System Deign Collaboration

By Peacekeeper_b, in Dark Heresy

Anyone interested in callaborating on a fan created planetary system? Creating maps, history, personalities, locations, careers, backgrounds, equipment, creatures and others planet specific concepts and ideas?

Could be fun if all the DH/RT fans on the forum worked together to create a PDF detailing a well versed world for adventuring.

Sounds generelly interesting, but what is the "structur"?

Is "long term commitment" needed or will there be some "general & broad catergories" where entries can be made along the lines for certain forms (i.e. like the formats found for planet description in the DH core Rulebook)?

Sounds really interesting, i would be willing to contribute to this project.

The hardest part would be setting up the basic concept of the world. Afterall if we are all working on a feral planet and contributer A creates a massive entry for the furnaces and factories that build titans, well that would break the theme.

So I think we need to deteremine the type of world and the key notes of importance first and then go from there. We get 3 or 4 of our really talented writers/creators on this forum to drum up the general background and fluff and then go to work.

I would like to see the general entry be like the ones from the Dark Heresy rulebook, but more in detail like we see with Qaddiss in Tattered Fates.

Overall we need to create a team of editors/moderators who are not in control of the project, but help guide and edit and make all the entries fit together in a cohesive way. Perhaps some sort of Shadow Cabinet who creates the general background and then we publish that and ask people to read the "creator's bible" before they begin to add their own tidbits.

What I would like to have is the planet be a newer settlement, maybe a few hundred year old colony on a savage death world near the Koronus Expanse, and that isolated colony is taking on a Hive City structure, filled mostly by outcasts, the poor, downtrodden and outlaws trying to make their way to the rishes promised in the Expanse, but not rich enough to make it all the way etc etc.

Now what else lurks on this world, in the area? Who is there exploiting the world/people?

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Peacekeeper_b said:

The hardest part would be setting up the basic concept of the world. Afterall if we are all working on a feral planet and contributer A creates a massive entry for the furnaces and factories that build titans, well that would break the theme.

Does it, though? Ever since one of my players during the DH playtest presented me with a Feral World assassin from a formerly-industrial world that had regressed to barbarism, the idea of feral worlds that were once heavily industrialised has appealed to me; in a manner much like the Ratskins in Necromunda, you've got a feral, possibly tribal and very superstitious people existing in the ruined architecture of manufactories and hab complexes, shying away from the 'cursed' sites of ancient atomic generatoria (cursed because people who go there get sick - radiation poisoning) and making homes and tools for themselves from the copious amounts of scrap metal and concrete that stretch for miles in every direction.

A massive entry for the furnaces and factories that build titans? Change the 'build' to a 'built', and suddenly you've got massive, empty, cavernous titan forges and maybe even the skeletal remains of part-completed God-Machines, worshipped or feared by the locals as giant gods or spirits or monsters.

I believe a system can hold several different types of world, with the careers from them...

Lets take the Londis system and base it very loosely on Sol, there are 9 planets (Pluto is a planet dammit, I refuse to correct years of schooling!)

Anyway in order

Sun,

Londis I - A tiny boiling planet, hostile to life, an Adeptus Mechanicus facility conducts research into thermal insulation and plasma shielding here. No raw materials worth exploiting - Imports ore and food supplies (Forge World Background)

Londis II - A larger planet, many unique materials form here as it is hotter than even Londis I, exports gasses to Londis III for use in Las weapon manufacture and imports food supplies and workers and supplies its own needs in Ore/Raw Materials (Forge World Background)

Londis III - Has a large moon which is covered in Hydroponics farms taking advantage of the relatively permanent levels of light on its face, orbitted by a further dozen farms to supply food stuffs to system. The planet itself is a Hive World, population 10 billion and manufactures machine tools, vehicles and las weaponry for trade in system, exports Las Weapons and People (Guard) to the Imperium at large. (Hive World, Noble, Forge World, Imperial World Background)

Londis IV - A dead world, some scattered attempts at farming around here and there. Has a single main settlement at the equator with a small Schola Progenium training future administrators and leaders. The world is inhabited by the scattered descendants of ancient human settlers, descended to a near feral state. The planet is orbitted by two moons, small mining colonies (Imperial World, Schola Progenium, Feral World Background) Exports some exotic food stuffs to Londis III

Londis V - VIII - Gas giants, Ad Mech facilities exploiting the small moons and gasses of the planet (Forge World Background)

Londis IX - Dead World - Small sensor array and monitoring system (Imperial World Background)

(example based very loosely on my notes for Lind which I dont have to hand atm)

Well thats why we figure out the limits of this new system now and then let everyone run wild. Im all for a mixed genre world, built upon the carcas of a long dead forge worl colony hidden on a death world. In fact, the more variant origins for this system the better.

So right now I need volunteers willing to enter into a debate and discussion on the initial planetary system setting.

I can help out after xmas, I should hopefully finish my current WFRP project by then and have some time

N0-1_H3r3 said:

Peacekeeper_b said:

The hardest part would be setting up the basic concept of the world. Afterall if we are all working on a feral planet and contributer A creates a massive entry for the furnaces and factories that build titans, well that would break the theme.

Does it, though? Ever since one of my players during the DH playtest presented me with a Feral World assassin from a formerly-industrial world that had regressed to barbarism, the idea of feral worlds that were once heavily industrialised has appealed to me; in a manner much like the Ratskins in Necromunda, you've got a feral, possibly tribal and very superstitious people existing in the ruined architecture of manufactories and hab complexes, shying away from the 'cursed' sites of ancient atomic generatoria (cursed because people who go there get sick - radiation poisoning) and making homes and tools for themselves from the copious amounts of scrap metal and concrete that stretch for miles in every direction.

A massive entry for the furnaces and factories that build titans? Change the 'build' to a 'built', and suddenly you've got massive, empty, cavernous titan forges and maybe even the skeletal remains of part-completed God-Machines, worshipped or feared by the locals as giant gods or spirits or monsters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NausicaƤ_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_(manga )

nausicaa, anyone?

Peacekeeper_b said:

So right now I need volunteers willing to enter into a debate and discussion on the initial planetary system setting.

Count me in, PKB, I'm happy to help.

May I suggest that if this is going to work, you need to exert some fairly strict, but simple editorial control? The old BI planet scheme worked pretty well: they give you the basic ingredient, you take it from there.

If you want a planet of your own, with interesting contributions, I reckon the way to go about it would be to describe the type of planet, list elements that you want volunteers to work on, and invite clear contributions along a theme. So, by way of an example, say "I want a Hive world with 7 hives, one major starport, one derelict hive, a major military facility, four secret cults and an Imperial Navy supply station. I want these all to be developed on the theme of an economically failing planet caught in a 1930's style dustbowl depression." Invite volunteers to work on each element of that list.

For this to work, I think rather than getting into electing a "council" of editors, simply set the criteria yourself. If people want to help, they will, if they don't, then arguing with them about what sort of planet you're working on is only going to waste time.

All this is your idea, of course, and I'd be happy to work on any element you want, on any style of planet you want! happy.gif

I would also be interested in contributing.

I do have to agree with Lightbringer. The iron fist of Peacekeeper_b needs to dictate certain aspects of the star system. Then take suggestions for modifications to the system. Then the fleshing out can begin.

Number of planets and their moons?

Asteroid belts/ debris fields?

Types of planets?

Why has the system been forgotten or lost? Is it just way off the beaten path?