[OOC] Mutually Assured Destruction

[HeySeuss]

As to map claims, I wouldn't get your heart set on anything. For one thing, I'm going to be allocating superpowers first. For the second, I'm going to be putting a bunch of you together. Beyond that, I want to work up major religions and a history that includes at least one recent major war that helps explain the current uncomfortable situation -- so that would mean former superpowers relegated to a lesser status due to wear, tear and attrition. We'll see who shows up, but that old world history is going to have a key role in shaping the history of the setting. I'll probably roll up a lesser power myself and see what I get. I've done a South African style state with rich mineral resources in an insurgency situation and I've done a Francoist Spain-style fascist-whatever state with an aging dictator and a creaky old military and very little prospect for economic development, and I've enjoyed it all. The whole point of the random rolls is to get creative. ;)

[HeySeuss]

GET ROLLIN' ROLLIN' ROLLIN' ROLLIN'

@Senor Herp

Population Density (Population: 29,000,000) -Regionally Dense; A good amount of manpower for the military and economic purposes, with social infrastructure strained more at a regional basis. Education costs and civic projects range from affordable to expensive. The nation requires a stronger economy to sustain itself. Industrialization -Developing: In the initial stages of setting up factories to produce domestic goods; cheap labor. Domestic Technology -Obsolete: The industrial infrastructure and domestic technology level of the nation lags behind, though that does not necessarily mean that the stuff it produces is bad, it's just old-style tech; milled and forging as opposed to metal stamping, more wood than plastic, etc, etc. High technology production requires foreign training and foreign experts. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary Schools, Merit/test-score based secondary education (Trade/University Prep), and Private Universities Domestic Political Stability -Regional Protests Common Mineral Deposits -Moderate deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Trace deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -No Significant Petroleum/Natural Gas Wells. Fissible Material Deposits -Some fissible material reserves Military Recruitment -Conscription Based, but decentralized, more of a Militia Military Reliability -Unruly Military, prone to exploiting civilians Military Size -Mid-sized, relative to population, some upkeep is involved. Military Technology -Limited Modernization Military Training and Morale -Decently Trained; High Morale Military Leadership -Corrupt but Competent; Primary Officials are friends of the Leadership, other generals earned their rank at Military Academy Military Popularity -Unpopular Secret Services -Incompetent Secret Service; Full of double agents of other nations

[HeySeuss]

Gimme a roll, hoss!

@The Captain

Population Density (Population: 72,000,000) -Densely Populated; A large amount of manpower for military and economic purposes, but it also means that there is a degree of strain on social infrastructure in general. Educational costs and civic projects tend to be intensive. Without an economy sufficient to the task, this nation will face difficulties. Industrialization -Minimal: Dependent on imported goods to sustain a technological lifestyle; only a couple factories producing goods. Domestic Technology -Obsolete: The industrial infrastructure and domestic technology level of the nation lags behind, though that does not necessarily mean that the stuff it produces is bad, it's just old-style tech; milled and forging as opposed to metal stamping, more wood than plastic, etc, etc. High technology production requires foreign training and foreign experts. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary Schools, Merit/test-score based secondary education (Trade/University Prep), and Private Universities Domestic Political Stability -Widespread Peaceful Dissident Activity Common Mineral Deposits -Minimal deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Moderate deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -Moderate Petroleum finds, that are easily exploitable. Fissible Material Deposits -None Military Recruitment -Hereditary, with certain blood lines born to serve Military Reliability -Military Plays Politics Military Size -Tiny, relative to population, but easier to equip, train, and outfit. Military Technology -Limited Modernization Military Training and Morale -Decently Trained; High Morale Military Leadership -Semi-Competent; Rose to their positions through Military Heroics Military Popularity -Unpopular Secret Services -Competent Secret Service; Invested heavily in local politics, such as replacing your current leader with someone they favor

[HeySeuss]

I put together rolls on one of my own; I think I'll be going with a former colony of the losers of the last big war, one that's seen a lot of immigration that's made the natives very restless. Also, a haven for former war criminals, like Argentina was for Adolf Eichmann. Population Density (Population: 36,000,000) -Regionally Dense; A good amount of manpower for the military and economic purposes, with social infrastructure strained more at a regional basis. Education costs and civic projects range from affordable to expensive. The nation requires a stronger economy to sustain itself. Industrialization -Developing: In the initial stages of setting up factories to produce domestic goods; cheap labor. Domestic Technology -Modernizing: The industrial infrastructure is in the process of improvement, and this is a teething process. But the economy is seeing increased activity because of this investment. New technologies are becoming domestically available. However, there is a degree of dependence on imports, including in terms of the expertise to modernize the economy. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary and Secondary Schools, Mixed Private/Public Universities Domestic Political Stability -Widespread Insurgencies Common Mineral Deposits -Minimal deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Extensive deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -Some Petroleum, but technically difficult/expensive to exploit with current tech. Fissible Material Deposits -Significant fissible material reserves Military Recruitment -Conscription Based, but decentralized, more of a Militia Military Reliability -Racially Homogenous Military Size -Mid-sized, relative to population, some upkeep is involved. Military Technology -Obsolete Military Training and Morale -Poorly Trained; High Morale Military Leadership Corrupt but Competent; Private Organization at odds with Current Leadership Military Popularity -Popular Secret Services -Competent Secret Service; Invested heavily in local politics, such as replacing your current leader with someone they favor

[gowia]

A roll, if you would fella :)

[UltikanaRe]

Alright... I have to admit you are starting to meddle in like..everything. You really arn't giving us every freedom if you are picking our social, economic, military, or technological sectors. You also said you are going to pick if we are a superpower... Just a piece of constructive criticism: People generally like picking most of this stuff. Rolling can sometimes be fun, but it is starting to feel oppressive.

[So Boerd]

Alright... I have to admit you are starting to meddle in like..everything. You really arn't giving us every freedom if you are picking our social, economic, military, or technological sectors. You also said you are going to pick if we are a superpower... Just a piece of constructive criticism: People generally like picking most of this stuff. Rolling can sometimes be fun, but it is starting to feel oppressive.

@UltikanaRe

The point is to make a different RP. You make something out of what you are given.

[Pepperm1nts]

I'm wondering, how will this be played? Am I right to assume posts will resemble official statements by the nations?

[So Boerd]

HeySeuss, perhaps to better model Imperialism, players could opt to play current puppets/satellites/colonies of superpowers?

[HeySeuss]

I'm wondering, how will this be played? Am I right to assume posts will resemble official statements by the nations?

@Pepperm1nts

Might be interesting to do that as well as journalistic reports of the actions. I know that in my case, I intend to do something in homage to The Journal of Atomic Scientits' Doomsday Clock to reflect on the geostrategic situation, moving the clock forward and back to make the point. There can also be actual debate in the chambers of the World Conclave. I am open to suggestion on post format ideas and I'd like to make it so that the posts are not ginormous so we can "keep it movin'".

HeySeuss, perhaps to better model Imperialism, players could opt to play current puppets/satellites/colonies of superpowers?

@So Boerd

That's entirely acceptable and encouraged.

Alright... I have to admit you are starting to meddle in like..everything. You really arn't giving us every freedom if you are picking our social, economic, military, or technological sectors. You also said you are going to pick if we are a superpower... Just a piece of constructive criticism: People generally like picking most of this stuff. Rolling can sometimes be fun, but it is starting to feel oppressive.

@UltikanaRe

The whole point of the RP is that people work with what they are given rather than what they want. And yes, I picked the superpower players thus far. They got rolls too. Edit: And I pick for people that can effectively cooperate and perhaps, to a degree, co-GM responsibly in the sense that their nations are powerful and influential and they need to help drive events a bit.

[HeySeuss]

A roll, if you would fella :)

@gowia

Population Density (Population: 29,000,000) - Adequately Populated; Some manpower for economic and military purposes, and social infrastructure is only under some pressure. Educational costs and civic projects are affordable. Industrialization -Developing: In the initial stages of setting up factories to produce domestic goods; cheap labor. Domestic Technology -Modernizing: The industrial infrastructure is in the process of improvement, and this is a teething process. But the economy is seeing increased activity because of this investment. New technologies are becoming domestically available. However, there is a degree of dependence on imports, including in terms of the expertise to modernize the economy. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary Schools Domestic Political Stabilit -Widespread Peaceful Dissident Activity Common Mineral Deposits -Minimal deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Trace deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -Some Petroleum, but technically difficult/expensive to exploit with current tech. Fissible Material Deposits -None Military Recruitment -Conscription Based for National Service Military Reliability -Tied to Religious Group Military Size -Massive, relative to population - is a drain on the economy and re-equiping and supplying is a massive scale effort. Military Technology -Limited Modernization Military Training and Morale -Poor at fighting but good at following orders; High Morale Military Leadership -Semi-Competent; Rose to their positions through a Military Academy Military Popularity -Unpopular Secret Services -Incompetent Secret Service; Full of double agents of other nations

[gowia]

Can I get a rough estimate on my pop??? I was thinking, adequate, is that sort of Italy in 1950s??? Smaller Bigger???

[HeySeuss]

Can I get a rough estimate on my pop??? I was thinking, adequate, is that sort of Italy in 1950s??? Smaller Bigger???

@gowia

As I recall, I had a population calculator going on somewhere, I just have to locate it. Edit: Your population is a little more sparse, 29 million. (Italy is very dense with urban areas) But the rest is doable.

[gowia]

<Snipped quote by gowia> As I recall, I had a population calculator going on somewhere, I just have to locate it.

@HeySeuss

Thanks! It's just I wanna get pop, army and demographics right. EDIT: Also I like the Tropico references in the NS, love the series.

[So Boerd]

<Snipped quote by The Captain> Population Density (Population: 72,000,000) -Densely Populated; A large amount of manpower for military and economic purposes, but it also means that there is a degree of strain on social infrastructure in general. Educational costs and civic projects tend to be intensive. Without an economy sufficient to the task, this nation will face difficulties. Industrialization -Minimal: Dependent on imported goods to sustain a technological lifestyle; only a couple factories producing goods. Domestic Technology -Obsolete: The industrial infrastructure and domestic technology level of the nation lags behind, though that does not necessarily mean that the stuff it produces is bad, it's just old-style tech; milled and forging as opposed to metal stamping, more wood than plastic, etc, etc. High technology production requires foreign training and foreign experts. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary Schools, Merit/test-score based secondary education (Trade/University Prep), and Private Universities Domestic Political Stability -Widespread Peaceful Dissident Activity Common Mineral Deposits -Minimal deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Moderate deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -Moderate Petroleum finds, that are easily exploitable. Fissible Material Deposits -None Military Recruitment -Hereditary, with certain blood lines born to serve Military Reliability -Military Plays Politics Military Size -Tiny, relative to population, but easier to equip, train, and outfit. Military Technology -Limited Modernization Military Training and Morale -Decently Trained; High Morale Military Leadership -Semi-Competent; Rose to their positions through Military Heroics Military Popularity -Unpopular Secret Services -Competent Secret Service; Invested heavily in local politics, such as replacing your current leader with someone they favor

@HeySeuss

Hey Captain, want to be a main colony? Your rolls are absolutely perfect for it, down to the tiny hereditary army, just like the Princely states.

[HeySeuss]

Updated all populations. Had to play with the dice roller to get the spreads I wanted.

[So Boerd]

You guys might as well see my rolls (PM'd by Seuss). They lend themselves very well to a ci-devant imperialist superpower, which I am very happy to see.

Population Density (Population 64,000,000) -Regionally Dense; A good amount of manpower for the military and economic purposes, with social infrastructure strained more at a regional basis. Education costs and civic projects range from affordable to expensive. The nation requires a stronger economy to sustain itself. Industrialization -Regionally Concentrated: A specific region of the country is a strong producer of industrial goods, the other parts, not so much. Domestic Technology -Modernizing: The industrial infrastructure is in the process of improvement, and this is a teething process. But the economy is seeing increased activity because of this investment. New technologies are becoming domestically available. However, there is a degree of dependence on imports, including in terms of the expertise to modernize the economy. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary and Secondary Schools, Mixed Private/Public Universities, with a free State-Run University System for students that show aptitude Domestic Political Stability -Widespread Labor Strikes Common Mineral Deposits -Moderate deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Moderate deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -Some Petroleum, but technically difficult/expensive to exploit with current tech. Fissible Material Deposits -Some fissible material reserves Military Recruitment -Conscription Based for National Service Military Reliability -Unruly Military, prone to exploiting civilians Military Size -Mid-sized, relative to population, some upkeep is involved. Military Technology -Rapid Modernization Military Training and Morale -Well trained; High Morale Military Leadership -Corrupt but Competent; Primary Leadership rose through Military Heroics, other generals were appointed Military Popularity -Unpopular Secret Services -Competent Secret Service; Can't resist meddling in foreign affairs

@HeySeuss

[Pepperm1nts]

Will you be determining the outcome of military actions with rolls? Proxy wars or not, I am curious if you'll be doing rolls to determine how successful people's military actions are, using things like their military training level and such as modifiers. Or will you just trust people to know when they should take a loss? I am not entirely sure if I'll join, to be honest. I am interested, but I am not sure if I have the time. Still, roll, please?

[HeySeuss]

Will you be determining the outcome of military actions with rolls? Proxy wars or not, I am curious if you'll be doing rolls to determine how successful people's military actions are, using things like their military training level and such as modifiers. Or will you just trust people to know when they should take a loss? I am not entirely sure if I'll join, to be honest. I am interested, but I am not sure if I have the time. Still, roll, please?

@Pepperm1nts

I have a covert action roll system that determines the success of covert actions based on the quality of one's covert agency, the target's covert agency and other discretionry factors, such as whether or not I consider the action particularly well thought out or whether or not they recruited local agents and have a network in place. I will probably devise something similar for military action. It'll be more complex, but I feel like letting players argue over who won is a zero-sum game. Game mastering does involve running the dice, and that's what I intend to do here, entirely on my end. But I do try to be an honest broker and use the system consistently once I have it up and running. Population Density (Population: 36,000,000 -Regionally Dense; A good amount of manpower for the military and economic purposes, with social infrastructure strained more at a regional basis. Education costs and civic projects range from affordable to expensive. The nation requires a stronger economy to sustain itself. Industrialization -Minimal: Dependent on imported goods to sustain a technological lifestyle; only a couple factories producing goods. Domestic Technology -Obsolete: The industrial infrastructure and domestic technology level of the nation lags behind, though that does not necessarily mean that the stuff it produces is bad, it's just old-style tech; milled and forging as opposed to metal stamping, more wood than plastic, etc, etc. High technology production requires foreign training and foreign experts. Educational Institutions -Comprehensive Public Primary and Secondary Schools, Mixed Private/Public Universities Domestic Political Stability -Widespread Peaceful Dissident Activity Common Mineral Deposits -Huge deposits of iron, chromium, copper and the like. Valuable Mineral Deposits -Extensive deposits of rare earth metals, and platinum. Petroleum Wells -No Significant Petroleum/Natural Gas Wells. Fissible Material Deposits -Some fissible material reserves Military Recruitment -Conscription Based for National Service Military Reliability -Tied to Religious Group Military Size -Mid-sized, relative to population, some upkeep is involved. Military Technology -Obsolete Military Training and Morale -Decently Trained; High Morale Military Leadership -Corrupt but Semi-Competent; Primary leadership rose through Military Academy, other generals were appointed Military Popularity -Unpopular Secret Services -Competent Secret Service; Invested heavily in local politics, such as replacing your current leader with someone they favor

[So Boerd]

Pepper, I could take you on as a colony too. I'm looking to get around 2-4 large colonies, including one "Very Densely Populated".