From ae96accdd3c38d3f96b0725020e7a390c53b86d5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Stijn Buys Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:54:22 +0000 Subject: gameplay and storyline documentation updates --- doc/GAMEPLAY | 55 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 46 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-) (limited to 'doc/GAMEPLAY') diff --git a/doc/GAMEPLAY b/doc/GAMEPLAY index 18642a6..5379654 100644 --- a/doc/GAMEPLAY +++ b/doc/GAMEPLAY @@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ General guidelines to exisiting objects (real or fiction), as long as they are subtle or inconspicuous. + Names of planets, systems and areas are usually references to exisiting + places on earth. Astronomical objects or a mythological personae + are also a great source of good names. + Universe A basic description of the universe, how it is organised and who lives there. @@ -29,7 +33,11 @@ Universe The universe is a collection of stand-alone star systems. Each star system is a small world on it's on. The only direct interaction between systems is a player traveling between them. The background story should provide - (some of the) star systems and their relation. + (some of the) star systems and their relations. The universe is a static. + Players can not intentionally destroyed planets, stations or other objects. + + Destructable objects are probably part of a mission, will respawn later or + have some other special meaning. The Player @@ -37,7 +45,7 @@ The Player - Friends - Enemies - Background - - How the player itnteracts with the universe. + - How the player interacts with the universe. The player enters the universe as a typical out-of-luck person who decided to start a new life. With a small ship he tries to become @@ -50,6 +58,8 @@ The Player Players can be hostile or friendly to each other. + Flying missions, mercenary, military or mercantile in nature. + Ships The player starts the game with single small spacecraft and starts the @@ -68,11 +78,12 @@ Traveling on the ship type, small merchant vessels will have lower maximim trhuster speed then a scout ship. - Ships can also be equiped with a sublight impulse drive. This drive will + Ships can also be equiped with a sublight kinetic impulse drive. This drive will enable the ship to accelerate to a high speed without crossing the threshold - at which relativistic effects would disturb perception. Impulse drive speed - is the same for most ship types. Due to the enormous power requirements a ship - will not be a able to fire weapons while the impulse drive is enabled. + at which relativistic effects would affect structural cohesion. Kinetic impulse + drive speed is the same for most types of ships. Due to the enormous power + requirements a ship will not be a able to fire weapons while the impulse drive + is enabled. Neither of these engines will allow the player the leave the star system. Interstellar travel is only possible using a hyperdrive. A hyperdrive is an @@ -87,8 +98,30 @@ Traveling Hyperspace travel is almost instantanious, hyperspace jump would be a more accurate term to describe it. - -Fleets [Phase 2] + Current hyperspace technology works by making use of weak points in hyperspace, + known as hyperspace intersection faults. It takes only takes a reasonable amount + of energy to fold local space into such an intersection fault, to create a conduit + between both sides of the hyperspace intersection. All a ship has to do is enter + the event horizon of the hyperspace conduit (or 'jump hole', as it is commonly called) + to travel almost instantaniously to to other side, usualy several lightyears away. + + Jump gates are built in the vicinity of stable intersection faults and thus have a fixed + destination. + + Ships equiped with a hyoerdrive work on the same principle. They seek out a sensitive + spot in the hyperspace field and fold local space to punch a hole through the other side. + This has several major consequences: a pilot has to determine has destination by finding + a good departure point in local space. Also, only a small number of connections between + systems will be possible. + + Hyperspace intersection faults are large (planetary orbit scale) and while they are attracted + to gravity wells like a star, they do not like to share their space. + + Note that is theoreticly possible to fold normal space deep enough into hyperspace to + create a jump holes across galactic scales. It would probably take a generator the size of a + large moon to achieve it. + +Fleets As the player earns money, he will hopefully eventually be able to buy large ships. @@ -126,7 +159,7 @@ Weapons Fighting - How does fighting work + How does fighting work. Economy @@ -141,3 +174,7 @@ Cargo - (Spare) parts - Fuel - Economy + +Missions + + I'd do anything for money, except working. -- cgit v1.2.3