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Old 02-26-2016, 10:15 AM   #71
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a Space Trader Setting

Auxiliary Question
What happens to Xylysus when they die? Are they rebooted from backups?
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Old 02-26-2016, 12:44 PM   #72
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Question 46

Who discovered who first? The CyKoi have been in space since the 1900s, but didn't spread far, while the Blue Danube Corporation say they're responsible for introducing modern jump drives. What's the full story?

While the CyKoi have been in space for ages, they only made contact with other species about six hundred years ago when a generation ship launched 200 hundred years before finally reached its destination, which happened to have a Rhii trading post. The Rhii then sold them a jump drive, a move they have been regretting for centuries.
Blue Danube built the first proper jump drive in the year 2423, but the story is longer than that. The story really begins with Melvin Scales, a Tau Cetian astronaut, in the year 2308. During a “routine” maneuver to hop towards the then unexplored moons of Kelso (the largest gas giant in Procyon), a computational error made by Scales sent the ship on an unexpected detour 35 light-years away. After weeks of confusion and blame, the ship was rescued by “space whale” and brought to Earth. This led Scales to realize that faster than light travel between star was not only possible, but also controllable. Through collaborations with Jan Dirk, the Dirk-Scales equations were developed. Scales went on to test the equations, and after several false starts, eventually being launched out of solar system, never to meet another human again. Through his (admittedly horrendous) luck, he crash-landed on the Rhii homeworld, where he lived out the rest of his days, eventually dying in the year 2362 at 83. The Rhii civilization received a major kick-start from his arrival, eventually replicating technology from his spacecraft, and spreading outward into space.
Blue Danube was founded shortly after the arrival of Scales on Earth, but for very different reasons. The space elevator constructed long ago on Earth was destroyed by Diverger terrorists, drastically cutting terrestrial access to space. Seeing a golden opportunity, Albrecht Kaufman, an Austrian-Martian aerospace engineer, founded Blue Danube Corporation to market launch vehicles and other space transportation to the terrestrial market, using “clean” chemical rockets that no Earth government regulated against (Fusion rocketry had not been developed yet and fission rockets have been banned for terrestrial flight since the Constellation incident of 2092). The company expanded quickly, managing to outlast many of its rivals after the replacement elevator was constructed. However, in 2413 their niche was destroyed with the completion of the Venerian elevator (the Martian elevator was finished in 2382). Facing massive layoffs, Annika Kaufman started a crash program investigating the Dirk-Scales Equations and the possibility of a “controlled jump” drive. The project made a breakthrough in 2418, which led to the ground-breaking of the “Endeavour” in 2321. Endeavour made its first flight in 2325, to return Tau Ceti’s astronauts (Many of the astronauts decided to return to cold-sleep until a return trip to Tau Ceti could be arranged, others requested their remains to be returned when possible, and one sleeper went missing). Exploration of outward began in shortly afterward, with Tuyet Tran making first contact between humans and CyKoi around 2532, shortly after they met the Rhii. The Rhii met humanity officially in 2564, leading to much confusion on how they were able to speak English. Rhii jump drives then were subsumed by Human jump drives, giving BDC a monopoly on the technology ever since.

Auxiliary Question
What happens to Xylysus when they die? Are they rebooted from backups?

For the Xylysus, death is a complicate situation. Reproduction of consciousness isn’t possible yet; even as simple as copying. As such, the computer brains of Xylysus are practically impossible to destroy, unless one is using anti-tank weapons against them, is incredibly lucky, or the destruction is deliberately intended. However, unless the Xylysus disconnects before damage to their shell reaches an extreme point, the experience will cause severe trauma that can change them entirely, which some consider death.

Question 47
Why did that man in the fedora give me 5 million Thay-D to transport this briefcase?
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Old 02-26-2016, 02:06 PM   #73
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a Space Trader Setting

Well it could be anything in the case. Getting things past the various Marshals and Undercovers is never easy, those guys get the best toys. The Mercury based Solar Cartels sometimes use proxies to move High Output Thermoelectric devices to disaffected minorities. I've heard rumours about antimatter but I thought that was just the usual scare mongering. After last month's raids unsecured Teedees (Programable transdermal patches*) will be in high demand. You don't think it's the stolen Gaiaplague do you !? "Listen to me I'm babbling, hey Wing get me a double Oran Tzu. Oh yeah, You have the right to remain silent . . . . . ."

Question 48
How would you describe earth's central government? How does it interact with colonies and traders on its distant boundaries (and beyond).

Random technology, Modules. The utility of a Module (mod, casez, egg, dule, stik-eze among many other names)is hard to overstate. The usually ovoid cases are used everywhere, wrapping around another component (sensors, weapons, tools) they can be attached to just about anything and interface with a variety of control software. You can use the attachment panel as a handle with one simple twist. The streamlined casing in filled with charge matrix so the module itself is the power source for whatever is inside. Military examples are self aligning when stuck to a rifle so are typically used in an underslung fashion. The armed forces also use them as mines, grenades and even sentries. As well as the standard suit attachment plate some spacer versions even have cold gas thrusters built in.


*medical equipment, Doctor's printer, produces medicine in Teedee, pill and solution form. Central government tightly controls the supply of "blank medicine"
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Old 02-26-2016, 10:28 PM   #74
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a Space Trader Setting

The Librarian
The Library of the ashes is housed in what some believe was a vast precursor ship. Some twenty three kilometers long the hull is over four hundred meters thick in some places. While the Hull itself is certainly precursor technology everything else that has been seen within is either human made or a product of one of the twelve species.

The Librarian is also a mystery referred to as Gorin or simply Librarian, people who have glimpsed his hands and face claim his skin is reptilian. With wide shoulders and long, heavy arms his frame conforms with no know species. Mutant, Genetic creation or unknown alien race he has ensured that the Library's agents are well equiped and proficient at their tasks.

Which ever system the library is visiting experiences a surge in activity. The library's visitors are a many and varied lot and the steady income they bring ensures the librarian's continue their work. The great ship seldom ventures into space claimed by central governments preferring to remain on the fringes.
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Old 02-27-2016, 01:38 PM   #75
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"Earth" doesn't really exist as a single political group. There are too many corporations and nations fighting (in the political sense, for the most part,) to control Earth. Some modern political scientists consider Earth to be "the most successful anarchy," and certainly in comparison to colonies it's chaotic.

It should have been obvious, in hindsight, that nationalist colonies would declare independence, since generally they have far more resources and fewer external pressures than their parent nation.

Question: What's a common foodstuff seen in space and on colony worlds?
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Old 02-27-2016, 08:30 PM   #76
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Question 49
What's a common foodstuff seen in space and on colony worlds?

Potato based foods in general and potato chips in particular. Potatoes have a long history in space, starting with apparently what was a PR stunt on an early Mars. The potato continued its dominance in space one part tradition, one part versatility, and one part because it can be used for alcohol production as fuel and as a beverage. Potato chips became popular for preservation and variety of flavors on long voyages in ration kits. Potatoes have the distinction being one of the few foods that all species find inoffensive.

Question: Where does one hire assassins and other criminals for hire?
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Old 02-27-2016, 09:37 PM   #77
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Question 50
Where does one hire assassins and other criminals for hire?

If you have the connections there are various Diverger factions that are willing to lend out enhanced muscle. They do tend to charge a pretty Thay-P though as the come back is usually targeted at them. If your Xenorelations are up to it you can try and hire a Rhii ship. Remember Mutton makes an excellent gift, something about it appeals to the Rhii palette and it doesn't disagree with them like most other earth food. The Solar cartels can be a good source of heavily armed thugs but once you deal with them once you can end up dealing with them for the rest of your life.
The gang scene on earth is place to go to get people who can steal or beat systems. There is nothing like spending 10 generations locked in an arcology to breed a better criminal.
Most activity that people want to conceal from the authorities happens close to stars, nothing like a vast fusion reaction to provide cover.

Genuine assassins are harder to find unless you have contacts with the ex-military, all those former special forces types who where over trained and conditioned. Maybe if you can find the right bar and start asking, some one should find you. Now hopefully they will be willing to kill someone else for your money.

Rumors exist though about the outcast CyKoi who become ritual assassins or "TenKey" to restore standing to their families. They don't work quickly, they strive for the perfect kill and with honor fulfilled commit Formal Suicide on their clans land. Its just an arco myth about the Insane Xylysus who joined that group and that after every assassination he ritually kills himself and then gets rebuilt ready to start again. Its crazy having a 9 foot tall robotic trained killer who can fit down a ventilation shaft and walk on the walls and ceiling, isn't it?

Question
You are tucking your Jump Navigator into his bunk and he asks for a scary bedtime story. (long story, but next time you are celebrating making a 25 light year journey in two jumps don't let your navigator do Teedees from "this cool guy I met in the bar toilets who was like totally trustworthy")
What story do you tell?

Random sky hook rumor: The Xylysus are planning a naval refit and are desperate to get their hands on high tech.
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Old 02-29-2016, 07:12 PM   #78
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a Space Trader Setting

In hand sight that question is probably answered in the section above. How about this one then.

How do pirates operate?
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Old 03-01-2016, 08:30 AM   #79
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a Space Trader Setting

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How do pirates operate?
Hit and run. You hang out in a civilized system, fake your paperwork, and pick a target. disable/intimidate them, grab their valuables and then Jump far far away and trust your navigator to figure out where you are.

At least that's what the best and scariest ones do. The crappy ones struggle to get close enough to a target to hit it, and there are a variety of tactics to close with a target: but that's always the hard part: getting close to a target. Running is easy.

Question: You just discovered a habitable world. Who owns it? and to what degree?
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Old 03-01-2016, 08:35 AM   #80
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Question: How do pirates operate?
Answer: Pirates are split into three groups, from least to most important, Kidnappers, Campers, and Raiders.

Kidnappers are generally lumped in with pirates. Generally, they suddenly overpower a vessel and take the crew and craft hostage. Other times, they pose as passengers or in need of help, and takes the ship that gives them passage or comes to rescue them. Rarely, they kidnap specific people on planets. Generally, they are expecting a payoff from the crew, though they intend to steal the ship and sell the crew into slavery.

Campers tend to hide-out in an unoccupied system with a gas-giant with suitable fuel for jump-drives, between two important trading points. When a vessel stops there to refuel, the pirates surprise attack them stealing the cargo, and then slaughtering or enslaving all aboard. Secrecy is the most important for these pirates.

Raiders come down upon lightly defended systems or more heavily defended systems that are distracted with other problems. They overpower the local resistance and extort a tax on ships that wish to trade. Some semi-officially defend systems from other pirates in exchange for regular tribute, though this only lasts until any government cares to change that. Some systems are so controlled by raiders that other pirates regularly exchange their wares there.

EDIT: Shoot, a simultaneous post. I'd just wedge a fourth group [Runners], which would act as ericthered described.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericthered View Post
Question: You just discovered a habitable world. Who owns it? and to what degree?
That depends. First you need to check whether indigenous sapient species occupies the planet. If so, the question becomes whether you can ignore them without too much trouble. Too much bad PR comes from conflicts with primitives and social integration. If not, then first colonization rights go to the owner(s) of the ship, unless contracted otherwise. Surprisingly many megacorps put riders on shipping contracts that colonization rights revert to the megacorp with a small finders fee. Few traders complain, the extra $500 advance on every contract is helpful for paying down loans on ships. However, after a 30 year period anybody is allowed to colonize the planet if it remains unoccupied.

Question: Do passengers regularly travel from system to system? If so, what are normal rates? When are rates higher than normal?

Last edited by TGLS; 03-01-2016 at 08:52 AM. Reason: simultaneous post
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