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GODSTAR - a Science Fantasy Civilization Quest

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Uhtread said:
Writing and oral tradition can co-exist right?
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Yes. I should also mention that oral history is a completely viable strategy.

Obviously we're biased, speaking to each other as we are through a written language, but oral history can be incredibly accurate; there are oral legends preserved by Indigenous people in the Americas and Australia that accurately recall geographic changes going back to the Last Glacial Maximum.

Now naturally oral history has its drawbacks - writing can contain more information overall than a single human can[1], and if your oral storytellers die then the chain is broken and your tradition is lost (this happened in a lot of African cultures). Of course, writing is also pretty susceptible to being lost - paper burns pretty easily.

But I don't want people to imagine either is the "superior" option, at least mechanically.

[1] Then again, this is a science fantasy universe so at higher tiers oral history unlocks what are basically Mentats, human computers with eidetic memories.
 
ScottishMongol said:
Yes. I should also mention that oral history is a completely viable strategy.

Obviously we're biased, speaking to each other as we are through a written language, but oral history can be incredibly accurate; there are oral legends preserved by Indigenous people in the Americas and Australia that accurately recall geographic changes going back to the Last Glacial Maximum.

Now naturally oral history has its drawbacks - writing can contain more information overall than a single human can[1], and if your oral storytellers die then the chain is broken and your tradition is lost (this happened in a lot of African cultures). Of course, writing is also pretty susceptible to being lost - paper burns pretty easily.

But I don't want people to imagine either is the "superior" option, at least mechanically.

[1] Then again, this is a science fantasy universe so at higher tiers oral history unlocks what are basically Mentats, human computers with eidetic memories.
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Cool! The I would wholly endorse a split track approach, a "mundane" written tradition along side a species out "magical" oral tradition.

Let's turn the whole writing is magic thing on its head!
 
ScottishMongol said:
[1] Then again, this is a science fantasy universe so at higher tiers oral history unlocks what are basically Mentats, human computers with eidetic memories.
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I'm thinking we should double down on the "fantasy" aspect of science fantasy. While we can't neglect our material science approach too much, the fact is that by picking the Natives we went with a faction strongest in magic and social science and we should play to our strengths.

Mentats are super useful (and super cool) and if an oral tradition is just as good mechanically as writing (albeit with a different set of drawbacks) then splitting our focus between both risks wasting points. This isn't a game of civ, we don't need to follow the same path as OTL industrial national-states.

We really do need more points to spend for material science though, there are multiple important things there that need to be addressed.

[] Plan Unconventional Development
-[] Water Management
-[] Oral History (Tier 2)
-[] Apprenticeships
-[] Courier System
-[] Calendar
-[] The Tree Spirits
-[] Mine-temples
-[] Astrology (Tier 2)

Water managements helps meet some of our new demographic needs, aids in mechanical processes, will sync well with wind and water power in the future, and once we get boats waterways are great means of transportation. Oral History takes advantage of our pre-existing level and puts us on the path to Mentats. Apprenticeships are essential (and may help get us more material science points, maybe?). A courier system syncs with oral history by taking advantage of our improvements to memory retention and word-of-mouth communication. Calendar and Astrology both work together to maximize our pre-existing level and future-prediction skills. Tree Spirits and Mine-temples we need to keep our manufacturing advantage going.

EDIT: Nevermind, I'm endorsing @Zioneer 's Plan Brain and Brawn
 
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I'll try my hand at writing a plan myself.

[] Plan Brain and Brawn

Material Science:
-[] Water Management

Social Science:
-[] Courier System
-[] Apprenticeships
-[] Oral History (Tier 2)

Exotic Science:
- [] Astrology (Tier 2)
-[] Mine-temples
-[] Astrological Architecture
-[] Alchemy (Tier 1)

Basically make our population strong and full of super-intelligent mystics.
 
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Not sure whether to put together my own plan or support another when voting opens, but my personal thoughts are that the best place to start is with an increasingly tight and interconnected society. Roads, couriers, currency, apprenticeships – the sorts of things that make us best able to make use of our resources and capabilities. Instead of starting by enhancing what we have, ensure we can make good use of it first, laying down a foundation for future generations to come.
 
[] plan: basic foundation

Material Science:
[] Water Management

Social Science:
[] Writing
[] Apprenticeships
[] Currency

Exotic Science:
[] Calendar
[] The Tree Spirits
[] Mine-temples
[] Alchemy (Tier 1)
 
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[] Plan World Around Us

Material Science:
-[] Water Management

Social Science:
-[] Writing
-[] Courier System
-[] Send Out Diplomats

Exotic Science:
-[] Calendar
-[] The Tree Spirits
-[] Mine-temples
-[] Astrological Architecture

Water Management is crucial for preventing disease and promoting growth.
My choices for social science are so we can actually be social. Diplomacy is historically the questors weak point in nation games like this and i dont want to be caught by suprise.
Finally, exotic is devoted to maintaining our most basic industries with a dash of magical architecture to spice up any future building techs.
 
[] Plan Ledgers Are Necessary
-[] Water Management
-[] Writing
-[] Apprenticeships
-[] Courier System
-[] Calendar
-[] The Tree Spirits
-[] Mine-temples
-[] Alchemy (Tier 1)

Look, Oral Tradition will take a while before it gives us human computers, and they are incredible don't get me wrong. Until we get to the point where Mentat traits start manifesting, we should give it and Writing our divided attention. I also have an inkling that Mathematics is unlocked faster through the latter.

Writing should, alongside Calendar, synergize with Courier System. Allows for better spread of information (No need for a courier to regale every piece of news, just hand over a parchment and let the town crier do their job), precise dating of events and movement of Goods. As we chose the Industrial start the latter is extremely important.

Alchemy is just neat. It should also gives us access to better quality and greater quantity of Products.
 
Zioneer said:
I'll try my hand at writing a plan myself.

[] Plan Brain and Brawn
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Our plans are pretty similar. I'd be willing to endorse yours if you'd be willing to swap out Wind and Water Power for Water Management. I want WWP, but I think it's more important to get WM first so we can start addressing the consequences of our growing population.
 
EBR said:
Our plans are pretty similar. I'd be willing to endorse yours if you'd be willing to swap out Wind and Water Power for Water Management. I want WWP, but I think it's more important to get WM first so we can start addressing the consequences of our growing population.
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Sure, sounds good to me, I was undecided on that one, so I'm happy to change to WM.
 
Zioneer said:
I'll try my hand at writing a plan myself.

[] Plan Brain and Brawn

Material Science:
-[] Water Management

Social Science:
-[] Courier System
-[] Apprenticeships
-[] Oral History (Tier 2)

Exotic Science:
- [] Astrology (Tier 2)
-[] Mine-temples
-[] Astrology (Tier 2)
-[] Alchemy (Tier 1)

Basically make our population strong and full of super-intelligent mystics.
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You voted for Astrology twice, I'm not sure if that's something allowed.
 
EldritchObserver said:
[] Plan Ledgers Are Necessary
-[] Water Management
-[] Writing
-[] Apprenticeships
-[] Courier System
-[] Calendar
-[] The Tree Spirits
-[] Mine-temples
-[] Alchemy (Tier 1)
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Npt170 said:
[] plan: basic foundation

Material Science:
[] Water Management

Social Science:
[] Writing
[] Apprenticeships
[] Currency

Exotic Science:
[] Calendar
[] The Tree Spirits
[] Mine-temples
[] Alchemy (Tier 1)
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Our plans is essentially the same, may we three all go with water management and currency? So we can both get a bit of economy and a bit of desease prevention?
 
[X] Plan Ledgers Are Necessary
-[X] Water Management
-[X] Writing
-[X] Apprenticeships
-[X] Courier System
-[X] Calendar
-[X] The Tree Spirits
-[X] Mine-temples
-[X] Alchemy (Tier 1)
 
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