[quote=@Willy Vereb] Not hard to guess when I consistently done the same. I just wish to use them properly in an NRP for a change. Anyways, are those concepts on space combat are set in stone? I mean missiles with terminal guidance are neat but coilguns? They are far from non-viable but calling them the mainline direct weapons instead of lasers and particle cannons seems a bit off. Also the idea of line battles sits oddly with me. Something closer to submarines or oversized fighter jets seems a closer approximation for space combat. Of course people should be free to try some mildly space opera fun. Speaking of which, how durable are the warships? Realistic as in paper thin and easy to destroy or they take multiple hits and behave more like naval ships in this sense? [/quote] They're not set in stone, but I personally think they're fairly sensible. A railgun projectile capable of changing course is better than a laser at the extreme ranges which most engagements will take place. We're talking ranges measured not in kilometers, but in light seconds. The ability to correct targeting errors and respond to dodging is essential to get any hits in. As ships close in, however, lasers obviously become superior to railguns and take over as the main armament. Basically, railguns are for the first part of a battle, while lasers are for the "melee". Fairly related to this is the fact that, yes, ships act like naval vessels in durability. Since the asteroid belt is being heavily exploited by now and (somewhat unrealistically) strong fusion drives exist, ships can be built using heavy materials in space and therefore armored. Advanced active-defense exist too, things like CIWS and plasma arcs (which we're experimenting with right now for shrapnel defense-they basically just make a short-lived arc of plasma close to the armor of whatever they're protecting to intercept projectiles) which definitely increase survivability. Line battles are what I chose because upscaled fighter combat wouldn't work all that well with warships massive enough to take multiple hits using armor, and submarine warfare is largely focused around (what are in space) missiles and the importance of detection and stealth. Which, of course, is impossible if a ship is using its engines or firing its weapons. They're not exactly traditional line battles where a bunch of tall ships slug it out at ranges so close you can swing to to other on a torn sail, rather two lines of vessels that are individually making erratic movements to evade enemy fire while trying to close to effective laser distance and make sure the enemy can't use their own lasers. Doing battle at close ranges only makes little sense for an attacker, who would have to close a huge amount of distance while under fire. Missiles and railguns (which smart projectiles, of course) become useful at light second ranges, while lasers need to be closer to hit effectively. [hider] [b]Faction Name:[/b] People's Republic of the Belt (PRB, Communist Belt, The Republic) [b]Faction Government:[/b] The People's Republic of the Belt is led by the Belter Communist Party, and functions as a single-party oligarchy. The official head of state is the President, but total power is granted to the People's Senate. Representatives in the People's Senate are elected by representatives in Regional Councils, which are elected by representatives in Local Councils. The President is elected by the People's Senate. Generally, representatives in the People's Senate are rich industrialists and bribe the Regional Councils to keep themselves in power. The President, meanwhile, functions as nothing more than a mouthpiece for the People's Senate. Though the PRB is officially a Socialist State, there are few restrictions on the power of corporations and labor laws are practically nonexistent. [b]Territory/Claims:[/b] The People's Republic of the Belt claims a large portion (Approx. 10% total territory) of the inhabited Asteroid Belt, with its capital on Ceres. Its few core bodies are heavily populated metropolises, but as one moves further away from Ceres the populations get sparser and sparser until there are only small mining outposts. Most of the heavier populated asteroids rely on imports of ice for water and oxygen, while specifically designated "breadbasket" asteroids and stations maintain artificial ecosystems to keep atmospheric equilibrium. Ceres is the largest and heaviest populated body in the PRB, and its city of Saltsgaver which serves as the capital of the Republic is the largest city in the nation. Interestingly, most of the more densely populated bodies are inhabited by lower class workers while the middle class can be found in the much smaller, post-industrial cities that act as the capitals of "breadbasket" farming asteroids such as Elon (one of the oldest hollow asteroid colonies) and Sydney. [b]Culture:[/b] The People's Republic inherited much of American culture, as the original colonies were founded by the American SpaceX corporation. Colonists were restricted to those deemed "Pure Americans" out of a belief of American supremacy-the idea being that the American dream and spirit would drive the colonies to success. Despite the revolution including a fairly large number of Chinese colonies, over the years the sheer number of American descendants cemented it as the clearly dominant culture. However, the early attempts of the Republic to distance itself from Earth are clear. Solresol-a constructed language considered alien enough by the founder to show favor to neither Chinese nor English-is taught in schools, printed on all products, and used at official government functions. It's simplified script-seven colors used to represent the conventional musical notes upon which the language is based-is considered an easy bridge between the minority Chinese and majority English speakers. Exported products usually have it printed on them as well, making the simple color-based script representative of the nation as a whole. Furthermore, traditional communist iconography can be found throughout the nation including some "Saltsgaverist" symbolism. Aside from the requisite red, hammers, and sickles of any degenerated socialist nation, many older buildings are constructed around Saltsgaver's personal philosophy. The Council chamber, for example, is a zero-g chamber without any area for representatives to sit or stand. As such, they simply float in the chamber without any sense of up or down-making it impossible to consider anyone "above" or "below" anyone else. Furthermore, the Ansbach Auditorium on Ceres has a central stage placed well below all of the seating. The auditorium was used by the early Presidents of the Republic for addresses, the idea being that it showed the President as below or inferior to the people-making them out to be a servant rather than a ruler. The fact that no official has used it in a century is used as a sign of the Republic's decay. Other traditional "Saltsgaverist" iconography include various works of art that curiously represent Biblical events, a remnant of the highly devout rule of President Saltsgaver. In the capital building's lobby there is a painting depicting Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross, and in Ceres Spaceport there is a massive mural of Saint Cristopher carrying the child Jesus across a river. Saltsgaver was a Christian Socialist who believed that communism was ultimately the will of God, and it shows. Though in modern times religion has completely disappeared from the middle and upper classes, Christianity is still widely popular among the lower classes (which, of course, makes it seen as a fool's belief by the better-off). It is, however, heavily influence by Saltsgaver's own beliefs and lacks essentially all of the once controversial beliefs that created early 21st century social struggle. Any modern Belter priest will happily tell you about the overturning of the moneylending tables, but he will most definitely refer to any passage calling for the stoning of homosexuals or wives that talk back as "bourgeoisie and blueblood propaganda meant to divide the working class". Though the actual ideals of communism are rejected by the middle and upper classes, they are still very much alive in the lower classes. All that keeps them in line is the good living standard relative to other lower classes offered by the Republic, as well as the remaining empty promises of a future utopia made by politicians who themselves own the very corporations they speak against. [b]History:[/b] A summary of the faction’s history, pretty straightforward. Start around the colonial era depending on when it was involved (a lunar nation's history would begin with the founding of the first colony in its territory, while an Earth nation's would start from when it became involved in space colonization). Remember that most of early colonization (up until the deeper parts of the asteroid belt) was done by corporations here. [b]Technology:[/b] An overview of the faction’s technological capabilities. Keep in mind the general scale I outlined. If there are any questions, PM me. [b]Military:[/b] Just your military capabilities. You can include equipment descriptions if you want to, but don't try to sneak by a Wave Motion Gun or something. [/hider]