To The Great Beyond - Space Empires!

Freighter: 2EP ~ 0.25 EP upkeep 1 Cargo
Freighters are vital to keep your economy running smoothly, keep colonists supplied and get the maximum EP income - see your Freighter stat. Surplus freighters can also gather a trickle of resources from asteroid belts and unclaimed planets. 1EP’s worth of civilians can also be transported per turn. They can also transport ground military forces and fighter wings, but are vulnerable to enemy fire en route. Even if freighters are armed, they will not stand much chance against enemy fleets.

Troops: 2EP ~ 0.25 EP upkeep
Standard ground military unit, composed of infantry (robot or organic) with accompanying dropships and artillery. They are used to take and hold planets against enemies, rebels and such like, and help maintain order during riots or in disaster zones. They require transport to other worlds. They can engage defence batteries on the ground and fire back against enemy fighter strikes (but not fleet bombardment). In certain circumstances, they could also be used for ship-to-ship boarding!

Ground Armour: 4EP ~ 0.5 EP upkeep
Powerful ground forces comprised of armoured vehicles and/or ‘mechs’, capable of rapid advance across open terrain. Armoured forces are resistant to small arms and casual bombardment, while they can carry a heavy punch themselves, and may even damage ships in low orbit. They have an intimidation factor against enemy ground troops, and can act as a shelter or transport for both friendly troops and civilians. However - they will struggle to flush out a determined enemy that has dug in to rugged terrain, in tunnels or barricaded in cities.

Fighter Wing: 2EP ~ 0.25 EP upkeep
Fighter Wings are versatile units that can operate in deep space or just above the surface of planets, attacking enemy ships and ground forces and providing close air support. In numbers and with the element of surprise they could be deadly to enemy fleets, however they can only perform ‘hit and run’ attacks so should not be relied on to destroy the enemy by themselves. They require a transport to travel between systems / map hexes.

Defence Guns: 4EP ~ 0.5 EP upkeep
Powerful, armoured defence guns that have the firepower of 1.5 combat fleets. They may be a mixture of orbital platforms and hardened surface bunkers. However they can not escape battle, nor can they be relocated to other worlds without dismantling. They are more vulnerable if enemy troops are able to attack at close range. Defence Guns may take time to build on colony worlds, or they can be rushed for double the normal cost (see Unit Spawning).

Fleet: 4EP* ~1EP upkeep
A ‘fleet’ is perhaps made of just a single ship, or perhaps a flotilla of small vessels, or somewhere in-between. All fleets have some basic abilities in combat, repair, scanning, damage control, salvage and so on. But you have three main varieties to choose from - the precise makeup of these fleets is up to players to decide, as you can have anything feasible within your tech level (but you should let your friendly GM know at the time of building):

* Explorer / Scout / Science Fleets (0.5 Cargo): are loaded with gear to survey new planets, and have superior sensors and scientific gizmos, and while being less likely to suffer accidents while exploring. They can also investigate anomalies or alien wrecks in-situ. In combat mode, they are good at scouting and raiding, and as an experimental weapons platform. However they lack the transport to carry a noticeable amount of troops, fighters or civilians by themselves.

* Combat Fleets (1 Cargo): are specially designed for battle, and/or to intimidate. They specialise in dealing out and/or taking (or deflecting) damage, with stronger hulls and more room for weapons, power, and targeting apparatus. They can also have 1 cargo space, enough to carry a Fighter Wing or ground unit directly into battle, or even 1EP’s worth of refugees from a planet.

* Cultural / Diplomatic Fleets (1 Cargo): are designed to impress and influence, being fitted with luxurious living spaces / biospheres, and can serve as meeting places for alien diplomats, a place for traders to forge new deals, and a way to show off your culture. In an emergency, these fleets can carry ground forces, fighters, or 1EP worth of civilians, but will lose their impressiveness while hosting such passengers. Needless to say, their combat abilities are minimal (if any).

Bigger Ships?: Fleets (in all their varieties) can be built to larger and larger sizes, each requiring double the EP of the last: 8, 16, 32, 64 EP and so on. Each size is noted by bigger icons on the map, and may be considered to have 2.5x the firepower, armour, and toughness as last - plus double the cargo space, not to mention the intimidation / prestige factor. But they also make bigger targets, cost more to repair and upgrade, require double the upkeep, are less maneuverable, and will be more easily spotted.

Space Station: 8EP ~1 EP upkeep 2 Cargo
The main function is to extend your zone of supply (free movement) into surrounding map hexes, serving as an outpost where you don’t want a colony or cannot build one. It can be built anywhere within one turn’s move from your existing zone of supply. If a station sits on a trade route or asteroid belt, and/or can act as spillover from an overcrowded planet, then it may start to generate an EP income by itself. Defence Guns can be built and attached to a Space Station, each taking up a cargo slot. Otherwise they have few combat options, being matched by just one Standard Fleet, but they can take quite a beating, more likely to be captured or disabled than destroyed outright. Stations may be able to relocate once built, but this will cost a certain amount of EP.

Habitat: 16EP ~1EP upkeep 4 Cargo
Essentially a scaled-up Space Station, but with much more living space, with gardens and farming onboard (according to the tastes of the inhabitants). It can generate more EP than a Space Station, especially in the role of population spillover from a planet. Habitats are more genteel environments than space stations and will be good places to meet with alien diplomats. A station can be upgraded to a habitat by spending 8EP. Habitats will eventually fill up, at which point you'll be prompted to build more.

Watchers: it's in their nature to observe carefully and look for patterns, which may be a predatory or defensive instinct (or both). They have greater initiative in combat, as they will not be easily ambushed or taken by surprise. There are also advantages for gathering intelligence about their neighbours, performing covert ops, and reverse-engineering alien technology. With observant minds, there is also a bonus for science. Side effects: citizens that are not easily influenced; general paranoia.

Warriors: simply love a good fight! They enjoy greater morale in wartime, and will be more aggressive, both in space and on the ground. Warrior tradition gives a subtle all-round boost for combat, especially at close quarters. Upkeep for military units will also be a little lower. Side effects: units may disobey orders to get into a fight; the whole society may suffer boredom and restlessness during peacetime.

Hunters: likely to have evolved as ambush predators or pack hunters. The hunting instinct gives benefits for stealth, tactics and initiative in combat, particularly on home turf. Many hunting strategies will translate directly into warfare, and also a bonus for covert ops such as assassinations. They will love worlds with native fauna to hunt, where upkeep will cost less. Side effects: obsession with their ‘prey’ may see units deviate from a battle plan; food production may be more complicated.

Survivalist: likely to have evolved in harsh environments with minimal resources, and may prefer a subterranean lifestyle. They will find it easier to colonise other worlds, and will require less upkeep and repair for units and colonies, all of which will also be more resilient to damage and disaster. They may have slightly greater morale, or at least, a kind of stoicism. However, as they likely never evolved tolerance of living in large crowds, their planets will run into overcrowding problems at an earlier stage, and be slightly more prone to rebellions and splinter factions. They may not be able to take full advantage of worlds that are very rich in resources.

Brooders: have rapid reproduction, thanks to their biology, and/or cultural priorities. The surplus of manpower makes it somewhat easier to colonise other worlds, and reduces upkeep and repair costs, especially for ground troops. It may be the case that life is cheap, and losses will not be mourned for long, if at all. Planets are more likely to get free EP boosts from population growth, but also more likely to overload from pollution and overcrowding at an earlier stage, and be more prone to social unrest.

Technologists: simply love gadgets and technology. They enjoy more free tech progress in any field, and can reverse-engineer alien technology with greater ease, along with being more likely to ‘hack' enemy systems. Upgrades will be cheaper, and morale will be buoyed by every tech breakthrough. Side effects: greater dependency on technology; likelihood of devastating lab accidents.

Engineers: have superior problem-solving abilities, and build things to last. Both ships and buildings will tend to be slightly more robust, and it will be somewhat easier to colonise other planets and to access their resources. Both repairs and upgrades will also be cheaper. However, there may be some over-engineering, resulting in higher upkeep costs.

Philosophers: have found ways to quieten the anxiety, egotism and worry that may afflict many sentient beings. They have a way of seeing the universe that gives them a sense of peace, and purpose, that may transcend physical life. As a result they enjoy almost unbreakable morale, fewer social problems, and place less physical demands on the planets on which they live. However, since they tend to have less interest in material goods, this translates into an economic penalty - and they may also have less goods to trade with other factions, though they have greater cultural influence. Philosophers are also more likely to feel empathy with other races and factions, and with other life-forms in general.

Hoarders: have a strong gathering and stockpiling instinct, preferring to keep far more resources than they need in the moment. As a result, their settlements will be more self-sufficient and resilient to disasters, blockades and the like. It's also likely they love to collect and catalogue all manner of trinkets and specimens, so there is a slight boost to research. They will also have more goods on hand to trade with other factions at all times. If there is a large bank of surplus EP, that will also be a morale boost. However, there may be a slight economic penalty for all this stockpiling, and the upkeep costs for ships and troops away from home will be greater than otherwise, though they will be less susceptible to accidents and attrition.

Twitchers: have a higher metabolism and faster reactions than others. This gives a bonus for combat, both offensive and defensive, for all kinds of units, but most of all for ground troops and pilots of agile fighters. It also translates into agents that are harder to catch, being able to stay one step ahead of pursuers. Their greater activity also means a noticeable economic boost, but also higher upkeep costs. They may also have an appetite for action and adventure, otherwise becoming bored and restless.

Culturalists: thrive on exchanging ideas and experiences. As a result they enjoy generally greater morale, much greater cultural influence, and their technology can benefit from absorbing good ideas from any source. Their settlements may also be more attractive to traders and travellers. Morale is more likely to be raised by meeting new species. However, such cultural openness leaves them more open to being influenced in turn, and to infiltration by foreign agents, and makes it harder to prevent intelligence leaks. They may have lower tolerances for wartime restrictions.

Negotiators: have a keen ability to resolve disputes between factions. They may consider breaking an agreement to be the worst of sins. Thus their diplomats will be considerable more effective than otherwise, and there will also be benefits to trade. Any significant treaty with foreign powers will be a boost for morale. Internally, they will also suffer less from rebellions and unrest - all so long as they meet expectations to act honourably.

Industrialists: have an affinity for giant machines and mass production, conquering nature by their will, and exploiting resources as fast as possible. They enjoy a significant economic bonus, and are more likely to gain random free development boosts on mineral-rich planets. They will also have more goods to trade with other factions. But they may be wasteful with raw materials, as well as creating more pollution than otherwise, meaning their colonies may peak at an earlier stage, and be more damaging to the biosphere.

Traders: have evolved a keen sense of the relative Value of Things, meaning they can make considerably more profit from their exchanges with other factions, particularly if they can act as middle-persons. They also enjoy a noticeable economic boost at home. Their bartering skills also have some advantages for conducting diplomacy - and for making discreet deals with rogues and rebels. The downside is the greater potential for mercenary attitudes, with loyalties being bought by the highest bidder.

Duelists: take things personally; in any field, it's all about personal honour and skill. Their ship crews and soldiers are more likely to become veterans and elites through experience, and their special agents and diplomats will be drawn from the best. They are also more likely to capture, rather than destroy enemy units. Their heroes will be widely celebrated, boosting morale and inspiring others, and mourned if lost. Side effects may include, on occasion: deaths of prominent leaders in honour duels, recklessness in battle, and minor losses of research or income due to infighting.

Collectivists: live to serve the common good, perhaps to the point of having a ‘hive' mentality. As such they enjoy greatly reduced social problems, being able to endure greater hardships, even to the point of self-sacrifice; their colonies, ships and troops will all require less upkeep, and alien worlds may be slightly easier to colonise. Morale may not even be a factor for them. Incidentally, they are also better able to root out foreign agents. But their culture may be comparatively boring as a result; their population will not be as innovative, and as they have less interest in personal luxuries, trade may not be as profitable. They may also be more vulnerable to attacks on central authority, or whatever forms their ‘brains'.

Organisers: a self-organising instinct permeates their society. This gives slightly lower upkeep costs for units and infrastructure, lower logistics needs, less pollution and social problems on developed worlds, and a significant advantage in military command and control - especially of large fleets and armies. The downside to all this is an obsessive streak and various quirks that may make their culture somewhat less appealing, and may stifle innovation. And while they can cope well with localised disasters, they may be demoralised by any major upheavals.

Scavengers: have a talent for recycling and making use of what is. They can gain considerably more EP from salvaging shipwrecks and debris, and also more EP from mining asteroids and barren worlds. Not only are they better able to reverse-engineer foreign technology, they are more likely to capture enemy ships and units in a repairable state. Repair costs less, and units will also give back more of their original EP value when scrapped/disbanded. But while pollution is less of an issue on developed worlds, there is a slight economic penalty from colonies, as there is less focus on original production, and upgrade costs will be very much higher.

Eccentrics: unpredictable oddballs, always looking to do things differently. This translates to more innovation and random tech breakthroughs, and also more dangerous mishaps. Foreign cultures will have fleeting influence on them, while their own culture may be more intriguing for outsiders. Foreign agents will have a hard time infiltrating their society, but likewise, it will be harder for their own agents to conform to foreign norms. In battle, the eccentrics are harder to predict, but may also struggle to coordinate their own forces on a large scale; individual ship captains may sometimes go off on adventures without warning. Morale will generally be higher than otherwise, though there is greater risk of splinter factions appearing.

Materialists: live for the pleasures in life. They enjoy higher morale in general, a small bonus to their economy, and more luxury goods to trade. As such their culture may also be more appealing than otherwise. However, they have somewhat lower tolerances for hardship; alien worlds may be more difficult to settle, and morale will be more reliant on supplies and logistics getting through. They may also cause more problems through pollution and resource wastage.

Gardeners: have an affinity for growing, taming and gathering, tending to work with nature rather than against it. They will find it easier to settle and develop worlds that are otherwise borderline. They will gain more from planets with native fauna or flora, including trade goods, and morale will be higher on those planets. Starvation is unlikely to be a factor wherever plants can grow. Side effects: a low tolerance for pollution and destruction of nature.

Xenophobes: simply do not want to mix with outsiders, at least not without good reason. Foreign culture will have much less impact. Trade may also be restricted. Xenophobes will find it difficult to share any planets, or even entire star systems, with other factions, particularly those of other races - violence in this case may be uncontrollable. Their troops and ship crews will be all too eager to wage wars of extermination. However, they may also be more prone to forming splinter factions whenever internal differences arise. Note that foreign agents will have an especially hard time penetrating this society.

Zealots: believe that their way is the best way, or indeed the only way, and aren't shy about saying so. While foreign culture has less impact, they are more active in spreading their own message. They enjoy greater military morale either in defence on their cause, or in aggressively spreading it to the stars beyond, and will make great efforts to convert captured units and conquered populations to join their ranks. Attacks by outsiders will only fuel this zeal. Side effects: dogmatic thinking means that tech progress is a little more difficult, and idealism may cloud the judgement of their leaders.

Tarnakkian Empire: reserved for Golden1Knight???
Duelist Materialists; Tarnakki race only; prefers forested/mountainous, warm habitat
Economy: 2 + 12 EP
Freighters: 3 / 2
Tech Level: 2 (13)
Strengths: small arms and hand weapons; biochemistry; cybernetics
* The Tarnakki first had to defeat a rival sentient species on their home planet, comparatively lizard-like beings known as Killuri (now believed extinct, though alleged sightings remain), before fighting wars of unification amongst themselves. The current global Empire has passed from the hands of its legendary founder Zunnar Allakid through several royal houses to the current ruling dynasty, now headed by the young Emperor Varik. A large social divide persists, and some regions of Tarnakk have retained their wild character. Something of a cold war now exists with the mysterious Psilocybe, while first contact has now been made with the Flavian race.

Psilocybe: Immaculate
Watcher Hunters; Psilocybe race with a sizeable population of Lagomid followers; favours dense air, cold, mountainous habitat
Economy: 2 + 15 EP
Freighters: 4 / 3
Tech Level: 2 (14)
Strengths: biotechnology and genetic engineering; organic machines
* With a unified, if loosely-knit society, this unique aerial race has expanded far across surrounding space, first encountering races at a lower level of technology; the stone-age Lagomids have been recruited as a workforce on planet Lagimae, while attention shifted to the influence atomic-era Rurricans - first contact with the Skitarii race has turned violent in the vicinity of the Rurrican homeworld. Beyond lie the Tarnakki, who may pose an additional threat to Psilocybe ambitions. A more benign first contact has now also been made with the Dscheri.

Peaceful Union of Democratic Dscheran Isonomic Nations: NPC
Philosopher Culturalists; Dscheri race only; prefers thick atmosphere, temperate, low gravity habitat
Economy: 5 + 12 EP
Freighters: 3 / 2
Tech Level: 2 (10)
Strengths: megastructures
* the Statue of Schadeuschklikiaschu, a massive monument to the founding Matriarch of modern Dscheri civilization, stands tall over a planet united and at peace. After decades of interstellar exploration without encountering any intelligent aliens, the Dscheri have now encountered the Psilocybe civilization for the first time. Though some are cautious, most Dscheri look forward to an age of peace and prosperity.

Qui Existence: NPC
Hunter Survivalists; Qui race only; prefers forested, warm habitat
Economy: 2 + 4 EP
Freighters: 1 / 1
Tech Level: 2 (8)
Repair Bill: 4 EP units, 2EP economy
Strengths: megastructures; agriculture; ecology; hand weapons
* The Qui exist in a variety of different castes and morphs, though all are essentially the same species. The Qui’Kho are a generalist form, not regarded as the very strongest, nor smartest, but their adaptability led to their traditional dominance. The Qui’Kho Empire arose from multiple world wars and revolutions, with a ‘Queen of all Queens’ at the heart. Peace did not last long however, as a brutal war for survival was forced upon them by the Jaar’ar Federation, with their fleet scattered and their homeworld of Schreikne-Quil now partly occupied by heavily-armed alien forces, with billions of deaths. While tens of thousands have fled the home system, and the Empire is effectively dead at this point, determined popular resistance is still keeping the homeworld from final defeat. The remnants of the old Empire have regrouped along egalitarian lines.

Jaar'ar Federation: christos200
Philosopher Collectivists; Jaar’ar race only; prefers temperate, forested, mountainous habitat
Economy: 3 + 9 EP
Freighters: 0 / 1!
Tech Level: 2 (9)
Repair Bill: 5 EP units, 4EP economy (occupied)
Strengths: reinforced construction; missile weapons and artillery; ecology
* A very young civilization that has seen rapid technological progress, and has embraced a philosophy of global peace and unity - albeit under the threat of military force from the Federation against any serious rivals. General Jin’s glorious campaign against rebel factions is still in living memory. The Jaar’ar homeworld, Zhang, retains vast tracts of largely-unspoilt wilderness. Under the leadership of Chancellor Yang Kang - recently restyled ‘Emperor Taizong’, the Federation has boldly launched into a full-scale, grinding war of conquest with the frightening race of aliens known as the Qui - and the full scale of the bodycount and the horror this unleashed is beginning to filter back to Zhang. Meanwhile, first contact has been made with explorers from the Torrhennian Confederacy.

Torrhennian Confederacy: filli_noctus
Engineer Scavengers; Kowlint race with few Kul’hari visitors; prefers temperate mountainous habitat
Economy: 4 + 14 + 4 (Kul’hari) EP
Freighters: 3 / 3
Tech Level: 2 (15)
Repair Bill: 2EP (Perrel)
Strengths: orbital construction, fleet logistics; geo-engineering
* Torrhenn is a world that has seen a double tragedy. The first sentient race to emerge on the planet, known as the Vorn, apparently wiped itself out in a bio-chemical apocalypse. Millennia later, the Kowlint race emerged as their successors, borrowing technology from Vorn artefacts at a rate faster than social and political systems could accommodate. The result was a devastating nuclear war - a second apocalypse. However, the majority of Kowlint survived, and united their efforts in peace and rebuilding, while venturing out beyond the planet for the first time. While the environment of Torrhenn has now been largely restored, and Vorn artefacts are still being uncovered, interstellar colonisation has commenced. The starfarers have established trade with the enigmatic Kul'hari race, and have made contact with the Jaar’ar Federation. A large exploration vessel from the Hurrunn Agreement, carrying some Tacci onboard, has now also arrived at Torrhenn, potentially opening Kowlint horizons far to the galactic east.

Kul'hari Collection: Belgarion95
Eccentric Hoarders; Kul’hari race with few Kowlint visitors; prefers dense air, high-gravity, mineral-rich habitat
Economy: 2 + 20 + 2 (Torhennian) EP
Freighters: 3 / 5!
Tech Level: 2 (16)
Strengths: biotechnology and cybernetics; reinforced structures
* The Kul’hari are biological and technological oddities, being largely silicon-based and crystalline in nature, living in an atmosphere that would not only suffocate, but be toxic to most other complex life in the galaxy. Upon death, they believe themselves able to transfer much of their consciousness into a group-mind called the Collection, and apparently it is this entity to which individualised Kul’hari look for guidance. Relations have been established with the Kowlint race of Torrhenn who, as fate would have it, are largely similar in body plan, although vastly different in their social and biological make-up. Colonial ventures have been successful, though some colonists are starting to drift away from the Collection.

Hurrunn Agreement: Daftpanzer
Survivalist Hoarders; Hurrunn race with a sizeable Tac population, a few Skitarii and Kul’Hari visitors; favours low gravity, temperate, dry habitat
Economy: 0 + 12 + 2 (Tac/Skitarii) EP
Freighters: 4 / 3
Tech Level: 2 (8)
Strengths: robotics and automation; biochemistry
Repair Bill: 2EP
* This ancient industrial society has only recently made the leap to the stars - with lifespans up to 700 years long, no one here is in too much of a hurry. Not so much a government, as a loosely-knit and convoluted coalition of self-sufficient technological and industrial institutions, or ‘Kinships’, engaged in friendly (mostly) competition for prestige and to attract new recruits. Centuries-old orbital infrastructure in the home system stands in contrast to modern interstellar ships. A rush of alien contacts in recent decades - Tac, Skitarii, Kul’Hari, Torhennian, and Hlur-Baiheen - has left Hurrunn society somewhat bewildered and struggling to come to terms with this new reality.

The United Tac: Erez87
Negotiator Traders; Tac race with a sizeable Hurrunn and small Skitarii population; favours thick air, warm, humid habitat
Economy: 4 + 14 + 4 (Skitarii / Hurrunn) EP
Freighters: 4 / 2
Tech Level: 2 (6)
Strengths: communications tech, agriculture and aeroculture (aeroplankton)
* First contact has been made, almost simultaneously, with the Skitarii and Hurrunnun, causing a wave of excitement. For now at least, a sense of friendship and innocence prevails, and the Tacci enjoy a largely blissful, simple and harmonious society, one based almost entirely on altruism, that is unfathomable to most other races. However, burgeoning populations mean that the Tacci are overstressing their homeworld nonetheless, not helped by setbacks in their colonial efforts. Meanwhile an official diplomatic presence has been established with the Hurrunun and Skitarii aliens, and trade seems set to blossom in the years ahead, though perhaps at the expense of true independence...

The Skitarii Mercantile Conglomerate: NPC
Engineer Traders; Skitarii race with a small Tac and Hurrunn population; favours temperate, flat habitat
Economy: 1 + 15 + 3 (Tac) + 2 (Hurrunn) EP
Freighters: 4 / 2
Tech Level: 2 (11)
Strengths: computing, cybernetics and robotics; genetic engineering
* Originally engineered as a sterile slave caste for masters that have since died out, the Skitarii inherited a homeworld poisoned by centuries of pollution and nuclear disaster. Industrial consumerism and hunger for resources have continued unabated, while cloning has led to continual degradation of their gene pool. With failing bodies and poisoned skies, their society turns increasingly towards machinery and virtual reality; robotic exo-suits greatly enhance their diminutive physical abilities. News of contact with the Tacci and Hurrunn has been publicly announced, and factions in favour of trade and diplomacy currently hold the reigns of power within the Conglomerate.

Carvania: Decamper
Duelist Technologists; Flavian race with a small Drokmohx population; favours warm, mountainous habitat
Economy: 2 + 14 + 2 (Drok) EP
Freighters: 3 / 2
Tech Level: 3 (8)
Strengths: computing and scientific equipment, power generation
* Blessed with an especially fertile homeworld, the last natural forests of Niao are defended by environmentalist guerilla groups. Historically, the Flavians have preferred to decide conflicts through the use of personal duels, more than pitched battles. Compared to other races, political unity has occurred slowly, with no great landmark events. Technological progress has however been rapid in recent centuries. Contact with the towering Drokmohx race has been a big influence on the society Carvania; a profitable trade route has been established with those aliens, although there is some tension over the shared colony world of Oriad. As Carvanian explorers venture onwards, Contact has now also been made with the Sehoum Censorate and the Tarnakki Empire.

The Drok Imperium: Everblack
Warrior Philosophers; Drokmohx race with a small Flavian population; prefers warm, arid habitat
Economy: 1 + 14 + 2 (Carvania) EP
Freighters: 2 / 3 !
Tech Level: 2 (13)
Strengths: small arms and hand weapons; biochemistry
* Drokmohx society is based on the belief that they are able to converse with their deceased ancestors and receive guidance, especially from those great individuals who have earned the status of a Darhrols and have been ritually embalmed to preserve their remains. With a strong warrior tradition, the Drokmohx are perhaps fortunate that their war of global unification occurred well before the nuclear age, though the battles fought remain legendary for their horror and bravery. Much of their homeworld, Tazo, remains a harsh wilderness where fierce monsters roam. Trade with the Carvanians has been profitable, although there is some tension over the shared colony world of Oriad.

Sehoum Censorate: Shadowbound
Eccentric Organisers; Sehoum-Baloum symbionts with a sizeable Rozu population; prefers warm, dry habitat
Economy: 0 + 19 + 3 (SCEDA) EP
Freighters: 4 / 4
Tech Level: 2 (16)
Strengths: computing and scientific equipment; geo-engineering
* The Sehoum are unique in being sentient symbiotes, reliant upon Baloum hosts for survival. Baloum are intelligent animals that can survive independently, but are not sentient. This pairing has thrived in an unforgiving climate, and has forged civilization in the cooler polar regions. The harsh deserts of Almoth have already been softened by the import of vast amounts of water from icy bodies in the home system. Formerly loosely-bound under the Outer Space Exploration Corporation (OSEC), the nations of Almoth are now more closely united behind the Sehoum Censorate, an organisation created for the new age of interstellar, inter-species contacts. Friendly relations and shared enterprises have been established with SCEDA - a parallel of OSEC among the Rozu race, who have similar desert origins. Contact has now also been made with the Flavian race. Details of these contacts continues being carefully fed to the populace of Almoth.

Sureya Cosmic Exploration and Defence Administration (SCEDA): Thorvald of Lym
Survivalist Gardeners; Rozu race with a small Sehoum-Baloum population; prefers warm, flat habitat
Economy: 5 + 13 + 2 (Censorate) EP
Freighters: 2 / 3 !
Tech Level: 2 (16)
Repair Bill: 1EP (diplomatic fleet)
Strengths: beam weapons; ecology, agriculture and geo-engineering
* The situation of the Rozu race is unique; they already have experience of interplanetary war. Incursions from their neighbouring planet, Antalya, propelled the Rozu into the space age, and forged an alliance of all major polities on Sureya. The Gelion expeditions were evicted, and they remain under blockade on Antalya with their orbital infrastructure destroyed, apparently fragmented and apathetic, while the Rozu have since surpassed them in technology and, under the guidance of SCEDA, have now mastered faster-than-light engines. SCEDA has established a trade route with OSEC, a similar entity of Sehoum-Baloum aliens, with whom they have established a shared colony on the mountainous planet Aldeks.

Flallorean Collective: Lord_Herobrine
Engineer Traders; Flallore race only; prefers temperate coastal habitat
Economy: 2 + 15 EP
Freighters: 2 / 2
Tech Level: 3 (4)
Strengths: material science, geo-engineering, deep sea mining and aquaculture
* United by a great Revolution, the Flallorean Collective first conquered their world with the use of atomic weapons against less-advanced sentient relatives which had involved inland. Space exploration followed relatively quickly. Ancient Flallorean civilization first emerged in shallow coastal regions, and most Flallore still enjoy an amphibious lifestyle where possible, though technology allows them to comfortably roam the skies and deserts. First contact with the Hlur-Baiheen ended in violence, but communications have since been established. Recently, the Flallore have been the first civilization to probe the Galactic Core.

Stabilizing Directorate of the Hlur-Baiheen: Lord_Iggy
Brooder Traders; Hlur-Baiheen race with a small Syru population; prefers thick air, warm, forested/mountainous habitat
Economy: 5 + 13 + 2 (Syru) EP
Freighters: 2 / 2
Tech Level: 2 (13)
Repair Bill: 2EP
Strengths: megastructures, geo-engineering and aeroculture (aeroplankton)
* Like several other races, the Hlur-Baiheen have suffered the tragedy of overpopulation, resource shortages and even full-scale nuclear war. Though Seeoo’s environment has since been repaired somewhat, populations have also bounced back, and the planet has returned to carrying capacity. The pressing need of the Stabilizing Directorate is to establish colonies to act as a pressure release valve for the angry, excess population of Seeoo. Due to misunderstandings, first contact with the Flallore turned hostile, but the experience helped to ensure a peaceful contact with the the Iqahtu Andu. A confused engagement has now taken place with the Beast’s Crusade among the relics of a native civilization in the vicinity of a world dubbed Hyleen.

United Confederacy of the Yuma: NPC
Brooder Collectivists; Yuma race with a few Varyn captives; prefers warm habitat
Economy: 1 + 15 EP
Freighters: 3 / 2
Tech Level: 2 (13)
Strengths: megastructures, agriculture, genetic engineering
* Originating as a hive society dominated by their queens, over time the sentient drone caste has emerged as the political powerbrokers, controlling both queens and the intelligent (but non-sentient) workers. From conception, the ‘aristocracy’ benefit from special treatment to boost the development of desired traits, and in recent decades deliberate genetic engineering has accentuated this process. While avoiding all-out nuclear war between hive states, overpopulation and ecological disaster have now forced the Yuma clans to pool their resources and venture to the stars. Thanks to the highly ordered nature of Yuma society, the worker multitudes have been able to endure great hardships towards this goal. First contact has now been made with a well-armed expedition from the Beast’s Crusade, and a colonial war has begun.

Iqathu Andu: J.K. Stockholme
Organiser Negotiators; Syru race with a small Hlur-Baiheen population; prefers flat, warm, humid habitat
Economy: 3 + 20 + 2 (Hlur-Baiheen) EP
Freighters: 4 / 3
Tech Level: 2 (9)
Strengths: megastructures, agriculture and geo-engineering
* The Syru race, in its various forms, inherited a world surface devastated by a volcanic mass extinction event in recent geological time. The foundation of their civilization has been the huge irrigation works constructed over the centuries, allowing Syru populations to spread from their sheltered home lakes. The current ‘World Union’, Iqathu Andu, has emerged without too much bloodshed. Old polities still remain under the leadership of the Sovereign, who holds all real power. The Syru now venture to other planets just as their ancestors ventured beyond the great lakes of Andos. A colony on planet Mylos has proved profitable, and they have now engaged in trade and scientific exchange with the Hlur-Baiheen aliens.

The Beast's Crusade: Angst
Survivalist Zealots; Varyn race with a small population of captured Yuma and Hlur-Baiheen; prefers temperate habitat
Economy: 1 + 11 EP
Freighters: 3 / 3
Tech Level: 3 (6)
Repair Bill: 1EP
Strengths: biotechnology; genetic engineering; atomic science; beam weapons
* The Varyn are perhaps the most extreme example of self-destruction and rebirth, or at least, survival. Prolonged nuclear wars in previous millennia have massively devastated their homeworld, and the heights of former technology remain lost, along with much of their historical record. The Varyn now worship the remains of an ancient bio-mechanical superweapon, ‘The Beast’, to which they attribute godlike powers - but it must be studied, restored and revived. To this end, they have ventured to the stars, seeking resources and answers. They are a hardened people who will not be easily dissuaded. The ‘First Crusade’ has now engaged the Yuma aliens in the galactic east, while the ‘Second Crusade’ has engaged the Hlur-Baiheen and native tribes on planet Hyleen in the west .

Psilocybe
* First Attempts by Psilocybe To Communicate with the Furitive Lagomid
* The Psilocybe Council - discussing the Rurricans
* First Contact With The Tarnakki

Skitarii Mercantile Conglomerate

United Tac
* Encountering the Hurrunn

Dscheri Isonomic Nations

Confederacy of United Clans of Yuma

Torrhennian Confederacy / Kowlint
* Launching the Perrel
* The Presidential Council Chairman
* EXTRATORRHENNIANS!
* Gowlin Extraordinary Conference on Xenobiology

OSEC / Sehoum-Baloum
* The Astronaut
* A Private Conversation

Tarnakkian Empire
* Interspecies Relations (Daftpanzer)

Qui'Kho Empire

Stabilizing Directorate of the Hlur-Baiheen
* The Manifesto of Haineem
* The Song of Tugga
* Principles of the Stabilizing Directorate
* Drowning blood, deafening thunder!
* The world of Seeoo
* Dangerous anomaly discovered in Goaeem system
* Singing into the void
* Hearing an alien song
* Notes from the Proceedings of the Stabilizing Directorate

Iqathos signup background / Syru
* A Public Information Release

Drok Imperium / Drokmohx

Jaar'ar Federation
* Chamber of Five Hundred
* The First Chancellor
* Declaration of War against the Qui'Kho

SCEDA / Rozu
* Starship Murdizh prepares to venture beyond solar system
* Meditations on first contact with OSEC
* Spacial Logistics

Flallorean Collective
* Tales of Hoban - V01 "A New Odyssey"
* Tales of Hoban - V02 "Greeted with Fire"
* Alien Autopsy
* Flallore Response

Kul'hari Collection

The Beast's Crusade / Varyn
* Flag of the Beast's Crusade
* The Era Sermon
* The Crystal Seed

Hurrunn Agreement
* For new visitors to our world.
* Eyeball Chauvinism
* Aerospace Vessels and Tangential Conversations

Rurrican Civilisation
* Modem Sounds