Planetary Superstructures

AlexanderHowl · 11-14-2018, 07:18 AM

Planetary Superstructures are massive structures that englobe the underlying planet. While they would likely be TL11+ comstructions, they are technically feasible, especially the designs that would use buoyancy to float in the atmospheres of Greenhouse Terrestrial Planets or Small Gas Giants. In the later case, such a structure could be made that possesses dozens of times the surface area of the Earth yet could possess many of the attributes of the Earth, like plate tectonics and continental drift, allowing such an artifact to appear to be natural to long range sensors. Unlike Stellar Superstructures, they do not require superscience, just a lot of time and effort.

Do you have any Planetary Superstructures in your settings? If not, have you ever designed any? If so, would you be willing to share?

naloth · 11-14-2018, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Do you have any Planetary Superstructures in your settings? If not, have you ever designed any? If so, would you be willing to share?

Not like this. In a campaign long ago nearly every well inhabited object had orbiting stuff of various thickness all around it. You could expand the concept to gradually engulf whatever you were ringing completely. Satellites -> Orbital Stations -> Connect the Stations -> Rings of Stations -> Engulfed over time.

That seems easier than trying to get a massive city or planetary structure floating inside the atmosphere.

ericthered · 11-14-2018, 09:34 AM

I've got a game featuring an orbital ring around earth. Its mainly used for cheap space launches. The players are set in the earth-side port of Jakarta, and the goings on from the ring are important to the plot, but the players never go there. I included it to increase Jakarta's importance, and to set the right mood technology wise.

RyanW · 11-15-2018, 09:51 PM

I've run relatively few SF games (and mostly Star Wars when I have), but among the scenarios I've considered are a plot to sabotage the construction of a space elevator, a setting with an orbital ring platform around Earth, and an cyberpunk ecumenopolis.

11-14-2018, 07:18 AM	#1
AlexanderHowl Join Date: Feb 2016	Planetary Superstructures Planetary Superstructures are massive structures that englobe the underlying planet. While they would likely be TL11+ comstructions, they are technically feasible, especially the designs that would use buoyancy to float in the atmospheres of Greenhouse Terrestrial Planets or Small Gas Giants. In the later case, such a structure could be made that possesses dozens of times the surface area of the Earth yet could possess many of the attributes of the Earth, like plate tectonics and continental drift, allowing such an artifact to appear to be natural to long range sensors. Unlike Stellar Superstructures, they do not require superscience, just a lot of time and effort. Do you have any Planetary Superstructures in your settings? If not, have you ever designed any? If so, would you be willing to share?

11-14-2018, 09:34 AM	#3
ericthered Hero of Democracy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: far from the ocean	Re: Planetary Superstructures I've got a game featuring an orbital ring around earth. Its mainly used for cheap space launches. The players are set in the earth-side port of Jakarta, and the goings on from the ring are important to the plot, but the players never go there. I included it to increase Jakarta's importance, and to set the right mood technology wise. __________________ Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one!

11-15-2018, 09:51 PM	#4
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: Planetary Superstructures I've run relatively few SF games (and mostly Star Wars when I have), but among the scenarios I've considered are a plot to sabotage the construction of a space elevator, a setting with an orbital ring platform around Earth, and an cyberpunk ecumenopolis. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.