#starbound beta

[magnetictapedatastorage]

one way to show the beta starbound inter-species relations is by the different inspect text for npc spawners (which were single-use craftables that existed before the tenant system)

apex, avian, floran, hylotl, and glitch spawners respectively:

there were human spawners too, but the wiki doesn't list any inspect text. i just love how there's such a variety of opinions, not just love/hate but also stuff like a disrespecting the glitch as mere machines or finding hylotl really annoying. anyways in release starbound everyone is supposed to be a big happy family more or less. in the finished game the relations are pretty much gutted which really stinks.

[dru-plays-starbound]

Serene Kyo

Since I'm struggling to write Falling Leaves, a snippet I shared from recently, I thought I'd make Kyo in Heroforge.

Kyo is a cartographer, traveling the universe surveying planets and sending the data back to the Hylotl Institute of Esteemed Cartographers.

In Falling Leaves, he trades bed and board with Cliptrim & Shaftsight, while he surveys Procyon Rift II, with training Caseswing at her parent's request.

Does his name sound familiar? If it does, that's because it's the name of Mio's father. I haven't quite worked out the timeline here with how long hylotl live vs how long the Terrene Protectorate has been a thing to decide if he is Mio's father; if it's a coincidence; or if Serene Kyo is Mio's Father's great et al grandfather.

[cloak-of-holding]

What he says: “I’m a Starbound fan” What he means: “I had a ton of fun playing the more non-linear and open-ended story version Starbound back in its beta days when it was constantly changing and full of potential, and then when the story update came out, a creeping realization that the game had changed for the worse slowly manifested and now I stalk the workshop looking for fan content for like an hour looking for fan-made content that I hope will bring back how I felt first playing the game, and stalking the wiki trying to remember the old beta content and mourn the loss of what could’ve been if the plotline hadn’t become incredibly cliché and uninteresting and with it, sweeping away many of the more interesting parts of the lore.”

[nyotasaimiri]

I keep saying one day I’ll remake this dude. Have a flashback from late beta

[magnetictapedatastorage]

the original intro for Avians in beta starbound, before the lore was gutted. these were books in you inventory upon starting the game.

[Avian Introduction] For centuries, the Avians soared through the skies, borne on wings of feather and flesh. They were a proud, peaceful species, respectful of their traditions and gods. So respectful, in fact, that when their gods - the Sunborn - spoke to them, they listened. They listened and obeyed as one god, Kluex, the last of the Sunborn, commanded their elders to clip the wings of the lower-caste Avians. They obeyed even as the Flightless became ostracised, oppressed, living only to serve Kluex. They obeyed as their elders erected tall towers, from which the Ascendants - the chosen Flightless - were to leap. They obeyed as one by one, the Ascendants hit the ground, never to fly again. Kluex, they were told, was pleased.

[Avian Journey Begins] You have narrowly escaped the wrath of the Stargazers. Your ship has run out of fuel in orbit of an unknown planet. You long to find other Grounded, to join with likeminded people. If only you weren't stuck, floating in space. You can't help but notice the irony of being a Grounded stuck in the sky. Vaguely, at the back of your mind, you wonder if being in space will make it easier for Kluex to find you. Then you remember you're an atheist. Feeling reassured, you begin your quest.

[The Truth about Kluex] While it is the case that I may have escaped for my own self-preservation, it is important I do not forget my larger mission also. Kluex is not real. I will prove it. If I can do this, I can free my people. I have heard of other species whose gods are celestial. Kluex, however, is flesh and blood. And yet, he has not been seen for many, many years. I will discover why. I will uncover the secret behind the Kluex deception. But also flee for my life.

in the release version of the game, there is absolutely nothing species-specific in the intro. it may have been just a few paragraphs, but clearly there was a lot of thought put into the beta lore (there were other ones, this is just one). it's sad that none of this exists in the release version.

[dru-plays-starbound]

Vertex Village

In a fit of "wanna build; got no inspo" I thought I'd try recreating Vertex Village from my old server, with a few upgrades. Vertex Village was the base of at least two stories from Tales of the Starbound.

Some closeups:

Mods used: General Store, Foodies Furniture, WW Furnishing, WW's VA-11 HALL-A

Original under the cut for comparison.

Something that's a little frustrating is that I know I'd built more on top of this village, but alas I never took a final set of screenshots before the server was wiped and I don't recall what was up there 😮‍💨️

[dru-plays-starbound]

Boho Apartments

I was having a moment of 'I need to build something but am creatively kaput' so I decided to rebuild one of the things from my old server. They're nearly identical; I added a few bits from mods to add a little more life to some of the rooms. Below is the original for comparison.

[dru-plays-starbound]

Last Line Tag

Tagged by @eli-writes-sometimes, thanks!

Tagging back: @aalinaaaaaa @thewriteflame @wildswrites @aquadestinyswriting @artdecosupernova-writing @autumnalwalker @blind-the-winds @eli-writes-sometimes @hannahcbrown @oh-no-another-idea @rhikasa @swordsoulwrites @winglesswriter @writingmaidenwarrior @wispstalk @late-to-the-fandom

(Once again, this is @druidx trying to keep Fanfic on the correct sideblogs)

Above them, clouds scudded across the mint sky, a stiff breeze ruffling their clothes and Kyo's head-fronds. [Caseswing and Kyo] came to a stop beside the Oldwood tree, the cerise leaves tossing in the wind like an agitated fluffalo.

This is from Falling leaves (also needs a real title). I stopped writing it in October last year to do NaNo and didn't leave myself any notes so I'm trying to pick up the direction this one was headed in again...