Is it encouraged to show off our gaming materials here?
Last weekend, my group and I got started on our upcoming Starblazer Adventures campaign. Everyone drew up characters, and then we ran through the "collaborative campaign creation" phase. This is where you get out a sheet of paper, everyone takes turns drawing bits on a map, then adds names and aspects for various planets and zones.
When it was over, I had a big, messy hand-drawn map, which I redrew in Inkscape and made it look pretty. And I just wanted to show it off, because I think it turned out pretty good.
Linked because it's too big to show inline. (http://worldwithoutsyn.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/trade_expanse_free.jpg)
I don't know what half this stuff is going to be yet, really, but that's part of the fun. I dig the collaborative campaign thing SA has going on. And I'm loving Inkscape. This is my third go-round with the software (here's a previous map I did with Inkscape (http://www.dimfuture.net/rpg/wws/core_map_v1.png)), and it rocks.
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;379968Is it encouraged to show off our gaming materials here?
Yes.
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;379968When it was over, I had a big, messy hand-drawn map, which I redrew in Inkscape and made it look pretty. And I just wanted to show it off, because I think it turned out pretty good.
Linked because it's too big to show inline. (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/ticopelp/trade_expanse_dark.jpg)
Understatement of the month. Your map rocks, dude. :)
Pretty sweet! Is the descriptor of the individual planets part of the game rules or just something your guys came up with?
I love it.
It's beautiful, and the short descriptions (are they Aspects?) for each planet (or are they star systems? Clusters?) are very evocative, and push all the right buttons with me.
I'd play the hell out of it.
In fact I might setal it, if only to show the players what SBA collaborative setting creation should look like...
:hatsoff:
Quote from: BenoistYour map rocks, dude.
Thanks!
Quote from: Werekoala;379971Pretty sweet! Is the descriptor of the individual planets part of the game rules or just something your guys came up with?
Aspects are part of the game rules, just meant as general descriptors for things to convey feel, and also usable in-game for adding bonuses or compelling actions. I only did a few of these, the play group did the vast majority.
Quote from: The Butcher;379972It's beautiful, and the short descriptions (are they Aspects?) for each planet (or are they star systems? Clusters?) are very evocative, and push all the right buttons with me.
The big yellow dots are star systems, and the tiny gray dots are planets. I'm trying to decide how to handle multiple planets per system without making the map look too cluttered, so right now I'm just using the Star Wars cheat of one system = one planet.
Quote from: The Butcher;379972In fact I might setal it, if only to show the players what SBA collaborative setting creation should look like...
Thanks! Feel free.
By the way, if any of you are feeling inspired and have any interesting ideas on how to fill out some of these areas with juicy detail, I'd love to hear them. In most cases the name and the aspect is really all I have so far.
Awesome stuff. How did you make the map?
These rules really capture the spirit of the Starblazer space opera comics.
The map and names reminded me a little of the Firefly universe too mixed with Star Trek.
Quote from: Silverlion;380056Awesome stuff. How did you make the map?
Inkscape. (http://www.inkscape.org/) Surprisingly easy, too, after a few tutorials. The background image is swiped from Deviantart. The rest is just lines and polygons.
Quote from: Lawbag;380071The map and names reminded me a little of the Firefly universe too mixed with Star Trek.
Firefly was a big influence. Everyone in the play group is a fan, and even the crew composition is a bit Serenity-ish.
Very cool. I really like the Hitchiker's Guide style one line tags for the different worlds. So how do they come into play as Aspects in the rules? The whole planet is tagged?
Quote from: John Morrow;380131Very cool. I really like the Hitchiker's Guide style one line tags for the different worlds. So how do they come into play as Aspects in the rules? The whole planet is tagged?
In Starblazer corporations, governments and big organizations work just like characters. They have skills, stress and aspects. So they can get into conflicts (wars, industrial sabotage, etc.) and cause stress on another, and yeah, aspects can be tagged in those conflicts.
It sounds like it could be cool, but I haven't tried it out yet. For right now the aspects are just descriptors.
Awesome - that is such a cool map! :D :worship:
The planetary aspects are brilliant - really evocative, you can really feel the potential.
Cheeky question: would you mind if we linked to your starmap from the Starblazer Adventures webpage? I think it's an absolutely awesome example of the Collaborative Campaign creation rules (and a gorgeous map to boot). With full credits and praise, natch! :)
Cheers,
Sarah
Awesome stuff IM, I do think I've got Inkscape here. Not that I can use it in such an elegant manner. Though I can use photoshop.
Might be fun to cook up a star map for E.o.N
Quote from: Shaira;380212Cheeky question: would you mind if we linked to your starmap from the Starblazer Adventures webpage? I think it's an absolutely awesome example of the Collaborative Campaign creation rules (and a gorgeous map to boot). With full credits and praise, natch! :)
Mind? I'd be delighted. Link away, please!
Quote from: Silverlion;380218Awesome stuff IM, I do think I've got Inkscape here. Not that I can use it in such an elegant manner. Though I can use photoshop.
Might be fun to cook up a star map for E.o.N
I'd love to see it if you do.
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;379968Is it encouraged to show off our gaming materials here?
It definitely is. And your map is great.
RPGPundit
Fascinating
awesome map - amazing to see people just 'get it' and produce incredible results like that!
Neat stuff; info inbound (at least later today) on my take on something from the map per request. Use as desired or deride as necessary.
Things like this is why I love sci-fi.
Thanks for putting this out there for public consumption.
So what is the function of governments/organisations having aspects?
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;380597So what is the function of governments/organisations having aspects?
In FATE if you "tag" or invoke an aspect of someone or something, you can get a bonus in conflict against it if you pay a fate point. In Starblazer, organizations have skills and stress just like characters.
So if a mercenary company was carrying out a raid against a rival organization and had an aspect of "experimental military hardware," they could pay a fate point and get a bonus against whomever they're raiding.
They're also useful as just general descriptors.
Quote from: Ghost Whistler;380597So what is the function of governments/organisations having aspects?
For one thing, as Descriptors. For another, you can tag the aspect and use it. Example - A government has the aspect "Feels Your Pain". You have been robbed. You tag that aspect to try to make the government do something about it.
-clash
Added: Cross posted with IM!
Based on some scribblings from last week's session, I put together a space station map in Inkscape. Once again, I think the collaborative aspects really worked out. I can't wait for my players to see this. :)
Once again linked because it's huge. (http://worldwithoutsyn.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/shanga_final.png)
Just wonderful. Got room for another at the table? It'd have to be via Skype, of course.. ;)
Keep the good stuff coming and I just might have to buy the game.
Quote from: Werekoala;381479Just wonderful. Got room for another at the table? It'd have to be via Skype, of course.. ;)
Keep the good stuff coming and I just might have to buy the game.
Thanks a lot! I'd love to say yes, but I've already got six players -- I don't think I could handle another. ;)
I've been experimenting a little with using Diaspora's cluster system to indicate trade and diplomatic ties, rather than slipstreams:
http://worldwithoutsyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/cluster_map1.png
I'm trying to decide if this is a good idea or just an eyesore.
I statted up a carrier ship (http://worldwithoutsyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/tribulation_green.png) and made a quick illustration in Inkscape. Vaguely based on the Von Braun (http://www.strangebedfellows.de/index.php?topic=259.0) from System Shock 2.
Again, way too big to show inline (http://worldwithoutsyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/tribulation_green.png).
I made a new space station map. (http://worldwithoutsyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/spire_prodigus.jpg)
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;411450I made a new space station map. (http://worldwithoutsyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/spire_prodigus.jpg)
Yoink!
That will make an awesome Star Wars Spire Station. Thank you, Sir. Awesome work.
Quote from: Benoist;411453Yoink!
That will make an awesome Star Wars Spire Station. Thank you, Sir. Awesome work.
Thanks, and my pleasure. Let me know if you want a version with the text removed -- it would take only moments to make.
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;411454Thanks, and my pleasure. Let me know if you want a version with the text removed -- it would take only moments to make.
Just thought about Deathwatch, and Gamma World too! LOL I should be able to edit the thing myself, but you never know - I'll keep your proposition in mind, IM. Thanks. :)
Oh. What fonts did you use for it?
Quote from: Benoist;411458Oh. What fonts did you use for it?
Telegrafico and Babylon 5, both free on dafont.com I believe.
I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with this, but it fits my Spire thing going on throughout my settings so, I'm pretty sure I'm going to actually use it. Whatever I come up with I'll make sure to post on the boards for everyone to enjoy. :)
I really like the way the shadow came out on this one. The contrast of it, you know?
Awesome, I look forward to seeing what you do with it.
Okay, moving to Echo Hotel.
Seriously, great work on the starmap, the ships and the space stations. I told myself I wasn't going to pick up a new game before Christmas and now I'm going to pretty much blow that off. Thanks, Insufficient Metal. :)
Quote from: IceBlinkLuck;411581Okay, moving to Echo Hotel.
Seriously, great work on the starmap, the ships and the space stations. I told myself I wasn't going to pick up a new game before Christmas and now I'm going to pretty much blow that off. Thanks, Insufficient Metal. :)
Thanks a lot! Always glad to spread the word about the game.
The other things you posted are really cool, but the Spire Prodigus moves into the realm of the bad-assed. I sent a link off to the rest of my group for inspiration in our upcoming FATE games.
IM is a one-man SBA advertising team.
Dude, you realize the stuff you're just "throwing together" is better then what most companies produce with paid artists, right?
Yeah, that is a badass map.
Another inkscape user! :)
Quote from: CRKrueger;411633IM is a one-man SBA advertising team.
Dude, you realize the stuff you're just "throwing together" is better then what most companies produce with paid artists, right?
I'm bummed because the game I made that map for got canceled today, and this post made my day quite a bit brighter. Thanks man.
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;411656I'm bummed because the game I made that map for got canceled today, and this post made my day quite a bit brighter. Thanks man.
Sorry you're bummed out, but could you consider doing a tutorial in inkscape on making this map?
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;411656I'm bummed because the game I made that map for got canceled today, and this post made my day quite a bit brighter. Thanks man.
Krueger's right, and you deserved a brighter day than this one. I'm sorry your game went down the drain.
Quote from: Cylonophile;411667Sorry you're bummed out, but could you consider doing a tutorial in inkscape on making this map?
You're not the first person to ask -- I'll try to put one together, maybe over what remains of the weekend.
Quote from: Benoist;411668Krueger's right, and you deserved a brighter day than this one. I'm sorry your game went down the drain.
Thanks Benoist. :)
IM, with the quality of stuff you've shown here, I'm amazed that Cubicle 7 isn't calling you up to put you on staff. I'd expect any of the various publishers that frequent this site to be lucky to have you.
RPGPundit
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;411656I'm bummed because the game I made that map for got canceled today, and this post made my day quite a bit brighter. Thanks man.
Hey, no problem, just telling the truth, your stuff is awesome, sorry you didn't get a chance to run that game today.
Quote from: RPGPundit;411799IM, with the quality of stuff you've shown here, I'm amazed that Cubicle 7 isn't calling you up to put you on staff. I'd expect any of the various publishers that frequent this site to be lucky to have you.
I've actually been talking with Sarah from C7, and I am working on something for them -- unfortunately nothing I can talk about at the moment, but I think it's going to be pretty cool. :D
Quote from: Insufficient Metal;411850I've actually been talking with Sarah from C7, and I am working on something for them -- unfortunately nothing I can talk about at the moment, but I think it's going to be pretty cool. :D
:worship:
Great news! Congratulations!
Well, very good.
RPGpundit
Well, well, well. What do you know right? Very cool, IM! :)
Sweet stuff, IM!
Thanks again (belatedly).
So, for those of you who might be interested, I found a few free hours this weekend and merged all my old maps into one big new map. I had to move a few things around in the galaxy, but overall I'm really happy with the results.
http://worldwithoutsyn.com/2011/01/first-full-map-of-the-wws-universe/
One of my players has a plan to print this out banner-size and hang it on the wall, where I think it will end up looking awesome.
That's quite good.
RPGPundit