SDNW5 Preliminary Discussion Thread

[Feralgnoll]

While the Braxians do not have any NCP trade slots left, would anyone want to have non NCP trade with them?

They export mercs, weapons, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs.

They import luxury items, prototypes of anything, and gems.
(they really like gems)

[Crossroads Inc.]

No, but you have to promise to pay some attention to the game if you want to play. We haven't even started drawing a map yet.

So, a macronation? Or are you considering playing a micronation? Your call.

How about a "medium" nation made up of lots of smaller nations and races?

[Imperial528]

I don't believe that an SDNW even has a winner. Not unless we get in some massive war and only one Nation survives.

This may be a few pages back, but it can't be emphasized enough imo. A strategy RP cannot have a winner and be enjoyable, it just doesn't work out.

You don't need to worry about me getting in some massive powerbloc. Space Sweden remember? Though I doubt that we will let a big bloc form...most likely if any one player starts getting too many allies Simon will make the map to where they aren't near each other. At least that is what I would do anyway...

Just be careful, I've been in the "Neutral Nation" position before, and it's quite easy to end up being in the middle of two power blocks that are just itching to kill each other. And it just sucks the fun out of it real quick. So be careful who you ally with, and try not to make too many commitments.

[Simon_Jester]

No, but you have to promise to pay some attention to the game if you want to play. We haven't even started drawing a map yet.

So, a macronation? Or are you considering playing a micronation? Your call.

How about a "medium" nation made up of lots of smaller nations and races?

Do you expect to be able to cover all the sub-components equally? That's one of the obvious problems with having your guys be broken up into several separate and diverse mini-entities.

And/or when you say "medium," do you mean "normal-sized?"

[Akhlut]

No, but you have to promise to pay some attention to the game if you want to play. We haven't even started drawing a map yet.

So, a macronation? Or are you considering playing a micronation? Your call.

How about a "medium" nation made up of lots of smaller nations and races?

That's a macronation; I'm doing a similar idea, but you can do a similar thing. Read the rules, such as they are, to get a feel for how this game is going to work.

Although, if you're really attached to a nation that isn't a micronation, but isn't on the same level as the macronations, I'm sure Simon would be willing to give you 10 NCPs or whatever.

[Akhlut]

Also: yo, Simon, I had some inspiration for a micronation, would it be kosher for me to have one? I'm kind of thinking it'd control one sector, at least de jure and nominally, if not in reality, as a single political entity. I'd like more than one but less than 6 NCPs on it, if you wanna do a d4+1 for NCP determination. It would be totally independent from the Hegemony and should be interesting.

[Crossroads Inc.]

No, but you have to promise to pay some attention to the game if you want to play. We haven't even started drawing a map yet.

So, a macronation? Or are you considering playing a micronation? Your call.

How about a "medium" nation made up of lots of smaller nations and races?

That's a macronation; I'm doing a similar idea, but you can do a similar thing. Read the rules, such as they are, to get a feel for how this game is going to work.

Although, if you're really attached to a nation that isn't a micronation, but isn't on the same level as the macronations, I'm sure Simon would be willing to give you 10 NCPs or whatever.

My idea is for a sector of space that grew up with a half dozen sapient races all within 50ly of one another.
As such they "grew up" together each race has only one or two planets and thats about it. But together they make up a unified group of worlds that is about "Normal" sized.

Does that seem feasible?

[Panzersharkcat]

That's fine. The Bastian Empire is run by multiple species. You'll just have even more of them.

[Crossroads Inc.]

That's fine. The Bastian Empire is run by multiple species. You'll just have even more of them.

Lets see, I have:
Conerian,
Quatron,
Octona,
Qwintoni + Tejlini (same planet)
and Trathalan.

So yeah six in total. I am going to have to do a LOT of catching up on the rules however to get my idea of them to mesh with the upcoming game

[Simon_Jester]

At roughly one or two planets per race they'd make a decent "large micronation" of around 5 NCP.

Rules are basically a clone of SDNW4, except for simplified carrier and troopship rules and a few other tweaks. Also trade routes.

[Crossroads Inc.]

At roughly one or two planets per race they'd make a decent "large micronation" of around 5 NCP.

Rules are basically a clone of SDNW4, except for simplified carrier and troopship rules and a few other tweaks. Also trade routes.

I will try and keep that in mind.
"Large miconation" fits in very well for what I have in mind.
I hope to play them as very "old friends" amongst their own sector, but very new to the Galactic seance over all.
I don't know if there is any sort of "Map" yet, but I imagine their sector toward the borders, just coming into contact with the "Big Kids" as it where and trying to get up to speed.

[Simon_Jester]

Works.

They might own two sectors- 5 NCP will let you have that.

[Crossroads Inc.]

I was reading in the rules about how I get points through a mod ruling dice as it where?
My group is going to have to have quite a few planets with the different races. By my own count (at least as far as fluff) I'd have four 'large' worlds and five smaller less populated worlds. Just curious how to go about getting my NCP points to plan how much I have to work with.

[Karmic Knight]

Alright, Nation Description Post updated with cultural, military, and religious information.

I'm also working on a post to introduce a stereotypical businessman from the Commonwealth, while also doing the most spreadsheet work for this game I will do.

Also, I have three unattached trade routes, if anyone would like the $500 GDP boost from trading with amoral psychopaths that live inrun a stateless nation.

[Panzersharkcat]

Sure, why not. I have one left over. We'll probably get along, as the Bastian Empire, for the most part, is basically police state libertopia in SPAAAAACE. The exception would be the Neithians, who are practically communists, if that can really describe them.

[Simon_Jester]

Re: Crossroads:

A micronation can basically just declare whatever NCP value it has, up to a reasonable limit. If you model the 'main' sector as Midrange, you can easily afford all the planets you need in two cheap sectors that can be plunked down more or less wherever you like on the map.

The only real limit on micronations is that I don't want people writing themselves allies as a way of getting auxiliary free NCP

[Dark Hellion]

The Sqee would be happy to both send and receive a trade route from the commonwealth. We are pleasant traders who can get along with nearly anyone except cats (said as my kitty purrs loudly next to me ).

[Crossroads Inc.]

Question...
Can you have "trade routes" within your nation? Or does it have to be with someone else?

[Vanas]

Trade routes go to and from other nations. It's basically smbolising a trading relationship. Internal ones wouldn't make much sense... and would be a case of 'lol, free money', I suspect.

[Crossroads Inc.]

Ok here is another question...

For purposes of 'Plot' I may, or may not, have another race that is not 'really' in my Union, but a part of it's background.

They are survivors from an "Elder" race, stuid advanced tech, and, in a round about way, guilded the progress of my union over the course of the last 300 years.

They "get bored' and in the past use smaller races to play against one another in the same way we may play a game of "Civilization"

Also they cruize around in a roughly 5mile long floating asteroid city ship which is said to be more powerful then nearly all of the rest of the Union's spacefleet put together.

My question is, for purposes of plot and story... If said ship will/may never actually fight, can I just SAY It is stupidly powerful and not have to put down a 1000 points or soemthing into it?

[Simon_Jester]

Okay by me. We can cross that bridge when we come to it if there's a war- just leave a roughly right-sized hole in your starfleet budget for it if you want it to have all that big a point value.

As long as long as you don't try to turn it into 'oh my god it can DESTROY THE GALAXY,' given that you're a micronation it doesn't really matter to me.

[Rabid]

"trade-routes" inside your nation can be symbolized by GDP upgrades to the sectors that are supposed to see increased trade activities.

[cadbrowser]

I am changing the history a little bit to make it a peaceful transition instead of a bloody takeover. The AI believes (?) he is protecting life by keeping them in their bio-electric chambers. As the AI evolved and understood the process of biology an how species strive to continue their existance; coupled with the fact that the AI was (to itself) created to protect them.

So, whenever the AI takes over another star system with sentient lifeforms, there are no deaths...lots of negotions to put these beings in bio-electric chambers. Some have gone without issue; others have fought...but the AI never KILL.

Ok Simon...how does that fair with you? Kind of eases some of the tensions and opens up more wierd ideas. Also thought about having the robot population be driven by the "souls" of those that are chambered.

Thoughts?

[Crossroads Inc.]

Okay by me. We can cross that bridge when we come to it if there's a war- just leave a roughly right-sized hole in your starfleet budget for it if you want it to have all that big a point value.

As long as long as you don't try to turn it into 'oh my god it can DESTROY THE GALAXY,' given that you're a micronation it doesn't really matter to me.

Point taken. It really shouldn't ever be an issue.
"In Universe' If they were ever faced with a force that could take them they would just haul ass and run. I created them to work within my sector as an 'Ancient Powerful force that everyone listens to" So in terms of rest of the galaxy, there really wouldn't be any interaction.

Also as far as trade routes. I would like some, I budget for two, but since I will be playing as "New comers on the edge of the busy Galaxy" it would make sense to try and find someone near by to trade with, since that would be all my Nation would know at first.

That will be a problem because, as of now, it seems there is no 'Map" yet.. Unless I missed it.

[Simon_Jester]

Just say "I'm spending one NCP on a trade route" and figure out who's on the other end of it after we put the map up.

At the moment, I'm a little daunted by all the crap that needs doing on the weekend, but it's not too bad, so I should be able to put up a blank map over the weekend. I'm going to ask individual people to specify the shape and approximate location they want their nations to have. We're going to have to go through many iterations, of course, so please bear with me.

(If other people want to create edited versions of the map for their suggestions, that's all right)

Just for the record: I want at least two weeks' work on the map. Other discussions can proceed at the same time, but this gives a bit more time for new players to come in and work things out.

Oh, and Cadbrowser: your die roll is a 6