Sci-Fi vs Fantasy

[Fuzzy_Modem]

Full size: http://crossovercomic.com/media/extras/ ... s_4096.jpg

Based solely on this image, who do you think will win? What leads you to this conclusion?

[HMS Sophia]

I would say sci-fi.
High powered energy weapons and artillery...
But then there is magic on the other side I suppose. It depends on whether they have magic and how it works. I would still say sci-fi though...

[Formless]

Fantasy all the way. Because, like, everyone here is expecting sci-fi to win, and fantasy needs more love. Besides, look at ll those dragons!

But then there is magic on the other side I suppose. It depends on whether they have magic and how it works.

They have flying castles, you know. I think that suggests some pretty powerful TK, or something like it. So yeah, magic out the wazoo on the fantasy side.

[Molyneux]

Not enough to go on. Can a force field stop a Magic Missile? Based on numbers alone, I'd say sci-fi, but I have no way of telling who'll be more effective.

[Crazedwraith]

Not enough to go on. Can a force field stop a Magic Missile? Based on numbers alone, I'd say sci-fi, but I have no way of telling who'll be more effective.

Say what? I'd have though the fantasy side was more numerous. Look at them! The sci-fi side has to fight in the shade.

Still I don't know who'll win, all I know is I've found a new desktop...

[Fuzzy_Modem]

all I know is I've found a new desktop...

I did make a variety of sizes: http://crossovercomic.com/index.php?pag ... older=epic

It's not quite finished yet though. Revisions to follow based on your impressions and recommendations. Right now it's sounding like I need to buff fantasy. Maybe some sort of rock giant/balrog type guys would help? Maybe elemental "titans", each with his own shtick?

[HMS Sophia]

I think that suggests some pretty powerful TK

That or floating rocks like in Avatar...

[Formless]

But mang, how do you explain the flying lizard-dragons? That kind of biology isn't possible on earth, you know. Also, those boulders in their catapults are as big as ten men apiece going by eye. Are they floating rocks too? Are the fantasy folks using them as an anti-flying castle siege weapon?

Also, I'd say the sci-fi guys probably aren't a professional fighting force. They are fighting over level ground, yet they haven't opened fire yet, nor have they dug in and set up machine-gun nests. They use giant robots, which as everyone knows are cool but impractical ( ). And it looks like their motorcycle troops in the front are charging with lances just like the fantasy horsemen. These are not the weapons or tactics of a modern army.

So, based on all these observations of the image alone, I am going to propose the radical (by SDN standards) idea that superior sci-fi firepower is not the end of the story.

[Molyneux]

Not enough to go on. Can a force field stop a Magic Missile? Based on numbers alone, I'd say sci-fi, but I have no way of telling who'll be more effective.

Say what? I'd have though the fantasy side was more numerous. Look at them! The sci-fi side has to fight in the shade.

Still I don't know who'll win, all I know is I've found a new desktop...

Hell, I didn't even notice the ground forces on either side. I just saw the airborne units.

[Formless]

all I know is I've found a new desktop...

I did make a variety of sizes: http://crossovercomic.com/index.php?pag ... older=epic

It's not quite finished yet though. Revisions to follow based on your impressions and recommendations. Right now it's sounding like I need to buff fantasy. Maybe some sort of rock giant/balrog type guys would help? Maybe elemental "titans", each with his own shtick?

I'd be aware that this particular forum is biased towards sci-fi, so be sure to get a second opinion.

But anyway, my suggestion would be to make the magic of the fantasy side a little more obvious. Like, maybe the flying citadels generate a stormcloud with lightning and stuff? Or something to that effect. Relatively speaking, the fantasy army is pretty buff, but it needs some flash and color, like those angel things the sci-fi guys have in their back ranks.

[Fuzzy_Modem]

Image updated to include rock giants and pyromancers.

[Havok]

Fuck. That is a big ass damned dragon.

Nice work. Sci fi wins though. Computer targeting Vs. People targeting.

[Jawawithagun]

SF wins. Range advantage & ability to gain higher ground.

[Fuzzy_Modem]

I'll define my magic system for you with the following quote from the script:

Well, what is a spell? It’s just a combination of words. Words are given power by intent. Take a spell for fire. Someone, somewhere, speaks three random words every time he lights a campfire. They may not even mean anything, and initially, they will make no difference. For the rest of his life this man speaks the words each time he lights the fire. He teaches other people the words, they teach more. It becomes tradition- then, eventually, people find that the fire starts easier when they speak the words. Someone writes them in a book. Now anyone, anywhere, with a copy of that book can start a fire with ease. After an age has passed you don’t even need firewood.

He speaks three words. Flame leaps from his fingers.

It’s the same with relics and potions. A relic is just an object that’s been used for the same purpose with the same intent for a few thousand years. A potion is just a combination of ingredients, like a combination of words.

[Fuzzy_Modem]

This power is derived from their sun, a rogue star emitting a unique radiation that tilts the scales from impossible to improbable, unlikely to achievable. As this star moves through the galaxy it "seeds" primordial worlds with the building blocks of life, and is therefore responsible for all life in the galaxy. Additionally this world acts as a kind of galactic game preserve, where every species from every planet presides over their own kingdom. This is where we get our legends about elves and dragons and such.

The planet is tidally locked, and the night side was completely uninhabited until the Sci-Fiers crashed a colony ship into it.

[Molyneux]

This power is derived from their sun, a rogue star emitting a unique radiation that tilts the scales from impossible to improbable, unlikely to achievable. As this star moves through the galaxy it "seeds" primordial worlds with the building blocks of life, and is therefore responsible for all life in the galaxy. Additionally this world acts as a kind of galactic game preserve, where every species from every planet presides over their own kingdom. This is where we get our legends about elves and dragons and such.

The planet is tidally locked, and the night side was completely uninhabited until the Sci-Fiers crashed a colony ship into it.

Wait, you actually have a thought-out story behind this picture? Damn, you need to start publishing some of this stuff! Do you have the Fountain of Creativity in your basement or something?

[Formless]

Was I the only one who noticed the word "comic" in the url of his website? Following the link to the mainpage of the website reveals that this is part of a webcomic he's been working on.

[HMS Sophia]

That's... not a bad comic...

[Fuzzy_Modem]

I think I'm going to add some wolf-like or bear-like cavalry to the fantasy side. Maybe more giants too.

Any other suggestions?

[wautd]

Sci-fi, because metal armor beats squishy organic armor.

And thanks for the new wallpaper

[Fuzzy_Modem]

And thanks for the new wallpaper

Certainly!

[Shroom Man 777]

Balls!

Most of those flying islands are larger than the spaceships, this points to superior power generation abilities. Assuming the islands are spherical masses of iron, they will require more gigawatts of energy to levitate in midair compared to the smaller starships (which also have a lot of hollow/negative space), and I believe this might be because of a neutrino-based radiator/heat sink.

The fact that the science fiction side has not fired from long range, and in fact has to close in to WW2 ranges to dogfight with the fantasy forces, shows that the fantasy force has massive jamming capabilities. Their dragons might LOOK like they are flapping their wings, but actually they can fly at relativistic velocities, fractions of lightspeed, and their firebreaths are measured in the kilotons at least - they only dial down their firebreath because Boba Fett is riding the dragon and Jango Fett is on the landing pad and he doesn't want to vaporize his own daddy.

Wizards also have massive telekinesis power and also precog. They can block all incoming rounds from the sci-fi side. They can also use their TK to force-choke the blood vessels inside all the sci-fi commanders' heads, giving them strokes.

Concession accepted, bitches.

[Themightytom]

I think I'm going to add some wolf-like or bear-like cavalry to the fantasy side. Maybe more giants too.

Any other suggestions?

Watermark your image Fuzzy, as usual your talent is amazing and someday it needs to get recognized. I am still sore about your Enterprise F not winning

[dworkin]

Depends on a lot.But.

A technological side has the advantage that the engineers who built and designed the weapons need not stand on the front line weilding them unlike your typical fantasy mage. Also mages tend to be rarer due to them typically requiring some inner gift / quirk of birth / midichloran count or whatever. If none turn up in a generation then theres nothing you can do. To get more scientists, engineers and technicians just requires a functional education system. Mages also tend to train via the master / apprentice system which limits replacement as opposed to a technical school or trade college.

Of course if magic is something that is taught alonside reading, writing and maths from a young age, there are technical colleges and universities training magicians and you learn spells or spell theroy from lecturers and mass produced texts of mages long dead then what you really have is technology in a pretty sparkly dress. In which case the technological side wins regardless

[fusion]

Depends on a lot.But.

A technological side has the advantage that the engineers who built and designed the weapons need not stand on the front line weilding them unlike your typical fantasy mage. Also mages tend to be rarer due to them typically requiring some inner gift / quirk of birth / midichloran count or whatever. If none turn up in a generation then theres nothing you can do. To get more scientists, engineers and technicians just requires a functional education system. Mages also tend to train via the master / apprentice system which limits replacement as opposed to a technical school or trade college.

Of course if magic is something that is taught alonside reading, writing and maths from a young age, there are technical colleges and universities training magicians and you learn spells or spell theroy from lecturers and mass produced texts of mages long dead then what you really have is technology in a pretty sparkly dress. In which case the technological side wins regardless

Well actually it depends on the scale of the magic. If the magic is impressive enough (ie: normal spells are like tac nukes and major spells are strategic nuke scale), then its back to the argument of many but weaker verses few but stronger. Thus, the fantasy side still has a chance of winning.