So, Rimworld is supposed to be in the (distant) future;
and the actual Rimworld (aka the planet) is, again supposedly, a 'fallen'HiveGlitterworld?
Awesome, I'm sure there are then all sorts of crazy interesting technosorcery... I mean it's not like I'll use Lee-Enfield (Mk I 1903?), M16(A2 1980?), L-15 LMG (Bergmann 1915?) and the occasional M24 (SWS 1988?)
Did we crash our star ship on an alien world, or a black hawk just off Mogadishu?
Sure, there are mechanoids and the occasional R-4, but they just stand out more.
And aside from them, it's closer to role playing an Australian/Afrikaans homestead then a colony on an alien world. Between green fields, weaponry considered obsolete even by today standards, and most of the 'actors' being human or terran like animals, spear wielding aboriginals, cowboy hats and dusters all 'round, and the whole drowning in 'tatters thing.
I get it's alpha and all; but where are all the fancy little things that actually make it sci-fi?
No weird aliens - no problem, look at Dune and the whole ghola and mentat 'thing' to spice it up; (and that's without mentioning Tleilaxu and their bio-horrors)
or how about taking a hint from Necromunda and the host of cult/ab/sub/meta-human mutants/cyborgs and such?
Or how about the whole PvE aspect: vitriolic/molten pools/rains, meteors which actually fall and damage features, having to adapt to hostile flora and fauna, or at least one different from Earth. (I'm sorry if I'm coming off as unreasonable, but I don't expect to land on Alpha Centauri's Chiron and start picking blueberries
)
And speaking of fauna, how about weaponry; I mean what's wrong with the age old FPS tradition of either using generic titles such as "Assault Rifle" or spending 30 seconds per gun to make up a name: "CAR-52" (as in "Compact Assault Rifle model.2052") rather then defaulting to using a 1980's rifle in 2050+?
I mean, ignoring the possibility that say BAE Systems will file a claim about using the brand 'Lee-Enfield' or Colt Defense for 'M16' it -should- also be easier to balance a fantasy weapon.
And that's going for conventional weaponry, both Star Wars and Trek have next to no ballistic weaponry, Mass Effect is all about magnetic drivers, Dune went sonic and acid, 40k has laslances, plasma, plastic shuriken, ion and 20mm auto-guns as -staples- rather then super rarities. Ultimately, it's not about debating the effectiveness of established weaponry, it's about the idea of interesting new technologies, or that the existing ones are at least adapted to new and strange circumstances/environments.
Granted, it's alpha, but is (and I'm honestly trying not to come off as a jackass or attack) Tynan afraid to get creative?
My concern is: between people getting used to status quo and adding new features (obviously nothing wrong with either of those) in game 'fluff' like this will always take a backseat until it's likely forgotten or dismissed with:
"But we've always done it like this" or "That's not a priority compared to XYZ"
Also: Hi all, got bored of lurking.
and the actual Rimworld (aka the planet) is, again supposedly, a 'fallen'
Awesome, I'm sure there are then all sorts of crazy interesting technosorcery... I mean it's not like I'll use Lee-Enfield (Mk I 1903?), M16(A2 1980?), L-15 LMG (Bergmann 1915?) and the occasional M24 (SWS 1988?)
Did we crash our star ship on an alien world, or a black hawk just off Mogadishu?
Sure, there are mechanoids and the occasional R-4, but they just stand out more.
And aside from them, it's closer to role playing an Australian/Afrikaans homestead then a colony on an alien world. Between green fields, weaponry considered obsolete even by today standards, and most of the 'actors' being human or terran like animals, spear wielding aboriginals, cowboy hats and dusters all 'round, and the whole drowning in 'tatters thing.
I get it's alpha and all; but where are all the fancy little things that actually make it sci-fi?
No weird aliens - no problem, look at Dune and the whole ghola and mentat 'thing' to spice it up; (and that's without mentioning Tleilaxu and their bio-horrors)
or how about taking a hint from Necromunda and the host of cult/ab/sub/meta-human mutants/cyborgs and such?
Or how about the whole PvE aspect: vitriolic/molten pools/rains, meteors which actually fall and damage features, having to adapt to hostile flora and fauna, or at least one different from Earth. (I'm sorry if I'm coming off as unreasonable, but I don't expect to land on Alpha Centauri's Chiron and start picking blueberries
)And speaking of fauna, how about weaponry; I mean what's wrong with the age old FPS tradition of either using generic titles such as "Assault Rifle" or spending 30 seconds per gun to make up a name: "CAR-52" (as in "Compact Assault Rifle model.2052") rather then defaulting to using a 1980's rifle in 2050+?
I mean, ignoring the possibility that say BAE Systems will file a claim about using the brand 'Lee-Enfield' or Colt Defense for 'M16' it -should- also be easier to balance a fantasy weapon.
And that's going for conventional weaponry, both Star Wars and Trek have next to no ballistic weaponry, Mass Effect is all about magnetic drivers, Dune went sonic and acid, 40k has laslances, plasma, plastic shuriken, ion and 20mm auto-guns as -staples- rather then super rarities. Ultimately, it's not about debating the effectiveness of established weaponry, it's about the idea of interesting new technologies, or that the existing ones are at least adapted to new and strange circumstances/environments.
Granted, it's alpha, but is (and I'm honestly trying not to come off as a jackass or attack) Tynan afraid to get creative?
My concern is: between people getting used to status quo and adding new features (obviously nothing wrong with either of those) in game 'fluff' like this will always take a backseat until it's likely forgotten or dismissed with:
"But we've always done it like this" or "That's not a priority compared to XYZ"
Also: Hi all, got bored of lurking.