Aetherball (Eee-therr Ball)

Spaceship Repair and Defense (SR&D), also known as Aether Ball, is a popular game played in the inner colonies and to a smaller extent in the Outer Colonies with modified rules for Aura users.
Many of the games rules reward players for their ability to navigate a microgravity environment and simulate useful skills used by space colonists in protecting and repairing real spaceships.

ARENA

The Aetherball arena is a unique sports complex housed within a rotating O'Neill Cylinder. Each 1000 foot long arena is constructed using lightweight and durable materials, such as carbon fiber composites and aluminum alloys, to minimize the weight and cost of construction while ensuring structural stability.
The arena features a playing field that is approximately 250 feet wide, allowing ample space for players to maneuver and spectators to observe the action. The cylinder is 750 feet in diameter, allowing for a comfortable 1G of Earth Gravity the farthest from the center and 0G at the center of its rotatonal axis.
The Aetherball arena is designed to maximize the viewing experience for fans, with observation balconies located on both end caps of the cylinder. These balconies offer unobstructed views of the playing field and allow fans to witness the action up close. In addition to the observation balconies, the end caps also feature seating areas, concession stands, and docking stations for personal spacecraft.
The playing field is located in the center of the cylinder and is surrounded by a network of cables and nets that prevent the Aetherballs from escaping into the rest of the cylinder. The players wear special suits that allow them to move and navigate in microgravity, and are equipped with special glasses that provide real-time updates on the status of their targets, fuel levels, and other critical information. The Aetherball arena is a true engineering marvel that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in both sports and space technology.

How To Play

Spaceship Repair and Defense is a mostly zero-gravity sport in which two teams of five players compete to repair their spaceship and defend it from attack. The game is played on a large, open space inside an O'Neil cylinder. The gravity is lower towards the center of the cylinder, but higher in the outer parts.
Each team has 2 players with jet packs, and the other 3 players have ball pits located on the perimeter of the cylinder. The goal of the game is to be the first team to seal all of the air leaks on your ship or eliminate all of the opposing team's players.
To seal an air leak, a player must use their jet pack to reach the leak and then use a sealant to close it. The other team can try to prevent you from sealing the leaks by shooting balls or foreign objects at you. If you are hit by a ball or foreign object, you will be knocked back and will have to start over.
The game is scored by the number of air leaks that each team has sealed and the number of opposing players that each team has eliminated. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Contact is allowed in this game, so players can push and shove each other to get to the leaks or to block shots. Drones are used as referees in this game. They will monitor the game and make sure that the rules are being followed.

Positions

There are three types of players in Spaceship Repair and Defense: engineers, strikers, and defenders.
Engineers: Engineers are responsible for repairing the spaceship. They use their jetpacks to move around the spaceship and their welding torches to seal the air leaks. *Strikers: Strikers are responsible for attacking the other team's targets. They use their jetpacks to move around the battlefield and their grappling hooks to zip between the targets they need to attack.
Defenders: Defenders are responsible for protecting their team's targets from being attacked. They use their jetpacks to move around the battlefield and their grappling hooks to zip between the targets they need to defend. They also use the fake space junk to block shots and provide cover.

PLAYING FIELD

The arena is also equipped with a number of obstacles, such as asteroids, space junk, and meteors. These obstacles can be used for cover or to block shots.
Spaceship Repair and Defense is a fast-paced and exciting sport that requires a high level of skill and teamwork. It is a great way to get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Scoring

There are 5 targets on each side's spaceship (2 in front and 2 on the sides) and 5 leaks in total. Each target hit earns one point and each leak sealed earns 5 points. The game ends when all leaks are sealed and points are tallied. It is recommended to wait to seal the last leak until your team has a lead. A team can also lose by having all players eliminated.

Skills Required

• Move quickly and efficiently in zero gravity. This requires good spatial awareness and the ability to control their body in a weightless environment.
• Use a variety of tools and equipment, including jetpacks, grappling hooks, and welding torches. Players must be able to use these tools safely and effectively.
• Communicate effectively with their teammates using headsets. This is essential for coordinating repairs and defending the spaceship, requiring a balance of offense and defense.
• In addition to these physical and mental skills, players must also have a strong stomach. The game is played in zero gravity, so players will experience a feeling of nausea and dizziness. This can be challenging to overcome, but it is an essential part of the game.
• Being able to grapple not just with the grappling hooks but holding onto handhold located on the ship similar to how Rock climbers do with climbing exercises:

Spaceship Repair and Defense is a challenging and rewarding sport that is perfect for those who enjoy physical activity and teamwork. It is also a great way to learn about the challenges of space travel.