Data Sphere

What is the most interesting or compelling background element or mystery of the Infinity universe for you?

For me it's got to be ALEPH's creations, particularly post - humans. In basic principle, they're fairly simple, but the devil's in the details. Exactly how are they and their psyche created and developed?

The bitterness of the Ur who'd been abandoned by their first Artilect and the tragedy of the EI who's been deliberately crippled of full freedom to achieve its creators' transcendence for them.

And the very concept of transcendence as goal for aliens. That the EI doesn't really need to conquer because it won't need the stuff when it rises to some higher energy plane or whatever, but it's still doing so because it's the only way to progress that's known to it.

I'm really drawn to stories like that of Ariadna; the lost colony fighting desperately for its independence against technologically and numerically superior forces. Runner up is the formation of Corregidor and the Mexican General; there's something just so radical about hiring one of the most wanted men in the human sphere to train your army of criminals.

I've got to go with a big "+1" on the Ur transcendence project and all of the associated grand and terrible history associated with it.

Galaxy spanning warfare in support of, and likely taking place as part of, science experiments.

The most compelling background to me...

Probably the evolution of the economy on good ol' Terra.
How the Ariadna project tanked the US, Russo, English economies with it's loss. The rise of Pan Oceanic economy to become a leading super-power in the wake left by the Ariadna Project. Yu Jing's creation as a response to the Pan Oceanic dominance. The subtle, yet obvious, subjugation of the Japanese within the Yu Jing empire due to social pressures and past grudges. Islam's reformation and unification into Haqqislam in the light of these new economies and power balance.

Just... realistic and thoroughly thought out causation for the current shadow war being fought among the Human Sphere.

There are so many things I like about the setting, I don't think I can ID just one... Well, unless I go with Claudius Sol's parting thought. "Just... realistic and thoroughly thought out causation for the current shadow war being fought among the Human Sphere."

I mean, I actually empathized with the Shasvasti.

The various major players and how they came to be, the fact that there's no obvious good guys. The Posthumans (for the record, I would be among the first to volunteer for a full-body prosthesis). There's too much stuff in there that I like to narrow it down to a single item.

What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that
I learned of Infinity and CB during my studies on Islam in University, and I learned a lot from those courses about the culture(s) of Islam. The way CB approached the fiction and the army made me look into the game more.. and.. well.. now I am here.

The Ur transcendence thing is pretty d_mned awesome.

But at its most basic core I like cubes and resurrection. That's the foundation stone upon which the rest of all the fluff is based, imho.

Equal to the Ur transcendence I would have to say is the old man on the mountain. That dude (or whatever it happens to be) is the ultimate boss. Makes Aleph look like a little girl and the EI like a spoiled brat.

I do like Ariadna, particularly as they're portrayed in the Paradiso prologue missions. Effing Tohaa.

Scorch wrote:What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment.

QFT!!

Scorch wrote:What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like the. t

I definitely agree that it's refreshing to see an optimistic outlook on the future of Islam.

I like the quest for knowledge and pragmatic aspects they've used here. From a background standpoint, they're one of my favorite factions.

What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that

That's actually not surprising at all, CB being Spanish and all

Before the Dark Ages of the Reconquista (Iberian crusades), a good 50-66% of the Iberian peninsula was under Muslim rule & influence, with places like Cordoba and Grenada being hubs of knowledge and learning, far ahead in social and technological matters that the northern Christian kingdoms, including some great thinkers like Ibn Rushd that can be compared to Da Vinci

If you go to Spain now, the South is still (often) considered one of the most beautiful places to visit, with lots of Moorish influence like the mosque-cathedral of Cordoba or the Alhambra

I will have to vehemently agree with the opinions people are giving about Haqqislam. A great and non-conventional treatment of the muslim world that honestly makes me wish fantasy could become reality with what's been happening lately.

The other major thing that I think about quite often is the fate of all the former powers of earth. I understand in the fluff that places like Canada the US and Russia, were hit too hard by the big collapse and maybe blamed too much for it happening to continue being major parties, but I really wonder how the politics of them drifting down to become footnotes compared to the major powers turned out. Not to mention wondering what sort of influence they carry in things now, however small the part they play may be.

Although their really is too much good stuff to really choose from, Ariadna, Bakunin, the EI, the Shasvastii...

Have to go with Ariadna how they have survived for so long and how the other groups having found them just look to exploit instead of recognising they are as Independent as any other Nation.

TanKoL wrote:

What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that

That's actually not surprising at all, CB being Spanish and all

Before the Dark Ages of the Reconquista (Iberian crusades), a good 50-66% of the Iberian peninsula was under Muslim rule & influence, with places like Cordoba and Grenada being hubs of knowledge and learning, far ahead in social and technological matters that the northern Christian kingdoms, including some great thinkers like Ibn Rushd that can be compared to Da Vinci

If you go to Spain now, the South is still (often) considered one of the most beautiful places to visit, with lots of Moorish influence like the mosque-cathedral of Cordoba or the Alhambra

You're right about that. I wrote a couple of essays during my time (sounds like it has been ages, but it was last year).
Although the horrible backlash in the form of the bloody Spanish Inquisition that followed the Reconquista, in an Christian attempt to get hold of the minds and beliefs of the people, is still noticable till this day in Spain. Many festivities, cultural things and paintings and such depict the Moorish people as bloodthirsty, exotic, dark-skinned barbarians.

I like how Haqq is being treated in Infinity - I know I'm just echoing everyone else here.

My favorite faction to read about is the Nomads. Ideas like 'pay-per-breath', full time space living, and providing an alternative to the great ALEPH - very Gibson and Morgan.

Scorch wrote:What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that
I learned of Infinity and CB during my studies on Islam in University, and I learned a lot from those courses about the culture(s) of Islam. The way CB approached the fiction and the army made me look into the game more.. and.. well.. now I am here.

Why don't you write a piece on it, then?

Lampyridae wrote:

Scorch wrote:What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that
I learned of Infinity and CB during my studies on Islam in University, and I learned a lot from those courses about the culture(s) of Islam. The way CB approached the fiction and the army made me look into the game more.. and.. well.. now I am here.

Why don't you write a piece on it, then?

I did! :p well, not about Infinity, but it did write some essays on Islam's Golden Age and some modernist thinkers.

For me its the Nomad Nation. The nation of outcast without homeworld, being so driven to become full fledged State composed of hackers, criminals and artists.

Resurection as an ultimate reward for the faithful as a reason to join Order sergeants.

Ur and its Transcendence.

Scorch wrote:

Lampyridae wrote:

Scorch wrote:What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that
I learned of Infinity and CB during my studies on Islam in University, and I learned a lot from those courses about the culture(s) of Islam. The way CB approached the fiction and the army made me look into the game more.. and.. well.. now I am here.

Why don't you write a piece on it, then?

I did! :p well, not about Infinity, but it did write some essays on Islam's Golden Age and some modernist thinkers.

Oh? Would you be willing to share them?

That PanO bought the economic ruins of the US and the EU.

My favourite bit of fluff from all Infinity, actual socio-economic change instead of the usual contemporary stagnation.

Scorch wrote:

Section9 wrote:

Scorch wrote:[quote="Lampyridae"][quote="Scorch"]What struck me the most was the origin of Haqqislam. I love how CB showed us an Islam without suicidebombers and crazy Salafis, which seems to be a more common view nowadays, all the while not diverting from the nature of Islamic culture. Set on a course to wisdom, knowledge and Enlightenment. I like that
I learned of Infinity and CB during my studies on Islam in University, and I learned a lot from those courses about the culture(s) of Islam. The way CB approached the fiction and the army made me look into the game more.. and.. well.. now I am here

Why don't you write a piece on it, then?

I did! :p well, not about Infinity, but it did write some essays on Islam's Golden Age and some modernist thinkers.

Oh? Would you be willing to share them?

I could, but I think I would have to translate them first, as they are in Dutch.. I can give some tips on good literature on the subjects, though.

Crap, the quote stuff goes weird in Tapatalk

Mistake Not wrote:My favourite bit of fluff from all Infinity, actual socio-economic change instead of the usual contemporary stagnation.

Right! Thats one of the best things on the fluff actually. I find Yu Jing interestingly possible as well.

I could echo the sentiments of every post here. The background is the best amongst miniatures games. However the story of Yu Jing, and all its complexities and internal conflicts, grabs at me the most.


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After having immersed myself in the fluff for a while, I might almost say that the most compelling part of the fluff is what we haven't seen yet.

The style is so much fun that I can't wait to see what's next, whether it's civilian space ships or an O-12 exploration corps... Fun stuff.