“Vortex” Update 5a.20 — It’s a trap!

Scene from Return of the Jedi — Adm. Ackbar

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.20 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 22 August 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

In one future, humanity has begun to colonize the Sol system, but ecological degradation and internecine conflicts persist. Open and official First Contact with Galactic societies, themselves at war, threaten Terra’s very survival. Will heroes rise to the challenges?

Two aliens and their human allies encountered xenophobes and megacorporate intrigues on and around Earth. After visiting factionalized Mars and acquiring a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and Alpha Centauri….

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird:

-“Syzygy” [Brian W./absent]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

>>”4 to 7 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The crew of the Blackbird had successfully negotiated a truce between the technocratic city-state of Albahaven and the Corvell Unity, a religious monarchy. The Salvorain were descendants of Aquarian miners beneath the oceans of “Dorian Gray,” a moon of gas giant “Methuselah” orbiting Van Maanen’s Star.

Syzygy realizes that although he has sent reports to the Kharvamid Alliance, the Aquarian homeworld probably won’t send anyone to Van Maanen’s Star anytime soon because it is threatened by the Zarkonian Armada. Tela readies the scout ship’s REM faster-than-light (FTL) drive with help from Dr. Bucket and spider drones.

Chris McKee stashes the crystal-tipped trident he obtained from the Salvorain, and impatient Lt. Kevin Reese asks Aughest-vor… to set a course for Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth. Aughest notes that because of the REM drive’s side effect of fatigue on the crew, the Blackbird should stop every few (Terran) days and explore.

The humans lay in a course for LP 771-095, or Cetus Eridani, a trinary star system about 7 parsecs from Sol. They don’t expect to find life because one of the stars emits hazardous flares. The Olvar (mammal-like arboreal alien) database lists three barren planets and numerous asteroids.

The Blackbird receives a distress call from the “Dezorici,” a vessel of unknown origin that says it was disabled by a flare. Syzygy translates using a galactic standard code, and Tela prepares rescue and salvage tools. Chris and Kevin hastily rearrange the cargo bay to accommodate up to 20 short-term passengers.

Aughest-vor taps his astrogation training to approach Cetus Eridani, cruising between complex gravitational pulls and asteroids. Syzygy detects life signs on the derelict ship, but Tela notices an energy surge as the Blackbird passes through a force field, disabling its FTL capabilities! Agent Prometheus suspects a trap and goes to his turret.

As Aughest-vor veers away from the Dezorici, six smaller craft begin pursuit. Lt. Reese scans the ships, which he and Aughest dub “squltures” because of their squid-like tentacles and vulture-like necks and metallic beaks. Chris shoots asteroids to clear an exit route.

Tela scrambles to restore the REM drive and asks for more information about the source of the disruption. Syzygy scans the local star and finds that it has been dormant and couldn’t have disabled any ship, confirming suspicions of a trap.

The squltures fire particle beams at the Blackbird, so engineer Tela sends robot Dr. Bucket and the drones to handle damage control while she focuses on the FTL. Hotshot pilot Aughest-vor flies perpendicular to the ecliptic and heads for open space, and Kevin reroutes systems to help Tela.

Gunner Chris provides cover fire with the particle cannon, and xenologist Syzygy identifies the attackers as Kutalrin, artificial intelligences and scavengers. Interplanetary Patrol officer Lt. Reese finds the FTL disruptor field emitters, which were hidden along a likely approach route through the asteroid field.

One of the pursuers is nearly destroyed by Agent Prometheus’ ion beam, as Syzygy verifies that the life signs on the Dezorici were too regular and therefore fake. Chris asks for a delay to finish off more of the enemies, but Lt. Reese overrules him, concerned about getting rammed.

Rather than swing back around toward the field emitters, Aughest-vor activates the afterburner (aftermarket Yoyodne Oscillation Overthruster) to outrun the squltures. The former solar-sail racer buys Tela the time she needs to finish repairs on the REM drive.

Trinoid Syzygy scans for intraship transmissions and observes that the Kutalrin, still in pursuit, may have a hive mind and might be working with or for someone else lurking in the system. Kevin sends warnings to the United Earth Authority and the Olvar Star League.

In a fraction of the time starship engine repairs should take, by the book, Tela restores the Blackbird‘s FTL. Aughest-vor lays in a course toward Mu Aquilae and punches it, leaving Cetus Eridani and the squltures light-years behind.

For once, pilot Aughest-vor and Lt. Reese aren’t affected by the REM drive in Transit space. They are disturbed to find Syzygy in his quarters, partly enveloped by his biomechanical laboratory, which is plugged into the ship.

Chris stumbles giddily through the corridors, offering brownies to everyone, including Dr. Bucket (whom he normally distrusts). Meanwhile, Tela falls into a deep sleep in her hammock in engineering. Aughest takes the Blackbird out of FTL, and Kevin successfully reprograms the ship’s computers after getting Syzygy to sheepishly disengage.

After a few pots of coffee, Tela is again fit for duty, and the Blackbird heads to Beta Canum Venaticorum, a binary system about 8 parsecs from Sol. According to a 1,000-year-old (Terran time) record in the Olvar database, stars Chara and Asterion are orbited by two gas giants, at least one rockball, and one “Goldilocks” world with two moons.

Leaving the Blackbird in orbit with Dr. Bucket keeping watch, the crew takes the Dragonfly drop ship down to the planet, which has water oceans, lush vegetation, and no signs of modern civilization. As he pilots over herds of feathered beasts and alongside pterodactyl-like avians, Aughest-vor nicknames the planet “Henson” for its exotic life.

Chris notices that some of the flying creatures have humanoid riders! They direct the Dragonfly toward a mountain, where the intrepid offworlders land and take the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm ground-effect vehicle up to some caves.

The Terrans, Trinoid, and Tharian shed their vacuum suits and walk toward the alien warriors, who have linked hands in some form of greeting or approach. Syzygy begins recording their speech to automate translation. Tela is greeted warmly because her glider wings are recognized by the beast handlers.

Aughest-vor and Lt. Reese declare that they have landed on “Boobulon” because the greenish female aliens each have three breasts. Three-armed Syzygy doesn’t think that is unusual, but he commences scanning the indigenous life forms as diplomatic overtures are begun….

It was great to see everybody after last month’s hiatus, and I look forward to continuing both “Vortex” teams’ adventures! Team 2, the crew of the Appomattox, is scheduled to meet on Monday, Aug. 29 (weather permitting), and Team 1 is set for Sept. 12. I also hope to resume with the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy game. Take it easy, -Gene

“Vortex” Update 5b.18 — Miracles on Titan

Interior of Starwind-class pleasure yacht — The "Appomattox"

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5b.18 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 2 met on Monday, 15 August 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

After encountering robotic probes, regional warlords, and other horrors in an old battlefield and the Ghanki undersea station, a band of grifters and near-humans escaped to the Shepard 2 orbital city. It conducted a successful heist in the Lunar Free State and was involved in medical disasters in the Venusian colonies before returning to Earth to steal a faster-than-light drive…..

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the “Appomattox:”

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A./absent]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L./absent]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the “Fortune’s Fool,” ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

>>”4 to 7 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” After delivering the Dawn’s Retreat, a vessel believed to be from an alternate universe, to the United Earth Authority, the crew of the Appomattox discusses its next moves while in Earth orbit.

Capt. Gabriel Adams says he wants to learn more about why “fixer” Ramon Sanchez [Josh H./Greg/N.P.C.] arranged for art from the Vatican Museum to be smuggled to Epsilon Eridani. ARTHERR estimates that it will take a few weeks for other Terrans to use the plans for faster-than-light drives stolen from the Ru’ulok (reptilian heavy-gravity aliens), about the same amount of time it would take for the Appomattox to go to Epsilon Eridani.

The robot adds that a proper home should be found for the artifacts, “for the good of all mankind!” Hector Chavez is also suspicious of Sanchez and notes that SRE (Systemes de Recuperation Executif) repossession agents are still looking for the ship in near-Earth space.

Jasmine tells Averki “Deep Dish” Dyashenko that she’s tired of sneaking around and stealing things, but Dr. Richmond Garrett is determined to fulfill his mission for Sanchez, or at least find a higher bid for the relics. ARTHERR notes that Gordon Wong, a rogue artificial intelligence with the Xox Memes, had observed that the United Ecumenical Movement recently reassigned numerous chaplains to the outer Sol system. Perhaps one of them could help, he suggests.

Gabriel has heard that the U.E.M. is looking for humans with psychic abilities. The underworld courier sets a course for Titan, a colonized moon of Saturn. ARTHERR and Hector examine grenades and install missiles stolen from the Star Shark. Jasmine looks forward to finding fellow “Synths” (genetically engineered beings) in the outer colonies.

With ARTHERR’s help, Richmond orders a ministry to become “the revered Dr. Garrett,” despite his complete ignorance of religion. He orders chef Nero Bartholomew to burn an image of the Virgin Mary on some bread, so that he can “find Cheebus” on “miracle toast.” The grifters vacuum-seal the sandwich and put it on a silver platter.

Capt. Adams passes Europa near Jupiter and docks the Appomattox at Eclipse Station in orbit around Titan, which is itself in orbit around Saturn. (The Blackbird visited the orbital habitat just a few weeks earlier.) ARTHERR contacts the U.E.M., which sends two people to inspect the supposed miracle.

At the Ringtown Diner, Jasmine and Dr. Garrett are happy to order real meat with their meals. ARTHERR flirts with the robotic waitress, and Gabriel leaves for the Lucky Garden Casino. Yellow-robed Shifu Nurdin Subaja and space armored Sister Indrani Bhai soon join them.

Shifu Nurdin interrogates Richmond and yarmulke-wearing ARTHERR. Sister Indrani takes an interest in Jasmine, who resembles a Rakshasa. When Nurdin makes an offhandedly disparaging remark about Synths to Richmond, Jasmine angrily douses the cleric with her milkshake and storms out. Indrani follows her into the crowded corridors and invites her and all sentient beings to join her faith.

Meanwhile, at the Lucky Garden Casino, Gabriel is accosted by the attractive Tanya and Galia. He wins a few hands at poker and inquires about local high rollers such as Rev. Winston Jones. Once the telepath realizes that the women are in fact free-willed androids, Gabriel is initially put off but invites them to join the Appomattox‘s crew.

Humbled, Shifu Nurdin listens to Dr. Garrett confess how the toast helped him turn from his sinful ways. In return for the platter, he reluctantly agrees to help the onetime snake-oil salesman obtain an audience with Archbishop Javier Fuentes in New Quebec on Titan‘s surface.

To build his reputation as a holy man, Richmond goes with ARTHERR to the infirmary, where they talk to the beings waiting for appointments. They conduct triage, identifying elderly patients with more money than hope of successful treatment. However, Dr. Martha Curtis soon asks for Dr. Garrett’s help with an urgent head injury!

Jasmine goes to the casino, where she chats with “Uplifted” Chim Faisal and Delphine astrogator Erta Garza. The bioengineered bonobo flirts unsuccessfully with the Tiger Woman wrestler, and Gabriel tells Jasmine to invite Erta to join the crew as backup to Richmond and Deep Dish.

At the infirmary, Dr. Garrett scrubs in and enters the operating theater, with ARTHERR posing as his remote-controlled medical assistant. The droid downloads medical data and conducts surgery, relaying instructions for Richmond to “order” him and Dr. Curtis to execute. After several tense moments, the physicians and fakes manage to save the patient, even as the real Dr. Garrett arrives!

Richmond pretends to faint and later explains that he was “moved by the divine” to assist Dr. Curtis, even without any true expertise. ARTHERR broadcasts the successful surgery through local news media, turning the colonists in the waiting room and student observers into witnesses to Richmond’s “miracle.” The actual Dr. Garrett, who is aware of the former Venusian surgeon general, begrudgingly escorts Richmond from the infirmary to the disused station chapel.

At an impromptu faith-healing rally, Sr. Indrani tells ARTHERR that the performance in the infirmary has moved Richmond up in the queue of appointments with the archbishop. He will receive them at the U.E.M.’s offices in New Quebec. The crew of the Appomattox resolves not to reveal that it has the Vatican art but to inquire discreetly about the church’s shift in personnel to the outer colonies, security breaches, and possible destinations for the precious cargo (such as Epsilon Eridani).

Gabriel begins planning a casino heist, hoping to use Jasmine and her fellow Synths, while Hector monitors communications surrounding Richmond’s revived reputation. The team prepares for its audience with the archbishop…

After our July hiatus because of travel, it was good to see everyone in Team 2! We’ll have a few more scheduling interruptions in the next few months, but I’m also looking forward to continuing the adventures in the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom game and “Vortex” Team 1! Be seeing you, -Gene

“Vortex” Update 5b.17 — the “Dawn’s Retreat”

Steampunk space vessel — Steampunk battleship

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5b.17 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 2 met on Monday, 27 June 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the “Appomattox:”

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C.]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“Dr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C.]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J./absent]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L./absent]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the “Fortune’s Fool,” ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

>>”1 to 3 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” After stealing a Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian alien) Transit drive from the Star Shark, the crew of the Appomattox went to the edge of the Sol system, where it found a derelict warship. The Dawn’s Retreat was apparently of Terran design, but it contained strange controls and a telepathic entity in its reactor.

Gabriel translates for his companions before the being, who thinks she’s human, establishes psionic contact directly with the away team. She identifies herself as “Dawn,” a soldier and the ship’s “prime motivator.” Dawn again asks the interlopers if they can help her get home to Earth, which they confirm is relatively close.

Hector and ARTHERR eventually find power couplings and open them, restoring power. Although it takes her a while to understand that she’s disembodied, Dawn is then able to accompany individual crew members as they explore her vessel.

The derelict’s gauges, levers, and hatches resemble those of a Terran submarine from the 19th or early 20th century, but it has artificial gravity and life support at least the equal of the Appomattox, which has alien components.

Jasmine goes to the crew quarters, which are empty, except for unused space suits. The Dawn’s Retreat also still has all of its escape pods, so the boarders and Dawn are unsure of where the crew went. She recalls a scouting mission into space held by “the Alliance,” supposedly the enemy of her empire.

Dr. Garrett finds ornate uniforms and a large bed with wrought-iron posts in the captain’s cabin. He tries on a wool greatcoat and admires himself in the mirror until Hector comes to find the ship’s log, a nautical-style paper book.

Gabriel returns to the Appomattox to maneuver and look out for other salvage crews. ARTHERR goes to engineering and drills a hole in the floor for a core sample. Beneath a steel veneer is a spongy semi-organic material containing carbon nanofibers. Later testing reveals that it can act as an insulator or conduct energy, alter its gravitic profile, and regenerate!

In addition, Dawn expresses surprise and pain while chatting with Jasmine. She is unable to communicate with the robot, even though the Synth wrestler explains that she, too, is an artificial sentience.

Richmond claims a blunderbuss and an exotic-looking sword from the “prime stargazer’s” cabin, and the snake-oil salesman orders Nero Bartholomew and Averki “Deep Dish” Dyashenko to help bring the four-poster bed to the Appomattox. Dawn objects but is ignored.

Hector makes recordings with his handheld device, relaying images to ARTHERR and Capt. Adams for translation from Esperanto. Apparently, each handwritten entry of the ship’s log begins routinely before reverting to placeholder text. The “chirurgeon’s” bay has a similar medical log.

On the bridge, Hector asks Dawn about the dates of her travel. She says that she left Earth on “5724” and that the current year is reckoned as “5955,” leading ARTHERR to conclude that the living ship somehow traveled through time or from a parallel dimension!

ARTHERR studies an orrery on the bridge and finds that Sol is not at its center. After correcting his calculations, the probe droid learns that Dawn’s destination was LP 656-38 (also known as LHS 1723 or Gliese J3323), a variable red dwarf star about 17 light-years from Earth, beyond Epsilon Eridani.

Dawn explains that her ship picked up some scouts to return to the “world city,” established by Sulla many centuries ago (in her time). In the galley, Jasmine and company find tins of potted meat, but she declines tasting them. ARTHERR tests the food and ambient dust and finds that they are made of similar semi-organic secretions. He theorizes that the ship generates a crew that it then disposes of.

Former spy Hector checks the scouts’ bunks and armory and finds more antique-style clothing, firearms, and journals. By waiting for a log entry, the group sees ink appear on a page, probably generated by the crewless ship. Gabriel notes that while the Dawn’s Retreat has been near the Sol system for months (of Terran time), it hasn’t been disturbed until now.

ARTHERR’s radiocarbon dating from the core samples and reactor indicates that the derelict is subjectively 300 years old, but even with time dilation, for it to have returned from LP 636-38, it would have had to have left Earth long before humans had developed space flight.

Jasmine examines the cannons of the Dawn’s Retreat, which are simple chemically propelled projectiles. ARTHERR is surprised when Dawn recognizes the name of the “Harbinger of the Order of Submission,” a dangerous alien probe encountered in an old battlefield north of Karachi. She says that in addition to avoiding hostile “Martians,” her orders were to not engage the Harbinger in combat.

Dr. Garrett looks for more items of potential value, and Hector and ARTHERR learn that the Dawn’s Retreat was aided in interstellar travel by “jump gates,” which propelled it like a blown bubble. This is also different from conventional faster-than-light Transit that Terrans have only recently acquired.

Pilot Gabriel takes the Appomattox to the location where the ship would have returned to normal space but finds no gravitational anomalies. Jasmine assures Dawn that no harm will come to her and that she should help the United Earth Authority (U.E.A.).

The crew reconvenes aboard the Appomattox to debate what to do next. Gabriel and Hector don’t trust “Ramon Sanchez” [Josh H./Greg/Non-Player Character], a Lisbon-based fixer who arranged for Richmond to smuggle Vatican relics to Epsilon Eridani, about 11 light-years from Earth.

ARTHERR and Jasmine first want to bring Dawn and her displaced derelict to the proper authorities. If the ship is of alien origin, its creators are unknown. Richmond would prefer to auction them off to the highest bidder, but he is outvoted.

Gabriel extends the Appomattox‘s grapple to the Dawn’s Retreat, and ARTHERR asks that the ship’s effective mass be negated once they’ve disembarked. Hector monitors communications, and Jasmine tries to explain to Dawn that even though she’s not returning to her own world, she’ll be home. The two ships return to near-Earth space.

Dr. Garret covertly contacts Gorvek Beezo, a Ru’ulok trader, who gives the grifter the name of guild member Talak Avex in return for the coordinates of the Dawn’s Retreat. Meanwhile, Hector recounts his adventures to onetime handler Max, while ARTHERR calls Adm. Wei Sihong, to whom he had given several dangerous samples in the past.

The Vimeco robot tells the space navy officer about Dawn and says that she could help the U.E.A. counter the Harbinger, which it is still trying to study. Adm. Wei agrees, and he dispatches the U.E.V. Ajax to rendezvous with the Appomattox.

Tiger-woman Jasmine sends messages to her lover, Darsil, and the Synth United Front on Mars. Dawn bids farewell to her new acquaintances. The Dawn’s Retreat follows the Ajax toward Earth. Hector later learns that Ru’ulok pirates aboard the Star Shark attacked but were defeated by the U.E.A. cruiser. Capt. Droata escaped, swearing vengeance for her second humiliation at the hands of humans.

ARTHERR and Hector keep their samples for later analysis. While its crew still debates, the Appomattox sets a course for Epsilon Eridani….

Paul and Rich, we missed you at the last regular FATE 3e “Vortex” session before our summer hiatus! The Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy group is also taking a break. In the meantime, stay in touch on the Yahoo message board, and I hope to see some of you at movies or other gatherings before our next game! -Gene

Free RPG Day and space opera support

Just over a week ago, Janice and I drove to the Compleat Strategist in Boston and Pandemonium Books & Games in Cambridge, Mass., for Free RPG Day. The proprietors of the shops were happy to see us, although they were probably disappointed that we didn’t stay for any of their game demonstrations.

The Strat has a good selection of tabletop role-playing games and board games, while Pandemonium has used books and wargames. I wish that they and comic book shops would carry and run more of my kind of games rather than host so many collectible card tournaments, but that’s what brings younger folks in.

Of the free products I picked up, I liked the nicely retro Dungeon Crawl Classics preview, the “We Be Goblins” fantasy scenario for Pathfinder, and the Stellar Horizons space opera sample the best. Since I’ve been running my “Vortex” campaign again, I’ve been looking for science fiction support for Game Masters.

As much as I like Traveller, I’ve often found that science fiction classic a bit dry for my tastes, which veer from pulpy planetary romance to transhumanist speculation. (See recent updates for examples.) At least numerous supplements are available for Traveller.

What do I look for in a science fiction game? Simple character generation with varied development options; streamlined and cinematic combat; and rules for gadgets, vehicles, planets, and aliens. A single rulebook is nice, although it doesn’t have to be thick enough to stop a bullet, like Star Hero or Starblazer Adventures.

An implied setting is helpful, especially if a game is based on a book or movie series, but it’s not as important because I tend to run homebrew campaigns such as “Vortex.” (I have been hunting for good 2-D, hex-based maps of all the real stars within 50 to 100 parsecs of Earth that are likely to have inhabitable planets, however.)

As readers may recall, before my current Boston-area groups chose Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment (FATE) Third Edition for “Vortex‘s” latest iteration, we also considered rule sets including Basic Action Super Heroes! (BASH) Sci Fi Edition, D20 Star Wars: Saga Edition, and Generic Universal Role-Playing System (GURPS) 4th Ed.: Space. Any one of these systems was a fair contender.

Even after coming to a consensus for FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures, I’ve incorporated other FATE sourcebooks, including Mindjammer for psionics, Diaspora for some skills, Limitless Horizons for occupations, Strands of Fate for some gear, and soon, Bulldogs (formerly D20) for aliens. I also routinely consult my GURPS, D20, Serenity, and other references when trying to stay ahead of two Player Character parties.

Following my recent interest in retro-clone games, I’ve picked up several for space opera, including X-Plorers, Forgotten Futures (more retro than clone), and Humanspace Empires. Although neither is a true retro-clone, I’m a big fan of Star Frontiers Remastered, and Galaxy Command is based on D20 Future. Stars Without Number is one of my go-to references, partly because it’s so helpful for sandbox campaigns.

The rise of Internet self-publishing, open game licensing, and niche games has been a boon to role-players. I confess to having “gamer attention deficit disorder” — looking at lots of systems for ideas. While I wish that more systems were as polished as Star Wars or Traveller, I still appreciate the effort that went into Ad Astra, Astral Empires, Dead Stars, Frontier Zone, Fspace, Galactic, Space Rage, Star Mogul, and Terminal Space.

In addition to FATE, I’ve been favorably impressed by rules-light (and often pulpy) science fiction games such as Danger Patrol, Lady Blackbird, Rogue Space, and Vanguard. By contrast, noteworthy longer and more polished indie games include Icar, Imperium Chronicles, Star Quest, Stellar Winds, Terran Trade Authority, and Valence. I’d put StarCluster 3 in this category, and its random-generation tables are as useful as those in Stars Without Number.

I’m looking forward to still more space opera games, such as Thousand Suns Revised, Ashen Stars, Cthonian Stars/Void, and Infinite Futures (for Pathfinder). Beyond nostalgia and wanting cheaper and easier games to run and play, I have a wealth of options for speculative fiction!

“Vortex” Update 5a.19 — Aquarian summit

Hellboy's Abe Sapien — Steampunk amphibian

Fellow role-players, here are Josh C.’s and my notes for Session 5a.19 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 20 June 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the “Blackbird:”

-“Syzygy” [Brian W.]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”

-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer

-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.

-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot

-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol

-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert

-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird

>>”1 to 3 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The intrepid crew of the Blackbird explored the system around Van Maanen’s Star, finding ancient technology on one moon and civilization under the ice of another. After meeting with Gen. Qualish in Albahaven, the diplomats head to the Corvell Unity on “Dorian Gray,” a satellite of gas giant Methuselah.

Syzygy is surprised that the Salvorain, as the descendants of Aquarian colonists call themselves, have reacted so negatively to his appearance. Apparently, their folktales view three-armed Trinoids as demons, perhaps based on encounters (Terran) millennia ago. Tela is busy maintaining the Blackbird against the pressure of being submerged.

Aughest-vor… pilots the experimental scout vessel just beneath the glacial sheets and then down toward the Corvell Unity. In comparison with the city-state of Albahaven, the crystalline structures here are more angular and less ornamented. While Gen. Qualish had sent squid-like submarines, a “school” of armored escorts now swims closely around the ship.

Aided by Syzygy and Dr. Bucket’s translations, Lt. Kevin Reese hails the sentries. They have difficulty believing that the visitors come from beyond the ice, but they bring the Blackbird into their city. Chris McKee recalls the general’s recommendations for a show of strength, but he is overruled on taking target practice on civilians.

At a plaza, the Terrans, Trinoid, and Tharian come to a full stop, and several Salvorain draw a strange bubble over the starship. Syzygy’s scans indicate that it’s made of a unique polymer, and Tela is the first to step outside. She is suspended in a low-gravity field and is happy to stretch her glider wings.

Civilian Aughest is less graceful, and Lt. Reese finds that the air in the biological bubble surrounding the ship is cold but breathable. They take off their helmets to prove that they’re not Albahavenite spies. The gathering Salvorain gasp when Syzygy appears at the airlock, muttering that his arrival was not prophesied.

The amphibious guards are joined by members of the religious caste. Kevin observes that the Corvell Unity appears to be closer to nature than the residents of Albahaven. Priest Valkon replies that it is Albahaven that has polluted the ocean, devoured scarce resources, and perpetuated war. He also asserts that there is no room for compromise with the “nonbelievers,” just as Gen. Qualish had complained about the “superstitious” Covell Unity.

Aughest-vor, “friend to all,” suggests that as their world cools, the technocrats of Albahaven and the faithful of the Corvell Unity will need to find a balance to survive. Syzygy offers to help reconnect the colonists with their long-lost Aquarian brethren, but royal adviser Selora is skeptical.

Wary Agent Prometheus and Dr. Bucket stay inside the Blackbird for communications and security. Kevin and Aughest sense a telepathic scan or probe but manage to resist it. Tela receives an alert of an energy anomaly near the sensors. The engineer finds a crab-like automaton attached to the hull. With help from Syzygy, she temporarily deactivates the ship’s sensors and removes the clockwork surveillance device.

Queen Shulis descends into the plaza in a nimbus of light and elaborate robes. She greets the aliens and acknowledges the heresy of beings not being under her rule. Lt. Reese and Aughest-vor describe themselves as explorers and invite the queen to negotiations aboard the Blackbird. Valkon and Selora reluctantly join her.

Syzygy entertains the three Salvorain in his humid quarters by showing them images of Hydronicus 2 and their more advanced Aquarian kin, former clients of the Polarians. Some of the Kharvamid Alliance files, however, are sealed. Tela puts the crab droid in a container with one of the Blackbird‘s spider drones. The bug from Albahaven is quickly destroyed by the superior spider.

Aughest stays behind to reassure the citizens of the Corvell Unity of his team’s goodwill toward their queen. He regales them with tales of his many relationships, his family’s business pursuits, and his travels. The Salvorain are especially interested in the onetime dilettante’s emotional connections.

Kevin pilots the Blackbird back to Albahaven, where he invites Gen. Qualish and Col. Bijar of the Ministry of Observation aboard. Syzygy prepares to stay behind with his laboratory, but the Albahavenites are more interested in satisfying their curiosity than some code of honor. They are put into Gombo Shisel’s flooded cabin for takeoff.

Chris blasts a hole in the ice with the particle cannon, and Kevin flies the scout ship into orbit. Tela confronts Col. Bijar with the remains of his surveillance automaton, impressing Gen. Qualish with her assertiveness. They and Queen Shulis’ retinue are amazed (separately at first) to see “Dorian Gray,” Methuselah, and Van Maanen’s Star for the first time.

Lt. Reese and Syzygy arrange for Gen. Qualish and Queen Shulis to meet in the Blackbird‘s lounge. The rival leaders exchange pleasantries, and the determined Interplanetary Patrol officer tries to keep them focused on their common interests rather than their differences.

Syzygy requests samples of the bubble material as he studies the local biosphere. Tela catches Col. Bijar trying to access the ship’s systems, but Kevin has better luck talking reasonably with Selora in the cockpit about loyalties and their people’s interests.

After a few hours, Syzygy and Tela allow Col. Bijar, Valkon, and Selora to join the discussion. Kevin takes turns monitoring the summit with his crewmates to get some sleep, and Chris looks out for any other vessels in the area but finds none.

In the Corvell Unity, Aughest-vor finds that the Salvorain are losing interest, so he introduces them to the concept of peaceful competition through sports such as solar-sail racing. He is relieved when the Blackbird returns safely to retrieve him from the undersea city and drop off its guests.

Queen Shulis and Gen. Qualish announce to their peoples that they will try to work together for all Salvorain. Syzygy and Tela offer technical advice on reducing pollution, and Lt. Reese and Aughest pledge friendship on behalf of humanity and note that the Sol system will be interested in trade.

Chris obtains one of the crystal-tipped tridents from Col. Bijar in Albahaven, and Aughest presents Selora with a sports trophy that Tela made from the destroyed crab robot!

Syzygy later unlocks the Olvar Star League records on the Aquarians and finds that they are threatened by something called the Zarkonian Armada. The scientist wisely refrains from sharing that information with the miners’ descendants on “Dorian Gray.”

Aughest-vor takes the Blackbird back into space, and Syzygy sends a report on the humans’ diplomatic efforts to his Trinoid superiors. He also asks for word to be sent to the Aquarians, even though they likely have more pressing concerns.

Tela drains Gombo’s quarters and tinkers with the drone spiders. Chris settles back into his turret as Lt. Reese helps set a course out of the Van Maanen system….

Please note that the next Blackbird session won’t be until August. Jason will be running his Darkpages one-shot on Monday, July 25. In the meantime, the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy team meets this coming Sunday, and the last “Vortex” Team 2 (Appomattox) session before our summer hiatus is on June 27! -Gene