OtherSpace: The Interactive Space Opera

No subscription fees. No graphics. No gold farmers. Just your character, your stories, waiting to be told.

Ever watched a favorite TV show or read a great epic novel and wondered what it might be like to immerse yourself in that world, day after day, shaping the story through your actions?

Instead of being a passive observer, what if you could dive in and make a real difference in the story’s evolution?

That’s what OtherSpace is all about.

Online since 1998, we offer an original-theme space opera setting in which you get the chance to create a character, lead a starship crew, build an empire, explore the galaxy, and maybe even discover ancient relics or new alien civilizations.

You can use OtherSpace to sharpen your creative thinking, hone your writing, and experiment with cause and effect!

There’s no need for an amped-up computer. You don’t need a top-of-the-line graphics card. Still on dial-up? Not a problem. We’re retro and we love it. All you need is a functioning imagination and a love of sci-fi.

And it’s absolutely free to participate. Don’t get us wrong: Donations via PayPal to jointhesaga@gmail.com are appreciated and help pay the server and marketing costs, but we don’t require subscription fees.

Retro gaming. Classic collaborative storytelling.

We provide old-school, around-the-Internet-campfire roleplaying opportunities. But we need you in the mix so that we can all make the most of the potential adventures.

Long for the days of interactions that didn’t require raid groups, sparkly celestial ponies, and uber guilds? Want to be part of a story that’s been shaped by player actions for more than a decade?

That’s cool. We want you too.

Join the saga today!

New blog!

Spacer’s Landing lives on, but in a new location. I’ve set it up as an independently hosted blog on my main website at Jointhesaga.com.

So, if you want to follow along, visit http://www.jointhesaga.com/blog/!

OtherNews: Riftwalker responds

COMORRO STATION – “In response to Olympus’ statement on the kidnapping of the Riftwalker, Wormhole has decided to release his own statement,” states an anchorman. He stands in what looks like a rain forest with a low hanging fog covers the unseen floor. “First off, I’d like to say sorry to anyone and everyone I have caused trouble with…it was irresponsible and wreckless behavior…and secondly, the statements made by Olympus are ABSURD,” he states, an exasperated sigh escapes his mouth.

“They shot me in the shoulder, threatened me, and treated me like a ragged out piece of crap.” He makes a few movements, and…off goes his shirt. A gesture is made, and the camera pans out to show a spot in his dust shell that appears weaker than other parts. He throws the shirt back on.

“One thing I can say though, is I appreciate them for at least getting us back safely.”

OtherNews: Olympus responds to kidnapping reveal

OPEN SPACE, ANCIENT EXPANSE – Representatives from Olympus station responded earlier today to the video showing their security forces detaining the missing Riftwalker known as Wormhole.

“The idea that this was a kidnapping is patently ridiculous.” A black woman is seen on screen, with the Olympus logo hovering in front of her and a scrolling text identifying her as ‘Kiku Hatupa’.

“Our security is granted the right to search and detain those whom are believed to be a threat to the safety of Olympus station and this is exactly what happened. The Riftwalker known as ‘Wormhole’ was identified as a potential Zarist sympathiser due to his previous media exposure and the fact that he had previously been involved in a brutal attack one of our administrators while they were attempting to fend off Nall forces from the Galaxy Galleria. References to that very incident are made in the video itself.”

“Are you suggesting this wasn’t a kidnapping, then?” a voice asks from off screen.

KiKu frowns for a second or two before she continues to explain, “The moment the one known as Wormhole arrived on our station we were forced to go into lockdown and transport the ship to a different location, on the fear that we would be attacked by Zarist naval forces were they sent our co-ordinates. We /arrested/ him and held him for a number of days before securing a safe method for his release. This was only done after he was instrumental in the publicized attack on a Zarist Destroyer on Wednesday.”

“The destroyer attack was an Olympus operation?” the voice asks.

“Yes. Only now that any danger of quick reprisals has passed can we safely take responsibility for that. Olympus has a longstanding conflict with the Zarists forces, mainly based on the large mercenary bounties they’ve been placing on our heads.” KiKu responds, holding back a smile.

“Okay, if we go back to the video – we can see what is obviously unneccesary violent actions taken upon the Riftwalker. It would seem you shot him even after he was in your custody, how can you justify that?” the voice asks, and in the background there is a low mutter.

“That is quite obviously tampered video.” KiKu responds flatly, “We have consulted a number of visual experts who can attest to the false nature of the latter scenes. Holoshopped, they said. Should this be taken further, we are prepared to release data recorded by the Mycerian sentient Altor without such malificent edits. For the time being, however, we will protect our information security and, more importantly his personal drive’s privacy.”

OtherSpace: Logjammers!

We really want to see people spending more time IC whenever possible.

As a staff, we’ve talked about extending the idle-boot-to-OOC timer or doing away with it entirely. Neither option is particularly attractive. So, instead, we’ve come up with an idea for rewarding ICness that requires a little work on your part.

Basically, we’ll bribe you for scenes that are posted in the Wiki. Sadly, it’s not retroactive, but starting today, every log posted that includes at least 1,500 words of RP between two or more players will yield 10 SP for the one who posts it and 5 SP for each participant. Just notify the staff with a +str with a link to the log so we can confirm and fulfill your rewards.

OtherNews: Riftwalker kidnapped?

COMORRO STATION – An anonymous entry was given today depicting the whereabouts of the missing Riftwalker known as ‘Wormhole.’

Advisory warning: The following video is very graphic and shows an Olympus crew kidnapping a being as well as violence.

As the video starts, it shows a group of mostly humanoid individuals, known to some as the Olympus crew, including Tiana and Rillitan Ryoleli, a large robotic being, a Hekayti, and what seems to be the riftwalker known as Wormhole. The ship that they’re on apparently just entered OtherSpace, and some are unsure of where the destination is, including the riftwalker.

The young woman reaches down to fiddle with a device at her belt, a small green light replacing the almost imperceptible red one, and smiles up towards a Timonae, “Prepare to proceed t’ phase two.” She murmurs over comms before turning to look to at a broad-shouldered man, grinning. One Hekayti asks the Riftwalker’s name, in which he replies, “Wormhole.”

Soon after, a man speaks up, “Thank you for confirming your identity, Mister Wormhole. If you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you laid down on your stomach and put your hands behind your head. If you try something, this situation becomes much more entertaining for me – so I advise that you comply. We would like to . . . have word.” A pistol appears in either hand of the man, as he watches with amusement.Wormhole gets on his stomach and begins to argue the reasoning for his capture, but the group isn’t having it. “You have no reason to restrain me,” Wormhole says genuinely, though with every moment he grows increasingly more agitated. “So this was the real reason of the trip.” aye?” A robotic voice is heard trying to mediate the situation peacefully.

“We don’t need no reason, Rifter.” A Timonae replies to Wormhole with a dark look, spinning the cylinder of that revolver ever more as he crouches down besides the Riftwalker so he can lower his tone from ‘normal’ to ‘menace’. The Timonae cocks his head, turning it parallel with Wormhole and pulling a mock sad face. “We don’t need t’ answer t’ nobody, this is our vessel, see. Thought we might ‘ave lost our chance t’ snag y’ when y’ disappeared on us, but y’ been makin’ awful lots o’ noise about Hiverspace. Easy man t’ track, especially when y’ walks back t’ our hands all fair like. Now see, you done upset some folks back on the Galleria. You decided it were sommit in your comprehension t’ get involved. That were a mistake.” He pauses, glancing towards the camera and frowns. “What’d be t’ point in doin’ this /withou’/ violence?”

There’s more mentioning of the Galleria, and then a ‘Mika.’

A few moments later, and the Timonae speaks, “Mika was a woman, an’ I ain’t racist. I’m just /not nice/.” And with that, he fires the revolver down into the Riftwalker’s shoulder. Then Wormhole is dragged away.

As the video cuts, they show a message, submitted by the same anonymous person who provided the video: ‘Wormhole is believed to still be captive aboard the Olympus. Caution is advised to anyone who may run across the crew, and those who do business with such a group may wish to rethink their connections.’ The search for Wormhole continues.

OtherNews: Coreseekers deliver propaganda attack

NEW RESILIENCE, MATERI SYNA – A day after a Zarist Supremacy ship was destroyed in an attack blamed on the Orion Confederacy, two Coreseeker missiles plunged toward that government’s homeworld of Materi Syna tonight.

However, when the weapons detonated, they didn’t shatter the planet. Instead, they littered the city of New Resilience with hundreds of thousands of leaflets bearing an image of Vox Hurk of Hatch Vril, leader of the Nall, with a proclamation about his role as the world’s savior, urging citizens of Materi Syna to “throw off the chains of oppression.”

OtherNews: Zarist Supremacy ending?

MULTVAROS, AUKAM – The Cepelem, ruling council in the city of Multvaros on Aukam, voted unanimously to break off relations with the Nall.

“It is rapidly becoming apparent that we cannot rely on the Clawed Fist Fleet to act in accordance with the wishes of our government,” said Vuel Aratu, a leading member of the Cepelem. “Their actions, although clearly not as disastrous as they could have been, went beyond what had been agreed to by the Cepelem. If the Nall will ignore our directives, then they are no more use to us than the Medlidikke.”

This would seem to toll the near-death of the dream of a galaxy ruled by Zarist sympathizers, with only the Aukami and Thul remaining in the “Supremacy.”

“Obviously, it is a time for us to reflect on how best to move forward in the interests of peace,” Aratu said.

OtherNews: Orion Confederacy Defense Ministry responds

MATERI SYNA – Orion Confederacy officials denied involvement in the recent attack on the Clawed Fist Fleet but seemed strangely reticent to do so. “Quite honesstly,” Razorback Cliffwalker, the Minister of Defense said at a press conference, “I do wissh we could claim rrressponssibility forrr thiss action. Perrrhapss the Zarrrisst Ssuprrremascy has forrrgotten that we arrre at warrr. A warrr they sstarrrted. A warrr we intend to finissh. The Ssuprrremascy got away with teleporrrting a weapon of massss desstrrruction to ourrrr ssoil. We have yet to rrresspond to that. If the Zarrrisstss want thiss warrr to continue, we will brrring it to theirrr doorrrsstep nexst. If they do not, we arrre morrre than willing to acscept theirrr ssurrrrrrenderrr. Thank you.”

OtherNews: Human wanted in Eiru manhunt

EIRU, PYRACAN – The human Tetran is the subject of a island-wide manhunt after he disappeared from the Eiru medical pavilion earlier this evening. The man was being held for questioning and ran from the hospital. He is considered unstable and extremely dangerous. Officials warn not to approach him unarmed if he is discovered.

He is described as being rather short, of slight build with black hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing black pants and a long-sleeved black shirt.

OtherNews: Confederacy suspected in Nall vessel destruction

MULTVAROS, AUKAM – A spokesman for the Zarist Supremacy reports that a Nall destroyer, the S’trakla, was attacked en route between Aukam and the Plosa Nebula.

The Nall ship and crew were lost in the incident, which the spokesman, Aulek Morai, suggested may have been orchestrated by the Orion Confederacy.

“Our allies in the Clawed Fist Fleet had been content to remain aloof from the Confederacy in recent days,” Morai said. “This incident has them re-thinking their moderated stance. The Cepelem is urging a calmer response, but I cannot guarantee that this will not result in severe reprisals for the Confederacy and Materi Syna.”