GURPS in Spaaaaace

[Emmons]

So I'm starting a tabletop with a few friends on campus (finally). After going through a few books, we decided that GURPS would be our poison of choice. After further discussion, we decided to set it in the future with remnants of current technology, with inspirations drawn from the inter-planetary travel and commerce in Cowboy Bebop, the giant space-borne colonies in Gundam, and the computing level and major cities in Ghost in the Shell. It will be a primarily free-form tabletop and in order to effectively convey this, I need an entire Solar System that feels like its alive. I'd like to tap in to TNG's collective creativity to help accomplish this. So if you're feeling particularly imaginative today, please respond with a description or specifics of a colony, space ship (and crew!), organization, location, event or maybe just a really interesting NPC. Perhaps if there is interest, we can start simultaneous games where players actions can effect the world that other players exist in.

Here's some specifics about the universe so far. I'll follow this post up with an example of a space station that will be serve as the starting location for the PCs in my group.

-Year is 2138 AD. This was selected based on how I thought humanity would progress under ideal conditions (Relative peace, no plagues, no globally-destructive war).
-Faster-than-light travel has not yet been achieved
-Most spaceships have artificial gravity, but are closer to modern naval ships than star trek.
-Terraforming is commonplace, colonies exist as far out as Saturn and as close as Venus
-Colonies are linked by "trade lanes" like in Cowboy Bebop and Freelancer. These work by enclosing a ship in a "hyperspace bubble" which allows ships to travel (relatively) faster than they would in real space, but only work between trade lanes. Travel time from Earth to Mars is approx. 3 hours. Earth to Jupiter is 3 weeks. Adjust accordingly.
-There is a Unified Terran Government, but because of distances, many colonies are ruled more by local mafias or paramilitary groups than the UTG. Problem worsens as distance from Earth increases.
-If first contact has been made with an alien species, it is under wraps by the government (thought this could serve as a cool adventure hook.
-Particle-beam weaponry has been invented, but due to the energy and heat issues, are mostly found only on spacecraft. Gunpowder and gauss weapons are most commonplace.
-Intercolonial trade takes place via large "Macrotransports" which are affectionately called Truckers. See Cowboy Bebop episode 7 "Heavy Metal Queen".
-In space, you can hear large engine roars and explosions, but only if they're awesome enough.
-There is a system-wide bounty hunting system. This exists on a subspace network and marks can only be turned in at UTG stations.

Questions? Just post 'em.

[Emmons]

Andevian Station
Permanent Population: 4,324
Location: Midway point of Jupiter-Mars trade route

Andevian station is a rest stop and trade port for Truckers making the Mars-Jupiter run. Lying outside of the asteroid belt, and somewhat outside the effective range of the UTG police, it has become a haven for drifters, traders, fugitives and bounty hunters alike. You will find exotic goods from all corners of the Solar System for sale (usually at exorbitantly inflated prices) in the trade sector. The Andevian Security Patrol maintains relative safety and the stations houses 2 fighter wings for defense from the occasional pirate raid. Though violent crimes such as homicide are not commonplace, one would be wise not to venture in to the darker corners of the hull.

[Medduren]

A while back, I started putting together some junk for a tabletop game that never happened, but it's all 3.5 inspired. If you're interested, I could post some? It's entirely incomplete, but maybe you could use some of the names or cultures for ideas for new colonies?

[Malorii]

I like that.

"Colonies are linked by "trade lanes" like in Cowboy Bebop and Freelancer. These work by enclosing a ship in a "hyperspace bubble" which allows ships to travel (relatively) faster than they would in real space, but only work"



What you might think about adding too for added fun conflicts, remember those miners in bebop that where always talking about building the gates, and how they didn't really get paid, maybe you could have some npcs that bitch about not getting paid too.

I loved that show.

Right now we're on Changling still however it's coming to it's closing chapters, but I would LOVE to have something like this for my next table top.