[Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

[Vikingv]

3. Individual Tholians regularly change hives, delivering information and skills between different groupminds, or allowing more efficient sharing of resources, but the hives themselves remain relatively stable

[Phantasm]

I'd go with 4, treating each ship/city/colony as its own hive mind, which merge and separate as needed. There is an established hierarchy of hives, with the largest Tholian hive on Tholia being the main power.

It might even have been a shock initially when their first scout ships, cut off from the founding hive, wound up a splinter hive. Since then, they've accepted that it happens, and with the re-absorption of the first splinter hives back into the main hive upon their return they decided that it wasn't all that bad as initially feared. By using the splintering and re-absorption of individuals into other hives, the ruling hive can relay its desires in a more effective solidarity manner than the communication networks of the cold-air breathers of the rest of the galaxy.

[TGLS]

4 works for me.

[ericthered]

I prefer 2 or 3, leaning towards 2. Birth should matter a great deal to Tholians. I want to see two hives talk and interact on a grand scale through their members.

[Prince Charon]

So far it's arguably a tie, and it's been a couple of days without voting. The next question isn't ready yet, though, so I'll leave the vote open for now.

[Prince Charon]

Right, given the votes, I'm going to say that 4 wins. New question:

Tholians question III

How varied are the Tholians physically from one another?

1. Pretty much identical, barring age and experience.

2. Identical if you don't know what you're looking for, but quite easy to distinguish once you do (if you have the right senses).

3. Tholians are born into a series of related body-types based on intended tasks (warrior, worker, thinker, that sort of thing), and show rather greater dimorphism between castes than within them.

4. Tholian bodies vary to much the same degree that humans do.

5. Something else (please specify).


Please include the number of your preferred option when you vote.

[Phantasm]

I want to say a cross between 2 and 3. Their caste at spawning/budding (I see Tholians as having an asexual reproduction schema, given their crystaline bodies) determines their body type, and while those of a given caste are identical to those with human senses, those with Tholian senses (infrared, ultraviolet, and magnetic sensors) can tell the difference between individuals.

Not that it matters, since the individual doesn't really matter much in a hive mind.

[ericthered]

I'd say either 3 or 4.

[Vikingv]

3. Tholians are born into a series of related body-types based on intended tasks (warrior, worker, thinker, that sort of thing), and show rather greater dimorphism between castes than within them.

[TGLS]

I'd say 2 and 4.