Carta Galaxia Weekly – Week 2

Carta Galaxia Weekly – Week 2

Lots of stuff this week, so I’ll jump right in!

Print On Demand

I’m happy to report that it looks like the kinks have finally been worked out with the DTRPG print on demand stuff, especially regarding the faded covers. I’ve taken the softcover ordering down from the site in order to update the files. Plus! I’ll also be offering Uncharted Worlds in the (relatively) new Hardcover format as well.

Additionally, I’ve got both a hardcover and softcover Print On Demand version of Far Beyond Humanity in the works!

DTRPG has shipped all the files to the printer, and as soon as the printer approves I’ll be able to order Proof Copies, and then open the PoDs up for sale! Sadly, this probably means 2 weeks (including shipping).

Scope of the first Campaign Setting

You may have seen a vote post up on the community this past week. That was part of my big review/clean-up/overhaul of the first campaign setting (codenamed: The Core). The result is pretty clear; the setting will focus on a closed solar system: one major planet (divided into provinces) plus colonies, star bases, etc.

This will allow for some space-travel, but will make things a lot more cramped, to give that claustrophobic, omnipresent corporation-vibe for this cyberpunk-ish setting (neon-punk?). Plus I have some really fun GM/sandbox tech that I’ve been brewing up, which will be unveiled next week.

Introducing the Factions of the Core

Some of you may remember an old ooooold post about the factions and how they relate to each other. I’m recovering as much of that work as I can, but my design goals for the setting have changed somewhat, so there will naturally be changes.

– GalSec is gone: The presence of a military force in a political setting acted as an inhibitor, rather than an inciter. It toned down potential inter-faction hostilities. Now each faction is free to have their own security forces, rather than relying on the Space Cops. Plus GalSec itself was kinda boring pseudo-Western draconian military type faction. Also, with the scope reduction “Galactic Security” seemed kinda out of place. Maybe GalSec will find a home in another setting.

– Talwar SysTech has taken GalSec’s place. I realized I didn’t have a good old-fashioned rapacious MegaCorp! Obviously an oversight. Talwar has a monopoly over high tech goods, the SectorNet, cybernetics, and robotics. They are an extraterritorial corporation that directly challenges the Ministry’s government. NOTE: I’m not 100% sold on the “SysTech”. If you guys have a cooler Megacorp-ish name for Talwar, I’d be happy to consider it.

– Brekengraf has been renamed (rebranded) to ZindaNaya, just to keep a semi-consistent naming scheme. (More on that below).

The image at the bottom of this post shows how the factions relate to each other. Neighboring factions share a common philosophy or ideal (though this doesn’t keep them from conflict), while opposing factions are openly hostile to one another.

Theming and Naming

Some of you may have noticed the naming of the factions. You’ll see more of this theme when I introduce territories, cities and people. I’m drawing heavily on South Asia and the Middle East to inform and inspire this futuristic world. Japan, Europe and the US are usually the source material of sci fi, from Bladerunner to Firefly. I figured that I’d tap into my own Pakistani background and lightly throw in some South Asian flavor (key word: lightly. I’m no historian or sociologist or anything like that, I just grew up there).

As I continue to put out previews and such, if there’s anything that stands out as socially or culturally problematic, please flag it! I’ve been immersed in Western culture for long enough that I will likely miss something.

Anywho, that’s it for this week… I have a feeling I’m missing something, though. Did I ever make a post about Montreal ComicCon? I think I might have forgotten. I shall rectify that! Tomorrow! Or sometime this week?

-SG