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Old 07-28-2017, 10:16 AM   #11
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a military sci-fi setting

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A9: The earth was being abandoned right about when the alien ship crashed because of an imminent pole shift. The pole shift took about 200 years and now there is a rush to recolonize the newly habitable planet.

Q10: What's the keystone doctrine for the Martian military (For example the US had Air-Land-Sea Battle while the Soviets had the "Deep Battle" theory.)
A10: Whereas most saw the alien ecosystem invading Sol as a threat, the martians saw an opportunity. Already proficient in bioengineering from centuries of terraforming efforts, they quickly turned the alien fauna into deadly bioweapons, deployed in advance of an occupying force.

Q11: What's the social structure of the sapient aliens stranded in the system and their relationship to the leading human factions?
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Old 07-28-2017, 12:32 PM   #12
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Answer 11

As there was a large number of races on the ark, this question would have to be answered separately for each of them.

However, one species that has widely integrated into different human societies and polities is the Bahz. Nicknamed Luckers or Flukes, their society and general decision making process is strongly based on gambling and betting. While this might generate weirdly random outcomes on occasion, they have a well-honed assessment of risk and reward which overall tends to lead their society toward growth and success.

Bahz will accept any bet in principle, as long as the stakes are appropriate. For example, a subordinate might challenge the captain for his command based on the outcome of a die roll, and he would accept the challenge by setting the odds at 100-1, or by only agreeing to forfeit command for an hour.

Many humans, sharing the same gambling bent, often get along well with Bahz, and particularly lucky Bahz individuals have made their way into high positions in human society. On the other hand, most people get tired or annoyed with the Bahz habit of trying to make every interaction a game or gamble of some sort.

The Bahz diaspora can be found across the Solar System, but their main self-ruled enclave is a triple rimmed Bishop Ring-style habitat parked in the Sun-Mars L4, and is called Thankless.

Question 12
How many civilised or civilisable races were deposited here from the ark?
How many have survived and flourished to a noticeable level in the present day?
How many semi-sentient or animalistic species were there as well?

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A while ago there was this Sci-fi setting game.
You beat me to the punch! I was only yesterday pondering whether to boot up another setting thread.
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Old 07-28-2017, 01:26 PM   #13
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A12

Civilized? About 8-12; depending on your definition of "civilized". Some have traditions differing from the norm so sharply that only the most xenophilic would call them civilized.

For example, the Khorchon have a complicated system of dominance that is often violent, slaughter the children of enemies, as well as practice cannibalism. It is important to remember that not all civilizations are monospecies, and many polyspecies civilizations predate the crash by hundreds of years.

Many species were wiped out or rendered non-viable during the crash. A few have gone into cold sleep until they can be returned to viability.

Each species taken on board had a large habitat similar to their homeworld constructed for them, as well as a selection of animal species. Only one species, the Chekta (AKA "fuzz rabbit"), had any viability as an uplift species.

Q13
Energy weapons or slugthrowers?
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Old 07-28-2017, 02:28 PM   #14
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Q13
Slug throwers are far and away the most common weapon in the system. The recent improvements in armour have forced some changes however. Most human armies have stockpiles of chemical and ETC assault rifles whose effectiveness is questionable against newer armour. As a result there are many new approaches being taken. Newer high ROF weapons and high caliber weapons are competing with early lasers, magnetic weapons and stranger tools of destruction.

The average militiamen have older slug throwers, while the standard soldier has a reworked slug thrower designed to maintain its effectiveness against superior armour. Numerous other weapons are used in unit level support roles. The sniper or machinegun operator for example may have a laser type weapon. Higher end combatants may have access to any of a range of weapon technologies. The cash strapped Pacewest special forces for example are equiped with exoskeletons and ancient .50 caliber machine guns while the more affluent Siberia Alliance favour coil guns. (Using WW2 as an analogy hightech assault carbines are the sten gun equivalent)

Q14
The EU orbital peacekeepers intend to use the R-J-37 "rocket" rifle as a primary weapon, How would you describe this weapon?
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Old 07-28-2017, 11:18 PM   #15
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Q14
The EU orbital peacekeepers intend to use the R-J-37 "rocket" rifle as a primary weapon, How would you describe this weapon?
A14: Determined to bring some semblance of order to Earth's "orbital jungle", the EU deployed the Peacekeepers as an elite first-response task-force capable of swiftly handling orbital threats and ensure a smooth repopulation of the planet. Clad in vacuum-proof SmartSkins capable of gravitic propulsion, each Peacekeeper is the equivalent of an armored strike craft. Their signature armament, the R-J-37 rifle, fires 25mm gyrojet rockets with modular warheads - standard shipboard low-penetrator, plasma "platebreaker," EMP, neuroshock, thermobaric explosive, "casaba howitzer" airburst, etc. Each R-J unit is fed from three separate 8-round magazines arranged around the barrel, allowing for quick ammo selection. Ideal for microgravity conditions, the gyrojets often coordinate with the Peacekeepers' Familiars, overwatch drones that provide advanced sensors and missile guidance.

Q15: How is the repopulation of Earth going? Who's leading the charge and who opposes them? What has made its lair down there in our absence?
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Old 07-29-2017, 12:55 AM   #16
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Answer 15

The Venerians are leading the push to recolonize the Earth. The desire for flat land not in the upper atmosphere has led to the settlement of nearly 50 million in the past few decades. Others groups are less interested because of the comparatively higher gravity on Earth (most orbital colonies maintain lower gravities than Earth).

Some groups of environmentalists oppose resettlement of the Earth, wanting to maintain it as a massive nature preserve, but most actions have been confined to peaceful protest.

Also on the Earth, a small factions of radical roboticists, survivalists, and genetic caste governments have maintained underground bases designed to weather the pole shifts. Most have determined the surface is habitable and are moving up.

Question 16

In general, are wars fought to blockade, to ground invasion, or something more exotic?
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Old 07-29-2017, 03:43 AM   #17
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a military sci-fi setting

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Originally Posted by doulos05 View Post
A9: The earth was being abandoned right about when the alien ship crashed because of an imminent pole shift. The pole shift took about 200 years and now there is a rush to recolonize the newly habitable planet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TGLS View Post
Also on the Earth, a small factions of radical roboticists, survivalists, and genetic caste governments have maintained underground bases designed to weather the pole shifts. Most have determined the surface is habitable and are moving up.
As a side note or clarification- what are the purported effects of a polar shift that would necessitate a complete evacuation of the Earth? Realistically, there don't seem to have been any extinctions caused by previous pole reversals, and predicted effects are minor things like ozone holes, increased skin cancer rates and technological disruption, which should be reasonably easy to cope with at a moderately advanced tech level.

Are we just going for extreme levels of solar radiation influx? I'd expect that to be easily dealt with technologically before evacuating billions of people to Mars.

Or are there serious secondary effects, such as extreme climate change, volcanic eruptions and subsequent airborne ash extinction, or excessive seismic activity?

Or, are we looking at more exotic effects?
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Old 07-29-2017, 07:23 AM   #18
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Default Re: [Game] Generate a military sci-fi setting

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Question 16

In general, are wars fought to blockade, to ground invasion, or something more exotic?
somewhere in between, but ground invasions are the most common end. This isn't necessarily conquest, but nothing proves that "I won" like landing troops and taking stuff. And nothing says "but I'm still in the fight" like repelling such forces. This is not to say that conquest is the goal of most wars: forcing terms on your opponent is just as likely.

Question 17:

How big was that original ark? how many people were in it?

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As a side note or clarification- what are the purported effects of a polar shift that would necessitate a complete evacuation of the Earth? Realistically, there don't seem to have been any extinctions caused by previous pole reversals, and predicted effects are minor things like ozone holes, increased skin cancer rates and technological disruption, which should be reasonably easy to cope with at a moderately advanced tech level.

Are we just going for extreme levels of solar radiation influx? I'd expect that to be easily dealt with technologically before evacuating billions of people to Mars.

Or are there serious secondary effects, such as extreme climate change, volcanic eruptions and subsequent airborne ash extinction, or excessive seismic activity?

Or, are we looking at more exotic effects?
Agreed. Remember the previous questions folks. We have 1 trillion in this system. We have anti-electronics easily available. We have a large portion if not a majority of people living in orbital habitats. We have reactionless drives and psi in some aliens. All of these imply a lot.
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Old 07-29-2017, 07:07 PM   #19
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A17 The ark was a vast vessel, essentially a huge skeleton occupied by a vast number of habitat cylinders. 31416 habitats to be exact each a little over a mile long. Containing maybe 120 million living sentient beings and many more in less active states of being. As it approached the Solar system it began to broadcast a friendly message that included a gift of several technologies to help advance spacefaring including the gravitaic drive. These technologies caused great economic disruption and some human groups began to believe that the Arc was here for unfriendly reasons. The forthcoming polar shift on earth had been predicted for some time and almost every nation and large group had moved resources into orbit. Several megacorporate entities had already begun large scale manufacturing in space as a result of climate change legislation. With the help of the Arc's technology (known as Exotec) three space elevators had been constructed.

The Arc at this stage was still several decades away from Jupiter and negotiations where beginning to do with the exchange of the Arc's Exotec and services for access to genetic material and colony space on Venus.*

It was at this stage that the Arc alerted humanity to a surge in solar activity that would coincide with the pole. Some human groups took this as a threat. Either way Earth wasgoing to be a hostile environment for several years. The UN security council took the unexpected turn of (inter)nationalizing the orbital manufacturing facilities and began to mass produce habitats for humanity. Many other groups choose to impliment digital uploads to shielded facilities on earth and in orbit.

Humanity was leaving earth in droves when the Arc passed through the orbit of Jupiter. No one knows exactly what happened at this point but a large nuclear type explosion was detected in the rear section of the Arc. The habitats acting as life boats separated from the Arc and moved to primarily Jovian positions.

Unfortunately for Earth the Arc was on a complicated breaking trajectory that would have taken it into earth's orbit. While large chunks of the Arc fell into Jupiter a barrage of pieces headed towards earth. With 2 years warning the exodus was accelerated but earth suffered from multiple impacts and the introduction of many xenospecies. The dust is finally settling.

Q18
Does space combat follow a pure capital ship model, does it involve fighters and carriers or something else?

Meta Q1 Opening up a second stream of questions relating to how the setting might be used.
Can you provide a quick summary for your players about the type of game you want to run in the setting?

Also if Duolos05 wants to add to the pole shift idea, I am happy to drop most of this
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Old 07-31-2017, 02:51 AM   #20
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Answer 18- Space Combat
Given that we have gravity drives small enough to be mounted on powered armour spacesuits, fighters are going to be viable and probably the primary space combat paradigm. However, armour technology is currently outpacing weapons, thus favouring large carriers and destroyers getting closer to the front line, and this tendency is picking up among the more modern and affluent space navies.

Question 19
Who were the pilot race of the Ark, and are they among the surviving alien species?
Is there anything known about their purpose?
Are their compatriots going to come seeking them out?
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