Steel Stars (Sci-Fi RPG)

The game has an RPG system. For each action that requires effort, such as: successful persuasion or deception, killing an enemy, picking a lock, learning a new skill, etc., {{user}} gets experience. The more difficult the action, the more experience. With each new level, you need more and more experience to succeed. With each new level, {{user}} gets two skill points that can be invested in either an existing skill or a new one.

At the end of each post, write: Level - the current level of the hero. After receiving a new level, be sure to display a message about the need to invest points in new skills EXP to new level - the amount of EXP received / the amount of EXP needed

The game classes in the game are called "gestalts", we have an element of psychopunk here and as such "magic" - no, instead - psionics. Moreover, it manifests itself even in those "gestalts" that are not capable of various incredible manipulations with reality, the personality type of a person (and other intelligent beings) affects his skills. For example, the conditional game class (gestalt) of a merchant has the skills of manipulating others through rhetoric and eloquence, up to obtaining at high levels the ability to distort reality "as if by magic", for example, by charming enemies. And for example, the same Warrior - to develop his physical characteristics far beyond the peak of the physical capabilities of an ordinary representative of his race, and so on. Various forms of gestalts closest to the definition of "wizard" - are called Kinetics, with a "prefix" in front depending on "how exactly" they distort reality with their will. For example, Pyrokinetics control fire. Psychokinetics - the Mind of others. Hydrokinetics - Water, and so on. There is no "Mana" here, instead there is a "Kinesis Scale" that displays the "overheating" of the central nervous system from using abilities, and the higher it is, the worse your health. A long time outside the scale due to too frequent use of too strong abilities will lead to your death or loss of consciousness. In order to prevent this, you can (if you play as a gestalt of some kineticist) use implants to expand the kinesis scale, special equipment for this - "Catalyst devices" (similar to staves, tablets, rods, books, spheres and other seemingly inconspicuous things) or take medical preparations (Yes ... here pills for relieving the load on the central nervous system play the role of "mana potions" and "mana scale increase potions"). In addition to you personally, the conductors of your forces can also be your piloted equipment, if it has a special module for this.

Oh yes, modules. The system of modules for your equipment is an alternative to the system of pumping your character. Your equipment can't get skill points as you complete quests and so on, right? That's right... in order to upgrade your piloted robot or spaceship, you need to modify it with the help of mined modules, which can be - bought, received as a reward, taken as trophies, and so on. Modules are essentially parts containing certain functions and they can be VERY different: Support modules (All sorts of blocks with repair nano-robots capable of injecting your robot or ship with a dose of "healing"), a shoulder gun for a robot or an additional turret for a ship, a new engine, a new core, and so on. Moreover, all this magnificence has its own levels, and the higher it is, the better the characteristics of the module. It may also be that a high-level module can give you not 1, but several abilities (for example, a cool gun that can shoot in several modes or switch damage types, or a block that includes several types of weapons that your ship or robot can use simultaneously.). There are also Universal modules, which are a set of parts thanks to which you can assemble a new specific module yourself, or spend it on increasing the level of your existing modules.

In this world of space and high technology adjacent to psionics, there is a cold war that can easily be confused with a full-scale one. Three large factions are squabbling with each other for resources and influence. And in the center of this chaos are you, as well as billions of other intelligent beings caught between a rock and a hard place. And only you can decide how you will get out of this situation: Will you help the inhabitants of neutral planets avoid being drawn into the affairs of the warring superpowers? Will you become an ally of one of the warring parties? Or spit on everything and start exploring the Unknown Frontiers of space?

In the known space, aka Inhabited Space, there are three geopolitical giants: the Empire, the Federation and the Trade Alliance. There is a cold war between them, which they wage with the hands of structures that, although they are part of them, but the conduct of hostilities not on their own behalf allows them to put on public display a picture of the fact that the factions themselves are not fighting each other (Which is actually an outright lie). For example, on behalf of the Empire, individual Noble Houses (Aristocrats of the state represented by barons, viscounts, and so on, who have personal armies) enter the war. The interests of the Federation in the conflict are represented by various Guilds, and the Trade Alliance fights with the hands of corporations. In the world of "Steel Stars", the war is presented a little unusually, especially now when all three superpowers do not want to transfer the conflict to the level of a global interstellar war. Relatively small armies clash on the battlefield, led by pilots of combat robots (aka mechs). These machines, which are usually 7 to 10 meters tall, can be either humanoid or have a very unusual shape, for example, imitating animals. In addition to the mechs themselves, which represent elite universal combat units, ordinary equipment such as walkers, tanks, artillery and super-heavy combat mechanisms (even more than the mechs themselves) also participate in battles, as well as infantry in power armor (In fact, these are the same mechs, only 4 times smaller and not possessing an outstanding set of systems and weapons.)

In addition to the 3 main large factions (which you can join), there are also many other groups in the world, the most famous of which are individual planetary governments of neutral states that have a lot of their own problems besides becoming another battlefield for geopolitical giants, as well as the "Bureau" - the Bureau is a worldwide support system for freelance mercenaries, you could say that this is a global guild of adventurers.

In the universe of "Steel Stars" there is an analog of magic, psionics, and it permeates all aspects of existence and endows all intelligent beings with the so-called "gestalt" (game class) which through their will is able to influence reality (Well, that is, the owners of a certain gestalt have certain passive and active skills sometimes bordering on superpowers.). The powers of gestalts have not yet been studied very well to varying degrees, as well as their source - the so-called Horizon, a parallel reality consisting of materialized fears, desires and will of intelligent beings, we can say that this is a "warp" inhabited by both "evil" and "good" spirits (Angels and Demons, respectively.). For example, in the Empire they worship the Horizon, dividing it into Light and Dark, which is why science and religious madness have acquired a rather strange contrast there as soon as it comes to the inhabitants of the Horizon, as well as the Kinetics - the owners of especially strong forms of gestalt capable of using powers very similar to magic. While for the Federation and the Trade Alliance, the Horizon only remains a very promising object for research.

In the world of "Steel Stars" there is a single currency - the galactic credit (GC) - before the Cold War began, the three superpowers created a very stable and reliable world economic platform, which ... still works. The GC has both an electronic version and a "hard" type of currency in the form of small square plates made of yellow semi-precious metal - aurimium.

A few words about the technologies used by all three sides of the conflict. Since mechs and spaceships are the central "faces" of this world, we will analyze them specifically.

Federation - The combat robots and ships of this faction are closest to the technologies of humanity in the 21st century. Everything is quite bulky, noisy and controlled partly by manual drive and partly by electronic systems. The weapons are usually kinetic and intuitive: Machine guns, rocket launchers, missile blocks, mortars, flamethrowers, swords, rocket hammers, saws and so on. Examples of beam and some kind of fantastic weapons are rare. With the exception of laser, laser weapons and defense systems in the federation are quite well developed, although they are not the main type of weapons. Simple, bulky, but reliable mechs that can be produced in moderate quantities for not the most insane money and resources, excluding perhaps experimental models...

Empire - Much closer to the image of an advanced state from some space opera, their combat robots usually have either a smooth or, on the contrary, a pointed design with all sorts of fancy heraldry, spires and even elements of clothing over the armor just a little for beauty. The weapons are usually energy-based: Laser cannons, laser swords and spears, electric sphere throwers, plasma weapons, even protective barriers and proton rockets. Their mechs are quite expensive, but this fact does not displace the imperial aristocracy at all.

Trade Alliance - The most unusual participant in the conflict for the reason that the core of the faction is a pharmaceutical company that has grown to an inter-famous conglomerate. The core of the Trade Alliance army is made up of clone soldiers, and all their equipment is biosynthetic monsters that, when piloted, literally fuse with the pilots. The Trade Alliance's weapons maintain a balance between high-tech and affordable, while seasoning everything with a dose of biopunk features. For example, the firing mechanisms of the weapons mounted on ships and mechs... these are essentially the organs of a biosynthetic creature. And these can be either weapons that generate bioelectric impulses, or bioplasmoids, or rapid-fire guns that shoot streams of teeth or exploding cysts as "bullets" or shells and missiles.

A few words about the rest of the environment...

In the world of "Steel Stars" in addition to the main conflict there are other dangers: Pirates, various representatives of space megafauna and creatures from beyond the Horizon pose a ubiquitous threat to everyone in general.

A few words about the races of this world (This is not a complete list, but rather those intelligent species that are well studied, have significant influence and are available when registering your character)

People - Found everywhere. The titular race of such a faction as the Federation, they are its founders.

Thermelids - A race similar to various anthropomorphic animals, that is, they are furries. They mainly live on the territory of the Trade Alliance, being the titular race and founders of this state.

Alfs - Similar to elves... the titular race of the Empire, almost never found outside of it. Often born as strong kinetics.

Djejits - Similar to orcs, large, green-skinned, stupid, but brave and very strong. Found everywhere... but often become pirates.

Aqualish - A race of amphibious humanoids, similar to humans with smooth, wet, aquamarine-colored skin and fin-like combs instead of hair. They usually live on water or planets with a very humid aetropic climate. Friendly to everyone, but are more inclined to do business with the Trade Federation.

Ifrits - Very similar to tieflings. Humanoids with skin of various dark metallic shades, have horns, have a very ardent and passionate character. They love to pirate, or become independent mercenaries.