean you have to directly reference that.

In other words, try again.

> Try again.



That's a lot better. Now we can GO ON.

We examine the planet "MINUS THREE", or -3. Somewhere in this planet there lives a young member of the strange not-yet-precisely-defined species, also code-naming themselves as -3.

(The script is Egonyota Pasaru Middle-Case. The second image says "Justice Planet" as a direct transliteration and "W" as the "wrong" indicator, while the third image says "Minus T"fph"ree" as transliteration and "lz" as the "right" indicator.)

[Renegade Electron]

What we got here.

An official introduction of planet Minus Three, aka The Justice Planet.

show spoiler

hide spoiler

Elsewhere in the paradox space, somewhere even "before" Alternia, we examine yet another planet, forgotten by time.

But we will strive to remember. What was this planet's name?

> Enter name.



The species living in the planet MAY be socially equal and sort-of boring, but that does not mean you have to directly reference that.

In other words, try again.

> Try again.



That's a lot better. Now we can GO ON.

We examine the planet "MINUS THREE", or -3. Somewhere in this planet there lives a young member of the strange not-yet-precisely-defined species, also code-naming themselves as -3.

(The script is Egonyota Pasaru Middle-Case. The second image says "Justice Planet" as a direct transliteration and "W" as the "wrong" indicator, while the third image says "Minus T"fph"ree" as transliteration and "lz" as the "right" indicator.)

Yesss. That is awesome. Thank you!

Some other details I thought of:
* Relating to the -3 living in a dream world, I'm thinking that they are able to function and move while asleep, so they retreat to dream worlds in groups when their groups are assigned to work. There might be some sort of chemical that puts them to sleep so that they can join the rest of the -3 in the dream world while they work. The reason that weaker -3 are disliked is because they get less accomplished in the time allotted for sleeping, and so the -3 need to make it up while awake.
* Sessions with 65 different people might be difficult to manage, so if a -3 RP/Trollslum ever gets off the ground people will probably make profiles for a group of -3 (the group size could probably vary) and each person controls a group that works together, servering together and working together in the Medium and elsewhere. Probably there would only be one kernelsprite for each group.

[ASBusinessMagnet]

* Sessions with 65 different people might be difficult to manage, so if a -3 RP/Trollslum ever gets off the ground people will probably make profiles for a group of -3 (the group size could probably vary) and each person controls a group that works together, servering together and working together in the Medium and elsewhere. Probably there would only be one kernelsprite for each group.

65 = 5 * 13, so it's either 5 groups 13 people each or 13 groups 5 people each. I vote for the former because it better accompanies the arc number.

[Nexev]

That does make sense.

So for name, how about ANONYMOUS'?

[ASBusinessMagnet]

Second thought about -3's session arrangement.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4...eesession2.png

The seven new letters have been decided on, and are E, I, M, O, U, F, N.

The chain of teams is almost obviously 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 1.

The players in more diluted colors (CO, GU, TU, AU, CU) are sort-of rebels (though secret) of the teams, who plan on destroying the teams they belong to and form their own team, which as the session goes would grow and overwhelm the entire session.

The teams have no leaders, and any decision that the teams have to make (prototyping, gate entrance coordination, etc.) are made by voting.

[Nexev]

You DO realize GG, GT, TT, and TG are the humans right?

[ASBusinessMagnet]

You DO realize GG, GT, TT, and TG are the humans right?

Yes, I do.

But then an idea: we can have the corresponding -3'ians be literal "versions" of the kids.

4 characters thought-out, 61 to go.

EDIT: But then again the characters (entities) that really need thinking out are the five teams and their rebels.

All the other members of the teams can pretty much be defined by name, text colour, username, typing style and picture.

[Nexev]

I think that idea is ehhh.

I really think we shouldn't overlap chumhandles here.

Why can't those four just be humans and the game is diveded into 7 teams of 7?
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue
Orange
Purple
Black

It seems much more simple.

[ASBusinessMagnet]

I think that idea is ehhh.

I really think we shouldn't overlap chumhandles here.

Why can't those four just be humans and the game is diveded into 7 teams of 7?
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue
Orange
Purple
Black

It seems much more simple.

I read that as:

> Everything: Suddenly fuck up.

65 players means 65 players that are members of the species -3.

Which, if we have 16 trolls/humans, simply aligns into a 9*9 grid.

[Nexev]

Why?

Please explain to me why we need human copies?

Why we need 65 people?

It seems like a random choice to me.

[ASBusinessMagnet]

Why?

Please explain to me why we need human copies?

Why we need 65 people?

It seems like a random choice to me.

-3's arc number is 565. 180 / 57.3 = 3.1413612565445026178010471204188...

So actually we have a choice of 5, 56 and 65 as the number of players.

Consider that the -3's and the trolls' (and possibly the humans') tags have to add up, so we get:

5 + 12 = 17 (prime)
5 + 16 = 21 (3 * 7, can't consider since we saw at least 4 different letters)
56 + 12 = 68 (4 * 17)
56 + 16 = 72 (2 * 2 * 2 * 3 * 3)
65 + 12 = 77 (7 * 11, this was the example I made)
65 + 16 = 81 (3 * 3 * 3 * 3)
as the number of all the people (-3 + trolls [+ humans; ]).

Here, all the possibilities listed.

Sidenote: -3 + trolls = -3 + 12 = 9, -3 + trolls + humans = -3 + 16 = 13.

[Renegade Electron]

* Sessions with 65 different people might be difficult to manage, so if a -3 RP/Trollslum ever gets off the ground people will probably make profiles for a group of -3 (the group size could probably vary) and each person controls a group that works together, servering together and working together in the Medium and elsewhere. Probably there would only be one kernelsprite for each group.

65 = 5 * 13, so it's either 5 groups 13 people each or 13 groups 5 people each. I vote for the former because it better accompanies the arc number.

Sounds good.