November 14th, 2012, 12:53 PM
This is a Play-By-Post Sci Fi Game / Sci Fi Wargame.
Running on another Forim Site.
It started in February 2011 - Stardate January 2130.
It is now November 2012 - Stardate June 2138.
So - it has been running for over a Year - or 8 Years plus in "Game Time".
I am the Game Master of this Game.
If Anyone IS Interested - then I will give Details and a Synopsis.
Hi there Karakris, if If you've already got written a game synopsis post it and then we can all see how interesting your game is and if we want to play, if not write one, post it and save it for next time so you don't have to write it again.
How about this for a Start - lots more to follow -
Sci Fi Wargame - History
Stardate 2111 –
The Planet Earth in the Sol System is Governed by The Sol Directorate – A Federal Authority for the whole of Earth, and the Solar System or Sol System.
The Population of Earth is reaching very large Numbers, approaching some 12 Billion People. Although Colonies have been started on Luna ( the Moon ) and Mars, under Domes – Colonisation is very slow. Plans are in hand to Terraform Mars – but this will of necessity take a very long time.
Scientists and Physicist have been looking at the problem of more rpaid space Travel for many years – as the only practicable way to travel to “The Stars” and to Colonise other Star Systems would be ultimately to travel much faster than The speed of Light.
The root of the problem is tied-up with the direct relationship between Mass or Effective Mass and the resulting Inertia. Some means of reducing or even cancelling Inertia seemed to be the solution of this problem – and much theoretical work was undertaken on this problem.
The Krallin Field – Cancelling Inertia
A Space Laboratory called The Krallin Laboratory was Built – and put into orbit between Mars and the Asteroid Belt.
Research and Experiments were continued here for a number of years – and in 2122, the first success was achieved with the creation of Field Generators which can cancel the Inertia Effects of a Mass moving at high speed. These were called the Krallin Generators – or simply Krallins.
This allowed the building of Fast Spaceships.
The Field generated by the Krallin Generators, the Krallin Field – will form an ovaloid shape, which will be in the form of a stretched sphere, rather egg-like, with its longest axis along the axis of the Krallin Generator. This will tend to follow the outlines of the Ship, generally conforming fairly closely to the shape of the Ship – as it will “hug” the conducting metallic surface of the Ship.
However, the “size” of the Krallin Field will be directly proportional to the amount of Power applied. Usually this Krallin Field will be “pushed out” to a point which is just outside of any external Armour and any projecting portions of the Ship.
Spaceships using the Krallin Field will be able to travel very much faster than Ships which do are not using a Krallin Field ( usually referred to a ‘Inert’ ) – as when in this Inertia Free state ( usually called ‘Free’ ), the only Force which needs to be applied will be a relatively small force, from much smaller and less powerful Reaction Jets or Reaction Engines.
However, when Ships are using the Krallin Field, in a Free state, no Inertia will be accumulated – so they will stop as soon as the Reaction Jets or Reaction Engines are stopped, the Ship will STOP, at once. They can also be easily manouvered when in the ‘Free’ state – rotated on any axis “on the spot”, turned around, stopped and started at an exact point. They will also be completely unaffected by external Gravity.
Propulsion of Ships in a ‘Free’ state will be effected by the application of a Force from Reaction Jets or Reaction Engines – but the Speed attained will not be in direct linear proportion to the Force applied.
At low speeds and speeds up to approximately 0.00005 times the Speed of Light ( 1.0 x 10^6 Km per second ) – the Velocity or Speed will be in direct Proportion to the Forfce applied / the Mass of the Ship. However, beyond that Speed the amount of Force required will begin to increase exponentially - gradually at first, but growing rapidly at higher Speeds.
The practical limit to the Speed which can be achieved using Reaction Jets or Reaction Engines is around 2.0 x 10^8 metres per Second, or 2.0 x 10^5 Km per Second. This will give a maximum practicable Speed of 7.2 Km x 10^7 Km per Hour – which is roughly 0.664 x the Speed of Light.
For the Sol System – the furthest Planet from Earth is Pluto, and this means that travel to Pluto could now be achieved using these new Space Ships with Krallin Generators in 60.2775 Hours ( 2.511 days ), when Pluto is at its nearest to Earth. This was very much faster indeed than had ever been possible before. It also required very little Fuel in comparison to previous journeys.
Previously, the journey to Pluto had taken around 9 Years ( 3,204 days ) – in part because most of the journey would be unpowered, as the Unmanned Research Spacecraft could not carry enough Fuel to travel all this way.
It was discovered that the Inertia Cancelling effects of the Krallin Generators were actually themselves cancelled by the presence of large Masses outside of the range of the Fields – specifically the effects of Gravity, which cancelled these effects.
The Krallin Generators will not work whilst within the effects of a Gravity Force F given by F = G x 6.0 x 10^10 – where G = 6.667428 x 10^-11 Nm^2 / Kg^2 – if this Gravity Force is generated by a Mass outside of the Field created by the Krallin Generators, the Krallin Field.
For Sol, the Star of the Sol System – this will be when the Ship reaches a point at Radius kRs = 2.2103638 x 10^6 Km
This is just inside the minimum orbit of the Planet Mercury ( Sol I ) – which is
2.3006 x 10^6 Km.
For a very large Planet like Jupiter ( Sol V ) – the radius kRj would be –
kRj = 2.109765 x 10^3 Km. The actual average Radius of Jupiter is 3.4955 x 10^4 Km.
For a Planet like Earth ( Sol III ) – the radius Re would be –
kRe = 6.6380913 Km. The actual average Radius of Earth is 6.371 x 10^3 Km, so the Krallin Generators will work at any point on the surface of Earth.
Reaction Drive Spacecraft
In 2126 - Manned Research Spacecraft began to be built, to explore the Planets of the Sol System in greater detail.
These also enabled the Project of Terraforming the Planet Mars to begin in earnest.
The Danstall Drive – FTL Drive
Although Spaceflight could now be very much faster, at up to 1,276 times faster than could previously be achieved, it was clear that long range exploration - that is, journeys to distant Stars, would still take a long time indeed, and would require very large reserves of Fuel. Stars Systems like Beta ( 16 Light Years away ) would still take some 2.656 Years.
Some method of Faster Propulsion was obviously required – if Humans were going to Explore or Colonise the other Stars without difficulty.
The Scientists under the Direction of Bjorn Daniels and Jeff Stallman continued their Researches, trying to see if a Drive which worked on the fabric of space itself, could be achieved. Eventually, the Danstall Drive was developed and perfected – a Space Drive which worked within a Krallin Field, and which used a large Cobalt-Iron Core within specially arranged Magnetic Fields.
When sufficient power was applied, in proportion to the Mass of the object – this was propelled at a Speed which was constant, being 100,000 ( 10^5 ) times The Speed of Light, actually 6 x 10^8 Km / Sec.
Early experiments were immensely dangerous – with Test Constructs flying off through the structure of the Space Laboratory.
In the year 2129, this was eventually applied to a Drone Test Ship – which was flown for about 5 Minutes, during which time it had travelled 3.0 x 10^9 Metres or 3.0 x 10^6 Km. This Ship was found to lose all speed when the Danstall Field was turned off – retaining its original velocity.
Research into the effects of external Gravity Fields determined that the Danstall Drive itself was also affected by the Force of Gravity – being completely cancelled when the Force of Gravity
The Danstall Drive will not work whilst within the effects of a Gravity Force F, given by
F = G x 7.5 x 10^12 – where G = 6.667428 x 10^-11 Nm^2 / Kg^2, if this Gravity Force is generated by a Mass outside of the Field created by Danstall Drive.
For Sol, the Star of the Sol System – this will be when the Ship reaches a point at Radius dRs = 2.431194 x 10^8 Km.
This is a Radius of 1.62515 AU ( Astronomical Units ) – thus outside the Orbit of Mars, which orbits at an average Radius of 2.279392100 x 10^8 or 1.523679 AU.
This means that while a Space Ship using the Danstall Drive might skip relatively close-by the Planet Pluto with no effects – the Drive would be cancelled by passing close to the Planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune at the same distance. The Danstall Drive cannot be used on the Planets of Mars, Earth or Venus, or any Moons orbiting around them.
__________________________________________________ _____________
Stardate 2130
In 2130, the Danstall Drive was finally announced, and began to be used – usually being referred to as the FTL Drive ( Faster Than Light ).
Travel to Star Systems like Beta ( 16 Light Years away ) would now take around
1.36 Hours – whilst travel to the Alpha System ( 1 Light Year away ) would take around
0.0854 Hours or 5.12 Minutes.
New Space Exploration Ships were built – to explore nearby Stars.
At the same time, the Terraforming of the Planet Mars was accelerated.
Using the Danstall Drive or the FTL Drive is refered to as “Jumping”. It invovolves lining up the Ship to point directly at the destination, a High Mass object like a Star – then engaging the Dantrall Drive or FTRL Drive.
Mankind sets off to Explore relatively near Star Sytems, using Light Cruisers.
The first Explorations are to –
The Alpha System ( now Attica System ) – one Habitable Planet with a Native Eco-System which is similar to Earth, no Intelligent Species, and no true Monkeys, Apes or Hominids. One Planet which could be Terraformed to be Habitable.
The Beta System – Four Planets, not Habitable – the outer two providing good sources for Metals and Minerals.
Strange artficial Metallic / Mineral objects were found drifting in this System. These were later found to be “discarded” Cores for an Advanced FTL Drive.
The Epsilon System – “An ancient battleground” – An Asteroid Belt, and six massive orbiting ancient Spaceships, which are damaged. Later these were Repaired.
The Gamma System – One massive rocky Planet, like a Jupiter of rocky structure – several smaller Moons / Planets in orbit around it – some Habitable. A very large number of Moons, Moonlets and Asteroids – in orbit around the giant planet, and forming an orbital ring around the Star.,
The ‘X System – An Asteroid Belt, and an artifificial orbital structure with strange emissions of electromagentic radiation. This was later determined to be a large Alien Shipyard, damaged but repairable.
The ‘Y’ System – Three Planetoids and an Asteroid Belt.
The ‘Z’ System – Two Oxygen-Nitrogen Planets with Eco-System, two Ammonia Atmosphere Planets. On discovery – an Alien Colony Fleet was colonising one of the Ammonia Planets, and trying to destroy life on the Oxygen-Nitrogen Planets.
We called these Aliens “The Zetans” amongst ourselves.
At this time – Star Systems with just Asteroid Belts were often refered to as “failed systems”.
Stardate July 2131
The metallic / mineral objects found in the Beta System are Researched – and it is determined that they are s - and discover that these are "used" Cores - for a much faster type of FTL Drive.
This is the one-off 'Z' Drive or "Strafe Drive" - 1 Million times C.
However the Cores have to be specially processed, and can only be used once. A Ship carrying "spare" Cores will go into a "quantum implosion" if it engages 'Z' Drive - so it is definitely a one-way Drive.
A second goup of Space Warships is sent to the ‘Z’ System – in an attempt to make contact wit the Zetans. WOW – A Surprise – we discover that they are actually Killed by ordinary Radio Wave Transmissions. Crews board the Ships of the Zetans and find that they are not as advanced as we are in terms of their Technologies.
The Zetans thremselves are found to be some strange form of Life, Bipedal and with “hands” - but based on different chemical compounds from us, and they breather Ammonia rather than Oxygen. Some materials are salvaged from the Zetan Ships and our Space Warships return to the Sol System.
The third contact with the Zetans is also in the ‘Z’ System. WE pretend not to know anything about the Zetan Ships with dead Crews. Messages are exchanged by Radio at low frequences – during which the Zetans make a number of confusing statements.
They offer Peace – and suggest a number of locations where there are Oxygen Atmosphere Planets ( we know from our Astronomy that these do not exist at those Locations ), they ask if we know where there are Ammonia Atmsophere Planets, which we do not. They suggest a proper Peace Discussion, on board one of their Large Ships.
The Diplomatic Mission is organised, with Diplomats and some Marines with Sidearms, carried by a Light Cruiser. This lands in a Docking Bay on the Zetan Ship.
The Docking Bay doors close – and the Zetan Ship jumps ( FTL Drive ) to an unknown location.
After a couple of days, the System where the Zetans took the Light Cruiser is located - from a special Beacon Signal on the Light Cruiser.
A "Rescue Fleet" is sent - and everyone has a damned big Shock !!
__________________________________________
The Rescue Fleet goes to the Zetan System - and discovers a Gigantic Alderson Disc.
This is around 2 AU in outer diameter and 0.75 AU in inner diameter - about 50,000 Km thick.
In orbit around this there are Defensive Structures – and a massive Shipyard.
There is also a very large Space Warship in orbit.
There is a large explosion on the surface of the Alderson Disc - and the Light Cruiser emerges from the cloud of debris.
Detectors show that there are literally tens of thousands of People on board the Light Cruiser - views from the Comm Screens show crowds of People, nearly all of them NOT Humans.
A massive Alien Fleet appears - and so all Ships do a Jump, back to Sol.
We later discover that all of these Aliens were Slaves of the Zetans.
The Crew of the Light Cruiser we nearly all killed, in seemingly deliberately painful and inhuman experiments by the Zetans.
The Captain and three Crewmen managed to escape with the Cruiser, only because they were helped by some massive Zetan Slaves of the Korgoth Species, and by the Aliens onboard the Cruiser – who are Goram, Halthoe, Kolee, Leeth, and one of the Rasthor.
From the one existing member of the Rasthor People, who were Empaths and near Telepaths - we learn that the Zetans have a Slave Empire which covers around 70% of this Galaxy.
All Species are Enslaves or Exploited, as are all Planets - and Species which resists are Exterminated.
And thus begins the Long Running WAR with The Zetans.
__________________________________________________ _______________________
Stardate - Early 2132
The habitable Planet of the Alpha System now has a Population of 15 Billion - as a result of massive use of Cloning Technologies.
Metal Mining is proceeding in the Beta System - with Beta III and Beta IV producing large amounts of useful Metals and Minerals.
The People of Alpha System are becoming more and more unhappy with being Governed from Earth, by The Sol Directorate.
The Foreign Minister of The Sol Directorate offers to go to Alpha System, to try to defuse and calm the situation. He does the opposite, and seems to rile the people up, to making more and more unacceptable demands.
He resigns from the Sol Directorate, and is elected as President by the People of Alpha System – who name their Territory as the Attica System. The main Planet is named as Argos, and the other Planet is named as Ithica.
We have learned from the Rasthor, that the Zetans will be planning to Attack us next.
The Zetan Fleet comes - in three massive waves.
One wave arrives in the Alpha System, but is destroyed - however, there are several Ships damaged. A massive Ship arrives, seemingly "out of nowhere" - and destroys a number of Zetan Ships, the rest flee.
This is the Diplomacy - a Secret Ship, which has been built illegally by the President of Alpha, in the "pirate" Y System - using Materials which were stolen by the "pirates" under his control.
One wave arrives in the Beta System - but is beaten off with damage to our Ships.
One wave arrives in Sol System - and attacks our Fleet. It destroys the Battle Station in orbit around Mars - and attacks the Terraformed Planet of Mars, killing Millions of People.
Our Fleet in Sol is in danger of being destroyed - then the Diplomacy appears, and destroys many of the Zetan Ships, the rest flee.
July 2132
A Powerful Sol Fleet is sent to the Zetans System with the Alderson Disc.
On arrival, Space Fighters attack outlying Structures and the enormous Shipyard.
Considerable damage is done – it seems that the Zetans were not expecting any kind of an Attack.
The Main Fleet attacks the Alderson Disc, causing very heavy damage - evidence is that this is now becoming Unstable, and likely to crash into their Star.
The biggest Zetan Ship, the enormous Space Ship which fought at Sol, which we have called the "Goliath" is attacked, and destroyed.
A massive Zetan Fleet jumps into this Star System - and all of our Fleet jumps out, using the 'Z' Drive which is completely uintraceable.
On return to the Sol System - there is much jubilation among the Crews of the Ships of the Fleet.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stardate - Late 2132
The colony in the Alpha System now has a Population of 18 Billion on the major Planet, and 1.5 Billion on the other Planet which is being Terraformed – and there are more Attican People elsewhere.
More and more demands are made by the Attican People – who see themselves as better than the People of Earth.
They are annoyed that so little money has been invested in their Colony, they have had to do most of it themselves.
The President of Attica makes a statement that “his” Ships will only get involved in War when he agrees, he will not let them be risked at the whim of The Sol Directorate.
Attica has also “hijacked” the ‘X’ Shipyards, which is now operational – and there are a number of Attican People in the ‘X’ System.
Feelings on Earth are getting very hot indeed – most people would like to execute the President of Attica, and also feel that the People of Attica should be left defenceless against the Zetans.
The very brief “Civil War” happens – the one we never talk about.
The Admiral of the Sol Space Command Fleet has both the Sol President and the C in C of the Sol Space Command, locked in their rooms.
Then he takes the Sol Fleet under his own command – and goes to the Attica System.
Without any warning – the Planet Argos is very thoroughly Nuked, making the whole Planet uninhabitable, and instantly killing 18 Billion Attican People.
The President of Attica, on board the Diplomacy responds.
The Attican Fleet goes to Sol System, and attacks Mars – killing a large proportion of the 4 Billion People who are now living there, and doing serious damage to the Planet, rendering it uninhabitable.
The Atticans have recently completed a Super Carrier for the Sol Fleet, but unknown to them – the Attican President has had many Nuclear Warheads hidden in this Ship. These are remotely detonated by the President himself.
A general Battle then ensues between the two Fleets – in which the Diplomacy is badly damaged, killing the Attican President.
Amazingly – the Battle seems to reach a stalemate.
There is a Truce, and the Senior Officers from both Fleets come to a conference, together with Representatives of the survivors from Mars.
A solution is found – the creation of The Phoenix Confederation – comprising The Sol Dominion, The Attican Dominion, and the newly formed IPC Dominion, from the Aliens who were rescued from Slavery and are now Colonising three nearby Star Systems. The mutinous Admiral of the Sol Fleet is executed.
The new centre for The Phoenix Confederation is placed on one of the Beta Planets – Beta IV, where the Metals and Minerals have nearly run out, leaving deep excavatedtunnels and caverns This centre is to be underground, using the disused Mines and new caverns which are to be excavated.
A new President is elected by the People of Attica, the remaining 2 Billion who were not killed – suprisingly, this is the Commander of the Attican Scout Fleet, who chose to avoid becoming involved in the Space Battle.
__________________________________________________ ___________________
[[ This is something of an "aside" - being more generally about the Game itself, than the Story or History of what has been happening -
This is a Game which is literally as broad as your imagination – to a very large extent, there are No Limits.
We have the whole of this Galaxy to play with ( the Milky Way ) – even other Galaxies, eventually.
Actually I handle all of the Scout / Discovery Reports for New Star Systems, and so although it is based on the Universe as we know it, in this Game the Universe may be even stranger and more varied than it is in reality.
By this I mean that the Star Systems which I “find” for us to “play” with, are not actually Star Systems which are known to the Astronomers of 2011 or 2012 – but completely “inventions”, although based on the known ‘Rules’ of Astrophysics, Physics and Chemistry.
For this reason – the Universe in which we play this Game is something which I call “The Krissyverse”.
We search and discover – and find new Star Systems to Colonise, with strange Planets, but often with Asteroid Belts only. These have sometimes been referred to as “failed” Star Systems – those which have failed to form proper Planets.
More recently, we have found a few which have failed to form proper Stars – and so are only partly formed.
Along the way – we have encountered Alien Species, nearly all of them Oxygen Breathers. Some are very nearly Human, some are a bit Human – some have evolved from types of Creatures which would be recognisable on Earth. All of these Species have become our Allies – and we live in close cooperation with them all.
I will be adding some more of the Story or History of the Game - shortly ]]
My friend I think you are secretly a writer, you have written a novel.
I am only wiriting what has happened - after all, it is a Play By Post Game.Originally Posted by Chrisgorlitz
My friend I think you are secretly a writer, you have written a novel.
There is actually a much more detailed Version of all this ( leaving out the Science Stuff ) -
but if I wrote it all in the "LONG" form - it would be more like a Book.
Of course, the real Question Is - is anyone gonna be Interested in being A PART of this Evolving Story ??
Lots of "Jobs" or Positions here still -
Presidents of Dominions - New Ones, Human or Alien.
Governors of Star Systems - Exisiting Ones or New Ones.
Representatives of Intelligent Species - where there is more than one Intelligent Species in a System.
Fleet Commanders - lots still needed.
This is sci-fi solitaire, you are the player and everyone else is a gamepiece. Count me out.I am the Game Master of this Game.
Nobody said you had to Play - but it AIN'T the way you say it is.
All of the Players are Allies in a Mutually Supporting Confederation.
There is ONE Exception - The Player who represents the Zetan Empire.
There ARE some Rules - as to what the Zetans can do, and how.
After all - they cannot change their Nature or the way in which they grow and develop.
Apart from that - there is no dispute or confrontation between the other Players.
In a number of ways - this Game is more about Building, rather than fighting and destroying.
As the Game Master - I take Advice from all of the Players as to what they want to Build or Not Build. Sometimes I make Suggestions to the Players - which they can agree or decline.
I keep all of the Files for New Constructions, and for Shipbuilding - and I undertake to Update these Files every Game Month.
This means taking one Month off the Construction Times for each Defence Base, Facilitiy, or Ship which is Under Construction.
I Post all New Ships Built, each Game Month - and provide a List of the Ships for each Dominion.
I Post a "State Of The Nation" Report, each Game Month - including all current Construction, Works done, Population and GWP ( Gross World Product ) for each Planet.
There are now Six Dominions, The Confederation itself - and two new Star Systems which will soon be Dominions. In total, there are 40 Star Systems.
I provide Details of every single Inhabited or Colonised Planet - and their Moons, where these have Bases.
Six of these are Asteroid Only Systems - and I provide all Details of every single Colonised Asteroid.
Basically I WORK MY SOCKS OFF !!
Last year I sometimes got a bit "Shirty" with Players who did not Post all New Developments -
Commencement or Completion.
I soon realised that not many people at all can devote the 6 to 10 hours per day to this Game,
which is really needed - that is certainly what I do.
Consequently - I have evolved the current Working System.
This lets me come up with a lot of ideas, and if the Players agree - it lets me get on with
Writing the full Specs for the implementation of these Ideas, and put them into Posts.
Earlier this Year I was Ill for a number of Months, including a week in Hospital -
in consequence, the Game slowed down a lot, and got behind.
I am currently trying to catch up - trying to do more than one Game Month per Calender Month.
This Game has been running since February 2011, and I became the Game Master in late March 2011 -
It is now a Full Time occupation for me, and sometimes it seems like I need more Hours per Day,
or more Days per Week.
Sorry, I disagree. What is the object of the game?
The game as far as I can tell is not a game in the conventional sense, one winner and everyone else loses. The game you play is with the other players. You are so obsessed with this fictitious set that the actual activity or the playing of the game is only for your gratification. The real game you play is with people's minds so as to encourage their input into your fantasy. There is no real objective other than to satisfy your overwhelming desire to see where the story goes.
The only rule of the game is to feed you different scenarios. Participants play the role of your mind, IOW they do your creative thinking for you. The game isn't really being played out on the internet because the actual field of play is between your two ears. Look closely at the time you were off sick, the game nearly got derailed. Why? Player apathy or the fact that you had lost control? There can only be one winner and one loser.....unfortunately you are both.
Last edited by zinjanthropos; November 22nd, 2012 at 10:58 PM.
You have a VERY NARROW View of what Constitutes a Game.
By any real Definition -
The First Requirement of a Game is meant to be HAVING FUN.
As all of the Players in the Sci Fi Game are indeed having Fun - that part of the Definition is satisfied.
A Second Requirement of a Game is that the Players should have a chance to ACHIEVE DOMETHING.
The more Players this is True for, the more Players can enjoy it.
All of the Players in the Sci Fi Game do indeed have a chance to acheive something -
To Build-Up their Planets, Cities, Terraforming New Planets, Bases on Moons and Asteroids, and building up Fleets of Space Warships.
There is one Player who represents the Zetans -- the Opposing Empire of Alien "Slavers".
The Aims of the Game are to SURVIVE and to GROW.
To Build your Dominion, as part of the Confederation.
Input from the Players can incorporate all sorts of Ideas which they may have -
and in addition I use my Imagination to come up with new, Unexpected "Wonders" for them.
Recently -
There was "Flying Cities" - which some Players were really Keen on.
Then there was "Underground Cities" built in the partially emptied Magma Chambers
of Volcanoes, from long ago - on a World which is Geologically Inactive now.
The Player who owns that World was really pleased.
I have "invented" the new "Artificial Moons", which are hollow structures -
which we are developing, now that we have the Technologies and Resources to Build.
some of the Players love the idea of them.
The Scout Groups have found wierd and wonderful Star Systems, with VERY Strange Worlds
in them - but I have thoroughly Researched the Astrophysics for this - to make them possible, if unlikely.
Now - your BIG MISTAKE is to Assume that All Games MUST be Competitive, even Mutually
Destructive. With One Winner, and loads of Losers.
There are lots of Games like that - but there are other Games which are not.
Games in which you BUILD Things - and can see how much better or worse you are doing
than other Players. In those Games, there is Friendly Competition - but there are also
built-in opportunities to HELP Each Other.
There are a suprisingly large number of such Games, which are Played by Multiple Players,
On-Line.
The people / organisations which Run those Games DO Make Money out of the Players -
by always offering Better Things or The Best Things, at a real Cash Price.
Not All Games are "shoot 'em up" Games, or War Games, or Gambling Games - where
someone WINS by making others LOSE.
The Sci Fi Game which I run is not meant to be all over in a Week, or a Month - some things
can take a Year or more, of "Game Time".
The major Premise is that the Zetans, the Empire of Alien "Slavers" can never REALLY Destroy Us -
or the Game would come to an end - which is NOT the intention.
It is a Game involving some Fighting - but between two "Sides" which have different Levels of
Technology - which are "balanced" by the Vast difference in their Resources and Populations.
Also - the limitations of Logisitics for an Empire which is Vast, and the Limitations of Communications and "War Skills", when the Control is all from one Centre.
In some ways it is an incredibly LONG War, and a very SLOW War - for Survival on our Part,
against an Enemy who wishes to Exterminate Us.
However -
The Zetans will NOT Destroy Us.
We WILL continue to Expand - and to find New Allies.
We may NEVER Destroy the Zetans.
In the meantime -
We Grow and Grow.
We Build Defences, and Build Fleets of Space Warships.
We Colonise New Planets and New Star Systems.
We Build More Cities, and expand our Populations.
We Discover New Star Systems and New Worlds.
We find New Allies.
We Discover or Invent New Technologies.
We find new ways to understand the whole of Everything -
which includes the Multiverses, and the vast span of Time in Everything.
This Game is as Broad as the Imagination of the Players -
Plus, whatever I can manage to think-up and Justify or Explain.
The Competitive Element in this Game is but a small part of the whole.
So your basically a small creative niche of like-minded old-skool gamers getting together to compile up your own imaginations into a vibrant sci-fictional fantasy galaxy as bit of escapism and fun!
It’s not for me but I know where you’re coming from as I use to roll the dice with Warhammer and Judge Dredd role playing games back when I was a teen.
So yeah, i get it!
Last edited by pineapples; November 30th, 2012 at 07:48 AM.
I won't argue against having fun. However it does seem like someone in particular has more fun than the others. Thus, I will argue against an uneven playing field.
Are you comparable to the Banker in a game of Monopoly? Or are you comparable to the kid who owns the ball?
I am comparable to the Guys who wrote the Computer Games "Myst" and "Riven" - except it was not all Written from the Beginning, that is - it was not all written before the Game Started.
The Game Master creates the "Scenery" and the Game Mechanics - the background for them to Play in, and some Rules ( which remain fixed ). As in a lot of On-Line Games - as you get bigger, with more Resources and Capabilities - you can do more things, things you could not do before - or you can do more things at the same time.
Players progress through the Game, making Choices of what they would prefer to do next - their Choices can hsve Direct Effects, such as when they formulate Policies which we all have to work to, or which have Consequences which we all have to work with.
There are obvious consequences from what the Players decide to do - such as when the President of Chalco Dominion decided to Raid Zetan Systems. Nearly all of the Ships involved were Destroyed.
The Zetans Struck Back - and the other Dominions had to provide Defensive Forces for Chalco. They are still doing so.
There are less obvious consequences, which can change the "Shape of the Scenery" - affecting things which they have not seen yet.
Kirk asked me to create the Colonies on a New Planet ( actually a Moon of a Giant Planet ) in Gamma System - Only a few of these Moons had been Specified.
The consequence was that a complete "Planet List" had to be created, and a List of most of the useful Asteroids - for the Gamma System.
It IS an Even Playing Field - You get out of it, just as much FUN as you are willing to work for. The greater your Activity in the Game - the more Fun you can have. The more clever ideas you put inot the Game - the more Fun you can have.
The Input of the Players affects how much Fun each P;ayer can have.
A New Player joined recently - and asked to be the Governor of the Stigma System.
He asked if it was possible for the Second Planet ( only loosey specified previously ) to have Napoleonic Toad People.
I said I would try to figure a way for it to be possible.
After much On-line Research into Evolved Ancient Life-forms ( on Earth ) - I was able to write a POSSIBLE route for Amphibians to Evolve and dominate a Planet. These could be Mammal-like, but Amphibians, on a swampy moist Planet.
They could have the advantages of Live Birth like Mammals - using a process of internal retention and hatching, which is used by some Species of real-life Salamanders, on Earth.
So - he got his "Nsapoleonic Toad People" as requested. The Tordoi Empire on Stigma II, with a Civilisation comparable to Europe in the early 1800's - and he has now started Diplomatic Talks with them.
Sometime - we will have to get a Player to represent these "Toad People".
People in this Game DO have Fun - they enjoy the unlikely ( but not impossible ) surprises - they enjoy their ideas being "made flesh" in the Game.
I know it WOULD NOT be Your Kind of Game - but fourteen people like it. One came from this Site.
Those who are always Suspicious - Create Suspicion.
Those who are crtitical of the Motives of Others - make their Own Motives subject to criticism.
I try to be Honest and Fair with Everyone - Try, but I may not always succeed.
It does not stop me from always Trying.
Aye - Very Much like that.So your basically a small creative niche of like-minded old-skool gamers getting together to compile up your own imaginations into a vibrant sci-fictional fantasy galaxy as bit of escapism and fun!
It’s not for me but I know where you’re coming from as I use to roll the dice with Warhammer and Judge Dredd role playing games back when I was a teen.
So yeah, i get it!
Some of us ARE getting on a bit - or Retired.
But some are younger.
One is a Deputy Police Chief, one is a Retired Police Chief.
Others have different Backgrounds.
We are also International.
Due to the Nature of the Site, there are many people there with Military Knowledge or Experience.
However - there are also Play-by-post War Games there, RPG War Games there - and one RPG Sci Fi Game as well,
based on the "Firefly" Scenario.
The Sci Fi Game which I run, is a sort of RPG - but Players represent whole Sovereign Nation-States which are Star Systems,
with all of their Peoples and Planets, Moons and Asteroids. These work within a "federal" Confederation.
Some are Presidents of these Star System Nation-States, which we call Dominions.
Some are Governors of Colony Systems - within a larger Nation-State, or Dominion.
Some are Fleet Commanders for the Space Fleets.
My motive was to inspire you to greater heights, make you a better Overlord. I really don't care about the game you play, I'm totally disinterested but I am old enough to know that people like to do things I'd never consider and I respect them for that. You defended your pastime to the best of your ability. I'm still not convinced the playing field is equal and to that point I ask if you have ever handed control to someone else?
No I have not handed Control to another.My motive was to inspire you to greater heights, make you a better Overlord. I really don't care about the game you play, I'm totally disinterested but I am old enough to know that people like to do things I'd never consider and I respect them for that. You defended your pastime to the best of your ability. I'm still not convinced the playing field is equal and to that point I ask if you have ever handed control to someone else?
However - there is a Reason - the "burden" of the Background Paperwork and Research is just Awesome.
To Run this Game correctly, accurately, with its own functional Logic - there are Thirty Folders - with a Total of some 170 Files.
I refer to every one of these Files at least once in a Week.
I write every single Post which I make, in the Files first - these are the ever growing "Progress Reports" Files.
I add at least one Post every sngle day - sometimes as many as six Posts in one day.
It does not look like quite that many - as there are ten different Threads to the Game.
I do believe I Post something in each and every Thread, every day - and answer every single Message which Players Post in the Chat Thread. I also send out, Receive and Answer several Messages every week.
There are also other ongoing Background Tasks - like Scientific Research for the Game - Astronomy, Astro-Physics, Materials, Engineering, Technologies, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Prehistory, Paeleontology, Ancient Civilisations, Geography, Cities, Vulcanology, Nuclear Physics, Transuranics, Biochemistry ( a little ), World Religions, Ancient Religions, others as well.
This Game was started almost Casually by another Player, who later handed it to me - as I was doing a lot of work for the Game.
I introduced Structure, Scientific Rigour, and Continuity, to the Game.
I also started to bring in new ideas. I am not really an Originator - I get a lot of my ideas from Classic Sci Fi - and then Research them pretty thoroughly against Real or "projected" Science - and then "Run With The Ball" as it were.
No-one in the Game has EVER suggested that they would even like to Take Over from me - I am damn certain that no one would want to, even if I asked them to. To be a good Game Master is HARD WORK - and to do it well, means that most of what you do is at least half-unseen, in the Background.
I have been a Design Engineer for all of my Working Life - and in my Hobbies, an Amateur delver into Science and Technology, and an avid reader of Sci Fi. I also have an abiding interest in Warfare and Weapons, particularly Naval Warfare - as an Amateur Academic.
What I am doing with this Sci Fi Game - is in many ways the realisations of some of the Ideals, Morals and Principles which are at the core of my nature - but "made flesh" as it were. True - only in Fictional Worlds, in a Fictional Universe.
I know and fully realise that my genuine and Honest Beliefs - In the necessary Protection of the Environment, Protection of the Habitats of ALL Creatures, and the Preservation of ALL Species, rather than their ruthless and senseless exploitation - will NEVER have any effect on the behaviour of People or Governments in this World.
But they are Damn Well ENFORCED in My "fictional" Universe.
I know and fully realise that my genuine and Honest Beliefs - That True, Transparent and Fully Accountable Democracy is the only RIGHT Way a Community, State, Nation, or World should be Run - these Beliefs have NO CHANCE AT ALL of affecting the way things are Run in this World.
But they are Damn Well ENFORCED in My "fictional" Universe.
I know and fully realise that my genuine and Honest Beliefs - That This World is driven by PROFIT AND GREED, by the Majority of People, Companies, Organisations, and even Governments. That this, and primarily Motives of Self-Gratification, Self-Justifications, Self-Righteousness, Hupocrisy, are all major parts of Human Nature, in THIS WORLD as it is now.
I Believe that this is FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG.
I am NOT a Christian Evangelist, not even a Christian. But Jesus, and many other Prophets had lots of things to say which are very different from the Values most people live by these days. It IS better to give than to recieve - it IS better to help others than to help yourself - it IS better for the whole Human Race, to put the Community before your own imagined Needs.
My Beliefs will NEVER have any effects on the way people behave in THIS WORLD, as it is now.
But - In my "fictional" Universe - the Players all work to these ideals in the running of their Imaginery Nation-States.
In part, because one of these Nation-States is run by me - and the example I have set, by GIVING Space Warships to Peoples who are less able to defend themselves, by FREELY undertaking Construction Projects for those who have insufficient Resources or Population to undertake them, themsleves.
In THIS WORLD - if we find a Stone Age People or a Bronze Age People, who are unable to defend themselves, it is different.
The Christian or Charitable "do-gooders" will try to give them free Healthcare, Education, and other Western advantages. At the same time, they will try to"Westernise" them, to wipe out their Native Culture and the Moral Basis underlying it.
The Big Businesses, with the CLAIMED intention of "helping" these People - will try to get them all to grow Cash Crops, for the insantiable Greed Markets of the West, whilst seriously threatening their ability to feed themselves, from their own traditional Food Crops. This is "much better" of course - making them "Market Gardeners" rather than Subsistance Farmers. But of course, the Big Businesses will get much Profit from these arrangements - making sure that these people are dependent upon Food brought from Western Sources, for Cash.
However, if the World Prices fall, due to over-production of particular products, bad forward planning to meet expected Demands which do not materialise, or Speculation on the Commodity Markets, particularly the "Futures" Markets - then matters change, these hard working Cash Crop Farmers get less money, maybe not enouh to buy Food for themselves, but their ability to feed themselves has been removed. They become dependent on Charitable Foreign Aid - and self reliance is replaced by dependency.
In my "fictional" Universe, we have found Cannibal Peoples with a terribly restricted near-starvation diet ( see "Bordered In Black" - a Sci Fi Story ). However, we supplied them with Food, we built thousands of Oases for them, with Crops Growing and Chickens and Goats.
We are starting to Educate them in a different way to live - how to grow and harvest crops ( and not eat everything in sight, to keep seeds for planting ), how to properly manage Animal Husbsndy ( and ensure there is a next generation of Animals ), how to Brew Beer and make Wine, how to bake bricks for houses, how to build houses. We are teaching them the concepts of Democracy, Communities and Nations.
Some of the Tuareg and North African People moved to their Planet, to help them develop a low-tech Cvilisation for survival on a dry, desert-like Continent, which is their home.
In my "fictional" Universe, we have discovered four isolated Civilisations on the Planet "Jinx" ( inspired by the Planet "Jinx" in Larry Niven's "known space" Novels, but very different in other ways ). These comprise both Hunter-Gatherer Civilisations, and Bronze Age Civilisations.
We WERE building Colonies on "Jinx" - but now Colonisation will be limited, and subject to enfiorced Restrictions.
These four Native Peoples are "First Nations"and "First Peoples" - and will have far better and more complete protection for their Cultures and ways of life - virtually the OPPOSITE of what the Europeans did in North America, and in parts of South America and Central America.
Strangely - all of the Players in the Game have been in full agreement with these Policies and Practices.
I guess it has to do with perceived Personal Profits and Losses, or Personal Gains and Losses - you don't mind spending "imaginery" Money Resources to help others - but Real Money is a different matter.
NO - I am NOT Bitter, even if I am a bit cynical. I am simply SADDENED by the way the Real World is.
Last edited by Karakris; December 2nd, 2012 at 12:51 AM.
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