[OOC] GURPS On The Verge

[Michael Thayne]

So, I could have a giant computer tucked away in the ship that transmits to the brain inside a robot body?

Yup. Such systems definitely exist, though it would be odd to have one on a small merchant vessel.

So they wouldn't make stone tools, utilitize fire, go from a hunter-gatherer society to an agriculture based one, embrace reason and evidence in the form of science, vaccinate against smallpox, make giant sailing ships to explore the planet, go through an industrial revolution in which they ditch most of that agriculture they had just adopted, cure disease, transplant organs, split the atom, create instantaneous planet-wide communication in which every person was connected to each other in the form of something called the internet, explore their star system, or make propulsions systems that allow them to travel faster than the speed of light. Got it. :)

I know, I know. I consider it a necessary vice of non-transhumanist space opera.

[ErhnamDJ]

But... but... I like transhumanism. :(

Is there any rationale for why they can't get the robot brains to be the size of human brains?

[Michael Thayne]

I understand, but I have no idea how to run a good transhumanist game. Perhaps some day I'll put the effort into figuring that out, and I admit that the illogical nature of the Star Trek universe does **** me off sometimes, but for for now it's somewhat illogical space opera for us.

ErhnamDJ: I like June's backstory. With some tweaking, she could be a native of the Oberon system, which is the place to make a buck as a merchant on the Verge, but it would be interesting to have her as someone who comes to Oberon from a different but similar system. It could be a minor Verge colony, but your backstory implies she's from outside the Verge. That could be VoidCorp (the evil megacorporation) the Thuldan (Roman wannabe) Empire, or the Rigunmoors (not as monolithic as VoidCorp, but still can be greedy bastards). Or, she could be evidence that Concord-controlled space or the Orion League isn't as uniformly nice a place as some people think. Any preferences?

In any case, I'm glad to have you on board for this.

[ErhnamDJ]

Oh, yeah. A transhuman setting would be hard to roleplay. What would they be? Floating clouds of nano-computers? But still, they never even seem to try when it comes to the lampshade hanging. Humans, just uh, don't like using computers! Robots?! Pshaw! Sentient brains that can be effortlessly and cheaply reproduced? Who would want that? We prefer to train our engineers/physicists/doctors/prostitutes the hard way.

And I think you meant to address that other to LemmingLord.

[LemmingLord]

Originally Posted by Michael Thayne

I like June's backstory. With some tweaking, she could be a native of the Oberon system, which is the place to make a buck as a merchant on the Verge, but it would be interesting to have her as someone who comes to Oberon from a different but similar system. It could be a minor Verge colony, but your backstory implies she's from outside the Verge. That could be VoidCorp (the evil megacorporation) the Thuldan (Roman wannabe) Empire, or the Rigunmoors (not as monolithic as VoidCorp, but still can be greedy bastards). Or, she could be evidence that Concord-controlled space or the Orion League isn't as uniformly nice a place as some people think. Any preferences?

In any case, I'm glad to have you on board for this.

June was my character, BTW, unless we are trading characters to the player on our right. ;)

The mining world could be on the "other end" of the verge. I got the impression that the verge was pretty big.. :)

Kaitlyn PMd me and said she was wanting a kickbutt merc.

Originally Posted by Dorin Thorha

I'm considering a Weren tank/specialist char. Glad to serve you.

I can definitely see some roleplaying opportunities here.. What is the character's motivation for being a part of the crew? I pictured June as preferring low tech but reliable methods, and the Weren tank/specialist maybe a great example of that.

If he is going to be low tech, I think we need to find a job for him that transcends TLs. Some ideas off the top of my head: interpriter, diplomat, cook, bartender, maybe a body language specialist??

With that kind of TL difference, the character would the equivelent of an aborigine serving on board a world war II era trading ship.. AtylAtyl versus sidearms sounds like a very bad deal to the aborigine to me, but it just means we will have to try to choose our battles if we can.

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

What tech level is this? Do these people have quantum computers?

I'm considering either a scientist of some sort, a doctor, or the pilot. Maybe a robot? I dunno.

We absolutely need a good doctor and a good pilot. Want to a play a character who is BOTH? Maybe a life flight type? There is a "vulcan type" race that gamemaster mentioned if you are looking for a more robotic personality. There is also a cybernetic human like race.. Or you could just be a human with Asbergers syndrome. :)

[Katelyn]

Yes sir. I was thinking he could either be ex-Thuldan (and hence have an enemy in that regard, since they can't ever leave the military and it's presumed the Thuldans don't take too kindly to his departure) or maybe from one of the corporation states. If it's from the corporation states he might still have rank (which would be about 4-5).

He could cover the pilot niche if necessary, but would probably be best suited to combat and leadership roles. Aside from the obvious military skills (Beam Weapons, Tactics, Strategy, etc.) would definitely have several ranks in Leadership and Charisma, and probably a level 2 reputation (applies to everyone) at the very least.

More info to come, just kinda thinking out loud here.

[LemmingLord]

Originally Posted by Katelyn

Yes sir. I was thinking he could either be ex-Thuldan (and hence have an enemy in that regard, since they can't ever leave the military and it's presumed the Thuldans don't take too kindly to his departure) or maybe from one of the corporation states. If it's from the corporation states he might still have rank (which would be about 4-5).

He could cover the pilot niche if necessary, but would probably be best suited to combat and leadership roles. Aside from the obvious military skills (Beam Weapons, Tactics, Strategy, etc.) would definitely have several ranks in Leadership and Charisma, and probably a level 2 reputation (applies to everyone) at the very least.

More info to come, just kinda thinking out loud here.

Maybe you are a hero from the second galactic war - from the corporate states? That would make you older, but from the gamemaster says that shouldn't be a problem. That would definitely give the ship a legitimacy to it.. Maybe the GM would let you take a perk: honorary rank to go with your reputation (rather than charging you too many points for rank that probably won't come into play other than what you already get from reputation).

Now the question: what is the character's motivation at this point? The character probably has a comfortable pension...or maybe that has run out after all these years. Or maybe the character just had a big divorce and everything went to his/her spouse.

Of course if you were a deserter from the Thuldans instead that would give you a definite reason for being out on the verge, running! I don't know what the implications would be for our interactions with trader's on the verge.

[Dorin Thorha]

I can definitely see some roleplaying opportunities here.. What is the character's motivation for being a part of the crew? I pictured June as preferring low tech but reliable methods, and the Weren tank/specialist maybe a great example of that.

If he is going to be low tech, I think we need to find a job for him that transcends TLs. Some ideas off the top of my head: interpriter, diplomat, cook, bartender, maybe a body language specialist??

With that kind of TL difference, the character would the equivelent of an aborigine serving on board a world war II era trading ship.. AtylAtyl versus sidearms sounds like a very bad deal to the aborigine to me, but it just means we will have to try to choose our battles if we can.

What I have in mind is a rather swashbuckling char, who left his world in search of adventure. He's been taken advantage of by people who presented their jobs as glorious pursuits, though he doesn't know it. To compensate for his low tech, He has an Ally computer that he always carries, and bickers with. I see him as being a low level grunt of all trades, tough and resourceful, with a few obscure tricks up his sleeve that he MAY get a chance to use.

[Michael Thayne]

June was my character, BTW, unless we are trading characters to the player on our right. ;)

Oh, I knew I left something out of the player's briefing! But seriously, repeat after yourself, Michael: I will not write e-mails or type blog posts at one in the morning. I will not be awake enough.

On the Weren: it would be less like an aboriginal fighting in WWII, and more like hiring as security detail a member of that African tribe were everyone's seven feet tall. Also, the computer thing could be funny if part of it is that he doesn't realize you're not supposed to have to argue with any AI that's simple enough to be man-portable.

Katelyn: A Thuldan working on an independent ship wouldn't necessarily have the Empire after him. Reserves can expect to be allowed to do as they please, until the next war happens and they get called up. But if the character did something specific to get the command mad, that could be interesting.

[MisterJuan]

If you still have room, I'll get the ball rolling on a character tonight.