If you haven't yet commented, I still want your opinions on a science-fiction setting. This applies particularly to those people who told me at Leprecon that they'd do so. :)
Yes, yes, I'll write something as soon as I can. :)
Do you want a general-purpose setting or something that has a "theme" or "message"? For example, Dune is my all time favourite setting but it's only so-so for RPGs. To use a non-sci-fi example of the opposite situation, the Dark Sun D&D setting has no great message about humanity but it's perfectly suited to adventuring.
Both. That is, I'm looking to compile a wishlist of "stuff people I know want". Probably more on the utility than the message side, since this will be a pretty wide-ranging and reusable setting. I do have a number of my own ideas already, but there are plenty of bits I can adjust to suit my "market".
Well both as a general plot-device in itself and for utility, lots of unexplored (but reachable) space is good. You'll need to explain why it's unexplored, and what's happened that the galaxy isn't either (a) boringly empty or (b) terrifyingly genocidally fully.
As you seem to be going for a nice positive atmosphere... hmmm. I like it in theory, but conflict (not necessarily war) is so important. I'm sure you've some ideas on that.
Have you considered the possibility of having only non-sentient aliens, on all or at least most of the other life-supporting systems? Nothing says "Go humans!" like oppressing semi-intelligent alien species for fun and profit. Probably not going to suit everyone though - clever aliens are just so popular and useful.
Treating the galaxy as a huge, wonderfully promising terra nullius could be worthwhile. So maybe you get a few advanced nearby planets including Earth doing some trading and then *boom* plot-device occurs to allow a surge of exploration, and everyone's out to explore and carve up the galaxy. Age of Discovery but in space and with low-tech aliens instead of native Americans/Australians/Africans and high tech species instead of the English/Spanish/Dutch/French.
(Unsurprisingly, I've had some gaming thoughts along this lines and when I've time I want to do something based on this.)
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Do you want a general-purpose setting or something that has a "theme" or "message"? For example, Dune is my all time favourite setting but it's only so-so for RPGs. To use a non-sci-fi example of the opposite situation, the Dark Sun D&D setting has no great message about humanity but it's perfectly suited to adventuring.
From:
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From:
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As you seem to be going for a nice positive atmosphere... hmmm. I like it in theory, but conflict (not necessarily war) is so important. I'm sure you've some ideas on that.
Have you considered the possibility of having only non-sentient aliens, on all or at least most of the other life-supporting systems? Nothing says "Go humans!" like oppressing semi-intelligent alien species for fun and profit. Probably not going to suit everyone though - clever aliens are just so popular and useful.
Treating the galaxy as a huge, wonderfully promising terra nullius could be worthwhile. So maybe you get a few advanced nearby planets including Earth doing some trading and then *boom* plot-device occurs to allow a surge of exploration, and everyone's out to explore and carve up the galaxy. Age of Discovery but in space and with low-tech aliens instead of native Americans/Australians/Africans and high tech species instead of the English/Spanish/Dutch/French.
(Unsurprisingly, I've had some gaming thoughts along this lines and when I've time I want to do something based on this.)
From:
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From:
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