I was hoping that PolishKing would be more present so that I wouldn't have to take the full brunt of running this thing but I guess I have no real choice.
That being said, I'm still uncertain as to how much he's willing to let me alter his pre-existing roleplay idea for when/if he comes back.
Wouldn't be wiser to start a new game, then? Let's say some catastrophe of vagueness destroyed civilization as we knew it and over an untold amount of time it regressed into medieval-ish kingdoms with perhaps some rare artifacts of the more advanced old world.
I am considering to put my nation elsewhere, preferably closer. I got the direction of the Horsehead Nebula completely wrong, you see. But more importantly I try to do that for plot reasons so I could get in conflict easier.
While that is fair, It really depends on how much PolishKing wants to diverge from the source mod (being Crusader Kings, it follows the Middle Ages up to the End of the Crusades). I'd rather not diverge too far from his vision of the RP
As pointed by Dinh, the use of automatic and semi-automatic is probably very very inefficient in a pre-industrial setting, and so I imagine firearms to be rather primitive, but I also do see them being more advanced than what we would have seen in the actual 12th century.
Nah, I wasn't thinking of copying AKs or anything close to that. I was saying that designs would inspire people to develop firearms that look more like what we recognize as guns. Basically the typical musket look would be popular earlier. Similarly the mechanisms might help them to develop snaplock or flintlock earlier. Caplock is also plausible with various chemicals lying around.
Another technology I forgot to mention is printing which is just as important and people could get pointers to them from many sources.
And then everyone fell crippled to acute radiation poisoning and no one could pull the lever.
Yeah, after I wrote it I thought: "Man, this would be so much riskier to attackers unless they do it really-really well". It sounds like a fun idea to explore in the setting but realistically it'd be a nightmare.
@Willy Vereb I figured we would be starting around the 12th century, with guns being a mild rarity and the production of more advanced guns being a lost art.
What separates early-mid medieval ages from late medieval ages can be often narrowed down to guns and metallurgy. Actually, metallurgical developments weren't even new that big since other cultures had blast furnances prior. Guns and chemistry are a similar deal or the idea of military drills.
We have random pieces lying around which people can use as inspiration. I think it does make sense if people catch up with them. Not saying we'd go beyond the medieval setting but for example seeing a modern gun would put the idea in people to make their medieval weapons shaped more like that. Which is strangely means in a certain aspect that leads to hundreds of years of leap in gun development (firearms took a "gun-like shape" by the 16th century). Mechanism of a modern gun can also help people inventing mechanical locks for guns earlier. With 12th century developments things are still rather crude in quality but the above for example still aid them to create better tools. Also it'd lead them to make plate armors and more decent quality metal products early.
@NerevarineI might be interested, too. I have multiple ideas but I have a question regarding tech. We are regressed to medieval levels, sure. But what level of medieval? 12th century? 15th century? For example I have a feeling that guns would be far more common still because all the stuff lying around to assist it. Also catapults throwing nuclear waste digged up from the ruins of a former reactor or its dumping ground.
Faction Name: Yel'krusu t'Sar'Makth (literally means "Star Empire of the Great Race") Government Type: Dominion Faction Leader: S'cum Ish-veh N'ssan (title: Sur'sim're t'Abru-ma AKA Grand Supreme Overlord) Central Territory: Tsokal'yel t'Sar'Vafer (Great Beginning, primary star system of the Sarmakth)
OVERVIEW: Sarmakth are a race of alien invaders approaching from the barely charted outer rim of the galaxy. While they hate humans with passion they are not above using them for their devices or lording over them as their masters. With the sudden collapse of the Terran Empire the Sarmakth began their plot to conquer the galaxy. They are enigmatic and manipulative, using pawns and divide&conquer strategies rather than fighting head on. Territory Claim:
HISTORY
Shockingly enough the humans and Sharmakth share a long history. Sentient life evolved in the exotic biosphere of Mars long before humanity made its first steps on Earth. Martian life was harsh and filled with challenges yet roughly a billion year ago it birthed the first sentient life who could be the predecessors of Sarmakth. Records and findings on these prehistoric creatures are scarce and conflicting even to the Sarmakth. Based on analysis of the remains they looked like large medusid beings walking on three tentacle legs. They are referred as the Vesh'makth AKA the Precursors. The details on their history are unclear but apparently their technology easily eclipsed even the Sarmakth. It's believed that their efforts and experiences helped accelerate the formation of life on Earth and likely numerous other planets through the galaxy. Vesh'makth appeared to be a peaceful society but they assuredly had their fair share of clashes and wars with the last of them almost managed to exterminate their race while drastically altering the environment of Mars. The survivors required drastic measures and proceeded to rebuild their civilization while using various genetic alterations until they became the Sarmakth. Through their efforts they took control of the planet and lived in thousands of years of peace and prosperity. Unfortunately their lifestyle was taxing on the planet and by 1800AD it became certain that their planet will die within a few hundred years. To avert their demise the Martians were looking elsewhere, eventually deciding on the invasion of Earth. Living in millennia of prosperity did have an averse effect on their technology and they basically had to reinvent military and spacefaring methods in a rush of 50 years. 1898, after through recon of the planet for decades the Martians invaded Earth, particularly England which was the center of the great British Empire at the time. Their attack was swift and merciless but lacked in numbers and finesse. Their mighty tripods modeled after the Precursors marched on relatively unhampered. Though their operation was rushed and crude they were at the brink of forcing the British Empire to its knees when something unexpected happened. Through their genetic engineering Martians no longer feared diseases and enjoyed a life without illness for tens of thousands of years. But while immune to Martian diseases and superior to even the mightiest empire on Earth the invasion forces fell prey to the planet's smallest lifeforms. Diseases which Terrestrial creatures long adapted against struck the Martians hard, decimating their numbers rapidly. The invasion was called off and the Sarmakth fled in a great haste, the rest of them dying on route back home. The Martians were flabbergasted on the news and began a long research to discover the truth and find a way around this invisible threat.
Martians conducted through analysis on their deceased but their search for the invisible killer was in vain. Intend to solve this mystery the Martians began to send expeditions to Earth, the source of the so-called UFO sightings. After countless trial and error approaches they eventually understood the threat and immunized their entire species to the disease. Meanwhile humanity was developing steadily and in secret they formed plans to overcome the Martian threat. Late 21st century, the Second Martian War broke out. The Sarmakth were more advanced but their dying planed and thinned out numbers put them at a disadvantage. To maximize their industry the Martians turned the core of their planet into a nuclear reactor. While it gave them the so-desired upper hand it eventually turned out to be their undoing. The reactor built up a growing instability which eventually went out of control. Estimates said the runaway chain-reaction will reach critical stage within a month. The Sarmakth hastily built a large ship equipped with their experimental stardrive and escaped the planet just in time. Their only solace was the fact that the explosion of their homeworld will spread debris to Earth and raze the surface. Carrying thousands of Sarmakth in stasis their ship traversed hyperspace, intending to reach a planet with ideal conditions found at the edge of the Horsehead Nebula. Unfortunately in their rush the computer made an error and dropped them off at a lifeless star system near the edge of the galaxy. tough times awaited the sarmakth in the following decades until they found a way to a neighboring star system with habitable land which they renamed Sar'Vafer (Great Beginning). What they didn't know that their hated nemesis the humans were far from extinct. Quite the opposite as over the thousands of years they grew up to be a galaxy-spanning empire. After a hundred years of effort the Sarmakth restored their civilization to their former glory and even beyond. With their refined stardrive the armakth began exploring the galaxy in honest. That was the time they became aware of the Empire lead by none other but the hated Pekh'makth. To say this revelation frustrated the Sarmakth and caused quite an uproar would be a grave understatement. Jealous and frustrated, they decided to take back what's rightfully theirs and become the crown jewel of the universe once again. Yet determination alone could not overcome such massive odds and the Sarmakth began their centuries long plotting in secret. Now, with the sudden collapse of the Empire many of their kin believes it's time to act.
SOCIETY
Sarmakth are drastically different from most sentient beings in the galaxy and this is reflected in their society. They are utilitarian and lacking most human emotions. They don't have speech and even writing is just an artifact of their ancient past mostly reserved for communicating with other races. Instead they rely on telepathy as their prime communication or even as the tool to interact with most of their technology. The average Sarmakth puts the interest of their race above their personal wishes and they are capable of working on a common goal relentlessly and with unbelievable efficiency. Sarmakth doesn't understand the concept of love or compassion which among others granted them with endless capacity for cruelty. They are also arrogant and view any other flesh and blood creature as dumb livestock compared to them.
Those living under Sarmakth rule often don't even realize it. Sarmakth are great manipulators who could gradually take control of a small nation without anyone noticing it. To the outsider the Sarmakth Dominion seems like just a bunch of small states unaligned to each other. Only the core worlds are under direct Sarmakth control. That doesn't mean they let the others loose. Using subtle means the Sarmakth creates tightly controlled environment to utilize their unknowing slaves with maximal efficiency. Over the time they corrupt the leadership into their cult and plant the religion to fear the Sarmakth as their gods.
Sarmakth are large roughly cephaloid creatures with their main body comparable to a grown bear in size. They have a pair of huge eyes and large beaks which are surrounded by numerous tentacles. The evolution and deliberate gene alterations of the Sarmakth focused on intellect which means roughly 90% of their body mass are brain matter with all other functions being reduced considerably. Their tentacles are too weak to raise their bodies under Earth-like gravity. Instead their overgrown brain developed psychic powers as well as they utilize anti-gravity devices to move around. Sarmakth have only a simple digestive system which can only deal with liquids and specially processed food. Some of their tentacles act as suckers to leech blood from living beings for sustenance, a horrible sight which made the British folk describe them as vampires. Most tentacles are thicker and used to either support the body or work as versatile manipulators to operate complex mechanisms with ease. Sarmakth are asexual creatures with no male/female dimorphism who reproduce through periodically laying down "flesh buds" of their young which they feed constantly until those eventually grow to sufficient size. Worth noting that when they refer to themselves they use male pronouns to outsiders. Sarmakth have no vocal language aside from making various basic noises to express emotions. They communicate exclusively through telepathy. In case they require to talk with someone they rely on human slaves who are explicitly wired to understand their telepathic waves and speak in their stead. Sarmakth in general have a superiority complex and view all other races as inferior if not just consider them as soulless animals to use. Due to their history they especially hate humans and call them as Pekh'makth which literally translates as "the race of shit".
Roughly translates as the "Slave Race", an expression obviously referring to the races under the Sarmakth's rule. Just narrowly escaped extinction the Sarmakth hardly has the "manpower" to function on their own. Thus no matter how much they might have wished to annihilate every sentient life on their path, they didn't. Rather they managed to effectively enslave all the races they conquered and brainwash them to adore the Sarmakth as their righteous lords. Most people living under Sarmakth rule are strangely content with their lives and follows the orders of their cephaloid overlords with religious zeal. The tendrils of the Sarmakth manipulations run deep. Fehmakth live in various level of cultural and technological development, depending on what the Sarmakth sees fit. They could live in medieval styled villages on backwater planets, existing as little more than livestock and raw materials for Tselmakth. Alternatively they could even live in an industrially developed mega cities supported by Sarmakth technology. Or anything inbetween. Regardless Fehmakth live in a meticulously crafted environment under strict control without them truly realizing it. They are also implanted with an "obedience chip" activated by Sarmakth telepathy in case they do anything which displeases their masters.
Translate as the "race of shit", this is the name Sarmakth refer to the human race. Humans are used as slaves, brainwashed to blindly revere the Sarmakth as their gods. The majority of the Dominion's slaves are humans and their treatment is perhaps the worst.
Literally translates as the "converted race". They are people who underwent extensive modifications to make them closer to Sarmakth in both appearance and function. For the slaves under the Dominion this is equivalent of the highest gift, offered only to the most devoted and worthy of their kin. Rushamakth closely resemble the Sarmakth in looks yet in terms of genetics and physiology they keep their relation to their original race. same deal with size. Human converted Rushamakth are much smaller than their cephaloid overlords for obvious reasons, effectively becoming a "mini Sarmakth". To attain intelligence at least remotely comparable to their creators, Rushamakth are implanted with Cogitators. These are sophisticated brain interface computers giving them incredible thinking ability as well as allow a faint degree of telepathy. On the other hand Cogitators pretty much turn the Rushamakth into an emotionless creature, just like their masters are. Rushamakth exist to serve its cephaloid overlords and convey their will. As such they tend to be sub-leaders or officials in areas where the presence of actual Sarmakths are deemed of no importance.
Translates as "altered race", they are effectively the opposite of the Rushamakth. They are people forced to undergo transformation into "more pleasing" and "functional" bodies in order to serve the Dominion. They are worse than slaves, they are effectively little more than biomechanical robots. Tselmakth are viewed as a cheaper alternative to drones and pure mechanical constructs of this specific scale. They can be anything from disposable soldiers to slave laborers. There are even Tselmakth invented for nothing but to serve as a piece for the cruel entertainment of its masters.
Important Characters:
Sur'sim're t'Abru-ma (Great Supreme Overlord) of the Sarmakth Dominion since their new beginning. He's a ruthless but calculating person who'd rather conquer the galaxy over the time than waste Sarmakth lives. Being over 900 years old (not counting the cyrogenic stasis) S'cum is one of the few Sarmakth in power who saw both wars against Humanity and how they failed. As such he's intent for his race to not commit the same mistakes again.
TECHNOLOGY
Sarmakth technology is unique and at times radically different from what could be found within the Empire. Their massive intellect grants them a better understanding of science than any human. Yet missing out many millennia of progress they initially had plenty of areas to catch up on. Overall while Sarmakth technology is more advanced and sophisticated it only gives them a slight edge over the Empire which uses simpler yet often just as effective measures. For example Sarmakth relies on walkers moving on flexible tentacle-like legs which requires advanced computers while humans merely use wheels and tracked mechanisms to achieve similar road performance. In general Sarmakth only have two kinds of propulsion, gravity and walkers. Their civilians usually equip grav gliders which lift their bodies and save them from physical exertion while their heavier ground machines use a walking mechanism moving on multiple legs.
- Yel'yeturek (Stardrive): Also dubbed as hyperdrive (kwhul'mishu, lit: "hyper engine") it's a device which opens a rift between normal and hyperspace (kwhulret) in order to allow faster-than-light travel. Hyperspace has various "bands" each allowing different speeds. Lower bands require much less energy but they don't provide much speed. The Martians used a crude version of this to escape their planet in the past. Higher bands offer better speeds but at a much larger initial cost. Stardrives are potentially better than Terran hyperdrives but for such performance they also require more energy.
- Weinol: The basis of most if not all Sarmakth construction. It's a versatile family of materials based mostly on carbon, engineered at the quantum scale. It's generally light yet strong matrial which depending on its grid structure can have wide degree of properties. It isn't an exaggeration to say that over 90% of everything made by Sarmakth is a type of Weinol. More advanced variants also employ hypermatter (kwhul'tukh) and hyperspace derived physics, becoming even more useful and versatile albeit proportionally expensive to produce.
- Kwhul'tviyan (Hypercore): Reactor which gathers power from hyperspace. They are compact and efficient as well as generally safe to use which makes them widespread within the Sarmakth community.
- Kwhul'wun: A term used to describe Sarmakth direct firing weapons which use either matter or radiation originating from hyperspace to project it at the enemy. The mechanism is often compared to opening a dam which is the boundary between normalspace and hyperspace and then let it flow straight at the enemy. There are many kinds of Kwhul'wun ranging from rayguns to hypermetric accelerators. Kwhul'thor is an explosive which uses uncontrolled hyperspace mechanisms with destructive results.
- Kwhul'danaan: The standard form of shielding used by the Sarmakth. They trap energy and matter originating from hyperspace within a bounded field which flows at superluminal velocities. While the formation of the shield requires a hefty amount of startup their advantage is that unless they are knocked down from incoming weapons fire these can be maintained indefinitely.
MILITARY
The Sarmakth military is unique like the rest of their race. For starters they don't know the concept of infantry and rely entirely on machines. They generally use tripods and other walker machines in combat while in space they use flying saucers or ships shaped akin to a medusa with large hemispherical body and countless tentacles. Overall their fighting force has the strange sense of being "alive" even though they use mere machines.
@Darkspleen Once you read them, you'll know that they ARE the biggest douches in the galaxy.
That's such a strange way to spell Sarmakth. They look down on any other race as animals and in their language when they refer to humanity it literally translates as "the race of shit".
@AristoI kinda use the Martians from the original War of the Worlds novel with some original spins. I think you'd have been fine with the Sangheli knockoffs.
SO I'm not sure if we are going to have a map but if we are how would it work?
@LordZell I had considered it, Probably will have a try at it.
There are multiple starmap ideas made in this NRP. Some of them might even worth trying. I'll check them out and give you a few alternatives. Tomorrow...
I could give you guys a relatively exhaustive talk about what a "realistic" space battle would probably be like. It'd be much different than you may imagine and fun/exciting in a rather different way. I can also explain how generic sci-fi tech of shields, energy weapons of vagueness and super sensors create a completely different battle environment than how it's portrayed (for starters, shield scales with ship size thus bigger ship almost always beats a smaller one while fighters are hopeless to do anything).
But you know what? I don't. As others said this game is about having fun and me pretending to be an actual expert on this matter is not that. I could tell this in PMs to people so they can get a few exciting new ideas for their space battles but otherwise? I leave this out from here. Rather I am going to finish up my profile for the Martians. Tomorrow...
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salamimike
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