"The Vanu are techno-religious nut jobs."

LZachariah · 2011-09-28, 09:16 AM

Ouch o.O This is written beside the small icon of the Vanu symbol on the new art post (which I found to be extremely interesting, and I love how invested SOE is in its fanbase). Reading this comment made me sad, however, because it shows that the developers of the game see a flaw (or possible "these are the bad guys") mentality toward one of their factions.

It's not a huge deal to me, but it gave me pause, because it was the first time that there has ever been an imbalance of the normal Planetside harmony of "All these factions have a reason to fight, you could empathize with any of them, there are no good guys or bad guys in this war." Calling one of the factions a bunch of nut jobs disrupts that balance. Now, for sure, SOE never said that to "us," what we're reading are notes that they are allowing us to see for the first time, presumably given to their artists for some conceptual focus. However, when the artists and designers have it in their heads that "The Terrans are militaristic, the NC are separatist commandos, and the Vanu are techno-religious nut jobs," some of the inherent disdain might filter down into the design.

I'm not challenging anyone on this, and I'm not too upset, it just caught me off guard (the Vanu having always been my faction). Hell, T-Ray loves the Vanu the MOST, and he's the art director. But I guess I'm wondering what people's thoughts are on this.

Just thought I'd share mine

~Zachariah

FastAndFree · 2011-09-28, 09:29 AM

I took it as a tongue-in-cheek exageration

Xyntech · 2011-09-28, 09:36 AM

As a IRL atheist and a die hard Vanu for life, I for one welcome our techno-religious nut job overlords.

I think the only thing out of place is that this is the other empires view of the VS, as opposed to their view of themselves like the other two empires descriptors. We have always been the religious extremists in the eyes of the TR and NC, but to ourselves we nobly seek enlightenment through technological progress.

The Terran scum are naziesque oppressive authoritarians and the Conglomerate bastards are a rogue terrorist faction. It don't make them bad people.

Traak · 2011-09-28, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Xyntech

The Terran scum are naziesque oppressive authoritarians and the Conglomerate bastards are a rogue terrorist faction. It don't make them bad people.

LOL

FastAndFree · 2011-09-28, 09:48 AM

You missed a perfectly good opportunity to mock the NC for their steam-age technology >_>

In fact, this just gave me an idea, there should be a chart about how each empire view themselves and the other 2!

Draep · 2011-09-28, 10:01 AM

The VS were techno-religious nutjobs in the first PS. Neeext

Talek Krell · 2011-09-28, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Draep

The VS were techno-religious nutjobs in the first PS. Neeext

Only to the ignorant. It would have been more accurate to describe us as fanatical transhumanists, but because we pursue science with a fervor that most would reserve for their god(s) and, presumably, because the TR and NC have trouble with that whole science/magic thing they generally label us "religious" instead.

Originally Posted by FastAndFree

Yay or nay?

Yay. I likey.

Goku · 2011-09-28, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by Talek Krell

Only to the ignorant. It would have been more accurate to describe us as fanatical transhumanists, but because we pursue science with a fervor that most would reserve for their god(s) and, presumably, because the TR and NC have trouble with that whole science/magic thing they generally label us "religious" instead.

Yay. I likey.

Yes you guys still have not made a good permanent heavy assault. How many have you been through since 03

?

Hamma · 2011-09-28, 10:06 AM

Techno-Organic yo!

Bags · 2011-09-28, 10:09 AM

T-Ray loves VS so I wouldn't take any insults about them too seriously.

Legion · 2011-09-28, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Bags

T-Ray loves VS so I wouldn't take any insults about them too seriously.

Yeah, T-Ray probably wrote those mini descriptions and he is a nut about VS, a fanatical fan.

LZachariah · 2011-09-28, 10:35 AM

All good points. Like I say, I'm not too worried, though it struck me as almost out of place. And you're all definitely right, this is an excellent description of how the OTHER two factions see us

FastAndFree · 2011-09-28, 10:45 AM

Yay or nay?

We are the Terran Republic, the legitimate rulers of Auraxis and beyond. We have kept peace and order for millennia, and we'll be damned if anybody ruins it.
The NC are rebel scum who dress funny and want to ruin everything we have worked for. We will crush them in our iron fist and restore Order.
The VS are rebel scum who smell funny and want to ruin everything we have worked for. We will crush them in our iron fist and restore Order.

We are the New Conglomerate, the last hope for freedom on Auraxis. Nuff said, fetch my a beer!
The TR are a bunch of nazicommies who would sooner die than leave us be, so we gladly help them do just that any chance we get.
The VS are alienloving techno-religious nut jobs who want to brainwash and/or anal-probe us. We'll just keep shooting them in the face until they give up and leave us alone - i.e. forever.

We are the Vanu Sovereignty, the shining future of mankind. We labor day and night to bring that future to the present, and to share it with everyone.
The TR are relics of the past stuck in their way who don't appreciate what we are doing for them because they don't understand we have the same goals. We just do it better. They will see, once we have changed their way for them.
The NC are unsophisticated anarchists who fear and misunderstand us, but we will not give up. We will show them the light, through any means necessary. For their own good.

Erendil · 2011-09-28, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by FastAndFree

Yay or nay?

We are the Terran Republic, the legitimate rulers of Auraxis and beyond. We have kept peace and order for millennia, and we'll be damned if anybody ruins it.
The NC are rebel scum who dress funny and want to ruin everything we have worked for. We will crush them in our iron fist and restore Order.
The VS are rebel scum who smell funny and want to ruin everything we have worked for. We will crush them in our iron fist and restore Order.

We are the New Conglomerate, the last hope for freedom on Auraxis. Nuff said, fetch my a beer!
The TR are a bunch of nazicommies who would sooner die than leave us be, so we gladly help them do just that any chance we get.
The VS are alienloving techno-religious nut jobs who want to brainwash and/or anal-probe us. We'll just keep shooting them in the face until they give up and leave us alone - i.e. forever.

We are the Vanu Sovereignty, the shining future of mankind. We labor day and night to bring that future to the present, and to share it with everyone.
The TR are relics of the past stuck in their way who don't appreciate what we are doing for them because they don't understand we have the same goals. We just do it better. They will see, once we have changed their way for them.
The NC are unsophisticated anarchists who fear and misunderstand us, but we will not give up. We will show them the light, through any means necessary. For their own good.

Me like!

You got the Terrans' view of the other empires mixed up a bit tho.

The NC are the ones who smell funny since they're a rag-tag bunch of inbred hillbilly wannabee commandos who never bathe, live in mud huts, and don't know the meaning of the terms "toilet" or "indoor plumbing".

The VS.... Well, we wear purple, so I could see where the oppressed and inflexible TR mind might mistake our superior fashion sense as "dressing funny." .

Oh, and you should probably work in the words "sub-human" and/or "Neanderthal" into the VS perception of the NC....

FastAndFree · 2011-09-29, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by Erendil

Me like!

You got the Terrans' view of the other empires mixed up a bit tho.

Are you telling me that the official guidelines are incorrect? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TELL ME?
Commissar Drake, get this man out of my sight.

Originally Posted by Erendil

Oh, and you should probably work in the words "sub-human" and/or "Neanderthal" into the VS perception of the NC....

I actually had "neanderthals" in the first version

Originally Posted by LordReaver

The NC seek freedom. To others they create anarchy.
The TR seek stability. To others they create stagnation.
The VS seek religion. To others they create zealotry.

I think the keyword for the VS would be progress