To Reach for the Stars [4X Space Opera]

Created
Status
Ongoing
Watchers
25
Recent readers
0

Rule a megacorp that brings humanity to the stars.
Megacorp Selection
Humanity has developed interstellar travel through the use of jump points. These points in space are large but fixed. Travel through them is possible only with the recently developed Krueger drive.

This is not the glorious united federation of planets or some hippy commune. The world stands divided between four major powers. While the Krueger drive is now possessed by all, the fact it was stolen from an EU company by basically everybody has caused diplomatic friction. You do not lead a nation with its politics. You are a CEO and majority shareholder of a Megacorp with the resources that rival a nation at its fingertips.

The objectives are yours to decide. No pesky elections, no pushback from shareholders. Just you with an entire universe at your fingertips. So far there are no signs of alien life, no foreign danger. It is only humans you must compete with for the stars. And you know you are better than anyone else.

Which Megacorp are you?

[][Corp] Weyland-Yutani

A household name but wildly viewed as the devil. The power that is at your fingertips is immense but it also comes with enemies. You know you will come out on top no matter how many lesser men align themselves against you. For you are Arthur Weyland, CEO and Business Genius!

Vast Resources: You are the largest human megacorp and your budget reflects that. Budgets are doubled.

Developer of the Kruegar Drive: You developed the Kruegar drive. You explored and found the first habitable planets. Begin play with a 5 turn (year) headstart over the competition.

Hated: You are the devil and forces move against you both at home and abroad. The crimes of your company are many and people want to hold you to account. It is only your vast resources that have kept you safe so far. They may hate you but your money is good for bribes and such. (As time goes on, Weyland-Yutani will need to pay larger and larger bribes to retain control of the Earth holdings. When those are lost, your budget reverts to normal.)

[][Corp] Umbrella Corp (Reformed)

Everyone knows in the good old days, Umbrella tried to end the world with a zombie apocalypse so it could take control. However, the miscreants responsible are dead or in prison. As the new CEO and majority shareholder, William Anderson, you have shown a willingness to take the company in a better and more reasonable direction.

Reformed: You are actually decent people who treat your customers, employees, and business partners fairly. This may limit you to what is considered an average budget for a Megacorp but you have no PR problems to worry about either.

Biology Experts: You are at the forefront of genetic engineering. From crops that grow on alien worlds to building better humans. You do it all. (+30 to rolls in the Biology Science Tree)

[][Corp] Massive Dynamic

Experts in matters of Hard Science. You are William Bell, not exactly evil, but not exactly good either. What you are is powerful and intelligent. A dangerous combination for your enemies and rivals. You will dominate the stars and establish a legacy that will live forevermore.

Hard Science Experts: You are at the forefront of most physical technologies. Reactor tech, starship tech, weapons tech. All of these things are in your wheelhouse. (+15 to rolls in the Hard Sciences Trees)

Average Resources: You have access to the standard budget for a Megacorp yet still have some PR problems from your more extreme ideas. While the bribes will not increase, they still need to be paid.

Which world did you settle as your Off-world Headquarters?

[][World] Tau Ceti Center

An earth-like world with great potential. It has the most jump points of any system discovered so far at 8, one of which leads to Earth. It is also research rich which has led to the rapid construction of space-based shipyards and orbital industry to exploit the system's resources while enabling continued exploration and defense.

It is a coveted location because of the number of jump points. Expect people to try to dislodge you.

[][World] Elysia

A paradise world that vastly improves on Earth's positive qualities. This has been great for morale and food production. Meat may be a bit bulky to export in starships but the quality of this world's product makes it worth the cost. The elites on Earth are paying ten times what it costs you to ship it to them!

While agrarian industry and morale is in good shape, the raw materials for starship production are locked away in the asteroids. System industry will be scattered throughout the system and highly vulnerable to disruption and/or destruction. Expect space pirates and other criminals to take advantage of the distributed nature of your infrastructure and the limited number of warships you can use to patrol.

[][World] Starbase Alpha

This is not a world at all but a vast starbase that was discovered intact. This artifact is the first sign of alien life but they have clearly been gone for thousands of years. The corporation has brought the critical systems back online but there is plenty to be discovered, perhaps even technologies and concepts unknown to humanity!

While the starbase is massive, space is limited compared to an actual planet. You will need to colonize worlds from the only non-Earth facing jump point you have access to and quickly or suffer the consequence of stagnation.

Note: This is a bit of a stretch goal and may not get frequent updates if Artificer vs. Dungeon does OK.
 
I'm currently enjoying RE4 Remake.

[X][Corp] Umbrella Corp (Reformed)
[X][World] Tau Ceti Center
 
[X][Corp] Umbrella Corp (Reformed)
[X][World] Starbase Alpha
 
We are currently tied on corporation. That will need to be resolved to proceed.

Adhoc vote count started by Derpmind on Mar 25, 2023 at 8:40 AM, finished with 7 posts and 7 votes.
 
We are currently tied on corporation. That will need to be resolved to proceed.
The tally you posted was one I ran before I made my vote. Here's an updated tally - with a tie for world.
Adhoc vote count started by Derpmind on Mar 25, 2023 at 9:28 AM, finished with 9 posts and 8 votes.
 
We are back to tied on planet lmao

Adhoc vote count started by Abydon on Mar 25, 2023 at 3:04 PM, finished with 13 posts and 10 votes.
 
Tie Broke, Voting Closed

Adhoc vote count started by Abydon on Mar 25, 2023 at 3:24 PM, finished with 15 posts and 11 votes.
 
2385: Budget Priorities
[X][Corp] Massive Dynamic
[X][World] Starbase Alpha

You are William Bell, CEO of Massive Dynamic which operates out of Starbase Alpha only one jump from Earth. There is a distant jump point that will lead you further from Earth but it is not yet explored by the UN Exploration Mission. If you want it done in a timely manner, you will need to take care of it yourself at your cost.

Umbrella Corp has claimed Tau Ceti Center, a shipping hub that will allow them to colonize many planets with their advantages in biological research. Research that will enable them to adapt people, plants, and animals to new environments with relative ease.

Your white whale, Weyland-Yutani, the most hated of all Megacorps but also the most powerful. They have claimed Elysia as their base of operations. The flawless paradise world will undoubtedly entice people who would otherwise refuse the recruitment calls of Weyland-Yutani's HR department.

Few truly know how dark Weyland-Yutani has gotten. Your corporate spies have confirmed a Plan to slowly let their Earth-based assets go as part of a strategy to build a choke hold on interstellar commerce in a region patrolled by their warships. Warships run with skeleton crews and an AI that takes orders from Project SkyNET. SkyNET is still in development but it is said to be the most advanced AI humanity has ever seen. SkyNET is planned to manage Weyland-Yutani military and industrial assets to deal with their manpower shortages because of poor reputation.

Corporate Budget
5 Dice - Each is 1d100+Bonuses applied per die.

+15 to rolls in the Alpha system as it is your HQ.
+15 to rolls in the Hard Sciences Trees

5 Precursor-enhanced Facility Slots available on Starbase Alpha
As your HQ with limited space, Standard Facilities are not available on Starbase Alpha as they are already in place.

Potential Budget Priorities

Alpha System
[] Explore Farpoint (0/50)

Explore the far jump point and see what worlds are available. Once the project completes, a roll (or rolls) will be made to determined system quality and resources. Your charter only allows exploration and colonization in that direction without UN approval but you have very broad authority within your domain as long as you don't break interstellar law.

[] Study Precursor Technology (0/50)

Unlock 1 completely random but strong technology (compared to current generation tech). Cost doubles for each technology discovered in this manner. This is not guaranteed to be "Hard Science" qualifying tech as there are hydroponics labs and other operational facilities for bioengineering in Starbase Alpha.

[] Establish Precursor Research Labs (0/50) - DC 50, a result below 50 has consequences. Can be taken multiple times.

Standard facilities to operate your megacorp have been established on Starbase Alpha. However, with integrating some basic precursor tech and cutting edge human science these can be improved. The results are not completely guaranteed due to potentially unforseen consequences of using precursor computers to power a human lab.

+15 to all Research activities. Consumes 1 Facility Slot.

[] Establish Precursor Botany Bays (0/50) - DC 50, a result below 50 has consequences. Can be taken multiple times.

Standard facilities to grow food and produce vat-grown meat have been established on Starbase Alpha. However, it is possible to go further with what you know of the precursor hydroponics facilities. The merger will not be perfect but it will be better than anything you can build right now. You are certain of that. There is a slight danger of alien pathogens getting past normal screening of such foods. However, such things can be caught in testing on test subjects in isolation rather than risking the entire population or our reputation as a decent Megacorp.

+0.5 Budget die from mass produced exotic food exports. Consumes 1 Facility Slot. No long term risks.

[] Establish Precursor-enhanced Factories (0/50) - DC 50, a result below 50 has consequences. Can be taken multiple times.

We have standard industrial robots from Earth backed by what we call AI. It is not true AI, not like SkyNET, but they are equipped with learning algorithms we can be confident we can control. We could expand their capabilities with precursor computers and their industrial facilities. The danger is these AI may become sentient if we do so. Even a 100% safe initial run could eventually evolve into a problem if we are not carefully monitoring the AI and limiting its network access.

+1 Budget die from industrial exports and mining operations enabled by large quantities of industrial machinery. Consumes 1 Facility Slot. Long term risk of sentient AI evolution within your systems. Potentially friendly, potentially not.

[] Expand Standard Facilities (0/50)

While all the basics are intact and working as intended, we can take up some of the precursor tech-heavy areas of the Starbase that have been closed off for R&D as well as future expansion for unique opportunities. While this will reduce the effectiveness of further research into the precursors, it will enable us to make more money.

+1 Budget die from expanded industrial exports and mining operations enabled by large quantities of industrial machinery. Consumes 2 Facility Slots. No long term risks as this is tried and true technology. Facility Slots are downgraded to Standard Slots.

[] Establish Major Shipyard (0/50)

Unlocks Capital Ship and Fleet Group creation. Right now, UN doctrine is centered on Carrier Groups comprising 1 Fleet Carrier and a handful of escorts. You could follow suit or chart your own destiny. But first you need a shipyard to rival the UN's to build such ships. Who knows what you might need them for. SkyNET. Megacorp sponsored raiders. Aliens.

Permanently locks up 1 Budget die. Can construct and maintain 3 Carrier Groups or similar sized forces. Additional forces will require more Budget and expanded shipyards.

The UN currently has 6 Carrier Groups. A good chunk of those designs are known to you as you provided most of the tech for the key systems and capital ship hulls.

Alpha + Hard Science

[] Greenfield Hard Science Research (0/50)
--- [] Write in a category you are intested in. Starships. Industrial Tech. Power generation. Whatever really.

With the focus on a new HQ on Starbase Alpha, most projects have been wrapped or mothballed. It is time to look into new opportunities. Unlocks 3 random techs.

[] Deep Space Exploration Ships (0/50)

Right now, standard human ships are only good for about 4 jumps. Even less if it is surveying a system. So an exploration ship can take 2 jumps before it has to return for resupply. You'd like to double their endurance to 8 jumps so you can improve uptime per exploration mission. This will reduce the number of interstellar gas stations you'll need to build initially.

[] Hephaestus Missile System (0/50)

A deep space weapon system intended for use on proper capital ships that has been allowed to lie fallow as you do not have a proper shipyard in which to build said ships. However, if you decide you want a real fleet rather than the smattering of armed civilian ships this weapon system will give you the edge over Weyland-Yutani, the UN, and Umbrella.

+5 to combat rolls involving Capital Ships (Dreadnoughts, Fleet Carriers)

[] Achilles Aerospace Fighter (0/50)

A space superiority craft that can outfight UN built designs. It should also be able to outperform Weyland-Yutani or Umbrella. Although Umbrella may develop bio-engineered pilots that could give them an equivalent edge. However, you can iterate faster than they can gestate clones.

+5 to combat rolls involving Aerospace Fighters as a significant portion of the battle.

Other

[] Corporate Espionage: Weyland-Yutani - Project SkyNET (0/50)

SkyNET worries you. An advanced AI that is allowed to learn up to a human, or potentially even beyond humans, and given control over entire automated facilities and ships could pose an actual threat to humanity. You intend to keep tabs on it so you can make plans to act should it get out of control.

Unlocks Weyland-Yutani specific Rumor Mill with a focus on SkyNET and related projects. Cannot be taken with standard corporate espionage in relation to WY. 3 rumors/turn

[] Corporate Espionage: Weyland-Yutani (0/50)

Spying on your rivals is as natural to as you breathing. Now that they have moved to a new star system for most their operations, you will need to keep an eye on things there. This will not focus on any aspect of their operation.

Unlocks Weyland-Yutani Rumor Mill. 3 rumors/turn

[] Corporate Espionage: Umbrella Corp (0/50)

Umbrella Corp may be reformed but you will not risk them turning back to their old habits now that they are free of UN supervision and living among the stars. Keep an eye on them for safety's sake. World ending plagues are not something you want to be surprised by.

Unlocks Umbrella Corp Rumor Mill. 3 rumors/turn

[] UN Monitoring Project (0/50)

The UN is a force of bureaucracy with no ill intent. While you can monitor them, is it really needed? The most you will learn who is bribing who and what laws are being written in secret to prepare for a legislative session where you will learn about them anyway.

Unlocks UN Rumor Mill. 3 rumors/turn

Please vote by plan.
 
If we do standard research, then I suggest aiming for something like better starship engines. Those are something which should give a massive boost to everything at this stage of the game, whilst also counting as a 'Hard Tech' for that bonus.
 
[X] Plan Build Up
-[X] Explore Farpoint (0/50)
-[X] Establish Precursor Research Labs (0/50)
-[X] Establish Precursor-enhanced Factories (0/50)
-[X] Establish Precursor-enhanced Factories (0/50)
-[X] Establish Major Shipyard (0/50)

I want to hold off on research until we get the precursor research labs up and then start really pushing it. To that end I say we build two factories as that is two dice. One of which we will lock to the shipyards. We probably don't need shipyards just yet, but we will eventually so might as well get some warships built and available for their crews to train on.

I considered going with another lab instead of a shipyard, but I'm not sure if we want to risk 4 different potential consequences. I'm not even sure if we want to risk 3, but get more dice early is too tempting to pass up.
 
Back
Top