I'm really pleased with how my Rolemaster and Epic games are shaping up, but I'm thinking that my next game down the road will be a space/sci-fi type game, one set on a space station. I don't mind stealing shamelessly from Firefly, DS9, or Babylon 5, and will happily do so wherever fitting.
The players will be in charge of a run-down but independent small space station located in a neutral zone between 4 contentious alien and human factions. We'll have a Commander, Engineering Chief, Head Medic, Security Officer, Protocol & Cultures Specialist, Station Pilot, etc.--none of which are military, btw--just folks trying to turn a profit in a place that could turn into a firestorm at any minute.
I've been kicking around a few different station designs, and think I want to go with a "ring design", with spokes emanating from a central hub/ops area. I'm not too hot n' heavy on "for realz" science, just something that'll fit within the genre pretty well and give them a decent place in which to play and have adventures.
I'd like some feedback on my very rough design, done in about 5 minutes in Paint. I've given it the placeholder name of Independent Station Xerxes, which I'll almost certainly change before long. Xerxes orbits a small, lifeless, gray planet, which in turn orbits a stable yellow star. I've also included a brief station key afterwards, which should help clue you in on what the hell I mean.
I'd welcome thoughts on what you'd add--keeping in mind the target group isn't sci-fi junkies, so a lot of technical stuff (unless its obscenely blatant) will pass them right by:
(http://www.freewebs.com/irrin/xerxes.bmp)
Key To Independent Station Xerxes:
1) External Ring: The external ring not only allows for passage between space docks, but also houses several key relays and maintenance items vital to the ship's operation. In addition, part of the external ring has been designated for hydroponics use, which assists the space station with its food supply (and gives a break from the imperfection of replicator food). The external ring is heavily armored, and is wide enough to allow transport and cargo vehicles through. Several weapon arrays (remotely controlled) also inhabit this ring.
2) Main Spokes: The Main Spokes act as the main passageways to and from the spacedocks, and are also available for future expansion. There always seems to be some work going on in these passageways, and it is suspected a few transients make their home hidden in some of the recesses here. When discovered, they are always forcibly removed.
The Main Spokes run from the Bridge/Ops Center to the External Ring.
3) Residential Area: This area is earmarked for residents (temporary and permanent) that inhabit Xerxes. A permanent non-crew population of 200 is present, with room for up to 3,000 more (there are roughly 300-800 temporary residents at most times). Most quarters are basic, efficiency-style lodgings, though a few wealthier residents do have larger, more luxurious quarters.
4) Commerce Area: A few dozen businesses, ranging from simple merchants to nightclubs to galactic consulates make up the commerce area. This is always the liveliest part of the station, and many businesses can be found running 24/7.
5) Crew Quarters: This is where the crew lives, sleeps, eats...
6) Bridge/Ops Center: Main Operations, Engineering, and the core of all the ship's systems can be found here. Appear as a bulbuous tower at the center of the station, this area houses Engineering at the "bottom", Operations Central in the "middle" (along with the Detention Center, Sickbay, and Weapons Control), and the crew's dedicated spacedock on "top". The crew has a small shuttle, small cargo hauler, and ancient, patchwork fighter/interceptor at their disposal.
7) External Spaceports: Capable of handling anything up to medium-sized, frigate-type ships. Offers support for repairs (though not as extensive as a larger spacedock would), and There are 4 such docks on the External Ring, but Xerxes' current crew would be hard-pressed to service 4 incoming ships at once.
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In addition, I'm thinking of having the Commander or designated player roll a 3d6 each month vs. a difficulty check of 10. The 10 represents the amount of profit/wealth needed to preserve normal upkeep to the base. Here's the fun part: for each windfall, good business deal, or cut of the action they get during that month, they get to add a +1 to the roll. For each setback, bad deal, or poor business decision made, they put a -1 towards that roll. So a good month might see them roll 3d6+3, but a bad month might put them at 3d6-2. If they fail the check, stuff start sot break (more than usual, anyhow), systems fail, and everyone's job gets harder. A +2 or more over the check can be partially invested, used for station upgrades, governmental bribes, or represent crew bonuses. Still in development, but I'm curious to see how it'd work.
You need to get that O'Neill book that explored the workings of a space colony/station very much like your design.
There was also a good National Geographic article in 1976 that had excellent illustration of just this kind of structure.
- Ed C.
Quote from: KoltarYou need to get that O'Neill book that explored the workings of a space colony/station very much like your design.
There was also a good National Geographic article in 1976 that had excellent illustration of just this kind of structure.
- Ed C.
Sez I to myself, "I knew Ed'd be the man to ask on this"... :)
Thanks! I know you run a sci-fi campaign--any involvement with space station plots/experiences you'd throw out there?
I've sent you Papageniopolis Station, Zachary. Might have some ideas you could use.
-clash.
Quote from: flyingmiceI've sent you Papageniopolis Station, Zachary. Might have some ideas you could use.
-clash.
Sweetness. I'll take a look right away! TY!
You might want to snag S John Ross' Points in Space Volume 1: Starport Locations (http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/points.htm), which is pretty good.
Pick up a copy of Colonies in Space by T.A. Heppenheimer. Its out of print, so you'll have to use Amazon.com, but it has all of the information you could ever want on space stations.
EDIT: The Docks
If this thing uses centrifugal force to simulate gravity, having docks on the outer ring is the worst idea possible because of difficulty of docking with a spinning station and the difficulty of holding the ship there once it has docked.
Otherwise, if it uses gravity generators or some other way of generating artificial gravity, why make it shaped like a ring? It can be any shape you desire.
Quote from: KoltarThere was also a good National Geographic article in 1976 that had excellent illustration of just this kind of structure.
- Ed C.
Its called a Stanford Torus.
Quote from: jeff37923Pick up a copy of Colonies in Space by T.A. Heppenheimer. Its out of print, so you'll have to use Amazon.com, but it has all of the information you could ever want on space stations.
EDIT: The Docks
If this thing uses centrifugal force to simulate gravity, having docks on the outer ring is the worst idea possible because of difficulty of docking with a spinning station and the difficulty of holding the ship there once it has docked.
Otherwise, if it uses gravity generators or some other way of generating artificial gravity, why make it shaped like a ring? It can be any shape you desire.
Also, having the main habitation rings at a lower spin-gravity is an odd choice. Usually the outer ring is spun to a moderate gravity - say .3-.5 G - while the hub is at zero G. As one moves out from the hub, one hits higher and higher pseudo-G.
-clash
Quote from: jeff37923Its called a Stanford Torus.
Thanks, I forgot the name.
And it
WAS the T.A. Heppenheimer book that I was referring to.
Had it on my bookshelf for close to 25 years now.
- Ed C.
The Traveller adventure Death Station discusses using the curvature of the ring of the lab ship as cover. Gotta have that.
Quote from: jeff37923If this thing uses centrifugal force to simulate gravity, having docks on the outer ring is the worst idea possible because of difficulty of docking with a spinning station and the difficulty of holding the ship there once it has docked.
Otherwise, if it uses gravity generators or some other way of generating artificial gravity, why make it shaped like a ring? It can be any shape you desire.
I was thinking of getting hand-wavey with it, with some sort of gravity generator.
As far as the shape, I think its one that'd be sort of familiar to the players through many of the sci-fi operations, and as a lower-end clunky old station, I was thinking that the various rings were part of a modular design/addition. But nothing's firm yet.
Quote from: Zachary The FirstI was thinking of getting hand-wavey with it, with some sort of gravity generator.
As far as the shape, I think its one that'd be sort of familiar to the players through many of the sci-fi operations, and as a lower-end clunky old station, I was thinking that the various rings were part of a modular design/addition. But nothing's firm yet.
It makes plenty of sense if its an old spinning station that was then retrofitted with gravity generators. That would solve the spinning docking problem as well.
Quote from: jeff37923It makes plenty of sense if its an old spinning station that was then retrofitted with gravity generators. That would solve the spinning docking problem as well.
That's a good angle to take--thanks for the help!
And clash, I've been getting a lot of good stuff from Ye Olde FM #016 (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=3456&it=1). I really liked the bit about the 3 different types of habitation--something I was tinkering with myself. Thank you for its use. :)
Quote from: KoltarThere was also a good National Geographic article in 1976 that had excellent illustration of just this kind of structure.
By Isaac Asimov, if memory serves me.
If you do stick with centrifugal pseudogravity, then in addition to the objections to having the residential section in the low gravity area, I think you'd also prefer not have the plants in the high gravity area--though I'm not really sure what's currently known/hypothesized by scientists about how well plants will grow in low gravity, I remember reading old SF speculation about the giant lettuces we'd be able to grow and such.
I do like the idea of the station having been refit, though.
BTW check this out: http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/SpaceSettlement/70sArt/art.html
This was the type featured in Nat Geo, .....similar to the station diagram that starts this thread :
(http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/SpaceSettlement/70sArt/AC75-1086-1q.jpeg)
Quote from: KoltarThis was the type featured in Nat Geo, .....similar to the station diagram that starts this thread :
(http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/SpaceSettlement/70sArt/AC75-1086-1q.jpeg)
Yup, looks like Don Dixon artwork.
Quote from: Zachary The FirstThat's a good angle to take--thanks for the help!
And clash, I've been getting a lot of good stuff from Ye Olde FM #016 (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=3456&it=1). I really liked the bit about the 3 different types of habitation--something I was tinkering with myself. Thank you for its use. :)
NP, Zach! Glad it was of use! :D
-clash