Tales from the spacelanes...

[CaptSolo]

I dialled up the nearest rock hermit...

No self respecting hermit would have a buoy outside his front door.

[Cody]

In some ways I agree with you, though I do use the RHL OXP - but Cheyd's buoys are such cool eye-candy.

[Smivs]

I always think 'Rock Hermit' is a bit of a misnomer. They are not hermits in the sense of somebody who has withdrawn, but rather individuals (or even groups of people) who choose to live away from the hurly-burly of the planet and instead form a small community of miners, with the 'hermitage' acting as their base or meeting place.
Indeed many are so popular they have even been bought-out by coffee-shop franchises

[Diziet Sma]

I tend to think of them as something along the lines of the asteroid miners in Heinlein's Space Family Stone , aka The Rolling Stones.

[Cody]

My imagined hermit back-story is part of the immersion - they're on the darker side.

[Smivs]

My imagined hermit back-story is part of the immersion - they're on the darker side.

What! They make OXPs?

[Ranthe]

My imagined hermit back-story is part of the immersion - they're on the darker side.

What! They make OXPs?

[Cody]

My imagined hermit back-story is part of the immersion - they're on the darker side.

What! They make OXPs?

<chortles> No, they make cookies!

[Smivs]

Mmmmmm

[CaptSolo]

Andru reporting in, commander of the Cobra Mk3, 'Sly Serpico'. Location: Atius, within the outer rim of chart 3, a planet famous for its evil brandy. Actually, this was my third stop on one tank of witchspace juice so I was a little apprehensive. I had a hold full of furs hoping for a good price at Orzaedve, but when I arrived there the market was disappointing. Atius is less than .5 LY away so I my plan was to jump there and return. Nearly a fatal decision.

Upon arrival Atius, identified the presence of a Rock Hermit in the space lane. Being an agricultural world, it may have a decent amount of cheap metals to buy, so I pushed on with all haste. I met a couple pirates on the way, but they were not much trouble. They did, however, manage to deplete my fuel to mere vapors evading the two hard heads they let loose before being destroyed.

Finally, I approach the Rock Hermit, sidling along it's starboard side at half speed... Preparing for the yaw maneuver to bring my ship around to the cavernous entrance. As I do, I notice the hermit, piloting a Cobby 1, is on docking approach as well. Nice, I thought, I'll just throttle down and follow her in. Just then, at extreme forward scanner range, appear what I make out to be at least six bogies closing fast. No Worries, I'm nearly home. I wonder if the master of this house has some fresh brewed coffee?

About half way in laser beams flash above my cockpit. The Cobby1 ahead of me freaks out, pitches, rolls, and collides with the tunnel wall... Smashed to pieces! I keep my wits for the moment, and throttle up. Just then, the master himself emerges in a Cobby 3 to defend his property. What a bloody disaster! We collide and in one micro-second, my forward shield is gone. The next second the entire asteroid breaks up and now what remains is battering the hull of my ship, damaging cargo and several key systems. With no protection whatsoever, the pirates now open up on me. I did the only thing I could: Pitched down away from a boulder and hit the injectors. Luckily, I just had enough fuel to scamper away and then take a torus vector away from the space lane.

I brought the 'Sly Serpico' to a full stop so shields could recharge and I could ascertain the damage. It could have been worse. Just as I began to calm down I hear a whimpering sound from the galley. Oh no! Dexter me lad? Dexter, my faithful canine, has been with me on all my adventures. I jump out of my seat, rush down the hall and through the galley portal. But I'm too late to do any good. His deep brown eyes look up at me, his tail manages a few feeble wags, and then he is gone. Shock set's in quickly, but is - just as soon - transformed into a building rage. Good bye, good Dexter, me lad. I won't forget you, but I will repay.

[Cody]

Shock set's in quickly, but is - just as soon - transformed into a building rage.

I felt much the same when Thargoids killed my ship's cat, the irreplaceable Lord Effingham.

[Bugbear]

@Cody, was Lord Effingham a product of an OXP?

If not, it gives me an OXP idea - a ships pet purchasble via the shipyard.

Once the pet is purchased, it is given a random name (ala Random Shipnames), and is listed as part of the ship's equipment.

If the 'pet' is damaged in combat, you'll be faced with a vet bill when you next pull into dock.

If the pet's injuries are too great, there's a chance that healing will be impossible and you'll have to bid your pet farewell (and then make your way to the nearest seedy bar to recruit some helpers in dealing with your remorse )

[Cody]

@Cody, was Lord Effingham a product of an OXP?

Yeah... this one. I added Lord Effingham to the names myself, though.

[Diziet Sma]

The Ship's Cat OXP creator, superbatprime, seems to have vanished.. and he did state that he hoped somebody with more ability would add to it.. it would be a shame to let Bugbears ideas to improve on the basic concept go to waste.. anyone up for adding them to the OXP?

[Bugbear]

Yeah... this one.

Thanks for that. Picked up a stray and a pedigree cat already. Let's hope they like each other