Aurora 4x
Fiction => Steve's Fiction => Starfire => Rigellian Diary => Topic started by: Steve Walmsley on September 11, 2007, 10:43:21 AM
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If you have plenty of free time, here is the full Rigellian Diary from Turn 1 to Turn 167. All 850 pages in a Word document.
http://www.pentarch.org/steve/CompleteDiary167.zip
Steve
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If you have plenty of free time, here is the full Rigellian Diary from Turn 1 to Turn 167. All 850 pages in a Word document.
http://www.pentarch.org/aurorafiles/SAF ... ary167.zip (http://www.pentarch.org/aurorafiles/SAFiles/Diary167.zip) (1.4Mb)
Steve
So when will we see the next Rigellian turn?
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If you have plenty of free time, here is the full Rigellian Diary from Turn 1 to Turn 167. All 850 pages in a Word document.
http://www.pentarch.org/aurorafiles/SAF ... ary167.zip (http://www.pentarch.org/aurorafiles/SAFiles/Diary167.zip) (1.4Mb)
Steve
So when will we see the next Rigellian turn?
Not any time soon :)
Steve
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The Rigellian Diary is well worth reading. I have read it 4 or 5 times now. The last time I did so I stitched together the various maps into one 'master map'. It added a new flavor to the read if I could find nearly every system they talked about. I posted the map over in the RigellianDiary Yahoo group.
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oDzrRr1ymc ... er_Map.jpg (http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oDzrRr1ymc9OwoQFLm2TkkOzmMQ9n16A6y-p1aSgQC1UE9JC-MIL9Zn2CJap1NjnOfwg2MQH1Pal65GYZru2NZgGBx-lMa82PRg/Maps/Master_Map.jpg)
The Phoenix Campaign was also great reading. I miss the old 3r Starfire writeups. Some of the ones posted here are pretty good, though. That eases the loss somewhat.
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Just finished re-reading the Diary for the umpteenth time. (And it only took me a month to do so! :-) )
Seriously, thanks for many years of enjoyment.
John
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Just finished re-reading the Diary for the umpteenth time. (And it only took me a month to do so! :-) )
I just reread the last couple of pages. It does leave a couple of major questions :)
Seriously, thanks for many years of enjoyment.
No problem. I enjoyed writing and its always good to hear that someone has enjoyed reading it.
Steve
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SAS may have to visit you if you don't add another turn. :--> Or should I try to send the boys from Delta Company or some other bunch of mean bastard, who will stand over you while you crank out another chapter.
Alas, it may be years before you turn out turn 168--190. But we can still hope.
Steve, seriously, thanks for the great read, and for some interesting ideas. Hope your love fest with aurora won't cause you to abandon the SF universe entirely.
with respect
Kevin
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Hey Steve, I too await another input from your diary. It was so well written and thought out that I miss your writings badly. Hope you get time to do some more sometime soon. Best wishes! Damon
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What I'd like to know about the Rigellian Campaign (other than when new chapters will be completed, and he's just told us about that) is how large the playing field is. Is it endless, with more links leading to ever more? Or is there an end, every warp chain eventually leading back to systems already identified?
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What I'd like to know about the Rigellian Campaign (other than when new chapters will be completed, and he's just told us about that) is how large the playing field is. Is it endless, with more links leading to ever more? Or is there an end, every warp chain eventually leading back to systems already identified?
The universe size is set to 20,000 and there are about 2000 systems in the game at the moment. However, I would probably increase the universe size if the game reached perhaps 5000 systems.
Steve
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Appears that the link is broken
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Appears that the link is broken
That's because the link is for the old(er) Aurora board - try this one:
http://aurora.pentarch.org/aurorafiles/ ... ary167.zip (http://aurora.pentarch.org/aurorafiles/SAFiles/Diary167.zip)
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Thank you!
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Something i put together for those of us that like that sort of thing
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Something i put together for those of us that like that sort of thing
A very interesting read!
Steve
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Rigellian empire knocks you down and holds your attention in a stranglehold for months as it water boards you in a mix of strategies tension, desperation, breakthroughs and politics. This heralds the beginning of a whole new genre. PS in the words of oliver twist "please sir, i want some more"
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Rigellian empire knocks you down and holds your attention in a stranglehold for months as it water boards you in a mix of strategies tension, desperation, breakthroughs and politics. This heralds the beginning of a whole new genre. PS in the words of oliver twist "please sir, i want some more"
Thanks, I am glad you enjoyed it
I can only offer Aurora fiction at the moment as a replacement but the campaigns haven't really had chance to get going beyond 30-40 pages because the game has been under development and major changes usually end the various test campaigns. I hope things are starting to settle down now so it should be possible to get some much longer campaigns underway. In the meantime, there are some other major Starfire campaigns written up on here, such as the Phoenix campaign
Steve
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After reading the rigellian papers yet again it is ....it is slowly becoming clear that the all the bugs ever wanted was a little space, they must feel left out and misunderstood by the allies and this is why they lash out, but really this is a cry for help. I think they will change their ways if the chapters continue unfolding.
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Is the map still hosted somewhere? I am going to start reading this and it would be handy if there was a reference to keep me orientated :)
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Is the map still hosted somewhere? I am going to start reading this and it would be handy if there was a reference to keep me orientated
If someone posts it, or emails it to me, I will post it here.
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Merely doing the Rigellian papers form another races POV can keep the tanks full. You can imagine the bugs anguishing over the "system which must be defended" as the Rigellians broke into Hiroshima or POVs of commanders of other races during the wars Andromedeans, Kapaluans, Drax et al take your sweet pick. Would love to see the Andromedean ambush at Tokushima, Kapaluan ambush of the allied fleet, as well its Rigellian checkmate from another races POV.
PS: There is a nice tagent of the Rigellian storyline in one of the Skymarshall magazines with the Rigellians going back in time with tech to help the old empire out.
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Merely doing the Rigellian papers form another races POV can keep the tanks full. You can imagine the bugs anguishing over the "system which must be defended" as the Rigellians broke into Hiroshima or POVs of commanders of other races during the wars Andromedeans, Kapaluans, Drax et al take your sweet pick. Would love to see the Andromedean ambush at Tokushima, Kapaluan ambush of the allied fleet, as well its Rigellian checkmate from another races POV.
PS: There is a nice tagent of the Rigellian storyline in one of the Skymarshall magazines with the Rigellians going back in time with tech to help the old empire out.
Is that the one with the Finest Hour? It's been a very long time since I wrote that <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" />. I'll see if I can find it and post it on here.
Steve
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Is the map still hosted somewhere? I am going to start reading this and it would be handy if there was a reference to keep me orientated :)
If someone posts it, or emails it to me, I will post it here.
Don't suppose anybody found the map? I am on page 222 of 850 and having a very hard time keeping track of the astrology! :)
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I have a bunch of maps, mostly from later on in the Diary.
I've sent them to Erik so he can post them either in here or somewhere more appropriate.
Stephen
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Here's the maps I was sent.[attachment=4:f6ooecqw]Arachnid Systems Near Fujiwara.jpg[/attachment:f6ooecqw][attachment=3:f6ooecqw]Arachnids.JPG[/attachment:f6ooecqw][attachment=2:f6ooecqw]Dragons.JPG[/attachment:f6ooecqw][attachment=1:f6ooecqw]Eden.JPG[/attachment:f6ooecqw][attachment=0:f6ooecqw]Farrington.JPG[/attachment:f6ooecqw]
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And more.[attachment=3:3b5ck0se]Hakorians.JPG[/attachment:3b5ck0se][attachment=2:3b5ck0se]Marianas.JPG[/attachment:3b5ck0se][attachment=1:3b5ck0se]NewTerritories.JPG[/attachment:3b5ck0se][attachment=0:3b5ck0se]Rigel T166.JPG[/attachment:3b5ck0se]
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Octopi[attachment=3:12jjrtwu]Octopi T157 Pt1.jpg[/attachment:12jjrtwu][attachment=2:12jjrtwu]Octopi T157 Pt2.jpg[/attachment:12jjrtwu][attachment=1:12jjrtwu]Octopi T157 Pt3.jpg[/attachment:12jjrtwu][attachment=0:12jjrtwu]Octopi T157 Pt4.jpg[/attachment:12jjrtwu]
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And yet more.[attachment=0:15s9re4n]Tokushima Sector at start of T167.JPG[/attachment:15s9re4n][attachment=1:15s9re4n]Tobago.JPG[/attachment:15s9re4n][attachment=2:15s9re4n]Takagamiko.JPG[/attachment:15s9re4n][attachment=3:15s9re4n]Sol.JPG[/attachment:15s9re4n][attachment=4:15s9re4n]Salvador.JPG[/attachment:15s9re4n]
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Still more.[attachment=0:3g24qt8s]Utopian.JPG[/attachment:3g24qt8s][attachment=1:3g24qt8s]Trajan.JPG[/attachment:3g24qt8s]
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Folks for the map pics folks!
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Hi, just arrived here today so still on my shake down cruise as far as this Forum goes. I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed following this story. I printed it off about four or five years ago (it was a different site) and read right through it. I even took it with me abroad so I could finish it off. It got me back into Starfire and looking around. Ok, so I'm not light speed at getting off my derrière but I'm here now.
Cheers.
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Hi, just arrived here today so still on my shake down cruise as far as this Forum goes. I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed following this story. I printed it off about four or five years ago (it was a different site) and read right through it. I even took it with me abroad so I could finish it off. It got me back into Starfire and looking around. Ok, so I'm not light speed at getting off my derrière but I'm here now.
Cheers.
Welcome aboard, may your stellar journeys be free of Precursors :)
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Hi, just arrived here today so still on my shake down cruise as far as this Forum goes. I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed following this story. I printed it off about four or five years ago (it was a different site) and read right through it. I even took it with me abroad so I could finish it off. It got me back into Starfire and looking around. Ok, so I'm not light speed at getting off my derrière but I'm here now.
Thanks. It's always good to hear someone enjoyed reading it. It was a lot of fun to write.
Try reading some of the Aurora fiction. Aurora is a game I designed to help me write fiction and is entirely playable on PC. It is a lot more detailed than Starfire and going by the comments on the list, it appeals to a lot of people who played third edition Starfire (the edition for which I wrote the diary). The link to the sub-forum containing my latest campaign reports is below
viewforum.php?f=16 (http://aurora.pentarch.org/viewforum.php?f=16)
Steve
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Thanks very much for the welcome Welchbloke and for the advice Steve. I'll certainly have a good look round. The only time I played Imperial Starfire was years ago with pencil, paper and lots of math, fingers and toes time. A PC version sounds much less stressful. I only hope my old rustbucket of a PC can take the pace. It's also full of lots of my music right now. Hmm, it may be time for a purge. ;)
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I can say it is definately worth the purge of a few songs to play this game...takes up way to much of my time. LOL
Mark
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Thanks very much for the welcome Welchbloke and for the advice Steve. I'll certainly have a good look round. The only time I played Imperial Starfire was years ago with pencil, paper and lots of math, fingers and toes time. A PC version sounds much less stressful. I only hope my old rustbucket of a PC can take the pace. It's also full of lots of my music right now. Hmm, it may be time for a purge. :). In terms of PC requirements, the only one is a resolution of at least 1280x1024. If you have a slow PC, the game will just run more slowly but it will still run.
Here are some screenshots of the system and galactic maps: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1292 (http://aurora.pentarch.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1292)
Steve
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Thanks lads, I had a go at installing this today. It seemed to go well, all according to plan, I even managed to follow the instructions laid out in the instillation section but when I tried to play Aurora I got some error messages - (Error 3265 was generated by DAO. Fields items not found in this collection please report your inability to work things properly to Steve, yadda-yadda). *sigh* I later got another in the Galactic map that froze the game so I've been looking on the site for a clue since. It doesn't follow what I have found so far in the tutorial section. But, I'm working on it to correct the problem, I may need to re-do. It'll be operator error due to my inability to comprehend computers without the aid of a hammer. Anyway, if you have any suggestions please keep them low tech. Yes, I'm a ludite freek. o_0
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Thanks lads, I had a go at installing this today. It seemed to go well, all according to plan, I even managed to follow the instructions laid out in the instillation section but when I tried to play Aurora I got some error messages - (Error 3265 was generated by DAO. Fields items not found in this collection please report your inability to work things properly to Steve, yadda-yadda). *sigh* I later got another in the Galactic map that froze the game so I've been looking on the site for a clue since. It doesn't follow what I have found so far in the tutorial section. But, I'm working on it to correct the problem, I may need to re-do. It'll be operator error due to my inability to comprehend computers without the aid of a hammer. Anyway, if you have any suggestions please keep them low tech. Yes, I'm a ludite freek. o_0
If you are missing fields in the database, the usual reason is that the executable file and the database don't match. Just check that you did the following:
1) Download AuroraInstall and unzip it. You will have four files called Aurora.CAB, Setup.exe, Setup.LST and AuroraUpdate.zip
2) Run Setup.exe. This should run a standard Microsoft install program, installing to the default C:\Program Files\Aurora directory
3) Unzip AuroraUpdate.zip into the same directory and answer yes to overwriting two files.
You then have the basic game. There are also two patches, one for data and the other for the exe.
1) Download the DBUpdate101.exe, place it in your v4.2 installation directory and run it.
2) Download the v4.26 patch and unzip it into the installation directory, overwriting the existing Aurora.exe.
Steve
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Thanks lads, I had a go at installing this today. It seemed to go well, all according to plan, I even managed to follow the instructions laid out in the instillation section but when I tried to play Aurora I got some error messages - (Error 3265 was generated by DAO. Fields items not found in this collection please report your inability to work things properly to Steve, yadda-yadda). *sigh* I later got another in the Galactic map that froze the game so I've been looking on the site for a clue since. It doesn't follow what I have found so far in the tutorial section. But, I'm working on it to correct the problem, I may need to re-do. It'll be operator error due to my inability to comprehend computers without the aid of a hammer. Anyway, if you have any suggestions please keep them low tech. Yes, I'm a ludite freek. o_0
Regarding the tutorial, it is sadly out of date. I believe it was written for a version of 2.x, not 4.x. Most of it holds true, but there are some significant changes. I'll put forth the invitation again to anyone who wishes to update it, may do so.
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The download link is broken.
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The download link is broken.
I have updated the link
Steve
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:) and whenever i read the final Kapaluan war i see operation barbarossa with its deep thrusts and encirclments. I understand how it produced an nytimes bestseller. The day aurora becomes a rts it will meet its match :wink: )
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"Imagine you're a bug :) Direct quotation from Peter watts Blindside(Free Online) just replace bug with "scramble."
This is an Intresting take on alien pyschology. Read it if you can, its a lovely book. It would be very intresting if you could mix this perspective in aurora novellas with liberal doses of precursors for a trully one of a kind twisted darwinian struggle. Even more twisted perspectives most welcome.
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I used the Microsoft Image Composite Editor to stitch together all the available maps and this is what it produced:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B37y6KGapMvXYjU5NjM4N2UtOGQyMy00MzQyLWFlOTYtYjkzZjI2ODk2YTYy&hl=en
It isn't perfect due to two things:
1. The different images are taken at different times of the campaign.
2. The systems will have moved around a bit as new links were found.
But still, it took 10seconds in ICE were as it would have taken 10hours in Paint.net :)
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I used the Microsoft Image Composite Editor to stitch together all the available maps and this is what it produced:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B37y6KGapMvXYjU5NjM4N2UtOGQyMy00MzQyLWFlOTYtYjkzZjI2ODk2YTYy&sort=name&layout=list&num=50
It isn't perfect due to two things:
1. The different images are taken at different times of the campaign.
2. The systems will have moved around a bit as new links were found.
But still, it took 10seconds in ICE were as it would have taken 10hours in Paint.net :)
Google says the document is not available.
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Google says the document is not available.
I had it set to 'anybody can view using link' but have changed it to 'anybody can search, find and view' give it another go. I also changed the link slightly.
It is called RigellianDiary_stitch.jpg
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The link is broken for me at least. . . . . . . .
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same prolem. none of the links are working, and i've got plenty of free time. Doh!
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The download link is broken... Is there any way to get hold of a new one?
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Try this for the diary.
http://www.pentarch.org/eluken/Diary167.zip
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Try this for the diary.
http://www.pentarch.org/eluken/Diary167.zip
Thanks Erik. I have updated the OP as well.
Steve
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The new link isn't working either. Is there another link for the diary?
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Try http://www.pentarch.org/steve/CompleteDiary167.zip
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I cna't download it it just tells me i have a url error and to try again.
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Wait, there it goes.
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The majority of my non-work time of two days of my life have been consumed by reading this and I am only on page 67. 850 pages OMG!
I started reading it with some trepidation because I have never even seen SF, let alone play it. I am not a table-top gamer in any way and I thought it wouldn't hold my attention very well. I was expecting something more technical and was pleasantly surprised. In the early turns it reads more like an event report and less like fiction but as time went on it seems Steve really got further into the story-telling aspect and has started incorporating personalities and racial flavour into the writing. I'm hooked. See you guys in another 3 weeks when I'm done reading it...
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Try http://www.pentarch.org/steve/CompleteDiary167.zip
Thanks! This should keep me busy for some time. Love to see where Aurora "came from".
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link seems to be broken anyone know how to get the diary. computer crashed and i had to wipe it clean
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link seems to be broken anyone know how to get the diary. computer crashed and i had to wipe it clean
The link in the post above yours seems to be working
Steve
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that worked steve thank you very much. any hope on getting more chapters wrote. how about a rewrite with the story of the monitor that went back in time through the gate. could rewrite that for 167 turns. lol
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that worked steve thank you very much. any hope on getting more chapters wrote. how about a rewrite with the story of the monitor that went back in time through the gate. could rewrite that for 167 turns. lol
Very little chance of any additional chapters. I finished writing the Rigellian Diary about 10 years ago :)
Steve
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Unfortunately, at least for me, the link seems to be very much dead.
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is there a new link ?
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Try http://www.pentarch.org/steve/CompleteDiary167.zip
This link works for me.
Edit: Just realized that's because it got changed right before I clicked it, ignore this. The first post works fine now.
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Yes, this is the correct link. I have updated the original post.
http://www.pentarch.org/steve/CompleteDiary167.zip
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works thank you reading :)))
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works thank you reading :)))
Bear in mind that was one of the first things I wrote so standard was pretty low :)
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works thank you reading :)))
Bear in mind that was one of the first things I wrote so standard was pretty low :)
Well, you have to start somewhere. Plus, I've always wondered what your Starfire campaigns looked like, seeing that this game inspired Aurora.
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works thank you reading :)))
Bear in mind that was one of the first things I wrote so standard was pretty low :)
I went back and took a look at my Terran Empire Campaign recently. It was written at the same time as Steve's Rigellian Campaign, although Steve's campaign came first, and, in fact, was what inspired me to begin writing up my campaign reports. I make no claims to brilliant writing now, but my writing was pretty rough back then.
Kurt
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Just finished the whole thing (on the third attempt), took a week of solid reading (good distraction while aurora loads it's turns). Very enjoyable read despite having never played starfire (the ship class descriptions are complete gibberish to me).
Some thoughts and questions
1. This is 300% dead right?
2. How did the bugs with their massive depth not crush the allies under massive waves of bugs (I know they tried but come on they had so many 40 billion pop systems)
3. How were you running the diplomacy elements (was it based on dice rolls or something or completely narrative?)
4. The Octopi will probably be able to hold of the Andromedans but I can't see them getting their systems back from the dragons or the Rigellians a war between the two groups will probably happen in the future
5. Where did the ideas for each race come from? (especially the races who got extended backstory i.e. the Rigellians and the Drax), and how did you work out their different tactical doctrines?
6. What was the final income of each race?
7. What was the next big threat for the Rigellians?
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Just finished the whole thing (on the third attempt), took a week of solid reading (good distraction while aurora loads it's turns). Very enjoyable read despite having never played starfire (the ship class descriptions are complete gibberish to me).
Some thoughts and questions
1. This is 300% dead right?
2. How did the bugs with their massive depth not crush the allies under massive waves of bugs (I know they tried but come on they had so many 40 billion pop systems)
3. How were you running the diplomacy elements (was it based on dice rolls or something or completely narrative?)
4. The Octopi will probably be able to hold of the Andromedans but I can't see them getting their systems back from the dragons or the Rigellians a war between the two groups will probably happen in the future
5. Where did the ideas for each race come from? (especially the races who got extended backstory i.e. the Rigellians and the Drax), and how did you work out their different tactical doctrines?
6. What was the final income of each race?
7. What was the next big threat for the Rigellians?
I'm rereading this at the moment for the first time in many years and I am surprised how much of it I had forgotten. I'm only about a fifth of the way in so no spoilers please :)
I can't remember the tactical details as this was twenty years ago. All the diplomacy, backstory, tactical doctrines, etc. were all role-played by me. My young son (who is 29 now) started the Octopus Empire and came up with the name, but lost interest quite quickly so I took over. I haven't maintained the Starfire Assistant code, although I still have it somewhere, so I can't check the final incomes. It ended eventually because it was taking a very long time to play each turn (several weeks).
I probably should try to get SA up and running again so I can see the maps :)
EDIT: Just opened the VB project for Starfire Assistant. Lots of load reference errors, probably due to all the missing files that are no longer supplied with Windows (such as OCX). Might be fun to find all those files and get it running again, but I should probably spend my time on C# Aurora :) Maybe some other time.
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Let us raise a glass to the fallen Octopi of the Ring system, and pledge vengeance in their name!
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I'm reading this currently and it is an interesting read. I can say that Aurora is clearly an improvement over Starfire when it comes to mechanics. But I thought this was a sort of a multiplayer game, I didn't realise you're role-playing all the different races/empires!
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Starfire had a pretty robust set of 'AI rules' for NPRs to operate by. . . except for the unfortunate tendency for them to go suicidally insane and attack you no matter what.*
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*If an NPR ran out of room to expand, they would grow steadily unhappier with you and eventually attack. If an NPR was particularly militaristic and/or xenophobic, they would eventually roll the tiny chance of jihad and attack. If an NPR ally liked you enough to ask for your help to attack another NPR ally, you were utterly screwed because refusing to help your ally made you untrustworthy (and some NPRs would grow steadily unhappier with you and eventually attack) whereas attacking your ally clearly made you untrustworthy and some NPRs would grow grow steadily unhappier with you and eventually attack.
And in case you thought you could break one or both alliances before (or instead of) getting dragged into the fight, guess what that did to your trustworthiness? There were very good reasons for the doctrine of "ally with the first race you meet, and annihilate the second" or the more common "Genocide (everyone) for Fun & Profit!" Turns out those other Rigellians were right all along.
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The download was eaten by Arachnids. I keep getting sent to Arkayn game design with a 404 nothing found message.
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The download was eaten by Arachnids. I keep getting sent to Arkayn game design with a 404 nothing found message.
It is not on the server. I am checking local hard drives to see if I have a copy.
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The download was eaten by Arachnids. I keep getting sent to Arkayn game design with a 404 nothing found message.
It is not on the server. I am checking local hard drives to see if I have a copy.
The attached looks like it should be the copy I grabbed a few years ago.
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The download was eaten by Arachnids. I keep getting sent to Arkayn game design with a 404 nothing found message.
It is not on the server. I am checking local hard drives to see if I have a copy.
The attached looks like it should be the copy I grabbed a few years ago.
Worked for me.
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I've been trying to upload the Updated Master Map for the Diary. This is something I patched together from sector maps long ago and uploaded in another thread. Since those links are all dead I've tried to put it here. Maybe it this board doesn't like the file size (3MB) but it doesn't seem to want to post. If anyone gets in touch with me via a reply maybe we can work out how to post it somewhere.
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You could always try to upload it on Imgur and share it via the [img] tag.
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https://imgur.com/a/wkBmG0i
I'll try it. A little bit of the info here I got from Steve years back, such as what colored rings around systems mean.