I didn’t read anything yet, but spending 4 whole years with a full schedule and still remembering this project is worthy of respect in itself. I wanted that conviction to do things in my life.
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New update! I got Chapter 1 kicked off this weekend, so we now have a working company creator and some narrative action leading up to receiving our very first job! I’m really excited to have gotten so much knocked out this weekend. I’m shooting to have at the very least the entirety of the first job (technically 2 different jobs depending on your choices) written and published by the end of April. At this rate I’m very optimistic that I’ll be ahead of schedule.
As always, let me know if something seems wrong or if you’ve got any questions. Enjoy!
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The unlicensed route seems like the most fun, doing all the gritty dark work and being apart of corporate conspiracies and not really the under dog stuff like pulling standard security I thought it would be
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I agree! The blacksite job does sound more exciting on first read. It’s murkier, tenser, and carries that dark, corporate flavored mystery that tickles my brain.
The gala gig, by comparison, is clean, official, and at least seems a little straightforward (maybe even a little dull) up front.
That contrast is intentional—but not meant to suggest that one path is more fun than the other. The gala job is desirable in-world: it pays well, boosts legitimacy, and puts your new company on the map. The blacksite is a favor from someone who doesn’t care about your rep, just that you get it done quiet.
That said, from a player perspective the goal is to make every job entertaining—regardless of legality or pay grade. Choosing the unlicensed route won’t lock you into a grimdark/wetwork path (unless you want it to) and just because a job is official doesn’t mean you won’t see cloak and daggers and blood on the floor…
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It would be fun leading a mercenary group that in the day is seen guarding rich folk while at night is currently busting open heads of people with debt or kidnapping some rich guys child for pulling out of some company’s deal
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Also could we grow our group into like an private army and like participate in war zones (like being hired to take a certain objective, or getting hired to do actual corporate warfare and raid some companies rival planet)
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Yeah at some point you can definitely be doing both! Just not off the rip.
You’ll absolutely be hiring more mercs as you get access to more resources - and with more mercs and more reputation, you’ll get access to bigger jobs. War zones and large scale conflict are absolutely on the table
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In the company creation, if you choose Phoenix Security as a name there’s a repeat of: Maybe it’s cliché. But there’s something to be said for fire, ashes, and flying anyway.
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Good catch! Just fixed it
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Speaking of doing things in the future when it comes to the companys equipment how often do you think we will be able to upgrade everything?
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My current plan for the game loop will be to have alternating phases: one where you are actually performing the job you are hired to do, and the other where you are managing your ‘downtime’ (company management, improving skills, picking your next job).
Right now you are on the ‘main story’ so to speak - Arden and Kestrel Systems are going to be a key plot point for the overarching narrative, but you will be picking many more jobs from different clients along the way. That’s why you don’t have much of a management portion quite yet. That’s going to come after this next op!
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Good to hear 
looking forward to it all.
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Any way to save your teammates in the base? I feel like there should be, otherwise your choices don’t matter much beyond flavor text.
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I like it so far. The action flows and I was able suspend disbelief on the small unit tactics. Only thing I might add is that the PC takes themselves a little too serious. I never met anyone in the military that fulsomely got a thorn wire tattoo because “Some wear chains. You chose thorns. Pain that says you’re still here, still dangerous.” Military tats can be corny and moto but that is a little much for a veteran operator.
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There is no way to save them and acctually i think the entirety of that event works cause it shows just how inept leadership was as well giving us the chance to start to build our play style at least with what was to be its start. Is it alot of flavor? Perhaps yet in this case i think it works at this point into the story.
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There isn’t a way to save Dax’s squad in the prologue. It’s written this way to establish the poor planning and communication skills of Orion’s Own leadership. It’s not that your choices don’t matter here, it’s that your choices and reactions are being tracked to help establish your personality which affects things going forward
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I included a lot of different tattoo options so people could build their MC however they’d like! You’re right, most people in the military aren’t like that, but I’ve met a couple people who are. But it’s also important to remember that you’re not in the military. You can play this as more of a criminal gang for hire if you want.
I guess what I’m getting at here is that the story isn’t supposed to match reality, but it’s trying to instill a certain tone. The atmosphere should be a little heavier, and all the characters should feel like they’re carrying some weight. I’ll take a look at it and see if I can tone it down while carrying the same implications
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Nonetheless it feels like my actions have very little consequence in that bit. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I already get how incompetent the leadership is from everything else.
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Fair enough, and the flavor is definitely striking the same tone as the narrative, which is a plus. I guess I assumed that the PC came from a military of some stripe before becoming a merc and therefore is seasoned enough to consider ennui at that level as belonging to their younger self.
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