Character Creation
Okay so follow these rules, alongside SWN creation steps, when making your character (Character Sheets will be done on Roll20):
- Party will all start at level two, or 3 total exp in game terms. (So you guys don't get OHK'd first thing)
- No alien races or true AI allowed... for now. :)
- Stats will be decided by rolling 4d6b3 six times and arrange it accordingly to your desired stats. You may pick one roll to raise to 10.
- Please choose a homeworld from below.
- In order to make it easier to involve the party more personally with the story, please use the knife theory when making your character. The thread suggests 7 knives as the right amount, but I'm content with 3-5 knives.
- Feel free to speak with everyone else and come up with ideas that bind a relationship between each others characters!
Campaign Details
This campaign will be an
episodic sandbox campaign, meaning:
- Player initiative drives the direction of the story in a sandbox setting.
- It will be episodic in nature, meaning there will be no over-arching storyline, but rather a series of short to medium adventures featuring the same cast of character. Think Cowboy Bebop.
- Brainstorm with the group as to why you are all together and what your goal as a collective is. (eg. military, mercenaries, bounty hunters, traders, etc)
- Party will start with a "beginner's map" and will have to fill in the uncharted systems. I don't know how this will be given yet.
- In the background of the party's adventures, SWN also has a neat solo GM minigame where periodically I can resolve the actions of factions in the setting to see what they do next (whether it be expand their influence, invade, or sabotage a rival)
- Resolutions of this faction mini-game, as well as other news, will be posted on the News Board whenever you have access to a galactic news network and there are new stories. (This will probably be on Roll20)
There is no set end for this campaign, however if you grow bored of you character, you are free to retire them and make a new one! All of these are open to change if the group has any objections.
Setting Overview
The overall tone to this setting will be a blend of sub-genres within the sci-fi genre; primarily soft sci-fi, cyberpunk, and a touch of dystopia. The setting overall will borrow elements from hard sci-fi, but there is no intention in committing to scientific accuracy.
Setting:
The premise of the setting follows the SWN setting albeit some personal changes. A cosmic catastrophe, known only as The Scream, severed the interstellar colonies of Old Earth, and plunged Mankind into an era of despair. Separated from their sibling colonies, the societies of Man either fell into ruin, or adapted to their new lifestyles without the support of galactic trade and travel. Seven centuries passed, and the stories of Old Earth have become fables; youthful tales of a grand civilization lost to the tides of time. Our setting takes place in a sliver of space known to the Old World as the Western Charter, and to its natives, as the Cobalt Cluster. While most of the sector lays unexplored, great societies have reclaimed the stars for themselves, and seek to reclaim the legacy of Mankind in their own vision.
Starting Area:
The starting adventure or general focus of the campaign can't really be made up, until the characters, their backgrounds, and the reasons for them working together are decided. But, in general, it will begin in the old deep-space station known as Grand Terminus Station. These steel caverns of neon foster a lawless society, where order is maintained in name only. Corporations, criminal groups, and foreign factions operate in these streets, to evade the enforcement they would suffer on their homeworlds. Within the confines of the "safe zones" where order is mutually agreed upon, peace exists as a veil. But in the darkest corridors and rooms of Terminus, greed and violence reigns above all.
Character Homeworlds
For character creation, you can consider choosing a Homeworld that your character comes from. Whatever homeworld you choose you gain their primary language, for use in the game (Common in this game is Old Terran):
Ferrol
Government
Systems Republic of Ferrol (Democracy)
Technology
TL4
Geography
Terra-formed agricultural wonder, Prairies, Temperate climate
Characteristics
Cultural Power, Medievalist, Naval Power
Cultural Values
Romanticism, Patriotism, Honor
Current Issues
Corruption, War Agitation (Hostile with Galactic Mandate)
Primary Language
Old Terran (Primarily English)
Evos
Government
New Galactic Mandate (Meritocracy(?))
Technology
TL4+
Geography
Corrosive Air, Barren, Inhospitable
Characteristics
Imperialistic, Cybercommunist, Inhabitants live in colossal self-sustaining towers known as "Platforms"
Cultural Values
Duty, Ingenuity, Community
Current Issues
Famine, Expansion(Maintaining conquered populations), War Agitation (Hostile with Systems Republic)
Primary Language
Mandate (Hybrid of Hungarian, Russian, English, and German)
Grand Terminus Station
Government
Enigmatic CROWN (Anarchist)
Technology
TL4
Geography
Deep-space station, Cyberpunk city
Characteristics
Anarchy, Trading Hub, Megacorporations
Cultural Values
Strength, Wealth, Courage
Current Issues
Hedonism, Apathy, Foreign influence
Primary Language
Cityspeak (Hybrid of Japanese, English, German, and Chinese)
New Versailles
Government
Royal Court of Versailles (Feudal)
Technology
TL2
Geography
Alpine, Mild to Cold Climate, Forests
Characteristics
Pleasure World, Serfdom, Mosaic of Royal Dynsaties
Cultural Values
Status, Chivalry, Faith
Current Issues
Social mobility, Decadence, Foreign Threat (Buffer zone between Systems Republic and Galactic Mandate)
Primary Language
Roman (Hybrid of Romance Languages)
