alt.WAR, Fixing War's problems by writing a new book Options

[Abschalten]

What kind of military did you want to tackle Arclight?

AZT (think chinese/russian .. a ton of cheap units, low numbers of big game changing drones and vehicles)
AMZ Probably something like 30-40 percent awakened in their military, with probably a 10% spellcaster rating.
UCAS/CAS/ARES/S&K - Highly trained grunts, with tons of drone fire support, limited magical support.

Is there a basis in canon for the militaries being like this? I imagined AZT having some pretty substantial magical support. Maybe not as much as Amazonia, but a not insignificant amount.

[hermit]

AZT and MAZ yes (SoLA, various other populations for AMZ; AZT has the Aztlan book and numerous novels). AZT has substantial magical support. AMZ is driven by magic and is in large parts made up of critters.

Think of AMZ as the Na'vi, SK/Ares/UCAS/CAS as Colonial Marines, and AZT more of a hybrid with magic use but conventional looks and equipment.

Sources:
Night's Pawn (Aztlan), Aztlan (AZT, AMZ), SoLA (AMZ, AZT), Neo-Anarchist's Guide To North America (UCAS/CAS), Fields of Fire (all), SOTA 2063 (all), YotC (AZT), SR1 Basic Book (AMZ), Blood Sport (AZT), Corp Shadowfiles (SK, Ares), Corp Download (SK, Ares, AZT) ...

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

So, Grinder will take 2.1 and 2.2, even being a whole new country, somethings do take time to change (culture, etc.) if you need any help on how the metahuman mentality of Brazil would be under the rule of a Great Dragon I would gladly help.

So, I volunteer to work on 3.2 and 3.3 (Maracaibo and Caracas) I have a Venezuelan friend at work who used to live in Caracas and I'm all for stealing his brains for info on the country (people, geography, etc.). I'll try to write something this weekend and let you know.

[hermit]

Caracas will probably be done by Abschalten and Doc (but ask them if they'd midn a< third writer collaborating anyway). Maracaibo is yours.

Really, we could use this sub-forum now ...

[Kot]

Hermit, i was thinking of something like that:
One of the ShadowSea veterans asks a friend/contact in Poland to post some info. And he asks someone in the Spichlerz Data Haven to help. That's how the material comes together (i'm halfway through Pomeria already, with tie-ins into Shadows of Europe and System Shutdown), and the 'shadowtalkers' i want to have in it will be Spichlerz regulars. I know that's even more shadowtalkers, but maybe we could add something like Frank did on TGD forums - a short roster of shadowtalkers. We're making an e-fan-book, so there is enough space.

[Minchandre]

So, if you guys are still looking for helpers, I'm very excited to contribute. I'd be happy to try and detail a feasible '64 War (during which time Israel apparently annexes Lebanon, which is going to be kinda annoying). I'm thinking...Aden vs Lofwyr being partially involved, as well as try my hand at a good "This is how militaries of various modern-nesses work", and tackling part of the AZT/AMZ conflict.

[Arclight]

I'll attack the UCAS/SK side of things. Who needs magic when he can get a SP howitzer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[binarywraith]

I'll attack the UCAS/SK side of things. Who needs magic when he can get a SP howitzer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Depends, do your opponents know the Slow spell? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Depends, do your opponents know the Slow spell? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

Touché!

[Grinder]

So, Grinder will take 2.1 and 2.2, even being a whole new country, somethings do take time to change (culture, etc.) if you need any help on how the metahuman mentality of Brazil would be under the rule of a Great Dragon I would gladly help.

Feel free to PM me on that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Grinder]

I'll attack the UCAS/SK side of things. Who needs magic when he can get a SP howitzer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

That's 2.3 and 2.4, correct? Would you like to write the introduction of the chapter as well? Setting the tone, who's the author and who's the target audience of the file etc.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

So, how exactly is the structure of an Argus Report?
I just write something similar to wikipedia entries, following a scientific approach?

[lokii]

So, how exactly is the structure of an Argus Report?
I just write something similar to wikipedia entries, following a scientific approach?

It seems to me that the style should be descriptive and neutral. I wouldn't necessarily call Wikipedia scientific, but in that vein. Content-wise I'm not sure, an intelligence report obviously has very different target audience from an encyclopedia. Much of the stuff Wikipedia writes about would be omitted and assumed to be known or better covered by other sources especially in a world with a global information network. They might add some reference documents to a report, though. Further an assessment whether an information is solid or just a rumor, some comments on what Argus knows or not, in short some uncertainties regarding the information could be interspersed in the document. One of the questions that should be answered before you start writing is whom the report addresses, if it isn't an internal report. Argus might want to hold some stuff back depending on the client. A shadowtalker could point that out in one instance or in an introduction. For a bit of flavour you could have a look at declassified (or leaked) documents for example from this collection:

http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/declassified.htm

Blocked out text would be a nice touch by the way.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Got it. Thanks!

[Grinder]

The Argus-report should point out the primary, secondary and tertiary motivations of each nation when it comes to a war (may not be the best choice of word, but I hope you know what I mean).

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

I remember someone posted a link with a list of shadowtalkers but I can't find it. Someone could point me out?
Also, I finished a first draft on Maracaibo with 1230 words. PM me with your e-mails so I can add you to google docs.

[Grinder]

Everyone, please post some Shadowtalkers and a short description you'd like to include.

Do we have to come up with new ones or might we use old-timers too? Thinking of Argent mainly. And Hecate for the mystic stuff.

[hermit]

Sorry, christmas business, am absent because of that. Nice to see the project get going, though.

Do we have to come up with new ones or might we use old-timers too? Thinking of Argent mainly. And Hecate for the mystic stuff.

Old Timers as well as new ones, a mix kind of like in Jackpoint, but with different people.

I was considering Arctic White, a veteran (and aging) mercenary with a has seen it all vibe to him. Maybe also a few of the trollier/loonier ones - Panik!, Bung - and also some development should have happened with them.

Hecate is Alachia, a power crazed maniac, bear that in mind (it has been ruled she is, so duh. Personally, I'm still more sure it's been supposed to be Aina). She might also troll as Miss Tick, her sock and trolling account.

Grinder, what's the word on the subforum? I'd really like a larger section to organise. If Dumpshock won't donate so much space to a fan project, that's okay, I'll set up a new forum (a stickied link would be nice then though).

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

I did some shadow talkers of my own (basically, picked up some of the more interesting characters our campaign had and gave put them on paper).
Also, I put the Admin of the community called Grinder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) . Hope you don't mind.

[Grinder]

Grinder, what's the word on the subforum? I'd really like a larger section to organise. If Dumpshock won't donate so much space to a fan project, that's okay, I'll set up a new forum (a stickied link would be nice then though).

Waiting for the feedback/ opinions of some of the mods. Giving that it's christmas and not all of them have to work over the holidays (as I have), it may take a day or two until all of them got back on this one.

[Grinder]

Hecate is Alachia, a power crazed maniac, bear that in mind (it has been ruled she is, so duh. Personally, I'm still more sure it's been supposed to be Aina). She might also troll as Miss Tick, her sock and trolling account.

Damnit, thought that would have been Hestaby. What's her nickname then?

Also, I put the Admin of the community called Grinder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) . Hope you don't mind.

Totally love that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[hermit]

Damnit, thought that would have been Hestaby. What's her nickname then?

Orange Queen. She owns a plantation, too. In Orange country. And is, well, orange. It's almost as subtle as Masaru's SL handle. Hesty isn't the most subtle dragon.

Putting in some 'talkers myself. We might want to open two more tables, where we detail physical basics (metatype, sex, oddities) and whether this character is an old shadowttalker or a new one.

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

Totally love that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

Glad you liked it. Send me a PM with you e-mail and you can fill the rest of his entry.
hermit, fine by me with another table. I saw you were editing the file right now.
Also, I think we better decide a limit on the number of talkers we will have, like Frank said, 30 being the top.

[hermit]

Okay, I'll cut down on mine.

Bold are official characters (Chalen is VERY, VERY obscure)

[lokii]

Hecate is Alachia, a power crazed maniac, bear that in mind (it has been ruled she is, so duh. Personally, I'm still more sure it's been supposed to be Aina). She might also troll as Miss Tick, her sock and trolling account.

Wait, Hecate aka Miss Tick is Sheila Blatavska, the head of the Atlantean Foundation, that has been established in Threats and Loose Alliances. The theory that she is Alachia has been bandied around, but as far as I can tell has never been confirmed. To me the key quote regarding this question is in Aztlan where she seems to defend the intent and use of the Loci, the Loci always struck me as being the work of the Therans, which is why I always assumed Blatavska to be one of the Heavenherds of Thera and not Alachia.

This of course shows one of the pitfalls of using these reallyoldtimers. At the very least I would not have Hecate/Miss Tick reflecting on the good old times when the whole of elvenkind looked up to her as the shining symbol and true heart of their species. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)