[neolex]

Hi, although I have browsed this forum for quite some time and found it to be very helpful, this is my first post.

I had an idea that I think is quite intriguing. I'm sure that everyone read or heard the Freespace Bible. Well my idea is to create a similar but much more detailed project. Before you assume anything, please read on. Here is the idea of UFR presented in the form of FAQ.

What is (will be) UFR (Unified Freespace Reference)
UFR is a catalog of all logical and coherent information available on Freespace universe. It would include a unified timeline, that would encompass the original games, plus as many user created campaigns as it could fit in without significant holes or contradictions. It would include description of all technologies, ships, terms, tactics, etc used in Freespace univers. It would include. For example, it would give a detailed discription of how Jump Nodes function and what their limitations are. In short, UFR would add more detail to Freespace universe and make it more coherent and believable.

What form would UFR (Unified Freespace Reference) take?
UFR would probably take on 2 forms. One would be a website, maybe as part of the Freespace Wiki. The other would be an ebook, similar to Freespace Bible.

What is the purpose of UFR?
The purpose of UFR is to unify many contradicting user campaigns together with the FS1 and FS2 into single coherent universe. UFR would also allow future campaigns and those that are currently under constr. to be coherent with the freespace universe.

Why would the heck is smth like that needed?
Its not. However, it would greatly enhance the immersiveness of Freespace Universe. When Volition created FS1 and FS2 they contained all the details needed to make the universe coherent and logical. However, in hope of Freespace 3, Volition left many of the ends untied. These ends were tried to be tied up in the user campaigns. Unfortunately, this leads to contradictions in them. The idea in UFR is not to tie up loose ends, but rather to create a guide that would allow to avoid contradictions.


I would write more on the idea, but first I'd like to test the water. What do you guys think?

[Galemp]

...I don't suppose you've seen this?

http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~freespace/fsdoc/index.php?cat=69

That's pretty much what we're doing. If you have anything to add, please feel free.

[StratComm]

If you could ever manage it, a branch chart showing the divergence points of different campaigns would be interesting.  Most would obviously branch at the end of the FS2 campaign as that's the starting frame of reference that everyone uses when making their own story.  There are a couple with dependencies though, (a few consider Derelict part of canon; BWO comes to mind but there are others).

[Kie99]

People consider Derelict canon?  Who are these people?

[TrashMan]

You know, I wanted something like that for a long time...everthing at one place...no need to check out differnt pages/documents to connect a system with a ship or event...

[Primus]

neolex

And I hope UFR will be finished someday

[karajorma]

Trashman suggested something similar a little while back. I'm fully behind the idea

[ZylonBane]

If only we had some sort of Freespace universe reference project.

That would be sweet.

[TrashMan]

I've been collecting some data.. currently is all scattered across several files and dozens of peaces of papers on my table...

What basicly has to be connected is thge WHAT? WHERE? WHO? WHY? etc...

You have to connect the dates with events and reasons for those events, where did those events happen (which system or even more precise), what sides participated in those events with what forces, what was the result (losses).

That would be ordered by dates. but that doesn't shed much light on the systems.

So you would need anotehr table, showing star system together with any pertinent data about them  (nebula color, number of stars, star colour, number of planets, details about planets, otehr things in system, events that took place)

These two tables - detailed timeline and detailed system list would solve 90% of all info neds.

[Primus]

What are you waiting for? Do it

[neolex]

Thanks for the welcome.

TrashMan, this is very close to what I had in mind, except I would also add technology sections. This way absence of inertia in the functioning of the ships could be explained, as well as that which can and can not be done with hyperspace. Effectively it would give a good picture of technological possibilities available. I think crosslinked structure like the one of wiki would be the best.

If you want we can do this together.

Galemp, I have seen the wiki and its a great resource, however, I dont think the section on Freespace universe is detailed enough. The reason I would develop UFR separately rather than improving upon the wiki, is because it would redefine the canon. Things would be put in that were not in either FS1 and FS2. Campaign storylines would be integrated. This, I think, could create multiple points of contentions. That is not to say that info from UFR cannot be partially or completely integrated into wiki in the future, given the support in community.

[Primus]

Like I said, I support it But I also hope that you actually finish it, if you start making it

[Mad Bomber]

Been doing this on my own for a while now. Wasn't always easy, of course, but I've been concentrating on the Reconstruction era, mainly, and I've managed to integrate a bunch of the post-FS1 campaigns into a coherent timeline with the canon stuff.

Mostly tho, I was doing it to see how I could best integrate HFH -- and my Side Project(TM) -- with the timelines that exist already.

[neolex]

So listen guys, Mad Bomber and TrashMan, why dont we team up to develop one good complete project, rather than doing 3 redundant ones that might not get completed. What do u say?

Right now I'm in research stage, which means I'm collecting all info I could find into easily searchable text files for cross-reference. And replaying FS1 campaign bc I played it long time ago.

The way I imagine it, there would be following sections to the project, they are completely conceptual and arbitrary, just to get an idea whats needed:

Node Chart - the default FS2 node map with nodes that have been used in various campaigns added.

Systems - could be integrated into node chart, list of events that occur in every system, system properties, nebulae, stars, planets, population.

Event Timeline - timeline from the beginning of space history to the end of latest campaign chosen for integration, maybe even including Inferno.

Technological Timeline - (maybe integrated with either event timeline or technology sec. or both). Tells about verious technological advances and fleet equipment over the years, so as to keep technology in campaigns relevant to its timeframe.

Military - fleets, battles, ships, squadrons, etc, all crosslinked to every other aspect of the project, including systems of stationing.

Technology - ships, weapons, devices, jump nodes, inertia, knossos, shields, subspace, subsystems. All technical aspects of freespace universe that could be deduced from available info. For example, two useful things would be range for rockets and crew for capital ships. Explaining functioning of subspace and inertialess drives would also be nice.

I know I'm missing smth else. So please, let me know what it is.

[SSX-Killjoy]

Who here has the FSURP files? There was of this stuff done, especially an entire discertation from the Ani files that were in FS, FS:ST and FS2.. ?

I should have never given that up....

[Nuclear1]

Check my avatar. It might be there, but I haven't checked up yet.

[SSX-Killjoy]

Awesome!!! I am glad it didn't go away... All those with info should get with Nuclear1 and congeal the information together.. and Have fun!

[TrashMan]

We should try and keep it simple:

3 sections:
NODEMAP
TIMELINE
TECH ROOM

NODEMAP - Fs2 nodemap. When you hover (or click) over a system detailed info about it pops up.

TIMELINE - events that happened together with results. Military actions and movements, forces depolyed and losses go here.

TECH ROOM - info on FS2 tech and the background of the universe (subspace, races and stuf)

[Setekh]

Welcome to HLP, neolex.

[neolex]

Well, right, I was splitting them by things needed to be done, not how they will be arranged.

So, Nodemap, Timeline, and Techroom would encompass all of these.

However, I do think that Military info should be kept separate - for simplicity. There are so many things that need to be catalogued about military engagements and fleets that if it is combined with regular events, it would make both timelines harder to use.