Where are they now: Belgium edition, or: Dude, where's my country? Options

[hobgoblin]

heh, im guessing that agricorps and awakened pests have more or less driven the independent farmer out of the area.

[Caine Hazen]

As a note, that Midwest area was more commonly refered to as the "Rust Belt" by some. Judging by the fact that Ares seems to have brought lots of manufacturing back into the UCAS, and probably SaderKrupp depending on such things, those areas may have seen a resurgence. Kinda nice that it isn't fleshed out completely as it gives us some room to grow it all.

As a side note, I've alway thought with the already existing infrastructure, and massive numbers of airports in the area, Wright-Patt here would probably be the new UCAS AF HQ, since TAC and SAC would have lost their big big bases to the NAN. Probably moved the AF Academy out that way as well. I'd also imagined the sprawl of Dayton would have been claimed by the military/industrial complex since quite a few companies would benifit from being right where the top brass of the force are.

[hobgoblin]

hey, isnt ares basically the military/industrial complex?

[FlakJacket]

They are the largest armaments megacorporation, fairly chummy with the UCAS government - IIRC they run a joint Delta clinic with them - and whilst they've built up a fairly decent image as the 'national' and 'American' corporation they aren't the only armaments manufacturers out there. Off the top of my head you've got Integrated Weapon Systems, Dassault, Esprit Industries and all the others that I'm sure Nath could pull out from the sourcebooks.

On the original question of why the region hasn't been covered best guess is that aside from Chicago and Detroit which they actually did something with they decided not to bother because they hadn't come up with anything interesting or that fit in with the then current story lines. If it's going to be boring and a list of generic UCAS cities better they leave GMs a blank canvas to do whatever they feel like rather than tying them down with canon if they stick to the published material.

One thing I did notice about the area was that the CAS lost about half of Missouri to the UCAS, who promptly gave their part the highly original name of North Missouri, and that St. Louis got split in half with the CAS getting everything west of the river and the UCAS everything to the east. Now it's no Boise but could provide a fairly decent setting.

[hermit]

They are the largest armaments megacorporation, fairly chummy with the UCAS government - IIRC they run a joint Delta clinic with them - and whilst they've built up a fairly decent image as the 'national' and 'American' corporation they aren't the only armaments manufacturers out there. Off the top of my head you've got Integrated Weapon Systems, Dassault, Esprit Industries and all the others that I'm sure Nath could pull out from the sourcebooks.

Given that,. despite being best known for their military part, Ares also is big in consumer goods of all kinds, I think saying Ares = OCP gives a good idea of what the corp propably looks like.

[Jackstand]

They are the largest armaments megacorporation, fairly chummy with the UCAS government - IIRC they run a joint Delta clinic with them - and whilst they've built up a fairly decent image as the 'national' and 'American' corporation they aren't the only armaments manufacturers out there. Off the top of my head you've got Integrated Weapon Systems, Dassault, Esprit Industries and all the others that I'm sure Nath could pull out from the sourcebooks.

Don't forget about Federated Boeing.

[FlakJacket]

Given that, despite being best known for their military part, Ares also is big in consumer goods of all kinds, I think saying Ares = OCP gives a good idea of what the corp probably looks like.

Oh undoubtedly, as a triple A mergacorporation it can't help but have it's fingers in nearly all of the pies to some extent it's just that because in early sourcebooks it was linked so closely to firearms it became 'the gun company'. As to the OCP comparison quite apt considering that Ares effectively bought out Detroit and turned it into a company town. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Wesley Street]

I have no doubt that Robocop's OCP was the inspiration for FASA to develop Ares Macro. "All-American", native-Detroit, charismatic leadership... stuff with guns poking out.

[krakjen]

You missed the thing hidden in the Mist that nearly killed Lofwyr when he came to investigate, and the 29 Crash that was avoided thanks to our superior gateway (I guess the virus wasn't compatible with the Minitel network). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/twirl.gif)

Haha yeah, I forgot about that.
It's still that 'WE ARE BETTER/SPECIAL" aspect. Superior matrix fuck yeah!

SoE did a better job, and even if they kept the royalty/religion aspect (mostly because they couldn't throw everything away), I guess it's still salvageable. It's not a monarchy, it's just that a few big families are occupying all important positions in France... Which isn't actually that far from what you'll find today, except that today they aren't all ancient noble families.

Indeed, you're right.

Anyway, I've recently got the idea that Shadowrunning in France should be done as in "Les Tontons Flingueurs" which would be awesome.

Hooo, that's a pretty neat idea.
Now all you need is writing Audiard-style dialogs for your NPCs.
And the ridiculous sounding silencer of course...

[Blade]

Yes, and a bottle of a weird and strong alcohol (with my apologies to the non-French member of this board who can't appreciate this fine piece of cinematographic culture)

[Fuchs]

Yes, and a bottle of a weird and strong alcohol (with my apologies to the non-French member of this board who can't appreciate this fine piece of cinematographic culture)

I am trying to order that DVD right now, actually, despite not being french. I thought dvdboxoffice would have it in stock, being in Canada, but no luck so far.

[krakjen]

Yes, and a bottle of a weird and strong alcohol (with my apologies to the non-French member of this board who can't appreciate this fine piece of cinematographic culture)

Is that some apple in it?

I am trying to order that DVD right now, actually, despite not being french. I thought dvdboxoffice would have it in stock, being in Canada, but no luck so far.

You could try ebay...

[Fuchs]

Ordered on amazon.fr

[Snow_Fox]

Belgium eventually divided into two countries - Wallonia (later became part of France) and Flanders (later became part of the United Netherlands).
I just looked it up in SoE: Wallonia and Flanders split in 2016.

Because of tensions between the two groups it is thought by many this is what will eventually happen. The only problem is Brussells is a Walloon city in Flemmish country.
Of course look at the SR date 21016. In 1815 The Emperor Napoleon had written pamphlets to be distributed to the walloons saying that fate had seperated them from France, but soon they would be welcomed back. OK so he was off by 201 years but he had vision. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beret.gif)
Unfortunately he was looking way down the road and missed what was on the road just south of the town of Waterloo.

[MYST1C]

The only problem is Brussells is a Walloon city in Flemmish country.

I visited Brussels in spring and it was interesting how bilingual that city is - every street sign in both languages, shops with French markings (and French-speaking employees) side by side with Dutch-speaking shops, people conversing with one person speaking French and the other Dutch, or switching language in mid-sentence...

[W@geMage]

Contrary to what most international news says it isn't so much the language that causes friction between the 2 states.
The split is more about economics and institutions than linguistics.
If split, Flanders would be one of the richest countries in Europe and Wallonia one of the poorest.

They have different public opinions and have different ideas on how to apply responsibility and manage the Belgian institutions.
Wallonia would like a federal approach to most problems, and Flanders sees more future in local responsibility for local challenges coupled with the European regulations for federal stuff.

[CanRay]

Contrary to what most international news says it isn't so much the language that causes friction between the 2 states.
The split is more about economics and institutions than linguistics.

Or tradition and history, in the case of Quebec.

At least, that's all I can figure out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)