Adapted from Grimdark Future Lore - One-Page Rules and Starfinder Playtest
As a Game Master, I accumulate a lot of game-related paraphernalia; Miniatures are among my favorites. I have a lot of miniatures I want to get more use out of. I scrubbed the internet for miniature agnostic games that let me squeeze more fun out of gaming accessories I spent my money on. I was aware of One-Page Rules and ran into them while searching.
I like what this enterprise offers regarding extracting value from my collection. The Army builder provides options for creating custom, balanced armies in addition to the officially supported army ranges. While the game setting seems like other popular game material at a cursory glance, this game is starting to step away from its inspiration with the publication of the Grimdark Future World book.
One-Page rules encourages players to bring whatever miniatures they have to the table; the ability to craft custom army lists also lets players manifest their armies from other games. The Grimdark setting has plenty of blank space where players can find room for their custom armies with their own lore. To take advantage of this burgeoning setting I would like to flesh out this setting to support a game of Starfinder 2e.
Starfall Galaxy
The galaxy is home to countless species and factions that have evolved over millennia into an ever-shifting maze of rivalries, alliances, rebellions, and treaties. Some have been here since immemorial, while others are more recent arrivals, whether they migrated from faraway reaches or sprang unannounced from a wormhole.
The galaxy is vast, and much of it remains uncharted. Yet, a trade, travel, and communication network has been established through advanced technology and enterprising travelers, reaching through countless worlds. As a result of this network, the galaxy is commonly understood as being split into three broadly concentric zones: the Inner Sphere, the Outer Sphere, and the Frontier.
The Inner Sphere
This is the galactic core, home to prosperous civilizations and planet-spanning city-states. The law of the Council binds it and is a hub of trade, industry, culture, and knowledge. Despite its wealth, poverty and inequality exist, and conflict simmers beneath the surface.
The Outer Sphere
Further from the center, the Outer Sphere is a tapestry of empires, kingdoms, and tribes. It is a harsher region where conflicts are often settled through warfare. Control of resources is key, and citizens toil to support their armed forces.
The Frontier
The furthest reaches of the galaxy are uncharted and unexplored. It is a place of both peril and riches, where travelers may find ancient ruins, secret laboratories, precious minerals, and dangerous creatures. Some return with great wealth or knowledge, while others are never seen again.
Galactic Sectors
The galaxy has been divided into a number of sectors, many of which are filled with their own societies, not unlike Sirius. Sectors are not official political divisions but rather represent areas of space that are heavily interconnected with shared history. Some sectors are dominated by a single society or species, while in others, there may be hundreds of factions, each presiding over a small collection of systems.
Sectors usually possess enough habitable planets that those living there can support themselves without requiring vast interstellar trade routes to support themselves. However, some unique luxuries may be sought after even in the most distant reaches of the galaxy. As a result, trade between neighboring sectors is commonplace, but it is usually limited to highly precious commodities. Travel between sectors is viewed the same way. The majority of people are content to remain within their own sector, or even their home world, their entire lives. Anything from outside the sector is often viewed as exotic.
Galactic Travel
Wormholes
Wormholes are natural phenomena that connect two points in space, allowing for instant travel between them. They vary in size and stability, sometimes collapsing shortly after opening, and can appear anywhere, including on planets. Some species utilize wormholes for travel, while they often herald the arrival of Daemons. Despite their unpredictability, wormholes provide new routes for exploration and trade across the galaxy, making them a common means of interstellar travel. Various methods for creating artificial wormholes exist, though they can also be unstable and highly energy-intensive. While specific technology can trigger their formation, mysteries around wormholes still abound, highlighting the dual nature of their potential for both exploration and risk.Slow Travel
Though most species have learned to take advantage of this method of travel, some have developed other means. This process is often slower, with travel between nearby stars often taking months or years. Species that rely on these alternatives may use generational ships, cloning, or long periods of stasis. While this is a far slower voyage, it can allow a species to exist and spread outside the wormhole network connecting much of the galaxy, allowing them to exist in relative peace and isolation. This can sometimes lead to the discovery of new civilizations, even in well-explored areas of the galaxy, when previously ignored stars are suddenly connected by naturally occurring wormholes or sought out by daring explorers.Jumpgates
Many species have been troubled by the instability of the wormholes which they relied upon for interstellar travel. Great efforts were made to develop reliable wormholes which could be maintained indefinitely, allowing for the creation of secure and consistent routes between countless systems.This research led to Jumpgates, a technology capable of stabilizing wormholes. While Jumpgates are widespread throughout the galaxy, the particular design and method of creating them varies significantly, ranging from technology to psychic powers, to even feats of biological engineering in some rare cases. Across the majority of star-faring species, Jumpgate technology or some equivalents have been a vital development. Some Jumpgates have been discovered that predate any known species in the Sirius Sector, with ancient circuitry and exquisitely carved stone. Others are much rougher, such as the temperamental and unadorned “scrap gates” sometimes found among Outer Sphere scavenger species, notorious for “flickering” mid-transit and bisecting cargo or, occasionally, an unlucky traveller.
Gravlane
These are momentum amplifiers that increase the speed of vessels to near-light speed along a set path. This allows ships and goods to travel rapidly within a star system, connecting key worlds, asteroids and Jumpgates. The safety and reliability of Gravlanes have ensured their place as a means of short-range travel within systems, and they are a common sight throughout the galaxy.
This complicated network of Jumpgates and Gravlanes connects the Inner and Outer Spheres, allowing travelers and cargo to navigate across space. However, this is not necessarily an easy feat, and few individuals can plot out a navigational course at a speed rivaling a computer. As such, automation and mechanical assistance are commonplace. These calculations can optimize travel routes, avoiding areas flagged for hazards like piracy, stellar flares, and ensuring their destination is reached in a timely fashion.
Navigation Systems
The navigation computer arrays are stunning in their complexity, and upon docking in a new system, a captain typically would update their ship computer with all of the known routes and hazards of the nearby systems to the one they arrived in.Trail-Scribe
However, not all natural wormholes or abandoned Jumpgates have been plotted. Trail-Scribe is a popular career path, seeking to chart the star systems and routes between them. Their cartographic recorders can be as valuable as their entire starship, or more.Trail-Scribes face numerous risks, even without accounting for raiders or void-born wildlife, since running out of fuel or equipment outside of chartered space can often be a death sentence.
Spacecraft
The galaxy is populated by various spacecraft, reflecting the numerous species that operate them. Ships range from sleek diplomatic shuttles to heavily armed battlecruisers, alongside many merchant vessels transporting goods. Each species’ ships often display similar designs influenced by physical needs, culture, and engineering practices. Various advanced engines power these ships, requiring efficient energy sources. Fueling stations are common hubs for countless vessels seeking supply, though attacking them can trigger a formidable defense from merchant ships. Beyond the busy routes, mercenaries offer protection for cargo shipments. Starships are fascinating due to their two design approaches: modular, customizable, standard-sized, and bespoke vessels that feature artistic and unique designs.Society
As technology progresses, societies tend to adopt a dominant language while still maintaining numerous regional dialects and minority languages. The history of Sirius shows that communication advancements can help diplomats resolve conflicts, but misunderstandings can lead to the downfall of empires. The Galactic Standard Language has emerged as the primary means of communication in Sirius, facilitating distress signals and hails across the galaxy, even for ships operating within their home systems.Translating tools remain crucial for travelers, with advanced devices capable of translating thousands of languages swiftly, allowing conversations as if fluently spoken. These translators are widespread in diverse gathering places across Sirius, yet they struggle with subtle metaphors and complex meanings, particularly between distant cultures. While communication can be simple between closely related species, misunderstandings can still occur but are often resolved with apologies and understanding.
Technology
The text explores the challenges and solutions of interstellar communication among galactic civilizations. It highlights the use of various methods like wormholes and quantum entanglement to facilitate quick communication over vast distances. The text emphasizes the ongoing emergence of new technologies and their impact on societies, noting how advances can provide economic and military advantages. However, despite the rapid flow of information, diverse technologies exist due to differing species' physical capacities, resource availability, and industrial capabilities. While some can innovate with exotic materials, many factions struggle to access or implement advanced technologies due to limitations in resources and infrastructure.The galaxy hosts a rich tapestry of ancient devices from long-extinct civilizations, sometimes leading to significant technological breakthroughs. However, knowledge can be overlooked or forgotten as trends change, often lost to history or revived by curious scholars. The immense variety of worlds and cultures ensures significant societal differences, often influenced by species, social status, or environment.
Cultural and technological exchanges thrive, especially on border worlds, through trade and migration. Capital worlds showcase diverse subcultures stemming from various factions. Daily experiences can vary widely, even among those on the same planet, highlighting a vibrant cultural landscape.
Trading stations amplify this diversity as they become melting pots for numerous species. Closer to the galactic core, innovation flourishes, driven by cultural exchanges, and advances like environmental suits are common to allow interspecies interactions. Although technology near the core is cutting-edge, its spread slows in other regions like Sirius, where local industry limitations affect innovation adoption. Ultimately, diversity informs technological interpretation and adaptation, intertwining modern technology with traditional practices.
Economy
The galaxy's interconnectedness fosters a rich diversity of exchanges and innovations among its inhabitants, who strive for a brighter future despite their differences. From busy cities like Lucipol to distant mining ships, varied ways of life thrive. Trade drives the interconnectivity of systems, making accurate information about active Jumpgates and political climates crucial. Skilled mercenaries serve both as guides and protectors, navigating potential conflicts.While self-sufficiency is common, many systems still rely on imports, particularly for resources unique to specific areas. Galactic Credits have streamlined external trade, serving as a common currency among factions and visitors. Specialized stores near spaceports cater to travelers' needs, allowing them to purchase essentials or sell goods.
Local currencies also exist for internal transactions, with distinct economic practices varying across factions. For example, the DAO Union maintains strict control over currency distribution to promote prosperity, while the Orc Marauders compete for resources, rewarding respected warriors. Trade is often complicated by conflicts in the Outer Sphere, affecting routes and costs and leading many to prefer Galactic Credits for transactions.
Industry
The drive to create is universal across the galaxy, with individuals from various professions, such as artisans, engineers, and sages, contributing to transforming raw materials into innovative products. While technology influences employment, many extractive jobs are automated, requiring skilled operators to manage processes. Different cultures prioritize extraction or refining, with some elevating harvesting to an art form and others focusing on manufacturing flawless materials from basic components.Repair and salvage hold significant value, too, as skilled salvagers can craft durable tools from discarded items. The diversity in species also affects the medical field, where doctors must adapt to treat patients from various backgrounds and often use advanced databases to assist their practice.
Military technology has been repurposed for peaceful applications, such as firefighting, showcasing these tools' adaptability. Additionally, agriculture remains critical, with specialized farms providing unique materials for advanced technologies while being carefully preserved from pollution.
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