Could someone either put a link to the announcement that magic is to be allowed in Fenspace here, or, a copy of the announcement, please?  The idea is that this thread will be easy to find in future.
Thanks!
--
"It is the business of the future to be dangerous" - Hawkwind

Form/widget/card.html] 1

Looks interesting, although $3000 (after taxes and shipping) is a bit out of my current price range... And, of course, it's not likely to work with all the 3D-modeling stuff I have (on account of those models being not completely bounded).

But, hey - once you've finished modeling something, you can print it at a decent resolution now! (For definitions of "now" that include "first quarter 2013".)
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

I had a slow day in work.

2022, The Choppers
2023 Cosmo Dragoon, Judy (Bahamode)
2024 (Planned), This thing

Something every year should be sustainable on some level...

Quote:Project: Asagiri RF - 047. SU-47 'Berkut' Mouldline Replica

*Who are We?

We're calling ourselves Asagiri. We're a bunch of enthusiasts who live on 77 Frigga who like to go fast. We're Jet Jaguar, Mackie Jaguar and Daryl Haur. We have motorsports experience beforehand. We have experience tuning BAT engines. We have experience racing. We're enthusiasts looking to do something just that bit different.

And we have an idea.

*What are we doing?

The 'warbirds' class is one of the most popular and spectacular events on the Asteroid racing circuit. Short of full-on prototype racing it's also one of the most expensive. Consider the cost of a new Valkyrie, Viper, Blackbird or Talon, then add in all the race preparation required. Even with dedicated 'budget' homologation versions, the warbirds are still hampered by the compromises of their origins. The rules require that a warbird retain most of its primary weapons systems and struture.

In the last couple of years however, we noticed that orders of the JF-21 series through or HAP had increased up to an average of about 1 or 2 a month. We found out that they were being bought by racers in need of cheap speed, and didn't mind the lack of advanced hardware or controls. Out of that, grew the idea for a dedicated racer, built to be Great Justice compliant. Something that would offer the performance of a dedicated race-design.

Essentially, we're building a homologation special, a spacecraft designed from the ground up to race, then adding the bare minimum in armament and equipment to meet Part L

Put succinctly, the aim of this Kickstarter project is to construct a spacecraft compliant with Great Justice Part-L requirements, that can be purchased as a 'turn-key' racer which will be competitive in the 'warbirds' class against craft that may have cost much more money to purchase race-prepare. Especially if they have been purchased from new.

We're calling it the RF-047.

*The Bird:
We've been working on this for over a year already, ever since we finished the Hokum chopper. We'd been hoping to have something finished in time for the recent convention but funding fell behind. The current project schedule has our official first-flight in six months, with a public demonstration of the prototype in time for Greencon.

Basic framing will use a mix of Lunar Titanium and waved Carbotanium, with forward canards, an aft stabilator and a forward swept fixed-wing giving a larger control surface area and ideal maneuvering thruster positioning around the centre of mass for maximum authority.

Control is handled by our first fly-by-wire system, allowing the use of relaxed stability techniques in the spaceframe to ensure peak responsiveness and maneuverability. This allows us to use Pilot-centric maneuvering by coordinating the control surfaces to pivot the spacecraft around the cockpit, reducing forces and stresses on the pilot during hard maneuvering.

Armaments are the bare minimum. An RP-72 sensor set, matched to a lightweight autocannon, and four under-belly hardpoints for ABird-series missiles. Rules require than warbirds racer retain internal armaments such as cannons in operable condition, but without ammunition. Using an autocannon saves carrying the weight of batteries and a power supply.

Propulsion is from a pair of BAT Customer-spec CC100 Cool Cuke reactors, modified by ourselves with a fusion booster to increase the output of the core to four times it's standard rating. These are matched to axial accelerator, dual-spiral collimated ion thrusters. They're not as efficient as a the Quad helix, but are lighter and just a bit tougher and easier to fix.

The fusion booster itself is a local innovation that's seeing some use on the racing circuit already. The customer model replaces the neutron source and moderation shield in the standard Cuke design with a straight neutron injector. The output of the core is throttled by solely controlling the reaction rate of the fusor. It is ultimately safer than using a neutron throttled method.

The fusor and reactor naturally operate in a positive feedback loop if left unchecked. Throttling the fuel supply to the fusor enables its effect to be limited, allowing the reactor output to be effectively throttled. It also ensures that a runaway reaction can never take place. Even with a throttle stuck wide open, the reaction rate is limited to a safe level by fuel flow rate, while an autothrottle prevents overfuelling and power surging at low power levels.

This ensures the ion thrusters are always operating at their most efficient setting, directly coupled to the reactor output.

Those thrusters are then tied in to a full thrust vectoring system, including reversers and speedbrakes. Our aim is maximum speed through cornering rather than straight-line output. With proper tuning on the engines and control software, it should take most long courses at full throttle without lifting. The end result is something that looks like a drifting rally car rather than a banking fighter jet.

*Can I fight with it?

This is not a combat spacecraft. It is an armed spacecraft. It incorporates the bare minimum in weaponry and hardware to meet Part L.

What this also means is that, in a straight fight, nearly any warbird built in the last five years would mop the floor with it. It's fast and maneuverable, and that's it. Really. Unless you're running away or really desperate, don't pin your survival hopes on having one of these in your hangar.

Unless, of course, you retrofit a full-feature fire control system yourself, add structural bracing to cope with maneuvering with a full combat load and reprogram the flight control software to account for the changes in mass distribution.

It can be done. But that's not our aim.

*Where we're at:

We have a spaceframe. We have a functioning set of engines. The frame itself has completed non-destructive structural testing and is certified 'Fit to Fly'. We've flight tested it four times. The first two were failures, ending in an emergency shutdown to keep it from going out of control to self destruction. Third flight was an improvement, but nearly ended in disaster when it began to pitch and roll uncontrollably during landing. The Fourth flight went as expected, ending with a planned in-space recovery.

We have problems with control. That's our big issue. It's not bad during steady flying, but once things start getting more complex. It shows a lot of promise in maneuverability, but at the same time it's almost impossible to hold it on a steady heading.

We've acquired a bare metal 'mule' spaceframe (A series 2A Blackbird) to test the engines, thrust vectoring and control software. We've also begun a flight test program to try and get some data that can be modelled. We've got about three months data.

We've got a lot of data, both from the prototype spaceframe, and Blackbird mule but that's about it. Going from data into something useful is our current sticking point.

*What we need:

We need better software models, both of the spaceframe and of our engines. The engines especially because our maneuverability and control is so dependent on them. A lot of our instability problems seem to come from interactions between the engines, throttle response and the thrust vectoring.

That means paying someone to do it because there's only so much that can be done with DCAMS and the hardware we have. Even as is, it takes it two weeks to run through a simulation of the spaceframe alone. And that's without all the operating data we've gathered in the last three months. We fed that into DCAMS then watched it fall over and die.

We also need to arrange production with a manufacturer. The initial prototype frame was manufactured to order by Hepheastus, but we've been looking further abroad. The initial investment in tooling for something this large is pretty high, and nobody will touch it without us shouldering the cost, or a reasonable chance of a return on the investment.

Then there's GJ certification. Which promises to be interesting in and of itself. It's going to be like road-registering an F1 car. We meet the requirements on paper, we just need to get it through the process which may require modification.

Finally, if all that comes off. Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. This isn't a hobby. We're expecting that this will at least pay for itself in some way. The only way people will buy this is if it performs as advertised. The only way they can be certain of that is if it starts racking up podium finishes. We need to run it in competition. And racing isn't cheap.

*The Blackbird 'XR-71'

Originally a series 2A built in 2014, and one of the earliest customer models, it was traded in against the cost of a new Valkyrie and scheduled for deconstruction. We bought it as a bare-metal frame at scrap metal prices and fitted our set of prototype engines, cockpit, control software and thrust vectoring system. Data-Logging hardware goes were the back-seater normally did

The engines were too small for the existing nacelles so we mounted them in the tail. It'll do .14C in short bursts on full-boost, but struggles to match the cruising speed of the standard model. The problem with it is it's a 50 ton spacecraft propelled by engines designed to drive something half that weight.

What's going to happen to her once we're done, I don't know. Most of the interior's gone along with the life support. It only has fuel for a half-hour's flight and those are just fiberglass covers over empty nacelles.

Still, we've learned a lot from her. Even if it takes a peculiar kind of fail to make a Blackbird spaceframe porpoise hard enough to shed pieces. That's how we discovered the throttle surge problem.

We named it XR-71, or Exxor.

*The rewards:

Tier 1: Your name will be displayed onscreen on system startup, 'With thanks'

Tier 2: Tier 1, plus printed cutaway drawings and certificate, signed by all three of us.

Tier 3: As previous, but with a printed 1/72 scale model printed in plastic.

Tier 4: Tier 3, but with a machined metal model.

Tier 5: If you come to Greencon, we'll give you a personal tour of the finished spacecraft, and all of the above.

Tier 6: 1-4, plus a half-hour demonstration flight in XR-71 at Greencon, during which you'll be given a chance to take the controls. (Limited to 20)

Tier 7: We'll put you up out here on Frigga for a few days, for the official first flight of the finished prototype. (Limited to 10)

Tier 7: Hangar tickets for a race in 2024. Meet us. Meet us and the other race teams as they prepare their machines. Get up close and personal with some expensive hardware. (Limited to five)

Tier 8: Test flight in the finished RF-047. We'll put you up comfortably out here for a few days, and you'll get a full technical briefing, and a chance to put the new RF-047 through its paces for a half hour. (Note, must have some relevant flight experience)

Tier 9: Apparently, 'Berkut' is taken. So one lucky individual will get the chance to choose the production name for our new bird. It will have to meet GJ relevant style requirements.

Tier 10: RF-047A1 #001. The first production model. We'll even deliver it in person. (Limited to one, obviously)

----------------
Thanks for listening

-Daryl, Jet and Mackie

...to have a minor scene in one of the Steps where Doug's local friends try to play the Game -- with a special focus on Gatesongs, most likely.  Perhaps a song is suggested and the Loon explains that, let's say, the Blue Blazer Irregulars or Kasuga Ayumu (of all people!) already brought up that one ... and then he tells about the situation it led him into.  Funny anecdotes or just-plain-weird "I still don't know what was going on there" tales.
-----
Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.

There has been a discussion about some tech in one of Cobalt's fics that is derailing the Rockhounds, so I am moving it to its own thread.
The fic is this one:
Following the Curve, 2014
And while it is set in 2014, the date may be retconned to 2023, pending Cobalt's opinion. all the arguments have been under the assumption that this was not abailable in the 201's
The comments are here:

Quote:Rakhasa wrote:

---

Quote:ECSNorway wrote:

---

...

Charlie's still working on the gender issues.)

Did something come out of the catboying machine (meant to be used with catgirls) which I saw mentioned somewhere, or did I actually imagine/dream it?

Quote:robkelk wrote:

---

As yet, there is no Catboy Machine. (Or, at the least, nobody's revealed one in fiction.) However, there are other ways to get a cat-person biomod; they're just one-off and unreliable...

Quote:Rakhasa wrote:

---

Quote:[b]robkelk wrote:[/b]

---

As yet, there is no Catboy Machine. (Or, at the least, nobody's revealed one in fiction.) However, there are other ways to get a cat-person biomod; they're just one-off and unreliable...

Are you sure? I was certain ~runs to wiki search~ A-ha! I knewI had not dreamed it:
http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?titl ... Curve_2014

The part about biomolding  (note the "l"):

However, you're probably thinking about the latest in the realm of Biomods.

The first of these is the recently named Biomolding process. Based on detailed examinations of the infamous Catgirling Machine, this allows the victims of that device to change their appearances to something more comfortable. Interestingly, the biomolding process allows multiple moldings of a subject. This means subjects of this and its parent machine are not technically biomods anymore. It's still very rough tech and there aren't many around, not to mention creating the framework design is complex for even Wave A.I.'s, so don't get your hopes up.
There are of course downsides. The first and most important is that, baring the capture of Dr. Asmodeus Grey or a very good medical complete with 3D-imaging scan and a DNA sample, there is no way to return to a pre-molded state. Second, once your biomolded, that's it. You have too much wave in you to be anything else, and if you aren't careful with the framework you'll lose any abilities (biomod or not) you have. Third, every biomold result has a homeostasis effect. While this means that (baring a rapidly fatal or a brain injury) they'll heal rapidly and completely, any change to the body form will regenerate (including lost limbs). So, cybertech enhancement of biomolds is out for the moment. Fourth, the unfortunate discovery of the Heinrick limit when Jules Heinrick died attempting to remold himself two months after he last did it. Currently, the limit is set at three months between biomoldings. Anyone assisting in a remold of someone under this limit is currently to be charged with being an accessory to murder, and any survivors will be charged with attempted murder.

There are also a couple of specific molding machine types around from the development of the general biomolding machines. The Catboying machine proved fairly popular for those desperate to regain their original gender, even if they are very bishonen afterwards. The Puma-ising machine generates some interest from people wanting to join FESWAT, given as it renders the subject into a version of one of the Shirow Puma Twins. Being an extremely tough, hard-bodied and voluptuous six foot plus amazon is a bit of a bonus apparently (even with the cat ears, which are surprisingly useful according to those currently in action).

It mentions quite a few important breakthrougs; and 2014 seems way too early for most of then. Since this was originally writen for a "2014" that was the next season, we may consider retconning it to 2023...

Edit: Since the article is about general research of unspecified authors, instead of A.C. Peters own research, we may outsource the study of the Catgirl Machine to Jenga, which have a machine, a reseach department and a clear interest in studiing it. An idea: After the Pan terrorist attack thas is beign written now, the catgilrs realize that their medical department are rather lacking, so one or sevealr of then begin to study medicine, with the biomoldong machines as an end resl after some time.

Quote:robkelk wrote:

---

Quote:Rakhasa wrote:

---

Quote:[b]robkelk wrote:[/b]

---

As yet, there is no Catboy Machine. (Or, at the least, nobody's revealed one in fiction.) However, there are other ways to get a cat-person biomod; they're just one-off and unreliable...

Are you sure? I was certain ~runs to wiki search~ A-ha! I knewI had not dreamed it:
http://www.fenspace.net/index.php5?titl ... Curve_2014
...
It mentions quite a few important breakthrougs; and 2014 seems way too early for most of then. Since this was originally writen for a "2014" that was the next season, we may consider retconning it to 2023...

That's probably a good idea... Cobalt, any objection?

Quote:HRogge wrote:

---

Quote:Rakhasa wrote:

---

Edit: Since the article is about general research of unspecified authors, instead of A.C. Peters own research, we may outsource the study of the Catgirl Machine to Jenga, which have a machine, a reseach department and a clear interest in studiing it. An idea: After the Pan terrorist attack thas is beign written now, the catgilrs realize that their medical department are rather lacking, so one or sevealr of then begin to study medicine, with the biomoldong machines as an end resl after some time.

Yes, there will be some reorientation towards this blind spot...
(Biomolding as 'cat wants other furcolor' machine? )

Quote:Rakhasa wrote:

---

Quote:HRogge wrote:

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(Biomolding as 'cat wants other furcolor' machine? )

That's why God created dyejobs As I understood it when I read the fic, it is more like "cat wants to be a dog" -you are still modded, but you alter the biomod a little bit to beter fit your tastes.
But even if biomodling is seriously limited, a simple gender change that lets the rest of the biomod the same would work wonders for the psyche of a number of accidentally biomodded, the least of which aren't the catgirls...

Quote:HRogge wrote:

---

Even when CI starts doing research on biotech (like the catgirling machine process), I am not sure they are (from meta perspective) right group to develop things like Biomolding... is Biomolding even related to the Catgirling machine?

Quote:Rakhasa wrote:

---

Reading the fic again, it is unclear -the Machine was an obvious inspiration ("We stick someone in the biomolding machine and they come out changed") but wheter the relation is closer.
Still, this looks like it may be an actual accidental discovery: Someone tries to revert the catgirl process, which fails, of course, as it is a biomod. But eventuallly somehow they manage to get a catgirl to return to his original gender, and the process grows from that. I think it should be a different biomold machine for each change -one for catboys, one for wolf-to-fox anthros, one so aquatic Monsters of the Black Lagoon turn amphibian and so can breathe air...
This first machine would be done by someone who is working on the catgirls. Jenga is the one everyone thinks when "catgirl research" come up, but as you said they are more into FTL physics and computer research, not the biological sciences. Who else is there? Well, the other two obvious are the other two catgilr grous, the Cargirl nuns (not right for research, but they are interested in healign the catgilr's traumas, so they could fund the research?) or a as yet unnamed biology lab in Liberatrix.

Quote:http://boards.cityofheroe...showthread.php?p=4403954
Let's go out with a bang!

Summer Blockbuster - October 5 - October 8

Double XP - October 18 - October 22

Halloween Event - October 26 - October 29

Winter Event - November 9 - November 12

Rikti Invasion - November 23 - November 30

Live Server Shutdown - November 30 12:00 AM PDT

Quote:[url=http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/news/news_archive/city_of_heroes_sunset_faq.php]http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/news/n...sunset_faq.php

When is City of Heroes closing?

The City of Heroes Freedom servers will shut off on November 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM PDT

Will I receive compensation for City of Heroes closing down?

We are processing refunds for unused game time that may have been applied to your account.

Can I create a free account and play until the end of City of Heroes?

Unfortunately new account creation has been disabled.

Am I able to upgrade my account to VIP untilt he end of City of Heroes?

Upgrading to a VIP account has been disabled

Can I purchase Paragon Points?

Paragon Point acquisition has been disabled

Can I still use my existting Paragon Points to buy items in the Paragon Market?

Yes, you may still use any existing Paragon Points your account may have.

Will I receive a refund for game time I acquired
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copy of City of Heroes, City of Villains or City of Heroes: Going Rogue?

Unfortunately, we will only be issuing refunds to players who have
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How do I get a refund for the unused portion of tiem from the game time card I applied to my City of Heroes account?

Please provide the following information when you contact support to make your refund request:

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We will initiate automatic refunds on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 for
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The Solar Positioning System (SPS) is a system which relies on being able to communicate with at least four SPS satellites of Sol with extremely well defined positions and which include on-board extremely accurate clocks.  Given a very precise measurement of the speed of FTL communication (10k lights, or ten-thousand times the speed of light) this allows calculation of location relative to Sol with quite impressive accuracy.  Sometimes referred to as FPS (Fenspace Positioning System).  The system operates on similar principles to GPS (Global Positioning System), only using FTL instead of EM radio satellites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w...lobal_Positioning_System
META: On what sort of time scale might such a service become available in Fenspace?
--
"It is the business of the future to be dangerous" - Hawkwind

Just got an email from RightStuf: "We regret to inform you that item COM1588992993 Onegai Twins Novel 1 (220 pgs) has been canceled by the manufacturer and is no longer available. Since this item has been canceled, it has been removed from your order and you will not be charged for this item." The order includes Novel 2 - I was hoping that I could get both books when I ordered them in August, since they were both listed as being available.

So now I'm looking for Onegai Twins Novel 1... If anybody has a copy, or sees one available at not-too-exorbitant a markup, I'll be happy to buy it from you.
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

QUOTE

"The rental franchisees named in the suit operated stores under the following brands: Aaron's Inc., Aspen Way Enterprises, Watershed Development Corp., Showplace Rent-to-Own, ColorTyme, and Premier Rental Purchase. Make a note of that, next time you're thinking about renting something.

Also named was DesignerWare LLC, which is based in North East, Pa., on the shores of Lake Erie."

END QUOTE

Read this article

http://www.infoworld.com/...NLE_nlt_daily_2012-09-26

hmelton

Sorry if I shouldn't be making a new topic for this, but I skimmed a few pages and didn't see a general discussion thread. Anyways, I found Candle in the Dark on Spacebattles a few days ago and wanted to delve deeper into Fenspace, but due to my tendency for archive binging, I decided to try and find a more concise synopsis first instead of going straight to the wiki. So I checked TV Tropes...and promptly discovered Fenspace had no tropes page.
So I made one.
There isn't a whole lot on it right now, mostly because it was late when I started and I don't know a whole lot about the setting in the first place. But it's a start, and maybe it'll bring a little more attention to what looks like a really fun setting.
Also - hi, I'm new here, and I'd love to start contributing once I've got my feet under me and have done some more research. ^_^ See you around.