Newbie Advice

[C5]

Originally posted by Kronok
Posted by C5
“IIRC, an explanation of the way the UT works was given in the TOS episode with Zephram Cochrane. I think they said it uses brainwaves to see to wich concept a word correspond. You may discard it like some other TOS tech since the later series seem to suggest it rather analyses the language to determine its structure, but it's as good an explanation as another (and it fits if you decide to play in TOS era).”

I never heard this. Where did you read/see that?

Concerning the TOS explanation, I'm pretty sure Spock says something along these lines when they reconfigure the UT to communicate with the Companion in Metamorphosis.

As for the other explanation (analysis of the language patterns), I don't think it was ever mentioned specifically, but that's the impression I had in the DS9 episode Sanctuary (where the translator takes a time to kick in), and in the very first ENT episodes (where Hoshi tries to adjust the translator). Maybe for instance the fact that they need a sample of the language before the UT can work, or a sentence Kira said in the DS9 episode (haven't seen it for a while). But I could very well be wrong here indeed.

[Don Mappin]

Originally posted by Dan Gurden
Although to be fair.

DS9 did that first.

Difference is that the "Enterprise" episode is still airing--Kirowan can actually watch the scene in question, rather that us explaining it to him.

That was my point in mentioning the scene.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Originally posted by Don Mappin

Someone really needs to stick the Trek Encylopedia in a text format so I can carry it on my PDA.

Y'know that's a stonking idea. I'm surprised no one's actually done it yet I do have a few of the adventures off of rekRPG Net copied over to my PDA though. Makes it way easy when you're preparing an adventure. I can even sit in a lecture and prep my game

[Kronok]

Originally posted by Capt Daniel Hunter

I do have a few of the adventures off of rekRPG Net copied over to my PDA though. Makes it way easy when you're preparing an adventure. I can even sit in a lecture and prep my game

What is that? And could you email some of the ideas?

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

OK, so that should read TrekRPG net. Damn my lousy typing and lack of proofreading. Ahem.

Anyway, all the stuff I have is actually downloaded from here in PDF format, then coverted using a nifty little program for adobe reader for Palm OS. It's pretty neat.

We actually considered using them as GM tools, transferring information via infrared between PDAs, but so far we haven't gotten that to quite work yet.

[Kirowan]

Oooh, oooh! I forgot about another question that I wanted to ask earlier. Do stardates correspond with our real timeline? How would you convert a regular date into a stardate?

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

In very basic terms, you can find some information here: http://ex-astris-scientia.org/treknology2.htm#s

Just scroll down until you find the stardate bit

In fact that entire site http://ex-astris-scientia.org/ would be a good place to get information on most topics. You could also go to http://www.ditl.org/

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

You can also find a quite reliable stadate calculator here http://mario.lapam.mo.it/software/programs/default.htm

Though it's only usable for TNG era stadates, which use a different system to the Original Series ones.

[spyone]

Originally posted by Lt.Khrys Antos
Welcome to the Boards Kirowan.

Just to add unto the reason why so many species look human; a while back I read through an evolutionary biology book. The basic focus the author was trying to bring is that the humanoid shape we have now is a very efficient "design". Two legs, two hands with an index finger and the organ placement is efficient energy wise. That could explain in a non-trek manner why so many species have a "human" look to them. The name of the book eludes me at the moment, though .

We are the best All Terrain Vehicle we know of.
However, it doen't really explain the popularity of 5 fingers.

Having one arm or being fish-like such as the Antedeans would just not achieve sentience. Firstly, the one armed species would die-off (notice that no such species exist on earth) and the Antedeans fish like bodies bar them from having large brains needed for sentience and thinking. Nearly all large fishes are mammals after all.

Well, the total absence of vertabrates on Earth with something other than 4 limbs is not exactly conclusive evidence that it is the ideal number. Insects seem to think 6 limbs is dandy, and aracnids do fine with 8. I wonder if having an exo-skeleton has anything to do with that?
One arm might not work well, but 3 could work out. And pairs should work out fine.

[Balok]

Originally posted by Capt Daniel Hunter


Actually the aliens from The Chase and the Preservers aren't the same guys

The Preservers transplanted humanoid (and other species) on other worlds (such as groups of native Americans). The Chase aliens transplanted their own genetic material into the forming ecosystems of primitive worlds, thus directing evolution towards a humanoid form.

I just checked the Star Trek Encyclopedia. In the summary for "The Chase", Ron Moore is quoted as saying one idea was (in a nod to fans of TOS) to make these aliens the same -- but that he deliberately decided to leave that vague. So, technically, one could take either position.

Based on the events of "The Chase", I believe that its alien seeders were a few hundred years more advanced than the Federation. They were able to seed the DNA with their coded message, and ensure that it would last for tens of thousands of generations. The former is probably within Federation capability, but probably not the latter.

The Preservers have been mentioned only one canon place -- the otherwise forgettable "The Paradise Syndrome". The power and reliability of their asteroid deflector, and comments made by Spock, suggest they are technically superior to the Federation, again, probably by at least a few hundred years. There has been at least one non-canon mention of them (a novel) that suggested they were far, far in advance technically.

I believe, philosophically, that they weren't the same. This is admittedly shaky, but the Preservers were active as recently as a few hundred years ago (the time when they retrieved the Indians from North American, and seeded them). The "Chase" aliens were active thousands of years ago.

The Preservers left their charges on their new home, and left a machine to protect them from the worst hazard, but otherwise did not interfere with them. The "Chase" aliens seeded their own DNA all over the place.

As I say, shaky, but the two philosophies just don't seem compatible. That leaves my opinion, that the two are different races, and the only other possibility I see, that the "Chase" aliens, after tens of thousands of years, changed morally and philosophically, eventually becoming the Preservers.

How's that for wringing nonsense from two episodes of two different series?

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

Actually, since the aliens from The Chase were active and seeded the galaxy literally millions of years ago, there is very little chance they could ever be the same folks, Ron Moore's speculation not withstanding

So yeah, I totally agree with your reasoning.