Polybius

These Dark Stars

Working nation sheet. It is not detail intensive. No need for demographics or fancy pictures. Other players and myself need to know your factions ambitions, loyalties and assets as well as your liabilities to exploit better understand your motives and reasons for playing in this rp. Try and work with other players and myself to create unique factions. Remember this is a crucial time in Imperial history and only the galaxy-shakers and most important people and factions will ultimately play a part in shaping the destiny of the Empire. Let's try this:

Galactic Entity Entry

Overview
Province/Kingdom/Faction/Tributary Name:
Ruling Body : (This may be a single character or a group of characters)
Home System: (At least one planet ;) )
Primary Resource: (Could be as simple as mineral production or something more inventive.)

Armed Forces
(Leave this blank until the main IC thread is up with details about the technology available k thx.)

Imperial Assessment
Write a blurb about your faction from the viewpoint of Imperial Intelligence. Consider the threats and motives that might most catch the eye of the Imperial Bureaucracy. Also include any weaknesses the Empire could exploit.

As you can see it is a pretty simple sheet. I'm sure there will be some grumbling, but I'm not really a hardass GM so please, speak your mind so we can get something fun rolling.

Some other things on my mind for the IC:
Technology (Ships, size, armament and how to determine victors in battle)
Posting requirements and format (mostly word counts etc)
Cartography (I'm off the mind that a galactic map, although appealing is not really necessary since intergalactic travel is FTL. I could come up with something, but I'm limited to MSpaint so if this gets rolling and anyone is interested in helping out twbg)

My faction and posts (I don't plan on playing as the NPCs listed above-that would be a really heavy workload for me, instead I'm thinking of doing a sort of *galactic update* post with the goings on in the Empire, player factions (a sort of summary for you nerds who want to skip the prose) and NPCs. A sort of galactic news spread to keep the timeline moving forward.

Alright I've spewed enough filth this morning. Thoughts ? @Legion02@Sierra@Drunken Conquistador@Isotope@Pepperm1nts@GreivousKhan@Flagg@FrostedCaramel@gorgenmast

These Dark Stars

Working on a proper thread after work.

Long Time No See! (General and Sword/Sorrcery 1x1 Interest Check)

@Missy Mina Hiya! Sword & Sorcery is a favorite of mine and I am eager to jump back into writing after taking almost a year break from the site.

I prefer Tolkien to Game of Thrones and count films like Willow, Conan or Ladyhawke as some of my favorites.

Although I have never given 1x1 a shot I am interested in the 2nd warrior/healer plot idea. Check out my polyvault (it's mostly worldbuilding & GM type stuff) & my blog link in my profile (more character and narrative stuff there) if you like.

These Dark Stars

I've got a good plot arc in mind for this. I'll keep an eye on this.

@gorgenmast

Hope to hear more!

I'll be watching as well. Would be interested in a Loyalist faction attempting to maintain order if this ever kicks off.

@FrostedCaramel

I was hoping someone would go this route.

Gonna Carry That Weight...[Cowboy Bebop inspired RP]

This looks really cool :)

Poly Vault

These Dark Stars

A roleplay of the far future

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---

GM's Note Here is the framework for a setting I've had on my mind for some time. Drawing inspiration from Star Wars, Dune, Flash Gordon, Roman and Chinese Imperial history...Have a read. It is pretty sparse in that I hope those interested would bring some new ideas to the table. Bounce some ideas around and let me know if you are interested in this sort of game. -Poly

Preface

The emperor is dead. The diseased appendage that is the Imperial Bureaucracy trudges on, but already the outer provinces are rebelling against Imperial Authority. The acolytes of the planet-spanning artificial intelligence Gilbradia (the last of her kind) muse over a flurry of activity pouring from her analog spools:

"Only under the light of a dying star will the Empire fall..."

Welcome to These Dark Stars, a roleplay taking place during a crucial time in Imperial history. Players will take control of powerful men and women and the factions they lead in the struggle for the fate of the Empire. Here, science and sorcery mix. Humans are the predominant species in the galaxy and alien hordes threaten the frontier provinces.

The Setting

The Empire has stood for thousands of years, ever expanding, conquering and spreading influence to those most distant stars. Where encountered, alien races have been utterly destroyed, enslaved, or coerced into a disadvantageous treaty. Galactic history is left largely ambiguous except for a few major events:

The Diaspora

Long before the earliest traces of imperial power emerged, mankind inhabited a single planet in an isolated corner of the galaxy. Over time, humans developed technology sufficient enough to carry them to other star systems and eventually colonize them. Isolated, and without a unified government, many of these colonies were doomed or simply forgotten, only to be rediscovered thousands of years later.

The Machine Wars

Artificial Intelligence is banned save for a singular, neutral entity called Gilbradia. Thousands of years ago, mankind developed great computers capable of 'thought'. Although the details of the technological renaissance that followed are lost to time, what is known is that the great A.I.'s ultimately waged war on mankind. Although the machines were ultimately defeated, a dark age followed this era of history. Part of the armistice resulted in the banning of ever creating an artificial intelligence again.

The Imperial Era

The Empire was once a Republic. A democratic 'experiment' on a interstellar scale. Over time, the expansion of the Republic resulted in a oligarchy of extremely powerful politicans that corrupted and abused the democratic system in place. Eventually, a single tyrant emerged triumphant over his enemies, and the Republic was dissolved and became an Empire.

The Void

Having reached the furthest points of space, mankind discovered the Void, an endless shapeless dimension outside the realm of space and time. Curious, man looked, and the Void looked back. Ripples of chaos spread through the galaxy and sorcery was born. This new universal force changed the very laws of physics and science forever, or awoke a latent power that had once lay dormant. A very small percentage of mankind was gifted with superhuman power. Precognition, telekinesis.

Factions

Imperial Factions

The Imperial Bureaucracy

A vestige of ancient times, the Bureaucracy has slowly relinquished power to the seat of the Emperor through threats, manipulation and unforgiving violence. With the death of the Emperor, the Bureaucracy has a chance to seize power once more and return the fate of the Empire to the will of the people.

The Gilbradians

The planet-spanning supercomputer called Gilbradia is home to a quasi-religious sect of zealots and clergy that have undergone bio-mechanical surgery under the orders of the Imperial Authority. It is not common knowledge that Gilbradia exists. Gilbradia is ultimately a research facility, designed to create an environment for an Artificial Intelligence to prosper, develop and interact with humans in the hopes that AI's might one day be developed for the benefit of the Empire. Over time, legends have formed and Gilbradia has taken on a mystic quality for the layman-as prophetess, oracle and ultimately as a divine being.

The Imperial Authority

The IA is the military arm of the Empire. The navy and imperial legion is feared throughout the galaxy for their ruthless enforcement of the Emperors will. With the death of the Emperor, rumors abound as to who will ultimately wield control of the Imperial Sword.

The Vespers Evening Song
The secret service and former personal army of the Emperor. Spies, assassins and loyal soldiers to a dead emperor. Many within the Imperial Bureaucracy fear what the Vespers will do without the strong hand of the emperor to control them.

Religious Factions

The Church of Ankh-Sah

Twenty-thousand years ago, a man looked upon the stars and saw patterns. Transcribing the words spoken to him by these 'angels', Ankh-Sah unknowingly wrote the first book of what would become the holy text of the most powerful religious movement in the galaxy. Followers of Ankh-Sah believe the stars to be gods themselves that shape the will of the galaxy. Combining astronomy, divination, ritual and an adherence to the teachings of Ankh-Sah. A polytheistic religion of dizzying numbers of sects, orders and practices, they are the official religion of Imperial Provinces.

Followers of the Void

Mystics and Sorcerers known for their strength and power in combat, negotiation and tactical insight. Called vacare by their enemies and allies alike, they often find themselves in positions of power thanks to their supernatural abilities. Vacare are thought to be atheists, but this is untrue. They believe the universe itself to be a divine being with certain space-time events and regions (such as black holes) to be sacred entities to be worshiped and protected.

These Dark Stars

These Dark Stars

A roleplay of the far future

---

---

GM's Note Here is the framework for a setting I've had on my mind for some time. Drawing inspiration from Star Wars, Dune, Flash Gordon, Roman and Chinese Imperial history...Have a read. It is pretty sparse in that I hope those interested would bring some new ideas to the table. Bounce some ideas around and let me know if you are interested in this sort of game. -Poly

Preface

The emperor is dead. The diseased appendage that is the Imperial Bureaucracy trudges on, but already the outer provinces are rebelling against Imperial Authority. The acolytes of the planet-spanning artificial intelligence Gilbradia (the last of her kind) muse over a flurry of activity pouring from her analog spools:

"Only under the light of a dying star will the Empire fall..."

Welcome to These Dark Stars, a roleplay taking place during a crucial time in Imperial history. Players will take control of powerful men and women and the factions they lead in the struggle for the fate of the Empire. Here, science and sorcery mix. Humans are the predominant species in the galaxy and alien hordes threaten the frontier provinces.

The Setting

The Empire has stood for thousands of years, ever expanding, conquering and spreading influence to those most distant stars. Where encountered, alien races have been utterly destroyed, enslaved, or coerced into a disadvantageous treaty. Galactic history is left largely ambiguous except for a few major events:

The Diaspora

Long before the earliest traces of imperial power emerged, mankind inhabited a single planet in an isolated corner of the galaxy. Over time, humans developed technology sufficient enough to carry them to other star systems and eventually colonize them. Isolated, and without a unified government, many of these colonies were doomed or simply forgotten, only to be rediscovered thousands of years later.

The Machine Wars

Artificial Intelligence is banned save for a singular, neutral entity called Gilbradia. Thousands of years ago, mankind developed great computers capable of 'thought'. Although the details of the technological renaissance that followed are lost to time, what is known is that the great A.I.'s ultimately waged war on mankind. Although the machines were ultimately defeated, a dark age followed this era of history. Part of the armistice resulted in the banning of ever creating an artificial intelligence again.

The Imperial Era

The Empire was once a Republic. A democratic 'experiment' on a interstellar scale. Over time, the expansion of the Republic resulted in a oligarchy of extremely powerful politicans that corrupted and abused the democratic system in place. Eventually, a single tyrant emerged triumphant over his enemies, and the Republic was dissolved and became an Empire.

The Void

Having reached the furthest points of space, mankind discovered the Void, an endless shapeless dimension outside the realm of space and time. Curious, man looked, and the Void looked back. Ripples of chaos spread through the galaxy and sorcery was born. This new universal force changed the very laws of physics and science forever, or awoke a latent power that had once lay dormant. A very small percentage of mankind was gifted with superhuman power. Precognition, telekinesis.

Factions

Imperial Factions

The Imperial Bureaucracy

A vestige of ancient times, the Bureaucracy has slowly relinquished power to the seat of the Emperor through threats, manipulation and unforgiving violence. With the death of the Emperor, the Bureaucracy has a chance to seize power once more and return the fate of the Empire to the will of the people.

The Gilbradians

The planet-spanning supercomputer called Gilbradia is home to a quasi-religious sect of zealots and clergy that have undergone bio-mechanical surgery under the orders of the Imperial Authority. It is not common knowledge that Gilbradia exists. Gilbradia is ultimately a research facility, designed to create an environment for an Artificial Intelligence to prosper, develop and interact with humans in the hopes that AI's might one day be developed for the benefit of the Empire. Over time, legends have formed and Gilbradia has taken on a mystic quality for the layman-as prophetess, oracle and ultimately as a divine being.

The Imperial Authority

The IA is the military arm of the Empire. The navy and imperial legion is feared throughout the galaxy for their ruthless enforcement of the Emperors will. With the death of the Emperor, rumors abound as to who will ultimately wield control of the Imperial Sword.

The Vespers Evening Song
The secret service and former personal army of the Emperor. Spies, assassins and loyal soldiers to a dead emperor. Many within the Imperial Bureaucracy fear what the Vespers will do without the strong hand of the emperor to control them.

Religious Factions

The Church of Ankh-Sah

Twenty-thousand years ago, a man looked upon the stars and saw patterns. Transcribing the words spoken to him by these 'angels', Ankh-Sah unknowingly wrote the first book of what would become the holy text of the most powerful religious movement in the galaxy. Followers of Ankh-Sah believe the stars to be gods themselves that shape the will of the galaxy. Combining astronomy, divination, ritual and an adherence to the teachings of Ankh-Sah. A polytheistic religion of dizzying numbers of sects, orders and practices, they are the official religion of Imperial Provinces.

Followers of the Void

Mystics and Sorcerers known for their strength and power in combat, negotiation and tactical insight. Called vacare by their enemies and allies alike, they often find themselves in positions of power thanks to their supernatural abilities. Vacare are thought to be atheists, but this is untrue. They believe the universe itself to be a divine being with certain space-time events and regions (such as black holes) to be sacred entities to be worshiped and protected.

GUTS+ | The Swift's Fate — RPG System test run and workshop session

@Alamantus I'm interested! I really enjoy tinkering with rpg mechanics and systems myself, so cool to see someone else give it a go. Do you have any info on the sci-fi setting that might help in the character creation process?

Poly Vault

These Dark Stars

A Feudal Space Roleplay of the Far Future

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The hushed assembly of a thousand bureaucrats sweated and shivered with anticipation, awaiting the arrival of the Emperor. Silence, save for the sound of anxious kneading hands in folded robes filled the ancient halls of the Imperial Palace. Above the neatly ordered rows of seated politicians hung a semi-sphere of blue shaded glass. A chime sounded and the sphere bloomed to life in holographic light.

Instantly, the innumerable stars of the Imperial expanse appeared in shades of gold, red and purple. The visions shifted and expanded, focused. Political and economic borders emerged in veins of white, expanded, shrank and expanded once more. All the history of the Empires conquests danced above as the procession of the Emperor entered the chamber.

The holographic map distorted, magnified and focused on a single, lonely star. Fiery white light blazed through the display as the star expanded at twenty times the speed of light, shrank, died. The assembly gasped. The Imperial procession had taken their place beside the gold and platinum lacquered throne.

The Setting

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"Only under the light of a darkened star will the Empire fall..." - Gilbadian Prophecy

The Emperor is dead, taken by a sudden and unknown sickness. With no clear successor to take his place, the Bureaucracy has seized power. While the politicians scheme and form secret alliances, governors of the outermost systems are beginning to shake off the yolk of Imperial Power. It is the Galactic Year 396. The Era of the Dark Star.

basic mechanics

2d6 + relevant modifier.
easy > 6
moderate >9
difficult >11

Statistics

Capital An abstraction of your economic wealth. Capital is the only statistic that replenishes each calendar cycle (every 4 turns your Capital returns to maximum. You may use capital as you would money.

Industry
The productive capabilities of your holdings including manufacturing and agriculture. Industry generates CAPITAL (the only stat that replenishes each calendar cycle (4 turns) at the rate of 4 INDUSTRY = 1 CAPITAL .

Military Represents how powerful your military capabilities are. See the Battles section for more info.

Politics How politically saavy and influential your factions bureaucracy is.

PLANETS & RESOURCES

Your holdings consist of all of the moons and planets under your direct military or political control. Resources for Industry and Capital are generated each round depending on your holdings. The following describes each planet type and any notes about each.
Black: A dead planet. Only generations of terraforming will render any use of such a world.
Blue : An ecologically diverse planet containing water.
Red: A mineral rich world that may be drained of resources. A Red world that is aggressively harvested for resources may turn into a black world.
Green: A lush world containing vast areas of jungle or forests.

BATTLES & FLEETS

Battles occur when two opposing fleets engage militarily.
Fleets are assigned Commanders and given orders.
PRIMARY ORDERS: ATTACK, DEFEND
SECONDARY ORDERS: Refit , Relocate, Reinforce
RULERS
Choose your Background:
MILITARY : Knowledgeable in the ways of strategy and tactics, your ruler excels at military tactics and leadership under fire. +2 Military, +1 Industry
BUREAUCRACY: Wise in the ways of the enthralling galactic Bureaucracy, your ruler excels at negotiations and has connections to the most powerful persons in the galaxy. +2 Politics, +1 Capital

Name:
Age: 30-100
Phys. Description: Tall, short, slim, husky. Rulers come in all shapes and sizes but are decidedly human in this game.
Dominion: Name your territory and holdings. It should be noted that most holdings are technically kingdoms within the Empire so no EMPIRES OF UGH'No'Tag'ain. GM & PLAYER approval required.
Industry / Capital / Military / Politics
Assign your stats to each Ind,Cap, Mil, Pol. You have 6 points to assign to each statistic with no statistic being more than 2 greater than any other. Remember to add any other modifiers
Active Fleets & Commanders
Keep track of your fleets and commanders here.
1st Fleet "FOIE GRAS FLEET" Commander Indra Ardo
2nd Fleet "KOMBUCHA FLEET" Commander Remy Guillard
etc.

Sci-fi mercenary simulator

@BlackBishop What are we looking at numbers wise? Or is this a more free-form thing? Are there dice involved?