Hard Light Productions Forums
General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: DarthWang on June 21, 2005, 06:12:44 pm
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If Vasudans are adapted to a desert environment, and before it was destroyed their planet was mostly desert, then why do their ships look like fish?
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Umm, if you ever see a fish that looks like a vasudan ship, move murther away form your local power plant...
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I mean really, look for example at the Typhon, Serapis, etc.
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the typhon kinda looks like it came from a sideways goldfish, and the aten looks like a sand crab :nervous:
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None of which look fishlike. In fact, they look more reptilian and insect like than anything else.
The fish reference is to how the Vasudan mouth works.
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I always got the idea that Vasudan vessels looked more desert and reptilian-based, which explains ships such as the Serapis and the Aten. I suppose if I look a little harder at a couple of them I can see fish (Simpsons-esque fish, but fish nonetheless...)
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Well they look pretty fishy to me.:p
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Those aren't fish. Those are what birds on vasuda prime look like.
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Vasudans love fish, though!
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But not as much as birds. If birds look like fish there, then they love birds and not fish. And so their fish dont look like fish, but more like..
um you decide
but to the point. {V} did not send their developers to stare at fish and come up with great Vasudan ship designs.
"Whats the name of the ship based off of the golden fish?"
"Goldy"
"Wha?"
"How about the.."
um.. no.
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vasudan ships seem to look like alien sand dwelling critters, like turtles and whatnot. stop using v's jokes as cannon :D
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Their ships are more smooth and curvy, which would make sense for a civillization that's had to worry about sandstorms and such, in all likelihood.
'sides, considering the scarcity of resources, perhaps Vasudans have emphasized quality over quantity?
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I still say they look very fishlike, with all their fins and whatnot.
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They look lizardlike, I think.
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I think the Moloch looks lizardlike, with all those spiky frills like on those collared lizards.
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Originally posted by WMCoolmon
'sides, considering the scarcity of resources, perhaps Vasudans have emphasized quality over quantity?
One would think that, until they read the tech description of the Anubis.
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Or just look at the Aten......
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Or you could look at the tech description for the Typhon and the performance of FS2 Vasudan ships...
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...which in no small way happened to have been developed during the time of an alliance with the Terrans, who actually had sturdy cruisers and fightercraft with afterburners...
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Actually, the FS2 Vasudan craft, barring the Mentu, outperformed most of the Terran craft of equal size and role. And the FS1 Vasudan craft were something to fear. What wasn't, however, were Anubises, and the Vasudan Light Laser.
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Originally posted by Raa
What wasn't, however, were Anubises, and the Vasudan Light Laser.
They're swamers! Sure, one Anubis is barely worth bothering with, but a dozen of the bastards all looking to cut you and your shieldless fighter to pieces is something to be damn scared of.
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like those little spawn bots in descent 2, can take em down in 1 shot but you run into 20 of them and your fuxored.
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Good ol' desent 2..
Well Even IF Vasudan craft in FS1 out did Terran craft, we had Alpha 1, who could down a whole fleet with one wing of bombers and one wing of fighters (MP Map: Sirus Blockade), and with the same stuff kill a Sathanis (MP Map: ?Iron Gate?). We feared their caps, they feared our good ol' alpha 1!
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Originally posted by Charismatic
Well Even IF Vasudan craft in FS1 out did Terran craft, we had Alpha 1,
Blah Blah Blah
That's the lamest excuse to claim superiority in a game.
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Raa's SIGGY
Obedience from below.
Obligation from above.
Working together for the common good.
We are
The Race.
:ha:
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Originally posted by Raa
That's the lamest excuse to claim superiority in a game.
Having the player character is actually the best reason.
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Originally posted by ngtm1r
Having the player character is actually the best reason.
Not really... :blah: That's basically like throwing out anything the opposing races ever did/made just because the game designers set the player against them.
By that logic, the Covenant, in Halo, isn't the fearsome, overpowering force they are, because the terrans have one soldier to fight against the millions of the covenant. That'd make them weaker than the Humans (Who lost countless homes and planets to their overpowering fleet.
Originally posted by Charismatic
:ha:
What are you trying to prove with that? :wtf: It has absolutely nothing to do with the argument...
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Well, the player character is by definition superior to most if not all other folks in the game.
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Still a cop out. If you're going to evaluate the forces of a game, you should ignore that there even is a player. He's only there to make it a game. (Big duh moment there for me) Because it seems players don't like games where they're on par with their teamates, and are forced to watch themselves get slaughterred time after time.
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So how do we explain a 14 year war which seemed to be in a stalemate?
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The forces were even.
Terrans had better weapons, Vasudans had better ships. Both species used what they had to the best of their abilities, and ended up tieing.
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(Wonders what exactly the old T vs V debate has to do with Vasudan design philosophy...and here was me thinking wouldn't mention the war)
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It shouldn't, but it always does.
WMC Started it! :nervous:
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Originally posted by Ghostavo
So how do we explain a 14 year war which seemed to be in a stalemate?
Bear in mind that it wasn't the player's entry into the war that suddenly caused the end; that was for the Shivans to do. Who would have known that the 14th (or 15th) year of the war would have been any different? The first fourteen years resulted in a stalemate, and that could have very well continued had the Shivans not intervened.
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That's my point, both sides were equal.
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Alright. Just didn't seem to get that across to myself when I was browsing through the posts.
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Next thing you know we'll talk about Shivan cuisine...
I think that the Vasudan design is actually quite strange. Normally, a species that evolved in as arid and unforgiving an environment as a desert world, would design to get the most out of least amount of something. However, the Vasudans seem to operate quite contrary to this and seem to approach shipbuilding with a more artistic approach. There are 2 explanations IMO for this:
The Vasudans put too much value on collecting headz. ;)
or
The Vasudans natural technological evolution was interfered with by an outside influence. *Cough*Ancients*Cough*
[mumble]Damn interfering aliens, why can't they leave people alone?!:mad:[\mumble]
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Err... It could be because the Vasudan race is a race of philosophers and artists, as stated by the tech description...
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I don't remember it saying anything about artists....
[edit] Yup, there it is.
*bows before Raa*
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We are The Race, after all... >.>
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Hehe, yep. But can someone quote this tech discription please.
But, it was NEVER mentioned in game or any rumors in tech discriptions or w\e about some outside influence on the vasudans evolution. Not that i remember. So this new aspect is totally theory.
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*sigh*
It's the first bloody line. Visit the damn techroom from time to time, will you?
[q]"The Vasudans are a civilization of philosophers, artists, and scholars.[/b] They immerse themselves in the teachings of those who came before them, perceiving history not as a linear chronology of events but as a space inhabited by both the living and the dead.
To the Terran outsider, Vasudan society appears convoluted and ritualistic. The Vasudans themselves may seem arrogant, treacherous, and superstitious. On the other hand, Vasudans tend to view Terrans as aggressive, paranoid, and stupid. Thirty years of peaceful interaction between Terrans and Vasudans has helped to deconstruct these stereotypes.
The crowning achievement of the Vasudan civilization is its language. For the average Terran, the formalities governing its usage are beyond comprehension. Syntax and vocabulary are dictated by such factors as the speaker's age, rank, and caste, the time of day and the phase of the Vasudan calendar, and the relative spatial position of the speaker to the Emperor. This is further compounded by the existence of several alphabets, dozens of verb tenses, and thousands of dialects. A translation device is standard on all GTVA communications systems, enabling Terrans and Vasudans to understand each other.
Because the Vasudan homeworld was primarily desert, the Terrans used Egyptian names to designate Vasudan warships during the Terran-Vasudan War and the Great War. After the defeat of the Shivans, the Vasudans insisted on maintaining this convention. The Emperor strongly identified with the history of Ancient Egypt, particularly the longevity of its civilization. Following their Emperor's example, Vasudans will take on what they call a Terran name from the myths and history of Ancient Egypt."[/q]
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Originally posted by Raa
The forces were even.
Terrans had better weapons, Vasudans had better ships. Both species used what they had to the best of their abilities, and ended up tieing.
In war, everybody loses.
I think the Sobek looks like a squid.
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Arguably, it was the Vasudans that won the Great War.
Bear with me.
Exposure to Vasudan fighters resulted in the Terrans designing fighters to match those roles (They were also superior to the Vasudan fighters for those roles, but that's another issue). These were the Hercules, Valkyrie, Medusa, and Ursa.
Thus these ships were in the pipeline and became available to combat the Shivans, which was when they were most needed.
Without exposure to Vasudan design concepts, they would never have been made.
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These were the Hercules, Valkyrie, Medusa, and Ursa.
No, the Valkyrie already existed when the Terrans and Vasudans were still fighting. Remember, the first time you use them is when McCarthy is attempting to give Avenger technology to *gasp* the Vasudans! Plus, the Ursa and Medusa were already in the developmental stages in order to combat Vasudan capital ships IIRC. I'm not sure about the Herc though...
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I think the Bat was the only terran fighter developed during the great war. Considering what it takes to field an advanced fighter the design was probly already on the books. Most likely a reject untill the vasudans(better power plant) and shields(ment it might actualy survive a dog fight) came along.
The Herc i think was around before and active during the T-V war, there is a quote around here about a wing of Hercs and an Aten i think. With a big tank like the Herc it would be best used by the more experianced pilots cause they would have the tactics to out manuver(SP) a faster foe, rather than a nugget who would just get his butt shot off by a fighter he can't out manuver(SP). Likely Command didn't issue the Herc until they thought the odds of the fighter and pilot coming home were high enough.
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The Herc was shown in the FS1 intro movie (as a briefing icon).
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It's also sitting in the Galatea's hanger bay when you first load up the game ;)
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Originally posted by Boomer
No, the Valkyrie already existed when the Terrans and Vasudans were still fighting. Remember, the first time you use them is when McCarthy is attempting to give Avenger technology to *gasp* the Vasudans! Plus, the Ursa and Medusa were already in the developmental stages in order to combat Vasudan capital ships IIRC. I'm not sure about the Herc though...
You completely missed my point, didn't you?
These ships were available because of "lessons learned" from the T-V War. They all fill roles that the Terrans did not intially have ships in, but that the Vasudans did. The Apollo has no real Vasudan companion (closest is probably the Seth), nor does the Athena. But the others...
Interceptor, Horus, Valkyrie. Heavy fighter: Seth, Hercules. Medium Bomber: Osiris, Medusa. Heavy Bomber: Amun, Ursa.
Without the Vasudans, these ships would never have been created.
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So that was the battle of deneb, am i right? Beginning cut seen? Man id love to fly a mission like that, instead of regular type missions. Fly around, kill wings, blow up bad caps, save our own.
Sad it is..
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You completely missed my point, didn't you?
No, I didn't, because frankly, with the exception of the Valkyrie and the Ulysses, there is no proof that we didn't already have said ships. In fact, we did have an older interceptor, the Angel Scout.
And to turn this argument around: Who's to say that the Vasudans had all their ships before the Terrans came around?
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Originally posted by ngtm1r
Arguably, it was the Vasudans that won the Great War.
Wrong.
You know who really won the Great War?
Alpha 1;)
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Originally posted by Charismatic
Hehe, yep. But can someone quote this tech discription please.
But, it was NEVER mentioned in game or any rumors in tech discriptions or w\e about some outside influence on the vasudans evolution. Not that i remember. So this new aspect is totally theory.
FS reference bible;
[q]Vasudans
Vasudans originate from the planet Vasuda Prime. Their anatomy is similar to humans in many respects. They’re bipedal, have two eyes and a mouth, and have nearly the same atmospheric & respiration needs. For a long time, their bony, sinewy limbs were a cause of revulsion for by the relatively soft-looking humans. The dry, arid climate of Vasuda Prime has given the Vasudans a brown, mottled, leathery skin.
Terran-Vasudan communication was relatively easy to establish, despite the fact that Vasudan vocal cords are unable to make the sounds needed to produce the English language (now refered to as “Terran Standard” by spacers). This requires the use of small translational devices during any T-V exchange. The speaker talks in a low tone near the “squawker” and it translates and speaks for the user in the desired language. Small earpieces allow the devices to relay the opposite translations to the user. While the squawkers work on both species, the Vasudans are typically the ones to wear the devices.
Human archeologists and geologists have often been amazed that Vasuda Prime was capable of producing an intelligent species like the Vasudans. The planet is nearly completely covered by wind-blown deserts and barren, rocky terrain. As a result, Vasudans live mostly in domed, sheltered, or underground cities. Vasudans have, of course, always excelled at excavation and the efficient use and transport of resources. It’s also been speculated that Vasudans were originally forced prematurely into space in order to gain the resources needed for their species’ survival. Vasudans also excel at general engineering and efficient, high-speed ship propulsion systems.
Despite the physical differences between humans and Vasudans, their mentalities evolved very similarly. They have strong family structures, and enjoy many similar social activities that Terrans do. Parts of their not-too-distant history are shrouded in much ancient mysticism, and preoccupation with legends. So much so that it’s been often rumored that the Vasudan Parliamentary government actively discourages any remnants of such mysticism and fanatical religion.
It is suspected that the Vasudans may have actually been visited long ago in their past by another race, simply called “the Ancients”. Not much is known about this race, but from archaeological digs, it seems that they originated from a system nearby to Vasuda Prime. Since it is unlikely that Vasuda Prime could have sustained a primitive race for long enough to develop space travel, it is not unfeasible that “the Ancients” may have helped Vasudan culture develop enough to allow them to survive.
However, all evidence of “the Ancients” is mysteriously cut off after a certain point in time, leading scientists to believe there was some kind of cataclysm which befell their culture. Other more religious groups claim that they were destroyed by a powerful cleansing force, and that the same would happen to the Vasudans when they became too prideful. They claim that the ancients left a prophecy detailing the destruction of themselves, and the subsequent destruction of the Vasudans. Most modern Vasudans have abandoned this mythos, and believe that “the Ancients” were just another spacefaring race that stayed in the area for awhile, then moved on to more fertile systems.
The Temple at Altair, a massive ruins of what may have once been an Ancients’ building, stands on Altair 5, a liveable planet in a system not far from Vasuda Prime. This “temple” has been reconstructed into the headquarters for the “Hammer of Light”, which is a group of the most fanatical believers in the “Omen of Darkness” which is the term they have given to the eventual destruction of the Vasudan race. The Hammer of Light believes that only by staying steadfast and abandoning pride can they truly step into the Light and become one with their maker. Hence, they are a “Hammer of Light”, pounding in the values that they believe will help others see this light.
Due to the fact that the Vasudans were the first sentient species that the Terrans encountered in space, the Terrans adopted a naming convention based on Zodiac signs and constellations for Vasudan ships.
[/q]
[q]Act 3 Misc 2A
The records have been deciphered and analyzed. The language used by these “ancients” bears several similarities to the Vasudan language, lending credence to some of the Vasudan legends about their ancestry. From what little information there is in the records, it’s learned that the Ancient’s civilization was one very similar to the Terrans and Vasudans, and that they were likewise annihilated by a mysterious space-faring race that showed no mercy or effort to communicate. In the last months of their species’ existence, they were perfecting a device to allow ships to be tracked in subspace. The Ancient’s planned on using this to attack the Shivans’ key ships in subspace while their shields were down. Unfortunately, the Shivans destroyed their fleets before they could exploit this device. Furthermore, the Ancients speculate that subspace nodes were quite fragile, and that combat during a jump would surely cause the collapse of the surrounding nodes.
Terrans begin constructing the tracking device immediately. They need to recover certain bits of technology from the Shivans to reconstruct the tracking device. The renegade Vasudans also have a piece of needed technology so there is also an offensive against them, requiring a showdown between the renegade and loyal Vasudans.
[missions involve the player’s forces trying to track down the SD fleet. It’s found, and the newly made tracking devices are readied for use. Unfortunately, the SD fleet is just one jump away from the Terran’s home systems. A large attack group of Terran ships is quickly assembled, and the SD attack begins as it makes the last jump to Earth.]
[/q]
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Originally posted by Boomer
No, I didn't, because frankly, with the exception of the Valkyrie and the Ulysses, there is no proof that we didn't already have said ships. In fact, we did have an older interceptor, the Angel Scout.
Incorrect.
Ursa was developed for the express purpose of spaceborne deployment of Harbinger bomb. Ursa referred to as "new". Alpha 1 piloted an Ursa on their first operational deployment.
Medusa developed for express purpose of deployment of the Tsunami bomb, which was under development at the beginning of FS1 and not deployed operationally until the second act. Medusa also referred to as "new".
Hercules referred to as "new".
Angel referred to as "Scout Fighter", had only one primary slot ("added a pair of guns"). Lack of armament, and speed (half the engines of the Valkyrie!) indicate unsuitablity for combatant role.
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Watch the FS1 intro. You'll see a Medusa icon on the Comm officers screens.
Ursa came out for use against the Shivans.
Herc could have been new in the sense that the Bastion just hadn't gotten them yet.
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Originally posted by Boomer
Watch the FS1 intro. You'll see a Medusa icon on the Comm officers screens.
Ursa came out for use against the Shivans.
Herc could have been new in the sense that the Bastion just hadn't gotten them yet.
It's probably just an error on Volition's part.