Let's discuss technology. What weapons systems are used? Lasers, plasma, projectile? What power generation systems are used? What is the main type of planetary transport? We should estabish a good technological baseline before most other things.
I would say that projectile weaponry would most likely be used. Considering that we don't have shields (no Star Trek 4 ulol!11!@), 'lasers' and plasma weapons are rather useless. A simple missile or artillery round would effectively ruin most ships, unless they were heavily armored (warships), in which case, while missiles would still work, something more effective would be needed. Think of the MAC (Magnetic Accelerator Cannon) guns from Halo. They're basically just fancy rail-guns, and they fire rounds of molten metal.
For ground forces, I'd just as soon say go with modified projectile weapons, perhaps with red or blue tracer rounds every 6-10 shots (just for kicks).
As for planetary transport, anti-grav is out of the question. Not only is it unrealistic, but it's just cliché. Wheels or bust. Or treads.
I don't know if you've heard of WipEout Pure for PSP, but having something like anti-gravity racing would be killer ('course, the 'anti-grav' is actually maglev. The tracks have magnets in them, and the racers themselves have their own magnetic drives). It'd be like podracing, but a helluva lot faster (in the 900 mph range. Tracks would be huge, and the turns would have to be a little more gradual, unless your planet just happens to be brutal and wants sharper turns).
Dropships for military are also always fun. I'd imagine them to be able to enter the atmosphere, drop troops, then take off again under their own power, so some kind of powerful propulsion system would need to be worked out. One last thing, the entry pods similar to those of the ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers), affectionately dubbed 'Helljumpers', would be wicked. :)
- Jonathan
I favor a gritty approach.
In terms of Pre-Manifold societies, slug throwers are the rule of the day. Their space craft are limited to orbital and close lunar designs like our space shuttle. We, are a pre-manifold society.
In terms of a Manifold Society, I see advanced slug throwers, missiles and advanced munitions such as gauss rifles or Particle Projection Cannons. Space craft are bulky, boxy, not graceful and tend to be damaged, patched, damaged again and re patched. Think Serenity and Firefly before you think Startrek or even starwars.
In terms of a Supra-Manifold, I see laser weapons, ion cannons, advanced radiation weapons, the beginning foundations of energy-reactive shielding and 9th axial physics. This is where shit just get weird, as technology approaches an almost occult level. Anything goes here, from Borg style Cubes to Federation Starships to the fucking Death Star. You've got the tech. Why not use it? Concerns like Mass and Inertia no longer really matter.
Are there any supra-manifold societies yet?
Railguns and gauss weapons would be nice - we are experimenting with them now, so by whatever time period it is they'd have perfected them.
Power generation?