Not my own words, but: "Enjoy memes and have a good time online, but develop a solid sense of self-worth that is rooted in a reality that doesn't disappear when the battery charge is empty."
@FosterI'm well aware of your fondness of Google-fu and enlightening everyone with technical data, and at times, it's fun and appreciated. I only ask that you dial it back a little in these sort of cases - when I put my GM pants on and make a decree, let's respect the issue and avoid pressing with more data that may not help the matter.
@pugbutterI've made a decision, let's let it stand. I just want everyone to enjoy themselves without letting the details hinder the potential for fun. Boundaries were challenged today, and I want the air to settle back into a friendly, casual environment. Please keep the mud-slinging to a minimum, and if you feel there's a problem, take it up with me privately.
Also, once the megalaser is swapped, I think you'll be good to go!
Whew! And now back to our regularly scheduled programming...
So just to be clear: this quote, from the same thread, is obsolete now?
<Snipped quote by Aristo>
Not at all. That was a different issue - I decided to allow one instance of a transformable Macross-like frame. Remember that I also allowed you to use a Battletech-esque design that deviated from the norm.
One or two examples of rule-of-cool does not automatically mean everything will fly. I still have control over the setting and what is permissible, as GM.
By that logic, if we allowed every pseudoscience possibility under the sun, the setting would be a mess with crazy tech. The mecha genre pretty much assumes some liberties will be taken by virtue of its nature, however there are limits that can be placed on it. Keep in mind this is basically 'future 1993' a-la 80's scifi shows that poorly estimated the near-future of mankind.
Anyways, to avoid disputes, I'm just pointing out what fits my vision for the setting. In the IntCheck, I outlined my general outlook on weaponry: roleplayerguild.com/posts/4051269
<Snipped quote by Krayzikk>
So the aesthetics of the frames are very similar to the mechs of VOTOMS or Heavy Gear. A quick Google search should get the idea across. They typically range from 4 to 6 meters in height, and weigh 5 to 9 metric tons. The majority are humanoid, with wheels or treads on the soles of the feet. The cockpit is located in the chest.
Tech-wise, we're looking at the real robot genre. Frames are machines, military hardware bound by the laws of physics and technology. Wikipedia's Heavy Gears entry pretty much mirrors how frames operate: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_Gear#Heavy..
We're also working with conventional ballistic weaponry. We might see a few gauss or rail guns down the line, and energy weapons are so experimental that they haven't been formally issued yet.
I have a much more detailed write-up I've used in the past, but I'll save it for the OOC, as I'm making some changes.
(x2) NCPa coilgun, chambered for 22mm rounds of monocrystalline copper-coated tungsten. Clearing the gun at 5% the speed of light (≈15,000 km/s), the projectile vaporizes into a highly concentrated cloud of ionized plasma with special AP capabilities. Colloquially referred to as the "Nincompoop" by affectionate soldiers.
5% the speed of light (≈15,000 km/s)
Yeah, I would urge you to reevaluate this one. NASA's tests at the Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory simulate the effect of debris on spacecraft using four two-stage light-gas guns. These only reach 8.5 km/s with 0.05 mm to 22.2 mm diameter projectiles. 15,000 km/s is blisteringly, incomprehensibly, bewilderingly fast.
I might also advise folks to gravitate towards conventional ballistics, to keep things simple. I don't want to bog things down in nitty-gritty, so circumventing the fine details in descriptions are a-okay. All that really needs to be said is what it is and what it's used for (see the prebuilt frames section).
Long story short - K.I.S.S. & don't be afraid to skimp on the deets.
For thousands of years, Hyrkos has been under the rule of a monarchy. The king wields absolute power, in theory. His most significant duties include commanding the army, directing the Hyrkossian religion, and managing diplomatic affairs. His administration governs from the capital palace. He is the only individual who may conclude treaties and mint coins. He oversees the incomes of the kingdom, and its treasures. These include Hyrkos' mines, forests, royal landed properties and port duties on commerce. The king’s administration receives a tithe of the crops harvested by the lower class, which is then stored in case of famine. Succession in Hyrkos is, by tradition, hereditary, patrilineal and generally respects primogeniture. Numerous cases exist, however, of kings without legitimate sons naming other relatives heirs. Upon the coronation of child kings, mothers have sometimes ruled as queen regent. The king is assisted by a Royal Vizier, who represents the king’s interest to the public. The seat is usually filled by a close relative or lifelong friend. The vizier oversees the bureaucratic workings of Hyrkos delegates the responsibilities of government officials. They also direct the construction of government buildings and infrastructure.
Below the king and his vizier sits the Council. The Council is a collection of individuals chosen by the king to aid him in governing the kingdom. There are three categories of membership. The first are nobles chosen as personal advisors and ceremonial bodyguards. The second are persons chosen for life from the aristocracy. The last are the highest-ranking and important generals of the army. Many of Hyrkos' aristocracy are members of the Council by birthright, or chosen by previous kings, and so the king has less control over its composition than it would seem at a glance.
Hyrkos has several administrative districts acting as intermediaries between the central government and cities. These were established following the dissolution of the impractical general assembly. Each district is responsible for a number of major cities and the surrounding villages inside its borders. These districts carry out nationwide legislation from the central government and bring local affairs to its attention.
Geography
Major cities with populations over _ shown.
Hyrkos is a peninsular country, stretching from the eastern continent almost to the west. It is surrounded by water and buffered by the Darash Mountains inland, making its natural borders well-defined. The climate of Hyrkos is diverse, varying as one goes from the maritime territory further inland. The country is divided into four key geographical and administrative regions: Agaion, Khorshem, Thargos and Imryr.
Northwest of Khorshem, the Agaion region has a Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild and wet, while summers are hot and dry. Some of Hyrkos' richest farmland is located here, in the fertile lowland valleys. Olives and olive oil are a major commodity of the region. It is home to many beaches. Agaion is among the most densely populated regions of Hyrkos. The Hyrkossian capital, Iznea, rests in the south of Agaion. It has the largest population of all Hyrkos' cities, and the busiest port. From the royal palace, the king resides and manages the country.
The central region of Hyrkos is known as Khorshem, specifically where it is semiarid plateau. The Khorshemite Plateau is surrounded by hills and mountains, which snake in and out of the fertile coastal territories. Khorshem receives little rainfall, but irrigated agriculture produces wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco and other goods. Many basins are located here, the result of inland drainage or erosion. They vary considerably in size, and when they fill with rainfall, the water is saline, as it has no outlets to the sea. What forest there is is confined to the north and northwest. Khorshem is rocky and steep along the northern coast, save for valleys where rivers flow between gorges.
The inland Thargos region of Hyrkos has a more severe climate. To the north of the Dominion’s province of Sanjudown, and along the Eisen border, the terrain is rugged and elevated, and sees higher levels of precipitation. Harsh winters brings heavy snowfall. The valleys and plains of eastern Hyrkos tend to have fertile soil on account of the Darah Mountains’ volcanic ash.
Imryr sits in the southern tip of Hyrkos, bordering what was once Amberlander territory. It is made up of vast coastal plain and recovered floodland. It has fertile soil due to its proximity with the Darash Mountains, and is home to many farming villages, although has fewer major cities and population density than in the north.
An array of fauna lay claim to Hyrkos' wilds, key species being foxes, wolves, bears, deer, wild boar and squirrels. Lynxes are present, but very rarely spotted. They are considered good luck, if found. Wild birds include eagles, grouse and owls. A variety of fish and marine life can be found in the rivers that snake through the country.
Culture
The inhabitants of Hyrkos' peninsula have always considered the Amberlanders under Dakarragord as being a distinct ethnic group, although related by virtue of a shared Hyrkossian culture that has dominated the region for thousands of years. Different dialects of the Hyrkossian language are spoken across the coastline, with the primary language of the peninsula called Iorian Hyrkossian, and that of the Amberlanders Phyrgian Hyrkossian. Both are mutually-intelligible to Hyrkossian speakers.
The inhabitants of the Hyrkossian peninsula are dark-haired, with tanned, swarthy skin and aquiline noses. It is commonplace for scented oils, waxes or lotions to be applied to hair. Women wear their hair in elaborate braids, piled on top of their heads, or in ponytails, while men keep theirs cropped short. Wool is worn during the winter, and linen in the summer. Clothing is dyed in bright colors or kept white. Often, the color of one’s garments corresponds to the city one lives in. It is fashionable for wealthy women, especially high-class courtesans, to wear garments of incredibly sheer, almost transparent linen.
The Hyrkossians worship a number of ancient gods, chief of which is called Ishtar. Her domains include fertility and the earth, the cycle of life and the harvest. Though most often depicted as a female of immense beauty, Ishtar is thought to be able to assume any form she pleases. It is believed that her presence manifests in her idols within Hyrkos' major temples, sometimes all of them at once, and at others, changing from one to another. These temples are known for their ostentation and luxury, even rivalling minor kingdoms elsewhere. The beauty and reputation of Ishtar’s temple prostitutes is well known outside of Hyrkos. Ishtar is invoked on holidays celebrating the harvest, the cycles of seasons, during childbirth, the eve of a surgery or medical procedure, before meals and when couples attempt to conceive.
Aristocratic families dominate Hyrkossian society, whose principal source of wealth is raising and herding cattle and horses. Members of this aristocracy gather in what is called symposia: a gathering of noteworthy individuals in extravagant drinking parties, serving as a forum to discuss and exchange ideas, or simply to revel and celebrate special occasions. These venues facilitate interaction between the prominent folk of society, and characterized by an egalitarian atmosphere, whereby all are welcome to partake and contribute. Food and wine is served and entertainment is provided by slaves, hired musicians or courtesans. Games are occasionally played between symposium-goers for fun and bragging rights. The level of debauchery varies from symposium to symposium. Young men must hunt a wild boar as a rite of passage before they are permitted to participate in symposia in full. Hunting is another popular activity for the elite.
Dancing and music is incredibly important to Hyrkossian culture. There are over two-hundred distinct dances, each appreciating war, humor, athletics, religious worship and holidays, weddings, funerals and other events or celebrations. One of the most sought-after traits in both sexes is a partner practiced in dance. Lyres, flutes, tambourines, cymbals and castanets are the most widely played instruments, often accompanying these dances. Weddings are grand affairs whereby brides ritually travel from their house (or the city gates, in the case of far-away families) to the house of their grooms seated in chariots full of gifts. The chariots are followed by members of the bride's’ family, and are preceded by friends of both partners, playing instruments and waving torches to light the way and ward off misfortune. During the ceremony, the bride eats a fruit provided by the groom, symbolizing his duty to provide for her from thereafter on. The ceremony is followed by feasting and passionate celebration.
Military
The nucleus of the Hyrkossian army is made of regular units stationed within Iznea. Chief of these is the Tagmata, elite regiments of guardsman cavalry. The Tagmata act as both ceremonial bodyguards of the king, and the striking hand of the army. These soldiers are equipped like cataphracts, dressed head to toe in glimmering mail and lamellar. Elsewhere, Hyrkos’ soldiers operate under a provincial system. Soldiers stationed in regional districts about Hyrkos are commanded by military governors, or strategoi, who possess their own full-time personal retinue. These strategoi are assisted by civic officials in matters of administration: finance and soldiers’ pay, legal affairs, taxation, revenue, and so on. The common soldier under a strategoi would be a freeman, owning a plot of land in the district governed by his strategoi in payment for his service.
The basic unit of Hyrkossian soldiers is called a banner. Infantry banners are organized into units of 256 men - sixteen groups of sixteen men each. Three-fourths of heavy infantry banners are spearmen; the remaining fourth are equipped as archers. These banners are commanded by a small hierarchy of four sergeants under a commanding officer. Light infantry is generally organized as one troop type, rather than mixing archers and spearmen as their heavier counterparts do. Their number is often smaller as well. Cavalry units usually number 300 men - six groups of fifty. These would be mostly lancers, with a lesser number carrying bows in addition to, or instead of, lances. Each subunit of fifty men is led by a sergeant, and the whole banner by an officer. In reality, units usually operate under-strength, if wounded or sick men and new recruits are taken into account. The size is also dependent on the district they hail from, and how many men a strategoi can muster.
Chain mail, scale and lamellar armor all see use by Hyrkos soldiers, with lamellar being the most widespread. Iron is the chief material for lamellar plates, but leather and bone are also evident. Lamellar armor is either sleeveless or very short-sleeved, and reaches the waist. Scale corselets are comparable in size, though mail is often seen reaching to knee-length, with long sleeves. In place of sleeves on lamellar and scale corselets, many have leather strips hanging from the waist and shoulder. Soldiers may also wear leather or splint armor vambraces and greaves. Helmet aventails can be either chain, lamellar, leather, or quilted cotton. Hyrkossian helmets follow a universal design, being conical with nose guards and made of iron.
The shield of a heavy infantryman resembles a three-by-four-foot oval, while some carry a circular shield of a 30-inch diameter. Light infantry carry a small round shield about a foot in diameter, as do many cavalrymen and archers. The principal weapons of the army are lance and sword. A cavalryman’s lance is twelve feet long, while infantrymen carry a slightly longer version. Other spears include shorter variations and nine-foot javelins. Swords come in two main designs, the first being thirty-six-inch long, straight and double-edged. The other is a single-edged saber about the same length. Maces are also seen, but seldom carried by troops other than cavalrymen. The Hyrkossian bow is a compound design, 45-48 inches long. It is used both by foot archers and cavalry. Two cavalrymen in every five carries one instead of a lance.
Heroes
Superior Hero
Other Heroes
History
In the last millennia, the Hyrokssian peninsula has had a turbulent history, characterized by conflict with its neighbors. Prior to the Dakarragord’s invasion of the Amberlands and Riawin-controlled territory south of the peninsula, Hyrkos and the Amberlanders had been in numerous conflicts over the spans of their existence. In antiquity, when both nations were but city-states, each warred over territory at the border at Imryr, and over control of the inlet. Though they were both of a common culture and language, there was no nationalist school of thought in those days.
Though they were prone to bouts of fighting, they were also infrequent allies. When the ancestors of modern-day Dakarragord arrived south of the peninsula by the sea, they settled in a region of the Amberlands they called Sujan. They were left alone until Hyrkos, Amberland and Riawin eventually grew intolerant of their presence and formed a league. The combined army marched on Sujan and drove the Dakarragord into the Darash Mountains.
Sporadic fighting between the Dakarragord, the Amberlands and Riawin persisted for centuries. During this time, Hyrkos took a backseat to the conflict, concentrating its efforts on strengthening its powerbase and expanding across the peninsula. It grew inland, bringing into its fold city-states in eastern Khorshem and Thargos. The Darash Mountains, and the Dakarragord, were surrounded from nearly all sides.
When the Dakarragord cleaved their way south, the Amberlands had not been prepared. Twenty years ago, Vaemaradosth Dakan, the newly-established tyrant of the Dominion, united the Dkarragord tribes and capitalized on Riawin’s declining power. Huge swathes were cut from Riawin and Amberland territory in the Vaemaran Wars, as retaliation for injustices done nearly a millenia ago. Hyrkos lost a strip of the province of Imryr, now called ‘South Hyrkos’ by the Dominion. Its efforts prevented further incursion towards the peninsula, but it could not save the Amberlands from complete domination.
Hyrkos sits uneasily above the Dominion, memory of its explosive domination still fresh in its mind. Many within feel for their Amberland and Riawin counterparts, but are uncomfortable at the prospect of another war. Meanwhile, Hyrkos bridges the gap between the eastern and western continents, as goods flow up and down the inlet, and foreign ships pull into Hyrkossian harbors.
Relations
Characters
King Agaipos should be in the thirty-third year of his reign, were it not for his disappearance following the Vaemaran War, twenty years ago. Agaipos commanded the Hyrkossian army during the Dominion’s invasion of Amberland and the Darash Mountains’ surrounding lands. Regrettably, the Dakarragord gained a small strip of Imryr, but Agaipos’ generalship halted their progress well before they could gain a serious foothold in the country. Following Hyrkos’ last battle with the Dominion, Agaipos was not found among the living or the dead, having seemingly vanished without a trace.
Following the disappearance of Agaipos, his trusted councilmen and Vizier Gaspar urged his sister, Princess Yadira, to fill the throne in his absence. For the past twenty years she has strained to execute the role of monarch, aided by the friends of her brother. She scorns the Dakarragord for the loss of Agaipos, but fears mounting any offensive without a sovereign Amberland or competent Riawin to back her. Under her rule, Hyrkos has opened itself to delegations of foreign states, in search of allies. With these talks has come an increasing interest and appreciation for exotic culture and goods.
Gaspar was chosen by Agaipos to be his vizier, the two of them inseparable friends since childhood. Gaspar was always the wiser and level-headed of the two, and he has done his duty well since taking office. Agaipos’ vanishing act placed a heavy burden on him, requiring Gaspar to tutor and advise Yadira as she took her seat on the throne. Gaspar refuses to believe his best friend is truly dead, and prays to Ishtar that he will come back one day.
Hyrkos’s political organization follows a three-tiered pyramid: the king at the top, followed by districts, and civic organizations at the bottom.
The king governs the country’s central administration. His duties include commanding the army, directing the Hyrkossian religion, and directing diplomatic affairs. His administration govers from the capital palace. He is the only individual who may conclude treaties and mint coins. He oversees the incomes of the kingdom, and its treasures. These include Hyrkos’s mines, forests, royal landed properties and port duties on commerce. The king is assisted by a Royal Secretary and the Council. His rule is mostly by indirect means: he confers with and is supported by local magistrates that carry out his directions. Succession is hereditary, patrilineal and generally follows primogeniture. Upon the king’s death, his heir (usually his eldest son) must be accepted by the council, and following approval, presented before the public to take the oath of fidelity. The council’s acceptance is mostly ceremonial, although it is within its rights to decline individuals.
Hyrkos has several administrative districts acting as intermediaries between the central government and cities. These were established following the dissolution of the impractical general assembly. Each district is responsible for one or two major cities and the surrounding villages. These assemblies carry out nationwide legislation from the Council, and bring local affairs to its attention.
The Council is a collection of individuals chosen by the king to aid him in governing the kingdom. There are three categories of membership. The first are nobles chosen as personal advisors and ceremonial bodyguards. The second are persons chosen for life from the aristocracy. The last are the highest-ranking and important generals of the army. Many of Hyrkos’s aristocracy are members of the Council by birthright, or chosen by previous kings, and so the king has less control over its body than it would appear. The Council meets regularly, managing cases that do not involve capital punishment as the final authority. It also reviews important decisions made by the king before they are put into motion.
Geography
Major cities with populations over _ shown.
Hyrkos is a peninsular country, stretching from the eastern continent almost to the west. It is surrounded by water and buffered by the Darash Mountains inland, making its natural borders well-defined. The climate of Hyrkos is diverse, varying as one goes from the maritime territory further inland. The country is divided into four key geographical and administrative regions: Agaion, Khorshem, Thargos and Imryr.
Northwest of Khorshem, the Agaion region has a Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild and wet, while summers are hot and dry. Some of Hyrkos’s richest farmland is located here, in the fertile lowland valleys. Olives and olive oil are a major commodity of the region. It is home to many beaches and the country’s second-largest port. Agaion is among the most densely populated regions of Hyrkos.
The central region of Hyrkos is known as Khorshem, specifically where it is semiarid plateau. The Khorshemite Plateau is surrounded by hills and mountains, which snake in and out of the fertile coastal territories. Khorshem receives little rainfall, but irrigated agriculture produces wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco and other goods. Many basins are located here, the result of inland drainage or erosion. They vary considerably in size, and when they fill with rainfall, the water is saline, as it has no outlets to the sea. What forest there is is confined to the north and northwest. Khorshem is rocky and steep along the northern coast, save for valleys where rivers flow between gorges.
The inland Thargos region of Hyrkos has a more severe climate. To the north of the Dominion’s province of Sanjudown, and along the Eisen border, the terrain is rugged and elevated, and sees higher levels of precipitation. Harsh winters brings heavy snowfall. The valleys and plains of eastern Hyrkos tend to have fertile soil on account of the Darah Mountains’ volcanic ash.
Imryr sits in the southern tip of Hyrkos, bordering what was once Amberlander territory. It is made up of vast coastal plain and recovered floodland. It has fertile soil due to its proximity with the Darash Mountains, and is home to many farming villages, although has fewer major cities and population density than in the north.
An array of fauna lay claim to Hyrkos’s wilds, key species being foxes, wolves, bears, deer, wild boar and squirrels. Lynxes are present, but very rarely spotted. They are considered good luck, if found. Wild birds include eagles, grouse and owls. A variety of fish and marine life can be found in the rivers that snake through the country.
Culture
The inhabitants of Hyrkos’s peninsula have always considered the Amberlanders under Dakarragord as being a distinct ethnic group, although related by virtue of a shared Hyrkossian culture that has dominated the region for thousands of years. Different dialects of the Hyrkossian language are spoken across the coastline, with the primary language of the peninsula called Iorian Hyrkossian, and that of the Amberlanders Phyrgian Hyrkossian. Both are mutually-intelligible to Hyrkossian speakers.
Aristocratic families dominate Hyrkossian society, whose principal source of wealth is raising and herding cattle and horses. Members of this aristocracy gather in what is called symposia: a gathering of noteworthy individuals in extravagant drinking parties, serving as a forum to discuss and exchange ideas, or simply to revel and celebrate special occasions. These venues facilitate interaction between the prominent folk of society, and characterized by an egalitarian atmosphere, whereby all are welcome to partake and contribute. Food and wine is served and entertainment is provided by slaves, hired musicians or courtesans. Games are occasionally played between symposium-goers for fun and bragging rights. The level of debauchery varies from symposium to symposium. Young men must hunt a wild boar as a rite of passage before they are permitted to participate in symposia in full. Hunting is another popular activity for the elite.
Military
Hyrkssian infantry is organized into units of 256 men - sixteen groups of sixteen men each. Three-fourths of heavy infantry units, or banners, are spearmen; the remaining fourth are equipped as archers. Light infantry is generally organized as one troop type. Cavalry units usually number 300 men - six groups of fifty. These units are commanded by a small hierarchy of officers. In reality, units usually operate under-strength, if wounded or sick men and new recruits are taken into account.
Chain mail, scale and lamellar armor all see use by Hyrkos soldiers, with lamellar being the most widespread. Iron is the chief material for lamellar plates, but leather and bone are also evident. Lamellar armor is either sleeveless or very short-sleeved, and reaches the waist. Scale corselets are comparable in size, though mail is often seen reaching to knee-length, with long sleeves. In place of sleeves on lamellar and scale corselets, many have leather strips hanging from the waist and shoulder. Soldiers may also wear leather or splint armor vambraces and greaves. Helmet aventails can be either chain, lamellar, leather, or quilted cotton. Hyrkossian helmets follow a universal design, being conical with nose guards and made of iron.
The shield of a heavy infantryman resembles a three-by-four-foot oval, while some carry a circular shield of a 30-inch diameter. Light infantry carry a small round shield about a foot in diameter, as do many cavalrymen and archers. The principal weapons of the army are lance and sword. A cavalryman’s lance is twelve feet long, while infantrymen carry a slightly longer version. Other spears include shorter variations and nine-foot javelins. Swords come in two main designs, the first being thirty-six-inch long, straight and double-edged. The other is a single-edged saber about the same length. Maces are also seen, but seldom carried by troops other than cavalrymen. The Hyrkossian bow is a compound design, 45-48 inches long. It is used both by foot archers and cavalry. Two cavalrymen in every five carries one instead of a lance.
Heroes
Superior Hero
Other Heroes
History
A brief history of your country is fine, so long as you cover the last 20 or so years. I’m looking for more of a summary of important events than list of dead monarchs.
Relations
How does your country interact with its neighbors. I am not looking for a list of exports and imports, but feel free to add them if you want. At bare minimum I want a listed rival here, another country that yours viewed as an enemy and actively worked against during the past twenty or so years.
Characters
Optional section. Put any info about any characters here. Examples of this would be your kings or queens, military leaders, and non-hero “badasses”. You can also put more detailed info of your heroes here as well.
Member
AP Ottovan
