QUOTE (sabs @ Dec 23 2010, 05:07 PM) 
I'm with Doc.. Argus, CAS Marine, Dawkins Group Intelligence (or Ares), Lagos Arms Bazaar
Good choices, imo. Like the outline too.
Full Version: alt.WAR
Good choices, imo. Like the outline too.
Argus is a German intelligence for hire firm, a subdivision of the MET2000. It'S a secret service that hires it's services out. One of the best, if not THE best in it'S business. Their tone should be as you expect from German military - very factual, a bit repetitive and absolutly plastered with ridiculously unspeakable Acronyms.
The Dawkins Group is Horizon's elite black ops people. they work mainly through cons, diplomacy, subversion, infiltration and agitation, and other 'soft' approaches, but are said to be very effective. They're also where all the data Horizon accumulates goes to.
On secon thought, they also have some nefarious purpose that Jason now is going to make up, so it might be they're run by underwear gnomes or something. We might better switch that to the Shiawase MFID or another socially oriented corp ... hey, what about SpIn marketing? They analyse potential markets for their new SpIn cyberware suites?
Also, just read that the German add-on will already feature Argus and the MET. So maybe we should stwitch the MET for another outfit?
Depends on how much we want this to be an add-on to canon. also, MET2K received a lot of coverage already, and the sample units have a bit of an Euro bias ... what about exchanging Einsatzgruppe 3 for a unit of the JIS Marines?.
Anyway. Updated Outline so far:
The Dawkins Group is Horizon's elite black ops people. they work mainly through cons, diplomacy, subversion, infiltration and agitation, and other 'soft' approaches, but are said to be very effective. They're also where all the data Horizon accumulates goes to.
On secon thought, they also have some nefarious purpose that Jason now is going to make up, so it might be they're run by underwear gnomes or something. We might better switch that to the Shiawase MFID or another socially oriented corp ... hey, what about SpIn marketing? They analyse potential markets for their new SpIn cyberware suites?
Also, just read that the German add-on will already feature Argus and the MET. So maybe we should stwitch the MET for another outfit?
Depends on how much we want this to be an add-on to canon. also, MET2K received a lot of coverage already, and the sample units have a bit of an Euro bias ... what about exchanging Einsatzgruppe 3 for a unit of the JIS Marines?.
Anyway. Updated Outline so far:
[ Spoiler ]
Damnit, just realized the facts about the Dawkins Group... would prefer to leave them out of the book and to replace them with Ares intelligence service.
We could just make their section an Argus datadump as well, if it comes down to it.
On the flipside, while we can make as much of this objective as we can, well, snagging a classified doc from the Dawkins Group to post on Shadowland might be a pretty big coup for whoever pulled it off.
Or what's left of him.
On the flipside, while we can make as much of this objective as we can, well, snagging a classified doc from the Dawkins Group to post on Shadowland might be a pretty big coup for whoever pulled it off.
Or what's left of him.
I would like to avoid Horizon. Even though they're one of my favorite bad guy corps. Just because Horizon is CGL's golden boy.
Shiawase, Ares, and S&K would all have an interest.
Actually the Dawkins group is fine.. because we're 'stealing' it as a datadump.
Shiawase, Ares, and S&K would all have an interest.
Actually the Dawkins group is fine.. because we're 'stealing' it as a datadump.
I agree, see the new outline. Shiawase has this kickass MFID, right?
They'd just MEDIABLITZ him out of existence with the power of Sue. ^_~
Nah, but it would indeed touch CGL's Golden Boy. As much as it would make sense for them to have such a document (and as much as I'd LIKE to see them bleed), best not touch this.
QUOTE
On the flipside, while we can make as much of this objective as we can, well, snagging a classified doc from the Dawkins Group to post on Shadowland might be a pretty big coup for whoever pulled it off.
They'd just MEDIABLITZ him out of existence with the power of Sue. ^_~
Nah, but it would indeed touch CGL's Golden Boy. As much as it would make sense for them to have such a document (and as much as I'd LIKE to see them bleed), best not touch this.
All right. Leaving out Dawkins/Horizon...I would say Ares or NEONet.
IIRC, and I hate being AFB for these, CATCo pre-2064 had one of the best intelligence services in the world. Didn't Knight and Ares pick up the majority of CATCo's intelligence assets?
IIRC, and I hate being AFB for these, CATCo pre-2064 had one of the best intelligence services in the world. Didn't Knight and Ares pick up the majority of CATCo's intelligence assets?
QUOTE
IIRC, and I hate being AFB for these, CATCo pre-2064 had one of the best intelligence services in the world. Didn't Knight and Ares pick up the majority of CATCo's intelligence assets?
Yep, they had the Seraphim, an angel-oriented weird-ass secret service where everyone had angel names and some kind of huge secret. It was probably intended to be a plot point once, but it never was solved and then they just poofed and vanished. I agree, Ares might have absorbed many of them (or, given it's Ares, assimilated).
NEOnet ... hrm! Always loved Transys. They had this Englisch Weird charm.
And for a second question: Shadowtalker Roster. We need:
- Regular Guys who always comment in alt.Shadowrun. Some old, some new. I'd recommend Arctic White as Merc expert, and other old shadowtalkers, for flavor. Also, new guys.
- Issue-specific guys. Locals, local interest people, whose posting may be limited to one issue or one issue and sporadic reappearances. Also, edited the outline again for 9: Shadowland Open Forum. An open forum where we can have our talkers go nuts.
NEONet hasn't had a lot of spotlight, but Ares probably has more of a stake in the game. I think we could get away with using Seraphim assets to finish out that section of the document. Worst comes to worst and we don't like it, we can swap to another corporate intelligence service for future issues.
No need to hide it. 
Alt.War Issue 1
0) Shadowland login screen. This is one of the touches that will make this document feel like an SR4 publication.
1) Introduction The Real Story Of The War (written up as a a classic in-game Shadowland writeup, maybe with some references to War!, but nothing contradicting it)
- An introduction to the war as we see it, and a short out-of-world writeup what this adds to War!, why it makes sense to own both War! And this and what our mission writing this is.
[meat 2 to 4: an overview of the entire Am/Az conflict as an Argus document that got leaked onto the shadow boards. They got hired to give a comprehensive overview of the war (probably by UCAS or CAS) - that'll let us give an objective view on everything without having to rely on making 'runners to tell the stories]
2) God’s Eye Perspective: An overview of the conflict
2.1 Aztlan: The only thing better than power is more power
2.2 Amazonia: Over our cold, dead bodies
2.3 UCAS/Ares: The enemy of my enemy still is my enemy (but seeing them kill each other is priceless)
2.4 Saeder-Krupp: War is business. More war is more business.
- Horizon: Food for the World, and pleased love us!
- Colombian freedom fighters: Viva Colombia!
3) The Front Lines! (What happened in the war, and who did what where. All the stuff we miss. This is where a timeline goes!)
3.1) Timeline of the war
3.2) Maracaibo (urban warfare in all it’s gory glory)
3.3) Caracas (If this isn’t the biggest mess in South America, it’ll do till the real biggest mess arrives)
3.4) Bogota (venture point, occupied city, dense atmosphere, but no massive battles)
4) Military Organizations involved
4.1) AZT - War on 5,000 Nuyen a soldier or less
4.2) AMZ - Magical guerillas
4.3) UCAS/CAS - High Tech, Low Numbers
4.4) Ares/S&K - Who do you think /makes/ the High tech toys
4.5) Mercs - A range of Merc units. From those barely better than a shadowrun team, to highly trained, highly equiped special forces mercs.
5) Modern Warfare 2073 (meat: a document compiled by the CAS armed forces for CAS Marine officer trainees at [whereever their Marines academy is].)
5.1) Different Strategies for different people (an introductionary essay on different types of armies in the 6th world and what that means)
5.1.1 The 6 Million Nuyen Soldier (High Tech, Low Numbers: Examples UCAS, CAS, Ares, SK, MCT; essay by one of these or maybe an analyst of another corp)
5.1.2 Do you want to live forever? (Quantity over quality. Examples: AZT, Russia; an essay by a former Russian or Aztlaner soldier)
5.1.3 The new ways of War (magic-heavy armies. examples: AMZ, TT, Yakut. An essay on fighting those from the perspective of a CalFree soldier?)
5.1.4 Down and dirty (Asymmetrical Warfare. Examples: African Armies, Terrorists and Insurgents. An essay by a veteran of the Polish freedom fighters)
5.1.5: Oh My God Is That A Dragon? An essay on what combat does look like when your air force faces Wyverns and Dragons. Probably an in-game
5.2 The Matrix on the Battlefield
5.2.1: The combat hacker. What does Hacking for the military look like and how does it differ from hacking for corps?
5.2.2 Digital Frontlines: What is fought in the Matrix in War and why. Securing commsats, encryption/decryption, infiltration/guarding of tacnets, recon, disinformation. How do Hackers work in the Combat Zone The HQ Hacker, the OpCom haker, the descendants of the comms guy, Rigger platoons and Cyberwar Brigades
5.2.3 The Resonant Side Of War: Combat Technomancers, AI and Sprites versus Tactical Hackers and Agents. Also an essay on The Military fighting AI and Sprites, possibly written up as a report from UN forces fighting to take back Geneva.
5.3 Magic on the battlefield (an Intro by a hardened Merc about Magic on the Battlefield and how it changed everything, a brief outline of magic in wars from the Ghost dance War to the Euro Wars to the Az/Yuc-War.)
5.3.1 to 5.3.3 Three essays on magic on the battlefield, each in-character: one by a member of the Tir Tairngire armed forces (magical combined troops), one by a Yakut shapeshifter (magical guerilla) and one by an UCAS combat mage (Magic in a technicised army). Each with it’s own flavor and varied use of magic)
6) Faces of War: Sample Units (meat: a collection of documents accumulated by the Ares' Inteligence Services, formerly part of the Seraphin network, who want to study how these militaries work to know more about their competitors, and as a for-sale guide for 'military counselors'.)
Aztlan Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas (Aztlan’s parachutist regiment)
La Legion Étrangère, 1er Régiment étranger de cavalerie, 1er REC (mobile light armored cavalry)
The King’s Own Royal Gurkha Rifles (formerly Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Gurkha regiment)
Henan People’s Liberation Army 19th Infantry Division (organised much like a Chinese PLA regiment from the Korean war)
MET 2000 Einsatzgruppe 3 (A heavily cybered combined arms troop)
The units should feature fully statted example NPCs as well as unit organization and rank charts.
7) Gear and coolshit (meat: an exposé by the Lagos Arms Fair, written for prospective customers; downloaded is the English version, but there could be others in all kinds of languages mentioned somehow)
- Revisions of the gear in War!.
Game Info Errata’d rules from War! That are not totally batshit.
9) Shadowland Open Forum. An open forum where we can have our talkers go nuts. good, old-fashioned shadowtalk, rumors, discussions drifung. We can dump anything that does not fit anywhere else here.
Alt.War Issue 1
0) Shadowland login screen. This is one of the touches that will make this document feel like an SR4 publication.
1) Introduction The Real Story Of The War (written up as a a classic in-game Shadowland writeup, maybe with some references to War!, but nothing contradicting it)
- An introduction to the war as we see it, and a short out-of-world writeup what this adds to War!, why it makes sense to own both War! And this and what our mission writing this is.
[meat 2 to 4: an overview of the entire Am/Az conflict as an Argus document that got leaked onto the shadow boards. They got hired to give a comprehensive overview of the war (probably by UCAS or CAS) - that'll let us give an objective view on everything without having to rely on making 'runners to tell the stories]
2) God’s Eye Perspective: An overview of the conflict
2.1 Aztlan: The only thing better than power is more power
2.2 Amazonia: Over our cold, dead bodies
2.3 UCAS/Ares: The enemy of my enemy still is my enemy (but seeing them kill each other is priceless)
2.4 Saeder-Krupp: War is business. More war is more business.
- Horizon: Food for the World, and pleased love us!
- Colombian freedom fighters: Viva Colombia!
3) The Front Lines! (What happened in the war, and who did what where. All the stuff we miss. This is where a timeline goes!)
3.1) Timeline of the war
3.2) Maracaibo (urban warfare in all it’s gory glory)
3.3) Caracas (If this isn’t the biggest mess in South America, it’ll do till the real biggest mess arrives)
3.4) Bogota (venture point, occupied city, dense atmosphere, but no massive battles)
4) Military Organizations involved
4.1) AZT - War on 5,000 Nuyen a soldier or less
4.2) AMZ - Magical guerillas
4.3) UCAS/CAS - High Tech, Low Numbers
4.4) Ares/S&K - Who do you think /makes/ the High tech toys
4.5) Mercs - A range of Merc units. From those barely better than a shadowrun team, to highly trained, highly equiped special forces mercs.
5) Modern Warfare 2073 (meat: a document compiled by the CAS armed forces for CAS Marine officer trainees at [whereever their Marines academy is].)
5.1) Different Strategies for different people (an introductionary essay on different types of armies in the 6th world and what that means)
5.1.1 The 6 Million Nuyen Soldier (High Tech, Low Numbers: Examples UCAS, CAS, Ares, SK, MCT; essay by one of these or maybe an analyst of another corp)
5.1.2 Do you want to live forever? (Quantity over quality. Examples: AZT, Russia; an essay by a former Russian or Aztlaner soldier)
5.1.3 The new ways of War (magic-heavy armies. examples: AMZ, TT, Yakut. An essay on fighting those from the perspective of a CalFree soldier?)
5.1.4 Down and dirty (Asymmetrical Warfare. Examples: African Armies, Terrorists and Insurgents. An essay by a veteran of the Polish freedom fighters)
5.1.5: Oh My God Is That A Dragon? An essay on what combat does look like when your air force faces Wyverns and Dragons. Probably an in-game
5.2 The Matrix on the Battlefield
5.2.1: The combat hacker. What does Hacking for the military look like and how does it differ from hacking for corps?
5.2.2 Digital Frontlines: What is fought in the Matrix in War and why. Securing commsats, encryption/decryption, infiltration/guarding of tacnets, recon, disinformation. How do Hackers work in the Combat Zone The HQ Hacker, the OpCom haker, the descendants of the comms guy, Rigger platoons and Cyberwar Brigades
5.2.3 The Resonant Side Of War: Combat Technomancers, AI and Sprites versus Tactical Hackers and Agents. Also an essay on The Military fighting AI and Sprites, possibly written up as a report from UN forces fighting to take back Geneva.
5.3 Magic on the battlefield (an Intro by a hardened Merc about Magic on the Battlefield and how it changed everything, a brief outline of magic in wars from the Ghost dance War to the Euro Wars to the Az/Yuc-War.)
5.3.1 to 5.3.3 Three essays on magic on the battlefield, each in-character: one by a member of the Tir Tairngire armed forces (magical combined troops), one by a Yakut shapeshifter (magical guerilla) and one by an UCAS combat mage (Magic in a technicised army). Each with it’s own flavor and varied use of magic)
6) Faces of War: Sample Units (meat: a collection of documents accumulated by the Ares' Inteligence Services, formerly part of the Seraphin network, who want to study how these militaries work to know more about their competitors, and as a for-sale guide for 'military counselors'.)
Aztlan Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas (Aztlan’s parachutist regiment)
La Legion Étrangère, 1er Régiment étranger de cavalerie, 1er REC (mobile light armored cavalry)
The King’s Own Royal Gurkha Rifles (formerly Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Gurkha regiment)
Henan People’s Liberation Army 19th Infantry Division (organised much like a Chinese PLA regiment from the Korean war)
MET 2000 Einsatzgruppe 3 (A heavily cybered combined arms troop)
The units should feature fully statted example NPCs as well as unit organization and rank charts.
7) Gear and coolshit (meat: an exposé by the Lagos Arms Fair, written for prospective customers; downloaded is the English version, but there could be others in all kinds of languages mentioned somehow)
- Revisions of the gear in War!.
Game Info Errata’d rules from War! That are not totally batshit.9) Shadowland Open Forum. An open forum where we can have our talkers go nuts. good, old-fashioned shadowtalk, rumors, discussions drifung. We can dump anything that does not fit anywhere else here.
Just wanted to avoid the dreaded Wall Of Text effect.
If I forgot something that was discussed and someone wants in alt.War, just drop it here and we'll see what we'll do.
If I forgot something that was discussed and someone wants in alt.War, just drop it here and we'll see what we'll do.
Okay, I should stop with the ideas because I will not be able to really contribute substance, but they keep coming. 
There is a lot of information about the military of Colombia and Venezuela, for example from globalsecurity.org
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/wor...mbia/index.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/wor...uela/index.html
But also from Wikipedia and the respective web presences of the different military organisations. Especially for Colombia the major commands and positions of the military bases and so on can be found. Since Aztlan probably used the infrastructure that was in place, this can be a layout for their own military presence in the region and could become useful if you want to produce maps of the war zone with supply lines and deployment routes, that is if you want to go to such detail. By the way if anyone can point me to a list of geographical coordinates of those bases I can easily add location markers for them to my map.
This also gave me the idea of a former Colombian military unit that was incorporated into Aztlan military after the takeover (20 years back) and that organised within the new framework to stack their ranks with Colombian nationalists. This unit basically fights its own private war (taking revenge, finding out what happend to places/persons, retrieving Colombian data caches etc.) once they enter the war zone. Undecided on whether they are actually going rogue or just try to accomplish there own goals while still following the overall marching order. They could be based on an existing unit, taking the original insignia that are available from Wikipedia in nice SVG versions. The whole thing probably shouldn't be more extensive than a side bar I think. At the very least it could be an adventure hook. So if there are any takers for the idea, be my guest.
Okay, the last thing on Azt/Am. What I personally find most appealing about Amazonia is this idea of former inland cities overwhelmed by jungle. Places that evoke the ruins left by the indigenous peoples of South America but are strangely familiar, rotten modernity. Some non-human Amazonian inhabitants may even live in them, but they use the old infrastructure in completely different ways that almost mock their original purpose. And you have this creeping nature that seems to have no respect for what man built. For me that's maybe the place I would most want to explore in such a setting. So I don't know if you planned on using fiction snippets, but that would be a good scene setter.
And finally on Southeast Asia, I'm refining my world map right now for a final release. What I want to do is a comparison - today's borders / new borders (Catalyst with Pegasus corrections) / new borders (my alternative version, basically state of SoA for Asia). I think it's actually easy to make a Southeast Asia extract comparing these three layers of borders. So I can make this to help the person reworking the setting to decide on which version of the geography to use. You just have to tell me which countries should go on the map. I would exclude the islands and concentrate on the continent because I think there are almost no alterations to the islands between SoA and Almanac.
There is a lot of information about the military of Colombia and Venezuela, for example from globalsecurity.org
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/wor...mbia/index.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/wor...uela/index.html
But also from Wikipedia and the respective web presences of the different military organisations. Especially for Colombia the major commands and positions of the military bases and so on can be found. Since Aztlan probably used the infrastructure that was in place, this can be a layout for their own military presence in the region and could become useful if you want to produce maps of the war zone with supply lines and deployment routes, that is if you want to go to such detail. By the way if anyone can point me to a list of geographical coordinates of those bases I can easily add location markers for them to my map.
This also gave me the idea of a former Colombian military unit that was incorporated into Aztlan military after the takeover (20 years back) and that organised within the new framework to stack their ranks with Colombian nationalists. This unit basically fights its own private war (taking revenge, finding out what happend to places/persons, retrieving Colombian data caches etc.) once they enter the war zone. Undecided on whether they are actually going rogue or just try to accomplish there own goals while still following the overall marching order. They could be based on an existing unit, taking the original insignia that are available from Wikipedia in nice SVG versions. The whole thing probably shouldn't be more extensive than a side bar I think. At the very least it could be an adventure hook. So if there are any takers for the idea, be my guest.
Okay, the last thing on Azt/Am. What I personally find most appealing about Amazonia is this idea of former inland cities overwhelmed by jungle. Places that evoke the ruins left by the indigenous peoples of South America but are strangely familiar, rotten modernity. Some non-human Amazonian inhabitants may even live in them, but they use the old infrastructure in completely different ways that almost mock their original purpose. And you have this creeping nature that seems to have no respect for what man built. For me that's maybe the place I would most want to explore in such a setting. So I don't know if you planned on using fiction snippets, but that would be a good scene setter.
And finally on Southeast Asia, I'm refining my world map right now for a final release. What I want to do is a comparison - today's borders / new borders (Catalyst with Pegasus corrections) / new borders (my alternative version, basically state of SoA for Asia). I think it's actually easy to make a Southeast Asia extract comparing these three layers of borders. So I can make this to help the person reworking the setting to decide on which version of the geography to use. You just have to tell me which countries should go on the map. I would exclude the islands and concentrate on the continent because I think there are almost no alterations to the islands between SoA and Almanac.
Give me a second to put on my Mod-hat: Ok, we had a discussion among the mods regarding the level of support DS is able and willing to give to this projct. To keep it short: as long as alt.War does supplement War! and is not trying to contradict or even replace its material, everything is cool. So far the first issue seems to be supplementing and expanding the official material about the Aztlan-Amazonian war and it's planned to fix the rules and the new gear, what all is totally fine.
To be fair, there's not much material there to contradict.
Other than the whole Bogota mess
Or are you saying, we should avoid even mentioning Bogota?
Other than the whole Bogota mess
Or are you saying, we should avoid even mentioning Bogota?
While the first impule was to burn War! in a high temperature furnace so that no trace of it would be left, it's in our own best interests, and our project's, that we supplement, explain, expand and present the war in War! in a more accessible and usable way. Basically, if someone buys War!, and finds out what's up with it, we're there to take care of their needs. That's a broader potential reader base than "people who want to deviaate from canon", because as has been mentioned in the discussion thread, official stuff is considered almost sacrosanct by many fans.
Thanks for the hosting then.
Thanks for the hosting then.
QUOTE (sabs @ Dec 23 2010, 07:23 PM)
To be fair, there's not much material there to contradict.
Other than the whole Bogota mess
Or are you saying, we should avoid even mentioning Bogota?
Other than the whole Bogota mess
Or are you saying, we should avoid even mentioning Bogota?
No, not at all. It has just to me make sure that stuff comes into the book that contradicts War!, i.e. Bogota being destroyed by a flying tentacle monster/ thor shot/ Godzilla/ blood magic ritual. Giving reasons for the war, detailing it's timeline and units involved (including their tactics and advances or retreats over the course of the war) is totally cool. Same for fleshing out Caracas.
I think the only real changes we were thinking about was cleaning up the Bogota setting. And giving a more realistic reason for the War actually happening.
Which reminds me, I probably need to pick up Ghost Cartel..
We're going with a slightly earlier start of war date? Or are we really going to let Caracas be in the middle of a giant shadow-war for over 12 months?
Which reminds me, I probably need to pick up Ghost Cartel..
We're going with a slightly earlier start of war date? Or are we really going to let Caracas be in the middle of a giant shadow-war for over 12 months?
QUOTE
This also gave me the idea of a former Colombian military unit that was incorporated into Aztlan military after the takeover (20 years back) and that organised within the new framework to stack their ranks with Colombian nationalists. This unit basically fights its own private war (taking revenge, finding out what happend to places/persons, retrieving Colombian data caches etc.) once they enter the war zone. Undecided on whether they are actually going rogue or just try to accomplish there own goals while still following the overall marching order. They could be based on an existing unit, taking the original insignia that are available from Wikipedia in nice SVG versions. The whole thing probably shouldn't be more extensive than a side bar I think. At the very least it could be an adventure hook. So if there are any takers for the idea, be my guest.
Okay, the last thing on Azt/Am. What I personally find most appealing about Amazonia is this idea of former inland cities overwhelmed by jungle. Places that evoke the ruins left by the indigenous peoples of South America but are strangely familiar, rotten modernity. Some non-human Amazonian inhabitants may even live in them, but they use the old infrastructure in completely different ways that almost mock their original purpose. And you have this creeping nature that seems to have no respect for what man built. For me that's maybe the place I would most want to explore in such a setting. So I don't know if you planned on using fiction snippets, but that would be a good scene setter.
Okay, the last thing on Azt/Am. What I personally find most appealing about Amazonia is this idea of former inland cities overwhelmed by jungle. Places that evoke the ruins left by the indigenous peoples of South America but are strangely familiar, rotten modernity. Some non-human Amazonian inhabitants may even live in them, but they use the old infrastructure in completely different ways that almost mock their original purpose. And you have this creeping nature that seems to have no respect for what man built. For me that's maybe the place I would most want to explore in such a setting. So I don't know if you planned on using fiction snippets, but that would be a good scene setter.
Do you want to do the Aztlaner unit? It doesn't need ot be the parachutists, if you have a colombian jungle fighters unit, that's even better!
QUOTE
We're going with a slightly earlier start of war date? Or are we really going to let Caracas be in the middle of a giant shadow-war for over 12 months?
Under the current minimal contradiciton policy, yes; that or Abs moves things up a bit so it's only a some 5 months shadow war.
QUOTE (hermit @ Dec 23 2010, 06:00 PM)
Who wants to write what? And at which estimated wordcount?
hermit, you should give out deadlines for both stating interest and the submission of a first draft then.
I'd love to take a stab at "Oh Em Gee Is that a Dragon?"
debriefing interview, obtained by Ares Intel, of an AZT Rigger/Pilot sole survivor of a Wasp Squadron that was doing an air patrol.
debriefing interview, obtained by Ares Intel, of an AZT Rigger/Pilot sole survivor of a Wasp Squadron that was doing an air patrol.
Word count ... Give me till tomorrow noon? It's not Christmas for anyone but us Germans then, and I'll need to think about this a bit when I'm sober (damn you, Aberlour Abunadh batch 30).
As for who will write what, I'm open for claims. If two or more authors want to collaborate on one batch of meat (and with the ARGUS report, this will be necessary), then a lot of coordination is in order and I'll probably be rather involved in their writing, trying to make it sound coherent.
Also, we now need the subforum, with subn-subforums fopr each section and at least one organisational thread, a sticky with deadlines, and discussion threads for every writer. Can we post documents on DS, or will we have t work with external hosters and links?
Ah, and I'll contact Neurosis (and any other Natives volunteering for editing duty?) because now we'll need them.
As for deadlines: what about drafts in a 12 days after Dec 26 - would be Jan 5, and finished writing to 20th of Jan? Doable? Too tight, too loose?
As this is a document compiled for the training of CAS Marines officers, it could be an engagement by CAS forces in the Carribean, or even an old account by an Apache pilot in the Ghost Dance war or the Brazilian War (you could mention the Na'Vi like Amazonian tribals riding them that way). Just remember it needs to be analysed and discussed, so a pilot recounting how he is barely alive, maybe, analysed by a slighly know-it-all CAS instructor on how this could have been done better (and THAT then commented by various Shadowlanders).
You cool with that? Sugestions, requests?
As for who will write what, I'm open for claims. If two or more authors want to collaborate on one batch of meat (and with the ARGUS report, this will be necessary), then a lot of coordination is in order and I'll probably be rather involved in their writing, trying to make it sound coherent.
Also, we now need the subforum, with subn-subforums fopr each section and at least one organisational thread, a sticky with deadlines, and discussion threads for every writer. Can we post documents on DS, or will we have t work with external hosters and links?
Ah, and I'll contact Neurosis (and any other Natives volunteering for editing duty?) because now we'll need them.
As for deadlines: what about drafts in a 12 days after Dec 26 - would be Jan 5, and finished writing to 20th of Jan? Doable? Too tight, too loose?
QUOTE
I'd love to take a stab at "Oh Em Gee Is that a Dragon?"
debriefing interview, obtained by Ares Intel, of an AZT Rigger/Pilot sole survivor of a Wasp Squadron that was doing an air patrol.
debriefing interview, obtained by Ares Intel, of an AZT Rigger/Pilot sole survivor of a Wasp Squadron that was doing an air patrol.
As this is a document compiled for the training of CAS Marines officers, it could be an engagement by CAS forces in the Carribean, or even an old account by an Apache pilot in the Ghost Dance war or the Brazilian War (you could mention the Na'Vi like Amazonian tribals riding them that way). Just remember it needs to be analysed and discussed, so a pilot recounting how he is barely alive, maybe, analysed by a slighly know-it-all CAS instructor on how this could have been done better (and THAT then commented by various Shadowlanders).
You cool with that? Sugestions, requests?
That might be pretty tight. Though there is amusement in having the deadline be the Epithany
Would love to give chapter 2 a shot (for the Earthdawn tie-ins ).
Deadline might be a bit tight. Give us until January 30th to submit the first draft.
).Deadline might be a bit tight. Give us until January 30th to submit the first draft.
QUOTE (hermit @ Dec 23 2010, 07:39 PM)
Also, we now need the subforum, with subn-subforums fopr each section and at least one organisational thread, a sticky with deadlines, and discussion threads for every writer. Can we post documents on DS, or will we have t work with external hosters and links?
That's still being discussed.
QUOTE (Grinder @ Dec 23 2010, 06:59 PM)
Would love to give chapter 2 a shot (for the Earthdawn tie-ins ).
Deadline might be a bit tight. Give us until January 30th to submit the first draft.
).Deadline might be a bit tight. Give us until January 30th to submit the first draft.
You talking about 2.1 and 2.2?
And I agree jan 30th for 1st draft is better.
I think that for initial drafts, just posting the content without formating (just text) would be better..
Once we like the writing, etc, we can put it together in a format with pictuers and sidebars and crap when we've got all the major writing done.
QUOTE (hermit @ Dec 23 2010, 07:29 PM)
Do you want to do the Aztlaner unit? It doesn't need ot be the parachutists, if you have a colombian jungle fighters unit, that's even better!
Ah, no sorry. It's really just an idea I threw out in case anybody feels inspired by it and wants to use it. Also I'm so out of loop on gear and some other stuff, that I wouldn't be able to do it justice anyway.Well, if you strictly adhere to canon I guess you will have to work with the Almanac geography of Southeast Asia. So that takes care of that business. Which is fine. I hope to have my comparison world map out soon, so people can still decide on were to work with the SoA geography in their games.
Okay, Jan 30. I'm not from the publishing industry and more used to homework along the lines of "2000 word essay till next week".
QUOTE (lokii @ Dec 23 2010, 07:06 PM)
Ah, no sorry. It's really just an idea I threw out in case anybody feels inspired by it and wants to use it. Also I'm so out of loop on gear and some other stuff, that I wouldn't be able to do it justice anyway.
Well, if you strictly adhere to canon I guess you will have to work with the Almanac geography of Southeast Asia. So that takes care of that business. Which is fine. I hope to have my comparison world map out soon, so people can still decide on were to work with the SoA geography in their games.
Well, if you strictly adhere to canon I guess you will have to work with the Almanac geography of Southeast Asia. So that takes care of that business. Which is fine. I hope to have my comparison world map out soon, so people can still decide on were to work with the SoA geography in their games.
Even the Almanac geography has a ton of blindspots, and just things that dont make sense.
A possibility for Caracas is that it does end up occupied by AZT for about eight months, then pulls out as Amazonia starts to step up pressure via the UN to restore it as a Free City - leading to an actual war but also maintaining the timeline.
QUOTE
Well, if you strictly adhere to canon I guess you will have to work with the Almanac geography of Southeast Asia. So that takes care of that business. Which is fine. I hope to have my comparison world map out soon, so people can still decide on were to work with the SoA geography in their games.
Far as I am concerned, SR is a world where cartography stopped being a precise science. especially given how the Almanac brutally walks all over canon in so many places ... of cours,e if the new SE Asia map is the new state, something must have happened there, and it could actually be a hook for the writeup in War!.
Hoping to have an answer one way or the other in a day or so, that way all of the mods have an oppurtunity to look over the situation and consider it. As Grinder said, there are some obvious concerns from our side. The "Minimal Contradiction Policy" is a point to that, and you've obviously taken some consideration to that. While we as users, posters, and mods all have our own individual feelings towards CGL and/or its employees, we want to make sure that there doesn't become an issue between Dumpshock and Catalyst. DS has had good relations with all the various companies over the years, and we'd prefer it stay that way.
Do you have a name for your project so far besides "alt.War"?
Do you have a name for your project so far besides "alt.War"?
No, not yet. Add.War?
Guys?
Also, before we start working on the writing: This.
Please post any shadowtalkers you'd like to have. I'm all for keeping it to some 30, because that was a good decision designing JackPoint, so we should let our book 'take place' in a sub-board of Shadowland with not quite as many visitors.
Let's say, max. 5 Talkers for each, and 5 old ones? Plus maybe some 10 guests, but that will have to be discussed when the first drafts are in.
Guys?
Also, before we start working on the writing: This.
Please post any shadowtalkers you'd like to have. I'm all for keeping it to some 30, because that was a good decision designing JackPoint, so we should let our book 'take place' in a sub-board of Shadowland with not quite as many visitors.
Let's say, max. 5 Talkers for each, and 5 old ones? Plus maybe some 10 guests, but that will have to be discussed when the first drafts are in.
QUOTE (hermit @ Dec 23 2010, 08:11 PM)
Far as I am concerned, SR is a world where cartography stopped being a precise science. especially given how the Almanac brutally walks all over canon in so many places ... of cours,e if the new SE Asia map is the new state, something must have happened there, and it could actually be a hook for the writeup in War!.
Yeah well, just make sure to squint with both eyes or simply forget that somehow magically a good portion is back to were it started out in year 2000 and the rest decided that those old administrative borders were reasonable after all and orderly went back to them. 
But if ol' Frank is coaching what can possibly go wrong?
Yeah. Well, maybe there was a huge war and then the UN came and told everyone off to go back and be good little provinces again?
No we dont..
But we really should.
We have names for a few of the sub projects.
Rumble in the Jungle for SE Asia
Strategic Earnings (Desert Wars, Survivor!)
But we really should.
We have names for a few of the sub projects.
Rumble in the Jungle for SE Asia
Strategic Earnings (Desert Wars, Survivor!)
I may have missed it, but what's the current status of (former) Colombia? Independent state, still occupied by Aztlan, something else?
The 1er régiment étranger de cavalerie ? Any reason for such choice ? They're a light tank regiment. The guy people think about when you talk about la Légion Etrangère would rather be the 3e régiment étranger d'infanterie (3e REI, those stationed in French Guiana) or the 2e régiment étranger parachutiste (2e REP, the closest thing to special forces in the Legion).
The 1er REC would still be interesting background-wise, because a lot of aristocrats serving in the military often chose cavalry as their specialization. Though they still get some training in actual cavalry, the specialization is rather about MBT, recon and intelligence. Though the aristocratic grip on the Sixth Republic is coming to an end (in no small part because several of the French authors don't want to hear about it anymore), the army and cavalry especially may remain sort of strongholds for the nobility.
In this regards, it worth noting the special relationship between the Légion étrangère and the Orléans family. Louis-Philippe, the last king of France from 1830 to 1848, created the Légion in 1831. Henri d'Orléans, his great-great-grandson, joined the 1er régiment étranger d'infanterie during WW2 under a pseudonym, as the law then forbade royal family members from joining the French armed forces. This law was later revoked, and Henri son, Henri Jr. openly served in the 1er REC during the Algeria war.
In Shadowrun, general Antoine d'Orléans (likely to be a great grandson or cousin of Henri Jr.) was a successful commander and a hero of the Eurowar, as well as one of the leader of the aristocratic conspiracy to seize power, who came to win first presidential election of the Sixth Republic. Considering the familial history, it would make sense for him to have served in the Légion. If he was a hero with the French people at large, his aura among the troops would probably be incredible.
In my home-made material so far, I had Antoine d'Orléans being an infantry officer, commanding the 2e REP before becoming a general (first because I felt parachutists handpicked to be the conspiracy henchmen would be more threatening than tank pilots, and also for the irony, since 1er REP was disbanded for leading a failed coup d'etat against general de Gaulle in 1961).
The 1er REC would still be interesting background-wise, because a lot of aristocrats serving in the military often chose cavalry as their specialization. Though they still get some training in actual cavalry, the specialization is rather about MBT, recon and intelligence. Though the aristocratic grip on the Sixth Republic is coming to an end (in no small part because several of the French authors don't want to hear about it anymore), the army and cavalry especially may remain sort of strongholds for the nobility.
In this regards, it worth noting the special relationship between the Légion étrangère and the Orléans family. Louis-Philippe, the last king of France from 1830 to 1848, created the Légion in 1831. Henri d'Orléans, his great-great-grandson, joined the 1er régiment étranger d'infanterie during WW2 under a pseudonym, as the law then forbade royal family members from joining the French armed forces. This law was later revoked, and Henri son, Henri Jr. openly served in the 1er REC during the Algeria war.
In Shadowrun, general Antoine d'Orléans (likely to be a great grandson or cousin of Henri Jr.) was a successful commander and a hero of the Eurowar, as well as one of the leader of the aristocratic conspiracy to seize power, who came to win first presidential election of the Sixth Republic. Considering the familial history, it would make sense for him to have served in the Légion. If he was a hero with the French people at large, his aura among the troops would probably be incredible.
In my home-made material so far, I had Antoine d'Orléans being an infantry officer, commanding the 2e REP before becoming a general (first because I felt parachutists handpicked to be the conspiracy henchmen would be more threatening than tank pilots, and also for the irony, since 1er REP was disbanded for leading a failed coup d'etat against general de Gaulle in 1961).
QUOTE (Grinder @ Dec 23 2010, 11:34 PM)
I may have missed it, but what's the current status of (former) Colombia? Independent state, still occupied by Aztlan, something else?
Amazonia took roughly the lower two thirds, Aztlan the remaining third. Aztlan's piece of Colombia became a member state, so officially it joined.If you haven't seen it, you can also have a look at my Middle America and South America animation to see what I just told you in moving pictures: http://forums.dumpshock.com/index.php?show...t&p=1021280
QUOTE
The 1er régiment étranger de cavalerie ? Any reason for such choice ? They're a light tank regiment. The guy people think about when you talk about la Légion Etrangère would rather be the 3e régiment étranger d'infanterie (3e REI, those stationed in French Guiana) or the 2e régiment étranger parachutiste (2e REP, the closest thing to special forces in the Legion).
The 1er REC would still be interesting background-wise, because a lot of aristocrats serving in the military often chose cavalry as their specialization. Though they still get some training in actual cavalry, the specialization is rather about MBT, recon and intelligence. Though the aristocratic grip on the Sixth Republic is coming to an end (in no small part because several of the French authors don't want to hear about it anymore), the army and cavalry especially may remain sort of strongholds for the nobility.
In this regards, it worth noting the special relationship between the Légion étrangère and the Orléans family. Louis-Philippe, the last king of France from 1830 to 1848, created the Légion in 1831. Henri d'Orléans, his great-great-grandson, joined the 1er régiment étranger d'infanterie during WW2 under a pseudonym, as the law then forbade royal family members from joining the French armed forces. This law was later revoked, and Henri son, Henri Jr. openly served in the 1er REC during the Algeria war.
In Shadowrun, general Antoine d'Orléans (likely to be a great grandson or cousin of Henri Jr.) was a successful commander and a hero of the Eurowar, as well as one of the leader of the aristocratic conspiracy to seize power, who came to win first presidential election of the Sixth Republic. Considering the familial history, it would make sense for him to have served in the Légion. If he was a hero with the French people at large, his aura among the troops would probably be incredible.
In my home-made material so far, I had Antoine d'Orléans being an infantry officer, commanding the 2e REP before becoming a general (first because I felt parachutists handpicked to be the conspiracy henchmen would be more threatening than tank pilots, and also for the irony, since 1er REP was disbanded for leading a failed coup d'etat against general de Gaulle in 1961).
The 1er REC would still be interesting background-wise, because a lot of aristocrats serving in the military often chose cavalry as their specialization. Though they still get some training in actual cavalry, the specialization is rather about MBT, recon and intelligence. Though the aristocratic grip on the Sixth Republic is coming to an end (in no small part because several of the French authors don't want to hear about it anymore), the army and cavalry especially may remain sort of strongholds for the nobility.
In this regards, it worth noting the special relationship between the Légion étrangère and the Orléans family. Louis-Philippe, the last king of France from 1830 to 1848, created the Légion in 1831. Henri d'Orléans, his great-great-grandson, joined the 1er régiment étranger d'infanterie during WW2 under a pseudonym, as the law then forbade royal family members from joining the French armed forces. This law was later revoked, and Henri son, Henri Jr. openly served in the 1er REC during the Algeria war.
In Shadowrun, general Antoine d'Orléans (likely to be a great grandson or cousin of Henri Jr.) was a successful commander and a hero of the Eurowar, as well as one of the leader of the aristocratic conspiracy to seize power, who came to win first presidential election of the Sixth Republic. Considering the familial history, it would make sense for him to have served in the Légion. If he was a hero with the French people at large, his aura among the troops would probably be incredible.
In my home-made material so far, I had Antoine d'Orléans being an infantry officer, commanding the 2e REP before becoming a general (first because I felt parachutists handpicked to be the conspiracy henchmen would be more threatening than tank pilots, and also for the irony, since 1er REP was disbanded for leading a failed coup d'etat against general de Gaulle in 1961).
Well, the Aztlaner unit would be something pretty much like the 3e REI, I imagine, given their reasonably similar MO (despite the 3 REI very possibly being a participant in the war). I wanted something slightly not quite like the cliché of the légion étrangère. The parachutists would work too if we make the Aztlaner regiment something else (light tnak maybe? I want one motorized regiment there, to illustrate how those are organised). Would you do this? You're welcome to include the Duc d'Orleans.
Actually, sabs and I are working on an update to SR France's Paris on the side, so maybe you can contribute there, too?
QUOTE (Doc Chase @ Dec 23 2010, 02:09 PM)
A possibility for Caracas is that it does end up occupied by AZT for about eight months, then pulls out as Amazonia starts to step up pressure via the UN to restore it as a Free City - leading to an actual war but also maintaining the timeline.
I rather like this idea. Something about Aztlaner occupation seems right to me.
I think the oligarch general (Maron I believe?) should put up a fight before the invasion, with the land invasion severely hampered by the Green Wall surrounding Caracas. The General, being a native of Caracas, knows how to operate his troops more effectively in the jungle and terrain surrounding Caracas, but ultimately is no match for the sheer resources at the disposal of the Aztech forces, both national and corporate.
The naval blockade prevents ships from escaping the harbor, but also prevents Amazonian forces from rallying to the defense of the city by sea. Even if Amazonia doesn't want the city, they still don't want Aztlan to have it.
When the front lines crumble and the Azzie forces make their push, the Caracan military retreats back into the city (though leaving nasty traps and surprises in the jungle behind them to slow the Azzie advance.) By the time the Azzie forces have entered into Caracas, General Maron has vanished, along with much of his troops.
I imagine Maron staying in hiding and orchestrating some guerilla assaults against the occupying Azzie forces while they are in the city. It could even make for some strange temporary alliances, say, with the fiercely nationalistic Bolivar '49 gang, where they strike at targets of opportunity, and then vanish into the massive and sprawling favelas before reprisals from the Azzie military.
General Maron might even be smart enough and aware of his city to the level where he can attempt to draw the fighting into the truly, TRULY nasty parts of town with abhorrant background counts in order to nullify the Azzie magical advantage.
Man, my mind is already coming up with a pretty cool narrative...
Well, I looked away for one second and this grew ten pages! Knew that would happen!
And now even catching up is a daunting task. Am I needed for anything?
Related, where is the outline at the moment? I feel like the current outline should be kept on either the first page or the most recent one..having to dig back to a random page of an increasingly gigantic topic to find it is daunting.
Final random thought is that I still find the dual-headquarters of this project a bit distracting. As is um...not knowing whether or not this project is under the iron fisted rule of Frank Trollman.
Edit, for my own convenience:
Now the question becomes how to divide up all this work. But it is nice to see that we have the skeleton intact.
"Final" edit of this post...how did SK and UCAS/Ares get involved again? And what is their stake in all this?
And now even catching up is a daunting task. Am I needed for anything?
Related, where is the outline at the moment? I feel like the current outline should be kept on either the first page or the most recent one..having to dig back to a random page of an increasingly gigantic topic to find it is daunting.
Final random thought is that I still find the dual-headquarters of this project a bit distracting. As is um...not knowing whether or not this project is under the iron fisted rule of Frank Trollman.
Edit, for my own convenience:
QUOTE
0) Shadowland login screen. This is one of the touches that will make this document feel like an SR4 publication.
1) Introduction The Real Story Of The War (written up as a a classic in-game Shadowland writeup, maybe with some references to War!, but nothing contradicting it)
- An introduction to the war as we see it, and a short out-of-world writeup what this adds to War!, why it makes sense to own both War! And this and what our mission writing this is.
[meat 2 to 4: an overview of the entire Am/Az conflict as an Argus document that got leaked onto the shadow boards. They got hired to give a comprehensive overview of the war (probably by UCAS or CAS) - that'll let us give an objective view on everything without having to rely on making 'runners to tell the stories]
2) God’s Eye Perspective: An overview of the conflict
2.1 Aztlan: The only thing better than power is more power
2.2 Amazonia: Over our cold, dead bodies
2.3 UCAS/Ares: The enemy of my enemy still is my enemy (but seeing them kill each other is priceless)
2.4 Saeder-Krupp: War is business. More war is more business.
- Horizon: Food for the World, and pleased love us!
- Colombian freedom fighters: Viva Colombia!
3) The Front Lines! (What happened in the war, and who did what where. All the stuff we miss. This is where a timeline goes!)
3.1) Timeline of the war
3.2) Maracaibo (urban warfare in all it’s gory glory)
3.3) Caracas (If this isn’t the biggest mess in South America, it’ll do till the real biggest mess arrives)
3.4) Bogota (venture point, occupied city, dense atmosphere, but no massive battles)
4) Military Organizations involved
4.1) AZT - War on 5,000 Nuyen a soldier or less
4.2) AMZ - Magical guerillas
4.3) UCAS/CAS - High Tech, Low Numbers
4.4) Ares/S&K - Who do you think /makes/ the High tech toys
4.5) Mercs - A range of Merc units. From those barely better than a shadowrun team, to highly trained, highly equiped special forces mercs.
5) Modern Warfare 2073 (meat: a document compiled by the CAS armed forces for CAS Marine officer trainees at [whereever their Marines academy is].)
5.1) Different Strategies for different people (an introductionary essay on different types of armies in the 6th world and what that means)
5.1.1 The 6 Million Nuyen Soldier (High Tech, Low Numbers: Examples UCAS, CAS, Ares, SK, MCT; essay by one of these or maybe an analyst of another corp)
5.1.2 Do you want to live forever? (Quantity over quality. Examples: AZT, Russia; an essay by a former Russian or Aztlaner soldier)
5.1.3 The new ways of War (magic-heavy armies. examples: AMZ, TT, Yakut. An essay on fighting those from the perspective of a CalFree soldier?)
5.1.4 Down and dirty (Asymmetrical Warfare. Examples: African Armies, Terrorists and Insurgents. An essay by a veteran of the Polish freedom fighters)
5.1.5: Oh My God Is That A Dragon? An essay on what combat does look like when your air force faces Wyverns and Dragons. Probably an in-game
5.2 The Matrix on the Battlefield
5.2.1: The combat hacker. What does Hacking for the military look like and how does it differ from hacking for corps?
5.2.2 Digital Frontlines: What is fought in the Matrix in War and why. Securing commsats, encryption/decryption, infiltration/guarding of tacnets, recon, disinformation. How do Hackers work in the Combat Zone The HQ Hacker, the OpCom haker, the descendants of the comms guy, Rigger platoons and Cyberwar Brigades
5.2.3 The Resonant Side Of War: Combat Technomancers, AI and Sprites versus Tactical Hackers and Agents. Also an essay on The Military fighting AI and Sprites, possibly written up as a report from UN forces fighting to take back Geneva.
5.3 Magic on the battlefield (an Intro by a hardened Merc about Magic on the Battlefield and how it changed everything, a brief outline of magic in wars from the Ghost dance War to the Euro Wars to the Az/Yuc-War.)
5.3.1 to 5.3.3 Three essays on magic on the battlefield, each in-character: one by a member of the Tir Tairngire armed forces (magical combined troops), one by a Yakut shapeshifter (magical guerilla) and one by an UCAS combat mage (Magic in a technicised army). Each with it’s own flavor and varied use of magic)
6) Faces of War: Sample Units (meat: a collection of documents accumulated by the Ares' Inteligence Services, formerly part of the Seraphin network, who want to study how these militaries work to know more about their competitors, and as a for-sale guide for 'military counselors'.)
Aztlan Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas (Aztlan’s parachutist regiment)
La Legion Étrangère, 1er Régiment étranger de cavalerie, 1er REC (mobile light armored cavalry)
The King’s Own Royal Gurkha Rifles (formerly Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Gurkha regiment)
Henan People’s Liberation Army 19th Infantry Division (organised much like a Chinese PLA regiment from the Korean war)
MET 2000 Einsatzgruppe 3 (A heavily cybered combined arms troop)
The units should feature fully statted example NPCs as well as unit organization and rank charts.
7) Gear and coolshit (meat: an exposé by the Lagos Arms Fair, written for prospective customers; downloaded is the English version, but there could be others in all kinds of languages mentioned somehow)
- Revisions of the gear in War!.
cool.gif Game Info Errata’d rules from War! That are not totally batshit.
9) Shadowland Open Forum. An open forum where we can have our talkers go nuts. good, old-fashioned shadowtalk, rumors, discussions drifung. We can dump anything that does not fit anywhere else here.
1) Introduction The Real Story Of The War (written up as a a classic in-game Shadowland writeup, maybe with some references to War!, but nothing contradicting it)
- An introduction to the war as we see it, and a short out-of-world writeup what this adds to War!, why it makes sense to own both War! And this and what our mission writing this is.
[meat 2 to 4: an overview of the entire Am/Az conflict as an Argus document that got leaked onto the shadow boards. They got hired to give a comprehensive overview of the war (probably by UCAS or CAS) - that'll let us give an objective view on everything without having to rely on making 'runners to tell the stories]
2) God’s Eye Perspective: An overview of the conflict
2.1 Aztlan: The only thing better than power is more power
2.2 Amazonia: Over our cold, dead bodies
2.3 UCAS/Ares: The enemy of my enemy still is my enemy (but seeing them kill each other is priceless)
2.4 Saeder-Krupp: War is business. More war is more business.
- Horizon: Food for the World, and pleased love us!
- Colombian freedom fighters: Viva Colombia!
3) The Front Lines! (What happened in the war, and who did what where. All the stuff we miss. This is where a timeline goes!)
3.1) Timeline of the war
3.2) Maracaibo (urban warfare in all it’s gory glory)
3.3) Caracas (If this isn’t the biggest mess in South America, it’ll do till the real biggest mess arrives)
3.4) Bogota (venture point, occupied city, dense atmosphere, but no massive battles)
4) Military Organizations involved
4.1) AZT - War on 5,000 Nuyen a soldier or less
4.2) AMZ - Magical guerillas
4.3) UCAS/CAS - High Tech, Low Numbers
4.4) Ares/S&K - Who do you think /makes/ the High tech toys
4.5) Mercs - A range of Merc units. From those barely better than a shadowrun team, to highly trained, highly equiped special forces mercs.
5) Modern Warfare 2073 (meat: a document compiled by the CAS armed forces for CAS Marine officer trainees at [whereever their Marines academy is].)
5.1) Different Strategies for different people (an introductionary essay on different types of armies in the 6th world and what that means)
5.1.1 The 6 Million Nuyen Soldier (High Tech, Low Numbers: Examples UCAS, CAS, Ares, SK, MCT; essay by one of these or maybe an analyst of another corp)
5.1.2 Do you want to live forever? (Quantity over quality. Examples: AZT, Russia; an essay by a former Russian or Aztlaner soldier)
5.1.3 The new ways of War (magic-heavy armies. examples: AMZ, TT, Yakut. An essay on fighting those from the perspective of a CalFree soldier?)
5.1.4 Down and dirty (Asymmetrical Warfare. Examples: African Armies, Terrorists and Insurgents. An essay by a veteran of the Polish freedom fighters)
5.1.5: Oh My God Is That A Dragon? An essay on what combat does look like when your air force faces Wyverns and Dragons. Probably an in-game
5.2 The Matrix on the Battlefield
5.2.1: The combat hacker. What does Hacking for the military look like and how does it differ from hacking for corps?
5.2.2 Digital Frontlines: What is fought in the Matrix in War and why. Securing commsats, encryption/decryption, infiltration/guarding of tacnets, recon, disinformation. How do Hackers work in the Combat Zone The HQ Hacker, the OpCom haker, the descendants of the comms guy, Rigger platoons and Cyberwar Brigades
5.2.3 The Resonant Side Of War: Combat Technomancers, AI and Sprites versus Tactical Hackers and Agents. Also an essay on The Military fighting AI and Sprites, possibly written up as a report from UN forces fighting to take back Geneva.
5.3 Magic on the battlefield (an Intro by a hardened Merc about Magic on the Battlefield and how it changed everything, a brief outline of magic in wars from the Ghost dance War to the Euro Wars to the Az/Yuc-War.)
5.3.1 to 5.3.3 Three essays on magic on the battlefield, each in-character: one by a member of the Tir Tairngire armed forces (magical combined troops), one by a Yakut shapeshifter (magical guerilla) and one by an UCAS combat mage (Magic in a technicised army). Each with it’s own flavor and varied use of magic)
6) Faces of War: Sample Units (meat: a collection of documents accumulated by the Ares' Inteligence Services, formerly part of the Seraphin network, who want to study how these militaries work to know more about their competitors, and as a for-sale guide for 'military counselors'.)
Aztlan Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas (Aztlan’s parachutist regiment)
La Legion Étrangère, 1er Régiment étranger de cavalerie, 1er REC (mobile light armored cavalry)
The King’s Own Royal Gurkha Rifles (formerly Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Gurkha regiment)
Henan People’s Liberation Army 19th Infantry Division (organised much like a Chinese PLA regiment from the Korean war)
MET 2000 Einsatzgruppe 3 (A heavily cybered combined arms troop)
The units should feature fully statted example NPCs as well as unit organization and rank charts.
7) Gear and coolshit (meat: an exposé by the Lagos Arms Fair, written for prospective customers; downloaded is the English version, but there could be others in all kinds of languages mentioned somehow)
- Revisions of the gear in War!.
cool.gif Game Info Errata’d rules from War! That are not totally batshit.
9) Shadowland Open Forum. An open forum where we can have our talkers go nuts. good, old-fashioned shadowtalk, rumors, discussions drifung. We can dump anything that does not fit anywhere else here.
Now the question becomes how to divide up all this work. But it is nice to see that we have the skeleton intact.
"Final" edit of this post...how did SK and UCAS/Ares get involved again? And what is their stake in all this?
If I were you (and remember I'm specifically not you, when it comes to writing this) I would call section 3.1 "The Bigger Picture" (working title) that's maps + timeline, overall strategy and objectives for both sides, key military installations, modus operandi, what in is in the warzone right now, what can be brought in if the war goes downhill. Also the periphery of the war zone, what is the Corporate Court up to in Panama, how does Aztlan prevent Caribbean smugglers from supplying the Amazonians, how do the Ghost Cartels profit from the situation?
EDIT: Quick clarification while some of it could conceivably go into chapter 4, I think it's more clean to have it in one place and relating directly to the description of the war. Only exception is probably modus operandi.
EDIT: Quick clarification while some of it could conceivably go into chapter 4, I think it's more clean to have it in one place and relating directly to the description of the war. Only exception is probably modus operandi.
I can contribute with my SR-in-Poland material, if you want to have two small, but interesting conflicts. And off course I'd write a description of a Merc group, probably the one mentioned - Woje. If you want that in your fanbook, that is. I'm probably not SR-wise enough to do a lot more - just supporting, critique, and stuff like that.
QUOTE (sabs @ Dec 23 2010, 08:01 PM)
You talking about 2.1 and 2.2?
Yep. An Argus-report, set through with shadowposter-comments and additions.
QUOTE (hermit @ Dec 23 2010, 08:06 PM)
Okay, Jan 30. I'm not from the publishing industry and more used to homework along the lines of "2000 word essay till next week".
I was speaking of the first draft until January 30th. That way the writers have a month to finish their piece, what should be ok. After that, we can discuss, edit and compile the draft (during February).
I could contribute an article on personal eqipment (what to wear&carry, how to wear&carry) and an article on unit organization (infantry fireteam, squad, platoon, company; maybe SOF a-team/b-team/company). Also on combat first aid (equipment, methods).
I am active (german) military with 7 years served so far, did one tour with a mountain infantry company and did a short term in Afghanistan last year (that was Camp-only, though); so I think I would get the facts right
Also, Merry Christmas to you all
I am active (german) military with 7 years served so far, did one tour with a mountain infantry company and did a short term in Afghanistan last year (that was Camp-only, though); so I think I would get the facts right
Also, Merry Christmas to you all
Wait a minute, I completely overlooked chapter 2. So forget my whole ramble except for the periphery. I'm outta here.
I'm outta here.
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.
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.
Everyone, please post some Shadowtalkers and a short description you'd like to include.
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