Spacetime and Time Dilation in Science Fiction (part 3)

Yes, the explanation for the time dilation on the planet was poor in Interstellar (thankfully, the comedy “Other Space” didn't even bother to offer an explanation for their time-dilated planet, which ironically made it seem more plausible.) Despite that, time dilation is real and has been confirmed by many scientific experiments: the relativistic decay of muons from cosmic ray showers and the slowing of atomic clocks aboard a Space Shuttle have shown us that the duration of time can vary according to the point of reference. It all makes for great science fiction material, where someone might travel faster than the speed of light, spend a lifetime on a time-dilated planet, travel back to Earth, and be the same age (or younger?) than when he or she left, maybe even arriving close to the original departure date.

Spacetime and Time Dilation in Science Fiction (part 2)

I once thought I understood the fourth dimension and stated that it was “duration,” the existence of an object in three dimensions was only possible if it existed within time, the fourth dimension. It is more complex than that of course, but our understanding of time is based on what we have experienced here, on earth. We live on a planet with a steady state of gravity moving at a steady pace around the sun. In the movie, Interstellar (minor spoiler ahead), there is a planet orbiting a black hole and anyone on it experiences severe time dilation. Red flags go up yet? Yeah, sorry Hollywood, we just lost our suspension of disbelief. But let's get past the fact that a planet would have to be so close to a black hole to experience the amount of time dilation stated in the movie that it would get sucked into the black hole, and the fact that a rotating planet would experience tidal forces of gravity that would rip the planet to pieces. Let's put all that on hold and examine the concept itself...

Spacetime and Time Dilation in Science Fiction (part 1)

What is the fourth dimension? It is generally referred to as “spacetime,” the unification of time and space as a four-dimensional continuum. More and more science fiction these days involves spacetime in some form, and it is an intriguing concept. The Yahoo space comedy “Other Space” and the recent movie “Interstellar” both come to mind as examples of how time might behave differently in other parts of the universe. It is a complicated concept, one that involves “special relativity” and other theories advanced in physics, but there are some basic tenants that we can grasp without holding a degree in quantum physics. To put things very simply, time is relative to velocity and the strength of gravity.

No Classes! (part 5)

Words can be the most powerful weapon of all in Solar Echoes, and a wordsmith character type is what we call the “Negotiator.” Characters investing in Persuasion will find a variety of options in their arsenal, using either diplomacy, bluff, or intimidation. Relns and Humans are the most effective negotiators, and will want to invest heavily in Awareness, Disguise, Discern Motive, and Persuasion skills. Talents such as Convincing Lie, Fast Talker, Crazed Exuberance and Culturally Sensitive give bonuses during dialogue encounters, and it may also help to consider one of several personality types that will add further bonuses to bluffing, intimidating, or the use of diplomacy. Helpful tools of the trade are disguise kits, and translators can sometimes be helpful (though more than a bit imprecise!) but being multi-lingual will provide an immense advantage in almost every dialogue encounter.

No Classes! (part 4)

There aren't always weapons around, but the Martial Artist is always prepared for a fight! This approach to character design focuses on melee attacks, and ideal skill investments are Melee Combat, Athletics, and Endurance. Useful starting Talents include attacks such as Surprise Kick, Sweep Kick, Thrust Kick, or the Snapping Thrust strike, all of which are chainable. These attacks allow you to chain into another Talent marked “chainable” in a single round, meaning that you can attack twice as your Action for that round. This not only allows you to do more damage, but to inflict multiple effects upon your opponent or gain bonuses to your attack. A character focusing on martial arts may also want to invest in a pair of spiked boots, spiked gauntlets, and the Strike the Weak Point talent, which allow for more focused damage to bypass an opponent's armor when attacking.

No Classes! (part 3)

Prefer to stay in the shadows? Another general character type can be classified as an Infiltrator, which will have skills focused on Athletics, Awareness, and Stealth. Races like the Krissethi and Omul are ideal for infiltrators, though Chiraktis and Humans can also excel in this area as well. Talents like Conceal Location and Watchful Eye are perfect for infiltration, and equipment such as a Camo Cloak or a pair of Hush Boots will greatly assist in staying hidden. Whether he attacks from the shadows or snipes from afar, the Infiltrator is the kind of opponent that sees everything and who prefers victory by any means over a “fair” fight.

No Classes! (part 2)

Some characters may be classified as Battlefield Controllers or Hackers. This type of character likes to manipulate the environment to his advantage, using skills and talents to hack security, conduct electronic warfare against enemy starships, or even reprogram hostile robots to serve as his personal mechanized army of doom. Battlefield Controllers are known to create obstacles on the battlefield, using nanite hedges to instantly erect barriers to protect against gunfire or seal off areas temporarily. He also enjoys generating fields with varying effects to protect against specific types of gunfire, to reflect gunfire, or to even create alternate gravitational zones. Many Battlefield Controller-types use remotely operated drones, known as cyber-weapons, to distract, stun, trip, or even kill an opponent. They may not be great in a melee fight, but good luck getting near this type of character in battle!