Commentary On Ships of Clement Sector 13: Strikemaster Class Brig By Michael Johnson For The Earth Sector Rpg

 "As the end of the twenty-third century approached, the United States authorized construction of a small warship to reduce the need for the USSN to use larger vessels for escort and patrol duties. Like other major national powers the United States was finding that maintaining a space navy capable of defending her interstellar colonies was an expensive exercise and the hoped for economic offset from those colonies was, in reality, much lower than the projected outcomes had promised. In order to reduce the operating costs of the fleet without reducing its strength, it was determined that a smaller and thus less operationally expensive warship class was needed."

"In 2293 Congress authorized the construction of the Strikemaster-class brig. The selection of the classification of “brig” caused some surprise as the US had not operated a brig for over four hundred years, that role, back in the age of sail, being replaced by fast frigates and corvettes. However, the use of the hull classification was revived with the new design performing exactly the same roles as those larger vessels but at a much reduced cost."

Ships of Clement Sector 13: Strikemaster Class Brig By Michael Johnson is a starship that I've talked about before. And there's a reason for that, the Earth sector is getting ready for war! War against whom is going to depend upon a lot of factors especially economics, factions, and more. And it's the more factor that has so much potential. And why have we come to this conclusion? We have our answer here; "the US had not operated a brig for over four hundred years, that role, back in the age of sail, being replaced by fast frigates and corvettes. However, the use of the hull classification was revived with the new design performing exactly the same roles as those larger vessels". 
The Earth sector is a corporate & interstellar nation based setting with lots of nations both backstabbing & taking full advantage of the outer expansion into the blackness! And whats in the blackness?! Mankind is still his own enemy! Forget the Pogo idiom, 'I have seen the enemy and he is us.' bit here. The fact is that the Frontier of Earth is one of war. War against pirates, opportunitists, other countries, and more. 

In point of fact the Earth sector heading forward reminds me of the golden age of piracy.  Forces that are acting as a pressure cooker in the Earth sector and the construction of the fleet has become a priority as a Earth is actually getting the squeeze by the Frontier from all sides. The wormhole's collapse has accelerated the economic impact of the colonies from within & without. And the Earth sector is mantaining itself or trying to despite the lower echolon of ship size that the blackness of space dictates. 
And yet the Space Western frontier feel of Independence Games books means that time & circumstances make strange bed fellows. Because the unknown is completely unknown. And the threats of space means that pirate, criminal, outlaw, and interstellar forces of law sometimes have ally themselves against the greater threats then they know. Renagade fleets of raiders, colonial corporate mercs, and bands of genocidal madmen all threaten many of Earth sector's colonies. The Strikemaster Class Brig By Michael Johnson is a perfect indicator of the types of threats that the black around Earth sector has produced. This ship represents the response to that threat! 

Some thoughts on the Independence Games Earth Sector Campaign Setting.

Earth in the Clement Sector rpg is a nasty instellar power to be on the otherside of. Reading through Wendy's Guide to the Fleets of Earth Sector, Volume 3 touches upon the idea of the international Earth powers have their own own space fleets. PC's who are involved with the Earth in the Clement Sector from the Earth end are going to further these international fleet's interests. If we look at the Old Western anthology then we looking at the fact that around Earth is a huge frontier. The collapse of the worm hole has crippled Earth.But this Earth has picked itself & dust itself off. 

Earth sector seems like the place that some folks are going to going to be misbehaving around. The  Artemis Subsector, Subsector H of Earth Sector is perfect to have adventurers getting into issues with Artemis Subsector because  is home to colonies founded by Germany, the United States, China, the Pan-Islamic Caliphate, the Southern Alliance, the Republic of Texas, and Indonesia. The corporate manuevering within the Earth sector fuels the unrest within sector giving rise to the warmachine of the international powers. Everyone wants a piece of the high frontier within the Earth sector books. 

This corporate backing gives the feel of an interstellar  frontier on the edge. Earth has its hands in many different pies. The Earth has its own operatives, adventurers, and agents out among the stars. So there's a feeling here that the space western feel here is one of expansion but with a sense of caution. Earth has seen some rough days after the collapse of the wormhole and now wants its place on the interstellar stage of the universe. 

Reaing through the Earth sector books one thing really stands out. Earth looks after its own interests across the universe using its nation state star fleets to carry out its will across the universe of the Earth sector. But this also leaves room for the adventurers to misbehave within the cracks of the Earth's jurisdiction. How & why?! we'll get into coming up! 

'Go For Yer Gun'- Free Boot Hill Retroclone PDF as Source book for Hartford Betamax Black Book Edition Stars Without Number Campaign

Once again Gorgon Milk brings the awesome. Go for your gun is a great retroclone of 'Boot Hill' style gaming. The game is free over at Rpgnow. The game weighs in at eighty one pages of Hollywood western style greatness. There are two movies that come to mind that from the Betamax era that this game would easily emulate.
Get It Right HERE
Westworld springs to mind and this is a great game to use with it. With very little tweaking the game can easily be used with SWN.
There's even a wandering monk class. Beyond the usual android action the game can simulate other science fictional westerns. But its going to only be available for a limited time! 

For failed colonies lost in the void this game is perfect for simulating the black powder weapons of another world! For Balls to the walls action this is a pretty fine choice. 

 The second choose that this game could be used for is a movie called 'Welcome To Blood City' A weird Prisonerque style western of violence, degradation, mind control, and Jack Palance! 

Between the encounter tables, the NPC's, and the adventures, 'Go For Yer Gun' simulates the violence, history, and casual gun fights of the 'Old West' on balls to the walls scale that is pretty easily converted to any retroclone! Its one that will be appearing in the near future to plague my PC's! Thanks Gorgon Milk for this one! 

There are several other classic Space Westerns that this game could easily emulate as well. Galaxina comes to mind. Along with Roger Corman's 'Battle Beyond The Stars'!
The character classes are easily converted to any number of  western archtypes and its a perfect game for generating any number of NPCs! 

Get this one before it goes off of free mode folks! Solid retroclone!