Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

Well, obviously, it won't. If the sun actually goes nova. However, at this point that's just the leading theory. If the sun didn't go nova (which it CAN'T!), but did something else that made the surface of the planet uninhabitable, then an underground city at least gives some of the species a slim chance of survival (and not just humanity, mind you, they've stockpiled the DNA of thousands of other species. Coz cloning is just so easy doncha know). And hey, slim's always better than none.

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

At that point they mightas well have just attached huge rockets to one side of the earth and flown it to another star. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif Iv'e never cared for any of those disaster movies, disaster indeed.

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

A humongous solar flare would be a slightly more plausible (and survivable) menace than a nova/supernova. Larry Niven used this device in his story "Inconstant Moon".

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

Yes, well I'm thinking it'll probably end up being something similar, since all these 'disaster movie' writers seem obsessed with happy endings, the concept of having the sun going blooie and killing everyone likely wasn't on their list of possible endings. But I'll probably end up watching the second part to it, if only to assure myself that if talentless hacks like them can get work, then there's still hope for me.

By the way, if anyone has any ideas on getting around writer's block, I and the fans of Hell is for Heroes would much appreciate your sharing. So far I've tried excersize, drink, banging my head against a wall, and a little wink wink nudge nudge. All to no avail. And those are the only cures I know. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

Mmm...Just start writing?

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

Play some SE4? Maybe some P&N as a pirate for that small scale focus.

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

There is a tendency to think of the star going nova as equal to a huge bomb that would send out a pressure wave destroying everything around it. The mind-boggling amount of energy might well vaporize planets that are too close, but outside a certain radius you are really not looking at a 'shockwave' but something akin to a huge 'solar flare' radiating in all directions. Space is mostly empty after all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif The pressure wave would be reduced at a very high rate just like radiation intensity (Inverse square law and all that: http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResou...sesquare.htm).

Sure, the surface of a planet would be heavily irradiated, and even scoured of its atmosphere. But unless it was very close to the star (like Mercury) the solid body of the planet could probably survive. So the underground city makes some sort of sense. The thing is, the planet would then be dead. How long could a human-managed ecosystem with no 'margin for error' survive? Judging by the examples provided by the history of previous human civilizations, which almost all destroyed themselves through mismanagement of their own natural resources in much more forgiving circumstances, not very long...

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

The thing is, not only is the sun not large enough to go 'nova' but it wouldn't happen on anything like the time scale that we of the "quarterly balance statement culture" can comprehend. It would take billions more years for the sun to build up enough 'ash' (heavier elements than hydrogen and helium) in its core to become unstable.

Re: writer's block

Write something else for a while. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Although I also like the idea of playing a game of SE4, or SE5 if you happen to be a beta tester. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif This also exercises your mind in new ways and will help to change those ruts you've fallen into.

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

What's the nature of the writer's block?

A. I know what needs to happen, but I don't know how I want to write it, i.e. plot is clear but implementation is hazy.

B. I don't know what I want to happen next, i.e. I'm stuck for a plot.

C. ??

Re: Revoltingly OT: Size of your colon
 

C, I guess. I know what needs to happen, and how I want to write it, but when I sit down to write, I just blank. Normally when I write, it just sort of flows, and I usually have a hard time typing fast enough to keep up with my train of thought, but lately, when I try to write, it just feels forced, laboured and just not natural, and I kinda feel like the writing reflects that. Which isn't good.