Still Trotting Out the SF

[Vandren]

A couple SF ideas I've been toying with and would like to turn into a board (if there's interest):

1) Paramilitary SF - following the misadventures of a multi-species group of interstellar mercenaries (potentially very large group)

2) Criminal SF - the dark side of the interstellar play ground of the rich and famous, the Las Vegas of outer space, if you will

Any interest in either?

Ok, not enough interest to get started.

[Caustic]

Suuuure.  Please, do tell... are we talking 'classic' scifi..? 

As for idea no. 1... Ever read "Phule's Company"?  It hadn't crossed my mind in YEARS, but at the mention, "a multi-species group of interstellar mercenaries"... I started laughing, just remembering it... DAMN, IT WAS FUNNY. 

Maybe that might be somewhere to consider..?

OR, are you thinking a Colonial Marine type grit/spit/shit in a pit type gig?

Either way, I'm interested.

[Vandren]

Suuuure.  Please, do tell... are we talking 'classic' scifi..?

Oh, definitely space opera rather than hard SF.  I prefer minimizing the math.  :) 

As for idea no. 1... Ever read "Phule's Company"?  It hadn't crossed my mind in YEARS, but at the mention, "a multi-species group of interstellar mercenaries"... I started laughing, just remembering it... DAMN, IT WAS FUNNY. 

Maybe that might be somewhere to consider..?

I was thinking relatively serious, a largely humor based board/game is, in my experience, very difficult to keep both active and humorous.  Though "Schlock Mercenary" came to mind as I was thinking about the idea/setting (probably just because I've read the Schlock webcomic moe recently than Phule's).

OR, are you thinking a Colonial Marine type grit/spit/shit in a pit type gig?

I was definitely thinking "salute-lite" with uniforms only required for on-duty officers (anyone below Lt./Ensign's uniformless) and minimized spit and polish.  Kind of a semi-laid back captain/head tending to take on jobs that shore up an undermined galactic union (based loosely on the League of Nations - the pre-U.N. that was based on the American Articles of Confederation which basically left the central government powerless save as a figurehead).  A few missions in mind, though with lots of time for "fraternizing".

[Caustic]

A-ight.  I'm here... gonna wait and see as far as ideas go...

[Vandren]

Here're a few more thoughts on both ideas:

Merc
The Galactic Union was formed nearly three hundred years ago.  After over a thousand years of interstellar wars breaking out throughout the known galaxy, many nations were tired and ready to call for peace.  The Union was meant to be an intergalactic government comprised of all nations, species, and worlds.  It was meant to end warfare on any kind of large scale, to bring about peaceful coexistance and diplomatic resolutions to conflicts.  This purpose was undermined from the beginning.  The Union never had any real authorityor power.  It had no provisions to enforce its rulings or laws.  No provisions to build a military to enforce its diplomacy.  Members of its assembly can instantly veto any voted action at will, no matter how much the resolution passes by.  Member nations generally pay lip service to Union ideals, but they fight amongst themselves in the meantime.  Brush fire wars have been going on ever since the Union was created, despite diplomatic attempts to resolve conflicts.  Unbeknownst to virtually any member state, the Union executive council (five elected members sworn to uphold the Union, in thir positions for life) has taken to quietly diverting some funds toward purchasing the services of mercenary companies as “consultants” in order to actually attempt to enforce their diplomatic endeavors.

Crooks (actually song inspired)
Take me down to the Paradise City
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
-   “Paradise City” G’n’R

Paradise City is the playground of the galaxy’s elite.  The rich and famous flock to its spas, casinos, restaurants, hotels, stages, and clubs.  It is said that anything can be had in Paradise City, for the right price.  More importantly, privacy and silence can be bought cheap.  Of course, this is the façade presented to the public.  Beneath the surface, at the fringes, is something quite different . . .

Welcome to the Jungle
We got fun and games
We got everything you want . . .
We are the people that can find whatever you may need
If you got no money, honey, we got your disease
-   “Welcome to the Jungle” G’n’R

The part of Paradise City commonly referred to as The Jungle is home to everything that has been cast out of the rest of the city.  The poor, the downtrodden, two-bit whores, and those who prey upon them call the Jungle their home.  The public law and government end where the Jungle begins.  Taking their place is a collection of crime lords, gangs, self-proclaimed warlords, pimps, and dataminers.  The dregs of a thousand worlds end up in the Jungle, the result of broken dreams of working in the great city and becoming a star.

[Hunter]

If you're looking for something space operaish, might I suggest David Weber's Honor Harrington series as a background?

[Vandren]

If you're looking for something space operaish, might I suggest David Weber's Honor Harrington series as a background?

Read those, some of them.  Personally, I can take 'em or leave 'em.  For military SF reading matter I've always preferred Harry Harrison (the later Stainless Steel Rats) and David Drake (of Hammer's Slammers fame), some of C.J. Cherryh's Union-Alliance space novels.  But, as can be seen below, for this game idea, I've got other ideas in mind.  :)

[MechanicalImpulses]

The criminal game sounds extremely tempting...

[Caustic]

I agree.  I'm particularly interested in The Jungle at the moment... I tried to start a crime-drama called "THE HEIST" but the players who initially expressed interest flaked out.  

Not bitter, just sayin'.  

The setting you described is plenty vivid, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation... is there a central scenario to build characters into?  That might attract more players as well...

[Vandren]

I agree.  I'm particularly interested in The Jungle at the moment... I tried to start a crime-drama called "THE HEIST" but the players who initially expressed interest flaked out. 

Not bitter, just sayin'. 

The setting you described is plenty vivid, and leaves a lot of room for interpretation... is there a central scenario to build characters into?  That might attract more players as well...

Actually, I've been distracted the last day or two (work stuff) and hadn't gotten that far yet.  But I plan on doing so today.  So, I'll get back to you on that tonight.  :)

[Vandren]

Ok, got some time to work on Jungle:

Jungle, The
Take me down to the Paradise City
Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
-   “Paradise City” G’n’R

Paradise City is the playground of the galaxy’s elite.  The rich and famous flock to its spas, casinos, restaurants, hotels, stages, and clubs.  It is said that anything can be had in Paradise City, for the right price.  More importantly, privacy and silence can be bought cheap.  Of course, this is the façade presented to the public.  Beneath the surface, at the fringes, is something quite different . . .

Welcome to the Jungle
We got fun and games
We got everything you want . . .
We are the people that can find whatever you may need
If you got no money, honey, we got your disease
-   “Welcome to the Jungle” G’n’R

The part of Paradise City commonly referred to as The Jungle is home to everything that has been cast out of the rest of the city.  The poor, the downtrodden, two-bit whores, and those who prey upon them call the Jungle their home.  The public law and government end where the Jungle begins.  Taking their place is a collection of crime lords, gangs, self-proclaimed warlords, pimps, and dataminers.  The dregs of a thousand worlds end up in the Jungle, the result of broken dreams of working in the great city and becoming a star.

There’s a new governor in place in Paradise City - Bern Evsli - who is determined to clean up the Jungle and, ultimately, get rid of it.  He’s already sent agents into the region to scope out potential targets and figure out how best to surgically decimate the power structure.  Some of these agents have been eliminated as  a message to the new governor, but this seems only to have strengthened his resolve.  It is only a matter of time before stronger measures are taken against the area that calls itself the lifeblood of Paradise City.

While Evsli is attacking the Jungle from the outside, there is apparently someone on a matching crusade attacking it from within.  Over the last month a couple mid-range gang leaders and bosses have been found murdered, with no one taking credit, as would be normal in one of the constant faction wars.  Current rumors switch between a vigilante and some monster running unchecked through the Jungle.

In the face of both internal and external threats, Jaen “Spider” Seill, a local dataminer and fixer, has determined that the region needs to be unified under one leader.  If that leader happens to be her, so much the better.  To that end, she has called in favors from every mercenary, enforcer, assassin, and bodyguard who has ever worked for her.  As they gather, she’s been approaching other major leaders in an attempt to verbally convince them to join her, ostensibly to combat both Evsli and the shadowy internal threat.

And while politics and aggressive negotiations go on everywhere throughout the region, the majority try to get on with their daily lives and the business of survival without getting caught up in firefights.
_______________________________________________________________________________

As an addendum, I'd already decided on allowing psionics (telepathy and ESP only), but also decided to add sorcery/magic because the supernatural SF stuff has been appealing to me a lot lately.

[Apple of Eris]

Hrm... that sounds like an interesting story. So characters are working for Spider or is it open to also be on the side of the governor?

[MechanicalImpulses]

Count me in...

just gotta think of a workable character.

[Caustic]

Yeah, ok... I like this idea.  I'm still sketchy on the magic meets sci-fi aspects... the opportunity for munchkining are vast there, but it's all in your hands.

I'll PM you a couple of character ideas.

[Vandren]

Hrm... that sounds like an interesting story. So characters are working for Spider or is it open to also be on the side of the governor?

With her, against her, with him, against him . . . knowingly or unknowingly . . . I'm open to characters of all sorts in that regard (might be fun to have a slumming celebrity in the mix too).

I'm still sketchy on the magic meets sci-fi aspects... the opportunity for munchkining are vast there, but it's all in your hands.

Yes, that's possible.  However, there are limits that I'm working into application (honestly, the opportunities aren't any greater than they are with psi stuff introduced, seeing as psi is SF's version of magic anyway).  The three key limits I'm thinking of are: 1) enchantment isn't possible (no magic items), 2) introducing cybernetics/nanotech to the body reduces or wipes out magical talent, borrowed from Shadowrun, I'll admit (haven't decided on genetic engineering, tampering with the genetic code could screw things up too), and 3) mana pockets (areas where it works well, others where it works but not well, and areas where it doesn't work at all). 


Ideally I'm looking for three more intersted parties before requesting a board (realizing that some interested parties won't actually come over).

[Apple of Eris]

I'm interested, I just need to work ou some character ideas. Figure me as a 90% positive. :)

[Vandren]

Oh, and at the moment, I'm thinking BatLE (Midtones) for a section.  Unless anyone would be really heartbroken not to be in NCEF (Heavy).

[MechanicalImpulses]

Midtones is fine...  atleast for me.

[Vandren]

Ok, so that's 2.9 interested.  I'd like at least five or six before requesting a board.  So I'll wait a week (so, say the 17th) and see what happens.  If we get the right number I'll go for it, if not . . . we'll try one of the other ideas rattling about in my head - there's lots of space since it's pretty empty up there.