With the implementation of new arms/munitions commodities coming from the Omicrons, and the Coalition hoping to jump on the bandwagon, I wondered if it wasn't better to steer such efforts to diversifying other areas of the military industry, for example military vehicles.
Instead of SCRA Kalashnikov being traded far an wide, and with the recent talk about docking rings and planetary landings, I pondered if they couldn't be a leading developer in planetary assault crafts, such as dropships and space to land strike craft.
Here are some commodities (of the vehicle kind), that I think could be interesting to have in the game economy, for profit or rp purposes. ( I might edit the descriptions later on with improvements)
(Before the coalition one, a civilian vehicle proposal) Planetary exploration shuttles
Throughout the history of the colonies, space exploration and colonization required the use of small craft designed to handle the rigours of planetary flight, capable of delivering teams of explorers and materials to new colonies, while being capable to return to their mothership in orbit. Exploration shuttles employ the most basic of defence systems and focus on achieving the topmost flight autonomy and cargo capability to reach those remote outposts of mankind in every corner of the Galaxy.
The advent of the Docking Ring technology and the proliferation of tradelane technology shifted the modus operandi of many colonies, and the use of planetary shuttles became less frequent.
While outside of the Houses shuttles still had their old use, within them they were taken by the unlawful groups and smuggling rings as an uncommon by more discreet way to perform their business, bringing in contraband and bringing out information, technology or people who were of worth in the hands of less than reputable organizations.
Faced with another method of circumventing police efforts, and under pressure by the big corporations who relied and supported the docking ring use, most governments of the colonies declared the sale and transportation of said shuttles to be under strict law regulation (//maybe illegal).
[Could be used as smaller exploration craft for explorers and researchers, as a speedboat like shuttle for smugglers and infiltrators, and a poor man alternative for pirate raiders to land ashore.]
Suggested production/sell points (//newly made reasons follow):
-Grand Vista Orbital/ Gran Canaria (Omega-49): Zoners and small independent shipbuilders hold a great stake of the current market, and and equally big interest in said applications.
-Corfu Base (Omicron Theta): Exploration efforts on Planet Pygar have made Corfu another important centre of alternative planetary exploration methods, and serves as a assembly and customization complex for efforts of exploration of the Omicron region.
- Cape Soya (Tottori) / Minato Harbor (Tau-44) - Samura efforts on planet Miyazaki have given birth to specialized planetary shuttles suitable for repeated deployment under stressful conditions. The Farmers Alliance saw good potential in acquiring the blueprints and testing new designs for purposes beneficial to the imperial cause. / Minato Harbour is known for its linked history with planet Borneo, and remains one of the oldest installations near the Houses that produces said vehicles in number to be exported.
Suggested interest buyers/destination:
- House unlawfuls with known smuggling/infiltration traits (Hackers, GC, LWB, for example)
- Colonization/Terraforming projects everywhere they exist. (Extensive use of shuttles for planetside transportation, lack of docking rings and other "conventional" methods).
- Edge worlds groups that have a focus on exploration, and maybe Core (Yaren colonization, technology purposes) and Order (technology purposes, House infiltration capabilities).
The Sirius Coalition has for decades experimented on several technologies and theorized various war doctrines to employ against the established Houses and their impregnable planetary defences. While examining the most pressing questions of how to achieve space superiority against a larger foe, some bright minds began devising what would be needed for the "after".
Coalition spies took great interest in the conflicts in the Taus, from the space base assault strategies of the Kusarians, to the Orbital Strike doctrines that the Gallic forces employed in the assault on Leeds. Coalition researchers found that over reliance on space borne offensive capabilities and slow deployment of ground forces would implicate a large spending of resources without the assurance of victory. Among the solutions that the Coalition developers thought, the Shavrov was the one that was considered the most promising.
Based on old civilian landing transports, the design bureau at Zvezdny Gorodok upped its specifications to military standards, increasing their armor and on board firepower, while keeping a reasonably high velocity and handling with the use of advanced engines and a new innovative aerodynamic scheme.
The design bureau wanted the Shavrov to be a multifunction craft for planetary operations. While it would not be able to overpower air superiority fighters on its own, it had proven to be perfect for the role of delivering troops to the front line under difficult conditions, and to act as a close air support vehicle on assaults to enemy fortifications. Field tests in the Jiangxi wastelands suggested that a variant equipped with Uragan tk. Dva (Hurricane mark ii) rocket pods could prove to be an extraordinary psychological weapon against the feeble minds of the military forces of the Houses.
As word about the Shavrov spread to the Coalition close allies, requests for the leasing and sale of units started arriving at the offices of [insert SCRA diplomatic body name here]. Wishing to acquire more field results of their new model, and confident of the prestige that Shavrov would bring to the name of the Coalition, the Zvezdny Gorodok factories began building additional crafts to be sent to trusted parties of the Coalition in ever increasing numbers.
[The real assault craft for planetary warfare invasions. Coalition technology in the field, although still light in battle testing, stands ahead of all other forces in terms of innovation and efficiency. ]
Suggested production/sell points (//newly made reasons follow):
-Zvezdny Gorodok (Omega-52): From the light research I've put on the systems infocards, it appears that Zvezdny Gorodok is the most likely origin of the commodity that could be accessed for commercial/export purposes. Coalition lads feel free to correct me and point a more suitable alternative.
Suggested interest buyers/destination:
- The contesting forces in the Kusari Civil War (Blood Dragons, Imperial Exiles). They will need some good means to challenge the hold of the Republican forces in the more populated planets. If they decide to negotiate with the Coalition for said purpose, or prefer to acquire the advanced craft through other less than direct means, it's up to them.
- Close allies of the Coalition (Hessians, Mollys). For the glory of the House revolutions, of course.
- Core, Corsairs, Council, (CR ?). The novel military applications will peak the interest of these factions, and will try to acquire some units to suit their needs.
Liberty "Patriot" Interceptor (Air Variant). (//temporary name)
Liberty has always been proud of it's strong military industry, and strong vehicle designs that stick to the essentials needed to win the engagements they are to face.
The Patriot interceptor has aged considerably, but it still retains impressive characteristics as a light fighter. Its planetary interceptor variant however, has pushed the standards for air based fighter craft that still remains uncontested to this day.
With considerable flight autonomy, speed and weapon diversity suitable to challenge any invading craft, and boasting a component resistance to damage that increases its chances to return its pilot home safely, where other craft would be too crippled to continue functioning.
The intervention of private Libertonian entities in its construction, and the ongoing struggles of allied states, has convinced the government to open the possibility of lease contracts of the vessels to select foreign organizations. All of course, under the strict watchful eye of the Liberty Navy.
[The planetary based air superiority/interceptor fighter of your dreams. ]
Suggested production/sell points (//newly made reasons follow):
- West Point Academy/ One of the settled planets in Liberty. Up to the Liberty Navy and Government to come up with a suitable location. The situation of Fort Severn would indicate that this is possibly a tricky question.
Suggested interest buyers/destination:
- Bretonia, Colonial Remnant planetary settlements. The intended destinations of the lease contracts.
- Xenos. Patriotic appreciation of Liberty military technology allied with an outrage to the possibility of these being handed out to foreigners makes the Xenos extremely interested in keeping their flow in check.
- Gallia, Kusari, Rheinland government installations. Although Liberty would rather remotely destroy any hijacked package of the state of the art vessel, and have LSF take out any foolish person who dared to suggest bringing the Patriot to untrusted buyers, someone is destined to try it. The governments of the other Houses will be interested in getting some samples of it, although they wont admit it to Liberty.
Bretonia "Squire"/"Little John" Fast Reconnaissance Vehicle. (//temporary name)
Bretonian Armed Forces has a long tradition in space, and with the progression of the war with Gallia, one of the longest traditions in ground warfare as well. One of the shining stars of the current era is the BAF Squire craft, a sort land speeder that became a favourite amongst commando units and other military divisions in the battle front. While a vulnerable target to armour units or air strikes, it has on many occasions allowed the BAF to deploy reinforcements at critical places at critical times, and exfiltrate wounded and captured personnel quickly. With the number of contributions to special operations it has provided during the war, the Squire has been a key element in fending off that ever looming defeat in the Battle for Leeds.
[A light vehicle by the Bretonians. A helpful companion to ground forces.]
Suggested production/sell points (//newly made reasons follow):
- Somewhere in secure Bretonian space. A production location in Cambridge or Manchester would be likely, but open to interpretation.
Suggested interest buyers/destination:
- Leeds (Bretonian side). Those troops need their faithful companions, help your fellow men.
- Outcasts. Their current alliance has presented them to the some aspects of the BAF assets, and the Outcasts demonstrated interest in a new speeder design to use in Malta.
- Not sure where in the eastern sectors would they be gathering an (illicit) interest. Perhaps the GMG in Miura and Kurile would want to have a good support for their ground forces for the future.
[To be devised:
(stereotypical) Rheinland Heavy Armour Units - perhaps replacing Munich Military Vehicles completely
Kusari: ???? (a surprise?)]
Feel free to discuss the suggested commodities, the suggested details for each, the need (or lack of) more war goods, and any similar ideas you might have.
Is it so urgent that requires to be bumped on the same day?
And is it so urgent to spam different commodities that do nothing but "specialize" the vague Military Vehicle term, that you can already choose to roleplay the way you want it?
Imagine if Ageira added all the different weapon lines on Detroits. Would that be any different from having one "Light Arms" commodity and being able to create some story on the spot?
I find this specializing and putting new constraints on the boundaries of possible roleplay to be absolutely without benefits.
I think commodities like this would be a neat addition. Although some would have to be made fairly generic and grouped into a single commodity, otherwise we'll just get a lot of what is mostly the same thing going to the same sell points.
As my contribution, I've been considering requesting some sort of AP-AUGS commodity that is simply just cybernatic augumentations and implants in commodity form.
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