Feature Request: Infinite Improbability Drive

Don't forget that random stuff needs to pop up whenever you use it. I mean RANDOM... whales and potted plants are just the beginning... LOL

~SDC~

-That- would be cool. OT: I was about to split my sides reading the whale and potted plant scene. That is perhaps the funniest thing I've ever read (aside from anything else in those books). Actually, come to think of it, it's high time I reread them.

The juxtaposition of everything the whale says to just the one thought that goes through the plant's head: "Not again," just cracks me up.

For the modders, just replace the Terror Star with Vogon Constructor Fleets and the Diplomatic Translators with, what else, the Babel Fish. Also, add new sb modules for the Sirius Cybernetics Corportation, for a major culture bonus ('cause make useless things attractive enough to make people buy them). A new wonder could be the Hitchhikers' Headquarters (it could randomly create new "hitchhikers" that would spread across the galaxy... can't think what they would do in game terms, but it certainly can't be good. ).


~SDC~

Well, going for a tech-victory you would have to build that HUGE computer... and it will tell you to build another one shaped like a planet.... In the end you get a huge *42* displayed and the game says you won... or maybe not? -> We apologise for the inconvenience!!!

~SDC~

A random event involving philosophers demanding clearly defined regions of uncertainty?

Don't forget to rename the Galactic Guide in the mod...

"Clearly defined regions of uncertainty." I love those books. A big bonus would be the ability to build a planet that could create planets. Rubber ones, pink ones, desert ones, anything.

I realize more people are familiar with the HG series, but I still say the game also needs a flat world, carried on the back of 4 giant elephants, standing on the back of a giant sea turtle. Bonus points if you can name all 4 elephants without looking it up (I can't).

Out of curiosity, what is the whale & potted plant scene?

~SDC~

It really should have Holly's "Holly Hop Drive".

LOL

The whale and potted plant are from the sci-fi/comedy book The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. As noted above another element from the book is the "Infinite Improbability Drive"... which is basically a super-duper fast engine that when used created all sorts of random gobbledygook. When first used in the book, the ship arrives in orbit along with a whale and a potted plant that the drive "spawned". Trouble is they spawn outside the ship and quickly get pulled down into the planet.

There's more to it than that, but it gets pretty detailed. All very silly stuff, in keeping with the overall tone of the book and it's sequels.

I can cover A'Tuin, but you've got me on the elephants; I'd have to look it up .

Wendy

I don't know the names of the elephants either (but I've read The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic), but it brings up a good question: how do the elephants transfer the world to the next in line?

It fits on all of them at the same time, being flat and all. They just have some pretty thick calluses from the rotational friction. Oh, and they have to cock their legs once in a while so the moon can complete its orbit.
Wendy

It's on the back of all four elephants at the same time (they stand with their back ends together). They've got an animation of it on both of the Discworld DVDs (Wyrd Sisters and Soul Music).

For those of you who aren't familiar with Terry Pratchett, he did to fantasy what Douglas Adams did to SF. One of the most memorable (but not the best quote) comes from one of my favorite books, "Guards Guards!" An existing memeber of the night watch is breaking in a new kid, showing him the ropes:

"The job of the night watch is to walk down the street hollering '9 o'clock and all's well!'."

"But what if all isn't well?"

"Then you bloody well find yourself a different street to walk down!"

(Appologies to Terry if I got the quote wrong).

There are better and more bizzare bits from his books, but that is a quick, easy to remember sample. Other oddities have been the time monks, bonsai mountains, and a butterfly that caused serious winds every time it flapped its wings. It all fits together in a way that is illogically logical and works.

You know, of the several standins Death has had in that series, there's still one character that I'd like to see in that role, someone that quite often knows more than he's letting on. One word, and you'll know who I'm talking about.

OOK.

Not all of the, what, twenty-some odd books are great, it took him a few books to find his groove, and once in a while a book will feel like Terry rushed it, but I highly recommend the whole series to anyone that likes satire.

Well, I've rambled OT enough. Time to go find something to ramble on that's on topic

"It fits on all of them at the same time, being flat and all. They just have some pretty thick calluses from the rotational friction. Oh, and they have to cock their legs once in a while so the moon can complete its orbit."

Thanks, I guess I rushed through that part and thought that "sharing the load" meant that each carried it for the two of the eight seasons every year.