Adventures on a ringworld

[atgxtg]

For zones, I7d suggest dividing them up like the face of a clock with 12 or 24 zones. Once you work out the size and rate of rotation, you could size up the zones based upon how long it takes for the ring to revolve around the star. Perhaps each zone is the amount of territory that would move in one "month", so in 12 months the zone would be in the same location.


BTW, There is a bunch of hard math stuff from other Sci Fi games that I could hunt down for you, depending on just how detailed you want to get with this. THings like the amount of light recieved, density, etc. can be worked out to more detail than you would probably ever need.

Oh, one way to handle the large open spaces would be to have the orignal builders install some sort of teleoprtation devices along the ring. Think Star Treks transporter, or the stargates from SG-1. This could make travel from telepter to teleporter easier than other travel. If only some of the teleporters still work, and the humans haven't discovered all of the telporters yet, you could encourage the players to adventure in certain areas.

Set the teleporters up so they only worth from one to the other, and the coordinates for the desitnation need to be entered in (any one the humans find should have the lcoodinates for the last setting used still programmed in, so each should be good to go somewhere.)

You could even have advnetures where people go off to try and find other teleporters, or have some cultures that know of some teleporters that other do not. Perhaps even a trade of information ("We'll trade you the coodinates for New London for the coodinates for Roma Nova.")

 

[atgxtg]

I've thought about running in the Smoke Ring... but never had enough players interested.

Ummm, smoke ring. Barbecue, yummmm....

 

[Utgardloki]

Other ideas for ringworld adventures:

Ringworld Rangers The PCs are special rangers sent out to solve problems that arise in ringworld living. This is a good way to get the PCs to different places on the ringworld while keeping them out of areas you haven't developed. If the ringworld transportation system is partially broken down, then getting there can be half the battle.

What are we doing here? So far I've glossed over populating the ringworld, but if advanced aliens built this thing so it can be populated with less advanced races, then the people brought over to the ringworld, including the human beings, might be a little bit annoyed and cranky. And you know how cranky humans and cranky kzinti mix.....

What are you doing here? The point behind the ringworld I am developing is to study what happens when different alien species mix. Well, one thing that often happens is violence. This means war. This means strategy. This means lots of cool stuff for PCs to do.

When are we doing here? I've also glossed over the question of when this ringworld was built, but if the aliens have and use time travel technology, then inhabitants from different time periods could find themselves together. Ancient Romans and Columbian Drug Lords vs Dinosaurs and spider-like aliens from Planet Ataz!

 

[atgxtg]

One other really warped variation on the idea would be to make the PCs members of the advanced culture that made the ring. Some campaign ideas:

-The PCs are the survivors of the lost culture who went into cryostasis. Think Morrow Project meets ringworld. The campaign would deal with how the characters deal with the newer inhabitants of the ring.

-The PCs are the guardians/overseers of the ring. Perhaps overtly, or maybe they are doing so in secret, passing for one of the other cultures. The characters could be troubleshooters like the Rangers idea, but thier advnaced tech and knowledge of the ring would tip them off to preoblems that they would not otherwise be aware of.
This could be real interesting if the Pcs are benevolent aliens trying to guide/protect humanity (or any other culture), adding another lever of complication to what they are doing. Stuff like helping the humans find what they need, but trying to keep them from finding say, the advenaced hyperweapons, at least unitl mankind is mature enough to handle them.

 

[Utgardloki]

BTW, There is a bunch of hard math stuff from other Sci Fi games that I could hunt down for you, depending on just how detailed you want to get with this. THings like the amount of light recieved, density, etc. can be worked out to more detail than you would probably ever need.

I am thinking I could use a good link to a place where I can get some hard science and math answers. For example, what would the gravity be like on a ring-shaped object. Would dark matter help hold things together? Can a livable surface exist underneath an eternal noon, if I can find the right distance from the primary star?

 

[soltakss]

I am thinking I could use a good link to a place where I can get some hard science and math answers. For example, what would the gravity be like on a ring-shaped object. Would dark matter help hold things together? Can a livable surface exist underneath an eternal noon, if I can find the right distance from the primary star?

In my experience, you really don't want to go there.

I've got a Maths Degree and I don't like the maths behind Sci Fi games.

Just say that it has an earth-like gravity and atmosphere and say that the Ancients made it that way when questioned.

It's a lot easier.

 

[simonh]

There's just no point pretending to try to map out a significant portion of the ring, but you don't need to.

First of all you need to work out details of the parts of the ring that the main points of the story will take place in. After all, the only reason for using a ringowlrd is if you have a story that needs one and uses the scale, otherwise it's a waste of effort.

Then you will also need descriptions for 3 or 4 detailed areas as contingencies for if/when the characters end up in unexpected parts of the ring. One rimwall area, one giant ocean island area and a few mid-ring areas for example. Just use these as necessery and come up with new replacements as they are used up.

Certain themes can be re-used, such as relics or ruins from ancient empires that controlled significant sections of the ring. Species that are marginalised slave races or on the verge of extinction in one part of the ring could dominate vast empires elsewhere.