Topic: Opinions about the SFB Xork?

[Magnum357]

Ok, this is a question too other SFB fans out their.  I have reading over at the SFB message boards (specifically X-tech stuff) that Steven Cole wants too introduce the concept of the Xork long after the General War and Andro Invasion.  But from what I hear, it sounds like most of the SFB fans assume that its going too be just a "yet another dominant invader" flying into the Alpha sector in order too accomplish totally dominance in the space.  Now I can understand the SFB is suppse too be a game where combat is the main focus, but does SFB want too fall into the same trap that ST: Nemisis went through?  What I mean is, for the Timeline plot for the Xork (which the conflict is suppose too last nearly 20 years!) wouldn't it be more of an interesting idea too have the Xork a threat by not just having "Bas ass" ships, but maybe make them powerful in another way.  My concern about this is that it seems people want too make base all of how the Xork work soly based on what X2 tech works. 

For example, maybe the strength of the Xork is not their Technoloy.  Maybe they can build lots of ships easily but are not very powerful (mass numbers or something).  Or maybe they are a threat because not for the firepower of their ships, but the influence of some other way.  Maybe they are economically powerful and cause caos wherever they go by alliying with enemies.  maybe they Ally with one Alpha quadrant power that promises them too be very powerful and finally dominant over their enemies that they always have hated.  Or maybe they ally themselves (or take over somehow) the Corupt Orion Cartels and make them a dominant power right under the noses of the Alpha Sector Powers. 

Anyway, for those other SFB fans out their, what is your guys opinoin about this?

[Desty Nova]

Well, I'm not sure how much is set in stone about the Xorks. As I understand it, the Xorkaelians are insanely violent and xenophobic. They consider combat to be the first and only choice when contacting a new race. According to an excerpt from Captain's log #27, they had trouble with the Andros on their side of the galaxy and built up their technology to fight them. Upon learning the Alpha octant races had beaten them, they launched a war aggression, realizing they were powerful enough to be a threat.
I think the Xorks might be some sort of bizarre religious fanatics or a cult of some kind. I'm remembering SVC saying something about "at the center of their ships are the citadels, from which the single Xork controls the entire enslaved crew". Sounds pretty strange and creepy to me.
As for their ships, I believe they are supposed to be on par with X2 ships from the Alpha octant, but they have an unusual edge: their ships are incredibly modular. They take the concept to a degree the Alpha races can only dream of. They can literally create any type of ship they need in a few weeks using parts so easy to assemble and disassemble they're practically legos. They can make a frigate, a war cruiser, or a dreadnought out of the same parts and they can do it easily, without a large shipyard on hand. This gives them an incredible advantage, and makes them very capable of fighting far from home.     
The Xorks sound a little too insane and paranoid to ally with anyone, also since they control five massive sectors of the galaxy known as "Xorkaelian Slave Sectors". I'm guessing that who they cannot enslave, they kill.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the Xorks. They sound like they will be fun villains who we'll love to hate.

[hobbesmaster]

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the Xorks. They sound like they will be fun villains who we'll love to hate.

But... I already love to hate the Andromedans, ISC, Klingons, Lyrans, LDR and Fed... er scratch that last one...

[Max Power]

Problem with this is the same with all such games. After X is overcome you then need a Y. If you look at battletech you'll see the same thing; I think that's why they effectively "rolled it back".

People will only go for so much of more of the same. But then again, IMO, the general war is the most interesting and fun era anyway. Though it sucks starting out knowing that you're always going to be holding the short end of the stick.

[Rod ONeal]

Well, personally, I want to rewrite history a bit. In my strategic plan Operation Unity will never have a chance of occuring.

[hobbesmaster]

Well, personally, I want to rewrite history a bit. In my strategic plan Operation Unity will never have a chance of occuring.

So Mr. Andromedan... I guess I'll be taking my Overseer at full flank speed into the WYN cluster!  Just try and take me out in there!

[Max Power]

So Mr. Andromedan... I guess I'll be taking my Overseer at full flank speed into the WYN cluster!  Just try and take me out in there!

Not overseer....OVERMIND....report for remedial retraining Mr Hobbesmaster....

[Rod ONeal]

So Mr. Andromedan... I guess I'll be taking my Overseer at full flank speed into the WYN cluster!  Just try and take me out in there!

You can run and in this case you can hide, but you will not prevail. BTW, the WYN thank you for the shiny new ship.

[Hyperion]

Well theydid have to do something new.
When X2 originally came out they didn't have much of a plot line to it all, apparently there werent going to be any more major wars (all the races were limited to 60 ships or less by the Organians) and so the concept of "Trade" wars was thrown in just to give the ships something to do.

the module itself was a stinker and no one really bought into it and the ships were even more of a cookie cutter design than ever before and the technology meant that a lot of the flavour was lost (everyone could arm heavy weapons in 1 turn with no chance of loss or explosion)

Hopefully this will be finally something new but im rather leery because SVC says the Xorks have been raiding the major races since Y80. Which brings on another point. If you think B&B have played fast and loose with timelines on SFB then SFB has got to be a close second. I mean SFB has been out for 20+ years now and of course no mention of the ?Xorks anywhere anytime in thier publications (at least till Captains log #25 which i have).

I guess we'll see how this turns out becaue the General War is sooooooooo old by now

[Julin Eurthyr]

Of course, SVC and co will cite "space is big", and that it took them forever to decode that part of the Mastecom tapes (if they still are even using that storyline anymore).  Also, if the raids are small-scale until X2 timeframe that would explain why they haven't come out till now...

[Hyperion]

Of course, SVC and co will cite "space is big", and that it took them forever to decode that part of the Mastecom tapes (if they still are even using that storyline anymore).  Also, if the raids are small-scale until X2 timeframe that would explain why they haven't come out till now...

Yes i know. i once got into it with him a couple of years back about this entire issue (i think he and D. Smart went to the same charm school). It originally began as a discusion about the pro and cons of Federation and Empire and it led into areas about the creativity of the whole SFB universe and SVC's penchat of cooking up rather improbable ships just to sell modules (his latest opus is the Pre federation national gaurd survey cruiser - whatever the hell that is) and how they just seem to appear in the history of the Universe.

And actually youre right , the current thought is that they will be "small" scale raids until the big event in X2. I honestly hope they will make this a real development priority. Ive stopped buying ADB stuff simply because there's nothing really new about much of it (but i did like the Omega sector) Time will tell.

[Julin Eurthyr]

Of course, SVC and co will cite "space is big", and that it took them forever to decode that part of the Mastecom tapes (if they still are even using that storyline anymore).  Also, if the raids are small-scale until X2 timeframe that would explain why they haven't come out till now...

Yes i know. i once got into it with him a couple of years back about this entire issue (i think he and D. Smart went to the same charm school). It originally began as a discusion about the pro and cons of Federation and Empire and it led into areas about the creativity of the whole SFB universe and SVC's penchat of cooking up rather improbable ships just to sell modules (his latest opus is the Pre federation national gaurd survey cruiser - whatever the hell that is) and how they just seem to appear in the history of the Universe.

And actually youre right , the current thought is that they will be "small" scale raids until the big event in X2. I honestly hope they will make this a real development priority. Ive stopped buying ADB stuff simply because there's nothing really new about much of it (but i did like the Omega sector) Time will tell.

1.  SVC is blunt, I'll admit that.  However, I don't see him as the rampant flamer as the other person you have mentioned.  He only flames after either being flamed first or when someone blatantly ignores his comments.

2.  I surely hope Mr. Cue / Kortez / whoever can do it set up a block on the second guy.  With the way his name is bandied about here sometimes I shudder to think he might create an account here...

They are bandying about the plans for a future X2, and they are trying to keep "racial flavor" without resorting to super-overloadable phasers and all races getting 1-turn heavy weapons...  How they intened to do that while staying within the current ruleset and still allow say a full GW-era ISC echelon a chance against 1 X2 CA is beyond me...

[Hyperion]

He who must not be named would know better than to come here.

We're kind a rangy bunch as compared to the minions who inhabit DS's palace over at the BC3000 boards

But i would like to see him here, if only for the entertainment value

[FPF-DieHard]

And actually youre right , the current thought is that they will be "small" scale raids until the big event in X2. I honestly hope they will make this a real development priority. Ive stopped buying ADB stuff simply because there's nothing really new about much of it (but i did like the Omega sector) Time will tell.

R10 is worth it.  Even though the New Cruiser variants were on the aout-reject list for a long time.

[Hyperion]

And actually youre right , the current thought is that they will be "small" scale raids until the big event in X2. I honestly hope they will make this a real development priority. Ive stopped buying ADB stuff simply because there's nothing really new about much of it (but i did like the Omega sector) Time will tell.

R10 is worth it.  Even though the New Cruiser variants were on the aout-reject list for a long time.

I think thats part of my issue with ADB & SVC when they run out of things to do they get to the bottom of the barrel with regards to ships and tecnology. There's hundreds of ships for all races and most of them dont really fit in anywhre except tightly scripted scenarios (ie PF recovery freighter or the infamous Federation hospital ship....please)