Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Draft of something I've got planned which might be of interest:

The Bathysites (name may changed)

A largely nomadic multi-species civilisation that has been spacefaring for at least 100,000 years. When one of their itinerant Worldships established first contact with Solar civilisation in the 23rd(?) century, they attempted to invade and occupy the Solar system. They're not always hostile, but a hawkish political faction in the Worldship's government maneuvered themselves into a position where they could dictate things. While the hawks were very good at organising the seizure of political power, their ensuing grip on the domestic political situation turned out not to be as as firm as they believed (resulting in some Bathysite military units defecting to the Solar Alliance). Enough blunders were made, such as the Bathysites not realising that Solar civilisation had developed NLPUs, and hence why the Solar Alliance could alert their extrasolar colonies and transmit all the knowledge they had gained about Bathysite technology from defectors and prisoners of war. Setbacks were also experienced by those of the military leadership who remained loyal to the hawks, such as growing civil unrest on the Bathysite Worldship as losses mounted.
The invasion of Solar planets and colonies was easy for the Bathysites at first, with their warship squadrons easily scattering the hastily-formed Solar Alliance's first defensive formation, the Second Summed Fleet. The last time the Summed Fleet had been formed, in middle of the 22nd century, genocidal rogue AIs were threatening to destroy all sapient life in the Solar system. But the occupations that followed went badly for the Bathysites, in spite of their considerable technological advantage. The military forces of this particular Bathysite Worldship had little if any actual organisational experience combating less advanced but still dangerous enemies during a planetary occupation, especially in the kind of sprawling urban areas common to Mars and Earth. For the Bathysites, taking Solar targets was one thing, but holding on to them without suffering heavy losses, or at the very least steady and continuous attrition, was another thing entirely. The Solar Alliance had also changed their tactics in space, rallying the Second Summed Fleet and dividing them into cells of Starsword Squadrons that harassed and harried Bathysite assets rather than meeting them in pitched battles. All this made the transformation of Earth and the Solar system into a Bathysite Suzerainty too costly a proposition to follow through on, even given that they had more advanced technology than any member of the Solar Alliance bar the Dwellers, who are relatively few in number. So the defenders of Sol catch just enough of a lucky break for their hard efforts to pay off and force the Bathysites to depose the hawks and sue for peace.

As part of the conditions of the peace process, Solar civilisation gains several new technologies (Warp Drives, point to point Teleportation, advanced Nanofabricators and Matter Conversion energy plants), information about other alien civilisations known by the Bathysites, and a copy of the Galactic Archive, a body of knowledge accumulated over the past billion years through contributions by hundred of civilizations throughout the Milky Way and beyond.

---

What do you think? Questions, critiques and suggestions are sought.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Le Socialiste »

I like it, I'm excited to see it unfold. I'm a little confused as to who the Bathysites are, however. You mention that they are a spacefaring civilization, is this due to their nomadic 'nature' or other external developments/threats? What I mean is, were they forced into this nomadic lifestyle as a result of being forcibly uprooted? This makes their invasion and subsequent 'colonization' of the Solar system more understandable, if they've been searching for a suitable location all these years. I'm also curious as to the political dynamics at play within this particular society; you noted the more hawkish faction(s), but I'd be interested in hearing more about what their 'political maneuvering' into power entails - insofar as the 'governmental' process of the Bathysites is concerned. I like the rest of the narrative, though. The idea of the Solar system's inhabitants utilizing guerrilla tactics against a far more powerful/advanced entity appeals to me, as it's something we haven't really seen yet. I also appreciate how this serves to introduce Solar-based civilization(s) to a broader universe that it had previously been unaware of (the Galactic Archive, for example).
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Le Socialiste wrote:I like it, I'm excited to see it unfold. I'm a little confused as to who the Bathysites are, however. You mention that they are a spacefaring civilization, is this due to their nomadic 'nature' or other external developments/threats? What I mean is, were they forced into this nomadic lifestyle as a result of being forcibly uprooted? This makes their invasion and subsequent 'colonization' of the Solar system more understandable, if they've been searching for a suitable location all these years.
Soldiers and scholars are both influential and highly valued in Bathysite culture, and a nomadic lifestyle facilitates both types of role; the Bathysite military classes can offer their services as mercenaries whilst the academic classes seek out new and/or undiscovered versions of the Galactic Archive, or gather data to add to it. Travelling around the Milky Way in Worldships gives the Bathysites opportunities they would not have been able to take advantage of had they stayed in one place. Being mobile and scattered across the galaxy also makes it harder to wipe them out as a civilisation.

While the Bathysites are an ancient and some would say noble civilisation, they are not angels. While largely nomadic, they do settle in systems which are of particular scientific interest, or in systems rich in resources that are hard to gather or make while on the move. Usually they go about this peacefully, but it is not unknown for the Bathysites to trample over a weaker civilisation in order to serve their own interests.
I'm also curious as to the political dynamics at play within this particular society; you noted the more hawkish faction(s), but I'd be interested in hearing more about what their 'political maneuvering' into power entails - insofar as the 'governmental' process of the Bathysites is concerned.
I've not got any solid ideas about their form of government, but the idea occurs that one of the focuses of Bathysite politics is around a balance of power that exists between the military and academia. Sort of like how contemporary human politics has a left-right spectrum, Bathysite politics has a pen-sword spectrum. The attempted takeover of Sol was part of an effort by the sword-wing to increase their influence through a military victory, although obviously that didn't work out in the end and the pen-wing Bathysites were vindicated.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Red Commissar »

So is this meant for game set further in the future of Nova Mundi?
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Red Commissar wrote:So is this meant for game set further in the future of Nova Mundi?
That was one of my ideas, yes. I haven't decided whether it's a series of events upon which the players can have a direct influence as active participants, or whether the challenge for the players lies in rebuilding the Solar system following the invasion. I think either possibility has the potential to support enough rivalry and politicking to keep things interesting.

In any case, the introduction of Warp Drives into the setting will greatly expand the playing field into one of interstellar scope. I've decided on an average speed of 1000 lightyears/year for the Warp Drive designs that the Solar system gains off the Bathysites. So a trip to Alpha Centauri in one of the Solar system's first warp-capable starships would take only 1.59 days, a vast improvement over the 3 or so years of subjective travel time it takes to make the same journey on an interstellar torchship. The warp travel time calculation formula I'm using, in case you're interested, is (distance in ly / 1000) * 365 = travel time in days.

So while interstellar exploration and colonisation in the 22nd century is/was characterised by years-long journeys, with the advent of Warp Drive in the 23rd century it becomes a matter of having the willingness and resources to build a warp-capable ship that can carry a science team or fledgeling colony. Interstellar torchships either become the cheap but slow option, or are retro-fitted with Warp Drives and become interstellar liners or deep-range vessels. I have this idea of scattering various sites of interest and hidden stuff around the local interstellar neighbourhood, at various distances from Sol in order to encourage players to explore and colonise. For example, the Eta Carinae star system is roughly 8500 lightyears from Sol, making it reachable within a decade by warp. It's also a star system with a stellar primary that is liable to explode in a supernova any time between now and the next 10,000 years, so time is of the essence should anyone from Sol wish to reveal the secrets of that place.

I'm also thinking that Warp Drives have certain material requirements in order to be constructed. Exotic elements such as stable hyper-transuranics, which can be either created artificially using a lot of energy, or recovered from ultra-deep mining of the mantles/cores of rocky planets, the denser and closer to the stellar primary the better. Huge refineries on the surfaces of such worlds process the megatons of silico-metallic output from the mines to produce mere kilograms of stable hyper-transuranics, but doubtless the ability to cheat Einstein makes it worthwhile.

Along similar lines, I was thinking that the best fuel for the newly-acquired Matter Conversion energy plants (which along with antimatter and monopoles are the only power sources good enough to run Warp Drives and Jumpgates) could be mined as metastable metallic hydrogen from deep within gas giants, lifted as electron-degenerate matter from the surface layers of white dwarves, or best of all extracted from neutron stars and artificially stabilised. Knowledge of teleportation will allow players to construct Jumpgates, which will enable smaller ships without any native interstellar capability to travel instantly from one star system to another in a flash.

I realise this changes the timetable I've given elsewhere for the acquisition of FTL technology, but I think this has the potential to be more interesting.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Red Commissar »

So, should we expect to be back in action after this holiday season?
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

I'm hoping so. All I need to do for the next turn is to get Mather and Heretic's Actions. The ball's in their court, so to speak.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Here's a drawing of a warp-capable destroyer-type vessel:

Image

I thought it lacked a little something, so I added some detail:

Image

Not sure what to do next. Suggestions?
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Here's an Assault Ship retro-fitted with a warp generator:

Image
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Decided to add some weapon turrets:

Image
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Le Socialiste »

NoXion wrote:I'm hoping so. All I need to do for the next turn is to get Mather and Heretic's Actions. The ball's in their court, so to speak.
Has anyone heard from them in recent weeks? Either way, it does kind of highlight the need for additional players. While I appreciate the amount of time and effort folks have put into this, it'd be nice to infuse the process with a little added creativity that could possibly come from new players. Can't think of anyone off the top of my head, but if someone does come to mind we should consider inviting them.

That isn't to say we should replace current players - just that it'd be cool to have newer folks take up unused or 'new' characters/polities.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Heretic has sent in their turn (plus he was busy with NaNoWriMo before), and while Mather has had IRL stuff to deal with, I'm confident that when he does hand his turn in, it will have been worth waiting for.

I'm certainly open to the prospect of new players, but I'm not sure how we'd go about acquiring them. I know of at least one place where I might be able to do some recruiting, depending on what their rules are on the matter.

If anyone here knows of any people or places that might be interested in participating, then by all means don't hesitate to spread the word.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

I've got everyone's Actions now, so keep your eyes peeled while I work on the turn, which I'm hoping to get out by the end of the week. I feel like pushing the boat out a bit and make the news a bit more "flavoursome".
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Just to let everyone know I'm still working on the turn, fret ye not. Apologies for the delay!
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Heretic »

Hurry up! At this rate we'll be getting 3D printers in our houses by the time the next turn is posted!

:lol: JK JK just had to post that article.
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Le Socialiste »

Not to sound impatient (because I know we all have lives beyond this game), but when can we expect the turn by?
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

The stats are done, I've written all but one of the news entries and all that's left apart from that is to choose pictures to go with them. So I should be able to post the turn later today.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

Some tidbits about the Bathysite homeworld and social development:

The home world of the Bathysites is a very large (but none too dense) planet, but with enough landmass and geological activity drawing up heavier elements to the surface to support advanced technological societies. The size of the planet's watery habitats accounts for the wide variety of intelligent marine species, and the "deep abyss" environments provide unique biomes producing unusual life forms that the intelligent shallow-dwellers and amphibians could selectively breed for various purposes. This evolutionary environment, combined with the evolution in one leading intelligent species of glands capable of emitting empathy-inducing pheromones, produced a multi-species society that made it to the stars in spite of the usual considerable difficulties faced by marine civilisations.

Upon reaching the stars however, biochemical barriers prevented the pheromones from affecting non-Bathysites, and the nature of their encounters with other aliens out among the stars were far different; since for as long as the various Bathysite species had been civilised, the empathy-inducing pheromones and the subsequent social cohesion they produced had been effectively the primary glue holding everything the Bathysites recognised as society together. By the time the Bathysites begin travelling around the Galaxy in their Worldships, Bathysite exo-political relations with other civilisations generally depend on which groups have the upper hand in a given Worldship's domestic political scene. The military and religious classes tend to favour more aggressive policies, while the scholarly and merchant classes prefer trade and the exchange of information.

Some non-Bathysite species and civilisations have been modified so as to be affected by the empathy pheromones. In at least a couple of cases this has been consensual, but more often this was forced upon them at the behest of the more hawkish elements of the military classes and/or the more evangelistic elements of the religious classes. The practically-guaranteed loyalty of these Empathised Suzerainties allows selected members of them to become integral members of Worldship societies, often filling useful niche roles.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Mather »

Hey all, I'm v drunk at the mo but will be sendin my turn (and sum posts) in later today (monday), after i get sum sleep.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by wellis »

NoXion wrote:Some tidbits about the Bathysite homeworld and social development:

The home world of the Bathysites is a very large (but none too dense) planet, but with enough landmass and geological activity drawing up heavier elements to the surface to support advanced technological societies. The size of the planet's watery habitats accounts for the wide variety of intelligent marine species, and the "deep abyss" environments provide unique biomes producing unusual life forms that the intelligent shallow-dwellers and amphibians could selectively breed for various purposes. This evolutionary environment, combined with the evolution in one leading intelligent species of glands capable of emitting empathy-inducing pheromones, produced a multi-species society that made it to the stars in spite of the usual considerable difficulties faced by marine civilisations.

Upon reaching the stars however, biochemical barriers prevented the pheromones from affecting non-Bathysites, and the nature of their encounters with other aliens out among the stars were far different; since for as long as the various Bathysite species had been civilised, the empathy-inducing pheromones and the subsequent social cohesion they produced had been effectively the primary glue holding everything the Bathysites recognised as society together. By the time the Bathysites begin travelling around the Galaxy in their Worldships, Bathysite exo-political relations with other civilisations generally depend on which groups have the upper hand in a given Worldship's domestic political scene. The military and religious classes tend to favour more aggressive policies, while the scholarly and merchant classes prefer trade and the exchange of information.

Some non-Bathysite species and civilisations have been modified so as to be affected by the empathy pheromones. In at least a couple of cases this has been consensual, but more often this was forced upon them at the behest of the more hawkish elements of the military classes and/or the more evangelistic elements of the religious classes. The practically-guaranteed loyalty of these Empathised Suzerainties allows selected members of them to become integral members of Worldship societies, often filling useful niche roles.
I have to ask, why wouldn't the merchant class here attempt to also force modification of non-Bathysite species and cilivizations to be affected by empathy pheremones? It would allow them to more easily manipulate species to allow for easier or unfair trading. And why wouldn't the scholars also attempt the same thing? Perhaps that species doesn't want something studied due to religious reasons. Well you don't have to worry about that species not allowing your scholars to study it, just use your pheremones to make them stop objecting and go in and study it. Abuses can come from any group or class.

It seems rather interesting how tightly the military and religious classes would be for such modification while the merchant and scholar classes would ignore it.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

wellis wrote:I have to ask, why wouldn't the merchant class here attempt to also force modification of non-Bathysite species and cilivizations to be affected by empathy pheremones? It would allow them to more easily manipulate species to allow for easier or unfair trading. And why wouldn't the scholars also attempt the same thing? Perhaps that species doesn't want something studied due to religious reasons. Well you don't have to worry about that species not allowing your scholars to study it, just use your pheremones to make them stop objecting and go in and study it. Abuses can come from any group or class.

It seems rather interesting how tightly the military and religious classes would be for such modification while the merchant and scholar classes would ignore it.
I suppose it would depend on exactly how you define "consensual" in this instance. The merchants could make a deal with the ruling classes of a non-Bathysite civilisation, that enriches them both at the expense of the poor/powerless members of the client-to-be. The scholars could pull a similar trick, perhaps arguing that Empathisation is necessary for the full assimilation of Bathysite technological goodies (regardless of whether that is actually true or not).

Conversely, the military and religious classes do not necessarily have to be universally gung-ho about enforcing Empathisation on others; they could just as well be more into isolationism/seperatism. Perhaps some of them feel that a civilisation has to have a wholehearted desire for integration within the Bathysite fold, or perhaps they may have certain martial/spiritual standards that have to be met.

Given that the Bathysites as a whole are fragmented into many Worldships scattered across the Milky Way, it seems plausible that opinions are not uniform even within the same class, as each Worldship would have a unique history.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by wellis »

NoXion wrote:
wellis wrote:I have to ask, why wouldn't the merchant class here attempt to also force modification of non-Bathysite species and cilivizations to be affected by empathy pheremones? It would allow them to more easily manipulate species to allow for easier or unfair trading. And why wouldn't the scholars also attempt the same thing? Perhaps that species doesn't want something studied due to religious reasons. Well you don't have to worry about that species not allowing your scholars to study it, just use your pheremones to make them stop objecting and go in and study it. Abuses can come from any group or class.

It seems rather interesting how tightly the military and religious classes would be for such modification while the merchant and scholar classes would ignore it.
I suppose it would depend on exactly how you define "consensual" in this instance. The merchants could make a deal with the ruling classes of a non-Bathysite civilisation, that enriches them both at the expense of the poor/powerless members of the client-to-be. The scholars could pull a similar trick, perhaps arguing that Empathisation is necessary for the full assimilation of Bathysite technological goodies (regardless of whether that is actually true or not).

Conversely, the military and religious classes do not necessarily have to be universally gung-ho about enforcing Empathisation on others; they could just as well be more into isolationism/seperatism. Perhaps some of them feel that a civilisation has to have a wholehearted desire for integration within the Bathysite fold, or perhaps they may have certain martial/spiritual standards that have to be met.

Given that the Bathysites as a whole are fragmented into many Worldships scattered across the Milky Way, it seems plausible that opinions are not uniform even within the same class, as each Worldship would have a unique history.
How many worldships are there? Is each worldship it's own nation? Do Bathysites travel in one big ship or is it more like say the Refugee Fleet from Battlestar Galactica (either version) or the Quarian Migrant Fleet from Mass Effect in that the Worldship is one of the many ships in the Bathysite civilization/fleet?
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by NoXion »

wellis wrote:How many worldships are there? Is each worldship it's own nation? Do Bathysites travel in one big ship or is it more like say the Refugee Fleet from Battlestar Galactica (either version) or the Quarian Migrant Fleet from Mass Effect in that the Worldship is one of the many ships in the Bathysite civilization/fleet?
I haven't given any serious thought as to the exact number of Worldships in the galaxy. As many as I can get away with, I think. Hundreds? Thousands?

Each Worldship is economically and politically independent from each other, but the Bathysites' sparsely scattered static holdings (themselves sovereign) serve as meeting places for cultural and genetic exchanges as well as focal points for collaborative ventures. This is considered essential to maintaining the social and physical health of all Bathysites. Perhaps there are also some places that are only inhabited by the Bathysites some of the time, a sort of pan-galactic version of transhumance (transgalactance?).

The Worldships are by far the biggest Bathysite vessels (comparable in size and form to Rama), each being an itinerant habitat for the majority of the population and functioning as mobile spaceports and shipyards for the military and merchant fleets as well as the temple-ships and science vessels.
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by Le Socialiste »

Wellis, would you be interested in joining the game we have going on? Or does that not interest you?
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Re: Nova Mundi: 2100+ roll-call/discussion thread [OOC]

Post by wellis »

Le Socialiste wrote:Wellis, would you be interested in joining the game we have going on? Or does that not interest you?
Honestly I wouldn't be interested. I've just never really gotten into the roleplaying aspect of roleplaying. To give an example, if Nova Mundi was a tabletop RPG I'd be the person who'd just try to buy/download primarily for the setting.

But thank you for the offer.
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