Future Tech Advice and Assistance Thread [O.O.C.]

[Oppressorion]

Wouldn't the use of modules lead to structural weaknesses? Joints are generally weaker than contiguous faces, the metal's grain is continuous so it's harder to break - maybe a long sheath that fits over the docked modules?

Ships aren't made of contiguous pieces of metal. In the modern era, they're welded together from smaller sheets combined into modules, and these modules then fitted and welded together. In the FT era, you might get more exotic ways to bond them together, but these could be applied the same to a module as to an outer "hull."

I suppose it depends on what you mean by joined modules - I was thinking of the ISS with special docking ports on each end of a cylindrical module. Permanent welds are of course less vulnerable. Still...I'd like to know how systems that are spread across the hull work, like sensors and turrets.

[Vocenae]

You should also take into account that FT joints and module docking systems are going to be exceedingly more robust and most likely smaller. This is, of course, entirely dependent on your tech level, but for most people this won't be a problem.

For the best example of a ship, unrealistic or not, being built around modules, take a look at the Kuun-Lan from Homeworld Cataclysm. That ship was built entirely around being modular and being completely self-reliant and adaptable to deep space conditions.

[SquareDisc City]

Wouldn't the use of modules lead to structural weaknesses? Joints are generally weaker than contiguous faces, the metal's grain is continuous so it's harder to break - maybe a long sheath that fits over the docked modules?

Maybe, but then again unless you're getting into really exotic stuff like atom-by-atom placement the material joining technologies will probably be up to the task. In high-performance applications the modules would be solidly welded or otherwise fused together, though where performance isn't critical (a civvy freighter, say) docking-like connectors might be used.

More generally it's acknowledged that the modularity imposes some design compromises, but hoped that the flexibility makes up for that. And as much as anything else there's all the infrastructure already built for the modular ships; as the old saying goes, the worst enemy of an excellent solution is an existing one that's good enough.

[Red Talons]

Most of my ships are built in a sort of 3d printer fashion. The frame and a good portion of the structure are built as one solid piece. then other portions are built into that. The entire process doesn't take terribly long, roughly one week per 100m of vessel. Assuming no glitches, from production start to field service would be an additional week of trials on top of construction time. This is due mostly to the nano-lathing process occasionally leaving artifacts in the design that can cause issues. These artifacts can range anywhere between the serious, a mismatched conduits that can cause an overload when powered up, to the ridiculous, a toilette being placed on the ceiling. rather than the floor.

[The Fedral Union]

You should also take into account that FT joints and module docking systems are going to be exceedingly more robust and most likely smaller. This is, of course, entirely dependent on your tech level, but for most people this won't be a problem.

For the best example of a ship, unrealistic or not, being built around modules, take a look at the Kuun-Lan from Homeworld Cataclysm. That ship was built entirely around being modular and being completely self-reliant and adaptable to deep space conditions.

Well I wonder though, with current research in to high tensile strength materials ie grapine, Bucky balls carbon nano tubes and some fashion of magnetic field thingy. Would modular designs really have an inherent weakness as opposed to well things built from the molecule or atom up?


That said I have decentralized facilities for manufacturing components ala private companies much like the US, we don't like to put too many eggs in one basket. Basically our fancy fabricators and machine shops make these (insert exotic) parts here and then they're integrated in to the ship at the yards.. Mind you I basically hollowed out parts of large moons and put ship yards in them for.. Security reasons.

The superstructures themselves are built from materials in the yard as other components are placed in. Our method of building makes constructing ships a bit slower (as a balance mechanism to the tech I use) ie we pretty much "weave" the materials in place sub/atomically for enhanced strength. Doesn't mean we cant mass produce ships it just means batches would have to be bigger because of increased build time. A-lot of those exotic goods and materials used in my ships are also really hard and consuming to fab so that also helps keep the balance and emphasizes my economies scarcity side.

[Dreadful Sagittarius]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome? For my own part, I justify the Polyarchy's limits within Gamma to result from three factors;

A. There's more land then they can reasonably fill on their three main worlds due to the rather low population base, to the point that the third world was only colonised as a way to bolster societal cohesion between the two cultures/ethnicities of the home-system.
B. A fear of being 'spotted' by a larger power and subsumed into it (the aforementioned third world was also envisaged as a hideaway should the home-system ever be conquered).
C. Technical limitations, like no AG on most civilian ships (there's a good profit in outfitting small space stations with AG generators in the Polyarchy so that merchie crews can rest up for a few days), as well as the rather lacking accuracy of the Jump Drive as you plot longer and longer jumps (long-range exploration is a toss-up between doing short jumps every few hours or making a few long ones and risking ending up lightyears away from where you wanted to go)

[The Rhustarim Hegemony]

The Hegemony prefers to fully develop a single system to self sufficiency before colonising another one, which has lead to a pretty slow but consistent expansion. Coupled with the FTL capabilities of the Hegemony being pretty young, it's kept them to three systems for the past half generation or so.

[The Fedral Union]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome? For my own part, I justify the Polyarchy's limits within Gamma to result from three factors;

A. There's more land then they can reasonably fill on their three main worlds due to the rather low population base, to the point that the third world was only colonised as a way to bolster societal cohesion between the two cultures/ethnicities of the home-system.
B. A fear of being 'spotted' by a larger power and subsumed into it (the aforementioned third world was also envisaged as a hideaway should the home-system ever be conquered).
C. Technical limitations, like no AG on most civilian ships (there's a good profit in outfitting small space stations with AG generators in the Polyarchy so that merchie crews can rest up for a few days), as well as the rather lacking accuracy of the Jump Drive as you plot longer and longer jumps (long-range exploration is a toss-up between doing short jumps every few hours or making a few long ones and risking ending up lightyears away from where you wanted to go)

None, then again everyone plays differently or has a different style, and its something that I've been doing for years. But I don't claim over 9000 systems, so eh.

[Lubyak]

The Imperial & Federal Union (R.u.B) is limited both by external powers and the nature of its main FTL system. External powers claim many of the systems on the periphery of the Imperial & Federal Union's space and as the Union is unwilling to fight the war that would inevitable result from a forceful conquest of these systems. However, many of this 'claims' are disputed and based heavily on de facto rather than de jure possession. Although the R.u.B Colonial Administration could easily transport settlers and prospectors to these systems, they are unable due to outside force.

Secondly, the main method for FTL travel is the transition drive, and from any given system there are a limited number of potential transition lanes over which travel can be performed. As each of these potential lanes need to be carefully mapped before commercial utilisation can begin, it is necessarily a slow process and potential exit routes are limited. Inter stellar phenomenon can also interrupt the abilities of a tranistion lane to function. These often result in certain planets becoming 'bottlenecks' or 'dead ends' in terms of transition lane travel, which necessarily limits the potential routes for expansion.

[SquareDisc City]

Well, the UPT does have operations widely separated in space, partly due to the characteristics of its FTL drive. Besides the homeland on Earth, there are major locations near the galactic centre and out in the halo. The number, though, is small; I'll probably be looking at the homeland plus four or five other places.

As for why we don't just colony spam everywhere:

As a people, being not all that enthusiastic about gallavanting across the universe. Some will (and many of those who also have an appetite for risk seek to join the Space Force), but many would rather stay at home, even though the homeland is crowded.

Security concerns. The government would rather not spread its defences too thinly, and has proven unwilling to allow civilian interests in the systems it uses as military bases. The private sector has acquired a bit of a bad rep in the UPT and in any case couldn't really pick up the slack.

Past experience. One of our forays into planetary colonisation was as part of a group of nations, and it resulted in some serious diplomatic headaches with war only narrowly averted.

[Dolmhold]

As an extension to the question, what prevents the eccentric multi-millionare, crazy cultist or someone who just has the money to leave your country and settle elsewhere? I understand that culture plays a fair role in it, but a notion like Greek colonization might not be surprising- rich person with lots of clout gathers followers and founds independent colony, not part of the main nation but perhaps sharing deep ties. This nicely sidesteps the defense question, the jurisdiction question, and some others. It appears the FTL tech question and the foreign powers question still applies.

As for my own situation- little to none currently, and I do sort of play with colonies all around my main system- not to claim systems for the sake of claiming systems, but so that there can be more potential outlets of RP and for flavour. These colonies fall into an odd grey area whereby they are de facto independent, but the main system has a moderate obligation to protect them or something, and most are like the Greek colonies I mentioned above. They might not be all over the galaxy because the galaxy is so darn large and most people want to found a colony somewhere close to what they feel is civilization, but perhaps being all over the place is the logical conclusion, sans presence of major enemy powers nearby.

Perhaps one self-solving way for this to go is that since space is so easily colonized, it has, and the reason colonies aren't planted everywhere is that there already are, but that sort of defines the great mystery and size of the galaxy, so probably not a good path to go.

[Vipra]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome?

The only appreciable limits I can consider off the top of my head for most any nation would be cultural, lack of population pressure, and limited technology and/or FTL. For myself I have none of those apart from, maybe, a lack of population pressure. That is counteracted by an aggressively expansionist and land-owning culture as well as technology that makes colonization easy as well as (relatively) safe. I explained Vipran colonial methodology in the old advice thread, but that simply covered methodology while only very heavily implying the excessive degree to which the Viprans colonize on private motivation. Simply put, the Imperium has a great many private and corporate colonies that are not directly sponsored by the government, though they are watched and, usually, taxed in exchange for nominal protections.

This is why I have the Fringe and the Fringe Affairs Bureau. Have to have some sort of system to keep the plethora or colonies, corporate expansions, and protectorates filing the appropriate paperwork after they’ve gone off and colonized, conquered, or otherwise absorbed new systems. Keeps things about as realistic as I’d see it going with the Imperium expensive-but-safe point to point FTL, aggressive warrior cultures/sects, and rampant corporatism on top of a slew of disenfranchised former soldiers still around from the nations that have been conquered. That and they have no reason to stop such rampant growth, for space is ridiculously huge, so as far as the Viprans are concerned it is harmless to grab every star and rock they can. Atop this if it didn’t colonize flagrantly the Imperium would have population pressure sooner than it would like.

Suffice to say I don’t put any limitation on my growth, colonies, and interests. It would be too hokey to try given my technology and culture, and I enjoy the setting, events, and situations that occur as a result of the Fringe and all the issues that come with it.

An addendum here though is that the Imperium already had holdings and interests across the galaxy that it gained through warfare and treaties before it started passively colonizing and conquering; attaining industrialized holdings and interests across the galaxy is what set it off.

[New Lyrane]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome?

To start with, we have two habitable planets in our home system, and there's only 3.3 billion of us, so no need to expand. Also, a remote outpost would need a pretty sizable naval detachment because you can't send reinforcements all that fast; the Ruvosañe FTL drive has its limitations.

[Elysium Of Heroes]

Quick question:

Do people usually have a type of ship constructed around a single massive weapon - or stick with ships oriented around having as many different weapon systems as possible with less power but greater variety and adaptability? Examples that come to mind of the former type would be a huge railgun (like the Macs off of Halo, just to give an example) or a high-powered laser.

I prefer either a combination, or both ships used together in a fleet.

[Vocenae]

Please do not bring up old questions from the beginning of the thread, especially if the nation who asked the question no longer exist. A better way to have made you thoughts known would have been to ask the question yourself. This avoids post necromancy and helps reduce clutter in the thread, thank you.

[Feazanthia]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome? For my own part, I justify the Polyarchy's limits within Gamma to result from three factors;

A. There's more land then they can reasonably fill on their three main worlds due to the rather low population base, to the point that the third world was only colonised as a way to bolster societal cohesion between the two cultures/ethnicities of the home-system.
B. A fear of being 'spotted' by a larger power and subsumed into it (the aforementioned third world was also envisaged as a hideaway should the home-system ever be conquered).
C. Technical limitations, like no AG on most civilian ships (there's a good profit in outfitting small space stations with AG generators in the Polyarchy so that merchie crews can rest up for a few days), as well as the rather lacking accuracy of the Jump Drive as you plot longer and longer jumps (long-range exploration is a toss-up between doing short jumps every few hours or making a few long ones and risking ending up lightyears away from where you wanted to go)

The Kiith mostly "claim" systems deemed uninhabitable by other cultures. The Kiith have no cultural bias against orbital habitats, indeed there are many amongst them who prefer it. Most food is grown hydroponically or, in the case of meat, from cell cultures anyway. Kiith by and large tend to spend most of their time - both work and downtime - in a shared virtual reality, so they do not need much space individually. Besides, once one has access to economical fusion (and a space-based infrastructure that one could reasonably assume any interstellar civilization would have access to), it is far more efficient to gather resources from asteroids and low-gravity celestial bodies than to do your mining on a human-congruous world.

Edit: Besides, if an enemy was looking for you, systems with rocky planets in the human habitable range would be an obvious pick. How many people would look in a binary blue giant system with nothing but jovians? Fewer systems are far easier to defend, as well. Honestly, I never understood players who wanted vast territories. You're just asking for someone to kick you in the shins, metaphorically.

[StellarGate]

As an extension to the question, what prevents the eccentric multi-millionare, crazy cultist or someone who just has the money to leave your country and settle elsewhere? I understand that culture plays a fair role in it, but a notion like Greek colonization might not be surprising- rich person with lots of clout gathers followers and founds independent colony, not part of the main nation but perhaps sharing deep ties. This nicely sidesteps the defense question, the jurisdiction question, and some others. It appears the FTL tech question and the foreign powers question still applies.

As for my own situation- little to none currently, and I do sort of play with colonies all around my main system- not to claim systems for the sake of claiming systems, but so that there can be more potential outlets of RP and for flavour. These colonies fall into an odd grey area whereby they are de facto independent, but the main system has a moderate obligation to protect them or something, and most are like the Greek colonies I mentioned above. They might not be all over the galaxy because the galaxy is so darn large and most people want to found a colony somewhere close to what they feel is civilization, but perhaps being all over the place is the logical conclusion, sans presence of major enemy powers nearby.

Perhaps one self-solving way for this to go is that since space is so easily colonized, it has, and the reason colonies aren't planted everywhere is that there already are, but that sort of defines the great mystery and size of the galaxy, so probably not a good path to go.

For your question, it probably depends on how you settle colonies. If some rich person has enough money to fund buying/rent ships to haul the people/supplies/things out there and you have no restrictions on that sort of stuff, then yeah, they could do that. In the Royal Cresian Empire, all colonies are backed by and started by the government. The leader of the colony is chosen by the Supreme Commander and they are sent off. It's a little more complex then that, but it gets the point across. No matter how rich a person is, if they find a habitable planet they either leave it be or report it to the government for a possible colony expedition, they cannot go out on their own.

As for colony spread, currently the RCE is a 26 planet Empire in a,relatively small area with a few other star systems for mining/SCIENCE!. We have one jointly settled planet with an ally. The RCE is currently not looking to colonize any more planets for a while.

[Oppressorion]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome?

Expansion across the galaxy isn't a priority for Overwatch as is maintaining control, and consistency. It takes time and a great deal of effort to build the infrastructure necessary to move citizens onto a new planet - it must be more or less totally interchangeable with the home planet (Keia) before emigration, in order to prevent cultural friction from building up.

[Red Talons]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome?

I would only consider it a bad thing if a person is claiming large numbers of systems across the galaxy...

That being said, we're not agressive expansionist, and my IC population is roughly the same as my NS page, so we really don't need dozens and dozens of systems. We cherry picked systems we liked and have room to expand within them still, each one holds roughly 10% of the population and has ample room to grow. So we really don't need to go out settling systems left and right. Besides, like Feazanthia said, it's easier to defend a smaller number of systems and we have extensive experience as to why this is something to prioritize. We spread out enough that the loss of one or two systems won't decimate us, but not so much that we cannot defend a system that comes under attack.

The Technocracy has holdings in each quadrant, though we are primarily in Gamma. Besides our core systems in Gamma, we have one system in each quadrant as a source of commerce with the "locals". My reasons for this mostly fall into two categories; 1- It means people don't have to fly across the galaxy to come visit and buy/sell shiny things or be tourists. 2- It means I don't have to asspull an excuse to have a ship on the other side of the galaxy for the purposes of first contact, buying/selling shiny things, or being tourists.

We're not super expansionist, so IC, it really all boils down to trade profits, OOC, it means I can participate in things without feeling guilty for having a ship in a place where all sensible logic says it should never be anywhere remotely close to.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

So, what limitations do people put on themselves to avoid the whole 'oh I have colonies/interests across the galaxy' syndrome?

My distinct lack of FTL helps, but even when we do discover FTL, we won't expand too rabidly.

Aggressive colonization will only force us to have to have the military spread out to cover all those bases and colonies, etc.

With a lot of territory it means we can't always protect it, etc.

If we try to work on a lot of things at once without the forces and economy to support it, then we can be easy pickings.

Thus when we colonize a new system that we can inhabit quickly without much work being put into the environment, maybe minor terraformation at the most, we can start to focus on developing and maturing that entire system.

Once the system is reasonably mature we colonize another so long as it is viable.

If we do not have the need for anew system we do not colonize a new system.

As well there will be a time where expansion outwards cannot continue per say.

Unless FTL and communications advance far enough for nigh instant communication and travel, we really can't have colonies elsewhere, its why colonizing the entire galaxy, let alone the opposite end of said galaxy is a fools dream, because at that point contact will definitely be lost, the settlers risk hostile alien incursion, and they might not be able o actually start and get support, and if they can build a colony at most depending on how far they are exactly, they will be forced to start over with a new government, and a new military, etc...their evolution will begin to change from our own.

And that just proves to be a danger, currently people do not like the idea of possibly fighting other Humans down the road, and thats an option if we try doing some deep space colonizing. As well if a more technologically developed species with superior space travel and communications discovers them and has them join an alliance and they don't tell them about us or whatever, things get confusing...

Or worse, f they either piss off said species or another, or get attacked randomly, we may be found and attacked, and the sad thing is if they don't get the memo and think we are the enemy (Assuming they think about things like differences between national and all that or whatever, and don't see our species as a whole as enemies) then bad shit goes down.

Basically until a certain point, expanding everywhere is just a fools gambit and its impractical in theory. Plus the system itself is supporting around 30 Billion Humans or so plus at least a few Million A.I constructs with platforms supporting them...The System can at most right now hold much more than that, especially with proper technology added to support bases beyond the Habitable zone, etc.

So really, lets say this system could hold at maximum One Trillion People and One Billion A.I platforms (Mostly because they will need less standards then an organic), then another system assuming with a similar layout or whatever could potentially hold another of the same population...at least I think.

So yeah, its basically just impractical, I think no excuse is really needed, and imo the technology of a civilization matters a lot when deciding these things.

[New Redux]

Well, I rp as an entire solar system albeit a large one. One with many ice planets, and 6 habitable planets that I haven't fully been able to explore. My question is, is it feasible in future tech to have a Solar Defense System? One where a group of Space Stations form a ring around the Solar System that acts not only as border control but as an offensive and defensive mechanism.

For example, let's say there is a robbery at bank, the criminal manages to find a spacecraft, and leaves the atmosphere attempting to reach one of the worlds in my system that my civilization has just began to colonize. Is it feasible for him to be shot down by weapons on one of the space stations? Or is there technology that makes this theoretically possible?

EDIT: Also, don't laugh. I am aware of the ridiculously large amount of space a solar system takes up. It's just a question.

[SquareDisc City]

It's difficult. Remember space is 3D, so if you're interested in things coming from or without you'll need to fill a full sphere, not just a ring.

That said, if you're talking about despatching ships to intercept a target, or even firing missiles at a target, then having more locations in the system with those ships or missiles stationed will mean you can do the interception more quickly. Counteracting this is that the bunch of little stations are likely to be individually more vulnerable than fewer, more substantial installations would be.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

Well, I rp as an entire solar system albeit a large one. One with many ice planets, and 6 habitable planets that I haven't fully been able to explore. My question is, is it feasible in future tech to have a Solar Defense System? One where a group of Space Stations form a ring around the Solar System that acts not only as border control but as an offensive and defensive mechanism.

For example, let's say there is a robbery at bank, the criminal manages to find a spacecraft, and leaves the atmosphere attempting to reach one of the worlds in my system that my civilization has just began to colonize. Is it feasible for him to be shot down by weapons on one of the space stations? Or is there technology that makes this theoretically possible?

EDIT: Also, don't laugh. I am aware of the ridiculously large amount of space a solar system takes up. It's just a question.

I do the same thing sorta, except instead of a ring we try to do it in various vantage points.

Space is 3D and a ring will only help you so much, the enemy could naturally come from below or if that isn't where they were initially coming from, they can do so and then be immune from said ring depending on how exactly it works.

For us we are placing various Orbital MAC grade weapons Platforms in various areas in the solar system, so that each one can over the others weak spots.

At least in theory it should work, its purpose is primarily to by all Fleets the much needed time they would require to set up a full defense, if it can hold the enemy off for a week, bravo, if an hour then thats fine, it is all we need to get a majority of people to be in bunkers or on ships, etc.

[OMGeverynameistaken]

Well, I rp as an entire solar system albeit a large one. One with many ice planets, and 6 habitable planets that I haven't fully been able to explore. My question is, is it feasible in future tech to have a Solar Defense System? One where a group of Space Stations form a ring around the Solar System that acts not only as border control but as an offensive and defensive mechanism.

For example, let's say there is a robbery at bank, the criminal manages to find a spacecraft, and leaves the atmosphere attempting to reach one of the worlds in my system that my civilization has just began to colonize. Is it feasible for him to be shot down by weapons on one of the space stations? Or is there technology that makes this theoretically possible?

EDIT: Also, don't laugh. I am aware of the ridiculously large amount of space a solar system takes up. It's just a question.

Probably not.

Assuming your weapons are bound by the speed of light (which they may not be, of course...this is FT, after all,) the minimum intercept time from, lets say, Pluto orbit would be a little under four hours. That's probably plenty of time for him to engage whatever FTL systems he has on board and get away.

My advice would be to put the defenses around your planets. No point in trying to control access to a SYSTEM when, really, there's nothing worth controlling access TO that can't be more easily covered by a local defense system. What are those space pirates gonna do, make off with your gas giants? It's much more efficient to simply defend your planets.

What you could do is have monitoring stations/listening posts/whatever you want to call them in the system perimeter. Not so much defensive posts in themselves, but devices which would give you advanced warning of any shenanigans going on with people trying to hide behind gas giants and what not.

(On a side note, a system with six habitable planets is pretty crazy.)

[The Fedral Union]

Well, I rp as an entire solar system albeit a large one. One with many ice planets, and 6 habitable planets that I haven't fully been able to explore. My question is, is it feasible in future tech to have a Solar Defense System? One where a group of Space Stations form a ring around the Solar System that acts not only as border control but as an offensive and defensive mechanism.

For example, let's say there is a robbery at bank, the criminal manages to find a spacecraft, and leaves the atmosphere attempting to reach one of the worlds in my system that my civilization has just began to colonize. Is it feasible for him to be shot down by weapons on one of the space stations? Or is there technology that makes this theoretically possible?

EDIT: Also, don't laugh. I am aware of the ridiculously large amount of space a solar system takes up. It's just a question.

Probably not.

Assuming your weapons are bound by the speed of light (which they may not be, of course...this is FT, after all,) the minimum intercept time from, lets say, Pluto orbit would be a little under four hours. That's probably plenty of time for him to engage whatever FTL systems he has on board and get away.

My advice would be to put the defenses around your planets. No point in trying to control access to a SYSTEM when, really, there's nothing worth controlling access TO that can't be more easily covered by a local defense system. What are those space pirates gonna do, make off with your gas giants? It's much more efficient to simply defend your planets.

What you could do is have monitoring stations/listening posts/whatever you want to call them in the system perimeter. Not so much defensive posts in themselves, but devices which would give you advanced warning of any shenanigans going on with people trying to hide behind gas giants and what not.

(On a side note, a system with six habitable planets is pretty crazy.)

Ehhh... Not really, you can roof over bits of planets, terraform others. For example moons in the Sol system have their own internal heat, enough so that some like Europa may have oceans under their thick icy crusts. Triton may as well, that said the best defense is a fleet. Always will be a fleet, if you let them get that close to your system or planet then somethings gone pear shaped.