Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

GEC: Discuss gaming, computers and electronics and venture into the bizarre world of STGODs.

Moderator: Thanas

User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

Or: What SCRAMMING UP was supposed to have been!
It is the year 1957.

Murca and Zenobia, two terrifyngly powerful and also incredibly ideologically stubborn nations, are engaged in yet another contest of nationalistic chest-beating and dick-waving.

Murca, fresh after its victory in Salvation War: Part Deux, where it saved the stupid cowardly Stenchies and Anglians from the evil Thanasians, is crossing eyes with the communoids from Zenobia - who might have helped a bit with the war, yeah, but are freedom-hating communoids and must be destroyed. They kinda have a lot of tanks and nukes, though, so Murca will settle for humilitating them a bit.

Zenobia, on the other hand, must prove the superiority of communistic thought and worker's liberation and universal healthcare to the moustache-twirling Murcans. They both thought long and hard about how to do this, and while some Murcans wanted to try this newfangled "nuclear war" thingie, most thought this a little too over the top.

But if not by annihilation of millions in nuclear fire, then how to prove that one nation had the bigger of two dicks? How to show which country was the more manly and well-oiled one?

Then it struck them. They'd have a fucking RACE TO THE MOON. Hell yeah! Unfortunately, since there was cold dead space between Earth and the Moon, both nations would have to work at it. But there'd be rockets involved. Lots of rockets, and macho exploits in outer space. Also, explosions.

But before they flipped their opponents the bird, the two mighty nations would have to decide who to appoint to the role of "the guy charged with proving to the other guys we're the best".

Also, someone would probably have to straddle the mighty steel tubes full of high explosives to plant a flag in lunar soil and do the actual bird flipping. Finding such insane idiots larger than life heroes would probably be difficult indeed.
---------------------------------------------------

So, I want to propose a forum-based game of Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space. For those who don't know, it's a computer version of the board game called Liftoff, where you manage a Soviet or American space program. The computer game is characterized by being completely broken in single player, as the failure rates are extreme yet not touching the computer, so you are screwed unless you save scum.

But this will be a two-side standoff! There will be death, there will be failures, there will be rockets blowing up on the pads! On both sides, all the time!

The rules? The only rule is no rules. I will implement the decisions of the people in charge of both space programs, record the carnage that results and post them. Let the best man win!

But first, of course, we need to build a roster.

The positions!

- Men in charge: both Murca (America) and Zenobia (USSR) require people to lead their nationalistic dick-waving contests. They can have one or more people in charge.

- The insane fuckers who will ride the rockets. We can have as many people as we want here, and boy will we need a lot.

Apply below by posting your name and desired position. Do realize that positions will be awared ona first come, first served basis, since both nations need to get into gear fast, and will not have time to check the qualifications very thoroughly. The benefits are outrageous, the pay is incredible, the fame will be great.

The Zenobian director will also be shot or sent to a gulag if he fails.

No pressure.
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
Eternal_Freedom
Castellan
Posts: 10361
Joined: 2010-03-09 02:16pm
Location: CIC, Battlestar Temeraire

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Eternal_Freedom »

I wish to apply for Murcan "Man in Charge," or Mick.

I am Johnny von Braun, loyal patriot.

I shall endeavour to beat those communoid Zenobians and prove once and for all that Murca is the only true land of the free, and that we are indeed the manliest of the two great nations.

And that should we ever be side by side in the bathroom of a drinking hole, we can put the fear of God into the communoids, as true Murcan men should.
Baltar: "I don't want to miss a moment of the last Battlestar's destruction!"
Centurion: "Sir, I really think you should look at the other Battlestar."
Baltar: "What are you babbling about other...it's impossible!"
Centurion: "No. It is a Battlestar."

Corrax Entry 7:17: So you walk eternally through the shadow realms, standing against evil where all others falter. May your thirst for retribution never quench, may the blood on your sword never dry, and may we never need you again.
User avatar
Karza
Jedi Knight
Posts: 562
Joined: 2004-07-07 09:02am
Location: Turku, Finland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Karza »

Zenobian test pilot Karzanovski reporting for duty. For the Motherland!
"Death before dishonour" they say, but how much dishonour are we talking about exactly? I mean, I can handle a lot. I could fellate a smurf if the alternative was death.
- Dylan Moran
User avatar
doom3607
Jedi Knight
Posts: 648
Joined: 2011-03-02 04:44pm
Location: Bringing doom to a world near you!

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by doom3607 »

I am Zenobian evil overlord wannabe space program director Doom von Evilschtein III. I got this position due to my father being General Secretary of the Party my incredible management skills.
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

Actually from the name it seems you got it by being on the wrong side of the front when Zenobia invaded Thanasia, and since you happened to have worked for the Thanasian rocket program you got scooped up by the KGB :D

But that's okay, your men won't know you actually ran slave labor camps for their families in your previous career...as long as you deliver.
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
doom3607
Jedi Knight
Posts: 648
Joined: 2011-03-02 04:44pm
Location: Bringing doom to a world near you!

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by doom3607 »

Works for me! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

NEIN! NEIN! Put out the cigarette near the rocket fuel! Uh... I mean... nyet? BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY BASTARDS!
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

Note to people: there can be more than one man in charge. It will complicate decision making but lead to more HILARITY and possibly corridor wars.

Astronauts are welcome, though. We'll need lots of them, as thoseguys have an amazing attrition rate in this game.
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
FaxModem1
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 7700
Joined: 2002-10-30 06:40pm
Location: In a dark reflection of a better world

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by FaxModem1 »

So, you didn't like the way SCRAMMING IT UP went?

Anyway, Pilot Fax Modem reporting for duty for the Murcan side. Luckily, I'm from a farm family, and we all went into being pilots, so you will have quite a few spares for a while.
Image
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

No, actually I liked where it went and it was really fun. The way I envisioned it probably wouldn't have been very fun, since Orbiter doesn't track things like flight failures, milestones etc. which i'd have to generate myself. Unless I use a broken game to do that :P
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
OmegaChief
Jedi Knight
Posts: 904
Joined: 2009-07-22 11:37am
Location: Rainy Suburb, Northern England
Contact:

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by OmegaChief »

Hmmm, more then one person in charge.

Well, I will sign on to reprise my role as Commissar, this time ensuring the idealogical purity of the Zenobian space program, and keeping an eye on Doomy.
This odyssey, this, exodus. Do we journey toward the promised land, or into the valley of the kings? Three decades ago I envisioned a new future for our species, and now that we are on the brink of realizing my dream, I feel only solitude, and regret. Has my entire life's work been a fool's crusade? Have I led my people into this desert, only to die?
-Admiral Aken Bosch, Supreme Commander of the Neo-Terran Front, NTF Iceni, 2367
User avatar
doom3607
Jedi Knight
Posts: 648
Joined: 2011-03-02 04:44pm
Location: Bringing doom to a world near you!

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by doom3607 »

I would wind up with a political officer... NEIN! NEIN! You foolish commissar, those are very deadly chemicals! Do not open that! (Damnit, shoulda thought it through first. Now the bastard lives.)
User avatar
Scottish Ninja
Jedi Knight
Posts: 964
Joined: 2007-02-26 06:39pm
Location: Not Scotland, that's for sure

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Scottish Ninja »

Cosmonaut Cadet IVAN IVANOVICH IVANOV reporting for duty in the name of the glory of the Motherland! (Is he really that old? Or is this his ill-fated father, who inspired his dreams of spaceflight... and shooting down Murcan spacecraft?)
Image
"If the flight succeeds, you swipe an absurd amount of prestige for a single mission. Heroes of the Zenobian Onion will literally rain upon you." - PeZook
"If the capsule explodes, heroes of the Zenobian Onion will still rain upon us. Literally!" - Shroom
Cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov (deceased, rain), Cosmonaut Petr Petrovich Petrov, Unnamed MASA Engineer, and Unnamed Zenobian Engineerski in Let's play: BARIS
Captain, MFS Robber Baron, PRFYNAFBTFC - "Absolute Corruption Powers Absolutely"
Faabio
Padawan Learner
Posts: 164
Joined: 2003-11-16 10:18am
Location: Kajaani, Finland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Faabio »

Sure thing sign me up for the side that most needs pilots currently. Otherwise i'll choose Zenobia as its closer to home.
User avatar
The Grim Squeaker
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 10314
Joined: 2005-06-01 01:44am
Location: A different time-space Continuum
Contact:

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by The Grim Squeaker »

Astronaut (Buzz) Flashheart come to kill some Commies!
WOOF WOOF!
Photography
Genius is always allowed some leeway, once the hammer has been pried from its hands and the blood has been cleaned up.
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

While people apply, here is a primer for both Directors, concerning the way the game is played.
Super Secret Message: Rules Of Competition wrote: Hello, Directors! It is I, Hans von Smallhausen! You might remember me, for I have worked as your administrative assistant during Salvation War: Part Deux! Those were the times, when we abused the untermenschen and had them build weapons of terror for the Fuhrer, ja? Ha, ha!

Anyways, I now reside in Stenchia. I am taking a break from drinking champagne and fornication (I am trying to colonize Stenchia with a race of supermen, you see!) to write this quick primer, because Murca and Zenobia possess lots and lots and lots of nuclear weapons. So you understand that it is imperative that their schniedel-measuring contests are performed according to clear and agreed upon rules. Otherwise egos will be hurt and accusations of cheating will fly both ways and blow up cities, which my current employers would really prefer to avoid if possible, thankyouverymuch.

So, I have been asked by the International Aviation Federation to prepare this primer for both Directors participating in Murcan and Zenobian attempts to race to the Moon. Isn't it funny how the superpowers have to rely on Thanasian minds to do their heavy lifting? Ha, ha, even in victory they need the ubermenschen! Take that stupid monkeys!

But err, let me go to the basics, mein herren. The race into space is budgeted in six month intervals. Funds, measured in Megabucks (MB) are deposited in Spring, and can be spent for Spring and Autumn activities. Things are accomplished during the race via performing Missions. Here is a brief explanation of Missions:

A Mission is flown after it is planned. Missions have to be planned a season ahead - so a Mission that's planned in Spring will not be flown until Autumn. Do plan ahead!

In order to do a Mission, you need to develop appropriate Hardware. This is done by research teams composed of the brightest Thanasian minds that the superpowers stole from us. Initiating a program costs a lump sum, for which you get a device at a certain low reliability. Then research brings reliability up to a higher level, and succesful flights even higher. Catastrophes lower reliability. Starting a research program for a system after fully researching a previous generation will give a bonus to reliability.

You then fly missions using this developed Hardware, which you have to pay megabucks for before every Mission. However, you pay a Unit Cost, rather than the program startup cost. No need for kickbacks once a program is up and running, you see.

You can fly several Missions at a time, but you need to be able to provide Hardware, Astronauts and of course the launch pads to do that. Mission are flown simultaneously, that is both Murca and Zenobia launch theirs at the same time. Murca gets first dibs on launches planned for the same month (They must've bribed someone to do that, the bastards! You'd never see that sort of corruption in old Thanasia!), that is: if a Milestone is accomplished by Murca, then Zenobia does not receive extra Prestige points. Rushing allows you to perform a Mission earlier and thus beat your opponent to the punch, but imposes penalties to success rates.

Missions are divided into two basic types: Manned and Unmanned.

Unmanned missions are done to test equipment and accomplish certain Milestones. I will write more about Milestones later. You can fly all your equipment unmanned, if you don't want to risk astronauts, but need to build up reliability.

Manned missions require astronauts as well as hardware. Astronauts have certain Skills, which strongly influence the chances of a mission succeeding. These Skills are: Capsule, Lunar Module, Docking, Endurance and EVA. Each of those influences different parts of the mission.

Astronauts cannot be recruited before two seasons have passed. They must make sure their respective agency does not crash and burn in the first year, you see. Recruiting a class of astronauts costs monies, twenty megabucks to be exact. Each class provides a number of Astronauts - the later the class, the more Astronauts you will receive.

The Astronauts are from undermenschen nations, so they have to go into basic training after recruitment. The stupid apes cannot even produce test pilots worthy of flying their inferior equipment! You can yank astronauts from training early, though. The Federation allows that, even if it leads to sudden death and explosions and whatnot, but whatever, it's not like Thanasians die in a failed flight, ja? Ha ha!

Astronauts must be assigned to a manned program before they can fly. They have to train even more (Just how stupid are those apes?), so you can only plan mission the following season, and fly them even later on! Shake heads with me, mein herren, for this is pathetic. Back home we'd have stuck a Pollack or Zenobian in a rocket and just flown it! Don't tell them we did that, though. They might not appreciate the sacrifices we had to force others into for science.

Anyways, a few words about Prestige. The Federation will keep score of Milestones, and award Prestige for them. Your new national leaders will give you more cash if you accomplish these Milestones first, but watch out! A Milestone takes with it penalties to probability of success. Trying to leap across several milestones will doom your missions to fail!

Some of the milestones are:

- First satellite
- First suborbital flight
- First manned flight
- First manned orbital flight
- Duration flights
- First EVA, first orbital docking
- First lunar flybys (manned and unmanned)
- First lunar orbit
- First planetary flybys (unmanned)
- First lunar landing (first one to do that wins the race!)

Try to snatch as many of those as possible!

If you have further questions, mein herren, feel free to give me a call! I always have time for you. Now I am off to sip champagne from slippers of fine Stenchie women!

Always faithful,
Hans von Smallhausen
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
Hawkwings
Sith Devotee
Posts: 3372
Joined: 2005-01-28 09:30pm
Location: USC, LA, CA

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Hawkwings »

Zenovian test pilot LUKA DOSTAROVASKEEE reporting for duty!
Vendetta wrote:Richard Gatling was a pioneer in US national healthcare. On discovering that most soldiers during the American Civil War were dying of disease rather than gunshots, he turned his mind to, rather than providing better sanitary conditions and medical care for troops, creating a machine to make sure they got shot faster.
User avatar
Shroom Man 777
FUCKING DICK-STABBER!
Posts: 21222
Joined: 2003-05-11 08:39am
Location: Bleeding breasts and stabbing dicks since 2003
Contact:

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Shroom Man 777 »

Oh Jesus :lol:
Image "DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source)
shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN!
Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people :D - PeZook
Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic
Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
User avatar
Lord Relvenous
Jedi Council Member
Posts: 1501
Joined: 2007-02-11 10:55pm
Location: Idaho

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Lord Relvenous »

Pure-blooded, blue collared, real Murican hero Tank Hardbeef reporting for duty! In the name of almighty baby Jesus, I will pilot the great Murican spacecraft built through the sweat and tears of white, god-fearing, honest Murican men and women.

Murica! Greatest country in all the land!
Coyote: Warm it in the microwave first to avoid that 'necrophelia' effect.
User avatar
HMS Sophia
Jedi Master
Posts: 1231
Joined: 2010-08-22 07:47am
Location: Watching the levee break

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by HMS Sophia »

Ship designer and researcher Sam Francisco from... earth, reporting for duty to the Murican space command :D
"Seriously though, every time I see something like this I think 'Ooo, I'm living in the future'. Unfortunately it increasingly looks like it's going to be a cyberpunkish dystopia, where the poor eat recycled shit and the rich eat the poor." Evilsoup, on the future

StarGazer, an experiment in RPG creation
User avatar
Shroom Man 777
FUCKING DICK-STABBER!
Posts: 21222
Joined: 2003-05-11 08:39am
Location: Bleeding breasts and stabbing dicks since 2003
Contact:

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by Shroom Man 777 »

BIFF MCCAIN at your service! Navy airman, commended for bravely putting down the totally accidental fire on the aircraft carrier Forrestgump, was once shot down by the goddamn Viet Kong but KILLED THE CONCENTRATION CAMP GUARDS and BRAVELY led a GREAT ESCAPE! OORAHOOAH!
Image "DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source)
shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN!
Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people :D - PeZook
Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic
Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
User avatar
doom3607
Jedi Knight
Posts: 648
Joined: 2011-03-02 04:44pm
Location: Bringing doom to a world near you!

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by doom3607 »

Are we able to sabotage the other guys? Or would it require save scumming to ensure theirs fails, getting the same effect?
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

Mein Herr Von Evilstein, as much as I appreciate your professional rivalry with herr Von Braun, I am afraid the Federation would not look very kindly upon actions that could lead to the very outcome we are trying to avoid here.

So, uh, no.

Always faithful,
Hans von Smallhausen
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

...aaand, let's kick it off. People can still apply for various positions. The first year will not see finalization of the Class I astronaut list until the first recruits become available in Spring 1958. In essence,the first two turns are a race to get unmanned vehicles up there.

Von Smallhausen is, of course, still available for questions regarding the Federation's rules for the race.
CHAPTER 1: THE RACE BEGINS!
Time is: Spring 1957
Image
MURCA
THE CAPE
"Here we are, Director!", Johnny Von Braun's driver was almost too cheerful. The young snappy Murcan soldier drove his Geeper through the gate, that was guarded by a somewhat sleepy and possibly dead security guard.

As they made their way across the mud and dirt roads of THE CAPE, the Director whimpered. President Ironhowler told him he was going to have "everything necessary" to beat the Zenobians to the Moon - but all he could see was a huge open field, a junk shack and a couple wooden barracks. The only relatively hi-tech building in the area was a single launch pad he could see far on the horizon.

Johnny Von Braun got out of the Geeper in front of one of these wooden shacks and decided to man up. Whatever happened, he'd persevere! He was a Murcan now, a good proud good ol' boy, and by God he'd succeed! Or else...

The "or else" meant of course "being tried for war crimes", as director Von Braun was, much like his Zenobian counterpart, a former Thanasian rocket scientist who worked to try and blow up Anglian cities from afar with his inventions. Hopefully, after he showed those communoids and his former colleague Von Evilstein what's what, he could finally be allowed to join this great, patriotic and god-fearing nation as a citizen!

Anyways, entering the tiny shack, Director Von Braun found his office was a tiny, tiny room, mostly occupied by a huge desk. There was a single window presenting a view of THE CAPE, but there wasn't much to view, really.

On top of the desk lay a massive pile of reports, from which he could discern the state of the MASA (Murcan Aeronautics and Space Agency).

Code: Select all

Current funds: 60 megabucks

Current astronaut roster: N/A

Programs running: N/A

Launch pads: 1
Okay, so the pile was...not very high, really.

The eggheads working one wooden shack over, on the other hand, have submitted a head-splittingly huge list of proposals for research programs they wanted to initiate, in an easy-to-read flash card format providing all the necessary information.

UNMANNED SATELLITES

Image
Image
Image

ROCKET BOOSTERS

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

MANNED CAPSULES AND LUNAR LANDERS

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT

Image
Image
Image
Image

There was also a red phone, which the Director was sure would start ringing quite soon, and star spewing angry questions directly into his ear.

Sighing, the Director decided to get some input on the all-important decision of "how to spend my pile of money?". He called up the man who signed off on the flash cards, MASA Director Of Research, Sam Francisco.

Image
ZENOBIA
BAIKONUREK
Director Doom von Evilstein III glared at the Comissar.

"Excuse me? I'd like to use that bathroom, please, ja?"

"Go ahead, then", People's Rocket Comissar, Ivan Omeganski, answered. But he wouldn't move. It appeared he really meant it when he said he was going to watch the director at all times.

"Nein! Zis is indignity! I refuse to vork in such conditions!"

"We have worse workplaces in Zenobia, you know.", the Comissar didn't seem to mind, "How would you like to chop down trees in Zyberia?"

"But eet iz not necessary!"

"I have to make sure you do not try to escape your socialist duty to the Motherland, comrade von Evilstein. By, say, comitting suicide."

"But how?! How could I pozzibly commit zuicide on ze toilet?"

"Drowning."

The Director threw up his hands in frustration, "Fine! You win, communoid bastard!"

The unpleasantness did not take long, but Director Von Evilstein was not any happier about it. He stormed through the corridors of the dilapidated (and tiny) post-war bunker down to his office, the Comissar following him around. He started reading through reports from his research staff, in an attempt to decide what programs to begin. He had to do it just right, or risk actually going off to Zyberia to actually cut down frozen trees. Fortunately, his Murcan counterpart Von Braun always was an idiot. Von Evilstein was the brains behind the Thanasian retribution weapons, and by God he'd beat that young fool at this game. He glanced at the cork board showing the current status of his agency.

Code: Select all

Current funds: 60 megabucks

Current astronaut roster: N/A

Programs running: N/A

Launch pads: 1
And held up the first technological reports, that were provided to him in an easy to read flash card format.


UNMANNED SATELLITES

Image
Image
Image

ROCKET BOOSTERS

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

MANNED CAPSULES AND LUNAR LANDERS

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

...oh, those zany Zenobians! Such quiant designs, so rugged and simple and quite rigid and...

Director Von Evilstein slapped himself very, very hard. No time to think of hardness! There were decisions to make!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Code: Select all

DECISIONS TO MAKE:

1) What programs to initiate?
2) How many research teams to assign towards research for these programs in Spring 1957?
3) What, if any, missions to plan for Autumn 1957?
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
User avatar
doom3607
Jedi Knight
Posts: 648
Joined: 2011-03-02 04:44pm
Location: Bringing doom to a world near you!

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by doom3607 »

Initiate Sputnik and A-Series rocket programs. Go to maximum research on both, and launch a Sputnik on the A-Series rocket. We need to rush to ensure we beat the damn Murcans to the punch. There any way we can pre-emptively get another launch pad so i can fire two off at once, both rushed?
User avatar
PeZook
Emperor's Hand
Posts: 13237
Joined: 2002-07-18 06:08pm
Location: Poland

Re: Let's play: Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space

Post by PeZook »

New launch pads cost 20 megabucks, so you will not be able to afford one after initiating the a-series and sputnik and doing full research on both, as that leaves you with 19 megabucks.
Image
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11

Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.

MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
Post Reply