Mass Effect-ish concepts

[rhoenix]

Since I'm working more on my Mass Effect-inspired writing, I need to get at the heart of several concepts - not just for my own understanding so that it may be conveyed better to the reader, but also because there are implications with each technology or concept that must be kept in mind.

So, I'll be posting outlines of certain things to get started, and then going back over them once it seems like the bases are covered.

If you've any comments or thoughts on any of these, feel free to share them.

- Element Zero
- fancy name for mcguffin element (functions by altering the effective mass of something using electric current)
- allows for all types of scifi concepts and setting changes (e.g. it is a society-changing element)
- left to be discovered by ancient aliens who harvest space-faring civilizations periodically, as a way to make those civilizations' technology base more predictable

- high velocity small arms weapons
- uses a block of solid material as ammunition, requires a "shaver" to shave off individual slivers of material to be accelerated to high velocities
- uses a railgun/coilgun setup to accelerate the shavings to weaponized velocities
- heat generated by repeated firing can overheat the gun if fired too much
(- thermal clips' function - rapid cooldown of a gun when overheated; possibly leads to materials stress, shortening life of parts of the gun)

FTL Travel (direct)
- uses Element Zero to reduce effective mass of a craft, making the energy required to push it past c to be much lower
- slower form of FTL travel, primarily used to travel between solar systems

FTL Travel (relay)
- requires a mass relay be in place at both origin point and destination point
- travel, even across the galaxy, is nearly instantaneous
- mass relays and the Citadel are part of the same network, additional aspects unknown

Power generation
- shown to be fusion-based

Ship weapons
- mass driver (Thanix cannon, Reaper beams): projects a solid-looking beam of material at high velocity
- torpedoes

basic DNA structure
- levo-based (most of alien cultures in galaxy, including humans)
- dextro-based (turians & quarians only)

omnitools
- evolution of cell phone & PC into one device, wrist-mounted (similar to a watch)
- uses holographic display technology to create solid-looking, interactive interface with user

[Stofsk]

- Element Zero
- fancy name for mcguffin element (functions by altering the effective mass of something using electric current)
- allows for all types of scifi concepts and setting changes (e.g. it is a society-changing element)
- left to be discovered by ancient aliens who harvest space-faring civilizations periodically, as a way to make those civilizations' technology base more predictable

The element itself is not left around by the reapers or other ancient precursor civilisations. IIRC it forms from the remnant of supernovas. (I vaguely recall that from the codex)

You're thinking of the mass relay network and the Citadel.

- high velocity small arms weapons
- uses a block of solid material as ammunition, requires a "shaver" to shave off individual slivers of material to be accelerated to high velocities
- uses a railgun/coilgun setup to accelerate the shavings to weaponized velocities
- heat generated by repeated firing can overheat the gun if fired too much
(- thermal clips' function - rapid cooldown of a gun when overheated; possibly leads to materials stress, shortening life of parts of the gun)

Assuming this is for your own fanfic writing, why hold onto the thermal clips? It was an embarassing retcon. Like, really bad.

Power generation
- shown to be fusion-based

Civilian, yes. For military they use antimatter.

Wait are we talking about sublight propulsion?

omnitools
- evolution of cell phone & PC into one device, wrist-mounted (similar to a watch)
- uses holographic display technology to create solid-looking, interactive interface with user

Don't forget micro-manufacturing capabilities, such as the ability to fabricate tech mines and things like those inferno and cryo powers. (and... shudder... the omni-blade)

Basically an omnitool is like having a smartphone crossed with a trek-style replicator all mounted on the wrist. Pretty snazzy. :)

[rhoenix]

The OP was originally a scratchpad for ideas, and many of them have... evolved since then. Right now, the situation is looking quite different. However, there are still a few constants, which I'll address here:

Civilian, yes. For military they use antimatter.

Wait are we talking about sublight propulsion?

In this case, Eclipse Phase had a good idea - considering nuclear fusion for standard power, and antimatter for high-performance applications (like, military craft and weapons). Nuclear fusion offers quite a bit of versatility and dependable power supply, but antimatter would provide raw power in specific applications.

Sublight propulsion would be a topic to consider, as are FTL mechanics in this sort of setting.

Don't forget micro-manufacturing capabilities, such as the ability to fabricate tech mines and things like those inferno and cryo powers. (and... shudder... the omni-blade)

Basically an omnitool is like having a smartphone crossed with a trek-style replicator all mounted on the wrist. Pretty snazzy. :)

Basically, yes. I started with the "omnitool" concept, which when I thought about it more, really is the logical conclusion of a smartphone design. I'm still not sure about the mini-fabricator addition to it, since it would have far reaching consequences (such as larger-scale manufacturing), but working as a "Nexus" of connected devices from a central control to me makes sense. It also makes this device a prime target for hacking in combat situations... but that's all part of the fun.

At this point, I'm still mulling over the human situation, without getting much into the alien species yet. At this point, there are two different directions, both of which could have some very interesting iterations as they develop.

1. Humanity survived a great calamity, but managed to pull together as a unified front to the rest of the galaxy.
(This presents a more familiar attachment for the reader, along with calling out some familiar tropes that would likely still be in place and in use in this setting. I can see this fitting a more conflict-based theme)

2. Humanity is gone, and humanity's "children" species are trying to find out what happened to them - in and around dealing with galactic-level drama.
(This is the more dramatic one, since the reader would be sympathizing essentially with people who aren't human, though they might be close to it. I can see this fitting a more exploration-based theme.)

[Stofsk]

In this case, Eclipse Phase had a good idea - considering nuclear fusion for standard power, and antimatter for high-performance applications (like, military craft and weapons). Nuclear fusion offers quite a bit of versatility and dependable power supply, but antimatter would provide raw power in specific applications.

Yup.

Sublight propulsion would be a topic to consider, as are FTL mechanics in this sort of setting.

Sublight propulsion would likely be tied to fusion or antimatter thrusters. You'd probably have ion drives for slow, inner system freight. Depends on how ERECTION-HARD you want your sci-fi to be.

For example, do you have to have FTL?

Basically, yes. I started with the "omnitool" concept, which when I thought about it more, really is the logical conclusion of a smartphone design. I'm still not sure about the mini-fabricator addition to it, since it would have far reaching consequences (such as larger-scale manufacturing), but working as a "Nexus" of connected devices from a central control to me makes sense. It also makes this device a prime target for hacking in combat situations... but that's all part of the fun.

The micro-fabrication capability is a head scratcher but it could make sense if there is prearranged material to turn into the devices you want (like omnigel which the tool can make from virtually everything, and store it for later use). Maybe also have a limit to what it can fabricate in the field as well. It would work for things like tech mines or cryofreeze, but you couldn't make a ham sandwich out of it.

At this point, I'm still mulling over the human situation, without getting much into the alien species yet. At this point, there are two different directions, both of which could have some very interesting iterations as they develop.

1. Humanity survived a great calamity, but managed to pull together as a unified front to the rest of the galaxy.
(This presents a more familiar attachment for the reader, along with calling out some familiar tropes that would likely still be in place and in use in this setting. I can see this fitting a more conflict-based theme)

2. Humanity is gone, and humanity's "children" species are trying to find out what happened to them - in and around dealing with galactic-level drama.
(This is the more dramatic one, since the reader would be sympathizing essentially with people who aren't human, though they might be close to it. I can see this fitting a more exploration-based theme.)

The second one seems more promising a concept.

[rhoenix]

Sublight propulsion would likely be tied to fusion or antimatter thrusters. You'd probably have ion drives for slow, inner system freight. Depends on how ERECTION-HARD you want your sci-fi to be.

For example, do you have to have FTL?

I had plans for it, but if I go with the "second option" (talked more about below), then this may end up being a rudimentary, reverse-engineered version of what was available before, and not very fast. As far as mechanism... I'm honestly not sure yet.

Going with something like mass lightening/cancelling to allow for easier straight-line acceleration to FTL is... workable for this situation (especially since it's meant to be just a rudimentary technology, and not advanced much yet).

The micro-fabrication capability is a head scratcher but it could make sense if there is prearranged material to turn into the devices you want (like omnigel which the tool can make from virtually everything, and store it for later use). Maybe also have a limit to what it can fabricate in the field as well. It would work for things like tech mines or cryofreeze, but you couldn't make a ham sandwich out of it.

Hrm. I'll have to give this particular concept to congeal a bit more, especially if I go with a less... standard setting (like the "second choice" below)

At this point, I'm still mulling over the human situation, without getting much into the alien species yet. At this point, there are two different directions, both of which could have some very interesting iterations as they develop.

1. Humanity survived a great calamity, but managed to pull together as a unified front to the rest of the galaxy.
(This presents a more familiar attachment for the reader, along with calling out some familiar tropes that would likely still be in place and in use in this setting. I can see this fitting a more conflict-based theme)

2. Humanity is gone, and humanity's "children" species are trying to find out what happened to them - in and around dealing with galactic-level drama.
(This is the more dramatic one, since the reader would be sympathizing essentially with people who aren't human, though they might be close to it. I can see this fitting a more exploration-based theme.)

The second one seems more promising a concept.

It is the more dramatic of the two, and will require more tinkering and exploring of concepts - but I think you're right in that it offers much more storytelling potential. I started tinkering and exploring this concept last night (asking questions, essentially - and letting the answers lead to more questions), and it's actually meshing very well with another scifi idea I had a while ago that never went anywhere.

So - the other thread (about trans/post humans) in this forum is quickly becoming more important. I'm not planning on having too many "child species" of humanity; right now, I've only plans for 3 or 4 of them. But, I am certainly open to suggestions, since everything should balance well.

And yes, if I go this route, adding alien species on top of this will just get more fun.