"Space empires, what do you want to know?" Topic

When creating a race or empire it needs to have more than a passing resemblance to a historical one (or fusion), space Romans or collectivist military state for example.

For a race/empire to come into its own what do people want to know about it?

Why might they be wearing clothes?

When creating a race or empire it needs to have more than a passing resemblance to a historical one

May I ask why you think this?

Tech level, xenophobia rating, markets, compatibility with humanspace(the 'Kirk-ometer'), previous wars/diplomacy, allies and enemies, planetary conditions, ship types and weaponry.

And would a shipment of old dirty Nikes be a foodgroup to them(I'm stuck with 2 tons of it)?

Something like this?

Is this for an RPG or set of wargame rules? If a wargame, then "Space Romans" is more than adequate. Of course, I'm more interested in the rules than fluff.

Al | ravenfeastsmeadhall.blogspot.com

" "Space Romans" is more than adequate."

You mean:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulan

Space Persians or space Aztecs.

Space Mongols? Oh… that's Klingons right? ;) :)

Captain

Footware as food lol

And didn't reread my predicate before posting. it is the opposite of what I wanted to convey. oh well. time to eat some Adidas.

You asked: "For a race/empire to come into its own what do people want to know about it?" And I answered.

For a RPG, all the information that can be given is great, as it helps the players get into character. For a wargame, a name and the rules to play it are all that that the players need. That's it. A short explanation as to why its stats are different from other races/empires might be useful for the curious. "Space Romans" is all the fluff required.

Sort of depends on how "alien" it is, does it not?

The further you get away from humanoid the more alien it becomes no? In that case is there a point at which we can't really even imagine "Romans in Space" or whatever. It would seem to me that the first questions to be asked would be

1. Do we recognize them (or they us) as sentient?

2. What are they in space for. Doesn't always need to be to get space or resources. Could be for other things, all of which is important if you are going to have competition between races. Races may require different resources such that they aren't in competition at all.

3. Are the technologies in conflict, or counter-useable. That is can we use anything of their society (or they ours) if we took it over?

How about a race of tiny pewter creatures who typically remain stationary, and whose favorite pastime is moving large mammals slowly around a room.

My god! The invasion has already €€€¥¥£££##..?"??