Policenauts!

The frontiers of space are a lawless region, where humanity and aliens huddle in isolated desolate outposts, finding scant shelter from lawless desperadoes, bizarre marauding creatures, and the desiccating coldness of space. Most of these settlements are doing the best they can at securing the bare minimum to live on, failure means extinction! These hard people protect themselves the best they can, but their capabilities are limited. Pirates and killers drift about freely, feeding their hunger and slipping back into the void.

The Galaxy Police Service was formed to protect the innocent and pursue those who would prey on them. Paid for by the frontier worlds and heavily subsidized by the more prosperous core worlds who would do business with them, the Galaxy Police officers, otherwise known as "Policenauts", travel the worlds in their swift cutters dispensing justice to those who feel the law is just a quaint notion.

The Player Characters (and a few NPC comrades) are a reaction team that gets called out to different worlds whenever something goes down. My plan is to run this with GURPS, set in a tech level 11 Space Opera setting. The principal books I will let the players use are the Basic Set, Martial Arts, Power-Ups Talents, Perks, Impulse Buys and Quirks, and third edition Aliens (updated). I will also let them access Bio-Tech and Ultra-Tech, though my plan is to create an item catalog of what is specifically available to them.

One goal of this campaign is to have one-session adventures that whoever is available that Friday can come and play. We have some trouble getting the entire crew together and our regular Pathfinder adventure path isn't really right if we lack two valuable dudes. I will see whoever is available to go through Jennell (Paul) Jacquays' excellent Central Casting book for space for background creation. Maybe a crazy idea would be to go through a couple of Traveller careers and covert them over, but I think that might be a little much.

Anyways, here's my to-do list on getting this campaign together and my status on getting each done.

1. Ask players what they want to play, career and species wise. Not done yet.
2. Create character backgrounds with Central Casting. Not done yet.
3. Find or design species (alien or genetically modded human). Some work done, need to see if there's any particular requests.
4. Get characters created. Not done.
5. Create the team's ship. Done.
6. Detail other available team equipment. Working on it.
7. Create the first adventure. Working on it.
8. Play.

At any rate, for the sake of successful blogging and to contribute to the GURPS community, I will post the work I've come up with so far.

7000-SERIES CUTTER

This is the ship that the party gets to travel in. Made with Eric B. Smith's excellent spreadsheet.

TL Spacecraft dST/dHP Hnd/SR HT Move LWt. Load SM Occ dDR Range Cost

11^ 7000 Series Cutter 50 -1/5 13 2G/c 300 36 [1] +7 14ASV [2] 10 [3] 2x $52.5903M

Length: 60 yd. (180 ft.) Crush Depth: 12.6 Atmospheres (417 ft.)

Power Points: +4 / -6

Space Performance: sAccel: 2Gs FTL Rating: FTL-2

Air Performance: aAccel: 2Gs (44 mph/s) aSpeed: 3,500 mph (0.97 mps) Hnd/SR: +3/6

SHIP SYSTEMS

FRONT

[1] Armor - Nanocomposite

dDR 10

[2!] Weapon Battery - Major

1 Weapon Mount

[3!!] Force Screen - Heavy

dDR 50 / dDR 100 w/Extra Power Point [3,5]

[4] Comm/Sensor Array - Enhanced

Array level: 9

[5-6] Habitat

4 Cabins

[Core] Control Room

Comp: C8 / Comm/Sensor: 7 / 3 Stations

CENTER

[1] Armor - Nanocomposite

dDR 10

[2-3] Habitat

4 Cabins

[4] Cargo Hold

15 Tons / SM+2 Bay Doors

[5-6] Hangar Bay

Cap.: 20 Tons / SM+3 / Launch: 10 Tons/min

REAR

[1] Armor - Nanocomposite

dDR 10

[2] External Clamp

300 Tons

[3-4!!] Stardrive - Warp

FTL-2

[5!] Reactionless Engine - Hot

2Gs

[6‡‡] Power Plant - Fusion Reactor

4 Power Points / 300 yr Fuel / Compact [4,6]

[Core] Engine Room

1 Control Station / 1 Workspace

Design Switches, Features, & Notes: 3 Airlocks (Capacity: 3 people each), Food Supplies: $1,000

SHIP OPTIONS: Streamlined, Winged

[1] Load includes: 1 tons of Crew & Passengers, 0.5 tons of Refrigerated Cargo, 1 tons of Standard Food (500 man-days / 35 days), 13.5 tons of Cargo Hold, 20 tons of Hangar Bay

[2] Crew Requirement (11 total): 4 Control Stations, 1 Technician, 1 Gunner, 1 Medical, 2 Office Workers, 2 Scientists,

[3] Plus dDR 50 Force Screen (100 if reinforced with extra Power Point)

[4] Volatile System (see p. SS1:62)

FUEL USED: [6] Hydrogen/Helium Isotopes

HABITATS

Qty. Location Type SM Notes

2 Front [5] Cabin: Cramped +0 2 person

1 Center [2] Bunkroom +0 4 person

1 Center [3] Bunkroom +0 4 person

1 Front [5] Office +0 2 person

1 Center [2] Sickbay +0 1 bed; +2 Skill

1 Front [6] Lab: Standard +0 2 person, +1 Skill

1 Center [3] Cell +0 4 person

WEAPONS TABLE

Range Scale: Basic Combat Ranges Turn Length: 20-sec

Qty. Mount Weapon Options Options Size Damage sAcc Rcl. RoF Shots MPS Accel SM Range

1 Front [2] - Major Laser 100 MJ 2dx5(2) burn +2 (+0) [2] 1 2 [3] S/L

[1] Parenthetical value is the Rapid Fire bonus (p. SS1:60), [2] Includes +2 sAcc for Fixed Mount, [3] Includes x2 for Improved

Created using GURPS Spaceship Design Spreadsheet v2.0 RC 9. GURPS Spaceships Design Spreadsheet is copyright © 2009-2016 Eric B. Smith. This spreadsheet is based on information contained in the GURPS Spaceships series of books.

A few notes here on my campaign options. First, artificial gravity does exist, but it isn't really something practical to put in most starships. It takes a LOT of power, and having gravity on the deck above you might make you stick to the ceiling. Another problem is that artificial gravity should attract enemy missiles. Anyway, it isn't really needed because the drives are good for constant acceleration at 2G. They steadily go at 1G, providing the semblance of gravity. If I can't justify that, I probably can't justify inertial compensators. Likewise, Faster than light communications and sensors exist, but are too large for a ship of this size. The cutter can recieve FTL messages, and it does this to recieve orders and also navigational information (don't run into the big rock) from large planetary based scanners. I'm sad that there's only one bed in the sickbay, but I suppose they can stick someone in a popsicle tube and roll him into cargo.

TEMPLATES-Modified Human Heavyworlder (“Dwarf”) 31 Points total A human who is descended from settlers of a relatively high-gravity world, leading to a natural genetic drift towards a short and stout stature. Beards optional. SM-1 [0]0; -1 ft. tall for ST, same weight. -1 to hit in combat. May use typical-sized tools but must have appropriately sized clothes and gear. G-Experience (1.0 G) [1]; a non-native gravity that the Heavyworlder is familiar with, the most common found in human space. ST+3 [30]; Native gravity 1.6 – 2.0G. Additional modifiers possible. Lolitian -8 Points A human subspecies that was genetically manipulated to be of small stature to conserve body mass and consume less resources. This was done in the early years of space colonization when expeditions took many years and possibly several generations. This has resulted in a childlike appearance for most of the duration of these people’s lives. SM-2 [0]; usually 3 – 4 feet tall, with appropriate weight. -2 to hit in combat, use child sized gear and clothing. ST-2 [-20]; slightly stronger than the children they resemble. Although they’re small and have less strength, they have developed their muscle a little bit. +1 HP [2]; partially offsets the loss due to the reduced strength. Pitiable [5]; looks a lot like a child, many would be reluctant to hurt you. Reduced Consumption 2 (1 meal/day required) [4]; may eat more if desired. +4 Disguise skill to appear as mainline human child of 7 – 10 years old [1]. TEMPLATES-ALIEN Gerg 40 Points [-35 points racial Disadvantages] Huge hairy ugly brute, something like a cross between a Wookie and a Predator. Instead of arms, the Gerg has two powerful tentacles with clawed finger nubs. SM+1 [0]; 9 feet tall. +1 to hit, -10% ST cost. +6 ST [54]; counting the -10% for size. Blunt Claws [3]; add +1 per die to damage done with punches or kicks. Damage Resistance 2 (Tough Skin -40%) [6]; thick furry hide. Sharp Teeth [1]; thrust-1 cutting damage. Fur [1]; minor feature. 2 Extra-Flexible Arms [10]; tentacles Bad Temper (Quite Often 12 or less) [-10]; you are easy to annoy. Depending on the provocation you may respond with a threatening snarl or you may attack. Chummy [-5]; Reputation (Hideous savage brutes -6 in human space, 2/3) [-20] Krytuli 20 Points [-38 points racial Disadvantages] Look like big bugs with huge eyes, with the front part of their bodies upright with arms and hands. Strongly prefer warm habitats. Perception +2 [10]; 10 ft long, SM +1 [0]; Damage Resistance 3 [15]; 2 Extra Arms (Foot Manipulators) [14]; 2 Extra Legs [5]; Nictitating Membrane 2 [2]; Peripheral Vision (Easy to Hit) [12]; Hemophilia (no HT limit) [-28]; Cold-Blooded (threshold temperature: 65o [-10] And finally here's the center part of a city that I drew. The city is Hallister Town, the capital city of the world Hallister. It is actually rather small, 4000 people at most, out of about 6000 on the whole planet. There is no significant atmosphere, so the entire settlement stays under shelter, and the majority of the world's population reside in the main town. Everything is connected by tunnels sort of like a hamster city.  The scale of this map is 25 ft. per square. The smaller tunnels are ten feet wide, big enough for golf cart type traffic. The wider 25 ft wide tunnels can handle bigger traffic, though they still have to look out for pedestrians. There's a little unfinished area towards the bottom which is mostly residences, though I'm also leaving the space open to put things that come up there. I had to draw it on pencil and paper, my Surface is too tiny for GIMP.  All the time spent working on this, I think all kinds of folks are going to end up getting whacked here. Actually, I might make it their HQ. PR stands for private residence, the four little things marked RC in the middle are rental cabins.

HALLISTER TOWN CENTER MAP

The key starts at Hallister Hall in the middle and spirals out clockwise.

Planetary Office

This is the administrative office for the world of Hallister and the few outsystem properties administered from here. Adjoining this building is the Commissioner's House and a small hangar with a landing pad for the planet's three man scoot-scoot.

Hallister Hall

A hall with a balcony, used for meetings, court cases, and shows. Otherwise used as an open forum. 9373 sq ft. of seating, seats up to 1500. Partitions and seats kept underground when not in use.

Hallister Hilton

24 room hotel. Continental breakfast. $59.99 single per night, $79.99 double. Not affiliated with the Hilton Hotel Chain, which has been out of business for at least 500 years anyways.

Rental Cabins

There are 4 two-bedroom rental cabins near Hallister Hall. They go for $129.99 / day.

Burger Fool

Fast food establishment, serving the freshest fake meat.

Athletic Club

Exercise machines and treadmills. Short course pool downstairs (the only one for light years).

Smitty's

Pub. Caters to government, lawyers, and the clinic.

Law Office

Four offices, occupied by two law offices and the local Policenauts office. One office is empty.

Central Garage

Garage for the Planetary Office, includes the Emergency Management trucks.

Emergency Management Office

HQ for the volunteer Fire and Damage Control team.

Post Office

Handles most offworld communications, not just mail.

Boomer's Coffee

Coffehouse.

Cooling Engines Hotel

Local cheap hotel. $29.99 single, $39.99 double. $9.99/hour rest. Direct passage to Arlo's Cantina.

Arlo's Cantina

Local spacer's cantina for those not high-toned enough for Kirk's Club. The place for smugglers to blast bounty hunters.

Clinic

First Aid clinic, capable of stabilizing most wounds and illnesses. Worst comes to worst they will ship you off in a popsicle tube. Has an ambulance.

Buzz Bunny's Playground

Children's games and such to keep kids from losing their minds waiting for ships at the starport. All kids subject to parental guidance in theory.

Day Care Center

Takes care of children for employees of the town center and starport. The children here absolutely would never think of burning out to Buzz Bunny's.

Scooter Garage and Rental

For parking your hallway scooter. Rents a two-seater for $14.99, or a four-seater for $19.99 a day.

Rinaldo's

Fancy restaurant, serves real food. $30-70 for a meal.

Insurance Broker

Serves those traveling space or renting a scooter. Or just those feeling space close in from the outside.

Starport Warehouse

Stores merchandise coming or going to the stars.

StarMart

Like a Wal*Mart super center. Popular with space travelers passing through. Has groceries.

Paulo's Pizza and Pasta

Sushi Sensei

Krytuli Fried Chicken

The Krytuli love their chicken.

Ronnie-Burger

Hallister Missionary Baptist Church

Centre Mall

6 shops, one resell, one used book, one frozen treats, upstairs one women's clothes and hardware. Other shop closed.

Queen of Peace Catholic Church

Private Residences 1-6

Leased by the Catholic Church, mostly to church workers.

• 2 Friar's home.

Private Residences 7-17

K-12 School

Apartment Block A

22 apartments, rooms available for $500-700/month. Diner downstairs.

Apartment Block B

8 more luxurious apartments, available for $800-1k/month. Kid's boutique and hair shop downstairs.

Private Residence 22

Biggest house in town. Owned by a guy that owns a small freighter fleet that flies out of here.

Apartment Block C

No rooms available.

Private Residences 18-20

Starry Night

Nightclub. Most happening place in town, which don't mean much.

Private Residence 21

Duplex.

Laundry

Construction Site

Planned on being a large mixed use building, largest building in town other than the starport terminal and maybe the StarMart. Passageways around the site are blocked off and sealed with air locks.

Shops #1

5 small shops, including Carl's, a pub.

Office #1

2 story building, 7 office spaces.

Private Residences 23-24

Private Residences 25-35

7-11

Home of the Big Gulp

Public Bath House

Certain hours divided by men and women, and others by family.

Office #2

City Park

Grass, bubbling brook, blue sky. All artificial.

Sara's Tea Shop

Mosque

Private Residence 36

Apartment Block D

Mostly home to the food makers.

Food Maker's Local Union

Roald's Meats and Groceries

Showplace of the food made in the plants to the west. Has the finest vatsteak and cube-chicken.

Engineer Jim's

LBGT Bar.

Empty Building

Truck access to the starport tarmac.

Air Lock

Truck sized air lock, sonic and vacuum cleaning system blasts the outside regolith off before entering.

Starport Terminal

Welcome to Hallister! Snack bar and gift shop.

Kirk's Club

Starport club. Star Trek themed. $15 at the door.

Outside Garage

Truck parking and interface point between the city and the world outside. Includes tour busses and funeral busses, which drive to the cemetery outside and bury the casket through a hole in the floor. Includes valet services for vehicles parked outside. Also starport service vehicles.

Kim's House

Brothel

Private Residence 40

Shops #2

Shops #3

Private Residences 41-45