GURPS SpaceOpera
OVERALL SETTING INFO
The main one where the characters hail from is the United Worlds Alliance. This is a somewhat loose confederation of some 500 worlds that have joined together for mutual protection and trade. Individual worlds are allowed great deal an autonomy but there are some ‘federal’ like rules. They have formed the Star Fleet Core which is the main defensive force of the alliance. The Core is tasked with interstellar defense and anti-piracy and anti-slavery. They can pursue criminals (especially pirates and slavers) to any member world and can have most wanted criminal extracted/extradited off world with formal charges.
The government of the United Worlds Alliance (UWA) is a parliamentary style of government where individual worlds decide themselves how they choice there representatives to the UWA Upper House of Lords and Lower House of Commons. The number of reps a world have is dependent on both the world’s population and economy power. Some planets don’t even have a rep for either house and must band together with other poorer and small populated worlds to meet the requirements for a rep.
Other stellar governments nearby are the Mercantile League (corporate oligarchy of around 50 worlds styled somewhat on a neo-roman republic), the Galactic Peoples Republic (GPR run by the People Progressive Party or ‘PPP’ a communist authoritarian of some 150 worlds), the Humaniti Imperium (the ‘evil’ human Supremes empire of the setting they control some 150 worlds), the Aslan Hierate (alien cat/lion like species that rule some 50 worlds), the Two Thousand Worlds (maybe closer to 500+ worlds the feudal Hegemony with strong autocratic properties ruled by the hermavoir alien species the K’kree whom are violently anti-carnivore and omnivore in their outlook), the Vargr Confederation (wolf like alien species that rule loosely some 100 worlds. They are very loyal to their family or clan but their overall government is very independent minded and loosely governed), the Star Kingdom of Blarad (feudal system ruled by the Blarad aliens whom are large bear-ursoid species and control some 50 worlds), the Zegrath League (a shark like alien species whom see all other life forms as no better than ‘food’. They rule an unknown number of worlds).
Humans dominate the UWA but others are known including the Traix (an incest species that look a bit like human sized grasshoppers but are some of the closes in outlook to humans as any species), the Krath (a transhumanist species that maybe the result of some ancient alien uplifting of primitive humans to the Krath. They are very honor bond to the ‘lesser races’ and have a logic based mind. They are physically and mentally superior to human on average but not not arrogant at all), the Dralasite (a short rubbery xenomorph species that have no bones or other hard structures in their bodies which allows them to strength and contort their form in many ways), the Fraal (a short pale, hairless humanoid species that are naturally psionic) and the T’Sa (a short reptilian species with a hyper-active metabolism whom seem never to sit still. Excellent jumpers and very fast runners). Most other species (except the Zegrath) can be found in UWA space.
The UWA, the Mercantile League and the GPR/PPP are all multi-Species systems while the others are dominated or controlled by the Species they are named for. They all include other species within their borders but not to the levels of the main 3.
The Vargr have a VERY loose confederation style overall government and besided Humans they are one of the most common Species found in all others. The K'kree are just the opposite and found rarely outside they own control space.
There are many other races then those listed above but they are very rare (and player created)
The Heroes Outlook
The heroes will be ‘space truckers’ owning their own starship and traveling around the UWA (and outside it) doing jobs and getting paid. Most of their money is used to maintain and keep their starship running so they are unlikely to ever have much money or rich.
The setting will be very Traveller with a bit of Firefly feel to it with the government very hands off in most cases but individual worlds vary. The elements of Star Trek come in with the Star Fleet Core which is sort of Star Trek but more militarized and authoritarian (not as bad as the Empire). Star Wars is reflected in the outside evil empire of the Humaniti Imperium.
