And, after reserving those five posts, which will slowly fill up with data, here is the first actual post by me!<br/><br/>Welcome, to hell, everyone. Not the classic idea of a fiery hell with satan ruling it, but rather a frozen hell with no-one ruling it!<br/><br/>I mentioned topics for discussion.<br/><br/><strong>1) Shelter. </strong><br/><br/>I have three ideas on this.<br/><br/>a) The convicts are provided with an instruction book on "how to build an igloo" and left to get on with it.<br/>b) There are caves within walking distance of the landing site. Not too keen on this one as it implies rocky promontories above the ice.<br/>c) The empire provides transparent cubes as shelters. These cubes absorb and store solar radiation and use it to power a minimal number of items, such as a heater.<br/><br/><strong>2) The suits</strong><br/><br/>I really like Haibane's idea that the suits are made of smart nanotech. Unless anyone objects, I think we will go with this. I will elaborate on the actual technology and what it is capable of when i have a bit more time.<br/><br/><strong>3) Mining equipment</strong><br/><br/>People have been mining for thousands of years, digging coal and iron ore, tin and copper, out of the ground. There are tin mines in Cornwall that date back to before the Roman conquest. To dig a hole in the ground, you need something that is stronger than the ground, to hit it with.<br/><br/>Again, I have a couple of ideas that I like equally.<br/><br/>a) The convicts are provided with primitive tools - picks and shovels, and left to get on with it.<br/>b) They are provided with sophisticated equipment for melting holes in the ice and pumping the water out before it freezes again. This equipment would in fact be robotic, AI controlled, tamperproof and self repairing.<br/><br/>The first option has the advantage of making the bitches work hard. The second is really the soft option. The first option also puts lethal weapons in the hands of the inmates. This actually may work to the games advantage.<br/><br/>In the event we go with option a) (which I prefer), plastic pit props will be provided by the Empire as part of each supply drop.<br/><br/><strong>4) Fuel:</strong><br/><br/>Obviously there is nothing to burn (except human excrement) on this ice world. The sun provides very little energy. What there is in abundance, though is wind!<br/><br/>So, I propose that the convicts' settlement(s) be supplied with more than ample electricity by massive wind turbine generators.<br/><br/><strong>5) Facilities:</strong><br/><br/>If we go with the igloo option, then basically there are none.<br/><br/>However, I am swinging towards the transparent cubes. Each cube will have a transparent solar collector on the roof, and the ability to be plugged into the power grid from the turbines. Each cube has within it a space heater and a padded floor.<br/><br/>In addition, there will be a number of larger cubic-shaped "huts". All are transparent the same as the living cubes. Some are simply used for storing supplies. Others will be communal facilities; A "cafe" of sorts where food can be heated up and hot drinks made, a shower and toilet block.<br/><br/><strong>6) Political Organisation:</strong><br/><br/>Obviously, in a society composed entirely of criminals, the worst ones will rise to the top.<br/><br/>This is, basically what the game is about, and if you hadn't realised that, sorry!<br/><br/>However, the reason I like the idea of primitive mining tools is that it evens things out. Consider: If you are the baddest bitch on the planet, you are not going to want to get all dirty by going down a mine. However, you will want your life to be as easy as possible in this hell, so you will want the quotas kept up so the supplies keep coming. To this end, you will want the workers to be as well equipped for mining as possible.<br/><br/>However, this means giving the miners metal tools to dig with. These metal tools could so very easily become weapons. There are very few people on world who haven't killed someone already, and even fewer who wouldn't kill<em>you</em>given half a chance, if they thought they could get away with it and usurp your position.<br/><br/>So, there is a political dilemma. How do you keep the workers from using the tools that you have to give them to work as weapons to kill you?<br/><br/>The answer?<br/><br/>There is a game called "co-operation". Players may choose to cooperate or not. Points are awarded on the following basis: If you do not cooperate and your opponent does not cooperate, you get 1 point each. If you cooperate and your opponent does not, you get nothing. If you do not cooperate and your opponent does you get five points. However if you both cooperate, you both get 25 points each.<br/><br/>This is not, in fact, a game. It is how life works, and it has been distilled and condensed into a simple binary switch placed in front of each player.<br/><br/>This is how i see the politics working. The bad-cats will set themselves up in charge, but will be forced to keep things reasonably sweet for the down trodden masses with the heavy metal tools.<br/><br/><strong>7) Native creatures:</strong><br/><br/>Leaving aside the possibility of an attack by ice-tentacle monsters for now, there are as already mentioned some creatures that resemble metre long by 100mm wide millipedes. These creatures are edible, but they take a lot of catching as they actually tunnel through the ice. They also taste disgusting!<br/><br/>However, we are talking about an entire world with it's own rather fragile ecosystem. Does anyone have any other native creatures they would like to suggest?<br/><br/>I think that is it for now. Let the discussions begin!