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Questions on Orders of Battle:

1. Are there any limits on ship class ratios? I had planned on an ~2:1:3 ratio for Ships of the Wall, Cruisers, and Escorts, with Defenses and Troops filling up the remainder, but that would give me, assuming I am a Major Power, ~125 Escorts, ~40 Cruisers, and ~80 Ships of the Wall. Which seems rather disproportionate, although it does match the Austro-Hungarian Navy figures' proportions given on one of the earlier pages.

2. If you're quick at addition and such You're wondering how I spent nearly 5300 points on 245 ships, aren't you? Well, to answer with a question, is there a points limit for Ships of the Wall?

If the Emperor, for instance, has a very small penis (Khar have no visible external genitalia at all, in fact) and he wants a 500 point Age of Silver Relic Flagship of DOOM or something equally ridiculous as his personal commandship/homeworld dense, is that illegal?

3. Do we make some sort of preliminary OOB with what type of power we assume ourselves to be or is that optional?

Keep in mind, folks, that the Austro-Hungarian fleet is an example of the sort of navy which is not concerned with controlling territory, but rather with defeating an enemy fleet. This is possible only because A-H didn't have a large overseas empire.

Most of the nations in the game, however, will consist of multiple systems. This necessitates significant cruiser forces to control this territory. Those players without said multisystem empires will be able to use cruisers to easily disrupt enemy empires of that type.

Thirdfain wrote:Keep in mind, folks, that the Austro-Hungarian fleet is an example of the sort of navy which is not concerned with controlling territory, but rather with defeating an enemy fleet. This is possible only because A-H didn't have a large overseas empire.

Most of the nations in the game, however, will consist of multiple systems. This necessitates significant cruiser forces to control this territory. Those players without said multisystem empires will be able to use cruisers to easily disrupt enemy empires of that type.

True, I hadn't thought of that. Ignore the wankship question, it's more efficient to cut it in exchange for extra cruisers and up my ratio to 4-3-3 E/C/SotW, then.

Something just occured to me: As the universe was previously interconnected to a much greater extent than it is now, would there have been some kind of galactic-standard language or set of languages?

Probably. Note how a lot of the powers that have been declared are either human or offshoots of humanity.

Matt Huang wrote:Probably. Note how a lot of the powers that have been declared are either human or offshoots of humanity.

Or bio engineered by people that could have been human (and in my case were). I think we have very few true aliens so far.

Also did people ever decide on a name, I liked The Tale of Ages my self.

Glimmervoid wrote:

Matt Huang wrote:Probably. Note how a lot of the powers that have been declared are either human or offshoots of humanity.

Or bio engineered by people that could have been human (and in my case were). I think we have very few true aliens so far.

Does it count if you were boosted in development by an extragalactic race of humans?

My nation is primarily human, but it is multi-species and multi-ethnic.

Moreover, it's multi-lingual. The language of New Crobuzon and the government is Ragamoll, which is only vaguely related to any other galactic languages.

However, "Salt" is a common tongue spoken by spacers, and is a patois outsiders can generally understand.

Glimmervoid wrote: Also did people ever decide on a name, I liked The Tale of Ages my self.

I personally am going to make efforts to have it known as "How Crobuzon Conquered All."

Thirdfain wrote:
I personally am going to make efforts to have it known as "How Crobuzon Conquered All."

Oh you cunning cunning man. Not a chance boy, not a chance.

Pablo Sanchez wrote:So, it would please us if you would post something like will soon follow here.

Hekartes

Government:
Representative Clans. Each world is granted a ruling 'Clan'. Despite the name, most aren't actually heriditary, but accept individuals based on their personal deeds. The Clans cluster together for electing a leader and deciding major events, though at least three times in history, the elected ruler was consigned to eternity in the throne room, as the entrance was filled in. Traitors to the Hekartes, no matter how high, are severely punished. Protectorate worlds, which have opted not to truly join but to enjoy the protection of the Clans, are granted observers in the Great Hall. A full consensus of the observers, were one ever reached, is technically able to override all Clan reprensetatives, but such has never been recorded.

Economy:
Primarily semi-standardized barter. No single currency is used even by Hekartes merchants operating outside their sphere of influence, instead preferring to trade directly for appropriately valued merchandise directly. The economies of the Protectorates provide a steady stream of surplus foodstuffs, which are merrily exported.

Ideology:
No single idealogy unites the Hekartes; like the mythic beast they are named for, the hands are too numerous. There are strong tendencies towards forthrightness, however; duplicity is viewed as a necessary evil, and there are strong attempts by those who feel the Clans should rule more directly to shape society towards one of honourable combat and glory. They are held in check by the mystics and the administrative clans, who understandably don't want warriors taking ahold of society.

Military:
Military technology is where the Hekartes fall flat. It's all fine and well to declare yourself together and armed, but with blades and axes instead of rayguns and missiles, one is unable to fight back. Luckily, the ingenius members of the united Clans have found a solution. Uncovering technology from the Age of Steel's wars, they use powerful mystic rites to soul-bind a warrior or explorer to a starship or war machine. Similar rites are used to bond administrators to ancient factories, which churn out acceptably powerful munitions and civilian goods both.

This results in a highly varied and sometimes ramshackle military force, comprimised of often compromised hulls and myriad technologies, but the end result has always been devastating thus far. Tanks, animated by these terrible forces, roll onwards until simply disassembled by heavy weapons fire. Ships continuing to fire until finally torn in two.

I'm considering fixing the obvious 'How'd you get started, then?' question via a network of ground-mounted jumpgates. Does anyone think this might be agreeable, particular if I allocate points to it, as it's obviously an advantage?

My Bird-like people speak some sort of Intergalactic Tongue, as it's expressly forbidden for others to learn and speak the Cheilosyon. To speak the Khar Tongue as an outsider is like trying to officialize an English translation of the Koran.

[Ship names are an exception, officially supposed to be when not using the Holy Tongue by the tongue of Nevari-Clan Sigefr. Profaning a ship with the language of an unsubjugated people is the heights of offensive.]

Thirdfain wrote:

Glimmervoid wrote: Also did people ever decide on a name, I liked The Tale of Ages my self.

I personally am going to make efforts to have it known as "How Crobuzon Conquered All."

You go ahead and think that while one of my Defense Outposts shreds through your precious flagship with self-guided high-velocity missile swarms of doom.

SirNitram wrote:I'm considering fixing the obvious 'How'd you get started, then?' question via a network of ground-mounted jumpgates. Does anyone think this might be agreeable, particular if I allocate points to it, as it's obviously an advantage?

I myself am quite fine with it. Though you'd have to worry about people using them to invade. It'd be like an episode of Star Gate, but with armies and undead tanks.

Is it too late to join-in with a race of Alien Cyborgs? I have a biology (what's left of it), evolutionary history, society (even how they punish malcreants), basic fleet and army make-up (no actual OOB, just a general idea of what I want), religion, and history worked out.


In case anyone is wondering, there is no Hive-mind and they would find Star Trek's Borg to be utterly disgusting what with the "individuality is obsolete" thing they have going. If anything, they are based on Master of Orion's Cynoids, definitely not the Borg.

BTW: Ground-mounted jump-gates would kill the whole "Uber Fortified Star System" thing about the Home System of my Cyborgs.

Oh, the gates would only be on my worlds, not into other people's. I'll stick to invading by the tried and true method of giant starships.

Adrian Laguna wrote:Is it too late to join-in with a race of Alien Cyborgs? I have a biology (what's left of it), evolutionary history, society (even how they punish malcreants), basic fleet and army make-up (no actual OOB, just a general idea of what I want), religion, and history worked out.


In case anyone is wondering, there is no Hive-mind and they would find Star Trek's Borg to be utterly disgusting what with the "individuality is obsolete" thing they have going. If anything, they are based on Master of Orion's Cynoids, definitely not the Borg.

BTW: Ground-mounted jump-gates would kill the whole "Uber Fortified Star System" thing about the Home System of my Cyborgs.

Perhaps' something like the SMAC:AC Cybernetic Consciousness faction?

And I don't think it's too late. Half the groups haven't posted summaries, and nobody's posted an OOB. I'm working on my own group now.

Considering the fact that I don't think we've agreed on how the points are being spent yet, and one of the senior members said that the STGOD probably wouldn't start until after the New Year when everyone would be less likely to be dragged away from their computers by the holidays, no, I don't think its too late to join in.

And as far as my corsairs go, they would speak some distant dialect of one of the old Age of Silver/Age of Steel languages for the most part, although the Captains and Engineers that go outside their territory would probably pick up a few extra languages to negiotiate surrenders and contracts. Besides, miscommunications are more fun when you can still leap to the right conclusion because one party has someone's entrails in their mouth.

I would post my OOB, but I don't know exactly what to include. I suppose a bare-bones one with names, points, tags, and specials would be fine. Cut out all the fluff and such like weapons loadouts and history/analysis.

It's extremely tentative, for one depending upon 6,000 point Khar Empire with the ship rules given as the final rules. I'm going for a Fleet-focused approach that's sort of a Poor-Man's British Empire. (That's a nicer way of saying my defenses and troops suck ass because I just really needed lots of gigantic ships for no particular reason and I'm too lazy and too fond of my current loadout to mess with the math to even it out...)

The Benefactors (name pending)

An immediate assault of clean air struck the boy’s lungs as he breathed in, his body naturally cycling out the tainted atmosphere in favour of the carefully controlled and filtered environment within the new habitat.

Over the generations his kind had adapted as well as they could to the harsh conditions of the world they had been deposited on, only those strong enough to withstand the long term effects of the gasses cycling every manner of alien toxin through their bodies were surviving to pass on their resistance to the next generation. Human evolution however can only take such a small group so far. This world was slowly killing them.

Their communications gear still functioned, for years it had been calling out for help and for years the only response has been static. By the time the signal was eventually received only the descendants of the survivors remained. For the first time, the stories their elders had told them about the mighty ships of an era long forgotten were starting to come true.

Their proposal was simple. “For those that have made their homes here, we can cure this world with your help. All we ask in return is that some of you return with us and help us do the same for others.”

Little thought was put into the decision. For some it was an opportunity to finally build their communities to a state where they could sustain themselves and provide better lives for all who dwelled there, for others it was a chance to return to the stars, to visit places now only mentioned in the recordings of their ancestors.

Those that followed their would-be benefactors looked behind them to see the entirety of their world for the first time. From space the toxic world could be described as a thing of beauty, a precious jewel lost in an endless black sea. They learned that their new friends were actually recruits themselves, inducted by unknown forces in much the same way as the people of the world visible in the rear had been.

This had been going on for quite some time. They travelled the galaxy seeking out potential candidates for ‘revival’ as some members of the expedition liked to call it. Not all worlds were receptive, but many were and over the years their numbers continued to steadily grow.

They met all manners of race and species in their journey, every now and then they would return home to check up on how things were progressing. They would stay for a while then return to their expedition. Eventually they found themselves training others, once like themselves.

The deeper they became involved with the system, more of the inner workings were revealed to them. The Benefactors had managed to spread their influence across the stars. Each of the worlds involved were already working closely together, supporting and protecting each other in times of need. A union of worlds followed by the birth of a new nation was the next logical step.

Some of those that stayed were invited to the new capital to act as representatives for the respective worlds. In situations like these you may hear of news and statistics about a place. You’ll hear about industry setting up, people immigrating, you may even hear about large vessels being constructed but the concept of the rise of a whole society was often something that could not be understood unless you could see it for yourself.

The world was alive with activity, gargantuan cities had sprawled across the surface and vessels larger then any of the travellers had ever witnessed lay in waiting among mammoth orbital infrastructure. Smaller vessels filled the space lanes, travelling to and from parts unknown.

It soon became apparent what was happening. The stories of their ancestors were coming true. Their system of exploration, aid and recruitment was part of a larger whole. It was as if society was pulling itself up by the bootstraps and putting itself back together. This time however, it was determined to get it right.

“Ah, you must one of the explorers guild inductees.”

“That's right, I was inducted from Khoral. Umm...I don't really know what exactly...Well where do I begin?”

“That's quite alright, most are confused when they first arrive. Your contract with the explorers guild has expired. You may renew it if you wish, or investigate the other alternatives available.”

“Such as?”

“It's a big universe, and you are quite highly qualified due to your time with the explorers guild. I'm sure you'll find something.” The clerk smiled.

Meanwhile, another who had followed a different path was learning a different lesson.

“It's unfortunate that we are not the only power to rise in this age. There are those that may grow to resent us for what we have accomplished, those that may attempt to deprive us of our future. We distance ourselves from international politics where possible. We will avoid open confrontation where necessary or when feasible. Our goal in the defenders guild is to support those who would support us, protect our allies and their interests and encourage them to protect ours. We choose our battles wisely and use our weight to turn the tides of any given conflict in our favor, or to the favor of that which produces the least undesireable outcome. Don't think for a moment that any of this will be easy, our dealings will depend on a great deal of consistency from the other powers that will almost certainly dissapear the moment communications open.”

“How are we to succeed when a key element of success is predicted to vanish before any plans are carried out?”

“The first step was asking that question...”

Elsewhere, on the dark side of the world...

“I've done some searching and there are some inconsistencies. The administration do a good job of keeping everything all nice and neat but I'm starting to get the impression that they don't always agree. I suppose such is typical of most forms of government but something doesn't seem quite right. It's more then likely some peculiar methodology that they've adopted, I guess we'll soon see if there are any undisclosed motivations at work.”

SirNitram wrote:Oh, the gates would only be on my worlds, not into other people's. I'll stick to invading by the tried and true method of giant starships.

Hm, I don't mind gates, as long as they're not used as military invasion tools
Personally, I go for teleportation to get my people around my worlds, especially the Home World. I go for the model of T'ien Shan from Rise of Endymion. Lovely place, all around...

We COULD use small, one-two person at a time gates for diplomatic purposes. Things that can be shut off from one side, or the target anylized while in transit. It'd prevent them from being of any use militarilly... but still offer RP?

Since I ripped off the Ancients, Tau'ri, and Tollan (although maybe not quite in that order) for my power, we've gotta throw stargates into this? I though I said that the gate networks power failed long ago in my faction introduction?

Adrian Laguna wrote: BTW: Ground-mounted jump-gates would kill the whole "Uber Fortified Star System" thing about the Home System of my Cyborgs.

Nah, all that takes is a determined attacker. Turtling= not for t3h w1n.