[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/9XUh0gF.png?1[/img][/center] [hr] [center][url=https://discord.gg/JV43cbX][img]https://i.imgur.com/lRPmJFD.png?1[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=parallelcampaign.wikia.com][img]https://i.imgur.com/0mya8II.png?1[/img][/url][/center] [center][[[ [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/169196-the-parallel-campaign-an-expansive-spacefaring-rpg-revamped/ooc]Interest Check[/url] ]]][/center] [hr] [center][i]The bright star of the Solomon system lay near the horizon, slowly dipping down beneath the crest of distant mountains, sending shades of luminous gold, brilliant pink and streaks of green across the evening sky, reflecting off the glass towers of Ipsum. In Hyperion’s capital city, things were relatively normal. It was an evening like any other; Viveni and Kyrema milling about amongst the street-gardens, Humans and Kraians heading to their homes to relax, Jazekii returning to their palaces on the fringes of the city, and the whole mix of alien races spilling out into the clubs and restaurants and bars as the nightlife of Ipsum began in full swing. But as the stars began twinkling into existence in the night sky, one by one, those who looked up to admire them could not help but remember the turmoil faced by those more distant and less fortunate. Across the stars, war with the Colossus still brewed, and the systems of the Collective, protected by the Vanguard, grew fewer in number as the Colossus overwhelmed and occupied and conquered. But those on Hyperion, those in Solomon, were safe. For the time being.[/i][/center] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/YYaiiWq.png?2[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZyoIHN7.png?1[/img][/center] [hr] [color=gold][center][h1]* * *[/h1][/center][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://imgur.com/MsdWySQ.png?3[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wC7UtAC.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] A thousand years from now, we witness the rise and potential fall of the [color=gold][b]Collective[/b][/color]; an alliance of alien races, banded together to battle the perils of scarcity and need. Technologically advanced and living in a new age of enlightenment, the Collective enjoyed a utopian existence for thousands of years. The [color=gold][b]Vanguard[/b][/color], the Collective’s protective forces, faced little challenge for eons. Recently, an army, operating out of the darkness of interstellar space, has cropped up to threaten the Collective. This army, deemed the [color=gold][b]Colossus[/b][/color], draws its resources from under the Collective’s very nose, and seems to grow with each day. The Colossus strikes irregularly, conquering systems and cutting them off from the rest of the Collective. Their intentions unknown, and with the the Vanguard’s forces waning, the Collective has seen fit to withdraw their forces inward and cut off the bridges that link systems. The Collective’s capital system, Solomon, now isolated, sits and waits as the Vanguard brainstorms its next move… or as the Colossus continues edging ever closer. [hr] [color=gold][center][h1]* * *[/h1][/center][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Gvfo3e5.png?2[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/iQmM9cZ.png?1][/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] Players may RP in one of several [url=http://parallelcampaign.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Factions]factions[/url] and as one of several [url=http://parallelcampaign.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Alien_Species]alien races[/url]. The list is limited for now but will expand as the game does. Your goal as an RPer is whatever you choose - are you a Collective citizen, biding your time until the Colossus shows up? Perhaps a member of the Vanguard, ready to strike out at the Colossus wherever needed? Or are you a simple trader of the Tyche Concord, getting mixed up in a war that is not your own? The choice is [b]yours[/b] and where this adventure takes you is in your hands. Remember to check the [url=http://parallelcampaign.wikia.com/wiki/The_Parallel_Campaign_Wiki]Wiki[/url] as it is updated for information on the Races, Technology, Factions, etc. of the universe. [hr] [color=gold][center][h1]* * *[/h1][/center][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/P0wyRuC.png?2[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][h2][color=gold]Rules[/color][/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MgeTWHb.png?1[/img][/center] [list] [*]1. No Godmodding, metagaming, powergaming, et cetera. Exercise basic common sense and be courteous to your fellow players, please. [*]2. Please don't try to make one alien race have sex with a different alien race. And on top of that let's keep it PG-13 in terms of romance, okay? [*]3. Please RP only in the locations that are available and readily apparent; only as the races listed (the list will expand later); and only in the factions available (again, the list will expand later). [*]4. If you have trouble understanding something or otherwise need direction, please indicate so and I will offer assistance and/or direction. [*]5. Always consult the Wiki first if you need to know something. [*]6. Original art preferred. [*]7. Player feedback, art, and expansions to the lore and Wiki are always welcome. Just be sure to check in with me first. [*]8. Adherence to a measure of realism is recommended. [*]9. Please denote where exactly your character is at the beginning of each post. A simple System-Planet-Location breakdown is generally the best way to go. [*]10. Try to have some fun. [/list] [hr] [color=gold][center][h2]* * *[/h2][/center][/color] [hr] [center][h2][color=gold]Character Sheet[/color][/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MvitfMA.png?1[/img][/center] [color=gold][b]Name:[/b][/color] (Get as creative as you like) [color=gold][b]Species:[/b][/color] (Please select only one of the species listed in the Quick Reference post) [color=gold][b]Age:[/b][/color] (Remember, Collective Citizens (and former ones too) live forever, so some could be very old. Check the next post for a quick reference guide.) [color=gold][b]Sex:[/b][/color] (Up to you.) [color=gold][b]Appearance:[/b][/color] (Also up to you, but remember the limits of your species.) [color=gold][b]History:[/b][/color] (Keep it brief.) [color=gold][b]Personality:[/b][/color] (What makes your character interesting?) [color=gold][b]Allegiance:[/b][/color] (Please select only one of the playable factions from the Quick Reference section.) [color=gold][b]Personal Effects:[/b][/color] (What belongings do you keep on your person?) [color=gold][b]Other:[/b][/color] (Anything else you want to note.) [hider=Code][quote][center][code][b]Name:[/b] [b]Species:[/b] [b]Age:[/b] [b]Sex:[/b] [b]Appearance:[/b] [b]History:[/b] [b]Personality:[/b] [b]Allegiance:[/b] [b]Personal Effects:[/b] [b]Other:[/b][/code][/center][/quote][/hider] [hr] [color=gold][center][h2]* * *[/h2][/center][/color] [hr] [center][h2][color=gold]Writing Style[/color][/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/WXslMDr.png?1[/img][/center] I’m not too strict in terms of length of posts. Yes, I know this is advanced, but I don’t expect everyone to write a novel every time they post. I’m in Advanced because this RPG has a rich lore and I expect people to stick to it. Writing just a paragraph won’t bother me. Writing a novel won’t bother me. Just don’t hold it against others. Personally, I like to keep it brief and succinct. [hr] [color=gold][center][h1]* * *[/h1][/center][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ImEMMdJ.png?2[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/lsBv1Ua.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center]Here, the story's Arcs and Chapters will be summarized.[/center] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/LZwCuUh.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4oQFzEN.png?1[/img][/center] [center][hider=Chapter 1 - The Liberation of Jurole] [color=gold][h3]Chapter 1 - The Liberation of Jurole[/h3][/color] No summary yet, complete this chapter first. [/hider][/center] [hr] [color=gold][center][h1]* * *[/h1][/center][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/j3qm9p0.png?2[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/5HOexUA.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [hider=Show/Hide Q&A] [color=gold][b]Q: How did the Collective put wormholes across the galaxy?[/b][/color] A: They loaded micro-sized wormholes into Von-Neumann-type probes, which they sent all over the galaxy at ten thousand times the speed of light, over a few thousand years. When an appropriate system for colonization was found, the probe would release the micro-wormhole and the Collective, from one of their home systems, would increase the negative energy density inside the wormhole from their end. Rinse and repeat, and you have an interstellar highway. [color=gold][b]Q: Does the Collective occupy ALL of the space within its 'borders' on the galaxy map?[/b][/color] A: No. As above, they only occupy the most interesting and habitable systems. Essentially, they're seed colonies. Once they get a Bridge (wormhole) up to a new system, they colonize that system, and also colonize the few stars immediately in the vicinity to that new system. These adjacent star systems are called Frontier Colonies, and can only be reached via a few days' worth of travel by XC-Drive. [color=gold][b]Q: How high-ranking can my character be?[/b][/color] A: Don't go above Commander. I don't want any characters with enough authority to order the mass bombardment of any planet. [color=gold][b]Q: Do AI control only one robotic body at a time?[/b][/color] A: No, not usually. That can be the case sometimes, but usually AI control multiple drones at once. [color=gold][b]Q: Wait, are neural implants mandatory?[/b][/color] A: For Collective citizens and members of the Vanguard, yes. [color=gold][b]Q: How old is the Collective?[/b][/color] A: Around 2500 years in the past from the time this story takes place (so about 1500 years ago IRL), the Krai and Kyrema signed the Collective Compact, and thus this new superpower began. [color=gold][b]Q: Why can't my character pilot a starfighter?[/b][/color] A: Primarily because I like realism and have tried to infuse it into this story as much as possible. In reality, a starfighter is essentially like a flying missile. They'd get shot down by the laser targeting systems of larger ships in an instant. Putting a person in one is a death sentence, and nobody would do that. The Collective doesn't like to waste lives, so they use dispensable drone fighters. They're too small to have effective XC-Drives, and they're [i]typically[/i] not really much faster than the larger ships, so they tend to swarm together to deliver combined fire on an enemy ship, or they protect their mothership by shielding it or using their weapons as extra point-defense, or defense against enemy fighter drones. [color=gold][b]Q: Why are there no mecha?[/b][/color] A: Again, realism. Mecha would have way too many moving parts, thus more potential for failure. Their body shape is not practical for armor plating, either. Standing mecha also make for easy targets, too. Combine these and throw one on a battlefield, and that thing is gonna be out of commission in an instant. I'd prefer to have tanks, hovering vehicles, and wheeled vehicles, big or small. The treaded vehicles could also have the ability to raise themselves on protruding treads, to gain a little extra height if need be. [color=gold][b]Q: Why can't I use technology to make my character/ship go invisible?[/b][/color] A: Once again, realism. Invisibility is a fickle technology - one that we don't really know if we can actually pull off yet. Even if we could, it'd only be sort of effective from one side. I prefer not to get into this debate, as I feel it is also sort of overpowered. I don't need ships going invisible or players fighting and one can just disappear into thin air. There are other ways to do stealth, and I feel like it might be more of a fun challenge if invisibility wasn't a thing. [color=gold][b]Q: Why can I not be a realistic-looking android?[/b][/color] A: If you have a robot character that looks like a human, talks like a human, and acts like a human, why wouldn't you just play a human? Because the robot is smarter, stronger? So are the members of the Collective. They're genetically modified and have neural implants. You don't need to be an android to get those benefits. [color=gold][b]Q: Why aren't there shields?[/b][/color] A: For the last time, realism. Energy shield technology, like invisibility, is almost certainly not going to be a real technology that we can engineer. There are other ways to protect a spacecraft. Lasers and plasma? Your ship could have an array of emitters along its surface that generate a thin layer of plasma or localized magnetic fields to dissipate the energy. Projectiles and missiles? Use particle beams, either low-intensity to 'push' away incoming projectiles, or high-energy lasers to destroy missiles and drones. [color=gold][b]Q: Do holograms exist in this universe?[/b][/color] A: Yes and no. No, because hologram technology is really impractical and almost certainly impossible to pull off without having projectors, screens and mirrors all over the place. Instead, Collective citizens can see holograms, instantly translated text, and more through the augmented reality of their neural implants. [color=gold][b]Q: Why did you remove all these typical sci-fi conventions in the first place?[/b][/color] A: Because this isn't Star Wars, this isn't Star Trek, or Mass Effect, or Battlestar Galactica, et cetera. It takes elements from these things, but what I've crafted here is something that ignores these conventions for the sake of realism and for the sake of challenge. I really believe that abstaining from these conventions and adhering to realism can be a fun, challenging breath of fresh air. I want players to feel directly engaged with what they are doing and I want them to experience the world I have meticulously crafted for over a decade. The most important thing is the ability to have fun. Despite the lack of these conventions, I believe fun is still a possibility. All I've done is replace some things you typically see, with other things you don't. I hope that makes this game fresh and interesting. [/hider] [hr] [color=gold][center][h1]* * *[/h1][/center][/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/cexiefG.png?2[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/EYN3Go9.png?1[/img][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/3AFhRUd.png?1[/img][/center] [center][url=http://parallelcampaign.wikia.com/wiki/The_Parallel_Campaign_Wiki]The Parallel Campaign Wiki[/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/DYn21eB.jpg?1]Galaxy Map (Image Link)[/url] [url=https://mega.nz/#!c6xiCLKb!dky4ThmJIY0TFxJ9J7nNqE65vfGwRvOiHPeYWDR3NJA]Solomon System Map (Download)[/url][/center] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QeNVQaz.png?1[/img][/center] [hr]