Hidden 7 yrs ago 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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At the moment looking around for interested parties in an RP as stated in the title and tags. While a bulk of the RP is going to be worked on over the weekend depending on interest, the basics are that it will be focused on individual members of a corporate sponsored military kill-team investigating strange occurrences set in the distant future. Setting itself will have the backdrop of a rather large galactic war, though our story will be focused moreso on neutral powers. Character sheets will primarily focus on the people and skills, less so on who is equipped with what, as that I will be detailing out for each person on an individual basis.

I welcome any and all questions people may have, though will advise that since I work over the weekend I may not be able to answer them all immediately.

Setting information:



The OOC
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Halvtand
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Halvtand The Voice of Reason

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I'll show some interest.

What type of distant future are we talking about by the way? There is a huge difference between warhammer's version of the 41st millennium and the distant future provided in Firefly.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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I'll show some interest.

What type of distant future are we talking about by the way? There is a huge difference between warhammer's version of the 41st millennium and the distant future provided in Firefly.


Not overly familiar with Firefly's setting, so can't quite comment on that part for sure, but can say it's not as distant as the 41st millennium, nor as dark as 40K. Current year in the setting converted to AD is the year 7415, though most people in setting simply refer to it as the year 2415 of the Corporate Era.

Tech-wise we're looking at a lot of the staples of Sci-fi being present, though some less so than others due to past events in the setting. For example, Artificial Intelligence is banned within the major human faction and officially classified as a "moral threat". Cold Fusion is widely available, powering cities and small vehicles, with even civilians able to procure small-scale reactors for exoskeletons. Anti-matter is a bit less present, with the military keeping a monopoly on the use of what stable prototypes exist, but some civilian corporations do have them out in the field.

If you've got any other questions, feel free to ask. I actually rather enjoy answering questions about the setting when it comes to giving people a better idea as to what they'll be getting involved in.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Shadow Daedalus
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This seems very interesting. A few questions though:

I'm guessing when you say AI you mean like Geth/Cylon/Cortana level intelligence, and not things like guidance computers or other low-level AI like system regulators? I can't imagine anyone seeing a futuristic version of Siri as a threat.

Also, What about Deus-Ex or Syndicate style Augments? Being able to mentally interface with computerised systems etc.

Lastly, how to things like firearms work? I imagine things like gunpowder ballistics are obsolete so is thorough Electromagnetic Induction, Laser/Plasma technology, chemical reactions?
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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Gonna break this one up into multiple quotes so I can address each one separately.

I'm guessing when you say AI you mean like Geth/Cylon/Cortana level intelligence, and not things like guidance computers or other low-level AI like system regulators? I can't imagine anyone seeing a futuristic version of Siri as a threat.


For the most part, yes. Early in the preceding era of the setting, the Terran Federation and her colonies made extensive use of all varieties of intelligences from high-level sapient ones such as what you mentioned, all the way down to simple VIs/assistant programs such as Siri. Then they experienced the Singularity and nearly lost everything to rampant AI. Though in setting the exact means through which the war ended is still unknown, the effects permanently changed mankind. From that point anything more intelligent than the common house-cat was terminated and deemed not only illegal, but also branded as a "moral threat to humanity", a label that still holds to only the most dangerous entities in the known universe. How it is that they make do without advanced computational software beyond that, can be answered better with the next section.

Also, What about Deus-Ex or Syndicate style Augments? Being able to mentally interface with computerised systems etc.


Not being familiar with either of those, I am tempted to say yes, but think it best to explain anyways. In setting, it is not only widely available to all strata human civilization, but it's largely required in many sectors for people to get neural implants so as to interface with specially built hardware. After the AI revolt people began to lean more on "networked minds", essentially pooling brainpower to accomplish processing tasks that no single person could do nearly fast enough to be efficient. Fast forward to the present day IC, and instead of starship navigation being plotted by AI such as Cortana, it's done by banks of specially trained pilots hooked directly into the datacores of the ship. More can be said through the actual article on the technology I wrote a while back, which I'll put in a hider below.

Lastly, how to things like firearms work? I imagine things like gunpowder ballistics are obsolete so is thorough Electromagnetic Induction, Laser/Plasma technology, chemical reactions?


The bullet has actually maintained primacy up to the current era, and is by far the most common implement of war in the setting until you look beyond the main faction. This is mostly because the major power within the Confederacy is a corporation that has specialized in kinetic weapons since their founding, and they are literally the military within the nation. Energy weapons and such do exist, and are prevalent in some regions however, especially in the region we'll be operating in during the RP. Not only that, but assuming most player characters will be part of the mercenary complement of the ship, they'll be equipped with the latest model of personal rail-guns.

Plasma tech is a bit trickier in the setting, as no one has quite gotten it right just yet, and the few weapon systems that do focus on it tend to be rather volatile.

Of course, if you're needing extra clarification, ask away. Most things are just floating around in my head waiting to be put to paper, but I have a good deal of notes that I can have posted up when needed. I'll also be working on the introduction post to the story while at work, so as to at least give a better idea as to the story. Beyond that introduction however, I'm of mind to sort of let things go and see how the RP plays out rather than put it on a rail and lead people one way or another. That means that while I do have a story in mind to tell, that the players are free to just slice it up on the ship, or dive headfirst into the political drama of the setting, or even indulge in that adventure :v

Interfacing augmentation technology in the hider:
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Nariata
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Interested.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Halvtand
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Not overly familiar with Firefly's setting, so can't quite comment on that part for sure, but can say it's not as distant as the 41st millennium, nor as dark as 40K.


Thank you for that answer. One can hardly keep up with all sci-fi universes after all.
I'll try to rephrase to get a bit closer to the core of my question. I am not a native English speaker, so I blame myself for not being clear enough. I could have done better.
Explained briefly, Firefly could be summed up as "cowboys in space". Replace horses with space ships and revolvers with space revolvers and you're pretty much there. The series is filled with tropes from the great old western-movies but puts a sci-fi spin on them.
You seem to have a grasp on the 40k-universe, where the last of humankind does battle against the powers of aliens, mutants and chaos gods, as well as each other. Each faction slowly declining and breaking down, most of them powered by already ancient technology.
I'll add a third example for the fun of it. In Halo humankind has united against a common foe, the alien alliance known as the covenant. Focus lies heavily on the military engagements between humanity and aliens although a few specks of lore can be sighted every now and again.

The themes of these three universes are almost entirely different, not only because the worlds are different but because of what they choose to focus on. In this game I already know that the focus will be a band of hired guns, but the world at large is still very much a mystery. Is it inspired by something in particular like Firefly and the old westerns for example?
You've also mentioned that we're hired by a corporation, which brings to mind a game called Mutant Chronicles, in this world corporations have taken over, and what we today know as countries and nations are either extinct or horribly obsolete. Corporations own land, military power, right of law and everything else that today's nations have access to but corporations as a rule does not. How would you say that the balance between corporations and nations looks in this game?
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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<Snipped quote by Alfhedil>
Thank you for that answer. One can hardly keep up with all sci-fi universes after all.
I'll try to rephrase to get a bit closer to the core of my question. I am not a native English speaker, so I blame myself for not being clear enough. I could have done better.


Don't worry about it, your English is better than a lot of native speakers I've seen :v

Explained briefly, Firefly could be summed up as "cowboys in space". Replace horses with space ships and revolvers with space revolvers and you're pretty much there. The series is filled with tropes from the great old western-movies but puts a sci-fi spin on them.
You seem to have a grasp on the 40k-universe, where the last of humankind does battle against the powers of aliens, mutants and chaos gods, as well as each other. Each faction slowly declining and breaking down, most of them powered by already ancient technology.
I'll add a third example for the fun of it. In Halo humankind has united against a common foe, the alien alliance known as the covenant. Focus lies heavily on the military engagements between humanity and aliens although a few specks of lore can be sighted every now and again.


Right, I thought that might have been what Firefly was all about, but was just a bit hazy on it. The 40K part you're pretty spot on there, as I used to be a loremaster for my local gaming group, so knowing all about the setting was practically my job at the time.

The themes of these three universes are almost entirely different, not only because the worlds are different but because of what they choose to focus on. In this game I already know that the focus will be a band of hired guns, but the world at large is still very much a mystery. Is it inspired by something in particular like Firefly and the old westerns for example?
You've also mentioned that we're hired by a corporation, which brings to mind a game called Mutant Chronicles, in this world corporations have taken over, and what we today know as countries and nations are either extinct or horribly obsolete. Corporations own land, military power, right of law and everything else that today's nations have access to but corporations as a rule does not. How would you say that the balance between corporations and nations looks in this game?


This is honestly the question I was waiting for, and the one I like the most, since this really gets down to the core of what makes the setting what it is. Conflux, as I've come to calling the setting, is one that is dominated by corporate might in the modern era, where some own the rights of a thousand planets and a workforce of billions. This is mainly down to how the Pan-Solar Confederacy is structured, and how a powerful few influenced half the galaxy. Early on the Terran Federation tried to cut down on the influence and power of these private organizations, as some, like UNISEC the main arms manufacturer, could shift politics and society with economic power alone. These attempts were seen for what they were by the corporations, a way of nationalizing them and seizing full control of their respective industries. This prompted them to come together in a form of pseudo-oligopoly wherein a series of agreements and contracts bound a dozen of the largest into a treaty that has since been called "Corporate Law". In this treaty they introduce co-dependencies on each other and agreements to freely supply materials between the signatories, which when all was said and done, meant that to take down any one of them would be to take them all down.

Corporate Law was initially meant to merely be a stop-gap measure to defy the Federation, but in time it became actual law and evolved to cover more societal aspects. They saw a need to regulate themselves, ensure their continued survival and see to the people working under them. From just an attempt at self-preservation, that treaty has come to cover everything from basic human rights to the way in which corporations negotiate trade between nations.

And national entities most certainly do continue to exist in this setting, both within and outside the Pan-Solar Confederacy. As we will be part of that main faction, I'll be primarily focusing on the PSC. To best understand what it is and what it isn't, don't think of it as a singular "nation" but rather more of a supranational entity such as the UN, EU or HRE. The HRE is the best match for what the Confederacy is, as it is largely a confederation of hundreds of individual nations of various size and influence across the western half of the galaxy, all ruled over by the singular elected government. At the core of the faction is The Board, the collected heads of the major corporations and signatories of Corporate Law. They are the true power in the setting, and through the economic reliance of all of the member states in the PSC, they maintain the status quo and dictate all laws. On paper however, the Confederate Parliament is what governs the organization. Within are representatives of every member state, as well as one singular "Speaker" who leads the parliament.

That's a little bit about the political state of the setting, but I think one more bit should be mentioned about the corporations and just how much influence they hold. See, in the setting they make all of the laws and for the most part enforce them. The reason for that is because the Confederacy has no directly controlled state military. UNISEC is literally the military of the Confederacy. They manufacture all of the weapons, armor and ships with a workforce of trillions across all their internal divisions. While in all technicality our characters are mercenaries, we are also members of the PSC's army and so most of the time those contracts will be something far closer to marching orders than mere contract. If something happens to one of the member states, and they need military assistance, UNISEC responds as any military would. At the same time, anyone is free to hire out a squad of Third Division troops to take care of dangerous wildlife or pirates threatening their shipping. So when it really comes down to it, the balance between the corporations and nations within the setting is a very delicate one, where they both rely quite heavily on each other for everything. The nations need the corporations in order to keep their economies healthy, and they are equally needed in order to provide more employees and materials.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Amalyra
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Looks pretty interesting, I'll take a shot at participating.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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Looks pretty interesting, I'll take a shot at participating.


I would certainly hope so, considering you're the ship :v
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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I have the OOC complete and ready to post, so at some point in the evening I'll be doing so and pinging everyone who has thus far expressed their interest. After the OOC is posted I'll give time for everyone to complete their CS' before making the first IC post to get the party started.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Nyxella
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I'll be awaiting the OOC but this is certainly one to watch!
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Shadow Daedalus
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Just a question on the CS, by Rank which branch of the Military would that be? I'd assume Marine Corps, but all the branches are slightly different
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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Just a question on the CS, by Rank which branch of the Military would that be? I'd assume Marine Corps, but all the branches are slightly different


You would be assuming correct. The only major differences between UNISEC command structure and that of the USMC, is that the Warrant Officer rank is more prominent, and serves a more commanding role in the divisions like in the UK's armed forces. Their rank structure stands alongside and sometimes outside the normal one, where they can often times over-ride the commands of similar ranking soldiers in their own division based solely on their Warrant. Also, divisions matter greatly when it comes to ranks. Most of the troopers on the Yoshino will be Third Division, which is more analogous to the US Army both in terms of composition and how large it is compared to the others. There will also be at least one squad of Second Division troopers, all of which will outrank the platoon leaders of the Third Division. This is because of how the divisions are ranked within UNISEC, in that Fourth Division is the least skilled and at the bottom, while First Division is the most skilled and at the top.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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Just as a reminder for everyone, got the OOC up here: roleplayerguild.com/topics/165587-con…

Pinging those who expressed interest once more: @Halvtand@Shadow Daedalus@Nariata@Amalyra@Nyxella
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Shadow Daedalus
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I'm already working on mine as we speak. I'll be done by this time tomorrow at the latest
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Alfhedil
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Alfhedil What do you see Kaneda?

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I'm already working on mine as we speak. I'll be done by this time tomorrow at the latest


Glorious. I'll be working on mine as well as the first IC post while at work over the weekend.
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