Topic: Alice Grove MCDT March 2015 (Read 110221 times)

pwhodges · « **Reply #200 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 16:25 »

Quote from: mikmaxs on 19 Mar 2015, 14:09

Because he brought it up, though, it's fair game to talk about.

But not necessarily interesting; you may be losing your audience.

Anyway, there's an easy way out - Alice gave the idiot children a broad-brush version which she knows as well as you is not the full story.

Energia · « **Reply #201 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 17:22 »

For the whole zoology/anthropology genetic engineering thing I just want to point out the kangaroo and the cassowary from my neck of the woods. The Ridiculous Ostriches are also not a million miles evolved from the bush/scrub turkeys in my garden.

jwhouk · « **Reply #202 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 18:59 »

"If you wonder how he eats and breathes
And other science facts (tra-la-la)
You should tell yourselves 'It's just a show
I should probably relax...'"

jwhouk · « **Reply #203 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 20:34 »

Comic.

...How con-viiieeeeeen-ient.

All it does is assemble and look up at the moon?

Energia · « **Reply #204 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 20:53 »

So all we have left for tension is the Praesususes?

mikmaxs · « **Reply #205 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 21:03 »

Quote from: jwhouk on 19 Mar 2015, 18:59

"If you wonder how he eats and breathes
And other science facts (tra-la-la)
You should tell yourselves 'It's just a show
I should probably relax...'"

This wasn't preceded by a verse where they explain how he eats and breathes, though.

Also, if it doesn't turn out that Alice is lying, being misleading, or is simply wrong here, I'll buy a hat and eat it.

Kugai · « **Reply #206 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 22:09 »

He's a fallen Praesususes

Or is actually Station in the future.

Wildroses · « **Reply #207 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 22:38 »

Quote from: Loki on 19 Mar 2015, 07:16

Quote from: Wildroses on 19 Mar 2015, 06:23
Scientists are the cause of a hell of a lot of problems for fictional characters, either because they are evil, mad, or the sort who would say: "Gee I wonder what would happen if I did this?" or "I'm sure nothing wrong will happen if I do this." Fictional Scientists like Grand Viziers. If characters just killed them as soon as they met them, they'd probably live very peaceful, untroubled lives.
May I put this into the signature on a roleplaying forum I frequent, and if so, how would you like to be attributed?

I don't mind being attributed as Wildroses, but you may want to credit Terry Pratchett as well. The first sentence is completely original to me, but the part about Grand Viziers was inspired by a conversation the character Cohen the Barbarian had with his fellow heroes in which they said they always killed Grand Viziers as soon as they met them as they are all evil so it saves time.

So all this Nightwalker does is stare at the moon? Then why did it try to grab the kids? Was it interested in Gavia's nanotech? I wonder what would have happened if it had touched Gavia? Maybe all her nanotech would have become part of the Nightwalker and Gavia would have been bumped down to Ardent's level.

Gladstone · « **Reply #208 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 23:01 »

Quote from: Energia on 19 Mar 2015, 20:53

So all we have left for tension is the Praesususes?

Quote from: Wildroses on 19 Mar 2015, 22:38

Was it interested in Gavia's nanotech? I wonder what would have happened if it had touched Gavia? Maybe all her nanotech would have become part of the Nightwalker and Gavia would have been bumped down to Ardent's level.

Hush now, we're worldbuilding.

KOK · « **Reply #209 on:** 19 Mar 2015, 23:03 »

Quote from: pwhodges on 18 Mar 2015, 23:58

Quote from: KOK on 18 Mar 2015, 23:07
That's Struthio ridiculencis. Species names should not be capitalized.

I work in a science building of the University of Oxford; they got that wrong in the murals in the stairwell, and I've been grinding my teeth as I pass them for seven years now.

If Oxford University can't get it right, I think Jeph may be excused.

BenRG · « **Reply #210 on:** 20 Mar 2015, 00:38 »

Well, that's interesting. I've got a feeling that the truth about the Night Walker will be significant somehow. It's going to be a major story twist, in the end.

What is it?

An exiled Praesedes;
The nano machines from maroons like Gavia who have died; they still want to 'go home';
The nano machine 'plague' used to terraform the world; they were abandoned after the project was completed and have since slowly been developing into a self-aware hive mind.

Why did it reach for the kids? Maybe it sensed that they might be a way off of that rock. Or maybe it wanted to consume their nano machines? I don't think that it is malign, just possibly dangerous by the simple fact of its nature.

Zebediah · « **Reply #211 on:** 20 Mar 2015, 03:25 »

I knew it! Shadow Guy just wants to go home. And he was trying to give them a nice pat on the head, because he recognizes someone else who wants to go home.

There remains one animal in the forest that hasn't been explained: the no-eye deer. That's going to turn out to have been the truly dangerous one.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #212 on:** 20 Mar 2015, 07:37 »

Sorry, I just can't figure out the no-eye deer. I just haven't got a clue... It's a total mystery to me.

Kugai · « **Reply #213 on:** 20 Mar 2015, 14:59 »

And the game commences

Gladstone · « **Reply #214 on:** 20 Mar 2015, 15:36 »

GAVIA: "And what the hell is up with those eyeless deer?!"
ALICE: "We--we don't like to talk about them."

And they never did again.

ysth · « **Reply #215 on:** 20 Mar 2015, 15:45 »

Quote from: explicit on 19 Mar 2015, 06:38

Quote from: cesium133 on 19 Mar 2015, 06:35
I am so not inviting you to any of my genetic engineering parties.

Which is really unfortunate because next time we're going for laser eyes!

http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=602

Chelicerate · « **Reply #216 on:** 21 Mar 2015, 09:39 »

Does Alice Grove take place in the Ninth World? I'm getting some pretty heavy Numenera vibes from the last few strips.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numenera

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #217 on:** 21 Mar 2015, 18:52 »

Everyone's missing the truly strange thing about the weird dogs.

They're not afraid of humans.

Neither were dodos, but look how long they lasted after first contact.

The weird dogs are within walking distance of the village and can take it totally for granted that the humans won't kill them for food or for sick amusement.

Law? Custom? Religion? Fear?

Wildroses · « **Reply #218 on:** 21 Mar 2015, 19:10 »

I wondered if the villagers never venture out of their village at night, or never enter the forrest. That place is kind of creepy with the Nightwalker and eyeless deer and enormous flytraps.

osaka · « **Reply #219 on:** 21 Mar 2015, 19:11 »

Quote from: Is it cold in here? on 21 Mar 2015, 18:52

Everyone's missing the truly strange thing about the weird dogs.

They're not afraid of humans.

Neither were dodos, but look how long they lasted after first contact.

The weird dogs are within walking distance of the village and can take it totally for granted that the humans won't kill them for food or for sick amusement.

Law? Custom? Religion? Fear?

Just like normal dogs, they lick people they like. This makes them outstandingly likable, so nobody hunts weird dogs.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #220 on:** 21 Mar 2015, 19:56 »

I doubt anyone does do anything to harm them. Alice protects them, so none of the villagers would want to anger her by harming them. They might even be used to human contact. They seemed more curious than anything else.

BenRG · « **Reply #221 on:** 22 Mar 2015, 02:20 »

Quote from: Neko_Ali on 21 Mar 2015, 19:56

They might even be used to human contact. They seemed more curious than anything else.

I'm going to say it again: these two are unusual in their behaviour. Alice hand-reared them almost since they hatched, so they are atypically chill with humans, especially when Alice is around. She may even ride them on occasions.

For some reason, I'm thinking of a 1980s-era arcade game called Joust.

Zebediah · « **Reply #222 on:** 23 Mar 2015, 19:04 »

Comic's up.

I'm still going with "friendly pat on the head." Alice is just messing with Gavia.

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #223 on:** 23 Mar 2015, 20:05 »

Well, assuming she is telling the truth I guess we can rule out Alice's abilities being based on nanotech.

Half Empty Coffee Cup · « **Reply #224 on:** 23 Mar 2015, 20:56 »

Just gotta say, that's a priceless face. You know the one.

Kugai · « **Reply #225 on:** 23 Mar 2015, 21:05 »

I wonder if Alice is being a bit ....... loose with the truth.

And that face .........

BenRG · « **Reply #226 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 00:39 »

"You'd have protected us, right?"

"Um... Can I get back to you on that?"

Well, we now have it confirmed that nanotech isn't universal for those from 'up'. That surprises me because I was sure that was the source of Ardent's body modifications and Alice's special abilities.

NOTE: Alice is not necessarily a reliable narrator. It's quite possible that she's lying or deliberately treating the most negative and frightening option about certain things as most likely in order to influence the kids' decision-making.

NilsO · « **Reply #227 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 02:06 »

Quote

You're the first that's been around here since... well, for as long as I can remember.

I have the feeling that Alice almost had a slip of the tongue here. The Night Walker is probably originating from an event a very long time ago, and Alice does not want to tell she witnessed that event. That would tell Ardent and Gavia how old she really is.

As for the Night Walker's purpose: Alice wants to suppress nanotech usage in the preserve. When the nanotech machines arrived in that event, Alice would not (or could not) exterminate them, but gave them a mission that would have minimal impact on the society. I would guess the Night Walker is self-aware to some degree, but unable to change his programming, unless rogue nanotech machines arrive from the Outside.

BenRG · « **Reply #228 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 03:56 »

Quote from: NilsO on 24 Mar 2015, 02:06

Quote
You're the first that's been around here since... well, for as long as I can remember.

I have the feeling that Alice almost had a slip of the tongue here.

I agree that Alice was about to reveal something important there. However, I think that the significance isn't when, it's who.

CRAZY PLOT IDEA: The Night Walker is the real reason Alice's planet is isolated. The nanomachines that make up the Night Walker are 'viral' and will reprogram any others with which they come in contact into functioning in the same way as they do. If they get off the planet, they could devastate the civilisation of the Outsiders. They're too nice to just blow up the solar system in question (it isn't certain that this would be effective anyway) but they're still the technological equivalent of The Flood.

The reason Gavia and Ardent aren't going anywhere is that they are a potential infection vector...

... Or maybe Gavia is the unwitting carrier of the cure and the Praesides want her to be eaten by the Night Walker.

Wildroses · « **Reply #229 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 04:30 »

And Ardent and Gavia continue in their journey of discovery in which they will realise that other people do not consider them the centre of the universe. I get the impression they were very indulged before arriving in Alice Land.

mikmaxs · « **Reply #230 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 09:35 »

Quote from: Wildroses on 19 Mar 2015, 22:38

So all this Nightwalker does is stare at the moon? Then why did it try to grab the kids? Was it interested in Gavia's nanotech? I wonder what would have happened if it had touched Gavia? Maybe all her nanotech would have become part of the Nightwalker and Gavia would have been bumped down to Ardent's level.

Who called it? This dude called it.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #231 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 15:20 »

https://twitter.com/jephjacques/status/580433078528708608

Well, that's interesting.

TinPenguin · « **Reply #232 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 16:05 »

Well, we already knew it had to be deliberate. We still don't know why, though.

jwhouk · « **Reply #233 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 16:10 »

"There is unrest in th forest, there is trouble with the trees..."

Kugai · « **Reply #234 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 16:21 »

BAROOOOM!!

explicit · « **Reply #235 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 22:00 »

As long as this doesn't end up like The Happening then sure, why not.

Kugai · « **Reply #236 on:** 24 Mar 2015, 22:36 »

I wonder if Treebeard is there

Pilchard123 · « **Reply #237 on:** 25 Mar 2015, 02:06 »

It's in the trees! It's coming!

katsmeat · « **Reply #238 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 03:21 »

First time posting here. Because I dislike the slow update rate, I just do a mini comic-binge about once a month so I tend to be slow on developments.

My current theory is that we're seeing the QC universe a considerable length of time in the future. Ardent and Gavia have come from Station, or the giant thing that Station will evolve into, or one of a swarm of giant things Station will evolve into.

Alice's nigh indestructibility and her devotion to the interests of the villagers are explained by the fact that she's an AI. Her chassis is significantly more advanced than the QC-era ones, but she's old-fashioned compared to the other AIs (the praesides). Of course, we know her cottage has an privy/outhouse, which counts against the non-human theory, but I'm willing to handwave that. Perhaps she just has it for guests, or just to avoid appearing even odder to the townspeople than she already does.

Pilchard123 · « **Reply #239 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 05:31 »

I thought that Jeph said that Alice Grove is deliberately not in the QC universe.

katsmeat · « **Reply #240 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 06:34 »

Quote from: Pilchard123 on 26 Mar 2015, 05:31

I thought that Jeph said that Alice Grove is deliberately not in the QC universe.

DId he? OK, the theory's knocked on the head.

I was just going by the comic. I don't follow his Twitter or Tumblr.

Aziraphale · « **Reply #241 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 07:13 »

Quote from: Pilchard123 on 26 Mar 2015, 05:31

I thought that Jeph said that Alice Grove is deliberately not in the QC universe.

Back when the strip first started, or around the time the Patreon thingy started, I seem to remember him mentioning "guest appearances" or some kind of crossover between the two. A: I could be misremembering that. B: (just as likely, given Jeph's history) Jeph may forget that he said that, change his mind, etc.

osaka · « **Reply #242 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 07:46 »

I could see characters with familiar personalities and names and designs that aren't 100% [insert QC character here] but totally are, in order to make some guest appearances.

Or make one of the praeses named "Station" for no particular reason whatsoever

~~valkygrrl~~ · « **Reply #243 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 08:25 »

Quote from: osaka on 26 Mar 2015, 07:46

Or make one of the praeses named "Station" for no particular reason whatsoever

As a Bill and Ted shoutout.

Isyrion · « **Reply #244 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 12:19 »

I love the face that Alice makes at the end, its a mixture of "what seriously" and "Yeah right sure lets go with that"

Kugai · « **Reply #245 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 13:19 »

There is a 'Sideways' to what Jeph said

Yes, it's not set in the QCverse we all know and love

It's an Alternate Universe, sometime in the future in a Universe where Second Impact had more severe, and perhaps somewhat devastating, results.

The Praesides are the remainder of the AI's that survived whatever happened and are trying to repair the damage - dumping Gavia and Ardent on the Planet is a part of their long range plan..

And the Shadowmonster?

Pintsize, or what's left of him..

Neko_Ali · « **Reply #246 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 14:24 »

Nah. Then the nanomachines would form a giant butt every night.

Method of Madness · « **Reply #247 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 15:02 »

Think about it. It stares at the MOON.

SomeCanadianWeirdo · « **Reply #248 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:01 »

So, this seems like it is Earth. And an Earth where AI apparently didn't appear, or was suppressed at some point, given that Gavia thinks intelligent machine are impossible.

Of course it could be Earth's moon, but not Earth. And the Walker is waiting for a signal from Moonbase Alpha.

explicit · « **Reply #249 on:** 26 Mar 2015, 20:29 »

post-post-apocalyptic earth?

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Author Topic: Alice Grove MCDT March 2015 (Read 110221 times)