I've been itching to get back into running a turn-based strategy style game through RPOL since forever (mostly after reading Evan Currie's Odyssey One series and playing a few impromptu games of Full Thrust with friends) I've come up with a way to use a basic version of Full Thrust and incorporate it into a more strategic game  using aspects of Traveler RPG to explain the science and FTL system.

I am seeking a number of interested parties who can help initially debug the system for me, spot possible flaws, suggest solutions and above all else help to make this idea of mine a reality by playing through what I currently have available, then advising to any changes that need to be made and ensuring that it is an enjoyable, playable system that doesn't become too unwieldy or bulky for GMs and players alike.

I'm wanting to include in the system;

>> A flexible system that would be able to adapt and change depending on the needs and wants of the players - Star Trek with shields and lots of aliens, not a problem; a more "realistic" game with no shields, low-powered lasers and only a limited amount of technology - sorted!! Star Trek, Star Wars, Farscape or our own setting - they're all possible. Can also use other games (such as Star Trek: Birth of the Federation) for inspiration (My personal favourite setting is the Traveler TNE or other post-collapse space age setting where an empire has died and technology is out there to be found again, but most planets are now xenophobic and aggressive against off-worlders...)

>> An FTL system akin to Traveler's which takes time to travel a number of lightyears / parsecs, and information can only travel at the speed of the fastest ship. FTL is not instaneous (helps with logistics for the GM). So a mission to the nearest star would take 4 weeks: 1 week to FTL there, a few days to reach the destination in-system, perform the mission, then another week to FTL back to base, a few days travel and then time to perform basic upkeep and maintenance on the ship(s) involved.

>> FTL system means that missions are "click and forget" - if you want to contact a colony or ship a few lightyears away to issue an order (such as calling a recall of a fleet), you need to send a ship to issue the order and wait to see the response.
>> Detailed micro-management of only a single system (your home system, where "you" live), and its developments

>> Use of military detachments to perform invasions and strategic assaults

>> Use of agents to gather information, spread misinformation, conduct assassinations / sabotage events

>> Trade and politics between other planets and (potentially) alien races

>> A technology tree as advanced or limited as required for the setting

>> Ability for players to create their own alien races and ship designs



Is there any interest in something like this??

Yes, interested
This message was last edited by a moderator, as it was off-topic, at 13:31, Mon 08 May 2017.

Definitely interested!

Interested!

Doing a 4X in a forum is a huge challenge though. It's typically a lot of work for the GM!

Yes that's why my first attempt died - it burned me out. So I'm hoping to automate what I can to prevent brain drain.

TI on forum steroids?  Sign me up!

  Are you conceiving this as one where the players are all in direct competition (PvP), one where they're operating cooperatively (PCs vs 'AI'), or one where they're all off in their universe (no PC-PC contact)?

  Each of these will appeal to a different player group but all three present different design and logistical challenges. Balance doesn't matter as much in the third scenario and is really important in the first; the third one makes for much greater overhead for the GM; the second one is substantially more dependent on player activity. Etc.

At first it will be an attempt to remove any problems with the system so that it plays effectively. Thereafter it will depend on the setting that is created.

It was originally intended to have a Traveler TNE feel to it where galactic society had collapsed due to an AI virus. Players would be rulers of a single system that had got back on its feet and returned to the stars. They could be either alone or as part of a coalition (such as the Reformation Coalition) depending on what was wanted. It also has the potential to have any kind of feel to it, from the remake of Battlestar Galactica (humans vs cylons, where the cylons have vanished at the start of the game and humans are alone and getting back on their feet), to Star Trek (where each player plays a different alien race).

There could be a cross-over (some PCs ally, while others are PvP) but all will be in the same universe so there will be competition of some description.

I have played Master of Orion and Birth of the Federation countless times and will be drawing on these games for inspiration. I want the players to be competitive with each other, but if some want to form alliances for safety they can.

In reply to wolfecubb (msg # 8):

I wish this site had a rating system. If it did, I would give you 1000+ likes, hearts, and/or thumbs-up for mentioning Birth of the Federation. In my humble opinion, it's one of the great underrated classic 4x games! The combat system was so good!

So. Yeah. Consider me 100% on board for your idea!

David Weber's Honorverse books are excellent reads that can give some insight to more realistic space combat as well as dealing with information that travels "slowly" by ship.

Space Empires series is one of my favorite 4x turn based strategy games. Never heard of the ones you mentioned. (I'll look them up)

In any case, I'd love to look over what you have so far, unfortunately I don't have much time to play, unless it ends up being one post per week.

I have quietly fantasized about a game where the PCs are members of a diplomatic organization like the Mecatol Council or the Orion Senate, where diplomats have to try to cut the best deal without sending the galaxy spiralling into war.

So... will players start with some kind of diplomatic contact, to enable some roleplaying and interaction during that grind of the first hundred turns?

Interested

In reply to wolfecubb (msg # 1):

I could help out with that.  I have Full Thrust, More Thrust, and both of the Fleet Books, and a large library of Traveller-related stuff from Classic all the way through T5.  Both games rank highly with me as favorite systems.

Please let me know if you get the gear up on this concept.  I'd be glad to help out.

Thanks,
D

I haven't quite got around to reading the Honorverse yet, but others have suggested that I do. If you like "realistic" space fantasy then I can recommend Currie's Odyssey One series. Very easy to read, lots of plausible techno-jargon and science fluff but interesting and colourful characters.

As for planned turn-around, I was looking for one turn per week to represent one in-game month. That's enough for a return mission to and from local systems - so diplomacy and politics with them would be easier.

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Short answer - yes, it's possible.

Long answer - yes, depending on the setting.

I originally had the idea of the players being a part of a coalition (or, if there was enough players, multiple coalitions) that were returning back into space after the fall of galactic civilisation. So yes, it is possible for us to start with players close together already in coalitions / alliances / federations. For those that want to start out alone, that is possible too.

The example I always turn to is that of the RC (Reformation Coalition) from Traveler TNE. The main protagonists in the RC were Aubaine (a society with high technology and the RC's only shipyard that could produce FTL jump drives capable of more than 1 parsec jumps) and Oriflamme (a huge planet with the RC's largest population and military). Naturally for any of the systems to work they need each other - Aubaine can provide the ships but not the manpower, and Oriflamme's military are useless without FTL capable ships.

There's more to it than that. Aubaine aren't happy with Oriflamme as one of their first actions was to expand their influence by subjugating a nearby system with a small population that was strategically important. Another example is that Oriflamme aren't happy that the number of votes they get in the RC isn't related to planetary population (Oriflamme have 1billion+ people, Aubaine numbers in the tens of millions IIRC, therefore Oriflamme would always have enough votes to pass whatever suggestion they wanted)... There is always political conflict within the RC and that's before they ventured out into the hostile, xenophobic galaxy that was waiting for them...

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Yay!! I'm a heretic and love the Traveler TNE setting rather than the earlier versions (mostly because I loved the idea of a sentient, psychotic computer virus) but as I said earlier I can envision that this game could encompass any sci-fi setting provided that the FTL system of travel is the "jump drive" and follows the Traveler rules that a standard jump takes 7 days to complete.

Any help with setting and moulding rules to fit the game / setting would be appreciated though!! After all that's what I'm aiming to do.

OK, looking back I think we have enough interest. Am actually overwhelmed by the quick interest too...

I've started putting things together. Putting down everything I have might take a few days, but here's the link. Please RTJ so we can start the discussions...

link to another game