Colin: Ditch France
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One also could wreak havoc on the game by presenting France as a Superpower, but completely dependent on its corporations. I have read enough French Graphic Novels to know that Japanese may have cornered the violent graphic novel of the cyberpunk world but French have the post-cyberpunk world perfectly laid out.
Out of curiousity, Colin, what sources are inspiring you for good ole Earth. I realize that Earth/Cybertech limits you somewhat but have you moved beyond into posthumanist SF or stayed strictly within the cyberpunk genre?
Out of curiousity, Colin, what sources are inspiring you for good ole Earth. I realize that Earth/Cybertech limits you somewhat but have you moved beyond into posthumanist SF or stayed strictly within the cyberpunk genre?
Aye, Ross 863 is planetless but:
"ROSS 863: Though the extensive halo of asteroids and cometary debris here was once the focal point of support operations for the Australian colonial operations, its facilities have since dwindled to nearly nil. The Ross 863 outpost is an asteroidal nugget; its activities center primarily around the operation of the ISPIB dish nestled in its side. There is still an operational refinery insystem, reducing cometary materials to usable forms. Recently, OMS-6 Richard Trevithick has taken up station in the system and is engaged in activities under the Trilon Corporation. "
An artefact may well be a Ylii ship downed in the system 100,000 years ago.
FWIW, ISTR the Ross 165 - DM+52 2294 link is an error.
Current US explorations efforts are at:
DM+38 3095 (Highland) - discovered 2267
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/2303/mag/highland.htm
DM+51 2402 (Avalon)
DM +45 2688 (Alighieri)
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/2303/best/alighieri.htm
The latter two are recent discoveries, still awaiting ground surveys in 2300. The DM+43 2796 cluster (it needs a better name, Highland Cluster after the first habitable world found there?) is the main US exploratory effort, being the American equivalent of the Wolf Cluster.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/9292/2300/maps.htm
FWIW A lot of 2300 stuff is online. My links list I compiled a couple of years ago was complete, but isn't any longer...
http://www.geocities.com/littlegreenmen.geo/
(Most stuff I do these days goes in the Miscellaneousy)
I hear Traveller's Aides that are begging to be done. Hopefully, all the great talent that went on whilst the official game languished will now be tweaked and usher forth brand new games.
Personally, I think the Near Earth game (both for Traveller & 2300AD) is a great underutilized milieu. For my Traveller Campaign always used more of 2300AD, I would like to now return the favour and utilize more in a brand new 2320AD milieu (don't worry Colin - no Vilani just lots of enigmas).
Personally, I think the Near Earth game (both for Traveller & 2300AD) is a great underutilized milieu. For my Traveller Campaign always used more of 2300AD, I would like to now return the favour and utilize more in a brand new 2320AD milieu (don't worry Colin - no Vilani just lots of enigmas).
The ECS is a bit of a hodge-podge. For the most part, it describes Earth as a sort of utopia, and then it tacks on the cyberpunk bits. I was instructed to minimize the cyberpunk elements, but Earth isn't exactly Utopian. It's very comfortable, and secure, at the expense of privacy and freedom of choice. It's life on fast-forward, with very high partial employment, but little full employment, where people are subtly encouraged to work that extra time at (approved) hobbies and competitions, where people watch French translations of Mexican soap operas, where pop (soda) machines bombard people with directional, targetted advertising based on data received from implanted RFID chips. The same chips are also door keys, credit cards, car keys, ID papers... Not a future where I would be comfortable, but a future that looks like it would be right around the corner from now. Anyone who doesn't fit in is encouraged to move, and that's one of the main benefits of the colony worlds as far as the Earth-based nations are concerned, to act as a relief valve for the malcontents.
Sources? Neal Stephenson, largely, but also David Brin, Larry Niven, some Jerry Pournelle, Charles Sheffield, Minority Report the movie. Largely for the future societies and future cities that aren't all wastelands.
Colin,
I very much enjoyed the descriptions of life on Earth in your 2320 materials. Life there/then isn't hellish but it also isn't exactly what we of the 21st Century would view as an utopia either. That makes it seem more real to me, extremes one way or another rarely arise or last long.
You mentioned Brin as an ispiration. There's a short story of his; The Fifth Profession of Some Guy's Name (not the real title, I can't remember the name at the moment!), that I found very thought provoking - especially the government mandated number of vocations and avocations each citizen had to participate in. IIRC, the narrator was a banker by vocation, played basketball as his 'sport', was a sociologist for a 'hobby', and had some other interests too. You had to spend a certain amount of time each week in each area of interest else get into trouble!
Have fun,
Bill
I very much enjoyed the descriptions of life on Earth in your 2320 materials. Life there/then isn't hellish but it also isn't exactly what we of the 21st Century would view as an utopia either. That makes it seem more real to me, extremes one way or another rarely arise or last long.
You mentioned Brin as an ispiration. There's a short story of his; The Fifth Profession of Some Guy's Name (not the real title, I can't remember the name at the moment!), that I found very thought provoking - especially the government mandated number of vocations and avocations each citizen had to participate in. IIRC, the narrator was a banker by vocation, played basketball as his 'sport', was a sociologist for a 'hobby', and had some other interests too. You had to spend a certain amount of time each week in each area of interest else get into trouble!
Have fun,
Bill
Yup, that's the one. The fifth avocation; i.e. king of the world, refers to the plans of the fellow the narrator is researcher however. And it's all a fraud anyway!
It seems the Man Who Would Be King is an avocational sociologist too, just like the narrator. He has four jobs already; if you do well enough in a certain avocational field you can be promoted into it's vocational branch. He forged and planted all sorts of documents regarding his 'paternity' and 'lineage', launched the king schtick, created the social movement involved, and eventually plans to reveal his 'experiment' to claim his fifth vocation in sociology.
Sadly, the AAmen(?); the AI robots that really run things, have different ideas. They decide creating a human constitutional monarch, along with all the flummery that entails, is just the thing to give the masses something to cheer about.
In the end, the plotter gets his fifth vocation. It just isn't the one he was aiming for!
Have fun,
Bill
P.S. While the plot was nice, I liked the idea behind vocations and avocations, with a mandatory time spent in each weekly, far more interesting.
It seems the Man Who Would Be King is an avocational sociologist too, just like the narrator. He has four jobs already; if you do well enough in a certain avocational field you can be promoted into it's vocational branch. He forged and planted all sorts of documents regarding his 'paternity' and 'lineage', launched the king schtick, created the social movement involved, and eventually plans to reveal his 'experiment' to claim his fifth vocation in sociology.
Sadly, the AAmen(?); the AI robots that really run things, have different ideas. They decide creating a human constitutional monarch, along with all the flummery that entails, is just the thing to give the masses something to cheer about.
In the end, the plotter gets his fifth vocation. It just isn't the one he was aiming for!
Have fun,
Bill
P.S. While the plot was nice, I liked the idea behind vocations and avocations, with a mandatory time spent in each weekly, far more interesting.
Anthony Emmel
SOC-7
Chello!
I like France...even as a good Texan. the Fench as a superpower is an awesome idea...although most of my games weres et aroud the US , Texas, and, occasionally, Germany.
One of my favorite quotes (who knows from where) is: "When did the barbaric Franks who helped to destroy Rome and halted the Moors become the FRENCH?" lol
I like France...even as a good Texan. the Fench as a superpower is an awesome idea...although most of my games weres et aroud the US , Texas, and, occasionally, Germany.
One of my favorite quotes (who knows from where) is: "When did the barbaric Franks who helped to destroy Rome and halted the Moors become the FRENCH?" lol
Attitudes towards other countries can change dramatically in a single day. The French not long ago gifted the USA with the Statue of Libery as a sign of friendship, now they call them warmongers. Its quite possible that a charismatic French leader after the twilight war became a rallying point not only for France but gave hope to all of Europe, old prejudices would be hard to keep up in the face of good deeds and hope in a time of darkness.
I'm British so I'm going to put my two pence worth in on the debate about whether Great Britain should really be in the American Arm. I think its quite good the way it is now with Great Britain having colonies on the French Arm. This mirrors nicely the current situation of Great Britain being geographically closer to Europe but culturally closer the America. From cousins over the pond to cousins over the gap.
And as the French power declines along the arm, that allows the British to be a new rising power in the region. Excellent hehe.
I'm British so I'm going to put my two pence worth in on the debate about whether Great Britain should really be in the American Arm. I think its quite good the way it is now with Great Britain having colonies on the French Arm. This mirrors nicely the current situation of Great Britain being geographically closer to Europe but culturally closer the America. From cousins over the pond to cousins over the gap.
And as the French power declines along the arm, that allows the British to be a new rising power in the region. Excellent hehe.
archhealer
SOC-12
Out of recent history, an interesting quote came up with some friends of mine, I don't know where it's from. "It's a strange day, when the French think we're rude and the Germans think going to war is a bad idea."
On a different Vein: I agree, attitudes toward countries can change quickly, but so can the attitudes within a country. One can't judge whether the French will become a nation capable of becoming a millitary and economic superpower in 320 years by what they are today.
And keep in mind, not so long ago, the French were a MAJOR millitary power on this planet, for several centuries.
Also, I like French food, and berets. So I also say, Keep the French.
(Unlike others here, I will readily admit to being a rabid francophile.)
On a different Vein: I agree, attitudes toward countries can change quickly, but so can the attitudes within a country. One can't judge whether the French will become a nation capable of becoming a millitary and economic superpower in 320 years by what they are today.
And keep in mind, not so long ago, the French were a MAJOR millitary power on this planet, for several centuries.
Also, I like French food, and berets. So I also say, Keep the French.
(Unlike others here, I will readily admit to being a rabid francophile.)
Dear Folks -
"You know the world is turned upside down when the top golfer in the world is black, the most popular rap singer is white, when the leading basketball player is Chinese, when the French accuse the United States of being arrogant, and when the Germans don't want to fight a war."
I believe it was a joke going around the US in 2003:
"You know the world is turned upside down when the top golfer in the world is black, the most popular rap singer is white, when the leading basketball player is Chinese, when the French accuse the United States of being arrogant, and when the Germans don't want to fight a war."
towerwarlock
SOC-1
France as a superpower is unlikely. 1) they are more likely to start WWIII themselves, 2) they support many terrorists and terrorist countries with weapons and training and 3) if nukes were used at least 2 of their neighbors would use nukes on France first and 4) just for good measure the U.S. would use them on them as well and 5) well what makes you think the ICBM's from Russia would have been good enough to make it to the U.S.?
Michael Schulz
SOC-12
Uhhh, you do know that no one can really respond to this post's reading of world events without starting a flame war that would either be sent off the political pulpit or get the participants chastised by the mods...
P
Pickles
Guest
Nevertheless, I shall try:
Does France have at least two nuclear-armed neighbours?
Possessing nukes of there own. There were plenty of cache of so-called strategic nuclear weapons in each camp. Not to mention deadly things like enriched uranium shells as part of a standard armoury.
All in all, the world of Twilight was a very scary place when it came to Europe. France by basically opting out became the last man standing. And when the Germans try to do reunification by stealth, that would cause France to act by creating a traditional buffer. When the nukes started flying over the Atlantic, they could threaten entire Soviet and American divisions/task groups with their own nukes...this is why France is the logical superpower left.
To be the last man standing, allows the industrial capacity to shape the world in one's own image. Look at America after WW2, the rest of the world is either in ruins or just past being an agricultural depot (like Canada, Argentina, Australia) or just filled with agricultural peasants...and they were able to climb to great heights despite not having guts or manpower to do it.
For instance, there was the proposed plan to go it against Russians. However, the Brits vetoed it, knowing that Stalin then would not hesitate to march beyond Berlin. Notwithstanding, this is not so say that America did not exert enormous moral power in the aftermath of WW2. So, Realpolitik considerations certain trumped morality in building a fair world order but it was fairer than what existed before. Similarly, when I discuss France as the moral Superpower in the aftermath of WW3, it is not without some accession to realpolitik but it builds upon correcting the mistakes of the previous hegemon.
The question that I have...is what happened in the intervening years. What are contestants were to try to ascend to the role of hegemon. My memory of the 2300AD sourcebook seems to indicate alot of small wars but nothing that would establish hegemony beyond a small group of countries.
All in all, the world of Twilight was a very scary place when it came to Europe. France by basically opting out became the last man standing. And when the Germans try to do reunification by stealth, that would cause France to act by creating a traditional buffer. When the nukes started flying over the Atlantic, they could threaten entire Soviet and American divisions/task groups with their own nukes...this is why France is the logical superpower left.
To be the last man standing, allows the industrial capacity to shape the world in one's own image. Look at America after WW2, the rest of the world is either in ruins or just past being an agricultural depot (like Canada, Argentina, Australia) or just filled with agricultural peasants...and they were able to climb to great heights despite not having guts or manpower to do it.
For instance, there was the proposed plan to go it against Russians. However, the Brits vetoed it, knowing that Stalin then would not hesitate to march beyond Berlin. Notwithstanding, this is not so say that America did not exert enormous moral power in the aftermath of WW2. So, Realpolitik considerations certain trumped morality in building a fair world order but it was fairer than what existed before. Similarly, when I discuss France as the moral Superpower in the aftermath of WW3, it is not without some accession to realpolitik but it builds upon correcting the mistakes of the previous hegemon.
The question that I have...is what happened in the intervening years. What are contestants were to try to ascend to the role of hegemon. My memory of the 2300AD sourcebook seems to indicate alot of small wars but nothing that would establish hegemony beyond a small group of countries.
From what I remember, you're right - France had relatively clear sailing. Of course, they had a big lead, but I don't think anyone really tried to muscle in on France until after the Central Asian War.
As far as France as superpower goes, why not? It's different enough that it lets the players know they're not in Kansas anymore.
Since I'm guessing that the largest market for the game is in the US, it also gives the players of American characters a ready-made self-adopted goal; help America win back it's place at the top of the heap. With some 'fun' people to try to thwart.
France as the Big Kahuna isn't odd enough that it jars me out of the storyline. If they had tried a smaller power, it wouldn't have worked. But with the background they wrote it's plausible enough that it just might work. Now, some other parts of the background need a little fine tuning, but...
As far as France as superpower goes, why not? It's different enough that it lets the players know they're not in Kansas anymore.
Since I'm guessing that the largest market for the game is in the US, it also gives the players of American characters a ready-made self-adopted goal; help America win back it's place at the top of the heap. With some 'fun' people to try to thwart.
France as the Big Kahuna isn't odd enough that it jars me out of the storyline. If they had tried a smaller power, it wouldn't have worked. But with the background they wrote it's plausible enough that it just might work. Now, some other parts of the background need a little fine tuning, but...
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