ProtoMason

ProtoMasons (of which the game gets its name) are human and alien characters, who represent all players in the ProtoMasons game world. Each ProtoMason commands his or her own Proto Pal robot, and possess multi-purpose engineering skills.

ProtoMasons primarily speak and read English, and use Protomasonic in their work. They each have basic human needs.

Backstory
The ProtoMasons are a collective society who have achieved advance space travel and have perfected 3D printing technology. Hundreds of ProtoMasons have flown to a new Earth-like planet, and groups have been assigned sections of land to begin printing pop-up houses, factories, farms and and workplaces, to lay the basic foundation of a new civilization.

Each ProtoMason is free to shape their section of land as they please, so long as it is liveable.

ProtoMasons are not alone on the planet. They have close connection to a mothership nearby, which facilitates the Proto Market, Internet services, and acts as a central trade route.

The backstory is loosely referenced in the game in books available on the books.melon site, as well as the tutorial, and in articles by The Daily Mason.

Species and Race
ProtoMasons are a society built up of various undefined alien races, but mainly human beings. They come in a variety of shapes, skin tones, and hair colours. They may also be partly robotic.

The ProtoMasons society achieves success due to integrating and working with other species and cultures, to collectively share technology and skills, and work together to survive in the universe.

Articles in The Daily Mason refer to a society that has virtually no crime, but has suffered some kind of "event" involving "rogue AI". There is also a Steam achievement named 'The Event'.

Name Origins
'ProtoMason' is based on the words 'plasma builder', inspired by the purpose of the player in the game world.

The word 'plasma' is taken from the plasma beams the Proto Pals fire when printing buildings. The word 'builder' is inspired by the purpose of the player; to build and construct.

'Mason' refers to someone who is specialized in cutting and laying stone to build structures, and was used as replacement synonym for 'builder'. 'Proto' comes from the word protoplasm, a related concept of plasma (when referring to blood, and living things). The word 'proto' also has it's own meaning, "original", which fits into the idea of early settlers on a new planet.

In ProtoMasons Trivia...

 * The name ProtoMasons is a combination of the words 'protoplasm' (inspired from plasma) and 'builder'
 * ProtoMasons can be human, alien, and partly robotic