Non-bipedal races.

[Jenshae]

Intelligent life should not require that an organism have only two legs. Infact as the organism gains in intelligence its ability to co-ordinate multiple limbs should increase in profienciency. This is not a TV series nor a movie so we are not limited by the actors.

I would like to see a playeable race that looks like Praying Mantii.

[Michell]

i will crush the spider people!!:mad:
lol never liked them.

[keozen]

From a science point of view I agree with you that not everyone should be bipeds. However from a "sticking to the 'feel' of Trek" point of view I don't think we'll see it mainly because we've not done in any of the series or films. Also, the last sentence is a great excuse for the devs to use to not do it as it'd be an extra pain to do more models for non bipedal species.

[Manx]

Well, the Tholians are not bipedal; they are such iconic enemies, I am sure we will be seeing them around.

As for playable races... I'm trying out a few in my head, but I'm having trouble fitting them into the uniforms. I'm not being funny; try picturing a centaur with clothes on.

[Sevenblade]

Makes sense. Hell, I'd even go for some aliens that just plain weren't humanoid anymore. I mean, really, how many different ways can you put nose putty on an actor and call it a different species of alien? Or give it different ridges, but look identical to a human in every other way?
While I obviously want to see the staples of Star Trek we're all familiar with in here (Klingons, Romulans, etc), I think we really have room to branch out and bring in some new, more diverse species here. I mean, hell, half the time I couldn't even tell the Bajorans apart from Humans.

[Mysticone622]

Intelligent life should not require that an organism have only two legs. Infact as the organism gains in intelligence its ability to co-ordinate multiple limbs should increase in profienciency. This is not a TV series nor a movie so we are not limited by the actors.

I would like to see a playeable race that looks like Praying Mantii.


Have you not heard of the Tholians or the Sheliak???

I would gladly play a Tholian if they ever add them in an exp.




Makes sense. Hell, I'd even go for some aliens that just plain weren't humanoid anymore. I mean, really, how many different ways can you put nose putty on an actor and call it a different species of alien? Or give it different ridges, but look identical to a human in every other way?
While I obviously want to see the staples of Star Trek we're all familiar with in here (Klingons, Romulans, etc), I think we really have room to branch out and bring in some new, more diverse species here. I mean, hell, half the time I couldn't even tell the Bajorans apart from Humans.

They got around that very quickly in Star Gate. THEY MADE EVERYONE HUMAN,lol

Ra took them from Earth in like 3,000 BC or what ever that made slaves all over the galaxy

[Jenshae]

Have you not heard of the Tholians or the Sheliak???
...

Nope, are they from one of those new fandangled series on the Tee - Vee?

[Sevenblade]

They got around that very quickly in Star Gate. THEY MADE EVERYONE HUMAN,lol

Ra took them from Earth in like 3,000 BC or what ever that made slaves all over the galaxy

Yeah, that was a little weird....Stargate will never compare to Trek IMO, though. Trek seemed to be based more on real science. Stargate was cool when they still had the Goa'uld as the main enemy. After that, it kinda went downhill, because you can't quite play off of the whole mythology aspect anymore. At least, that's what drew me in.
Not to mention Trek is more realistic simply on number of species out there. Sure, humans breed like rats, but there's no way we would have spread that much, especially with most of the other human civilizations still in the dark ages. I just wish Trek's variety of species was more varied, though.

[Mysticone622]

Nope, are they from one of those new fandangled series on the Tee - Vee?

:confused: if your not joking Tholians were TOS/ENT and talked about in TNG+ and the Sheliak were in TNG

[Sevenblade]

:confused: if your not joking Tholians were TOS/ENT and talked about in TNG+ and the Sheliak were in TNG

Dude...Jenshae's being sarcastic. Hence the intentional oversimplifcation of the speech in hir previous sentence.

[Mysticone622]

Dude...Jenshae's being sarcastic. Hence the intentional oversimplifcation of the speech in hir previous sentence.

was making sure,lol

the Xendi also had another 2 were "non-bipedal" races.

was just pointing out that ST does have them, but when you have a budget you cant go crazy with the Races



Yeah, that was a little weird....Stargate will never compare to Trek IMO, though. Trek seemed to be based more on real science. Stargate was cool when they still had the Goa'uld as the main enemy. After that, it kinda went downhill, because you can't quite play off of the whole mythology aspect anymore. At least, that's what drew me in.
Not to mention Trek is more realistic simply on number of species out there. Sure, humans breed like rats, but there's no way we would have spread that much, especially with most of the other human civilizations still in the dark ages. I just wish Trek's variety of species was more varied, though.

Well remember in that one Esp of TNG when they were running from planet to planet looking for that geneic codes and in the end it turned out that a race millions of years ago put their own geneic makeup in the beginnings of life that was forming of many different races making Human, Klingons, Romulans, Cards, and others having very simular geneic codes

[Sevenblade]

Ugh, I don't really count the Xindi, simply because they were scientifically impossible. The definition of a species is organisms that are simiilar enough to breed and create fertile offspring that can pass on their genes. While the Primate and Humanoid Xindi were close enough to maybe be believable, the rest were definitely not. They kept getting referred to as "races", which really didn't apply to them. After all, how much did the Humanoids/Primates have in common with the Aquatics, or the Insectoids? That'd be like trying to say we're the same species as whales and wasps, and the only difference is equal to that of the difference between white people, black people, Asian people, etc. Really, how could an ape breed with a whale and create a recognizable offspring that could have it's own children? I don't buy it. Interesting concept, except it just doesn't work. Sorry.

[Mysticone622]

Ugh, I don't really count the Xindi, simply because they were scientifically impossible. The definition of a species is organisms that are simiilar enough to breed and create fertile offspring that can pass on their genes. While the Primate and Humanoid Xindi were close enough to maybe be believable, the rest were definitely not. They kept getting referred to as "races", which really didn't apply to them. After all, how much did the Humanoids/Primates have in common with the Aquatics, or the Insectoids? That'd be like trying to say we're the same species as whales and wasps, and the only difference is equal to that of the difference between white people, black people, Asian people, etc. Really, how could an ape breed with a whale and create a recognizable offspring that could have it's own children? I don't buy it. Interesting concept, except it just doesn't work. Sorry.


Wow who ever said that the different races were able or did have offsprings, they arnt the same race. They all evolved on the same Planet, thats why they all say they are Xindi. Humans and the Voth both came from Earth, but One evolved from Dinos and I dont we could mate with them. So techinally we both can be called Terrans or "Earthings"

[Sevenblade]

But that's the thing. The Voth are a distinct species from us. They evolved from dinosaurs, another distinct species. ENT wanted to make the claim that the Xindi were all one species. Even just looking at them you can tell this isn't the truth. You can't have that much variance in physiology and still be in the same species. We share 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees, and we can't produce fertile offspring with them. Now look how similar they are to us. I doubt that the Xindi Primates and the Aquatics/Insectoids/Reptilians have more than 75% in common, tops. I'm not arguing that they're the same race. I'm arguing that they're not the same species. A race is a subset of a species, which they don't even have in common in the first place, so you can't call them different races of each other.

[KCHii]

I agree with the OP, there really should be more variety.

But don't do it just for the sake of aesthetics, do it so that exploration is more engaging. What's the point in meeting new life and new civilizations if everyone acts and thinks more or less like a human? If you think about it, most of the current races simply embody and emphasise particular aspects of normal human behaviour. The Borg were far more interesting (for me) partly because they acted more like insects.

[KO_Gilligan]

Another opportunity for me to advocate including Horta

[WinterPark1701]

Intelligent life should not require that an organism have only two legs. Infact as the organism gains in intelligence its ability to co-ordinate multiple limbs should increase in profienciency. This is not a TV series nor a movie so we are not limited by the actors.

I would like to see a playeable race that looks like Praying Mantii.

You may see something like that later on but to start with atleast its just going to be limited to the races we've seen on TV.

[marscentral]

I'm sure in one interview Jack says that they want to add other body forms, just that it's obviously alot of work so it'll start humanoid. That is essentially why there aren't many non-humanoid races shown in Star Trek (there are lots of references though).

[Zyrious]

While bipedal form is not a pre-requisite for Intelligence by itself, i would think something pretty close is a requirement for being able to use tools, construct buildings, and eventually advance your entire society technologically up to the point of being space faring. A creature with tenticle arms and suction cups for hands arent going to become a space faring race. Because they wont be able to utilize any real tech, through natural selection more intelligence will never really help one survive over another significantly enough for the gene to survive over more physical traits. They would probably eventually lose their spark of intelligence alltogether.

While i agree, you dont have to be bipedal, i do believe there are a limited fashion of shapes and physical traits you can get away with and be able to actually hold a stick and hit things with it while jumping up and down near the monolith.

[Jenshae]

Four legs and mandibles, the number of claws and segments in the digits can vary. Thus hard enough and agile enough to use tools.

[babanathie]

Another opportunity for me to advocate including Horta

I want to play a Horta too. Crypitic LISTEN To me........

Horta, Horta, Horta.

[marscentral]

There are plenty of intelligent races out there that don't even have bodies. Earth has two species more intelligent than humans, dolphins and mice. :D

[Jenshae]

Nothing stopping a dolphin growing a pair of arms. *winks*

[Lord_Xomic]

I wouldn't mind playing a non-humanoid race like the Throlians or Species 8472.

As for uniforms, it really depend on which race; a Xindi insectoid may not really 'need' clothing; indeed, is the race is biologically different enough from humanoids, they may not be required to wear anything more then a combadge.

[MajorD]

The vast majority of aliens in Star Trek are humanoid, they even explain why in an episode, but there were some non-humanoid aliens.Occasionally I would like to see some non-humanoid species, they could be for a few particularly important missions, so they aren't wasted on the grinding missions that we will get. Such aliens were all the more special in Star Trek because of their rarity, if there were to be none at all it would be disappointing, if there were too many it would go against canon.

[andyivey1138]

We're probably going to be locked into bi-pedal character models at least at launch, but I definitely remember hearing that we can make our own alien race for our character. That should allow for a lot of variety in your characters. And if you've ever played CoH/CoV then you know that sort of thing is really one of Cryptic's strong suits.

So maybe the OP can get that praying mantis head at least on a two legged body. :-)

[Ensign.Ricky]

I don't mind if there aren't Bi pedal playable characters but I sure hope there are NPC ones on alien planets that I can scan, study, ride, fight or be killed by. It'll make the environment feel alien to me. :)

[Captain_Intrepid]

There are plenty of intelligent races out there that don't even have bodies. Earth has two species more intelligent than humans, dolphins and mice. :D

You're right. Dolphins are more intelligent than humans, and mice are the most intelligent of all. :)

Thanks for all the fish!:D

[Zyrious]

I've seen no evidence to indicate dolphins or mice are in any way more intelligent, or even close, to humans. The capacity to do what they do does not require that much brain power. And any intelligence those two would develope would likely dissipate over several millenia as such a genetic trait would offer little advantage to the species, and would probably fade out in favor of those with physical strength or speed instead.

A common misconception is that since dolphins can be taught social skills and tricks that they are intelligent, however none of this falls into that category. As a matter of fact, those are more basic skills easy to develope. While dolphins can recognize the self and their surroundings to a limited extent, and can even tell the difference between "A lot" and "A little", they are incapable of reasoning, rational thought, abstract thinking, comprehending complex ideas, etc. etc.

The smartest variant of dolphins are placed on the same as Elephants with concern to intelligence. They are incapable of doing even 10% of what the human mind can do.

As far as mice...what? Not even close...by any measurement.

[Jenshae]

Someone hasn't read the "Hitch-hikers guide to the Galaxy" series.

[Manx]

I've seen no evidence to indicate dolphins or mice are in any way more intelligent, or even close, to humans. The capacity to do what they do does not require that much brain power. And any intelligence those two would develope would likely dissipate over several millenia as such a genetic trait would offer little advantage to the species, and would probably fade out in favor of those with physical strength or speed instead.

A common misconception is that since dolphins can be taught social skills and tricks that they are intelligent, however none of this falls into that category. As a matter of fact, those are more basic skills easy to develope. While dolphins can recognize the self and their surroundings to a limited extent, and can even tell the difference between "A lot" and "A little", they are incapable of reasoning, rational thought, abstract thinking, comprehending complex ideas, etc. etc.

The smartest variant of dolphins are placed on the same as Elephants with concern to intelligence. They are incapable of doing even 10% of what the human mind can do.

As far as mice...what? Not even close...by any measurement.

Not a 'Hitchhiker's Guide' fan then?

[Zyrious]

Not a 'Hitchhiker's Guide' fan then?

Never read it. I'm missing a pun arent i?

[Manx]

Never read it. I'm missing a pun arent i?

'fraid so. Still could be worse; it might of been Monty Python. You would never get away with missing that ;)

[marscentral]

Never read it. I'm missing a pun arent i?

**SPOILER**


Not a pun, but in the books it explains that people are the third most intelligent life on Earth. Dolphins are second, mice are first and actually are pan-dimensional beings that ordered Earth's construction in order to find out the ultimate question.

[Debaser]

While bipedal form is not a pre-requisite for Intelligence by itself, i would think something pretty close is a requirement for being able to use tools, construct buildings, and eventually advance your entire society technologically up to the point of being space faring. A creature with tenticle arms and suction cups for hands arent going to become a space faring race. Because they wont be able to utilize any real tech, through natural selection more intelligence will never really help one survive over another significantly enough for the gene to survive over more physical traits. They would probably eventually lose their spark of intelligence alltogether.

While i agree, you dont have to be bipedal, i do believe there are a limited fashion of shapes and physical traits you can get away with and be able to actually hold a stick and hit things with it while jumping up and down near the monolith.

That's a pretty limited view. Whose to say a species that doesn't have opposable thumbs (or any fingers for that matter) can't develop technology suited to their physical traits? You're thnking too much like a human!:D

[elitolu]

Intelligent life should not require that an organism have only two legs. Infact as the organism gains in intelligence its ability to co-ordinate multiple limbs should increase in profienciency. This is not a TV series nor a movie so we are not limited by the actors.

I would like to see a playeable race that looks like Praying Mantii.

Possibly after launch?

[Lord_Xomic]

I've seen no evidence to indicate dolphins or mice are in any way more intelligent, or even close, to humans. The capacity to do what they do does not require that much brain power. And any intelligence those two would develope would likely dissipate over several millenia as such a genetic trait would offer little advantage to the species, and would probably fade out in favor of those with physical strength or speed instead.

A common misconception is that since dolphins can be taught social skills and tricks that they are intelligent, however none of this falls into that category. As a matter of fact, those are more basic skills easy to develope. While dolphins can recognize the self and their surroundings to a limited extent, and can even tell the difference between "A lot" and "A little", they are incapable of reasoning, rational thought, abstract thinking, comprehending complex ideas, etc. etc.

The smartest variant of dolphins are placed on the same as Elephants with concern to intelligence. They are incapable of doing even 10% of what the human mind can do.

As far as mice...what? Not even close...by any measurement.

Elephants are extremely intelligent animals, so you're only proving that Dolphans are highly intelligent.

However, the reference was to HHGG as other have said.

[Lord_Xomic]

That's a pretty limited view. Whose to say a species that doesn't have opposable thumbs (or any fingers for that matter) can't develop technology suited to their physical traits? You're thnking too much like a human!:D

Plus, Octopi have displayed some high levels of problem solving themselves, and they're nearly, or as, dexterous as we are.

[Zyrious]

Elephants are extremely intelligent animals, so you're only proving that Dolphans are highly intelligent.

However, the reference was to HHGG as other have said.

Elephants are intelligent animals, but again nothing compared to human intelligence using the scientific definition. Again, incapable of abstract thinking, comprehending complex idea's, etc. etc.

[Lord_Xomic]

Elephants are intelligent animals, but again nothing compared to human intelligence using the scientific definition. Again, incapable of abstract thinking, comprehending complex idea's, etc. etc.

Are you sure about that? They seem capible of understanding an abstract thought such as 'death'.

[Zyrious]

Are you sure about that? They seem capible of understanding an abstract thought such as 'death'.

I'm a hundred percent positive. Look it up on google. Elephants arent even in the same ballfield when comparing intelligence with human beings.

And trust me, every animal knows death to a certain extent. Some more than others. It's a basic instinct, and in some that is bound to be more evolved and understood than in others. But by and large...

[marscentral]

I was thinking after I made my H2G2 reference earlier, Star Trek does show that we currently share our planet with a species that is already part of the intestellar community. Humpback whales. That's canon too.

[Feryk]

Are you sure about that? They seem capible of understanding an abstract thought such as 'death'.

Why would you say Death is abstract? Seems pretty straightforward to me.

[Lord_Xomic]

I'm a hundred percent positive. Look it up on google. Elephants arent even in the same ballfield when comparing intelligence with human beings.

And trust me, every animal knows death to a certain extent. Some more than others. It's a basic instinct, and in some that is bound to be more evolved and understood than in others. But by and large...

Why would you say Death is abstract? Seems pretty straightforward to me.

Death isn't abstract per se, but the idea of honoring or going out of their way, and having rituals related to death is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_intelligence#Death_ritual

Martin Meredith recalls an occurrence in her book about a typical elephant death ritual that was witnessed by Anthony Martin-Hall, a South African biologist who had studied elephants in Addo, South Africa for over 8 years. The entire family of a dead matriarch, including her young calf were all gently touching her body with their trunks and tried to lift her. The elephant herd were all rumbling loudly. The calf was observed to be weeping and made sounds that sounded like a scream but then the entire herd fell incredibly silent. They then began to throw leaves and dirt over the body and broke off tree branches to cover her. They spent the next 2 days quietly standing over her body. They sometimes had to leave to get water or food, but they would always return.[23]

My point is, they're probably a lot smarter then we give them credit for, and just because they're not off building Rome doesn't mean they're not on of over the threshold of sapience.

I think one of the greatest failure in this and other areas of study in relation to animal intelligence is that people often try to relate the intelligence to how close they come to what humans do.

How can we honestly ever expect to understand aliens, if we expect them all to have built cities and such?

[bitgolem]

Cryptic, like Star Trek, is highly resistant to non-humanoid character types. Simply from a modeling standpoint having all characters the same body type saves a ton of work on updates and new skins, etc.

[Kinjiru]

Cryptic, like Star Trek, is highly resistant to non-humanoid character types. Simply from a modeling standpoint having all characters the same body type saves a ton of work on updates and new skins, etc.

Not to mention seemingly little things like... would they need special chairs? Beds? Strange atmospheric mix on the ship? Specially designed equipment?

Just a ton of variables. I'd say stick with the plan of bipedal humanoid-ish for now.

[marscentral]

I'd say stick with the plan of bipedal humanoid-ish for now.

I have my heart set on a whale helm officer now. But I'm quite erratic (as many of you may have noticed) so I'll be over it by the time I change my avatar next.

[thefreshjedi]

Species 8472 are multipedal....they have a third leg. Tripod-like, See: Species 8472 Biology (http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Species_8472#Biology)

I would love to play a Science Officer with a specialty in Exobiology in Starfleet. That could be fun.

-Avery

[Jenshae]

They have taught gorrillas sign language and they have given them IQ tests. What did they find? They are just as intelligent as us. What is the difference? They can survive in their environment without having to resort to tools. In other words they as just as smart and physically superior.

So as I see it, we are an anomoly, a cancerous one even to this planet viewed as an entire ecosystem. Look at how false our environments are when we make them! Cities, the larger the better, more places for the filth to hide, where are the most perverts and sex offenders per capita? In the largest cities.

That crap about us being the smartest species is so 1950s and before. Slowly people are recognising that we failed to cope and opted out. Think on most peoples lives, they only live one week most of the year. Go to work, eat sleep, watch sports on the weekend, go get drunk and go to church or what ever variation on that but people have this week that they repeat over and over again, without doing nor wanting more, how smart is that?

Who am I to say such things? Well, your professionals, psychologists and psychiatrists actually find me one of the most well adjusted people you will meet, everyone I know can see it. It doesn't matter who I am with, I am the same, secure in who I am. Not to mention I am by their tests borderline genius. So yes I have room to sneer and I loath sudo-science just as much as sudo-psychology.

[Zyrious]

[QUOTE=Jenshae;198217]-snip-QUOTE]

There's always one of you in the bunch when it comes to these discussions. "Humanity is evil" "Our accomplishments are pointless" "We'd be better off picking bugs out of eachothers hair until a comet hits us and wipes our species out" etc. etc.

That attitude generally fails at propelling humanity into the future, and certainly goes against the very fundamental ideals of Star Trek.

[Jenshae]

It depends on whether you have some anxieties and need to set yourself up as the most intelligent species or approach life with some serenity, acceptance and humility.

As it stands, we have over bred, we have made huge mistakes but I think that if we took some actions and made concrete decisions, we could rectify and increase the quality of life. We are on the brink of many crisii. A world food shortage, global warming, possible precession, poplutation pressures, decadence.

We need to expand into space if for no other reason than to shed surplus people and collect more resources. There is talk of making obital farms just to prepare for supplying more food.

[Jenshae]

As for the OP, I think it is a great idea and I don't know how we managed to derail this thread so badly.

[Galv]

They have taught gorrillas sign language and they have given them IQ tests. What did they find? They are just as intelligent as us. What is the difference? They can survive in their environment without having to resort to tools. In other words they as just as smart and physically superior.

So as I see it, we are an anomoly, a cancerous one even to this planet viewed as an entire ecosystem. Look at how false our environments are when we make them! Cities, the larger the better, more places for the filth to hide, where are the most perverts and sex offenders per capita? In the largest cities.

That crap about us being the smartest species is so 1950s and before. Slowly people are recognising that we failed to cope and opted out. Think on most peoples lives, they only live one week most of the year. Go to work, eat sleep, watch sports on the weekend, go get drunk and go to church or what ever variation on that but people have this week that they repeat over and over again, without doing nor wanting more, how smart is that?

Who am I to say such things? Well, your professionals, psychologists and psychiatrists actually find me one of the most well adjusted people you will meet, everyone I know can see it. It doesn't matter who I am with, I am the same, secure in who I am. Not to mention I am by their tests borderline genius. So yes I have room to sneer and I loath sudo-science just as much as sudo-psychology.

Yet even with all the bad things modern mankind has done we still, love, sing, dance, write, paint, build, invent, create. You might think your life is dull because you only live one week in the year, work, sleep, eat watch sports on weekend or go to church or get drunk but i find that alot more fun than eating ants and killing and eating my young.

[Trekkie]

This is an interesting idea! I had never really thought of this before, but now that I have I certainly hope that this is a possibility for characters in the game!

[marscentral]

It's a matter of perspective:

"For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much--the wheel, New York, wars and so on--while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man--for precisely the same reasons."

[Jenshae]

Great quote thank you Marsc. I always have this naive hope that when I start a thread it will turn into a discussion of details and possibilities, spotting the inherent problems before they can occur. Experience says all threads will get derailed and flamed or just drop out of sight.

Consider, if they have collision control, would the six legged creatures be able to fit through doors? They may have to be made rather small to not look awkward. That then begs the question, what weapons and how powerful could the said weapons be if they have to be scaled down to be smaller?

How about, if they do allow PC bridge crews, then where would the non-bipedals sit? Could they just move the chairs and be happy to stand behind a console or could they fold up or have their own chairs built for them?

What would be their limitations and bonuses? Using the praying mantii form, due to having a carapess they have natural armour, that can probably be enhanced with nano technology. So they take less damage and can stand to the front of a creature to creature battle, however, the damage they sustain would be long lasting, being more solid and not just some squishy quickly healing skin. Thus healing would be slowed down and any attempts to heal them would have less effect.

There is so much room to explore this idea yet we have to resort to "discussing" the superiority or lack of the Homo EgoSapiens.

[Galv]

It helps when the OP doesn't derail their own thread.

The most obvious problem for any alien that doesn't walk on 2 legs is going to be ship design for me. Then there's the faction problem, i can't see anything other than Klingon or atleast some enslaved humaniod race on an IKS.

[marscentral]

Cryptic, like Star Trek, is highly resistant to non-humanoid character types. Simply from a modeling standpoint having all characters the same body type saves a ton of work on updates and new skins, etc.

I think I may have said this before, but it's not that Star Trek was ever resistant to the idea, plenty of nonhumanoid species are mentioned and there are lots of noncoporeal lifeforms, it's just that it was very difficult to achieve within the budget. Most of Star Trek was put out there while CGI was still in it's infancy. But while the details differ, it is for much the same reason that I doubt we'll see many in ST:O (which is a pity) as creating content for nonhumanoids will take up lots of time and radically increase the game's complexity. I hope we'll at least see them as NPCs on away missions and the like.

[Jenshae]

Derailing started here:
I've seen no evidence to indicate dolphins or mice are in any way more intelligent, or even close, to humans. ...
Warning that they were missing the joke and to take this to another thread was here:
Someone hasn't read the "Hitch-hikers guide to the Galaxy" series.
Continued stance of human superiortiy was here:
I'm a hundred percent positive. Look it up on google. Elephants arent even in the same ballfield when comparing intelligence with human beings. ...

So, OP did not derail the thread.

In ship design, there might have to be a consideration to environment, the humaniods would maybe have to wear space suits to come aboard and vice versa or even swim suits. *winks* Heating may be another issue. We are very intolerant to changes in temperature and have to make huge adjustments to extremes of thermal changes. There might be some race from a basically frozen planet that has to mine underground and grow plant life off to dying heat of the planet's core, thus forcing them to go into space to survive.

I know this idea is rather unlikely but I think we are allowed to dream.

[Galv]

They have taught gorrillas sign language and they have given them IQ tests. What did they find? They are just as intelligent as us. What is the difference? They can survive in their environment without having to resort to tools. In other words they as just as smart and physically superior.

So as I see it, we are an anomoly, a cancerous one even to this planet viewed as an entire ecosystem. Look at how false our environments are when we make them! Cities, the larger the better, more places for the filth to hide, where are the most perverts and sex offenders per capita? In the largest cities.

That crap about us being the smartest species is so 1950s and before. Slowly people are recognising that we failed to cope and opted out. Think on most peoples lives, they only live one week most of the year. Go to work, eat sleep, watch sports on the weekend, go get drunk and go to church or what ever variation on that but people have this week that they repeat over and over again, without doing nor wanting more, how smart is that?

Who am I to say such things? Well, your professionals, psychologists and psychiatrists actually find me one of the most well adjusted people you will meet, everyone I know can see it. It doesn't matter who I am with, I am the same, secure in who I am. Not to mention I am by their tests borderline genius. So yes I have room to sneer and I loath sudo-science just as much as sudo-psychology.

It seems this was the dreailing to me:)

Spacesuits/swimsuits would work, but hows a whale, or anything with more than 2 legs going to fit into a turbolift and get through the doorways. Also there's the samll problem of the ship controls, last time i checked they're all designed to be operated with finger touches, any fins, flippers or extra legs are going to have a hard job.

[Jenshae]

Your choice of derailing posts is subjective.

As for size and flippers, I totally agree, so maybe we should start with creatures that would "fit" and work our way out from there?

[Galv]

Well for a start it would need digits or something close atleast. If it's got more than 2 legs then maybe it would need to be able to move like a crab and curl up like a scared spider.

[Jenshae]

Yes, or we could have molding chairs? That change shape to accomodate the user, basically using the chair would change it to species shape and put you sitting in it to shoot guns from camera view or engine console in first person.

[cocoa-jin]

from a earthly perspective on evolution...the least intellegent animals have the most limbs.

[Cylonhybrid]

from a earthly perspective on evolution...the least intellegent animals have the most limbs.

what about species 8472?

[ianobs]

what about species 8472?

and the zindi from enterprise. they had some that were not bi-pedal

[Jenshae]

I hope this is given serious consideration, I am a bit tired of the cliches.

[ebeyer]

I want a horta on my bridge crew. If nothing else, she can melt the face off any klingons who attack me.

[Jenshae]

If they come on board or you manage to board them.

I think enhancements should be biological, like nano bots enhancing carapesses with spiderwebs. This will save on meshes and textures and it can be just some colour changes. I don't really see clothing going with this idea. I think weapons too will more attach than be held, enveloping the appendage.

[Jenshae]

Would love to get a dev reply to this one, then I will let it die happy. Just a "noted" would do. *smiles hopefully*

[Sevenblade]

As much as I would like to see it noted, too, Jenshae, I don't really think they will. I wish they would, as this is a very vaild point that I would like to see incorporated, but I doubt the devs will address you directly on it. They'll probably just show us if they're going to go beyond bipedal when they release more information on characters and character/species customization. So, unfortunately, I think our answer will have to wait until the next Cryptic release, at the very least.

[Sevenblade]

Btw, I lol'd at your sig, Jenshae :D

[Jenshae]

Glad you liked it. I think it would be good if they made a sticky with posts they have read the OP of. That way we don't have to bump them not knowing and more good ideas can be heard / read.

[Sevenblade]

Glad you liked it. I think it would be good if they made a sticky with posts they have read the OP of. That way we don't have to bump them not knowing and more good ideas can be heard / read.

True, that would be nice. But then again the best part and/or most informative part of a thread isn't always the OP. And if they did that, that would end up being a really long list that would just accumulate. So I don't know. If they're willing to put in that much effort, that'd be great for all of us here on the forums.

[Jenshae]

It could be player maintained, just needs a sticky.

First post from someone to cover the PvP suggestions, second the PvM, then third the different nerf threads, fourth the whine threads and so on and so forth. *winks*

Just dinged 100 posts on this one and I am now a "senior member" *rolls eyes*

[Jenshae]

What race or variation would you like to build? Why? Now obviously a total customisation would be a disaster, look at Spore but there must be other forms that quite a number of you would like to have?

A giant race or a midget race? Androids? Mech-spiders?

[Sevenblade]

I want to see a gelatinous race, just to see how the game handles it. And not to mention how the hell they try and operate a ship. :D

[Jenshae]

Totally geletinous? Is telekinetics allowed? Maybe a neural interface for ship control? So it could be played down easy, just these blobs sitting in an empty bridge, no need for chairs or controls. *winks*

[Lord_Xomic]

I want to see a gelatinous race, just to see how the game handles it. And not to mention how the hell they try and operate a ship. :D

*cough*Breen?*hack!*

"The actual appearance of the species was that of walking sacs of ammonia and gelatin which are held together in freezing temperatures. If exposed to a Human based environment, this body structure simply boils and melts evaporates which was why they required their encounter suits. While they did possess a skeletal structure, there were no bodily organs except for eyes, ears, tongues, brain, a pair of lungs along with a layer of purple-blue layered skin which provided a level of tactile sense. Their nostrils provide them the capacity to filter oxygen but do not give them a sense of smell. "
from http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Breen

Non canon, of course.

[marscentral]

In DS9, Weyoun suggests that the Breen homeworld isn't frozen at all and is in fact temperate. Whether that's true or not is uncertain and plenty of other characters thought it was frozen.

[Kestrel]

Glad you liked it. I think it would be good if they made a sticky with posts they have read the OP of. That way we don't have to bump them not knowing and more good ideas can be heard / read.

Between Razor, Quarion, Sporkfire, me, Zinc and other people at Cryptic, we do our best to read every post, even if we don't respond to them all.

Bumping is not necessary.

[Jenshae]

*Grins broadly*

Greetings and salutations Kestrel, here let me make you comfortable, now that I have you it shall be a long time until your release has been negotiated.

*Winks*

((Now what race would you like to see as a playeable race?))

[Sevenblade]

*cough*Breen?*hack!*

"The actual appearance of the species was that of walking sacs of ammonia and gelatin which are held together in freezing temperatures. If exposed to a Human based environment, this body structure simply boils and melts evaporates which was why they required their encounter suits. While they did possess a skeletal structure, there were no bodily organs except for eyes, ears, tongues, brain, a pair of lungs along with a layer of purple-blue layered skin which provided a level of tactile sense. Their nostrils provide them the capacity to filter oxygen but do not give them a sense of smell. "
from http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Breen

Non canon, of course.

No, not like jelly that's taken a form.
Like gelatinous, as in it looks more like intergalactic Flubber.
Maybe it fights by fangoriously devouring it's enemies :D

[ParkerHayden]

The mention of playable Horta has gotten me curious. How can they be playable? It's not like they have arms, or can move particularly fast. There are Horta in Starfleet, I know that, I just don't see how they can work in a virtual game.

[Varrangian]

The mention of playable Horta has gotten me curious. How can they be playable? It's not like they have arms, or can move particularly fast. There are Horta in Starfleet, I know that, I just don't see how they can work in a virtual game.

This is something that has got me thinking. People complain that most species in Star Trek (and Starfleet) are humaniod, but think about it... how could Starfleet accommodate a species like the Horta? Hell they'd be out of uniform the whole time :D

[Manx]

This is something that has got me thinking. People complain that most species in Star Trek (and Starfleet) are humaniod, but think about it... how could Starfleet accommodate a species like the Horta? Hell they'd be out of uniform the whole time :D

They are not exactly ideally shaped for life on a Starship either... I mean you wouldn't want to be stuck in a turbo lift with one. Unless it was ok with you sitting on it anyway :D

[Kinjiru]

This is something that has got me thinking. People complain that most species in Star Trek (and Starfleet) are humaniod, but think about it... how could Starfleet accommodate a species like the Horta? Hell they'd be out of uniform the whole time :D

Well, I did some preliminary design work and came up with a basic look for a playable Horta:

Click Here For Horta Hotness (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t296/KinjiruSpleen/StarfleetHorta.jpg)

:D

[ParkerHayden]

Well, I did some preliminary design work and came up with a basic look for a playable Horta:

Click Here For Horta Hotness (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t296/KinjiruSpleen/StarfleetHorta.jpg)

:D

I'm Commander Rokar, and I say that picture is an EPIC WIN.

But, really, when it comes to Horta, I can only see them as Science Officers, and MAYBE Engineers.

[Varrangian]

Well, I did some preliminary design work and came up with a basic look for a playable Horta:

Click Here For Horta Hotness (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t296/KinjiruSpleen/StarfleetHorta.jpg)

:D

Is it bad that that made me think of Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force?

Sadly the Horta are included as a playable species in the Star Trek pen paper RPG Aliens book.

[Sevenblade]

Is it bad that that made me think of Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force?

Sadly the Horta are included as a playable species in the Star Trek pen paper RPG Aliens book.

Is it bad that I thought it was going to get defensive and mold into the shape of an igloo?

[Kinjiru]

Is it bad that I thought it was going to get defensive and mold into the shape of an igloo?

ROFL!

"Wonder Rock Powers Activate!"

"Shape of an Igloo!"

"Form of..."

-- Why did the poor guy always have to be a bucket of water, anyway?

:D

[Sevenblade]

ROFL!

"Wonder Rock Powers Activate!"

"Shape of an Igloo!"

"Form of..."

-- Why did the poor guy always have to be a bucket of water, anyway?

:D

Actually, that was a Meatwad reference, as well, :p but yours make's me laugh, too :D

[Jenshae]

We don't know how fast they think, neural link direct to ship might make the best commanders and require only skeleton crews. Think on living evolving computers.

[Kinjiru]

Actually, that was a Meatwad reference, as well, :p but yours make's me laugh, too :D

heh. I need to go watch some ATHF I guess. :)

As long as you snorted some kind of beverage on your keyboard, then my work here is done. :D

[Sevenblade]

heh. I need to go watch some ATHF I guess. :)

As long as you snorted some kind of beverage on your keyboard, then my work here is done. :D

Yes, yes you do. That is always a good idea lol. Unless of course, you're really hungry, and then you get bad thoughts about eating the characters...:rolleyes:

Actually, I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything at the time, because a sticky laptop is generally not easy to clean up lol...

[Kinjiru]

Actually, I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything at the time, because a sticky laptop is generally not easy to clean up lol...

hehe, I do try. :D

Seriously though, ok, we have the Horta idea, but what other non-bipedal races are there that we might want to see as playable?

Granted, I'm still not sure how a Horta could be done. I'd think that having the captain run (roll?) down to engineering and back might take days. Not exactly the best way to handle an emergency.

[Sevenblade]

Well, we already have the Tholians established. I wanna see something more like a pachyderm (you know, elephants, rhinos, hippos, etc. Just a large land animal, I guess). Something large and livestock-ish, without being, well, livestock. I don't want cows piloting ships.
Does anyone remember the name of those large pseudo-elephant things from Mass Effect? That's kinda what I'm talking about.

[Jenshae]

From here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horta_(Star_Trek))
...It can also secrete a powerful corrosive which allows the instant fashioning of tunnels for travel

So they can just go directly to engineering. *winks*

[Kinjiru]

Well, we already have the Tholians established. I wanna see something more like a pachyderm (you know, elephants, rhinos, hippos, etc. Just a large land animal, I guess). Something large and livestock-ish, without being, well, livestock. I don't want cows piloting ships.
Does anyone remember the name of those large pseudo-elephant things from Mass Effect? That's kinda what I'm talking about.

Hmmm, I could see something like that. Picture the aliens from the Niven/Barnes novel "Footfall".

[Kinjiru]

From here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horta_(Star_Trek))


So they can just go directly to engineering. *winks*

"Engineering?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Please send a repair crew, the captain's eaten through the bulkheads on the bridge again."

[Sevenblade]

"Engineering?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Please send a repair crew, I've eaten through the bulkheads on the bridge again."

Fixed :p

(because he fell all the way through by himself, remember?)

[Sevenblade]

Oh, here, I found the ones I was talking about:

Elcor

Elcors are large elephant-like aliens that speak in a slow, monotone fashion. The elcor use scent and subtle body movements, rather than tone, to convey meaning and intent when conversing. The elcor found that when they encountered other races, these subtleties were lost on them; because of this, elcor choose to describe their emotions before making any statements. Elcors evolved on Dekuuna, a large terrestrial world, with enormous gravitational pull; forcing them to become extremely deliberate with their movements (as any stumble, no matter how minor, would result in injury, if not death.) This physical necessity therefore resulted in a political, social and cultural philosophy that extolled the virtues of caution, deliberation and patience. The elcor's main political body, the Counts of Dekuuna, demonstrate this tendency in their political decision-making process; their millennia-old archives are constantly kept up-to-date and are constantly consulted by the Counts when making decisions to ensure that precedent is respected and all options are kept in consideration. As such, the Counts take a very long time in making decisions or enacting laws, sometimes taking decades to decide on relatively simple matters of state. Though large and physically powerful creatures, they are rarely violent. However, if pressed into violent situations, their extremely thick hides make them nearly invulnerable to conventional weapons and their extraordinary strength allows them to carry various amounts of heavy weaponry and commensurate ammunition with ease.It is believed the elcor mount weapons on their back as all their limbs are used for locomotion.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_races_in_Mass_Effect

[Jenshae]

I like the look of him. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Keeper.jpg)

One little problem with these though, licensing and plagerism.

[Sevenblade]

I like the look of him. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/03/Keeper.jpg)

One little problem with these though, licensing and plagerism.

Tell me about it. Oh, those pesky copyright laws :D...

[Jenshae]

No copyrights on the natural world, nor adaptions there of.

[Sevenblade]

No copyrights on the natural world, nor adaptions there of.

Heh. I'd like to see (Insert Deity(ies) or lack thereof here) come down and try and sue someone for infringement...

"Dude, that totally is a rip off of the cheetah I made!"


You know what would really be cool, though? I wanna see more about the Klingon's prehistory and evolution. We got to see it briefly when Worf devolved on that one episode, but I wanna see more primordial Klingons back when they were still kind of in the crustacean stage.

[Tribbler]

Some believe we no longer exist

We have been left alone from your fears of us

We have been listening to your ideas and watching your accomplishments

We can understand you better than you can understand yourself

It has been a long time since you have seen us

The time is near for........

RETURN OF THE TRIBBLES

[Jenshae]

Okay, now how would they work as playeable characters when all they do is eat and reproduce?

[Tribbler]

Okay, now how would they work as playeable characters when all they do is eat and reproduce?

We learned to roll!!!

Really fast!!!

[Jenshae]

Actually, it might be rather interesting as a mini-game, trying to stow away on ships and find other Tribbles and food.

... without getting shot.

[Tribbler]

Actually, it might be rather interesting as a mini-game, trying to stow away on ships and find other Tribbles and food.

... without getting shot.

LOL, but we have been practicing on games like dodge the phaser, so we will be ready for you. :)

[Kinjiru]

Okay, now how would they work as playeable characters when all they do is eat and reproduce?

Wait a sec... If Kirk could do it through the entire TOS, then why couldn't a tribble?

:D

[dh8d1]

Personally, I want to play as Pakleds.

That way all you smart species can go about your business and I can sit there and marvel at the blinking lights on my ship.

[marscentral]

Personally, I want to play as Pakleds.

That way all you smart species can go about your business and I can sit there and marvel at the blinking lights on my ship.

That sounds like what I do every day.

[Varrangian]

That sounds like what I do every day.

I look for things. Things that make me go.

[Kinjiru]

I look for things. Things that make me go.

Heh. You know, I've despised the Packleds since the day that episode aired. The made them too dumb. I mean, how can they possibly be smart enough to use the technology on their ship(s?), let alone keep the thing going for more than a few days. It doesn't matter how good the ship is, it will still need maintenance and attention. And the Packleds lack the intelligence to use the head, not to mention maintain an advanced starship. Let alone the intelligence to actually plot to steal one.

Up till that point, I thought the Ferengi were pretty bad, lol.

[Varrangian]

Heh. You know, I've despised the Packleds since the day that episode aired. The made them too dumb. I mean, how can they possibly be smart enough to use the technology on their ship(s?), let alone keep the thing going for more than a few days. It doesn't matter how good the ship is, it will still need maintenance and attention. And the Packleds lack the intelligence to use the head, not to mention maintain an advanced starship. Let alone the intelligence to actually plot to steal one.

Up till that point, I thought the Ferengi were pretty bad, lol.

I have to agree... This is one of the reason I didn't get into TNG heavily until season 3 or 4.

[Tribbler]

If you remembe the Pakleds needed to highjack others to make their ship go, and Geordi was one of those things.

We don't know who was there before Geordi.

They were pretty smart for being pretty dumb.

[Kinjiru]

If you remembe the Pakleds needed to highjack others to make their ship go, and Geordi was one of those things.

We don't know who was there before Geordi.

They were pretty smart for being pretty dumb.

Well, that's one of my points. They appeared too dumb to be able to carry out a kidnap/theft plot in the first place. I chalk it up to inconsistency in writing, and a lack of real development.

I mean, just sitting here right now, I can think of dozens of ideas to flesh out a race that gains it's technology through subterfuge and cunning, but the Packleds were portrayed as literal morons. In the same way that the Ferengi were portrayed as an archetypical example of "What-happens-when-good-capitalists-go-bad".

Honestly, it was the same mistake that was made on the show "Sliders" with the introduction of the Cromags. Here's this species, around for thousands of years with very advanced technology, but watch out, they want to "eat your eyes"... When TV/Movie writers/directors pull stuff like that, it just seems like they're insulting our intelligence.

Wow... guess I'm pretty bitter, lol. :D

[Tribbler]

Well, that's one of my points. They appeared too dumb to be able to carry out a kidnap/theft plot in the first place. I chalk it up to inconsistency in writing, and a lack of real development.

I mean, just sitting here right now, I can think of dozens of ideas to flesh out a race that gains it's technology through subterfuge and cunning, but the Packleds were portrayed as literal morons. In the same way that the Ferengi were portrayed as an archetypical example of "What-happens-when-good-capitalists-go-bad".

Honestly, it was the same mistake that was made on the show "Sliders" with the introduction of the Cromags. Here's this species, around for thousands of years with very advanced technology, but watch out, they want to "eat your eyes"... When TV/Movie writers/directors pull stuff like that, it just seems like they're insulting our intelligence.

Wow... guess I'm pretty bitter, lol. :D

No, your right. What's really sad, we need to remember that DC Fontana and the rest of the good writers were probably off that week (on vacation or away on business) and some Assistant Writer pushed that episode through.

We need to look closer to see when that Assistant Writer was fired from the staff LOL.

Probably a day or two after that episode aired. Yep, probably still hunting a job. :p

[Kinjiru]

No, your right. What's really sad, we need to remember that DC Fontana and the rest of the good writers were probably off that week (on vacation or away on business) and some Assistant Writer pushed that episode through.

We need to look closer to see when that Assistant Writer was fired from the staff LOL.

Probably a day or two after that episode aired. Yep, probably still hunting a job. :p

Heh, one can only hope. :)

[Kinjiru]

Found him...

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Robert_L._McCullough

Not a very distinguished Star Trek Career. :)

In TNG Season 2, Robert L. McCullough wrote the story for TNG: "Samaritan Snare" and co-wrote the teleplay for TNG: "The Icarus Factor". In a piece of set decoration signage on Starbase 515, the character Doctor McCullough was named for him.

So basically, one episode on his own, and one that he co-wrote. Seriously, whoever greenlit that script should spend some time in a pain field. :)

[Varrangian]

:pFound him...

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Robert_L._McCullough

Not a very distinguished Star Trek Career. :)



So basically, one episode on his own, and one that he co-wrote. Seriously, whoever greenlit that script should spend some time in a pain field. :)

Hey, don't talk bad about my previous work :p

[Tribbler]

Found him...

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Robert_L._McCullough

Not a very distinguished Star Trek Career. :)



So basically, one episode on his own, and one that he co-wrote. Seriously, whoever greenlit that script should spend some time in a pain field. :)

I may be mistaken, but didn't Gene Roddenberry pass away during this timeframe?

Nope he passed away in October of 1991 and the show aired 5/16/89. No excuse for this oversight.

I just read where Robert McCullough was Vice CEO of Fannie Mae!!!

JK

[Jenshae]

That sounds like what I do every day.
Liked your old profile picture more.

One of the problems with sticking to canon, is that there were not that many non-bipedals. So if we want to take this chance to be creative, we will need to think up some races that are "recently" discovered.

[Jenshae]

Yeah, I know, "race creation." What if these aren't an option in that either?

*Bump for new members of the forum to have a gander.*

[Silverspar]

Holy necro-threading Batman :eek: Well i guess it's better than post that are four years old getting necro'd hehe.

[Samodelkin]

Sentient energy blobs are perhaps the most common non-bipedal form of life encountered by Star Trek crews. The simple reason - they are easier to make than complicated costumes for actors.

The problem with non-bipedal races is that they would be difficult to animate, and they can forget about using standard-issue humanoid uniforms. Especially energy blobs, because they like to fly through walls naked.

[Jenshae]

Seating, facilites, ship controls, plausibility of making it into space, etc. It can be a huge task.

[Charlie_M]

I would love to see species 8472 as a playable race or even just an adversary.

[cavilier210]

anyone remember that race that attacked archer's ship, wiped out the power, and the aliens abducted a few crew members before disappering, and then attacking the ship some more?

it was one of the 1st aliens the ship encountered and led to the instalation of the phase cannons

[Jenshae]

Well? Does anyone know which one he means?

(*Bump* For the players now. *Winks and grins*)

[Prospero]

what about those xindi ants?

[Ornj]

Tholians!

.......

[TruthSeer]

anyone remember that race that attacked archer's ship, wiped out the power, and the aliens abducted a few crew members before disappering, and then attacking the ship some more?

it was one of the 1st aliens the ship encountered and led to the instalation of the phase cannons

The Suliban (sp?).

[Tribbler]

Well? Does anyone know which one he means?

(*Bump* For the players now. *Winks and grins*)

How old does a thread have to be, before it gets the "Necro" designation and does this thread belong to that definition?

[IG_Slayer]

Interesting ideas!!!

[Jenshae]

*Smiles.* The best tasting meat is just on the point of going putrid, so I have heard and even then when it starts, a bit of curry can make it most delectible.

[Tribbler]

*Smiles.* The best tasting meat is just on the point of going putrid, so I have heard and even then when it starts, a bit of curry can make it most delectible.

For those that eat Gaugh, I would probably say road kill is a delicacy for klingons, curry or not.

[IG_Slayer]

Between Razor, Quarion, Sporkfire, me, Zinc and other people at Cryptic, we do our best to read every post, even if we don't respond to them all.

Bumping is not necessary.

Hello!!! You guys are doing a great job. The gameplay trailer looks great. Make us proud!

[IG_Slayer]

For those that eat Gaugh, I would probably say road kill is a delicacy for klingons, curry or not.

LOL, nice.......nice!!!

[Tain]

Don't forget that according to the TNG episode "The Chase", there is a reason most of the sentient aliens look so similar, and are bipedal. That episode revealed that billions of years ago, a progenitor species seeded the primordial oceans of worlds throughout the galaxy with a gene code that was designed specifically to steer the evolution of sentient life to the bipedal body plan. This is the reason so many aliens in trek look so similar, even ones you would think would not. Only true aliens, those that evolved without the intercession of these progenitors, would not be bipedal, and these races are EXTREMELY rare in Star Trek.

[Jenshae]

Which, to me sounds like a cop out to keep their make up and costume budgets low.

[Sevenblade]

Which, to me sounds like a cop out to keep their make up and costume budgets low.

See, to me, that sounds like retconning, but fairly good retconning compared to what they usually do. See, we already had humanoid or almost exact humans with nose putty long before that episode, but everyone wondered what the in-canon explanation was going to be (and not to keep costs down, as we all know the primary motivation was. We saw this even in TOS. In fact, we saw it there the most, due to less technology to model complex aliens). So they created this show to finally explain why so many humanoids exist in the galaxy. Not the best explanation, but better than none.

[Tain]

Which, to me sounds like a cop out to keep their make up and costume budgets low.

It is indeed, but its canon none the less. At least it gives us a reason as to why everyone looks so ridiculously similar. Its much easier to swallow this way. Besides, it makes the true aliens all that more special.

[Sevenblade]

It is indeed, but its canon none the less. At least it gives us a reason as to why everyone looks so ridiculously similar. Its much easier to swallow this way. Besides, it makes the true aliens all that more special.

Oh, and this, QFT.

[vek]

dolphins were part of starfleet and apparently helped design the navigational systems on the enterprise

[BirdOfPrey]

The reason is explained in the dominion war by one of marshmallow lady.
I don't remember her name. :o

(answer to the op)

[HyorD]

If one puts one's mind to it, one can certainly come up with the Treknobabble necessary to justify the existence of practically any organism imaginable, and indeed we have seen life take on some pretty strange forms in Star Trek. Now, while it is true that the incorporation of such races would consume extra time on behalf of the art team, creating character models, textures, new furniture and so forth, I think that the logistics could probably be worked out if enough time were devoted to it (indeed, I remember when P2 was in charge of development they expressed excitement over the fact that their imaginations were not limited by the anatomical properties of their actors).
However, what strikes me is that we will all be playing using the same engine, and if the land-based gameplay is anything like that of most modern-day MMOGs, it will probably be quite simplistic. Therefore, all species will have to function in roughly the same way, and as such I do not think that there is much to be earned from the incorporation of non-humanoid species, except for allowing us to enjoy their aesthetic properties (their attack animations, the sounds they make, the way they look and so forth).
I figure if they can't do it well, they should invest their time in other projects.

Oh, and just for the record: The Crystalline Entity ftpwn!!1

[Jenshae]

*Smiles broadly*

I like how your reply was written and as with many things it is opinion, no point trying to refute it with mine, they are both just what they are.