Playable Xenon

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vvvvvvvv
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Playable Xenon

Post by vvvvvvvv »

Wanted to share some thoughts I had. Partly poking fun at the lore and possibilities.

So, why not let player play as... Xenon.

Xenon are based on Von-Neumann probes, which have inherent ability to duplicate itself. So even if they're a hive mind, they could split into two, evolve, etc. Or create independent intelligences.

Because playing as a CPU ship does not fit into current game structure which requires navigating stations, it is possible to have an avatar. A humanoid machine frame. As an example of possible design see "Chappie" movie character. As to why it would want to do it... well, maybe after observing organics, the machine would conclude that the only way to wipe them out is to get them all addicted to spaceweed and spacefuel.

It is also possible to add some twists. For example, a mobile humanoid frame like that could fly normal ship. The crew does not have to be more frames (speaking of which, you'd need to manufacture those, probably), but could be organics.

However, with Timelines we have in-universe Synths. Original quettanauts. Those are nigh-indistinghuishable from organics and are manufactured, they also do not age and immortal (but not unkillable). Immortality aside, this scenario indicates it is possible possible to manufacture sentient life or quasi-life.

So, why not let player xenon print his crew from biomass. After all, the game already has suitable material for production: terran protein paste.

---

How's that.

The amusing thing is that this actually seems to be compatible with in-game lore, because we had xenon mind interacting with organics, and that mind was capable of uploading itself over distances. That was geometric owl. Another interesting possibility is that when you play Terran Cadet start, the computer your wingman interacts with is WAY too intelligent for something manufactured by society that hates all AI. Which could be some offshoot AI trying to infiltrate them.
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Pesanur
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Re: Playable Xenon

Post by Pesanur »

vvvvvvvv wrote: Wed, 21. Aug 24, 17:09 However, with Timelines we have in-universe Synths. Original quettanauts. Those are nigh-indistinghuishable from organics and are manufactured, they also do not age and immortal (but not unkillable). Immortality aside, this scenario indicates it is possible possible to manufacture sentient life or quasi-life.
But they are created by the Shonen, that are another race of sentient Synths created by the Ancients.

And the Shonen created Synths aren't simply manufactured. Initially they are simulated personalities in their future possibilities simulation data stream, that with the time gained self-awareness and that has been extracted from the data stream and put into synthetic bodies.
vvvvvvvv
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Joined: Tue, 28. Nov 23, 15:38
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Re: Playable Xenon

Post by vvvvvvvv »

Pesanur wrote: Wed, 21. Aug 24, 18:31
vvvvvvvv wrote: Wed, 21. Aug 24, 17:09 However, with Timelines we have in-universe Synths. Original quettanauts. Those are nigh-indistinghuishable from organics and are manufactured, they also do not age and immortal (but not unkillable). Immortality aside, this scenario indicates it is possible possible to manufacture sentient life or quasi-life.
But they are created by the Shonen, that are another race of sentient Synths created by the Ancients.

And the Shonen created Synths aren't simply manufactured. Initially they are simulated personalities in their future possibilities simulation data stream, that with the time gained self-awareness and that has been extracted from the data stream and put into synthetic bodies.
Well, "Grandma" says that almost all of them have disappeared, meaning Xenon could capture some, "disassemble", figure out what makes them tick and create an imperfect copy. Basically, from the lore it is unknown how powerful xenon are, and how many systems they control. If they spread out far outside gate network, there can be a humongous computational cluster somewhere. It won't reach Sohnenn level, but it could be capable of figuring out how to print an adult human with suitable brainwashed personality matrix. Without available sohnenn simulation, it would be possible to use an existing human as a base for default personality which can then be tampered with to make it complacent. It is also unclear if there's a single type of xenon or several. For example races within gate network could be dealing with outdated old xenon, while there's a far superior system elsewhere. This could be indicated by appearance of modified old ships.

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