[Sotff] STL-only Diaspora?

[Brad Murray]

On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 7:53 AM, Fred Herman<FHerman at egps.com> wrote:
> Apologies if a similar question has already been asked, but how difficult do
> you think it would be to retool Diaspora for a slipstream-less setting?
> Say, instead of a “cluster” of systems connected by slipstream, an actual
> cluster of nearby systems, with the crews of STL starships using cryogenic
> suspension, relativistic starflight, or both during transit?  (Obviously,
> this would mean that any given system might change dramatically between
> visits, decades or centuries having passed.)

(Fred, you don't seem to be subscribed to the mailing list so you may
miss some responses)

I think that this can be mostly left as story. Build clusters the same
way, but the links represent the most efficient routes. Build ships
the same way, but slip drives include all of the special equipment
needed for the long ride. Suggest by story or Aspect that ships with
this equipment are gigantic, but that doesn't need any other
mechanical representation. You can build them with the design system
as very slow and with enormous Frame stress tracks to model being
huge.

The idea of system change is great fun. In general, it's not
symmetrical though. Technology goes up very slowly, but down very
quickly. Environment only goes down except at T4 where terraforming
and ringworlds and other wonders are possible. Resources always go
down. So with these in mind, only Technology should vary between trips
as the others usually represent unreversible catastrophe -- your
cluster will wind up too poor to be interesting after a few churns. It
shouldn't be a ton of work to build a table or formula for these
changes, or even to have players pay a fate point for changes they
want to see. Obviously the referee can simply decide as well.

It's a fun idea, and really I think very little changes except the
narration. Sell it in play with Aspects.

-- 
Brad Murray (halfjack)

Expletive deleted.