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As I said above, English is my second language, so it's probable that I incur in a lot of mistakes. If someone will be willing to send me a corrected version of my writings I would appreciate it very much.
From the diary of the Lt-Captain Afonso Miranda Teles, Captain of the Light Cruiser "Cidade de Lisboa" and Commander of the Venus Expedition:
November 14, 1911.
I decided we would go in the “Cidade de Lisboa” and not in an Ainduren zeppelin. It would remember the Karroom of our might and it would show us as a independent force that could mediate the meeting. We had to go down into the atmosphere five times until we were over the meeting site and we could descend into the ground. The air around us wailed and screamed and for the first time I liked it. I guess the Karroom were impressed with it. Into the meeting I chose twenty guards from the marine complement of the cruiser and myself, Sa'atia, Mr. Pessoa and the five women from the High Council. When we reached the place, a beautiful meseta, the Karroom were already there. I counted fifteen, a very acceptable number and a declaration of wish to parley. I must confess that I was impressed by their leader. It must be a very old Karroom, a big one, with a leathery skin and the lack of the right arm. Probably lost in a old battle against the Ainduren. As we get close to them, Sa'atia gave me her arm and I felt her trembling beside me. I could understand the difficulty of walking unarmed towards an eternal enemy. We stopped one hundred feet away from them and the leader and a very young – it seems – Karrom walked with him towards us. They walked slowly, as if it was difficult for the leader to move. They live under water, I remembered so this should be really difficult. The young Karroom had a pole in his right hand with one of those strange light they use and as they reached us he showed us his left hand opened. I smiled. There are common ground between us, I thought. I imitate him immediately and after that, Mr. Pessoa showed them a series of drawings that showed where we did come from. The leader kept his eyes on the drawings and on me. After some drawings were made between the younger Karroom and Mr. Pessoa, to clarify some points, the leader showed a drawing of himself. It was so beautifully draw that if was impossible to mistake the image from another. After that he showed a drawing of a wave and of a Karroom eating a Venusian eight-fins fish. Wave Eater, I said, that's his name. He looked at me. I pointed to myself and said Afonso. And surprisingly he tried to imitate the sound of my name. Awfully, I suppose, but still I clap my hands and made the sign for yes that we already had accepted. He looked happy to be able to communicate with us. Then he showed us the terrible thing. Sa'atia started to cry and I had to stop seeing the drawing just to comfort her. In a succession of images we saw the arrival of Sa'atia ancestors to Venus by the eyes of the Karroom. As they arrived and settled, the Karroom went to them to initiate conversations. And then, they saw that the human settlement was over the birth lakes of the Karroom, and the humans were drying them out. As the Karroom went to their children rescue, the humans opened fire with the electric weapons they had. All the Karroom were killed. The humans built their city over the dried lakes and started harvesting wheat over the bodies of the Karroom babies. The everlasting war began that moment.
A terrible silence followed this revelation. Sa'atia talked with the rest of the High Council mentally. Mr. Pessoa and the young Karroom were drawing to each other and suddenly Mr. Pessoa laughed and we all looked at him and magically he patted the Karroom in the arm as if a good joke was said and the air around us lightened a bit. I, for myself, offered my looking spy glass to Wave Eater and explained him how it worked. He was moved by my gesture and so he called one of his aides. I received from his hands a very beautiful dagger made of a strange material that by drawings he explained me it was made with the tooth of a sea monster. When Sa'atia returned she draw an offer to the Karroom. The end of the war. The moving of the Ainduren city to another place in the continent. The remake of the lakes. And that the Ainduren would forever be the guardians of the nesting lakes of the Karroom. For some time, the Karroom leader was still as a statue. Then he moved near Sa'atia and touched her face with his old hand. Then he pointed at me. I understood. He wanted me to be the judge of this accord. I knew he is a soldier. I knew he would understand my actions. I stepped forward and I drew the dagger he offered me. I made a clean and deep cut in my hand and as the blood spilled from it, I offered him the dagger and my hand. He made the same and we shook hands. We stayed there for three days discussing the future. I sent the cruiser to give the news to our expedition and to the Ainduren and me, Sa'atia and Mr. Pessoa camped near the Karroom. That night embraced to Sa'atia I asked her if she wanted to be my guardian also. I already am, she replied. I will have an hard time to explain all this to the Portuguese Admiralty, but I am as happy as a man can be.
[attachment=0]peace meeting.jpg[/attachment]
I haven't found that gaining the initiative is all that important -- there's a definite tradeoff whatever you choose (move last or fire first).
It isn't. Unless you gain it always. Shooting first has it's advantages, moving last also. But if you can plot your movement always after the other player, it's sure an advantage. In last night game, I always fired after my opponent, but I always fired almost all my weapons and he fired 1/3 of his weapons.
If you are really concerned about it, I think the fairest thing would be to simply alternate the initiative after the first turn
We also consider that option, but knowing always the next turn initiative, even if it is very chess-like, in a game with the uncertainity of the fog of war, doesn't appeal to us. The uncertainity of not knowing who's going to be the next iniciative player overweights the possibility of one player being luckier than the other. The +1, +2, etc modifier is just to compensate the chance of a LOT of luck in one particular game.
Sorry for the name, but maybe someone can suggest a better one:
Area-Defence Fire Control.
Saturation Fire Protocol?
This evening I played again the first scenario from Iron Stars, Meeting Engagement, with a friend. This scenario was our first game of Iron Stars and we made a lot of mistakes, rulerwise and tacticallywise, so we decided to play it again.
He is sick with a terrible cold, and maybe that was the reason, but I won every single initiative roll in the game. All of it. As you might understand he lost big, even with the Britts, that have the Gauntlet on their side.
After the game was over we exchange some rules ideas, since we found no optional rule in the books. We come up with these two ideas, though from now on we'll add the idea nº2 as our house rule.
Idea nº 1 - If one player wins two initiatives in a row, in the next turn the other player will win the iniciative automatically. The good in this is that it is a balancing rule. The bad is that after one player win his second iniciative, both players will know in advance that how the next turn will be dictated.
Idea nº 2 - The player that lost the turn before will have +1 in his die this turn, and if he looses again he will have +2 in the following turn. After he wins the iniciative, the next iniciative roll will be without modifiers to both players.
What do you think about it?
Thanks for compliment. I was trying to write it down with that Wells feeling of telling an odd story with that kind of journalistic truth of his writings. But it's difficult, as I'm a portuguese speaker and I'm writing directly in english, so it's more hard to look back at what I wrote and see it detached.
And yes. Soon, I'll put more. Lots of work in school. Little time for anything else, though I've played this evening (GMT) one scenario of Iron Stars with a friend that catch a terrible cold and could not leave home. And during that game something funny happened. I'll make a new thread about it next.
I already put the whole Venusian story (writen so far) in one complete text with "historical notes". When I finish it, if you want to read it, I can send it to you.
IMHO since the rules are there,I think you should put two light mechs (is any of it have a special equipment that needs ruling, you should add it), then 2 infantry units and 2 small vehicles, so that people could feel the thing.
Frankly, I was trying to be lighthearted, but you seem to have taken it personally. For that I apologize.
Iap. I also do feel that there is a deslike from the high patents against those that make friendly and lighthearted jokes, or put too many smiles in a joke. Or maybe just to those of us that post too much.
What we can do is stop using humour, smiles and put less posts, I guess.
There is one thing that's worring me and not letting me sleep... 
Really. :shock:
So we have at nineteen hundreed and something an Admiral of the Fleet. And then?
A supreme admiral? 
A mega astounding admiral? 
A huge powerful bright star admiral? :x
If post are + infinite, how will we name all the ranking positions? :cry:
Can't sleep wondering about this... 
Just can´t.
Congratulations!
That means that the next supplement of Iron Stars or Starmada AE I will buy here!
From the diary of the Lt-Captain Afonso Miranda Teles, Captain of the Light Cruiser "Cidade de Lisboa" and Commander of the Venus Expedition:
November 12, 1911.
Hate is an awful thing, I said to Sa'atia. Death of your loved ones and destruction of your home is an awful thing, she replied. It's true. But it doesn't help. The Karroom replied today. If my men weren't near the river flirting with some Ainduren women, the Karroom messenger would have been slain the moment he emerged from the water. My men escorted him throughout the city to meet me. They were bruised by the women that several time tried to attack the Karroom. This is going to be difficult. He delivered me a map and a very elaborate drawing. After calling Mr. Pessoa, we understood the message. To meet as soon as possible with a high representative of the Karroom government in a savage island two hundred miles from here. We'll go and we'll take the Ainduren High Council with us. Except the men. Mr. Pessoa is amazed with the quality of the drawings. So am I, though I'm not as proficient in decipher the drawings as he is. Before we escorted the Karroom with our reply draw in another fat wet paper, Mr. Pessoa and the karroom traded some information through drawings. Interesting creatures. The Ainduren and the Karroom never have talked with each other. I must find out why. There is something of karroom in me, Mr. Pessoa told me. Don't say that aloud near the Ainduren, I replied. He laughed. Strange man, this poet. I asked Sa'atia why didn't the Ainduren tried to talk to the Karroom. She answered me that the first time they met the karroom, the karroom attacked them immediately. Maybe the reason to speak now was my demonstration of force. But still, I feel that it's more complex than that.
[attachment=0]karroom.jpg[/attachment]
Check the assembly line thread...there are a few units posted there with which to go boom. I've got a couple more just waiting for me to post as well. And I believe there is the unit creator file available in the files section...
Thanks for the answer, Go0gleplex.
I was making the question in a broader way. If you put out the rules so that people can try out the game to see if they like it, it should have two specimens (quite simple, so that it will be easy to see if one's enjoy the game mechanisms). In the 18 page demo rules we cannot find the specific equipment rules (and we are not suppose to) so two very simple mechs should be included so that the players can have a feeling of what the rules are about.
An I couldn't understand two things:
Why is that in the movement example images the mecha are facing the hex side and in the arc of fire example, the mecha is facing the hex vertice?
And there is only one lock on roll and then all the weapons roll for damage, each weapon, right? That means that the lock on is equal to every weapon, only the damage possibility is different right?
Hi:
I've downloaded the demo version. Read the rules, found it okay, but would like to try it, but... no mecha, or vehicle or infantry statistics anywhere, so, I will I try it out? :?
Venusian Poem #32
Ruined castle at the seashore
Kissed by the waves of the storm
Away from time and emptiness
Waiting the return of galleons
Like an abandoned mistress.
[attachment=0]venusian landscape.jpg[/attachment]
Not pink! Sligtly purple. Adjust your monitor, sir, please. 
I agree.
And I think that variety is a good thing. But... ah... also... continuity... :? Have I ever said this? :roll:
Is this a Frenchie one? I like it. It has the Colonial Powers feeling. Thanks for posting it.
Yesssss, but you could save it for ARES: The Second Coming of the Kritters!
Ah Monsieur Dugan, sa ces't une formidable informacion! 
Est que vou voulez ou peut nous donner une ou deux images de les magnifiques bateaus de guerre de la Republique Française?!
8-) 8-)
Ah Merci! Merci bien!
There is the "between wars" pulp, where crazy german and japanese cientists could make some strange experiments. Awaken the beast! Makers of the ultimate biological weapon! Etc.
As for a "steam-punk whatever universe" you can imagine a race/culture/nation that builds gigantic steam lizzard-robots to attack, defend, harass or just populate a desert landscape and all that it follows.
From the diary of the Lt-Captain Afonso Miranda Teles, Captain of the Light Cruiser "Cidade de Lisboa" and Commander of the Venus Expedition:
November 05, 1911.
With some very well done homemade bombs, the. Brazilian Destroyer "Petrópolis", was able to make an orbital bombing against a Karroom city. Though it was a very erratic (thanks God) action, with only a small amount of bombs actually falling into the city, it was enough to make the Karroom retreat from their last assault against the Ainduren. After this victory, the Ainduen are treating me as their commander in chief. I find it awkward, but given the position I started issuing orders and things went on almost naturally. I then gave a drawing made by Mr. Pessoa to one of the injured Karroom and let him go free. I hope he understands that the drawing, we covered it with a kind of fat, so the ink wouldn't dissolve in the water, is to be given to one of his leaders. As a gesture of good will I also let all the other Karroom go free. Usually, as Sa'atia told me, there aren't prisoners in either side of the war. A terrible thing. Now we wait. I'm impressed with the industrial capacity of these people, but I think that it is not enough. As soon as I have an answer from the Karroom, I'll make a trip to the south pole continent to see the Ainduren heavy industry. If my plan has any chance to work, I must know what they can do. Some of the Ainduren from the “Two Worlds Party”, as everybody is calling it now, are pregnant. Good. Some of the men from the expedition want to go back to earth. I have to do something about it very soon now.
Yesterday. Correcting student school tests. 09pm. Bored with the general lack of knowledge. Defiance Army Idea. No army construction rules. Damn internet and online stores. Bought it and ARES also. It was already in the list. Read the Defiance rules and fluff. Some. Looked at the watch. 17 more tests to correct. 11 and some pm. Correcting. Finnaly ended. It's already next day. School classes at 08.30 am. Wife sleeps. Tired but still... some ARES reading. Missing something. Ahhh yes. Going to sleep.
So. I forgot almost all I read yesterday. But not my final thought. Here it goes:
This system is a great material, top of the notch. It has a embryo of an excellent Universe. It needs a "Defiance Companion Book" with continuity.
Yesterday. Correcting student school tests. 09pm. Bored with the general lack of knowledge. Defiance Army Idea. No army construction rules. Damn internet and online stores. Bought it and ARES also. It was already in the list. Read the Defiance rules and fluff. Some. Looked at the watch. 17 more tests to correct. 11 and some pm. Correcting. Finnaly ended. It's already next day. School classes at 08.30 am. Wife sleeps. Tired but still... some ARES reading. Missing something. Ahhh yes. Going to sleep.
So. I forgot almost all I read yesterday. But not my final thought. Here it goes:
This system doesn't need a 3th edition at the moment, to be a great material, top of the notch. Needs a Universe. A good, versatile Universe, so that these rules shine like a new dime.
Hi Dugan:
I like the categories, but I feel that for extra juice, you should categorize it in two more ways: time period and tech level. This would permit you to divide the fluff and rules in several broad categories that would go a long way in racionalization and "universe" creation: Pulp era, steam-punk, 50's, modern, retro-sci-fi, etc.
Why do I say this?... Let me try to explain it with two examples:
First. One of the best systems I ever played with is Starmada. I played briefly Starmada Compendium that a friend brought from UK. At the time we played FT with every miniature we could put our hands into, and usually with BF Gothic minis, though we hated the rules, "guess the range" was so stupid that we usually used it as a joke. I then bought Starmada X and we kept on with our group of players enjoying it. Why? The rules were great. The Adm. Edition was another step up. I loved the new movement rules and the streamining of everything. I have all the books. What do I lack in this rules? The universe. I like the three installments (can I say this in english?) in the three books. Imaginative, complex, open, as the system so well allows it. But I would prefer a unique universe with a on going on history and several very well detailed races, good and bad and a lot of drama. From book to book things would change, the ships would be retroffited, new ships would be added, maybe a new race. Continuity. Under rated. Essencial. It is the growth of the characters, (in this case, races, empires, nations), that we love to see. Luke skywalker could be summarize this way: "A naif peasant raised in a poor agro colony becomes a Jedi Master."
Second. Iron Stars. When I first read the rules (I skipped the storic info and dived into the rules) and I wasn't very thrilled. Than I read the background universe and I started to imagine a lot of potencial. As I was looking for a star combat system for a Victorian Sci-fi Adventure, I come to the point that I decided to move my adventure to Edwardian Age just to stay with this background. So here we have continuity, and the possibility of character (Nations) growth. I think that it is this that sells suplements more than the optional rules (it's the pack, I agree fully, but without fluff continuity, it will be harder) and the ship designs and images, of course!
So I think that a very well conceived and open universe in this Kaijun project is a must.
Sorry for the long explanation. A teacher has the bad habit of going on rumbling about endlessly...
I like this setting and I understand why the focus is on England. I love the ship builder. FAC craft yeah! I just want to know who the next Navies would be. I realize the USEN would be Smaller than the Major Powers fleets but I would think it as large as the ABC Powers or Spanish Fleets.
I would also like some scenarios with the Italian Fleet, to my eye the most attractive fleet. I realize they are a bit player, but there are so many ways you could take this history.
I must say this is an awesome game and background to work with. One of the two best in my opinion. Thanks for the ship builder.
Next Navies
1 USEN?
2 Norwegean League?
3 Arabian States?
4 Chinese?
I'm with you. This is an excellent game and a amazing background. I'm loving it, and I've researched a lot of 1900-1914 world story just to see how it will fit in this universe.
As for the fleets you was asking for (just historically, of course):
USEN:
It would be a consistent Ether navy, by the wet navy standarts. Later to build than the European Powers navy, would still be, modern and with active numbers. In comparison with the wet navy from 1900-1914, once again just numbers the USN had more or less 17 operational BBs, between light, battle and heavy cruisers, with protected cruisers being renamed and some early BB being renamed, there were more than 100 active cruisers in this era. As for smaller warships you name it. So I think that when the USA decided to create a USEN, it would have a good number of everything.
Norwegean League:
Large numbers of DD and smaller ships, if we compare it with wet navy numbers of the epoch. A few CC's possibly. The Norwegean Royal Navy had a very pragmatic strategy, a lot of sea to cover and no illusions.
Arabian States:
Don't forget that the territory that now belongs to several Arabian States, at the time with few exceptions, was a protectorate of several European Potences: Spain, France, Great britain, etc. The Ottoman Empire is already covered and the Persians were in a tight spot at the time.
Chinese:
I also think that some more ships would be fine to the chinese.
But most of all, where are the french sailors? Ouh lá lá! Ou sont les marin français?
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