Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars Core Book V 0.1 P a g e | 2 Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4 What is Sea of Stars?..............................................................................................................7 How to Play…..………………………………………………………………………………………………8 The Orion Spur……………………………………………………………………………………………………..10 Timeline of The Orion Spur……………………………………………………………………………………12 Humanity in the 31st century…………………………………………………………………………………….19 Terran Empire……………………………………………………………………………………………..20 The Aaramori Regency...………………………………………………………..……………………..22 The Guardian Orders……………………………………………………………………………………23 Buccaneer’s Coalition…………..……………………………………………………………………….26 Privateer’s Enclave………..………………………………………………………………………………27 The Vokei……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..28 The Scourge…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..29 Scions……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………30 List of Abilities by Affinity……………………………………………………………………………..32 Description of powers and mechanics……………………………………………………………..34 Character Creation..………………………………………………………………………………………………..41 Backgrounds………………….……………………………………………………………………………………….43 Classes………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………48 Soldier………………………………………………………..……………………………………………….49 Warrior………………………………………………………………..……………………………………..51 Pilot….…………………………………………………………………………..…………………………….53 P a g e | 3 Engineer…………………………………………………………………………………..………………….55 Drifter……………………………………………………………………………..………………..………..57 Adept………………………………………………………………………………………………………….59 Skills……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..53 Careers and Career Points(CP)…………………………………………………………………..…………….55 List of abilities by career………………………………………………………………………56 Technology…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….80 Weapons……………………………………………………………………………………………………..83 Armor………………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Equipment……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Consumables…………………………………………………………………………………………………… Combat…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Starships…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Role-playing………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Game Mastering………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Bestiary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Preconstructed characters…………………………………………………………………………………. List of Discovered Planets………………………………………………………………………………… P a g e | 4 Introduction In the wake of the third world war, humanity undertook a great challenge, uniting the entirety of its people under a single flag. This newly formed “Terran Empire” would seek to keep peace among the previously warring states. The combined political efforts of many great men and women would allow this to happen. Mankind built a great city in the fertile crescent of the middle east, as a monument to some of the first great civilizations and as a memorial to the millions of lives lost in the tragedy of the war. The empire put great emphasis on scientific progress and their diligence would pay off greatly. In the year 2114, a group of imperial scientists proved the existence of the greatest scientific theory in history, a single theorem that reduced all the laws that govern the physical world to a single form. This would come to be known as the Grand Unified Theory of physics, and with it, humanity would be propelled into a new era of invention and exploration this theory at its core. Masterpieces of art were created, and marvelous technologies were developed as humanity looked to their last untamed frontier, space. With the development of powerful new ships and terraforming technology, mankind began P a g e | 5 to colonize their home star system by the 23rd century. Great colonies were established on neighboring planets and the span of the empire grew. Along with the great technology of the Grand Theory, there came another, less expected, consequence. Within a few years of the discovery of the Theory, a small number of men and women across the empire began to exhibit abilities that no person had ever possessed before. Supernatural strength, immeasurable mental power, and the very aspects of the universe were at their command. Humans born with these powers were at first arrested and imprisoned before their abilities were understood. Only when the second emperor, Richard, showed these abilities, were they freed and invited back into the ranks of the empire. Humans were happy with their budding presence on other close worlds, until in the 24th century, when the Tesla Reactor was first created. This device allows for a form of faster than light travel by transforming any matter within its field into a form of pure energy while still retaining its original shape, composition and atomic structure. Humans were no longer bound to their single star, and much as the great empires of history stretched out across the oceans of earth with the discovery of astronomic navigation, the Terran Empire would spread its mighty wings and sail across the sea of stars that now lied within its grasp. Massive colonizing ships were sent out across the local arm of the milky way and humanities reach grew. New worlds were established on many systems where thousands of new life forms were discovered. However, humanities first contact with other another sapient species wouldn’t be a peaceful one. P a g e | 6 Near the turn of the 25th century, humanity first encountered the alien species that would come to be known as the Scourge. The Scourge are a race of sentient insectoid creatures that spread from planet to planet, devouring and killing as they move. These fearsome aliens also infect any killed or captured being, human or not, becoming part of their ranks, making any combat with them incredibly dangerous and terrifying. The first encounter with this menace was on the colonial planet Dantir, when a scourge seedship crashed into the young world. The colony was completely wiped out, and only a fleet commanded by the Empress Seiko and her newly formed force of scionic knights would be able to expel the xenos. Years later, the empire would be tested again by this threat in the Scourge Wars of the 26th century. With the help of powerful guardian orders the empire would weather this storm though. The only other spacefaring alien race that the Empire has ever encountered is the Vokei. The first contact with the Vokei came in the year 2730 above the planet Colibris in the Valisia star system. These pale skinned humanoids had taken notice of the humans expanding domain and had come to make an accord to set a precedent with the Terran Empire not to colonize any planets that had already been claimed by their empire in exchange for peace with the aliens. The Terrans agreed and the Colibris accords were set. Since then, there has been no outright conflict with the Vokei, though any trade with them is difficult, as they have little value for most things that humans possess or create. It is now the year before the millennium turns, and humanity is at a crux, what will this new age bring as humans continue to pit themselves against the eternal void. What new challenges will mankind face, what new discoveries will be made, and what stories will be written? P a g e | 7 What is Sea of Stars? Sea of Stars is a science fiction roleplaying game set in humanities future at the turn of the year 3000. The Terran Empire continues to slowly grow out from its home system and mankind has developed incredible new powers such as the Grand Theory and the Scions. Players will create and take control of a character that lives in this galaxy, seeking fame and fortune as they take to the stars and worlds of the Empire and beyond. Players will face many trials along the way towards their goals, whether it be bands of vicious space pirates, the devilish heat of the sand wastes on Barios, or the ravenous hunger of the world devouring Scourge. Players will use their various skills, abilities, and equipment to overcome them. The players will be able to gain followers and allies throughout the game in the form of crew members. Crew members can be sent on missions or used to aid in combat. Players will also be able to become the head of an organization whether it be a local gang or a massive space corporation. As the players progress through the game, they will advance in level and gain career points that can be spent on abilities, skills, and allies. P a g e | 8 How to play Sea of stars is played in a typical roleplaying style, familiar to those who have experience with other systems such as Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, or Shadowrun. The game consists of the Gamemaster (GM) describing the player’s surroundings and the situations they find themselves in. The players interact with the world through the gamemaster by describing how their characters act in these surroundings. This includes talking with Non- player characters (NPCs), making skill checks or otherwise engaging with the environment. The gamemaster can also have the players make Saving Throws to resist effects of the environment or other characters. The players will also be engaged in combat regularly throughout the game, whether on foot, or in a vehicle. When combat begins, the game switches to a turn-based skirmish game, where the players gain direct control of their entire present crew to aid them. Skill Checks – these refer to any interaction (Combat or not) that requires a character to use any of their skills to complete, from climbing to bypassing electronic locks. All skill checks are made by a player rolling 3d6 and adding the appropriate skill and attribute modifiers • Basic (DC

Load more