Omega Octant: Large Bases
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Omega Octant: Large Bases
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!
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?
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...)
The subject of major Omega bases has been brought up somewhere else, but since we have this thread, perhaps we could discuss it here?
One element of the larger bases is Omegan Phaser-4s. Thus far, as has been pointed out, we have them for the FRA and the Qixa. Has anyone worked out a tentative chart for any of the various Phaser-4s? I haven't, but could do proportional ones, based on the Canon Ph-4. Contrast the various Omegan Phaser charts with Alpha Phasers One and Three, then use the "Differences therein" to try and do tentative Phaser-4 charts, but they'd be cold ones; not playtested, and could be extremely bad.
If any of y'all are also interested in the major Omega bases, let me know what you think?
Why not give bases heavy weapons instead of phaser IVs
I'd go for that big time.
In fact, the only reason I brought up the Phaser IVs was because their existence was published in Omega Module #1.
I might suggest moving the discussion of Omega phaser-4 types to its own thread: be it in terms of which ones would historically exist, and what the rules (and weapon charts) for those types that do so might look like, can be focused on.
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In terms of which empires would actually make use of them for their respective large bases, there are some interesting cases to consider.
For example, the "update" file for the playtest Zosman Marauders in Captain's Log #52 makes a sharp distinction between the Zosman bases at home in the "off-map" Phi Sector, and what types are deployed "on-map" in the various Marauder cells. Of those, one could expect certain base types back home to have phaser-4 mounts - which, historically, would be wide-angle phaser-4s, but which could be any type of available phaser-4 type in a given player campaign. However, the Marauder cells would not use such weapons - not least since their Syndicate bases lack positional stabilizers.
Similarly, there might be such a divide in place for the Sigvirions, both in place and in time. They appear not to have a "heavy-calibre" iteration of the pulse emitter, which would have been a problem for them when the Mæsrons launched a full-scale anti-Sig campaign in the Second Cycle. However, the "exile" Sigs are noted as having acquired wide-angle phaser technology by the time of their Nucian Cluster infestation, so these "later" Sigs might well have deployed some manner of phaser-W4 platform for use during the Second Great War.
And in the case of the Souldra, they could well be like the Andromedans in terms of not having any sort of phaser-4 equivalent at all. But, then again, perhaps the Loriyill Splinter Collective did, in fact, run into such weapons when battling at the Black Sun?
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On a side note: it might be worth clarifying how the Vari, or certain other particle phaser-using factions from Y198 onwards, treat large bases for the purposes of installing particle phaser stabilizers under (OG6.21) and (OG6.39).
In this, any use of such technology by the Branthodons would be a) almost certainly limited to ground installations, as noted above; and b) campaign conjectural, since they were historically destroyed as an empire in Y189.
So, which known Omega factions would use some sort of phaser-4 equivalent on their large bases?
While not a definitive list, this could be a provisional list to consider:
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"Standard" phaser-4: FRA, Zosmans (Phi Sector, campaign conjectural), Omega-Paravians
Wide-angle phaser-4: Mæsrons, Vulpa, Drex, Hivers (orthodox), Sigvirions (Nucian Cluster), Iridani, Bolosco, Zosmans (Phi Sector, historical)
Microphaser-4: Koligahr, Loriyill, Bolosco, Zosmans (Phi Sector, campaign conjectural)
Radiation phaser-4: Trobrin, Bolosco, Zosmans (Phi Sector, campaign conjectural)
Particle phaser-4: Vari, Hivers (heterodox), Bolosco, Branthodons, Zosmans (Phi Sector, campaign conjectural)
Quantum phaser-4: Probr, Chlorophons, Loriyill, Singers (post-Loriyill), Ryn, Bolosco, Zosmans (Phi Sector, campaign conjectural)
Antiproton phaser-4: Ymatrians, Worb, Zosmans (Phi Sector, campaign conjectural), Omega-Paravians (Seventh Cycle onwards)
Mega Gauss cannon: Qixa
Any factions (or sub-factions) not listed above would be presumed not to make use of phaser-4 types, for now at least.
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Of these, the Zosmans would be allowed to use one of the other phaser-4 types in a player campaign, but only for their "Phi Sector" bases.
While the Omega-Paravians gain access to antiproton phasers in the Seventh Cycle - as previewed in Captain's Log #54 - I would see their potential use of phaser-A4s as being supplemental to their use of "standard" phaser-4s thereafter.
Historically, most Hives use an "orthodox" mix of wide-angle phasers and sting torpedoes. However, certain "heterodox" Hives use particle phasers in place of wide-angle phasers, among other things. So, whichever is the "primary" phaser type of the Hive in question is, by default, the kind of phaser-4 type they get also.
As for the Bolosco, they don't have a "set" phaser type, so in principle they could use any of the five phaser-4 options available to them. However, historically, the majority of their units used radiation and/or quantum phasers, so one might expect to see more phaser-R4s and phaser-Q4s than any of the other three types in their use..
The Qixa make limited use of wide-angle phasers for their trading ships. But, given the unique conditions to be found inside the volatile Qixavalor Cloud, they'd likely rely exclusively on mega Gauss cannons as their "heavy-calibre" phaser-equivalent weapons.
And in the case of the Singers, they gain access to quantum phaser technology from the Loriyill. Prior to this, one might have to invent a heavy iteration of their sonic pulser - or, perhaps, say that such a thing could not be made to function.
I forgot to add the Drex to the list of likely particle phaser-4 users above.
But then, particle phasers are their "secondary" phaser type, after wide-angle phasers. Similarly, the Loriyill use quantum phasers as their "primary" phaser type, with microphasers in a supplementary role.
So, it's somewhat possible that these empires might only install their "primary" phaser-4 types on their respective large bases.
Although, the Drex in particular are historically renowned for the strength of their fortifications - as if their warships weren't dangerous enough! So they might well go with both phaser-4 types after all...
While the question this is in reply to was posted over in the Omega Phaser-4 topic, I am re-directing the reply here since it is more to do with the potential designs of the bases themselves:
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By and large, the Qixa have two separate branches of starship development. Or, at least, this is the case after the Qixa exiles were able to re-establish their presence in the Qixavalor Cloud.
Their "line" ships are, for the most part, intended never to exit the Cloud. As such, they are fully optimized for combat therein: be it through "spark mode" Gauss cannon shots, the use of energy spark rings (which are effectively useless outside of the Cloud, but quite useful inside of it), and some of the "fun" ultrawarp missile warhead types. A key reason why their "in-Cloud" BPVs are that might higher than their "out-of-Cloud" ones.
Their "trading" ships are designed and built for operations in open space. However, unlike, say, the Bolosco, whose trade fleet was comparatively slow, yet heavily armed when it needed to be, the Qixa rely mostly on speed as their best defence. Although they are also able to use a combination of Gauss cannons, wide-angle phasers, and/or "brick" ultrawarp missiles as a backstop in some cases.
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In terms of bases, the one Qixa type we have in print to date is their trading post, to be stationed outside of the Cloud itself.
The OR-section notes that an "in-Cloud" variant of this base exists for defensive use, to be presented in a future product.
Notably, while the trading post has four GCs, four UWM racks (which, one would assume, have "brick" warheads loaded up as standard), and a single MGC, it has no wide-angle phaser armament.
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So far as large "in-Cloud" bases are concerned, there are a number of reasons why it's better for them to go all-in on mega Gauss cannons, regardless of how the firing table for a would-be phaser-W4 ends up panning out.
As noted above, the MGC almost completely avoids the risk of feedback damage for the Qixa base in question, in contrast to that scored by a would-be phaser-W4. (There is feedback from spark mode damage at Range 0.)
Further, the MGC has the same spark mode capacity as a standard GC. But, in this case, it's more powerful (scoring 2D6 "mine damage" to each unit in the target hex, rather than 1D6 per unit); longer-ranged (MGCs can fire spark mode shots out to Range 15, rather than the standard GC's Range 5); and only costs two additional points of power to be fired in this manner (standard GCs require a single added point of power to fire spark mode shots). So long as the target is itself inside a Cloud hex, of course.
That's a significant amount of additional damage a large Qixa base would be able to leverage at medium range, not least against enemy attrition units or tachyon missiles. (But not against plasma-like weapons, alas.)
So I would not only suggest large Qixa bases stick with mega Gauss cannons for "in-Cloud" defence; but also picture them installing comparatively healthy sets of batteries on their larger bases, in order to keep their phaser capacitors stocked up for spark mode firings.
There are some relevant factors to consider.
The bases ned, in the end, to have comparable firepower.
The bases need in the end to be no tougher (or not much tougher) than the existing Alpha octant bases.
The first issue in the Alpha Octant was more or less handled by the bases essentially all using the Phaser-IV for their primary firepower (supported by Photons, disruptor, plasma, hellebores, drones, etc.). With multiple phasers in Omega you may find the bases have different numbers of such heavy weapons. You will have to take that into account. when designing bases.
An example of a base being designed for a campaign (I will not define the campaign as the player in question has since abandoned the project, but it was in the Magellanic Cloud) {sorry, interrupted, will try to continue tomorrow]
SPP,
So far as relative base strengths are concerned, there is a note to this effect under (OR1.B1) in the 2011 Omega Master Rulebook.
It notes that, historically-speaking, certain Omega empires "excelled" at defence and which fielded comparatively strong base types: the Koligahr and the Drex are mentioned in particular in this regard.
Indeed, the Drex are noted elsewhere as being renowned for the strength of the defensive network they deployed in order to keep outsiders well away from the Drexari home colonies. Although, while such bases would have supercomputers installed, the relative advantage these CPUs provide would perhaps not quite be as dramatic as it is for Drex starships, due to the lack of movement involved.
By contrast, other Omega empires are noted as having "comparatively weak" bases, which were used for logistical purposes rather than as military strongpoints in and of themselves.
This somewhat echoes the situation of the three Magellanic Powers of Module C5. The Maghadim have physically larger and more powerful base types, somewhat closer to the Alpha Octant standard, relative to those smaller and less powerful bases operated by the Baduvai or the Eneen.
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Now, we do not as yet have a list of which Omega empires are in a similar category as the Koligahr and the Drex, and which are in the "comparatively weak" category.
Although, there are a few cases which seem likely to be in one of these categories over the other, based on what is otherwise known about the empire or faction in question.
One could picture a Hiver "starbase" as being the size of an Alpha Octant battle station, in keeping with their ships being two sizes smaller than the Alpha or Omega standard.
Or, perhaps the Vari can build nothing larger than an Alpha Octant sector base, in a similar manner to how no Vari cell has the capacity to build starships larger than Size Class 3.
In contrast, the Worb might well build bases that are one size larger per class than the Galactic average, much as they do with most of their starships. So, what they might call a "starbase" would be more akin to an Alpha Octant stellar fortress! Although, how strong each individual base is might depend on which Worb sub-caste is building it: a High Worb large base would have a mix of antiproton phaser, subspace rocket, and antiproton beam weaponry - whereas a Broad Worb large base would have an all-antiproton-phaser armament.
While, in the case of the Ymatrians: given their historical over-emphasis on offensive combat, I would well see their larger bases being comparatively weak and undeveloped, relative to the danger posed by their front-line warships. A fact which, perhaps, made it that much easier for the Drex to bomb the Ymatrian planets back into the Stone Age, when they found themselves with the comparatively brief window of opportunity to do so...
How large of a base can the Alunda grow? Or the Branthodon? How would they be kept "Fed?"
(Brooding site for the two of them? Artificial construction "Hatcheries" akin to shipyards for other races? Perhaps contained within asteroids for both protection from environmental hazards, such as solar storms, and with the thick rock for their protection?)
Is there a maximum size to which a Chlorophon can grow? If one grows too big to be moved (i.e.: a single entity at the core of a SC-1 Base), and it can't be modified to accommodate further growth, does that mean that the 'Phon in question has been given a death sentence when it outgrows its home?
(I think I once posted about a Chlorophon orbital facility that serves to build ships around adventurous 'Phon and serves as temporary home for multiple members of that species as their ships are being fabricated. Methinks such a facility would likely be relatively lightly armed, but what do I know... 
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Souldra superbases. They would, of necessity, need to be close to a source of the dark energy that serves as a sort of fuel for them, and if their ships can feed from that without the base, why would they feel the need to build one?
(Maybe as a portal guardian? It could also reasonably support FAR more Red and Violet Shards than can even their CVA, as a way of being able to defend the Dark Matter zone?)
Those are a couple thoughts I have. Do they seem sensible, or do I need to check the dosages of my meds? Again...
Duplicate of previous post that I thought was destroyed.
Bases need to need to be designed that are reasonable to attack and defend. They cannot simply be impregnable, or no one will ever attack one as a scenario. Star bases, and I am sure Stellar Fortresses, are about all that players seem willing to invest the time to gather their friends for a battle. we had a project to develop bases that ran into the Phaser-IV problem (multiple flavors of phasers). Some interesting designs were submitted, some with too many weapons, but they have long since been lost.
I made a slight typo earlier in the thread: the article I referenced in an earlier post which details a number of individual Chlorophon captains was in Captain''s Log #43, not in CL53.
Two of these captains include as-yet-unpublished bases as being under their command at different points in time.
Of these, it's noted that one Phon captain was transferred from a base station to a Redwood heavy scout, so access to and from this size of base was not an issue.
The other, a starbase, was destroyed by the Andromedans before the question of "relieving" the base commander could be addressed. Although, I very much doubt that the Phons would not account for this eventuality when designing and fielding such bases.
On a side note: one of the other Phon captains detailed in this file was able to "retire" to a colony world, along with a retinue of Keepers. One can assume that, losses due to enemy action aside, the Phon Navy has both "on-boarding" and "off-boarding" procedures in place, to allow for the transition from sedentary to active life (and back again) to be handled in a suitable manner.
And, to re-iterate: even for the fleet yards in Earth orbit, three shifts' worth of crewbeings are beamed up and down from different time zones as and when requited. There is no reason the Phons cannot do the same, in terms of sending their Keepers up and down in a similar manner, with surface-bound Phons directing their activities remotely.
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So far as the Alunda are concerned:
It's noted in the "wild" alunda monster article in Captain's Log #52 that this species feeds on the same rare minerals needed for the construction of "metal-hull" X-ships - and that the Mirn home system happens to have the highest concentration of such minerals anywhere in known space. (Which might, or might not, help explain why the "Omega's Lost Futures" Echarri Dynasty were so eager to conquer this system in the Seventh Cycle.)
So, many Alunda bases have to be placed where these resources are, not necessarily where the Mirn might want to install them.
Said "bases" are headless iterations of their Host ships, bred to be entirely sedentary. These have to be cloned, since they are utterly incapable of reproducing "naturally".
Further, Alunda ground bases cannot be any larger than the various types shown in Module Omega #5; this is due to the strict limits imposed by the presence of any sort of gravity well - even the microgravity of an asteroid.
I strongly suspect that, even in open space, there likely isn't much more the Mirn can do size-wise that isn't being done by the current Guarder base already.
That said, perhaps they mimic the operation of larger bases by designing variant Guarder types, each with a specialist function, and then group them together at key locations if so needed.
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The Branthodons have even more limitations than the Alunda, in base terms.
Since they do not possess shield technology, their currently-published ground bases have to rely on armour instead.
However, they do have a "unique" way of operating ground PF bases and planetary control bases. As opposed to the Mirn and their "headless" base types, the Branthdodons... used disembodied, lobotomized dragon brains to "guide" their "flotilla" of baby Dragonships.
As noted above, they would likely have to build all of their bases - even the equivalent of starbases - as networks of ground base types, with no deep-range space bases at all.
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As for the Souldra, I would not be in too much of a hurry to try and define much about their logistics right now - not, indeed, those of their Loriyill nemeses.
Both factions are at such a remove from other Omega empires design-wise that they each require some serious thought to try and handle in a suitable manner - even when compared to the Alunda or Branthodons.
So, I would suggest keeping the current focus on base concepts for the "metal-hull" Omega empires for the time being. Not least since this would provide much-needed context for the Loriyill and Souldra to operate in, once their respective turns roll around.
Although, since the Singers gain access to samples of Loriyill technology later in the Omega timeline, they might best wait a bit also...
As a relatively simple measure, take a phaser-IV and establish its average damage at all ranges out to maximum range. Then due the same with phaser-1s, and Phaser-3s, then establish the average damage of photon torpedoes out to their maximum range (also proximity photons out to maximum range. Photon damage should be divided in two to reflect two turns of firing, then add them all together . Do the same thing with disruptors (in place of the photons) and plasma torpedoes (accounting for the different firing types and not forgetting Sabot (and the Gorns will have their plasma carronade), and Hydran hellebores and fusion beams (I have not figured out a way to evaluate drones, damage versus their destruction under fire, and different types, and armored drones). This should give you the average for each star base. Sector bases and battle stations have less, base stations even less. This in theory gives you an idea of what is an appropriate amount of firepower for bases in the Omega sector (and Magellanic Cloud). You might compare the firepower of different fleets conducting a base assault.
You also have to account for EW. Not least because some are 2d6 to hit...
I should also note that there are certain heavy weapons which are either solely restricted to bases, or which are limited to bases and to Size Class 2 warships.
In the former category are type-E tachyon missile racks (OFD1.125): these are notable for carrying nine missiles per rack. However, they are otherwise no better, functionally-speaking, than a type-A or type-B rack.
In the latter category, Trobrin super-heavy implosion torpedoes (OFP1.153) are restricted to units of Size Class 2 or 1. A similar set of restrictions are in place for Federal Republic heavy photon torpedoes (OE23.28).
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For example: the Zosman Syndicate base previewed in Captain's Log #52 has room for as many as four weapon modules, each with a pair of centerline-adjacent weapon option mounts.
As a Size Class 2 unit, the base could, in theory, install a heavy photon mount into one or more of its weapon modules. (Each heavy photon takes up two centerline-adjacent option mounts.) Whether this would be an optimal weapons choice is another matter.
In principle, TM-E racks take up a single option mount apiece, so could perhaps be useful here. However, there might need to be some sort of errata to specify if a base needs active positional stabilizers in order to operate TM-E racks, and/or if these racks need to be installed onto the base hull (as in, not into a weapons module) in order to function. Either would prevent the Zosmans from operating such racks on their Syndicate bases. Although, perhaps this would be different for "fixed" bases operating over in the Phi Sector?
However, since super-heavy implosion torpedoes require 3 centerline-adjacent heavy weapon mounts (akin to an Alpha Octant type-M plasma torpedo), these could not be installed onto such mounts - although these largest type of implosion torpedoes are not available to the Zosmans in any event.
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In the case of the Worb, they do not have heavy weapons limited to bases or Size Class 2 ships. They do, however, have other limitations to consider - in that there would still be an issue on terms of the size of turret that can be operated on a given size of base.
On Worb ships, only the larger base hulls have turrets capable of installing both an antiproton lance (which requires two centerline-adjacent option mounts, on a ship of Size Class 3 or larger, to be operated safely) and a pair of antiproton beams (the minimum number needed for the lance effect to be worth the effort of installing it).
Similarly, it might be that only larger Worb bases - those built by certain sub-castes, at least (such as the High Worb) - would, in turn, carry a mix of APB-LNC armament. Although, for a base, the need to catch a target on the hex row extending in front of the turret's given facing might be trickier than on a Worb starship...
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One additional aspect to consider is the presence, or absence, of any form of Aegis fire control.
On starships, limited Aegis was restricted to the Drex for several decades: as per (OR1.N1), other Omega empires did not gain access to this system until Y194 - and, even then, not every empire ended up acquiring this technology.
At this time of typing, there is no direct evidence of "full" Aegis existing in Omega.
So, it could be that large bases are under the same limitations. As in, only Drex bases have Aegis prior to Y194, and only those Omega empires known to adopt Aegis on their ships use it on their large bases also.
And, in the above cases, this would still be limited Aegis, not "full" Aegis.
Which is not always a net negative. In the case of the Worb, they do not appear to have ever adopted Aegis - but they do have access to subspace energy fields, for use against enemy missiles and attrition units. However, since the use of an SEF blinds a scout channel under (OG14.327), any Worb base with SEFs installed might have to account for this in terms of its electronic warfare usage.
Mike Grafton:
I think EW is mostly irrelevant when accounting for the weapons fire from a star base. It has probably allocated 13 points to ECCM (counting the one point to activate the special sensor). The attacking ships are unlikely to all have scout support for ECM and erratic maneuvers will only get you so much on the EW battle. So you are going to get hit. Figure out the average damage and hope the other side does not roll YAHTZEE with straight ones.