Archive through October 02, 2002
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Prime Directive RPG: NEW KINDS OF RPG PRODUCTS:
Alternative Reality Manuals:
Archive through October 02, 2002
I'm struck by what curious new sfb games could come out of this. Lyran/Kzin joint forces, Hydran privateers, Klingons with more labs than transporters(?), Federation/Romulan hybrid vessels, Paravian GW era hulls etc.!
Well, one could imagine those kind of changes but it was established a while back that there would be no SSD changes.
That said this did occure to me: Some of the conjectural ships might fit into the fleets. Like the Fed PF crewed by humans. Another was use of the Heavy PFs but not based on ships but used only as planetary defence on ground bases.
Since the Klingons have more cash, maybe they were able to launch the B-11.
Since there is to be no new SSDs adding one or two conjectural designs to each race might not hurt things too much.
I'd still like to see two major Romulan factions: a Klingo-Romulan Empire, which is ethnically mixed Romulan (majority) and Klingon (dominant minority) and *builds* KR-class ships, and a Romulan Republic, Which is ethnically Romulan (with perhaps a Gorn minority, the survivors of the Gorn-Paravian War) and builds Hawk-class ships.
Would the LGU Klingons still be of a cultural nature that would involve the need for Security Stations?
I probably woulnd't be a good idea to totally remove any of the GW races from the LGU without some sort of compensatory measure.
I like the idea of offsetting the VSE sphere of influence; I'd like it even more if someone could cofirm that Vulcan would be near the center of the altered Sphere. I'd rather see the LGU Orions portrayed as freedom fighters and mercenaries (i.e., same setup as in the mainstream universe but with a more noble slant to them).
Vucan is in the same F&E hex as Earth, I think, so it would be off set.
If the Klingons are the economicly agressive type the the security stations would still be there. It would have the control hub for all the cargo surveillance and house the vaults! 
If it is decided that the Klingons don't need security stations a small rule converting them to cargo on standard ships and flag on command ships might work. i.e. The E4, F5, and their variants get cargo except for the 'C' and 'L' versions. The F5W might have a cargo and flag (command) variant. The D5, D6, D7 and variants get cargo and the command variants get flag in front. The C7, DNs, and BBs get cargo in the rear and Flag in front. No need for new SSDs. HDWs in a command role could have one flag. The Tug should get something else. If it were cargo it could be secured precious cargo as an explaination as to why they have a small separate cargo hold. Hmm, this might be the type that is on command ships. A secure time freeze vault like a plasma-F freezer. Always guarded so is hard to hit and run. Same table as a security station.
what are the penal ships?
let's see, a few of them, poor crews, willing to do special missions (sacrafice, etc) that have high loss rates.....
possibly religious fanatics, allowed to serve in the military (or provide their own ships to explain the differences) but no sane person wants to serve with them, the risks are just to high, but they are soooo useful when needed.
other ideas???
Remove the poor crew restriction and make them heavy internal security forces. Or, as these are still Klingons, leave them the same. And leave the Security Stations as is too.
The Gorns could be ravenous veloceraptors attacking everyone in site. Driving into ISC and Paravian space, a constant thorn in the Vulcan side.
"ravenous veloceraptors"??!?!?!
You have seen "Arena" right? And seen how fast Gorn move...
Nick Yes I have seen "Arena" I was using poetic license .
The Wyn cluster can be the freehold of the Jindarians. The home of the Overclan who moderates between all the other clans. The Jindarians can be wandering traders. Perhaps the archenemy of the Orion pirates. Lots of opportunity to steal and thieve from each other.
you could splt the gorns into their racial sub-groups, brown, gray and green and give them each one third of gorn space each. They would share the same basic tech but empahsize different aspects of it. eg. the greens might prefer the bigger ships while the grays like pf and the browns like carriers. You could also have the political dispositions different.
Jim: I don't think Jindarians in the WYN Cluster would work.
To get into the Cluster alive, you need shields, and Jindarian asteroid ships are sadly lacking. Sure, they could send smaller FF-DD-CL class ships in, but I don't think that is something they'd do -- they really like their asteroids!
Hugh, could call them "The United Gorn Affiliate" or UGA. For galactic affairs there is a UGA counsel made up of three elected officials from each race.
To get into the WYN cluster you need protection from the radiation. Normally that is provided by shields. On the other hand, wouldn't a whole bunch of rock work too? Or has that been defined as not true somewhere?
Loren, I know that there was mention of 'no new ssds', but personally I think that would be prime selling point of the module. Especially for Paravian/Carnivons if they become major players in this universe.
But I was also referring to new alliances and goals for races in scenarios that do not normally occur in the SFU.
Geoff: To the second part I fully agree.
As to the first, I can't speak for SVC, but so much has to be done with the historical SFB that adding new ships to a alternative one might open a can of worms. I'm guessing that if it gets too complicated then it wont get done. I'm also thinking that a rich fun new universe could be presented with out any new ships. That is not to say perhaps a few previously published conjectural ships and some fleet reorganization wouldn't be in order.
I am not one to have any say though. I was just reminding that it was previously posted as IIRC a guideline.
Paravian and Carnivons might need some special consideration reguardless of this module. Good point Geoff.
I think that because of the new political situation that there might be different tech sharing strategies. For instance Klingons might be able to acquire g-phasers for their fighters, The Kzin could get uim modules etc.
What about the ISC? Would they split into 2-4 separate Empires or would they be isolationist or a conquering invader? Not just the self appointed alpha sector peacekeepers.
for those who want new ship designes, look at the minor races and the ISC (if the ISC is never formed they aren't all going to be useing the ISC ships)
there is little (if any) need for new SSDs for the main races. yes you could create an alternate reality where the klingons need lots more labs and lots fewer transporters, but you can create a perfectly good one wihtout having to throw out and reprint hundreds of SSDs
Loren UGA is good if they are actually democratic, what if they are at odds with each other? Each one could make their own alliances with other races.
Hugh, they could be sort of like the Lyrans are. At odds but united against outside forces.
Re: The ISC. I presented an idea back at the beginning discussion where the ISC races continued their earlier wars until the Andromidans showed up in their space. THey united but not in time to give the Andros much of a fight. So they run and end up giving the rest of the Alpha Sector the heads up on the comming Andros.
I didn't hear a "Cool" or a "Nah" but I like the idea.
Gary: I was thinking along the same lines as John, that enough rock is going to give protection from the radiation. Besides I thought it would be funny as Cluster invaders penetrate the radiation zone...
Science officer: Captain we seem to have emerged in an Asteroid field.
Captain: Good, it will provide cover until our systems are back online.
Science Officer: ahhh Captain...
BOOM!!!
Sorry in my post about the Gorns I meant that they would be "ravenous veloceraptors" in an Imperial sense. The idea would be to use Gorn ships but with a Klingon size fleet and production schedule.
Capturing planets and provinces at any opportunity.
The Vudar, could be an independent state, with strong economic ties with the Klingons. Letting the Klingons have another market without the expense of conquering such a hostile territory.
Now would they
a) resent the economic control of the Klingons and try to cause the Klingons as much strife as possible
b) be actually a strong Klingon ally and expand into Hydran territory.
c) A little of both
Perhaps instead of whole new SSD for the alternate reality guidelines on how ships are diferent might do. For Example Klingons replace Drones and some Phasers with Labs, or VSE uses Federation ships but replaces Photons with Plasma Torpedoes. That way you could satisfy peoples desires to have diferent ships in the alternate reality without creating more SSD's