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Creature contest: The Crystallus

 
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Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/2/2011 10:46:14 PM   
Kalthaniell


Posts: 320
Joined: 5/31/2011
Status: offline 		THE CRYSTALLUS

What's a crystallus?

Crystallus is an animated electromagnetic energy moving through space rather than a living organic creature. It’s intelligence is comparable to amoeba’s. Crystallus behavior is based solely on instinctive drive to consume and multiply. The smallest and most basic of the specimens are little more than a tiny bundle of electromagnetic energy, metals and crystals the size of a chestnut. Crystallus spends it’s life in the vacuum of space by absorbing solar energy from nearby stars and minerals from asteroids and space dust. Each creature grows as it absorbs more matter and, due to it’s inorganic nature, crystallus can grow for thousands of years. This means that, given enough time, the creature can become just as big as space caltors or other similar space monsters. New crystallus is born when a tiny portion of a larger specimen breaks off. If enough electromagnetic energy is preserved in the crystal it starts to absorb solar energy and begins to live on it’s own.

How does it move around?:/

The crystallus movement speed depends on it’s electromagnetic energy field strength. It takes ages for smaller crystalluses to move from one side of a solar system to another (they are in no hurry though ;). The huge ones however can travel just as fast as any spaceship and the biggest and most ancient specimens are even capable of travelling between the solar systems in search of new mineral deposits.

What does it do?

Although Crystallus is not a predator, it still is very territorial and dangerous. When two specimens meet near a mineral source they will try to fight for it. The electromagnetic nature of the crystallus enables it to project energy bursts and energy-deflecting shields in order to deter it’s opponent from trying to take over it’s feeding territory. Although those are harmless for other crystalluses and serve only for showing off each specimen’s strength and potential, the energy bursts can be quite deadly for spaceships. Due to the similar size and electromagnetic field all spaceships project, the creature mistakes them for other crystalluses trying to challenge them for their territory and attacks as soon as they come too close.

When can it be found?

Crystallus can be often found protecting the most abundant and precious mineral asteroids of a solar system. Sometimes one can be found feeding on a debris field or even chewing on an abandoned space station. As crystalluses require solar energy to live long and prosper ;P they can be encountered only in solar systems. The more suns a system has the bigger the chance some crystalluses will be there. Although this species is quite common in more mineral abundant parts of the universe, there are still some galaxies to which the crystallus had not yet migrated. How it travels between galaxies is unclear. It is speculated that when one specimen reaches a certain size it can actually absorb an entire sun and use the newly acquired energy to travel faster and further than ordinary crystalluses. This theory has not been confirmed however.



That's how I imagine a creature that could live in space. I made this image pretty much the way I imagined it in my head. A living asteroid travelling through space absorbing any minerals or metals it encounters. The shards on the sides of the creatures could be huge chunks of magnet pulled close by the electromagnetic field. What do you folks think?



< Message edited by Kalthaniell -- 10/2/2011 10:51:19 PM >
Post #: 1
RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/2/2011 10:53:33 PM   
J HG T


Posts: 1093
Joined: 5/14/2010
From: Kiadia Prime
Status: offline 		Oh noes! The famous crystal monster I keep reading about! 
Still, great idea!
BTW. I assume you meant that bigger and more brighter suns attract more Crystallus, not systems with more suns. Other factor is the amount of minerals in the system I guess.


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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/2/2011 11:52:36 PM   
Webbco


Posts: 682
Joined: 2/6/2010
Status: offline 		Excellent, I really like this one.

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/2/2011 11:56:22 PM   
bigbaba


Posts: 1238
Joined: 11/3/2006
From: Koblenz, Germany
Status: offline 		great concept. i like the part in which they mistake spaceships for other crystallus and attack them. like sharks attacking fat humans because they mistake them for beeing fat seals.:)

also the idea of sweet and slow crawling baby crystallus growing over time and getting more dangerous for a star system (absorbing the sun sounds like a supernove and death for all planets in the system).

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 2:16:01 AM   
tjhkkr


Posts: 2428
Joined: 6/3/2010
Status: offline 		How does it move around?:/
The crystallus movement speed depends on it’s electromagnetic energy field strength. It takes ages for smaller crystalluses to move from one side of a solar system to another (they are in no hurry though ;). The huge ones however can travel just as fast as any spaceship and the biggest and most ancient specimens are even capable of travelling between the solar systems in search of new mineral deposits.
That is an interesting idea...
And I like the picture...

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 8:12:45 AM   
Data


Posts: 3909
Joined: 1/3/2011
Status: offline 		Mois has crystalline entity flashbacks
+1

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 2:20:02 PM   
2guncohen


Posts: 401
Joined: 4/9/2010
From: Belguim
Status: offline 		I realy like the look of this Crystallus *thumbs upp*
How doest it makes new baby's ? 


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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 2:22:38 PM   
Kalthaniell


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quote:

ORIGINAL: 2guncohen

How doest it makes new baby's ?


The answer is : spontaneously ;)

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 2:43:50 PM   
2guncohen


Posts: 401
Joined: 4/9/2010
From: Belguim
Status: offline 		Something like this => Exploding in a screen filling light show




< Message edited by 2guncohen -- 10/3/2011 3:07:36 PM >

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 3:24:43 PM   
Kalthaniell


Posts: 320
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quote:

ORIGINAL: 2guncohen

Something like this => Exploding in a screen filling Orgasm




hhehehe n1 but no :P

I meant that new crystalluses are 'born' when small chunks of an older one breaks off. Usually due to random events like collisions with asteroids or rapid acceleration to high speeds when starting a travel to a new solar system. The outermost parts of the creature might lack the structural integrity of the main body but still carry the animated crystallus electromagnetic charge necessary for a new one to begin a new mineral hunt. It wouldn't happen often but than again crystalluses have time :]

The main idea behind it is that I imagined a non-organic creature should have it's own uniqe way of multiplying. It had to be random just as crystal forming process is ( not the industrial one). Plus, can you imagine two gigant asteroids humping each other?

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 3:43:04 PM   
2guncohen


Posts: 401
Joined: 4/9/2010
From: Belguim
Status: offline
quote:



I meant that new crystalluses are 'born' when small chunks of an older one breaks off. Usually due to random events like collisions with asteroids or rapid acceleration to high speeds when starting a travel to a new solar system. The outermost parts of the creature might lack the structural integrity of the main body but still carry the animated crystallus electromagnetic charge necessary for a new one to begin a new mineral hunt. It wouldn't happen often but than again crystalluses have time :]

The main idea behind it is that I imagined a non-organic creature should have it's own uniqe way of multiplying. It had to be random just as crystal forming process is ( not the industrial one). Plus, can you imagine two gigant asteroids humping each other?




I really like the idea, It makes it hard to kill and you have to be sure that you did a good clean up or you get stuck with more of this creatures.

About the two giant Asteroids Humping each other I can only reply : God works in mysterious ways




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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 6:04:33 PM   
LoBaron


Posts: 4776
Joined: 1/26/2003
From: Vienna, Austria
Status: offline 		Nice idea, could be the base for interesting additional sound effects...

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 7:50:44 PM   
bigbaba


Posts: 1238
Joined: 11/3/2006
From: Koblenz, Germany
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Kalthaniell


quote:

ORIGINAL: 2guncohen

Something like this => Exploding in a screen filling Orgasm




hhehehe n1 but no :P

I meant that new crystalluses are 'born' when small chunks of an older one breaks off. Usually due to random events like collisions with asteroids or rapid acceleration to high speeds when starting a travel to a new solar system. The outermost parts of the creature might lack the structural integrity of the main body but still carry the animated crystallus electromagnetic charge necessary for a new one to begin a new mineral hunt. It wouldn't happen often but than again crystalluses have time :]

The main idea behind it is that I imagined a non-organic creature should have it's own uniqe way of multiplying. It had to be random just as crystal forming process is ( not the industrial one). Plus, can you imagine two gigant asteroids humping each other?


very good way to handle this delicate question. otherwise the game would be 18+.:)

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 8:19:49 PM   
2guncohen


Posts: 401
Joined: 4/9/2010
From: Belguim
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

very good way to handle this delicate question. otherwise the game would be 18+.:)



Every detail had to be adressed

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/3/2011 8:21:26 PM   
MaxyGamer

 

Posts: 76
Joined: 8/24/2010
Status: offline 		Nice idea. Always did find crystals quite intriguing and very 'space-like'.

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/5/2011 7:01:17 PM   
wisky4372

 

Posts: 13
Joined: 10/4/2011
Status: offline 		Hey I hope you don't mind, but I painted this image based upon your really intriguing concept. Maybe it will help sell the creature to the devs. Either way, it was very inspiring, and highly descriptive!




Attachment (1)

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 12:58:36 AM   
Kalthaniell


Posts: 320
Joined: 5/31/2011
Status: offline 		Thx Wisky! This picture is just stunning! This Crystallus looks way better than mine and the electromagnetic field is SPECTACULAR. That's some pro skills you have man. GJ


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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 10:22:59 AM   
Data


Posts: 3909
Joined: 1/3/2011
Status: offline 		Wow, high praise coming from Kalthaniell....great to see we attract so many talented people

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 10:48:43 AM   
MaxyGamer

 

Posts: 76
Joined: 8/24/2010
Status: offline 		Scary stuff!

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 2:47:46 PM   
Kalthaniell


Posts: 320
Joined: 5/31/2011
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Data

Wow, high praise coming from Kalthaniell....great to see we attract so many talented people


A couple more and just think how awesome mods could be created Data ;)

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 2:49:48 PM   
Data


Posts: 3909
Joined: 1/3/2011
Status: offline 		Ooo yeaaaa, good times await

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 3:21:56 PM   
wisky4372

 

Posts: 13
Joined: 10/4/2011
Status: offline 		My pleasure man- a lot of good ideas on the forums- do you think i should illustrate a few more (if I have time)? Dont want to step on anyone's creative toes...

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 3:57:05 PM   
Kalthaniell


Posts: 320
Joined: 5/31/2011
Status: offline 		I think it would be a great idea Wisky. I'm sure ppl would certainly appreciate it. I'm really looking forward to seeing any more of your drawings

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/6/2011 4:02:48 PM   
Data


Posts: 3909
Joined: 1/3/2011
Status: offline 		Same here, go forth and step on toes

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...Igniting stellar cores....Recharging reactors...Recalibrating hyperdrives....

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RE: Creature contest: The Crystallus - 10/10/2011 11:03:31 AM   
MartialDoctor


Posts: 388
Joined: 3/7/2011
Status: offline 		I like this idea.  A very well thought up creature!  Reminds me a bit of the Chenjesu from Star Control.

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