Steve Jackson Games Forums - New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Fear usually helps, but sometimes hinders survival.
I can see friction between those saying air-mining Earth is necessary and those that calling it a death sentence to even go near the planet. But I see a middle group wanting a compromise of as close to pure automation involved as possible with harsh sterilization and quarantine protocols.

I'd be voting for group three until more data comes my way. Although the upper atmosphere should be fairly safe. Infectious agents generally can't live too far up. There are exceptions, but it's a good bet.

Astromancer

08-25-2018 05:40 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl (Post 2205361)

It is still going to be ten times as expensive to mine the Earth for nitrogen than to just get it from Titan. Or you could mine the atmosphere of Venus for nitrogen, which costs half as much to mine than the atmosphere of Earth (normal air mixtures are lifting gases in the atmosphere of Venus, so you can support floating harvesters that use fusion-powered railguns to accelerate canisters to Venutian escape velocity). Or you could mine ammonia ice from Triton, which still costs half as much as mining the Earth for nitrogen. The only reason to take nitrogen from the Earth is if you lack the technology to get it from anywhere else.

The very nearness of the Earth would always be an argument in favor of mining the Earth's atmosphere. Although a TL9 society might be comfortable with the time it takes to get to Titan.

By the way, TL9 seals might ease the problem of nitrogen leakage.

Astromancer

08-25-2018 05:41 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarson (Post 2205368)

Comets are mostly water ice but do have other stuff. Looking ate spectrographs of the gas cloud gives.

Catching a comet sounds like a PC kind of job. Maybe they fly to the comet in Sunjammers propelled by Solar Sails.

AlexanderHowl

08-25-2018 06:02 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astromancer (Post 2205372)

Proximity does not matter when you can reduce the cost by ninety percent by doing it another way. If nothing else, people will invest in the most economically efficient method that will allow them to make money.

(E)	08-25-2018 06:33 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

The Gift
An alien visitor arrives in the solar system and gifts technology and ultra tech items to some of the residents of earth. The gifts are given to groups or individuals that are considered most worthy by the alien standards of the visitor.

Peace
The alien values are such that the gifts (space stations, craft and the technology to maintain them) are given to the top 5 most peaceful nations. Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal and Denmark.

Wealth
The technological gifts (fusion tech) are this time given to the top 10 most weathly people in the world.

Wealth 2
Wealthy nations are selected this time Monaco, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg are gifted exploratory vessels.

A bit gonzo but there may be some interesting variations on the theme.

jason taylor

08-25-2018 06:35 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by (E) (Post 2205381)

All five of the most peaceful nations were once noted for pugnaciousness. On the other hand I cannot think of any time Andorra went to war.

(E)	08-25-2018 06:39 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Peace keeper
Andorra is given a TL 10 cruiser for peacekeeping purposes.

Flyndaran

08-25-2018 07:00 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason taylor (Post 2205382)

All five of the most peaceful nations were once noted for pugnaciousness. On the other hand I cannot think of any time Andorra went to war.

Every nation is made up of people. And people are naturally aggressive. Once it becomes a "reasonable" option to go to war, it becomes all but inevitable.

TGLS	08-25-2018 09:20 PM

Re: New Sci Fi Setting Seeds

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl (Post 2205257)

With what helium for the blimps and with what fuel for the jets?

Use hydrogen for blimps. Jets aren't necessary, any old air-breathing engine could do. Maybe electric propellers.
nearer to the

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astromancer (Post 2205373)

Catching a comet sounds like a PC kind of job. Maybe they fly to the comet in Sunjammers propelled by Solar Sails.

Nitrogen is fairly common on Venus. With higher solar winds and no fuel expenses for solar sails, it could prove economical to scrape Venus's atmosphere. An floating city would be able to remain buoyant in the upper atmosphere with a atmospheric gas mix.

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