The Osirion Project - GAMEPLAY

	This document describes what the gameplay of Project::OSiRiON should
	eventually become. This document is a work in progress and is subject
	to change. 

General guidelines

	Project::OSiRiON is a multiplayer space game with persistent player
	statistics. A single player mode with a compelling story is a 
	secondary objective but the storyline serves as background for
	the multiplayer universe.

	Project::OSiRiON is a 'serious' game. Names of objects, people and
	places should be considered generic for the universe and should not
	be rightout silly or offensive. Names should feel 'natural' in their
	context.

	Models for ships, space stations and other objects should be designed
	with the same philosphy in mind. It is acceptable to make references 
	to exisiting objects (real or fiction), as long as they are subtle
	or inconspicuous.

Universe

	A basic description of the universe, how it is organised and who lives there.

	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.

The Player

	Who is the player in the universe. 
	- Friends
	- Enemies
	- Background
	- How the player itnteracts 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
	the Richest Man in the Known Universe. The player earns money by shipping 
	cargo that can be bought at discount prices at one place and sold
	at a premium on a second location. *mining *fighting *wrecks/looting.

	The goal is to become filthy rich and show it. Besides, with a particle
	cannon and a target lock, nobody cares where your money comes from.

	Players can be hostile or friendly to each other.

Ships

	The player starts the game with single small spacecraft and starts the
	game docked at a planet or space station. When he has earned sufficient
	money he can spend it on ship upgrades like weapons, armor, shields 
	and various other components.

	*gameplay idea
	various 'useless' fancy upgrades that increase player status

Traveling

	How the traveling happens in the universe, how the player will travel.

	Every ship is equipped with thrusters. The maximum thruster speed depends
	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
	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.
	
	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
	expensive piece of equipment that has massive power requirements. Only very
	large ships will be capable of carrying a hyperspace jump drive.

	Interstellar travel for the common men is possible through the use
	of commercial or government owned hyperspace gates. These gates create
	on-demand hyperspace connections between star systems and provide a safe
	and easy way to travel.

	Hyperspace travel is almost instantanious, hyperspace jump would be a more
	accurate term to describe it.

	
Fleets [Phase 2]
	
	As the player earns money, he will hopefully eventually be able
	to buy large ships.

	The flagship
	The player's fleet is limited to one convoy. The convoy's task is to
	protect the flagship. The player can be in control of any ship in his 
	fleet. 

	...
	More like a convoy. 
	
	... about fleet combat

	Once the flagship is destroyed, the convoy is lost.
	The player respawns at base with the flagships and any ships
	docked on it while it was destroyed. Other cargo and other ships it 
	the convoy are lost.

	
Planet and Stations

	Star systems are inhabited with planets and stations.
	...
	Dockable planets or stations are bases
	...
	Some bases provide storage facilities where players
	can put items like weapons or spare parts in storage.

Objects in space

Weapons

	What kind of weapons are there. how do they work.

Fighting

	How does fighting work

Economy 

	Money makes the Universe tick.
	- Buying
	- Selling
	- Trading

Cargo
	- Transporting / Beaming
	- Mining
	- (Spare) parts
	- Fuel 
	- Economy