Catyr question...

[Braden Campbell]

These people are naturally radioactive. So if I loaded up a ramjet round with potassium iodine (a white, crystalline salt that can counteract the effects of radiation poisoning), would it be fair to rule that it harms them?

If so, would it be better as a poisoning effect, or just by taking extra damage from the round?

[Aramanthus]

Cadmium round might work against them. Since its a neutron absorber.

[KLM]

Also, Catyrs do not really suffer if placed in a
low radiation enviroment. For my part I treat
their "rad dose" needs on a similar scale, as
human beings need sunlight.

Of course we need it for a balanced, healthy
metabolism, but can survive without it for
months (maybe even years).

Adios
KLM

[Aramanthus]

Yeah I know some 3rd shifters who never get any sunlight! I'd say they could use the radiation to remain healthy.

[Tinker Dragoon]

There's no evidence that Catyr need radiation in any way (but then, I suppose there's not much evidence that they don't need it...). Counteracting their radioactivity would be harmless, I think, and a boon to their non-Catyr companions.

[Aramanthus]

You are right that they aren't harmed by radiation and getting rid of it would be good to their companiions.

[Spinachcat]

These people are naturally radioactive.

The question becomes why did the Catyr evolve as a radioactive species? What role does the radioactive energy play in their biology? What kind of radiation is it? Why doesn't it affect the rest of their biology in the same way high-rads affect other carbon based life forms?

Also, does the radioactivity fluxuate? Kinda like human body heat. Do they get "hotter" when angry or sick?

"Anatomy of the Catyr" would be a good Rifter article.

[Braden Campbell]

So... these people are gods.

They are immune to radiation. They are naturally radioacitve and therefore, I presume, unaffected by most virus and bacterium based diseases. They could be shot full of hot uranium rounds, and be fine aside from a little bleeding. They are supernatural, and quickly regenerate any physical damage.

How can you stop them? Why haven't they taken over the universe?

[Stormseed]

How can you stop them? Why haven't they taken over the universe?

There are other species that are just as powerful, if not moreso.

[glitterboy2098]

The question becomes why did the Catyr evolve as a radioactive species? What role does the radioactive energy play in their biology? What kind of radiation is it? Why doesn't it affect the rest of their biology in the same way high-rads affect other carbon based life forms?

their planet was probably loaded with radioactive isotopes, and the species the survived on the planet were the the ones that managed ot eliminate or use these isotopes.

as for the role radiation plays in the biology, how about this. their cellular structure containes special organelles that absorb Radiation and use it to metabolize certain chemicals. (sorta like how a plant uses Cloroplasts to turn sunlight to energy). this trait showed up early on their ecosystem and is a fairly common trait, as it allows the metabolism to be 'boosted' in the presence of radiation. as the trait spread, other species evolved the ability to 'store' radioactive isotopes inside their tissues, which meant that they carried their own radiation source with them. thus ensuring the energy boost is available.

the catyr would be descended from creatures with this trait.

their cells hold not only 'radioplasts' but a supply of radioactive isotopes. the boosted metabolism created by this is what fuels their bio-regen and why they don't get rad-sick like other humanoid species. the downside is they naturally give off radiation, and have to either have regular radiation exposure or eat isotope rich foodstuffs to keep this special metabolism going. which limited their ability to explore the galaxy early on, before they reached three galaxies standard tech levels.

as for why it doesn't effect their biology...self repair adaptions for the nucleus, to keep DNA from getting messed up. rapid healing of damaged cell walls and organelles. 'neutrilizer' proteins that bond with isotopes and keep them from interacting with important metabolic processes...

[Rallan]

How can you stop them? Why haven't they taken over the universe?

There are other species that are just as powerful, if not moreso.

Yes but Catyr and other "just like human beings only with mega-damage" are the most glaring examples. For some reason or other, humans are pretty much the most succesful single species in the megaverse. Now if you've got a species that looks just like a human, thinks just like a human, builds societies just like human societies, and is just as inventive and resourceful as humans, but is also an MDC being or loaded with supernatural powers, why hasn't it supplanted the human race? Why isn't the megaverse filled to the brim with Catyr and True Atlanteans and other Human Plus races instead of squishy mundane humans?

[KLM]

Hmm... Actually, the "über" species - the sploogies - are more or
less successfully taking over the megaverse, even if they are
just beginning the process.

-----
As for "why not the catyrs" - probably because they are
technologically challenged, to say so. Had I been a catyr,
I would need a very specially built computer to write this
post - or else my radiation would kill the CPU and the
hard drive too.
Of course, they can overcome it, but with a little effort.

----
As for Catyrs are immune to radiation - IMO they are not.
They might need a "healthy" dose of - say - gamma rays
to live, have a metabolism akin to those bacteria living
in reactor coolant, withstand ten times bigger dose than
a cockroach (which are notoriously resistant) - but they
have their limit too.

Adios
KLM

[Greyaxe]

If i remember correctly they are low level radioactive, so are CRTs. Just because they emit a little radiation doesn't make them immune to disease and bacteria. Many bacteria are capable of surviving in a number of radioactive environments including space.

You could say its the radiation that makes them regenerate, say it stops regeneration like U rounds do on the superanatural.

[Aramanthus]

Let's hope the Sploogies never succeed at their mission.

[Rallan]

Hmm... Actually, the "über" species - the sploogies - are more or
less successfully taking over the megaverse, even if they are
just beginning the process.

The Splugorth at least have an excuse for not being the top dog. They (and the Vampire Intelligences, and Naruni Enterprises, and the Soul Worms, and various other pan-dimensional conquerors) are fighting a massive dimension-spanning war against both their rivals and the forces of goodness. It's a jungle out there, and they're all fussin' and fuedin' because they all want to be the tiger.

-----
As for "why not the catyrs" - probably because they are
technologically challenged, to say so. Had I been a catyr,
I would need a very specially built computer to write this
post - or else my radiation would kill the CPU and the
hard drive too.
Of course, they can overcome it, but with a little effort.

That's something that holds back that one particular race though. They're one of several races that are exactly like normal humans except for some massive supernatural edge, and not all of those races have a handicap like the catyr to hold 'em back.

[Braden Campbell]

As for "why not the catyrs" - probably because they are
technologically challenged, to say so. Had I been a catyr,
I would need a very specially built computer to write this
post - or else my radiation would kill the CPU and the
hard drive too.
Of course, they can overcome it, but with a little effort.

That is an excellent line of thinking, KLM... not something I myself would have come up with.

Based on their flavour text, I thnk we can assume that the Catyr are throwing out 100 REMS or less (since it takes long-term exposure to a Catyr before one becomes sick).

[Aramanthus]

That does make sense Braden!

[Braden Campbell]

I'm working on it, I'm working on it...

BTW: the Catyr, who are featured prominently in Thundercloud Galaxy, achieved interstellar travel by using nuclear pulse propulsion... because if all life on their planet is immune to radiation... why not build rockets powered by atomic bombs!

[Aramanthus]

Hmmm Harden circuits should be good enough in Phase world to protect the ship from most any EMPs. And you'd think most interstellar vessels, PA and robots that operate in space would have to have some serious radiation shielding.

[Rallan]

So... these people are gods.

They are immune to radiation. They are naturally radioacitve and therefore, I presume, unaffected by most virus and bacterium based diseases. They could be shot full of hot uranium rounds, and be fine aside from a little bleeding. They are supernatural, and quickly regenerate any physical damage.

How can you stop them? Why haven't they taken over the universe?

The same applies to the Machine People. Only they are NOT radioactive.

Machine People do not compete for the same living resources that other races need. The poorly thought out "Machine People are wierd, lets get them!" reactions from other races are the only thing that keeps them in check.

Y'know you've got a point there. Those guys should be able to thrive in pretty much any environment that has the energy to support their technology and the chemical elements to synthesize whatever it is they make stuff out of. By rights they ought to be all over every "uninhabitable" iceball or airless lump of rock like a rash.

[cornholioprime]

These people are naturally radioactive. So if I loaded up a ramjet round with potassium iodine (a white, crystalline salt that can counteract the effects of radiation poisoning), would it be fair to rule that it harms them?

If so, would it be better as a poisoning effect, or just by taking extra damage from the round?

Cadmium round might work against them. Since its a neutron absorber.

Neither is correct.

Catyrs aren't like Captain Atom who actually RUNS off of nuclear energy; they're just radioactive from the high-radiation environment in which they live.

Aside from the puncture wound damage of the slug, and/or possible poisoning effects from the radiation-stopping substances both of you came up with....all that you MAY get is a slightly less radioactive Catyr.

A ticked-off Catyr with Supernatural strength, looking down at the Palladium Forums "squishy" that just shot him.

[KLM]

Hi!

Back to a bit of Catyr (and computer) radiation resistance.

NOTHING (well, except a fire elemental) can withstand
radiation beyond a certain dose. Some tolerate it better
(say, roaches and Catyrs, no pun intended), some lifeforms
even use it as part of their metabolism, but raise the
dosage and their atoms are beginning to split...

As for Catyrs and computers: yes, computers can be built
to withstand radiation. However, the WWI. german fleet,
(self-sunk in Scapa Flow) is mined for metals, which are
not polluted by the fallout of nuclear explosions (mainly
the tests of the 50's and 60's), for sensitive equipment.

But this makes their computers a bit bigger, and a bit
slower, not to mention that they have to create "clean
rooms" with much more effort, than us.
Actually, they might have been hampered from building
microcomputers 'till they could effectively mine on
the outer planets of their solar system... And this could
well gave them even a millenia of disadvantage.

Just my two cents.

Adios
KLM

[glitterboy2098]

I'm working on it, I'm working on it...

BTW: the Catyr, who are featured prominently in Thundercloud Galaxy, achieved interstellar travel by using nuclear pulse propulsion... because if all life on their planet is immune to radiation... why not build rockets powered by atomic bombs!

Because it's more efficient to extract that radiation to power a stardrive instead of wasting 98% of the energy released for simple kinetic propulsion.

Essentialy its a Drag Racer that has top speeds of 1000mph but gets .25miles per gallon.

Orion Drives sound cool, but would be worthless.

particularly as a way of going interstellar. NPP is an STL drive only. it is governed by the laws of netownian and einsteinian physics.

at best, you could load up a lot of bombs, and take decade long trips one way to the nearest star. NPP works best as a in-system drive, and even then NERVA, Fusion torches, and other such drives work better.

[Rallan]

I'm working on it, I'm working on it...

BTW: the Catyr, who are featured prominently in Thundercloud Galaxy, achieved interstellar travel by using nuclear pulse propulsion... because if all life on their planet is immune to radiation... why not build rockets powered by atomic bombs!

Because it's more efficient to extract that radiation to power a stardrive instead of wasting 98% of the energy released for simple kinetic propulsion.

Essentialy its a Drag Racer that has top speeds of 1000mph but gets .25miles per gallon.

Orion Drives sound cool, but would be worthless.

particularly as a way of going interstellar. NPP is an STL drive only. it is governed by the laws of netownian and einsteinian physics.

at best, you could load up a lot of bombs, and take decade long trips one way to the nearest star. NPP works best as a in-system drive, and even then NERVA, Fusion torches, and other such drives work better.

Yeah in the Three Galaxies setting, a bomb-powered ship is gonna become obsolete once someone cracks the contra-gravity technology required to make the standard drives on most starships. Or alternatively if you get a Traction Drive (aka the drive that would've reshaped the whole Mutants in Orbit setting if the authors had realised what it's capable of ), you've got the single best slower-than-light drive in the entire Palladium system right there and won't have to muck about with NPP drives no more.

[glitterboy2098]

on the otherhand, Catyr resistance to radiation means they can run their antimatter powerplants at a higher rate, or build them with less radiation sheilding, allowing them to pack more power into a hull. (less sheilding = less mass = more power by mass = bigger plant for the same mass)

so catyr ships might be faster, carry heavier sheilds, or more energy weaponry, because their powerplants put out more juice for their size. at the downside of them being only habitable for catyr and similar races.

NPP might be a neat backstory element, talking about the catyr's early foray's into interstellar travel in slower than light Orion drive ships, before they come into contact with advanced races and obtain gravitic tech. (sort of the Niven's known space route, with STL colony efforts, maybe even a war or two with a similarly equipped race, finally ending with the catyr salvaging/buying/strealing contra-grav technology..)

[Aramanthus]

That does make a lot of sense GB!

[KLM]

on the otherhand, Catyr resistance to radiation means they can run their antimatter powerplants at a higher rate, or build them with less radiation sheilding, allowing them to pack more power into a hull. (less sheilding = less mass = more power by mass = bigger plant for the same mass)

so catyr ships might be faster, carry heavier sheilds, or more energy weaponry, because their powerplants put out more juice for their size. at the downside of them being only habitable for catyr and similar races.

And they have a bit slower electronics, and much greater signature.

Adios
KLM

[Aramanthus]

That makes a lot of sense considering they emit a low level of radiation.

[Aramanthus]

That is very true Metalsmith! They are a cool race!

[KLM]

on the otherhand, Catyr resistance to radiation means they can run their antimatter powerplants at a higher rate, or build them with less radiation sheilding, allowing them to pack more power into a hull. (less sheilding = less mass = more power by mass = bigger plant for the same mass)

so catyr ships might be faster, carry heavier sheilds, or more energy weaponry, because their powerplants put out more juice for their size. at the downside of them being only habitable for catyr and similar races.

For the exact same reason a Machine person Starship would be a friggen NIGHTMARE!

Same reduced/eliminated shielding, No need for lifesupport. No Food.

as a balancing thought

The Machine People are humanoid because they were built that way. The Machine People as humanoids do enjoy having an atmosphere and life supporting environment around them but not because they need them.

Even there aren't many control panels... Just rudimentary ones, and
then connecting points.

Just wondering, that Machine People "eat" metals reularly,
yet they do not gain weight... So, how do they get rid of the
rust?

Adios
KLM

[Aramanthus]

Maybe they convert the metal to some sort of oxide and get rid of the excess by a form similiar to what we could call sweating. Just a thought.

[Aramanthus]

It is a thought, as to where the excess metals go? Mine was just a thought.

[Thinyser]

There's no evidence that Catyr need radiation in any way (but then, I suppose there's not much evidence that they don't need it...). Counteracting their radioactivity would be harmless, I think, and a boon to their non-Catyr companions.

Agreed.

[Braden Campbell]

...you've got a species that looks just like a human, thinks just like a human, builds societies just like human societies, and is just as inventive and resourceful as humans, but is also an MDC being or loaded with supernatural powers, why hasn't it supplanted the human race? Why isn't the megaverse filled to the brim with Catyr...?

Is it posible that, as a side effect of their natural radioactivity, that the Catyr have a low birth rate, and/or a high percentage of miscarried pregnancies?

I mean, even at best, Catyr make up 5% of the total population of the 3 G's (Phase World, page52). There's not more than 1 trillion of them.

[glitterboy2098]

and thats higher than most other races in the 3G's, humans excluded.

so they are expanding like mad population wise, it's just there are so much space to fill you can't tell.

[Aramanthus]

All I'm going to say is that I'm glad that the Catyr population isn't expanding as fast as those TeeZee's. That is when it get's scary.

[Rallan]

All I'm going to say is that I'm glad that the Catyr population isn't expanding as fast as those TeeZee's. That is when it get's scary.

T'zee schmee. Save your worry for when the Splugorth decide to let it all hang out and take the brakes off Kydian population growth.

[Aramanthus]

I see Metalsmith your thinking along the same line I was.

I hope Rallan that never occurs. I'm not sure if anyone would want that plague in their universe. I know I wouldn't!