FAQ Archives
Characters, Groups, and Asset Quantities
In the past, fleets were meticulously built and kept track of using a fairly straightforward method based on time and simple math. However, as TRF grew, and its groups grew with it, it became clear that this method was very inefficient and unsuited to the kinds of empire building that players were doing. Now, Asset quantities are decided with the #1 Rule, Common Sense. Granted, this is a fictional setting, but Common Sense can be applied to anything, just so long as it is applied within the boundaries of the setting, rather than outside it.
If your group owns ten planets, and has thus far had all its stories and expansion themed around the military, then you could have a sizable fleet and NPC army at your command (and by sizable we mean maybe three or four Star Destroyers and accompanying craft. See below for more info on fleet sizes). However, if your group has ten planets and has focused on trade and bargaining for advancement, then it would make no sense for you to have a sizable army. Perhaps some ships for defense, but not a war fleet.
An unspoken rule to remember concerning fleet sizes and assets is that everyone is watching. Everyone is expecting everyone else to play fair. If you push the limits, and try to play this game in a very competitive manner, with the mentality that you must 'win', then people will not be very forgiving when you make mistakes. However, if you're an easygoing player, most people will happily overlook the occasional slipup.
Another important thing to remember is that it's no longer about how big of a fleet you have. It's all about your writing skills, and the ideas you can assemble and then execute (tactics). If you loose a battle, so what? It's easy enough to regroup, maybe grab a few additional Characters to help you, form different idea, and try again.
It should also be noted that the days of massive fleets consisting of hundreds and hundreds of ships is long gone. In your writing remember that building a single Star Destroyer could very easily drain the entire resources of a single planet, or system even. If you constantly have large amounts of troops in battle after battle, don't be surprised if all of a sudden some reporter blows your cover wide open with a story about how your civilians are being used as slave laborers, and as forced soldiers.
Think logically. Where are these assets coming from? Something has to give if you have massive quantities of one kind of asset, whether it be fleets, casino's, trade-routes, etc. You should also remember that, while we no longer keep track of how many assets you are using at any one time, if you suffer losses it would make no sense for you to be back at full power immediately.