 March 23, 2012 - 10:01pm | Its call the Frontier and the game and setting was intentionally modeled on "a western in space" so what about the California Gold Rush? Overnight California went from an outpost of civilization to a major population center. Lawlessness was rampant, fortunes were made for those businesses providing services to the miners, Ideas for where to work this into the setting? I'm thinking early froniter, either before SW1 or immediately after it. Laco comes to mind- its outpost in AD and Moderate population in Zebs Zebulon- Volturnus goes from what you'd have to call outpost to Light population and Anker goes from nothing to moderate between AD and Zebs Belnafaer system is not even in the Zebs astrographic guide and probably qualifies as an outpost in the Bugs in the system module- this system has the dual attraction of being both "cannon" and more or less a blank slate to paint on. Naturally the discovery that causes the "rush" will have to take place after the events in the Bugs in the System module but thats not a big deal. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 March 23, 2012 - 10:57pm | How about writing up the process for a "rush" and different types of adventures, hooks, problems that arise. Some thoughts before bed.
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March 23, 2012 - 11:31pm | When there is no law claim jumping is likely handled in direct and violent fashion. If we're talking about a period prior to SW1 there is no stat law. But after SW1 a star law marshal would likely be posted to a "rush" location once violence begins to become a problem. Eventually, the citizenry will begin to organize local government including hiring their own sheriffs - though we can update that some and specify that the outpost has hired security contractors to keep the peace. This can play out two ways: PC's have to deal with said contractors or PC's are said contractors. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 March 24, 2012 - 9:46am | There were a lot of cons pulled on people in these situations. I can see an enterprising con artist rounding up a bunch of would be prospectors as well as would be townsfolk (support personnel) with the promise of a new life, new fortunes and a new home on some lush garden paradise. First though they would need to hand over every last cred they had. This would provide them with transportation, tools, supplies, licenses, as well as land claims and deeds. Afterwords these people find themselves dumped on some marginal world with a pile of SWI surplus items and little hope for a decent life and no way to leave. Heck, I could see some governments promoting this to help cull their population. the government runs a lottery where the winners get this once in a lifetime opportunity. However, it is rigged so that all the undesirables win. I think I must have been a pretty bad dude in a previous life. All these evil schemes come to me so readily.  |
March 24, 2012 - 10:26am | The PC's could do one or more of the following with this type of adventure
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 March 24, 2012 - 12:21pm | The local government desires to make the claims accessible by the common man so limits the size of the claims to what a man and his small business can work. The government has purposely rigged it to keep the megacorps out of their little colony world. Now the megeacorps are slowly edging out the small business prospectors and schmoozing the colony officials. Two or three colony officials have totally sold out to the megacorps, but to different megacorps. They are now trying to change the laws to allow the megacorps to buy up all the claims into one. The megacorps have formed "cooperative" groups that are actually the first steps of the take-over when the law changes. A claim owner who joins the co-op gets shared resources leading to lower costs and group protection from raiders. Note: the raiders are encouraged by the megacorps too. Most claim owners are oblivious that they are selling out to the megacorp. Some claim owners are in on it and believe they will receive cushy corporate positions when the megacorp takes over. A select few claim owners are actually IN. One or two claim owners are actually megacorp plants financed to start the whole scheme. A rich setting for PCs to enter and become heros. -iggy |
March 24, 2012 - 12:43pm | In land rush areas there is a minimum time the land must remain with the claimer. This is specifically designed to keep big business from taking over. One rusher one claim. |
March 24, 2012 - 7:32pm | There were a lot of cons pulled on people in these situations. I can see an enterprising con artist rounding up a bunch of would be prospectors as well as would be townsfolk (support personnel) with the promise of a new life, new fortunes and a new home on some lush garden paradise. First though they would need to hand over every last cred they had. This would provide them with transportation, tools, supplies, licenses, as well as land claims and deeds. Afterwords these people find themselves dumped on some marginal world with a pile of SWI surplus items and little hope for a decent life and no way to leave. Heck, I could see some governments promoting this to help cull their population. the government runs a lottery where the winners get this once in a lifetime opportunity. However, it is rigged so that all the undesirables win. I think I must have been a pretty bad dude in a previous life. All these evil schemes come to me so readily. This is a good kernal for a campaign: survival issues- hostile environment, issues organic to the environment as well as hostile fauna Then pirates show up looking to do the Battle Beyond the Stars/ Magnificent Seven thing Those ideas come to mind right now but I'm sure more are out there. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 March 25, 2012 - 9:51am | I love this kind of con but there is a real world precedent for dumping people off in a marginal setting and seeing how they do. It's called Australia. Sounds like a great job but where did you say we had to go? |
