So, I've run up against the current limits of what I enjoy doing on this blog - and am into areas of the story that I haven't thought thru all that well. So, I need to take a break fro the ponderous faux history writing, and see what happens.
The game development itself seems to have hit a plateau; one day a couple of weeks ago I realized somthing: unless this is just an Alt.history blog exercise, I need to figure out where the players can fit in.
The biggest problem with the setting so far is that there really only is room (thus far) for adventurers who are still part of the space forces -in the military, in other words, since the world I'm designing certainly doesn't have room or resources for private enterprise (or corporate enterprise) in space. Regan/Bush capitalism isn't going to flourish in the world of retrospace -both sides have tightly planned, militarized economies. And while a WWII or cold war game on earth has lots of room for espionage, clandestine ops, semi-private adventurers and maverick warbands, the space war requires serious resources and official cooperation from the governments or you can't get there; plus, up to the time of the first orbit war, things are pretty obvious, and the goals are pretty circumscribed. Blast off in single-seat rockets, shoot down satellite or enemy interceptor. Infiltrate the three-man saluyt station ? Ummmm. No ? Especially as the entire orbital battlefield has, on both sides, maybe twelve soldiers in it at any one time ?
So, where the players ? The problem is, a "you are in the army here are your orders" campaign, while easy to run, isn't (in my experience) the most popular amongst the players, who do matter, somewhat.
It looks like there will need to be a couple of breakpoints for the backstory that can generate different campaigns.
Lets see what I come up with. In the meantime, I think I'll do some shilling for my current faddish RPG infatuations (six level D&D, Engines and Empires, Busiris, Epees and Sorcery), or post some stupid game rants. (thieves, idiot fans, get off of my lawn).
1 comment:
Sometimes a change is as good as a break. Perhaps you just need to check out less obvious sources of inspiration for your game?
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