Premise: TL9^ limited superscience SF, with an emphasis on politics and space combat.
Background: 25 years ago, Regina Isabella, S.A. began colonizing the Helios system under a Micronesian charter. Yesterday, less than two years after the completion of the twin space stations Ithaca and Troy, the system's jump gate, the
Pillars of Herakles, suddenly stopped transmitting. It quickly became clear that the
Pillars of Herakles had been destroyed in an explosion, the causes of which remain undetermined 24 hours later.
This is a 250-point campaign. PCs will start the campaign on or in the immediate vicinity of Ithaca Station. The most likely PC background is an employee of Regina Isabella, as the Helios system's population consists overwhelmingly of RI employees and their families. RI employees have Corporate Rank, which costs 5 points/level. "Station Manager" is Corporate Rank 7—if more than one PC is interested in being Ithaca Station's manager, I might have PCs bid Unusual Background points for it. System Manager Adaeke Obidimkpa would have had Merchant Rank 8, but is presumed dead after the destruction of the
Pillars of Herakles.
Other possible PC backgrounds include Unified Treaty Organization officer (which implies Military Rank) and "rich tourist" (requires minimum Very Wealthy, more likely Filthy Rich). An independently-operating captain, under contract with RI, is also possible, but requires Multimillionaire 1 (or
possibly Filthy Rich, if you have an older ship and a heavy loan to pay off). I might be talked into allowing a non-working family member of an RI employee, but you'd have to take your family member as an Ally, and would need a good explanation of why RI failed to talk an individual with PC-level skills into working for them.
PCs are limited to -30 points in physical and mental disadvantages, not counting disadvantages from a genetic upgrade or the precog lens (below). Dependents are likely, but unless your Dependent will be accompanying you on off-station missions, Frequency of Appearance is capped at 9 or less. Both Corporate Rank and Military Rank require taking Duty (15 or less) [-15].
All TL9 genetic upgrades and cybernetics from
Bio-Tech and
Ultra-Tech are available. A majority of the system's residents have some sort of genetic upgrade that includes Radiation Tolerance (2) [5], with Spacer being common. "Heavy Worlder" is unlikely (but not forbidden), while "Light Worlder" might suggest an older resident who originally came to the system as part of an abortive attempt to establish a research base on one of Cronus' ammonia-covered moons.
Perk-level psychic abilities are known to exist, and widely hypothesized to be a side-effect of jump gate travel. They're not exactly common, though, and require an Unusual Background tax of 1 point per perk (effectively making them cost 2 points/level). More potent psychic abilities are largely unheard of, though some children of jump gate travelers will have the following lens:
Precog (1 Point): HT -1 [-10]; Precognition (Backlash, Stunning, -10%; Passive Only, -20%; Costs 1 FP, -5%; Nuisance Effect, Odd involuntary behavior during vision, -5%) [15]; Unusual Background (Precog) [5]; Distinctive Features (Bulging Forehead) [-1]; Ugly [-8].
AI exists, but AI PCs are forbidden because human-level volitional AI requires a massive computer to run, so the PC wouldn’t be able to leave the station! By default, Ithaca Station’s AIs will be assumed to be non-volitional, but a volitional AI running somewhere on the station’s network could be an interesting Contact.
Cinematic advantages are, in general, allowed, and Gadgeteer may be especially useful (hint hint). Speaking of which, having at least one PC with significant social chops will be a good idea, as will having a PC with some minimal kind of military knowledge.
Most technology TL9 technology from various GURPS sourcebooks is at least theoretically possible, though reactionless drives and combat hardsuits are strictly forbidden, and jump gates are the only known means of FTL travel. The nature of jump gate technology means the
Pillars of Herakles are unlikely to be replaced for decades, stranding the Helios system's residence.
The fact that was once, effectively, a corporate state has been cut off from its headquarters indefinitely raises tricky legal issues, but the previous legal status quo is worth noting. RI-owned ships and stations effectively have Control Rating 4 on board, but an independently-operating captain functions as Control Rating 3. Prior to the
Pillars of Herakles's destruction, the most frequently used law specialty in the system was Law (Regina Isabella Arbitration Committee), but the system is at least theoretically under Micronesian law, making various Micronesian law specialties potentially applicable, along with Law (International Laws of Space) and, for military officers, Law (Unified System of Military Justice).
Character Sheets
Matthew Molan (ericthered)
Anthony Browne (johndallman)
Adrian Morrow (RogerBW)
Michael Freeman (Friendpmcii)
Ginger Thecos (Fnord72)
Sergeant Marcus Kane (Skullcrusher)
IC Thread
Player's Guide (will be used to aggregate information currently spread across many posts)