A Splintered Galaxy

A Splintered Galaxy

The Universe of the Dajina Cluster

          So, the first thing I needed to do in defining the universe that this campaign is set in is to decide what type of campaign setting it is. Chapter 10 of the White Star rulebook describes several different possible campaign settings, but none of them quite fit the Dajina Cluster. So instead of using one of the ones in the book I'll define my own; the Splintered Galaxy setting.

          In this setting, there is no single, monolithic Galactic Empire. Instead, the galaxy is splintered into many smaller, independent nations. Once, thousands of years ago, there was a galaxy spanning government, but it collapsed under it's own weight in a frenzy of civil wars and secession. The wars devastated many worlds, leaving them in ruin and plunging the galaxy into a dark age.

          But in time, a new renaissance took hold. The worlds that survived the dark age returned to the stars, banded together and formed new, independent governments. These new space empires sometimes work together in peace, and sometimes not. Some are free and democratic, while others are repressive and aggressive. But all agree on one thing: They will never again allow any one all-powerful galaxy spanning government to control their destiny.

          So, what does this mean for the player-characters that live in this universe? For one thing, there are conflicts and intrigues everywhere as the various rival space nations compete with each other. Secondly, these space nations are small and can be born, live and die all within a short period of time. Thirdly, because they are small, the PC's can have a direct effect on them. Empires can literally rise and fall based on the actions of a few brave souls.

          Now to the Dajina Cluster itself. As I mentioned in my previous article there are three major powers present; the League of Planets, the Sadraukan Empire and the Vulpan Union. I will devote a separate page to each of these in the future but for now lets just say this; the Saraukan Empire is the 'big bad' empire, that wants nothing less than to conquer the entire cluster. The League of Planets is a loose defensive alliance of worlds trying to avoid being conquered by the Sadraukans. The Vulpan Union, while not always friendly with the League, consider the Sadraukans to be a greater threat and can generally be relied upon to assist the League in defense.

          On the sector map, the Sadraukan worlds are red, League worlds are blue and Vulpan worlds are green. Grey worlds are independent.

A Retro-Campaign for White Star

The Dajina Cluster
A Retro-Campaign for White Star

          Some 30 years ago while in high school me and a couple friends of mine played an RPG campaign set in a Sci-Fi setting of our own design. We mostly made it up as we went, and didn't use any one set of rules. A lot of it was free form. When we did use rules, it was mostly Classic Traveller and Gamescience's Star Patrol.  

          As I said, the campaign was of our own design, made up as we went. Not surprisingly the biggest inspiration was Star Wars, but other stuff got thrown into the pot as well. Roger Cormans Battle Beyond the Stars film was a huge inspiration. Bits and pieces of the original series of Star Trek, Frank Herbert's Dune novel, Doc Smith's Lensman stories and Jerry Pournelle's Falkenberg novels were also a big part.

          The campaign was set against the backdrop of a cold war between the evil Sadraukan Empire (based loosely on the Klingons from Star Trek) and the League of Planets, a mostly Human alliance of worlds. The Vulpan Union (who looked like Star Trek Romulans but had a society like Feudal Japan) was also a major power, allied with the League against the Sadraukans. There were space battle and ground battles, with the player characters getting involved more and more in the conflict as time went on. 

          After we all graduated from high school and began going our separate ways the campaign pretty much petered out. Over the intervening years I've brought it back a few times, playing a scenario or two with other gamers, but the biggest problem I've found in trying to recreate the campaign setting is rules. I have never found a set that quite fits the Dajina Cluster universe. Not until now.

          I recently came across James Spahn's White Star and immediately fell in love with it. These rules fit the Dajina Cluster universe more closely than any other I've seen, and those few things that need to be modified are easily done so, as the rules are meant to be modified.

          So now, thirty years after the original campaign ended I'm finally able to rebuild it properly. The old crew of characters will take to the stars once again....

Del Payton (Human pilot, smuggler, rogue, captain of the Effigy III)

Scot Rubel (Vulpan warrior, revolutionry anti-Sadraukan activist)

Danel "Donut Dan" Stemofski (Human man of action)
Robyn Jaris (Human soldier, Del Paytons gal)
Zade Lensman (Human spy, gambler, con-man)
Alek "Thunder" Storm (Human commander of the Lightning Brigade mercenary company)

4-Q2 (Del Paytons trusty robot sidekick)

          Now I just have to put it all together..... Stay tuned!