Morningstar Coalition wrote:Alright. I've been up till almost three am while agonizing over the final details of my new nation's navy, specifically types of ship classes, crew compliments, total numbers available, and so on, so bear with me if this isn't totally coherent.
I was reading through
Arizona Nova's excellent
"Science of a Nation" thread and I came across some ideas. I want to try and refine and improve Arizona's work here, and I thought the argument thread might be a better place than cluttering the Science thread with debate which may or may not lead anywhere.
So here's my thoughts.
The concept of rating specialties and fields of technology is a wonderful one, and I think goes a long way towards allowing us each to really look at our nations and our tech-bases, not to mention allowing us to get a better understanding of the same things in other nations. However, when I first read Arizona's categories/specialties, I was somewhat confused. I admit that a good deal of my preconceptions come from years of sci-fi stories, and especially computer and console games involving technology research (Master of Orion, Civilization, Space Empires, Etc). In most of these sources, there were a handful of easily understandable categories or trees. Arizona has hit on several, but others seem to be absent.
Arizona has the following Specialties:
Materials Engineering: this governs all the secrets regarding the recombination of phyical substance for directed use; whether simply distilling water to drink to crafting in neutronium, the densest material known to exist.
Directed Energy: this is the power to bend and manipulate energy to a purpose, ranging from the utilization of electricity to accomplish motor movement, to the workings of a superlaser array designed to destroy a planet.
Self-Guided Systems: This refers to any system created with the intent to act upon its own initiative, whether a simple guided missile or an immense and complex arch-AI-lect.
Gravitonics: Gravity is, as a force, one which walks the line between energy and matter, affecting both in various, sometimes unpredictable ways. Gravitonics touches everything from artificial gravity systems to black hole bombs.
Alteration: The most esoteric specialization, alteration encompasses any technology which directly alters the fabric of reality itself, whether it be dimensionally, temporally, or through quantum mechanics.
Now, I mean no disrespect at all, but I wonder if these categories could be refined or improved in any way. By looking at these in detail, maybe we can combine some of them, while adding new categories.
Materials Engineering. In Master of Orion, this would fall smack in the field of "Construction", and I think is quite apt in it's current use. This field or specialty can help give an indication of how advanced the materials in a nation are. Whether they use high-carbon steel, to compressed-matter diamond-like materials.
I have no proposal for this field.Directed Energy: I believe I understand where Arizona was going with this, however I believe both the name and the description could be misleading. I don't think this field is, or should be, specifically about weapons. I think we should broaden this to include all the various forms of power and energy technologies. Development of fusion reactors, antimatter manufacture, superconductors. The generation and harnessing of energy.
I propose the name "Energy Physics".
Self-Guided Systems: As with energy technology, this category has many more applications than weapons technology. AIs can be interfaced into starships, factories, even communications networks. This field can even include the basic technologies upon which the advanced computers (sentient or not) are built. Electronics, optical, quantum, or spacetime.
I propose the name "Information Science".
Gravitonics: This field seems to me unnecessarily limited and focused. While I admit that being able to manipulate gravity is a potent and important tool in FT, I'm not sure it needs a separate category, especially in light of the field of Alteration.
I propose this field be removed or merged with Alteration.Alteration: To me it seems this category serves two purposes. One is specifically to hold those technologies which deal with the direct manipulation of space, time, or the universe at large. Time travel, phasing shields/cloak, dimensional effects, and perhaps even the direct manipulation of gravity and/or inertia. The second purpose this category seems to serve is a sort of "catch-all" field for any technology or science which doesn't fit the other four fields. I see no problem with this, but a "Misc" field need not be merged with one which seems to have clear applications.
I propose the name "Reality Alteration".New Field: One thing which I noticed as a seeming hole in the fields of science is that pertaining to biotechnology. Everything from antibiotics, auto-docs, hyposprays, genetic engineering, cybernetics, to biological starships.
I propose the new field of "Biotechnology".New Field: As mentioned before, we may in fact need a catch-all "Misc" field where players can lump technologies which do not fit the other fields. When someone places this "Misc" in a high priority, they can include comments or explanations of exactly what technologies they wish it to represent.
I propose the new field of "Exotic Sciences".Now we get to what Arizona calls the "Major and Minor Triangles". These seem to embody military doctrines, and seem to serve the purpose to classify our FT starships. The major triangle is divided between
Mobility,
Offense, and
Defense. This falls right in line with real-world, wet-navy doctrines of
Speed, Armor, and Firepower. I really see no problems with this "Doctrinal Triad". It is quite logical and sound in it's own right.
The Minor Triangle is divided between:
Tactics: The ability to effectively command and control, to make and relay decisions as quickly as possible, and employ countermeasures to hamper the enemy's abilities; i.e., your ability to react and outmaneuver your enemy's technology, though not necessarily stop it.
Clandestinity: The ability to hide from the enemy, whether literally in battle or figuratively through espionage; any technology which aims to fortify this quality.
Suprabiology: The resources spent on developing attributes outside of natural evolution, whether it is simply increased longevity or psionic/Force powers.
Aside for the good-humor ribbing I've already given Arizona about the questionable word "Clandestinity", I think there is still room for improvement for the minor triangle.
Tactics: As Arizona describes, this field focuses on what amounts to Command & Control ability and Leadership qualities. Advanced communications, tactical awareness, and speed of orders are all driven towards perfection in this field.
I propose the name "Command".Clandestinity: Stealth, evasion, spying, deception, ambushes, feints. Dirty, underhanded tricks to win an engagement. These are qualities you see in the Romulans of Star Trek, Gathering intelligence on your enemy, without giving anything of yourself away.
I propose the name "Espionage".Suprabiology: I personally believe that again we've come across another "Misc" category. A place to put anything that doesn't fit elsewhere. I don't think we need or want this in what is supposed to be a "Doctrinal Triad", because each point in the triangle is supposed to be an equally valid doctrine of war, the importance of each which must be chosen by the nation. Psionics, magic, and the Force are all things which can easily be covered by either Reality Alteration, or Exotic Sciences.
I propose the removal of this field.This leaves us with a problem. The Major Triad is logical and it's easy to see how Mobility, Defense, and Offense balance and weight against each other. I believe that Command and Espionage form two points of a similar triad, however for the life of me I cannot come up with a suitable third point for this second triangle. At this point it may just be the sleep deprivation, but I am going to wrap this up and open things for debate. Debate both on my proposed changes, but also on what might be put into the place of the third point of the minor triangle.
Thanks for your time!