the Great Game
- Thread starter Thanos
- Start date
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Technically, the Confederation and the Imperium are still at war, the doggies are barking at the Imperium's heels, and the Cats are volkerwanderung their way into both.
Both the Solomani Confed and the Zhodani.
The perpetual border skirmishes with vargr raiders.
No trust of the Sword Worlds.
Xerxeskingofking
SOC-13
several of them.
the relationship with the Zhodani is frosty, but standing orders are to avoid cold war "brinkmanship" tactics due the risk of them escalating into a hot war.
the Solomani Sphere is still technically at war 3i, much in the same way that North and South Korea are still at war (at ceasefire was agreed to, but no formal peace treaty has ben signed, even though relationships have basically been "Normalised"). I've not read any of the Solomani rim books, but I know that tensions are still high in that area.
the borders with the Vargr and Aslan are also pretty warm, but that's less "cold war between monolithic superpowers" and more "Rome's legions on the Rhine", with the unified 3I dealing with myriad of clans and minor nations that are culturally but not politically unified.
An intriguing idea is that the Imperium would need intelligence/CI capabilities with -all- the member worlds. I certainly believe Naval Intelligence has assets arrayed focusing on strategic military intel gathering and counterintelligence efforts... but who's watching, predicting, informing on, and keeping in check all the member worlds in matters of trade, politics, social developments, and technology? Probably not the Navy. All those member worlds have their own gov't, and ( presumably ) need minding, not to mention some who are acting "against" the Imperium for their own gain. Who's playing the Great Game?
The Scouts?
Huscarles are often solely depicted as "house troops" of a noble, but how about an intelligence capability as well? And it's also easy to believe the megacorps have serious intelligence org capabilities in their spheres of influence.
Agents have been a staple of Traveller adventures for a long time, and they make almost-too-convenient patrons, MaGuffins, and adversaries. I'm heading to Mongoose's "Agent" book now to read up and see what's there.
The Scouts?
Huscarles are often solely depicted as "house troops" of a noble, but how about an intelligence capability as well? And it's also easy to believe the megacorps have serious intelligence org capabilities in their spheres of influence.
Agents have been a staple of Traveller adventures for a long time, and they make almost-too-convenient patrons, MaGuffins, and adversaries. I'm heading to Mongoose's "Agent" book now to read up and see what's there.
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
The oft forgot Julian Protectorate...
the only polity to hand the 3I its only major defeat.
the only polity to hand the 3I its only major defeat.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Friendship Is Magic.
Do you play Murderhoof - The Pony Wars Begin from Tri-Tac Games?
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
I mocked my brother when he suggested I watch the series, but since then, I've read a bunch of parodies, enjoyed Pony memes (and reposted them) and viewed maybe ten episodes, once I started wondering who the hell the Great and Powerful Trixie was.
I suppose I'll eventually get around to watching the rest, at one hundred seventy percent speed.
I understand there's a variant of Pathfinder called Ponyfinder.
I suppose I'll eventually get around to watching the rest, at one hundred seventy percent speed.
I understand there's a variant of Pathfinder called Ponyfinder.
MThompson016
SOC-12
My vague end goal for my solo play is a Great Game being played plot between the Imperium and the Solomani. The overreaching goal for both sides officially is to not have a war break out, as everyone would find it very expensive in both lives and money. However, there are elements from either government who want a short, victorious war and can achieve it.
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
I dare you to remake the K'kree in the image of MLP.
Or some horrific combination thereof.
Militant Vegetarianism is Magic.
The Legend is Born!
Battle Scars (or tattoos or branding) are their Cutie Marks.
After the successful g'naak hunt at Gateway Station, 1120:
"Your bravery and fervor to save the herd against the human vermin was nothing short of amazing. For your service we will braid you and mark you so all across the heavens will know of you now and forever." Raising the glowing iron brand, the leader nods. "Hold him." The soldier does not cry out. Tears of joy flow from his eyes as the brand seared his rump.
Later, I spoke with he who would lead us.
"How could you endure that pain?"
"There is nothing I would not do to save our herd. Symbols are but one measure."
"Let us drink to your cutie mark. What is you name, sir?"
"Anv!ull’lxux."
- The Gods of Thunder, Scroll 1, Chapter 3, psalm 6
Battle Scars (or tattoos or branding) are their Cutie Marks.
After the successful g'naak hunt at Gateway Station, 1120:
"Your bravery and fervor to save the herd against the human vermin was nothing short of amazing. For your service we will braid you and mark you so all across the heavens will know of you now and forever." Raising the glowing iron brand, the leader nods. "Hold him." The soldier does not cry out. Tears of joy flow from his eyes as the brand seared his rump.
Later, I spoke with he who would lead us.
"How could you endure that pain?"
"There is nothing I would not do to save our herd. Symbols are but one measure."
"Let us drink to your cutie mark. What is you name, sir?"
"Anv!ull’lxux."
- The Gods of Thunder, Scroll 1, Chapter 3, psalm 6
kilemall
SOC-14 5K
Snif. It's beyootiful!
mike wightman
SOC-14 10K
If only the setting was smaller so the major powers were closer and you could play one of against the other...
Wonder why the Solomani and the Zhodani have never organised a two fronted attack on the Imperium...
Wonder why the Solomani and the Zhodani have never organised a two fronted attack on the Imperium...
Barsanuphius
SOC-12
Doesn't that happen sorta in the Rebellion Megatrav?
The comm lag between decision makers here would be serious, tough to enact even broad strategy in a nuanced cold war. I feel like in the Rebellion when both the Zhodani and Solomani rose up it wasn't coordinated, just both taking advantage of opportunity.
As many have already answered, there are many of them. Just see the fronts opened as soon as the Imperium seemed weak...
But I'd say the greatest game of all in this sense is internal in the 3I itself (again, as shown by the Rebellion).
Not at all. The Zhodani stay quiet while the Rebellion, and, as Norris secedes in all but name, untouched by it.
Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
It's hard to coordinate over that great a distance, and while their strategic interests may be aligned, the Solomani may view the Zhodani as exotic mutants, who they feel they may have to deal with in future.
