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General Revil posted:Vindicator, but remove the neutron cannons, add the improved engines, and use the rest of the capacity on missiles. Keep point defense arrays between 2 and 4 total. I don't know anything about the combat mechanics of this game, but will vote for this due the fluff being great.
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Jun 2, 2020 09:39
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The Vindicator is more dangerous to use due to its lower speed, but five neutron cannons are going to kick out way more DPS than three missile launchers. This early in the game, though, it doesn't make a huge difference. As for the Enforcer's fluff, yeah, that's good stuff. Not to worry, though: MISSILEGEDDON is coming, and I'll shoehorn in an Ichiro Itano reference when I do, because I am a gigantic nerd.
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Jun 2, 2020 13:37
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Go with the Vindicator for now.
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Jun 2, 2020 15:15
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Here There Be Monsters  By 1827, Gnolam studies into particle physics and electronics had allowed for the first viable testbeds of neutron burst cannon- space-based weapons which released a burst of hard radiation at a target. Although the radiation shielding provided by boron carbide layers in ship armor greatly mitigated the immediate risk such a weapon would have to ship crew, nonetheless the mechanical effects of this radiation upon armor materials could cause embrittlement and catastrophic failure. New, more sophisticated factory robotics taking advantage of improved computing also slowly began to be integrated into Val's industry, taking advantage of the forward march of knowledge. With trials of new space-based weaponry complete, the Universal Mercantile League Navy announced a design competition to develop the first Gnolam warship design to take on counterpiracy duties in space. Ultimately, the only firm to submit a viable proposal was Reliant Aerospace, which in 1828 submitted a design built around a heavy forward neutron cannon armament and a nuclear bomb bay to demolish pirate infrastructure, were it to be found- the Vindicator-class cruiser. The slow work to begin construction of the first, eponymous member of the Vindicator class began, although it would not reach completion for many years, with the UML unwilling to knock loose the funding to concentrate efforts on establishing a space navy in a short timeframe.   By 1830, construction had been completed on eight different refinery complexes operated by five different firms over Evorak. A steady line of in-system trade brought hydrocarbons, with all their myriad applications, from Evorak to Val, while Val provided a steady stream of supplies and personnel to these orbital refineries. With construction work on the refineries complete, the Creator was chartered by the UML goverment to establish a deep space fort designed to hold position at the entry point to the hyperspace conduit from the Gnol to Kakari systems. With this fortification, it was believed that Gnol- and, thus, the Gnolam people- would be effectively secured against many threats. The gas giant refinery brought our per-turn income from 19 BC to 24 BC, which is not a bad improvement at all.   While the light and bustle of Gnolam civilisation had begun to spill out from Val into the wider Gnol system and the Gnolam economy was steadily developed, the Prospector and Endeavor had been slowly and steadily charting the hyperspace conduit network. Early in 1835, iaround an orange star along the galactic rim, the Prospector found something remarkable and terrifying. A massive organism, evidently sustained by its own natural internal reactor and dwarfing the mobile ships Gnolams could thus far build, lurked in the Laan system. The exact threat presented by this creature remained ambiguous, as the Prospector's master immediately made the command decision that the ship should not risk provoking this creature.  Research into sociology and logistics and the experience of administering a system-wide society spread between Val and Evorak slowly helped the Universal Mercantile League develop effective institutions to bind a society spread across vast distances into a single, unified whole. Improved mechanisms to identify, fund, and support promising research projects could also potentially greatly speed the advancement of Gnolam knowledge, helping improve Gnolam life far into the future, with new research campuses beginning to be established by 1840. The Government Support Facility is a vital structure for managing the morale of colonies off your homeworld, while the Research Lab, like Physic's Automated Factory, is one of the basic infrastructure buildings to help bolster the early game economy.   By early 1843, continued development of shipping infrastructure- both on-planet and deep-space- in the Gnol system marked a shift in the Universal Mercantile League's economy that would doubtless pay off as the economy continued to grow and demand for shipping and logistics picked up. Not only Bortis Shipping and Logistics, but its major competitors, including Blue Horizon Shipping Lines, Einar Transport, and Golden Glory Logistics pushed forward with new investments, supporting traffic on Val itself and between Val, Evorak, and the newly completed deep-space fortifications on the edge of the system. Under the circumstances, we aren't exactly looking at a newcomer taking over a new colony venture. Our new leader boosts cash income at the colony by 10%, but takes 3 BC annually to support. With our current population, this doesn't QUITE break even, but with any population growth, that will change, becoming more and more of a benefit as Val grows- or gets infrastructure that boosts per-capita cash income.    At nearly the same time, but far from Gnol, the Endeavor discovered another massive spaceborne organism lurking in the Xanthus system. As did the Prospector at Laan, the Endeavor chose not to court the danger of a full survey of the Xanthus system. It continued on, detecting clear evidence of radio traffic and power sources in the asteroid belt of the Guad system in 1844.  By 1847, the Endeavor had succeeded in investigating these signatures, discovering a shocking sight- a rag-tag assembly of criminals and outcasts who had self-exiled from the League had established a series of crude habitats in the asteroids, supporting a rudimentary industrial base supported by asteroid mining already in the progress of assembling some crude combat vessels. Although it seemed unlikely that the equipment available to these hardscrabble exiles would stand up against ships manufactured with cutting-edge League technology, nonetheless they could potentially present a critical threat to unprotected civilian shipping or colonies if not dealt with.   Almost simultaneously in 1849, the Vindicator and a pair of crude pirate cruisers launched from their construction berths and entered operations. The UML, having received reports of the pirate presence in Guad via fast courier drone from the Endeavor, immediately ordered the Vindicator to seek out and destroy the outlaw settlement in Guad, while the crew of the Endeavor prayed to all the gods they held dear that the ships launching from the asteroid belt had higher priorities than their exploration vessel lurking in the inner system. Fortunately for them, the pirate vessels appeared to be charting a course back to Gnol, and the Endeavor remained safe for the time being.  Continued research work back on Val, now bolstered by improved research institutions and extensive support to R&D departments, led to notable breakthroughs in biology and agronomy by 1850. Considerable research into establishing hydroponic farming on an industrial scale spearheaded by the agritechnology conglomerate Nutris would not only allow for effective (if capital-intensive) improvements to the total crop yields of Val, but could allow for effective agriculture in a sealed environment even on lifeless worlds. Other research departments developed methods for small sealed-environment, climate-controlled habitat domes that could effectively create the conditions to grow specialty crops that might otherwise require very specific environmental conditions, or set up research stations to observe the conditions on the least hospitable portions of Val. The Universal Mercantile League and Known Space as of 1850  The Prospector and Endeavor have pushed to explore much of the hyperspace conduit network radiating out from Gnol, discovering many worlds with promising resources or fertile biospheres, although, unfortunately, most are too high-gravity to be truly comfortable for Gnolam habitation.  The Endeavor is currently making best speed out of the Guad system, while the pirate vessels launched from the asteroid belt are just now preparing to enter hyperspace towards Kakari, and, ultimately, Gnol. Although a full five hyperspace conduits lead outward from Guad, two of them leading further coreward are extraordinarily gravitationally unstable and would almost certain rip any ship that attempted to pass through them to shreds of mangled alloy.  Far driftward from Gnol, in Varinia, the Prospector prepares to push even further driftward and towards the core.  In Kakari, the Creator has almost completed establishing a listening post and sensor array with a minimal staff of couriers on-site to provide early warning of any approach to the Gnol system. It is a far and lonely posting, the furthest-flung outpost of the League, and the first permanent League presence outside the Gnol system itself.  In Gnol, Val, Evorak, and the Navy's fortifications securing the hyperspace conduit to Kakari form three corners defining busy shipping and transfer lanes. Civilian space traffic has become commonplace within the Gnol system.    Val now exceeds six billion persons in population, with a burgeoning agricultural sector employing over 150 million Gnolams supporting increased demand for cheap, plentiful food. Work has begun by agricultural concerns and researchers to take advantage of new biological breakthroughs, in the hopes of even further boosting crop yields in the future. Improved industrial and research infrastructure have bolstered the economic output of the planet, and growth has slowly begun to accelerate on Val. Distant plans have begun to be put in place to establish a true colony on a new world beyond the Gnol system.  The logistical challenges of establishing permanent colonies with major populations in another star system are immense, leading theorists and investors working to solve these challenges and assemble the best possible package of infrastructure, gene samples, and specialists to rapidly and reliably establish viable colony populations on new worlds that can thereafter grow, prosper, and join in profitable trade with the homeworld. Proposals for the Universal Mercantile League Research Proposals Development of the logistics and infrastructure to support large-scale space colonisation is, of course, the research priority currently receiving the most support within the League, but other fields nonetheless bear attention. Further development of economic methods as analytic tools for corporations, investors, and governments are likely to help provide a more efficient and powerful economy, and lay future groundwork for effective corporate research projects that could bolster efficiency even further in the future. Further research into basic physics could prove valuable both for space-based weapons systems and for ship defenses, while refining electronics to the theoretical limit of their effectiveness could lead to notable advancements in sensors and computing. Continued work on physics and computing is likely to lay the foundation for further developments in weapons technologies and possible new energy sources for industry. Further biotechnological research focusing on hardy extremophilic organisms is likely to be of minimal immediate use- although some marginal applications on particularly hostile colony worlds may be likely- but would be necessary for laying the groundwork for future, far more valuable, biological research. Finally, a relatively inexpensive program of research into improved spaceframe engineering could allow for larger combat vessels, highly-effective defenses against enemy missile fire, and would lay groundwork for further breakthroughs that could improve drive systems, missile designs, and civilian chemical engineering. We are researching Deep-Space Exploration first, but we will be able to continue on with new research after we complete that project. Please vote between Economics, Advanced Magnetism, Electronics, Biotechnology, and Engineering. Technology in nuMoO is split between several 'tiers' based on separation from Space Travel, the 'tier 0' technology. Technologies at each tier are more expensive than those in the previous tier, but share the same research cost as those in the same tier. All our options save Engineering are currently tier 2 technologies, which cost 137 research each. Engineering, as a Tier 1 technology, costs 68 research. That said, I suspect that there are other applications that are more immediately valuable than Engineering- which is why they may be worth researching, despite their greater cost. Ship Design  Jian Boyt, a senior officer within the League Navy, was extraordinarily dissatisfied with the Vindicator design, believing it lacked the manueverability and flexibility to effectively pursue its primary mission objectives. His consultation with the Vindicator project's lead engineer has led to another proposal, the Enforcer, that Boyt has been advocating that the Navy adopt as standard, rebuilding the drives for better strategic and tactical maneuverability and shifting to use of guided nuclear missiles as primary weapons, hopefully to then serve better in counterpiracy and scouting roles. If the Enforcer were adopted as standard, the Vindicator could potentially be refitted at the deep-space fort at Gnol before leaving the system, losing minimal time, although it would present some expense in the rapid refit work. Please vote between the Vindicator and Enforcer standards for the Naval counterpiracy cruiser. If you support the Enforcer, vote yea or nay on whether to immediately refit the Vindicator to the new standard. Colonisation Priorities A number of promising targets have been identified by the Prospector and Endeavor for the first Gnolam colony on a new world- some larger planets with fertile biosystems that could potentially support large Gnolam populations, even if they have regrettably high gravity, and some small bodies with good access to resources and comfortable gravity, which would be immediately productive but which may be limited in the populations they can easily support. Please vote between Hoshi II, Kakari Prime, Kakari II, Baalbo II, and Taurio Prime for our first colony planet. Full descriptions of each are available in the 1850 survey report, linked in the thread index. Val Labor Force The growing population on Val shall allow for expanded employment in agriculture or heavy industry in the near future. Please vote between sticking our next 50 million members of the strategic workforce in agriculture or industry. Massive deep-space organisms and the presence of pirates in Guad present security challenges to the League in the future, but steady economic growth has thus far continued on Val, with the resources of space now clearly improving matters on the homeworld. With luck and hard work, it may be hoped that economic growth will continue on Val, and that the League will continue to prosper into the future, as it begins to look beyond Gnol itself. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 20:41 on Jan 17, 2021 |
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Jun 2, 2020 17:26
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If any contributor wishes to 'take over' the role of corporations I have mentioned in the text, rather than devise their own, they should feel free (save for Bortis Shipping and Logistics, which I reserve rights to). I have edited the corporation reference list to indicate corporations open for anybody who wishes to claim them.
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Jun 2, 2020 18:06
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News All Day Network posted:-ith access to their patents already in high demand, our corporate liaisons from Nutris confirm the company stance of investing further into Biotechnology even as the company stock begins to climb- A comment on Chekkit by user CowCowCow15 posted:No reason to get pointlessly conspiratorial. Just because the Company CFO's cousin works on the Enforcer and the Vindicator's refit program does not mean the sponsorship deal goes further than Boyt and his cronies scrabbling for what support they can get. Exclusive catering rights on a whole line of naval vessels is definitely enough for Nutris to throw around its weight in the UML for its subsidiaries. Hell, the entire article is about how they cleared the corporate corruption audit, which you'd know if you actually read it instead of just the title... News All Day Network posted:-een quiet about their exact reasoning to sponsor Kakari II as a colonization target within the greater UML colonization efforts, though it has been noted by observers that such a marginally habitable world would benefit from several Nutris patents for even partial self-sufficiency- Snippet from a Nutris recruitment leaflet for Agronomics at Nut-U posted:Agriculture is a field on the rise like no other, and with agriculture rises agronomics! With extragnolar habitation in the horizon within a few short decades, wise investors in their intellectual capital will not pass the opportunity to get their hands on the agrimarket while the industry's booming like never before! At Nut-U, we provide a state-of-the-art education in the fields of agronomy and agronomics, easily edging out our competitors with our access to NDA-protected growth-modeling software and the highest rated lecturers on exclusive corporate retainer, as well as... Advert Jingle posted:~Flan-Flan☆~ Theantero fucked around with this message at 14:10 on Jun 3, 2020 |
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Jun 2, 2020 18:59
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For the ship, I'm okay with adopting the Enforcer, but do not refit the Vindicator. Not just because it's my design (if grunting "MAX BEAMS" counts as designing), but because of the whole "can crank out more DPS" thing. And having five guns that individually shoot faster means that it's going to be better against larger numbers of crap dudes, which is what we'll be fighting. Plus, why waste the time and money refitting a perfectly serviceable ship? For colonization, Kakari Prime. I think the higher population and gold make up for the gravity penalty of Kakari II, and the system can serve as a chokepoint before enemies can get to Gnol itself, because that's the only way anything external can get there. For the next chunk of workers, Agriculture. More food means more people faster means more workers means more money.
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Jun 2, 2020 19:31
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Uncle Trorn's Foods Advertisement posted:If you have an appetite that just won't quit, why not try Uncle Trorn's Spotcap and Grain Stew? This hearty blend of mushrooms and grains, with just the right seasonings and vegetables, is sure to satisfy the whole family, providing the energy you need to get on with your day with a flavor that you'll love. Uncle Trorn's. Available anywhere quality foodstuffs are sold.
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Jun 2, 2020 19:38
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Research: Electronics would allow to greatly speed up galactic exploration by unlocking the Deep Scanner. This baby allows scout ships to instantly survey all planets in a system without having to inspect each of them in turn. This also means that we could know just how valuable the planets guarded by the space monsters are. Ship Design: Enforcer, but nay on refit for the Vindicator. Let both designs coexist for a while, and allow them to compete in operation! Colonization priority: Kakari II should be first. It can be reached quickly and, with two cruisers, one can stay in orbit around it to protect it. The planet should be reasonably productive, and even if it cannot get a large population, it can still be large enough to be as productive as Val was when it started. A civilian transport ship should be built to follow the colony ship and help quickstart this colony ASAP. The same strategy should also be used for future colonization endeavors. Workforce: Industry. Now is the time to build ships.
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Jun 2, 2020 21:27
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News All Day Network posted:... in an announcement today, Nian Bortis, speaking for Bortis Shipping and Logistics, established the Bortis Prize for Excellence in Economic Research. This money, totalling to... Nian Bortis, to the Assembly posted:Ladies, gentlemen. In my position as Commodore, I have responsibility for the Navy, and so I feel obligated to advocate for the appropriations necessary to perform its functions. On review of existing designs, I believe future Naval vessels should be built according to the Enforcer pattern, and, further, that the Vindicator be refitted to this pattern before leaving the Gnol system. I hope, heh, to bring you all good news from the Vindicator's first combat mission, and that our trade lanes will continue to enjoy security into the future! League Herald News posted:... growing excitement amongst small investors about the precious metals deposits on Kakari Prime, combined with the excellent prospects for local agriculture. Efforts to pool capital to support... Nian Bortis, private correspondence to Jyalla Bortis posted:Mark my words, young lady, you could do worse than investing in one of the blue chip heavy industrial companies right now. With the number of breakthroughs coming up and the growing need for massive shipbuilding projects, demand for manufacturing capacity is going nowhere but up. Do your own research, of course, but if you want more analysis from your Uncle Nian, go right ahead. I'm confident you'll do well, though- you've become a very clever young lady, and you should know I'm very proud of you.
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Jun 2, 2020 22:00
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I'm still getting a handle on the mechanics at this point, but I'm confused in particular on one point: The Enforcer is listed as being nimbler, with newer and better drives, but the combat speed on the stats list seems to be identical to the Vindicator. What's the actual difference in propulsion on these designs?
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Jun 3, 2020 06:08
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See how the Enforcer has a thing in the Specials slot, and the Vindicator doesn't? That's Augmented Engines. It increases ship speed on the map. The combat speeds listed are the same because in combat, the augmented engines don't give a permanent boost to speed, but they can be activated for a temporary boost.
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Jun 3, 2020 07:16
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Would seem somewhat inefficient to keep around a slower ship with a bunch of faster ships in a Fast Response Fleet. The Vindicator would basically have to operate solo if we don't refit.
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Jun 3, 2020 14:22
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Point of information- it appears the refit will cost us 1 BC, if we do it.
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Jun 3, 2020 14:31
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ManxomeBromide posted:I'm still getting a handle on the mechanics at this point, but I'm confused in particular on one point: The Enforcer is listed as being nimbler, with newer and better drives, but the combat speed on the stats list seems to be identical to the Vindicator. What's the actual difference in propulsion on these designs? If you'd like, I can try and discuss some elements of mechanics so you can improve your understanding. Just tell me what you're most interested in hearing about. E: Also, I'm open to suggestions for possible loreposts to make now. I'm not nearly ready to close voting yet, but am getting the itch to write more, so would gladly take suggestions for topics to explore. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 16:59 on Jun 3, 2020 |
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Jun 3, 2020 15:20
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nweismuller posted:E: Also, I'm open to suggestions for possible loreposts to make now. I'm not nearly ready to close voting yet, but am getting the itch to write more, so would gladly take suggestions for topics to explore. Presumably gnolams aren't a homogenous group, even with the advent of UML. Are there any geocultural divisions of note?
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Jun 3, 2020 17:05
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Eastern Nalas Of the various geocultural divisions of modern Gnolam society, it is arguable that the ones that shaped the modern Valian system are centered around the nations around the eastern portion of the continent of Nalas. This area, which contains both the heartland of the ancient 'Empire of Storra' (which lasted from 1 Old Imperial Reckoning to 452 Old Imperial Reckoning, before its collapse in civil war) and the homelands of the various Levan nations which resisted Imperial expansion, saw the Industrial Revolution begin in Levas and thereafter spread across both Levan and Storran nations. Eastern Nalas hosts two primary linguistic groups, Storran (generally found further west) and Levan (generally found further east), both of which are branches of the greater Nalan language family. In climate, Eastern Nalas ranges from subarctic to warm temperate, with generally high precipitation and fertile terrain, and the region is well-populated and heavily developed. Culturally, the nation of Levas is arguably the prototype for modern international Gnolam culture, while the other major Levan nations of Ernar, Holle, Pruen, and Sodeg exhibit their own quirks that are nonetheless recognisable as branches from a single root. Levas, Ernar, and Sodeg are democratic republics, while Holle and Pruen are plutocratic republics. The Storran nations are, stereotypically, somewhat more religious and (marginally) less materialistic than the Levan nations, and both the rump nation of Storra itself as well as neighboring Evlas still retain ceremonial monarchies (although functionally being democratic republics, as are, in fact, all the major Storran nations). Eastern Nalas is also notable for hosting the first-established sovereign corporate government on Val- the ethnically-Pruenian city of Lunis (its government being formally known as 'the Lunis Authority Corporation'), on the border between Pruen and Ernar. The current Commodore of the League, Nian Bortis, originates from eastern Nalas, being a Hollean. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 23:47 on Jun 3, 2020 |
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Jun 3, 2020 23:36
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Weapons Systems, Inc advertising flyer posted:Follow the Navy's lead -- when you buy a new starship, remember to slap a set of NADS on it! Someone on Chekkit posted:...but defense contractors definitely lack a sense of humor; this sounds like a joke my uncle would tell. They need to change the name on that gun.
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Jun 4, 2020 06:53
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As absolutely every freaking category put up for vote is currently tied, I would appreciate a tiebreaker. (Hopefully we will end up researching the Obviously Correct Technology For Gnolams at this stage in the game after the tiebreaker, but I'll abide by it, whatever the result. But search your feelings. You know which technology sings to the very soul of the Gnolam people.)
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Jun 4, 2020 13:59
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Economics Kakari 2 e: got planets mixed up
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Jun 4, 2020 14:21
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Soylent Pudding posted:Economics Excellent, that's half the tie broken. Refits to the Vindicator and labor mix are still live issues. 
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Jun 4, 2020 14:23
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Uhhhh, food I guess. For maximum logistics efficiency we should take whatever option keeps the fleet homogeneous so we don't suffer the supply chain inefficiency of supporting a bunch of bespoke ship designs. e: I have no idea what I'm doing so welp let's see how this goes.
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Jun 4, 2020 14:26
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Soylent Pudding posted:Uhhhh, food I guess. Great, agriculture and 'do the refit' are confirmed. Now to play through update; probably do writing after I get some sleep later. I'll continue to take questions if people have them in the meantime.
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Jun 4, 2020 14:30
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I am your friendly neighborhood tiebreaker I hope! Feel free to ignore anything I say here that would cause the tie to resume. Research economics, use the Enforcer, refit the existing ship, colonize Kakari II.
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Jun 4, 2020 14:32
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 Internal document from the office of the Commodore posted:With the continued efforts of the surveyors in the Prospector and Endeavor, a more complete map of accessible hyperspace conduits has presented itself. Three systems accessible through the conduits have yet to be charted, which may eventually reveal additional stars, but the disruption of further conduit links driftward from Gularn suggests that we may be largely isolated from other segments of the galaxy- we appear to occupy approximate a quarter-arc of the galaxy, cut off nearer the galactic core. Spacelane security will be a critical function of UML governance in the future as interstellar colonisation and trade increases, and to that end effective control of the spacelanes to ensure spacelane security would appear to be critical. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 17:16 on Jun 4, 2020 |
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Jun 4, 2020 16:55
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As the guy behind Dreamland Games in your SMAC LP and the Big Brother cafe in your other, aborted SMAC LP, I feel contractually obligated to ask: what do Gnolams do for fun?
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Jun 4, 2020 18:53
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FredMSloniker posted:As the guy behind Dreamland Games in your SMAC LP and the Big Brother cafe in your other, aborted SMAC LP, I feel contractually obligated to ask: what do Gnolams do for fun? The other SMAC LP wasn't mine and I wasn't participating. I'll think about fun and entertainment, though. Later. yawns
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Jun 4, 2020 19:02
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FredMSloniker posted:As the guy behind Dreamland Games in your SMAC LP and the Big Brother cafe in your other, aborted SMAC LP, I feel contractually obligated to ask: what do Gnolams do for fun? Buy and sell things? I presume Monopoly is what Gnolam toddlers play instead of Candyland.
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Jun 4, 2020 19:02
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jng2058 posted:Buy and sell things? I presume Monopoly is what Gnolam toddlers play instead of Candyland. Gnolams would love Settlers of Catan.
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Jun 4, 2020 19:05
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Like everyone else, they also play first-person shooters.
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Jun 4, 2020 19:22
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Cat Mattress posted:Like everyone else, they also play first-person shooters. Seeing that game summary makes me question the design decisions involved in ever making that game.
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Jun 4, 2020 20:13
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jng2058 posted:Buy and sell things? I presume Monopoly is what Gnolam toddlers play instead of Candyland. Given that Monopoly is adapted from a game about how unchecked capitalism in general and landlords in specific are society-draining leeches, I don't think it would even exist in Gnolam society. 
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Jun 4, 2020 20:23
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nweismuller posted:The other SMAC LP wasn't mine and I wasn't participating. I'll think about fun and entertainment, though. Later. yawns I stand corrected. I even found the post in question. MechaCrash posted:Given that Monopoly is adapted from a game about how unchecked capitalism in general and landlords in specific are society-draining leeches, I don't think it would even exist in Gnolam society. Given how many people said, "Yes, and?" I don't see why it wouldn't be popular. (See also society's reaction to "The Jungle".) FredMSloniker fucked around with this message at 20:42 on Jun 4, 2020 |
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Jun 4, 2020 20:38
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FredMSloniker posted:Given how many people said, "Yes, and?" I don't see why it wouldn't be popular. (See also society's reaction to "The Jungle".) The main thing Gnolams wouldn't find natural about Monopoly is the implicit goal to outright bankrupt everybody else- that's not what they expect as a standard, even with adversarial competitive actions. 'Races to see who ends up with the shiniest pile of loot', however, are right up their wheelhouse, and the Game of Life would fit easily with implicit Gnolam assumptions, as far as 'easy games accessible to children' go. Again, Settlers of Catan, which is a game focused on building up, collecting resources, and engaging in both trades and adversarial moves to hinder your competitors on a race to collect the most victory points, would be something they'd find very natural. All this said, Gnolams share many of the same basic cultural forms of entertainment as Humans- 'sport', 'music', 'dance', 'drama', 'fiction', 'games', and so on. Specific emphases and formats can vary. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 21:10 on Jun 4, 2020 |
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Jun 4, 2020 21:05
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That actually gets interesting when you consider the Gnolam approach to competition and risk-taking compared to the way The Landlord's Game worked. The ruleset that became Monopoly was not intended to bankrupt all players as a goal for the players to attempt, as nweismuller notes-the idea was that there were two rulesets, and the one that persisted was one where "all resources end up concentrating in one player's hands" was the result of following those rules, while the alternate rules for land owndership produced more of a steady state. So what the Gnolam say when they encounter Monopoly depends a lot on their society and, for lack of a better word, cosmic significance:
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Jun 5, 2020 07:28
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ManxomeBromide posted:... of course, this assumes that Gnolam playing a friendly game of Monopoly do not find themselves benefiting from whatever mysterious circumstance provides that "Lucky" trait. And if they do, at some point after the invention of computerization they must have noticed that certain kinds of gameplay produce different results when mechanized, even when both skill and cheating are removed from the equation... It is worth noting that Gnolams rolling dice, in whatever context, produce a statistically-expected distribution of results. It is also worth noting that it is a popular superstition amongst Gnolam gamblers that they can 'feel' when to cash out on high-risk gambles, and that in fact it is vanishingly rare for Gnolam gamblers to end up 'losing their shirt' on gambling. They can and do end up costing themselves a good amount of money, but rarely end up making commitments that end up with them losing everything. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 14:23 on Jun 5, 2020 |
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Jun 5, 2020 14:16
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There are a number of supernatural traits in the Orioniverse. The Elerians can see the entire galaxy, they don't need to explore it. They've always been able to know who is where even across the stars, long before their technology allowed them to even make something out of this information. The Darlok's shapeshifting may have some fluffy explanation, but you won't convince me it's hard-science. The Trilarians are partly extradimensional, and this allows them to travel across hyperspace lane faster than technology allows; I think there's game fluff about not even needing space ships to travel between stars, it's just that it's much faster and more convenient than without. And then there's the Klackon. There's nothing obviously supernatural about them, but they kinda tie Master of Orion with Master of Magic. (Speaking of, it's too bad that game didn't get some HD remaster; it really could use unit sprites larger than 16x16 pixels.)
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Jun 5, 2020 14:54
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Extragnolar Survey Report, 1875 With the survey of Biots and Parmag by the Endeavor and the survey of Shimari, Miract, Horne, and Gularn by the Prospector, some Gnolam scientists believe only four more stars are accessible within the hyperspace conduit network, although unstable conduits out of Guad and Gularn could eventually present further avenues of expansion- assuming the technology to handle travel through such unstable conduits is even achievable. Whether or not it is achievable, it does not seem likely any time in the near future.  Multiple theoretically exploitable planets exist around the white star Biots, all of which have high concentrations of heavy metals that could be of use in industrial applications, but all of which likewise have unpleasantly high gravity and most of which have very hostile environments that would present challenges for colonisation. Biots Prime is the one exception to the rule that the environments of the planets around Biots are quite hostile- it is a hot garden world with high atmospheric water content and heavy precipitation on most of its surface. Torrential rains, sweltering heat, mud, and vast stretches of swamp and jungle may present some challenges to establishing population centers and agricultural land compared to more moderate Val-like planets, but the local biosphere is highly productive and successful, and beneath the mud lies almost unimaginable wealth in metals. Biots IV, although extraordinarily hostile to ordinary water-solvent based life, with endemic vulcanism and tectonic activity and a thick, hot, corrosive atmosphere, supports a crude local biosphere using certain acids as solvents. Biots Prime is small, swamp, ultra-rich, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 8 billion. Biots II is medium, barren, rich, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 8 billion. Biots III is small, radiated, ultra-rich, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 4 billion. Biots IV is medium, volcanic, rich, has the red fungus (+2 food) special, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 5 billion. Biots V is medium, volcanic, ultra-rich, and is heavy-G, with a maximum population of 5 billion.  Although the sole planet hypothetically suitable for colonisation in the Parmag system is of fairly limited interest on its own merits, being a cold, lifeless world with an inert atmosphere and with only extensive surface area and reasonable local mineral and metal deposits to recommend it, the wealth of accessible resources in the Parmag system that could be extracted from a rich asteroid belt and a gas giant with an atmosphere rich in valuable gasses may eventually provide some incentive to colonise Parmag Prime, even if only as a logistics base for deep space resourcing operations. Parmag Prime is large, barren, abundant, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 10 billion.  The Shimari system supports a dry garden world, that although uncomfortably high-gravity and relatively poor in most industrial metals has extensive platinum deposits, as well as a resource-rich asteroid belt in-system. Shimari Prime is medium, arid, poor, has the gold (+2 BC) special, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 11 billion.  The sole colonisable body around the red dwarf Miract is a cold planet with a marginally-breathable atmosphere and a rudimentary biosphere that economises heavily on the limited supplies of liquid water on the planet, with few extraordinary features to make it truly attractive for settlement. Miract Prime is medium, desert, abundant, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 9 billion.  The Horne system contains three potentially-colonisable planets- a hot, lifeless wasteland with an inert atmosphere protecting it from stellar radiation, a frozen planet with a marginal biosphere and a minimal atmosphere that fails to trap most heat on the planet, and, by far the most interesting, a large Val-like world with a lush and inviting biosphere. Horne III, although reasonably poor in heavy metals of industrial use, is larger than Val with a greater habitable area, and has enjoyed an interesting geological history that has been highly friendly to the formation of various crystalline minerals, some of which could be easily mined for gem-grade stones and others of which form vast, dream-like crystal formations amidst the planet's teeming life. Horne Prime is medium, barren, abundant, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 8 billion. Horne II is medium, tundra, poor, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 10 billion. Horne III is large, terran, poor, has the gems (+2 BC) special, and is normal-G, with a maximum population of 16 billion.  Gularn's planetary system consists exclusively of uselessly tiny, irradiated rocks and an extensive but low-density debris belt. It is anticipated that no permanent presence beyond, perhaps, a listening station, could be supported in the system. The two hyperspace conduits leading further driftward from Gularn are too wracked by gravitic instability to be traversed, marking Gularn as the driftward frontier of accessible space. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 18:42 on Jun 5, 2020 |
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Jun 5, 2020 15:29
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Does this mean we can't fortify Gularn at all?
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Jun 5, 2020 15:47
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| # ? May 7, 2024 16:18 |
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Soylent Pudding posted:Does this mean we can't fortify Gularn at all? That's right.
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Jun 5, 2020 15:50
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