[Custom Setting] Retrograde

This a setting I'm running in RL and I thought I would share the pieces I have for it here. It' still a work in progress and nothing is super concrete. You're getting a first look at how I world build basically.

Suggestions, comments, or additional ideas are welcomed!


The year is 2060 and the space race never ended between the Soviet Union and the United States. Presently the human race has made its way into the solar system and has established itself on planets, moons, and space stations. It is a time of great discovery, technological advancements, and exploration. It is also a time of uncertainty as old grudges still fester between the old superpowers and new ones fester between rising powers.


- Retro-futurism
- Exploration of ground based societies and their adaptation to space
- Space is a scary place
- Cold War in space


Anything by Syd Mead (one could call Retrograde the Syd Mead RPG)



Major Stellar Powers (Superpowers)
- United States
- Soviet Union
- United Kingdom
- People's Republic of China

Minor Stellar Powers
- Federal Republic of Germany
- France
- Canada
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Iran
- Socialist Countries of Africa (SCA)
- Separatist Moons of Jupiter


Rocketboys - Hotrodders and greasers in space

CCC - Civilian Conservation Corp

Soviet Genetic Manipulation (Extreme variants)
- Cosmonaut Gene: Telepathy and extreme adaption to zero-g
- Soldat Gene: Genetically enhanced soldiers
- Cossack Gene: Skills related to piloting
- Politico Gene: Skills related to social manipulation and people reading

Panzer Korps - Armored combat suits in place of tanks

USMC
- Paramarines - ODST like units
- Infantry - Old school roughnecks getting shit done
- Heavy Infantry - Roughnecks in heavier armor
- Aviation - Marines that can fly

USN
- Void Jumpers
- SEALs
- Force Security
- SeaBees
- Pilots

Mercenary Companies
- Gold Company
- W39
- Star Banshees
- Willy’s Rangers

Dutch Trading Company (DTC)

Pinkerton Detective Agency

Separatist Moons of Jupiter
- Himalia
- Lysithea
- Elara
- Pasiphae
- Sinope

Well Known/Notorious Pirate Groups
- Thunder Children
- Bloody Barons
- Krakens
- Blitz (Single Ship)
- Einstein’s Brain (Single Ship)

Looks and sounds awesome man. Great idea.

I feel like Philip K Dick could be a huge source of inspiration if it's not already. I'm mainly thinking of the novel The Man in the High Castle....the TV series isnt as good but the book has a lot about moon colonies and stuff, and is all about espionage and tensions between Nazi Germany and Japan.

Sent from Topic'it App

Thanking for giving it a look, Bob. Dick isn't a huge inspiration but the inspiration comes from many things for this game.

Recently went on a little spree for manufactures of space suits. The space suit is very important for characters in Retrograde. The suits have advanced to levels where you can wear them at all times if you wanted to.

I have broken the suits down into four classes. The reason for the classes is for automatic gear each comes with and also variety.

Class 1 (Skin Suit)
- Computer
- Oxygen Reserve

Class 2 (Vacsuit)
- Computer
- Scrubbers and Oxygen Reserve
- Radiation Protection
- Mag Boots

Class 3 (EVA Suit)
- Computer
- Drug Injectors
- Life Support System
- Radiation Protection
- Maneuvering Thrusters
- Mag Boots

Class 4 (Hardsuit)
- Biological/Electrical Hardening (4)
- Computer
- Exoskeleton
- Drug Injectors
- Life Support System
- Radiation Protection
- Maneuvering Thrusters
- Mag Boots

From there I then moved on to making a bunch of suit manufactures. I thought this would be boring but I actually had some fun coming up with companies, their identities, and their products.

General Systems (USA): A future version which has seen the merging of the other general companies (GM, GE, ect.). The US military has an extensive contract with GS to make almost all of the suits used by the US armed forces. These suits are all about being high tech with all the bells and whistles. They are also the most heavily armored suits in their class (being +1 above the max armor for each class). Down side to all this is everything's expensive and the suits aren't super durable.

Traveler (USA): Higher end frontier/working man suits. Compared to other frontier like suits these are a little flashier and appeal to the wannabees, rich people, and those looking for a less utilitarian design. There look and feel is more in line with the Hollywood version of the wild west. That's what their marketing is based off of and people buy into it hard. Mechanically the suits are rugged but have some higher tech options on them compared to other frontier/worker suits.

BCF (Business, Combat, Fashion) (France): Take a high end suit tailor and give him a John Wick twist. These guys are well known for their business suits (space and land) and for their extensive line of combat suits for mercenaries, security units, or those who just have the money to afford them. They are the main competitor of GS when it comes to combat suits in the civilian and military market.

F-Solutions (Soviet Union): The Kalashnikov of space suit manufactures. Billed as frontier/survivalist suits and they fit that bill to a t. Suits are incredibly rugged, resilient, and utilitarian. These suits are very popular with many folks in the solar system from mercenaries to scientists on extremely remote outposts. F-Solutions have a branch called PRMR which develops and manufactures suits for the Soviet Unions armed forces. Like their civilian suits the military ones are rugged, resilient, and utilitarian. They not about being high tech like the GS suits. They're about staying in the battle for as long as possible.

Union Fitted (Soviet Union): The working mans brand. These guys are all about making suits for EVA techs, dock workers, and other kinds of blue collar jobs. Their suits are well made and affordable and that makes them popular all over the solar system. They also understand their costumers and make their suits based on feedback and requests.

Hipp (Independent): Take a street wear manufacturer (BOPE, Supreme, etc.) and mix them with the pirate bay. These guys make limited edition suits (never to be made again) which appeal to criminals, rebels, and anarchists. Their suits are extremely well made, contain a bunch of illegal and hard to acquire tech, and are low profile. Some of the tech that Hipp has implemented into their suits is classified tech from the major powers. Hipp is an active target for law enforcement and intelligence groups.

DUSTY (UK): The Caterpillar/Volvo of space suits. They are known for their excellent and varied lines of hard suits. They are all very modular, well built, and are considered the standard for hard suits the solar system over. Their Goliath suit is the most common hard suit worn in the solar system.

Argus (Italy): They build suits that cater to security, law enforcement, bounty hunters, and intelligence operatives. If you run across any form of law enforcement in the solar system they are probably wearing an Argus suit. The other area Argus is known for is their suits built for intelligence gathering. One defining feature or Argus suits is their hidden armor. Argus suits aesthetically are sleek and non-bulky. Mechanically they use sophisticated polymers and synthetic threading to create their patented hidden armor. Argus is also known for their subsidiary which is an independent security/intelligence group known as Argus Consultants and is a main competitor of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

Holy fucking shit, how did I miss this?! I’m giving this a thorough look over when I’m not st work, but it looks dope AF.

Sent from Topic'it App

Iron and Metal wrote:

Holy fucking shit, how did I miss this?! I’m giving this a thorough look over when I’m not st work, but it looks dope AF.

Sent from Topic'it App

Missing out on the good stuff!

It's nothing to in depth at the moment. The bones are there and a few strands of muscle but we don't have a fully body for this setting... yet.

Just reading through this now. Can we make Japan a minor space power just to placate me? I feel like a Japanese private corp specializing in mech/robotics (obviously) would be badass too. A little cliche, but this setting seems like it thrives off pulpy cliches, and I love that.

Iron and Metal wrote:

Just reading through this now. Can we make Japan a minor space power just to placate me? I feel like a Japanese private corp specializing in mech/robotics (obviously) would be badass too. A little cliche, but this setting seems like it thrives off pulpy cliches, and I love that.

Japan itself isn't a minor power because all the Zaibatsu are minor powers themselves. They have economies the size of most of the minor powers and boast insane manufacturing capabilities that rival even those of the major powers.

Japan in Retrograde is heavily corporatist and the Zaibatsu are the corporate lords. That's the pulpy cliche I'm working with when it comes to Japan for this setting.

Also, yes the Zaibatsu are known for their robots but to throw a twist into the setting it's the Germans who are known for the mechs.

That's perfect. I must have missed that, but legit perfect.

Iron and Metal wrote:

That's perfect. I must have missed that, but legit perfect.

I haven't covered any of the Mega Corporations in to much detail yet but the Zaibatsu are a major part of it.

Alright, I'm beginning to explore who has claimed what in our solar system.

I'm currently thinking about dividing the larger planets and moons between the powers. This makes sense from the fact that one power controlling one of these doesn't make a lot of sense in this setting. It also drives the cold war theme with these powers new territories bumping up against one another and the fight for new ones.

My loose ideas right now (and a trip through our solar system for my less astronomically inclined friends):

Mercury: No permanent territories from any of the major or minor powers. However, their are large mining operations from many mining groups (corp and independent), research bases from the powers, and cities that range from fully independent to corporate enclaves. The Zaibatsu mega corps have major holdings and influence on and around Mercury.

Venus: The place where you don't want to build anything on it. However, you can build in the atmosphere. The Soviets have taken advantage of the other powers no being interested and have started building aerostats. They have a lead that other powers will have a hard time catching up to on Venus.

Earth: Pretty much the same save for a few changes.
- Moon: Heavily dominated by the Americans. The Soviets have some territories on the far side. The Netherlands, Canada, and Italy have bought territory from the Americans.

Mars: Heavily divided between the major and minor powers. The largest territories don't belong to the Americans or Soviets but to the Chinese and British.
- Deimos: Controlled by the Americans and turned into a comms/military installation.
- Phobos: Moved to become the anchor of the Olympus Mons space elevator.

Ceres (a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt): Fully independent with no power having sole control over it. It's a major stop between the inner system and outer system. Power and influence of the democratically elected Ceres Council is one of major contention between the powers. The Dutch have some serious pull on Ceres along with the Unionite groups (Soviet backed or Soviet sympathizers).

Jupiter's Moons
- Europa, Ganymede, Io, Callisto: All heavily divided up between the powers. The minor powers have more pull out here especially Italy, Federal Republic of Germany, SCA, France, and Iran.
- Himalia, Lysithea, Elara, Pasiphae, Sinope: Smaller moons under the umbrella of a brand new political power known at the Separatist Moons of Jupiter. The United States had territory on Elara and Pasiphae since their colonization. However (and a long history lesson for why later), the Separatists viewed the Americans as squatting on their moons. Plans were enacted to remove the Americans by force and now a new hot spot has arisen in the solar system.
Every other moon: To small to divide up so most of the major powers have gobbled them up for themselves.

Saturn's Moons
- Titan, Rhea, Iapatus, Dione, Enceladus, Tethys: Heavily divided between the major and minor powers. Smaller powers like the Netherlands, Canada, and France have more pull out here then usual.
- Every other moon: To small to divide up so most of the major powers have gobbled them up for themselves.

Neptune's Moons, Uranus' Moons, Pluto/Charon: This the frontier, the edge, and its a place where the powers don't have a bunch of influence and don't see the need for it. Out here is the land of the scientists, the independents, and those who want to be left alone.

Now time for some more art to give you a better feel of the world! (This time it's not Syd Mead art)

Time for some history!

Separatist Moons of Jupiter (called SMJ from now on) were once the Confederacy of Jupiter Moons (CJM from now on). The scramble for territory in the solar system wasn't just between political powers but other groups. While the major powers were busy land grabbing and planting flags on Galilean moons of Jupiter other small groups (ethnic minorities and ostracized political parties) made runs on the smaller moons. To protect themselves from the major/minor powers they banded together forming the CJM and becoming a minor power themselves. It's important to note that before the forming of the CJM USA had territories on two of the moons (Elara and Pasiphae). The CJM said they can keep these territories but no other territories from other powers would be allowed.

- Next stop in the timeline is the CJM civil war. It all started when Himalia's government called for a central governing body for the CJM. The other moons did not agree with this and worried Himalia would try to achieve this militarily. They had every right to be scared as Himalia was the wealthiest and had the largest military compared to the other moons. Their worst fears would come to be and Himalia launched a campaign of conquest. Further complicating everything the USSR and US moved in to support the two sides making the civil war a proxy war as well. The USSR backing Himalia and the US everyone else. The CJM civil war is also known as the Merc War for the extensive use of mercenary companies on both sides. The end of the civil war saw victory for Himalia and the SMJ was born.
- Remember those two US territories? Yeah, those stuck around in SMJ cause the US told the SMJ they weren't going anywhere, they didn't officially recognize the SMJ as a political entity, and if they tried to take their territories hell would be unleashed. After fighting a costly civil war the SMJ weren't going to poke a super power. However, the SMJ saw the US as squatters on their moons.

- Current time: The SMJ has recovered from their civil war and now it's time to remove the last vestiges of the other political powers from their moons. The SMJ tried at first to do this politically but the US not recognizing the SMJ as a political entity made this impossible. There was nothing to negotiate with the SMJ as far as the US was concerned. Finally, the military option was taken. The assault on the Pasiphae territory was lightening quick and almost bloodless catching the US forces there off guard. Elara was entirely different with the US mounting a hasty defense and were able to call for help. The Italian showed up first in assistance, then an emergency US response group, then the Germans to Elara.  
- The idea was for the SMJ to quickly assume these territories and then enter negotiations with the US using the captured military and civilian forces as bargaining chips. This would of worked if the US didn't hold out in Elara and a quick response by an Italian naval group. Instead, the US and the SMJ are now at war.
- Elara: A combined military effort by the USA, Italy, and the Federal Republic of Germany. The fight is one of defense and trying to regain lost territory. The goal on Elara is to secure the previous US territory and hold out.
- Pashipae: Entirely a USA endeavor. Saw the largest Special Force operation conducted on a SMJ space station and the largest orbital combat drop ever conducted. The goal of the US to achieve a full military victory over the forces on Pashipae.
- Naval engagements: US has full orbital control of Pashipae. Partial control of Elara's orbit along with the Italian Navy and Kreigsmarine. Naval engagements between the SMJ and USN are ongoing around Jupiter.

Better living through chemistry time!

So Retrograde has a bit of a cyberpunk streak through it and it wouldn't be cyberpunk if there wasn't some drugs.

I've already hashed out the mechanics behind all of them (we'll see how they hold when tested). Got to have some fun flavor text for them in the mean time.

CalmMe: An anti-anxiety drug. CalmMe has a good track record and is popular outside of its market base. CalmMe is popular with many kinds of people thanks to its quick acting and potentate ability to numb anxiety and fear. The draw back of this is that the user suffers a social coldness about them. "Chills the nerves and makes you cold hearted." Is a common street phrase for CalmMe.

Party Animal: Synthetic party drug co-opted as a social booster. What once was an extremely popular party drug morphed its way into the world of social interactions. Party Animal boosts confidence and makes you extremely likeable. However, Party Animal makes the user super sensitive to physical contact. What was once a boon for the party drug was also a bane when pain becomes involved.

HyperX: Adderall x10. A concentration drug developed for ADD but its application was applied to many other things. HyperX is when you want to get shit done or solely focus on one task. This hyper focus comes at a cost to your situational awareness and your ability to function socially.

Showtime: An offshoot of the combat drug Red. A pain suppressant and temporary strength booster. If you're getting into a fight or need to toughen up then Showtime is for you. This awesome physical boost comes at quite a mental cost. Intelligence, charisma, and metal fortitude suffer when Showtime is in effect.    

Red: The premier combat drug. Once only available to military units this drug has found its way into the civilian market. It's incredibly hard to synthesize which makes its street cost extremely high. Red is a reflex booster with no comparison. Red does't carry the usual downsides found in other drugs. However, it is fast acting and its effects where off quickly.

AntiB: The "make me happy" drug. Developed as a drug for operators out in space or on remote outposts for extended periods. Boredom is a real issue and that's where AntiB comes in. Beyond its immediate "happy" effect AntiB is known as a mental fortifier. AntiB's downsides are reduced strength, resistance to pain, and slowing of motor functions. One unrecognized upside to AntiB is the user's happiness is contagious helping them in social situations.

G Cocktail: A drug developed to help with high G burns. It thickens the blood to help keep users conscious when high G burns are conducted. G Cocktail has no downsides but its uses outside of helping against extreme G changes are minimal to none.

Almost done working on 35 unique space suits and 40+ mods for them. Started working on it for the play test here and for the fact I'm letting players go through character creation. For other test sessions I've just used pre-built characters.

While not really a sci-fi guy I can tell you've put a lot of work in this. Good work and good luck!

^^Ditto... except for the not being a sci-fi guy part.

Gurkhal wrote:

While not really a sci-fi guy I can tell you've put a lot of work in this. Good work and good luck!

Iron and Metal wrote:

^^Ditto... except for the not being a sci-fi guy part.

Thanks guys.

Should hopefully have the space suits done this week so you all can get your gear porn on

Alright, all of Retrogrades space suits and their lore is done. This is a first hand look at the space suit catalog for the game. The mechanics are still being worked on...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MuousiYmsnsRorXn2sJJiVoR1ewDhE2RTbOGBlQcMmo/edit?usp=sharing

Still need to finish up mod mechanics and then get to pricing everything out.

Gearing up to do a one shot that has characters being the captains of ships in a Royal Navy squadron. Which meant getting some UK and RN lore down.


To no one’s surprise the United States, USSR, and PRC rose to the top during humanities great race into the void. These powers were set and ready after being some of the biggest and most fortunate powers after World War Two. However, when we talk about the biggest players in the solar system we talk about the big four. That fourth player being the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom was a shadow of its former self after World War Two. The home island was still recovering from the war and it’s once vast imperial holdings were gone. It was a second rate power and played second fiddle to the United States in NATO.

Even with the beginning of the space race the UK never inserted itself or tried its own luck outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. That would change after the United States established the first base on Luna. If the UK was once again going to be a major player they needed to put there mark on the space race.

It would finally leave its mark in 1990 being the first power to land a manned mission on Mars. It wasn’t the United States, the USSR, or the PRC that got humans to Mars first. It was the United Kingdom. The seeds of the future empire were planted and nothing was going to slow its growth.

In the next 70 years the United Kingdom established a solar empire that raised it into a first rate power once again. The British Empire was reborn.

Like its previous empire the British understood that naval power was the key in protecting and growing it. Royal Navy outposts dot the solar system alongside their massive naval yards where they patrol shipping lanes and protect their interests.

Once the Royal Navy was the undisputed naval power in the system. They were the first to build a dreadnought. They were the first to have a ship transit from Earth to Pluto and then back. The advancements of the fusion drive was spurred on by them.

Nothing lasts forever though. The other powers of the big 4 quickly caught up and established parity with the Royal Navy. Where they now lacked in technological superiority the Royal Navy made up for it with experience. They are still the oldest stellar navy out of the big 4.

Today, the Royal Navy’s doctrine revolves around synergy. Their ships are designed to work with one another in the deadly dance of space combat. This does not mean the ships can operate on their own but the true potential of the Royal Navy comes in their squadrons instead of lone ships. The whole is greater than its parts essentially.


One ability that the Royal Navy has over the over big 4 navies is its vast system of outposts around the solar system. These are known as the Islands and were established during the UK’s push through out the system from Mars.

These Islands serve as refitting, rearming, listening, and traffic monitoring stations. They are all designed to fit a full patrol squadron or a single Knight-class in their internal landing bay. Islands already host a smattering of medium and light vessels in the presence or absence of a patrol squadron.

The Islands give the Royal Navy a vast control and monitoring network alongside the ability to deploy squadrons almost anywhere in the system at a moments notice.

The Islands are grouped in chains. The Alpha Chain spans Mercury and Venus, Bravo Chain; Earth, Charlie Chain: Mars, Delta Chain: Belt, Echo Chain: Jupiter, Foxtrot Chain: Saturn, Hotel Chain: Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.

The thickest chains are Charlie and Delta. Compared to the Charlie and Delta chains they start decreasing beginning with Echo, Foxtrot, Bravo, Alpha, and finally the most sparse and spread out chain being Hotel.


Special Service Squadron aka SSS
- The infamous squadron with a classified record so long some think it never ends. When it comes to spying, special forces, or any dirty work the UK wants done there is little doubt the Special Service Squadron is involved one way or another.
- Volunteer only squadron where one must qualify for and then pass an evaluation course.
- The flagship of the squadron is the heavily modified Knight-class HMS Duchess of Edinburgh. It’s been kitted out with a vast amount of surveillance and monitoring equipment as well as an enlarged landing bay where it’s rumored to hold some seriously modified Saab Mulas for resupply and deployment of UK special forces. When returning to port from a successful mission the Duchess will show off a Jolly Roger from her main mast.
- Other notable ships of the squadron are the Bulldog-class HMS Hood and HMS Repulse. These two cruisers have been known to be test beds for the Royal Navy’s R&D Division’s new toys.

61st Battle Squadron
- Deployed during the outbreak of the Belt Secessionist Incident in 2039. Was the first Royal Navy squadron to engage in sustained space combat.
Contains two highly decorated warships. The Knight-class HMS Jersey and the Archer-class HMS Fly. These two ships are the last ships of the squadron that participated in the Belt Secessionist Incident (others being transferred, destroyed, or retired).

HMS Invincible
- The first stellar dreadnought ever built. Flagship of the Home Fleet.

HMS Constantine
- Longest running Mastiff-class with multiple operations awards and honors. She is known as the ‘Pirate Killer’ do to her long tours of duties out beyond Jupiter. She is currently with the 17th Fleet.

Working on the above lore has also helped me get a better idea of this settings history. At least when it comes to Ceres and some of the first military conflicts.

Ceres was once a UK territory. It's stellar neighbor Vesta was as well but Mitsubishi bought it from the Brits (yes, a Zaibatsu bought a whole damn terrestrial object like any reasonable mega-corp would). Ceres became the new jewel of this reborn British Empire. Along with its island chain in the asteroid belt the UK was essentially the most dominant power there. Meaning they started taxing non-UK ships to port at Ceres, paying tolls through lanes in the belt, and becoming the dominant military power in the region. This brought the ire of the other powers. The Americans and the Chinese groveled while the Soviets had already begun a deep and powerful campaign to sever British power in the region.

What you get is the Belt Secessionist Incident. The Soviets didn't have to do a lot as the seeds for secession were already laid. They just needed to help them grow. The Soviets started to assist the more militant side of the secessionists and in 2045 everything went to hell for the Brits. Secessionists lead raids on some of their island outposts in the belt, captured military vessels, and some of the first stellar battles were fought. Ceres was under marshal law and any talks between the secessionists and the Brits was next to nil.

More raids, more captures, and more space battles in the belt started to effect stellar trade and now the Americans and Soviets (as planned) began to arm and mobilize. The Brits were to get their house in order or someone would come and do it for them. There was real fear at this point that a stellar war was going to break out.

The Soviets weren't going to let the incident escalate any further and were planning on stepping in and be the heroes who would broker a truce. Unfortunately for the Soviets the Chinese had already swept in.

The PRC moved a fleet into the belt and blockaded Ceres. They would force the British and the secessionists to hash it out. In the end the British would give up Ceres but they were able to maintain their vast island chain in the belt. For the British it lost its new jewel and its monopoly of power in the belt. Ceres would become a major hot spot in political intrigue and influence among the big 4.

Mercenaries are fun (from a setting and player option perspective) and Retrograde is a setting where mercenaries are in high demand. Below are some of the more well known merc companies.

W39: The joke with W39 is that soviet officers don't retire and soviet soldiers don't end their contracts. They just go to W39.

W39 is the largest mercenary company in the solar system possessing the largest mercenary stellar fleet, most infantry, most mechanized elements, you name it. Thanks to its size and breath of options W39 is the most well rounded mercenary company. Their specialization is in having everything.

W39 is heavily Soviet but other nationalities can be found in its ranks. Rumors are abound that W39 is a proxy force for the Soviet Union. Among the intelligence circles its more believed that W39 command has close ties to the Soviet Union (explaining their vast amount of Soviet tech and equipment) but are not beholden to them.

Gold Company: When someone is thinking of a mercenary they are probably imagining one from Gold Company.

They are the second biggest company in the solar system with the best PR, equipment, and pay. Gold Company prides itself on being slick, good looking, and being expensive. This has given them the image of being a mercenary company full of attention whores and rich brats with unmatched arrogance.

Gold Company might party hard but they also play hard. Their arrogance and price tag is well founded. They are extremely competent soldiers backed up by some of the best equipment money can buy.

So don't let the good looks or equipment confuse you. Gold Company is ready to receive and deliver hell when paid to do so.

Star Phantoms: When you need a force specializing in stellar warfare you only need to call one group. The Star Phantoms.

The Star Phantoms specialize in stellar warfare meaning they don't posses any ground forces. What they do have are some of the best mercenary pilots and captains in the business.

The Star Phantoms were born out of the CJM Civil War aka Merc War. The CJM loyalists were in bad shape when it came to their stellar forces and the US couldn't have its proxies be without one. So the CIA was tasked with creating a third party navy. They brought in some of the solar systems best to pilot and command this newly founded force. They earned the name Star Phantoms from W39 and have carried the name with them ever since.

The Star Phantoms still have connections with the CIA.

Willy's Rangers: Honor and being just can be hard to find in mercenaries. You get honor and being just in spades with Willy's Rangers.

Willy's Rangers are an elite light-infantry company with a hard earned reputation of being professional, honorable, and deadly. Setting themselves apart from the other companies is they won't take everyone's money no matter how much is being offered. Jobs are only taken if the cause is right. This has lead to Willy's Rangers being labeled as "boy scouts".

Those on the receiving end of Willy's Rangers quickly learn that these "boy scouts" mean business.

Free Brigades: The Free Brigades fall in a weird zone of mercenary force and actual military force. For one they are the official ground forces of the Ceres Militia but the brigades also serve time as mercenary forces. This was designed to give Ceres a seasoned fighting force and additional income for the Ceres Militia.

The Free Brigades are well trained and seasoned light-infantry groups. They are not elite as say Willy's Rangers but they have earned a reputation for being unrelenting, stubborn, and somewhat crazy.

Hatchet Men: They'll do any job as long as the money is right and paid on time.

Considered the lowest of the low. The Hatchet Men are a group known for being unscrupulous and not asking any questions. The ranks of the Hatchet Men are filled with those that exemplify this reputation. This doesn't mean the Hatchet Men are open to any low life joining their ranks. Routine and constant psych evaluations are carried out to make sure members are still on the edge and haven't completely fallen off. Hatchet Men have no use for loose cannons.

The Hatchet Men are a light-infantry force but they also cover bodyguard, wet work, and intimidation.

"When bad people need bad things done they call us." - Vincent Prince, Founder of Hatchet Men

"They're just a bunch of thugs who call themselves mercenaries." - Anonymous

Some stuff I've been working on for Ceres and the Soviet Union

Ceres Organizations: The 3 Cs

Ceres Council: A democratically elected council composed of 1 representative from each of Ceres' sectors. Outside influence on the council is directed through these representatives. The outer sector reps are influenced by the Unionites and DTC. The inner sectors are influenced by mega-corps and the Big 4.

Ceres Militia: The primary defensive force of the dwarf planet. It is comprised of the Naval Wing and the Free Brigades. Info on the Free Brigades can be found in the post above. The Naval Wing is a small fleet in charge of protection and enforcement of Ceres' immediate "airspace". The militia overall is a defensive force but thanks to the duel nature of the Free Brigades offensive actions can be taken with high levels of deniability.

Constables: A reappropriated name from the original police of Ceres when it was a UK territory. The Constables function similarly to the USA's FBI acting as the highest level of law enforcement on Ceres, having jurisdiction all across the dwarf planet, and aren't beholden to the sectors but to the Ceres Council. The Constables don't engage in regular police duties. Those duties fall to the sector police. Even though the group is young they are considered one of the best counter-intelligence organizations in the Solar System. This is do to the high level of spy activity on Ceres.

Soviet Union

Just some preliminary thoughts and ideas I have.

The Soviet Union is heavily invested in genetic engineering. It's gotten to the point that every current USSR citizen has some basic form of gene therapy. This would make the Soviet Union the most transhumanist of all the factions in the setting. It has also had big cultural impacts leading to a rise in biological mysticism and the view of the human body can be upgraded and changed biologically. The Soviets also shun and belittle those that use bionics.

I'm still deciding on how far I want to go with and prevalence of more radical manipulation and therapies. One thing is for sure is that the Soviets are definitely researching and experimenting with genetics. Thanks to the sometimes volatile nature of the work a new Spetsnaz group known as HAZMAT and is under the command of the MVD. It was created to handle emergencies and perform "clean ups".

Oh and I did some space ship stuff as well. It has been more mechanical related rather then lore though.

Been thinking about some mega-corporation stuff and how they are represented in Retrograde. The setting itself has some cyberpunk leanings so corporations are some pretty big players.

This is what I've been working with lately.

Zaibatsu: The Japanese mega-corporations and are pretty much the lords of Japan.

- Mitsubishi: The biggest and meanest of the Zaibatsu. They own all of Vesta (second largest object in the asteroid belt after Ceres) which is their headquarters and the whole asteroid has been turned into a factory. The corp is heavily diversified but they are mainly known for their civilian and military drones like the Spider Tank line and the 'Zero' Attack Drone.

- Mitsui, Sumitomo, Yasuda, Toyota Group: The other Zaibatsu that I haven't really fleshed out all that much. If anyone has any ideas for them go right ahead.

General Systems: When one thinks mega-corp they think GS. They are the most diversified mega-corporation out there making everything from ion engines, space ships, space suits, pre-fab facilities, guns, you name it. Basic premise is what would happen if General Electric, General Atomics, General Motors, and General Dynamics formed into some ungodly monster.

Dutch Trading Company: Remember the East India Company or the Dutch East India Company? Well the DTC are them in Retrograde. They are conglomerate that are mostly known for being the dominant logistics and transport company in the solar system. They have deep ties to the Netherlands government and some say the only reason the Dutch are even apart of the Small 8 is because of the DTC.

Moving away from the mega-corps we have smaller corporations. What I did was look at corporations from the Cold War era and pretty much kept them around. Made my life easier then just making new ones up.

So the likes of Lockheed, McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Bell, Sikorsky, BAE, Vickers, English Electric, Saab, Rheinmentall, Hughes Aircraft (now Spacecraft) Company, MiG, Sukhoi, Antonov, and more are still around. They all make spaceships and/or drop ships!

Oh, and for those that know their Cold War history Air America is still around but are now known as Stellar America.

Always adding and refining this setting.

Sat down and looked into how this settings version of the internet (called the net in Retrograde) works. Along with that also how telecom's work as a whole.

So space is a big place... okay very fucking big. Some of the distances are unimaginable and that's just within our own solar system. However, we humans have figured out that we can talk and transmit data across these vast distances. In Retrograde the tech isn't all that different from what we're using today. They use radio and lasers. Also thanks in part that the space race never ended an infrastructure of relays was built to help speed up transmission times.

However, you can't beat psychics and there is still delays. The further you are from you intended message destination the worse it's going to be. What effects this has is more important to geopolitics and the military. Keeping things up to date is hard in a fast moving incident with a delay. It's even worse if you're trying to coordinate. For the military forces of Retrograde the centralized command structure isn't as prevalent. Ship captains, force commanders, and government leaders are more independent because of these communication limitations.

Now from a player's perspective this means hitting up your contacts on Luna when you are all the way out by Saturn means they aren't going to be getting back to you quickly. Getting or sending updates to your employer are going to take time (either a few minutes or longer).

Continuing on... the net was built along with the communication infrastructure already put in place. For the net it still has limitations and isn't an instantaneous form of communication. This has lead to the net being fractured into zones. When your within a zone communication across the net has low delay times. You're limited to the sites and services of that zone though. Connecting to another zone though you're at the mercy of lag and also paying for it (think of it like a long distance call).

For example if you're within the Earth-Mars Relay zone you have access to the Deimos Switchboard, Lunar Overwatch, and Earthling. You get instantaneous updates from these places and interacting within them is faster. Now say your by Mars but want to connect to the Ritz Network out past Saturn. You can do that... but you're paying for the long distance connection and everything is on a delay.

Now there is a nifty thing called the Front Page that transcends these zones. You can access the services and sites from anywhere that are on the Front Page without incurring a long distance connection fee or heavy delay times. Delays are still present on the Front Page but they are much smaller thanks to them having their own independent relay system.

Sites that have gotten to the Front Page is a mixture of money, influence, and analytics. The Front Page only hosts 20 sites every Earth year. Turn over is small but there can be some a unexpected changes in the lineup from time to time.

So what can you find on the net? It's very similar to our world wide web. You have blogs, websites, forums, and job boards. What's a little different is what I'm calling a channel. These are like a podcast/radio station. These have per-recorded content and also live content.

Most of the places on the net are a mixture and not really tailored to one or the other.

Here's a break down of the zones and what services and sites you'll find within them. The listed sites are just the most popular and the zones have many more.

Inner Sol (Mercury and Venus)
Inner Soul (Local news channel)
The Canary (Local job board and blog)

Earth-Mars Relay (Earth, Luna, and Mars)
Deimos Switchboard (Local job board and blog.)
Lunar Overwatch (Local job board and blog.)
Earthling (Local job board and blog.)

The Belt (Asteroid Belt)
Rockhopper (Local news channel)
Belt Buckle (Local job board and blog)
1NGR8 (Unknown job board. Members only… at least that’s what everyone thinks.)

Jupiter Zone
Redeye (Local news channel)
Flashpoint (Local job board)
Station Matrix (Local guide channel and blog to habitats around Jupiter)
Zeus’ Court (Local guide channel and blog to planetoids around Jupiter)

Saturn Zone
Moon Dust (Local news channel)
Shepherd Hound (Local job board and blog)

Outer Sol
Ritz Network (Chariklo and Neptune)
Doormat (Local channel, job board, and blog)
Wasteland 1 (Uranus)
Wasteland 2 (Pluto)

Outer Sol is kind of special as its net infrastructure is limited as anything beyond Saturn is the frontier. There isn't much going on out there.

I actually have the whole Front Page done.

Front Page:

ABC Stellar News (ABC News channel)

Big Shot (Bounty hunter channel, blog, and bounty board. Certain functions and features for members only.)

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation channel)

Clausekhan The Great (Military channel and blog)

Club 69 (Freelancer board and blog. Members only.)

Comet to Comet (Spaceship channel and blog)

Early Today (NBC News channel)

Frontierland (Survivalist channel and blog)

Glitterati Plus (Fashion and culture channel and blog)

Hobos Guide To The Solar System (Travel channel and blog)

HubHubHub ‘Triple H’ (Freelancer board)

Pony Express (Freight and transport board)

SEARS Catalogue (Gear, weapons, drones, and spaceship catalogue)

See It Now (CBS News channel)

Social Circles (Social networking site)

SNA - Stellar News Agency (Independent news agency channel)

Spacers Best Friend (Space suit channel and catalogue)

Merc’d (Mercenary channel, blog, and board. Members only.)

Truckin’ The Goods (Freight, transport, channel, and blog)

Union Up (Unionite channel, blog, and board. Certain functions and features for members only.)



What does this mechanically mean for players? Well this is where you can find info, jobs, or interesting news (like your town tavern in a sense). Also, it's worth noting the local sites are going to have more detailed things about their areas (like your local news channels). At the same time the bigger Front Page sites have more resources, keep up to date on solar system spanning stuff, and might have that niche stuff the local stuff doesn't.

This is still being worked on for those that have been keeping up with it. I'm working on a scenario that uses baggage from the Belt Secessionist Incident.

The name: Belt Secessionist Incident, is technically only one part of a bigger event that was happening on Ceres in the 2040s. It was however the event that captured the attention of millions and incidentally was what everyone refers to the whole series of events as.

First some background. Ceres was claimed as UK territory in 2000 which was only 10 years after the UK landed the first manned mission on Mars. Ceres would be spun up to 0.5 Gs and extensive work began on the underground corridors that would make the dwarf planet habitable. Construction would continue for the next twenty years but Ceres was ready to be inhabited as soon as 2008. The first settlers on Ceres were those who were already their working on its construction. Steady immigration for Earth side UK territory would continue over the years thanks to relocation incentives. A vast majority of the relocation subjects were of Indian and African decent. By the '20s Ceres was self sustainable and had the infrastructure to survive and flourish. For Ceres its main economic sectors were shipping, communications, and the military. In 2025 the largest constructed ship breaking yard, Breakers Bay, was finished in Ceres' orbit. Ceres found itself the powerhouse of the belt and one of the UK's crown jewels.

The likes of a strong shipping sector and the introduction of Breakers Bay attracted many Unionite groups and once those groups became established a flourishing Unionite culture grew on Ceres. Sadly for Ceres the strong presence of the Unionites gave Parliament pause for Unionite groups were either pro-communist, sympathetic to the political movement, and many even had ties to the Soviet Union. True representation for Ceres was placed conveniently on the back burner or out right ignored for the next 15 years. In those years as well the Unionites were heavily discriminated against and even targeted as enemies against the state.

Resentment grew from both Unionites as regular subjects on Ceres. One, for the lack of representation. Two, for the treatment of their fellow subjects even if they were Unionites. Three, a lesser known reason, the economic return that Ceres was not receiving due to the UK taking the vast majority of what Ceres earned thanks to it being a territory with no representation.

From 2025 to 2040 the outcry was about receiving representation. After 15 years of watching Parliament ignore them the tune changed to independence.

Four groups spurred on the independence movement in the 2040s:

Ceres Independence Group (CIG): The largest, most well known, and respected group. It was semi-organized and had the backing of some Unionite groups and regular subjects of Ceres.

Unionite Workers Association (UWA): Loose coalition of the major Unionite groups on Ceres. Heavily respected by the Unionites but many blue blooded Ceresmen didn't agree with their pro-communism stances.

Represent Ceres Now (RCN): The largest of the representation groups but now a shadow of its former self. The vast majority of followers went to CIG but some saw the push for independence as futile and even destructive to Ceres future. They stood as CIGs foil.

Left Hand: The most organized and incredibly militant. The Left Hand saw Ceres independence being bought by armed insurrection. This put them at extreme odds against all the other groups but the Left Hand didn't care as they found friends from other places... that being the Soviet Union.

Actions from the CIG, UWA, and Left Hand put strain on the territory forces of Ceres and eventually in 2044 Parliament agreed to let the military assist. Protests were violently put down, leaders targeted for arrest or worse, and whole sectors were subject to martial law. Attention of these events started to reach the masses and they started to have effects on the other Big 4 (mainly due to shipping disruptions). Eventually, in 2045 CIG and UWA collectively flexed their muscles and stopped all shipping from entering, leaving, and any related services from happening. The US, USSR, and many of the Little 7 told the UK to get this under control or something would need to be done... either by the UK or someone else. For the CIG and UWA this brought the UK to the table. Negotiations were slow and hostile between both sides.

As this all transpired the Soviet Union had a master plan in motion. The KGB along with Spetsnaz advisors were actively training and coordinating with the Left Hand for a massive attack on UK assets in the Belt. At the end of 2045 this plan would go in motion and it is was we call the Belt Secessionist Incident.  

The Left Hand along with Spetsnaz assistance attacked multiple charlie islands in the Belt. The plan was simple. Capture as many ships as possible from these naval bases for their own use in the upcoming fight for independence. Execution wasn't flawless but 1 battleship, 8 cruisers, 15 frigates, and 10 corvettes were taken (most from the 7th fleet and a few from the 6th fleet). Afterwards this sparked the first stellar naval battles in human history as the UK hunted down its captured ships.

For the Soviet Union they hoped to distract the UK long enough to move a fleet around Ceres for a blockade and force negotiations in favor the secessionists. In the end the Soviet Union would be hailed as heroes and establish Ceres as a proxy. Unfortunately for them the PRC had a similar idea and had executed it quicker. For a polity that took no interest in the events this was a major surprise for everyone.

Even more surprisingly the PRC stood over the negotiations as a neutral party and was only there to make sure an agreement came down quickly from both sides. Historians still argue to this day why the PRC did this and sought no future reparations from Ceres.

An agreement did come down that saw Ceres become a fully independent power. A council would be formed of democratically voted representatives from the distracts around Ceres and a council president would then be voted for by the council. Many of the first council members would come from the leaders of the CIG, UWA, and RCN.

As for the Left Hand? Only two cruisers escaped the wrath of the royal navy and the whole group was labeled as terrorists by Ceres, UK, and PRC. The years after the incident the group would be hunted mercilessly but its cell nature kept it from completely disappearing. Rumors swirl around that the Left Hand is gearing up for something. Most say their new enemy is the Ceres Council... the ones who abandoned them, used their sacrifices, and labeled them as terrorists like their former oppressors... at least that's what rumored to be coming from the Left Hand.

- SNA (Updated: 2060)

Wanna look at 38 different spacesuits? Well Spacers Best Friend is the best place on the net to do so!

Prettied up the spacesuits catalogue with some pictures (85% to 100% of what I pictured in my head), tweaked prices, 2 new suits (in oddities), and it is better organized.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MuousiYmsnsRorXn2sJJiVoR1ewDhE2RTbOGBlQcMmo/edit?usp=sharing

Joined Forum yesterday SPECIFICALLY to Play, and help, in the Game of Solodice. . .

Will be eager to test the limits of "Soviet Brutalist Tech" in exploiting the Solar Systems. . .

ANY kind of "Spidertank Panzerboy" / Mecha Pilot / Starship Trooper character will be good for Me. . .!!

I wouldnt call the soviet tech brutal. If you look at it soviets always prefered a simple solution which may be less elegant than "west" tech.

@´Solodice
Maybe have a look at the Videogame Starlancer, maybe not exactly retro futuristic but it has soviets in space and an intersting story / background for your Universe.

Brutalist isn't really the right word to describe Soviet tech. Now when it comes to some Soviet architecture it does fall into the brutalist style.

Soviet tech was just simple and utilitarian. It could take a beating, could be fixed quickly, and some of it just lasted forever. At the same time though the overall technology level was clearly in the west's favor. This is still represented in Retrograde. However, the Soviets in this setting do have a few things that the western powers are a little envious and afraid of...

DrunkCorsair wrote:

Maybe have a look at the Videogame Starlancer, maybe not exactly retro futuristic but it has soviets in space and an intersting story / background for your Universe.

I'll give it a look. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

stevenart74 wrote:

ANY kind of "Spidertank Panzerboy" / Mecha Pilot / Starship Trooper character will be good for Me. . .!!

So mechs of any sort are very new age tech in Retrograde and the only polity that's really embraced them is the West Germans.

I do have a Panzerboy career but they are pilots that prefer up gunning and up armoring their ships instead of going for outright speed and customizing them like their Rocketboy cousins (basically space greasers). If you're looking to be a mech driver you'd be coming from the Panzer Korps... however good luck affording the multi-million dollar machines the government provides them with

Some history from the german / technical side.

The area around the Dresden in the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik or East Germany) had been a technical and industrial center before WW2 until the Soviets dismantled alot of stuff to ship it to Rusia, they even took the train tracks.

As the construction and use of CNC tool mashines got more popular there had been companies buying east / DDR constructed CNC mashines replaced the controls / electronics and sold them cause they made some real good mechanical stuff.

Solodice. . .

A basic Military Space Suit (the MORE armoured the BETTER !!) with a sizable Rockets-Vernier Jetpack; along with a 5,56mm. Machinegun with mounted underneath a Drum-Fed Riot-Revolver Grenade Launcher and I'm good to go as "Heinlein Starship Troopers" go. . . . .

It has NOT EVEN to be Servo-Assisted with Powered Limbs; I could try to do a "Supersoldier" endowed with either Japanese Cybernetics or Societ Gene-Engineering. . . . .!!!

SoViet Gene-Engineering. . .!!

Now that I'm thinking about it; are STILL the Sov-iet Spacers trying to "Uplift" Animals as cheap, but powerfully reliable workforce. . .

If it is so, then a "Medved" Man-Bear "Kosmonaut Spetsnatz" would be VERY interesting to play. . . . !!!

There's many militaries that have heavy infantry forces. The USMC's heavy infantry divisions are the most well known but the Soviets, British, and French also have their own. Two mercenary forces, W39 and Gold Company, have heavy infantry units. So one of those should satisfy your starship trooper concept.

No uplifting in this setting at least not yet. True AI isn't even a thing...

When it comes to genetic engineering the Soviets have completed two different programs. The first and biggest was the Better Soviet program. After 2030 any newly born Soviet citizen has had this done to them in vitro. It was all about quality of life (better metabolisms, 20/20 vision, elimination of major health problems and mutations, among more). The next program was the Consurmate Cosmonaut in 2040 which didn't need to happen in vitro but during puberty. The program creates fantastic space pilots who can move and navigate around in the void like it is second nature.

Of course there have been attempts at creating super soldiers but all those programs have hit major snags or have been completely abandoned.

I'm tempted to grab something that You mentioned, but now I have a WEIRD idea. . .

As I'm Italian and we are playing "Ucronic 21th Century Terra" in space; why NOT playing an Italian Starship Trooper. . .??

How big are Italian Firms of Warfare in the Setting, about Weapons (we have Beretta, Franchi, OTO Melara as producer of Guns, small and big, from BEFORE WW2 !!) and Vehicles (a "Ferrari" or "Lamborghini" Army Space-Suit is tempting, but a "FIAT Spacer" will be good too). . .??

. . . . .

How are AVAILABLE some kind of LIMITE Enhancement (Cyber? Genetic ?? Both at 50% ???) in the setting to an Italian-borne, Italian Army Trained, kind of "Retired Veteran Mercenary Adventurer" ?????

I'm a LITTLE tempted to ask You to create a sort of "Space Legionary / Star Praetorians" kind of "Secret Italian Supersoldier Program" by ALL manner of UNSAVORY kind of Italian-Based malfeasants (we have Separatists Independants in the North FROM BEFORE WW1; Old Rome Aristocrats with more Money than Brain, some Fascists and some JUST "Old Money Idiots" and OF COURSE all manner of ORGANIZED Crime Family (pick Your choice: Sicilian Mafia, Camorra of Naples, 'Ndrangheta from Calabria and so on. . .!!). . .

This if Your Game have some kind of "Han Solo Space Scoundrels" vibe. . .

. . . . .

If INSTEAD You decide AT THE POLAR opposite to have Us players "Law Abiding Good Guys" then as an Ex "Carabinieri" Military Police I COULD NOT AVOID to play a 2070 Version of the Army Branch. . .!!

. . . . .

If You want to know WHAT kind of "Military Training" the Carabinieri could have, they are FROM their VERY inception, 13 July 1814, (so 250+ Years of CONTINUOUS existence, in Your setting) a "Breed" of Assault / Defence kind of Military Police that was USUALLY compared to the Texas Rangers (from the fact that they were Law Deputies mounted on Horses, evolving till PARAMILITARY SWAT Teams with TANKS, HELICOPTERS and MILITARY-Grade Weaponry). . .

. . . . .

As for the kind of Military Grade equipement; 20 Years ago I was trained to shoot with 7,62 mm. Sniper Rifles (12,7 mm. BARRETTS were reserved for TOP NOTCH Marksmen), 5,56 mm. FAL Assault Carbines, 9mm. Military Submachineguns (Italy Enforcers use 9mm. SMG in lieu of USA Agents kind of Shotguns), launch of Hand Grenades (AGAIN 40mm. Grenade Launchers were reserved for "Riot police Specialists" usually Rubber Stunners and Tear Gas Canisters) and FIRED, in Basic Training, A LOT of modernized versions of Bipod-Mounted 7,62mm. MG42 Machineguns (comparable to a cheap, but reliable copy of the American Infantry M60 "Pig") at 100 mt. Ranges; EVEN .30 Browning (Tripod-Mounted; two Men fireteams), 300 mt. Ranges, and .50 "Browning Autocannons" (fixed pintle-mount on an Army Truck; even then the RECOIL was TRULY massive !!!) for Ranges going from 500 Mt. (in land) to 1km. (shooting at Target Buoys in the Open Sea). . . . .!!!

@ stevenar74
Sometimes you scare me, when you write that casual about your training.

@ Solodice
For the character i mentioned in the CB forum i was thinking more in line of smokejumpers than military sar missions.

Except you want to do an all ex-military campaign.

After reading your primer someone hailing from Argo or something similar. As most corporations and constructuon sites will have one or more rescue teams on stand by, if something happens.

stevenart74 wrote:

I'm tempted to grab something that You mentioned, but now I have a WEIRD idea. . .

As I'm Italian and we are playing "Ucronic 21th Century Terra" in space; why NOT playing an Italian Starship Trooper. . .??

You're in luck. I have two specific Italian military careers.

Arditi - The name has been resurrected for the Italian's new Forward Deployed Assault Brigades (Avanti Schierato Brigate D'assalto I think would be the translated name but you're the Italian and I'm not). The Italians looked at what the US was doing with their marine expeditionary forces and wanted a similar capability. They couldn't do it on the scale the marines did or in their exact way (combo of drop podded in paramarines who create a beachhead for an aerial assault element which brings in the heavier forces). They settled for a mass landing that saw a whole mechanized brigade with organic air and artillery cover deployed planet side. To get this many units planet side the Italians commissioned a new frigate for their fleets... the Gladius-Class. Between three of them they can carry the whole Arditi Brigade and their vehicles. They aren't slouches in being regular frigates either and have become the standard frigate class found in Italian squadrons and especially their Hunter Flotillas. Back to to the Arditi though... these guys are tough mechanized shock troopers. The name of the game is to attack and counterattack... defending is for the other Italian infantry units. The whole concept of the Forward Deployed Assault Brigades was put to the test after a Hunter Flotilla answered the distress signals from the besieged US forces on Elara when the SMJ attacked in 2059. Without this counter attack force many don't know if the American's would of held out much longer.

Comando Subacquei Incursori aka Frogmen - The OG naval special operations group has added a whole other area of operations to their resume... space. Considered some of the best void based special forces in the business (don't tell that to the Navy SEALs). Like their days underwater they were pioneers in tactics and equipment used in microgravity. They are still at the forefront of mastering new techniques and equipment for military use in microgravity environments. All of their missions are classified but many have suspected a contingent of Frogmen were apart of the largest special forces operation that took place before the invasion of Pasiphae.

Quote :

For the character i mentioned in the CB forum i was thinking more in line of smokejumpers than military sar missions.

Except you want to do an all ex-military campaign.

After reading your primer someone hailing from Argo or something similar. As most corporations and constructuon sites will have one or more rescue teams on stand by, if something happens.

The regular SAR career is a civilian one so that would be the best for you. There are many private SAR groups around the solar system. The most notable are Auxilium (all their services are for free), Watchmen, and H&G (Hook and Grab). The Watchmen have the contract for SAR work on Argo at the moment.

Then there are many in house SAR groups that work for smaller stations and corporations. The US does have stellar Coast Guard units that provide SAR from their flagged habitats and territories.

I like H&G already as a name.
Then i will go with the normal SAR career.

On the other site i called with a friend who moved to the new german colonies fornerly called DDR / East Germany, so if you have some questions about living there i probably can ask someone for rela life information.

Solodice. . .

My brother's training (He is STILL NOW an Active "Maresciallo dei Carabinieri", direct translation is "Marshall" but is really a Staff / Gunnery Sergeant if compared to U.S. Ranks. . .!!) is even MORE devastatingly effective. . .

He is NOW training in C.B.Q. / Anti-Terrorist Tactics with the whole slew of "Lone Wolves" kind of evolution of Terorism; He and His colleagues are striving to reach effectiveness of FEDERAL Tactical Levels of preparation (in fact trained UNDER an "Advisor" of the "Breacher Teams" of U.S.A.-A.T.F. Assault Squads, amongst others, such as Israeli's Urban Combat Fast Response Teams). . .

They are NOW learning to use TOP TIER tactics of the BEST 3-Men S.W.A.T. Teams: Point-Man with Ballistic Shield and .45 Glock AUTOMATIC Pistol, followed by 10mm. Suppressed H&KMP5SDK (Rifle Stock, Lasersight AND Red-Dot Tac-Scope) Marksman Shooter, and then a "Shotgun Surgeon" with a Benelli Semi-Auto "Precision Cal.12" (the one used by Keanu Reeves in the SECOND "John Wick" Movie; considered the "Ferrari Testarossa" of Non-Clip Fed Tactical Shotguns) to shoot down door hinges or all other manners of "Special Slugs Shells" (Tear Gas for Room Clearing; Rubber Slugs for nonlethal incapacitation; EVEN special "Solid Steel Single Balls" Slugs to crack the motorblocks of ranaway cars). . .

. . . . .

And I trained with even MORE RADICAL weapons; after I dropped down from Active Service of the Carabinieri (made the at-the-moment MANDATORY Military Service, THEN staid for a MORE couple of Years as "Enlisted Volunteer") I then tried a 2-3 Years with a "Bodyguards / Private Cops / Vigilante" firm of Ex-Army Veterans. . .

Our Squad Leader was a retired FOLGORE (Italian Paratroopers of "Forward Assault Battalions"; considered "Gung-Ho Jarheads with Fascist Leanings" in Italy !!) that had made EVEN a stint in the French Foreign Legion; was a good fellow, but as far as weapons go, a TOTAL Nutcase (was ALSO a Olympic-Level Weightlifter that trained CONSTANTLY with shooting, from hip AND moving, a FN-MINIMI 5,56mm. belt-feed LMG). . .

It was under Him that I trained with ALL MANNER of "Shotguns Shehanigans" (Private Cops COULD NOT employ in Italy, Pistol Calibers OVER 9mm. Parabellum and NO KIND of Automatic Weapons such as S.M.G. and Para Carbines; weirdly enough Clip-Fed Autoshotguns in Italy, such as the Franchi SPAS-15 that I'm QUITE proficient with, are considered HUNTING RIFLES under My country legislature) and, coupled with Nonlethal Slugs, are the weapon OF CHOICE for Vigilantes facing potentially LETHAL issues (as in France we have DIRE problems of Ex-Army Veterans of Russian and Serbian Armed Forces training "Local Thugs" to assault Armoured Bank Vehicles with MILITARY Weapons and Tactics; such as Armor Piercing loaded AK47 and EVEN R.P.G.-6 / R.P.G.-8 smuggled from the Balkans !!!). . .

We tried EVEN a Shotgun Masterkey Attachement UNDER the LEGAL provisons of "Civlian Longarms" (other Shotguns of the Non-Pump Action type OR Semiauto Versions of 10mm. / 12mm. / 5,56mm. "Paramilitary Carbines"). . .

. . . . .

About the couple of "Italian Space Forces" that You provided there are VERY GOOD stuff there, grounded in REALISTIC Italian Army History. . .

Especially in the "Arditi" (the DIRECT translation is "Fearless Braves") as "Powersuited Soldiers"; in WW1 the "Arditi" were tasked, on the Frontline with the Austro-Hungarian Forces, to ASSAULT the Entrenched Enemy Forces and "Cut-Up Clean" a line through the Razorwire Fencings. . .!!

To survive Asburgics' Machinegun Fire they developed a sort of "Better Version" (less heavy, clumsy and cumbersome) of the "Stove Armour" employed by Jesse James and other Wild West criminals for Bank Robberies (usually they cut open a couple of arm-holes, for Torso protection, and wore a "Heavy Iron Bucket" with an eyeslit as Helmet; debatable the efficacy agains well-aimed .45 ACP "Peacemakers"; TOTALLY impervious to Wild West Buckshot Shotguns; defeated ONLY by Texas Rangers and Pinkerton armed with Sharps Heavy Bison Rifles !!). . .

Also arditi tried ALL MANNERS of Man-Portable WW1 FULL AUTO rifles from Italian Versions of a cut-down British Bren, to cheap, unreliable versions of the "Browning BAR" chambered for Italian Rifle Rounds (a couple of "Old Sicily" Arditi Heroes ALSO copied the Idea of U.S.Army / Marines kind of "WW1 Trenchsweeper Shotgun; instead of a Pump-Action 6 Shots the wore on the belt, as Heavy Pistols, a couple of the infamous "Mafia Luparas" sawed-off dual barrelled hunting shotguns !!!)

Arditi "Real Italian" translation of tactical denomination is "Brigata Avanguardia D'Assalto" (in English = "Vanguard Assault Brigade"). . .

. . . . .

As for the "Incursori Subacquei" of the C.O.M.S.U.B.I.N. I have the honour of knowing personally ONE of them; was my brother High School friend. . .

They are REALLY at the forefront of Contemporary Italian Military Technology; if You go searching Youtubes of the demolition of the "Ponte Morandi" (the Italian Freeway Bridge that collapsed, last summer, on My city, Genoa, industrial zone, with 43 victims due to RAMPANT corruption of the DISGUSTINGLY Avid "Italian Corp" that SHOULD have provided CONTINUOUS Maintenance) probably You will see Him, along with his colleagues of the "Underwater Demolition Speacialist Squad" that CLEAN SPOTLESSLY demolished that bridge still-standing ruins with EXPERIMENTAL C-8 / Semtex2 Prototype D-Charges and self-made anti-tampering Radio Detonators. . . . .!!!

. . . . .

As for the "Italian Space Corps" I daresay offer an advice to You. . .

I'm still QUITE aimed to play a "Starfaring Carabinieri" (Us of the Carabinieri are like-minded the Marines; ONCE a Carabinieri, FOREVER a Carabinieri; "Fedele Nei Secoli" = "Faitfhul For Centuries" is our OFFICIAL Corp Motto). . .

Apart from the "Run-Of-The-Middle" kind of Carabinieri, there is ALSO the "Elite Of The Elite Of The Elite". . .

As previously described there is in Italy the "Folgore Paratroopers" (3 Battalions, with Support Vehicles and Personnel) that are considered LETHALLY effective (and ALSO Fascist Nutjobs; they STILL do, away from cameras, the Mussolini's Salute to the Italian Flag !!!). . .

To keep them from having "Jolly Ideas" (they were considered the backbone of a failed "Neo-Fascists Coup D'Etat" in the '60 !!!) the Ministry of Defence of Italy decided to put INSIDE their Main Barracks Base a SINGLE Battalion of the BEST of the Carabinieir PARAMILITARY Assault Commandos. . .

The "Tuscania" (Tuscany in Ancient Latin) are a Battalion of HARDCORE Carabinieri Paratroopers; they are the ones DIRECTLY stroming Italian Mobsters hideout and are AT THE FOREFRONT of Italian Missions Abroad (we LOST a Ten-strong unit of them in the COWARDLY Terrorist Truck-Bomb attack at Nassirya; TWO of the fallen Martyir HEROES I knew PERSONALLY !!!). . .

. . . . .

From THE BEST of the Tuscania (LESS than 10% of them) is selected the "Spearpoint" of the Carabinieri; the "G.I.S." ("Gruppo d'Intervento Speciale" = Special Intervention Group) is OUR ITALIAN equivalent of "S.E.A.L. Team Six" and are SPEARHEADING our MOST DIRE "Police Black Ops" (such as Capture of "Capo Dei Capi", Boss Of The Godfathers of Mafia: "Cesare" Totò Riina AND his Heir, Bernardo Provenzano, called "Binnu U Tratturi" = "Bernie The Lawnmower" as for the BLOODTHIRSTY ferocity with whom killed ANYONE that opposed him !!!!!). . .

G.I.S. are the ones that ACTIVELY uses the BEST of the Wargear available to the Italian Armed Forces (ot the SCARCE 15-20 number of 12,7mm. Barrett Antimateriel Rifles employed by Italian Marksmen, half is RESERVED for them, shared with the "N.O.C.S." their equivalent of the Italian Police !!). . .

. . . . .

They were formed, at their inception core, between the LATE '70 and the EARLY '80, so they could figure TOO in Your Game's Background. . .

I figured that their "Elite S.T.A.R.S." training (they train VERY OFTEN with the British S.A.S. /S.B.S. for shared Counter-Terrorist Ops !!) would feature quite in "Captured Satellite Stations / Anti-Piracy Ship Boarding". . . . .!!!

I would be OVERJOYED if You will ALLOW Me to play a "Space Tuscania Ship Assault Specialist" if not the 2060 Version of the G.I.S. !!!!!!!!

Shouldn't be a problem for me to come up with a Gendarmerie career that will let you live out your dreams of being a space Carabinieri.

Many thanks Solodice. . .!!

Will try to YET produce some distinctly "Blue-Black with Red Stripes" (livery of the Carabinieri, for both Vehicles Hulls, Body Armour and Uniforms) kind of "Counter-Boarding" Wargear, Armour, Powersuits, Spacer Suits and even vehicles. . .

Based on Your available career paths, and the need of the specific game, I think I will try to create a Player Character with PRIMARY S.W.A.T. Paramilitary Skills and SECONDARY Investigative Cop Skills (eventual TERTIARY will be reserved for VITAL Zero-G Skills !!). . .

Should fit in a pinch as "Ship Security Officer / Military Police Consultant" for every conceivable game that You want to plan. . .

As for the other prospective players what will be their roles. . .??

I think Drunk Corsair will go for a "Voidborn Spacer" specialist in EVA, Ship Salvages and Void Repairs. . . . .???

@stevenart74

My first idea was a firefighter in space. Like you i have something i like for live, i have been a volunteer firefighter for more than 25 years. I joined the youth group at my 10 birthday, and got to be active with 16-17 made some courses you need, basic stuff, mechanic stuff, wearing scba gear, i even have been to firefighter school in my area, for more mechanical stuff like cutting people out of trucks, abc courses and lastly scba maintenance.
Organisation here is you have profesional firefighter only in bigger cities, the rest is organized as a club. Everyone can join and support, but for scba and stuff you need to do health checks etc.

I never could do as a professional here in Germany as i do wear glasses and i have been declared unfit for the german army when my time came up for drafting. For the laughs i got recommendation letters from my best friends father (who had been a Luitanent Colonel in German Airforce working at Ramstein Airbase) and some of other Officers i got to know (already played Games Workshop games at the time and there had been a community of players near the airbase).

Solodice. . .

Have saved ALL the "Reference Images" that You put there or in the "recruitement" thread. . .

Also busy trying to "Cut Out" the reference images of Starships and Suits in the two Documents that You hyperlinked. . .

Will start to work, first BW Concepts then Colour Roughs for giving My own personal spin to it; it is a thing that I will gladly do ANYWAY as for Potential Clients of Graphic / Illustration / Arts then I HAVE to produce some brand new stuff. . .

For the "Setting Atmosphere" pieces I think I will add My ideas of My Character and the one of Drunk Corsair (mine will be clad in form fitting Paramilitary Spacer Armour with Blue-Black colour and a Red Scarlet "Z-shaped Bolt" (symbols and livery of Carabinieri's Rapid Response Teams; for Drunk will try a rugged, practical "Space Fireman" Hardsuit, with lot's Toolbelts and Utility Servos; German Heraldry imagery ???). . .

As soon as OTHER Players will join, will try to add them to the "Setting Images". . .

. . . . .

As for Drawings of Spacesuits and Starships will TRY to stick the utmost to the "References" that You fished from various authors and then "Spin Them" to my style. . .

. . . . .

Yet working on HOW could famous guns of the '70 / '80 have evolved a century in the setting, and how they could behave in voidborn combat. . . . .!!!

stevenart74
If you go for a SAR Spacesuit i would suggest they should bright colored, alot of white with red, cause you want the rescue personal to be seen.

If you want to do heraldy keep it simple, Just a black collar patch, with red stripes for rank and file, silver for officcers, maybe add a symbol in the same color for specialists like doctors (Staff with Snake) and a cross / 4 pointed star for a pastor. Gold should be reserved for the boss and his staff.

For weapons i think normal guns like the ones we have to day would work the same way like now. Except you would have to adjust more to the recoil in zero gravity.
The only problem i would see is, that normal guns would harm essential equipment or the hull of a space ship / station. (Something like that was mentioned in Babylon 5 as a reason why earth forces switched to blasters which didnt harm the enviroment)

if you want to look for designevolution i would suggest Shadowrun Artwork as starter like this:


The question is how much has changed in the form of personal arms in this setting. If there are guns with other ammunition like Plasma, Laser, Rail- /Coilguns etc.
I like the weapon design from XCom 2 for their magnetic guns

Recoil in microgravity isn't to big a deal unless you're dealing with large calibers. All combat suits in the setting have thrusters that will help compensate when firing. Now firing a gun in microgravity with a suit without thrusters won't ruin your day... to much.

When it comes to stations and ships they are mostly well shielded against internal damage from small arms fire in Retrograde. I don't want to crimp on firearm use in space stations/ships to much where going to them means handing your weapons over to security every visit.

Oh, added 5 new spacesuits to the game. They come recommended by Frontierland (the survivalist and exploration blog on Front Page).

Drunk Corsair. . .

While personal scale "Future Guns" like Plasma Rifles, Railgun Pistols, Mass Driver Sniperguns, Laser Blasters or the RELATIVELY less complicate "W.H.40K." Bolters (REALLY the Boltguns of 40.000 are JUST bigger, heavier versions of Unrifled Barrell, Smoothbore, CONTEMPORARY kind of Clip-Fed Full-Automatic Shotguns / Light Grenade Launchers; the COMPLEXITY is REALLY in the Bolt Shells themselves as they "Micro-Size" a Gyrojet Rocket Accellerator Slug LINKED to all manner of "Gun Nut Shehanignas" such as Mass-Reactive Proximity Detonators, Hyperdense Core Penetrators, and so on, ALL PACKED in a small package of 20mm. / 25mm. Slugs, comparable to TODAY Heavy Shotguns / Light Grenade Warheads !!!) and so on will be very cool. . .

Solodice HAS YET RULED that experimental "Sci Fi Rifles" are NOT on the Man-Portable Scale and reserved as "Ship Combat Artillery" (a Mass-Driver Light Cannon is NOT so much stuff of heavy recoil and magazine size, so I EXPECT a Light Tank / Spidermecha could mount one; debatable IF even the HEAVIER "Starship Troopers" Powered Servo-Arm Suits could mount one). . .

Heck, He "BANNED" even Man-Portable Gatling / Minivulcans (so NO WAY for 2060 versions of Jesse Ventura's characters of Blaine in Predator 1 // Vulcan Raven of Metal Gear Solid 1 !!!) and EVEN underbarrell mounted Sawed-Off "Masterkey Shotguns". . . . .so NO kind of Infinity "Combirifle with Shotgun". . .!!

I PERSONALLY fired various kind of "Masterkey" (most of whom Haphazardly fitted Artisan-Made customized stuff under Carbine Rifles or EVEN other Clip-Fed Autoshotguns. . . . . .YES My Vigilante "Private Police" Squad Commander was so crazy that had the idea of TRYING to use "Infinity-Styled Combishotgun+Light Shotgun"!!!) and these were CUMBERSOME and UNGAINLY. . .!!

INSTEAD a M203 Underbarrell Single-Shot Grenade Launcher, under ANY kind of NATO Autorifle / Paratrooper Carbine from '70 models onward, is a MARVEL to use (fired ONLY Tear Gas Grenades for Riot Police Training) and for "Heavy Shotgun" usages the "Flechette Canisters / Ball Bearing Shells" were developed FOR VIETNAM WARFARE. . .!!

I'm awaiting for Solodice ruling of Underbarrell Grenadiers (NATO 40mm. or the smaller "Flamya" Russian 30mm. so widespread in the Afghanistan Occupation era) for "Space Police" purposes. . .!!

. . . . .

HIS GAME, HIS RULES; I have NO problem for this OR OTHER kind of Ruling about "Gun Restrictions". . .

Also He said that for Delta Green System the Firerarm Combat is RATHER abstract so a 5,56mm. "Predator Movie / Resident Evil Nemesis' Gun" of the Vulcan-Minigun kind will be TECHNICALLY identical to a far less cumbersome 5,56mm. Light Machinegun of the FN-Minimi Squad Gunner kind. . .!!

. . . . .

About "Starship Security" then the MORE secure weapons to use will be Cal.12 / .00 SHOTGUNS (ranging from Sawed-Off "Shot Pistols" with JUST 3-5 Shots to MASSIVE Drum-Clip C.A.W.S. Autoshotguns like the Daewoo or the U.S.A.S.12) with Scatter-Bore "Foal Hunting Pellets" or AT MAXIMUM "Boar-Shot Mini-Balls" would have NO PROBLEM. . .

INSIDE a Starship / Space Station the wide, conical dispersal of the balls / mini-balls / pellet will DIFFUSE overmuch of the "Hull Penetration Risk" of EVEN a small Handgun Cartridge (9mm. Parabellum / .32 Russian Skorpion SMG / .22 LR); even fired OUTSIDE a station, in the "Black" of Interplanetar Void the SMALL size of the Mini-Pellets will have an impact risk COMPARABLE to micrometeorites against whom EVEN the ligher spacecraft, or Miner-Industrial Spacesuits SHOULD be foolproof. . .

OTHER kind of perfect "Spaceship Security" kind of Weapon will be GRENADE LAUNCHERS (ranging from the aforementioned M203 Underbarrell Attachement, to M79 "Blooper" simple-action Rifles to the heavier "6-Shots" Riot Drum-Clip Revolver Grenadiers; some "Tear Gas Canisters" Drum-Revolvers of Heavy Shotgun Cartridge-size were YET used in the '30 in the U.S.A. !!!). . .

OBVIOUSLY a Military Armor-Piercing 40mm. Grenade will be the UTMOST BANE of "Ship / Station Security" as will SURELY perforate EVEN the sturdiest Navy Hulls if fired FROM THE INSIDE; but, AS WITH SHOGUN SHELLS (with whom they SHARE the Unrifled Barrell as are BOTH "Smoothbore Firearms") they could have EVERY conceivable Nonlethal Ammo (NON lethal NOT ONLY for Human Crew, but ALSO for the Hull Integrity): Tear Gas, Shock-Volt Tasers, Soft Rubber, Impact-Flattener (the Cylinder Shell, immediatly upon firing, will open in a sort of "+ Shaped" size, reducing CONSIDERABLY penetration but retaining the Mass-Driven shock effect; PERFECT for usage INSIDE Void-Proof space structures) and ESPECIALLY "Rapid-Expansion Glue-Foams" that are NOW developed as experimental prototypes by Federal Police Agencies all around the world. . .

IN FACT I expect the Glue Slugs (BOTH in "Light" Shotgun Shells and "Heavy" Grenade Warhead versions) to be PREMINETLY diffuse ALL around the Solar System; their "Improvised Usage" as Hull Fissure "Gap-Stoppers" would be INVARIABLY perfect !!!

You shoot them around the locatipon of reasonable sized "Pinprick Perforations" that are leaking PRECIOUS Oxygen Atmosphere in the "Black" and they will harden IMMEDIATLY (as exposed to the Void Coldness) creating a "Emergency Stopgap" measure that will be later corrected with dedicated "Hull Plate Patches". . . . .!!!

. . . . .

Let Me know if these "Space Guns" suggestions of mine are reasonable and IN-CONTEXT of the desired "Atmosphere" (Pun Intended) of a Solar System Exploitation Game. . . . .!!!

stevenart74
Then i missunderstood your intention.

Yet working on HOW could famous guns of the '70 / '80 have evolved a century in the setting, and how they could behave in voidborn combat. . . . .!!! wrote:

I thought you were looking for reference pictures for your artwork on how todays guns could have been evolved in that setting not some technical details.

Pretty much anything that you'd see from the 70s on wards to today you'll see in Retrograde when it comes to weapons. So, yes, under barrel grenade launchers like M203 are around as well as larger launchers like the Milkor M32.

Glue rounds are a great idea though and I'll be stealing that as an ammunition type.

Good to know. . .!!

Solodice. . .

Glad that You liked my suggestion about "Riot Glue Shells" employed ALSO as "Atmo-Loss Stopgaps". . .!!

I thought that was a potential very interesting issue to discuss in Your setting. . .

Working YET on some Sketched Roughs of Guns, Uniforms, Spacesuits, Powered Armours, Starship and so on for the setting (at the moment I'm "Forking" styles between soft, smooth curved surfaces and sharp angles; that will be later EVEN MORE diversified to cater to the SPECIFIC style of a given Nation, Culture, Corporation or Large Group). . .

. . . . .

Drunk Corsair. . .

Will need some ROUGH ideas about Your character aspect and facial features; for the moment I'm researching something about a "Spacer Jumpsuit" (with MAYBE the writing "Feuerbrigade" on the back, along with Firemen Insignia and / or Red Cross). . .

This for when "At Rest" inside a Spaceship / Big Station / "Homebase"; for "Void Rescue" was thinking about a Hard-Plated (but STILL flexible and easy to operate) kind of "Hazmat Spacesuit"; the VERY ROUGH idea is of a "Starship Troopers Vintage" kind of Powersuit, painted Stark White and with BIG Red Cross symbols stenciled around. . .

Would be a "Class 2 / Class 3" Suit (based on Solodice designation of Voidsuits) at maximum level of cost and effectiveness (going for cheap, but reliable, Hazmat-Rescue "Add Ons"). . .

I will have rather a sleeker, more form fitting "Ship Boarding" Paramilitary Suit; will be a sort of "Commando" Spacesuit, with ALL the Available Cost-Level "Combat Bell & Whistles" and JUST basic amenities of Zero-G survival for going a SHORT trip between two adjacent starships. . . . .as prolonged, hazardous "Long Treks In The Black" will be for Drunk's character. . .

Was ALSO thinking about HOW MUCH Firearm could REASONABLY have My Character; a "Combo" of Extensible-Forearm Guard "Mini Riot Vambrace" housing a collapsible "Long Shock Nightstick" for Close Combat; a 5 Shots "Sawed Off Shotpistol" (SHAMELESS rip-off of Batou of G.I.T.S. / Deunan of Appleseed "PATENTED" Masamune Shirow "Gong Shotgun") to have ALL manner of useful slugs for Ship Security in a small package. . .

Could PERCHANCE My Character have some sort of "Army Surplus" Cybernetic Prosthethic Arm. . .??

Or will be TOO MUCH "Hardcore Veteran" for a Starting Character. . . . .???

. . . . .

As for "Longarm of Choice" thinking seriously of a Bull-Pup Clip-Fed Autoshotgun (a sort of SA80 / Steyr A.U.G. version of Italian C.A.W.S. such as Benelli "Riot", Franchi SPAS15 and Beretta MP) with mounted UNDERNEATH a M203 Grenade Launcher. . .

For "Ship Boarding / Counter-Boarding" would be a PERFECT weapon and the Single Shot "Under Grenadier" will offer even MORE "Lethal / Nonlethal Options" also in case of Long Range engagements, where "Simple" kind of Solid Steel Ball Shells (the so-called "Sniper Shotgun" ammo) will be NOT ENOUGH. . . . .

. . . . .

As for Drunk Corsair kind of weapon of Choice was thinking about a M203 fitted in a compact "Pistol Grip" as "Personal Sidearm" and a more large "6 Shot Revolver Cylinder" kind of "Riot Grenade Launcher" (YET NOW there are Advanced Prototype Models with "Limited Selection" of Slug Shells; made by forcefully rotating the Ammo Wheel until the RIGHT Warhead is chambered). . .

40mm. Warheads as "Ammo of Choice" will be OBVIOUSLY NOT for a "Gung-Ho" type of character, but rather a "Nonlethal / Utility" approach; the player character of Drunk Corsair, as far as I have read into it, would be the one gallivanting around a Space Station with loaded Glue Guns Shells. . .

Useful for "Nonlethal Apprension" of a Violent Offender and, more importantly, fixing "On-The-Spot" a dangerous Hull Breach. or "Suffocating" a principle of Ship-Fire maybe started by sparks of exposed powerwires (about whose risks a similar character will be EMINENTLY trained for). . .

. . . . .

Let Me know if those Character Ideas of Mine are sound, or too far-fetched. . . . .!!!

Stevenart74..

I was collectiung some picture material for the stuff i would like for the character design, nothing realy finished yet.

But for the Spacesuit i was looking for a mix from this 2 but a bit more formfitting and some hard cover around the lower legs:





I like the bigger shoulder parts of the second one and the bigger breastplatte of the first one.

For the helmet i would like something like from The Last Starfighter


Cause i think the idee of a fast opning without detaching should be a nice feature for doing CPR.
Maybe with a more angular retro design.

The other idea for the suit would be connectors for an exo skelleton which could plug / unplug pretty fast.

For the looks of the charakter himself, i like this picture of Kurt Russel, but should be more physical trained.



For weapons i havent thought much about it, the only idea was more close combat orientated to use a Halligan Tool



The idea of a spacer jumpsuit isnt that bad, i would go for a dark blue - black with some reflective stripes on lower legs and fore arms and maybe a SAR loge with company name on the back.

Not to rain on the fun parade here but for future character art stuff please take it to PMs.

However, when it comes to space suits in this setting it has changed from standardized government designs into something much more privatized and commercialized. So when it comes to suit designs you're probably rocking one of the 8 different main manufactures suits. Custom suits are a thing but most settle for the already premade, already tested, and cheaper suits than building one from scratch.

The space suit catalogue was linked in the primer and further up in this thread but I'll put it here again: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MuousiYmsnsRorXn2sJJiVoR1ewDhE2RTbOGBlQcMmo/edit?usp=sharing

These suits are popular for SAR work (from lowest to highest cost):

GUS
Press Ganger
Sasquatch
Arachne
Myrmex
Bunyan
Atlas