Stardust
Welcome to Stardust, a hands-on science fiction civilization based RP where you will lead your civilization to its inevitable greatness or doom. A simple Decision Based System has been created to maximize uniqueness in the various civilizations with a single resource system, while still creating a system of rules that inherently prevent power gaming.

Stardust is a vast universe, represented by the map below. It is the Interstellar Age, and this RP will take place ten years after the founding of the Galactic Conclave, a loose political union that allows unique representative nations to take their woes.

Players can expect:
- A unique roleplaying experience with randomized galactic events from the GM for your civilization to respond to.
- A simple, resource system that prevents nations from becoming too powerful (or too weak).
- Non-player nations to assimilate, conquer or ally with.
- A unique way at visualizing military combat.

Civilization Creation
The resource in this game is Influence, which is the amount of power your ruling party exerts. You start with 60 Influence and can build your internal empire using them here. Each Turn I add up your Influence, then you may spend it as you please.
- Colony: 5 Influence (+.5 INF) (If lost -1 Influence)
- System: 12 Influence (+1 INF) (If lost -7 Influence)
- Fleet: 3 Influence
- Army: 2 Influence
- Agent: 4 Influence (Conducts espionage)
- Commander: X Influence (Minimum 1, Maximum 10. Quality)
- Alliance: 12 Influence (Will start your own alliance, or join an existing one).

Notable
- Galactic Conclave: A political organization that was formed after the Treaty of the Stars ten years ago. It exists as a currently unitary representative system where every Member Civilization can send one representative to discuss political matters of importance. Membership is voluntary.
o Member Nations: Free Worlds Confederacy, Kylorian League, Llorian Republic.
-- ISSUES OF THE CONCLAVE --
o Voting: With 3 Members, passing a vote currently requires [2] of the [3] Members Votes.
o Conclave World: Which world will host the Galactic Conclave? This issue has not been voted on. (Civilization of Host World has +2 Influence/Turn).
o Conclave Fleet: Being a member currently requires no admission of a nation’s fleets toward a Conclave Fleet. This issue has not been voted on.
o Conclave Army: Being a member currently requires no admission of a nation’s soldiers toward a Conclave Army. This issue has not been voted on.
o Representation: Joining the Galactic Conclave allows each civilization to send a single representative to the Conclave. (Maximum of 2 Influence on Voting).

Non-Player Civilizations (Colonies / Systems / Fleets / Armies )
- Free Worlds Confederacy: (3 C/2 S/2 F/5 A): The Free Worlds Confederacy is made up of five solar systems that were in relative close proximity to each other. While experiencing two Intersolar Wars, they settled their differences and unified politically, becoming the second strongest member state of the Galactic Conclave:
- Kylorian League (0 C/3 S/3 F/4 A): The feline Kylorians are a traditionally honor based society. They are made up of hundreds of city-states and nations that act unilaterally, much like the Free Worlds Confederacy but with less autonomy. Their fear of deep space travel has slowed their expansion efforts considerably.
- Llorian Republic (5 C/1 S/2 F/2 A): The weakest of the three member states, Llorians are semi-aquatic cephalopods that have mastered terraforming technology. They have since colonized nearly a half dozen worlds, sprawling their political grasp across the stars with ease. Their small military however leaves much of their frontier largely undefended.

Interest? Questions? Suggestions? I surmise I would allow players to add a NPC civilization or two when they join. Minors are good for events, trade and conquest.

Interested, however I have a concern.

Given your past behavior as a GM (where you would create a thread, submit several roleplaying posts and then abruptly leave for no apparent reason), how do you plan to make sure that you remain interested and/or dedicated to this new roleplay? I don't think I or anyone else really wants to spend any measure of time working on a nation or character sheet and then have the work rendered useless by a GM's sudden disinterest in his own roleplay.

You have a quality argument.

The simplified manner in which the game is kept together (A single resource Influence governing your ability to make moves on the intragalactic stage means that even if I were to disappear, all that would require is someone else to maintain the ledger and perhaps portray the ideologies of minor civilizations in the Conclave.

I purely intend to be a moderator, represent the claims and problems of the minor civilizations and incite events to give flavor to the world. IE: "Famine on Planet X" or what have you. I assure you, I'm here to play.

This is an interesting setup, but there is not a lot of information I can discern about Stardust...

For example, may I ask what you mean by "a unique way of visualizing military combat?" There is no further information other than that allusion.

In addition, please forgive me as I cannot seem to grasp the same ideas you have. If I may, what exactly is a colony, system, fleet, army, agent, commander?

Despite two colonies being cheaper than a system while producing the same amount of influence (and having a much less severe impact should one or both fall), what is the benefit of using systems over colonies?

What is a fleet / army comprised of? Is a commander in control of all fleets /armies of the nation or only one? Are commanders even used for fleets / armies, or is it a false assumption on my part?

How is espionage used? Does it consumed Influence? How would trade work in this Influence-centered RP?

Also, how would technology work? Are the players all of similar technological levels? Will there be advances in technology? Are people using projectile-throwing mass drivers, energy-cutting lasers, or magical Tachyon particle cannons? How do people move across the galaxy; FTL? Warp? Hyperspace?

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Please forgive me if my questioning is an annoyance. This is an interesting setting and I've been interested in another Sci-fi RP for a while now, but as I said I wasn't able to figure out enough about how things work with what was given. Please excuse my ignorance.

Keia Vewyx said
This is an interesting setup, but there is not a lot of information I can discern about Stardust...For example, may I ask what you mean by "a unique way of visualizing military combat?" There is no further information other than that allusion.In addition, please forgive me as I cannot seem to grasp the same ideas you have. If I may, what exactly is a colony, system, fleet, army, agent, commander? Despite two colonies being cheaper than a system while producing the same amount of influence (and having a much less severe impact should one or both fall), what is the benefit of using systems over colonies?What is a fleet / army comprised of? Is a commander in control of all fleets /armies of the nation or only one? Are commanders even used for fleets / armies, or is it a false assumption on my part?How is espionage used? Does it consumed Influence? How would trade work in this Influence-centered RP?Also, how would technology work? Are the players all of similar technological levels? Will there be advances in technology? Are people using projectile-throwing mass drivers, energy-cutting lasers, or magical Tachyon particle cannons? How do people move across the galaxy; FTL? Warp? Hyperspace?-Please forgive me if my questioning is an annoyance. This is an interesting setting and I've been interested in another Sci-fi RP for a while now, but as I said I wasn't able to figure out enough about how things work with what was given. Please excuse my ignorance.

These are essentially my concerns as well, though it does seem interesting for a fact...

I shall attempt to answer all your questions.

Keia Vewyx said
This is an interesting setup, but there is not a lot of information I can discern about Stardust...For example, may I ask what you mean by "a unique way of visualizing military combat?" There is no further information other than that allusion.In addition, please forgive me as I cannot seem to grasp the same ideas you have. If I may, what exactly is a colony, system, fleet, army, agent, commander?

Colony: A world that is not entirely industrialized and used more as an outpost, research station or budding center of life. These provide less influence in the galaxy, but are not as detrimental if lost.

System: A home system. These include the huge industrial cityworlds and arcologies of your civilization. Losing these are a huge blow to prestige and industrial capability.

Fleet: A fleet of warships.

Army: An assembly of several million men, your frontline soldiers.

Agent: An espionage agent -- though this could really be seen as a slew of agents, as opposed to just one.

Commander: These are the men/women that lead your fleets and armies.

Despite two colonies being cheaper than a system while producing the same amount of influence (and having a much less severe impact should one or both fall), what is the benefit of using systems over colonies?

This is actually a great point, and the price of systems has been adjusted to fix it. Thank you.

What is a fleet / army comprised of?

Think of this less as World War II and more of the Cold War. In World War II, army composition and technological prowess determined who won. In the Cold War, conventional armies and navies were chess pieces -- but the winner of the conflict would not be who's army was greater, but rather who was a better statesman overall.

Is a commander in control of all fleets /armies of the nation or only one? Are commanders even used for fleets / armies, or is it a false assumption on my part?

Commanders are not required, but they can be the very thing that turns a battle. They are your Rommel's, Napoleon's and Alexander the Greats. Great empires have been forged without notable commanders at the head of your legions, however.

How is espionage used? Does it consumed Influence?

Once an agent is created, they can be sent to spy or counter spy. They stack atop one another at intervals of 20% at success per agent.

How would trade work in this Influence-centered RP?

A good question. It may provide an Influence boost depending on the size of the galactic space lane. That might work.

Also, how would technology work? Are the players all of similar technological levels? Will there be advances in technology? Are people using projectile-throwing mass drivers, energy-cutting lasers, or magical Tachyon particle cannons? How do people move across the galaxy; FTL? Warp? Hyperspace?-Please forgive me if my questioning is an annoyance. This is an interesting setting and I've been interested in another Sci-fi RP for a while now, but as I said I wasn't able to figure out enough about how things work with what was given. Please excuse my ignorance.

Somewhat like the Cold War again, this intragalactic Cold War of sorts implies that your nation, as a space fairing nation is comparable in technology to the others, though the means by which this technological parity is reached is purely fluff.

My only other questions are:

Illustrious Theodorable said Players can expect... a unique way at visualizing military combat.

Which was most likely forgotten or missed in my last questionnaire, and...

Exalted Theodorable said Stardust is a vast universe, represented by the map below.

The map which unfortunately, by way of magic or devilry, is not here! Gasp!

Otherwise, I'm fairly sure I can just learn as I go. Perhaps I shall attempt a machine race bent on eating all the resources of a planet until it is a husk, yet they enjoy diplomacy and trade and are sickeningly sweet. Yes, a well-mannered plague. It could also bring up those uselessly deep "is artificial life still life" questions.

And maybe a random NPC or two~

I'm Interested, but are you going to M.I.A on us (again)?

It's summer time. No class. Shouldn't be a problem!

Interested,

Interested.

There will be an OOC up today and a map! Stay tuned!

http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/44931/posts/ooc

Hi, 2 quick questions.

1.Are you still accepting interest?
2.If so, could a fleet based race/civilization (one that operates out of a small handful of city ships, and large fleets) possibly work, if they have satisfactory explanations for where they get materials?

Yes, the OOC is up in the link above.

And yes one could definitely work.

Alright, thank you!