Why are all my replica super soldiers young adults or old teenagers?
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So, I was working on my setting when I thought, "if I'm going for maximum JRPG feeling, I need several teenager protagonists, who somehow still stand a chance against the armies of Darkness."
Stealing some ideas from F.E.A.R, I came up with the replicas, supersoldiers that though having some levels of personality, are controlled by a psionic commander and "Would You Kindly". But, why would they all be teenagers (16-19 yrs old, to be exact)?
They stop aging after a point and are biologically immortal because they are still just consumable products, nobody needs planned obsolesce on top of that.
Replicas are designed for modern-day combat, especially special operations, and to be deployed in any environment.
Keeping these in mind, I'm looking for a valid reason for them to stop aging at biologically 16-19, one that either confers logistical or combat advantages over other age categories. More significant and less circumstantial advantages are preferred.
science-based biology military
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
So, I was working on my setting when I thought, "if I'm going for maximum JRPG feeling, I need several teenager protagonists, who somehow still stand a chance against the armies of Darkness."
Stealing some ideas from F.E.A.R, I came up with the replicas, supersoldiers that though having some levels of personality, are controlled by a psionic commander and "Would You Kindly". But, why would they all be teenagers (16-19 yrs old, to be exact)?
They stop aging after a point and are biologically immortal because they are still just consumable products, nobody needs planned obsolesce on top of that.
Replicas are designed for modern-day combat, especially special operations, and to be deployed in any environment.
Keeping these in mind, I'm looking for a valid reason for them to stop aging at biologically 16-19, one that either confers logistical or combat advantages over other age categories. More significant and less circumstantial advantages are preferred.
science-based biology military
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
$endgroup$
3
$begingroup$
If your super soldier are human males you probably want them closer to 19 than to 16 years. (Actually, 20 to 24 years of age would be significantly better, but 19 would do in a pinch.) A 16 year old human male is far from being fully developed both physically and mentally.
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– AlexP
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Why are X? is generally off-topic as primarily opinion-based. Your judgment conditions are vague. Rather than risk closure, can you do better? What, specifically, would make a best answer? How will you judge between "the DNA encoding was designed to stop at physical maturity" and "no super soldier has ever lived beyond age 19 due to harsh combat conditions"? That second example may not reflect your intent, but as written, it's a valid answer to your Q.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JBH Had you listened, you would know that the two judgement factors are the significance of the given tactical/logistical advantage and its chances of coming into play.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@Mephistopheles, had you listened, you would know that those two factors are vague and primarily opinion-based.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm confused. Are you trying to come up with a valid reason for your characters to be immortals who just LOOK like they're teenagers, or do you want them to actually BE teenagers and have a valid reason why they're doing the fighting instead of older, more experienced soldiers?
$endgroup$
– Morris The Cat
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
So, I was working on my setting when I thought, "if I'm going for maximum JRPG feeling, I need several teenager protagonists, who somehow still stand a chance against the armies of Darkness."
Stealing some ideas from F.E.A.R, I came up with the replicas, supersoldiers that though having some levels of personality, are controlled by a psionic commander and "Would You Kindly". But, why would they all be teenagers (16-19 yrs old, to be exact)?
They stop aging after a point and are biologically immortal because they are still just consumable products, nobody needs planned obsolesce on top of that.
Replicas are designed for modern-day combat, especially special operations, and to be deployed in any environment.
Keeping these in mind, I'm looking for a valid reason for them to stop aging at biologically 16-19, one that either confers logistical or combat advantages over other age categories. More significant and less circumstantial advantages are preferred.
science-based biology military
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
$endgroup$
So, I was working on my setting when I thought, "if I'm going for maximum JRPG feeling, I need several teenager protagonists, who somehow still stand a chance against the armies of Darkness."
Stealing some ideas from F.E.A.R, I came up with the replicas, supersoldiers that though having some levels of personality, are controlled by a psionic commander and "Would You Kindly". But, why would they all be teenagers (16-19 yrs old, to be exact)?
They stop aging after a point and are biologically immortal because they are still just consumable products, nobody needs planned obsolesce on top of that.
Replicas are designed for modern-day combat, especially special operations, and to be deployed in any environment.
Keeping these in mind, I'm looking for a valid reason for them to stop aging at biologically 16-19, one that either confers logistical or combat advantages over other age categories. More significant and less circumstantial advantages are preferred.
science-based biology military
science-based biology military
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
asked 5 hours ago
MephistophelesMephistopheles
1,6071727
1,6071727
3
$begingroup$
If your super soldier are human males you probably want them closer to 19 than to 16 years. (Actually, 20 to 24 years of age would be significantly better, but 19 would do in a pinch.) A 16 year old human male is far from being fully developed both physically and mentally.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Why are X? is generally off-topic as primarily opinion-based. Your judgment conditions are vague. Rather than risk closure, can you do better? What, specifically, would make a best answer? How will you judge between "the DNA encoding was designed to stop at physical maturity" and "no super soldier has ever lived beyond age 19 due to harsh combat conditions"? That second example may not reflect your intent, but as written, it's a valid answer to your Q.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JBH Had you listened, you would know that the two judgement factors are the significance of the given tactical/logistical advantage and its chances of coming into play.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@Mephistopheles, had you listened, you would know that those two factors are vague and primarily opinion-based.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm confused. Are you trying to come up with a valid reason for your characters to be immortals who just LOOK like they're teenagers, or do you want them to actually BE teenagers and have a valid reason why they're doing the fighting instead of older, more experienced soldiers?
$endgroup$
– Morris The Cat
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3
$begingroup$
If your super soldier are human males you probably want them closer to 19 than to 16 years. (Actually, 20 to 24 years of age would be significantly better, but 19 would do in a pinch.) A 16 year old human male is far from being fully developed both physically and mentally.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Why are X? is generally off-topic as primarily opinion-based. Your judgment conditions are vague. Rather than risk closure, can you do better? What, specifically, would make a best answer? How will you judge between "the DNA encoding was designed to stop at physical maturity" and "no super soldier has ever lived beyond age 19 due to harsh combat conditions"? That second example may not reflect your intent, but as written, it's a valid answer to your Q.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JBH Had you listened, you would know that the two judgement factors are the significance of the given tactical/logistical advantage and its chances of coming into play.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@Mephistopheles, had you listened, you would know that those two factors are vague and primarily opinion-based.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm confused. Are you trying to come up with a valid reason for your characters to be immortals who just LOOK like they're teenagers, or do you want them to actually BE teenagers and have a valid reason why they're doing the fighting instead of older, more experienced soldiers?
$endgroup$
– Morris The Cat
3 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
If your super soldier are human males you probably want them closer to 19 than to 16 years. (Actually, 20 to 24 years of age would be significantly better, but 19 would do in a pinch.) A 16 year old human male is far from being fully developed both physically and mentally.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
If your super soldier are human males you probably want them closer to 19 than to 16 years. (Actually, 20 to 24 years of age would be significantly better, but 19 would do in a pinch.) A 16 year old human male is far from being fully developed both physically and mentally.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
5 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Why are X? is generally off-topic as primarily opinion-based. Your judgment conditions are vague. Rather than risk closure, can you do better? What, specifically, would make a best answer? How will you judge between "the DNA encoding was designed to stop at physical maturity" and "no super soldier has ever lived beyond age 19 due to harsh combat conditions"? That second example may not reflect your intent, but as written, it's a valid answer to your Q.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Why are X? is generally off-topic as primarily opinion-based. Your judgment conditions are vague. Rather than risk closure, can you do better? What, specifically, would make a best answer? How will you judge between "the DNA encoding was designed to stop at physical maturity" and "no super soldier has ever lived beyond age 19 due to harsh combat conditions"? That second example may not reflect your intent, but as written, it's a valid answer to your Q.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JBH Had you listened, you would know that the two judgement factors are the significance of the given tactical/logistical advantage and its chances of coming into play.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JBH Had you listened, you would know that the two judgement factors are the significance of the given tactical/logistical advantage and its chances of coming into play.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
4 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@Mephistopheles, had you listened, you would know that those two factors are vague and primarily opinion-based.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mephistopheles, had you listened, you would know that those two factors are vague and primarily opinion-based.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm confused. Are you trying to come up with a valid reason for your characters to be immortals who just LOOK like they're teenagers, or do you want them to actually BE teenagers and have a valid reason why they're doing the fighting instead of older, more experienced soldiers?
$endgroup$
– Morris The Cat
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm confused. Are you trying to come up with a valid reason for your characters to be immortals who just LOOK like they're teenagers, or do you want them to actually BE teenagers and have a valid reason why they're doing the fighting instead of older, more experienced soldiers?
$endgroup$
– Morris The Cat
3 hours ago
add a comment |
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
16 to 19 years is a developmental phase for the brain and body. This gives them to be as smart as possible but also allows the handlers of the supersoldiers to better control them. People (mostly men) at this age are more susceptible to performing violence for causes, and keeping their body pumping the right hormones will keep them pliable.
Additional advantage is the relative adaptability of the body at that age. Earlier ages give higher adaptability of the muscles, tendons and skeleton to training but you arent as developed.
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
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@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple solution that I can think of is this:
The supersoldiers don't age at all. They grow and develop, yes. But the aging process has been engineered out of them.
The result of this would be that upon reaching biological adulthood somewhere between 16 and 20, individuals will remain fresh-faced and ageless in perpetuity.
I guess the thing to note here is that aging and growth are two different processes that are normally happening in parallel, so we tend to equate one with the other. There is no reason that this need be the case in an engineered human.
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The most likely reason? Because life expectancy extension is one of the very first genetic modifications that would even be approved for use on the general population and the super soldier package is being built on that base. They're going to be ageless because that's trend for everyone in their generation.
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Time to market.
If you send your clones to battle at the age of four years old... You won't be very marketable. Send them when they are 60 and they are no good anymore.
16-19 is just the best age when it comes to balancing out plasticity (they have a lot of room to improve), calorie needs, healing capacity and remaining lifetime in peak condition. All those will keep stable until around 21, give or take a couple years, and then will decline ever quicker. Keeping them at peak after that will require more and more maintenance and physical activity.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
They hadn't had time to age yet
Perhaps your story doesn't neccessarily need them to be teenagers forever, it's sufficient for them to be teenagers just now, for the duration of the story.
Let's say that the current system for breeding UltraSuperSoldiers was developed 17 years ago, and that's when the oldest production batch of them was made. There are some pre-production prototypes which were engineered/born 18-19 years ago. As they mature a bit faster than normal humans, they're considered "ready for action" at the age 15, so the younger clones are still in the breeding/training facilities and not part of the action.
So, at the moment, UltraSuperSoldiers are a thing for quite some time already but they're currently all teenagers. There's a bunch of 20-30 year old JustBarelySuperSoldiers, but the new UltraSuperSoldiers are so much better that the old guys are obsolete.
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
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add a comment |
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5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
5 Answers
5
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
16 to 19 years is a developmental phase for the brain and body. This gives them to be as smart as possible but also allows the handlers of the supersoldiers to better control them. People (mostly men) at this age are more susceptible to performing violence for causes, and keeping their body pumping the right hormones will keep them pliable.
Additional advantage is the relative adaptability of the body at that age. Earlier ages give higher adaptability of the muscles, tendons and skeleton to training but you arent as developed.
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
16 to 19 years is a developmental phase for the brain and body. This gives them to be as smart as possible but also allows the handlers of the supersoldiers to better control them. People (mostly men) at this age are more susceptible to performing violence for causes, and keeping their body pumping the right hormones will keep them pliable.
Additional advantage is the relative adaptability of the body at that age. Earlier ages give higher adaptability of the muscles, tendons and skeleton to training but you arent as developed.
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
16 to 19 years is a developmental phase for the brain and body. This gives them to be as smart as possible but also allows the handlers of the supersoldiers to better control them. People (mostly men) at this age are more susceptible to performing violence for causes, and keeping their body pumping the right hormones will keep them pliable.
Additional advantage is the relative adaptability of the body at that age. Earlier ages give higher adaptability of the muscles, tendons and skeleton to training but you arent as developed.
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
$endgroup$
16 to 19 years is a developmental phase for the brain and body. This gives them to be as smart as possible but also allows the handlers of the supersoldiers to better control them. People (mostly men) at this age are more susceptible to performing violence for causes, and keeping their body pumping the right hormones will keep them pliable.
Additional advantage is the relative adaptability of the body at that age. Earlier ages give higher adaptability of the muscles, tendons and skeleton to training but you arent as developed.
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
answered 4 hours ago
DemiganDemigan
9,4531945
9,4531945
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
All of this seems completely at odds with established facts. 16-19 year olds are not "as smart as possible" (although it's impossible to convince a teenager of that). It's worth noting that special forces groups tend to be early to mid twenties starting and this would be considered optimal both in terms of experience, potential development and capability. Armies have the choice and they pick this age range for entry with few exceptions.
$endgroup$
– StephenG
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
$begingroup$
@StephenG You're not wrong, but how much of that is because that's the ideal age, and how much because in countries with elite armed forces, people don't enter them until around age 18? If they could enter at, say, 14, would the peak age still be mid twenties, or late teens?
$endgroup$
– nasch
44 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple solution that I can think of is this:
The supersoldiers don't age at all. They grow and develop, yes. But the aging process has been engineered out of them.
The result of this would be that upon reaching biological adulthood somewhere between 16 and 20, individuals will remain fresh-faced and ageless in perpetuity.
I guess the thing to note here is that aging and growth are two different processes that are normally happening in parallel, so we tend to equate one with the other. There is no reason that this need be the case in an engineered human.
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple solution that I can think of is this:
The supersoldiers don't age at all. They grow and develop, yes. But the aging process has been engineered out of them.
The result of this would be that upon reaching biological adulthood somewhere between 16 and 20, individuals will remain fresh-faced and ageless in perpetuity.
I guess the thing to note here is that aging and growth are two different processes that are normally happening in parallel, so we tend to equate one with the other. There is no reason that this need be the case in an engineered human.
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
A simple solution that I can think of is this:
The supersoldiers don't age at all. They grow and develop, yes. But the aging process has been engineered out of them.
The result of this would be that upon reaching biological adulthood somewhere between 16 and 20, individuals will remain fresh-faced and ageless in perpetuity.
I guess the thing to note here is that aging and growth are two different processes that are normally happening in parallel, so we tend to equate one with the other. There is no reason that this need be the case in an engineered human.
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
$endgroup$
A simple solution that I can think of is this:
The supersoldiers don't age at all. They grow and develop, yes. But the aging process has been engineered out of them.
The result of this would be that upon reaching biological adulthood somewhere between 16 and 20, individuals will remain fresh-faced and ageless in perpetuity.
I guess the thing to note here is that aging and growth are two different processes that are normally happening in parallel, so we tend to equate one with the other. There is no reason that this need be the case in an engineered human.
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
answered 5 hours ago
Arkenstein XIIArkenstein XII
2,979730
2,979730
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
See also: complete fusion of the Epiphyseal plates
$endgroup$
– Chronocidal
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The most likely reason? Because life expectancy extension is one of the very first genetic modifications that would even be approved for use on the general population and the super soldier package is being built on that base. They're going to be ageless because that's trend for everyone in their generation.
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The most likely reason? Because life expectancy extension is one of the very first genetic modifications that would even be approved for use on the general population and the super soldier package is being built on that base. They're going to be ageless because that's trend for everyone in their generation.
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The most likely reason? Because life expectancy extension is one of the very first genetic modifications that would even be approved for use on the general population and the super soldier package is being built on that base. They're going to be ageless because that's trend for everyone in their generation.
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
$endgroup$
The most likely reason? Because life expectancy extension is one of the very first genetic modifications that would even be approved for use on the general population and the super soldier package is being built on that base. They're going to be ageless because that's trend for everyone in their generation.
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
answered 5 hours ago
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3947
3947
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Time to market.
If you send your clones to battle at the age of four years old... You won't be very marketable. Send them when they are 60 and they are no good anymore.
16-19 is just the best age when it comes to balancing out plasticity (they have a lot of room to improve), calorie needs, healing capacity and remaining lifetime in peak condition. All those will keep stable until around 21, give or take a couple years, and then will decline ever quicker. Keeping them at peak after that will require more and more maintenance and physical activity.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Time to market.
If you send your clones to battle at the age of four years old... You won't be very marketable. Send them when they are 60 and they are no good anymore.
16-19 is just the best age when it comes to balancing out plasticity (they have a lot of room to improve), calorie needs, healing capacity and remaining lifetime in peak condition. All those will keep stable until around 21, give or take a couple years, and then will decline ever quicker. Keeping them at peak after that will require more and more maintenance and physical activity.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Time to market.
If you send your clones to battle at the age of four years old... You won't be very marketable. Send them when they are 60 and they are no good anymore.
16-19 is just the best age when it comes to balancing out plasticity (they have a lot of room to improve), calorie needs, healing capacity and remaining lifetime in peak condition. All those will keep stable until around 21, give or take a couple years, and then will decline ever quicker. Keeping them at peak after that will require more and more maintenance and physical activity.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
$endgroup$
Time to market.
If you send your clones to battle at the age of four years old... You won't be very marketable. Send them when they are 60 and they are no good anymore.
16-19 is just the best age when it comes to balancing out plasticity (they have a lot of room to improve), calorie needs, healing capacity and remaining lifetime in peak condition. All those will keep stable until around 21, give or take a couple years, and then will decline ever quicker. Keeping them at peak after that will require more and more maintenance and physical activity.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
49.1k13113247
49.1k13113247
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
They hadn't had time to age yet
Perhaps your story doesn't neccessarily need them to be teenagers forever, it's sufficient for them to be teenagers just now, for the duration of the story.
Let's say that the current system for breeding UltraSuperSoldiers was developed 17 years ago, and that's when the oldest production batch of them was made. There are some pre-production prototypes which were engineered/born 18-19 years ago. As they mature a bit faster than normal humans, they're considered "ready for action" at the age 15, so the younger clones are still in the breeding/training facilities and not part of the action.
So, at the moment, UltraSuperSoldiers are a thing for quite some time already but they're currently all teenagers. There's a bunch of 20-30 year old JustBarelySuperSoldiers, but the new UltraSuperSoldiers are so much better that the old guys are obsolete.
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
They hadn't had time to age yet
Perhaps your story doesn't neccessarily need them to be teenagers forever, it's sufficient for them to be teenagers just now, for the duration of the story.
Let's say that the current system for breeding UltraSuperSoldiers was developed 17 years ago, and that's when the oldest production batch of them was made. There are some pre-production prototypes which were engineered/born 18-19 years ago. As they mature a bit faster than normal humans, they're considered "ready for action" at the age 15, so the younger clones are still in the breeding/training facilities and not part of the action.
So, at the moment, UltraSuperSoldiers are a thing for quite some time already but they're currently all teenagers. There's a bunch of 20-30 year old JustBarelySuperSoldiers, but the new UltraSuperSoldiers are so much better that the old guys are obsolete.
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
They hadn't had time to age yet
Perhaps your story doesn't neccessarily need them to be teenagers forever, it's sufficient for them to be teenagers just now, for the duration of the story.
Let's say that the current system for breeding UltraSuperSoldiers was developed 17 years ago, and that's when the oldest production batch of them was made. There are some pre-production prototypes which were engineered/born 18-19 years ago. As they mature a bit faster than normal humans, they're considered "ready for action" at the age 15, so the younger clones are still in the breeding/training facilities and not part of the action.
So, at the moment, UltraSuperSoldiers are a thing for quite some time already but they're currently all teenagers. There's a bunch of 20-30 year old JustBarelySuperSoldiers, but the new UltraSuperSoldiers are so much better that the old guys are obsolete.
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
$endgroup$
They hadn't had time to age yet
Perhaps your story doesn't neccessarily need them to be teenagers forever, it's sufficient for them to be teenagers just now, for the duration of the story.
Let's say that the current system for breeding UltraSuperSoldiers was developed 17 years ago, and that's when the oldest production batch of them was made. There are some pre-production prototypes which were engineered/born 18-19 years ago. As they mature a bit faster than normal humans, they're considered "ready for action" at the age 15, so the younger clones are still in the breeding/training facilities and not part of the action.
So, at the moment, UltraSuperSoldiers are a thing for quite some time already but they're currently all teenagers. There's a bunch of 20-30 year old JustBarelySuperSoldiers, but the new UltraSuperSoldiers are so much better that the old guys are obsolete.
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
answered 44 mins ago
PeterisPeteris
5,1161424
5,1161424
add a comment |
add a comment |
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3
$begingroup$
If your super soldier are human males you probably want them closer to 19 than to 16 years. (Actually, 20 to 24 years of age would be significantly better, but 19 would do in a pinch.) A 16 year old human male is far from being fully developed both physically and mentally.
$endgroup$
– AlexP
5 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Why are X? is generally off-topic as primarily opinion-based. Your judgment conditions are vague. Rather than risk closure, can you do better? What, specifically, would make a best answer? How will you judge between "the DNA encoding was designed to stop at physical maturity" and "no super soldier has ever lived beyond age 19 due to harsh combat conditions"? That second example may not reflect your intent, but as written, it's a valid answer to your Q.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@JBH Had you listened, you would know that the two judgement factors are the significance of the given tactical/logistical advantage and its chances of coming into play.
$endgroup$
– Mephistopheles
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@Mephistopheles, had you listened, you would know that those two factors are vague and primarily opinion-based.
$endgroup$
– JBH
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
I'm confused. Are you trying to come up with a valid reason for your characters to be immortals who just LOOK like they're teenagers, or do you want them to actually BE teenagers and have a valid reason why they're doing the fighting instead of older, more experienced soldiers?
$endgroup$
– Morris The Cat
3 hours ago