rolled 100 = 100

Superintelligent

rolled 47 = 47

>>16334108
Welp. I was going to say Hyperintelligent, but okay.jpg.

rolled 67 = 67

I was surprised by my dice roll as well>>16334117

>>16334108

I guess this would be our undisputed winner. They're smart. No, smarter than that. Be careful around these guys.

Next question: what is their origin?

>Natural: spawned by evolution.
>Artificial: created by another technology-using life form.
>Transnatural: they started out natural, but have been artificially modified.
>Other: please specify.

rolled 59 = 59

>>16334167
Transnatural

rolled 58 = 58

>>16334167
They're transnatural, but not self-modified.

rolled 77 = 77

Transnatural!

rolled 37 = 37

opposite-transnatural. Artificial organisms which have since naturally integrated with a pre-existing ecosystem.

rolled 10 = 10

Artificial!

rolled 18 = 18

>>16334167
Artificial

>>16334195
>>16334187

They're artificially modified, but it was not done by their own hand.

What's their favored environment? Note that, being a transnatural species, they might have adapted to others as well, and their current favorite conditions might not be the same as their pre-mod ancestors.

>Planetary surface.
>Subterranean.
>Liquid environment.
>Gas clouds.
>Vacuum.
>Other (please specify)

Feel free to fill in more details about your choice. If you pick liquid, does that mean water, or something else?

rolled 40 = 40

>>16334354
Subterranean!

rolled 36 = 36

Vacuum / Other
They live in Space Stations that they have constructed spreat across the stars

rolled 13 = 13

Subterranean, but their lifecycle involves an airborne phase.

rolled 19 = 19

In the vacuum of space itself!

rolled 56 = 56

Vacuum

rolled 6, 2 = 8

>>16334354

in my nutsack

rolled 77 = 77

>>16334354

up my ass

rolled 97 = 97

>>16334354
Gas Clouds/Vacuum (the former was their homeworld, they've adapted to vacuum).

>>16334428
>>16334415
>>16334406
>>16334393

Let's make everyone happy. They favor a subterranean environment, and live on space stations that mimic these conditions. During part of their life cycle, they can fly or drift around in the vacuum of space.

Bizarre alien biology is going to be a fixture of this playthrough, it seems. Let's think a bit about this crazy life cycle.

>They have a larval stage that is spaceworthy, while the adults live in caves/starbases.
>The adult stage can live in space, while the young are limited to caves.
>They can create a cyst or shell when exposed to the vacuum, going into stasis until conditions change.
>They have egg or seed pods that are launched through space.
>Other (please specify)

rolled 62 = 62

>>16334475
Supersentient intestinal parasites really would be interesting...

>>16334457
>>16334475

rolled 49 = 49

They have egg or seed pods that are launched through space.

rolled 65 = 65

Cysts please!

rolled 80 = 80

>>16334490
other
All the stages of life can live in space, but they go to ground to breed and die

rolled 70 = 70

>>16334490
Why not more than one? They have seed or egg pods that are launcher through space, and the final adult form (make them have an insect-like level of intermediate forms) is also vacuum-capable.

rolled 3 = 3

adults in space, young in caves

>>16334558
Why do they need to go to the ground to breed? What's wrong with fucking in a vacuum?

>>16334585
Because a vacuum sucks, duh.

rolled 9 = 9

>>16334585
Maybe its their tradition/ritual

>>16334558

All forms aside from the final, reproductive stage are vacuum-capable.

So, how man discrete stages does their life cycle have?

>2: the young are just miniature adults. The only big transformation is when they go into their grounded breeding form.
>3: Spacefaring larva and adult forms, plus the breeder.
>4: Egg, larva, adult, breeder.
>Other (please specify)

>>16334599
I don't see why this creature wouldn't have adapted to mate in vacuum if it spends so much time in vacuums. We have yet to decide how they reproduce though. Do they need gravity? How much pressure do they need to reproduce? How do they maneuver in space?

rolled 26 = 26

>4: Egg, larva, adult, breeder.

Are we insects?

rolled 16 = 16

>>16334615
Larva + adult. The larva consume their parent from within.

rolled 50 = 50

Superintelligent

rolled 65 = 65

>>16334615
It has six separate forms, like instars.

>>16334622
Because 80 Dice Roll

>>16334615

2. Screw teen development.

>>16334622

1. Just because they CAN survive for long periods in the vacuum in the other stages doesn't mean they don't spend time in other environs as well.

2. Come to think of it, it is sort of unlikely that the breeder would be less hardy than the newborns. Feel free to suggest a life cycle that includes a grounded larva as well as breeder.

rolled 78 = 78

>16334669

rolled 95 = 95

>>16334679
Perhaps their genital manifolds are sensitive and shouldn't be exposed to the harsh environment of space.

Why are we insects?

rolled 17 = 17

>>16334615
Other: They are born with fully adult bodies but have to go trough their transnatural modifications to be able to reproduce.

>>16334622
Cell differentiation on the first stages is defined by gravity. (everything on the bottom becomes innards, everything on the middle becomes nerves, everything on the top becomes skin).

>>16334679
>Fecundation on a planet, egg on the ground, larva gets thrown into space, maturity on space, the cycle repeats.

rolled 2 = 2

>>16334764
Forgot my dice roll

rolled 9 = 9

>>16334763
WHY DO YOU FAIL ME LIKE THAT DICE, MY IDEA WAS COOL AS FUCK

>>16334751
Because c͓͟h̟̱̟ͦ̊ͤk̤̉̎̀-̨̬̳̏́ͯ͂c͙̼̫͍ͣ̽ͣ͆́h̀̾͂͏ḱ̦̲̻̣͚̫͕̃̓̄̉̓̀-
͔̻̈̿c̝̣̜̣͈̭͋h̢̝͍ͅk͚͕͍̬̓͌̍͋ͬ̌ͭ ̂̈̒̃̆ͣ̌҉̣̥͇̖ŝ̗͎̉̈́̏͑̇̒kͮr̲͍͚̖͉ͪ̎͂ḱ̲̰͙̲ͮͭ̑ͯ͟k̳̪̍ǩ̑̇̽
͔̱ͥ͌̒͠ ̆̇̏ͩͦc̢̝͔̲̳̹̗̜ͤ̉̍͐ͪͤ͛h͖̹͔̮͚̰̠ͭ̅̚̕k̙ͯ-̩̹̩̪͚̳͂͌c̡̰̙͊ͣ͆̀
̻̬̘h̲ͤ͐k̛̯̩̬ͩ̉͊ͩ̔.

>>16334654
>>16334662

The creature goes through a total of six life stages. When a fifth-instar individual is old enough, it goes into the caves and becomes a sixth-instar. The sixth-instar is then eaten from within by its own young, who, after consuming the body of their mother, quickly adapt to the vacuum.

Okay. These things are weird. Like, really weird. Let's figure out what the hell the adult form (fifth instar) looks like, and then figure out the juvenile and breeder stages.

Pick the earth morphotype that the adult most resembles, at least in appearance.

>Jellyfish
>Worm
>Chordate
>Arthropod
>Other (do i even want to know?)

Feel free to compare it to a more specific earth creature, like "Arthropod: horseshoe crab" if you wish.

rolled 31 = 31

Jellyfish

rolled 72 = 72

>>16334802
Jellyfish.

rolled 41 = 41

>>16334802
Like an arthropod, but radially symmetric. c̗̺̃ͥͮ͑͗ḣ͚ͧ̋̍̊r̯r͌r͇͙̻̥͎̊͋͋̀͆̂̉́ͅk͔̪͎̝ͬ͌ͮ͌ ̯͔̠̰͙ͣ̀͌ͣc͚̤͈̬͂ͬ͂̒͞h̢̻̬̮͖̹̄̎̋k̡͉̰̯̲̘̅͒̐ͮ͑ͮ-͒ͨͦ̒̄ͫcͤͦ̔
h̭͈̙̻̭̹͝k̤͕ͧͫ̍͛̌̑.̗̲̆̊̽̏̒ͫ̓͞

rolled 37 = 37

Arthropod with jellyfish like appendages added on

rolled 30 = 30

>>16334802
Chorate

rolled 14 = 14

They look like jellyfish, but with enlarged brains where the bell would be.

rolled 68 = 68

>>16334802
Really huge jellyfishes.

rolled 12 = 12

>>16334802
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidium
But change their legs to big and frail spider legs, and add tendrils that can generate electric shocks. The species uses electric shocks to communicate.

The moon children things you fight in Legend of Dragoon with respective variations in simple details dependent on their age.

>>16334824

Adult stage looks more like a jellyfish than anything else. Earlier stages are more arthropoid. Presumably, they can use tools and technology with manipulator-tentacles.

Okay now. How do these things propel themselves through the vacuum?

>They live in the vacuum, but they're still reliant on solid objects to grab onto.
>They have some kind of built-in rocket engine thing.
>They have some sort of gravity-manipulating ability.
>Other (please specify)

>>16334874

rolled 22 = 22

>>16334909
Got the email field thing wrong

rolled 32 = 32

>>16334920
They use drugs to hitch rides on space megafauna.

rolled 1 = 1

>>16334920
Gravity manipulation.They are smarter than us, so they should be able to understand gravity.

rolled 17 = 17

I would say they have some form of propulsion system they use, something they can control that is a part of them.

rolled 63 = 63

>>16334920
Gotta go with gravity manipulation.

rolled 22 = 22

>They live in the vacuum, but they're still reliant on solid objects to grab onto.

rolled 60 = 60

Particle manipulation? They travel by drawing particles towards themselves, then transferring that momentum around themselves.

rolled 23 = 23

>>16334920
Other: At will teleportation after artificial modification.

rolled 3 = 3

They propel themselves by releasing matter, a la the iPhone/ iPad game Osmos.

>>16334995
Failure: When two great ideas are dismissed by technology

Question: do all instars have the same method of locomotion?

>>16334984
>>16334965

The tentacled adult form has an internal gravitic drive, similar to the technobabble employed by the spaceships of other races. The younger, arthropoid instars can't fly in space, but can scuttle around on the outsides of space stations and such.

Okay. What does the landlocked reproductive form that gets eaten from inside look like?

>Bigger version of a fifth instar, but less mobile, without the grav drive, and it needs air/gravity/etc to nurture the young that grow within.
>The fifth instar sheds its tentacles and becomes a helpless blob.
>The main body elongates, forming a burrowing worm with tentacles around its maw.
>Something else (please specify)

rolled 4 = 4

>>16335039
Main body elongates, burrowing worm, and the creature ceases to be sapient (neural degeneration due to aging prompts the bodily shift into the sixth form).

rolled 67 = 67

>>16335039
A larger version of the fifth instar, which sheds its tentacles and becomes immotile after mating.

rolled 62 = 62

>The fifth instar sheds its tentacles and becomes a helpless blob.

I'm gonna have to go with this

>>>>The fifth instar sheds its tentacles and becomes a helpless blob.

rolled 38 = 38

>The main body elongates, forming a burrowing worm with tentacles around its maw.

rolled 74 = 74

>>16335058

rolled 88 = 88

>>16335039
Other: They create a weaponized protective field around themselves to prevent any type of intervention during the process.

rolled 27 = 27

>>16335039
>Bigger version of a fifth instar, but less mobile, without the grav drive, and it needs air/gravity/etc to nurture the young that grow within.
>The fifth instar sheds its tentacles and becomes a helpless blob.

Both of these, it grows larger and more helpless and the larval develop from its biomass and organs. Until the final stages when it is copletely helpless and eventually erupts into the hardy young, with a trace of memory carried over from the parent.

rolled 4 = 4

>>16335039
The creature lands somewhere with lots of mass and consumes as much as it can. It then begins to grow additional tentacles and generally flatten out. The actual form is a huge fairly flat blob covered in tentacles floating around and dragging everything into itself. It's no longer capable of moving without the space-faring propulsion, and even then it's pretty tough near the end due to the weight of this thing. When the creature is no longer capable of moving at all, all of the tentacles bud off into first stage organisms.

rolled 96 = 96

>>16335096
That would explain why they loss gravitic flight, those organs transform into the one generating the protective field.
Suggest combining with otherwise helpless blob or >>16335097

>>16335096
>>16335054

The old, bloated jellyfish goes into the caverns and sheds its tentacles, its mind decaying, its body useless. For this critical stage, it reverts to its pre-modification habitat, as the developing young need earthly conditions until they chestburst their way out.

To make up for this weakness, the sixth instar deploys some sort of perimeter defense around itself. What kind of defense is this?

>Forcefield type thingy
>Hypersonic pulse that hurts other life forms
>Hordes of smaller creatures that guard it with their lives
>Other (please specify)

rolled 79 = 79

>>16335097
This.

rolled 78 = 78

>>16335134
I think it should emit extremely high intensity radiation on a wide variety of spectrums.

rolled 48 = 48

>Forcefield type thingy

>>16335134

Oh yeah, and they have limited genetic memory, as per >>16335097

rolled 3 = 3

>>16335134
>Hordes of smaller creatures that guard it with their lives
Symbiosis ftw!

rolled 44 = 44

>>16335134
When threatened by predators, it releases poisonous gases (to poison their asses).

rolled 45 = 45

>>16335134
>Forcefield type thingy
>Hypersonic pulse that hurts other life forms
Both, forcefield for environmental hazards and pulse for fauna.

rolled 48 = 48

releases spores that cover the interior of the cave and grow into fungal like structures full of nematocysts full of neurotoxins, like jellyfish

rolled 61 = 61

An adamantium shell comes out because of its augmentations

rolled 93 = 93

>>16335134
Hordes of smaller criatures.
They gather data of the environment and prepare the fetus for a correct adaptation in the current ecosystem.

rolled 98 = 98

>>16335134
I'll stick with >>16335128
FTL contra-gravity organs adapted to serious defensive field

rolled 62 = 62

>>16335166
The humans are dead. I poked one; it was dead. Hooray for derailing!

rolled 82 = 82

>>16335141
including the visual. ^w^

>>16335209
Binary solo! 100010011000010101110001010001110

>>16335194
>>16335141
>>16335174
>>16335187
>>16335146

The bloated polyp releases spores, colonizing the area around it with a biomechanical, coral-like growth. These growths are capable of releasing deadly insect swarms, emitting localized microwave bursts, and otherwise fucking up the shit of any intruder. Whatever they kill is brought to the polyp, to feed its brood. The polyp itself, after creating these defenses, goes into a metal cyst with a polarized outer hull until the young are done eating it. Then, the shell opens up, and they emerge.

Fucking nightmare fuel.

A couple more questions before we finish the life cycle discussion:

The jellyfish is superintelligent, but how smart are the first, second, third, and fourth stages?

Does the jellyfish have FTL, or just sublight spaceflight? If the later, that means that they need spaceships to get from system to system.

Answer one of the above questions with each post. Ten minutes this time.

>>16335220
There's no more unethical treatment of the elephants. There's also no more elephants, but still, it's good.

rolled 98 = 98

>>16335275
Each stage is successively more intelligent, but all are superintelligent. They aren't capable of FTL.

>>16335291
This.

>>16335200

Damn, that's cool. Too bad it was late...

rolled 32 = 32

The first is animalistic. The second is sentient. The third and fourth are sapient. As we all know the fifth is superintelligent and the sixth is mindless

rolled 90 = 90

>>16335275
Gravitic FTL.
Larva has roughly one-fifth the brain mass of the adult stage (neural mass having been directly converted from the parent), and increases gradually from there.

rolled 96 = 96

>>16335275
Sapient until it gets enhanced

rolled 51 = 51

>>16335275
Since they can manipulate gravity, I'd say that they're not capable of FTL, but several of them working together can propel themselves to decent relativistic speeds. Say, .5c at most.

rolled 4 = 4

>>16335313
Actually, this more.

rolled 68 = 68

>>16335275
Biological Sublight travel, enhanced to FTL.

>>16335322
Relatavistic speeds don't require much thrust, just persistence.

I think when we're done creating the alien, I will draw it's life cycle and post pic(s). Warning: I can only draw in a cartoony manner. I'll only post if people want me too.

rolled 21 = 21

>>16335322
There are theories for FTL that involve using gravity.

>>16335357
There are no theories for FTL that don't have implications for gravity. (And causality.)

rolled 1 = 1

>>16335291
>>16335200
>98
>98
>simmilar posts
spooky.

rolled 1 = 1

>>16335331
Yeah, the original species had mild gravity manipulation, but the transnatural version bumped it up to fully FTL capable.

rolled 71 = 71

>>16335377
me, this is you from 5 minutes in the future, you are a moron.
also do want FTL.

rolled 20 = 20

>>16335321
this

>mfw FTL capable (semi)bio gravdrive...
What.
This species is highoctane nightmare fuel and it's wack as hell.
Im leaving this thread before it haunts me.
But do remember to archive it, please.

You guys have so many good ideas, and so many high numbers, that I'll just try and compromise this part.

The creatures are sapient and devilishly clever from birth, but their psychology starts out more animalistic. The first stage or two are only interested in feeding and defending themselves, even though they're smarter than a human. As they age, they get more social and sophisticated, not to mention (even) smarter.

The adult jellyfish is as fast and maneuverable as a typical spacecraft for the setting at sublight speeds, but incapable of FTL.

Now, the impression I'm getting of these critters is that they've been genetically modified to incorporate much more of the periodic table into their biologies, and they grow organs that mimic advanced technology in form and function. But where do they get the needed materials?

>They can - and do - eat just about anything. Flesh, metal, plastic, helium-3, they need a little of it all to become an adult.
>They eat some things, and inject themselves with others artificially.
>Other (please specify)

>>16335337
I know, I'm just likening it to running, where your max speed is how fast you can move your legs. Perhaps the method they use to manipulate gravity is semi-similar, at least for internal coordination.

Of course, that analogy fails when grouping them together for faster speeds, but for that I like to think of the "thrust" that each one of them provides combines together to propel them all much faster than a single one could.

rolled 30 = 30

They can go their entire lives without eating anything but their own waste (and their mom at the beginning of their life).

rolled 20 = 20

>They can - and do - eat just about anything. Flesh, metal, plastic, helium-3, they need a little of it all to become an adult.

rolled 100 = 100

>>16335426
They can and do eat just about everything, at least on the larger and organic scale. Gasses and some liquids, however, they can absorb through their outer surface.

>>16335474
welp

rolled 72 = 72

>>16335426
since the transnatural thing says they are ARTIFICIALLY modified logic states that they undergo some kind of procedure to get enhanced.

This enhances their intelligence, social capabilities and gives them the ability to reproduce safely.

>>16335474
This.

rolled 32 = 32

>>16335462
As a continuation of this, if they do go their entire lives eating only their waste, they lose the benefits of growing special organs

rolled 36 = 36

>>16335474
dammit

rolled 58 = 58

>They can - and do - eat just about anything. Flesh, metal, plastic, helium-3, they need a little of it all to become an adult.
The alterations include advanced cells/nanites for configuring their limbs into technological components from base materials.

>>16335410

>>16335474
>>16335523

They eat a variety of solids to get the materials they need, and obtain liquids and gases via osmosis. Over time, they can respecialize their limbs for different purposes.

Okay now. Enough about their insane biology. What can they do with their substantial intellects?

>They have little technology of their own; their transorganic biology does most of the work, and their space stations were given by the people who modded them.
>They can mine materials and build more stations, but aside from that, not much technology.
>They're every bit as scientifically savvy as their INT score would imply, and are capable of inventing new tech or stealing ideas from others. They can build FTL ships and stuff.

rolled 39 = 39

>>16335573
They're fully capable, but they make do without a great deal of technological infrastructure. Implanted nanomachinery factories take care of almost any personal demand they have. Each one is sort of a construction site for anything an individual might need, so their society is distributed and has little to it.

>>16335573
They observe others' tech, and reproduce it within their own bodies.
Most of the time, they go around absorbing materials and energies they need.
When they aren't studying tech, building their own tech, or eating, they debate philosophy.
They have decided Kant was correct, and when not mating, although terrifying, are pacifists.

rolled 88 = 88

>>16335599
derp

rolled 20 = 20

>>16335573
Enormous, but disturbing, works of art.

rolled 51 = 51

>>16335573
>Enough about their insane biology.
Awh. :(

They prefer to use alien (their perspective) technology and modify it, as alien tech is fascinating to them. Any technology they make/use is able to modify and optimize itself. So they essentially create a framework, but let the actual production happen "naturally," in a loose sense of the word.

rolled 96 = 96

They can build FTL ships the size of small moons. Inside these ships there are 6 different levels.
1: Nursery for stage 1 instars. This is composed of rocks for a subterranean feel.
2: Birthing center. Environment akin to level 1. This is where stage six instars give birth.
3: Science labs and hospitals. This is where all scientific advances are made. It is also where hospitals are.
4: Metropolis. Sprawling indoor cities fill level 4. This is where all shops are.
5: Engine rooms. Obviously, where the engines are. Also, the control center is located in level 5

>>16335599

They're very technologically advanced. They use their own, synthetic biology to help refine raw materials into useful compounds, which they then use to build stuff. Their ships and stations are very efficient, due to life support not being an issue.

We'll have to save their philosophy and society for later questions, though.

An important question for now, though, is how the hell they ended up the way they are. We know they didn't do this to themselves. Start suggesting origin stories for these creatures.

Some things to consider:

How smart were they prior to being modded?

Did they consent to the modification, or were they unwilling victims?

What purpose did their modifiers have in mind for them?

Are they still in contact with their modifiers?

rolled 18 = 18

>>16335681
Sorry. I meant to write that there are 5 levels.

>>16335681

Also, I approve this outline for how their superstructures are generally designed.

rolled 37 = 37

>>16335691
They were an experiment in sapience upon a sentient lifeform of their creator's homeplanet. The tests were wildly successful and after a scientist working at the facility leaked the details the government of the planet/country in question was forced to acknowledge the creatures as having full sapient rights.

They had a slightly higher average intelligence than that of their creators, once fully independent, assimilated knowledge rapidly and engaged in self-modification with great enthusiasm. Eventually they left for the stars themselves as an almost entirely different species.

rolled 39 = 39

>>16335691
Unwilling victims, though they didn't fully understand what was being done to them.

>>16335691
>this thread
I know what these aliens are named.
They are the Grekim!

rolled 36 = 36

Also, their creators (if that's the proper term, which I'm not sure it is) are dead.

rolled 59 = 59

Stage 5 instars modify stage 3 instars that are deemed "worthy". Once a stage 3 instar is modified, it becomes a stage 4. Before modification, they are sapient instead of superintelligent. It is a great honor to become modified. If a stage 3 instar is not deemed worthy, they are exiled from the fleet of spaceships (They don't want inferior genes being spread).

>>16335767
I think we're past that choice by now.

rolled 46 = 46

>>16335767
please elaborate

rolled 69 = 69

Where did everyone go?

>>16335741

>>16335746
>>16335741
>>16335762

These work together fairly well. They were a sentient animal from their creators' homeworld, uplifted and modified for construction and mining work in space. They continued refining themselves once they got ahold of their creators' bioengineering tech, becoming more and more powerful, and alien.

They have now expanded far beyond the territory of the species that made them. Their creators died out some time ago, but their creations continue to prosper, and advance.

Now, how do they - generally speaking - interact with other life forms they encounter?

>They avoid dealing with outsiders, and are generally nonviolent.
>They avoid dealing with outsiders, but defend their territory and other assets violently.
>They trade and make agreements with other races, resorting to violence only out of desperation.
>They are imperialists.
>They see other beings as raw materials to be consumed, their flesh along with their technology and material resources.
>Other (please specify)

rolled 49 = 49

>>16335914
Generally nonviolent, but they are ambivalent towards other life forms and may carelessly consume them.

rolled 46 = 46

They have not made contact with a different species for millions of years. The last time they ever made contact with another species was with their modifiers.

rolled 86 = 86

>>16335914
They're individualistic and fairly isolationist, but they are intensely curious so regularly seek out information even if they don't participate in galactic politics very much. Ambassadors, wanderers and diplomats are common, but the species as a whole doesn't interact. They respect that Freedom Is The Right Of All Sentient Beings.

rolled 60 = 60

They have a rivalry with another species. The two sides have been feuding for hundreds of years

>>16336008
>>16335959
Uh...

rolled 45 = 45

>>16336016
I didn't like my first thing so I decided on my second

rolled 39 = 39

>>16335914
>>16335914
>They avoid dealing with outsiders, and are generally nonviolent.
>They avoid dealing with outsiders, but defend their territory and other assets violently.
Both of these work well, considering their breeding stage. They wouldn't have 'installed' so many defences if they did not feel paranoid for some reason.
However, much like the [spoiler]Culture[/spoiler] they have very little of what they deem 'their territory' as they live within space habitats of their own making, and as such their natural protectiveness, jealousy and paranoia almost never come to the fore, except when someone tries to get in.

>>16335974
>>16335946
>>16336008

Generally peaceful. Their race is not at all unified, so it varies. Some branches of their species are known to eat people when times are hard, but that's generally the exception rather than the rule.

Okay, we're almost done. We just need to figure out their social/political structure. Throw suggestions at me.

>>16336045

Hmm, good point. Let's say that there are a lot of baddies in this universe, so they're very protective of their habitats.

rolled 43 = 43

>>16336061
Nothing.

Like, seriously nothing.

It's completely distributed. Staying in contact is no issue at all and they aren't hugely numerous so species-wide votes are totally a thing. Prestigious or respected individuals carry more weight, as do higher levels of instar, but they have no formal organisation beyond the individual.

rolled 18 = 18

They have a sort-of communist system. Everybody is equal and has their own job. It varies from group to group

rolled 29 = 29

>>16336061
A loose network of tribal alliances at various scales. Group size varies, though a particular co-traveling group generally won't be larger than 300 individuals or so, and may be as small as ten. Some of these are fairly autonomous; some of them belong to larger tribal alliances. Some groups have wandered far and lost contact with the rest. Space is a very big place, and they have FTL travel but not FTL communication except by using messengers.

rolled 32 = 32

>>16336061
Clan based. Each habitat-ship is under its inhabitants jurisdiction, and the means of governing the hab-ship vary based on the culture and history of the hab-ship concerned. There are some semi-formal ties between the various ships, but no overarching racial authority.

rolled 35 = 35

>>16336127
>They have a sort-of communist system. Everybody is equal and has their own job. It varies from group to group
Since everyone provides for their own existence already, the only thing they would get capticalist fo is time and extra resources for self improvements, superconductors and shit to act as special organ growth.

Actually I can see them trading with other species to get the minerals. Particularly entrepeneural or ambitious ones would bargain for stock in a mining company for the packets of good stuff.
So socialistic because they don't need infrastructure, and capitalistic because why not.

>>16336124
>>16336127

Okay.

The species is an uplifted life form, raised to super-human intelligence and transorganic physiology by an extinct elder race. They are designed for work and survival in the vacuum of space, which has made them consummate survivors; along with their high intelligence and technological prowess, this has allowed them to spread far and wide.

The adult creature is a massive, spacefairing polyp, with many manipulator tentacles and sensory appendages. Their bionetic gravitic drive enables them to move and maneuver in space at sublights speeds as well as some starships. For FTL, they use ships of their own.

We haven't talked entertainment... But i suppose they are a bit too alien for our ideas of entertainment. Perhaps they are unable to grow bored? It would make sense, since they were made to be a minig species, they are super-intelligent by accident, and always focused by design.
When not working, they probably have to be thinking about something heavily when they aren't playing some sort of intense sport or working on an art piece.

>>16336193
They also enjoy long walks on the beach.

rolled 8 = 8

>>16336182
That was an awesome thread. Thank you Xenogenitor. I have one more suggestion, though. I think their scientific names should be Spatium Polypus Supersapiens. Somebody else can come up with the species' common name.

>>16336182

Adult polyps must return to an underground environment similar to their ancestral home to reproduce. After mating, they lose their tentacles and degenerate into a mindless, immobile blob, protected by a metallic dome, a gravitic repulsion field, and a surrounding patch of bionetic growths that defend the brooding creature with sting and energy blast. The polyp is eaten by its own young, who then emerge from the dome (and they probably eat that too). Due to these extensive defenses, a pregnant polyp can land on just about any planet with a solid ground and a versatile chemistry and be assured that its brood will survive. They use their limited genetic memory to pass on techical data, so the young will be FTL capable.

The young are insectlike, going through several arthropoid stages before becoming adult polyps. Each stage is smarter and less animalistic than the one before, though even a newborn has a predatory intelligence beyond that of a typical human. To mature, they need to eat a variety of organic and inorganic materials.

rolled 28 = 28

>>16336193
They are fascinated by logic puzzles, riddles, and debates on morality and philosophy.

rolled 64 = 64

>>16336061

Federation of clans/tribes based. Due to their lack of dependence on machinery they do not require a highly organised and specialised society to have a high degree of technological and industrial development. Bonds shared are particularly strong within a particular 'spawning'.

>>16336258

Ideally, though, the reproductive process takes place in a controlled environment; their ships and space stations contain breeding habitats that resemble the caves of their forgotten homeworld.

The creatures are organized into small, communistic tribes, ranging from 10-300 individuals. Each member has a specific job, based on its implanted genetic memories, though there's room for diversification and specialization. Regardless of what a mother's job was, she can program each of her broodlings with a different directive (though she may not have the technical knowledge to make them very good at it, at least from birth). The first instar or two are kept in a special environment, as they are predatory and dangerous, having intelligence without sociality or restraint.

rolled 45 = 45

>>16336193
As said before by someone else, they create huge and horrendous pieces of art.

>>16336312

They are generally benign toward other species, but some tribes are moreso than others. Some prefer to trade. Others prefer to avoid outsiders. A few are willing to eat other life forms along with their technology and move on. Universally, however, they are resourceful, scientifically curious, and survival-oriented.

As their defensive physiology would imply, they are VERY protective of their breeders and young. This stage of their life cycle is the one moment of weakness left over from before their augmentations, and the psychological impact of this runs deeper than even they realize. Get too close to the young, and you WILL be eaten, regardless of how otherwise friendly the adults of this particular tribe are. Fortunately, you'll generally get a warning.

Their scientific name is Spatium Polypus Supersapiens. What is their common name?

rolled 42 = 42

>>16336385
Perhaps we could call them Anthrons?

rolled 32 = 32

>>16336385
The Devourers.

>>16336318
>>16336264
>>16336193

All of these, I'd say. They have extended philosophical discussions, and they make giant Gigeresque space monuments, but they only do those things when they feel the impulse to do so. They are incapable of boredom, and are fine with doing nothing for extended periods.

Vourans?

>>16336429
I still like calling them some version of the Grekim.

>>16336448
The only problem with that, in my mind, is that I think they should have an original name, as they are a very unique creature.

>>16336409

Create a Species: the Anthrons, has been archived to suptg.

Good game, anonymous. Good game.

>>16336426
Perhaps they find the concept of boredom to be an object of interest, and in fact spend much of their time with friends of other species simply 'hanging out', waiting to see what way their alien pals; impulse will go.

>>16336482
Wait, no, i idealized boredom wrong. Boredom is a desire borne of frustration and restlessness. While these creatures may know perplexity, they will probably not become very frustrated or restless. The status quo is status quo,, and there is no internal prime directive to change it, unless they decide to.

This would lead to a very efficient, very productive culture, as there is no such thing as a Revolution, but instead have Reformations when something more effective comes along.

That was very fun. Once again, thank you xenogenitor.

>>16336562

Thanks, I had fun too. We'll play again sometime in the next few days, hopefully.

>>16336558
> Boredom is a desire borne of frustration and restlessness.
More specifically, a desire for Change, and for new experiences, which is biologically programmed into humanity.

These creatures, the Anthrons, would only seek change as an intellectual challenge or studious research, not a thril-seeking adventure or anything else,