[OOC] PLOTTING IDEAS

[dynamicduo]

So, as per the end of Endless Waltz and our own imagination, the underlying plot of this musebox game is going to be revolving around... terraforming Mars!



We have some basic ideas of what the background to this is. Relena already moved towards promoting the colonization/terraformation of the planet. Zechs and Noin hopped off to help with the project as well. Mobile suits have been eradicated completely (OR SO THEY SAY) and a sense of peace has settled between the colonies and Earth.

We're tossing around ideas of what calls everyone TO Mars. To help with the process? To protect it? A general sense of political tension as far as who gets to claim WHAT on Mars is what we're leaning towards, but we need a good catalyst of what gets them that invested in the first place to go up in arms. Obviously everyone wants more land, but why the push? Also the idea that some countries could have been actually hoarding some of the MS they were supposed to destroy to use later is up in the air as well. I'm also personally excited about a.) the science behind terraforming and b.) maybe the possibility that they find something on Mars they didn't expect.

Thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?

Comments

[pineappleenthusiast]

While I know the Croatoan thing was a joke (and aliens), I do like the idea of 'something weird is up and the pilots are there to investigate'. Basically MYSTERY! A murder? People disappearing? Evidence of the reappearance of Mobile Suits? Any/all of these could be catalysts.

Of the possibilities you've thrown out, I like political intrigue and MS/arms issues as part of the plot, but I'd personally also like a bit of 'space is scary and weird' a la disease, aliens (but probably not really), etc. I know that's not really normal Gundam fare, but it would add a unique twist to the game.

Exploration, mystery, intrigue, and maybe a little creepiness plus lots of D are the things I would like to see!

[dynamicduo]

I LOVE WEIRD AND CREEPY THINGS. Actually when Cyrus and I were watching SCIENCE I forgot, they mentioned genetically engineering people to be more adaptive to the Martian environment. Maybe that could be a thing too? People have a lot of feels about stuff like that. Also what if it went horribly wrong? SPACE ZOMBIES. Or something.

[colonially]

Genetic engineering and messing with people in space could go wrong too. I've seen Serenity

[dynamicduo]

I'm sure The Winner Family would fund things! Maybe they don't even realize what their scientists are up to??

[colonially]

Oh yeah without a doubt I think Quatre's family business is all for colonization and peaceful expansion. So he'd have a financial and ideological interest in it, but yah, he may not realize all of what is going on.

I kind of really like the idea of scientific experimentation going wrong OH GOD WHAT NOW situation.

[dynamicduo]

Oh no that icon is adorable!

Do you think we'd have civilians on Mars at this point? My initial reaction was mostly scientists and people who volunteered to help set everything up, but I guess that really depends on how far along the colonies themselves are, let alone the terraforming process (which from a practical standpoint would take probably about 100 years or so.)

[pineappleenthusiast]

I don't think they'd be at the point of regular civilians/settlers, because the terraforming process shouldn't be complete yet, even if it won't actually take 100 years in the story because fiction. But I think there could still be a decent amount of scientists, engineers, technicians, and security there already.

[colonially]

Right, so just the terraformers and scientists and crews and such.

But it could still be a rather significant number, even if it's not the general public.

[pineappleenthusiast]

YES I LIKE THIS IDEA, that's exactly the sort of thing I was trying to describe! Essentially I want shit goes wrong like a la Prometheus, only the characters aren't complete idiots. But SCIENCE instead of ALIENS is good.

I like the idea of genetic experimentation in particular because I think it fits with my headcanon some stuff that's implied in the series about Heero. We see the guy bending metal bars with his bare hands, and an OZ engineer tells Zechs that the pilot of the Wing Gundam "wasn't human" based on the data they gathered from its remains. Personally I think Heero was given super soldier serum altered genetically (and/or is a Newtype, another thing we could explore); bare minimum the guy has to have some kind of healing factor. But my point is there could be a precedent within the AC universe.

[dynamicduo]

OH THAT'S RIGHT. Yeah, they did keep mentioning all those odd aspects of him but never really explored it. That could be fun.

[colonially]

Okay so brainstorming here, I may ramble I'm sorry.

I think there could be a few things going on. For example, Mars is being colonized because that's what people do, branch out, claim land, build something plant a flag. Also there could be important natural resources that can be found on Mars that are probably rare on Earth and way rarer in the colonies. Untapped riches! Gold for Spain!

Anyway, that gets people there. But if we want to introduce the MobileSuits again, maybe some less-than-savory sorts had already made it to Mars years back, started constructing and hoarding but abandoned them. So they could be trying to sabotage the colonization to hide what is likely an international crime.

Colonists start dying and disappearing. Accidents keep happening way more than they should. And it could even rise to all out conflict at some point.

And also there are probably aliens.

[pineappleenthusiast]

I like all of this as well! On the secret Mobile Suits construction you could even link it back to White Fang or the Barton Foundation. I think the possibility of some national governments being involved/had been involved would be interesting as well.

And yes aliens.

[dynamicduo]

I just wanna mix it up.

[colonially]

Guys. Guys if Neil DeGrasse Tyson says not aliens then not aliens. /swoons

[pineappleenthusiast]

SHUT UP NDT you don't own me

[dynamicduo]

I was considering natural resources too! But the nerd in me was trying to think of what Mars has (other than open space) that Earth really needs. A good portion of it is IRON. There are traces of carbonate in the crust too. And the atmosphere itself is mostly CO2, if I remember correctly. Although introducing something wouldn't be out of the question..GUNDAMIM? Or some other science fictiony thing.

I definitely think MS need to come into play again, even if our boys don't actually get theirs back.

[pineappleenthusiast]

According to Google Gundanium is not naturally occurring and can only be made under really specific conditions (possibly only at Lagrange points), though it is not actually an alloy despite the name. But I think some super rare hand-wavey thing should definitely be on Mars!

[funambulism]

They're making it on Mars with their crazy resources, of course.

Effectively turning Mars into a MS factory.

[pineappleenthusiast]

There you go.

[colonially]

Unobtanium.

[pineappleenthusiast]

ಠ_ಠ

[colonially]

[pineappleenthusiast]

[colonially]

WAIT. SUPER SOLDIER SERUM. CAP GIFS. LET ME PLAY TO MY AUDIENCE HERE...

I meant Vibranium.

[funambulism]

THIS IS NOT THE RABBIT HOLE YOU WANT TO GO DOWN

[colonially]

WHAT WAIT WHY NOT

[funambulism]

Someone has a lot of Cap feelings.

[colonially]

Oh.

But.

I have a lot of Cap feelings. So. Many. Feelings. MCU owns my soul.

[pineappleenthusiast]

I KNEW I LIKED YOU

[funambulism]

[pineappleenthusiast]

The only thing that matches my loathing of Avatar is the depth and intensity of my Captain America feels.

[pineappleenthusiast]

All transgressions are now forgiven.

[colonially]

HOORAY!

[dynamicduo]

Should note that Unobtanium is a classic sci-fi device not just Avatar...

[dynamicduo]

YES

[funambulism]

[pineappleenthusiast]

QUICK TIMELINE QUESTION: is this gonna take place 10 years post-EW, or after the series end? (I know it's only the difference of a year but I need to know these dumb details lol)