NationStates Jolt Archive

Edit: Recruiting closed for the time being

Right, here's an idea I'd like to try out, if I can raise some sort of interest among those players here who are interested in decent sci-fi RP and storytelling, without the dubious technowanking and godmodding that is all too prevalent in any freeform RP environment.

Basically, I want to get together a group of players to try out RPing in a closed environment (say, a star system or two with 5-6 nations in, and no outside influences, or at most, strictly limited outside influences) with a standard technology base. I'm well aware of the joys of freeform RP and everyone doing what they want as creatively as they want, but I'd like to, if I may, conduct an experiment in cooperatively RPing in a cohesive and coherent universe, even if it is a Microcosm, with plots that draw together (or tear apart) and generally affect all members of that universe.

It will probably mean creating a new nation strictly for the purpose, rather than crowbaring in an existing nation, but this then has the advantage that all nations are of relatively equal wealth and influence at the start, and that cultures can be designed from scratch while taking into account the other members of the universe.

This would be an exercise in cooperative world building as much as RP, and with the right players and attitude, it could be a whole load of fun. Anyone interested in working with me on this?

OOC: I certainly would be interested in something along these lines. I have always been interested in Sci Fi and have been meaning to start up a future tech nation for a while now.

Drop me a line (this is one of my modern nations.)

BUMP

I'm working on a few ideas for the setting; perhaps a large trinary system with a lot of planets, rather than multiple star systems, so that FTL travel and communications don't have to come into consideration too much.

Of course, I'm not going to go into huge amounts of detail, until I can get 5 or 6 people interested...

OOC: I would be quite interested.

This nation is one of a tribe of primitive reptillian beings with something of a distrust for technology.

I would be more than willing to contribute a reptillian element to this roleplay.

Sign me up on this one.

Excellent. two or three more people, and then we can get down to discussing the actual setup.

BUMP

A third, equally helpful Bump

Id be intrested to, but what kind of time involvement are we talking here?

Id be intrested to, but what kind of time involvement are we talking here?
Exactly my thought.

Good Question... I wasn't thinking it'd take up more time than any other RPing. The main goal is to create a consistent universe, so we can take as much or as little time as works best. I'm not thinking it's something where everyone will have to commit to posting 50 times a day for the next ten years. I suppose it'll last until either we get bored or jolt explodes.

So this is a colonization RP?

So this is a colonization RP?

Er... no, I don't remember saying that.

Ok ,sounds fair, fluid timscale and all..

count me in

BUMP

Cooperative worldbuilding? Count me in!

Although it's a shame I can't use my main nation. It's teh ub3r. Sometimes the balance of power really needs a huge, fat corporate run militaristic nation, you know? No? Well think about it, if we need some large colonizing or otherwise influential force, I'm always available.

That said I think we should define whats meant by standardized tech base. And also elaborate on the system exactly, maybe some history, so I can create an appropriate nation (or planet?). Like with tech base, for an optimal closed system kind of thing, I'd recommend no FTL ability, no FTL travel, no gravity control, but perhaps controlled fusion for propulsion, spinning and other acceleration for artificial gravity, lasers and projectiles. Basically, early to mid future tech. But that's just me.

Cooperative worldbuilding? Count me in!

Although it's a shame I can't use my main nation. It's teh ub3r. Sometimes the balance of power really needs a huge, fat corporate run militaristic nation, you know? No? Well think about it, if we need some large colonizing or otherwise influential force, I'm always available.

That said I think we should define whats meant by standardized tech base. And also elaborate on the system exactly, maybe some history, so I can create an appropriate nation (or planet?). Like with tech base, for an optimal closed system kind of thing, I'd recommend no FTL ability, no FTL travel, no gravity control, but perhaps controlled fusion for propulsion, spinning and other acceleration for artificial gravity, lasers and projectiles. Basically, early to mid future tech. But that's just me.

Well, I wasn't going to start defining stuff until there were enough people interested, so that everyone who's going to be in on it can define it all cooperatively. While I'm not keen on going too ubertech, because I don't think there should be a magic-tech answer to every problem, there has to be enough fancy made-up stuff in there to keep it cinematic. I'm in favour of limiting it to a single star system in order to rule out the necessity of FTL (and to keep n00bs out ;) ), rather than actually being opposed to the concept of FTL; makes it simpler if everyone can go from A to B without having to change plane of existence :P

In fact, a preliminary star system plan I've drawn up can be seen here: http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/fricasso/System1.jpg. Each star can have a collection of planets around it, including one or two in its habitable zone, so everyone can have an earth-like capital world if they want. To give an idea of Scale, the distance from Helios to Zon is about the distance from Sol to Pluto. Of course, I'm open to suggestions for renaming all the stars; at the moment, they're just named after the word for sun or star in random languages.

I'm not too concerned about whether or not we allow artificial gravity. It's one of those things that I consider largely superficial. More thoughts, anyone?

Interesting; I might take part, depending on how things work out.

And I'd recomend having an isolated cluster of maybe a dozen relativly close stars; plenty of room to avoid crouding, without doing something silly like droping multipule inhabbitible planets around each member in a trinary.

An inertialess drive, like LDS from I-WAR, capible of near-light travel but with limits would allow relativly fast transit times; months to a few years to reach the nearest neighbours, maybe a decade or two to cross the space. Placing the cluster outside the galaxy would create a fairly isolated scenario. Alternativly, you could have something akin to a wormhole network.

It would also allow greater freedom in faction creation; you could easily have several races evolve independently, while others could be decendents from stranded exploration/prospector/colony ships.

... plenty of room to avoid crouding

Crowding is necessary, though, as it will lead to conflict for space and resources.

... something silly like droping multipule inhabbitible planets around each member in a trinary.

That is exactly what I'm doing! Muahahahaha!

Besides, as far as I can see, it's improbable, not impossible.

Crowding is necessary, though, as it will lead to conflict for space and resources.


Negative; this can be acheived via proper enviromental set up. A scarcity of key resources, failing homeworld enviroments forcing emmigration into space, radiation limiting habbitible areas, etc.

Regaurdless, crowding will happen as nations grow.


That is exactly what I'm doing! Muahahahaha!

Besides, as far as I can see, it's improbable, not impossible.

Borderline; like finding a pulsar that spells out your name in morris code.

And a degree of seperation allows for first contact scenarios and a decent starting tech base. Unless you want a scenario where we've already been mingling sense befor the start, or where we start off little more advanced than modern-tech.

I like the map. Kudos. Um, well you know, near future tech can be damn cinematic, just because its shunned by SW and ST and B5 and every other cinematic sci-fi franchise :P I think one system is still best, and with travel times ranging from weeks to months IC would be nifty, and allow for plenty of resource fighting without having to involve other star systems. If we start with higher tech involving reasonably timed interstellar travel then its hard to justify the isolation, since why fight for the resources of one star system if I can just go find another?

Borderline; like finding a pulsar that spells out your name in morris code.

The chances of life spontaneously evolving on two worlds within 500 LY of each other is probably borderline/negligibe, but it's a general assumption that forms the basis of a large portion of sci-fi.

The chances of all three members of a properly structured trinary system (where the stars never come within 20AU of each other) each having satellites in their liquid-water zones is more probable. Whether these planets are terraformed or naturally earth-like is open for discussion. I'd rather keep the scenario tight and crowded, to maximise conflict over resources, and contrive a single-system setup, to make any FTL excuses unnecessary.

Plus, if we're all in the same system, then we can spy on each other with high-powered telescopes :D


And a degree of seperation allows for first contact scenarios and a decent starting tech base. Unless you want a scenario where we've already been mingling sense befor the start, or where we start off little more advanced than modern-tech.

I was thinking of starting out post first contact, as is the case with standard NS nations, although if anyone wants to start pre-contact, then I'm sure we can work around it.

I like the map. Kudos. Um, well you know, near future tech can be damn cinematic, just because its shunned by SW and ST and B5 and every other cinematic sci-fi franchise :P I think one system is still best, and with travel times ranging from weeks to months IC would be nifty, and allow for plenty of resource fighting without having to involve other star systems. If we start with higher tech involving reasonably timed interstellar travel then its hard to justify the isolation, since why fight for the resources of one star system if I can just go find another?

I think an optimum travelling speed would be something like 1AU per 24 hours. So some planets will be 10 or so hours apart, whereas crossing the system from one side to the other will take two or three months.

I'd love to participate in an RP like this. I'm not sure if I'd want to participate in the environment's creation too much, though. I'd have more fun just dealing with whatever role the rest of the group puts me in. Underdog nation, crucial territory holder, or top of the pile. Anything works for me. I just like roleplaying.

Okay, maybe a bit more info on how this highly contrived trinary system will work. Refer to the map several posts above.

The central star, Helios, is a yellow-orange giant of several Sol masses, which is heavy enough for all the other objects in the system to orbit, rather than orbiting a common centre of gravity. Because it is so large and bright, the habitable zone for Helios is a full 8 AU out from the star, and is wide enough to contain 2 or 3 earth-like planets.

Zon is about 40 AU from Helios, roughly the same distance as Pluto is from Sol. At this distance, Helios appears as just an extraordinarily bright star, and casts light probably no brighter than moonlight on earth. Zon is a Sol-like star, with its habitable zone at 0.8-1.5AU, so may contain one habitable world, and maybe one borderline habitable world.

Saule is about 80AU from Helios, and is also Sol-like, with maybe one habitable world.

The Red Dwarf Etoile, which has about 60-70% Sol's mass, orbits Saule at about 16AU, which is close to the distance of Uranus from Sol. Its habitable zone is only about 0.4 AU, the distance of Mercury from Sol, and probably only one planet will be habitable. The light this planet recieves will mostly be a dull orangey red, meaning earth-type plants will have trouble photosynthesising, so this world will probably have a particularly unique ecosystem, if it has any at all.

All in all, the system can have around 15-20 planets, and various asteroid belts. More thoughts, anyone?

I was thinking of starting out post first contact, as is the case with standard NS nations, although if anyone wants to start pre-contact, then I'm sure we can work around it.

I've never liked pre-RP relations, especially in a scenario as.. confined as this; I always opt for pre-contact. Such close proximity makes decent pre-contact tech impossible; hell, even with modern tech we could already be lobbing nukes at each other. If there was an inhabbited planet where RL Mars is, we'd have been chatting with them on the radio over a century befor we could get there.

Okay, lets review our list of potential participants.

Saurika
Euro Switzerland
Wandering Argonians
Danneland
Dargonese
Santa Barbara
Xanthal

And possibly Kanuckistan.

I suppose that means I shall have to call a halt to recruiting, before the system becomes any more contrived, and we can get down to world building.

Some civilisations will likely have to share a planet, but that can work fine too... after all, individual unified world governments are probably rare. Anyone interested in sharing a world? Hands up? ;)

The way this is going to work, at least, I reckon, is we have a general RP thread in NS or II which has no particular unifying plot, but we just post any in-character actions and exposition in, and develop characters and background during downtime between major RPs. Then, if any of the interactions in the general RP thread flare up into a major plot, it can be shoved into its own thread.

So, I guess, the time has come for everyone to hurl forth their ideas and such. I'll see about getting an off site forum for OOC discussions once we're getting somewhere.

I've never liked pre-RP relations, especially in a scenario as.. confined as this; I always opt for pre-contact. Such close proximity makes decent pre-contact tech impossible; hell, even with modern tech we could already be lobbing nukes at each other. If there was an inhabbited planet where RL Mars is, we'd have been chatting with them on the radio over a century befor we could get there.

Well, since it's a closed system, where we know who all the other participants are, we can define before RPing begins what our previous relations with other civs have been. Something as simple as 'had a few indecisive wars, uneasy peace for a while, now share a few trade routes' would serve as a basis for RP to start, but we can go into more detail.

Also, it's worth noting, that this kind of contact would likely act as a catalyst to rapid development of space technology.

I'd be perfectly willing to share a planet if that is necessary.

Region! Oh, yes, region, that's what I was thinking about the other day. I'm going to make a region for this RP to go in, but first we have to decide what to call said region...

1AU/12 hours, sounds ok.

I wouldn't mind sharing a planet, that would give me a chance to be something other than a world civilization.

First, I am most willing to share a planet. Infaqt, I think we all should share the same planet from the begining. As it has been pointed out, the chances of two planets with life on them in the same system is rather odd. Im not saying it cant happend, but the numbers speak against it.

And more to it, if we all began on the same planet we would all know one another. No need to go "Hi, we are the backstreetboys. We hail you from our bla bla bla planet come in peace or die".
We all have those nations we like, and those we dont like, lets just say that everyone went into colonizing space at the same time.
Mutch as what European nations did with what is now USA.
And why only limit ourselves to nations? In a spaceydey solarsystems there must be religious intrests, corporations, individuals and so on.. I mean, the mining part will be a huge rp itselfe with all the coprorations who want to lay their hands on the profit. Between planet passanger liners, space is a dirty buisness, not only nations want to explore it. Im all for that we all start on the same planet and explore the system with or against one another.

I agree, that perhaps it would be a good idea to have a designated homeworld, although I think if WA is adding a reptillian element, two homeworlds might be in order. I don't think we should let odds stand in the way of the initial setup too much, so long as they are just improbabilities and not impossibilities.

I'd prefer to have several worlds inhabited at the start, though, firstly so that things aren't too slow to get going, and also because otherwise the initial action will be mostly limited to the homeworld.

I agree, that perhaps it would be a good idea to have a designated homeworld, although I think if WA is adding a reptillian element, two homeworlds might be in order. I don't think we should let odds stand in the way of the initial setup too much, so long as they are just improbabilities and not impossibilities.

I'd prefer to have several worlds inhabited at the start, though, firstly so that things aren't too slow to get going, and also because otherwise the initial action will be mostly limited to the homeworld.


Hm, lets say we all start from the same world, however, we have all established a few/some colonies allready, corporations have begun mining asteroidfields and other planets. Some colonies have allready claimed their independence and so forth. That way we would all have the same history, but still be able to start on other world.. I hope ya'll understand what I mean :S

I think I'm going to save the material I was preparing and sit this one out; I've a fair bit on my plate as is, and I'd rather not add more if it's not something I'd really be into.

I think I'm going to save the material I was preparing and sit this one out; I've a fair bit on my plate as is, and I'd rather not add more if it's not something I'd really be into.

Fair enough. I know sci-fi is one of those genres where everyone has their own opinions as to what should and shouldn't work.

Hm, lets say we all start from the same world, however, we have all established a few/some colonies allready, corporations have begun mining asteroidfields and other planets. Some colonies have allready claimed their independence and so forth. That way we would all have the same history, but still be able to start on other world.. I hope ya'll understand what I mean :S

Sounds reasonable enough. I think the homeworld should be one of those ludicrously overpopulated, resource-starved worlds, possibly with serious environmental issues, governed by several large super powers that have assimilated all the previous nations, making colonising other worlds an attractive prospect to people.

Because it would take decades for a newly colonised world to build up infrastructure and population, starting off with a few already well established colonies would cut out that stretch of time, so that the system has more than one interesting planet to visit.

Sounds reasonable enough. I think the homeworld should be one of those ludicrously overpopulated, resource-starved worlds, possibly with serious environmental issues, governed by several large super powers that have assimilated all the previous nations, making colonising other worlds an attractive prospect to people.

Because it would take decades for a newly colonised world to build up infrastructure and population, starting off with a few already well established colonies would cut out that stretch of time, so that the system has more than one interesting planet to visit.

Sounds good.. all good. As for the tech part I agree with no FTL.. other than that.. I have nothing further at the moment. :)

If it's going to be a closed community, I think that a no-FTL rule would be conductive to that.

Hmm and it could be no-FTL via either

a: FTL travel in this universe is just impossible to achieve (not that you can't spend gobs of money on research toward it, it'll just never produce a working and safe method)

b: FTL travel in this universe just hasn't been 'discovered' yet, but could be later on.

Right now I'm leaning towards a, but it doesn't really matter.

Anyway the Commonwealth of Ual has been created! It'll be on that main planet.

When everyone's made their nation and arrived in the region, we can discuss culture and history and suchlike.

Tagged.