Sci Fi Rating System

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Given the difference between fantasy and sci fie subs, I am proposing a voluntary Rating system

Rating	Description/Criteria
10	Proven, existing technology, perhaps with creative application.
9	Technology is currently in functioning Prototype stage. Examples: Boston Dynamics military robots
8	Technology is currently in functioning Prototype stage, but application in submission exaggerates its capabilities.
7	Technology does not exist, though its existence does not seem to violate any known laws of physics, including availability of materials. Eg. Fusion Power plants
6	Technology does not exist, it does not appear to violate laws of physics, though scale and availability of raw materials may be stretched. Eg. Beanstalks, Antimatter power plants
5	Adheres to Einsteinian Physics - i.e. Limited to speed of light

4
3	Adheres to Newtonian Physics - Conservation of Energy
2	Adheres to Aristotelian Physics - follows _some_ system. Eg: Star Trek
1	Attempts to follow most Sci Fie tropes, but magic or psionics plays a major part - eg. Star Wars, Babylon 5
0	Pure magic. Does not follow any semblance of physical possibility.

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Pearl Spider Economics

Murometz

These rare, fist-sized spiders do not make webs, but rather excrete secretions which harden upon contact with air. These "droppings" resemble barley-sized spider eggs, or even lustrous pearls, once the slime coating them, dries up. In fact, dried Pearl Spider "drops" are indistinguishable from the marine varieties produced by mollusks, and hence of identical value on the open market!

Several centuries ago, they were studied by naturalists, and several observations were made. Firstly, was that these spiders "lay" these pearls for no apparent or discernible "natural" reason, and secondly, the naturalists had discovered that the more these spiders ate or were fed--and they were true omnivores--the larger the spider pearls came out.

A cottage industry began. Enterprising merchants hunted and collected these creatures across the lands, erecting spider-farms for the manufacture of Spider Pearls. It wasn't long before someone got the idea to force-feed the spiders, ala foie gras geese, and soon, the fattened spiders began pooping out pearls of great size! (relatively speaking). The regular pearl market came to disarray, and prices and value fluctuated wildly.

[b]Plothook[/b] The Mermen Mercantile Alliance hires the party to eradicate all terrestrial Pearl Spider Farms!

Encounter ( Any ) | February 28, 2014 | View | UpVote 6xp

Comments ( 6 )

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valadaar
January 23, 2014, 15:14

0xp

Might just get rid of this one :)

Scrasamax
January 23, 2014, 15:29

Or fill in the missing numbers and add examples, citing both popular entrants in the genre like Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, etc

valadaar
January 23, 2014, 16:22

I would expect some rather spirited discussion. Much of star trek/star wars i would put in the 1 or lower category :)

Scrasamax
January 23, 2014, 16:54

True but the scale distinctly favors 20 minutes into the future sci-fi, which distinctly limits what can be high rated versus low rated.

valadaar
January 23, 2014, 18:21

Ok, ill adjust the scale and put in examples.

Murometz
January 23, 2014, 15:43

Interesting!

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Sci Fi Rating System

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Pearl Spider Economics