The Official OTC TBRPG Planning and Organization Topic

[Xomeron]

Computer speeds available to everyone are so high that measuring them in FLOPS is pointless because the numbers are so high.

 

You could fit the internet on a memory bank of 10 cubic feet.

 

A functioning mind can be stored in a computer roughly half the size of the brain it originated from.

 

As a note, though, Computer Science is basically over by the time of Starscape. Electronic computers are so miniaturized that they're essentially working on the sizes of the electrons themselves, thus no processing speed advances are expected, short of a breakthrough in some other field.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Xomeron

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

Also, the practicality of powered armor is quite different from that of Battlemechs. Can powered armor still be used if you do not have the Humongous Mecha trait, seeing as a suit of armor with motors to assist the user's movement is, in terms of technological difficulty, rather a long step down from a Battlemech?

[Xomeron]

Both are made accessible by the same piece of tech, because they're essentially the same thing. If a species evolved in, say, 1/3 gravity, Battlemechs and power armor would mostly be identical. Earth is just annoyingly heavy.

 

(I've looked into it; Battlemechs are the best choice for warfare on Mars)

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

Fair enough. Expect my people to avoid infantry combat until some research has been done so I can acquire what is, in their original concept, a fairly distinctive trait of theirs.

[Xomeron]

Map of Starscape Cluster by Star System Types

Edited April 1, 2013 by Xomeron

[Kothra]

So people are expected to only have a handful of systems even in the long run?

 

And should the scale really be that small? I would expect systems to be at least somewhat more spread out. Of course, you probably have a better idea of this than I do, so I'll just go with it.

[Lara White]

I'm more interested in the fact that there don't seem to be any significant astrographic obstructions short of black holes, such as huge voids in space.

 

Also, dibs on 55.

 

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

You may want to make one light year a lot smaller on that map, considering that the nearest solar system to Earth is more than 4 light years away. Either this is a really densely-packed star cluster (which says wonderfully bad things about habitability), or your scale is wonky.

 

Also, black numbers on maroon circles on a black background are not helpful.

 

And there's no way to mark system possession (unless you're going with my lovely wonderful bloodthirsty idea that a planet, once officially claimed by a species, is not instantly colonised by it, and likewise a system, allowing people to claim-jump and muck about with someone's territory).

 

And your key could be much more pleasantly formatted (and in a corner, which would be beautiful). An indication in the key that a split-colour system is a binary system would likewise be helpful.

 

This would be much more fun with a Hubble Deep Field picture instead of a plain black background. Kind of, you know, tradition, I guess.

[Xomeron]

Rover, this is a very dense cluster, we average around half a light year apart.

 

System possession will be marked on an entirely separate map. Think of it as having a Political and Geographic map, IN SPACE.

 

I'll be adding the Deep Field background later.

[Alex Humva]

I presume the actual stellar formation processes that'd entail such tight clustering (mainly being at the galactic core, a not-so-nice place) are being handwaved?

[Xomeron]

The galactic core is a fine place to live.

 

This star cluster is near the center of one of the Clouds of Magellan.

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

Hmm. I would prefer something that gives more room between systems, largely for the benefit of sneaking around. As I don't see any way the players are going to not metagame and instantly detect any ship that's "close" to their system, regardless of the distance between systems, I suppose it doesn't matter.

[Xomeron]

Only way to detect stuff is EM Radiation and gravity, which move at the speed of light, and Hyperwave, which can't see anything except Neutronium, Degenerate Matter, and Stasis Fields.

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

By the way, love the Skype-based system you're using for system-claiming, what with my computer's inability to install Skype and all.

[Kothra]

If you people are claiming systems over skype while I'm not there and writing this blasted paper, I'm going to cry.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Kothra

[Xomeron]

System claims are open everywhere now. G'head and post them here,

 

Political Map

[Kothra]

I guess I'll go with system #7. Colour is cerulean blue.

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

8 looks promising to me. I could be evil and say to paint it black, but I think indigo is good enough.

 

EDIT: Hold that thought until such time as I have confirmation of my co-conspirator's status with regard to this RPG. Species name is Cysgodin if the news I get is good.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Ymper Trymon

[Canis Lycaon]

I claim 58. A Brown Dwarf for me. Can color be a dark grey? Species name is the Carus.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Canis Lupus

[Xomeron]

When you tell me your star system, I also need your color and species name.

[Canis Lycaon]

I added color and name to mine.

[Madara: Mangekyou Master]

Star System: 44

Species Name: Asura

Color: Navy Blue

Edited April 1, 2013 by Madara: Mangekyou Master

[Xomeron]

System 58 contains three airless worlds, two Reduced Atmosphere worlds, one Terrestrial World, one Ice Ball, and one Gas Giant.

 

System 44 contains two Airless Worlds, two Reduced Atmosphere worlds, one Terrestrial World, three Pressure Cookers, two Ice Balls, a Gas Giant, two Asteroid Belts and one Proto Star.

 

Lucky you, Madara, you have the best starting system yet.

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12qvRvwjR10pyaWwU_uO5WmchUcwsVHVZEdnKwuK7B4Y/edit]System Compositon[/url]

 

Google Docs is a wonderful thing.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Xomeron

[Let's Henshin!]

System: 42 or 20(If someone wants one of these speak now, otherwise Xom, flip a coin or something).

Species: Celdroves

Color: Dark Green

[Havelock Vetinari]

I'm out of the Sci-Fi RTS. It's not even done yet and we've already got drama brewing up.

 

I've got enough on my plate.

[Xomeron]

System 42 has a Supernova Remnant. System 20 has a black hole. Neither has habitable planets.

[Let's Henshin!]

But that was going to be the fun part...

 

Alright fine, 57.

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

Well there goes my co-conspirator... Do Fleetborns still have to pick a system?

[Xomeron]

No, but Alex has claimed the planet he plans on picking first.

 

Fleetborns need planets to draw resources for their Forgeships and Garden Ships from; the Forgeships and Garden ships just multiply them.

[HeavyMetalSunshineSister]

So in other words, it's probably best to pick somewhere to land.

 

First stop, System 8, Crimson, Serraʔ if you can get the glottal stop symbol in there, otherwise I'll go with Cythraul, the name given to them by the empire that crushed them.

[Havelock Vetinari]

I'll also note, I'm very concerned at how much of a role Skype is taking in the RPG.

 

It's a BZP RPG, one would think the site it is hosted on would play a more important role.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Basilisk

[Madara: Mangekyou Master]

I'll also note, I'm very concerned at how much of a role Skype is taking in the RPG. It's a BZP RPG, one would think the site is hosted on would play a more important role.

This is a very valid concern. There is almost no concrete information on the game here. Edited April 1, 2013 by Madara: Mangekyou Master

[Havelock Vetinari]

That, combined with the drama, is why I'm leaving this one off my plate.

 

I don't have Skype and I'm not going to play catch-up in an RPG because of it.

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

Kind of a good point. Perhaps you should write up a proper draft before going any further Xom? So everyone can feel included

[Xomeron]

Most of the concrete information is in Google Docs. The Skype currently consists of Q&A and me complaining about Mass Effect 2.

 

https://drive.google.com/?usp=chrome_app#folders/0BwBWo5FzN-KvYmxRMWxuUW5jSzA]All those Google Docs.[/url] The "Buried Treasure" doc is locked for a reason.

 

As for working on a proper draft, I think I ought to start on that now. The doc is https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oRmDZ1CUVheOWQozVGuV9Fxw3J25OLecNGLlTiM6kRg/edit]Here[/url]. It's public, so feel free to join, comment, and help write it.

Edited April 1, 2013 by Xomeron

[Havelock Vetinari]

And the google docs pages don't work for me anymore.

 

I suspect some others won't be able to access them as well.

 

The is a BZP RPG, not a google docs RPG, not a Skype RPG. Some people don't like clicking links to other sites as well.

 

BZP is playing what amounts to a rather minor role at the moment. I don't like that.

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

And you hadn't actually posted half those google docs until now

[Xomeron]

I'm just holding all the data there instead of on my hard drive so everyone can see it. Not sure why you can't see them, Basilisk.

[thelonewander]

I can't seem to see them either.

[Havelock Vetinari]

So the people who mainly browse the site the RPG is going to be hosted on are getting screwed over.

 

I don't like this. I don't like this at all.

 

If Skype and Google Docs play this much of a role in the main RPG, I can't say for certain I'll approve this.