Starfield and the Expanse

[cravnmore]

Playing this game makes me think of the Expanse(great tv series). I wonder if the books or the show had any influence when making the game.

[RL 101]

The influence of various science fiction works from cinema and literature, both classic (Asimov, Clarke) and more modern, is noticeable, even in small details. Logically, they have been inspired in some points, which is something that makes it more attractive.

[utahcowboy]

I haven't watched the Expanse yet, thanks for the recommendation! If the show can enhance my play experience further then I'm all in.

[Sedmeister]

Oh hello, found your post! Did you find the Amos Burton Easter egg default in character creation? It's close to the Naomi Nagata one.

[BR B-263-54]

Loved the Expanse and have the books just waiting for a convenient time to read them.

[Nursemorph]

Originally posted by BR B-263-54:

Loved the Expanse and have the books just waiting for a convenient time to read them.

I highly recommend reading the books...much as I love the TV show, the books are so much better, especially given the TV show cut so much from the books, both in terms of characters and storylines

[cravnmore]

Originally posted by Sedmeister:

Oh hello, found your post! Did you find the Amos Burton Easter egg default in character creation? It's close to the Naomi Nagata one.

I did not. Now going to have to be Amos on my next playthrough.

[RasaNova]

Originally posted by utahcowboy:

I haven't watched the Expanse yet, thanks for the recommendation! If the show can enhance my play experience further then I'm all in.

Oh hell absolutely watch it. It's a slow burner, so don't let the first couple episodes turn you off like they did for me at first, once it grabs you (and I bet it will) it won't let go. No aliens, no space wizards, just pure well-written, well-performed and well presented sci fi.

[Lonetac]

ive read all the books and outside of the alien artifact giving powers, there isnt much in common tbh other than space.

[Lonetac]

Originally posted by RasaNova:

Originally posted by utahcowboy:

I haven't watched the Expanse yet, thanks for the recommendation! If the show can enhance my play experience further then I'm all in.

Oh hell absolutely watch it. It's a slow burner, so don't let the first couple episodes turn you off like they did for me at first, once it grabs you (and I bet it will) it won't let go. No aliens, no space wizards, just pure well-written, well-performed and well presented sci fi.

Im sorry but everytime i see someone use the space wizard comment when referring to SF, you absolutely cannot say in good faith expanse doesnt have space wizards.

In both SF and Expanse humans get super powers from alien artifacts. Its exactly the same. So if space wizards are in SF, you cannot logically say they dont exist in the Expanse.

[cravnmore]

Originally posted by Lonetac:

ive read all the books and outside of the alien artifact giving powers, there isnt much in common tbh other than space.

I consider The Expanse as NASA-punk

[Lonetac]

Originally posted by cravnmore:

Originally posted by Lonetac:

ive read all the books and outside of the alien artifact giving powers, there isnt much in common tbh other than space.

I consider The Expanse as NASA-punk

Its certainly more realistic than SF. Things are done in a more believable way.

Thats not necessarily a knock on SF though, realism doesn't translate to good games.

I never finished reading the Expanse. I have like 2 books left that I know of. When I was reading it, the books were still being written and I lost track of it.

Is it finished?

[cravnmore]

Originally posted by Lonetac:

Originally posted by cravnmore:

I consider The Expanse as NASA-punk

Its certainly more realistic than SF. Things are done in a more believable way.

Thats not necessarily a knock on SF though, realism doesn't translate to good games.

I never finished reading the Expanse. I have like 2 books left that I know of. When I was reading it, the books were still being written and I lost track of it.

Is it finished?

Yup. Leviathan Falls was the final in the story.

[RasaNova]

Originally posted by Lonetac:

Originally posted by RasaNova:

Oh hell absolutely watch it. It's a slow burner, so don't let the first couple episodes turn you off like they did for me at first, once it grabs you (and I bet it will) it won't let go. No aliens, no space wizards, just pure well-written, well-performed and well presented sci fi.

Im sorry but everytime i see someone use the space wizard comment when referring to SF, you absolutely cannot say in good faith expanse doesnt have space wizards.

In both SF and Expanse humans get super powers from alien artifacts. Its exactly the same. So if space wizards are in SF, you cannot logically say they dont exist in the Expanse.

I don't think I'd put the artifact stuff on the same level... But I confess maybe I'm remembering wrong. But since we can't really talk about it without spoilers, I'll just take your word for it and say "fair point."

[Lonetac]

Originally posted by RasaNova:

Originally posted by Lonetac:

Im sorry but everytime i see someone use the space wizard comment when referring to SF, you absolutely cannot say in good faith expanse doesnt have space wizards.

In both SF and Expanse humans get super powers from alien artifacts. Its exactly the same. So if space wizards are in SF, you cannot logically say they dont exist in the Expanse.

I don't think I'd put the artifact stuff on the same level... But I confess maybe I'm remembering wrong. But since we can't really talk about it without spoilers, I'll just take your word for it and say "fair point."

If you want to PM me, I am happy to go into it. Just friendly banter. Im absolutely talking in good faith.

I love the expanse!

[Falaris]

Both have been described as 'NASA-punk'; while it's hard to say if they are inspired directly by each other, they certainly share literal ancestry. It's kind of fair to assume Starfield was at least inspired by the Expanse; what you get in Starfield is basically humanity after the Nexus Event (or whatever you want to call the portal opening).

In Starfield, the major McGuffin is the Grav Drive that lets humanity travel both in-system and FTL with fairly 'basic' space craft, without suffering problems from either relativistic speeds, huge acceleration (since gravity is the 'source' of the acceleration, it will generally not be felt much) or zero G. It's a really helpful way for a game's purpose. Other than the grav drive, the ships can be fairly basic; close to current technology.

In the Expanse, it's the somewhat unfortunately named Epstein fusion drive that lets them break the rules, and it isn't quite as 'cheaty'. You feel the G's, there's no artificial gravity, and you use drugs to survive the high acceleration. (Their ships can have sustained 11G acceleration easily enough; it's what the crews can take that limits them.). As such, the SHIPS in the Expanse are significantly more advanced.. other than the Grav Drives. They are still using quite recognizable principles and technology, however; in the battle with the Donnager, you see exactly the sort of thing we would expect to see in 'near future' space battles. (Say, another 100 years).

In real world space travel, fuel is the ultimate limiter. It will take so much fuel to get anywhere. That's why you need a magic engine; it would make any space venture too expensive otherwise, and virtually every sci-fi setting has one.