Need a goal for an upcoming space scifi fiction

[CheertheSecond]

What would be some good primary goals for a protag of a space scifi fiction? I just couldn't think of a good one.

Some details about the protag:

• Not human. Non-humanoid. Fully matured size = human size.
• is a hatchling. Dog-size.
• Can become internal parasite to survive.
• inquisitive young mind; programmed that way to make the creature seek out info about its world for its better survival chance
• body is a gene-manipulation chamber
• naive personality
• species has no concept of sexual reproduction
• no concept of human's morality
• Has no info about other members of its race
• little knowledge about its race
• little knowledge about itself
• primitive drives: seeking nutrients, avoiding dangers, saving energy (avoiding unnecessary conflict, avoiding stimulation)

Some details about the setting:

• Human civilization is one of the five known civilizations
• Religions: mostly Goetic demon cults, few Abrahamic influence, few non-Abrahamic faiths.
• Frequent conflicts between different demon-worshiping interstellar human nations.
• Lots of Fleet battles
• faster than light travel: through off-world teleport gates created by extinct precursor races
• objects being frequently dropped into the local universe through an irregular phenomenon called inter-dimensional rift
• relatively intermediate level of nano tech
• upper end on the lower side of AI technology
• psionic technology: non-existence
• psionic techniques; very rarely exist in humans and civilized aliens.

 

[Lloyd]

Saving energy is a stupid primal drive. It doesn't even make any sense.

 

[TotallyHuman]

Since your protagonist is not likely to be a social creature (otherwise you did not have to create all those settings for your thing), it will be hard.
Since you bothered creating settings for intelligent creatures acting on interstellar stage, it has to involve them somehow, right? But the space is incredibly vast and I find it hard to imagine how the story will go once your thing will reach some small dark corner of the galaxy and turtle there forever.
Since it is some kind of space morph, you can make it functionally immortal and very very powerful.
Then how about turning the tables and pulling the Lazy King on it? As it is an alien mind I verily doubt you will be able to actually write it as anything other than a freaky human or an animal, so don't write it as the protagonist. Make it the driver of your story and the actual story will be how it affects the space civillizations over very long periods of time.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

What would be some good primary goals for a protag of a space scifi fiction? I just couldn't think of a good one.

Some details about the protag:

• Not human. Non-humanoid. Fully matured size = human size.
• is a hatchling. Dog-size.
• Can become internal parasite to survive.
• inquisitive young mind; programmed that way to make the creature seek out info about its world for its better survival chance
• body is a gene-manipulation chamber
• naive personality
• species has no concept of sexual reproduction
• no concept of human's morality
• Has no info about other members of its race
• little knowledge about its race
• little knowledge about itself
• primitive drives: seeking nutrients, avoiding dangers, saving energy (avoiding unnecessary conflict, avoiding stimulation)

Mrrrrrzzzzzrrrrzzzrrth? Is that you?

 

[CheertheSecond]

Since your protagonist is not likely to be a social creature (otherwise you did not have to create all those settings for your thing), it will be hard.
Since you bothered creating settings for intelligent creatures acting on interstellar stage, it has to involve them somehow, right? But the space is incredibly vast and I find it hard to imagine how the story will go once your thing will reach some small dark corner of the galaxy and turtle there forever.
Since it is some kind of space morph, you can make it functionally immortal and very very powerful.
Then how about turning the tables and pulling the Lazy King on it? As it is an alien mind I verily doubt you will be able to actually write it as anything other than a freaky human or an animal, so don't write it as the protagonist. Make it the driver of your story and the actual story will be how it affects the space civillizations over very long periods of time.

So there is absolutely no way to have non-human protagonist in fiction then?

 

[TotallyHuman]

So there is absolutely no way to have non-human protagonist in fiction then?

there is, of course. But I pointed out an easier way given the conditions you offered.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabula_rasa

You are talking about the most boring start to a character. Someone with no backstory or place in the world. They are a formless blob and you want goals? A purpose? A task? It exists and has nothing. It doesn't even have a stable Genetic CODE. What you have described is more like a self-aware disease than an MC. This is its purpose:

EAT EVERYTHING AND REPRODUCE ASEXUALLY UNTIL IT HAS CONSUMED ALL LIFE.

There ya go. Have fun.

 

[TotallyHuman]

EAT EVERYTHING

there, fixed it

 

[Tsuru]

What would be some good primary goals for a protag of a space scifi fiction? I just couldn't think of a good one.

Some details about the protag:

• Not human. Non-humanoid. Fully matured size = human size.
• is a hatchling. Dog-size.
• Can become internal parasite to survive.
• inquisitive young mind; programmed that way to make the creature seek out info about its world for its better survival chance
• body is a gene-manipulation chamber
• naive personality
• species has no concept of sexual reproduction
• no concept of human's morality
• Has no info about other members of its race
• little knowledge about its race
• little knowledge about itself
• primitive drives: seeking nutrients, avoiding dangers, saving energy (avoiding unnecessary conflict, avoiding stimulation)

Some details about the setting:

• Human civilization is one of the five known civilizations
• Religions: mostly Goetic demon cults, few Abrahamic influence, few non-Abrahamic faiths.
• Frequent conflicts between different demon-worshiping interstellar human nations.
• Lots of Fleet battles
• faster than light travel: through off-world teleport gates created by extinct precursor races
• objects being frequently dropped into the local universe through an irregular phenomenon called inter-dimensional rift
• relatively intermediate level of nano tech
• upper end on the lower side of AI technology
• psionic technology: non-existence
• psionic techniques; very rarely exist in humans and civilized aliens.

Have fun
Peaceful life
Not be alone ?
Find ways to get dopamine ?
Find others of his race?
Save or kill a civilization ?
Study/learn more knowledge ?


In fact, simply ask yourself
what would a 5year old kid would have as a goal, if the fucking police/morality/surveillance/parents/army/whatever, of earth, isnt present.

That is the answer.
Btw random hypothesis, but maybe in your subconscious, you already know an answer.
----------------
You forgot another thing, but you can ignore what i say next : I hope you didn't forgot the question of "Do you write for yourself or popularity?"
So yeah, pick whatever THAT YOU LIKE if its for yourself, or choose a interesting goal (THAT YOU LIKE too as a bonus) that attract readers.
Could be growing stronger like a LITRPG, become a zerg like growing species, visit the galaxy like some JP novels do of showing original civilizations (for ex, that reminds me of an arc where a city invented a medicine that allowed telepathy, well, they arent dead but they all stay alone in own homes because of ton of disavantages), discover the MC is an invention to prepare against a future enemy, romance story or MC discovering what are feelings, protect someone or something, etc

 

[NonReal]

That's a hard one. Maybe survival? Make existence of protags race an existential threat to other races, or at least be perceived as such.

 

[ArcanePunkster]

Is this Warhammer 40K inspired? Just reading the universe settings give me that vibe

 

[CheertheSecond]

Is this Warhammer 40K inspired? Just reading the universe settings give me that vibe

Well, it was inspired by many but Warhammer 40k would be the least influential source among those.

 

[ArcanePunkster]

Well, it was inspired by many but Warhammer 40k would be the least influential source among those.

Probably an interesting idea would be to have like a religion that's more angelic but, just as twisted and grimdark as the demon cults. Just reading the universe settings immediately implies to me anyway that it's a dark and twisted universe.

 

[Cortavar]

What would be some good primary goals for a protag of a space scifi fiction? I just couldn't think of a good one.

Some details about the protag:

• Not human. Non-humanoid. Fully matured size = human size.
• is a hatchling. Dog-size.
• Can become internal parasite to survive.
• inquisitive young mind; programmed that way to make the creature seek out info about its world for its better survival chance
• body is a gene-manipulation chamber
• naive personality
• species has no concept of sexual reproduction
• no concept of human's morality
• Has no info about other members of its race
• little knowledge about its race
• little knowledge about itself
• primitive drives: seeking nutrients, avoiding dangers, saving energy (avoiding unnecessary conflict, avoiding stimulation)

Some details about the setting:

• Human civilization is one of the five known civilizations
• Religions: mostly Goetic demon cults, few Abrahamic influence, few non-Abrahamic faiths.
• Frequent conflicts between different demon-worshiping interstellar human nations.
• Lots of Fleet battles
• faster than light travel: through off-world teleport gates created by extinct precursor races
• objects being frequently dropped into the local universe through an irregular phenomenon called inter-dimensional rift
• relatively intermediate level of nano tech
• upper end on the lower side of AI technology
• psionic technology: non-existence
• psionic techniques; very rarely exist in humans and civilized aliens.

So, you've basically got a reverse-isekai premise: naïve protagonist gets thrown into unfamiliar society and tries to strive. That can go a lot of ways!

Is your MC capable of passing as a human or a commonly seen spacefaring species? If not, this should be addressed (fantastic racism) or handwaved (oh, yeah, that's another of those weird ones from who knows what backwater planet, let's move along). Integrating themselves into society can be a goal in and off itself.

Your protagonist is at the same time an eldritch abomination with blue and orange morality and a curious, naïve and possibly cute person. You can play that angle quite well in many ways, from the angsty monster who would just like friends, to Fluffy, Accidental Destroyer of Worlds, passing by any shade of love or abuse (from or towards them) that may arise from their particular situation.

Your protagonist can either go for a peaceful life or get involved in the greater conflicts or something in-between. The low-energy expenditure thing would probably push it towards a quiet life, making your story slice-of-lifey, while the curiosity and drive to learn would attract it to something more adventurous, like exploration, mercenary work or trade, making your story closer to adventure.

Whatever you choose, this is a good internal conflict, one that can be relatable for your readers for an alien psyche.

With the desire to learn and the setting, another primary goal could be to find the truth about the Progenitors gate-guys. That would be quite cool.

Another option is to have them be passively reacting according to their primary drives for a few chapters, and to have those experiences forge their character and goals. You're starting with as close as you can to a blank state: how will your universe influence that young hatchling?

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

The spiffiest of hives. Run by AI in a corner of nowhere. Drones are the best way to get information and keep oneself safe.

 

[Cipiteca396]

• is a hatchling. Dog-size.
• Can become internal parasite to survive.

How tf does that work...
That's not an invitation to explain it. I don't want to know.

naive personality
inquisitive young mind;

This is the only thing that provides a real motivation for your larva. The basic motivations exist, allowing you to create minor plots around getting food, water, shelter, whatever.

But the main 'goal' for your grub should be getting a library card.

1. Recognize the value of knowledge.
2. Learn to read.
3. Get access to things to read.
4. Put its new knowledge into practice.
5. Travel to new worlds to continue learning.

Basically, this is the perfect setup for the 'tour guide' type story. If you want to show off your story's setting, this is a great way to do it.

 

[CheertheSecond]

Probably an interesting idea would be to have like a religion that's more angelic but, just as twisted and grimdark as the demon cults. Just reading the universe settings immediately implies to me anyway that it's a dark and twisted universe.

Yeah. The 69th century is characterised with dark, damned, and degeneracy.

Reason I don't want some angelic thing is because it is too common already. It was time for the Satanists to arise and popularise the enlightenment of Lady Louisa Ferre; the destroyer of heresy, Satan; the true king of Earth, Belial; and the dragon of politics, Leviathan.

Or a new set of demons like Electricia Artisha, mistress of doom; Bel'lathesta, representation of lies; U'pis Ofh, manifestation of stagnation; Drazzilb Novisca, terror of Greed; Mokani, the betrayer.

 

[Cortavar]

Yeah. The 69th century is characterised with dark, damned, and degeneracy.

Reason I don't want some angelic thing is because it is too common already. It was time for the Satanists to arise and popularise the enlightenment of Lady Louisa Ferre; the destroyer of heresy, Satan; the true king of Earth, Belial; and the dragon of politics, Leviathan.

Or a new set of demons like Electricia Artisha, mistress of doom; Bel'lathesta, representation of lies; U'pis Ofh, manifestation of stagnation; Drazzilb Novisca, terror of Greed; Mokani, the betrayer.

Why would people mass worship gods or demons who are obviously evil? That's something I never really saw the logic behind. Don't get me wrong, a fringe cult of desperate people for a doom demon is perfectly logical, as much as someone dedicating themselves to an evil god of vengeance. The problem is those cults becoming mainstream.

You can't catch bees with vinegar (you defo can catch flies, though). You need good PR for a mainstream religion, or a package deal with both good and evil gods.

Take Ares, god of battle and bloodlust: almost as evil as you can get, but he's packaged with the rest of the Olympians, who each have at least some kind of virtue (even if many are assholes).

Or take Warhammer 40K: the gods of chaos each have very strong spins presenting them as good guys, those spins may be paper-thin, but people don't worship the god of plagues and decay, they worship Papa Nurgle, who protects them and allow them to spread his blessing. And those are still fringe cults.

My point is that to have a mainstream religion, you need it to be viewed positively by your population. And that's hard to do with demons under their true identity. You can have either fringe cults or outwardly benevolent religions that actually worship a demon, but an actual mainstream religion worshipping of an evil entity really grates at my suspension of disbelief.

Even today's satanists, despite being some of the most innocuous religions (they're basically atheists with goats), don't get traction as a mainstream religion because they openly worship an evil figure. On the other hand, you get many religions that claim to be worshipping a god of good and get away with being evil through and through (from pedo priests being covered for centuries to terror nurturing imams to nationalist Buddhists committing atrocities, you get your pick).

So, you've probably got some work on the spin you want to give to your demons, at least in public matters. They can be as vile as they get behind closed doors, as long as they can claim to be the good guys.

 

[CheertheSecond]

Why would people mass worship gods or demons who are obviously evil? That's something I never really saw the logic behind. Don't get me wrong, a fringe cult of desperate people for a doom demon is perfectly logical, as much as someone dedicating themselves to an evil god of vengeance. The problem is those cults becoming mainstream.

You can't catch bees with vinegar (you defo can catch flies, though). You need good PR for a mainstream religion, or a package deal with both good and evil gods.

Take Ares, god of battle and bloodlust: almost as evil as you can get, but he's packaged with the rest of the Olympians, who each have at least some kind of virtue (even if many are assholes).

Or take Warhammer 40K: the gods of chaos each have very strong spins presenting them as good guys, those spins may be paper-thin, but people don't worship the god of plagues and decay, they worship Papa Nurgle, who protects them and allow them to spread his blessing. And those are still fringe cults.

My point is that to have a mainstream religion, you need it to be viewed positively by your population. And that's hard to do with demons under their true identity. You can have either fringe cults or outwardly benevolent religions that actually worship a demon, but an actual mainstream religion worshipping of an evil entity really grates at my suspension of disbelief.

Even today's satanists, despite being some of the most innocuous religions (they're basically atheists with goats), don't get traction as a mainstream religion because they openly worship an evil figure. On the other hand, you get many religions that claim to be worshipping a god of good and get away with being evil through and through (from pedo priests being covered for centuries to terror nurturing imams to nationalist Buddhists committing atrocities, you get your pick).

So, you've probably got some work on the spin you want to give to your demons, at least in public matters. They can be as vile as they get behind closed doors, as long as they can claim to be the good guys.

People can worship a being out of respect or fear. The notion of worshiping an evil being, offering pray and tribute to appease them so that they will not roam around and destroy mortals' livelihood is not really weird or illogical.

Moreover, just as old gods being condemned as heretic, it is possible to make previously evil gods to be painted as actually good gods.

The question is not about "how to" but more about "how long". With enough time, a small cult can grow. With enough power, they can rise to new height. Also, it is not weird for religious groups to claim independent from a nation and establish their own nations if they have enough power to be independent or the central power declined too much that.

The scenario is that a big central government was on its large leg. Then multiple religious groups broke free and declared to be their own nations, like one nation split into 50 smaller states.

 

[Kalliel]

What would be some good primary goals for a protag of a space scifi fiction? I just couldn't think of a good one.

Some details about the protag:

• Not human. Non-humanoid. Fully matured size = human size.
• is a hatchling. Dog-size.
• Can become internal parasite to survive.
• inquisitive young mind; programmed that way to make the creature seek out info about its world for its better survival chance
• body is a gene-manipulation chamber
• naive personality
• species has no concept of sexual reproduction
• no concept of human's morality
• Has no info about other members of its race
• little knowledge about its race
• little knowledge about itself
• primitive drives: seeking nutrients, avoiding dangers, saving energy (avoiding unnecessary conflict, avoiding stimulation)

Some details about the setting:

• Human civilization is one of the five known civilizations
• Religions: mostly Goetic demon cults, few Abrahamic influence, few non-Abrahamic faiths.
• Frequent conflicts between different demon-worshiping interstellar human nations.
• Lots of Fleet battles
• faster than light travel: through off-world teleport gates created by extinct precursor races
• objects being frequently dropped into the local universe through an irregular phenomenon called inter-dimensional rift
• relatively intermediate level of nano tech
• upper end on the lower side of AI technology
• psionic technology: non-existence
• psionic techniques; very rarely exist in humans and civilized aliens.

If you actually want to do this, I have a few things to say.
We ain't got nothing to tell about the protagonist, it has negative personality. So you might have to dwell into side characters more, and then the protagonist would not feel like a protagonist at all. Which is not ideal, to say the least.
I would suggest making your blob humanly intelligent so that the readers have something to relate to, or, at least make it weird for entertainment.
Or, just write the whole thing like a horror fiction, where we root for the blob to be a final boss, killing everyone.