OOC HERE!
Tentative interest check for a sci-fi rebellion RP set during the 'Wild West' of space exploration with ten of us as characters on a ship called The Medusa. Weapon technology is similar to today's - no lasers - and there is a group of people who can use psychic abilities called Psyches (though only about two will be allowed in the RP). High casual, character sheets will be accepted on merit.

More information will be available in the OOC, which is fully written and ready to post if about four or five people post here!

Frontier: The Great Space Rebellion
The year is 2600 and the galaxy's going bust, son. War's expensive, and not only in lives – nobody makes any dosh out here in the back and beyond of outer space. Y'know, we need a good bit of elbow-grease and a few smart-talking cowboys like yourself out on the front lines.

What's that? You don't want to go? Tough. You've been conscripted. Welcome to the rebellion.

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July 20, 1969 – the day when Neil Armstrong took the first step for mankind into the great beyond. Humanity didn't falter, didn't forget about expanding and exploring the universe after we had touched the moon with our fingertips. Space programs had billions funnelled into them and, by the end of the 21st century, we had a colony on the moon and had manned expeditions to every planet in our system. (Even Pluto.)

A time of relatively peaceful expansion occurred, save for a few skirmishes between the Lunatics (the first moon-born colonists) and Martians (Mars-born extremists). When the first long-distance spacecrafts were developed, able to travel at faster than light speeds to far away systems, the quest to dominate space began for every civilisation. About this time, a possible candidate for Earth 2.0 was discovered and all efforts to colonise the universe began to follow a straight line – a space highway, if you will.

Civil war was rampant in the furthest systems where the “long arm of the law” couldn't reach. Eventually, poor living conditions forced the innocent civilians of these sizable colonies to rebel, and so began the First Great Space War in 2523. Nearly eighty years later, and all we have to show for it are a few failed peace treaties between the Defective Alliance and the United Nations of Earth and Sol and a disgusting number of casualties.

That's where you come in. The Defective Alliance have been carefully putting out word to talented individuals about a heroic, long-term mission... promising great wealth and other rewards at the end. Interested parties are to meet in the capital of Sycamore, the first fully terraformed planet on the edge of space and coincidentally the hub for the uprising.

Vive la revolution... or something like that.

This seems pretty cool, I'd be down for this. For one reason or another it reminds me of a combination of Cowboy BeBop and Halo...

Glad you're interested. ^.^ It's definitely got a few themes from both in there, mixed in with a little Firefly, too.

It seems like a very intriguing Role-play idea, Ten seems like a sufficient amount to keep it interesting for everyone. Would definitely look forward to it!

Yeah, I'd throw in on this. Are the ten people the entire crew of the ship or just a small percentage that's been represented?

Co-GM signing in.

10 people on the entire ship, the ship we're going to be using isn't exactly a high-tech cruise ship. A small crew, and we focus on quality and character development over numbers.

^ Stitches beat me to it... by about seven hours. But yeah, we're looking for people to fill the typical roles of a small recon ship (Pilot, Captain and Medic have been reserved) to eventually have a group of characters that know and even trust each other. Can't really achieve that on a massive 'Star Trek'-esque ship where most of the characters are NPCs, if you get what I mean.

People should join this; it's going to be really, really fun. Trust me.

Kinda getting an Eclipse Phase sort of vibe. As such I must ask the following.

Have AI hit a level of humanity? What are relations with humans and AI?
How common are artificial bodies? Do most people implant their minds into such a shell for various purposes?
And have animals been uplifted in intelligence?
What is the state of Earth?
Etc.

And just so you have an idea on Eclipse Phase (if unaware)

http://robboyle.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/ps21000_eclipsephase_3rdprinting1.pdf

I would suggest giving it a read, well the setting, though the mechanics are neat and also worth reading.

Cheers.

Heya Wyvern! o/

Hi there!

Also why no lazers and weapon upgrades?
Can't believe I didn't include that in first barrage.

But hello.

Hi! So, to go straight onto answering your questions:

1. Generally, AI isn't a technology that is highly focused on in 'Frontier' -- the space race and quest for dominance in the universe would have been a more pressing issue than developing it. The only possible use for AI in this setting would be in the richer colonies nearer Earth to monitor climate, etc, and even then, I doubt they would truly fit under the category of AI. It isn't a priority for either party in the war given that it is tricky enough to fund without implementing AI which could be hacked or just a liability in general.

2. Artificial bodies have not been introduced in this setting. The colonies - especially on Mars and those stemming from it - are surprisingly religious (or if not that, then traditional) when it comes to the sanctity of the human condition. Implanting someone's mind into a machine would be disturbing to the general populace and likely to cause an uproar.

3. Animals have not been uplifted in intelligence, unfortunately. We're in the 'wild west' of space expansion and scientists are more focused on discovering the human mind given the relatively recent discovery of psychic abilities. Furthermore, the 80 year stalemate makes funding a little difficult.

4. Earth is your typical 'utopia with problems' - a lot of them. It is the hub for big business and about 60% of the solar system's agriculture (the colonies are on their own). The population has stabilised at 11 billion. Climate change is moderated, and alternatives to fossil fuels have been widely accepted. Despite all of these typically perfect ideals, the government for the whole of the universe (as we know it) is based on Earth. Corruption is rampant, deals are made under the table, and politicians are creating new colonies in the dark beyond that they don't have the money for. Furthermore, previous wars and 'unsavoury' history is being erased from living memory.

Poverty on Earth is something not spoken about. A large chunk of the poorer people volunteered as colonists in the early days, and others moved to even nearby planets and stations such as Mars.

5. There are no lasers, really, because we're focusing on a gritty, realistic sci-fi. Perhaps there wasn't enough funding for the development, or perhaps there was fear in the government officials that if the population got their hands on such weapons (in the early days of space travel) that there would be far more dangerous civil wars than the one they are in now.

Eclipse Phase seems intriguing! I don't think that technology in 'Frontier' has quite reached that level, though. Thank you for your interest, and all your interesting questions -- Stitches and I had a blast discussing them.

Am I even allowed to double post in my own thread? Anyway, OOC's been posted, but this interest check'll still be bumped if necessary.

OOC HERE!

We're still recruiting, and a couple people have applied already! Join while you still can!

While I'm personally not going to be joining this roleplay, I -really- love this concept, and I'm certain it's going to go places. Best of luck ^.^ And beware of Medic Stitches.

--------YOUR FRONTIER NEEDS YOU!--------
CALLING ALL ABLE-BODIED SOLDIERS TO JOIN THE CREW OF THE MEDUSA

WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
-2 Psyches
-1 Soldier

PAY: NEGOTIABLE
ACCOMMODATIONS: 5STAR*
FOOD: NUTRITIONAL

JOIN THE FRONTIER TODAY

*based on the reports of the last crew, who were ill with space-sickness.

CALL TO ARMS: TAKING ALL FREAKS PSYCHICS