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Revision as of 11:22, 26 January 2020
Click here for a list of pages appearing in the "Futura" category.
Overview
Futura is the game world dedicated to outer space and sci-fi role-play. Concepts for this world may be drawn from many different sources of inspiration, from film and television series such as Star Wars or Firefly to classic literature like Ringworld or A Princess of Mars, even anime series like Captain Harlock or Valerian and Laureline. Characters and their stories may range from small-scale independent operations to members of the interstellar Galactic Explorers Alliance Starfleet (GEAS). Outer space exploration is major theme in this game world, but there's also room to explore most other classic sci-fi tropes and concepts, too.
As a setting, Futura is designed to allow play in structured groups, akin to Starfleet of Trek fame, or as independent operators, more reminiscent of something like Firefly. To this end, there is a strong central government back on Earth to whom many humans are loyal, while others consider them corrupt or out of touch and prefer to go their own way. Rather than a "Starfleet" that directly serves a single "Federation," the Alliance Starfleet is run by explorers who have joined forces beyond the scope of any one political body, and characters may be direct officers of GEAS or simply associates, operating independently but as allies. Beyond that, there's a whole galaxy to explore!
Abilities Scale
- Main article: Character Abilities
Character Abilities in Futura are typical of what one might see in a show like Star Trek or one of the Star Wars films. Characters may be of noteworthy power, but the ability to, say, destroy a building or starfighter would be among the more powerful Supreme feats a character might easily accomplish. For example, Supreme strength in Futura generally represents being non-human in some way -- such as a rancor or AT-AT vehicle -- or the telekinetic strength of using a power like The Force at the high end. Enhanced strength is something a strong droid or alien, such as a Wookiee, might have.
- Enhanced: Physical strength sufficient to break out of standard restraints, such as binders or wrist cuffs, or smash through an armored door with sustained moderate effort. Usually able to lift up to several hundred pounds and easily overturn a small ground vehicle.
- Supreme: Physical strength sufficient to bend and twist reinforced metal, smash through heavy structures, and break through a bank vault with sustained moderate effort. Usually able to lift up to 5-10 tons and easily dead lift a starfighter.
Remember, these limits hold true even for characters Traveling from other worlds.
Example Sources
The following published sources have been adapted into use in Futura so far:
Star Wars
A version of the Star Wars
galaxy exists within the Futura setting as Galaxy 1138. The time period is not explicitly canonical, but it generally resembles the setting as it existed between the end of Star Wars: Rebels and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Various extended universe elements are generally fair game to be included in the game's setting, per approval by staff. While some narrative departures may be necessary or allowed for the sake of telling our own story, the setting may otherwise generally be assumed to broadly resemble Star Wars canon at that point in time.
Star Trek
Aspects of the Star Trek universe exist within the Futura setting. Technology such as advanced starships with tranporters and replicators is standard, though we often defer to Star Wars where similar technology is concerned. (For instance: starship torpedos, FTL travel, and similar.) In some cases, Star Trek concepts have been adapted, such as "phasers" existing as "photon lances." Most notably, the political structures from Star Trek such as the Federation do not exist in Futura, though GEAS does take some of its inspiration from Starfleet. Planets, species, and even specific characters can be used as long as they adapt to suit the setting.
Babylon 5
Aspects of the Babylon 5 universe exist within the Futura setting. While many narrative elements from the show cannot be adapted in whole cloth, a number of the characters, concepts, species, and so forth can be adapted for use. For example, rather than serving the Earth Alliance, characters can be affiliated with GEAS, which fits the more relaxed, less militaristic atmosphere of the station itself, in any case. Babylon 5 itself has been adapted as a location on the game, but it carries an altered backstory. There has been no Earth-Minbari War, for instance, though a similar, smaller-scale conflict may be established, and the history of the Vorlons and Shadows must be significantly altered if they are to be used, as the concept of the First Ones is not applicable.
Factions
Galactic Empire
The Galactic Empire, based out of Galaxy 1138 - The Empire is distantly aware of GEAS, but they have arrogantly dismissed them as unimportant rabble from a backwater galaxy.
GEAS
The Galactic Explorers Alliance Starfleet (GEAS), based out of the Milky Way Galaxy - According to witnesses of first contact between the GSS Escapade and an Imperial patrol vessel, first contact with the Empire was "extremely tense and quite subtly but undeniably shady." GEAS has officially designated Galaxy 1138 a dangerous area and advised all ships to proceed there only with utmost caution.
Technology
- The Hypernet
Powers
Power levels in Futura are generally consistent with what is seen in a source like Star Wars. A Basic level of Strength, for instance, would equate to a human, while Enhanced would equate to a Wookiee, and Supreme would equate to, say, a Rancor. This power scale is significantly reduced from the scale of, for example, Superia, but fairly similar to what might be seen in Arcadia.
The Force
The Force is effectively a specialized form of magic. While it tends to be channeled according to particular powers based on the tradition of the individual (for instance, Jedi and Sith often have powers that are very psionic in flavor) it can be used in many ways. However, the way such magic is utilized should generally remain consistent with the tone, theme, and flavor of the setting. This does not preclude more overt acts of sorcery, but it means they should only occur within an appropriate narrative context. (In practical terms, characters should only be performing magic that's consistent with what is approved in their character applications by staff).
Alien Life
Alien life has become a common thing, and many varieties of aliens are known. Curiously, and in defiance of many previously held scientific theories, most aliens are very similar to humans in physiology and appearance. While more exotic species are certainly known, the majority of aliens are of the sort seen in Star Wars and the like. Most alien worlds are located far away from Earth and Maxima Ceres, however, so their own worlds are seldom seen, and much like Earth, most of them depend upon the GEAS for travel between remote parts of the galaxy.
Events
- The Planet X incident
Locations
There are many locations of interest in the galaxy. These are some of the key ones.
Colonies
Colony worlds come in all sorts, from those fully loyal to the government of Earth to those who are fiercely independent. Any colony that wishes to have access to high-speed communication, information, goods, and travel along the Hypernet, of course, must remain on reasonably good terms with the Alliance, but as the Alliance forbids itself from political machinations, there is usually no difficulty there. Colonies can have nearly any kind of government and nearly any kind of local laws, found on nearly any kind of world or space station. Larger and more affluent colonies may even support an Alliance starbase, while smaller and poor colonies usually must make do with private contractors.
New Worlds
New worlds are discovered all the time! Each new world is an adventure, potentially offering new allies or enemies, places to explore, and possibly new colonies to be established. Using the on-game planetary exploration system, starship crews can automatically generate their own strange, new worlds to discover and experience.
Specific Locations
- Alderaan
- Babylon 5
- Coruscant
- Dantooine
- Epsilon Eridani III
- Galaxy 1138
- Maxima Ceres
- Milky Way Galaxy
- Nar Shaddaa
- Planet X
- Rabbit Hole
- Starhome