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Author Topic:   Mindworms and the like

greenarmy posted 02-26-99 02:37 PM ET
I love the whole idea of Planet reacting to human incursion as the body reacts to a kind of virus, but I think the concept breaks down a little once humans gain "control" over the mindworms themselves.
Surely the use of mindworms to attack other humans would be considered an atrocity comparable to gene warfare? At least gene warfare is based on human technology; mindworms are an entirely alien species which attack and destroy humans in a fashion which has never been seen before.
What would have been the reaction of the world had the first Mars landing revealed new lifeforms with a lethal taste for humans? Fairly swift extermination I would say (the possibility of leaving Mars alone would scarcely be considered...)
So, on a new planet, would not at least the first player to control and use Mindworms be considered to have committed an atrocity against the human species?
On the subject of actual control of mindworms, I would say that any faction which does not have at least, say, Centauri Empathy should not be able to tell whether the mindworm boil facing them is controlled by the planet, or by another faction. Whihc leads to the nice vision of a faction railing against the viciousness of this alien species when in fact it is under the control of fellow humans!
Finally, I do not think that Mindworms should be able to take enemy bases; terrorise and destroy troops based there, yes, actually seize the city, no. How do the (lucky) civilian survivors of the mindworm attack know that they have been taken over by the Gaians (etc..)?

Scrubby posted 02-26-99 02:41 PM ET
Yeah that always kinda niggled at me when my Gaian hordes of worms conquered bases for me.
KNEEL TO MY WRIGGLING MINIONS!!!
Nah.
Xerxes314 posted 02-26-99 03:14 PM ET
Well, don't forget that its not just a bunch of worms. A human controlled boil has a bunch of talent "trainers" or something that coax the growth and aggression of the worms.
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Author	Topic: Mindworms and the like
greenarmy	posted 02-26-99 02:37 PM ET I love the whole idea of Planet reacting to human incursion as the body reacts to a kind of virus, but I think the concept breaks down a little once humans gain "control" over the mindworms themselves. Surely the use of mindworms to attack other humans would be considered an atrocity comparable to gene warfare? At least gene warfare is based on human technology; mindworms are an entirely alien species which attack and destroy humans in a fashion which has never been seen before. What would have been the reaction of the world had the first Mars landing revealed new lifeforms with a lethal taste for humans? Fairly swift extermination I would say (the possibility of leaving Mars alone would scarcely be considered...) So, on a new planet, would not at least the first player to control and use Mindworms be considered to have committed an atrocity against the human species? On the subject of actual control of mindworms, I would say that any faction which does not have at least, say, Centauri Empathy should not be able to tell whether the mindworm boil facing them is controlled by the planet, or by another faction. Whihc leads to the nice vision of a faction railing against the viciousness of this alien species when in fact it is under the control of fellow humans! Finally, I do not think that Mindworms should be able to take enemy bases; terrorise and destroy troops based there, yes, actually seize the city, no. How do the (lucky) civilian survivors of the mindworm attack know that they have been taken over by the Gaians (etc..)?
Scrubby	posted 02-26-99 02:41 PM ET Yeah that always kinda niggled at me when my Gaian hordes of worms conquered bases for me. KNEEL TO MY WRIGGLING MINIONS!!! Nah.
Xerxes314	posted 02-26-99 03:14 PM ET Well, don't forget that its not just a bunch of worms. A human controlled boil has a bunch of talent "trainers" or something that coax the growth and aggression of the worms.