Post by lowell on Nov 6, 2010 14:23:45 GMT -7
Galactic Currency and Phase Matter
Of all the vital material the Watchers need to create Hyper-Gates Phase Matter is the most important. There are many theories as to how exactly Phase Matter was created. Many believe it is simply a dense stellar mass created after the collapse of a star, or when a L10 Phase storm destroys one. Though such storms are rare, thousands have occurred since the time of the Watchers ending the use of Dimensional Gates. However, others believe it is the trace leavings of whatever powers the Watchers used to create such a feat of shutting down all Dimensional Gates.
Regardless, over the millenniums since Phase Matter as sprawled across the galaxy, now existing as minute, dust size particles found only in nebulas. Perhaps one of the largest concentrations of Phase Dust is in the Minor Empire called New Norn, or the Norn Empire. The Norns are fiercely neutral and are located in an area that makes it difficult to impossible to invade. One side of their imperial borders lay next to an Eternal Bleed Zone, while the other is protected by a dense asteroid belt surrounding the Norn Nebula like a protective shell. The natural obstacle would make an invasion by any Major Empire reconsider the idea.
Because of their high concentration of Phase Dust with their realm the Norns specialize in Phase sifting, banking, Phase Matter trading, as well as having a small but powerful and well trained military. Currently, the standard Norn currency, the Aure (pronounced Yor) is the galactic standard for trade. One gram of Phase Matter equals 100 Aure. One metric ton of Phase Matter equals a 100 million Aure.
All Empires have some trace amount of Phase Matter within their borders. Any amounts they have gathered may be use as the bases of their empire's Wealth Rating. In forming their Empires players will have to state the amount of this resource. The average amount of Phase matter found within most Minor Empires is 500 tons. If the amount is substantially more they may do a few things:
Phase Matter is difficult to mine, requiring specialized ships to sift through and collect the material within a Nebula cloud. Once collected the material must be refined and transported, another difficult expenditure due to the dense mass of the material. A Phase chip (2000 grams), the amount needed to operate a Hyper-Gate for one year, has a mass of half a billion tones and generates its own gravitational field. Phase Matter is also used as a vital energy source used by most of the Major Empires to power their own colonies, and major cities (though surprisingly not their ships). However, the technology used to do this is highly protected and complex, and beyond the means of a Minor Empire. Regardless, the need for Phase Matter is substantial.
For an empire to benefit from the mining/sifting of Phase Matter, it will need spend on infrastructure the equivalent of maintaing a large military. They can not have both a successful Phase Matter operation and a large military. There are other options:
The profits of their Phase Matter sifting may be placed towards hiring a professional mercenary fleet to protect the mines themselves, or seeking an alliance with other Minor Empires where they too receive part of the profits of Sifting in return for patrolling and protecting the mines, but not all of their ally's Empire.
or --
Empires may concentrate on developing their military and finance it by leasing their Phase Matter operations to other Empires. The leasing Empire receives a large fee which could be placed towards building their military, or other areas of their Empire's infrastructure. The Empire leasing the mines are free to trade the Phase Matter for as much profit as they can receive minus the cost of the leasing fees, mining, refining, and transporting.
Empires could also set up specialize services:
Phase Matter Sifting
Phase Matter Refining
Phase Matter Transporting
Phase Chip Production - only awarded by the Watchers to an Empire.
Security Services
Other forms of commerce outside of Phase Matter sifting could also be:
Agriculture
Textile
Ship building - civilian, cargo and military
Military training and hardware
Entertainment - tourism, galactic culture, sports, etc ...
Natural resources - building, construction and manufacturing materials
Education
Service industry
Banking
Manufacturing
Medical
(More may be added)
Of all the vital material the Watchers need to create Hyper-Gates Phase Matter is the most important. There are many theories as to how exactly Phase Matter was created. Many believe it is simply a dense stellar mass created after the collapse of a star, or when a L10 Phase storm destroys one. Though such storms are rare, thousands have occurred since the time of the Watchers ending the use of Dimensional Gates. However, others believe it is the trace leavings of whatever powers the Watchers used to create such a feat of shutting down all Dimensional Gates.
Regardless, over the millenniums since Phase Matter as sprawled across the galaxy, now existing as minute, dust size particles found only in nebulas. Perhaps one of the largest concentrations of Phase Dust is in the Minor Empire called New Norn, or the Norn Empire. The Norns are fiercely neutral and are located in an area that makes it difficult to impossible to invade. One side of their imperial borders lay next to an Eternal Bleed Zone, while the other is protected by a dense asteroid belt surrounding the Norn Nebula like a protective shell. The natural obstacle would make an invasion by any Major Empire reconsider the idea.
Because of their high concentration of Phase Dust with their realm the Norns specialize in Phase sifting, banking, Phase Matter trading, as well as having a small but powerful and well trained military. Currently, the standard Norn currency, the Aure (pronounced Yor) is the galactic standard for trade. One gram of Phase Matter equals 100 Aure. One metric ton of Phase Matter equals a 100 million Aure.
All Empires have some trace amount of Phase Matter within their borders. Any amounts they have gathered may be use as the bases of their empire's Wealth Rating. In forming their Empires players will have to state the amount of this resource. The average amount of Phase matter found within most Minor Empires is 500 tons. If the amount is substantially more they may do a few things:
Phase Matter is difficult to mine, requiring specialized ships to sift through and collect the material within a Nebula cloud. Once collected the material must be refined and transported, another difficult expenditure due to the dense mass of the material. A Phase chip (2000 grams), the amount needed to operate a Hyper-Gate for one year, has a mass of half a billion tones and generates its own gravitational field. Phase Matter is also used as a vital energy source used by most of the Major Empires to power their own colonies, and major cities (though surprisingly not their ships). However, the technology used to do this is highly protected and complex, and beyond the means of a Minor Empire. Regardless, the need for Phase Matter is substantial.
For an empire to benefit from the mining/sifting of Phase Matter, it will need spend on infrastructure the equivalent of maintaing a large military. They can not have both a successful Phase Matter operation and a large military. There are other options:
The profits of their Phase Matter sifting may be placed towards hiring a professional mercenary fleet to protect the mines themselves, or seeking an alliance with other Minor Empires where they too receive part of the profits of Sifting in return for patrolling and protecting the mines, but not all of their ally's Empire.
or --
Empires may concentrate on developing their military and finance it by leasing their Phase Matter operations to other Empires. The leasing Empire receives a large fee which could be placed towards building their military, or other areas of their Empire's infrastructure. The Empire leasing the mines are free to trade the Phase Matter for as much profit as they can receive minus the cost of the leasing fees, mining, refining, and transporting.
Empires could also set up specialize services:
Phase Matter Sifting
Phase Matter Refining
Phase Matter Transporting
Phase Chip Production - only awarded by the Watchers to an Empire.
Security Services
Other forms of commerce outside of Phase Matter sifting could also be:
Agriculture
Textile
Ship building - civilian, cargo and military
Military training and hardware
Entertainment - tourism, galactic culture, sports, etc ...
Natural resources - building, construction and manufacturing materials
Education
Service industry
Banking
Manufacturing
Medical
(More may be added)