Genre: Post-post-apocalyptic sci-fantastic
Atmosphere/Tone: Wry, Playful
Themes: Mischevious trumps Straight, Eschew The Way Of The Overblown, Discover rather than Fear
Colors: sandy gold, concrete grey, sky/ocean blue
System: Mutants&Masterminds 2E, or Cartoon Action Hour: Season 2 (I'd have to test both before settling on one)
Summary: In a universe where interplanetary travel can be accomplished by a hiker with a map, the jin species has recovered from the war that nearly destroyed them and turned their planets into arid deserts. Now their normal lives continue, worshiping contests of skill rather than contests of death. But there is the rest of the universe out there, and it enjoys introducing itself in the most unusual way possible...........
Explanation: My attempted to create an interesting setting that strongly discourages the "epic things get done" mentality I get too often from games and instead focus on goals of a more personal level. However I find the best way to dilute importance to a tolerable level is to inject humor, at least a wry reality check and WTF? moment.
The Glitch: A system of tunnels -- for lack of a better word -- short-cutting the space between planets.
The Jin: [note]panian: Humanoid body form.
hominid: Closely resembles humans.[/note] Panian hominids who underwent so much genetic treatment in the past that they are now permanently made up of several sub-groups with different apperances.
The Glitch Network
In the universe of Third Thing faster-than-light travel is impossible and there are no "hyper-warp drives". Jin spaceflight is limited to fuel-based rockets. Yet they are spread out over multiple star systems. The reason for this is as fantastic as it is unbelievable.
For reasons which science has yet to explain large concentrations of mass over time seem to develop entrances to a "cavern" dimension, a space consisting of solid tubes forming tunnels with gravity directed outward at the walls. The tubes join in great networks, a complex system of tunnels and entrances leading to other planets, with travel times of, at most, a standard day. As long as no attempt is made to change course one entrance will lead directly and easily to one other. The tunnels can be navigated, but only with the aid of a well-plotted map and a good spatial memory as there is no natural phenomenon to guide direction nor do many tunnels have any sort of beacon installed.
It is taken as fact by most jin that the tunnels must have been artificially constructed by some long-dead alien species: a spatial bypass traversable by ground transportation is too convenient in itself, and there is also the fact that every entrance so far known exists on a planet at least minimally habitable to water/oxygen-dependent lifeforms. This is too coincidental a piece of evidence to ignore.
The name 'glitch network' is an combination of the two most common names for these tunnel systems. 'Glitch' is a word meaning 'too convenient to not be suspicious' and is slang (NOTE: the definition we would recognize still exists). 'Network' is the semi-formal public usage.
Are you planning on drawing on Hitchhiker's Guide or Red Dwarf for inspiration as well?
Not directly. If anything comes out that seems inspired by them it either was an unconscious inspiration or it's just a similar type of humorous situation.
I just feel that trying to draw directly on an existing universe dampens the true nature of my creative process.
It seems like you're doing something linguistically odd... you've made "glitch" a slang term for something that is pretty much the exact opposite of what the term typically means in English (which is something like, "screwed up in a minor, sometimes predictable fashion).
That in itself isn't anything odd, at all. Michael Jackson, for instance, didn't think he was *really* Bad. But in naming the network the "Glitch Network" it seems like you're at once using your slang definition of Glitch and trading on the unavoidable (because standard) connotations and denotations that English speakers will associate with the name, and reverse-meaning slang terms generally aren't the type of linguistic artifact that is used in giving things names or nicknames, because it's confusing. On the other hand, it's poetic. Part of the name's charm is that, upon reading it, the reader thinks that all sorts of bad things can happen if one uses it; indeed, unfortunate mistakes and screw ups are unconsciously assumed to happen regularly (if rarely). The reason for this is that by placing the word "Glitch" first, you've made it into a modifying noun. "The Glitch Network" sounds like a ''network of glitches'', as opposed to, say, if it were called "The Network Glitch" in which the network itself was a type of glitch in the universe (although it could also signify some glitch within the network).
There's nothing *wrong* with doing this, but it's an odd enough move that you want to be sure that it's what you mean to do.
And, finally, it's not clear if you mean that any in-game people actually call it "The Glitch Network"; apparently some call it "Glitch" (or perhaps "The Glitch") and others (a larger number it seems) call it "Network" (or perhaps "The Network"). Both of these names seem appropriate, and "The Glitch" seems both appropriate and, given your slang-definition of "glitch", quite clever. But is "The Glitch Network" something that only a few people call it? Or is it supposed to be an out-of-character name for the in-game object?
First thing you have to know about me: I suck at names.
Quote from: Acrimone.....you've made "glitch" a slang term for something that is pretty much the exact opposite of what the term typically means in English (which is something like, "screwed up in a minor, sometimes predictable fashion").
In a way it actually means that, just in a twisted way: "screwed up" as in twisted or weird, "predictable fashion" as in it's predictable when it shouldn't be. It's derived from a made-up word for what characters in a story think is a situation too convenient to be actually following the laws of Real reality; a kind of genre-savvy without recognition of being a story.
It's a nostalgia word for me. I use a lot of those because it's easier than coming up with new ones.
Quote from: AcrimoneThere's nothing *wrong* with doing this, but it's an odd enough move that you want to be sure that it's what you mean to do.
*shrug* It's generally important to me to maintain the linguistic integrity of a setting. My hope is always that when I avoid using the most convenient words, or word arrangements, it also keeps people from slipping into complacent comparisons. I'm currently writing up the entry on the jin species, and it's going to be clear that I could have just used humans if I wanted to do it the convenient way. But no matter how much the two are similar I don't want people to be allowed that convenience because they'll start making assumptions that I don't want. Using a different word hopefully makes people ready to accept something different.
("Glitch" does also exist in their lexicon with the definition you mentioned, I should probably make that clear.)
Quote from: AcrimoneAnd, finally, it's not clear if you mean that any in-game people actually call it "The Glitch Network"; apparently some call it "Glitch" (or perhaps "The Glitch") and others (a larger number it seems) call it "Network" (or perhaps "The Network"). Both of these names seem appropriate, and "The Glitch" seems both appropriate and, given your slang-definition of "glitch", quite clever. But is "The Glitch Network" something that only a few people call it? Or is it supposed to be an out-of-character name for the in-game object?
It's both of the last ones. Using "Glitch" and "Network" together is just my way of being specific where I think "network" might not.
The Jin[/b]
[ic]"Jinnic, adj.:
1) Describing a creature body or body part shape similar to jin." -- Nanse's Abridged Dictionary[/ic]
There is only one sentient species in the Third Thing universe (one known, extant species, if you want to get technical): the jin, probably an unremarkable panian hominid in default form. But after centuries of genetic treatments and manipulations and more centuries of cross-breeding and general descent their appearances are now quite varied from that original form.
Outward Physiology
Upright, furless skin, two legs with plantigrade feet, two arms with one thumb and four fingers, rounded head with a flat face and a cartilaginous nose and ears at the sides and hair growing from the top. This describes the general jin body structure, the different variants add or change minor features: different colors of eyes, hair, and skin, and skin color patterns; fur or scales; pointed ears, animalistic ears; fin-like feet; and tails, horns, and wings.
Psychology
The jin think of themselves as supremely adaptable, able to understand many different points of view and possessing a variety of outlooks. When they encounter other sentients in their fiction these are the qualities the stories most often focus on in contrast to other species, not having another psychological trait to pin down.
But jin, in fact, do: the importance of a group. Not all the time, and for exceptions much less, but having other beings to associate with is very central to jin psychology. Making or discarding a decision for a jin can be understood based on how it affects a jin's relationship to a group: good decisions reinforce the connection to the group; bad decisions negatively affect the group's perception of the individual. The individual is not necessarily aware of this process. Jin social institutions such as religion can be understood as mental guides for specific manifestations of this ultimate behavior.
Dragon's Pearl
(http://humanflowerproject.com/images/uploads/trump-in-dubai.jpg)
Fine, white sand beaches and mild climate make this city located where the Dragon Breath River meets the Setting Sun Ocean and obvious tourist destination. Resorts spread out along the coast may be the draw for most people, but Dragon's Pearl boasts another attractive attribute: it's the center of the martial arts world. As well as its native styles that combine dance and fighting moves, with name evocative of movement such as Dancing Flame and Windblown Leaf, Dragon's Pearl has hundreds training centers covering all the major and most of the minor styles. The competition of choice for any real dragon is a martial arts duel, regardless of the styles involved on either side. Other jin may look down on this as primitive and violent, but dragons see martial arts no different than dance.