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A platform is a heavy structure, often used as a defensive naval position. It can be on the ground, in orbit or in open space.
As a starbase with planetary shields cannot mount offensive weaponry, a platform is often used to perform the role of aggressive defence.
A platform can be considered to be similar to a starship in many ways, it has internal space in which to mount weapons and support crew to run them. It does however have a number of advantages:
- First Strike - platforms fire on round zero as well as the normal four rounds.
- Can mount Deflectors.
- Can generate Planetary Shields (requires Planetary Shield infrastructure to be integrated and active on the world).
- Can dictate access through Planetary Shields (needs Gate status).
- Has integrated life support - no need for quarters, bunks etc.
- Does not have an integrity rating - no need for patches/maintenance.
- Does not require a blueprint to construct - any platform hulls can be delivered, increasing its internal size.
- Standard platform hulls have 50mu internal capacity.
- Have integrated ISR fields.
- Can benefit from up to two layers of armour - same as heavy hulls.
- Can over mount armour - excess is burnt off faster during combat, but full thickness is maintained.
- Shields are more effective - damage wholly absorbed, i.e. no penetration, does not deplete shield factors.
- They have line of sight to all positions in the same location and if in orbit, to all locations on the surface.
- They provide armour to installed items, making them more resilient to incoming damage.
They do however have a number of drawbacks:
- They cannot move under their own power - once constructed they are fixed to that location unless moved by a large enough ship (they can take however advantage of extra cargo space created by ship docks).
- If moved they have 0% combat efficiency for 2 weeks and shields are discharged
- They cannot scrap hulls except through special actions.
- They cannot use AI's for crew factors.
- They require to be linked to a base with platform control complexes or suffer from reduced crew factors.
Requirements
A platform requires platform hulls and nothing more. It does not require bridges, engines, drives or quarters for the crew.
Items delivered to it will require crew factors to work.
Construction
It is built using 10 platform hulls. Delivering these hulls will increase the size and internal capacity of the platform. There is no upper limit to the quantity of hulls that can be delivered. It is also possible to deliver multiple types of hull providing that they are item type 'platform hull'. Once delivered hulls cannot be removed except through combat.
Platforms can be constructed then transported to a location. However, moved platforms have their shield discharged and combat capability offlined for 2 weeks.
Armour
Delivering item type 'armour' to platforms increases armour depth. Armour depth maximises out at two layers. The amount of armour plates required to achieve this will be dependent on the quantity of hulls present. Further armour plates can be delivered, this is called over-layering.
The overall thickness will be based on the weighted average of the armours delivered. Delivering thin armour such as korondite to a platform that already has maximum armour depth will reduce the overall armour thickness.
Over-layered armour plates are more easily damaged during combat.
Armour stops roughly half the Armour Rating of the platform in damage. Thick armour plate provides less armour rating but burns off slower than its ablative armour plate equivalent.
Damage
Unlike ships, platforms simply lose size as hulls are destroyed. The do not need repairing. The size of a platform though is only recalculated after a battle. During the battle this will mean that penetrating shots have a chance of hitting empty space based on the loss of items from the platform during the combat.
Control and Crewing
A platform requires to be linked to a base with platform control complexes in order to work at normal efficiency. Platforms require their controlling starbase to have a 1 platform control complex per 100 hulls.
Where multiple platforms are controlled by a single base, only the sum of the platform hulls is used.
Having insufficient platform control complexes increases the total crew factor requirements of the platform up to 5 times equating to an efficiency of 20% normal.
A platform can however use excess crew to accommodate the crew factor shortfall.
A new platform uplink only takes effect after the next maintenance day of the platform.
Fighter Bays
Fighters and bombers require fighter bays on platforms to launch as on bases and ships. Fighter bays add cargo capacity to the platform and fighters / bombers are listed in the general inventory for the platform.
Lists
In addition to its own lists, a platform will also use the lists of its controlling base, e.g. if the controlling base has all PIR on the space enemy list, the platform will open fire on pirates even if the platform itself does not have PIR on its enemy list. This allows for quick updates of all controlled platforms without the need to issue orders directly to each platform.
Gate Platforms
The gate platform will be determined by:
-Only platforms controlled by a starbase (not outpost) on the world they are orbiting can be gate platforms
-The controlling starbase must have planetary shields active
-Gate platform are at least 3k platform hulls
-Initially the largest platform (over 3k) will be the gate for the planet (When planetary shields are installed).
-Other platforms can take gate ownership if they are 1500 hulls bigger than the gate. (max increase per week is 1000 hulls)
-The gate owner will receive notifications about other platforms that increase in size.
-Gates in combat will not lose gate ownership during combat or for at least 1 week after combat has stopped (even if below 3k platform hulls).
-Platforms in combat cannot gain gate status. 1 week must elapse between combat and qualifying for gate status.
-Affiliations notified when added to the landing list of platforms
Orders:
Add to Landing list
Remove from landing list
Platform Limits
- Crew requirement of a platform reduce by factor of 2 in the system of the controlling starbase and no reduction elsewhere.
- Can increase a platform size by more than 1000 hulls per week (from last weekly maintenance).
- Gate Platforms weapons ignore planetary shields [not done]
- Platforms are restricted to 25k hulls
Deflectors Arrays
All previous mechanics are still in place with the addition that platforms can mount deflectors.
- Each platform hull provides 10 inherent deflector factors
- Maximum Number of Deflector Arrays = sqrt (deflector factors/1000) rounded up or 8 which ever is smaller.
- Each deflector array has max hitpoints = Deflector factors (To kill a deflector you need to do deflector factors + shield recharge in a round)
- Each deflector array charges from shield generators after shields are at maximum
- Each charged deflector array added +50 to shield thickness of platform
- Only one charged deflector array can be damaged in any one round. Any damage done to the array does not have to penetrate the shields.
- Platform shields and armour are only damaged after all deflector arrays are destroyed.
- Platforms will be proceeded by [x/y] on scans to represent the charged deflector arrays. eg PLATFORM Happy Times (3433) [4/8]
- Damage done to deflectors is calculated before any other armours/scints/shields are applied.
This means that by default a 6000 Hull platform will have 8 deflector arrays and so +400 shield depth. Without additional deflectors items, each deflector array will have 60k hit points when fully charged. The platform might scan as: CIV Considerable Investment [Gate 8/8]
If a 4 ships attack the platform doing 24k damage per round (e.g. using kinetic missiles), then the platform will take no damage but the first deflector array will deplete on the end of round 3. On round 4 the shields will be at +350 shield depth and the next deflector will be damaged. The platform will be scanned a CIV It's Just a Flesh Wound [Gate 7/8].
If 10 ships attack the platform do 60k damage per round (e.g. using kinetic missiles), then a deflector array will deplete every round but the platform will still take not damage however the shields will be at +200 shield depth at the end of round 4 and the platform will be scanned as CIV Stop Shooting Please [Gate 4/8].
This mechanic does not block all damage, if you hit the platform with heavy photon battery it will be 350 (shields + deflectors +armour) vs 400-475 dmg
In turns deflector are represent as:
| Deflectors: 3/8 Deflector Factors: 66000/110000 |
So you have 3 deflectors charged and 66000/110000 deflector factors in the current deflector. When the deflector is 100% charged it converts over to the next one @ 0 factors and starts charging again.
So if the above example charges for a day:
| Deflectors: 4/8 Deflector Factors: 55000/110000 |
The deflector charged by 110000-66000+55000=99000 factors. You will lose some factors in the charging as it only charges one deflector per shield cycle (x4 recharge per day - you can only gain 4 deflectors per day).
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Pirates strike in Solo!
After a brief period of calm, with little pirate activity reported, a significant attack has been launched in the Solo system. Piecing together information from several sources we believe that ten pirate ships simultaneously entered orbit of the Solo Stargate and attacked multiple ships from the FEL, FLZ, CIA and KRT. Seven ships were stolen in one day. This may represent the largest organized pirate attack to steal ships we have seen to date.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Falconians and Felini step up pressure on the AFT.
FCN positions have been seen striking at the AFT in Halo, backed by the FEL who have been observed helping the Falconians. Our reporters have managed to find out that this is the result of long standng issues between the AFT and FCN regarding property ownership. The FCN has been bringing forces into Halo to strike at the AFT, with many of us at the SSS expecting the conflict to end quickly. However, despite the FCN's backing, the AFT has proven itself to be resourceful and challenging opponent. Strikes by the AFT have destroyed and boarded multiple FCN ships in the Halo periphery proving that the AFT is not going to be backing down easily.
GTT claim Solo
Following unheaval in the Empire the NHS collapsed, leaving Solo once again free to become a flashpoint. The GTT moved swiftly to claim the system, promising to bring peace to a system that not only claims to be the centre of the galaxy, but also the centre of political pressure and conflict. Despite initial reservations from many affiliations the privatised Empire security company shipped in a million troops to quell any discontent. At the point of writing this report all the affiliations in the system have backed the GTT's claim with the exception of the DTR, who are continuing to show the Empire that they don't like the expansionist humans reaching out to take such an important central system with key transport links.
IND warships spotted in Yank and Halo
With small time operators that want to stay out of the way of the bigger affiliations, IND flagged positions are rarely seen other than the occasional outpost or freighter. Recently a squad of IND flagged Broadsword warships was seen moving between Yank and the Halo periphery. Nobody seems to know what this fleet of warships is doing or what these ships have been built for, but maybe we are about to see the birth of a new conflict or affiliation.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Empire pushes out Free Traders
With ongoing claims of AFT activities moving from it's traditional neutral trade welcome everywhere to more nefarious deeds, the Empire in general and the GTT in particular has taken action to send the AFT a message that their new actions won't be tolerated. Over a couple of weeks the AFT saw all it's registered fixed assets seized within GTT systems. So far there has been no attempt to extend actions and hunt down AFT ships or other positions in any systems outside the Empire, so we are assuming the GTT considers it's actions sufficient to send the once peaceful traders a message. We believe the FEL have also joined in due to exasperation with AFT actions. We contacted the GTT for a comment to be told that the actions had been profitable, the kind of remark you should probably expect from a mega-corp.
Solo becomes pirate hotspot
Our reporters have received numerous messages regarding pirates lately, especially in the Solo system. Since the NHS took the system over from the DTR pirate attacks seem to have escalated. Over the last two months we have been made aware of over a dozen ships being lost to pirates with no doubt more falling victim to the vicious pirates as owners do not want to admit they have taken losses. The DTR have offered to assist the NHS with policing the system, but so far the NHS has not asked for assistance. Large fleets of FET warships have been seem patrolling the system and CIA warships have also been seen accompanying freighters, but so far we have not received any reports that the pirates have lost ships in retaliation. Although the CIA have damaged two vessels enough for them to require serious repairs.
Zaxividani Naru's peacful Deweik
Imagine our surprise when our office learned of the new group of Deweik lead by Zaxividani Naru. What makes this group noteworthy is it's peaceful intentions. For many years the canine based species has been well known for it's love of drinking, fighting and finding itself at odds with the Empire, leading to some massive battles. Even recent history has mention of fleets with over 700 capital ships fighting for the DEN keeping the Empire honest and even pushing them back. So to find that a Deweik group has joined with the Mohache, probably the most peace loving beings in the peripheries, came as quite a shock. We at the SSS wish them well in their future among the stars.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Claims settle in Solo and Faery
With the NHS bringing in almost a million troops into Solo and the GTT choosing it's moment to contest Faery at the same time, it seems the DTR and it's alllies either found it hard to find enough troops to respond or quite simply decided it wasn't worth the hassle as there were far more important matters to deal with in the Senate. Who knows what other life threatening topics they have to discuss, such as the correct biscuit to have with afternoon tea. The end result is that Solo and Faery, both systems with significant incomes, are now under control of Empire based affiliations.
GTT move to clear out the Dewiek Pocket Pheriphery
Having resorted to bribery to get other affiliations to move out of the DHP, with rumoured multi-million stellar amounts being offered, the GTT now appear to have cranked the pressure up. An AFT base has been attacked and a few of the nearby ships have been blown up and damaged by GTT warship class ships patrolling the area. As we write this report, information we have seen shows that the GTT have already taken 20% of the AFT base and fighting continues. We approached the GTT to ask why they are resorting to force and were told that they have had to move significant military power into the DHP to deal with ANT forces, so now they are mopping up all the resistance of other affilaitions that were asked to leave and decided not to.
BHD relics and trophies
Pope Akhenaten of the Brotherhood has been touting more and more wares that are unique to the BHD. If you are missing a holy relic and have no idea how to fill that little space in your living quarters then you know where to go. From robes to candles, literature to wine and novelty ornaments, it's never been easier to bring a little bit of the Brotherhood home and exchange your stellars for spiritual well being.
*** Affiliations ***
AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
BHD - Brotherhood (63) - Akhenaten
CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien
FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan
FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
HEX Hexamon (23) - Hexamon
KRL Krell (30) - Namica
KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz
* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.
NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
Inactive: ANT, COD, BHD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,
*** Submissions ***
By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Solo claim swings back and forth
The situation in Solo appears to be getting even more heated. First the NHS dropped 600,000 troops to contest the system and then the DTR answered with enough troops of their own to trump the NHS claim. The NHS found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim up to 750,000 and once again the DTR answered, bringing Solo back under DTR control. Now the NHS have had a look down the back of the sofa and found yet more troops, taking the contesting claim to a massive 900,000 trained troops. We wait to see if the DTR have an answer to this. We can only guess where all these troops are coming from, but what is clear is that the established affiliations clearly have far larger armies than many thought.
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
NHS attempt to claim Solo away from DTR
In a shock move the NHS have contested the Solo claim with a huge garrison of 600,000 trained troops. In a move that nobody saw coming, especially as it was unknown the NHS had such a large force of troops to draw upon, the NHS seem to be provoking a response from the DTR. Currently there has been no word from the DTR in how they are going to deal with this claim jumping, although rumours are that they are pretending the Solo claim doesn't really matter to them and so action is unlikely. However this may be a smokescreen and we may yet see the DTR's powerful fleet cause havoc in the system of Solo, which has for a long time been an important junction and fought over by many different factions.
DNA Chairman TonTon resigns
The following communication has been leaked from the DNA to the GTT's PD.
Greetings CEO Fox.
It regrets me to have to inform to you that the DNA nation state will be renouncing its claim on Aladdin system following a ceremony planet side, shortly.
However, it gives me great pleasure to have to inform you that these ceremonies are being planned by Vladimir Tavikovitch, the South Road Traffic Coordinator. He is also responsible for all DNA and .ore. assets in the Outer Naplian (Capellan) periphery so if there are any further issues, please take it up with him.
For any and all other matters, please forward your request directly to the DNA directorate services at NexusID: DNA people.
The Foreign Ministry objects one last time to your illegal claim jump of Aladdin, but we realise it is time to de-escalate.
Normally i would sign off with Naambta, but doing so would be hypocritical. Let me say good riddance instead.
I hereby resign in protest!
Chairman TonTon,
Foreign Minister, DNA
cc: Directorate Services personnel coordinator - !urgent resignation!
DTR threaten WMB with fines for multiple breaches of DTR Law
Lady Sylvansight of the DTR has issued a fine of 1,000,000 stellars to the Wimbles for multiple breaches of DTR Penal and Territorial Law. This seems a very brave move of the DTR to risk upsetting the huge and warlike WMB when they also have the rival NHS Solo system claim to deal with. No word has been recieved yet that the Wimbles are going to pay, but if the formidable WMB warfleet is seen heading for the DTR home systems we will know what their thought are on the matter. The DTR and WMB fleets going head to head would be a sight to behold.
*** Affiliations ***
AFT Association of Free Traders (54) - Marion Tweedy
BLG Bolg Organisation (22) - Akhenaten
CIA Combined Intelligence Agency (64) - Laton CIA
DNA Displaced Natives Asylum (66) - DNA people
DTR Detinus Republic (58) - Morley Decker
DWK Dewiek Packs (19) - <Unknown>
FCN Falconian Republic (70) – Graspien
FEL Felini Tyranny (49) - Kr'Shan
FLZ Flagritz Republic (47) - Kayxaer
FET Frontier Exploration & Trade (56) - Cu Chulainn
GTT Galactic Trade & Transport (52) - Xavier Fox
HEX Hexamon (23) - Tranquility
KRL Krell (30) - Namica
KRT Krell of the Reverence Temple (37) - Cyn
KST Kastor Kastorians (12) - Kastor
MOH Mohache (73) – Listens
NHS Noble Houses (41) – Roy Roberts
NLF Naplian Liberation Front (38) - NLFHQ
SMS Stellar Mining and Smelting (53) - MikhailM
WMB Wimble Nations (25) - zz
* Leader MAY be inactive, affiliation may be active
** Only known contact, please update us if this is incorrect.
NPC / FoC: ARC, CIV, CGT, FRE, HBO, HEF, IND, ISP, JCN, MEK, MRC, PIR, PRV, TCA, TRN, KAS
Inactive: ANT, COD, BHD, DEN, DOM, GCE, HVE, IDC, IMP, RIP, RCF, SKW, TAG,
*** Submissions ***
By private message to The Editor or via Mica if you prefer to remain anonymous. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
DNA and GTT clash over Aladdin system claim while Pirates look on.
The GTT have this week launched an attack on the DNA outpost in Aladdin, in what appears to be little more than a turkey shoot. Around 100,000 GTT Naplian Startroopers attacked the DNA position to remove the rival system claim. Reports indicate the DNA garrison were taken by surprise and lost control of the base in the first few hours of the fighting. The base has since been reflagged from [Free Naplian Capital] Peaceful Protest to [Loyal Naplian Capital] DNA claim Ended so it's fair to say there was a clear message being sent by the GTT. We have been waiting for the DNA leadership to comment but so far they have been unusually silent. No doubt when they have crawled out from under their desks they will have something to say on the matter.
While this attack was going on several pirate ships were also seen in Aladdin, according to the GTT in what may be true or may be a diversion, with reports of a pirate GP and scout being destroyed while a 150HH pirate warship slipped away and escaped from incoming anti-pirate patrols.
Secret meeting of the EEM
A recent communication intercepted by one of our top reporters today made us aware of a meeting of the EEM. This is underway in a top secret location called Black Pool, which sounds suspiciously like the lair of a pirate band. After pulling in many favours, we were able to identify some of the attending members. On the bases that they won't be named we were able to find out some slight information of the subjects to be discussed at the meeting and one thing is for certain, there could be huge impacts to the lives of everybody living in the galaxy. Details to follow. When the shadowy figures of the EEM come together with the top political players in a pirate base the possibilities are endless!
You are never more than 6 systems from a RAT ðŸ€
A new saying has arisen in the bars and spaceport of starbases throughout the many peripheries; you are never more than 6 systems from a RAT.
It is understood that this saying originated in Yank and spread by trade vessels to peripheries far and wide. Many starbases have heightened their security and added additional sensors and locks to various entry points including foul and grey water outfalls. Beer and drug stocks are undergoing increased proofing to avoid the critters gaining entry and consuming the stockpiles.
Will this present as a new plague of proportions never before seen or is this some simple urban myth being spread for the amusement of some mischievous entity? Who knows, but to be certain... check the shadows.
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This year we will again be returning to the Briardene Hotel. They were welcoming, the bar didn't run out of beer pre-covid and there was room for quiet chats. Along with Wetherspoons there is the Victoria just down the road (Sam Smiths - last time beer was around 2 shillings per pint and a full round was less than £10).
Mostly drinking beer and talking toot though we have a good few things on the agenda.
Bookings are done directly with the hotel. Book by phone and say that you are with KJC Games
Briardene Hotel
Telephone: +44(0)1253 338300
All staff should be able to deal with the booking but if there are any problems ask for Tracy (manager) as she dealt with all our foibles in previous years. |
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*** Inter Galactic News ***
Dog days are over
With the fall of the DEN and the implosion of their home territory as the AFT, DTR and GTT moved in, it was unlikely the Dewiek would rise again. The DWP gave the species a little hope with the Dewiek Pocket Periphery kept under lock and key. But news has reached us of the AFT's penetration of this private area of space that's been locked down. With a base and claim in one of the three visible systems it seems that the end of the Dewiek is near. A once noble and aggressive race, determined to make an impact on the galaxy is now little more than a species that lives under the command of others. A sad end to a once powerful species that used to control a significant part of known space.
Pirate activity continues
Yet more reports of pirate activity have been received, one from the WMB, losing a freighter in Solo and another from the FET who reported they had engaged and hit the attacking pirate ship with several weapons before it managed to make off with it's prize. Hopefully the pirate ship took significant damage and will now be out of action for some time. The Corewards periphery seems to have been plagued with pirates recently and many travellers would welcome a break from attacks.
MEK incursion into Corewards
The FET and GTT have mounted a joint venture into Nog-Kesri to tackle a MEK force. It isn't known where they have come from, with the only other MEK ships seen so far being located in the Orion Spur. The lack of a known link between where they have appeared in Corewards and the Orion Spur has caused some concern among planetary populations as who knows where they could turn up next! Fortunately the combined FET/GTT task force dealt the MEK a heavy blow and the threat has been eradicated. But we all know this is unlikely to be the last we hear of the MEK in Corwards and we would encourage ship captains to keep a keen eye on thier sensor screens when travelling near Nog-Kesri.
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