Dear Frontier Developments Team,
I'm writing as a long-time fan of Elite Dangerous, and I wanted to share a concept that has been swirling in my mind, an alternative direction for the Thargoid storyline that I believe could offer incredible new non-disruptive lore, gameplay and narrative possibilities.
The current conflict with the Thargoids is thrilling, but I feel there's potential for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of these enigmatic beings. My concept revolves around a radical reinterpretation of their biology and motivations, one that could lead to a pathway for peaceful interaction.
Imagine the Thargoids not as insectoids, but as evolved plant life, specifically, of conifer origin. Picture them as masters of light, capable of perceiving and manipulating the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Their "cones" are not weapons, but seed-bearing vessels, searching for the "fire" of stellar explosions – supernovae, novae, and other cataclysmic events – to trigger their germination.
Think of it like this: just as terrestrial conifers rely on fire to release their seeds, the Thargoids depend on the immense energy of dying stars. They travel the galaxy, positioning themselves to receive the stellar fire, which then disperses their seeds. The seed germinate on a planetary scale attracting gas and dust to form new planetary systems. Their drive is a fundamental biological imperative: to spread their progeny across the Milky Way.
The Thargoid Soldiers, then, are not a Thargoidian species, but rather the highly evolved insects, the ant-like symbiotic partner. They are the architects/engineers of Thargoid genomic technology, driven by an equally powerful instinct to colonize new worlds. They engineered the Thargoid spacefaring vessels and the Unknown Artefacts, which are actually Thargoid Soldier Queen Colonization Pods, monitoring the Thargoid seed "cones" and signaling to their home world the discovery of suitable stellar events.
Our conflict arises from a tragic misunderstanding. The Thargoid seed "cones," perceiving human space combat as a form of communication, attempted to interact using light signals, mimicking what they had "observed" humans doing. Our aggressive response, however, inadvertently triggered the release of their seeds, providing them with an unexpected method of propagation.
The Soldier Queen, witnessing this disruption of the natural cycle, engineered the Maelstrom ships, attempting to create artificial nebulae. She also discovered "human artifacts" amongst the destroyed seed cones. Realizing humans were semi-sentient, she is attempting to communicate, to make us understand that we are interfering with her symbiotic relationship and colonization process. A scenario that may have been a repeat of the Guardians interaction.
This alternative interpretation opens up a wealth of gameplay possibilities. Imagine:
Exobiology and Xenolinguistics Missions: Commanders, ignorant of this alternate interpretation of events, could embark on missions to decipher Thargoid communication, analyze their biology, and understand their motivations.
Diplomatic Encounters: Level headed CMDRs could establish contact with the Queen, attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution.
Cooperative Research: Players could work together to study stellar phenomena, predicting and even influencing the conditions necessary for Thargoid seed germination, potentially offering assistance with and alternate locations for seed dispersal.
Thargoid Ecosystem Exploration: Discovering, exploring and co-colonizing the systems that have been created by the Thargoids, seeing the unique flora and fauna that has evolved. Perhaps a greater understanding of the Thargoid could lead to the discovery of more alien species in the galaxy. It's a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
This storyline could offer a compelling narrative arc, allowing players to move beyond the conflict and explore the potential for understanding and even cooperation with unimaginably alien creatures. It would provide a deeper layer of complexity to the Thargoid lore, transforming them from a monolithic enemy into a misunderstood, vital part of the galactic ecosystem.
Perhaps, with the right approach, we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and forge a new trek for humanity in the galaxy.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
A Dedicated fan.
I'm writing as a long-time fan of Elite Dangerous, and I wanted to share a concept that has been swirling in my mind, an alternative direction for the Thargoid storyline that I believe could offer incredible new non-disruptive lore, gameplay and narrative possibilities.
The current conflict with the Thargoids is thrilling, but I feel there's potential for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of these enigmatic beings. My concept revolves around a radical reinterpretation of their biology and motivations, one that could lead to a pathway for peaceful interaction.
Imagine the Thargoids not as insectoids, but as evolved plant life, specifically, of conifer origin. Picture them as masters of light, capable of perceiving and manipulating the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Their "cones" are not weapons, but seed-bearing vessels, searching for the "fire" of stellar explosions – supernovae, novae, and other cataclysmic events – to trigger their germination.
Think of it like this: just as terrestrial conifers rely on fire to release their seeds, the Thargoids depend on the immense energy of dying stars. They travel the galaxy, positioning themselves to receive the stellar fire, which then disperses their seeds. The seed germinate on a planetary scale attracting gas and dust to form new planetary systems. Their drive is a fundamental biological imperative: to spread their progeny across the Milky Way.
The Thargoid Soldiers, then, are not a Thargoidian species, but rather the highly evolved insects, the ant-like symbiotic partner. They are the architects/engineers of Thargoid genomic technology, driven by an equally powerful instinct to colonize new worlds. They engineered the Thargoid spacefaring vessels and the Unknown Artefacts, which are actually Thargoid Soldier Queen Colonization Pods, monitoring the Thargoid seed "cones" and signaling to their home world the discovery of suitable stellar events.
Our conflict arises from a tragic misunderstanding. The Thargoid seed "cones," perceiving human space combat as a form of communication, attempted to interact using light signals, mimicking what they had "observed" humans doing. Our aggressive response, however, inadvertently triggered the release of their seeds, providing them with an unexpected method of propagation.
The Soldier Queen, witnessing this disruption of the natural cycle, engineered the Maelstrom ships, attempting to create artificial nebulae. She also discovered "human artifacts" amongst the destroyed seed cones. Realizing humans were semi-sentient, she is attempting to communicate, to make us understand that we are interfering with her symbiotic relationship and colonization process. A scenario that may have been a repeat of the Guardians interaction.
This alternative interpretation opens up a wealth of gameplay possibilities. Imagine:
Exobiology and Xenolinguistics Missions: Commanders, ignorant of this alternate interpretation of events, could embark on missions to decipher Thargoid communication, analyze their biology, and understand their motivations.
Diplomatic Encounters: Level headed CMDRs could establish contact with the Queen, attempting to negotiate a peaceful resolution.
Cooperative Research: Players could work together to study stellar phenomena, predicting and even influencing the conditions necessary for Thargoid seed germination, potentially offering assistance with and alternate locations for seed dispersal.
Thargoid Ecosystem Exploration: Discovering, exploring and co-colonizing the systems that have been created by the Thargoids, seeing the unique flora and fauna that has evolved. Perhaps a greater understanding of the Thargoid could lead to the discovery of more alien species in the galaxy. It's a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
This storyline could offer a compelling narrative arc, allowing players to move beyond the conflict and explore the potential for understanding and even cooperation with unimaginably alien creatures. It would provide a deeper layer of complexity to the Thargoid lore, transforming them from a monolithic enemy into a misunderstood, vital part of the galactic ecosystem.
Perhaps, with the right approach, we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and forge a new trek for humanity in the galaxy.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
A Dedicated fan.