General terms and Logistics. Please read.

[biske]

General Terminology

Forward is the direction towards the front of the ship.
Aft is the direction to the back of the ship.
Starboard is to the right of the ship while facing forward.
Port is to the left of the ship while facing forward.
A bulkhead is a wall.
A deck is the floor.
An overhead is the ceiling.
A compartment is a room.
Berthing is a living space.
Manning something means to have someone there to work it hence, “ I'm manning the guns” or ,”go man the comms!”
Mooring means to tie up to something. In a space setting that would be like Docking without the airlock.
Hatch is the term for an air tight door that you close behind you.
Dog is the mechanism that secures a hatch to make it air tight.
Potable water is water that is capable of human consumption.

Space Terminology and systems
This section is for the basic ships systems and terms that we have for the equipment we use. Specialists will know what they are working with and do not need to post every part of running Navigation or Engineering but the general systems that everyone uses should be explained here.

Air lock- a pressurized room that allows someone to exit the ship into space without depressurizing the ship.
Grapples- Magnetic tow cables for connecting to other ships.
Inertia Dampner- the system that stops us from splatting against the wall whenever we accelerate.
Artificial gravity- so we don't float all the time.
Intercoms- each space has a PA system that you can use to talk to either the entire ship, or to a specific room in the ship. This includes personal compartments.
Reverse Osmosis Unit- Essentially a water treatment plant so that we recycle whatever potable water we use.
Crybaby- a modified distress beacon that mimics a ships signal.


Logistics Issues
1)we need to establish our method of piracy. Are we the smash and grab kind of pirates or are we the ambush and trap kind? I think that our crew is a little small for smash and grab to be too realistic since most ships will be bigger then we are. If we decide to go the route of smash and grab we will have to figure out the weapons systems much more. If we go the ambush route we could utilize an EMP net to trap the ship and then use the crybabies to confuse them further. This might get us a surrender at best and at worst it will give us enough time to board them.
2)We need to establish our level of finance. Are we a struggling ship living job to job or are we the scourge of the outer rim with all the best in equipment and supplies?
3)We need a friendly port. Regardless of if it is just a small drifter colony where we unload our booty or if it is an established planet that is friendly toward our activities we need someplace to sell our goods without getting shot on sight.
World Logistics
1) we need to start deciding on factions that are present in this part of space and think of ways to interact with them.
2) we need something to pirate! Why are we in this part of space preying on these particular ships?
3) what is the legal system like? Does someone control this part of space or is it pure no mans land?
4) if we have a captain does that mean we have some sort of pecking order? What is it and now do we decide?

[Jeanna]

Now here is my question as a lover of all sci fi and steam punk. I know that you guys all talk about this kind of thing but seeing as we're going steam punk more than science fiction are we doing more like Stardust ships-- where we are talking actual wooden ships that can take to the air and rada rada

or are we talking about ships like in firefly. Either way it's plausible to work in a steam punk environment but I'm a softy and my friend kind of got me all in love with ship ships. Both work and I've played in both. It's just a question for setting sake and since I like to do some descriptive writing and such I prefer it.

Aaand lets see here....

I think the method of piracy would depend on the overal galactic politics. I mean what kind of government are they in? Is it a tyrannical rule in an oppressive society and piracy was the next best thing? Or is it a world where the rich get rich and the poor get poorer. I mean was this a last resort? That effects the kind of piracy they might be involved in. Are they gentlemen of fortune or brigands.... though that does come down to individual characters and how they form but it's a good starting point and place to go with unless you guys have discussed that already.

As for factions I would suggest like-- space rangers-- some kind of armada or police force that are trying ti maintain the status quo-- barring the kind of government we choose. (oppressive governments are more fun) but anyway...

questions, comments? get me on aim : darwinawardjudge

[Westley]

I have an idea for a friendly port. My character will be coming from a refugee colony called Elysium on Callisto, a moon of Jupiter. People from all backgrounds come there, and it's grown to a mildly lucrative colony; housing rich fugitives looking for a place to hideout and common folk who were forced there through social or religious persecution.