With the speculation on magic. Got me thinking about the planes of the universe. With the advent of star travel and FTL technology, along side with magic and psychic abilities. How would characters refer to the planes of the universe? Would it be the olde terminology or the more scientific? Does it go along with how society evolved over the years? The planar variant human races (tieflings, Aasimar, etc.) are they extra-planar or extra-dimensional?
I imagine the various races would look at it differently, depending on their use of magic and such. Humans would probably see it as planes, but races with longstanding tech use like the Vercites and the Eoxians would use either. I imagine the Abbalonians would only see it as dimensions, as magic is nearly unknown to them.
Wouldn't the more scientific terminology be alternate three-dimensional spaces, or some such? "Dimensions" are axes in space-time, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, etc.
The 11 spacial dimensions wouldn't be affected. Still got left/right, up/down, forward/backwards, time. Since we are still unsure what 5-11 it would make sense to use the elemental planes, heaven, the nine Hells as the rest.
Going to piggyback off of this thread which seems relevant, rather than create a new one:
So we know that there is this new form of space/hyperspace travel that has been gifted to the mortal races by Triune, which certainly sounds interesting enough, but it got me to thinking- could there be other forms of interstellar travel out there?
Specifically, perhaps the Dimension of Time could serve as a means of traversing the vastness of the Starfinder cosmos, but without all of the ickiness that comes along with Hyperspace travel (stealing parts of other planes with each use). If someone could tap into the Hidden Dimension, couldn't they make light years seem like minutes or seconds?
There hasn't ever been much info published on the Dimension of Time, but it seems like Starfinder might be a really cool place to finally tap into its mysteries. I wonder if the designers have considered if it has a place in Starfinder at all (or if Triune's Hyperspace might somehow already be connected to it?)
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Wouldn't the more scientific terminology be alternate three-dimensional spaces, or some such? "Dimensions" are axes in space-time, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, etc.The 11 spacial dimensions wouldn't be affected. Still got left/right, up/down, forward/backwards, time. Since we are still unsure what 5-11 it would make sense to use the elemental planes, heaven, the nine Hells as the rest.
Every plane in Pathfinder is a 4D spacetime. Spacetime is described as 3 dimensions of space plus one dimension of time, which you could also describe as probability or uncertainty. You need only one extra spatial dimension to be able to stack multiple 4D spacetime realities on top of each other. If you want a 2D array of spacetimes like the great wheel, then you will need a 5th and 6th spatial dimension. If you want to be able to arrange some 4D spacetimes floating 'above' or 'below' the map of the cosmology, then you need a 7th spatial dimension.
Meanwhile an 8th spatial dimension might allow you to create parallel 7D multiverses existing simultaneously, all of whom follow the same laws or game system rules.
A 9th dimension (a second dimension of time or probability/uncertainty) encompasses all the potential outcomes of every 7D multiverse; that is, every possible path of evolution that doesn't actually occur, but that started out looking like how the Pathfinderverse looked, with Asmodeus and The Other.
A 10th dimension (a third dimension of time/probability/uncertainty) encompasses all 7D multiverses that could ever exist, including every conceivable variant of Pathfinder (such as starting conditions with three primal deities or only one, different personalities, etc) but also other multiverses governed by different laws/game systems like D&D 3E, 4E, 5E, GURPS, Shadowrun, each with its own different set of starting conditions and laws governing reality and potentiality.
The 11th dimension (which would be a 4th dimension of probability/uncertainty) encompasses everything that _can't_ ever logically or reasonably happen with any of the 7D multiverses, such as realities where the laws of identity, noncontradiction and the excluded middle don't all apply, realities where cause and effect don't necessarily follow, realities where logical fallacies are actually true, and other nonsequitors. What is variously known as the Far Realm or Outside crosses over into uncertainty of the 4th dimension.
Here's the thing. The fourth dimension itself is time. Granted it's influenced by gravity. But time itself is constant, marching relentlessly forward.
Time is a dimension of probability, and it doesn't care which direction it flows. But we exist as linear beings so it appears to us that time can only flow one direction; much like how we perceive the sun moving across the sky even though it is the planet that rotates and changes our perspective. If we could rewind time, all the laws of thermodynamics and entropy wouldn't care, they would just work in reverse.
Antimatter is normal matter experiencing time in reverse. What we perceive as two particles colliding and annihilating is only a single particle making a U-turn and shedding some energy that continues to travel in the same direction as the normal matter. If you run the reaction in reverse, what you get is spontaneous particle production (one normal particle, one antiparticle) from concentrating enough energy in one place that energy spontaneously converts to matter.
So any ship traveling through dimensions navigation systems needs some sort of point of reference.
So any ship traveling through dimensions navigation systems needs some sort of point of reference.
If traveling through the Dimension of Time (or the 4th dimension), then could a point of reference perhaps be something or someone that transcends time? An immortal intelligence?
Antimatter is normal matter experiencing time in reverse...
Nicely summarized!
If traveling through the Dimension of Time (or the 4th dimension), then could a point of reference perhaps be something or someone that transcends time? An immortal intelligence?
No God-Emperor or Dr. Who reference here.
Planets are perfectly fine. They are places to visit in real space. Since we haven't left the Golarion system yet, I'd figured the planes would still be a part of the known universe.