[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the form of a discount on, or donation of, spacecraft com- contention could escalate into sabotage before or during
ponents, fuel, or supplies. the mission.
EXPEDITIONS AND OPERATIONS 29
or execution (or just a cheaper or more politically expedient
COLONIZATION MISSIONS
alternative, period).
Explorers may seek land to colonize. But why should they
want to cross the depths of space instead of making their
Religious Imperatives
homeworld s deserts bloom or mining the sea floor? Some
Many religions embrace missionary activities, or encour-
possible motivations for extraterrestrial colonization are sug-
age followers to procreate. Millions of people have spent lives
gested below.
and treasure on dangerous pilgrimages and multigenera-
tional projects (pyramids, cathedrals, etc.) under the impetus
Freedom
of faith. Future religions may spread these motivations
Minority groups whose way of life is threatened by a major- among the cosmos.
ity may desire to found a settlement far from their culture s
power and influence. The only way to do this on a crowded
Political Rivalry
high-tech planet might be a voyage to another world. The
Opposing superpowers can compete through an aggressive
group must be powerful enough to afford the venture, but not
program of space colonization. However, colonies founded for
so powerful they could just remain behind to change the sys-
propaganda purposes may face a desperate struggle to survive
tem. It s a strong motivation, whether to escape persecution or
if the political situation changes due to the collapse or distrac-
to create a bold new political or social experiment. A majority
tion of the founding power bloc.
group may even fund such an effort in order to peacefully exile
a troublesome minority.
Incremental Colonization
Sometimes colonization is an accidental side effect of other
activities. Off-world outposts may be established for scientific,
Running Colonization Campaigns economic, or military purposes, using temporary personnel.
But as they grow and offer more comforts to their inhabitants,
Most outposts and colonies take years to establish
it may become easier to extend personnel tours than to rotate
and grow. Their operations have little to do with space-
them back. Facilities develop to make the outpost self-support-
craft and everything to do with logistical and sociolog-
ing; people stationed there for long periods have children who
ical factors, and the nature and characteristics of the
see it as their home . . . and eventually, without any prior
world being colonized. These are beyond the scope of
intent, it grows into a de facto colony.
this book: GMs running such games should refer to
GURPS Space (p. 13) for colonial and refugee-based
campaigns and GURPS Space (pp. 90-93) for game
New Lands, New Resources
mechanics (e.g., necessary population, a planet s carry-
If space travel is affordable, colonization may be for the
ing capacity, and growth rates).
most basic of reasons: to acquire territory to settle and
resources to ship home. Another, perhaps more likely, option is
the existence of triangle trade. A colony provides goods to
nearby resource-extraction operations for example, green-
houses and other manufacturing facilities on Mars supply an
Population Pressure
asteroid-belt mining operation, which then supplies Earth with
A popular justification for colonizing other worlds is to
raw materials, which in turn ships expensive manufactured
relieve population pressure. In practice, this is difficult. Unless
goods to Mars. Such a program might work if it s cheaper to
space travel is incredibly fast and cheap, it won t make much
make certain necessities on Mars for sale in the asteroid belt
difference. However, the socioeconomic stresses brought about
than it is to lift them off high-gravity Earth.
by overpopulation (war, famine, overcrowding, reduced
resources, lack of jobs, etc.) themselves encourage people to
seek a better life, even on another world. A Better Life
Historically, wages in new colonies are higher since there s
an initial labor shortage. This is especially compelling if there
Involuntary Exile [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
the form of a discount on, or donation of, spacecraft com- contention could escalate into sabotage before or during
ponents, fuel, or supplies. the mission.
EXPEDITIONS AND OPERATIONS 29
or execution (or just a cheaper or more politically expedient
COLONIZATION MISSIONS
alternative, period).
Explorers may seek land to colonize. But why should they
want to cross the depths of space instead of making their
Religious Imperatives
homeworld s deserts bloom or mining the sea floor? Some
Many religions embrace missionary activities, or encour-
possible motivations for extraterrestrial colonization are sug-
age followers to procreate. Millions of people have spent lives
gested below.
and treasure on dangerous pilgrimages and multigenera-
tional projects (pyramids, cathedrals, etc.) under the impetus
Freedom
of faith. Future religions may spread these motivations
Minority groups whose way of life is threatened by a major- among the cosmos.
ity may desire to found a settlement far from their culture s
power and influence. The only way to do this on a crowded
Political Rivalry
high-tech planet might be a voyage to another world. The
Opposing superpowers can compete through an aggressive
group must be powerful enough to afford the venture, but not
program of space colonization. However, colonies founded for
so powerful they could just remain behind to change the sys-
propaganda purposes may face a desperate struggle to survive
tem. It s a strong motivation, whether to escape persecution or
if the political situation changes due to the collapse or distrac-
to create a bold new political or social experiment. A majority
tion of the founding power bloc.
group may even fund such an effort in order to peacefully exile
a troublesome minority.
Incremental Colonization
Sometimes colonization is an accidental side effect of other
activities. Off-world outposts may be established for scientific,
Running Colonization Campaigns economic, or military purposes, using temporary personnel.
But as they grow and offer more comforts to their inhabitants,
Most outposts and colonies take years to establish
it may become easier to extend personnel tours than to rotate
and grow. Their operations have little to do with space-
them back. Facilities develop to make the outpost self-support-
craft and everything to do with logistical and sociolog-
ing; people stationed there for long periods have children who
ical factors, and the nature and characteristics of the
see it as their home . . . and eventually, without any prior
world being colonized. These are beyond the scope of
intent, it grows into a de facto colony.
this book: GMs running such games should refer to
GURPS Space (p. 13) for colonial and refugee-based
campaigns and GURPS Space (pp. 90-93) for game
New Lands, New Resources
mechanics (e.g., necessary population, a planet s carry-
If space travel is affordable, colonization may be for the
ing capacity, and growth rates).
most basic of reasons: to acquire territory to settle and
resources to ship home. Another, perhaps more likely, option is
the existence of triangle trade. A colony provides goods to
nearby resource-extraction operations for example, green-
houses and other manufacturing facilities on Mars supply an
Population Pressure
asteroid-belt mining operation, which then supplies Earth with
A popular justification for colonizing other worlds is to
raw materials, which in turn ships expensive manufactured
relieve population pressure. In practice, this is difficult. Unless
goods to Mars. Such a program might work if it s cheaper to
space travel is incredibly fast and cheap, it won t make much
make certain necessities on Mars for sale in the asteroid belt
difference. However, the socioeconomic stresses brought about
than it is to lift them off high-gravity Earth.
by overpopulation (war, famine, overcrowding, reduced
resources, lack of jobs, etc.) themselves encourage people to
seek a better life, even on another world. A Better Life
Historically, wages in new colonies are higher since there s
an initial labor shortage. This is especially compelling if there
Involuntary Exile [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]