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Huge Space Objects in Sci-Fi

Started by HinterWelt, October 17, 2006, 11:49:58 AM

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RPGPundit

#15
October 17, 2006, 02:52:44 PM
One of these sorts of things that I've always loved using in my Sci-fi games is the really old patchwork spacestation. Basically, a totally ancient spacestation that was added-onto over the course of hundreds or thousands of years, with a total mix of technologies and cultural influences.  Makes for a really cool place to set an adventure (hell, there's probably some service ducts or sections of the station that are abandoned, and who knows what ancient things are in there? or what kind of illicit stuff goes on there?).

Another concept I really like is the gigantic artificial planet: like Weber's World in the Legion of Superheroes setting. I've been having some fun with it in my legion campaign, and plan to have more.

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ColonelHardisson

#16
October 17, 2006, 03:10:37 PM
I've always liked the idea of a huge starship, like a Star Wars Star Destroyer, being abandoned and having to be explored. There was an old WEG Star Wars adventure based on a Victory-class Star Destroyer which had been badly damaged and was in the process of going to pieces. I liked the basic concept, but the adventure was pretty linear (as I recall), and didn't give a lot of detail about the ship's interior.

Oddly, the ship in Metamorphosis Alpha kinda left me cold. I don't like when the inhabitants of a ship like that don't realize they're on a ship. If I ran it, I'd prefer the PCs were a crew sent to clear out and salvage the ship.
"Illegitimis non carborundum." - General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell

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jrients

#17
October 17, 2006, 03:16:46 PM
Quote from: ColonelHardissonOddly, the ship in Metamorphosis Alpha kinda left me cold. I don't like when the inhabitants of a ship like that don't realize they're on a ship. If I ran it, I'd prefer the PCs were a crew sent to clear out and salvage the ship.

There's a variant MA starting scenario in an old Dragon.  IIRC the basic idea is that you're the emergency crew awakened from cold sleep a few centuries too late.
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ColonelHardisson

#18
October 17, 2006, 03:19:37 PM
Quote from: jrientsThere's a variant MA starting scenario in an old Dragon.  IIRC the basic idea is that you're the emergency crew awakened from cold sleep a few centuries too late.

Yeah, I vaguely remember that. I'll have to check my Dragon archive CD-ROM. I used the basic premise as the backstory I wrote for a prospective MA game I thought about after I got the Amazing Engine version of MA, Metamorphosis Alpha to Omega.
"Illegitimis non carborundum." - General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell

4e definitely has an Old School feel. If you disagree, cool. I won\'t throw any hyperbole out to prove the point.

Sosthenes

#19
October 17, 2006, 03:20:14 PM
I always liked the thought of colony ships drifting out there while the rest of the universe developed FTL travel. Especially living colonies as opposed to huge  cryogenic fridges. I think I had one of those in a Star Wars adventure when I was a wee bairn...
 

flyingmice

#20
October 17, 2006, 03:47:45 PM
Quote from: SosthenesI always liked the thought of colony ships drifting out there while the rest of the universe developed FTL travel. Especially living colonies as opposed to huge  cryogenic fridges. I think I had one of those in a Star Wars adventure when I was a wee bairn...

We have big slow colony boats in StarCluster, The fastest left the Earth last, and got to the Cluster first - taking 1200 years on the way. The slowest were launched first, and some have yet to reach the Cluster 500 years later, including the single ship from Alpha Centauri. Meanwhile, the first arrivals got the best planets, developed FTL drive, and sent out their own colonies. Who knows aht's been going on in those creaky old ships, drifting in space for some 1700 years...

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Settembrini

#21
October 17, 2006, 05:15:40 PM
caution non-canon:

My Traveller campaign ended on a Ringworld. The Ringworld Eden was constructed by the Atlantean-Protectors to hide humanity from the Ancients during the Earth-Ancient Wars, as well as protect humanity from the Empress Wave Device.  Sadly, Yaskodray  found out and planted the  superconductor disease.
While the players were racing halfway around the far frontiers sector, chasing the machinations of a nutty Psychohistorian, they found Eden.
In the end, two players decided to eat from the life-free. They became Atlantean-Protectors, figured that the 3I vs. Zho war wasn`t a big deal, and decided to go after Yaskodray to win the 300k-year-war once and for all instead.
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity

Dominus Nox

#22
October 18, 2006, 04:12:17 AM
Quote from: jrientsAdventure 12 - Secret of the Ancients

I have to say that "secrets of the anciets' is one of the few OT LBB products I have, and it was fairly disappointing as an adventure, it was more like a guided tour just to set up an official answer to all the ancient questions.
RPGPundit is a fucking fascist asshole and a hypocritial megadouche.

Settembrini

#23
October 18, 2006, 05:56:19 AM
QuoteI have to say that "secrets of the anciets' is one of the few OT LBB products I have, and it was fairly disappointing as an adventure, it was more like a guided tour just to set up an official answer to all the ancient questions.

Not if the players are Protectors, there to kill Grandfather!
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity

KenHR

#24
October 18, 2006, 10:58:36 AM
Quote from: Dominus NoxI have to say that "secrets of the anciets' is one of the few OT LBB products I have, and it was fairly disappointing as an adventure, it was more like a guided tour just to set up an official answer to all the ancient questions.

I think the folks at GDW weren't too happy with it, either.  I think Loren Wiseman wrote in some JTAS editorial that this module was a case of giving the fans what they wanted, and the fans discovering that some things are best kept mysterious.

Not that Secret of the Ancients is a particularly well-crafted adventure, but GDW put it out there because their customer base was pestering them to reveal the big secret that had only been glimpsed in the previous modules.  I think it's an amusing cautionary tale: listen to your fans, but think about what you're giving them before you give it.  Or...something.  I can't think of a nice pithy way to close this post.
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Dominus Nox

#25
October 18, 2006, 05:08:43 PM
Quote from: SettembriniNot if the players are Protectors, there to kill Grandfather!
You mean protectors like Niven's protectors?
RPGPundit is a fucking fascist asshole and a hypocritial megadouche.

jrients

#26
October 18, 2006, 05:13:02 PM
Quote from: KenHRI think the folks at GDW weren't too happy with it, either.  I think Loren Wiseman wrote in some JTAS editorial that this module was a case of giving the fans what they wanted, and the fans discovering that some things are best kept mysterious.

Not that Secret of the Ancients is a particularly well-crafted adventure, but GDW put it out there because their customer base was pestering them to reveal the big secret that had only been glimpsed in the previous modules.  I think it's an amusing cautionary tale: listen to your fans, but think about what you're giving them before you give it.  Or...something.  I can't think of a nice pithy way to close this post.

Of course GDW then ignored their fanbase and put out TNE.  So they were damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Jeff Rients
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Settembrini

#27
October 18, 2006, 05:33:14 PM
QuoteYou mean protectors like Niven's protectors?
What else could be fun?
If there can\'t be a TPK against the will of the players it\'s not an RPG.- Pierce Inverarity
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