BABYLON Q2D DRONE SUPPORT CRUISER SSD
Link to the Babylon Q2D Drone Support Cruiser SSD
Link to Sector 50
Link to the Sector 50 Short Summary

(50R.2.0) BABYLON
(50R2.2) DRONE SUPPORT CRUISER (Q2D):

The Q2D Drone Support Cruiser was Babylon's first attempt at implementing Drone usage on a fleet wide scale. A Support Cruiser was designed, one which was smaller than the P3A Battlecruiser it would support. Armed with two Drone Racks, a single Q2D Drone Support Cruiser would typically escort one to two P3A Battlecruisers and provide long range missile support during fleet engagements. Alternatively, two Q2D Drone Support Cruisers would accompany four to five P3A Battlecruisers. Q2D Drone Support Cruisers were almost never left alone and unguarded.

DESIGNER NOTES:

The Q2D Drone Support Cruiser represents the missing half of the D7's conversion into Sector 50. Following the Design Paradigm and Intent behind Sector 50, the result was a smaller ship which carried Drones. However, this smaller ship was never meant to stand on its own in combat (or duels). Instead, the Q2D Drone Support Cruiser's primary function was to use its Drones to support larger starships, primarily the P3A Battlecruiser.

It goes without saying that the Q2D Drone Support Cruiser's deadliest attack is a deployed Scatterpack.

Giving the Q2D Drone Support Cruiser a 3/4 Move Cost was a difficult decision to make, as both it and the P3A Battlecruiser were Size Class 4. After some thought, it ultimately made sense to give the Q2D the 3/4 Move Cost given its smaller size. Still, at full speed, it falls two hexes short per turn than theP3A Batlecruiser, so the P3A will have to travel slightly slower to allow the Q2D Drone Support Cruiser to keep up.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Saturday, March 09, 2024 - 05:49 am: Edit

ROMAN HEAVY CRUISER SSD
Link to the Roman Heavy Cruiser SSD
Link to Sector 50
Link to the Sector 50 Short Summary

** UPLOADED THE ROMAN HEAVY CRUISER SSD TO STARFLEETBATTLESTHEGENESISPROJECT.COM FOR SECTOR 50. THIS SSD WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 2022 **

(50R3.0) THE ROMAN WAR MACHINE
(50R3.1) HEAVY CRUISER (CA):

The mainstay for the Roman War Machine. The Roman Heavy Cruiser was proficient in battle, possessing four offensive Wide Phasers and two defensive Wide Phasers, all of which could fire forward. Twin Tachyon Guns could also fire forward, but each could fire off to the side as well. Overall, the Roman Heavy Cruiser was well designed with sufficient power, an acceptable turn mode, laboratories for scientific investigation, two shuttles, and strong shields.

DESIGNER NOTES:

The Roman Heavy Cruiser is exactly Half of the Maesron Heavy Cruiser. Decisions had to made regarding its systems, particularly its Tachyon Missiles and Warp Engines (due to Omega CA's starting off with less than 30 Warp).

Interestingly, the Roman Heavy Cruiser is one of the most powerful starships thus far in Sector 50, mainly due to its ability to focus all of its (Wide) Phasers and Tachyon Guns to the bow of the vessel. The Roman Heavy Cruiser can potentially generate an Alpha Strike greater than any other Sector 50 Heavy Cruiser (so far).

In accordance with the Sector 50 Design Paradigm, Omega Weaponry/Devices will not be revised, even if I feel that they are unbalanced in some way. In Sector 50, they will be used exactly as published.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Wednesday, April 03, 2024 - 06:49 am: Edit

WOLF CUB
STARDATE 04.03.24
THE GOLDEN AGE
Link to previous Wolf Cub entries

"Look Father and Mother! I did it!! Look! Look!"

Young Ichaborn ran about, play fighting as he jumped and dodged through the air. He was but ten years old. In his hands, he held a sword made of pure flame. The Runes on his back were glowing bright.

His father, Icharioch, and his mother, Cymra, stood nearby smiling as they watched their son. The three of them were on a giant rock that floated high in the air. This was but one of many rocks that floated in the skies of Melnia. It appeared as though the top of the giant rock had mysteriously been cut off, leaving behind a leveled plane perfect for standing on.

"Well done, my son," Icharioch said as he stepped toward Ichaborn. Icharioch was a tall, thin man with a serious demeanor. "I am proud of you. You have learned to access your Runes at an early age. But there is much more for you learn and master. Observe."

Icharioch's own Runes began to glow brightly all over his body. He reached out with one open hand toward the empty air surrounding the floating rock. A flame appeared, small at first, but one which rapidly grew in size. Soon, flames raced around the giant rock like a whirlwind. It was beautiful sight, for the flames danced about with a life of their own, growing and shrinking in size as they desired while they flew about. Ichaborn stood motionless, holding his flaming sword in one hand, fascinated by the strips of fire that his father summoned and commanded.

Icharioch closed his open hand into a fist. As he did so, the whirling flames gathered in front of him, forming a huge being made of fire. The fire creature moved as Icharioch willed and commanded. Ichaborn ran to stand in front of the fire elemental just as his father bade it to dissipate into nothing.

Icharioch knelt before Ichaborn. "And that's not all the Sacred Flame is capable of, my son. Behold!"

Icharioch picked up a small rock that lay on the ground near Ichaborn's feet. He closed his eyes and a fire engulfed the rock. Ichaborn watched his father with wonder and amazement. Slowly, the rock transformed into a figurine of a horse. Icharioch handed the statue to his son for him to hold. As he did, he whispered in his son's ear,

"There is nothing the Sacred Flame is not capable of, Ichaborn. Remember that. It is the Sacred Flame that gives us life and it can restore that which has lost its life."

Ichaborn gazed at his mother, who met his stare. Cymra was an albino like himself with long red hair and blood red eyes. She was beautiful.

Ichaborn's childhood memories faded away and he found himself back in the present. His hands were chained to a large stone. He was in a large, underground arena filled with the cheering inhabitants of the settlement known as Domso. Looming above him stood a muscular figure holding a butcher knife. Two guards held Ichaborn down, one to his right and one to his left. Arutha, the town Elder, watched from afar with a wicked grin on her face.

"Are you ready to have your tongue cut out of your mouth, you who led a group of strangers into Domso, like lambs to the slaughter?" the muscular man said in a deep voice as he waved his butcher knife in front of Ichaborn menacingly. The crowd cheered loudly from the seats lining the outer edges of the arena. They couldn't wait for Ichaborn's screams to turn into an amputated gurgle.

Remembering his father, Ichaborn closed his eyes. The Runes on his back began to glow brightly. The chains binding him melted away, burned by the Sacred Flame. Fire erupted all around Ichaborn like hot springs coming out of the earth, forcing the muscular man and the two guards backward. As Ichaborn stood up, the flames coalesced into a long flaming sword which he grasped in his right hand.

The albino Captain stared with his blood red eyes at the two guards, the muscular man, Arutha, and all the people watching in the Arena.

"YOU WHO PRACTICE EVIL AND LAWLESSNESS...YOUR END IS NIGH."

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Sunday, April 07, 2024 - 12:50 am: Edit

THE 2ND OMEGA PROJECT (OP2)
DESIGNER NOTES
Link to the 2nd Omega Project

The Omega Project (from which the Genesis Project gets its name) was the name given by Agents of Gaming (Bruce Graw) to the Playtest Region (which lasted for years) that would later become the officially published Omega Sector. The 2nd Omega Project (otherwise known as OP2) is a Second Playtest Region that utilizes the Omega Design Paradigm (Varied Phasers, Varied Heavy Weapons, Varied Range Brackets, Varied Overload Ranges, Slower Ships to Start, Simpler Ships for Quicker Learning, Less Drones/Fighters to Speed Up Gameplay) while incorporating Omega Phasers and Tachyon Missiles (and possibly other Omega Tech like the Short Range Cannon). There will be a multitude of New Weapons/Devices introduced for the 2nd Omega Project. The Base 2nd Omega Project Heavy Cruiser (there will be variations of course) will feature 26 Warp, 4 Impulse, 2 APR, 4 Batteries, 30 Shield#1, 6 Omega PH-1's, 4 Omega PH-3's, 4 Heavy Weapons, and 1-2 Secondary Heavy Weapons or Devices. Obviously, the 2nd Omega Project will not ultimately lead to the Omega Sector (since that galaxy is said and done), so a New Name will have to be given to the Region of Space which will house the Finalized 2nd Omega Project Empires so that it is clearly distinguished from the Omega Sector. It is fairly certain that the Playtesting of the 2nd Omega Project will go on for years, if not the rest of a lifetime.

BACKSTORY: During the Wormhole Wars, a strange one-of-a-kind wormhole randomly appeared and disappeared intermittently throughout the Omega Sector. Later dubbed the Well, this unusual Wormhole (which was never documented in either Alpha or Omega Records) would draw starships into it, forever trapping them within, and crushing them as they descended to the "bottom" of the Well. Centuries passed and the Well changed in composition and structure, allowing an adjacent Region of Space to access the Well (with great difficulty). Within, the Young Empires of this New Region of Space discovered Omega Phasers and a few other pieces of Omega Technology. Over the years, they were able to successfully reverse-engineer these technologies and incorporate them into their starship designs. Little did these Young Empires realize that they would follow in the footsteps of the original possessors of these technologies...engaging in constant wars with neighbors, expanding and shrinking their borders, competing in an ever-increasing arms race, and uniting to repel an invasion by a technologically superior foreign empire bent on domination and destruction.

CURRENT 2ND OMEGA PROJECT SSDs:
1) ELDER HEAVY CRUISER (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)
2) FEY ADULT BUTTERFLY (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)
3) WYRM LARGE PREDATOR (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)
4) IMMORTAL HEAVY CRUISER (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)
5) SAGE CITADEL (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)
6) SHADOW NIGHTMARE CRUISER (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)
7) UNDYING ZOMBIE CRUISER (IN CONCEPT DESIGN STAGE)

TASKS TO COMPLETE FOR THE 2ND OMEGA PROJECT:
1) CREATE SSD'S FOR STARTING EMPIRES (HIGH PRIORITY)
2) PLAYTEST FIRST SSD's VERSUS ONE ANOTHER (HIGH PRIORITY)
3) PLAYTEST FIRST SSD's VERSUS ORIGINAL OMEGA SECTOR EMPIRES (MEDIUM PRIORITY)
4) CREATE MAP FOR 2ND OMEGA PROJECT (LOW PRIORITY)
5) CREATE TIMELINE FOR 2ND OMEGA PROJECT (LOW PRIORITY)
6) WRITE FICTION FOR 2ND OMEGA PROJECT (LOW PRIORITY)

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, April 12, 2024 - 04:07 am: Edit

THE EVO-HABITAT
DESIGNER NOTES
Link to the Evo-Habitat

Ecosys-01 was created in 2016 on my first website. Ecosys-001 was devoid of starships, empires, and intelligent humanoid species. Instead, Ecosys-001 featured a completely natural environment full of alien creatures (of varying intelligence), alien flora, formations, and resources. The concept was whether the Star Fleet Battles Engine could be used to describe an environment full of natural animals (driven by their basic needs, instincts, and behavior) with scenarios tailored to depict the interaction between these animals and their surroundings.

Two years later, in 2018, New World was created on my second website. New World was similar to Ecosys-01, but incorporated intelligent humanoid species who coexisted peacefully with the animals and environment around them. These intelligent humanoid species did not develop starships full of armaments focused on combat. Rather, while their vessels had limited means of defense, all of their heavy weapons/devices were geared toward non-combat functions. In the New World, all of the intelligent humanoid species were themed after Native American Tribes. The only SSD ever created for the New World was the Navajo Heavy Cruiser.

The Evo-Habitat is a synthesis of Ecosys-01 and the New World. The Evo-Habitat is a living environment teeming with creatures, flora, growths, and manifestations. The empires within the Evo-Habitat seek to coexist with the environment, possess limited weaponry, and their heavy weapons/devices were created for non-combat functions. New Rules will have to be developed for the creatures of the Evo-Habitat, specifically to govern Fear, Morale, Health, Intelligence, Behavior, Hunger, Mating, and Pain.

There are currently no SSD's for the Evo-Habitat. The Navajo Heavy Cruiser SSD will have to be completely reworked and will most likely contain very little of its original form.

There is currently no Fiction for the Evo-Habitat, but there will be in the future.

TASKS TO COMPLETE FOR THE EVO-HABITAT:

1) CREATE SSD'S FOR THE FIRST EMPIRES OF THE EVO-HABITAT (HIGH PRIORITY)
2) DESIGN THE FIRST CREATURES/FLORA OF THE EVO-HABITAT (HIGH PRIORITY)
3) CREATE NEW RULES FOR THE LIVING CREATURES OF THE EVO-HABITAT (HIGH PRIORITY)

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Monday, April 15, 2024 - 02:17 am: Edit

STARDUEL
DESIGNER NOTES
Link to Starduel

Starduel is inspired by an old game from the early days. What I thought would be a relatively simple and easy New Galaxy to create turned out to more difficult and complex than I previously thought.

Starduel imagines a dystopian galaxy where there are no empires, no governments, and no unified organization watching over everything. Captains and their (skeleton) crew have to fend for themselves...scavenging for resources and parts, trading, fulfilling odd jobs, investigating rumors, exploring uncharted territories, and defending themselves against others in the same position. Way Stations (abandoned Base Stations and very rarely abandoned Starbases) provide temporary relief in-between destinations and also serve as a place where Starduels (a deadly competition between combatants with rewards for those who are victorious) are regularly conducted.

The Goals for Starduel are:

1) A Ship Construction System unlike any other previously created. Instead of using BPV, the Ship Construction System will use Construction Credits (CC's).
2) Personalized Starships so that each starship is unique as opposed to every starship of a given class being identical.
3) Constant Improvements and Upgrades to Personalized Starships via Construction Credits gained through Starduels and Scenarios (odd jobs, investigation, exploration, etc.)
4) Tactics implemented during Starduels and Scenario Combat.
5) Balance maintained via Construction Credits and the Ship Construction System

Although there are no empires, governments, or a single, unified organization in Starduel, there are Factions and Powerful Individuals with a lot of influence. it is these Factions and Powerful Individuals that drive the Scenarios in Starduel.

The Galaxy that is Starduel is one that used to have many empires, fleets, and governments. They have all crumbled and decayed over the centuries. The remnants of all these things still influence what is modern day Starduel.

Starduels will typically contain some sort of "artificial obstacles, barriers, or terrain" to challenge the competitors even more. This must make sense in terms of the scale of open space.

The Orions, Repair Chart, and Partial X-Refits point the way and provide inspiration for Starduel's Ship Construction System. They are too limited to use as is, but it is the ideas behind them that are essential.

BPV has such a specific meaning in Star Fleet Battles and it is attached to so many things that the best thing to do is to discard its use in Starduel and come up with my own unit of measurement. This became Construction Credits.

The Ship Construction System starts with a Base Hull which can accommodate a certain number of Systems and Shields. The Base Hulls will range from Frigates to Heavy Cruisers (anything larger should be reserved for special scenarios only). Note that while improvements can be made to the existing Base Hull you are using, it is also common to upgrade your vessel to another Base Hull entirely.

The issues with Starduel begin with Balance. Players will obviously want the most powerful weapons on their ships. So there needs to be restrictions based on type and quantity. For example, a Plasma-R might be super rare (and difficult to obtain) while Drones might be commonplace. Firing Arcs, Shields, Systems, Command Boxes, Shuttles, Repair, and more can be upgraded and changed using the Ship Construction System. The key to Balance is Limitation.

Interestingly, all this thought leads back to the Alpha Sector. It explains why things are the way they are, why you cannot do certain things, why starships are designed a certain way, and why each empire has technology that only they can use. While Starduel is a different entity altogether, the reasoning shines a spotlight on the Alpha Sector and its origins.

There is room to make Omega and Magellanic Tech available in the future, after the Base Ship Construction System has had all of its wrinkles ironed out. But it will take a careful, discerning eye, because much of it could be Unbalancing.

So how to make a single Starduel between two ships Balanced? Construction Credits should be equal, of course. But what if one ship has slightly more Construction Credits (from a recent victory, for example) than the opposing starship? The Alpha Sector has Commanders Options, but will Starduel implement something similar? Is there a different, better, or simpler way to achieve Balance? And even if the Construction Credits are the same, are the two starships truly "equal?"

One of the driving questions behind Starduel is: How can I personalize my starship to make it different from existing starships of the same class? This requires Customization and Upgrades (not a generalized all-encompassing Refit). Unique, personalized Starships is part of the essence of Starduel.

I also want a way for the crew to improve as they achieve more and more success, but I don't want to go the route of Legendary Crews from the Alpha Sector. Instead, I imagine something much more incremental with different advancement paths and abilities.

As you can see, Starduel requires a lot more thought, effort, and design. Once I finalize the First Draft of the Starship Construction System, some base ships can be constructed. Then two base ships of equal Construction Credits can be flown againt each other to verify they are Balanced. After that, Improvements can be made to some of the base ships and then tested again, to see if the battle is still Balanced even with the additional Construction Credits. Once all that is done, Scenarios, Factions, and Powerful Individuals can be detailed, along with some of the most popular Way Stations. The Base Starship Construction System can be greatly expanded to include many more things. A long road, but one that I think will be worth it in the end.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - 05:05 am: Edit

ELMO
STARDATE 04.17.24
EVO-HABITAT
Link to previous Elmo entries

Elmo slowly navigated through the many space reefs full of corals, space kelp, cosmic algae, and star anemone that populated the Evo-Habitat. To his right, a school of deep space dwelling arrowfish swam together in unison like a cloud. To his left, phosphorescent star jellies floated in space as if suspended on strings like a marionette. Elmo was one of the Cuttleven, no longer a baby, but young for an adult. A thin fin encircled the entire mantle of his body, vibrating up and down like waves in the ocean to propel him forward.

As Elmo closed in on his favorite asteroid, he playfully swam with the many types of multi-colored space fish around him. He laughed to himself and tried to use his inborn telepathy to communicate with them.
<hello?>
<where are you going?>
<where are you from?>
<what is your name?>
But the space fish never answered him. Either they were not intelligent enough or they did not possess telepathy to respond.

On the asteroid, Elmo drifted through the green and blue star anemone searching for a modest-sized cosmic crustacean. It wasn't long before Elmo found one. Each of the eight short tentacles that sprouted from the front of Elmo's face projected short-range beams of light, driving the crustacean into an area where it had its back to a wall.

In the next instant, Elmo's body began glowing with spectacular bio-luminescent energy. His light flashed with rolling waves of intense illumination, mesmerizing the crustacean until it was frozen in place. Suddenly, a long appendage shot out of Elmo's mouth, snagging the hypnotized crustacean and drawing it quickly into Elmo's mouth. Plasma toxin penetrated the crustacean's shell, rendering it completely helpless for consumption. Delighted, Elmo floated backward with his delicious prize.

But in his zeal, Elmo grew careless. He accidentally bumped into a deadly anemone that released an electric shock through its tentacles. In his mind, Elmo cried out as pain as the electricity caused his body to jerk and spasm. Fortunately, Elmo didn't let go of the crustacean that was to be his next meal.

While recomposing himself, Elmo stared straight ahead at a dark hole that led into the center of the asteroid. His mother warned him never to enter the cave and he had always listened. But Elmo always wondered what was inside. Perhaps whatever danger that had frightened his mother was no longer there? Curious, Elmo slowly floated closer and closer to the cave, trying to see if he could spot anything with his unusual w-shaped eyes.

Little did Elmo know that two eyes had been watching him like a hawk from within the darkness.

THE MONSTER LURCHED OUT OF THE CAVE LIKE LIGHTNING, INTENT ON ENDING ELMO'S LIFE IN ONE SWIFT MOTION.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, April 19, 2024 - 04:22 am: Edit

THE ASTRAL SEA
DESIGNER NOTES
Link to the Astral Sea

Back in 2016, on my first website, I created the Seven Seas Galaxy. In order to travel across the Seven Seas, the starships of the galaxy used Solar Sails to collect and harness the power of Solar Winds. The rules for this unique type of movement was worked out in detail at this time.

However, I realized that Solar Sails and Solar Winds would be far too slow for movement on a Star Fleet Battles scale. So Solar Sails and Solar Winds became Warp Sails and Warp Winds. Later, because my rules called for the Winds to shift during a battle, it was pointed out that Warp Winds would not change direction so quickly (given the definition of an impulse and a turn). I sighed and changed the Warp Sails and Warp Winds to Ion Sails and Ion Winds. The energy collected by the Ion (not the same as Vudar Ion) Sails would be converted into Warp Energy. This never sat well with me and nothing much was done to advance the Seven Seas Galaxy from that point.

To me, this was all Technobabble whose arguments could go on forever and ever. We are talking about a fictional technology which is loosely based on real world concepts (much like Warp Drive itself). I don't really care much for the explanations about why the supposed technology works, but rather am completely focused on the functionality of it on the tabletop in Star Fleet Battles.

My Goals were:

1) To ensure that, no matter what form the "Winds" took, Tactics were paramount in battles
2) To make battles with "Sails" and "Winds" different from standard Star Fleet Battles Warp Generation and Movement. This could take the form of simply a general feeling while playing or it could be strictly defined mechanics (or both).
3) In order to not give one side of the battle an unfair advantage, the "Winds" cannot remain fixed in one direction during an entire battle. The "Winds" must change direction. My solution was for this change was for the change to be random, as that was the only way to make it fair to all sides of the battle (no one can say there was a bias one way or another).
4) Movement with the "Sails" must be somewhat similar to standard Star Fleet Battles Warp Movement. For the sake of playability and fun, it cannot be just one hex per turn. I don't care what Technobabble is argued, Gameplay Functionality must take precedence. However, movement with "Sails" could, in general, be significantly slower than standard Star Fleet Battles movement.
5) Turn Modes must be dictated by the Direction of the "Winds".
6) To make sure that the finalized "Sails" and "Winds" Rules would be compatible with regular Warp Powered starships. While not recommended, it someone wanted to play a battle with a "normal" starship and "Sailing" starships, they could do that. This would also allow Scenarios to be written that could include "regular" starships.

For some time now, I have had the concept of Astral Space in mind. This would be a New Galaxy where the ethers of space were all connected by some strange type of Astral Substance. What is the point of this? Movement, and therefore Tactics, would function differently for starships in Astral Space. It was only recently that my mind made the connection between Astral Space and "Sailing" starships. Astral Space became the Astral Sea, Solar/Warp/Ion Sails became Astral Sails, and Solar/Warp/Ion Winds became Astral Winds. Like a jigsaw puzzle, the two pieces fit together perfectly.

The species of the empires that exist in the Astral Sea will be fantasy themed.

The weapons used by the empires of the Astral Sea will be medieval themed.

It should be noted that the Astral Sea is quite different than the Line of Battle Galaxy, whose Design Paradigm calls for Long Range Weaponry.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, July 26, 2024 - 05:55 am: Edit

The current flagship website for the Genesis Galaxies:

Genesis Galaxies Universe

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, July 26, 2024 - 05:59 am: Edit

KINDLING
STARDATE 07.26.24
OMEGA REGENESIS
Link to previous Kindling entries

Is a child responsible for the sins of his parents? Can past transgressions be atoned for? Is it possible for age old wounds to finally heal? Is there true forgiveness for terrible wrongs?

Captain Hafnyr had to believe so. He had to have faith that what he was doing was right. He had to know in his heart that he was correcting something that had gone terribly wrong.

Captain Hafnyr watched through the view port in his Ready Room as the enormous beam of glowing energy from the Subspace Regenerator continued its task. It was working, however slowly. The Subspace Chasm in this region of space that prevented starships from crossing was steadily being repaired.

Captain Hafnyr looked at the plant like appendage that was his arm. There were black coal like manifestations that were growing larger and larger. You see, the Scions of Scon were designed by their parents to genetically evolve over the course of their extremely long lifespan. So, like the Subspace Chasm before the Kindling, reality was changing whether you liked it or not.

Captain Hafnyr would see his objective completed or he would die trying. He owed his parents that much. Every Subspace Chasm and Fissure in this Sector would be healed and made crossable once again. He was driven by this monumental task so much so that it occupied his thoughts day and night.

And then there was the Spectre. The ethereal ghost like entity that haunted his dreams. The wraith that whispered to Captain Hafnyr, urging him on, telling him of the future, reminding him of his importance in the grand scheme of things. Shrouded in a black, flowing robe, the Spectre's skeletal arms and hands were pure white, like the color of bone bleached of all imperfections. But it was the Spectre's eyes that disturbed Captain Hafnyr the most, the ones that captured his gaze, making him a prisoner so that he could not turn away...

THE EYES THAT WERE BLOOD RED.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Saturday, July 27, 2024 - 07:25 am: Edit

Uploaded Designer Notes for the Astral Sea, Starduel, the Evo-Habitat, and the 2nd Omega Project to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Sunday, July 28, 2024 - 02:15 am: Edit

Uploaded Short Summaries for Z-Technology/High Guard/Intergalactic Assemblage of Systems, the Proto Sector, Sector 50, and Mitosis/Meiosis to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Monday, July 29, 2024 - 01:39 am: Edit

Uploaded Short Summaries for V-Technology/Young Kingdoms, the Burnside Territories, and King Alpha/Queen Omega to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 - 05:13 am: Edit

Uploaded the ZR1.1 High Guard Heavy Cruiser (CZ) SSD to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 05:52 am: Edit

Uploaded Designer Notes for the Mitrax Galaxy, the Core Worlds, the Hourglass Domain, and the Hidden Enclave to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Thursday, August 01, 2024 - 06:47 pm: Edit

Uploaded the YKR1.1 Atlantean Light Cruiser (CL) SSD and the YKR2.1 Hyperborean Light Cruiser (CL) SSD which use V-Technology in the Young Kingdoms to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Thursday, August 01, 2024 - 07:11 pm: Edit

Fixed the Weapon/Device Abbreviations on the Atlantean Light Cruiser SSD so it is clear that the V-Technology is Atlantean-specific and not general V-Technology usable by all. Updated the website title on both SSD's. Corrected a typo in the Atlantean CL R-Section.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, August 02, 2024 - 12:47 am: Edit

KINDLING
STARDATE 08.02.24
OMEGA REGENESIS
Link to the previous Kindling entries

Captain Hafnyr entered the large, engineering room which housed the Subspace Regenerator on the Modular Pallet attached to the rear end of the Kindling. The Captain of the Kindling was a short being, standing only four feet tall. To everyone, he appeared to be a humanoid plant, complete with a stem for a body, branches and stalks for arms and legs, and an assortment of leaves growing outward. But to those intimately familiar with the physiology of the Scions of Scon, they knew his body was under a constant, extremely slow, process of evolution. Captain Hafnyr immediately saw the two beings who summoned him to this section of the ship. His First Officer and Chief Engineer were examining a panel on the lower level of the Subspace Regenerator. The Subspace Regenerator was a massive device which stood three levels high. They both quickly turned to face the Captain and came to attention.

"What is it, Grimm?" Captain Hafnyr asked his Chief Engineer.

Grimm was an unusual being who possessed the ability to shapeshift into many different things. His form was amorphous. At the moment, he looked a black blob of rubber with tire tracks running all over his body. Grimm typically moved in a slow, steady fashion, unless there was some sort of emergency.

"I had to shut down the Subspace Regenerator," Grimm answered in a deep voice. "It was overheating and will require at least three days to cool down. We've been running it day and night non-stop. We're also going to need more Durasythe, Thermoporium, and Substance-869."

After replying to the Captain, Grimm reached over and tore a chunk of rock from a nearby wall and consumed it with his body.

Captain Hafnyr shifted his gaze from his Chief Engineer to his First Officer, expecting her to continue the conversation. She was a tall, frail, humanoid bat, pure white in color save for various parts of her body that melted into pink. When she spoke, it was in a soft, confident voice which was soothing to hear.

"There are three planets close by, Captain, where we can collect the resources we require," Vesper advised. "The first and second planet can be reached within two days, while the third planet is four days away due to its distance. This should give the Subspace Regenerator sufficent time to cool down while we collect the necessary resources to keep it powered."

Captain Hafnyr nodded in approval. But he knew his First Officer well. There was something else bothering Vesper. "Very good. We will proceed to the planets at maximum warp, collect the resources we need, and then resume repairing the Subspace Chasm in this region of space. But I sense you have something more to add...?"

Vesper's look turned serious and grave. "Yes, Captain. A ship has detected us. It entered this area through one of the Subspace Rifts created by the Subspace Ragnarok. We have identified the vessel, Captain. It is one of the Ramoreen. They are on an intercept course."

Captain Hafnyr went quiet. This complicated matters. "Time to intercept?"

"THIRTY THREE MINUTES."

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, August 02, 2024 - 07:41 pm: Edit

THE STORM CLOUD
DESIGNER NOTES
Link to the Storm Cloud

The Storm Cloud is an idea for a New Galaxy that I had which is very much still in the Concept Design Stage. It has a lot of potential, but must be developed and tested properly.

The Storm Cloud is an intense area of space which is hostile and dangerous to "standard starships." Within the Storm Cloud, "standard starships" cannot use Fire Control, Shields, Warp Drive, Phasers, achieve a Lock On, and their Heavy Weapons/Devices will not function. They cannot even "see" one hex in front of them. Lethal "Lightning" repeatedly shoots down from the dark, ominous Storm Cloud, sometimes splitting a starship in two with a single hit. Heavy "Winds" can move a starship an entire hex. The deadly Storm Cloud also features many other miscellaneous environmental hazards which are perilous for a starship. Vicious Creatures call the Storm Cloud home and eagerly attack any helpless starship that drifts close to its lair.

Despite all of this, there are planets full of strange species that are native to the Storm Cloud. These species have found other unique, creative, and inventive ways to travel through the Storm Cloud. Key to their "starships" is a special generator which can harness and store the "Lightning" from the Storm Cloud. This generator also powers their weapons and defenses which will work (to a limited degree) within the Storm Cloud. They have found ways to pierce the thick darkness of the Storm Cloud that prevents visibility, allowing them to "see" 3-5 hexes in front of them. They can achieve a Lock-On within this limited area of visibility. They have also found ways to resist and harness the turbulent "Winds" of the Storm Cloud. Their "starships" can move about within the Storm Cloud, but only a limited number of hexes per turn.

To simulate the limited visibility within the Storm Cloud, a variation of the (G13.61) Advanced Cloaking Hidden Movement rules or the (OG13.42) Dimensional Phasing Treatment of a Phased-Out Ship rules will be used. This will include removing all players' counters from the board unless they are within the "limited scope of visibility" of enemy vessels. All movement within the Storm Cloud will have to be Plotted Movement (which my group greatly dislikes) with detailed notes and tracking. This will turn off some players, but it is necessary to properly simulate the Storm Cloud.

Some of the species within the Storm Cloud have found ways to "ride" the deadly creatures which make their home within the Storm Cloud. These species will end up with "ships" similar to the Alunda and Branthodon, but tailored to fit the Storm Cloud and its unique starships.

To provide yet another adversary for the residents of the Storm Cloud, there will be empires which exist external to the Storm Cloud. These empires use "standard" starships. Each of them will greatly seek and prize a rare, coveted resource only found within the Storm Cloud. This prompts each of the empires to repeatedly send "regular" starships into the Storm Cloud to collect the resource. Some of these "regular" starships even have special modifications which help them to survive a bit longer within the Storm Cloud.

It is essential to maintain the correct goal when developing the Storm Cloud. The intent is to create a unique environment for Star Fleet Battles where strange, odd starships engage in combat where unorthodox Tactics and Strategies are necessary to be victorious. In other words, even with the Limited Visibility Rules and the Removal of Counters from the Map, along with all the other unique combat rules pertaining to the Storm Cloud, it must be necessary to properly implement Tactics in order to win. Starships should not close until they can "see" each other and then "close and hose" until one of them is destroyed. In fact, tactics in the Storm Cloud should be opposite to this, because of the difficulty and cost in constructing and maintaining starships that can actually exist within the Storm Cloud.

As previously stated, the Storm Cloud has a lot of potential to provide a unique Star Fleet Battles playing experience, but it must be developed slowly, properly and thoroughly playtested along the way.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Sunday, August 04, 2024 - 05:39 am: Edit

THE FINAL FRONTIER
DESIGNER NOTES
Link to the Final Frontier

The Final Frontier is a large, new galaxy filled with many new empires. For the empires of the Final Frontier, much inspiration will be taken from the designs of Donald Miller and Jackie Stephens. Both Donald Miller and Jackie Stephens each produced thousands of SSD's. In my opinion, they lacked balance, but their ideas were rich in creativity and imagination. I believe it is possible to extract specific material, make sure it is balanced, and then incorporate it into the new empires of the Final Frontier.

The empires of the Final Frontier will also utilize Garth Getgen's Chaff Pack. Note that this Chaff Pack is for Starships and should not be confused with (D11.0) Chaff for Fighters.

As an example, we will look at the Photon Cannon designed by Jackie Stephens.

RANGE......0-1..2-4..5-8..9-15..16-22..23-30..31-40
HIT STD....1-5..1-4..1-4..1-3.....1-2......1-2......1
HIT OVLD..1-6..1-5..1-4..NA......NA.......NA.....NA
DMG STD....8.....8....8......4.......4........2........2
DMG OVLD..16...12...12...NA.....NA.....NA......NA

The Photon Cannon is armed in Standard with 2+2 and Overload with 2+4. Standard can be Held for 1 per turn and Overload cannot be Held. There is No Feedback for Overload at 0-1.

In my view, this is a well balanced weapon with a mixture of Photon Torpedo and Disruptor Bolt properties. The arming properties conform to the 1:2 energy:damage ratio. However while Standard Damage at Ranges 0-8 matches the Ratio, Standard Damage falls below the Ratio at Ranges 9-40. Conversely, while Overload Damage matches the Ratio at Ranges 2-8, Overload Damage exceeds the Ratio at Ranges 0-1. The Photon Cannon overall is a more accurate weapon than the Photon Torpedo which is reminiscent of the accuracy of the Disruptor Bolt.

The Photon Cannon will be employed by the Vanguard, the Federation-like empire in the Final Frontier. They will also utilize Garth Getgen's Chaff Pack.

In general, I would like the Final Frontier to be as balanced as possible. This means that I will probably default to the PH-1 as the most common Phaser employed in the Final Frontier. Heavy Cruisers will follow the mold of 30 Shield #1, 30 Warp, 2 APR, 4 Impulse, 4 Shuttles, 6 PH-1's, 4 Heavy Weapons. and 4 Batteries.

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Tuesday, August 06, 2024 - 03:30 am: Edit

KINDLING
STARDATE 08.06.24
OMEGA REGENESIS
Link to previous Kindling entries

Captain Hafnyr stood with Vesper, his First Officer, and Husk, his Tactical Officer in the Tactical Chamber aboard the Kindling. Each of them was staring at a holographic simulation of the upcoming battle. They all knew there wasn't much time to have this conversation.

"The Ramoreen are an aggressive and belligerent species," Vesper stated rapidly, even though everyone present was familiar with this information. Her white, bat wings enveloped her whole body like a cloak on a wintery day. "They enter our space through one of the Subspace Rifts created long ago by the Subspace Ragnarok. The Ramoreen seek to dominate through threats and intimidation. There is no negotiating with them. They only understand superior force. One of their Battlecruisers will engage us within minutes."

"The Ramoreen employ a Fire Technology that we do not understand," Husk continued in a deep voice. His two large, black eyes gazed back at forth between the Captain and the First Officer. His other smaller eyes followed the two larger eyes. Husk was a huge Wolf Spider covered in thick hair that stood over eight feet tall. "There is no way their fire should exist in the vacuum of space. And yet it does. They can project Walls of Fire which will damage our starship if we pass through them. Their seeking Fire Torpedoes are fearsome. Our Phalanx Proximity Guns have no effect on them. We are also at a disadvantage when it comes to their Fire Phasers, because they can reach further than our Wide Phasers."

"And we cannot generate Subspace Sinkholes while the Subspace Regenerator is attached," Captain Hafnyr added, completing the tactical assessment. "We cannot allow the Kindling to suffer heavy damage during this battle. To do so would threaten our objective of rebuilding the Subspace Chasms in this Sector."

Husk folded two of his spider arms across his furry chest as a confident human would. "With our Hardened Shields, Enhanced Phasers, and Advanced Maneuverability, we can destroy this Battlecruiser, even if we only have our Reality Disruption Waves to rely on. However, the effort would cost us. I cannot guarantee that we would emerge from the conflict with only minor damage."

"What about somehow luring or pushing the Ramoreen back into the Subspace Rift?" Captain Hafnyr asked. The four foot tall plant being looked upward at his First Officer and Tactical Officer.

Husk shook his head, discounting the idea. "Highly unlikely, Captain. The Ramoreen would be aware of our intentions. We would be directly matching our power against their power. Our energy is currently depleted from continuously running the Subspace Regenerator. And the Subspace Rift that the Ramoreen emerged from lies in the opposite direction, back the way they came."

There was an uncomfortable period of silence between the three crew members of the Kindling.

"The Waterfalls of Nereid," Vesper said suddenly, as if realizing the answer to a difficult riddle. Captain Hafnyr and Husk stared at Vesper quizzically.

The slim, humanoid bat smiled at her colleagues.

"WHAT BETTER WAY TO PUT OUT FIRE...THAN WITH WATER?"

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Wednesday, August 07, 2024 - 12:46 am: Edit

Massive Upload to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com:

Z-Technology Designer Notes 2
Variable Focus Neutron Beam Analysis
Project-X Designer Notes
Revised Neutron Beams Designer Notes
Line of Battle Designer Notes
Mitosis Designer Notes
Arch Omega Designer Notes
The Graw Project Designer Notes
The Prime Sector Designer Notes
The Pre-History Years Designer Notes
Sector Zero Short Summary
The Yesterday Galaxy Designer Notes
V-Technology Designer Notes
The Young Kingdoms Designer Notes
Sector 50 Designer Notes
Gargantua Short Summary
Intergalactic Assemblage of Systems Designer Notes Addendum
X-Sector/Plus Technology Designer Notes
Y-Sector/Plus Technology Designer Notes
Project-X Designer Notes Addendum
Sector 50 Designer Notes Addendum

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Thursday, August 08, 2024 - 06:07 am: Edit

Uploaded the (PMR1.1) Alliance of Lords Heavy Cruiser SSD in the Prime Sector to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Thursday, August 08, 2024 - 08:38 pm: Edit

Uploaded two SSD's to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com:

(50R1.1) Europa Heavy Cruiser SSD for Sector 50

(PHR1.1) Terra Reserve Heavy Cruiser SSD for the Pre-History Years

By Norman Dizon (Ichaborn) on Friday, August 09, 2024 - 04:47 am: Edit

Uploaded the (AOR1.1) Jotunheim Heavy Cruiser SSD for Arch Omega to GenesisGalaxiesUniverse.com.