03-06-2025, 07:31 AM
I thought I'd share a mid-week post just for fun. I've made some good progress so far this week, but not necessarily in the areas I had intended. So less about the Admin Phase coding, and more some general updates to the code to make it more stable in general, and easier to continue to update. The weeks not over though, so I feel good about at least some progress coming for the Admin Phase rules.
What I also wanted to share are some thoughts of what comes next, and I don't mean next in terms of the re-launch project. This might seem a little like getting the cart before the horse, but here we are.
As I've said previously my re-launch plans are based around the version 2 rules from 1984, which I consider a high point for the game. That is when the original designer, Dan Pierce, I felt really committed to the future of the game. Unfortunately that didn't last, but I'm not one to talk. I will be making some minor tweaks to the version 2 rules barrowing from my own version 3, but once the re-launch is complete I will continue working to incorporate as much of the version 3+ over time as I can. So whoever playtests this thing when I get to that point will be kept busy for a while.
At that same time though I also plan to develop some other games and I wanted to review some of those thoughts briefly. So in no particular order...
A game inspired by the game Death by Starlight from Twin Engine Gaming. I have attempted to reach out to them about rights to the original, but I've not been able to locate anyone connected with this game which is why my game will be an original effort, or as I said, inspire by. The 30,000 foot overview is game was focused on small spaceships in an arena fighting it out. One twist I would add are both some not lethal contests, plus while the game is total separate it will yet be set within the Galactic Empires universe. So player's empires in GE might host contests at their systems, and perhaps wagers on matches might be an option.
A second thought is a game inspired by Galactic Prisoners from Grandel, Inc. Again, I've not been able to track down the original GM, so we're sticking with being inspired. IN this one you're given a "mammoth all terrain vehicle" on a planet with other prisoners with the goal of trying to survive against your fellow prisoners.
Lastly is a real odd-ball game called Robalgon. While I played this one back in the day, I did not seem to keep the rules or game material and I don't even have any idea who ran this one, so once again I will content myself with being inspired by the original while I create something new.
Is that a lot of work? Is it too much? The answer is probably yes on both counts. But if you don't have a plan, then nothing will happen. Just remember that I am called The "MAD" Scientist for a reason.
What I also wanted to share are some thoughts of what comes next, and I don't mean next in terms of the re-launch project. This might seem a little like getting the cart before the horse, but here we are.
As I've said previously my re-launch plans are based around the version 2 rules from 1984, which I consider a high point for the game. That is when the original designer, Dan Pierce, I felt really committed to the future of the game. Unfortunately that didn't last, but I'm not one to talk. I will be making some minor tweaks to the version 2 rules barrowing from my own version 3, but once the re-launch is complete I will continue working to incorporate as much of the version 3+ over time as I can. So whoever playtests this thing when I get to that point will be kept busy for a while.
At that same time though I also plan to develop some other games and I wanted to review some of those thoughts briefly. So in no particular order...
A game inspired by the game Death by Starlight from Twin Engine Gaming. I have attempted to reach out to them about rights to the original, but I've not been able to locate anyone connected with this game which is why my game will be an original effort, or as I said, inspire by. The 30,000 foot overview is game was focused on small spaceships in an arena fighting it out. One twist I would add are both some not lethal contests, plus while the game is total separate it will yet be set within the Galactic Empires universe. So player's empires in GE might host contests at their systems, and perhaps wagers on matches might be an option.
A second thought is a game inspired by Galactic Prisoners from Grandel, Inc. Again, I've not been able to track down the original GM, so we're sticking with being inspired. IN this one you're given a "mammoth all terrain vehicle" on a planet with other prisoners with the goal of trying to survive against your fellow prisoners.
Lastly is a real odd-ball game called Robalgon. While I played this one back in the day, I did not seem to keep the rules or game material and I don't even have any idea who ran this one, so once again I will content myself with being inspired by the original while I create something new.
Is that a lot of work? Is it too much? The answer is probably yes on both counts. But if you don't have a plan, then nothing will happen. Just remember that I am called The "MAD" Scientist for a reason.
~Mark
a.k.a. The "MAD" Scientist
a.k.a. The "MAD" Scientist