Common Terms
Starborn is a detailed game with a library of resources for players to read, and it's pool grows everyday. Due to this game library players are likely to run across some terminology they may not otherwise be familiar with and have effort is made to provide useful definition below. As more problem terms are discovered they will be included here
Miscellaneous
Atmospheric Pressure Scale
In the early days of manned space colonization, the Atmospheric Pressure Scale was used heavily in determining the standards for ship construction, but now this scale has become more of a statistic upon which to determine whether a planet requires a Gateway Station. Put simply, this scale dictates how powerful a cosmic body's atmospheric shell is. Each body, usually a planet or a moon, receives a Grade between A and M. The greater the pressure an atmosphere applies on a hull, the higher the letter - with M being virtually an impenetrable atmosphere. Grade A is a lack of any atmosphere.
Worlds & Locations
Defense Platform
These compounds are much more common than stations in the orbit of a planet with as many as 15 platforms (versus only one Gateway Station). These platforms have a small crew since most of it is automated Vulcan Turrets and modified Mosquito Cannons. They almost always have several shuttles and provide support to the various fighter patrols that are constantly near the planet's parameter.
Gateway Station
Positioned near worlds where the atmosphere or local laws otherwise prevent the entry of larger space-ships, these stations act as intermediary stop-offs. Ships are parked at gateway stations, while crews man smaller rental shuttles and
LANCE their goods down to the surface of the world. Obviously these parked vessels are a high-risk threat for sabotage and theft while crews are world-side, so Gateway stations are usually densely populated with police forces.
Outposts (Deep Space)
These are generally the same as a Space Station, but Outposts are usually privately-owned - either by a corporation, clan, guild, or alliance. These are even more self-contained due to their remoteness. Outposts also tend to be a haven for those less than lawful or those not wishing to be found. There are many healthy black markets thriving within the shadows of some of the larger outposts. The population of an Outpost could range from 200 - 200,000. Very rarely will you see any larger.
Space Station
An self-contained colony/community floating in space - typically in orbit of a planet, small moon, or in some cases free-floating in space. These stations have enormous reactors in order to power the many thrusters that keep it in the same spot. Total population at the various stations swings wildly. The average space station usually has 500,000 or more inhabitants. Each station benefits from the advances of science and technology that the last didn't have, so most stations - even the Sol Lagrange point stations - have obvious design dissimilarities.
Movement & Tactical
Port
Despite its common usage on any ship (naval or space), many people still have a hard time keeping up with which direction is which. Basically, Port equals left. As in Hard to Port - this simply means steer all the way to the left.
Starboard
The opposite of Port, this obviously refers to the right side. The easiest way to distinguish the two in your mind is to remember that the longer word of Starboard (as opposed to Port) corresponds to the longer word of Right. You will have it memorized soon. Unless your character is an amateur pilot, he/she would be using these terms - keep this in mind when roleplaying for added quality.
Modern World & Technology
Gene-Born
Gene-born describes the first generation born to assist in every new system colonization effort. These people are what were referred to years ago as test-tube babies. Using a provision of the
Neo-Geneva Conventions colonization efforts are allowed to bypass laws barring age-acceleration, Heritage7 activation, and imprinting. Gene-born are normally progressed to a working age of approximately twenty, mutated to suit local environments which gives rise to the unique local racial variants, and imprinted with social coding that mimics the foundational years. Often resentful of their station and lost youths Gene-born have the some of the highest occurrence of mental illness requiring long-term treatment after their useful duty in expanding colonization has abated.
Genetic Engineering
For game use Genetic Engineering is an advancement of modern science which is used to:
- isolate genes for use
- alter genes so they operate better
- reverse engineer protein structures finding variants
- prepare genes to be inserted into a new species or spliced into existing genetic material
- develop transgenes
Solar Entry
The Solar Entry is the beginning of recorded time in a solar system. When the colonization ship first reaches the virgin solar system the Solar Entry event is recorded, and a new register is created for all events which transpire in that specific system.
Splicing
A term coined which refers to the practice common in the field of genetics where cells are modified via transcription and more advanced practices. The act is an art as much a science, where creativity and inventive approaches often find the brightest solution to a problem. Splicing has been used on numerous occasions to fix socially unacceptable adaptations brought on with the use of the Heritage7 Virus.
Due to the volume of material in this section the entries are broken out into a separate page. If you spend the time to look the lexicon is growing, be sure to help it grow.