In light of the ongoing "campaign compatibility" project being discussed elsewhere on the BBS, and the various "octant-wide" discussions focusing on certain themes - tugs and transports, commando ships, etc.- here in this BBS sub-section, it seems apt for there to be a place to discuss what, if any, kind of large bases might exist in the Omega Octant; as well as what kind of empire-specific logistical challenges would be in place for them.

To put it another way: please consider this topic as a "waiting room" of sorts, where ideas for different base types can be discussed for Omega empires still waiting their turn to be formally brought up to "campaign compatible" status. As and when a given Omega empire is being looked at in the other thread - right now, it's the turn of the Mæsron Alliance - I would ask for the base-related discussion as it pertains to that particular empire to be brought over to the other thread.

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In the Alpha Octant, and from what (little) we have seen of Tholian and Seltorian bases in the M81 Galaxy, most base designs are relatively uniform SSD-wise - although there were some empire-specific designs offered as miniatures back on Shapeways 1.0.

In the Lesser Magellanic Cloud, the Baduvai and Eneen have a common set of base architecture; whereas the Maghadim - who developed their bases in isolation, behind the WYN-esque Core radiation shell - have a very different design dynamic. (We don't yet know what kind of bases the Yrol and Chomak had in place, though perhaps we'll find out one day in a would-be "Module C5R)".

And, of course, the Andromedans have their own unique range of bases, regardless of which area of space they are attempting to occupy.

In Omega, things are going to be more like in the LMC than in Alpha - with the dialed turned much, much farther in the same direction! As in, almost every Omega empire is going to have to follow its own base dynamic, or even more than one in certain circumstances.

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SPP speculated on this topic, in his notes from Module Omega #5 - which you can also find in the 2011 Omega Master Rulebook.

For example: he speculated that all Chlorophon large bases are likely going to be designed so as to enable the Phon captain to be relieved: as in, to "raise" the outgoing commander out of the base, and then to "lower" the new commander in the same place. (Which might require some sort of spherical "transfer pod" in order to house the Phon individuals being moved.)

Also: in the case of the Branthdons, SPP speculated that all of their bases - even their "starbases" - would be planet-bound. Indeed, that they might well be networks of smaller bases, scatted across a planetary surface, rather than being comprised of a single, massive facility. Although they have an advantage in that their Dragonships can all land and take off from planets.

Meanwhile, as shown for Iridani ground bases in Module Omega #5, there is a big difference between the "pre-Andromedan" and "post-Andromedan" bases built in the Iridani Cluster; the combination of isolation and solidarity meant that the Iridani saw no need to properly fortify their home space, at least prior to the completion of the Grand Quest to retake the Throne Planet from Andromedan occupation.

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So, if you have any thoughts about Mæsron large bases, then... please post them in the "campaign compatibility" project thread.

But, for any thoughts about large bases for other Omega empires, please feel free to use the "waiting room" provided here!

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 03:39 pm: Edit

On Chlorophon Captains waiting to be "Outfitted" with a new ship.

Given the laid back 'Phon sensibilities, I can see Chlorophon Captains relaxing for three to ten years while a ship is literally being built around them. They plant themselves (pun intended) in a massive construction drydock aboard a gigantic facility that has a full atmosphere and gantries for the construction to take place.

Such a facility would, of necessity, be VAST; likely the size of an Alpha StarBase.

Does that sound reasonable?

By Gary Carney (Nerroth) on Friday, July 18, 2025 - 10:47 am: Edit

As per the Great Chlorophon Captains article in Captain's Log #53, the "age brackets" in which Phon individuals can operate a given size of starship are comparable to those in which they can operate certain sizes of base.

Further, the CL43 article demonstrates several instances in which a given Phon is transferred from one ship to another, or from a ship to a base; in each instance, this transfer happens in the same year. There would need to be a mechanism by which this can be made to happen.

As for the home fleet yards: bear in mind that, even in the Alpha Octant, the crews operating the construction drydocks (R1.80) in Earth orbit to not "live" onboard full-time. Rather, they beam back and forth from the planet's surface in three shifts per 24-hour day, depending on which time zone they are located in.

There is every reason to picture the Phons using a similar process by which their attending Keepers can build and operate their own orbital yards, "commuting" there and back via transporter beam.

Although I like the idea of the "early" Phons operating a space elevator, perhaps in the far distant past before they invented tractor beam technology. (Plus, it is a bit on-brand for a tree-like people to make use of a "beanstalk", I would think...)