Sci-Fi: Do you like it human-centric or not?

[Brovo]

Basically the question as it says on the tin. I'm writing up a new role play based in an original science fiction universe, and I'm truly curious what RPG tends to like from its Sci-Fi. Do y'all prefer stories centered around humanity exclusively? Or how humanity fits in a galactic scale? Or just having humanity around, or even "fuck humanity I go to sci-fi for the aliens!"

Really, I'd like to know so I can craft the universe appropriately to fit RPG's interests.

[Holeypaladin]

I have written a sci-fi universe that takes place in the modern day, meaning humans are still stuck on Earth without any interstellar spaceships.

I actually did this so that no one can claim to be the "real humans", but allowed for plenty of human-like races, including my own. This was largely so that no one could be the "Human space empire" and claim to be the protagonist of the galaxy.

[Brovo]

I have written a sci-fi universe that takes place in the modern day, meaning humans are still stuck on Earth without any interstellar spaceships.

I actually did this so that no one can claim to be the "real humans", but allowed for plenty of human-like races, including my own. This was largely so that no one could be the "Human space empire" and claim to be the protagonist of the galaxy.

Huh. Alright, I'll certainly keep this in mind, though I don't think I'll go to the extreme of removing humanity from play altogether. Maybe make playing the entire race "unplayable", but individuals from that race as "playable."

[Noel]

Defiantly a mix. Humans are kinda needed to give most people an easily relateable reference point(Thats defiantly not to say a sci-fi rp without humans can't be done, sure it has been before just could be harder to get people in) but personally find its when you get into aliens and whatnot that it can get really interesting. The humans can help to accentuate the aliens differences too since theres that kinda clear divide between familiar and unfamiliar as well.

However if theres some interesting tech or an interesting world a sci-fi rp with just humans alone can be just as interesting as one with aliens around. So yeah, just her two cents.

[Dervish]

I was actually having this conversation just the other day!

I personally find human-centric stories to be a bit bland, to be honest, and in a lot of ways it takes a huge suspension of belief to buy into it. It's one of those things that if there's other aliens, typically it involves humanity being the underdog in some way and overcoming more advanced races (e.g. Mass Effect), or being the "chosen ones" (e.g. Halo), the most dominant ruling race (e.g. Star Wars) or as a social commentary to point out how destructive and selfish we are as a race (e.g. Avatar). Usually in these stories, it makes humanity seem special, either by having something other alien races don't and completely tipping the balance of power, or we're holding out against something that's technologically and culturally superior to humanity in every way. On the flip side, sometimes we're the most powerful and influential race in the galaxy and are almost always the most powerful and influential of the "good guys", where the other superior race is usually our arch enemy that's usually depicted in a way to make them seem really alien and easy to hate or fear.

What's much more interesting is when stories are about humanity finding themselves on equal footing, more or less, with the rest of galactic society and isn't the main focus of the story. It's rare to see a story where humans are seen as either the heroes and saviors or the villains, but rather neither a force of good or bad who are better than some races at some things, worse at others. Realistically, if humanity eventually encounters another space faring civilization, they'd likely be at a similar level of development as we are. It would be nice to see a story where aliens were the heroes or whatever for a chance and humanity played a supporting part to some degree, if for no other reason that that's so uncommon I can't readily think of examples off the top of my head.

[Marrone]

I have a whole forum (RPG Post in my signature) based on a hard sci-fi human-centric world. I feel like world building with just humans allows a creative limitation that really lets us explore our minds and culture, and that too often Science Fiction loses that potential because it's too busy coloring Alien culure and society. Not to say Aliens aren't an important element of science fiction, just that sapient Aliens will probably develop social, political, cultural and, just about any element that is completely different from ours, to the point where it becomes hard for us to seriously comprehend it. Even today we find other human cultures confusing, inefficient and bizarre; now imagine the confusing, inefficient and bizarre cultures of a society with different biological/genetic make-up, possibily different terrain/weather, different forms of expression, etc, etc. Those odds just feel more realistic in my book.

A lot of Science Fiction writers goals are to prevent not predict, and sometimes that message is lost in the multifacetation of Alien species being introduced. Sometimes it can be used to highlight and emphasize it, but more than often that can only be done through the minds of genius'.

[Foster]

Humanity is less work or reading.

Humanoids are easy enough to relate with, and offer a good balance of approachability to new readers while getting used to obscenely long text-walls descibing bizzare biology.

But starfish-aliens is where it's all at.

[Shon Harris]

Humanity is less work or reading.

Humanoids are easy enough to relate with, and offer a good balance of approachability to new readers while getting used to obscenely long text-walls descibing bizzare biology.

But starfish-aliens is where it's all at.

But Drell are where it's all at. There you go, I fixed it for you. No need for thanks.

I agree with the above. If you give us a humanoid, you can blatantly tell us what a few significant differences might be. The minute you propose a race that is very open to our imagination, I feel you start rousing questions such as, "Does this creature have a sense of touch like I do? What if every inch of their skin is as sensitive as our genitalia?" I love using Sci-Fi to break certain boundaries and ask questions that are enticing even today (ex. What if memories were easily retrieved for a specific race, could they just relive a moment, would they be in control or would it be like a PTSD flashback?) But that's why I definitely prefer Humanoid races. It would really just kill a roleplay for me if everyone was either Human or had an unique quality I could follow, then some guy decided that his race's sense of touch was equivalent to what a human experiences under the influence of MDMA.

EDIT for Kada:

I meant their skin, all over their body. Like they are far more sensitive to touch than humans are, as sensitive as say, the most sensitive parts on our body that we can imagine. Not sure I'd be so bold as to actually suggest comparing sizes and all that... That sounds, like something else. But hey, Kada, maybe this is grounds for a new RP venue for you ;D.

[Kadaeux]

I agree with the above. If you give us a humanoid, you can blatantly tell us what a few significant differences might be. The minute you propose a race that is very open to our imagination, I feel you start rousing questions such as, "Does this creature have a sense of touch like I do? What if every inch of their skin is as sensitive as our genitalia?" I love using Sci-Fi to break certain boundaries and ask questions that are enticing even today (ex. What if memories were easily retrieved for a specific race, could they just relive a moment, would they be in control or would it be like a PTSD flashback?) But that's why I definitely prefer Humanoid races. It would really just kill a roleplay for me if everyone was either Human or had an unique quality I could follow, then some guy decided that his race's sense of touch was equivalent to what a human experiences under the influence of MDMA.

*Backs away slowly and reaches for the Elephant-Tazer*

I can honestly say, not matter how alien something looks, I have never, ever, wondered how they compare to our genitalia in any way shape or form, let alone TOUCH or feel... And i've played some fairly wacky aliens before. (Including several that violate the laws of physics as we know them.)

[Holeypaladin]

I think there's a natural bias whenever you include humans in any sci fi setting.

Because most science fiction writers are human.

So yeah... they like to think they're special.