planning To the Stars: An Open World Sci-Fi Crossover RP

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

So, as someone who has been RPing for several years now, I've always been fascinated by science fiction stories, particularly those such as Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, Dune, etc. I have also been enamored with the idea of the mega crossover. This is a rough idea that combines both these elements into a space opera setting that is a loving tribute to the Golden Age of Science Fiction, set in a far future space-faring empire.

SETTING

I. The Imperium of the Known Universe

The Imperium of the Known Universe is the primary setting of this RP; a feudalistic entity based on Earth and governed by His Majesty the Emperor...in theory at least. In realty, the Imperium is governed by the 13 Houses, a group of socio-political corporations built over centuries via manipulations, business deals, betrayals, etc. The 24 Houses are named after letters in the Greek alphabet, from House Alpha (the highest and most powerful) to House Omega (the least powerful and as such most looked down on). Each House controls one of 24 massive fiefs, which are organized in a geocentric (i.e. distance from Earth) model, and divided into 64 sectors each, totaling 1,536 total worlds in the Imperium. These 1,536 worlds are further divided amongst the Lords of the Houses, their Knights, and so on and so forth. As such, the Imperium of the Known Universe, in terms of government, is very decentralized, meaning that for all intents and purposes, planets are effectively independent entities with differing governments and levels of technology.. But it is also highly bureaucratic as a result, which is either a good or bad thing depending on one's viewpoint,

 

II. Species

Because the Imperium is home to a vast array of species, to list them all would be impossible. So, to make things easier, the major species of the Imperium are grouped into 7 categories: Humans, Mammalians, Reptilians, Avians, Plantoids, Insectoids, and Machines.

Humans: The primary species of the Imperium.

Mammalians: Resembling anthropomorphic animals (or mammals).

Reptillians: Resemble anything from scaly humanoids to creatures bordering on the draconic.

Avians: Resemble birds.

Plantoids: Living plants, they are unique among species for being able to not eat or sleep in the same way others can, a trait they share with Machines.

Insectoids: Insect-like beings that work on a eusocial/hive mind mentality.

Machines: Living mechanical constructs, the Machines in the Imperium operate on the Third (and Zeroth) Laws of Asimov's Robotics. This is to ensure they do not harm humans or any other living beings unless absolutely necessary.

 

III. Tech Levels

Technology levels in the Imperium vary wildly, and are organized as such on a scale of 0-12, with 0 being "Stone Age", and 12 being "Singularity". The scale is as follows:

0 - Prehistory

1 - Bronze Age

2 - Iron Age

3 - Medieval

4 - Age of Sail (i.e. pirate times)

5 - Industrial

6 - Mechanized (think 1920s-1930s)

7 - Atomic (i.e. 1950s-1960s)

8 - Digital (1980s-1990s)

9 - Microtech

10 - Robotic/Nanotech

11 - Exotic Matter

12 - Singularity

However, technology is not strictly defined by this scale, and various planets have what are known as divergent tech levels, meaning that while technologically they have a baseline tech level, they have the social structure and adapted technology of another. For example, you could have a world with a tech level of 2 + 8, or a Roman/Greek society with the technology of the late 20th century. Or perhaps, to use an example we're all familiar with, a world with a base tech level of 0, but the social structure and adaptation of tech to a level of 7 (i.e. the Flintstones). As such, the Imperium is a vast palette of cultures and curiosities, ripe for exploration.

 

IV. Character Creation

Name:

Age:

Species:

Appearance:

Personality:

Backstory:

Occupation:

Other

 

RULES

1. NO GODMODDING.

2. NO MARY SUES/GARY STUS! ENSURE YOUR CHARACTER IS FLAWED, BUT NOT TOO FLAWED.

3. BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS.

4. THERE IS NO SET "POST TIME", BUT ENSURE YOU DON'T DISAPPEAR WITHOUT WARNING.

5. HAVE FUN. THIS IS AN OPEN WORLD RP, SO FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE THE SETTING ALL YOU LIKE.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

This could certainly be an interesting setting, but what is the Story? Where are the characters going to be congregating and interacting with one another? Are supernatural abilities on the table? Magic? Is there a common threat or goal that characters from all walks of life and tech levels could come together under or fight against? Is this a pvp setting or a pve setting? 

Speaking from experience, you don't want a game so spread out that characters never get a chance to interact. HAVE the enormous open world sure, but start the game on a more neutral planet where perhaps travelers from anywhere in the cosmos could be found. 

[Denim&Venöm 19,415]

@Renegade the Unicorn

Initially it sounds like WH40K. But reading on, it more resembles the Traveler RPGs. I might be interested if this is still open

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

43 minutes ago, Denim&Venom said:

@Renegade the Unicorn

Initially it sounds like WH40K. But reading on, it more resembles the Traveler RPGs. I might be interested if this is still open

Yeah. My main inspiration was indeed Traveler.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

@Renegade the Unicorn I would like to make a character but I would need the questions I asked earlier answered.

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

On 4/2/2019 at 12:37 PM, Buck Testa said:

HAVE the enormous open world sure, but start the game on a more neutral planet where perhaps travelers from anywhere in the cosmos could be found. 

Eh, why not.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

@Renegade the Unicorn and the other questions?

Is there supernatural/magical abilities on the table? What is the power scale? 

Is there a common threat (evil empire a la star wars) or is it more political intrigue ( more like star trek)

Is tech levels similar on all planets or are there planets that are less developed than others? Maybe some that aren't even space faring?

Is this a Player vs Player game or a player vs environment (aka D&D style where you run the bad guys)

[Rebel the Wolfgirl 5,605]

26 minutes ago, Buck Testa said:

Is there supernatural/magical abilities on the table? What is the power scale? 

There is magic, yes. As for a power scale...hmmm...I'll need to work on that.

26 minutes ago, Buck Testa said:

s there a common threat (evil empire a la star wars) or is it more political intrigue ( more like star trek)

More political intrigue, sort of a mix between Star Trek and Dune.

27 minutes ago, Buck Testa said:

are there planets that are less developed than others? Maybe some that aren't even space faring?

Right. Tech levels vary depending on the planet.

28 minutes ago, Buck Testa said:

Is this a Player vs Player game or a player vs environment (aka D&D style where you run the bad guys)

I was thinking PvP.

[Buck Testa 5,505]

@Renegade the Unicorn I have a fun concept to run by you. 

It's an alien race that looks human, but they are impossibly small. They are roughly 1/2000 scale, meaning an adult male is roughly a milimeter tall on average. To put this in context, Godzilla at this scale would be 2.1 inches tall. 

Since they are so small, interacting with human sized aliens usually is done with their space vessels and communicators. Their ship captain would be the main voice that these humans interact with, but their vessels are teeming with thousands of crew members. 

This is a 1/2000 scale model of the enterprise for context

1/2000 scale city 

 

Edited May 9, 2019 by Buck Testa

[EcstaticWind 572]

Is this RP still being planned? I'm looking for an RP to join and this one seems interesting ^~^