Restrict 'telepathic' races

[Fred]

This is something that's come up to my notice and that I've personally grown fed up with.

It seems that every race in the Star Army Roleplay must have some level of telepathy to be cool. Right now, we have several races whom possess some level of it and it's grown so common that telepathy isn't even special anymore.

• Sample of telepathic races in the SARP:
• Elysians
• Nekovalkyrja
• Yamataians
• Nepleslians (with appropriate cybernetic implants)
• Mishhuvurthyar
• Seelie
• Lorath
• Quelyans (I made that one)
• Sangriat

I am probably missing some and I did not include the races very recently introduced.

That's just to say, though, that every new race introduced that has a claim on being 'strongly telepathic' inspires no small amount of scorn from me *points the list above*. It's not like it's been never done before!

I believe the races currently out should have their telepathic focus tightened to allow some originality as far as continuity allows (i.e.: Quelyans have empathy, not telepathy; they project images and impressions instead of actual words - their means of communication otherwise are also very limited) as well as have cultural issues toward telepathy a bit more strongly enforced (i.e.: nekos see telepathy as rude and impolite except in unique circumstances... and yet people continuously choose to ignore that).

Furthermore, while I myself would like to make some more telepathic races of my own, I think we should put a lid on it. This is an instance where the expression 'less is more' should apply. There are so many races out that are capable of telepathy that we could remove it and it'd probably not make much of a difference. Given that, I think it would be good to employ moderation and stop trying to add telepathic-capable races if we can avoid it.

edit: Pool titles changed,suggestions courtesy of Zakalwe.

 

[Zack]

The poll questions are incredibly biased and I see no reason why we should make blanket restrictions and more than that I see no reason why we should make blanket restrictions and then exempt your race from them.

 

[Fred]

You can turn Quelyans into flypaper for all I care. I'll freely admit that I was young and stupid when I made them. Besides, they've never been used ICly and I only pointed them out in an example to avoid refering to the all-too-well-known-Nekovalkyrja, not to say they were okay but others weren't. Besides, that was never the issue.

Don't stoop to personnal attacks and face facts: The majority of the races presented in the SARP possess telepathy. Adding more without consideration dillutes how special a trait telepathy should be. This is another facet of the problem the 'restrict humanoids' pool brought up.

 

[Zack]

The majority of the races presented in the SARP possess telepathy

Dosen't that in effect make telepathy something fairly basic instead of something special like you are claiming that it is? There is no reason to limit telepathy, gameplay or otherwise, just because you want it to be limited (unlike with psionics which was being abused left and right).

It is not a personal attack to say that your poll questions are biased when they are biased.

 

[Fred]

Mhmm. So, following your logic, telepathy is a fairly ordinary everyday thing that most newly submitted races should have access to because most of the races already out there have it.

*ponders*

Nope, sorry, not buying into such an easy argument. It's not because one part of the universe possesses a penchant for telepathy that everything has to be that way, just the same way as why all races aren't necessarely humanoids too.

Telepathy was not a normal living trait in this setting: it was something that first came out with the Elysians, whom transfered it to their Seraphs, whom had it countered by the Nekovalkyrjas and then was handed down to the Yamataians. Other people just kept at it creating races capable of the same prowess to follow a trend, the 'cool' thing.

Well, when so many telepathic races sprout around, it makes so that the coolness factor of it wanes off... just like how your favorite kind of cereal can get pretty boring to eat if you've been eating the same for two weeks in a row.

Of course, if telepathy has grown so ingrained as to be considered normal in the SARP, then it strongly justifies the tone of my pool's subject as to poke you in the eye with what's become of telepathy and make you think. My point of view is biased? Certainly! Don't like my point of view? You can vote to oppose it - you have that power.

Edit: Upon Zakalwe's suggestion, I did tone down my biased pool for something a bit more suitable for a referendum. My growing disgust of the issue did color the titles a bit.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Sabers down, gentlemen, please.

Telepathy is fairly common, yes. But notice that it works only within a species -- Nekos especially, since their telepathy seems more technological than biological. I understand the waning of the coolness factor or what-have-you ... but there's no reason to prematurely ban it. Why not just bring it up during race approval?

That said, telepathy would be MUCH COOLER if there were restrictions to it. I freely admit to ignoring the Neko telepathy rule because I'm ignorant. But revisiting such cultural restrictions for other races could be very cool. It would make it purposeful at least.

 

[Zakalwe]

I voted no.

However I should like to point out that in this I do not meant that developments in races should not be allowed.

For example a new version of a Neko or Seraph should still have telepathy.

 

[OsakanOne]

I need to find another way to work that in via technology, then...

Perhaps a weak portable graviton manipulator...

First one of you to say "Gravity Gun"... Oey.

 

[Yangfan]

Some of the new players seem to have an overly-optimistic view of the power level of this RP setting.

Perhaps we should get started on a Species Creation Guide? ^_^;

 

[Zakalwe]

I don't think that would be a good idea ... we don't need new players making a race and then disapearing, in fact I think the races we have should be very select.

Making a Species Creation Guide would mean that everyone would be making them, and then that would just be hideously complicated - it's easier with a system of super powers (like Yamatai, the Mishhu and possibly at some point the Elysians and Nepleslians) and some minor planets.

 

[Doshii Jun]

Well ... we have templates, but not guides. The distinction is a little blurry, but I guess it makes sense to not have a guide.

 

[Vesper]

Right now, we have several races whom possess some level of it and it's grown so common that telepathy isn't even special anymore.

Adding more without consideration dilutes how special a trait telepathy should be.

<laughs> Sorry, there, but did you say that its presence in new races makes it less special? I am afraid I have to agree with Uso (as much as it pains me to do so), telepathy are not 'special' in any way shape or form in this setting. This is, irrelevant of what races might evolve it naturally, because it can be built and sold. Unlike almost every other setting (ever), in which it is a cool, unique ability, science in the SARP has learned how to create psionics, not only in people who do not have it, but in inanimate constructs as well. A blatant example was in the last Sakura mission (I might be thinking of the Yukika's last one, not sure) where one of the crew members was commenting on making sure to get telepathy 'installed' on his next leave. How can it be special when it is as simple as getting it installed?

Also, much like the issue of 'reducing the tech level', this debate is pointless if the most common users of it (Nekos, since most of the characters on the site seem to be a member of the 'species'), and any future iterations, are allowed to continue possessing in. Much like the technology issue, just because a tiny handful of new players (since most of the new races don't seem to get many players) do not posses it, but the majority (of new players) do get it because they play one of the 'select' races, the problem you describe will persist.

Just because people say we are 'reducing the tech level', when things like Zesauium, CFS, and anti-planet weapons on scouts continue and teleporting &#%@$g armor become standard it is rather clear that the site is just going through the motions of change, and not really doing much. The same is true here, because continuity is God above all other things here, this poll is pointless. It will change little other than making some of you feel better. If you want the change for the better (since I do feel with you that telepathy should be special), history must be altered.

But we all know that will never happen, so stop this self-gratifying nonsense. It means nothing and only wastes space.


,
Vesper

 

[Tom]

But that's still no reason to give up the debate.

 

[Vesper]

As a purely intellectual debate, perhaps. But if you are not willing to make actual, measurable changes it is meaningless. Without the will to make the needed changes this poll is meaningless. Without that will, this is all just self-stroking on the part of those saying they want the changes. It will give them the feeling of accomplishment without actually achieving anything.

 

[Derran Tyler]

In other words: Vesper isn't one of those people who likes to talk merely to hear himself speak. He likes to speak if he knows he can accomplish something, if not, it is a waste of time and air.

If there is no true will for change by the head honcho, nothing is going to happen.

 

[Zakalwe]

It's easy to implement the changes:

Don't approve more telepathic races.

 

[Tom]

These are very defeatist opinions that I can't quite agree with.

Thing won't change so don't try?

Good thing those civil rights activists kept on truckin, not to mention those pesky Americans and their tea party!

As the community voices its opinion strongly, it DOES help. It's the most it can do. The community isn't Wes. Wes is the one who can make these drastic changes. But he won't do it if he doesn't think the community wants it, and the community has to make its voice heard to make that possible.

 

[Zakalwe]

Also Vesper it is not entierly useful to bring in other technology, or the 'reducing the tech level' debate, because they work in a different principle.

Telepathy: Too many races make it seem less interesting, it's over done so let's limit it as we did to non-Alien race. This will make other races more interesting to develop and RP.

Tech Level: The tech level is so high it is no longer fun. Let's reduce it.

Very different arguments.

 

[Cora]

You compleatly MISSED the point. That's about what happens, right?

Jeff is saying, that this poll won't matter, even if new races are restricted from having Psionics, which will actually hampers peoples creativity, (since Psionics have more to them then Telepathy and <noun>-kinesis. As Fred said his race is an Empathic race) the very fact all these accepted races still have if still makes the poll moot since someone can just make one of them.

Also, He mentioned, how like most other technology, the Tech Level of the SARP has removed the "uniqueness" of Psionic abilities. It's like the Soul Saviour device. That removed the fear of character death, so players can go do stupid things, and Wes himself has show his characters have a total lack of the concept of self preservation (Hanako is a very guilty party, having died , or nearly died atlest three times, since she joined the sakura.). Likewise, Psionics have become just as trivial. Nekos have a widerange of Telepathic abilities, aswell as Yui still retains her <noun>Kinetic powers, makes the whole point of the power being unique useless when nearly a hundred trillion vat grown NPCs have it standard on deploy.

The whole reason heb said all that was because of the futility of our positions, we think we're effecting change, when the while SARP stays the exact same. Go check the tech spec pages, not one thing has been changed.(aside from a very, VERY dumb looking excuse for a rifle is now shown as a picture in the Mindy page)

 

[Fred]

The goal was not to restrict telepathy itself Cora. Character race selection has nothing to do with this. The number of telepathic players has nothing to do with this as well. The goal is to promote the creation of non-telepathic races so that some adjustment could be made in regard of the ratio of races presented with it in the known universe.

As to your mention of people's creativity, my own personnal feeling about it is that they've been using telepathy to make their creations more special... but the thing is telepathy is not cruise control for cool (sorry, couldn't help it). Not anymore, at least. Telepathy is also not a shortcut to make new races original - but that's also how people are regarding it. Isn't this too easy a qualification? These days, since telepathic races as about as common as salt and pepper on the dinner table, people submitting new races just grab the shaker and adds some telepathy - that's the level of originality telepathy is at.

While we're going with the culinary metaphors, Yangfan was fully able to make the Phods (humanoid porcines/birds with a penchant for cooking) look original and cool. No telepathy involved. So, if he can, others can as well. So, lay off on the shaker - it'll be good for your cholesterol.