Viktyr Gehrig
First Post
(There are similar threads on A.net, Planewalker, and Tequila Starrise.)
Basically, since the Star*Drive Campaign Setting was first released, I've been wanting desperately to do a major crossover between the two settings-- I think, thematically and stylistically, they the similarities and differences between them are compelling. They both strongly feature themes of exploration, ideological conflict, and small groups of heroes making a difference-- not by sheer force, but by manipulating and influencing far more powerful entities. I'm also a big fan of high fantasy space opera, as opposed to more traditional fantasy or harder science-fiction. (Though I do enjoy those, as well.)
Some of you might remember my ill-fated Story Hour.
In any case, with the revival (however limited) of Star*Drive and the influence of the Urban Planescape project over on Planewalker-- not to mention my own efforts to finish the novel I've been working on, despite the practical impossibility of it getting published-- my interest in combining the two settings has been renewed.
There are a number of things about the two settings that I think make them ideal to combine:
There are a number of races in both settings that seem to related somehow: Oortlings are a degenerate psionic species (from Spelljammer) that look an awful lot like low-rent Fraal; Fraal, themselves, appear in a handful of D&D products; T'sa seem rather similar to what CG Kobolds would be; Gardhyi are reminiscent of Keepers, both in appearance and behavior; Weren are often called Sasquatch in other settings; and so on.
The main conflicts in both settings (at least, before the Exeat come along) are ideological-- the Factions in Planescape or the Stellar Nations in Star*Drive. There's an interesting difference between the two, though: in Planescape, belief is power and the power of your ideology translates to temporal power. In Star*Drive, wealth, power, and territory all serve to prove the validity of your ideology.
Speaking of the Factions and the Stellar Nations, there are enough similarities and differences that you could have some interesting plotlines involving them-- compare the Galactic Concord to either the Harmonium or the Ciphers, or compare the various corporate states to the Fated. The former Dreth Commonwealth and the Thuldan Empire both hold ideals similar to the Godsmen, though they try to perfect themselves within their own lifetimes. There's a weird contrast between Insight and the Sensates, because to the former, the senses are all illusionary (since they can manipulate them at will) and to the latter, the senses are the only real thing-- made more complicated because Insight can use their technology much the same way that Sensates use their sensory stones.
The Divine Consciousness of the Orlamu bears a lot of similarity to the Great Unknown of the Athar-- or it could be the I'krl trying to subvert humanity. It could also be one of the Powers trying to reach the souls in the Star*Drive universe-- I'm fond of Celestian, because of his portfolio and the fact that the Consciousness acts through drivespace.
Star*Drive touches very briefly about interdimensional travel, leaving it as a mystery-- how the stardrive actually works, or the nature of the extradimensional prison of the I'krl. The fact that such things can be done technologically adds an interesting element to Planescape.
Some Star*Drive aliens have magical abilities-- particularly the Gardhyi. Sesheyan shamans are always portrayed as psionic in nature... but that could be because the natives of the Star*Drive universe don't believe in magic. The I'krl portray themselves as gods, and grant vast psionic power to their worshippers-- and there's a possibility that ascending to true godhood would allow them to escape their prison, or vice versa.
The stark contrast between the social structures of most Star*Drive people and most Planescape people is worth exploring, especially if the two are brought into contact suddenly. The sudden introduction of advanced technology to Planars would create a good deal of social upheaval, and it would trickle down to the other Prime worlds as well. The sudden introduction of magic to Star*Drive would create a good deal of upheaval as well, since magic isn't dependent on production capacity or wealth.
Speaking of technology... mass rifles. Blood War. (I'd say lasers, but too many creatures are immune/resistant to fire damage.)
---
So... does anyone else think this is a good idea? Is it a bad idea? Do you have any ideas about other angles to explore-- ways to make the crossover (or the merged setting) work/not work?
I am eager for feedback.
Basically, since the Star*Drive Campaign Setting was first released, I've been wanting desperately to do a major crossover between the two settings-- I think, thematically and stylistically, they the similarities and differences between them are compelling. They both strongly feature themes of exploration, ideological conflict, and small groups of heroes making a difference-- not by sheer force, but by manipulating and influencing far more powerful entities. I'm also a big fan of high fantasy space opera, as opposed to more traditional fantasy or harder science-fiction. (Though I do enjoy those, as well.)
Some of you might remember my ill-fated Story Hour.
In any case, with the revival (however limited) of Star*Drive and the influence of the Urban Planescape project over on Planewalker-- not to mention my own efforts to finish the novel I've been working on, despite the practical impossibility of it getting published-- my interest in combining the two settings has been renewed.
There are a number of things about the two settings that I think make them ideal to combine:
There are a number of races in both settings that seem to related somehow: Oortlings are a degenerate psionic species (from Spelljammer) that look an awful lot like low-rent Fraal; Fraal, themselves, appear in a handful of D&D products; T'sa seem rather similar to what CG Kobolds would be; Gardhyi are reminiscent of Keepers, both in appearance and behavior; Weren are often called Sasquatch in other settings; and so on.
The main conflicts in both settings (at least, before the Exeat come along) are ideological-- the Factions in Planescape or the Stellar Nations in Star*Drive. There's an interesting difference between the two, though: in Planescape, belief is power and the power of your ideology translates to temporal power. In Star*Drive, wealth, power, and territory all serve to prove the validity of your ideology.
Speaking of the Factions and the Stellar Nations, there are enough similarities and differences that you could have some interesting plotlines involving them-- compare the Galactic Concord to either the Harmonium or the Ciphers, or compare the various corporate states to the Fated. The former Dreth Commonwealth and the Thuldan Empire both hold ideals similar to the Godsmen, though they try to perfect themselves within their own lifetimes. There's a weird contrast between Insight and the Sensates, because to the former, the senses are all illusionary (since they can manipulate them at will) and to the latter, the senses are the only real thing-- made more complicated because Insight can use their technology much the same way that Sensates use their sensory stones.
The Divine Consciousness of the Orlamu bears a lot of similarity to the Great Unknown of the Athar-- or it could be the I'krl trying to subvert humanity. It could also be one of the Powers trying to reach the souls in the Star*Drive universe-- I'm fond of Celestian, because of his portfolio and the fact that the Consciousness acts through drivespace.
Star*Drive touches very briefly about interdimensional travel, leaving it as a mystery-- how the stardrive actually works, or the nature of the extradimensional prison of the I'krl. The fact that such things can be done technologically adds an interesting element to Planescape.
Some Star*Drive aliens have magical abilities-- particularly the Gardhyi. Sesheyan shamans are always portrayed as psionic in nature... but that could be because the natives of the Star*Drive universe don't believe in magic. The I'krl portray themselves as gods, and grant vast psionic power to their worshippers-- and there's a possibility that ascending to true godhood would allow them to escape their prison, or vice versa.
The stark contrast between the social structures of most Star*Drive people and most Planescape people is worth exploring, especially if the two are brought into contact suddenly. The sudden introduction of advanced technology to Planars would create a good deal of social upheaval, and it would trickle down to the other Prime worlds as well. The sudden introduction of magic to Star*Drive would create a good deal of upheaval as well, since magic isn't dependent on production capacity or wealth.
Speaking of technology... mass rifles. Blood War. (I'd say lasers, but too many creatures are immune/resistant to fire damage.)
---
So... does anyone else think this is a good idea? Is it a bad idea? Do you have any ideas about other angles to explore-- ways to make the crossover (or the merged setting) work/not work?
I am eager for feedback.
