The Calculating Stars is really phenomenal. It is not space opera, it's just hard-SF/AU stuff, a 'what if a meteorite hit the Earth off the coast of Maryland in 1952 and caused an extinction level event and then we get the Space Race but with higher stakes that not everybody believes in' sort of deal. Really, really fine work.

I think I'm getting near ready to start, perhaps over the weekend, if not sooner. Can you take a look at The Stage and pick a Great Power for Istvan's Dyson Sphere to be beholden to? The Dominion, The Cthonic-Cervantes Confed, The Serene Republic, or Uncivilized Space...

ERGH... can't know any more about each of them...?

If I can't, then I'll pick The Serene Republic of Dawalnujum.

If I can, though, I'd rather hear more about each first...

You can know more about them!

The Dominion is the more autocratic, Spartan, everything run ship-shape Order Above All a lot of focus on state religion. An aesthetic Roman Empire, emphasis on 'Empire.' Although individual planets in the Dominion's sphere may govern themselves in a number of ways, they do not actually have much of a voice. Technology in the Empire is particularly good, as is funding for research. When they suppress an idea, they do it with particular ruthlessness. Dissent spikes up, dissent is squished. There's a lot of jockeying by Noble Houses here, and if you're part of their space fleet you get extra cool points from the people.

The Serene Republic of Dawalnujum is more chaotic, politically speaking, with multiple rises and falls of individuals in power and the seat of the Serene Republic changes due to some coup or other every few decades, but for the most part quality of life in the Serene Republic is supergood and supergreat. They're the Byzantine, decadent choice. Think Renaissance Venice, the whole sprawl of the Ottomon Empire, Heian Japan and New York City in the 80s/90s--but in space. Technology in the Serene Republic is also good, but they have more of an emphasis on body modification. Noble Houses and Bureaucrats and Inventors seem to jockey for most recognition in this power.

The Cthonissel-Cervantes Confederation is scrappy, relatively 'new.' It's the one with the most non-humans in positions of power, the one with the least centralized power, and the one with the most wild west glamour. Being part of the Cthonissel-Cervantes Confederation is mostly a stand against the Dominion and Serene Republic, and its greatest weakness is probably its disorganization.

Uncivilized space can be anything, but it means probably no contact/knowledge of the three big powers/other planets outside your star system.

Helpful? More questions?

Yeah, I'd say I chose appropriately, thanks

Excellent. I'll add those slightly better descriptions to the Stage thread. Will try to figure out how I want to name the stats/potential other cool things for yer sheet today or tomorrow! :)

How're things goin' over here?

Added some character creation stuff for you, if you want to look at it, but it's not ready yet!

Mm, okay, I'll wait then. Just enthusiastic.

Enthusiasm pleases me. :) I was having fun working on the rules last night!

Stat/Char Creation Stuff up in the Rules of Engagement thread, go on and take a gander.

So basically it's
--Forceful
--Confident (plus "reflexes") (why would reflexes not be under "Proficency?")
--Charming
--Insightful
--Agile
--and "Using tech that is functioning" (since "repair" is under the "Insightful"...)



Will probably choose these




So... I don't have to choose one... Hmm...




But this one fits, so I'll probably choose that anyway... and therefore probably



Thinking about this one




Probably this one.


probably this





So... I'm... guessing I should wait, because all this is still at the rough draft stage...?

Uh? Maybe/more-or-less? Remember, I haven't actually used the system outside of your Amber game, which doesn't (I'm pretty sure) use any of those words! But if I understand them, I believe so? I put 'reflexes' under Willful b/c reflexes = initiative/staying on course, but if that term seems too confusing w/ what's usually under agility/dexterity, we'll just strike it from the list. Proficiency isn't about coolheadedness (which I imagine reflexes falls under?), but actual natural-or-learned skill.



Cool. Lemme know. And repeat the "Lemme know" for all of the 'Probably choose X.'



Nope! It's really just a way to balance out getting some extra bling to spend on Cool Stuff at this stage.



Wait for...? I'll start a proper IC thread once you've settled for sure on all the other sheet stuff (no probably!), but if you've got an idea about starting stuff already, throw it out there! :) I made the sheet editable-by-you if you want to add stuff there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:19, Mon 11 Jan 2021.

And talk to me about...




This would be Martin, his AI? What kinda form would his AI take? What cool thing does his AI do/how is it helpful?




What kinda super cool weapon would you like Istvan to have?

Ah HAH! I went to add one more thing to the 'Cool Stuff' list and I noticed WIP was still on that post. No, go ahead and settle on what you want, ask questions, etc., and I added a small thing to the 'Cool Stuff' category (though I don't think you're going to want it? Still, it's an option) - minor Psionic Power.

Dr. Istvan Vanoson (doctorate, mass communications), Adjunct Professor of Philosophy of Information and Informational Ethics at Bright University


* Physical: 8 (-1)
* Willful: 11
* Charm: 13 (+1)
* Expertise: 15 (+1)
* Proficiency (Agility): 9
* Techsmarts: 16 (+2)


[ ] You’ve got an AI companion which is loyal to you. Martin can hack most computer systems/robots without putting Istvan at risk. On screens/digitally, Martin looks like a stainless steel rat (that can speak English/Common/Interlac).

[ ] Super Cool Weapon: Glass Flechette Pistol: fires little flechettes as sharp as cut glass (but they aren't literally glass, they're look like it and are that sharp). One-handed ranged weapon, very small and flat and easy to conceal, never needs reloading (nanotech, probably?)

[ ] Super Cool Piece of Tech: Bulletproof Suit (Formal, +1 Armor, Meshweave, flexible and comfortable as cotton, never needs washing//self-mends tears)


[ ] In Debt. You don’t have many spare resources and when you do the creditors are always after them.


[ ] Xenoanthropologist. You’ve paid a lot of attention to non-human races and won’t embarrass yourself if you’re invited for tea.


[ ] You're prejudiced against one of the following: Dominion Military




How's this?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Wed 13 Jan 2021.

Looks grand to me!

Now, do you feel ready to start?

The last thing I want is for you to feel overextended or spread too thin by any game I'm running for you (or playing in!), so please know you can be as chill as you want here re: postings, etc. I'll never be in any rush.

Yeah, as long as we all know there's no hurry for me to post each time.



That very much sounds like an endorsement of what I just said above...

...So... yes, I'd say I'm ready

Tch. If you went a couple weeks without posting, I wouldn't nudge ya. Maybe after a month. :P

Good lord, this is funny:

Incidentally, I see I messed up-- there's only TWO screens in the office.

I haven't bothered editing to correct, tho

Thanks, didn't even occur to me to do so!

...Do you want me to use color when Istvan speaks? Or are you one of those who just feels like "nah that's a lot of trouble"

I feel like nah there's no need to, unless it helps you keep things straight.

On the same token, d'you want me to use colored speech when NPCs speak?

Mmmmmmmm let's try saying no for now.

So many people like it that I have gotten fairly used to it, but when I first got to RPol I felt it was a lot of extra trouble, and I still retain a bit of that feeling...

Looking forward to what happens next...