Affinity Ideologies

[aguliondew]

Curious what affinity will you choose for your? And what affinity do you think humanity would leaning towards if we every work out the logistic to move to a new planet? The nearest solar system is ~5 light years away and an inhabitable solar system could be one in a million. Do not see us going anywhere soon.

Purity- supersoldier, cure for cancer and the common cold, change the world to be earthlike. I can see us working towards a society were we have fixed most of our health issues and become an ideal human. The chances of being born with a disabling would decrease and even if they were we would have a fix for it. Still this idea may cost a lack of diversity which is bad for any species.

Supremacy - cyborgs, AI, advance tech. This one is questionable to me, eventually supremacy give up their human body. I can see myself becoming a cyborg but not completely giving up my humanity to do so.

Harmony - parahumans, make aliens, adapting our bodies to the planet. Taking the base traits from aliens so we can survive. I do not like that idea, but I can see us adapting to more hazardous environments that way.

The affinity I will choose will be base on my starting area. The supremacy and harmony ideologies are two extremes that I can not see happening. Still Civ:BE is 600 years into the future. The Great mistake is an interesting way to think of how earth will change within that time.

 

[Sprenk]

I suppose one could argue that all three affinities have the potential to be "extreme." Purity could just be code for "refusing to adapt to a new environment and trying to destroy it instead." Maybe that was the Great Mistake mankind made on Earth?

 

[aguliondew]

When I first thought about purity ww2 came to mind. Then purity to the point of mass genocide is not neccesarily what it is. The backstory to the 8 civs give us an idea of what the great mistake was.

 

[joncnunn]

I think the "Great Mistake" will be revealed only in those games in which an AI won, and will be whichever affinity the human had chosen.

Harmony is change man to suit the environment. Few of the AC specific changes would be suitable on earth, but if done on earth and taken to the extreme it could include things like changing our bodies to naturally repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects and never get a sun burn.

Purity is change the environment to suit man, which actually is what humans have been doing for thousands of years ever since we've had even limited power to do so. This approach when taken to the extreme would try to exterminate all mosquitoes along with any other pest.

Supremacy actually goes further than Harmony which regard to changing the human. With its goal being able to thrive in every environment it would go the Cyborg route.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Purity has a certain Space Nazi vibe, but it doesn't need to be about extermination. Instead of kiling the aliens you could go rverse-Harmony, but instead of changing humans and adapt them to the planet's environment you could introduce a kind of retrovirus that rewrites every ceature's genetic code to make them able to breathe an earth-like atmosphere before you change the planet itself. You don't destroyx and replace the biosphere, you just change it.
So, yeah, I would go this modified Purity route. What's the point of saving humanity if they aren't recognizably human ?

And if I could exterminate all mosquitoes I would do it right now.

 

[rkade8583]

I want to preface this by saying I hate most environmentalists. The earth isn't going to die because of us. We're too small. We're too spread out. We don't do enough as a species, in my opinion, to ruin the earth as of yet.

That being said, I'm going full tilt harmony. Why, you may ask? I will be dealing with 7 other idiots trying to do the exact same thing I am. I do NOT need an actively hostile planet trying to kick my teeth in too.

I'm also fervently anti-religion as it stands now but play the Celt religion game in Civ 5 to the hilt so make of that what you will

As for humanity as a whole? Purity. Say you can cure diseases and the masses will clamor for it. Say you can make this new planet like earth before we futzed it up and they'll eat it all up. Hey, it's Earthicana (Americana but the whole dang planet.)

 

[defiler]

On the long run, semi scientificly speaking, the winning affinity would be Supremacy.
Any planet or biological entity is doomed eventually to die when his prime star runs out of fuel.
But transfer your consience into a machine like a spaceship or space probe it is an extra ensurance against the problems a solar system can throw at us.
Not only we could live on planets but also on the void of the space, how cool is that ?
On my point of view, Harmony and Purity have by desing the idea of get fixed on this new planet while Supremacy is the idea of spreading through the galaxy

 

[joncnunn]

On my point of view, Harmony and Purity have by desing the idea of get fixed on this new planet while Supremacy is the idea of spreading through the galaxy

In case of Purity, you can also regard terraforming of Alpha Centauri is the prototype for terraforming other planets throughout the galaxy, particularly with "Warp Gate" being required on that path.

 

[rkade8583]

Harmony, then, would be taking lemons and making lemonade.

 

[gunther_nt]

Affinity choice is the hardest decision for me now. I like trans-humanism ideas, and crude warhammerish Purity seems a little bit boring and culturally overused. But Purity has the most honorable goal - to rescue earthlings, to shelter them and give them a new home. For this your expedition was formed! Taking a path of Harmony or Supr. I will feel a betrayal. In SMAC you knew for sure - Earth population is destroyed (it was in the novels and maybe in-game). Now I see what it was made for - untie your arms. And even if I achieve the Noble Goal - what life will the rescued get? Half of the life in the siege tank, fighting waves of monsters, dying in thousands, that automatically leads to "Imperium" type of state, and I don't agree with "Startroopers" ideas.

But as I know the planet is semi-sentient, I start to like Harmony. On Earth we are just most evolved species on this pile of rock (as we are sure it is a pile of rock for now). There we are more like symbiotic form (Harmony) or parasites (Purity) on a living huge body. And I don't think anyone will like some bugs landing on his body and starting to pillage it. So, one more ethic queshtion - do we have a right to massacre and submiss the Planet for the noble goal of humanity rescue? Pretty much Avatar's Jack Sally dilemma in fact. I don't have a quick answer to that.

Supremacy is cool-looking, but it doesn't give me answers. Are we getting the same raging planet or not? Cyborgs don't need a lot of organic food (if need any), so there will be less crop fields and less pressure? Or more, for they need firaxite and rare deep-lying metals? I like cybernetics, but I need more info on gameplay. And their ending is terrible. I will never be able to do it.

So, Harmony, I guess. Forgive us, terrans, but we are not going to destroy another planet for sheltering some terran ass. But this decision is very hard for me.

P.S. I tried to play Pandora: First Contact and there aliens start raging soon and anyway even if you dance naked in fungus. That completely ruined any Harmony-like mechanics. I had to rely on good ol' Avenger tanks and that is the only applicable mechanic. So, again, everything depends upon certain realization.

 

[DarkestOnion]

In real life, I expect that Sleeper Ships piloted by AI's will map out the Milky Way. They will have Cryogenic-ally stored Human Embryos on board. When a habitable planet has been discovered (or terraformed sufficiently) the Human Embryos will be gestated and educated/raised by AI's as new colonists.

Then the colony will commence building industrial infrastructure and attempt to reestablish contact with Earth to confirm success. When the colony is self-sufficient colonists will donate Human Embryos so that the Seeding can continue ad infinitum. I think that Humanity values familiarity (same-ness) primarily, so we are not likely to become unrecognizable as Human Beings in any probable future. This is why my first game will be Purity Affinity.

 

[DarkestOnion]

Affinity choice is the hardest decision for me now. I like trans-humanism ideas, and crude warhammerish Purity seems a little bit boring and culturally overused. But Purity has the most honorable goal - to rescue earthlings, to shelter them and give them a new home. For this your expedition was formed! Taking a path of Harmony or Supr. I will feel a betrayal. In SMAC you knew for sure - Earth population is destroyed (it was in the novels and maybe in-game). Now I see what it was made for - untie your arms. And even if I achieve the Noble Goal - what life will the rescued get? Half of the life in the siege tank, fighting waves of monsters, dying in thousands, that automatically leads to "Imperium" type of state, and I don't agree with "Startroopers" ideas.

But as I know the planet is semi-sentient, I start to like Harmony. On Earth we are just most evolved species on this pile of rock (as we are sure it is a pile of rock for now). There we are more like symbiotic form (Harmony) or parasites (Purity) on a living huge body. And I don't think anyone will like some bugs landing on his body and starting to pillage it. So, one more ethic queshtion - do we have a right to massacre and submiss the Planet for the noble goal of humanity rescue? Pretty much Avatar's Jack Sally dilemma in fact. I don't have a quick answer to that.

Supremacy is cool-looking, but it doesn't give me answers. Are we getting the same raging planet or not? Cyborgs don't need a lot of organic food (if need any), so there will be less crop fields and less pressure? Or more, for they need firaxite and rare deep-lying metals? I like cybernetics, but I need more info on gameplay. And their ending is terrible. I will never be able to do it.

So, Harmony, I guess. Forgive us, terrans, but we are not going to destroy another planet for sheltering some terran ass. But this decision is very hard for me.

P.S. I tried to play Pandora: First Contact and there aliens start raging soon and anyway even if you dance naked in fungus. That completely ruined any Harmony-like mechanics. I had to rely on good ol' Avenger tanks and that is the only applicable mechanic. So, again, everything depends upon certain realization.

I know it may seem unkind, but Survival of the Species should come before questions of Xeno-Environmentalism. If both can be served that is preferable, but I would never stand aside and watch the Candle of Humanity gutter out to save The Spotted Planetary Consciousness from mean old homo sapiens

 

[s0nny80y]

I like to begin with harmony in order to grasp the significance of alien barbs.

If we separate the idea of affinities from game mechanics, technically completing a victory type can spell a continuing fiction to encompass other victory type i.e. winning a game with a domination victory means the winning faction can pursue other victory types without competition.

And because of this, I like to utilize the whole planet itself as a conduit that might consider contact with earth again once transcendence with the planetary body is achieved, kinda like collective internet usage that imparts random bits of memory via user-computer interface into the Pioneer I coding that is currently computing in interstellar space and replying to NASA every 33 hours, which in turn may be conducting some sort of unconscious contact with an extraterrestrial entity already. Heck, I think the Saudi king's brain is installed hardware on Pioneer I, excuse me for trying to be a realist.

 

[gunther_nt]

I know it may seem unkind, but Survival of the Species should come before questions of Xeno-Environmentalism. If both can be served that is preferable, but I would never stand aside and watch the Candle of Humanity gutter out to save The Spotted Planetary Consciousness from mean old homo sapiens

That depends of what you call the Specie. First things first, humans are a product of evolution (apologize to any creationists, but let's not open THIS discussion, please). And they are evolving and always will. But they are a product of natural, Earth adaptation. When you move them to another world, all their evolution level becomes pretty asynchronous with that environment. So it may be possible and ethic to use forced evolution to adapt them. So, for me this Homo Novus are not non-humans, they are offsprings and relatives. They will adapt and evolve anyway, just slower. Move your family to the high mountains and you will be surprised with the chest size of your grandchildren. Are they unhuman? What if your children could have a larger chest with larger lungs for breathing low-oxygen air? They would feel more comfortable without any loss of humanity.

I also think that our future is not in Deus Ex Human Revolution style cyber augmentations, but in gene improving. So I just find Harmony more... possible and realistic I think.

And also I am fond of Harry Harrison's Eden cycle, his books about "the rebellious planet", that influenced SMAC, Avatar and lots of works of art, I like modern biopunk, so Harmony seems just like my home It is all personal, you know.

BTW only several years ago I was standing on your position completely, like I supported the Corporation in Avatar etc. Survive as humans at any cost. If Earth is dying and needs resources - provide it at any cost. So maybe it will be my second run I clearly understand your point of view.

 

[The Naug]

The Flesh is Weak.
But the Metal is Strong.

Does that answer your question?
Upload my consciousness? Immortality and near omniscience? I'll take it!

 

[aguliondew]

I understand why people are picking supremacy but think about the amount of energy a machine uses to operate. This means Supremacy will try to find sources of energy on their planets not necessarily a inhabitable one. A boring way to live if you can even call it living. The supremacy robot will eventually corrode. Any damage part can be repaired/replaced but it is not like they are immortal. Harmony and Purity would get to the same point of long life spams.

 

[ManOfRet]

I understand why people are picking supremacy but think about the amount of energy a machine uses to operate. This means Supremacy will try to find sources of energy on their planets not necessarily a inhabitable one. A boring way to live if you can even call it living. The supremacy robot will eventually corrode. Any damage part can be repaired/replaced but it is not like they are immortal. Harmony and Purity would get to the same point of long life spams.

See, the whole point of the Supremacy Affinity is (in my opinion) the fact that the mind is immaterial and can be transmitted, uploaded, and swapped into new bodies whenever the physical portion degrades. By pure definition, yes, all Supremacists would be immortal. However, even though their body may degrade, the idea behind Supremacy is that the mind is immortal and is pure data and information. So, in a sense, the "person" who inhabits the "body" would be immortal, they would just change bodies every so often.

I personally must say that I think that the Supremacy Affinity is my favorite, since I have always been a relatively stark technocrat of sorts, so I really enjoy the idea of a super-technological and completely self-sustaining, planet-independent and super-resilient human race.

In second place is the Purity Affinity, but that's mainly just because of the aesthetic that they hold. Although, there is a certain quality about their zeal to maintain "true humanity" that makes me have to reconsider Supremacy being my favorite. The ideological foundation of "true humanity" and its maintenance and perfection is just... very exciting, I suppose.

My least favorite is the Harmony Affinity. I don't have any particular dislike towards them, it's just that they don't seem that exciting to me. To become a different biological being is to become inhuman altogether. Of course, the same could be said of Supremacy, but in this case, you are transforming humanity into something else. On the other hand, Supremacy is creating an entirely new evolutionary step for humanity, rather than creating some hybridized being. That's the difference, to me.

All in all, though, I must say that some combination of all three, with an emphasis on the Purity-Harmony mixture (genetic alteration, trying to reduce the destructiveness of our economies) seems like the most plausible future for humanity, at least for the next few hundred years or so. However, it is quite likely that robotic drones will be living among us within 500 years at our current pace, but I doubt humanity will be quick to adopt a huge amount of cyborgification any time soon.

Realistically, humanity will almost surely adopt a balanced view that focuses on maintaining humanity while improving it and making life easier for all humans, as they've always done. However, I stand by my word that Supremacy is my favorite in terms of the scope of Beyond Earth.

EDIT: Also, think about this: if humanity were to use an area of land to power all of its machines using only solar power, the amount of land that the solar power would take up would be about the size of half of France. On the other hand, we have to use something close to the land area of Africa, and then some, to feed all of the people who live here. In other words, the biological human body is equally, if not more energy-hungry than a theoretical cyborg or human-bot would be.

 

[Dargoth]

How each affinity works is probably best seen in how they deal wti the Miasma (the Toxic atmosphere the planet has)

The purity affinity would try and get rid of it and introduce a oxygen rich enviroment.

The Harmony affinity would geneticly engineer humans so they can beath the Miasma without suffocating

The Supremacy Affinity would probably remove peoples lungs and replace them with some sort of Cybernetic nanite tech that would convert the Miasma into oxygen for the body by changing the atoms of the Miasama gas at the atomic level (king of how the BORG in FIrst contact are able to walk around on the hull of the Enterpise in First contact while its in space.

 

[defiler]

The Supremacy Affinity would probably remove peoples lungs and replace them with some sort of Cybernetic nanite tech that would convert the Miasma into oxygen for the body by changing the atoms of the Miasama gas at the atomic level (king of how the BORG in FIrst contact are able to walk around on the hull of the Enterpise in First contact while its in space.

or maybe it would be just a robot who doesn't need even to breath, controled remotely by a consciousesness on a wireless network

 

[bouncymischa]

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm entirely happy with any of the Affinities, and wouldn't really want to see humanity's future go down any of their paths. Presumably because of the demands of gameplay and to play off of science fiction archetypes, they all have their flaws and limitations -- particularly in their demand for conformity to their particular philosophies from all members of their societies.

For me, an ideal form of transhumanism would be the sort portrayed in Iain M. Banks' Culture, or the Golden Oecumene in John C. Wright's The Golden Age -- societies where people could freely chose what bodies or shapes they wanted to adopt. Whether one wanted to be a transhuman ubermensch, become integrated into an alien species, or have one's mind uploaded digitally and use a starship for a body, all were permitted and acceptable (even if individuals still had aesthetic preferences -- one of the characters in The Golden Age dislikes having to interact with individuals who adopt brutally geometric cyborg bodies, for example).

I suppose, in the end, I don't really associate "humanity" with possessing a particular physical shape or composition, but instead being a product of one's thoughts, beliefs, and actions. As such, I guess I trend most towards Supremacy, as I have no particular issue with someone who may want to become a cyborg or digitally upload themselves to puppet around a robot body. But at the same time, I couldn't really see making any such change mandatory, as the Emancipation victory would seem to apply. An ideal society would be one in which people could choose whichever body type they wanted, whether baseline human, cyborg, or alien hybrid, of their own volition without any coercion.