From: sjr [bonzodogdoodah@libertysurf.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 3:04 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Remote Operations Skill > Could someone give me an example of how remote ops and piloting work for > drones? > We use Remote Ops as a limiter, with the lowest skill being used (ie if Piloting was 3 and Remote Ops 5, the skill would be 3) SJR *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: sjr [bonzodogdoodah@libertysurf.co.uk] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 3:01 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Cetaceans > > >What about some sort of feedback from a cetacean remote; some sort of > >'neural link' giving advantages in terms of remote ops, whereas the sonic > >trode gives a more grainy quality to the control (ie less responsive). > Well actually, I was thinking more along the line of dangerous disorientation/ possible psychological damage. In my (all cetacean) campaign, the fins will have access to something called AESOP (Augmented Elective Sensory Override Protocol); this is something that only cetaceans can use, given their more holistic psychological profile and their significantly different neurology and brain chemistry. I was a bit concerned about the feedback thing myself (and it was me that suggested it). After all, a fuse would solve this problem. However, the level of sensory integration required to gain advantage from the sensorium may lead to psychosis in certain situations. After all, BP states that fins see their tools and possessions as extensions of themselves and not separate. I still need to work out the game mechanics, though. SJR *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: necrobob [necrobob@mail.compfxnet.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 3:38 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Cetaceans and Tech (not feedback) >After all, BP states that fins see their >tools and possessions as extensions of themselves and not separate. I'd almost forgotten that, but that's true. While cetaceans aren't materialistic per se, certainly they consider their tools to be an extension of themselves. Much as a person who is in a wheelchair will consider the chair to be a part of their body, it seems that cetaceans could become dependent on technology to function in human society. Hopefully the related psychoses will be dealt with in the cetacean sourcebook. -Necromancer Bob *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Stephen Mutka [dreadmook@netzero.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 3:58 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Contribute to Blue Planet... Hey all, I wasn't going to post to this thread originally, since I'm not much of a biologist. But I thought of this the other day, and it might be unusual enough to pass muster. It definitely fits under the "harmless but interesting" category... Poseidon Water Screw This common worm-analog varies in length from less than a centimeter to more than a meter. It's body is segmented, tubular in shape, and hollow down the center, with a stiff "spiral" structure in place of a spine. Along the path of this spiral is a series of membranes, which serve to strain microscopic organisms out of the seawater for digestion. Some varieties produce a contact poison on the skin, others develop a hard, spiny shell, but most are completely harmless. Bahavior: The Water Screw leads a quiet life of swimming and eating. It swims by twisting its body with a complex series of muscles. Apparently blind, the Water Screw responds only to nearby water vibrations or direct tactile stimulus. As it swims, water is forced into the Water Screw's open mouth, allowing it to feed. It's diet mostly consists of bacteria and small colonies of fungus, but anythng that can fit in its mouth is fair game. It fills two roles in the ecosystem: it helps filter the oceans of waste products, and it supplements the diets of most larger organisms. The Water Screw is asexual, and reproduces by budding; occasionally one or several body segments of an older Water Screw break off to live as a seperate organism. It is currently unknown as to why they reproduce when they do, as they don't seem to follow any particular schedule. It is likely to be dependent upon each species. However, occasionally a Water Screw will engulf something larger or stronger than it can digest, and get lodged somewhere done the line; it deals with this problem by budding immediately, allowing the segment in trouble to die if necessary. The Water Screw is rich in protein, which makes it a staple of native diets. Natives have also been known to use Water Screws to bait fishing lines and traps. However, since the Water Screw scours the water wherever it goes, some Screws living near habitation centers or production facilities tend to acquire trace amounts of "civilized" waste, much of which is toxic. This will spread the poison to other members of the food chain. Biologists have recently discovered that these toxins can be readily detectable in Water Screw samples, much like terrestrial lobsters (see Neil Stephenson's "Zodiac" for more information). So, what do you think? Take care, Steve Shop Safely Online Without a Credit Card http://www.rocketcash.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: :gobion: [gobion@btinternet.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 4:20 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Cc: Gareth Hanrahan Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - NEW! OceanView Magazine Hi there, In our continuing effort to create good resources for the truly excellent Blue Planet RPG (to complement all those out there already!) Gareth and myself have written the first issue of OceanView magazine. This in-character magazine is the latest addition to CommCore. "OceanView - The View From Poseidon", CommCore's new online magazine that brings you all the latest news from Poseidon. The URL is: http://www.commcore.f2s.com/oceanview/ This first issue is packed full of genuine home grown Poseidon chunks of info goodness! - We have an Interview from the Colonial Administrator John Bishop - HotSpots gives the essential low-down on a newcomers first 30 hours on our beautiful planet. - Tech Review - including the latest on the Kraken Dreadnaught, the Hydrospan TigerShark Strikesub and the GEO Gargoyle Dropship. - The Zone is the guide to what's happening on Poseidon. - News From The Hole is our section that covers the 'mother planet' Earth and all of her colonies on the otherside of the Wormhole. - Mover/Shakers on Poseidon. This issue we look at Dr. Gabriel Harris - leading artifical intelligence researcher. - The controversial Opposing Views. This issue looks at the Incorporate view vs. the Environmental Activist/Echoterrrorist view. - Editorial. So what are you waiting for? Check it out! :o) (and let us know what you think!) :gobion & gareth: ______________________ e: gobion@btinternet.com w: www.commcore.f2s.com icq: 38430983 *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: kabael@softhome.net Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 4:22 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - Cetaceans psychology > However, the level of sensory > integration required to gain advantage from the sensorium may lead to > psychosis in certain situations. After all, BP states that fins see their > tools and possessions as extensions of themselves and not separate. That brings up the idea that psychology and world-view would be a _very_ good thing to go on about at length in the cetacean book, Justin. Enough to get a handle on what the world looks like from below the surface, as well as enough to bullshit and extrapolate from during an RP session. Derek Guder - kabael@softhome.net - ICQ# 24193592 Opinionated reviewer extraordinaire *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Jason Hockley [jh39@ukc.ac.uk] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 5:18 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - NEW! OceanView Magazine ----- Original Message ----- > So what are you waiting for? Check it out! :o) > > (and let us know what you think!) Very nice. How often are you planning on putting these out? I particularly liked the bit in "News From the Hole" about Luna refusing to return the Elgin Marbles to Britain. Jason *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Jeb Boyt [jeboyt@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 5:20 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Pollution (Was: Contribute to Blue Planet) ----Original Message Follows---- From: Stephen Mutka Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 16:57:33 -0500 However, since the Water Screw scours the water wherever it goes, some Screws living near habitation centers or production facilities tend to acquire trace amounts of "civilized" waste, much of which is toxic. This will spread the poison to other members of the food chain. Biologists have recently discovered that these toxins can be readily detectable in Water Screw samples, much like terrestrial lobsters (see Neil Stephenson's "Zodiac" for more information). ================================= Interesting creature. I like the way that you integrated it into the food web and as part of life on Poseidon rather than simply as a threat. Your comment on the water screws assimilation of toxins, though, brought up an issue I have been meaning to raise since I first read Archipeligo. After reading the descriptions of the cities and settlements, it is clear that many settlements are on or immediately adjacent to coastal waters. Which is particularly understandable given the aquaform modification of the original settlers and the many of the later colonists. Now, it seems to me that if you have people who live in and near the water, that they are going to have a very different outlook and approach to point source and nonpoint source pollution and that they would have living styles and best management practices that did a fairly good job of conserving water quality and keeping pollutants out of the water. If you were an aquaform, would you dump your waste over the rail into the water under your cabin? Ok, so how would the original settlers have dealt with this? The can haul their waste inland, they can maintain more spacing between their cabins so that the there is a thorough flushing with the daily tides, they can take other measure to ensure that the wastes don't go into the water in the first place, and they can have lengthy village meetings to discuss pollution problems and how best to deal with them (Keep in mind, most of the original settlers were PhDs and other highly trained individuals). Now the colonists are a different matter. A colonist may have an aquaform modification, but chances are that it is pretty recent and that they did not grow-up in the water. So, the recent colonists are not going to have the same lifestyles as the natives. Lots of opportunity for conflict here. That brings us to the Floats. My image of the Floats has always been that of the residential boats in Hong Kong harbor or on the river in Bangkok. That's a pretty clear image of what it is like above the water, but what is it like in the water under the floats? If you were an aquaform or a cetacean, would you want to go anywhere near the Floats? And my point in all of this is, how much of a water pollution problem is there on Poseidon? In some localized areas (i.e. the Floats, some industrial outfalls), no doubt it can be pretty bad. Is the pollution so severe that there are fishing advisories and closures? Thoughts? Jeb PS - Remember, it is the metals in the water that make the Water Screws taste so sweet. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Gareth Hanrahan [hanrahag@iol.ie] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 5:28 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - NEW! OceanView Magazine > > So what are you waiting for? Check it out! :o) > > > > (and let us know what you think!) > > Very nice. How often are you planning on putting these > out? Daily. :-) Er. In the great tradition of webzines, Whenever It's Done. We've got ideas for the next five or six issues, but it'll really be dependant on free time.... > Jason Gar http://www.irishgaming.com/warpcon http://chrysanthemumRoad.tripod.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: David R. Crowell [gpfarm-dave@northnet.org] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 5:52 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Pollution (Was: Contribute to Blue Planet) ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeb Boyt > That brings us to the Floats. My image of the Floats has always been that > of the residential boats in Hong Kong harbor or on the river in Bangkok. > That's a pretty clear image of what it is like above the water, but what is > it like in the water under the floats? If you were an aquaform or a > cetacean, would you want to go anywhere near the Floats? > > And my point in all of this is, how much of a water pollution problem is > there on Poseidon? In some localized areas (i.e. the Floats, some > industrial outfalls), no doubt it can be pretty bad. Is the pollution so > severe that there are fishing advisories and closures? > > Thoughts? > > Jeb > > One of the adventures in First Colony describes the water under the Floats as being particularly nasty. I think your image of Hong Kong harbour is probably very apt. ps I liked the water screw too. *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Stephen Mutka [dreadmook@netzero.net] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 9:58 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Pollution (Was: Contribute to Blue Planet) Jeb Boyt wrote: > Now, it seems to me that if you have people who live in and near the water, > that they are going to have a very different outlook and approach to point > source and nonpoint source pollution and that they would have living styles > and best management practices that did a fairly good job of conserving water > quality and keeping pollutants out of the water. If you were an aquaform, > would you dump your waste over the rail into the water under your cabin? Yeah, I have to say that I was thinking about the big settlements and manufacturing plants. I would imagine that smaller settlements would have ways of managing their waste. They would probably have a variety of microbes capable of digesting human waste. Hell, I could see native villages cultivating a strain of fast fungus for exactly this reason. What's the native proverb? "Don't shit where you swim." > That brings us to the Floats. My image of the Floats has always been that > of the residential boats in Hong Kong harbor or on the river in Bangkok. > That's a pretty clear image of what it is like above the water, but what is > it like in the water under the floats? If you were an aquaform or a > cetacean, would you want to go anywhere near the Floats? Not unless I lived there. The thing is, poverty often forces people to live in disgusting conditions, and I don't think the Floats would be any different. > PS - Remember, it is the metals in the water that make the Water Screws > taste so sweet. Hah! I'll have to remember that one... Take care all, Steve Shop Safely Online Without a Credit Card http://www.rocketcash.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Chad Chirhart [seahawk@visi.com] Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 10:19 PM To: blue_planet@lists.ient.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Cetaceans At 06:00 PM 1/2/2001 +0000, you wrote: >----Original Message Follows---- >From: Justin Bacon >Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:17:27 -0600 > >SONG OF THE SEA: The Cetacean Sourcebook; or >SONG OF THE SEA: Cetaceans on the World of Blue Planet >================================ > >Nice. I was thinking of something along the lines of SWIMMING BETWEEN THE >WORLDS which is probably too long. "The Cetacean Sourcebook" is fine as a >subtitle. Hmm... SENTIENCE BELOW THE SEAS: The Cetacean Sourcebook. Justin, just noticed your email address, what part of Minnesota you in? I know Prairie Lakes well, one of there former employees. Chad Chirhart seahawk@visi.com *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.ient.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message.