Duvors

To be honest the way you're feeling probably has more to do with having nothing to do except work on this. I'm feeling much the same way to be honest, sitting inside with nothing to do all day tends to leave one uninspired and disinterested. You shouldn't feel singled out in that regard. But back to the issue at hand, there's nothing wrong with the idea as the basis for, say, a single quest. The problem I have with it stems from the idea of making it ubiquitous, which adds to the number of things QMs have to account for when designing quests. Also, if it's so ingrained into the setting it ceases to be an easter egg, which is generally something one can look at and say 'I recognize that reference' before moving along and paying it no further mind.

I have no objections.

This is hairsplitting. Regardless of a set's instructions it's still ultimately made of individual toy bricks. What exactly are you basing this statement on? Do you have any statistics of evidence of any kind to back up what you're saying? Because if not you're just making a blanket statement, one that seems specifically aimed to discredit the Bionicle fan community as not being 'true fans' of LEGO.

I'd rather not have something like this in the game. For one thing, it's so blatant that having something like this was a major part of our worldbuilding would undermine our setting's ability to stand on it's own merits. Secondly, it would add yet another element to the overarching setting that we'd have to plan around, one that doesn't have any real connection to the rest of the work that's been done. Quite frankly we've passed the point of suggesting new ideas and reached the stage were we start refining what we already have. Funnily enough I've been thinking about something along these lines myself- something that segued quite naturally into another topic altogether. Æetherspace Despite many attempts, the only known method of FTL communication are the mysterious qualities of the Æthergates. At first this seemed restricted to the instantaneous transmission of basic radio signals, somehow separate from the actual 'gate' aspects of their function. It was investigations conducted by the Hermetic Society that discovered the Æther Ansibles integrated into the gate's design and- more importantly- how to interface with them. What they found was an integrated network- Ætherspace- that could be used to not only transmit, but also store data with seemingly no limit. However there was an issue, the only way data could be stored in the Æther was to code it in the same magical language- 'Livecode'- used to open the gates. Similarly, any device that wanted to interface with these ansibles had to be 'programmed' in this same language, as the 'Deadcode' used in traditional computer programming was totally incompatible with it. Nowadays Deadcode is only used in systems disconnected from the æther- either deliberately or due to the absence of an in-system gate. As to the network itself, once it was discovered and opened up to the public it quickly became the main form of long-distance communication. Despite their best efforts, authority forces have only nominal control of the æther, allowing for an explosion of both free speech and criminal dealings across international boundaries. Another development from it's adoption was the discovery and subsequent popularity of 'Ætherdiving', a process whereby a person with a physical connection to a Livecode device can partially disconnect their sprit from their body, allowing them to roam Ætherspace in a manner impossible with normal computer systems. Golems As far as anyone can tell, it's impossible to create a sentient 'living' A.I. through normal computer programming (hence the term 'Deadcode'). However, during their investigations of the mysterious language of the gates ('Livecode') the Hermetic Society discovered a process by which an artificial being can be given a magical name- a 'Shem'- written in Livecode that grants them true self-awareness, a soul. This process is the source of all living artificial beings- known as Golems- in known space. This has sparked some debate on weather or not all beings possess a Shem, a fundamental mark of their individuality. As to the Golems themselves, despite initial prejudice against them from certain quarters by the present day they've become accepted by most people. Indeed, they're now common in most places, though the process of their creation is unknown to most outside of the Golems themselves. While I don't want to come off as overly critical, I'm not particularly fond of the idea of 'M-tron as a big corporation', it's been done to death by this point and frankly doesn't seem to have any basis in how the group was portrayed by LEGO themselves. I'd actually come up with a concept for them as an international search-and-rescue group known as the Magnussen Foundation, largely for Gerry Anderson-related reasons. Your Octan writeup is excellent, but I should probably explain how I view the Pluravvian Merchant groups. Each Raikaan ('financial clique') is a conglomerate of subsidiaries in multiple industries, each of which is in compete ownership of its supply chain from initial resource extraction all the way up to sales outlets. These would operate under the direction of a single family-owned holding company and also each include it's own bank to finance its various subsidiaries, and possibly an associated crime syndicate as well. Individual Raikaan would themselves form cabals with one another to fix prices for various products and services in order to prevent competition and keep prices stable. The Pluravvian government actually encourages this, as they don't really care about a competitive market and are much more interested in financial stability. In return the Raikaan are very careful to avoid overcharging the government for goods and services. While an extensive monopoly on fuel production wouldn't contradict that in any way, it would probably be combined with extensive holdings in other industrial sectors as well. You know, when I read this I somehow immediately drew a connection to Port Drandora. I'd already thought of it as a former mining colony turned seedy tourist trap, and having the site of one of the most important events in the setting be a dingy, run-down hive of scum and villainy amuses me to no end. Ceres from The Expanse is a good model for what I'm thinking of. You know, I've been thinking about Arcadia recently and I'm starting to think that it would work better if it was a sort of 'lost homeworld'. The general narrative emerging around humans is one of a 'people without a country' as it were, and I feel that would be better served if they didn't have a specific place they could point to and say 'this is where we came from'. Arcadia in this version would be some mythical place, the lost capital of the Ancient Empire, that the human species has built their identity around. There would be people who don't believe Arcadia ever existed, and others would devote their entire lives to the quest for it. That said, I'm not saying there shouldn't be some sort of main earth-like world in game at the start, just that it shouldn't be Arcadia. @Waterbrick Down

@Waterbrick Down @Kintobor @Classic_Spaceman @samurai-turtle @Goliath The WALL OF WORDS is finished. I'd advise that even if you've already read the bits that have been up for days now you go back and read the entire thing from the beginning. This is because I've gone back several times and added to or changed bits that were 'finished' earlier. ALSO; I've made some changes to the rules stuff I've written. They are: Changed 'Speed' to 'Velocity' and moved it to under Vitality. This is to reflect it's greater similarity to that stat than the others. Added Velocity to the list of Attributes that can be increased by spending points. This is to reduce the difference between how Velocity increases and the way other stats increase. Set the cap for Attributes at ten, the same as Proficiencies. This is to prevent Vitality and Velocity from getting too high. Now they only go up to fifteen instead of thirty. I've seen the stuff you've been discussing since I started rewriting the lore stuff, I just haven't had the energy to offer any opinions. I intend to respond to it all when I've recovered from writing.

Grace will use her datapad to interface with the console in an attempt to see how it was tampered with.

"Engineering. I want to have a look at the computer that was tampered with."

Having nothing better to do, Grace will read Gabriella's mail.

"No," Grace says through the doorway, "But I think those constitute evidence of a crime. Not the one we're investigating, but still. Keep those separate from everything else." Grace would like to use her datapad to interface with the personal computer and examine it for... anything really. Also, would I be right in assuming that we can still revisit previous areas?

Grace would like to drag Noah out of the room.

Grace will examine the desk.

"Well, considering it's addressed to 'G', I'd say she's the intended recipient. Though why it was still in Sawyer's room is anybodies' guess."

Grace will analyze the fingerprints.

"Right, no use waiting around here. I say we start searching the crew quarters. Arthur, do you mind if we start with your room?"

"Right, no point in waiting any longer." Grace will attempt to interface her datapad with the briefcase's lock and force the thing to open.

Grace will search the closet.

Grace examines the desk.

Grace will read the note.

Grace will examine the desk.

"As well as the restrooms and the exercise room. I'd say we finish up the passenger cabins first, 2A?"

Now hang on a second, I count at least ten rooms we haven't searched yet.

Grace will search the bathroom.

"While it is possible that the suitcase fell on his head after being dislodged earlier, the rest of that theory is impossible. If you'll remember, the only point of access between the upper and lower decks is either in engineering or on the far side of the lounge from the cabins. Considering everyone left their cabins and when to the lounge immediately after the power went out and came straight to the lounge, and engineering was occupied by Gabriella and the captain, there's no way the upper floor could be accessed unseen. If Mr. Peck was killed before the blackout then it might be possible to use engineering or the lift to access the upper deck without being seen after shutting off the power, but that doesn't explain why the power was off in the first place. Maybe to cover his escape?"

"As nice as it would be to think that, it makes it a teeny bit difficult to explain how Ezra was both shutting down that ship in engineering and getting knocked out in storage at the same time."

"Right, so this definitely came from whatever was used to hit Peck on the head. Probably a teacup or mug, 'cause it would be odd if there was a teapot in his room and nothing to drink from." Grace will search the closet.