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  1. - Top - End - #241

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    I think she has Mom's seal of approval.

  2. - Top - End - #242
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    DwarfClericGuy

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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Hmm. Interesting.

    "There is insufficient cranial capacity to accommodate the volume of neurological matter required for the degree of sentience we desire. Do we:
    1) Expand the cranium, thus making the individual look more human-like and less animalistic.
    2) Make the skull thinner
    3) Increase the efficiency of neuronal connections and myelin, particularly in the parietal lobe
    4) Reduce spine flexibility to use it as an 'extension' of cranial space."
    May you get EXACTLY what you wish for.

  3. - Top - End - #243
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Definitely seems like the more AI-like solution. Rearranging the brain to be like one of the more intelligence-per-brain-mass/volume species like crows and parrots could be another solution, but might have made Florence less 'doglike' and we do get lots of mileage out of her trying to balance being a sentient member of society and having doglike instincts (plus Mark gets to make up the rules for spinal neuromatter).

  4. - Top - End - #244
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    DwarfClericGuy

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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Willie the Duck View Post
    Rearranging the brain to be like one of the more intelligence-per-brain-mass/volume species like crows and parrots could be another solution...
    That was option #3. IIRC, those factors do play a bit into heightened intelligence and are more determined by genetics.

    It doesn't stop instincts - I mean, smart folks can do pretty silly things because of instincts...

    Like, you know, grabbing a hot item as it falls...
    May you get EXACTLY what you wish for.

  5. - Top - End - #245
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by sihnfahl View Post
    That was option #3. IIRC, those factors do play a bit into heightened intelligence and are more determined by genetics.

    It doesn't stop instincts - I mean, smart folks can do pretty silly things because of instincts...

    Like, you know, grabbing a hot item as it falls...
    Yes it is #3, I wasn't trying to dispute your list of options. I was explaining why I thought Mark didn't go that route, and my hypothesis is that it would make Florence's brain less 'dog-like' whereas putting the burden onto an enhanced spinal chord is a purer 'sci fi mumbo-jumbo' answer.

  6. - Top - End - #246
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by sihnfahl View Post
    Hmm. Interesting.

    "There is insufficient cranial capacity to accommodate the volume of neurological matter required for the degree of sentience we desire. Do we:
    1) Expand the cranium, thus making the individual look more human-like and less animalistic.
    2) Make the skull thinner
    3) Increase the efficiency of neuronal connections and myelin, particularly in the parietal lobe
    4) Reduce spine flexibility to use it as an 'extension' of cranial space."
    5a) Watsonian: reuse the algorithm we already use in robots that don't have the cranial capability for the centralized processing unit
    5b) Doylist: someone pointed out to the author that her head is too small, so 1 wasn't an option. And 2, 3 & 4 are equivalent handwaves, so go with the one that gives her an armoured backbone.

    GW
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    Ceterum autem censeo Hilgya malefica est

  7. - Top - End - #247

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Niomi is using Sam as a negotiating tool. She really was the better person to handle this; Florence would be paying retail happily.

  8. - Top - End - #248
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Rogar Demonblud View Post
    Niomi is using Sam as a negotiating tool. She really was the better person to handle this; Florence would be paying retail happily.
    Oh, it'd be worse. She'd buy the excuse about the broken airlocks, pay the extra, and probably offer to repair the 'locks at cost. Niomi is correct: Florence is too nice to negotiate. Of course, that does mean she makes friends like no-one's business, and that has significant advantages, but I suspect she overpays often.

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    Deep in the corners of your mind
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    But really, the important lesson here is this: Rather than making assumptions that don't fit with the text and then complaining about the text being wrong, why not just choose different assumptions that DO fit with the text?
    Ceterum autem censeo Hilgya malefica est

  9. - Top - End - #249

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Depends. Is she smiling with or without teeth?

  10. - Top - End - #250
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Did anyone else read Niomi's first speech bubble in Blunt's voice? And then for some reason I assumed it was the Chicken (which doesn't talk like that, anyway) negotiating with the station about the fees.
    I'm pretty much the opposite of concise. If I fail to get to the point, please ask me and I'm happy to (attempt to) clarify.

  11. - Top - End - #251
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf_c View Post
    Oh, it'd be worse. She'd buy the excuse about the broken airlocks, pay the extra, and probably offer to repair the 'locks at cost. Niomi is correct: Florence is too nice to negotiate. Of course, that does mean she makes friends like no-one's business, and that has significant advantages, but I suspect she overpays often.

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    When she deals with other engineers I suspect she gets the right price every time. When non-engineer people get involved, however, you are probably right.
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    Rockphed said it well.
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  12. - Top - End - #252
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    When she deals with other engineers I suspect she gets the right price every time. When non-engineer people get involved, however, you are probably right.
    There are as such also plenty a-hole engineers. Or at least enough.
    But spooking that guy with having Sam Starfall unleashed upon the station was well deserved.
    for that matter, raising the docking fee without warning is a incredibly dumb move.
    Its like straight up sending out a message you would prefer to have less traders come and sell you supplies.
    thnx to Starwoof for the fine avatar

  13. - Top - End - #253
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Anyone want to place bets on why the rebuilders say they weren't paid? My money is on this whole thing ending up being a case of not enough money on the PN junction somehow.
    Quote Originally Posted by Wardog View Post
    Rockphed said it well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Starfall
    When your pants are full of crickets, you don't need mnemonics.
    Dragontar by Serpentine.

    Now offering unsolicited advice.

  14. - Top - End - #254
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Hmm.. no there should be a deeper issue.
    By the sound of it, everyone has problems with parts and labor.
    I find it more likely someone are skimming profits a little to heavily.
    thnx to Starwoof for the fine avatar

  15. - Top - End - #255
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    The real question is who would be dumb enough to re-use a contractor after stiffing them the last time? Something doesn't add up.

  16. - Top - End - #256
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    DwarfClericGuy

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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Kornaki View Post
    The real question is who would be dumb enough to re-use a contractor after stiffing them the last time? Something doesn't add up.
    Someone who wants the station to fail so they can snap it up cheap when it hits the auction block?
    May you get EXACTLY what you wish for.

  17. - Top - End - #257
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    HalflingRogueGuy

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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    But we already have seen enough of Mr Kornada.
    Yes, I am slightly egomaniac. Why didn't you ask?

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    Also this isn’t D&D, flaming the troll doesn’t help either.

  18. - Top - End - #258

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    He's hardly the only example. Remember, he was viewed as normal until he tried to wreck the entire planet.

  19. - Top - End - #259
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Someone who wants the station to fail so they can snap it up cheap when it hits the auction block?
    Now thats a good guess. Someone intentionally trying to run the station into the ground.
    Pretty likely as well.
    thnx to Starwoof for the fine avatar

  20. - Top - End - #260
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Cazero View Post
    But we already have seen enough of Mr Kornada.
    I agree with this. I also agree that it would be perfectly plausible that it is yet another "run it down, buy it when it's cheap" [unprintable], but the comic has already done that bit. It'd be lovely if it tackled a different scenario this time around - say, if the problem is literally scarcity: it could be they can't pay for the pumps because they are waiting for their creditors to pay them, who are waiting for their creditors to pay them, and so on until the whole system is on the verge of total lockdown because there is not enough liquidity to go around. Not because it is more plausible than another rich bastard trying to become even richer, but because we haven't seen it yet.

    Grey Wolf
    Last edited by Grey_Wolf_c; 2020-08-06 at 07:36 PM.
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    There is a world of imagination
    Deep in the corners of your mind
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    And myth and legend thrive
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    But really, the important lesson here is this: Rather than making assumptions that don't fit with the text and then complaining about the text being wrong, why not just choose different assumptions that DO fit with the text?
    Ceterum autem censeo Hilgya malefica est

  21. - Top - End - #261

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    But how could Sam fix that?

    Also, we again see that Sam is nice and practical, even if it comes from different base considerations than we use.

  22. - Top - End - #262
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Rogar Demonblud View Post
    But how could Sam fix that?
    The same way he fixes anything: if he can lie, cheat and steal his way into a solution, he will. Otherwise, he'll tell Florence, and she'll tell the truth, deal honestly and generously act her way into a solution. Likely a combination of both.

    ETA: If the scarcity is caused by too many people hoarding what little they have rather than letting wealth flow, then both approaches can work, come to think of it. Obviously, stealing the reserves and putting it back into circulation works, as does convincing one party to act on trust, and take the first step in breaking the chain.

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    Last edited by Grey_Wolf_c; 2020-08-07 at 12:19 AM.
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    There is a world of imagination
    Deep in the corners of your mind
    Where reality is an intruder
    And myth and legend thrive
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    But really, the important lesson here is this: Rather than making assumptions that don't fit with the text and then complaining about the text being wrong, why not just choose different assumptions that DO fit with the text?
    Ceterum autem censeo Hilgya malefica est

  23. - Top - End - #263
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    They may also lose liquidity from a trade imbalance as there is a lot of supplies they need to import to keep the station going, but there might be not that many things that they could sell back to the planet.
    In a war it doesn't matter who's right, only who's left.

  24. - Top - End - #264
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    In that case the question becomes if the station is economically sound.
    If its not, then it should just be closed down again.

    If it serves an important function for mining/stuff, then the planet should take over running it.
    thnx to Starwoof for the fine avatar

  25. - Top - End - #265
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by lord_khaine View Post
    In that case the question becomes if the station is economically sound.
    If its not, then it should just be closed down again.

    If it serves an important function for mining/stuff, then the planet should take over running it.
    I think it is the latter case as it is a transit station, but it does not mean that all financial problems are over. A lot of government-run institutions can end up heavily in debt, if they are underfunded or improperly managed. There is also a possibility of a hybrid situation, where the station as a whole is administrated by the government, but most of even the essential services are left to private companies as it cuts down costs of the operation and off-loads responsibility.
    In a war it doesn't matter who's right, only who's left.

  26. - Top - End - #266
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Some of the comics are good.
    Some of the comics in the archive are really good.

    http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2500/fc02413.htm

    This is one of the later i felt a need to share
    thnx to Starwoof for the fine avatar

  27. - Top - End - #267
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by lord_khaine View Post
    Some of the comics are good.
    Some of the comics in the archive are really good.

    http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff2500/fc02413.htm

    This is one of the later i felt a need to share
    Ah, Sam...he truly is a reasonable tentacled horror from beyond the stars isn't he.

    I like the next few too. I especially love Sam's worldview.

    Edit: Or there's the time the chief breaks Sam.
    Last edited by Rockphed; 2020-08-09 at 01:06 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Wardog View Post
    Rockphed said it well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Starfall
    When your pants are full of crickets, you don't need mnemonics.
    Dragontar by Serpentine.

    Now offering unsolicited advice.

  28. - Top - End - #268

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Yet more benefits to living in an environment suit. As if allergy season wasn't inducement enough.

  29. - Top - End - #269
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    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    Quote Originally Posted by Rogar Demonblud View Post
    Yet more benefits to living in an environment suit. As if allergy season wasn't inducement enough.
    I give even odds that they make him put on a hard hat, ear muffs, and goggles.
    Quote Originally Posted by Wardog View Post
    Rockphed said it well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Starfall
    When your pants are full of crickets, you don't need mnemonics.
    Dragontar by Serpentine.

    Now offering unsolicited advice.

  30. - Top - End - #270

    Default Re: Freefall 3: Death Ray Byproducts

    You mean they make him, or Sam takes the opportunity to steal?

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