Podrace time! Pick a Trek character for Boonta Eve Classic

[Mr. Oragahn]

• • • • 

You choose a character from one of the Trek shows (ENT, TOS, TNG, DS9), according to these parameters:

- Is a regular character, or belongs to a well represented and recurring race and fairly average.
- No demigod. At best, you're allowed to pick Trek's equivalent of a Force user.
- Someone or something that seems suited to handle the controls of a podracer, of course.

The character of your choice is moved to Tatooine by a ROB, and told that he/she/it has to win to return to Trekverse. The ROB allows your character to pick a podracer from TPM, and obtain an exact copy of it. People won't be bothered. For example, if you decide to have Sebulba's Plug-F Mammoth, there will be two of them for the race, one with Sebulba, the other with your character.
All characters can be replaced, safe for Anakin.
Therefore, the character you've picked must prepare for the Boonta Eve, which begins in one month.
Assume the character now has the capacity to talk in Basic and manages bribes of Huttese.

Scenario 1:

Can the character understand and modify the vehicle with knowledge of Treknology? The ROB allows your character to use a man-sized standard synthetizer, with the ROB allowing him or her to use 1 gigaton worth of energy to create any piece or object that this synthetizer can assemble.
The synthetizer remains hidden and cannot be used or dismantled to obtain extra parts for the podracer, nor can be used for any purpose than to enhance the vehicle. It cannot be taken away by the pilot for the race to do something silly with it.
The character can only use blueprints belonging to the standard applications of the technology of his or her identified regular or main faction, or civilization if the faction is not clear enough.
The modification or replacement of components of the podracer is allowed, some small equipment may be added, but the podracer must not look different from its original version at a cursory glance.
Mounting of weapons or shields is NOT allowed. Avoid technology of the week.

Scenario 2:

Same but no changes are allowed. The character only trains for the race.

Does you character have what it takes to win against the Boonta Eve Classic's best pilots, including Anakin? Will ethics be a problem?

[ILikeDeathNote]

LOL, oh God I just about literally ROFL'd from that pic :p


Anyway, it's a canonical fact that humans aren't very successful podracers - Anakin was able to do as well as he did because he's basically a Force lightning rod and even he had a lot of trouble.

But then again, truth be told I don't see any real reason why that really has to apply other than "canon says so for arbitrary dramatic effect." Data might be a good pilot. A highly telepathic race, such as a Betazed or Vulcan, would probably do fairly well too; whether it's Spock or Tuvok or anyone else probably matters little.

I imagine Riker would have the best chance since he's "one of the best pilots" in Starfleet.


One thing that I would hold against anybody from Trek universe is that they're mostly used to button-pushing interfaces. Hell, being "the best pilot" still looks like punching on a keyboard more than actually piloting (which tells me they're mostly giving commands to an autopilot. Even modern fly-by-wire has more direct pilot input than that).

[Sideswipe]

Data would definately be my choice. I think he would take the race.

[Sift Green]

I would go with Tom Paris. Sense he personally installed old school controls in the Delta Flyer, he should have no trouble learning the podracer controls.

[ILikeDeathNote]

You know, I'm going to put this here since I don't feel like making a seperate topic about it:

how "canon" is the fact that a human would do poorly in a podrace? Do you really need superhuman reflexes to be in a pod race, or can enough training and practice make an average human sufficient? Could I plop Jeff Gordon in a podracer, or do I need a future Jedi?

This statement that humans lack sufficient inherent skill to be a podracer always bugged me, because not only does it seem so arbitrary (one might say to the point of being xeno-baised) but podracing in of itself doesn't seem like anything that special.

[Mike DiCenso]

I think your question of a "normal" human participating in the pod racing should be modified to "How accurate is Qui-Gon Jinn's statement" in the first place. After all from a canon standpoint Qui-Gon did say that in the movie and the novelization, so that in and of itself is canon. So in-universe, is it an accurate statement, or did Qui-Gon witness a particularly nasty race on Malastare?

On the other hand, Anakin seems to support the idea that regular humans are not able to pod race as he replies "I'am the only human who can do it."
-Mike

[Mr. Oragahn]

You know, I'm going to put this here since I don't feel like making a seperate topic about it:

how "canon" is the fact that a human would do poorly in a podrace? Do you really need superhuman reflexes to be in a pod race, or can enough training and practice make an average human sufficient? Could I plop Jeff Gordon in a podracer, or do I need a future Jedi?

This statement that humans lack sufficient inherent skill to be a podracer always bugged me, because not only does it seem so arbitrary (one might say to the point of being xeno-baised) but podracing in of itself doesn't seem like anything that special.

It's a valid place to ask it here.
I'd say that even the aliens seen piloting podracers are rarely seen, if not never seen outside of those races.
This would support the idea that even very few races have the reflexes and senses necessary for such races.

The EU says humans are found racing with their swoop bikes, but I bet the machines either don't go that fast (otherwise I don't see the point of the huge engines that can reach above 1000 km/h) or the tracks are for total newbs.
The pilots drive through some cavern during the Boota Eve at a terrifying speed, with little to no luminosity in there, and I doubt that different visual senses would be the most obvious limit, since a pair of advanced googles or implants would circumvent that issue.

It's largely possible that a human wanting to race would probably need a load of cybernetic implants to boost reflexes, concentration, self control, memory, stamina and eye sight.

[Airlocke_Jedi_Knight]

Or precognition.

[Praeothmin]

How is Pod-Racing any harder then dogfighting in a fighter plane?
Last time I checked, fighter plane pilots were all human.

And in TPM, the Pod-Racers didn't seem to go any faster then Fighter planes, or do maneuvers more dangerous then in a dogfight, so what's so special about it?

What's harder: The Pod-Race we saw in TPM, or Jango Fett evading asteroids while shooting at Obi-Wan in AotC?
I'd say Jango had it rougher then Anakin, yet he's a normal human without any Jedi training...

[Mike DiCenso]

I'am suprised that no one has suggested using characters other than the Human ones. Vulcans are at the top of my inital list since we know that they have decently better reflexes than humans, are much stronger and hardier as well. So Spock or Tuvok might be good choices. I'am not sure if T'Pol has any significant piloting experience, so I'am leaving her out for the time being.
-Mike

[Airlocke_Jedi_Knight]

How is Pod-Racing any harder then dogfighting in a fighter plane?
Last time I checked, fighter plane pilots were all human.

And in TPM, the Pod-Racers didn't seem to go any faster then Fighter planes, or do maneuvers more dangerous then in a dogfight, so what's so special about it?

What's harder: The Pod-Race we saw in TPM, or Jango Fett evading asteroids while shooting at Obi-Wan in AotC?
I'd say Jango had it rougher then Anakin, yet he's a normal human without any Jedi training...

Their fighters certainly go faster than the pod racers, however, there is also more room t maneuver, thus more time to react.

We can't tell for certain which was harder between the Boonta-eve classic and navigating the asteroid field. Is there even a way to calculate speed and distances, in the asteroid scene?


Also, I feel it necessary to point out that Obi-wan had a much harder time going through the asteroid field that Jango, because Jango was constantly trying to vape him. I don't even recall Jango having to make very many difficult maneuvers, though I could be misremembering, so I don't really think that is a valid example.

I'm sorry if this reply doesn't make sense. I am very tired.

[ILikeDeathNote]

I'am suprised that no one has suggested using characters other than the Human ones.

Uhh, I'm pretty sure I did :p

[The Dude]

I'am suprised that no one has suggested using characters other than the Human ones. Vulcans are at the top of my inital list since we know that they have decently better reflexes than humans, are much stronger and hardier as well. So Spock or Tuvok might be good choices. I'am not sure if T'Pol has any significant piloting experience, so I'am leaving her out for the time being.
-Mike

Does Spock actually have any significant flying experience? The only time I can recall him flying a ship was in The Galileo Seven. So while I'm sure he can fly, I'm not sure he'd be a good choice.

[Praeothmin]

Their fighters certainly go faster than the pod racers, however, there is also more room t maneuver, thus more time to react.

In an aerial dogfight?
I think not.
Think of it as Jango's attack vs Obi-Wan, except without the asteroids, and in a gravity.
More room to maneuver, perhaps, but you still need to consider your engine trust while evading enemy fire, aerial buoyency (?), etc...
Pod racers only have to evade in 2 dimensions most of the time, while in a dogfight, you need to be mindful of 3 dimensions...

We can't tell for certain which was harder between the Boonta-eve classic and navigating the asteroid field. Is there even a way to calculate speed and distances, in the asteroid scene?

Really?
When did you see a rocky outcropping come out of the ground, under the Pod-racers?
In the Asteroid field, not only did Jango have to try and fry Obi-Wan while evading asteroids in front of him, he had to be mindful of incoming asteroids from 3 dimensions, not just two.

Also, I feel it necessary to point out that Obi-wan had a much harder time going through the asteroid field that Jango, because Jango was constantly trying to vape him. I don't even recall Jango having to make very many difficult maneuvers, though I could be misremembering, so I don't really think that is a valid example.

See my post above.
While Obi-wan was evading asteroids and Jango's fire, Jango was trying to hit an very maneuverable evading fighter-craft while evading asteroids himself.
You must be one heck of a Starfighter pilot if that didn't impress you... :)

[Mike DiCenso]

Does Spock actually have any significant flying experience? The only time I can recall him flying a ship was in The Galileo Seven. So while I'm sure he can fly, I'm not sure he'd be a good choice.

Spock flies a shuttlecraft completely on his own in "The Immunity Syndrome" [TOS, Season 2]. Although in the same episode, Kirk is stated to be the most highly qualified command pilot. Either way, Spock at least has some experience. Spock or Tuvok, because of their Vulcan emotional control discipline are not prone the way a human or other emotional species are to sudden suprise or panic.
-Mike