The Shofixti

[fossaman]

Keep in mind that technological development is not necessarily fixed into a specific path. The Spathi's Bronze age to Atomics could be explained by a few brilliant scientists coming up with atomic theory early on, or steel being discovered early, or any number of 'out of order' things compared to human technological development. Necessity is the mother of invention, and needing not to be eaten is pretty high up on the list of necessities.

[Draxas]

The whole rapid evolutionary changes is an interesting idea, but wouldn't that mean a lot of different physical appearances and sub-races as well?

Quite possibly, yes. But considering we have only ever really seen 3 Shofixti in enough detail to tell what's going on (Tanaka, Katana, and the unnamed Alliance memeber in the SC1 victory screen), who can say?

[Death 999]

I suspect that the Shofiti's speedy rise from primitives to starfarers was mostly due to their very rapid rate of reproduction and maturation.

You mean here that the generation gaps passed quickly?

As mentioned earlier, they also seem to have rather short lifespans.

It has been asserted, but it is still not in evidence.

I don't like the idea of the race having special powers of learning

Yet they manifestly do.

...nor do I like the idea of the Yehat genetically altering the race to uplift them.

Should not be necessary so long as the species to be uplifted was sapient, and there's no evidence that the Shofixti weren't. (i.e. I agree)

[Lukipela]

It has been asserted, but it is still not in evidence.

Isn't the fact that Tanaka is old 20 years after the war and that Shofixti captains are available so quickly (Is it actually just three months?) quite strong evidence of quick maturing and short life-span?

Yet they manifestly do.

I agree, they must learn quickly. How they do it is anyone's guess though.

[gihren]

They teach each other calculus while making sweet, sweet marisupial love.  At age 3 months.

Maybe they develop their hearing first, and can hear in the womb to increase the rate of learning.  They could also have a very rapid learning ability, but a limited amount of memory that decreases their learning capacity as they grow old.  Who knows, maybe they have short life spans because their brain writes new information over old information, and eventually overwrite something they need to survive.  If Tanaka was alone for so long, then maybe he wasn't learning anything new as fast as a person that has to chat with folks and remember things, so his lifespan was greatly increased.

[Death 999]

Isn't the fact that Tanaka is old 20 years after the war and that Shofixti captains are available so quickly (Is it actually just three months?) quite strong evidence of quick maturing and short life-span?

First off, we only have a minimum on his age, not a maximum. He could be substantially older than born just before the end of the war. He was able to take out an Intruder with his pea-shooter while limpeted, which is somewhat beyond normal capabilities.

Where does it say he's actually old, anyway? Hmm.

* Death 999 trawls the shofixti dialog...

The only references to him as old are:

#(dont_do_it)
Don't do it, old Warrior! You still have much to live for!

#(ON_SECOND_THOUGHT)   shofi035.ogg
Wait! I have had a sudden realization!
If you are here, in such an amazing ship
that means there is yet hope to defeat the evil Ur-Quan pus-dogs!
A sudden exhilaration sweeps through my old body
I have changed my mind, Captain! I will not smash myself into an asteroid
instead, I will wait here, and when the time comes, Captain
when you have found the duty that only I can perform
I will be waiting here... eager to help you.

That end seems moderately well nailed down.
It isn't absolutely certain.
After being marooned in a tiny spaceship for 20 years, one might feel older than one is. And as for the Captain, well, everyone else who was a captain in the earlier war is now legitimately old.

And then, also, expectations of Shofixti life duration could normally be based on the time to sacrifice, not so much their actual potential lifespan.

[oddSTAR]

Well, he wasn't too old to perform amazing feats of fecundity when the Captain found him, so maybe he wasn't quite at death's door yet, either... 

[Draxas]

Well, he wasn't too old to perform amazing feats of fecundity when the Captain found him, so maybe he wasn't quite at death's door yet, either... 

Though (credits aside, which aren't considered canon) we never do find out if he survives that ordeal.

[Lukipela]

First off, we only have a minimum on his age, not a maximum. He could be substantially older than born just before the end of the war. He was able to take out an Intruder with his pea-shooter while limpeted, which is somewhat beyond normal capabilities.

That's a really good point. I don't know why I thought he had to be born close to the end of the war.

That end seems moderately well nailed down.
It isn't absolutely certain.
After being marooned in a tiny spaceship for 20 years, one might feel older than one is. And as for the Captain, well, everyone else who was a captain in the earlier war is now legitimately old.

And then, also, expectations of Shofixti life duration could normally be based on the time to sacrifice, not so much their actual potential lifespan.

Interesting. So we can say that Shofxti mature at very young age, but we can't say much about their old age. I'd infer that they don't grow very old, but you're right, it isn't conclusively shown anywhere. Another myth busted.

[Draxas]

Actually, my memory might be faulty, but there may be something about Shofixti lifespan in the SC1 manual. Anyone have that text so we know for sure?