Lore
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Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">If you're bore...d!</div><!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->The builder tool<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-r04DjpD4k/Tt_cMeU11dI/AAAAAAAAADU/wMzEGznR8Dg/s1600/Builder_Blog.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<i>This document assumes basic familiarity with nanotech and how it applies to the war with the Kharaa, especially the concept of nano-gridlock.</i>
The TSA Basic Utility Imaging Laser Directer, or <b>builder</b> tool, is a small but significant improvement to the nanite-assisted construction abilities all Frontiersmen have enjoyed since well before the war with the Kharaa began. Instead of merely increasing the number of nanites present to a level sufficient to overcome nano-gridlock by sticking their hand into any unfinished buildings, marines now use this tool to essentially <i>push</i> individual nanites from the surrounding environment into positions ideal to help construction efforts, using its two laser emitters (the nanites being small and light enough to push around with mere photons). These lasers are of course automatically aimed by an on-board computer, and all the marine has to do is point the tool in the general direction of an unbuilt structure.
As a result of this new approach construction times of standard TSA structures, whose blueprints are all stored in the tool, were greatly reduced, and many pieces previously considered too advanced for field use became feasible. As well, the laser-directed-nanite technology itself was incorporated in several existing TSA structures.
Because of this we now have Armories capable of providing weapons for individual marines (rather than requiring the commander to use up precious resources better spent on structures), on top of restoring even the most serious wounds and armor damage in seconds, and Infantry Portals that <i>reconstruct</i> marines after death, instead of phasing in new recruits to die in endless numbers, instead only requiring an uploaded personality to be sent and stored in the construction mechanism.
The importance of this development cannot be overstated. Not only does it allow the Frontiersmen to keep up with the constantly evolving alien threat in frontline technology, but the new Infantry Portals have completely eliminated any worries of the Kharaa winning the war from sheer attrition, and as the marines themselves have put it, "It's a big <b>###### you</b> to the ######s, we take their methods for staying in the fight and make them our own!".
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-r04DjpD4k/Tt_cMeU11dI/AAAAAAAAADU/wMzEGznR8Dg/s1600/Builder_Blog.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<i>This document assumes basic familiarity with nanotech and how it applies to the war with the Kharaa, especially the concept of nano-gridlock.</i>
The TSA Basic Utility Imaging Laser Directer, or <b>builder</b> tool, is a small but significant improvement to the nanite-assisted construction abilities all Frontiersmen have enjoyed since well before the war with the Kharaa began. Instead of merely increasing the number of nanites present to a level sufficient to overcome nano-gridlock by sticking their hand into any unfinished buildings, marines now use this tool to essentially <i>push</i> individual nanites from the surrounding environment into positions ideal to help construction efforts, using its two laser emitters (the nanites being small and light enough to push around with mere photons). These lasers are of course automatically aimed by an on-board computer, and all the marine has to do is point the tool in the general direction of an unbuilt structure.
As a result of this new approach construction times of standard TSA structures, whose blueprints are all stored in the tool, were greatly reduced, and many pieces previously considered too advanced for field use became feasible. As well, the laser-directed-nanite technology itself was incorporated in several existing TSA structures.
Because of this we now have Armories capable of providing weapons for individual marines (rather than requiring the commander to use up precious resources better spent on structures), on top of restoring even the most serious wounds and armor damage in seconds, and Infantry Portals that <i>reconstruct</i> marines after death, instead of phasing in new recruits to die in endless numbers, instead only requiring an uploaded personality to be sent and stored in the construction mechanism.
The importance of this development cannot be overstated. Not only does it allow the Frontiersmen to keep up with the constantly evolving alien threat in frontline technology, but the new Infantry Portals have completely eliminated any worries of the Kharaa winning the war from sheer attrition, and as the marines themselves have put it, "It's a big <b>###### you</b> to the ######s, we take their methods for staying in the fight and make them our own!".
Comments
<!--sizeo:5--><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->The welder<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IlybnLz6pBI/Tt_cU3ADCBI/AAAAAAAAADc/DdOo4DjHwuc/s1600/Welder_Blog.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
The welder is a welder. It shoots nanites and fire.
I like the potential of nanites technology, but it doesn't explain med and ammo packs. I can only assume there is an equivalent of fire sprinkler system installed everywhere and the commander only activates it in chosen areas.
Knowing absolutely nothing about the lore, I would guess it uses a reversed version of the emergency recall, just on a small scale for small objects.
Although perhaps it should say the nanites get pushed into position, and then from there they can start the actual constructing... right now it sounds kinda like the buildings are being made <i>out of</i> nanites rather than<i> with the help of</i> them.
I don't remember if the med/ammo-packs were explained in the original manual, but I'd assume that with how small they are compared to buildings they're actually rather overpriced, and the extra res goes into solidifying them immediately so marines don't have to hold +use on them.
Ain't got an excuse for Alterra though, just slipped my mind entirely. Lets say they are contracted to produce the tools and are otherwise unimportant...
Although perhaps it should say the nanites get pushed into position, and then from there they can start the actual constructing... right now it sounds kinda like the buildings are being made <i>out of</i> nanites rather than<i> with the help of</i> them.
I don't remember if the med/ammo-packs were explained in the original manual, but I'd assume that with how small they are compared to buildings they're actually rather overpriced, and the extra res goes into solidifying them immediately so marines don't have to hold +use on them.
Ain't got an excuse for Alterra though, just slipped my mind entirely. Lets say they are contracted to produce the tools and are otherwise unimportant...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Lasers push things into place for tiny details, but the structures are huge. It doesn't make much sense to me that precise positioning would be required for something like building a resource tower.
If you told me that nanites needed tons of laser-transmitted energy to kick out the bacterium, break into the nano-sludge storage, and secure the whole link so that the bacterium couldn't just instantly muck everything up again, I'd buy that. The tool is needed to efficiently transfer energy, and it doubles as a diagnostic/command utility to direct local nanite activity towards the construction.
I like the whole concept of previous build methods relying on adding nanites from a Marine via physical contact though; that makes sense for both explanations, and is nice call-back to a NS2 many of our new players never played.
The laser-pushing is something I visualized as being as big a change as being able to fly would be for construction workers. Being very small, a nanite would take a long time to get from point A to point B (if it's measured in anything larger than millimetres), so pushing lots of the surrounding nanites into position means you have that many more doing useful work.
Before the advent of full-scale space travel and wars with aliens, they made FPGAs
I definitely disagree on less is more, that's way too close to total handwaving territory. The kind of person who is interested in backstory in the first place isn't going to be impressed by "nanites and lasers did it" unless you attempt to describe how exactly. Well, maybe that's just me...
<!--quoteo(post=1907032:date=Feb 26 2012, 03:33 AM:name=Squeal_Like_A_Pig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Squeal_Like_A_Pig @ Feb 26 2012, 03:33 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1907032"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You guys are overthinking the builder and welder a bit :P
But, anyway, the general concept is that marines have a small tool that they can easily carry around with them in a pouch at all times, that can be used to bring the marine structures online. The whole term "building" and seeing the spark FX never really fit with the fact that the structures are already dropped fully constructed, and merely deploy from their compact state to their working state. So, the builder is designed to be a tool that runs diagnostic checks on the machines, interfaces with their internal electronics, and brings them online.
The welder tool works very differently, as it is not just a piece of electronic equipment, it actually is used to weld and repair damage and weld doors, so it requires a portable fuel source and a full attachment that has the parts necessary to do that task.
--Cory<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I like the potential of nanites technology, but it doesn't explain med and ammo packs. I can only assume there is an equivalent of fire sprinkler system installed everywhere and the commander only activates it in chosen areas.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
From the OldManual:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Since you will be fighting the Kharaa on home territory (our own ships and bases), you have many advantages. Some of these are obvious – like having maps of the battleground. But even more important, is the existing command network in each ship.
The command network is a layer of multi-purpose nanos that spreads, root-like, just above all ceilings and overhangs. Micro-arrays of lenses, tiny packets of construction nanos, and hundreds of other nano-devices all tied into millions of relays and computing nodules – cohering into a pervasive, responsive system intimately connected to every aspect of its ship's or base's existence. This network also holds the marine's resources, distributed throughout its veins.
To take advantage of the network, every ship or base has a command interface, which, before the Kharaa, was used by top administrative or authority figures to manage and govern their domain. These interfaces replaced vast numbers of support staff with one person, who could instantly turn their attention anywhere within the ship or base, and guide the crew through their duties. Used for tasks as varied as maintenance or surveillance, the command interface also allowed its user to operate some elements of the physical environment, like doors and lights; and, crucially, granted clearance for nano-construction.
Put to use by a Frontiersman Commander (using a command console), the network becomes the heart of any military campaign. Gaining control of the command network is the first and most vital task for a squad. This is easily accomplished. Since we are returning these ships and bases to the previous owners, they gladly provide us with the encryption keys to access their systems. Before a squad even deploys, they are already online. For a description of the command interface, click here.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That should answer your question.
And if you wan't more lore:
<a href="http://www.lunixmonster.org/hosted/grayduck/oldmanual/" target="_blank">http://www.lunixmonster.org/hosted/grayduck/oldmanual/</a>
Yeah, I saw that and didn't like it because it was stupid (it takes unbuilt structures being solid and makes it part of the lore rather than a limitation of the game; but if you're going to do that, where did the structure come from? if you can phase/nano-assemble it in half-built, you can certainly do it fully built) and didn't fit at all with the NS1 lore.
<img src="http://www.unknownworlds.com/images/news/InfantryPortalConcept.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Though they share name and aesthetics, the modern IP is different on a fundamental level to its predecessor, which was essentially a one-way Phase Gate. Instead of sending an unending stream of soldiers in directly to fight (and often, die) in person against the alien threat, new technology - see the article on the builder tool - allows us to assemble a whole human body on the spot... including memories.
With all marines being linked into the command network at all times, anything they learn right up to the point of death is carried over each and every time they are so reconstructed. The aliens have used a similar method since at least the beginning of the war, as the more well-read reader may already know, and the concept has existed for longer still, but it wasn't practical for use in the middle of combat until the aforementioned breakthrough in nano-assembly.
With the recruitment rates dropping as news spread of the horrific losses all TSA operations suffered, this new design for the IP was a vital step in allowing the Frontiersmen to keep pace with the Kharaa, also bringing with it huge advantages like retained combat experience and bolstered morale. Some squads even request to be kept together, and occasionally take names of mythological nature reflecting their new life, such as "Einherjar", "The Returned", and so on. A significant change, considering that previously individual squad members were too short-lived for a name to stick, and so marines could at most hope for a squad with a high number, as it would signify a well-organized commanding effort.
Philosophical, ethical, spiritual or societal ramifications of this technology, especially should it become available to the public, are all considered outside the scope of this document.
good read but kind of horrible to know that you've died (or your older clones) X amount of times with full memories of your death, surely this would send the cloned marine crazy after awhile.
Actually, I had been thinking that what they'd actually do is build a body without memories that'd instead get remote-controlled by marines, which would just as neatly explain why you only have so and so many marines but with none of the disturbing implications... but decided that didn't fit with the grim grit of NS. It was too "easy" on the people involved, and made the situation feel much less threatening, and the Kharaa seem more like target practice for an elaborate marine training simulator.