Dark Nebula - Polity Budgets and Initial Military Forces

 

In a previous post, I wrote about using the old Dark Nebula boardgame by GDW as a background event generator for a prospective Classic Traveller game set in the eponymous Dark Nebula. The idea is to use the Dark Nebula board game, played solo by the Referee, to determine larger-scale background events.

The players will rarely participate in such events directly, but will, without doubt, be affected by them. For example, they may end up salvaging wrecks in a former battlefield; smuggling weapons to a resistance group on a world under recent military occupation; spying or serving as couriers for one faction or another; and so on.

One change I am making in my previous Dark Nebula customization rules is to permit all factions to use one Turn of their regular resources alongside their starting budget for existing forces, rather than requiring that any regular budget be spent on construction which results will only come into effect next year. Thus, the full initial budgets for all major factions and worlds in the Dark Nebula, as of 2900 CE, are as follows:

Solomani: 3 worlds, 6 outposts. Total 30 RU regular annual budget + 40 RU starting budget, for a total of 70 RU to build starting forces with.

Aslan: 3 worlds, 5 outposts. Total 29 RU regular annual budget + 40 RU starting budget, for a total of 69 RU to build starting forces with.

Mizah: 1 world. 8 RU regular annual budget + 8 RU neutral world starting budget, for a total of 16 RU to build starting forces with.

Karpos: 1 world. 8 RU regular annual budget + 8 RU neutral world starting budget, for a total of 16 RU to build starting forces with.

Rim: 1 world. 8 RU regular annual budget + 8 RU neutral world starting budget, for a total of 16 RU to build starting forces with.

Godoro: 1 world. 8 RU regular annual budget + 8 RU neutral world starting budget, for a total of 16 RU to build starting forces with.

Valka: 1 world. 8 RU regular annual budget + 8 RU neutral world starting budget, for a total of 16 RU to build starting forces with.

Now, on to purchasing initial forces:

Solomani:

1st Tank Army (1 RU; rating 8; armored), on Maadin.

2nd Jump Army (2 RU; rating 4; jump troops), on Mechane.

3rd Army (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops) on Maadin.

2 Outpost Markers (8 RU total; i.e., second-echelon occupation forces).

5 Transport Fleets (total 5 RU; Maintenance 5); 3 on Maadin, 1 on Mechane.

Dreadnaught Gilgamesh (13 RU; Maintenance 6; flagship!) on Maadin.

So far, 30 RU remaining.

1st Light Cruiser Squadron (6 RU; Maintenance 3) on Mechane.

2nd Light Cruiser Squadron (6 RU; Maintenance 3) on Mechance

3rd Light Cruiser Squadron (6 RU; Maintenance 3) on Mechane.

Total Annual Maintenance: 25 RU.

Aslan: (unit and ship designations are Solomani)

Ihatei Group "Humbaba" (2 RU; rating 3; jump troops), on Kuzu.

Ihatei Group "Pazuzu" (2 RU; rating 4; jump troops), on Kuzu.

Ihatei Group "Tiamat" (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops) on Kuzu.

Ihatei Group "Yaamashtu" (1 RU; rating 3; regular troops) on Kuzu.

Ihatei Group "Alu" (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops) on Kuzu.

2 Outposts (8 RU total; i.e., second-echelon occupation forces) on Kuzu.

7 Transport Fleets (total 7 RU; Maintenance 7) on Kuzu.

Mothership "Lioness" (2 RU; Maintenance 1) on Blatta.

1st Fighter Squadron (1 RU; Maintenance 1) on Blatta.

2nd Fighter Squadron (1 RU; Maintenance 1) on Blatta.

3rd Fighter Squadron  (1 RU; Maintenance 1) on Blatta.

Strike Cruiser Squadron "Tiger" (10 RU; Maintenance 4) on Kuzu.

Strike Cruiser Squadron "Sabretooth" (10 RU; Maintenance 4) on Kuzu.

Strike Cruiser Squadron "Leopard" (10 RU; Maintenance 4) on Kuzu.

Total Annual Maintenance: 23 RU.

Mizah:

1st Royal Army (1 RU; rating 5; regular troops).

2nd Royal Army (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops).

3nd Royal Tank Army (1 RU; rating 7; armored).

1 Transport Fleet (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

Royal COACC Squadron (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

Light Cruiser Squadron Excalibur (6 RU; Maintenance 3).

Annual Maintenance: 4.

Karpos:

1st Army (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops).

2nd Army (1 RU; rating 3; regular troops).

1 Transport Fleet (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

1st Destroyer Fleet (2 RU; Maintenance 2).

2nd Destroyer Fleet (2 RU; Maintenance 2).

3rd Destroyer Fleet (2 RU; Maintenance 2).

Annual Maintenance: 7.

Rim:

1st Army (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops).

2nd Army (1 RU; rating 5; regular troops).

3rd Army (1 RU; rating 3; regular troops).

1 Transport Fleet (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

1st Scout Fleet (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

1st Destroyer Fleet (2 RU; Maintenance 2).

2nd Destroyer Fleet (2 RU; Maintenance 2).

Annual Maintenance: 6.

Godoro:

1st Army (1 RU; rating 8; armored).

2nd Army (1 RU; rating 3; regular troops).

1st COACC Squadron (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

2nd COACC Squadron (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

Light Cruiser Squadron (6 RU; Maintenance 3).

Annual Maintenance: 4.

Valka:

1st Jump Army (1 RU; rating 5 jump troops).

2nd Army (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops).

3rd Army (1 RU; rating 4; regular troops).

1st COACC Squadron (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

1 Transport Fleet (1 RU; Maintenance 1).

Monitor Squadron Zmei (6 RU; Maintenance 3).