Via Stella is a sci-fi RPG based around the player's character, a burgeoning ship-captain. The player must micro-manage the runnings of his starship, and play as he wishes - from going down the route of working for the government and carrying out duties handed down from Earth, running goods between planets as a trader, hunting space pirates, exploring space or simply working as a freelancer.
[This game I guess is comparable as a 2D-RPG Freelancer, but with micromanagement in the player's ship!]IntroductionThe player starts out on the International Space Station (ISS) orbitting Earth, which by now in the year 2596 has become city-like. It is the day where the player can fetch his exam results in his captaincy, which will legally allow him to fly a starship.
FeaturesEvents are in real-time, but are time is fast-forwardable. For example, a High-Speed Rail Transport ("Hust" Train) might arrive at a station at every 10-minutes from xx.09 onwards over the hour. (10:09, 11:19, 11:29, etc).
During space-travel, the player can access Navigation to see the distance decreasing on-approach.
An event, such as a court hearing, might be at 14:30, which the player has to be on-time for.
So forth.
Select and Manage your crew. Read their skills, their personality and apply them where they are best suited. Choose their work-hours, uniform, equipment and duties.
(Sexy 60s Star Trek, anybody? Spandex minidresses + Tights + Boots? Has to be done.)
Make sure food, water, bathrooms and counseling are available to their - and your own - needs. It gets awful lonely in the deep black.
Micromanage your ship. The player can only afford a small ship in the start, so it's a starter into things.
Keep the Mainframe cool. Keep an eye out for any maintenance issues. Make sure there's enough fuel. Make sure the oxygen generators are up-to-date.
Install/Upgrade your Terminal's Operating System. Install the latest AI Interface. Handle Virus infections.
I'm sure I had a lot more ideas for this, but I've forgotten them... They'll come back to me.
So, you're on a voyage from Earth to Mars. Let's hit the "Wait" button till we arrive.
Or, we can have a wander around the ship. Go to the bathroom, have something to eat, optimize your navigation, feed your cat. Whatever. Talk to the crew.
After that, let's check the terminal... still another hour to go... Let's go read a Skill Book.
Ship AI: "Azkanan, destination is one-minute away."
Time to get back to seat and initiate landing procedures.
Modify your system, if you have the skill, to detect these things, and even to automate them for you.
[Possibly:] Build your own ship if you have the coin for the materials.
- I haven't thought much about skills, but the possibilities!
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Last Updated: 16/Nov/2011
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Currently Working OnHistory: 0%NextAzkananFemale SpriteCompletedAzkananMale Sprite
Design Document