A question to the "devs" and community

Zireael · 2014-01-30T13:36:51.000Z

I like “Nature” and “Beta”.

Zaweri_Runewright · 2014-01-30T13:39:35.000Z

…Why can’t you guys just get over the fact that it makes you elflike, with some properties from Alpha mutagen, and that is why the scientists called it “elf-a”…

Uneron · 2014-01-30T13:46:34.000Z

I think its rather silly compared to the other mutation lines. Especially if removing that silliness would be as easy as changing a few minor things.

Lets face it: There are a lot of people with concerns when it comes down to this specific mutation line. You can see it in all the argument threads out there.

Now to those who have nothing against the Elf line: How important is it to you? Would it really matter to you if it was called something else and slightly altered? Because otherwise changing it would result in a net win.

Zireael · 2014-01-30T13:55:16.000Z

Now to those who have nothing against the Elf line: How important is it to you? Would it really matter to you if it was called something else and slightly altered? Because otherwise changing it would result in a net win.

I have nothing against the category as it is and nothing against changing the name. We could call the eyes Owl Eyes or something and the ears could be Feline/Lupine and it would be the same IMHO.

system · 2014-01-30T16:45:24.000Z

Uneron:

Now to those who have nothing against the Elf line: How important is it to you? Would it really matter to you if it was called something else and slightly altered? Because otherwise changing it would result in a net win.

Name:
I could care less, it could be a Cata version of an Elf. For all I care they could change it to, “Beta Alpha Centauri”, and I’d still love it.
Importance:
I haven’t gotten an Elf-A mutation yet. But I think of it as a good “trickery” mutation, with people chugging it down because they thought it would be a better version of Alpha, or they really wanted to be Elves.

/rant:
Why are we only focusing on the “fantasy” aspects of the Elves. There are common in modern day folklore as well, I mean did everyone forget that “Santa” had “Elves”, then Elves are also the mascots for a brand of packaged cookies. So the more I think about it, this mutation doesn’t really seem out of place. Just because the name is Elf, doesn’t mean they’re the snooty pricks from Skyrim, or the perfect immortals in LOTR.

John_Candlebury · 2014-01-30T16:48:12.000Z

ajwilli1:

Why are we only focusing on the “fantasy” aspects of the Elves. There are common in modern day folklore as well, I mean did everyone forget that “Santa” had “Elves”, then Elves are also the mascots for a brand of packaged cookies. So the more I think about it, this mutation doesn’t really seem out of place. Just because the name is Elf, doesn’t mean they’re the snooty pricks from Skyrim, or the perfect immortals in LOTR.

I will dare to say that that argument only made it SIGNIFICANTLY worse

No really I was thinking about letting it go, now I feel like I should start a mighty internet crusade or something to rename it.

Post not meant to be taken seriously

lootpack · 2014-01-30T17:00:32.000Z

The point where anything fantasy/Tolkien comes in is when CDDA jumps the shark for me. Better to make some endgame dungeons and level-with-you zeds to get rid of the sandbox mode now.

system · 2014-01-30T17:16:56.000Z

lootpack:

The point where anything fantasy/Tolkien comes in is when CDDA jumps the shark for me. Better to make some endgame dungeons and level-with-you zeds to get rid of the sandbox mode now.

((I take it back, apparently in Norse mythology, (where half our crap comes from.) Elves are holy/demonic beings that are the equivalent of Angels.))
Just because Elf is in the name doesn’t mean Tolkien fantasy. Also you’re over-reacting, just because one mutation is Elf, doesn’t mean Cata is turning into Skyrim.

Should probably clarify on the whole angels thing. I love the Irony of it, angels are viewed as perfect immortal beings, and yet the mutation it’s self is the most flawed thing you could possibly see. Yeah it makes you look pretty, but you are practically made of “glass” because of it.

Edit: Apparently Angels are Angles. Geometry is holy now.

John_Candlebury · 2014-01-30T17:23:03.000Z

Why not call it “Alp” instead not only is it the old germanic word for elves, it also has far more morally grey connotations, the world literally meaning “ghostly one”.

system · 2014-01-30T17:26:19.000Z

John Candlebury:

Why not call it “Alp” instead not only is it the old germanic word for elves, it also has far more morally grey connotations, the world literally meaning “ghostly one”.

That would work. It works because no one can connect it to Tolkien. Unless they do the research.

Sanarr · 2014-01-30T19:08:46.000Z

I personaly, think that whole “elf-a” issue is kind a… overreacted.

Yes, we have that mutation. It could have in-game explanation (scientist just named his/her genetic creation after mythology creature) or metagame explanation (contributor just wanted to create Tolkien-elf-like creature to have it in game). Either way - we have that mutation. Some people like it, some people hate it, some people doesnt care enough to quarrel about it (as I am). But that attitude might be placed in many aspects of game - drugs, furry stuff, balance issues etc. Like Bonevomit mentioned in "balance… " thread, this game is collective work of many people, who have a lot of different tastes, which might often be controversal. And, unless devs accept strict rules about what might and might not be added to game, we are bound to eternal arguing about content.

I suggest to take things as they come. If someone bothered himself enough to add elf-fairy-sylvan look mutation… well thanks to his/her effort. I might give it a try if I would like to play such a character. If I dont like something - I’ll just dont use it. Yes, devs might be more picky about what they are merging with core game to avoid some silly stuff but… imagine how it would slow down development process if every player suggested item would be discussed by the dev team (with possible arguing and so on). Maybe they will commence some “kill-it-with-fire” purges, when they will finish core issues.

Mr.Bananza · 2014-01-30T19:37:22.000Z

ajwilli1:

Just because Elf is in the name doesn’t mean Tolkien fantasy. Also you’re over-reacting, just because one mutation is Elf, doesn’t mean Cata is turning into Skyrim.

On the contrary. The game is about the world ending and humanity as a whole being sucked into… oblivion…

Slax · 2014-01-30T20:30:48.000Z

Man, I just want Z-levels. THAT’S fantasy.
[size=6pt]Heheheheheheheheheheheheheh jokes.[/size]

KA101 · 2014-01-31T05:37:33.000Z

[quote=“ChristopherWalken, post:27, topic:4902”]I’m asking because I don’t know what else Elf-A does.

As far as I understand it, they want mutations mostly for military purposes and they were definitely still experimenting and fooling around (as shown by the many negatives most mutations have).
If Elf-A doesn’t have a military purpose why would the military research it?[/quote]

Desperation on the part of the lead researcher and his team: they needed solutions NOW DAMMIT. WE MAY NOT HAVE A MILITARY OR A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TWO WEEKS. Woods seemed likely to provide shelter and sustenance, both from fruit and hunting. Purpose was “adapt folks for living after urban areas are no-go zones”. It failed.

Fantasy elves may be frail, but ain’t actively falling apart and radioactive to boot.

Natures_Witness · 2014-01-31T14:48:12.000Z

ajwilli1:

Edit: Apparently Angels are Angles. Geometry is holy now.

This reminds me of an old sci-fi short story I read once, where due to a worn part in a celestial Linotype machine, this one guy keeps running into wierd stuff like worms with halos and little wings (angelworm as opposed to angleworm) a jug of lye that only contains a small Chinese coin (lei) and so on. He finally figures out the errors happen at the same time each day, and manages to get it fixed. Luckily, there’s a small town nearby called “Haveen”, so he goes to the town line, waits for the correct moment, and steps over it. So instead of entering “Haveen”, he ends up entering Heaven, showing up right in front of the Gates and nearly giving Saint Peter a heart attack. After yelling at them a bit for screwing up his life so much, he takes a look at their equipment and finds the worn-down part and replaces it (he works as a Linotype repairman). The story was absolutely hysterical, I think it was called “The Angelic Angleworm”.

Bonevomit · 2014-01-31T16:50:24.000Z

“It’s just a name! It’s not like you literally turn into an elf!”

You are the tree under which humankind will shelter during these dark times.(ahead)

TheFlame52 · 2014-01-31T23:56:30.000Z

A street sign near my house is misspelled “Wolfangel” instead of “Wolfangle”.

Protester · 2014-02-01T00:21:29.000Z

[quote=“KA101, post:45, topic:4902”][quote=“ChristopherWalken, post:27, topic:4902”]I’m asking because I don’t know what else Elf-A does.

As far as I understand it, they want mutations mostly for military purposes and they were definitely still experimenting and fooling around (as shown by the many negatives most mutations have).
If Elf-A doesn’t have a military purpose why would the military research it?[/quote]

Desperation on the part of the lead researcher and his team: they needed solutions NOW DAMMIT. WE MAY NOT HAVE A MILITARY OR A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TWO WEEKS. Woods seemed likely to provide shelter and sustenance, both from fruit and hunting. Purpose was “adapt folks for living after urban areas are no-go zones”. It failed.

Fantasy elves may be frail, but ain’t actively falling apart and radioactive to boot. ;-)[/quote]

god knows why the scientists broke into rogue groups and started experimenting on “insect mutations”

dwarfkoala · 2014-02-01T02:18:07.000Z

I, for one, oppose anything to do with those tree-hugging, overtall, lava-intolerant bastards.

On a serious note, renaming it to nature is fine.

dwarfkoala · 2014-02-02T06:41:44.000Z

http://smf.cataclysmdda.com/index.php?topic=5226.0