ICHABORN - HIGH CELESTIAL COMMANDER
SECRET JOURNAL - STARDATE 12.26.17
Link to previous SECRET JOURNAL entries

Ichaborn felt his left arm slowly breaking. The pain was unbearable. When it finally snapped, Ichaborn cried out like a wounded wolf.

The large warrior in front of Ichaborn bellowed with laughter. He stood over eight feet tall, clad in a strange armor composed of moving, glowing discs. In his hand, a huge spiked mace stood ready to shatter bones.

This was Orgog, Supreme King and Lord over all of the Mokin. The Mokin were a warrior race whose sole purpose was conquest. They were brutal, unforgiving, and deadly. The perfect empire to join the Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies. Their great numbers of fleets would be invaluable against the Final Enemy. Unfortunately, their traditions maintained that only by defeating their Supreme King and Lord could another leader assume command. So, for the sake of the Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies, Ichaborn openly challenged Orgog to battle for the right to rule the Mokin. Now, Ichaborn had come to regret that decision.

Ichaborn limped away from Orgog, his left arm broken. In his right hand, he held his flaming sword defensively, a sign that Ichaborn was still dangerous. Ichaborn's body was beaten and battered by Orgog's mace. Blood dripped from both Ichaborn's mouth and nose, a sure indication that his body was damaged internally. Ichaborn stared at Orgog with his blood red eyes, intent to finish this fight one way or another.

"HA! HA! HO! HEH!" Orgog yelled for all his troops to hear. He pointed his spiked mace at Ichaborn with a smile on his face. "You are the Great Leader of the Celestial Fellowship?? You are Weak, Ichaborn!! I crush you like a Larindo Flyworm. How can you win against Final Enemy? You cannot! Better if I take over Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies! I, ORGOG!!!"

Ichaborn charged at Orgog once again, even with his left arm broken. Orgog's armor had proven completely resistant to Ichaborn's flaming sword. But perhaps there were some weak points in the armor...

Ichaborn jumped past Orgog, cutting at his knee as he passed. A 360 degree spin led Ichaborn into a follow through slice on Orgog's other knee. Ichborn finished his attack with a reverse thrust into Orgog's back. Ichaborn turned to see if any of his strikes had found a point of weakness.

In each case, the glowing discs that covered Orgog's armor had moved to protect him against Ichaborn's blows. It was wonderful technology. Ichaborn made a note to ask Orgog about it later...if he survived this encounter.

A backhand hammerfist from Orgog sent Ichaborn flying backwards. He landed hard, the wind knocked out of him. In the next second, Orgog was on top of him. Orgog raised his heavy metal boot and brought it down hard on Ichaborn's right leg. Ichaborn screamed in his mind as the bones in his right leg shattered into fragments. Another crushing stomp landed on his left leg, breaking it in the same manner as his right leg. With one hand, Orgog grabbed Ichaborn by the throat and lifted him high into the air. Ichaborn tried to strike with his flaming sword, but Orgog grabbed his wrist and squeezed, forcing Ichaborn to drop his sword.

From the sidelines, Doctor Melia yelled loudly. Tears streamed down her beautiful face.

"You have failed, white hair!" Orgog said triumphantly, looking directly into Ichaborn's red eyes. "You are weak leader. I take over your Fellowship, make it strong, create many warriors under my command. You know you weak, not fit to lead. Only strong should lead. Weakness breeds more weakness. Strength breeds more strength. Prepare now, I kill you in front of all your troops. Show them Orgog is more worthy to lead than you. Now, you will...DIE!"

Orgog began to squeeze his hand, choking Ichaborn slowly as he did so. As the life slipped away from Ichaborn, memories flashed in his mind. His Mother. His Father. Falling in love with Doctor Melia at the Academy. The White Wolf. His Future Self. The Formation of the Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies. The birth of Ichabelle. Who would take care of her now? The Final Enemy. Destroyer of Life itself. The Final Enemy laughed. How can you stop me if you cannot even save yourself here? Countless Worlds Dying. Billions of Souls crying out to Ichaborn...Why? Why?? Why didn't you Save Us...?

Strange Runes began to glow all over Ichaborn's body. They ran up his spine, across his chest, and down his arms and legs. Immediately, the wounds that Ichaborn had suffered began to heal. His body became strong, glowing with an eerie fire. Orgog stared into the eyes of this otherworldly being, and what he saw there chilled him to his deepest inner core. Orgog saw Despair, Rage, Hope, Love, Truth, Compassion, Suffering, and Death. Ichaborn broke free of Orgog's grasp and then used his nightmarish fire to engulf Orgog. As Ichaborn began to burn Orgog's body to a crisp from the inside out, he stared into Orgog's eyes and said in a haunting voice,

"Prepare now, I kill you in front of all your troops. Now, you will...DIE!"

Orgog screamed out as his internal organs began to burn up. Then the internal flame creeped outward, slowly incinerating his flesh and muscles. Even Orgog's mighty armor could not protect him from Ichaborn's mystical wrath. Soon, only Orgog's head remained, a final trophy that sat at the center of a blazing inferno. Finally, Orgog's head exploded into a million pieces of white hot slag.

Ichaborn floated above the ground like a frightening wraith from the netherworld. He stared at all the Mokin around him with his blood red eyes. "Hear me! Your leader, Orgog, is dead. As your own traditions hold, I am now Supreme King and Lord over all of the Mokin. The Mokin will now become part of the Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies. Together, we will wage glorious battle against the Final Enemy!!"

The Mokin began to cheer loudly in approval. At that same moment, Doctor Melia ran over to Ichaborn and hugged him tightly. Ichaborn's Mystical Runes faded away, leaving behind only a frail bone white creature. Ichaborn stared into Doctor Melia's lovely eyes. They both smiled at each other. After a long moment, Doctor Melia asked Ichaborn,

"My love, did you have to kill him? Did you have to kill Orgog?"

Ichaborn flashed a deadly look at Doctor Melia with his blood red eyes. It was a cold gaze that came from a soul who had crossed over into the realm of death and then come back again.

Yes,...Yes. I believe that I did Have to."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Friday, December 29, 2017 - 05:45 pm: Edit

U.S.S. TOADSTOOL - FAIRIE LOG
STARDATE 12.29.17
Link to previous Toadstool Logs

Mr. Tumtum wobbled down a corridor of the U.S.S. Toadstool. He was a portly fellow, more than just slightly overweight, with a round tummy which resembled half of the Earth's moon. Covering his extra large stomach was a green shirt, complete with the fleet symbol, a ring of eight stones, on the left side over his heart. Having just finished a delicious boysenberry pie that was graciously offered to him, Mr. Tumtum was now feeling a bit lightheaded. Still, he thought that he was well enough to trust his senses. Perhaps he was wrong.

To his left, hundreds of tiny creatures were strung together to form a ladder in order to work on an access port. They greeted Mr. Tumtum as he walked by, their voices resounding in perfect unison. Mr. Tumtum stared at the odd creatures with wide eyes, unsure if he was actually seeing what he was seeing.

Ahead of Mr. Tumtum, a small spider-like creature hung from the ceiling by a single strand. It was a beautiful thing, with the upper torso of a young girl. Mr. Tumtum stared at the creature in disbelief. In order to validate her existence, the girl said to Mr. Tumtum,

"Hello Honored Guest! My name is Charlotte. Pleased to meet you. Have you had a cup of coffee yet this morning? I promise you, it is excellent with rainbow sprinkles on top!"

Mr. Tumtum was so stunned, he could not respond to the polite little thing. While he stood amazed, a swarm of small Fairies with wings flew past his left shoulder.

Moving on, Mr. Tumtum stopped near a wall that appeared to be melting. Once the wall had melted, Mr. Tumtum found himself staring at a small cottage sitting on a peaceful countryside. Small children played in the grass while their mother hung clothes on a clothesline. A light breeze blew in the background. Through a window, Mr. Tumtum could see a baby sleeping soundly in a crib. Sitting above the baby was a small creature with long pointed ears. The humanoid creature slowly reached for the baby with its pointed claws...

"Can I help you, Mr. Tumtum?"

Mr. Tumtum spun around, finding himself face to face with Captain Jabberwocky. Embarrassed, Mr. Tumtum pointed at the wall that had melted. To his surprise, the wall had returned to normal.

"The....the wall...," Mr. Tumtum struggled to explain. He still had a boysenberry stain on his upper lip. "I....saw....a baby...and there was a...." Mr. Tumtum still felt slightly dizzy. He wobbled left and right, clearly unbalanced.

"Mr. Tumtum," Captain Jabberwocky responded with a stern look. "The Toadstool is the Flagship of the Fair Folk. As such, it has the highest concentration of Faeries in the entire fleet. This creates a nexus of magic unlike any other. Magic can be a fickle thing, Mr. Tumtum, but it must Always be respected."

Mr. Tumtum stared at Captain Jabberwocky as best he could. His vision was partially blurred due to the magical boysenberry pie he consumed. Still, Mr. Tumtum managed to nod at Captain Jabberwocky, showing he understood what he was saying. The small Captain with reptilian features smiled back at Mr. Tumtum.

"Now, Mr. Tumtum," Captain Jabberwocky said in a compassionate voice. "You are both a crewman and a human observer aboard this vessel. I suggest that you take your post, so that you can focus on your work. While you are here, keep an open mind, and record your experiences from a human perspective. If you need assistance with anything, I am always available for you."

Mr. Tumtum managed to utter a "Yes, Sir," before wobbling down the corridor to his post. There was something about Captain Jabberwocky that frightened Mr. Tumtum, though he could never quite figure out what it was.

"Oh, and Mr. Tumtum?" Captain Jabberwocky called out to Mr. Tumtum before he ran out of reach. Mr. Tumtum stopped to look back at his Captain.

"Don't ever eat a bosenberry pie offered to you at this hour, alright?" Captain Jabberwocky stated as his eyes turned from solid white to solid black.

"The taste of such an exquisite dessert has been known to drive humans quite..."

"MAD."

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Saturday, December 30, 2017 - 05:07 am: Edit

"Hey, we're all crazy, we just don't want to seem crazy in front of other people who are crazy, and that's what makes us normal." -- Grace Vanderwaal

()


Garth L. Getgen

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, December 30, 2017 - 02:18 pm: Edit

PARALLEL ALPHA

Parallel Alpha began with a question that materialized in my mind:

"What would the Alpha Sector look like if they never developed any Alpha Sector Technology, but instead only developed Omega Sector Technology?"

Obviously, this would have to be some kind of Parallel Dimension, a place where history took a different path, allowing for a different technological development path. It is very important to note that Parallel Alpha is NOT the Mirror Universe from TOS.

Given the unstable nature of Omega's Phasers and Heavy Weapons, it was clear that this Parallel Alpha would not be Balanced. However, I still wanted to have Stable Borders and a Neutral Zone like the original Alpha Sector.

There was also a need to distinguish Parallel Alpha from other similar Genesis Galaxies, particularly Project-O, the Alpha Colonies, and Project-A.

Parallel Alpha: Alpha Sector with only Omega Technology (Unbalanced)
Project-O: Omega-Style Ships with Balance in Design
Alpha Colonies: Alpha-Style Ships with Balanced Omega Technology
Project-A: Erratic Alpha Sector that never achieved Balance (in terms of Borders and Weapons). Project-A includes Alpha Sector Weaponry plus All New Weapons.

Given the above definitions, one can see that Parallel Alpha is something different from Project-O, the Alpha Colonies, and Project-A.

Thinking of the "Federation" of Parallel Alpha, my initial thought was to simply replace the Photons with Tachyon Guns. However, this has been done before with other Genesis SSD's and, to be honest, is quite boring at this point. So I wanted something different.

That made me think of the Loriyill. What would the "Federation" look like with Fireballs and Flame Shields? Perhaps even Singer technology as well. This "Federation" would appoint themselves as the "Guardians" of Parallel Alpha, always on the look out for the "Evil Faeries" who are lurking in the shadows waiting to wreak havoc at any moment.

But in order to make this work, I would need some kind of backstory for what the "Federation" of Parallel Alpha was made up of. It was never my intention to transplant the many species of Omega into Alpha, so I didn't want to say that this "Federation" was made up of Loriyill. However, with a little fudging, a vague backstory started to form.

In Parallel Alpha, the humans of Earth were never able to achieve Warp Drive. They hit a roadblock in their technological development that prevented them from reaching the stars. Thus the Federation was never born. However, Faeries and Magic always existed on Earth. Indeed, the Greatest of the Faeries kept a close eye on Mankind, constantly trying to decide if they should intervene in their affairs. When it came to space travel, the Faeries who lived in their own realm close to Mankind finally decided to act. They revealed themselves to humans and conditionally helped them to build starships that could travel through space. This space-faring organization of Parallel Alpha became known as the Fair Folk. The Fair Folk is composed of mostly humans, with a scattering of Faeries that oversee all operations.

This is the galaxy that the U.S.S. Toadstool exists in.

Intrigued by these ideas, I quickly worked on an SSD for a Fair Folk Heavy Cruiser, just to see what it would look like. After completing it, I was quite satisfied with it. Although Parallel Alpha is supposed to be Imbalanced due to the Omega Technology, this Fair Folk Heavy Cruiser turned out pretty balanced, probably because I now have a sharp eye for that kind of thing.

Fireballs and Tachyosonic Beams provide moderate damage output every other turn. The Firing Arcs help to balance this offensive capability, forcing the Captain to maneuver to bring his heavy weapons into arc. The Fair Folk Heavy Cruiser has a good suite of Sonic Pulsers with interesting Firing Arcs as well. Flame Shields, an Alpha Sector Power Curve, Strong Shields, and a good Turn Mode help to round out the Fair Folk Heavy Cruiser. Other notes include a Phaser Capacitor for the Sonic Pulsers and the ability for the Saucer Section to separate(!).

Another interesting idea is that later in the Timeline, the Fair Folk develop the Enhanced Tachyosonic Beams that were denied to the Singers. This advancement makes the Fair Folk a formidable force in Parallel Alpha.

Here is the Link to the Fair Folk Heavy Cruiser SSD. This is just a "Preview". I will officially post the design later, in the same format as all the other Genesis SSD's.

In conclusion, I am excited about the possibilities of Parallel Alpha. What are the other empires going to look like with (unbalanced) Omega Technology? What will their Backgrounds be? What shape will the Parallel Alpha Map take? Which empires will border each other? Did any new technology develop in Parallel Alpha? What path did History take in Parallel Alpha? What interesting Scenarios can be created for Parallel Alpha?

All of these questions will be explored as Parallel Alpha is slowly developed.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, December 30, 2017 - 02:22 pm: Edit

PARALLEL OMEGA
Link to Parallel Omega

Parallel Omega is a natural extension of the question that forms the basis of Parallel Alpha. Instead of asking, "What would the Alpha Sector look like if they only developed Omega Technology?", the question for Parallel Omega becomes, "What would the Omega Sector look like if they only developed Alpha Technology?"

Interestingly, I already created all these SSD's a long time ago. In order to bring them up to date, I will probably have to tweak each SSD a bit before posting them.

Parallel Omega seeks to keep the same species as Omega, rather than switch them with Alpha counterparts. However, I will probably need to adjust the Background for each Parallel Omega species to make them new and interesting.

As much as possible, I don't want to rehash or duplicate what has already been done. The goal here is to create something new, something intriguing, and something which plays on the tabletop with all-new tactics.

It is important to note that Parallel Omega is NOT the Mirror Universe from TOS.

Just like Parallel Alpha, Parallel Omega is a Parallel Dimension where History took a different path. In this Parallel Dimension, the Omega Sector only developed Alpha Sector Technology.

More on Parallel Omega as it slowly gets developed.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Sunday, December 31, 2017 - 01:08 pm: Edit

THE GRANDMASTER GALAXY
Link to the Grandmaster Galaxy

The Grandmaster Galaxy seeks, as much as possible, to convert Star Fleet Battles into Chess. How can this be done? By Removing Any and All Possibilities of Random Chance.

Since all random chance has been removed from the Grandmaster Galaxy, there are absolutely No Die Rolls. This means that there are No Bad Die Rolls, costing you the game. Instead, battles are won solely because you made the right move, at the right time, at the right distance. The victors are those who can plan many moves ahead, those who can anticipate their opponent's tactics, and those who can "checkmate" their opponent by successfully implementing a better strategic plan than their adversary.

However, creating the Grandmaster Galaxy is a much more complicated task than it may initially appear. Star Fleet Battles employs countless die rolls in nearly endless situations. Removing all the die rolls changes the very fabric and structure of the game. This means that one must proceed with extreme caution, lest the whole game fall apart because you removed a vital component.

So how can one proceed with the Grandmaster Galaxy then? By replacing every Random Die Roll with a Stable, Constant Factor. This will enable the "Grandmaster" to make moves upon which he can be completely confident in the results. This is totally opposite to regular Star Fleet Battles, where you employ a strategy, get to the appropriate position, and then "hope" that the dice favor your tactics. How many of us have hoped for certain die rolls at a critical moment in the battle, only to be disappointed by the results that the Fates granted us?

Here are some examples of the Constant Factor in the Grandmaster Galaxy. If you fire a Photon at a specific Range, with a certain amount of Energy, then you will automatically know the amount of Damage it will score. The same goes for Phasers. Reinforcement will still act the same, subtracting from the Damage that was scored. Firing Arcs, Shields, Energy Allocation, and Speed should remain, for the most part, unaffected. Disruptors would also have a set scale for damage compared to distance. Overloads would remain the same (limited range), except that all random chance would be removed. Drones and Plasmas would function the same, moving toward their target, with the option of being shot at. However, any shots at seeking weapons would have a set, constant amount of damage at a specific range. There would be no variable determined by a die roll.

There are two existing items currently in Star Fleet Battles that provide inspiration for this kind of method (no random chance, only set results). Not only do these two items provide inspiration, but they tell me that the entire concept of the Grandmaster Galaxy (No Random Chance) is a real possibility that can work.

The first is the Radiation Phaser. You fire the weapon and the table automatically tells you how much damage is scored at a specific range. Of course, there are EW concerns, but for now, we will ignore the complicated issue of EW.

The second is the ESG. You put power into the device, set the radius, and the table tells you how much damage is scored at a specific range. You don't roll to determine the damage. The weapon just hits and the set damage is scored on the target.

A major concern with the Grandmaster Galaxy is the DAC. Random, distributed damage is an integral part of Star Fleet Battles. If Random Chance is removed from the DAC, the player will know exactly what systems are going to be destroyed by the internals they scored. This means that a new chart will need to be developed. Without having sorted out all the details, I foresee multiple, simplified charts being used. Currently, internals are usually "padding" (hull, cargo, etc.), weapons, systems (lab, tractors, transporters), or power. It shouldn't be too hard to develop a chart that instantly tells you how many systems you have destroyed based on the internals scored. For example, 9 internals might instantly yield, 4 "padding", 2 systems, 2 weapons, and 1 power. Here we are looking at a system of Averages (which may or may not be a good thing).

Energy Allocation would remain the same in the Grandmaster Galaxy. Indeed, properly allocating your energy resources should become even more vital in the Grandmaster Galaxy, as the element of chance has been completely removed from the game.

My greatest concern with the Grandmaster Galaxy lies with the various empires of Star Fleet Battles. In chess, both sides are completely equal, with the exact same playing pieces. This is not so in Star Fleet Battles. If one player is playing the Federation, and another player the Klingons, there is a great deal of variance in the SSD's being employed. Even without Random Chance, this variance can give the advantage to one player over the other player. Ideally, both ships should be identical, but we all know this cannot be (flavor would be eliminated, resulting in a boring game). So what needs to happen (in my opinion), is that the SSD's for all empires need to be simplified down and balanced against each other as much as possible (even more than they currently are). There cannot be the amount of variance between SSD's that currently exists (because without random chance, it will give too much advantage to one player over another player). This may (or may not) result in "cookie cutter" types of designs, but I believe such designs would be appropriate for a galaxy seeking to emulate chess as much as possible.

In conclusion, crafting the Grandmaster Galaxy is going to require, not only a lot of work, but finesse and careful calculation. However, I believe that the premise (No Random Chance) behind the Grandmaster Galaxy is one worthy of pursuit. And I believe that, once completed, the Grandmaster Galaxy will be an interesting game to play which will run quite different from standard Star Fleet Battles. It will incorporate elements of Star Fleet Battles, feel like Star Fleet Battles, but will ultimately will have a chess-like aspect that favors tactics, strategy, foresight, counter-moves, and positioning over reliance on random die rolls and chance.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, January 02, 2018 - 11:08 am: Edit

THE ORPHAN TRANSFORMATION

I was never quite happy with the term, "Orphan Ships" for SSD's created specifically to be playtested against either Alpha or Omega ships. Although the term made perfect sense (because the SSD's had No Galaxy, R-Section, Background, or Species Description), there was something about the term (Orphan) that didn't sit well with me. It was like designing an SSD with perfect boxes, but with an aesthetically ugly outer appearance.

So I have decided to rename Orphan Ships to simply Playtest Ships. Even this designation isn't 100% accurate, because technically, every SSD created for the Genesis Galaxies is a "Playtest Ship". Still, the name will have to do, it is better than using "Orphan Ships".

AADI is the galaxy for future Alpha Sector style ships that pass Playtesting

ANTIM is the galaxy for future Omega Sector style ships that pass Playtesting

Currently, there are two Playtest Ships being examined:

The HAYLON BATTLECRUISER has already passed Playtesting for the Aadi Sector. The SSD just needs slight modifications, as well as a couple of additional rules.

The GEIST HEAVY CRUISER is still being playtested for the Antim Sector. In particular, it is being decided if the Heavy Ghost Torpedoes and Phantom Shields are Balanced enough for use.

More Playtest Ship SSD's will be designed soon for the Aadi and Antim Sectors.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, January 02, 2018 - 11:22 am: Edit

THE DRONE RAIDER SSD

The FOO FILES are Single Player Opponents which feature an SSD with Specific Rules to control their behavior on the battlefield. It is the SSD that distinguishes the Foo Files from Monsters and other Single Player Scenarios.

Currently, there is only one Foo Files SSD. It is the Drone Raider SSD, which was designed for Alpha Sector type ships. Interestingly, even though the Drone Raider constantly launches Drones at the Player's starship, it will also fire a barrage of Disruptors and launch an occassional Plasma Torpedo. Overall, the Drone Raider is a challenging opponent. Of course, it is still a "Playtest Ship" subject to changes.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, January 02, 2018 - 04:29 pm: Edit

THE GREAT GALACTIC MISH-MASH
GENESIS THOUGHTS
Link to previous Genesis Thoughts

** NOTE: GENESIS THOUGHTS ARE SIMPLY MY OWN OPINIONS. I SHARE THEM WITH ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE GENESIS GALAXIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INSIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING INTO WHY I CREATE THE DESIGNS THAT I DO. I’M SURE OTHERS WILL DISAGREE, AND THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE. **

Over the years, I have seen many Star Fleet Battles websites come and go. I saw a lot of creativity, which was great. However, some of the websites fell into a pattern which was both self-defeating and ever-expanding. I call it the Great Galactic Mish-Mash.

It basically goes like this. One player creates an empire that he thinks is very cool. It may be a variation of an Alpha Sector empire or it may be something completely out there. The unique empire is given some weapons which are different from anything in existence. The player might even come up with an elaborate background describing the species and origin of the empire. Sometimes, the empire is based on something from a TV show or movie.

Then another player (or the same player) creates another cool empire following the same process. And then another player (or the same player) does the same. And then another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And then another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And another. Until finally, you have a Galaxy full of wonderful and strange empires. It is a Great Galactic Mish-Mash.

So what is missing from the Great Galactic Mish-Mash? One extremely important element...

BALANCE.

Because the empires were not created in relation to each other, there is a wild variance in their completed designs. Some players might not mind that. I think that one can still have great fun in Star Fleet Battles with such unrelated designs. For example:

One player has a ship with a 40 point Torpedo and 20 point Shields.
One player has a ship with a 30 point Torpedo and 30 point Shields.
One player has a ship with a 20 point Torpedo and 40 point Shields.
One player has a ship with a 60 point Torpedo and Super Armor.
One player has a ship that can disappear and reappear anywhere on the board.
One player has a ship with No Shields that Regenerates Internals every turn.
One player has a ship that can explode and reconstitute every turn.
One player has a ship that "eats" other ships.

Now, these 8 players get together one night, drink a lot of beer, eat a bunch of tortilla chips (with salsa), watch movies, and have a great time blowing each other up. This is fine. It's great that people are playing Star Fleet Battles and having fun with it.

But, in my opinion, something is missing in this situation. There is a strange feeling that tingles in the back of my spine. Something that whispers, "Yes, this is Star Fleet Battles. But it is Not the Way it is Supposed to Be."

This is because the ships have been created in their own vacuum, completely independent of each other. This has resulted in a series of SSD's in which there is No Balance between them. The Purpose of Balance is to try to Not Give Advantage to one player over another player as much as possible. You can see that, with the Great Galactic Mish-Mash, every player has some kind of Great Advantage (or Disadvantage) over the other players.

Furthermore, the Series of Unrelated SSD's are missing other Minor Elements. There is No Theme linking them all together. There is No Timeline bonding the many empires together. There may (or may not) be a Map, but the location of the empires has no real significance (in terms of their Final SSD Design). The Alpha Sector, for example, has specific SSD designs based on how each empire reacts to the empires that border it. Without Balance, there is No Playtesting of the SSD's. Lastly, there are No Scenarios incorporating the various empires together in a meaningful way.

I believe that Star Fleet Battles was Meant to have these important features. Balance is a Vital Concept (unless the Galaxy was Purposely designed without it). A Timeline, Map, Scenarios, and R-Sections are meant to give meaning to Gameplay. A Common Theme helps to bind the galaxy together.

But WHY should these elements exist in Star Fleet Battles? Because they lead to Tactical Play. Because they form the Cornerstones that lead to Strategy. Because Star Fleet Battles is meant to be a Wargame, not just an "Action Game." There is supposed to be Thinking, Planning, Anticipation, Ingenuity, and Calculation on the part of the Players. And with Victory, there should be feelings of Satisfaction and Accomplishment, that it was the player's Choices that led to Victory, not the fact that their SSD gave them the Biggest Guns.

Now, someone could argue that, while most Genesis Galaxies have the Vital Elements (Balance, Timeline, R-Sections, Map, Scenarios), there are some Genesis Galaxies that are, in fact, miniature Galactic Mish-Mashes. This is true to an extent. But it is mitigated by the fact that I, as the Designer, am aware of the Pitfalls of a resulting Mish-Mash galaxy. Just that knowledge alone helps me to make sure that the Final Galaxy has some meaning when played. Additionally, with some of the Genesis Galaxies, I am trying to show how far the "Star Fleet Battles Engine" can be pushed, in order to illustrate a point. So the "Mish-Mash" Genesis Galaxies have an alternate purpose to their existence as well.

On a side note, it is my opinion that the Omega Sector has some elements of the Great Galactic Mish-Mash. The empires seem to have been created independently of each other, sometimes with nothing relating them to each other. Some of the Omega Weapons and Technology are wildly different from each other. However, a concise Timeline, changing Maps, detailed R-Sections, and relevant Scenarios help to give meaning to the unstable Omega Sector. It is a curious creation, one which salutes the Alpha Sector that gave it birth, but at the same time breaks into new, uncharted territory with its Design Methods.

Ultimately, it is the Alpha Sector that shines as the Prime Example of how a Star Fleet Battles Galaxy should be developed. Whenever questions could up in the process of Galaxy Design, the answers can almost always be found by carefully examining the Alpha Sector. Look carefully at the components that hold the Alpha Sector together and make it meaningful. There is a Reason that players have become engrossed with the Alpha Sector over the decades. And I assure you, it is not because a single empire was "super cool" or had the "biggest guns". There is something else going on, something almost hidden, that runs underneath the many rules, out of plain sight. I believe that this "magical infrastructure" was purposely put there as sign posts by SVC and SPP, so that future Designers could understand WHY they made the decisions they did when they created, expanded, and maintained the Alpha Sector.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, January 06, 2018 - 02:10 pm: Edit

I finished the next Alpha Sector (Aadi) Playtest Ship. It has some cool technology that should be fun to playtest.

Sadly, the outer appearance turned out "uglier" than I intended. So the SSD will need to be reworked. Luckily, all the internals are correct.

I could rush the SSD out and just post it as is, but since I am going to have to look at it for years to come, I would rather get the SSD right.

After all, there is nothing worse in Star Fleet Battles than an "ugly" SSD, right?

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Sunday, January 07, 2018 - 02:54 pm: Edit

U.S.S. TOADSTOOL - FAERIE LOG
STARDATE 01.07.18
Link to previous Toadstool Logs

Mr. Tumtum ran down the corridor as fast as he could. His fast sprint caused his round tummy to bounce up and down rather embarrassingly. At this point, Mr. Tumtum didn't care. He just wanted to live to see tomorrow.

The Toadstool had come under sudden attack. The interlopers were hidden in a nebula, waiting for the Toadstool to pass by. Out they came, like bats fleeing the darkness of their cave, intent to overwhelm the Toadstool with sheer numbers. The Toadstool took an evasive pattern, firing its many weapons, destroying the brigands one by one.

But the Toadstool was unprepared for the strange technology that the attackers used to press the advantage. It was a device that, for an instant, partially lowered a single shield. Used in a coordinated effort at a single moment by several ships, each of which carried the device, the Toadstool's aft shield was deactivated momentarily. That moment was all the time the rogues needed. Hordes of troops materialized inside of the Toadstool.

The invaders resembled huge, walking crocodiles with enlarged jaws. Although they were armed with particle rifles, the vicious aliens seemed to prefer tearing apart their prey with their massive teeth. Mr. Tumtum turned around for a moment to see if the enemy was right behind him, but he tripped as a result. After falling flat on his face, Mr. Tumtum stared in horror as three hobgoblin guards in red shirts were ripped to shreads by the savage intruders. Saliva dripped from their immense mouths as they eyed Mr. Tumtum. How delightful he was going to taste!

At that moment, clouds of red-tinted smoke began to appear in the corridor, blocking the crocodile-like invaders' vision. Mr. Tumtum's mouth dropped open. Could it really be him? The one he had heard so much about but never saw?

As the intruders scrambled to get their bearings in the strange mist, a long scythe stretched out. The magical metal glinted in the red-tinted light, hungry for fresh blood. Then down it slashed, over and over, creating a whirlwind pattern that cut down the crocodile invaders like wheat from the chaff. Even the thick armor worn by the fearsome invaders was not sufficient to stop the otherworldly scythe from claiming their lives. Within moments, the corridor was littered with bodies, the fallen dead of those who dared to board the Toadstool.

The deadly scythe, now covered in fresh blood, leaned close to one patch of reddish clouds. A long red tongue stretched out, tasting the blood. Mr. Tumtum's eyes were wide with disbelief. Then an inhuman gurgle resounded, a chilling sound that informed Mr. Tumtum that the long tongue was enjoying the blood it was feasting on. Soon after, a small being emerged from the smoke, one which held the scythe tightly with a single clenched fist.

It was a short, goblin-like figure, with grey, wrinkled skin and long talons for hands. Two thick metal boots encased its small feet, covered with deadly spikes. A tattered white shirt hung from his frail body, stained with droplets of blood. The being stared at Mr. Tumtum with oversized eyes, his mouth full of sharp teeth. Mr. Tumtum stared back at this ominous spirit, noting in particular the long pointed red hat that it wore upon its head. This was Robin Redcap, the infamous Chief of Security aboard the Toadstool.

Robin Redcap stepped forward, standing directly in front of Mr. Tumtum. Mr. Tumtum quickly rose to his feet, brushing himself off to make himself presentable. It was quite apparent that Robin Redcap only stood as tall as Mr. Tumtum's waist, although his deadly scythe reached high above Mr. Tumtum's head.

"I....I suppose," Mr. Tumtum stuttered, obviously afraid of the small faerie creature. "that...I owe you my thanks. You saved my life. For that, I am in your debt. Ah....it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Mr. Redcap. I've...um....heard so much about you!"

Robin Redcap stared upward at Mr. Tumtum, baring his sharp fangs. He had a strange grin on his face, something akin to an immoral doctor that had just performed a forbidden surgery on a helpless patient. There was an awkward silence between the two as Mr. Tumtum waited for Robin to reply back to him.

Then an image began to form inside of Mr. Tumtum's head. The closest explanation that Mr. Tumtum could conceive of was that Robin was initiating some kind of telepathic communication with him. Mr. Tumtum saw an eerie, old castle, one which had drawn countless travellers to it out of sheer curiousity. This was Hermitage Castle, the former dwellling place of Lord William de Soulis, Robin's master. Inside, Mr. Tumtum could only see darkness, a black shroud that blotted out all light. An image started to form, one which slowly took shape as bits of light started to shine into the darkness from above. There was Robin Redcap, sitting atop a massive hill of human skulls and bones. He was smiling wide as he dipped his hat into a large bowl full of the blood of his victims. The hat shined bright red as the material soaked in the crimson blood.

Mr. Tumtum felt a terrible chill go down his spine. The vision slowly vanished. He stared at Robin Redcap in disbelief. Robin met Mr. Tumtum's gaze and smiled. Then he said in a grim voice,

"Now you know what I am, Mr. Tumtum. It's important you know my true nature, so there are no misunderstandings between us. You see, there are Faeries that are Benevolent to Humans and there are Faeries that are Malevolent to Humans. Trust me, you don't want to cross paths with those faeries that prey on humans. They are without morals, without remorse, and without mercy."

"I am such a Faerie. One whose heart is as black as the night sky. One who feasts in delight upon the blood of my victims. One who dreams of nightmarish things that would surely cause a human's heart to stop beating."

"Pleased to meet you."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, January 13, 2018 - 07:01 am: Edit

U.S.S. TOADSTOOL - FAERIE LOG
STARDATE 01.13.18
Link to previous Toadstool Logs

Mr. Tumtum sat in the Observation Deck of the U.S.S. Toadstool, staring out at the passing stars. Boarding the Flagship of the Fair Folk and witnessing the massive concentration of Faeries firsthand was almost too much for Mr. Tumtum. His mind ran about in circles, trying to come to terms with these strange, fantastical creatures that defied science, logic, and rational thought. Mr. Tumtum had always considered himself a rational man. But now he feared that he had crossed over into the realms of insanity.

Why are we out here? Mr Tumtum thought as he munched on a meat burrito. Oh sure, there were the official memo's. But what was the real reason for our journey? Where are we going? And why the Flagship of the Fair Folk? What is so special about the Toadstool? Why are so many Faeries concentrated here on this vessel? Don't they know that if the Toadstool is lost, all those Faeries will be lost at the same time? What would be worth that kind of risk? I daresay that such an event might be crippling to the Fair Folk.

And what makes the Toadstool different from other vessels of the same type in the fleet? There are numerous ongoing experiments going on, none of which I understand. What kind of modifications are they trying to make to this ship? With the strange powers and events I have already witnessed, I am almost afraid to have that answer.

Despite his unanswered questions, Mr. Tumtum formed a smile on his face due to how delicious his meat burrito was. There was some kind of sauce inside that really stimulated his palate.

Captain Jabberwocky is a mysterious man. There is something about him that makes me feel uneasy, but I can't quite place what it is. Of course, everyone has heard the rumors of his...transformations. But, like so many things aboard this ship, you hear about it, but never actually see it. And if I did see it, I would most certainly faint from the experience. Be careful what you wish for...they say.

And what about these Black Faeries that the Fair Folk are always on guard against? Given what I've already seen, can these Black Faeries really be so bad? How did they get into deep space anyway? Where do they originate from? What are their goals? And how do the Fair Folk relate to the Black Faeries? What is their connection? Is it possible that the Fair Folk also previously roamed the stars?

Mr. Tumtum stared out of an observation window at several small gas clouds that seemed to form a face in space. The face smiled back at him.

Also, why was I chosen to be one of the Human Observers aboard the Toadstool? It seems that each of us has a different skillset. I just don't see what is so special about me. Surely there are other more qualified candidates. I wish that my contact with the other Human Observers wasn't so limited. I certainly would love to share my tales with them and compare notes. Talking to other Humans would help to assure me that I truly have not gone insane.

Mr. Tumtum finished his meat burrito, licking his lips to savor every last taste. Then he stood up and patted his round belly. His tummy responded by making light groaning noises due to the burrito he ate.

Ah well. I suppose break time's over. It's time to get back to work. I'm sure that all will be revealed in the fullness of time. I just wish that I had all the answers right now. It's just Human Nature, I guess. Hmmm, maybe that's what separates me from the Faeries. I am Human, with all the Frailties, Weaknesses, Hopes, and Dreams of a Human. Perhaps that is why I was chosen for this assignment?

Mr. Tumtum's mind hovered over that last question as he slowly walked out of the Observation Deck of the U.S.S. Toadstool.

And behind him, all the Invisible Faeries that had been listening to his collected thoughts...danced, laughed, and played with delight.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, January 13, 2018 - 11:37 pm: Edit

THE VITRUVIAN MAN
EXPLORICON Y2245
DAY 1
Link to previous Vitruvian Man entries

Captain Sherman stared at his Senior Staff with a hard gaze. He knew each of them intimately and was completely confident in their abilities. It was finally time to begin their journey. They had all worked so hard to get to this point. The Senior Staff waited anxiously for Captain Sherman to speak. There was only one problem. Captain Sherman was not a man of speeches. He was a man of hard work and action.

"You all know me," Captain Sherman said in a deep voice. His solid black beard was finely cut. No mustache adorned his rigid face. Two pure black eyes stared at the Senior Staff without blinking, each one famous for intimidating more than one member of the crew. "And I feel I know each of you. You know I am not one to rely on speeches. We all know what our duties are. And we all know what we are trying to do. Explore the frontiers of deep space where no human has ever gone before. I have no doubt that we will succeed in our task. But there is one thing that must happen to guarantee our success."

Captain Sherman took his two hands and clasped them together firmly. "We must rely on each other. Only together, as one unified crew, can we face all the unknown dangers that wait for us. If we splinter into individuals who care nothing for everyone else, we are bound to fail. Obviously, this essential trait is not something I can evaluate or train you for. You must simply know its importance and do it. Always remember, no matter what happens...we are a FAMILY."

The Senior Staff took a moment to look at each other. They could not help but to smile. Some of them held hands to show the affection they had already built up for one another. Captain Sherman smiled inwardly, but showed no sign of it on his stern face.

"Now, we found this rust bucket hidden on our deepest ocean floor. You all know what it took to raise it out of those dark waters. And each of you is familiar with the many years of hard work it took to get it into working condition. We added our own technology to it, merging it with what working technology we could salvage. The resulting starship is something that is part of the past, part of the present, and part of the future. It came from outer space, rested for over a millenia under the earth's waters, and is now ready to return to deep space. None of this would have been possible without the Unified Government of Terra Prime. We owe them our thanks."

"The Vitruvian Man is the first starship to represent Terra Prime in deep space. It is of utmost importance that we all remember this. We will be held accountable for our actions out there. Someday, Terra Prime will have an entire fleet of starships in deep space. But until that day, we are ALONE. We will be setting new precedents for future generations to follow. We must temper our actions with wisdom. But at the same time, we will NOT be bullied. Speak softly, but carry a big stick."

Captain Sherman folded his arms together in front of his chest. He paused for a moment of silence. Then he said loudly, "Enough talk. It's time to get underway. Let's go see what's out there."

Captain Sherman pushed a button to contact Engineering.

"INITIATE SPACE FOLD."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 12:11 pm: Edit

ALPHA
STARDATE 01.24.17
Link to previous Alpha memories

He returned to that planetoid that had once been a lifeless, barren husk. Slowly, Alpha's feet touched down on the newly created soil. Alpha peered about at his new creation, wide-eyed at the beauty that birth always bore. The skies were orange, with clouds that cut across it like strips of white paint. The air smelt burdened, as if its purity was restrained by a terrible odorous beast that demanded domination. Alpha was not pleased.

Alpha's eyes glowed with white light, so bright that anything that looked would have been blinded. Like ink that had been spilled into fresh water, the sky turned from orange to light blue. The clouds ran to preserve their existence, but in the end they were caught, transformed from thin stripes into separated puffs of white cotton. Then birds appeared where there were none before. Their cries broke the morning silence, announcing that they were pleased with their new habitat.

The landscape around Alpha was littered with volcanoes, small and large, which spitted lava into the air. The ground was hot and cracked, something inhospitable to the things that would soon tread on it. With a wave of one hand, Alpha reached out, defining the reality that he wanted to exist. A transformation took place, one which took a picture and turned it inside out. The result was all-new terrain, filled with forests, bushes, shrubs, vegetables, and fruits. Lakes, rivers, and streams shimmered with liveliness, anxious to explore this new world.

Then Alpha opened his robe, allowing a multitude of tiny animals to run forth. These beings rushed to and fro, like newborn babies who found they could suddenly walk. Sounds of happiness filled the air, an undeniable sign that life was pleased with its new surroundings. One last animal hesitated as it emerged from Alpha's robe. It looked about at its new home and was afraid.

Alpha picked up the tiny lizard in one hand. The lizard, which shook with fear, seemed as tiny as a speck of dust in Alpha's large hand. Alpha's eye, which stared without interruption at the small lizard, was as large as a moon hovering bright over the ocean dark. Alpha smiled.

"Do not be afraid, little one. This world is yours. I have created it for you. In time, as you gain intelligence, you will claim it as your own. Your ever growing brain will allow you to dominate this world, and all the creatures that live within it. And when you grow tired of the world that nurtured you since you were young, you will look to the stars, wondering where I have gone. And I will look back at you."

"When the time is right, after the sun and moon have risen and set countless times, I will return to this place. We will meet again, but you will not be the small creature that you are today. You will be what I intended you to be from the beginning: something wonderful, something enlightened, something whose dreams become reality. You will have proven yourself worthy after generations and generations of offspring. And, on that day, I will smile."

"Then I will take you into my arms once again, so that you can finally journey to your True Home, far, far away, in the stars."

"WHERE YOU BELONG."

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 01:59 pm: Edit

So, that's where the Gorn came from??

()


Garth L. Getgen

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 03:19 pm: Edit

LOL, Garth! That's what I was thinking too.

Although when I wrote it, that's not what I intended. Plus, there's more to tell about Alpha in the future, which doesn't have to do with intelligent lizard men in rubber suits.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 - 04:03 pm: Edit

THE AGE OF HUMANS
Link to the Age of Humans


The Age of Humans is the setting for the Vitruvian Man. The Vitruvian Man is an alien starship that was resurrected from the Earth’s waters. After years of hard work, the Vitruvian Man is brought to life by adding the cutting edge of technology to whatever alien technology they were able to reverse-engineer or salvage. The Vitruvian Man launches in the same period as the original Enterprise. What makes the Vitruvian Man unique is the fact that, although they will encounter numerous aliens in their travels, the crew of the Vitruvian Man will stay entirely Human.

The Age of Humans presents a new take on Star Fleet Battles. Here, humanity does not have fleets of starships. It has only the Vitruvian Man. Deep Space is unexplored and mysterious. The crew of the Vitruvian Man has no idea what they are about to encounter. From a Star Fleet Battles view point, this means there is no map, no empires that are pre-defined, no SSD books that are already made. The Age of Humans is developed as the Vitruvian Man explores deep space, which means that the SFB Galaxy has a direct link to the fiction that is written. Indeed, the fiction carves out the galaxy of the Age of Humans, like a sculptor slowly bringing his image to life from a block of concrete.

The Vitruvian Man itself will evolve as the stories progress. At first, the technology will be inferior to typical Alpha Sector technology. But over time, it will become equivalent to the Alpha Sector. Eventually, the Vitruvian Man will employ technology more advanced than the Alpha Sector. Since the Vitruvian Man is the first and only ship that humans have put into space, there is a chance to introduce new and different technology than exists in standard Star Trek. Every technology mentioned in the Vitruvian Man stories is meant to have playable rules for SFB in the Age of Humans.

My original idea was that the alien ship was actually a Federation starship from way, way in the future. Using time travel technology, the highly advanced starship appeared in the past and crash-landed in the Earth’s oceans. There it sat, until one day, it would be pulled out of the ocean and transformed into the Vitruvian Man. I may or may not keep this concept as the Vitruvian Man stories are written.

The crew of the Vitruvian Man will be quite different from the standard Star Trek crew. They will have different assignments, titles, and duties, although there are bound to be similarities. Each of them are supposed to be Earth’s best, the geniuses of their day. Still, they are flawed, as all Humans are.

The Age of Humans is only the first Age in this galaxy. It is during this Age that Humans are dominant. They are the focus of every historical event in this time period. Later, future Ages will focus on other subjects, leaving Humans to struggle with the ever-changing starscape.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Monday, January 29, 2018 - 03:49 am: Edit

WHITE WOLF - BEFORE THE FELLOWSHIP
STARDATE 01.29.18
Link to previous White Wolf entries

Oh, why oh why did I decide to do this?!? I must have been MAD!!!

Papia was only one of six individuals that struggled up a mountain trail that seemed endless. Having hailed from an oceanic world composed of 95% water, Papia was a green being with smooth skin, webbed hands and feet, gills, large round yellow eyes, and a short tail. Curiously, she could breathe either on land or in water, although she most certainly preferred the latter. Papia would have given anything to be back on her homeworld, safe and comfortable in her underwater dwelling place. For today, she feared that she would most surely die.

The pack on Papia's back seemed to weigh as heavy as the bright moon that would shine above her oceans at night. Twin suns beat down on the six youths, draining them of their internal water and threatening them with exhaustion. The mountain trail they were following started out at a slight incline, but steadily grew steeper and steeper. Now it seemed as if the mountain itself would throw them back down the trail if their footsteps slipped the slightest bit.

Ahead of them, behind them, and all around them, was the single person driving them all to reach the top of the mountain. Surely, he must have been a Demon, or some kind of Devil, or perhaps a Nightmare given incarnate form. This man did not seem to care for their welfare, as he was clearly testing their every weakness. As they marched upward, he would yell out at them, forcing them to give the correct response. Occassionaly, at his whim, he would beat them in various ways to test their resilience.

ARE YOU TIRED?!
No!!
ARE YOU TIRED?!
NO!!!
DO YOU WANT TO QUIT?!
No!!
DO YOU WANT TO GO HOME?!
No!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Fast!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Strong!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Deadly!!

A stick slammed into Papia's shoulder. She winced in pain, but did not cry out. Her arm went partially numb. Papia continued to climb.

A Gorilla-like being behind her received a cut to his thigh. He let loose a howl as blood started to pour out. Forced to limp, he was soon left behind.

A human woman that was twice Papia's size was punched in the face. She lost her balance and fell off the mountain side.

WHAT ARE YOU?!
Smart!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Patient!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Menacing!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Mighty!!
DO YOU FEEL PAIN?!
Yes!!
ARE YOU AFRAID OF PAIN?!
No!!
DO YOU LOVE PAIN?!
Yes!!
WHAT IS PAIN?!
My ALLY!!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU! WHAT IS PAIN?!
My ALLY!!

A Spider-like being received a kick right in his multiple eyes. His face hit the ground hard and then he rolled down the mountain trail.

A man with Bird-like Wings screamed out loud when one of his wings was set on fire. He continued to climb the mountain even with his wing burning. A strange smile was framed on his face.

WHAT ARE YOU?!
Unyielding!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Unstoppable!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Undefeatable!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Deadly!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Hard!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Hungry!!
WHAT ARE YOU?!
Uncomfortable!!

A Rock-like being ahead of Papia was shot twice with a Phaser. He continued to run.

ARE YOU BEATEN?!
No!!
WHO DECIDES IF YOU ARE BEATEN?!
I DO!!!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU! WHO DECIDES IF YOU ARE BEATEN?!
I DO!!!!!
ARE YOU EVER BEATEN?!
NO!!
DO YOU GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR NO REASON?!
No!!
ARE YOU EVER ALONE?!
No!!
WHO IS ALWAYS WITH YOU?!
My Brothers!!
ARE YOU PART OF A PACK?!
Yes!!

The mountain incline turned its steepest. The Rock-like being just couldn't hold himself together anymore. He crumbled down the mountain trail.

ARE YOU AFRAID TO DIE?!
No!!
DO YOU WELCOME DEATH?!
Yes!!
WHAT IS DEATH TO YOU?!
A Loved One!!
WHAT IS DEATH TO YOU?!
Family!!
WHAT IS DEATH TO YOU?!
An Honored Guest!!
DO YOU SEEK DEATH?!
Yes!!
WHAT MUST YOU DO TO DIE?!
Earn it!!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU! WHAT MUST YOU DO TO DIE?!
EARN IT!!!
WHAT MUST YOU DO TO DIE?!?!
EARN IT!!!!!

The top of the mountain was in sight. The man with Bird-wings stumbled, causing him to fall down. One of his wings was completely burnt off. Papia stopped, went back for him, and then helped to carry him to the finish.

The person leading the group watched intently.

Papia and the man with one wing crossed the finish line. They both dropped to the ground, exhausted beyond belief. The shadow of the man who had been driving them covered Papia, causing her to look upward.

The ten-foot Acryan with bronze skin and four eyes stared down at her. There was Pride in his eyes.

"Tired? Good. Ready to Die? Good. Unyielding despite All Odds? Good. You have given your ALL, Wolf Cubs. This was Necessary. Now, your Training begins, when you have Nothing to Offer and Everything to Gain."

He slammed his Energy Spear into the ground. Lightning crackled from its tip into the open air. Then he pulled both recruits to their feet. He stared fiercely into each of their eyes.

"My name is LEO."

"Welcome to the WOLF PACK."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Monday, January 29, 2018 - 02:22 pm: Edit

ALPHA
STARDATE 01.29.18
Link to previous Alpha memories

BBBLLLLAAAAMMMMMMMMM!!!

The enemy soldier's head exploded into fragments of jelly.

By all the Makers in Vitaria, this cutting edge Sniper Plasma Rifle is WONDERFUL! Now, hidden in this high tower, I can finally get revenge for all my fallen comrades. The Rifle is precise, deadly, and light. With my self-recharging Plasma Cells, the Rifle can fire continuously (with a slight delay) without ever having to worry about running out of ammunition.

Two more soldiers entered the road below. BBLLAAMMM!!! As the first soldier fell, the other soldier tried to run. BBBLLLAAAMMM!!! A dead shot in the back and the second soldier slumped to the ground.

Higaron smiled. He felt powerful and mighty. And why shouldn't he? In his hands, he possessed the power of Life over Death. Higaron was Judge, Jury, and Executioner. And he Loved it.

Vitaria had been at war with Yorin for 4 years now. Countless people had died on both sides. Entire cities have been devastated, some completely burnt to the ground. So many homes have been lost. And for what? Land. Resources. Power. Control. Money. Religion. Only the politicians knew for sure. Well, let them talk. I prefer the battlefield.

BBLLAAAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMM!! BBBLLAAAAMMM!!!!

Four more Yorin soldiers died in less than 10 seconds. A grin formed on Higaron's face. There was an excitement within him, like his heart generated electricity for his whole body to feel. Even his hair seemed to stand on end.

BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!!

Six more enemy soldiers lost their lives.

Higaron giggled slightly. He stared at the enemy uniforms still on the dead bodies below. Perhaps he would go down after the battle and claim one as a trophy? Surely, they would give him a parade when he returned to the homeland. Or at least another medal. After all, he had killed over a hundred enemy soldiers in this battle alone. Hundreds more if you count them all in total. Yes, the enemy feared Higaron's name. The one who could take their life at any moment hidden from a conceiled location. Higaron was proud of that reputation.

BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!! BBLLAMM!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAAMMMM!!! BLLLAAMM!!! BLAMMM!! BBBLLAMMM!!!

"Higaron, please take a look at yourself."

Higaron stopped firing. Was he going mad? He thought he heard a voice right beside him. The voice of his wife. Higaron slowly turned to look. There was his wife staring back at him.

"This...is not possible," Higaron whispered to himself.

"Higaron, watch what you are becoming," his wife pleaded. The expression on her face was desperate. "I want you to return to me as the man I fell in love with."

Higaron's confusion turned to anger. "Becoming? What are you talking about? I am doing this all for you. And for our child. If I don't fight this war, who will? Who will keep the enemy at bay, stop them from pillaging our towns, and killing our people? It is MY HAND that keeps you safe at night. Every time I pull this trigger, I stop the monsters from invading our homeland!"

"Just be sure you don't become a monster yourself, Father." Higaron's wife had transformed into his daughter, Leora. "I am so thankful for you keeping me safe by going to war. But my daddy doesn't take pleasure in killing. He used to tell me to value life, in whatever form it took. I guess that would apply to the Yorin Soldiers too, right?"

Higaron paused for a moment to think. He clearly remembered telling Leora that when he was home with her. Higaron started to note the differences between himself then and now.

Slowly, his daughter Leora transformed into himself. Higaron stared in amazement at himself. It was a perfect duplicate. The duplicate of Higaron slowly spoke to himself,

"Fighting for your loved ones is honorable. Sacrificing yourself, if necessary, is justifiable. Killing the enemy is legitimized. But you should never take pleasure in taking life. Don't let the good man that you are turn into something hideous. Something abominous. Once you go down that road, you can Never come back. It's not late. Remember who you Once Were. Before the War."

"But....I don't....I would never..." Higaron started to say defensively. Then he realized that his duplicate was telling him the truth.

Higaron started to weep. He suddenly felt sympathy, compassion, and pity for all the enemy soldiers he had killed. There were so many. So many...

And what about their families? They would never see them again. Thanks to him. It was all his fault. Higaron slumped against the wall and powered down his Sniper Plasma Rifle. Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed quietly.

Higaron's duplicate moved close to Higaron and put his hand on his shoulder for comfort. He looked into his weeping eyes and smiled.

Then Alpha took his natural form and ascended back into space.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Sunday, February 04, 2018 - 03:38 pm: Edit

THE VITRUVIAN MAN
EXPLORICON Y2245 - DAY 2
Link to previous Vitruvian Man entries

The Cafeteria on board the Vitruvian Man was bustling with activity. Their first successful Space Fold had the entire crew excited, hopeful, and inspired. This heightened state of being resulted in a highly predictable state: they became Hungry.

Elspeth O'Shannaig walked with a joyful, confident stride. Her bright red hair swayed back and forth with each step, attracting the attention of more than one crewman that was eating throughout the Cafeteria. She was young, attractive, and intelligent. The perfect combination for the Vitruvian Man's Dietitian.

Elspeth sat down with a smile at a table with four of her friends. She looked at each of them with her green eyes and then greeted them in an upbeat voice, "Guid mornin ta ye all! A luvly day in space, tisn't it?"

The large man from Kentucky barely looked up as he continued to eat his food. He managed to grunt before stuffing a large scoop of potatoes into his mouth. His chiseled face featured more than one scar. After swallowing his potatoes, the man grabbed a large barbecue rib with both hands and started to bite into it fiercely.

"Good morning," Aiyana Youngbear replied to Elspeth. Aiyana was the Vitruvian Man's Linguist. "Quaeso sit nobis et iungere," Aiyana said fluently. She smiled at everyone, speaking with an instructive tone. "That means, please sit and join us, in Latin." The native american translator was always eager to practice her many languages.

"Maika'i Kakahiaka," Kanuha Kahananui said while eating a strip of bacon. Elspeth quickly calculated in her mind the nutritional content of the piece of bacon, or lack thereof. "That means good morning in Hawaiian," Kanuha explained. "And I didn't even have to learn 50 languages to say it." Kanuha looked at Aiyana and grinned. "I'm just joking you know. Please don't take any offense, Ms. Youngbear." The Vitruvian Man's Psychoanalyst had a sense of humor. Or so he thought.

Vlada Rosu stared at Elspeth for a moment without speaking. She slowly sipped her tea. Then the Vitruvian Man's Microbiologist said in a cold voice, "Welcome, Elspeth. You seem to be a fine mood today. How is the crew's health?"

"Oh, wonderful, just wonderful," Elspeth responded, taking a bite out of a long piece of celery. She chomped on it loudly. "As long as everyone continues ta eat properly, that is." Elspeth flashed a look at Zayne, who was still busy devouring his barbecue rib. His hands were covered with barbecue sauce, almost like fresh blood.

"Nothing like fresh meat to keep a man healthy," Zayne Zandt commented as he slurped the barbecue sauce off a rib. The Vitruvian Man's Gunner was being slightly sarcastic. He knew what Elspeth was implying and he just didn't care. To Zayne, a soldier's diet should consist of meat and potatoes.

I'll get through to him eventually, Elspeth thought to herself. She ignored Zayne's reply.

"So..." Elspeth said, changing the subject quickly. "Now that we're officially in deep space, what do you guys think that we'll find?" Elspeth's plate contained, not only moderate portions, but also the perfect combination of proteins, carbohydrates, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. Elspeth drank her glass of milk while she waited for everyone's response.

"Some bad guys, I hope," Zayne Zandt stated. He wiped the barbecue sauce off of his hands. "Personally, I can't wait to try out the new Type-I Cannons. Sure, they're slow to turn and not that accurate, but they pack a whalop. I remember installing those bad boys myself. Can't wait to see them in action!"

"Well, we don't know that any aliens we meet will automatically be hostile," Aiyana commented. Various languages filtered through her mind as she spoke. "I hope we get to use some diplomacy out here. I would love to speak to any aliens we encounter. After all, it's my job to communicate with them, if possible."

"You might want to speak with them," Kanuha said while pushing his empty plate away from himself. "But it's not their alien language that interests me. It's their Mind. Imagine the psychological development of an alien that grew up on a different world. What type of parenting techniques did they employ? How many parents were involved in raising their young? It may not necessary be two. How was the child affected by their environment growing up? What was that alien child taught? What is the thought process of an adult alien?"

"Kanuha, you might want to put the alien on your couch," Zayne blurted out without regard. He wiped the barbecue sauce off of his mouth with a napkin. "But I just want to blow them up." Everyone at the table wasn't sure if the Gunner was joking or serious.

"If we do run inta some kinda alien," Elspeth added as she bit into a fresh apple. "I would love ta learn all about their nutritional habits. Ah mean, what do ya eat on an alien world, anyway? Can ya imagine the strange animals, fruits, an vegetables they must have on their planet?"

"All of you are assuming that any aliens we find will be humanoid," Vlada criticized with a monotone voice. She paused to allow time for her first statement to be absorbed. "But that is highly unlikely. It is much more probable that the alien will be some kind of microorganism. A parasite perhaps, a bacteria, or even a virus. Then all your hopes will be for nothing. The alien life form will now fall into my arena." The Microbiologist stared at everyone with her deep blue eyes, anticipating their responses. Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun on top of her head.

The table conversation paused for a moment as a group of strong, burly Marines passed by, each one carrying a tray full of food. Elspeth and Aiyana stared at them openly.

"Hmmm," Elspeth muttered in a low voice. "Now there's ah group o fellows that I Know eat properly." She smiled as she watched the Marines sit down at a table.

"Yes, I wonder what they eat," Aiyana stated with her eyes fixed on one particular, muscular Marine. "I mean....err...what I meant to say....was...I'm sure those Marines speak many different tongues....I mean....dialects!" Aiyana began to blush.

Vlada stared at Elspeth and Aiyana coldly without saying a word.

Captain Sherman entered the Cafeteria briefly and then left. Everyone stopped eating and quickly stood at attention. Then they sat down again when the Captain exited the Cafeteria.

"What do all o ya think ah the Captain?" Elspeth asked, as she watched Captain Sherman leave the Cafeteria. "What kinda man is he? All of our lives are in his hands."

Zayne decided to answer Elspeth's question. Perhaps because he thought he was best qualified to do so. "Captain Sherman has faced insurmountable odds in the past, and triumphed. He certainly has his fair share of scars. He never gives up. He gets the job done. And he values those who serve under him, even though he will sacrifice them in battle if it means saving others. He's not like those politicians, who talk and talk and talk. He tells it how it is. And he lets his actions speak for him. Sometimes the truth can be painful to hear. But that won't stop Captain Sherman from saying it. He's a man of integrity, honor, and strength. I'd follow him through the Gates of Hell itself."

Then Zayne looked directly at Elspeth. His facial expression indicated that he was dead serious about his next statement.

"And Captain Sherman knows how to enjoy a good, juicy Barbecue Rib."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 - 01:11 pm: Edit

ALPHA
STARDATE 02.20.18
Link to previous Alpha memories

The old man sat on a tree stump, staring at a beautiful, glittering pond of water. It was nighttime. A gentle breeze brought crisp, fresh air to the solitary location. No animals ran to and fro, or hid amongst the bushes, or glided through the air. Neither was their insects, crawling, creeping, or flying. The old man sat alone...ever alone.

Within the pond, singular lights floated here and there, like tiny bits of dust that glowed in the dark. There were thousands of them. Even hundreds and hundreds of thousands of them. Each one a galaxy of its own, floating free in the universe that is the pond. Sometimes one of the lights would fade out and begone. Other times, a new light would appear, shining bright to announce its arrival to the other lights. Some lights were full of life. Other lights lacked any life at all, but were still wonderful in their simple existence. The old man stirred the pond gently with a long stick. His eyes narrowed.

And what of the beings that existed within the lights containing life?

Is their existence any less meaningul because of their tiny, tiny size?

Do their lives hold any less value because of the sheer number of them?

What of the intense love they feel for each other, does it burn bright, so bright the entire pond can feel it?

If their lifetime is only a flicker of time compared to the life of the pond, does that make it worth any less?

And these lights that float in this giant pond, do they realize that they are all connected to each other, by the liquid nether they float in? Yes, they have been connected to each other since the Beginning, and they will be connected to each other until the End.

It's all perspective, isn't it? the old man thought to himself. Well, tiny living things need not concern themselves with viewpoints beyond their perception. Only my eyes can see such things.

The old man stopped stirring the pond with his wooden stick. He leaned over, gently picking up one of the glowing orbs with his thumb and index finger. With his celestial vision, the old man could see what was happening with each life within the orb. Not just their present, but their past and future as well. He smiled. There was a time when he lived such an existence.

The old man carefully placed the glowing speck of light back into the pond where it belonged.

Then the old man stood up, slowing walking away from the area with his robe flowing from the night breeze. He took a deep breath, savoring the moment, before continuing on his way.

And behind him, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of ponds, each one full of specks of light, glittered bright next to the pond that Alpha had been sitting near.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Sunday, February 25, 2018 - 07:28 am: Edit

WHITE WOLF - BEFORE THE FELLOWSHIP
STARDATE 02.25.18
Link to previous White Wolf entries


"HHHHIIIIIIIYYYYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

A karate chop to the back of the neck and the engineering crewman was out cold. Johnson stepped forward out of the shadows. He looked down at his unconscious victim. Don't worry, my friend. You won't have to answer for your incompetence when you wake. No one on this ship will be alive by then.

Quickly, Johnson moved from location to location throughout Engineering. In each place, he attached a circular disc with a blinking red light. This was his time, this was his moment. All the careful planning, all the pretense, it had led up to this fateful day. His plan had worked. Infiltrating the White Wolf was a simple task. They actually believed he was one of them. The Fools. Now, they were going to die for their trusting nature. They deserve nothing less, because in life, the weak must perish before the strong. Johnson smiled widely.

Johnson set the last bomb. Then he pulled out a square shaped trigger from his pocket. Johnson prepared to press the trigger. This is the end of my life. A necessary sacrifice. A glorious death. For the Empire.

Suddenly, Johnson felt the tip of an energy spear at his back. Simultaneously, a large bronze hand grabbed his arm by the wrist, preventing him from pushing the trigger. The grip of the bronze hand was like a vice. Johnson could not break free. Johnson glanced back to see who had immobilized him.

It was Leo. The ten foot Acryan stared back at Johnson with his four eyes, waiting for Johnson to make some other attempt at escape. Leo could kill Johnson at any moment by firing his energy spear directly through his back.

Two figures stepped out of the shadows in front of Johnson. The lead figure was Morduug, Science Officer/First Officer aboard the White Wolf, and behind him was Captain Ichaborn. Ichaborn stared at Johnson with red eyes filled with contempt.

"Did you really believe you could board our vessel without our knowledge?" Morduug asked while staring at Johnson with his blind white eyes. The Gazer was perfectly calm and relaxed. His voice was soothing, yet firm. Ichaborn silently listened. Morduug stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of Johnson. Leo held him firmly in place with one hand.

"You see, I don't perceive the world through my eyes like the rest of my companions. No, I sense everyone's thoughts, as well as their emotions. My telekinetic sonar informs me of everything in my surroundings. And my enhanced senses can detect changes in heartbeats, the slightest smell, or the softest sound. Even with your cosmetic surgery, your identity was an open book to me from the moment you first set foot on the White Wolf."

Johnson struggled to break free. "But....Why?!" he barked, saliva spitting out of his mouth. "Why let me stay aboard so long? Why wait to arrest me? If you have known all along, then why did you wait until I planted the bombs in Engineering??"

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer," Captain Ichaborn answered. He was a frail figure, with a skeleton of a body that was reliant on medication. "Your every move was being monitored. We wanted to learn everything about your motives. Now, we know your intent was to destroy the White Wolf by planting explosives in Engineering. How sad you must feel to know that your scheme ended in failure. Everything you have done has been in vain." Ichaborn coughed several times before regaining his composure.

"You haven't won!" Johnson cried out, still struggling to break free from Leo's tight grasp. "You will never defeat...the GREX!!!" Using his other hand, Johnson pulled out a tablet from his left pocket. He popped the tablet into his mouth with a smile. A second from now, he would be dead. These Commonwealth Scum won't get the pleasure of capturing me alive.

Then Johnson found that he could not breathe. Another large bronze hand had grasped him by the neck, preventing him from swallowing the suicide pill. Leo held the Grex Spy firmly in place with one hand on his throat and one hand on the wrist holding the trigger device. Johnson was caught like a fly in a spider web. Moments later, guards in red shirts pried the suicide tablet from Johnson's mouth and removed the bomb trigger from his hand. Leo thrust Johnson in front of Captain Ichaborn with both hands held tightly behind his back.

"No...no, death would be too easy for you," Captain Ichaborn declared, his red eyes staring directly into Johnson's eyes. "There is much we have to learn from a Grex Spy. Especially one who went to the great lengths of changing his outer appearance just to infiltrate the White Wolf. Yes...I'm afraid you will suffer terribly. And for a long, long period of time. You see, Leo here is quite skilled at interrogation. He has retrieved well-guarded information from the most stubborn and resilient of prisoners. Yes, your pain will be great, but you will NOT die. Not until you have told us everything we wish to know."

A look of despair formed on Johnson's face. He had been outplayed from the very beginning. And he had seriously underestimated the crew of the White Wolf. He believed that their noble moralities would prevent them from truly harming him.

He was Wrong.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 01:20 pm: Edit

PIRATE LORDS
Link to Pirate Lords

Pirate Lords is a new galaxy which focuses on Pirates. Every major empire in Pirate Lords will be a Pirate. Sometimes these Pirates cooperate with each other, sometimes they don't, sometimes they make deals with each other, sometimes they betray each other, sometimes they are at peace, and sometimes they are at war. If there is one overriding rule for all Pirates, it is to always do what is best for your own interests. Of course, interests change from time to time..

But what and who will these Pirates prey upon? There will be numerous minor empires in Pirate Lords that will serve as targets for the Pirate empires. None of these minor empires will be able to adequately deal with the constant Pirate threat, although they will take various measures to reduce the Piracy success rate. Towards the end of the timeline in the Pirate Lords, the minor empires will band together, forming a single, large empire which is more than a match for any single Pirate empire.

There are certain factors that I want to be present for the minor empires in Pirate Lords. They are:

1) Large quantities of valuables being shipped over vast regions of space.
2) Reduced navies for the minor empires.
3) Ineffective governments for the minor empires.
4) Numerous colonial attempts by the minor empires.

All of the above factors will contribute to the ongoing success of the Pirate empires.

Pirate Lords will be an interesting galaxy to work on, because there are many intriguing questions to be answered. Will the Pirate empires have any need for Dreadnoughts or Battleships? Will they utilize Fast Patrol Ships or Carriers? What technology will aid them in their endeavors? What limitations will these Pirate empires have? In what ways were the minor empires vulnerable to the Pirates? What measures did the minor empires take to try to stop the Pirate assaults? What factors caused loyal citizens of the minor empires to leave to become Pirates?

Pirate Lords will take a look at the Orion Pirates and how they operate in the Alpha Sector. However, I believe there is enough material in Pirate Lords to go in completely new directions. The background for Pirate Lords is much different than the circumstances surrounding the Orion Pirates, allowing for brand new takes on technology, ship design, weapons, operations, scenarios, fiction, and history.

Oh, and Pirates are always...Fun.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 01:22 pm: Edit

ECONOMICA
Link to Economica

Economica is a new galaxy whose primary focus is economic systems. There are no wars in Economica, except the occassional operational thrust to gain a political advantage. All ships designed for Economica will keep this in mind. There is always the threat of war, but never any actual war that takes place.

Each empire in Economica will represent a different type of economy. How these empires (economies) interact over time will determine the historical timeline of Economica. To achieve this, a study of economics is required. The following is only the beginning of that examination.

Three basic questions that all economic systems ask:
1) What to produce
2) How to produce
3) Who receives the production

Basic Types of Economic Systems:
1) Market Economy
2) Mixed Economy
3) Planned Economy
4) Traditional Economy
5) Participatory Economy
6) Gift Economy
7) Barter Economy
8) Post-Scarcity Economy

List of Economic Systems:
1) Autogestion
2) Capitalism
3) Communism
4) Distributism
5) Feudalism
6) Hydraulic Despotism
7) Inclusive Democracy
8) Mercantilism
9) Mutualism
10) Network Economy
11) Non-Property System
12) Fascist Socialization
13) Palace Economy
14) Participatory Economy
15) Potlatch
16) Progressive Utilization Theory
17) Proprietism
18) Social Credit
19) Socialism
20) Syndicalism

I don't pretend to know all the details of Economics. It is a vast subject. But I can research each area well enough to create the empires that will form the basis for Economica.

Why proceed with this research? Because Economica represents yet another variation that the Star Fleet Battles Engine can handle. When constant wars are not the focus, what will the SSD's look like? What technology will they employ? How will the empires interact with each other from the start of the timeline to the end? What scenarios can be created from a galaxy made up of different Economic Systems? Are tactics and strategy still vital to winning when playing SFB in Economica?

I believe Economica will be worth the time and effort. Time will tell if I am correct.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 01:25 pm: Edit

ALLIES V AXIS
Link to Allies V Axis

Allies V Axis is a new galaxy that is embroiled in all-out war. Here, the empires of Alpha and Omega started out together in one single galaxy. As a result, certain alliances were made over time. Later, a galaxy-wide war broke out, forcing every alliance to take a side. Ultimately, two sides emerged: the Allies and the Axis.

The most interesting thing to me about Allies V Axis is how the empires of Alpha and Omega interacted with each other. Sometimes, due to size, a smaller empire might come under the protection of a larger empire. Other times, an empire might be "acquired" by a larger empire, absorbing it in a way that still leaves the empire functionally independent. Some smaller empires might form treaties with each other in order to form a single "unified" empire. In some rare occasions, two equally powerful empires might form a treaty for their mutual benefit. There are many possibilities. Also, the assumption should not be made that the Alpha empires will always be larger than the Omega empires. Because this timeline is completely different than published works, there certainly will be Omega empires that "oversee" smaller Alpha empires.

As the galaxy-wide war reaches a fever pitch, what technologies will be developed and employed by the Allies and the Axis? In Allies V Axis, I want the progression of technology to be an ever-escalating one, with each side rushing to outdo the other, in order to gain a decisive technological advantage. That means that the SSD's for Allies v Axis will change much more rapidly than in other galaxies. The progression of technology should have an almost exponential curve. And what happens when something akin to an "atomic bomb" is developed? We will have to see.

The name of this galaxy, Allies V Axis, was chosen to distinguish it from a popular boardgame with a similar name. The title should be unique enough to avoid any confusion. And, of course, each empire in Allies V Axis will feature different names and backgrounds than the original Alpha and Omega Empires.

Lastly, one element in Allies V Axis is that the empires in the Alliance and the Axis share their technology with each other (to a limited degree). This will result in interesting SSD's, where each side (Allies/Axis) is clearly distinguished from each other by the technology utilized on each ship.