 United Nations anyone? |
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 Nov 21 2004, 06:19 PM
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#1
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Target  Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 3-November 04 From: in the trenches Member No.: 6,805  |
Ever since SR took a leap up the ladder and left the confines of Seattle (and the gruesome inside illustrations of 80s type rockers brandishing guitars and far too small guns, remember those?) it's been a question somewhere at the back of my head. Probably somewhere near the skillsoft slots...
Whatever happened to the United Nations? It could be that they or the organization's demise were mentioned in passing somewhere or other. But obviously, SR does not include Michael Moore's recent suggestion (Stupid White Men) that the UN should invade the US to save the people from the politicians. So whatever happened to them? Going back to 1st ed. SR material there is a lot to suggest they self-destructed sometime between 2011 and 2029. There's this sort-of pronounced anti-internationalist tone here and there... Now, times have changed (just look at SR Companion and its entry on sex and gender!). I don't want to suggest your local runner group try to blow that particular Tower in New York to smithereens or hunt down unarmed Indian UN observers during some Desert wars trial just for fun and relaxation. This is more of a serious background question. Could one include a functioning UN in SR? It might be better than today or it might be as bad as today. But surely a UN mission of peacemaking/peacekeeping appears a very interesting backdrop for the odd (no: very odd) overseas run. Your thoughts? |
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Nov 21 2004, 07:42 PM
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#2
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Harlequin Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 331 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 861 |
The UN is alive and kicking. At least according to SoE. Although iirc it has changed a bit in shape and is sponsored by the corps.
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Nov 21 2004, 08:20 PM
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#3
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Target Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 3-November 04 From: in the trenches Member No.: 6,805 |
Sponsored by the corps???!!!
Blimey! Can't have that. Bad for the morale of the troops. Rather have them being sponsored by the Dragons... Ah, well, another page to be torn out of that sourcebook... Two more queries and I will have nothing left but the cover of SoE... :D |
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Nov 21 2004, 08:31 PM
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#4
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Beetle Eater Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,797 Joined: 3-June 02 From: Oblivion City Member No.: 2,826 |
They just keep it around to ease the pressure, like Tir and the Star Chamber. It's a convenient place to point at and say, "Leave your compliants with them."
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Nov 21 2004, 08:34 PM
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#5
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,129 Joined: 11-June 03 From: Tir Tairngire Member No.: 4,712 |
Mmm, Star Chamber. Cool movie. Great shadowrun idea too. 8)
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Nov 21 2004, 09:04 PM
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#6
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,133 Joined: 3-October 04 Member No.: 6,722 |
Now wouldn't it be cool for there to be a covert movement within the UN dedicated to reigning in the excesses of the corps and actually providing a stable world government? Of course, they'd need plenty of black ops done... mucho shadowrunner fodder... or heck, even an alternative SR campaign type, similar to the government spook idea but truly international ;)
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Nov 21 2004, 09:09 PM
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#7
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Beetle Eater Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,797 Joined: 3-June 02 From: Oblivion City Member No.: 2,826 |
First you have to convience all the nations to actually give the UN some money... Then you have to axe all the corporate lackies... That just might be fun.
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Nov 21 2004, 09:09 PM
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#8
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
Ahem... Methinks someone needs to be muzzled.
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Nov 21 2004, 09:14 PM
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#9
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Immortal Elf Group: Validating Posts: 7,999 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,890 |
???
What? |
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Nov 21 2004, 09:26 PM
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#10
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Beetle Eater Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 4,797 Joined: 3-June 02 From: Oblivion City Member No.: 2,826 |
I'm guessing either it's a freelancer warning to a n00b33 freelancer, or it's an IC comment. My vote is for the latter.
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Nov 21 2004, 10:49 PM
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#11
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King of the Hobos Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 2,117 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 127 |
These suggests that the UN is still alive and operating in at least some, fairly reduced, fashion.
Well the UN would make a good candidate for being covered in the forthcoming 'Loose Alliances' release so that's a possibility. |
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Nov 21 2004, 11:30 PM
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#12
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Canon Companion Group: Members Posts: 8,021 Joined: 2-March 03 From: The Morgue, Singapore LTG Member No.: 4,187 |
Commission on Megacorporate Affairs. |
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Nov 21 2004, 11:38 PM
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#13
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,133 Joined: 3-October 04 Member No.: 6,722 |
Erm... Did I maybe hit on something there, Syn? Or was it the Star Chamber comment from Kanada Ten? |
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Nov 21 2004, 11:45 PM
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#14
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
My guess on Synner's comment is that it was directed at L.D. :D
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Nov 22 2004, 06:50 AM
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#15
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Harlequin Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 331 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 861 |
Huh?
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Nov 22 2004, 07:04 AM
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#16
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Immoral Elf Group: Members Posts: 15,247 Joined: 29-March 02 From: Grimy Pete's Bar & Laundromat Member No.: 2,486 |
Or not! :D
I thought it might have been your comment on the Corps controlling the UN that lit a spark under Synner. :) |
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Nov 22 2004, 08:16 AM
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#17
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Harlequin Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 331 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 861 |
Ah... but either it's in SoE or I'm psychic and can go to england and claim a million bucks! :D
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Nov 22 2004, 08:41 AM
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#18
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
Answers in Loose Alliances. Though for the record L.D is correct, SoE introduces several aspects of the 2060's UN and suggests it's still around because the corps like it as a PR front and scapegoat. Nations have long since lost the idealism, political interest and money to keep it going by themselves. On the other hand sustainable development is actually a good way of developing future markets and (select) peacekeeping ensures there's enough stability for the markets to work.
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Nov 22 2004, 01:30 PM
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#19
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Target Group: Members Posts: 88 Joined: 13-January 04 Member No.: 5,975 |
Well, keeping recent as well as past events in light, the UN does not have a track record of being the most effective,competent, and honest organization in the world. I personally think the idea of a world body working out problems talking instead of blowing each other up is perfect, but its hard to believe that will happen at an organization that puts countries like libya in charge of Human Rights, although the rumors of the no confidence vote did encourage....Back to SR I would hope that the current incarnation of the UN would have more influence with alot of new emerging countries looking for a say. With basically all of NA broken up, and no defined military superpower, the UN may have more pull than even now, especially with economic sanctions and the effect on a world that turn on money even more than the present day. |
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Nov 22 2004, 09:49 PM
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#20
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Target Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 3-November 04 From: in the trenches Member No.: 6,805 |
That's about where I'm heading at, Ispahn.
Thanks, everybody so far (and gosh, I really need to look more often into all those sourcebooks!) Now I only have to convince my group that wearing skyblue helmets on a nocturnal run is absolutely whiz... :D |
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Nov 22 2004, 10:02 PM
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#21
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,032 Joined: 6-August 04 Member No.: 6,543 |
And when is that comming out? |
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Nov 22 2004, 10:30 PM
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#22
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,314 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Lisbon, Cidade do Pecado Member No.: 185 |
Still to be determined. I'm hoping it'll be in my Christmas stocking though. Last I heard the book was in editing. It was one of two books slated for release at the tail end of 2004 according to the news from the What's Up With Shadowrun seminar at GenCon — though I think, with the glut of recent releases, either it or Running Wild might end up getting a 2005 date (note - that is not official just my unconfirmed opinion on the matter).
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Nov 22 2004, 11:59 PM
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#23
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,070 Joined: 7-February 04 From: NYC Member No.: 6,058 |
I could see corporations and 6th world governments allowing an unelected bunch of thieving whores like the UN greater say over the lives of their citizens - it'd allow for greater control, and introduce a convenient layer of separation between those governments and whatever dirty work needed to be done.
However, the days of "guilt the 1st world nations into giving aid, waste some of it on poorly thought out programs and steal the rest" would quickly come to an end with corporations footing the bill. |
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Nov 24 2004, 04:40 PM
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#24
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,133 Joined: 3-October 04 Member No.: 6,722 |
So I'm thinking you have some issues with the UN then? :eek:
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Nov 24 2004, 04:45 PM
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#25
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Target Group: Members Posts: 36 Joined: 3-November 04 From: in the trenches Member No.: 6,805 |
Methinks, the mmu1 doth protest too much...
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