Bay 12 Games Forum

GOAL OF THE SCI-FI CONQUEST:

Conquer 44 of 52 available starzones
OR
Destroy Capital Starzones of the four enemy empires

THE BEGINNING:

First, you must pick the Overlord play as.

Afterwards, each Overlord must pick a Starzone that will become Capital Starzone for that Overlord.

You cannot place your Home Starzone in a Starzone that is adjacent to other player's Capital Starzone.

When Capital Starzone is choosen, 2 Explorers and 2 Fleets are placed in it.

OTHER THINGS ABOUT CAPITAL STARZONE:

Capital Starzone provides +1 Defense Bonus to Fleets stationed in it.

When Capital Starzone is conquered by enemy forces, the Nation is officially defeated and its former Starzone become neutral.
Also, Capital Starzone of the defeated nation becomes a normal Starzone under control of the victorious kingdom.

STARZONE SPECIFICS:

This specifics aren't seen on the map normally - these are Discovered only after a Fleet or Explorer visits previously uncharted Starzone.

Black Hole - Upon discovery, the Explorer/Fleet that wandered here is destroyed. For every next Explorer/Fleet that stops at this Starzone, there's 20% chance they will be destroyed as well. Additionally, Infrastructure/Explorers/Fleets cannot be produced here.
Wormhole - Two wormholes connected together form a shortcut between distant Starzones. However, there's 20% chance that Wormhole won't have an exit point, so the Explorer/Fleet sent through will be destroyed.
Nova Remnant - Starzone that have no celestial bodies other than the remnant of a supernova. Because of that, Infrastructure/Explorers/Fleets cannot be produced here.
Asteroid Field - The ring of rock and ice planetoids help during the defense and gives the Fleets stationed there +1 to Defense rolls.
Metal World - World comprised mostly of metals and rare Earth elements, which are very much needed for warp engines, weaponry and other Fleet parts. This lowers Fleet Production by 1 turn.
Normal - Nothing special here.

SPECIFIC STARZONE COUNT:

Black Hole - 0 to 3
Wormhole - 1 to 6
Nova Remnant - Up to 6
Asteroid Field - Up to 12
Metal World - Up to 6
Normal - At least 30

STARZONES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT:

Starzones that have been claimed by Fleets cannot produce Fleets right away.

Before that, they need to build 'Infrastructure', which normally takes 4 turns.

'Infrastructure' isn't needed in claimed Starzone, so it's up to the Overlord's desire to develop it.

Capital Starzone starts with Infrastructure already finished.

TURN ORDER OF OVERLORDS:

At the very beginning, the Turn Order is choosen by GM with random rolls, and this order remains the same until the gane ends.

TURN PROGRESSION:

The GM announces start of a Year's Quarter (game turn).

Each Overlord can start creating explorer and fleets and send them to explore and conquer neutral and enemy starzones.

GM then performs all necessary work, rolls the dice (in case of Invasions), and then the next Overlord can post his actions.

When GM finishes the work on the actions of the last Overlord in the Turn, the Turn ends and next is announced.

DISASTERS:

At the beginning of every turn that can be divided by 3 and/or 5, a Disaster occurs in a randomly choosen starzone.

Rebellion: Up to 3 starzones turn neutral along with armies stationed at them. Rebelling starzones must be adjacent. Capital is immune to rebellion.
Subspace Anomaly: A fluctuation in the subspace disrupts Warp in the Starzone, preventing entry or leave from that Starzone until next turn.
Terrorist Attack: Bombing occurs in the Starzone and something gets destroyed; Fleet, Explorer or Infrastructure.

EXPLORER/FLEET CREATION:

Starzone that has it's Infrastructure finished can produce Explorers and Fleets.

Fleets normally take a full year to create, whilst Explorers take one Quarter.

There's no limit on how many Starzones can produce Fleets at one given time.

The maximum of Fleets controlled by the Overlord is equal to: 1 + ('Number of Starzones' x 2)

INVASION AND DEFENSE:

An Fleet that enters an adjacent neutral/enemy Starzone conquers it unless there's an Fleet protecting it.

Invading Fleet gets Invasion bonus to its roll, whilst defending Fleet gets Defense bonus.

For each Fleet, a six-sided dice is rolled, and bonuses are added. Fleet that loses the roll is destroyed.

In event of equal result, the roll is repeated.

Explorers cannot fight against Fleets; instead, they're auto-destroyed when attacked by enemy Fleet and there's no allied Fleets to protect them.

Starzone that is has no Fleets defending it is automatically conquered. Explorers cannot conquer Starzones.

DIPLOMACY:

There are 3 settings of diplomatic relationship between two kingdoms:

WAR: You can attack and conquer your enemy's starzones.
PEACE: You and your neighbour are at peace and cannot enter each other's starzones.
ALLIANCE: Your and your neighbour's are in alliance. You can move through starzones of your ally that are adjacent to your own (and vice versa). You can have 1 ally. You win if sum of allied starzones is 44.

'First Contact' mechanic: When an army takes control of starzone adjacent to a starzone of some different nation, First Contact occurs and the game is paused until FC is resolved.
The leaders of the two nations pick either WAR or PEACE. If they disagree at the choices, WAR takes precedence. You cannot declare ALLIANCE at First Contact talks.

'Diplomatic Talks' mechanic: During your turn, you might declare a want to conduct Diplomatic Talks with a nation you have any kind of relationship with.
If the other player agrees, you then have private talk with him/her (via PM, for example), both send the result via PM to the GM. At the start of next year, GM will announce the result and the diplomatic setting between the two nations will take effect.

You can attack your neighbour whilst at PEACE or ALLIANCE; it changes the setting to WAR. Be careful - there's 40% chance that Rebellion might occur if your neighbour was at PEACE, and Rebellion occurs right away if there was ALLIANCE between you two!

ESPIONAGE:

Each Turn, an Overlord can send GM a desire to do Espionage action. This action will be carried out at the beginning of next Quarter.

For the Espionage action to suceed, it must roll a 6. If a 1 is rolled instead, not only the Espionage fails, but the target receives 'interrogation report' via PM that details who was performed Espionage and what kind of action he/she tried to do.

There are 'EASY', 'RISKY' and 'SUPER RISKY' Espionage actions. 'RISKY' actions require not one but TWO successful Espionage rolls before the action is carried out, whilst 'SUPER RISKY' require, as you can guess, THREE successful rolls.

You can perform Espionage ONLY on Nations that you have Diplomatic Relationship with!

Currently available Espionage actions are:

Sabotage Production (EASY): Stalls Infrastructure/Fleet production in targeted Starzone, pushing the production counter down by 1 point.
Incite a Mutiny of a Fleet (EASY): Targeted enemy fleet will switch sides and immediatelly warp to the closest Starzone of the new Overlord.
Access Intelligence Agency Network (RISKY): A report is made, detailing the Espionage activites of the targeted Overlord, up to 4 Quarters in the past, complete with target names, actions details, and outcomes.
Destroy Fleet Infrastructure (RISKY): If successful, destroys 'Infrastructure' of the targeted Province. If there was Fleet in Production in that Starzone, it is immediately canceled.
Incite a Revolt (RISKY): Targeted Starzone revolts against its Overlord, along with the Fleets stationed there, whilst Explorers are simply scrapped.
Induce Supernova (SUPER RISKY): Graviton bomb is detonated in the star's corona, inducing a Supernova; the Starzone becomes 'Nova Remnant', and all Fleets and Explorers stationed in that starzone are instantly destroyed. Capital Starzone CAN be targeted.
Initiate Coup d'Etat (SUPER RISKY): An attempt to topple the government and kill the enemy Overlord. If sucessful, Capital Starzone of the targeted nation becomes normal Starzone, and the rest of Starzones, with fleets, change allegiance to the Coup d'Etat initiator. Furthermore, a Rebellion breaks out somewhere in the toppled Overlord's territories.

Name: VUTARI, the Psionic Technocrat

Banner colour: Silver

Traits:
Mind Control: Applies mind control over VUTARI's subjects and makes them immune to Mutiny, Revolt and Coup d'Etat Espionage actions, as well as Rebellion disasters.
Planetary Constructor: Infrastructure takes one turn less to build.
Warp Catalyst: Once per Quarter, VUTARI can move one Fleet or Explorer to any other Starzone under his control.
---

Name: GORRUND, the Crystal Golem

Banner colour: Red

Traits:
Planetary Constructor: Infrastructure takes half time to build.
Super Armor: All Fleets under GORRUND's control get +1 to Defense rolls.
Stonecrafter: Can change Normal Starzone into Asteroid Field Starzone. This process takes four Quarters but is independent from normal production.
---

Name: ZZIV-ZZIH, the Hive Queen

Banner colour: Emerald

Traits:
Fighter Drones: All Fleets under ZZIV-ZZIH's control get +1 to Invasion rolls.
Worker Drones: Infrastructure and Fleets take half the time to build.
---

Name: LARKIS, the Veiled One

Banner colour: Blue

Traits:
Secret Police: Gives 40% chance to negate Rebellion, and 60% chance to negate Terrorist Attack disasters.
Spymasters: Espionage rolls are now successful at 4, 5 and 6.
The Shroud: Protects from 'Access Intelligence Network' Espionage action.
---

Name: D'HAUND, the Anthro-Canine Emperor

Banner colour: Purple

Traits:
Fleet Assembler: Fleets take one turn less to build.
Master Fleet Tactician: Gives +2 to Invasion/Defense rolls to groups of 3 and more Fleets.
Secret Police: Gives 40% chance to negate Rebellion, and 60% chance to negate Terrorist Attack disasters.
---

CUSTOM OVERLORD CREATION:

If you don't like any of the Major Overlords listed above, you can create your own, Minor Overlord. Note that some Banner Colours are not available, and you will never get as good Traits as the Overlords above.

Name: NAME, followed by a Title

Banner colour: Magenta, Cyan, Golden, Teal, Green

Traits: You have 3 Trait points to allocate. Most of Traits cost 1 point, some cost 2 points.

1pt Traits:
Fleet Assembler: Fleets take one turn less to build.
Nanite Regeneration: Whenever a Fleet is about to be destroyed in combat, there's 10% chance it won't happen.
Odysseus Engine: Explorers can move 2 Starzones per turn, as long as they're not destroyed or otherwise interrupted after first warp.
Planetary Constructor: Infrastructure takes one turn less to build.
Secret Police: Gives 40% chance to negate Rebellion, and 60% chance to negate Terrorist Attack disasters.
The Shroud: Protects from 'Access Intelligence Network' Espionage action.
Tactician: Gives +1 to Invasion/Defense rolls to groups of 3 and more Fleets.
Warp Catalyst: Once per Quarter, [Overlord name] can move one Fleet or Explorer to any other Starzone under his control.

2pt Traits:
Fighter Drones: All Fleets under [Overlord name]'s control get +1 to Invasion rolls.
Master Fleet Tactician: Gives +2 to Invasion/Defense rolls to groups of 3 and more Fleets.
Mind Control: Applies mind control over [Overlord name]'s subjects and makes them immune to Mutiny, Revolt and Coup d'Etat Espionage actions, as well as Rebellion disasters.
Spymasters: Espionage rolls are now successful at 4, 5 and 6.
Stonecrafter: Can change Normal Starzone into Asteroid Field Starzone. This process takes full year but is independent from normal production of the Starzone. Only one Starzone can be changed at a time.
Super Armor: All Fleets under [Overlord name]'s control get +1 to Defense rolls.
Worker Drones: Infrastructure and Fleets take half the time to build.
Wormhole Constructor: Once per Quarter, [Overlord name]'s can create a temporary Wormhole between one of his Starzones and a Starzone as far as 3 jumps away. The destination doesn't need to be controlled by [Overlord name].

MAHNYA (Rolepgeek)
#27: "Oasis of Mahnya", no army in production, no armies stationed
#24: "Perinan Fields", Army Production 1/2, no armies stationed
#25: "Endless Skirmish Waters", Army Production 1/2, 1 army stationed
#26: Province [FERTILE LAND], no army in production, 1 army stationed
#28: "Das Forest", Army Production 1/2, no armies stationed
#46: Province [ORE DEPOSIT], no army in production, 1 army stationed
#48: "Maeiyha Range", Army Production 1/2, no armies stationed
#49: "Plains of Castul", no army in production, 1 army stationed
#50: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed
#51: "North Harsin Plateau", no army in production, no armies stationed
#52: "Belthor's Wall" [ORE DEPOSIT], no army in production, 1 army stationed

SEIOS (Toaster)
#40: "Emerald Swamp", Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#32: "Dragonstone", no army in production, 1 army stationed
#35: "Elveshome", no army in production, 1 army stationed
#36: "Shadeforest", Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#37: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed
#38: Province, Army Production 2/4, no armies stationed
#39: "Cragpeak", Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#41: "Grassplain" [ORE DEPOSIT], Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#42: "Longwood" [FERTILE LAND], no army in production, no armies stationed

LARKA (scapheap)
#1: "Red Wood", Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#2: "Peals Plains", Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#3: "Clair's Pool", no army in production, no armies stationed
#4: Province [ORE DEPOSIT], no army in production, 1 army stationed
#15: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed
#16: "Peals Woods" [FERTILE LAND], Army Production 2/3, no armies stationed
#17: "Misty Sands", Army Production 2/4, no armies stationed
#18: "Misty Mountains", Army Production 3/4, no armies stationed
#19: "Misty Plains" [FERTILE LAND], no army in production, no armies stationed
#20: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed

NEEVROND (Lukeinator)
#9: "Cheesehaven", no army in production, no armies stationed
#5: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed
#6: "Wheatthins" [FERTILE LAND], Army Production 0/2, no armies stationed
#7: "Oceanshore", no army in production, no armies stationed
#8: "Rustwood", Army Production 2/3, no armies stationed
#10: "Bloodhelm", Army Production 2/3, 1 army stationed
#11: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed
#12: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed
#13: "Horrorsteel", no army in production, no armies stationed
#14: Province, no army in production, 1 army stationed

Humans of NEEVROND - Humans of MAHNYA: PEACE