Re: Spelljamming Asteroid Empires

>The military would revolve around smaller vessels like damselflies
>(preferred over dragonflies by the military for obvious reasons) and
>wasps.  "Cruiser" level ships like squidships and "battleships" like
>hammerships would be much rarer as the many smaller ships would
>increase the empire's presence significantly with limited resources.

True, provided there was a significent difference in cost, using the
"standard" rules, the squidship would be the most common, economical
vessel.

>additional crew requirements.  Instead spelljamming and sail
>manipulation proficiencies will be stressed to improve MC.  Wildspace
>navigation will also be common as it will allow the far flung patrols
>to move more quickly between their destinations.

Yes, I think these would be emphasized more in all spelljamming campaigns,
in fact.

>Bases will be centered around key mining centers (miners mine the nearby
>>asteroids) or important farm colonies (or simply a key strategic
>location).

Interestingly, almost _all_ battles historically have occurred within a
very limited geographic range.  Just for an example, Adrianople (in
European Turkey) has been the site of _15_ major battles throughout
recorded history.  Nearly every major naval engagement in history has
occured within a fairly narrow band of coastal waters, and even then along
certain "routes". This actually moves into modern times, withonly two
decisive engagements beyond coastal waters, the Battle of the Atlantic and
Midway in WWII.  The reason is that it's far easier to find what you are
looking for close to ports and other "land" installations.

In SJ terms, this means almost every SJ battle will occur near an
astronomical body such as an astroid field or planet, and that those bodies
will most likely be inhabited.  99% of space will never have a battle
fought in it:)  "screening" patrols, ships setting on well known space lans
to drop folks out of SJ speed (much like Imperial Interdictor cruisers from
the Zahn Star wars books) would be common, and most astroid ports like the
rock would want a "screen" of such bodies twenty to thirty hexes out to
drop folks to tactical speed further out so they can be more easily dealt
with if hostile.

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College