Planets & Resources

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When you discover a new planet, I randomly generate what type of world you have discovered. You can colonize and harvest resources from these planets and add them to your territory. Over-harvesting a world will eventually kill the biosphere and cripple your population. You determine the rate at which you harvest resources.



Resource Management:
For each planet, tell me the rate at which you wish to harvest resources: Efficiently, Moderately, Aggressively. The default rate is moderately.

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As your nation grows, you can expand your nation's abilities and strengths by researching certain technological, cultural and scientific advances. This is a basic frame for what your nation can achieve. Other Advances may be added later and player generated advances are highly encouraged!

Cultural Advances
Art
Architecture
Archaeology
Exploration (Allows construction of Unmanned Probes)

Economic Advances
Trade (Allows Investing in Economy, Foreign Economies, Generates Wealth)
Diplomacy

Military Advances
Intelligence (Allows construction of Embassies)
Espionage (Allows construction of Agents)

Technological Advances
Colonization (Allows construction of Colony Ships)
Terra-forming (Can build Terraforming Platforms)
Cryogenics (Allows construction of Cruisers)
Mining Efficiency (Allows Aggressive Resource Harvesting)

Units & Structures

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Each unit and structure has a Name, Cost, Production, and brief description of how it is used.
Military Units:

Armies
Cost: 2
The meat of your military. Each army represents thousands of soldiers that can be deployed as you wish. You may assign armies to ships to invade other planets, to defend, or to raze a planet. See the Battles section for more info about armies.

Fighters
Cost: 4
Small ships that carry between 50-100 personnel. Fighters provide escort and cover for larger ships, and serve as scouts.

Destroyers
Cost: 6
Massive ships capable of transporting armies from planet to planet. Destroyers have high defense, low attack.

Cruisers
Cost: 12
The largest class of ship with heavy firepower. Cannot land on planets to deploy armies. Often escorted by other ships.

Bombers
Cost: 15
Bombers can also carry armies from planet to planet, but may not bomb a planet the same turn they deploy armies. Capable of orbital surface bombing (effectively razing a planet before it is conquered).

Other Units:
Colony Ship
Cost: 10
Used to spread your people across the galaxy. Carries 1pop per ship.
Unmanned Freighter
Cost: 4
Single destination ships used for quick cash.
Freighter
Cost: 6
The workhorse of the interstellar trade industry, freighters ship resources from planet to planet.

Unmanned Probe
Cost: 1 Prod:
A crude ship used to scout unknown space.

Agent
Cost: 10 Prod:
An agent can be deployed into a known territory to gather information. (Specifying which information to reveal is risky at first, but if the agent manages to maintain secrecy specifics can be identified.

Military Structures:
Outpost
Cost: Prod:
Build Outposts on your borders to keep a look out for invading forces.

Fortified Garrison
Cost Prod:
Build bases to protect your armies on planets you control.

Other Structures:
Embassy
Cost: Prod:
An embassy can be constructed on an allies world.

Terraforming Platform
Cost: Prod:
Can be constructed around any planet you control. When construction is complete, specify which planet type you wish to produce.

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For billions of years, life has evolved in one form or another in distant corners of the galaxy. For thousands of millennium, intelligent life has strived to achieve interstellar travel. You are one of those races.

The dreaded NS:
Nation Name:
Ruler:
Excerpt: Tell us briefly what sort of life form you are. This may be a few paragraph description or a vignette. Be as brief or winded as you please.

Nation Traits
Roll 3d6 for each nation trait. You may assign which score goes where. You may reroll the lowest score. Look up the Trait Modifier on the table below and record the initial roll and its modifier. If all of your trait modifiers are +1 or less, reroll all of them (including your bonus reroll, basically start over).
Culture:
Economy:
Infrastructure:
Technology:
Military:
Stability:
- - - - - -
Wealth: Infrastructure Modifier + Economy Modifier + 4 each turn. Disregard negative modifiers.
Population:
Production: Economy Modifier + Technology Modifier + 2 = Production Rate
Government:
Republic gets +2 Culture, Economy, Technology (score, NOT modifier, adjust modifier as needed)
Dictatorship gets +2 Military, Infrastructure, Stability (score, NOT modifier, adjust modifier as needed)
Anarchy receives -2 to all Trait Scores for 2 turns. (Pick which government you wish after two turns)


Disclosure Notice:
In the spirit of full disclosure (and for easy access), I have referenced the following sites/pages in designing this game:
Hyperiums
Basic d20 PDF (launches PDF)
FUDGE Hack for NRP's

TO DO:
Unit Costs
Unit Production Time
Balance Military Unit Power
Balance Production table
Finish Advancements
Generate map
Design Random planet generator
Generate NPC's

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The Masters of Veranth have been murdered. One by bloody one, members of the ruling council have met a grizzly end. In the wake of the murders, foreign powers have made bold moves against our fair city-state. The Holy League is once again conducting trials overseen by the Grand Inquisitors and fierce Adjudicators of the Holy Church of Karolath. The ageless rivals of Veranth, the Cypriot League are suspected of hiring mercenaries to disrupt our trade routes. Our sailors are turned into slaves, sold on the blood soaked sandy shores of Saeth Mar...

The young republic of Veranth needs leadership and sound governing. You have been selected (admittedly in haste) to preside over the High Council until such a time as elections can be held. In the wake of the turmoil of the fated former council, allegiances are challenged. Centuries old treaties between the great houses and the Twenty-Four Towers of the Guilds are at risk.

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You are a member of the High Council, a temporary position until such a time that elections might be conducted. You may be an aristocrat with estates and retainers or a knight, with a company of men-at-arms. Or you may play as a merchant, trading and dealing with other nations. Regardless of your chosen class, you have risen sufficiently enough in the political and social circles to achieve a seat at the council. The fate of Veranth is in your hands.

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This is a game of intrigue and politics and trade and war. There is money to be made, people to kill and an empire to build. The game will be played in turns. Each turn update, you send me your orders (what your character is up to for that season) and I give an update for the events of that season. The IC is fair game for any roleplaying you may wish to do in between turns. You are free to create any NPC's necessary for your narrative stories. Collaboration is encouraged. It should be noted that if you introduce NPCs, I may commandeer them for story purposes.




[/hider]

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Veranth is a trading city occupying an island some distance away from the mainland. Originally a safe-harbor for pirates and smugglers, in the 500 years since the nation-state has grown into a city of towers, high walls and bureaucracy. The city is surrounded by vineyards, orchards and farmland. The bustling port district has attracted the greatest shipbuilders, ironworkers and specialty crafstmen in the world. The 24 Towers of Guilds ring the walls, each a tiny kingdom too itself. Amidst all of this economic prosperity are the

The Twenty-Four Towers
The Guilds of Veranth are unmatched in the world. From shipbuilding to cannon-forging, the guilds attract the most talented laymen in the world and pay handsomely for talent. The Guilds have become increasingly powerful.

The Religion
In Old Karoleth, the High Priest rules an empire of the devoted. A dozen kingdoms bow before his holiness. Veranth (and a few other Republics) do not. This has brought tension to the land as nations increasingly interact through trade and politics.

Raxas
Nearly a century ago, the Sorcerer Raxas fled to a distant island with his remaining adepts. Magic has nearly vanished from the world, but a few journeymen 'hedge wizards', untrained and unruly wander the lands seeking masters willing to pay handsomely for a court-wizard.

Playing
Playing is simple. Make a character by choosing a Class : (Aristocrat, Knight, Merchant) and pick your skills.
Aristocrats are good at Cunning
Merchants are good at Trading
Knights are good at Fighting

Throughout the game, your actions will be dependent on your skill set. Each skill you are proficient in will give a +1 to your action (roll 1d20+skill modifier Vs. Difficulty ) (A merchant wouldn't lead an army into battle, however it is possible!). When you send orders (in between turns) your skills come into play. For example, if your a merchant and you wish to negotiate new or better trade terms with a neighboring nation, I will add your skill bonuses to rolls to determine the outcome. Which brings me to:

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One of the most important aspects of the game is managing your finances. There are two lawful ways to increase your supply of gold. Trading, by either directly purchasing ships and establishing trade routes, or by subsidizing trade by hiring merchants to make you money.

The other is buying and constructing Industries. Winemaking, textiles like cotton and silk, granaries etc. are just a few of the many industries you might add to the economy. It should be noted that it is possible to saturate the market if their are too many of the same industry in Veranth.

Each industry brings a set amount of gold each season.
Vineyards
Vineyards are plentiful in the sandy loam of the Veranthian countryside. Here, grapes and olives are grown among the large manor homes of the aristocracy. Pressing olive oil and fermenting wine into grapes is a major commercial enterprise in Veranth and the supply of these goods is in demand the world over.

Windmills
After the harvest, the grain is transported to the soaring windmills perched on high cliffs along the coast, where the grain is ground into flour and either turned into bread for the city supply or shipped to neighboring lands.

Textiles
Fibres such as cotton and silk are spun into fabric for clothing. Increasingly large guildhalls filled with looms and spindles are emerging as a dominant factor in the growing economy of Veranth as fabric is in demand by nobles the world over.

Glass Foundry
An expensive, labor intensive industry that requires skilled craftsmen. Glass is fired from saltpeter and sand at very high temperatures and shaped into vessels, ornamentation, and glass window panes for use in home and church.

Ironworks
Blacksmiths produce weapons, armor and shields, but also mundane items like door hinges, locks, barrel banding, cannons and cannonballs-the list is endless.

Orders
I prefer specific over vague, and I hope to supply enough in-game information for you to make those determinations. For instance if you wished to increase the military in Veranth, it would be better to say "Hire and begin training 50 men-at-arms to replace those slain at Sterling Shores" rather than "Get some more troops and make sure they are good ones".

To start you will have two major actions that you may enact each turn. Sending messages, gifts, gold etc. is a free action and you may do as many as you wish each turn. This is a political/nation RP so I expect lots of manipulation and correspondence to play a big part of this game. Developing your character through exposition in letters and NPC interactions is encouraged.

Increasing your chance of success
You may invest a certain amount of gold in each action, but you have to tell me how you wish to spend that gold. For instance, you may invest 100 gold in your attempt to sway a foreign dignitary to give you favorable terms on an agreement. For each 100 gold you invest, you get a +1 to your action roll. There is no max amount of gold you may invest for each action.

As for me, I will be playing the omniscient 'all'. That is to say, I control the NPCs, the will of the people and the natural elements.

Sorcery (A Primer)
Magic in this world concerns the practice of contacting entities from distant planes and binding them to your will for a time. It is an incredibly dangerous practice and requires intense and careful study. It is believed that magic caused the destruction of the ancient civilizations thousands of years ago through careless and relentless use. With each binding, the barrier between our world and the distant planes is weakened. Consider this when casting powerful spells.

The powerful sorcerer Anom Veldt recorded this list in his tome "Demons, Djinn and Entities of Considerable Power" some 400 years ago:

Baal
A leather-winged demon from a plane of fire, Baal's magic is concerned with growing, shrinking, withering and multiplying.

Baphomet
A horned goat demon from some fiery hell-plane, Baphomet is not to be trifled with. Surprisingly Baphomets magics are not concerned with fire, but rather binding and loosing.

Belphagor
Not much is known about Belphagor, but its magic is used for obscuring, hiding, revealing, or locating.

Mammon
An enormous giant from a distant plane, the magic of Mammon concerns wealth, money, prosperity and possibly, maybe, conceivably, luck.

Azazel
Despite his harrowing name (The Ancients believed Azazel was the god of Destruction) Azazel is rather a tame demon, capable of many sorcerous acts. Consult this being when planning, plotting, staging, or manipulating.

Table of random events
1: Storms in the sea of
2: Fire in
3: Pirate Raids
4: Funeral of
5: Unrest in
6: Crop Failure
7: Vessel Sank
8: Crime Lord emerges
9: War!
10: Noble Squabble
11: Resources discovered
12:
13:

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Geography
The Sea of Omens lies north and west of the Island of Veranth and stretches well beyond the Cyprot League and as far south as Saeth Mar. It is a cold sea, with terrible storms, and lurking horrors beneath the waves. Brave fishermen, on massive ships built in Veranth occasionally dare to sail in search of some beast-a whale or octopus (whose oil and ink is in demand, respectively), yet always in sight of the Veranthian or Cyprot coast.

Where Giants Drink
The liturgists of Old Karolath describe the Sea thus:
"I beheld a sea that stretched for days-no months-possibly all of my lifetime and the lives of my children-ever endless in to the cold north. The lands of Cyprot and Veranth faded from view, and all that lay on the horizon was a yawning charnel house of frosted waves, and the wary weight of the unknown. For forty days our captain guided the trio of vessels as best he could, using at his disposal the tools of his trade, occasionally consulting with the Holy Procession destined to Ask the Omens. We had with us a list of queries his Holiness wished us to ask once we arrived sufficiently deep enough in the waters where giants drink..."
-Voyages, excerpt 1251 XXX XXX"

In a rather unusual ritual, the Holy Procession, one or two ships provided by nobles or merchants hoping to gain favor with the church, will voyage almost directly into the Sea of Omens, which stretches beyond the knowledge of men, and for three days perform the rituals described in the old books in order to glean some knowledge or insight on troubles in the kingdoms. These rituals are performed on deck, by specially trained priests, the crew banished to quarters for the event. In the modern era, this has become to represent the archaic church-(think exorcism in Catholicism, at least how it is portrayed in movies, and also not that shunned). Rather "Asking the Omens" is a tool for the church to either get rid of undesirables or at the least remove them from court politics for a voyage that can last three seasons. It is believed that great beasts lay sleeping beneath the waves-these are the children of God, banished to the mortal realm for imperfection. Holy writ suggests these creatures may have divine knowledge to impart if the proper sacrifices are offered.

Hurricanes
The frigid and terrible waters north and west of the island of Veranth are occasionally penetrated by the mild trade winds of the Innish Sea. The combination of warm, semi-tropical winds in combination with the icy air of the north causes massive cyclone-like storms to form. For centuries hurricanes have been recorded in the histories of all of the Kingdoms that border the Innish Sea. Rarely do these hurricanes pass between the Republic of Veranth and the Cyprot League to the north. Those hurricanes find landfall in the form of many hundreds of minor islands, and loses strength. More often, to devastating economic and material effect, do these storms barrel into the main trading lanes south of Veranth, and just north of Saeth Mar. In this event, a whole trading season may be lost, as the great storms are slow, brutish things that swallow ships and men and all the goods they carry whole. Despite the shifting sands and heavy tides of the Saeth Mar coast, the shores are littered with wrecks of unfortunate ships.

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Ancient Cypriot
In archaic times, the Cypriot archipelago was a single landmass. The Cypriots were masters of engineering, coliseums, bridges, aqueducts, temples, drydocks, harbors and many more architectural feats, the ruins

The main islands are home to a confederation of nation-states, sea-farers and traders by nature, with a long and lengthy history of exploration and mercantilism. Ruins of the precursor civilization are scattered across the islands, some only emerging from the shallows between the inner islands and the mainland, a crumbling colliseum, towering ramparts covered in barnacles and sea grass, the sea has washed over those dim pages of history and some historians suggest that the flooding may have caused the downfall of that power.

Darker things reside on the many thousand isles as well. Sorcerery has played a part in

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The gleaming cities of Karolath are darkened by the Inquisitors and Adjudicators of the Holy Church.

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The semi-tropical coastline disguises the harsh and unrelenting shifting sands beyond. Saeth Merar means literally means "land-sea".

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Shipbuilding, Blacksmiths, Masons, Textiles, Distillers, Clothiers, etc.

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This is the crunchy bit, but it is really simple. You should familiarize yourself with the world information under the Lore header before choosing a name and background. In addition to basic character info, you have Attributes and Skills that determine what your character can do and what she knows. The numbers are very simple: Spend 4 points on Attributes (Charisma, Combat, Fame, Faith) and 8 points on Skills (Grace, Speech, Literacy, Trade, Luck, Leadership, Dueling, Strategy).

In Masters of Veranth, you take the role of an influential and affluent nobleman, merchant, clergyman and citizen of the city of Veranth. The city is without a master and the council of peers is unsure what steps to take to ensure the safety and survival of the city. The Church of Karoleth is eager to step in and declare Veranth a protectorate of the Church and seize the assets and wealth within our coffers. Foreign investors have stopped sending payments for goods and pirates and brigands (perhaps funded by our rival city-states) have begun looting and pillaging our trade-routes and outlying settlements. In order to play the game, you must build a character, pick your attributes and stats and write a brief description of your personality and background.

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Lassa Peninsula
Bounded by water on three sides and mountains to the north, the Lassan Peninsula is a conduit for trade between east and west. Once the seat of power for an ancient empire (also known as Lassa), city states with distinct dialects and cultures have prospered here for the past 400 years under the watchful eye of the Church of Karoleth. Wheat and barley are grown in the south and the central hills hold vast plantations where olives are grown and processed into olive oil. Other important commodities are wool and iron. Ships and caravans from the east heavily laden with jade, gold, silver and spices make for ports along the coast.

Veranth
The city where the roleplay takes place. Veranth has made a name for itself as a strong mercantile stronghold with guilds and banks and little outside meddling from the Church of Karoleth. For nearly thirty years art and science has thrived in Veranth under the guidance of Duke Carlo Fiore. That reign has come to an end with the arrest of the Duke and his close associates by the church on charges of heresy, a crime that carries the penalty of death. It seems Duke Fiore funded a the publication of a pamphlet outlining the failings of the church. Fiore is being held in the White Citadel in Veranth until the order from his Holiness, Linus II for execution comes through.

Mersolan
The historic rival city-state of Veranth ruled by Duke Giacomo Princep, a wealthy wool-merchant with many family members holding posts in the Church of Karoleth. Long has Mersolan prided itself on maintaining the Abbey of St. Sebastian, the most beautiful and ornate church in all of Lassa. Mersolan has rebuilt the ancient sea wall of the Lassan empire and controls a powerful navy and merchant fleet, reaching as far east as the Jade Empire.

Other notable city-states of Lassa:
Cuna: Birthplace of His Holiness Linus II
Trato: Home to the workshop of Maccio, the famous painter and inventor
Parmos: A northern city-state with strong mercenary presence
Vica: Stronghold of the Holy Order of the Knights Sanctus Vitae

The Jade Empire
Far to the east is an Empire of such immeasurable territory and wealth that many common citizens consider it a mythical place. It is said that no foreign merchant has ever entered the Empire and left again, instead dealing with intermediaries and guides to secure valuable goods like spices, gold, silver, silk and of course jade.

Factions

The Holy Church of Karoleth
Presided over by his Holiness Linus II, with a complex hierarchy of Cardinals, priests and holy appointments, the Holy Church of Karoleth is one of the wealthiest institutions in the world. For 4,000 years the church has existed in one form or another, even during the final centuries of the ancient Lassan Empire. In recent history, the Inquisitions conducted by Cardinal Paccio have gutted the nobility and middle class of the Lassan city-states.

The Guilds
Guilds are unions of very skilled, specialized craftsmen devoted to one industry or another. Cloth dying, spinning wool, iron works, shipbuilding etc. are just some of the many guild specialties. These institutions hold control over vast sums of money and are semi-militant.

Mercenaries & Knightly Orders
Bands of veteran soldiers roam the Lassan peninsula looking for work. Those given the blessing of the Church are well funded and are often employed protecting shrines, churches and holy persons across the land. Other mercenary bands are more nefarious, and include pirates, brigands and cuthroats. They are not as well trained or funded, but will do almost any job.

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A city must pay for its food, defense and any taxes and debts owed to the church or foreign powers.

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As you can see, there is not a lot of information outside of Veranth that is known.

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Someone is assassinating wizards in the kingdom of Bapha. Furthermore, the Queen has taken ill and the Church, under the guidance of Grimalken has accused Witherfinger, the court sorcerer. He has fled to gods knows where. You play as a fledgling wizard fleeing the wrath of the Church.

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"We are but the dreams of the Universe"
Magic users in the Kingdom of Bapha are called Vocifers. They use secret words, chants and manipulate icons and totems to achieve a desired magical effect. The source of the Vocifers' power are the dreams of slumbering celestial beings called Eidelons.

use chants and magic words to manipulate the dreams of sleeping celestial beings far below the earth. These dreams may manifest however the vocifer see's fit with the caveat that the power may never directly harm a living creature.

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_{Artwork by Jean Giraud, r.i.p.}

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Text

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Races of the Empire

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O R I G I N S o f t h e M I N E R V A P R O J E C T

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M I N E R V A T O D A Y

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The Minerva Archive is currently innactive as of January 11th, 2010. Only essential personnel are on retainer for final project phases, organization of archive contents and disposal of non-essential archive property. Please report to Director Simon Pierce for final assignments.

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Dr. Simon Pierce
Director of the Minerva Archive
simple_simon@crock.gov

• Age: 59
• Background: C L A S S I F I E D
• Assignment: Department Head Oversight, Minerva Archive, Castle Rock Complex, United States
• Quote: "Let's see what this button does!"

Dr. Milo Yanez
Chief Archivist
M_Yanez@yahoo.com

• Age: 38
• Bio: Please requisite and submit the appropriate paperwork to view further information.
• Assignment: Maintenance and Organization of the Minerva Archive, Castle Rock Complex, United States

Professor Anastasia Sukorov
Senior Research & Project Manager for Temporal Displacement Sciences, Castle Rock Complex, United States // Castle Rock Complex, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, & America
P.O. Box 71, N. Violet Rd, Washington D.C.

• Age: 28?
• Current Location: Timeline 'B' (probably)
• Notable Achievements: Impressive Autograph Collection Including: F.D.R, Abraham Lincoln, Ernesto Guevarra, Thomas Jefferson, et. al.

Mr. Gray
Chief Sanitation Engineer, Castle Rock Complex, United States
Do Not Contact Mr. Gray

• Age: Irrelevant
• Duties: per request
• Note: If personnel remain in the presence of Mr. Gray for an extended period of time, please report to the medical facility located in Annex B. Do not go to the medical facility in Annex A.

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Ages come and go, but always in cycles. It is a time of verdant apocalypse-wild growth in nature, in magic and the world. Old cities fall and new ones rise on the scattered ruins of an ancient baroque civilization. Time is death. Death is ephemeral.

Ishtar Plain

In a great cataclysmic of seismic activity, twin mountain ranges skewered the Ishtar Plain and destroyed the major cities of a once thriving civilization. A valley formed between the ranges (called Ish & Tar in a later age) and flood waters stormed in to drown the lingering survivors of the cataclysm. A few centuries passed and people began to explore the ruined valley floor. Yawning ruins, have submerged in the murky waters greeted them. From these tunnels and sunken halls came dangerous wildlife- chittering things with claws and spines, boar-fish, gnarl crabs, half-dragons (size, not race), merligronts, spiderhawks (flying spider thing), etc.

The City of Phaengraff
(Grafth - City , Phaen - The name of the Valley) City of the Phaen Valley

Over a century ago the first settlements began popping up along the spiny carcass of a fallen Tortugant, a gigantic Tortoise. The creature died from old age, as attested by the twenty-thousand rings carefully counted by semi-scientific historical Society of Krelal. (Tortugants live between 18-22,000 years).

The settlements were established over time, as hunters came to the shell to kill Gnarl-Crabs. The crabs infested the still-fleshy insides of the Tortugant's carcass. The shell of a Gnarl-Crab can be fashioned into armor, clothes, jewelry, or ground to a dust for certain alchemical purposes-hardening, laquer, and used in a process of swordsmithing localized in the Fringe. These properties made the business highly lucrative-for a time. Eventually the crabs moved on or were wiped out. But the settlements remained.

Over time, the crab harvests dwindled, but explorers and adventurers in the area had catalogued a treasure trove of unexplored caverns, dungeons and sunken cities. The Flooded Valley of Phaen harbors secrets and treasure for the taking.

TRAVEL
Travel is difficult too and from the city of Phaengraff as it is essentially a series of islands built atop shaky foundations. The streams and tributaries that feed the sunken valley are rife with dangerous wildlife and poisonous vegetation. Only a few 'canals' have been cleared for the larger barges and paddle boats to carry goods to the cities of the Fringe, and even these are dependant on seasonal weather. The terrain around Phaengraff is notorious for changing from season to season. From rising tides, as much as ten feet in some places, to rampant vegetation taking over entire islands in a matter of days.

Travel is facilitated in a variety of ways. More affluent travelers and explorers (like the Wealthy Wix City Merchants) use a kind of primitive dirigible, although these are slow and prime targest for roving flocks of Hawkspiders. The domesticated Lurmegoyff, (a sort of domesticated and hybridized lammasu) can carry single passengers and small quantities of goods. In addition, paddle boats powered by volcan embers occassionally pull into the harbors. There is also a long causeway that meanders through the swampy bushlands around Phaengraff, with a few scattered way-stations (sometimes stocked with food and supplies) that are sometimes manned by outcasts or the banished.

SIGHTS

FOOD
The waters and brushland supply ample food if one knows how to hunt. Fish and small mammalian creatures-like rats, possum, etc. Reptiles like lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles are all on the menu. The culinarians of Phaengraff have established a solid reputation for using incredibly hot spices and herbs in their cooking, harvested from the multitude of plants available in the swamps. These are always less quality ingredients as most of the things produced in Phaengraff are shipped to the cities on the Fringe for a higher price.

TRADE
Phaengraff exists because of trade. The sunken valley is incredibly dangerous, but also very profitable. Small guilds of merchants have established themselves in

ORDER

Alchemy
Tortugant
Gnarl-Crabs

Fringe Cities
Swords of the Fringe

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The Map will divided into regions dependent on the # of players. These regions are under complete control of your avatar until another player(s) begin to exert influence in that region. Players will decide what sort of terrain their region will contain. This is an important step as much of what an avatar can do and create will be dependent on the type of region they have created. Regions may change and diversify later, but in the beginning they will be simple single-biome areas.

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The role the players take is that of a divine entity gifted with powers of creation, essentially becoming a god or goddess. However, to do so you must take a physical form-your avatar. Avatars reside in the mortal realm and channel the magic necessary to create. Avatars must also take on Aspects in order to manifest in the mortal realm.

Aspects are 'tags' associated with your avatar that summarize their capabilities, attitudes and flaws. Aspects can be anything you can think of but must fall into one of the categories described here.

SELF-IMAGE How you see yourself and how you wish mortals to perceive you. Some examples might be: The THUNDER God, Healing Mother, Lord of WAR, etc.

FLAWS Avatars also take on mortal characteristics-including flaws.

INTENTIONS You must proclaim what your intentions are for this world. In broad terms, this will fall into one of two categories: Evil & Good. Although this is entirely subjective, gods who seek to corrupt and destroy are generally considered evil, while gods who create beauty and nurture life are considered good.

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Each region will have a default community. A community is a group of people that start the rp with a neutral attitude. Your avatar can begin to influence the community by bestowing gifts, blessings are revealing yourself to them. The community might build temples or shrines devoted to your avatar, or expand into other regions to spread the gods influence.

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[i]As a god you can do pretty much anything you want. Another god may challenge your action however. This might result in the action failing, or the action becoming subverted for another purpose. As you do more and more actions, your Power will begin to seep into the world. This material power must be directed into Temples, Shrines, or into Items of Power-artifacts, weapons and wonders that exist in the world. If too much of your power seeps into the world, your god will begin to resort to a sort of primal-state, eventually becoming a monster (and part of the GMs arsenal of characters).

You can create a new god at any time.
New regions created? Or sub-divide region of former avatar?

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HyperGate Control Room
Command Post 2
Hyko Mountain Complex


Even through the titanium shell of the Control Room, Galen could hear the swirling snowstorm outside. It was cold and he wished he had remembered his military issued thermal suit. Instead, he was stuck in his civilian flannel jacket and dungarees. Power had been diverted to all reactive systems for the shift-namely the Hypergate Galen was responsible for maintaining. That meant no power for heat and what little lights kept the room illuminated were a shade of orange.

Galen and a few other civilian operators monitored the Hypergate in orbit around Enlil wordlessly. It was monotonous work but it payed well. It was also very important work, and Galen counted himself lucky as a civilian to get the job. Then again, there weren't many technicians capable of operating a Hypergate this far from the Republican Core Systems.

Galen checked the time. 01:00:00. Only 11 hours to go he thought. He remembered his mug of tamvi, a local tea loaded with caffeine and took a sip. His eyes drifted to the main monitor built into the domed wall in front of the technicians cubicles. Images of local space were displayed along columns of data, figures, ship arrival and departure times. A large glowing circular icon represented the Hypergate, which would flash every few minutes when a ship was requesting departure or arrival.
Small ships could come and go as they pleased-something unthinkable during the war, but the larger freighters still needed clearance from command.

These were the big 12km long Hercules class ships that brought supplies to the Samoria system, and carried away raw minerals and ore pulled from one of the six inhabited planets in the system. The icon flashed green, green, green, all night long.

Galen sipped his tea until it was gone and felt himself warm up a little bit. Teri, another technician left to have a smoke, came back smelling of the sweet dried tobacco leaf Galen had given up.

The Hypergate flashed green, green on the main monitor.

"Any more tea, Galen?" she asked rubbing her arms.

Green, green.

"Nope, just the one. Got a smoke?"

Green.

Teri cracked a smile. "How long's it been Gal?"

Green.

"Too long, hey what's the ETA on that Federation Freighter?"

Green. Red. Green.

"Uh...let me see, Galen. That's not until tomorrow. Foskers' shift. You miss all the fun!"

Red. Red. Red.

"What the hell is that?" said Teri blankly, pointing to the main monitor. Her arm was still stuck in her coat sleeve.

"What is wha-Oh god," breathed Galen.

An alarm Galen had never heard before began blasting across all comms systems in the room. The other technician-Galen didn't even know his name-stood up from his desk.

"Holy Shit," said the man.

Galen glared at his own instrument panel. The data coming through the Hypergate was...empty. "Teri-you got anything?" he shouted.

"Uh...not looking good Galen! I've got no readings-no...nothing. There is nothing coming through. It's like the Gate is..."

The alarm faded and the room was silent.

"Gone. The Hypergate is gone Teri."

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Quick Description: Multicultural , City-States ,
Races: Any & All
Gods:

Historical & Contextual Description
A narrow strip of land running roughly south/north, with diverse climates reflecting the geographical extremes. The Fringe was once home to a world-spanning Empire that fell into ruin about 4,000 years ago. Ruins and crypts, dungeons and underground fortresses hold the secrets of that ancient civilization, and adventurers from all over the world travel to the Fringe to uncover treasures and artifacts.

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Quick Description: Decadent, Religious, Byzantine , Just , High-Tech
Races: Human, Elf, Orc, Dwarf (for now)
Gods: Balthazar,


A vast land of plains, mountains, deserts and seas, the Confederacy was only recently unified under the God-King Balthazar. Little is known about the despot as most of his manipulations are
done through intermediaries.

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Quick Description: Warring States, Ritualistic , Medieval , Harsh , High Arcana
Races: Humans, Elves, Half-Elves,
Gods:

Take control of a Corporate Faction in competition for resources and markets against other corporations in a post-modern, post-nation state setting. The game will consist of rounds and turn reports. After each updated turn report, players may post a new In-Character response to roleplay the turns results and/or introduce motives for their factions next turn actions. It is possible to play this game without posting IC responses, but it is preferred that players post IC as this will make the game more interesting and create a collaborative narrative.

State of the World
"Progress demands sacrifice."
For the great democracies have fallen, and in the wake of global economy, spurred by hyper-capitalist intervention in the affairs of sovereign nations, and the betrayal of the People by the very civil servants summoned to public office, a New Order has emerged, and which will stand for a thousand years.

. Citizenship is an antiquated term as people are considered either 'Employees' or 'Non-Workers' with the limited rights and civil liberties associated with each status. Employees are able to buy things (from their respective corporations at least) rent apartments and generally enjoy a peaceful existence as long as they abide by the Corporate Rules and show up for work.

Non-Workers are considered a threat and a nuisance. Many anti-corporate militant organizations considered terrorists by the Corps and Freedom Fighters by the sympathetic have emerged from the sprawling slums and suburban wasteland ghettos where Non-Workers take refuge. The gap between rich and poor is at historic levels.

CORPORATE CHARTER

Your corporation must have aspects that tell the GM & other players what you are actually capable of doing within the game world. Your charter will also include assets that tell us what important facilities, units, characters and intel your corporation controls.

VENTURES

The lifeblood of a corporation are the business ventures they choose to pursue, invest in and expand. A new corporation chooses (1) starting venture but may invest in a new one as early as the first turn.

Basic Ventures

Agriculture
Genetically modified seeds and plants are the wave of the future. With new advances in agricultural science, organic productivity is up %1000 !

Agriculture is a safe bet in any market as the world is always in need of food supplies. Super seeds, highly resistant to pestilence and disease are the crops of the future. And with new technologies finding new ways to use crops such as corn and wheat, this venture has the potential for exponential growth.

Mining
Raw ores and minerals provide the basic components for more advanced manufacturing and production. Mining may be highly lucrative at first, but as the venture continues, the supply will be depleted. Environmental repercussions are based on the level at which mining is directed.

Notes:
:Corporations must set the pace at which mining is conducted: Aggressive, Moderate, Responsible
:Regions affected by mining will suffer a penalty to

Security
[i]Providing military security for

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The sorcerer Veldt hurtled through the thickly curling clouds atop his chimera. Three beastly heads weaved through the air current, and Veldt gripped the reins fiercely. Skimming across an elegantly floating landmass the mount and rider sped, narrowly missing a gushing waterfall. The cool water splashed upon the sorcerers young face, invigorating Veldt and soaking his short, bleached white hair. From one of the chimeras bestial heads came a low grunt of disdain.

Murky swamps and angular ruins lay below, covered in a brightly glowing green cloud of mist and misery. The Luminous Fade, thought Veldt, not without fear. The sentient vestige of a vengeful planet would mire the ruins for centuries to come, slowly disintegrating alien and inorganic materials. With somber curiosity, Veldt could not help but wonder what fate befell the ancient masters of his planet.

The cloudscape cleared abruptly and chimera and rider broke free of the murky air. Before Veldt lay a dismal fortress, scarred black from arcane wars and surrounded on all sides by a lurid sea. The crumbling towers and walls of Castle Acheanbor were covered in shiver-vines, that snapped and hissed at the sorcerer as he circled, searching for a ledge to land upon.

“Steady, Threakin,” whispered Veldt to the chimera. “We have nothing to fear from this height…”

Veldt spied a suitable landing and slowed the beast with a tug of the reins, and an arcane phrase in order to descend. The cracked earth scattered as the thick scaly wings of the chimera beat the air, finally coming to a rest. Veldt dismounted and patted the chimeras lion-head lightly. Ignoring Veldt, Threakin curled its muscular wings and tucked its heads one by one beneath the scaly muscle and feather. Satisfied, Veldt walked towards the castle with caution.

The castle gate, a grid of iron and stone was intact, but raised just enough for a man to slither through. Scorch marks were burnt into the ground, and the wide stone steps leading to the portal were cracked and broken.

Veldt stopped at the steps and produced a clear glass orb from his cloak. “Zyssiz!” in-canted the sorcerer. The orb hissed from his open palm and came to a stop three paces away. A crackling of arcane light appeared, captivating the orb in lightning. Veldt nodded approval and looked to the high castle walls.

Far above, a sickly yellow light shone. A shivering wail echoed through the ruins, and then came the sound of a thousand skittering legs. Veldt raised his gloved hands before him and summoned a sword of flaming white light. He gripped the arcane weapon without flinching and took a few steps forward. The crackling orb followed.

The wailing stopped abruptly as the sorcerer reached the steps leading to the castle gate. Veldt turned to Threakin. “Sleep lightly friend, for I may need to expedite my departure!” said the sorcerer, before stalking into Castle Acheanbor.

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The once sprawling galactic empires of decadence and indulgence are no more, destroyed from within by vainglorious and scheming men...or the simple taxing of time. In the wake of the great collapse come feudal kingdoms-planet sized bastions of civilization ruled by very powerful men, or alliances of men that hold power over the subjugated races-mutants, demi-humans, aliens and semi-humans, half-breeds, vat-readied, engineered and artificed-the list is endless; but it is mankind that is the dominant species.

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The billion billions of eons past are greatly diminished in the twilight eons of the universe. Humanity has evolved beyond the ancient kin of long dead Earth, instead awakening to the cosmic fabric that courses through all things. That is not to say all men are sorcerers-in lieu of arcane talent come men with armor, sword and axe or any assortment of feudal device. Called powerful by the weak, barbarian by the strong, null-men and neutrals by many more. There is more than one path to carve out a kingdom however...

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An expanse of space littered with ruined worlds, portals, black holes, marauding alien hordes and renegade sorcerers. The Scream is expanding, an increasing miasma of lawlessness, chaos and darkness.

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Chrystar is a wilderness of unchecked arcane power, curses, ancient temples and visions. Dominating the single semi-tropical continent is the city of spheres, home to the sorcerer Veldt, last ally of mankind. Veldt has allied Chrystar with the Verdigris League in an effort to stave of the approaching darkness of the Scream.

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Every 48,000 years the Din Star, an enormous sentient armored star activates and begins the journey towards seemingly random planets or stars where it collides fantastically with the celestial object, spreading destruction, death and extinction. Prophecy has foretold of the Din Stars destruction by one who trades his humanity for the ultimate power....


In Sword & Star you take control of an entire planet, the sorcerer or barbarian that rules it, and the people and resources of that world. Telling a story and roleplaying is only one aspect of the game, however. The other aspect will simulate decades of passing time, the ebb and flow of power and the changes that occur within the galaxy. This game is turn-based, and will utilize Orders to simulate the actions of your world and characters.

I like your ideas (Especially your latest idea) and am therefore leaving a comment as per your instructions.

I like your ideas (Especially your latest idea) and am therefore leaving a comment as per your instructions.

Thanks man! It's actually an old idea I'm just rearranging the thread. Speaking of old ideas...I'm currently reworking that MERCENARIES! game from a while back.

<Snipped quote by rush99999>
Speaking of old ideas...I'm currently reworking that MERCENARIES! game from a while back.

I approve of this action wholeheartedly. Please let me know when its interest check is up.