Nova Wars Baby!

[C. Baize]

Absolutely on the non-realistic maps...
It's so easily explained away with a handwave that it's not even funny...
The forces powering 'The Pocket' distorted our view of the galaxy around us. There... Done.

 

[Peterson]

Last but not least, the picture of the three different head classes of the Stargoyle. The Stargoyle is a fearsome, vacuum dwelling predator to whome oxygen is a caustic vapor, and who feeds upon heavy metals and high energy. The dwell in asteriod fields, often hibernating with thier wings spread out to absorb solar energy. The are drawn by drive emenations and are very tough, fast, strong and hard to kill.

The Stargoyle Concept is C. Baize's, I'm not claiming it.

These too were drawn by Owen Kuhn.

I LOVE THESE!

Peterson

 

[prcrash]

Here's something for everyone -- A map of all the local stars surrounding Sol (20 ly radius) and a PDF containing all the info about all the systems in the map. About 1.2 mb in size...

Sector files

I have another one of these files of a fictional sector with about 477 star systems and about half are habitable. I could post it here, but I do not have the space left in my ISP's server to upload it to. If anyone wants it, Let me know where I can upload it to.

<edit> This was done by me in Astrosynthesis - the files above are from a sector map that comes with the software, but the second one (not linked here) is done by me.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

TERRA-SOL SYSTEM​

​

AKA
FORTRESS SOL​

The center of the Terran Confederacy, a fairly standard solar system that looks innocous from a distance of a few light years, but the home of one of the most dangerous species in all the known galaxy.

Ten planets, several hundred comets, a heavy asteriod belt, multiple gas giants, and a lot of orbital bodies within it, the small yellow sun in it's early stages would not even gain a second glance from any passing visitors.

However, this is the birthplace of the Terran Humans, a race that is a legacy of the Extinction War. When the protohumans decided that all was lost, they took the Sol system, wrapped it in a gravitational anomoly in order to make it undetectable from the outside, and set to work inside.

The Fifth planet from the sun had been destroyed during the Extinction War, and the life on the Fourth planet had been destroyed, and the planet's ecosystem not only destroyed, but the surface of the planet dusted with microfines.

The third planet, however, is where the protohumans mixed thier DNA with the local ecology, and genetically engineered thier offspring to survive. The protohumans shattered the protocontinent and nudged the nickle/iron core to give it a slight wobble.

The "bag" could only be dropped from the inside, and then, only from a small planet that appeared in and out of the Sol System, crossing through the "bag" at odd times, in semi-random places in it's orbit, and staying within reach only for 2 months. This would require Terran humans to have a certian amount of technology before this could be accomplished.

Terran humans realized that as long as the "bag" existed, they were safe inside the bag, and they had time to complete what is now known as "Fortress Sol."

Where most races would have dropped the bag in order to explore the wider universe, primate paranioa led the Terran humans to arm and prepare thier solar system for what could very well be a G'Tak war-fleet waiting for them.

The following is Terra-Sol at the Present:

The Outbound Stations: Five hundred space stations, orbiting 100,000 km past Pluto's orbit, at equilateral distances in the orbital path. These stations are huge, built from metals mined from the asteriod belt, Jovian mines, and Saturn mines, these stations are armed with planetary defense battery class weapons, heavily shielded, and possess the best deep space sensor and jump-space sensor the humans have been able to devise. Each of these stations is where various Terra-Human Naval fleets are headquarted, as well as Terran Confederate Marine Corp "Armies" are head-quartered. Each of these Headquarters answer only to the Terran Confederate Military Command on Terra. Outbound Stations are considered Class A Military starports, Class A Military refit bases with five times the normal hull capacity.

Pluto Extensive shipyards, planetary defense batteries, early warning stations, interdiction generators to cause ships to drop out of FTL, and everything that the Terrans could devise was packed onto this planet. Two Class A military starports are on the planet, opposite from each other at the equator, and an orbiting defense satellite network. Pluto boasts over 2.5 million sentient population, and a battery of FTL Communications array's.

Neptune Neptune is another heavy dock, as well as the Terran Marine Corps vacuum combat training area. Wrecked starships captured out of jumpspace or old derelicts litter the surface, which is where the Marines train for thier combat maneuvers. Underground are the heavy manufacturing facilities for the TCMC's vehicle ranks. There are over a million Marines, not to mention over 20 million trainees, at any given time on the Neptune. The spaceport is well equipped, but only Class E.

Uranus: A huge gas giant, with several satellites, the Terran Humans have not only extensive gas mining facilities in orbit, and within the atmosphere or Uranus proper. In addition to the mining facilities, vast shipyards are set up here. (Class A shipyard, Class A repair facilities) Uranus is the TCMC training facility for heavy G operations. At any given time, there are 10,000 Marine and Naval personel at the Heavy G training facility. In addition, Uranus boasts a series of defense satellites build around starship class weaponry, to include Cplus Cannons and Nuclear Disbonder Cannons. Rumor has it that during it's long orbit, the Terrans seeded mines in the orbit to 500,000 km above and below Uranus' orbit.

Saturn Another gas giant, this one is nearly identical to the facilities on Uranus, with the exception that all inbound alien traffic stops here, and the ships are put into dock until reclaimed. No alien starships are permitted beyond this border. This is one of the few places that the Terran Army exists upon, and the Terran Space Force still exists, and these beings ensure the security of the ships, and the planet itself. There are over 12 million Terran military personell, as well as nearly 14 million workers of various races.
The Artificial Systems maintain 4 large colonies here, and often, an Artificial Sentient will make a pilgramage to a colony in order to visit the museams that house many ancient attempts, as well as the crude versions of the Artificial life forms.

Jupiter By far the largest of the Terran's military/industrial complexes, the moons have been colonized for over 200 years, and the surface itself hides many Terran secrets. The discovery that "The Storm" was actually a floating continent, suspended over super-dense gas, allowed colonization of the gas giant to literally take place.
A highly restricted space, this is backbone of the Terran military. From training bases to manufacturing facilities, the planet, and it's satellites, are devoted to research and development of war material, as well as manufacturing.
For most sentients, the sight of the Jovian Military/Industrial System is enough to cause fear enzymes to flood thier bloodstream. Vast factories, heavy weaponry, interdiction generators, hundreds of military vessels, and millions of troops. The fact that a Super-Capital ship can be manufactured by this vast facility in less than two years is cause for alarm at the potential of the Terran Confederacy.

Asteriod Belt/Cometary Belt This ring of debris from the fifth planet, destroyed during the Extinction war, is heavily mined by the Terrans, and the larger chunks of rock boast system defense weaponry. The belt is still explored and mined by "Rock Hoppers" as well as robotic miners. The discovery of a destroyed G'Tak outpost in the early 22nd Century caused the Confederacy to issue a bounty on any alien technology discovered, leading to constant exploration by "Rock Hoppers".

Mars: A world that was a thriving planet, with a race of small, peaceful herbivores descendant from reptillian avians, these creatures were extinguished by the G'Tak. Mars is full of Confederate corporate/military research centers, built only in sections that have been fully explored and cataloqued. over 80% of Mars is off limits for anything but ecological and xenoarcheology.

Earth: Without a doubt, the most heavily defended planet in the known Galaxy, this planet is a hodge-podge of high technological cities and rough, restored areas. With multiple continents, this gives the Terran Defense Force, the Terran Space/Air Force, and the Terran Army the ability to defend the entire globe with full coverage. Aliens who plan on visiting Terra are advised to get nano-immunizations to protect them from the ever-present "Soup" that covers the planet, as well as dose themselves firmly with psionic dampeners.

Venus: A hothouse of a world when first discovered, terraforming has converted this planet into a lush Utopia. Strangely enough, the world has no military or industrial facilities on the surface, and only a few starbases in orbit. This planet is considered a luxury vacation world, and is the headquarters of the Syntek Corporation and Bloodthorne Industries, although all that exists there is the corporate offices and corporate vacation areas.

Mercury: A hothouse world, Mercury is a heavy manafucturing world, involved in high temperature mining, alloy manufacturing, and solar power collectors. The heavy collectors beam the power to orbiting collectors, that then beam the power around the rest of the solar system. Rumor has it that the Terrans have increased both the power and accuracy of the power-transmitters in order to allow them to be used as weapon. The Terran military uses this planet for High temperature training, and have several surface facilities.

Sol: A small yellow star, this thing is unremarkable, except for 2 Terran made facilities. What either of them do is unknown, but what is known, is that the Terrans keep several ships of the line on station to guard them.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

"Soup"​

Terrans, being of pack primate descent as well as aggressive omnivores, have a unique mental/psychiatric makeup unknown in the rest of the galaxy.

They have an insatiable curiosity, as well as a drive for knowledge.

One of the earliest creations via nanotechnology as far as mass media distribution is what is known as "the Soup" that, when coupled with certian cybernetic implants, give a Terran citizen nearly instantaneous access to information, from news to cultural updates to emergency alerts to fashion shifts.

The "soup" is actually extremely small nanites that have the following abilites: Communication, repair abilities, knowledge interface and air-mobility. This gives Terrans a frightening advantage in the aquisition and use of knowledge. 2638 Legislation prohibits the "soup" from being used for individual communications.

Unconfirmed reports have stated that Terran Law Enforcement can use "the soup" to nearly instaneously create a Law Enforcement driod, track criminals, and capture data on crimes in progress or under planning.

Game Mechanics: When used with a "Nanite Information Interface" cybernetic implant, or a "Information Interface" nanite infusion, the soup can be used for the following modifiers:
+8 equipment bonus to all knowledge skills.
+2 equipment bonus to all craft skills.
Instant public information retrieval.
Emergency Alert of emergency services for both crowds and individuals.


Nanite Information Interface (PL 7)
This cybernetic implant allows the owner to get concise data from "soups" as well as issue basic orders to "fogs" and "soups" providing the correct ID coding is embedded in the hardware, firmware and software of the implant.
Cost: {Free for Confederacy Citizens} 22
Cyberprice: None.
Location: Cranial

 

[Dagger75]

This thread alone has really made me want to go out and Buy d20 modern and d20 future.

Very cool stuff Ralts. I am really looking forward for the starship stuff. I'm a sucker for deckplans and starship pictures.

PS: Did you stat the drop ship and I just missed it? If so what page is it on. I read half of this at work and the other half at home and think I might have missed some stuff.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

PS: Did you stat the drop ship and I just missed it? If so what page is it on. I read half of this at work and the other half at home and think I might have missed some stuff.

The Airhart Class Scout Vessel is HERE and the deckplans are HERE

while the quickie stats for the Blackhawk Class Dropship are HERE

There will be more starship stat-blocks and deckplans soon, but I've got a lot of stuff to build up to before we can reach this...

Enjoy.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

FREIGHT HAULING
IN THE CONFEDERACY​

With the vast distances between different solar systems, much less the size of the sectors and the Confederacy itself (Several hundred lightyears in each direction from Terra-Sol) both SuperCorps and independant shipping companies bring supplies from one system to other.

While one system may be heavy in exotic minerals, they may be agriculturally unstable, or rich in agriculture and light on metals. Even with the ability to mine the asteriod belts, some systems are low on heavy metals, or light ores.

Industrial and technological levels often differ. A 20 year old colony does not have the manufacturing infrastructure necessary to produce advanced robotic and computers, and due to post-war treaties, the only place advanced cloning and genetic technologies can be purchased from the Biological Artifical Systems and autonomous robotic equipment can only be purchased from the Digital Artifical Systems.

Shipping goods from one system to another can be lucrative, if the shipper has a bit of luck. Cargo Units each consume 100 cubic meters. While weight is not that much of a factor (unless it is a supersolid) space is.

Shipping can still be a dangerous proposition, since the Confederate Navy does not concern itself with normal economic piracy, viewing that as a job for freebooters, Planetary Defense Forces, bounty-hunters and adventurers. Unless it is a military ship that is jumped by pirates, the Confederate Navy is unconcerned with pirates or hijackers.

Insurance companies do not cover trans-system cargoes.

The Confederate Commodities Database contains going prices for various commodities, updated depending on the planet (Terra is updated by the minute, while Dejoun Bright is updated every 6 months. This database gives independant shippers a good idea of what planet is good to pick up one commodity to deliver to a second system.

For the most part, the SuperCorps will leap on any commodity price difference greater than 5%, but occassionaly, a lucky independant will come in system just as the market flux occurs, allowing them to make a fast score.

Charter Transportation
For standard, non-high risk or sensitive cargoes, it is not uncommon for a SuperCorp to hire an independant under a charter to ship the goods to the system, rather than divert a company starship, pay the crew wages, ship maintenance, etc.

The owner/crew of the starship must put the deed to the ship up for collateral when carrying a SuperCorp cargo, and the owner/crew gains 10% of the cargoes value when the cargo is delivered. A SuperCorp will often give a bonus for fast delivery as well as distance.

Smuggling
Always popular, smuggling involves avoiding planetary customs and law enforcement to either avoid tarriffs and custom taxes, or to bring illegal substances into the system.

This is highly risky, but allows for good profits. To counter smuggles is the largest reason that the Confederacy sllows Planetary Defense Navy's.

Smuggling areas take the place of a vital piece of equipment, or is carefully hidden within the normal spaces of the ship that either has baffling, shielding, or vacuum areas. These spaces are heavily shielded to avoid onboard scanning and ship to ship scanning.

Unshielded compartment: This space is lightly concealed, and unshielded, allowing a crew with a basic scanning system a DC of 10 to detect it, as well as a Spot Check 15 or Search Check of 10 to discover it.
Purchase DC Increase: If purchased seperately, this space costs 5+ 1/10th the ships Purchase DC. If the ship is purchased with the compartment build into it, it increases the ships Purchase DC by +1.

Shielded Compartment: The space is concealed and shielded against scanners. A scanning crew will face a DC of 20 to detect it with instruments, a Spot Check of 30 or Search Check of 25 to detect it. Each rating after the intial adds a +1 to the DC, to a maximum of Rating 10.
Purchase DC Increase: If purchased as an after-construction modification, this space costs 15+1/10th+2 per rating of the ships Purchase DC. If the compartment is added to the ship during ship construction it increases the Purchase DC by 5+1 per rating.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

CYGNUS CORPORATION
SERVING THE CONFEDERACY'S
INDUSTRIAL NEEDS FOR OVER
200 YEARS!​

The Cygnus Corporation is a vast SuperCorp, owning tover 20 star systems outright, and having contracts within both Artificial Systems. The Cygnus Corporation is known for excellent life support systems, high quality survival gear, rugged vehicles, and excellent non-AI software.

While many other companies compete with Syntek Unlimited and Bloodthorne Industries for a share of the military market, the Cygnus Corporation deals primarily with the colony and exploration market, producing sturdy and functional products without putting much into aethestic value.

Cygnus Corporation often funds the founding of colonies, providing low interest loans, discounts on equipment, and even transportation to colony worlds, in exchange for discounts on the colonies exports, preferred land contracts and a 50 year lock on offplanet goods purchased by the colony.

Despite this monopolization of the colony, many colonies have been sponsored by the Cygnus Corporation.

Game Mechanics
Life Support Systems: Act as if they are one class better than they are. Cost: +10% or +1 to the Purchase DC (Whichever is greater)

Rugged vehicles: The vehicles add +5 to thier hardness and have 10% more hit points, but lose 10% of thier speed. Cost is unchanged.

Non-AI software: The software is considered one class better.

Weapons: Do one size smaller damage dice. Cost is unchanged.

 

[C. Baize]

That's a good addition.
Different companies' gear being of a different quality, or having specific tweaks.

Right on, man!