I have the beginnings of a working proof of concept for a map framework. 

Here is what I am looking at.

Sort of a "box" model - i.e. a slide of space.  I'm playing with the idea of an area roughly 100 units x 50 units x 30 units.  That's completely up for change, it's just an early rough concept.  I think that a cube is a little unweildy when you start to visualize it.

The framework I am using is pretty great - you can zoom in and out, rotate at will. 

So I'm thinking... Your own star systems are represented with one color dot (say, blue).  Enemies in red, unclaimed in gray.  Perhaps allies in green?

From what I can tell, I can also add lines to the chart.  So any known wormholes could have their openings visually represented on the map, too. 

I figure that everyone starts with one sytem and some very limited intel on the immediate surrounding sectors.  Other systems and wormholes only show up after exploration - scouts, perhaps probes will be very important. 

I may have a very small mockup up a map by tomorrow.

I found a really cool javascript library for doing charts and whatnot.  Let me create a dummy starmap off of this, and you folks tell me a 3D map is a great or terrible idea.

I love wider perspectives.  Not sure of which items I'd want to use, yet.

I am thinking for players, just the "top lvel" empire owners.  Maybe 4-8 players in a given game?  More?

Good observation, Grugg. 

I want it to be approachable.  It seems that if I was able to provide the map in an accessible format, that would fit the issue.

Or would it?

Cool.  I'd love to hear your input. 

Fighter?  Yes or no?  If so, carriers are a thing (and are important, as are counters).  If not, then nope.

Can you just bombard a planet into submission, or do you need to land troops?  Masybe the latter is more costly/difficult, but the former damages production infrastucture and such?

Trying again to get this rolling, comrades!

I missed some silliness, huh.

Catching up, prepping a post.  Sorry for sucking.

Sometimes, I like to think about theoretical games I'd like to design.  I've done a couple of nigh-complete game systems before, though let's be real.  This is me.  It's probably more theory than any shot of even being a real game.

That's said, I'd like to brainstorm a bit about what would be a cool space-based strategy type game, ideally that could be played in a web browser.

My thoughts - you have multiple players doing a turn based game.  Everyone starts with a home world, a scout vessel or two, and that's that.

In my mind, you send you the scouts, find worlds to colonize and/or conquer.  You build fleets (hmm... should probably have at least a small fleet to start the game) for this purpose.  Other people do the same.  Eventually, you meet others.  Force alliances, start wars, etc.

One big challenge right off the bat would be the map.  If you're going to have a real space map, shouldn't it be three dimensional?  Or is that making things too complicated?

I'm thinking fleets of various tyes of ships.  You'd need to collect resources to build these.  What sort of resources make sense?

Should everyone be the same?  Or should you pick a race/species to gain access to different technology/bonuses/penalites?

What about things like wormholes to familitate paid travel around the map?  I'd think these should be unique per map to encourage exploration... and wouldn't these be really imporant, then, to control?

What about trade among empires? 

Okay, that should get the ball rolling.  Brainstorm with me!

I went throguh my crap, came back to the site, started my games back... and fell off the earth again. 

I'm sorry.  Life has sucked.  Family, health, hospitals, work, etc, etc. etc. 

Gonna try revitalizing my games (again) this week.  I'm sorry, y'all.

Heya, man!  Great to see you!

...no matter how long I grow it, it's still just the one beard.

Silly English.

Should have a post up tomorow.

...I'm not. 

I will chortle as you die.

The new Slipp is our pal, Chessicfayth!

Welcome!  And... I'm sorry.

Dawwww, you ae too kind.

I totally think that the critter from the Death Star trash compactor would fit under the water in the strream.  Especially if it had, say, a little cave?

And it should get MAJOR bonuses to stealth/sneak attacks for a party fording the stream in the woods at dusk, right?  Only fair...

Hmm, let's break out thosse grappling rules.  And how long can ya'll hold your breath, again? 

Glad to have a post!  Haha, now we have direction... and I know which ssid of the stream that my "random" encounters should pop up on. 

Death is not cheap in my games.  You'd better be something special if an Audalisian deity is going to bring you back. 

I mean, I misss the monster of the week format.  And the variouss one ups to the end of the world threats have been hit or miss at best.

But you still have Sam, Dean, Cas, and Crowley (mostly).  What's not to like?

You're saying that you aren't?  What's not to like?

We almost named baby #8 "Castiel". 

Hah... man, you nailed it.  Many of the old guard have felt thiss way for a long time. 

I hate that Alacrity isn't active much anymore.. talk about your awessome guys.

I'm obviously still a little behind, but I have managed to get my othe two games going.  We're almost ready to boldly go some more here...

THE ROAD SO FAR...

(cue classic rock soundtrack, preferably "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas)

The land has been covered by a deep, oppressive mist that plays odd tricks on your senses of sight and sound.  You and your group of companions met pilgrims on the road to Crandel where Atahris (one of the party mages) was to meet a senior member of his order.  They were weary and starving, warning of things in the night.  Right after, they were attacked by undead - zombies and some sort of giggling fiend whose touch paralyzed iss victims.  You fought them off, but several pilgrims fell. 

After paying the road tax, you sought the Inn in Crandel.  It was largely unfriendly, though Ch'dau, the catlike kazari, found himself on good terms the innkeeper, a man who had once served as a mercenary in a unit with another kazari. 

At the Inn, you also met a beautiful, intelligent blonde woman - Davena - and her bodyguard, Garn. she was quite taken with the bladesinger lore, to the point that she ignored some of Acancon's social fumblings and took him to her room and bed.  Aranwen noticed that her body was ribboned with old scars, particularly centered around her breasts and nipples, suggesting that the woman had survived terrible torture at some point.

In the night, the Inn was attacked by undead, including what appeared to be reanimated pilgrim corpses.  Aranwen awoke to an empty bed and room; Davena and Garn were gone.  A terrible fight took place, but the Inn was defended from the undead.  The Innkeeper was discovered next door at his home, injured but alive after his own fight. 

The party ventured into the town to help the Watch stop the undead, rescuing the last of them in their final stand.  In the process, Atharis was killed. 

The next day, the party visited the home of the mage Atharis had been sent to meet.  The mage himself was murdered by undead, his home ransacked and partially burned.  His notes included references to an "anchor" and "rituals", but little else in the form of clues.

The party decided to leave Crandel to investigate further, towards the direction the undead had come from.  You encountered a wounded woodsman that begged your help to save his family.  You rushed to his cabin, which was beset by zombies.  Ch'dau charged inside alone, as the party fought their way in.

Inside were a woman and two boys.  The woman was prone, appeared to have an undead eating her body, but the boyss were screaming, trying to stay out of reach of the zombies.  Ch'dau rescued the boys, the party rescued him... and discovered that the woman was not in fact dead, only paralyzed by a giggler... who was raping her.

Once the monster was slain, the woodsman was eternally grateful.  The boys were fine, the woman appeared largely unhurt physically - but she refuses to talk or interact, only stares off into some distance no one else can see.

The woodsman told a tale of a horde of undead led by a man in black robes.  The party used his description and story to set off into the woods, easily able to follow the large trail made by so many undead feet.  They have ventured a day into the woods, come across a stream right at dusk, and are now deciding what to do for the night.

The characters in this adventure are already created.  We are fairly well into it, and are in the woods, so I'll need players to assume an existing character regardless. 

Yes, I handle all dice rolls and such.

I have a player I have prromised the mage spot to if he decides to take it.  However, it does look like I have another opening - one of our cleric players has apparently dropped.

The character is a younger human male, priest of Solanis - the god of light and life.  If you are interetsed in that spot, I will discuss with you via PM.