While we try to encompass a broad range of sci-fi themes in our events, they require a fairly consistent framework to run as an ongoing campaign series, so we tend to run events in a fairly similar format. However, we always intended Orion Sphere to be flexible and open for players to collaborate in creating their own stories. As such, the Orion Sphere LRP rules & setting can be licensed for other people and groups to run their own events, which have a lot more freedom in terms of the kind of venue, themes and storylines they use. So you can run an Orion Sphere event!
Although the OSVerse is a very open setting, there are certain consistencies that we require for the setting and ongoing campaign to remain coherent. This is especially important with the approach we have to sci-fi, where established things such as strange technologies and substances can in theory be brought forward into subsequent events and have an ongoing impact in the wider game and setting. So, we have categorized different types of events that can be run using some or all of the Orion Sphere setting and rules.
Continuity Events are run as part of the main continuity of the ongoing Orion Sphere LRP campaign. They are considered to be part of current events in the OSVerse, and are likely to have effects or consequences that ripple outwards to future mainline events. Although they have a lot of freedom in terms of concept or execution, Continuity Events must adhere to certain setting conventions and retain the use of the OSLRP Rules. Other than these restrictions, Continuity Events have a lot of freedom to explore alternative event structures or themes not usually covered at mainline OSLRP events. You can, for example, run a purely social gathering as a Continuity Event.
Continuity Events require plot oversight from the Game Team during your planning process, and for the OSLRP Rules to be in place at the event. You can, with permission, introduce additional special rules or mechanisms that fit with your event concept - generally this is fine where they will be limited in scope by some aspect of your event plot. For example, you may wish to run an event using laser tag equipment - which is perfectly fine as long as you have a plot framework for the use of these weapons being restricted to this one event. Players may play as their existing Orion Sphere LRP characters at these events, and any consequences and outcomes may carry forward into future events. Existing characters should bring any lammies, cash or other Game Items that they intend to use at the event, as we cannot guarantee access to the character database or bank accounts.
Characters attending Continuity Events can gain Reputation or other in-game rewards during the event, usually commensurate with the risks and dangers of the event.
Chronicle Events occur within the Orion Sphere LRP setting (often in the past or possible future), but do not require the use of the OSLRP rules (although they can if you want). Example Chronicle Events might include;
Chronicle events are intended to explore part of the background or an interesting part of the setting while deviating from the underlying mechanical aspects of the game. Many themes are not served well by the heroic action mechanisms that the OSLRP system is built with, and might be served better by lighter or more focused rules sets.
Chronicle events require a sanctioning fee and oversight of the event plans as with Continuity Events, but have a lot more freedom in terms of what can be Sanctioned. To prevent overspill, in general Chronicle Events cannot have characters from the main event Continuity present (although if your event concept allows for it then it might be possible). In general most attendees at Chronicle events will be playing alternate characters that fit the event concept. Chronicle events can affect the main continuity in their consequences, or can “fill out” certain parts of the background, and events that occur in the past can have their outcomes retroactively inserted into the canon of the ongoing game world.
If your event has elements which have been refused sanctioning, but you go ahead anyway, or if you have not approached us to ask for sanctioning at all, then your event is Unsanctioned. Unsanctioned events do not have any impact on the wider campaign, and anything that occurs at them is not considered to have occurred within the “canon” of the ongoing campaign. We would ask that if your event is Unsanctioned that you make that clear to all participants.
If you have an idea for an event, the first thing to do is to create a brief summary (usually a paragraph or two is fine) and get in touch with us at orionspherelrp@gmail.com. This starts the process of Sanctioning, and after you’ve got the ok on the high-level concept you are free to start arranging things like a site, crew, plot and pricing. We may be able to provide a certain amount of support with payments, marketing, but ideally you would be able to do most of this work yourself.
During the preparation stage for your event, we will work with you so that your concept and planned plot (if any) fits into the wider OSLRP setting. The easiest way to do so is for you to write up your event plans in a collaborative document that is shareable such as Google Docs. There are a few guidelines near the end of this page about useful things you may want to include or avoid.
When you run an event linked to OSLRP, there are a number of expectations we have, most of which should help you to organise and run the event. There are also a few things you can expect from us, to help you run an event that gets your concept across in a way that works in the OSLRP campaign.
There are a few things that it helps to be prepared for when it comes to running an event, which you may not have experienced at main events.
OSLRP is a sci-fi setting, and is rooted in the conventions of that genre. Specifically, OSLRP is rooted in the 90s and 2000s long-form serial sci-fi television series - Star Trek: TNG and Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, Firefly/Serenity, Earth: Final Conflict, etc. One of the key differences between sci-fi and fantasy as a setting is a vague connection with how a thing “should work” - a bit more explanation is required than “a wizard did it”. This TVTropes page gives a semi-coherent version of what we’re trying to say here. If you want to introduce a new thing, try and link it to something that already exists, and try and make it work in a consistent way. That’s not to say we only have one source of Applied Phlebotinum - we have loads, and you can always make another one if you need to, but once you’ve made it try and keep a record of it and make sure it keeps being able to do relatively consistent things.
Saying all that, OSLRP has the advantage of being an original and broadly defined setting, so in practice we can include all kinds of themes and weird stuff. Feel free to incorporate a full grab-bag of sci-fi and any other number of tropes in your plotlines. System, Location and Scope The OSVerse is vast and deep, so in order to have a connection with the wider game, events must be located somewhere in it. Depending on your event concept, the star system and planet or station your event occurs on may be very important, or only of marginal interest. It’s useful to think of where your event will be set, so you can think about things like how easy it would be to communicate outward, how quickly reinforcements might arrive, how populated the area is, and whether the environment might be hostile or contain certain Hazards or induce specific Conditions.
Linked to this is the concept of scope - how narratively “big” your event is. Typically, player characters are able to influence things at the level of a planet or perhaps even a star system, but above that level the more powerful forces of the Factions come to bear, and often act to preserve the status quo. You are free to create new locations for your event, up to a star system. You can create new NPC minor powers if appropriate, but creating new Faction-level groups or similar is unlikely to be sanctioned.
It is possible to integrate starship simulator rigs into your event, if you can access the equipment and have someone familiar with the software. The Bridge Sim software we use for mainline OSLRP events is made freely available by the UK Starship Bridge Simulator crew - it is worthwhile asking them if your event concept could involve using Simulator rigs. They should be able to give you advice on getting things running, what gear you will need, and possibly allow you the use of one of their rigs if the logistics can be worked out. Running the simulator rigs is an intensive job, so it’s worth getting someone on your crew trained up in how to run a starship session and having one or more crew dedicated to the simulators at your event.
If it fits your event concept, you can create new things such as Conditions, devices, effects etc. It's important to have an idea of what you want these effects to do - there may be a similar effect already in the game, which you can re-use. New Conditions could in theory be worked into the wider game, so its worth having a think about how a given Condition might work in a wider context. If something is intended to be restricted to your event, and either doesn’t make sense or would seriously disrupt the rest of the game setting if removed from your set context, then you should try and write some limitations or “get out clauses” into your event plot to prevent things being taken by players and used at later events. For example, if you have a giant planet-destroying laser cannon as part of your plot, you should make it clear that it cannot be brought outside the planet/system your event is in - either its power is reliant on something special that can’t be moved, or it breaks irreparably after being fired or similar. Having things being Inventions of a particularly fringe scientist, using one-off or ultra-rare resources is a good default option, or having something being linked to a large and immovable Precursor artefact is also good.
It’s important to remember when you are writing up your event that if you have strange phenomena then Scientist characters are likely to want to get information and samples about them. For phenomena like alien diseases, strange energy fields, devices or artefacts, it is useful to have some idea of what kind of information an Examination with a scanner could reveal, and what levels of information would be granted depending on how many successes are acquired. Typically 1 success on an Examination grants basic information, 3 grants useful and relevant information, and 5 grants super-specific detail that expands the feel of the game and may have additional layers.
Similarly, you should alway be prepared for players to Sample almost everything they find - this probably won’t be an issue at your event, but may become an issue for the Game Team afterwards if the samples have been written up poorly or you don’t have any reference for what has been sampled.
There are certain themes or sci-fi tropes that are either not part of the OSLRP setting, or are secrets specific to certain Factions, groups or MegaCorps. Unless your concept is to dig deeper into a specific one of these areas, they are probably best avoided or written around. It’s important to note that there are always workarounds or alternative ways of presenting your concept that will be more likely to be Sanctioned.