New NESes, ideas, development, etc

[Kozmos]

The meteor is more interesting then threathening

Carmen you failed, just admit it and go on.

 

[Symphony D.]

While object 2000 SG344 will likely pass close to the Earth in 2030, it should be made clear that the probability of the object missing the Earth is at least 500 to 1. If the ongoing studies determine that this object is likely to be a relatively small man-made booster then such a lightweight object would pose no hazard. It is interesting to note the chance of object 2000 SG344 striking the Earth in 2030 is actually somewhat less than the chance of an undiscovered object of the same size striking the Earth in any given year.

That it's small, possibly an old Saturn V booster, they're unconcerned about it, and odds are it will miss anyway? To quote another NASA source:

"Whatever it is, 2000 SG344 is certainly no dinosaur killer," Yeomans added, referring to a 10 km space rock that may have triggered mass extinctions when it hit Earth 65 million years ago. A 70-meter asteroid (the worst-case scenario for 2000 SG344) could obliterate a city if it landed on one, but it would not trigger a global catastrophe.

In short, no, 2000 SG344 is by no means at all a possible catalyst for global breakdown of order. At worst as a big lump of rock it would blow up a city (assuming it hit one), and at best as a space booster it would burn up during reentry.

Did you even read that article when you proposed using it for such a thing? Why pick something specific? We've only mapped something like 10% of all NEOs. It's far more likely a particularly dark one would appear out of space and kill us than one we know about. Honestly.

 

[jalapeno_dude]

From the NASA article:

It is interesting to note the chance of object 2000 SG344 striking the Earth in 2030 is actually somewhat less than the chance of an undiscovered object of the same size striking the Earth in any given year.

I'd have to agree with Symphony. Did you read the article before linking to it?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I was thinking, if I was to do a space continuation of LINESII when/if we reach that point, would people like it to be more realistic or more 'Star Wars' style?

The problem with realistic is that it will either become a board NES due to systems connected by jumpgates/wormholes/things like that (not what I want, I want it to be quite freeform), develop very slowly (due to slower-than-light travel), or if some teleportation-like device is used, render maps and many elements of the NES totally useless (and then a hypermatter bomb was suddenly teleported into the core of the earth, bypassing all its defenses! Game Over).

The advantage is added realism.


The problem with a Star Wars style (as in being able to travel around the galaxy in medium speeds, IE: matters of days/months compared to matters of no time at all/millions of years, and not be constrained by set transport points (though there would be major hyperspace (or whatever I want to call it) routes to act like roads in NESes)) is simply a lack of explanation for my systems by current knowledge.

The advantage is more fun, better gameplay.

Would people be willing to tolerate/like/worship the 'Star Wars' (for lack of a better name) system?

 

[Symphony D.]

Realistic FTL is actually fairly easy to manage without bothering with instantaneous travel (Gates / Folding) or STL. For example, Alcubierre Drive, which has some problems but otherwise would function vaguely like Warp Drive from Star Trek is available. Its limitations could be gotten around by invoking as yet unexplained physics. It's a black box, but an acceptable one.

Also, STL isn't that bad, really, you just need to adopt a longer-than-average timescale (kind of like older epochs like Classical or Iron Age). I've been reading some books lately (The Risen Empire and The Killing of Worlds, specifically) which involve STL space warfare. It's not that difficult; extended lifespans (for various reasons) coupled with time dialation and a relatively small empire (30LY across) make it feasible.

In short it's very easy do something realistic and non-linear without compromising fun, depending on your size parameters (the scope of the map, believe it or not, is the deciding factor for just about everything). Of course, you have an exceedingly long way to go for that, unless you plan to skip a large chunk of time.

 

[Kozmos]

Look at Galactica, its a pretty down on earth show yet thez can still do FTL jumps. Its no biggie. Also nukes are fun to use even in space.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Of course, you have an exceedingly long way to go for that, unless you plan to skip a large chunk of time.

This is a continuation I will do if I run out of time and LINESII dies, or if it advances to the space age. With the Citadel going around researching every fricking thing they see, this may be in fact quite close.

Thanks for the thoughts.

And Sym, thank you for the wiki links (including the ones in Erik's NES). I've been studying them all carefully.

 

[Thlayli]

Well, something plausible would be nice, if not realistic. After all, who's to define what that is?

Hehe, LINESII won't die. I used the winking smiley since there's no ironically suicidal smiley that's been created yet.

After LINESII gets to the modern era, we'll just have to see how things progress from there. But I think that things depend on the planets of the solar system, since a "low-scale" space colonization game that presumably begins with the success of STL (slower than light) space travel could work...one that perhaps branches out into colonizing the nearby star systems, with time.

So right now, a more freeform NES seems appropriate, but with at least some stats. Creating the map will be an interesting challenge...

 

[Swissempire]

Star Wars style. Just say that the FTL drive is formed from the combusting of some element or compound unique to Tellus. Star Wars battles+Hyperspace+Others is amazing and would be much more fun. LINES has never been "all about the realism" but more about the fun.

 

[Thlayli]

Star Wars style. Just say that the FTL drive is formed from the combusting of some element or compound unique to Tellus. Star Wars battles+Hyperspace+Others is amazing and would be much more fun. LINES has never been "all about the realism" but more about the fun.

I disagree. Even if things aren't sticking to the way they are in OTL, (and I'm not saying they should,) we can't just make up an element, unless it would be something highly radioactive and unstable.

Actually achieving workable FTL technology (and building starships that can use it) would probably take a huge, long-term, concerted effort by a major power.

 

[Dachs]

Well, you guys do know how to get into the dimension of hyperspace, correct? You don't need extremely exotic compounds...

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I like the Alcubierre Drive idea, Hyperspace is good too. Time Paradox NES (and idea I actually considered at one point, before abandoning it due to an extremely high-maintenance nature) is not what I want. So all things that are at least slightly feasible and fast enough to move interstellar distances in relatively little time are good. We could start with one system then advance to another at a later time.

But this is still a fair distance off.

 

[Thlayli]

Personally, I think it could have two phases.

The first one occurs when FTL travel is still being developed, and focuses on colonizing the solar system. So interplanetary (and planetary) politics can still play a major role as the NES transitions into space.

Then, after an FTL ship (developing FTL tech could be seen as a 2nd space race,) is successfully launched, the galaxy opens up for colonization.

 

[das]

On an unrelated note, we seem to have some webcomic readers over here... Has anyone read "Sluggy Freelance"? Because IMHO some of the story settings from there could make for nice NESes; the Oceans Unmoving story is particularily promising in that regard.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I read VG Cats, Ctrl-Alt-Del, Casey and Andy, and Irregular Webcomic.

But no, I haven't read the one you mentioned.

 

[Thlayli]

Woot Ctrl-Alt-Del!

8 Bit Theater is also a favorite of mine.

 

[Dachs]

Woot Ctrl-Alt-Del!

YEAH SON!

@das - I used to skim it every so often, but not anymore. Which storyline was that?

 

[jalapeno_dude]

On an unrelated note, we seem to have some webcomic readers over here... Has anyone read "Sluggy Freelance"? Because IMHO some of the story settings from there could make for nice NESes; the Oceans Unmoving story is particularily promising in that regard.

Yes, I do! That was an amazing story....

Not quite sure how you would pull it off. Maybe make it a board NES, and each player controls one ship?

I also read 8-bit theater, order of the stick, ctrl-alt-del, and pvp.

 

[das]

Not quite sure how you would pull it off. Maybe make it a board NES, and each player controls one ship?

There was a more conventional pirate NES a while ago; it was quite succesful, too, before dying the usual death of so many young NESes (mod losing interest). Something like that could work, IMHO. Alternatively... why just single ships? Good old empire-building is clearly quite possible in Timeless Space, only here, people are a more important resource (in fact, they are THE most important resource), and ofcourse there's a particular emphasis on, uh... aeronaval combat. Its also kind of like the various apocalyptic NESes, with comparatively small armies (early on, anyway) and the possibility to discover all sorts of useful stuff. IMHO that gives lots of original strategic and tactical options (just look on the tactical side of the storyline - its probably the best that I've ever seen in a webcomic, not that I know a lot of these...).

EDIT: I really should've suggested it back when Daft was looking for ideas, he's quite good at innovative stuff like that.

Dachs, its a comparatively late one (after the Holiday Wars), and it had pirates (kinda-sorta). To say anything more would be to spoil it if you haven't read it yet.

 

[Symphony D.]

I am drawing up a semi-comprehensive listing of diverse starship classes for any space-based NES (some vague inconsistencies in ENES, combined with my urge to someday run a space NES, discussion here, and a wandering attention span, have compelled me). I'm mostly looking at Homeworld / 2 and traditional Naval archetypes as inspiration (although it is likely any space fleet would actually be under the jurisdiction of an Air Force in a given setting--given that, by virtue of controlling atmospheric and orbital assets, it's a logical progression--Navy terms will always fit amazingly well).

If you have any stunning insight to share while I'm in the process, feel free.