The Bloodline Age Debate

[moparpaul]

j said:

So either Omega has another son who is younger than Star Warrior and Alpha Force but older then SuperNova or Bloodline is older the SuperNova.

With the revelation that Bloodline may be Star Warrior's son, I'm just assuming that this other son who is older than Supernova just never got into the wrestling business.

[Joe]

There is no way Bloodline is Omega's son, and if you think about it, this was always obvious. In the War Games 2093 handbook, Alpha Force tells the story of why he travelled to Dimension X. He was depressed because his mother died. He speaks of meeting Chaos in Dimension X when he was 16. He then tells of coming to the GWF to battle Chaos at the age of 27, which was in 2093. This would mean that the absolute latest Mrs. Omega could have passed would have been 2082. Now, assuming Omega's wife died while giving birth to Bloodline, which she did not as Alpha says she had been sick for a long time, Bloodline. Therefore you have to figure that she of bad health would not have been giving birth to a new child for at least the last couple of years of her life. Now it is possible that Omega remarried, or whatever, and Bloodline is the offspring of this relationship, but that also is unlikely. As much as Bloodline has complained about being disregarded and dogged by his family, surely he would have pointed to the fact that he was only half-brothers with Star Warrior and Alpha Force. All this being said, Bloodline cannot be Omega's son. In fact, he seems to bear a closer resembelance to Alpha Force than he does Star Warrior, but that is a whole other discussion.

[Thunder Fire Driver]

I know it's only 'just a game', but one of the things that makes COTG so much fun is Tom's writing. Specifically the continuity from edition to edition. In any good story, the plots contain internal logic which over time, allow the characters to become somewhat 'real' to the readers. The key is the ability to wove a path that makes sense creatively and connects with the stories past.

Having said that, the limits to which any reader will suspend disbelief will only stretch so far. When those twists insult the intelligence of the reader, asking them to 'forget' what they have already read, the author is embarking on a poor creative direction. That's why this whole Bloodline issue is such a huge disappointment.

The character of Nebula was first featured & introduced in the Champions of the Galaxy comic book as a teen boy during the period of the breaking of the Galactic Code (the product is available on the Filsinger Games website for those interested). Here's a product blurb: "The Champions of the Galaxy comic book focuses on the infamous breaking of the Galactic Code and the behind-the-scenes deals in the forming of the Villain and Hero teams."

So basically this comic documents one of the biggest events in the games history, giving what you see a specific time-frame. Anyone who buys this item, is given the impression that 1. Omega has another son (who is not much younger then his brothers) & 2. He's a teen in 2086.

While one can say the "the first Champions of the Galaxy comic book" which is touted as "a must for any Champions of the Galaxy collection" shouldn't be binding to Tom's storylines, I find that argument to be incredibly weak, especially when it's being sold on his own website. It causes confusion to sell products that contradict the creative backgrounds of the games characters. Tom has always been consistent in the past, why lower the standards now?

Even if Star Warrior will be cast as Nebula's father (which is not even slightly necessary) the fact that Nebula was FEATURED as a teenager back in 2086 (over THIRTY GAME YEARS AGO) would make it quite a stretch for me to buy him as a peer of a young guy like Encubus.

The whole controversy over Bloodline comes down attempting to forcing a square peg into a round hole. This effort to jiggle past creative loose ends & rework them to cast Nebula with a new past is just silly. The character doesn't need a fountain of youth, his character needs to be written in a way consistent with the creative guidelines already established.

If the goal is to create the next generation of Star Warrior & Thantos, then that can be easily created without erasing any part of the past. Nobody complains over Encubus's age because he was created as a new character with a newly evolving history. The same can be accomplished by creating a new character to play Star Warrior's son, who's history & background can be crafted without contradicting any part of COTG history.

Why must Filsinger Games contradict the other products it sells? Why go down the path of confusing all the 'new people' to come, who will buy the 2087 start set, purchase the comic book from the official COTG site, discover Nebula as Omega's teenage son in 2086, & then see a thirty something year old Bloodline debut in 2109, all to be told down the road that Nebula's entire history is subject to revision?

If Tom choses to turn Bloodline into Star Warrior's son, or even make him somehow related to Encubus, life will go on. I'll still buy the game, but I'll also be rolling my eyes. None of this has been necessary, and the Bloodline character hasn't been worth this so called controversy.

[GalactiKing]

Actually the whole Alpha thing is really a bit off.
Omega wanted Alpha to come to the GWF(2079 booklet) but he had already left for Dimension X, so Star Warrior got drafted instead. One of these days, we'll need a definitive story written down for it.

[Chris Ingersoll]

Guest-Thunder said:

Why must Filsinger Games contradict the other products it sells? Why go down the path of confusing all the 'new people' to come, who will buy the 2087 start set, purchase the comic book from the official COTG site, discover Nebula as Omega's teenage son in 2086, & then see a thirty something year old Bloodline debut in 2109, all to be told down the road that Nebula's entire history is subject to revision?

I find that most people who get in a twist over this forget two major factors:

1) Nebula spent time in Dimension X, where people age differently.

2) This is wrestling in a SCIENCE FICTION SETTING. If you don't have problems with wrestlers from Ancient Greece competing in the early 22nd (or even 31st!) century, fully natural-born cyborgs, and a device that can somehow accelerate evolution (or whatever the Plot Device actually does), why is a simple age issue driving you mad?

[Tom]

Thunder Fire Driver,

I appreciate your point and loyalty to the history of the GWF. Please keep in mind that the COTG comic book was written by Edward Davis III and I gave him some artistic leverage. He was writing, drawing, producing...I didn't want to step in and tell him to change anything unless something was blatantly wrong. I bought a large number of COTG comic books from Ed to sell because I wanted to support his efforts, which in turn supported mine.

Kris. O. and Jeff Gutherz will be producing a COTG graphic novel with Werner Mueck and since they are writing, drawing, producing, I don't intend to step in with a heavy hand. I want to give them leeway to express themselves creatively.

Technically, the only official history of the GWF is what's written in the game handbooks. Even then there's sometimes inconsistencies, but I try to keep them at a minimum.

Sorry to throw a curve, Thunder Fire Driver! I'll try to avoid it in the future. And I hope you'll enjoy the resolution of the Star Warrior/Bloodline story. I'm excited about it. Like any good story twist, I'm hoping it will drive the characterization for years to come.

[Thunder Fire Driver]

"I find that most people who get in a twist over this forget two major factors:"

I don't consider myself in a 'twist' over this, just cognizant of the issue. I was already well aware of the two factors which you claim most people supposedly forget. For arguments sake, here's my take on your two points.

"1) Nebula spent time in Dimension X, where people age differently."

This is why I view the best guide to Nebula's aging process is comparing him to his brother Alpha Force. Presumably, being from the same race (and same family) would see both of their stints in Dimension X having a similar effect on their physical prime.

Alpha entered in 2093, but received his first downgrade in 2099. Dimension X's 'unique aging process' didn't seem to help Alpha Force from moving away from his prime once he hit his forties. Looking at AF as an example, perhaps the whole age slow down theory doesn't apply to the Cetus race?

Now when Bloodline entered the GWF in 2109, he did so at about the same age as AF. In 2118, a downgrade not an upgrade would be more reflective of his brother Alpha Force's aging process. Even if Nebula spent more time in Dimension X than his brother, it's unlikely Nebula would be due for an upgrade when his brother fell out of his physical prime at around the same age.

"2) This is wrestling in a SCIENCE FICTION SETTING. If you don't have problems with wrestlers from Ancient Greece competing in the early 22nd (or even 31st!) century, fully natural-born cyborgs, and a device that can somehow accelerate evolution (or whatever the Plot Device actually does), why is a simple age issue driving you mad?"

It's not driving me mad. I just like to see consistency. Tom's character development has always been a pleasure to read, precisely because he evolves said characters in ways that are consistent with his previous writings. While science fiction is an element, there are rules & rituals with-in the universe (such as Gladiator Cleansings or Fourth Realm transformations) which make sense because they are mapped out efficiently. This Nebula thing has been haphazard at best, with fudging & backtracking that just isn't necessary.

A story, even one based on science fiction, would do well to retain internal logic. Trying to pass off a man in his mid forties as the age peer of a guy in his early twenties just doesn't fly with me. Yet to each his own.

This Bloodline age issue doesn't come up with any other character, because the standard has always been so high. Ignoring it doesn't change the fact that new players to come will face storyline revisions, products on the online store that contradict each other, and just general confusion.

While it's only a game & nothing worth getting into a 'twist' over, I'd prefer to see controversies like this addressed upfront, so they become aberrations, & not the start of a trend.

[Thunder Fire Driver]

Tom said:

Thunder Fire Driver,

I appreciate your point and loyalty to the history of the GWF. Please keep in mind that the COTG comic book was written by Edward Davis III and I gave him some artistic leverage. He was writing, drawing, producing...I didn't want to step in and tell him to change anything unless something was blatantly wrong. I bought a large number of COTG comic books from Ed to sell because I wanted to support his efforts, which in turn supported mine.

Kris. O. and Jeff Gutherz will be producing a COTG graphic novel with Werner Mueck and since they are writing, drawing, producing, I don't intend to step in with a heavy hand. I want to give them leeway to express themselves creatively.

Technically, the only official history of the GWF is what's written in the game handbooks. Even then there's sometimes inconsistencies, but I try to keep them at a minimum.

Sorry to throw a curve, Thunder Fire Driver! I'll try to avoid it in the future. And I hope you'll enjoy the resolution of the Star Warrior/Bloodline story. I'm excited about it. Like any good story twist, I'm hoping it will drive the characterization for years to come.

Tom,

Discussion boards like this that promote discourse on a hobby most people would never understand, also drive game player enthusiasm in a shared hobby. Although I don't agree with how Nebula was handled, it's a mere blip on the radar screen with all the enjoyment you've given to me...both as a reader & as a game player.

For that I say thank you & god bless. So as long as you chose to keep putting out such great products year after year, you can count on my semi-annual orders! Best wishes!

[Joe]

I apologize for getting Thunder Fire Driver or anyone else in an uproar by pointing out date discrepancies in this storyline. I was warned by a friend of mine that this is a topic that tends to get fans rather heated. Regardless, what I was actually attempting to show is that Tom may have had the scenario to be revealed in 2119 in mind for quite a while, and that it is not simply a case of changing the rules in the middle of the game.

[Question Mark]

Well I hate to pick on Alpha Force, because really two issues come up here.

1. Alpha was so good, that downgrade was really the only way to go. Also his 2099 card isn't exactly bad. He had about equal success with that card as he constantly hit his finishers.

2. Alpha really didn't start going down till 2108, and by then he was almost 50. The guy who really seemed to defy time was Paragon.

[Chris Ingersoll]

Guest-Thunder said:

"I find that most people who get in a twist over this forget two major factors:"

I don't consider myself in a 'twist' over this, just cognizant of the issue. I was already well aware of the two factors which you claim most people supposedly forget.

I didn't necessarily mean you specifically. I just quoted you since it was convenient. :-\

Some of the " discussions" on this issue on the old board and the guestbook were closer to poorly-disguised rants that ignored the topics I mentioned pretty frequently.

EDIT: Sometimes smilies show up where they shouldn't.

Guest-Thunder said:

This Bloodline age issue doesn't come up with any other character, because the standard has always been so high. Ignoring it doesn't change the fact that new players to come will face storyline revisions, products on the online store that contradict each other, and just general confusion.

Actually, Wolf's age was an issue for a long time prior to his retirement. It didn't have the complications of the Bloodline issue, but I personally didn't find the explanation for it all that satisfactory, to the point of it nearly being a deus ex machina cop-out.

Not to suggest that the Bloodline thing will turn out better, but the point is that you really can't evaluate a story until it's been paid off. Ignoring the comic book (which, as Tom said, isn't necessarily canon), there might very well be an explanation forthcoming that brings everything together.

And if not... eh, they can't all be winners. Tom's signal-to-noise ratio is still higher than most.

[Dave Tugman]

There's one key difference between Alpha Force and Bloodline and that is the Alpha stone. Alpha Force was the master of the power. Alpha was downgraded when the power dissappeared. How did the Alpha Power affect his aging process? Did it slow aging even more or did it speed up the rate of aging?

[the_faction]

Actually there was no Alpha Power(yeah makes sense right). It was all in their head.

[wildman]

Yeah, when Alpha realized the Power wasnt real, he dropped. Just goes to show that if u believe in something so bad it becomes real

[moparpaul]

Chris said:

1) Nebula spent time in Dimension X, where people age differently.

I don't remember reading about this. Was this in one of the game books?

[wildman]

Paul said:

I don't remember reading about this. Was this in one of the game books?

That came from the comic book.

[moparpaul]

Joe said:

I apologize for getting Thunder Fire Driver or anyone else in an uproar by pointing out date discrepancies in this storyline.

There's no need to apologize Joe. The discussion has been civil and no one seems to be the worse for wear over it.

[Darth Turkish]

thefaction said:

Actually there was no Alpha Power(yeah makes sense right). It was all in their head.

Oh boy, there is another can of worms right there!

[wildman]

Turkish said:

Oh boy, there is another can of worms right there!

But at least it was explained in the story line. Alpha Force revealed that it was all a set up by Omega. The Keepers were brainwashed, and when Chaos came to realize the truth he turned face and teamed with Alpha as the team of Alpha Power

[Darth Turkish]

wildman said:

But at least it was explained in the story line. Alpha Force revealed that it was all a set up by Omega. The Keepers were brainwashed, and when Chaos came to realize the truth he turned face and teamed with Alpha as the team of Alpha Power

That explanation leaves a bad taste in my mouth, as it did for others. It would have been better if the stone was destroyed by being over used by Mandrill or something.