In 2015 the first abduction pods fell from the sky onto an unsuspecting Earth. Less than two...
Repensum est Canicula - XCOM Empire Builder Quest
- Thread starter Kara Valmeyjar
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User Total Kara Valmeyjar 5
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
In 2015 the first abduction pods fell from the sky onto an unsuspecting Earth. Less than two hours later a section of elite soldiers belonging to the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit arrived on the scene and were promptly engaged by hostile forces of nonhuman origin. This skirmish lasted less than a half-hour and resulted in the death of most of the team. That day marked the beginning of the Ethereal War and a grim forecast of days to come.
For one year humanity fought the invaders with all of their might. Their efforts lead by the soldiers and scientists of XCOM, an international paramilitary organization made up of the best and brightest humanity had to offer. Some victories were made, such as the capture of an alien battleship during Operation Slingshot and the destruction of their main terrestrial base. There were also many defeats. Japan has become a tomb to over one hundred million souls infested with Chryssalids and zombies. London, Washington, Moscow, and so many other major cities have been either cast into ruin or completely flattened.
Eventually the Ethereals, the enigmatic masters of the invading hordes, arrived on the battlefield in their temple ship over the South Atlantic. The war ended soon after when Strike-1, the near-legendary point team of the XCOM project, lead the final assault of the war against the Ethereal leadership. They gave their lives to save the human race, first by killing the Uber Ethereal and then by containing the destruction of their mothership.
It is now the dawn of the new year, less than a month after the war ended. The remaining funding members of the XCOM project (China, Russia, Great Britain, Egypt, Brazil, Australia, Canada,) have formed the Earth Alliance, the closest thing there is to a world government.
The Earth Alliance has much to do. Despite their victory the founding countries are in various states of damage. The UFOs bombed many major power plants, oil refineries and fuel plants, transportation hubs, government buildings, and other targets that made pre-invasion life possible. Most of the Alliance's population currently live with sporadic electricity and no running water, and rely on their governments to provide them with basic necessities. Hourly patrols by military personnel are a necessity to protect the population from bandits, aliens, and occasionally rogue military units from collapsed neighboring countries. With current resource consumption rates, the last bastions of human civilization are all expected to collapse into complete anarchy within fifteen years.
What's more, the Council of Funding Nations did a slapdash job of putting together the Earth Alliance, seemingly willing to only put forth the bare minimum of effort into the project and heaping the rest of the work on you, the newly elected Prime Minister, to sort out the rest on your own. It is only the direct backing of XCOM that the Alliance has any teeth or pull at all, and even that is tenuous due to the sharp lack of new sources of elerium and alien alloys and the fact that XCOM is still technically being funded by the Council nations.
Rules
1) This will be an empire builder council game, and there is no no player list. You post as you want.
2) Action lists need at least 3 votes to pass.
3) You get 10 Actions that you can use for Research, Civilian, Military, or Intel. Success will be determined by dice rolls using invisible castle, any counter rolls that I deem are required, and my interpretation of the rolls.
4) You cannot stack rolls.
5) Turns will be 1 month in length.
Information to be Aware Of
1) Currently the nations of the Earth Alliance are the only pockets of human civilization left. Practically every other nation on Earth has collapsed into anarchy. Warlords and forces belonging to the remnants of the governments battle for control of cities and resources. Warbands of alien survivors also fight for control of their own tiny fiefdoms, and woe be to any human who lives under their yoke.
2) The Earth Alliance does not possess the forces to reestablish order across the entire planet, and the member nations of the EA need much attention themselves before any thought of aiding the rest of the world can be considered.
3) Thanks to the Ethereals the vast satellite communications network that used to bind the modern world together has been destroyed, along with all military comms, spying/intelligence gather, & GSP networks. The only satellites left are XCOM's sensor sats, which are outfitted to detect and monitor UFO travel only.
4) Currently you have a limited amount of elerium and alien materials. If needed you have enough to keep your Firestorm fleet and XCOM forces in the fight for about a year assuming that you don't use it for research projects or to expand the Firestorm fighter fleet/XCOM infantry.
5) Currently your lift capacity is limited to traditional rockets and Firestorms. Using the Firestorms to lift objects into space is much more efficient than rockets but using them will deplete the elerium stores faster.
Potential Research Projects
Project: Prometheus
During the war XCOM managed to capture an Ethereal battleship. The five hundred meter long vessel was moved to the Aviary, an XCOM facility that produced the bulk of their Firestorms. Using the device provided by Colonel Zhang proved to be an extremely inefficient means of controlling the battleship, so the ship was stripped and kept mostly intact for later research. Dr. Vahlen thinks that an in depth examination could help advance humanity's drive into space.
Project: Daedalus
One of the ideas that had to be shelved during the war was a space shuttle designed to incorporate gravitic drives and alien derived heat shields. The new shuttle would be vastly more efficient than either the firestorms or the rockets with the added bonus of being capable of exploring the inner planets of Sol. However the current theoretical specs include a hefty fuel cost. Using them as anything other than StO transports will quickly drain XCOM's elerium supplies.
Project: Ichor
Elerium is the lifeblood of XCOM's and the Ethereal's advanced technology. With the invasion over securing a new source of elerium is the Alliance's highest priority right now.
Project: Aegis
The materials recovered from crashed UFOs and broken plasma firearms have proven to be a major asset to XCOM. It is necessary for virtually all of humanity's newly aquired advanced weaponry and technology, so figuring out how to make it is a necessity.
For one year humanity fought the invaders with all of their might. Their efforts lead by the soldiers and scientists of XCOM, an international paramilitary organization made up of the best and brightest humanity had to offer. Some victories were made, such as the capture of an alien battleship during Operation Slingshot and the destruction of their main terrestrial base. There were also many defeats. Japan has become a tomb to over one hundred million souls infested with Chryssalids and zombies. London, Washington, Moscow, and so many other major cities have been either cast into ruin or completely flattened.
Eventually the Ethereals, the enigmatic masters of the invading hordes, arrived on the battlefield in their temple ship over the South Atlantic. The war ended soon after when Strike-1, the near-legendary point team of the XCOM project, lead the final assault of the war against the Ethereal leadership. They gave their lives to save the human race, first by killing the Uber Ethereal and then by containing the destruction of their mothership.
It is now the dawn of the new year, less than a month after the war ended. The remaining funding members of the XCOM project (China, Russia, Great Britain, Egypt, Brazil, Australia, Canada,) have formed the Earth Alliance, the closest thing there is to a world government.
The Earth Alliance has much to do. Despite their victory the founding countries are in various states of damage. The UFOs bombed many major power plants, oil refineries and fuel plants, transportation hubs, government buildings, and other targets that made pre-invasion life possible. Most of the Alliance's population currently live with sporadic electricity and no running water, and rely on their governments to provide them with basic necessities. Hourly patrols by military personnel are a necessity to protect the population from bandits, aliens, and occasionally rogue military units from collapsed neighboring countries. With current resource consumption rates, the last bastions of human civilization are all expected to collapse into complete anarchy within fifteen years.
What's more, the Council of Funding Nations did a slapdash job of putting together the Earth Alliance, seemingly willing to only put forth the bare minimum of effort into the project and heaping the rest of the work on you, the newly elected Prime Minister, to sort out the rest on your own. It is only the direct backing of XCOM that the Alliance has any teeth or pull at all, and even that is tenuous due to the sharp lack of new sources of elerium and alien alloys and the fact that XCOM is still technically being funded by the Council nations.
Rules
1) This will be an empire builder council game, and there is no no player list. You post as you want.
2) Action lists need at least 3 votes to pass.
3) You get 10 Actions that you can use for Research, Civilian, Military, or Intel. Success will be determined by dice rolls using invisible castle, any counter rolls that I deem are required, and my interpretation of the rolls.
4) You cannot stack rolls.
5) Turns will be 1 month in length.
Information to be Aware Of
1) Currently the nations of the Earth Alliance are the only pockets of human civilization left. Practically every other nation on Earth has collapsed into anarchy. Warlords and forces belonging to the remnants of the governments battle for control of cities and resources. Warbands of alien survivors also fight for control of their own tiny fiefdoms, and woe be to any human who lives under their yoke.
2) The Earth Alliance does not possess the forces to reestablish order across the entire planet, and the member nations of the EA need much attention themselves before any thought of aiding the rest of the world can be considered.
3) Thanks to the Ethereals the vast satellite communications network that used to bind the modern world together has been destroyed, along with all military comms, spying/intelligence gather, & GSP networks. The only satellites left are XCOM's sensor sats, which are outfitted to detect and monitor UFO travel only.
4) Currently you have a limited amount of elerium and alien materials. If needed you have enough to keep your Firestorm fleet and XCOM forces in the fight for about a year assuming that you don't use it for research projects or to expand the Firestorm fighter fleet/XCOM infantry.
5) Currently your lift capacity is limited to traditional rockets and Firestorms. Using the Firestorms to lift objects into space is much more efficient than rockets but using them will deplete the elerium stores faster.
Potential Research Projects
Project: Prometheus
During the war XCOM managed to capture an Ethereal battleship. The five hundred meter long vessel was moved to the Aviary, an XCOM facility that produced the bulk of their Firestorms. Using the device provided by Colonel Zhang proved to be an extremely inefficient means of controlling the battleship, so the ship was stripped and kept mostly intact for later research. Dr. Vahlen thinks that an in depth examination could help advance humanity's drive into space.
Project: Daedalus
One of the ideas that had to be shelved during the war was a space shuttle designed to incorporate gravitic drives and alien derived heat shields. The new shuttle would be vastly more efficient than either the firestorms or the rockets with the added bonus of being capable of exploring the inner planets of Sol. However the current theoretical specs include a hefty fuel cost. Using them as anything other than StO transports will quickly drain XCOM's elerium supplies.
Project: Ichor
Elerium is the lifeblood of XCOM's and the Ethereal's advanced technology. With the invasion over securing a new source of elerium is the Alliance's highest priority right now.
Project: Aegis
The materials recovered from crashed UFOs and broken plasma firearms have proven to be a major asset to XCOM. It is necessary for virtually all of humanity's newly aquired advanced weaponry and technology, so figuring out how to make it is a necessity.
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AZATHOTHoth
༼ つ ☀️_☀️ ༽つ
[X] Project: Ichor
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
You guys do get 10 actions, remember?
Ichor might be better for the imediate since that's about just trying to get ahold of a reserve of Elerium quite possibly now.
I know, I just have no clue what to do for them, unless we could do two research actions. But I'm assuming that wont fly.
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
You could do 2 research rolls or 10. I imagine that the info in the OP should be more than enough to set up an initial action list.
- Location
- Somewhere near L1... I think
[x] Research:
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
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[x] Project: Aegis
[x] Project: Ichor
[x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
[x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
[x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
[x] Scan for activity
[x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
[x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
This seems like a good plan.
[x] Project: Ichor
[x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
[x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
[x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
[x] Scan for activity
[x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
[x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
This seems like a good plan.
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
If you guys could organize your lists into "Research, Civilian, Military, or Intel" it would be greatly appreciated.
[X] Plan Alfa290
How much of The Bureau (characters, tech, aliens, ect.) are you using? All, some, or none?
Is this going to be like the last XCOM quest where the players have to fight The Bureau/GDI because they were compromised by EXALT?
How much of The Bureau (characters, tech, aliens, ect.) are you using? All, some, or none?
Is this going to be like the last XCOM quest where the players have to fight The Bureau/GDI because they were compromised by EXALT?
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
That would be spoiling.
I am taking notes from it, yes. Mainly: tone down the RNG cruelty, cut back on the conspiracy bullshit, and do a better job of keeping you guys on your toes but not getting to the point of seemingly dealing with hypercompetent schrodinger's bad guys.
wertsir
Knower of the Unknown
- Location
- Lost in A Deep Fog
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[x] Research:
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
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Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
Please reread the rules regarding stacking actions. Thank you.
wertsir
Knower of the Unknown
- Location
- Lost in A Deep Fog
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Woops, okay thanks, I did read that but I was confused by your comment about research rolls earlier. I will fix my vote now.Please reread the rules regarding stacking actions. Thank you.
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
Looks like Alfa's plan achieved the requisite 3 players first. Will have an update sometime during the weekend.
[x] Research:
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
Dragonskyt
Ashen one, hearest thou my voice, still?
- Location
- Kiln of the First Flame
[x] Research:
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- Location
- Somewhere near L1... I think
Some things we should think about around the time or after we have stabilized fifty to seventy-five percent of the planet. We're probably going to need dedicated space fighters/space combat vessels so having a shipyard up there will definitely be a goal (possibly as an extension of the LEO launch platform). We should also look into technologies that don't specifically rely on elerium or ethereal tech. This one is admittedly not that big a priority, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Lastly, have long range LiDAR (I hear that X-ray LiDAR for deep space sensors might become a thing) placed throughout the solar system to detect things that shouldn't be there. Actually, if we could replicate the hyperwave, we could use that as a sensor instead.
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
The update will be coming this weekend. In the meantime, some additional information. Unlike in the last game, the national governments are still present and hold much sway in the current political landscape. The current state of the Earth Alliance is rather similar to the Articles of Confederation-era USA, with you guys as the federal government. Right now you are technically allowed to call upon the resources of the EA member nations in the interest of the greater prosperity of the Alliance, but be aware that the governments can and will deny you those resources if they see fit.
- Location
- Under the sea
[x] Research:
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
Happerry
Bat out of Hell
- Location
- Kanto
[x] Research:
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
- [x] Project: Aegis
- [x] Project: Ichor
- [x] Look into the possibility of replicating Meld
[x] Military:
- [x] Look into reconstructing the GPS, SATCOM, and MILSTAR networks
- [x] Scan for activity
- [x] Projections for stabilizing non-EA regions or leading campaigns to topple war lords
- [x] Look into constructing a LEO launch structure and Lunar outpost
[x] Civilian:
- [x] Look into scouting for Helium-3
- [x] Acquire projections on a fusion power plant project
- [x] Look into aiding reconstruction of primary infrastructure (hospitals, power plants, power lines, water/sewage, communications)
Dragonskyt
Ashen one, hearest thou my voice, still?
- Location
- Kiln of the First Flame
Does that mean we will also have to keep track on the relationship levels we have with each and every country?
Kara Valmeyjar
SB tourist
- Location
- Fólkvangr
- Pronouns
- They/She
Not necessarily. It's a lot more passive than the Panic Meter in Enemy Unknown and you'll be alerted to any major changes, but I can make something like it if you guys want.