Hearing about people wanting to add more player content to their Elite experience and people wanting more roleplay involved, I had come up with an idea for a third party site that could cater to this in a unique way. Along the way I brainstormed with Surly Badger (of the Fuel Rats) about it and came up with what I think could be a workable idea.
Essentially this is a means for multiple Game Master types to run adventures within the Elite Dangerous game for any number of players, both cooperatively and competitively.
Unfortunately I don't have the technical skills to set up such a website, or the time to organize it. But I'm sure some fledgling Elite groups might be looking for some kind of structure to work within, but need inspiration. For you I present:
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This is a proposal for character driven Role Playing content within the Elite: Dangerous (ED) universe, involving interaction with players and environment that is true to the scope of ED, and the kind of adventures many players would like to imagine themselves having.
FORMAT
An external website, designed to look like the Bulletin Board at a space station, though without the space station backdrop so that it’s not out of place being accessed anywhere.
This would include:
CURATORS
A Curator is a shadowy figure contracting out Commanders to achieve their own ends—what that end might be varies from Curator to Curator. They might be benevolent or self-serving or homicidal in nature. They also may work with other Curators to achieve ends or against them to sabotage their efforts.
The Curators are a loose knit organization of influential people who tend to work behind the scenes. Unlike Powers who seek control in highly visible ways, Curators know that true power is wielded in the shadows. Curators are as likely to work together as they are to work against one another, though always through their pawns, the Commanders. It is considered poor taste and ill sport for Curators to directly engage one another—one never knows when ones enemy might need to (temporarily at least) need to be ones friend.
In game terms a Curator is a game master (GM) who work in tandem with other GMs to create an overarching storyline of which the Commanders (Players) who are working for them are a part.
CURATOR PROFILES
While not visible to Commanders, Curators can see other Curator profiles. In fact it’s a key part of determining how two Curators might interact, either cooperatively or competitively when planning a Mission or Campaign. An example of a Curator profile might include categories like this:
My Loyalties lean towards
( ) Federation ( ) Hudson ( ) Winters
( ) Empire ( ) Patreus ( ) Duvall ( ) Torval ( ) Lavingy
( ) Alliance ( ) Mahon
( ) Independent ( ) Delaine ( ) Yong-Rui ( ) Antal
( ) Myself
My ambitions for the galaxy are largely
( ) helping others, promoting galactic stability
( ) protecting my Faction/Power’s best interests
( ) scientific exploration and expansion of knowledge
( ) keeping the gears of the economy turning
( ) to watch it BURN
CMDRs currently Acquired could best be described as
( ) Explorers
( ) Fighters
( ) Traders
( ) Jack of all Trades
CURATOR PUBLIC PROFILE
Curators are normally very secretive and do not let too much be known about them or what they do. However, they might want to advertise themselves to CMDRs in a more general way to reflect a public persona. This would consist of a picture and written description of their background and ambitions and what they typically offer to CMDRs. Unlike the detailed profile, however, it does not necessarily have to be the truth.
COMMANDERS
Commanders (CMDRs) are the players and the means to an end for a Curator. A group of CMDRs are often referred to as a Wing (Party). There is no reason that CMDRs in a wing have to be friends or share the same ethos, either with the fellow CMDRs or the Curator. The nature of their relationships and interaction are a matter of roleplaying and character.
CMDR PROFILES
Prospective CMDRs wishing to hang out in the Shadow Lounge (see below) will need to fill out a profile. This profile can only be viewed by Curators and allows them to determine ahead of time if someone is a potential candidate for their Missions. An example of a CMDR profile might include categories like this:
Missions I specialize in:
( ) Assassinations
( ) Stealth
( ) Resource reallocation
( ) Rapid transport
( ) Discovery
My Loyalties lean towards:
( ) Federation
( ) Empire
( ) Alliance
( ) Independent
( ) Credits
Ships types currently at my disposal:
( ) Fast
( ) Long range
( ) Tank
( ) Stealth
( ) Cargo
COMMANDER PUBLIC PROFILE
A CMDR might also want to advertise themselves to other CMDRs and have some limited information made public. This would consist of a picture and written description of their background and capabilities and what they have to offer. It does not necessarily have to be the same information that is provide to the Curators, which must be truthful.
MISSIONS
The story is advanced by Curators providing CMDRs with Missions. The success of these missions would provide the player with additional story information and possibly have an impact on how future events unfold.
There are three key kinds of Missions Curators can provide. Low, Mid, and High Level
Low Level: These are not dissimilar to bulletin board missions found at stations—involving interchangeable locations for a player to dock at, followed by an indication of what kind of mission to take from the bulletin board. These do not usually affect the main storyline but do afford CMDRs with some kind of tangible bonus or additional information relevant to the main story arc. These are often handles solo by CMDRs, but there’s no reason they can’t team up for them.
Mid Level: These are more hand crafted assignments with story relevant information provided by a Curator, but are of a nature that time is not imperative. They can be given to solo CMDRs or groups.
High Level: These involve direct communication with the Curator via a chat room and often involve multiple CMDRs. These can also involve other Curators with their own CMDRs, working either with or against them. These tend to provide key moments of story elements that will lead to the next stage of the campaign for everyone involved. This requires a degree of organization to make sure as many CMDRs as possible can take part at the same time.
CAMPAIGNS
A series of interconnected Missions comprises a Campaign. Curators plan out campaigns beforehand, either in detail or in general. Either way allowances for alterations should be kept open depending on how previous missions went. A campaign can be run by a single Curator or planned cooperatively with a group of Curators.
Cooperative or Competitive Campaigns should be well thought out beforehand, and can be composed of Low, Mid and High Level missions.
Example: One group might be mining for raw materials that will go towards production of a special weapon (Low) and later transferring machinery to an ally at a world with a secret base (Mid) then later picking up the completed components from a different ally to return to the home system for this mission to be complete. Pick-up and delivery of the weapon must be made at a certain time. But this might not turn out to be a Mid-level mission…
A competing group, however, might be taking down NPCs from a certain faction hoping to collect intel on the first group’s activities (Low). After a threshold is reached, they are informed the intel they need is located in a black box in a certain system and need to search Weak Signal Sources until it’s found (Low) then return it to an allied operative who will be able to decrypt the information (Mid). This information will give them the location of the secret base and the home system of the first group.
With this information, the second group could try to intercept the first group’s completed weapon at their secret base and/or home system and prevent its completion, thus making this a High level mission.
FAILURE
Failure of a Mission does not end a Campaign, but can make things more difficult the CMDRs later on. This can take on a number of forms ranging from more difficult objectives to make up for what was lost (ie needing 1000 tons transferred somewhere instead of 500), providing information to other parties working against the CMDR and his Wing, or increasing the difficulty of a High level mission by adding in extra enemy ships (6 when only 4 were initially intended).
THE SHADOW LOUNGE
The Shadow Lounge is a chat room where everyone, Curator and CMDR alike, can chat and discuss things—a metaphorical tavern for roleplayers. Curators can use this as a means to discretely take a CMDR aside and see if they’re the kind of person they’re looking for, and offer them a Mission.
CMDRs can look for other CMDRs to Wing up with, either on a temporary or ongoing basis. Some will be happy with any payment that comes in the course of their game, while others might hire themselves out as mercenaries to CMDRs on a temporary basis, asking for additional payment for their time.
CMDRs discussing Curator related missions in the Lounge are warned that other CMDRs there might be actively working against you.
Depending on how crowded the Lounge gets, there are plenty of other rooms connected to the Lounge where smaller groups can move to and still be public, or make them exclusive access-only, depending on what kind of business or pleasure is on their minds.
SECURE CHANNELS
Secure Channels are how Curators should conduct all Mission related business with their CMDRs, working similar to the Shadow Lounge, but exclusive in terms of who can join. (Private Chat)
ACQUIRING A COMMANDER
Curators do not “hire” CMDRs, they Acquire them. Hiring implies regular payment for services is required and that is not always the case. Payment can come, and can be lucrative, but more often than not a Curator wants someone who is loyal, not a mercenary. There is nothing stopping such a loyal CMDR from hiring mercenaries for their Wing (out of their own pocket), but whoever is considered the primary contact with a Curator is considered to be a loyal agent, understanding that not all rewards in life are gold and platinum.
When Acquiring a CMDR, it is important for a Curator to provide some simple early test missions, either Low or possibly Mid level. (Mid level missions in this case should never involve other Curators unless in a truly cooperative fashion). It is important that the Curator and CMDR get to know one another and understand what is being asked of them, to prevent tempers flaring and a premature dissolving of their relationship.
RECRUITING A WING
CMDRs aligned with a Curator will often need help in achieving a mission. While Curators might Acquire all the required people for a mission themselves, they are just as likely to Acquire a lead contact and allow them to fill out their Wing as they see fit.
CMDRs seeking to Recruit a Wing are encouraged to either use the Shadow Lounge or Bulletin Boards to find like-minded partners. CMDRs however do not have access to CMDR Profiles the way Curators do, meaning they need to be cautious that the CMDR they are taking on board is who they claim to be. You might find yourself unexpected bringing along an assassin who has your name on his list.
Essentially this is a means for multiple Game Master types to run adventures within the Elite Dangerous game for any number of players, both cooperatively and competitively.
Unfortunately I don't have the technical skills to set up such a website, or the time to organize it. But I'm sure some fledgling Elite groups might be looking for some kind of structure to work within, but need inspiration. For you I present:
-------
The Adventurer’s Guild
This is a proposal for character driven Role Playing content within the Elite: Dangerous (ED) universe, involving interaction with players and environment that is true to the scope of ED, and the kind of adventures many players would like to imagine themselves having.
FORMAT
An external website, designed to look like the Bulletin Board at a space station, though without the space station backdrop so that it’s not out of place being accessed anywhere.
This would include:
- General game world information and FAQs
- Campaign pages which Curators can update and modify their current games. Access can be public or restricted to only their CMDRs
- Profiles for CMDRs and Curators, though only Curators have access to those outside of their own. A “public” profile might also be available, with more limited information.
- Mission Pages where CMDRs can access information about
- Message board for general information sharing between Curators and Commanders
- Chat Room for general conversation or game related content.
CURATORS
A Curator is a shadowy figure contracting out Commanders to achieve their own ends—what that end might be varies from Curator to Curator. They might be benevolent or self-serving or homicidal in nature. They also may work with other Curators to achieve ends or against them to sabotage their efforts.
The Curators are a loose knit organization of influential people who tend to work behind the scenes. Unlike Powers who seek control in highly visible ways, Curators know that true power is wielded in the shadows. Curators are as likely to work together as they are to work against one another, though always through their pawns, the Commanders. It is considered poor taste and ill sport for Curators to directly engage one another—one never knows when ones enemy might need to (temporarily at least) need to be ones friend.
In game terms a Curator is a game master (GM) who work in tandem with other GMs to create an overarching storyline of which the Commanders (Players) who are working for them are a part.
CURATOR PROFILES
While not visible to Commanders, Curators can see other Curator profiles. In fact it’s a key part of determining how two Curators might interact, either cooperatively or competitively when planning a Mission or Campaign. An example of a Curator profile might include categories like this:
My Loyalties lean towards
( ) Federation ( ) Hudson ( ) Winters
( ) Empire ( ) Patreus ( ) Duvall ( ) Torval ( ) Lavingy
( ) Alliance ( ) Mahon
( ) Independent ( ) Delaine ( ) Yong-Rui ( ) Antal
( ) Myself
My ambitions for the galaxy are largely
( ) helping others, promoting galactic stability
( ) protecting my Faction/Power’s best interests
( ) scientific exploration and expansion of knowledge
( ) keeping the gears of the economy turning
( ) to watch it BURN
CMDRs currently Acquired could best be described as
( ) Explorers
( ) Fighters
( ) Traders
( ) Jack of all Trades
CURATOR PUBLIC PROFILE
Curators are normally very secretive and do not let too much be known about them or what they do. However, they might want to advertise themselves to CMDRs in a more general way to reflect a public persona. This would consist of a picture and written description of their background and ambitions and what they typically offer to CMDRs. Unlike the detailed profile, however, it does not necessarily have to be the truth.
COMMANDERS
Commanders (CMDRs) are the players and the means to an end for a Curator. A group of CMDRs are often referred to as a Wing (Party). There is no reason that CMDRs in a wing have to be friends or share the same ethos, either with the fellow CMDRs or the Curator. The nature of their relationships and interaction are a matter of roleplaying and character.
CMDR PROFILES
Prospective CMDRs wishing to hang out in the Shadow Lounge (see below) will need to fill out a profile. This profile can only be viewed by Curators and allows them to determine ahead of time if someone is a potential candidate for their Missions. An example of a CMDR profile might include categories like this:
Missions I specialize in:
( ) Assassinations
( ) Stealth
( ) Resource reallocation
( ) Rapid transport
( ) Discovery
My Loyalties lean towards:
( ) Federation
( ) Empire
( ) Alliance
( ) Independent
( ) Credits
Ships types currently at my disposal:
( ) Fast
( ) Long range
( ) Tank
( ) Stealth
( ) Cargo
COMMANDER PUBLIC PROFILE
A CMDR might also want to advertise themselves to other CMDRs and have some limited information made public. This would consist of a picture and written description of their background and capabilities and what they have to offer. It does not necessarily have to be the same information that is provide to the Curators, which must be truthful.
MISSIONS
The story is advanced by Curators providing CMDRs with Missions. The success of these missions would provide the player with additional story information and possibly have an impact on how future events unfold.
There are three key kinds of Missions Curators can provide. Low, Mid, and High Level
Low Level: These are not dissimilar to bulletin board missions found at stations—involving interchangeable locations for a player to dock at, followed by an indication of what kind of mission to take from the bulletin board. These do not usually affect the main storyline but do afford CMDRs with some kind of tangible bonus or additional information relevant to the main story arc. These are often handles solo by CMDRs, but there’s no reason they can’t team up for them.
Mid Level: These are more hand crafted assignments with story relevant information provided by a Curator, but are of a nature that time is not imperative. They can be given to solo CMDRs or groups.
High Level: These involve direct communication with the Curator via a chat room and often involve multiple CMDRs. These can also involve other Curators with their own CMDRs, working either with or against them. These tend to provide key moments of story elements that will lead to the next stage of the campaign for everyone involved. This requires a degree of organization to make sure as many CMDRs as possible can take part at the same time.
CAMPAIGNS
A series of interconnected Missions comprises a Campaign. Curators plan out campaigns beforehand, either in detail or in general. Either way allowances for alterations should be kept open depending on how previous missions went. A campaign can be run by a single Curator or planned cooperatively with a group of Curators.
Cooperative or Competitive Campaigns should be well thought out beforehand, and can be composed of Low, Mid and High Level missions.
Example: One group might be mining for raw materials that will go towards production of a special weapon (Low) and later transferring machinery to an ally at a world with a secret base (Mid) then later picking up the completed components from a different ally to return to the home system for this mission to be complete. Pick-up and delivery of the weapon must be made at a certain time. But this might not turn out to be a Mid-level mission…
A competing group, however, might be taking down NPCs from a certain faction hoping to collect intel on the first group’s activities (Low). After a threshold is reached, they are informed the intel they need is located in a black box in a certain system and need to search Weak Signal Sources until it’s found (Low) then return it to an allied operative who will be able to decrypt the information (Mid). This information will give them the location of the secret base and the home system of the first group.
With this information, the second group could try to intercept the first group’s completed weapon at their secret base and/or home system and prevent its completion, thus making this a High level mission.
FAILURE
Failure of a Mission does not end a Campaign, but can make things more difficult the CMDRs later on. This can take on a number of forms ranging from more difficult objectives to make up for what was lost (ie needing 1000 tons transferred somewhere instead of 500), providing information to other parties working against the CMDR and his Wing, or increasing the difficulty of a High level mission by adding in extra enemy ships (6 when only 4 were initially intended).
THE SHADOW LOUNGE
The Shadow Lounge is a chat room where everyone, Curator and CMDR alike, can chat and discuss things—a metaphorical tavern for roleplayers. Curators can use this as a means to discretely take a CMDR aside and see if they’re the kind of person they’re looking for, and offer them a Mission.
CMDRs can look for other CMDRs to Wing up with, either on a temporary or ongoing basis. Some will be happy with any payment that comes in the course of their game, while others might hire themselves out as mercenaries to CMDRs on a temporary basis, asking for additional payment for their time.
CMDRs discussing Curator related missions in the Lounge are warned that other CMDRs there might be actively working against you.
Depending on how crowded the Lounge gets, there are plenty of other rooms connected to the Lounge where smaller groups can move to and still be public, or make them exclusive access-only, depending on what kind of business or pleasure is on their minds.
SECURE CHANNELS
Secure Channels are how Curators should conduct all Mission related business with their CMDRs, working similar to the Shadow Lounge, but exclusive in terms of who can join. (Private Chat)
ACQUIRING A COMMANDER
Curators do not “hire” CMDRs, they Acquire them. Hiring implies regular payment for services is required and that is not always the case. Payment can come, and can be lucrative, but more often than not a Curator wants someone who is loyal, not a mercenary. There is nothing stopping such a loyal CMDR from hiring mercenaries for their Wing (out of their own pocket), but whoever is considered the primary contact with a Curator is considered to be a loyal agent, understanding that not all rewards in life are gold and platinum.
When Acquiring a CMDR, it is important for a Curator to provide some simple early test missions, either Low or possibly Mid level. (Mid level missions in this case should never involve other Curators unless in a truly cooperative fashion). It is important that the Curator and CMDR get to know one another and understand what is being asked of them, to prevent tempers flaring and a premature dissolving of their relationship.
RECRUITING A WING
CMDRs aligned with a Curator will often need help in achieving a mission. While Curators might Acquire all the required people for a mission themselves, they are just as likely to Acquire a lead contact and allow them to fill out their Wing as they see fit.
CMDRs seeking to Recruit a Wing are encouraged to either use the Shadow Lounge or Bulletin Boards to find like-minded partners. CMDRs however do not have access to CMDR Profiles the way Curators do, meaning they need to be cautious that the CMDR they are taking on board is who they claim to be. You might find yourself unexpected bringing along an assassin who has your name on his list.
