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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 447
Location: Chicago
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 Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject: Hoktur |
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Nobody knows much about the Hoktur. They keep to themselves, and turn a cold shoulder to outsiders. They tend to build large, heavy ships, but nobody knows if they just like those, or if they themselves are very large creatures.
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redshift9
Joined: 28 May 2005
Posts: 21
Location: Carrboro, NC, USA
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 2:07 am Post subject: |
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(Disclaimer: this is how I personally imagine the Hoktur. I sound as if I'm describing them with authority, but I don't have any. It's just easier to write without a lot of "maybes" and "what ifs".)
Visiting a Hoktur trading post is eerie, but not directly hostile or threatening. To keep outsiders away from populated areas, all Hoktur trading posts are located on space stations designed specifically for that one purpose, or (less often) on moons that aren't worth terraforming.
Everything about the process is automated. A computer uploads docking instructions. Once you've landed, mechanical arms appear from behind panels in the wall or ceiling to move your cargo onto a conveyor belt, which disappears into a dark hole in the wall. When necessary, agile, dexterous robots will handle delicate or complicated loading/unloading procedures. Another device, usually mounted in the floor, will refuel your ship. Some speculate that the processes aren't automated at all, but are actually remotely controlled by Hoktur. Like most "information" about the Hoktur, this is yet another guess.
The mechanization isn't what makes a Hoktur trading post so eerie, though. It's the complete lack of interaction with any other living being. Outside Hoktur space, even the most boring, utilitarian station has a few bleary-eyed traders or technicians shuffling about. Not so with the Hoktur. Each landing bay is sealed and completely self-contained. Besides the main doors, the only obvious way out is on the conveyor belt - and that door is only open for exactly as long as it takes to accept or deliver cargo. The robots, which don't speak, are only present on the rare occasions when the primary unloading equipment needs help, and vanish into the wall when the job is done. Even the mechanical arms fold back up behind panels when they're not in use.
All operations are handled through a computer terminal. Buy a weapon, and it's attached by arms similar to those which handle cargo, with the same speed and efficiency. Order some food, and a tray slides out of the wall to serve your meal. From the inside, all Hoktur stations look exactly the same. The only difference is the station name on the wall of the landing bay, presumably to remind you where you are. After a long flight (or rough evening), many pilots probably appreciate the reminder.
Interestingly, the Hoktur seem to be aware that some traders find their outposts disquieting. The Hoktur do their best to be accommodating, without sacrificing their privacy or security.
The landing bays are always spotless. No trash, scuff marks, or thruster burns. The machinery is quiet, quick, and just as careful with your ship as it is with the cargo. The lighting is neither dim nor glaringly bright. The temperature is always comfortable, and there is no smell of exhaust, grease, or ozone. Most surfaces are painted a pleasant color - very little bare metal is seen. The food, even though it comes out of the wall, is excellent. The menu is surprisingly varied, and allows for even the most picky and specific substitutions and special requests. The silverware is of good quality, and the napkin is even made of cloth. The chair and table are both designed for humans, but panels in the wall suggest that the seating and table surfaces change automatically to accommodate the species of the visiting trader.
Although the Hoktur make your visit as pleasant as they can, they don't encourage long stays. No entertainment is available, minimal services are offered, and docking fees quadruple once the central computer decides that you've had enough time to complete your business and relax a bit (of course, you are always treated with courtesy and given plenty of warning). But whatever you do, never, ever try to scan, hack, or disassemble anything you find in the docking bay. Courtesy has its limits.
Last edited by redshift9 on Thu Jun 02, 2005 6:53 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
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Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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I like it 
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Game Mogul
Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 241
Location: Neenerneener Land
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| Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 12:46 am Post subject: |
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Freaky...  Maybe we should make it so that you neverevernever see them - absolutely. All the player interacts with are droids and recordings.
-Mogul
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Mormonpope
Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 32
Location: The MormonVatican of course...
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| Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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i like that idea. that no one has ever seen one.... and we just see droids and stuff... and there are myths and legends about why and what these creatures really are but you would only find little hints of answers... nothing really definite...let the gamer decide for himself the reasons for their secrecy.
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Bill_Ding_
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Posts: 55
Location: SLC , UT
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| Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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I still have to finish up some weapons & basic missions with the Ssyssylwyssna plugin (somebody else can figure out the complex missions & tailor the stuff I've already done to their taste... to be honest, I don't think I have much of a knack for creating plotlines  ). So I thought I might as well get started on something else, and this one sounds like fun. Has anyone else already started on the Hoktur, or do I get to make these guys too?
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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 447
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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Go for it.
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Bill_Ding_
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
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Location: SLC , UT
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| Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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hey i just had a wierd idea... what if the all the hoktur ships were like ghost ships... you can't crash into them, can't talk to them... can't even select them...... and if you shoot at 'em, it just passes right through. And if you actually manage to do something to tick them off, they blow you to bits in about a tenth of a second. I was thinking either that or just have robot ships floating around that completely ignore you. Ideas, anyone?
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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 447
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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Having shots go through ships would be a bit difficult from my perspective... but they should definitely retaliate with massive force if you bother them.
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Bill_Ding_
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Posts: 55
Location: SLC , UT
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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ok... just an idea. But the ghost idea seems to have happened on its own, with the whole accidental transparency thing....
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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
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Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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Heh... what would be funny is a fully transparent ship, which you wouldn't be able to see but it would still absorb weapon shots!
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Bill_Ding_
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
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Location: SLC , UT
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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i like it... except that I think a vague outline would be cool... in fact I tried it. It might need to be a little more transparent, though. One thing that's interesting is that only the light side of the ship shows up, so it adds an element of strategy-- sneak up on someone so they can only see your dark side & they can't see you at all.... 
oh, wait... random thought... are we ever going to do cloaking device mods?
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Paul
Joined: 17 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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Mmm, yeah, that's cause I do back-face culling to speed things up.
And yes, I do want to add a cloaking device at some point!
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