| Seth, the game side of things is really just a side benefit to what I want to see and that's a universe travel model, in action. Most sci fi shows are easy to pick apart which is fair enough since they are stories not science. Even in BSG, they spent how many months constantly jumping, then all of a sudden starbuck was able to jump back to caprica very quickly? I'm sure you could come up with a reason for it, but I would probably find it somewhat contrived and lacking in logic.
I'm interesting in seeing how a universe might be colonised assuming travel between stars was possible. I chose jump gates into to really force travel between 2 points, ie star systems, rather then the vaguenesses of intermediate steps or travel time. Other styles of FTL travel might be something to look at, but I think jump gate type system represent a simple first step to take.
Personally I think it also makes more sense, though obviously it's all theoretical. It just seems that if you're shifting a certain object, of a certain size across a certain distance to arrive within a certain time, then its going to take a certain amount of energy. That energy source is better to come from outside the object itself since it automatically reduces the mass in the object and removes any limits to your power source as well.
Zora, I did mention the idea of limiting the number of connections a system can have, though I think I prefer the idea of escalating costs. first 2 to build to a system pay base costs, next person has to pay twice the base costs, so maybe at that price it's not worth it, or will result in greatly reduced profitability.
Ideally, I'd like to see cooperation be a very attractive option. So while people might be competing with each other all the time, there will be good reasons for teaming up. Like 2 people going halves in constructing a 10 ly jump rather then each building 5 ly jumps and they get to share the route. |