HachiRoku

Original Sci-Fi RP, Space Police/Space “Rangers” (x Cancelled x)

Hmm, would they necessarily be super soldiers? I've been batting around the thought of a 'Space Janitors'-esque character.

Fukushima Uesugi Senior High

Hey everyone, really sorry but I'll be shutting this down. Hope you all enjoyed.

The World Undone: A History of the Modern World [NRP] (1905--)

Hi, may I try my hand at this? I'll adapt an unused sheet of mine.

UAC Labs Phobos Base

The Federation of Maritime States, 1884

Flag

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Capital City: Halifax

Territory: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland (Labrador not included, ceded to Quebec)

Government type: Constitutional Republic

Head of State: President Louis Henry Davies

Head of Government: President Louis Henry Davies

Population: 1 133 925

Religion: Although the government of the Maritimes is strictly secular, the people are primarily Catholic, with Anglican, United, and Presbyterian Protestants also making up a large chunk of the population. This is a result of the heavy French Catholic and English Protestant settlement in the 1600s, as well as swathes of American immigration, especially following the American Revolution.

Army: As a result of heavy American influence, the Maritime States Army (MSA) fields mostly American weapons. However, there is also British influence mixed in, as a natural effect of their heritage. Although non-interventionist and anti-imperialist, the MSA works hard to maintain national security and put down rebellions. As well, service is volunteer-based, making their forces small in relative numbers, yet efficient and high in morale. All in all, the MSA is composed of approximately 8,000 men. The bulk of the MSA employs local volunteer troops stationed in a state garrison (abbreviated as ASG, or Army State Garrison). These are located at ASG Saint John (NB), ASG Truro (NS), ASG St. John's (NF), and ASG Charlottetown (PE). All ASGs are located in the state capitol except for Truro, which is the centre of Nova Scotia and the Scotia-Brunswick Railway, making it an ideal location to deploy anywhere in the state quickly. The MSA is divided into brigades corresponding to their ASG (i.e. Truro Brigade, Charlottetown Brigade, etc.), split into 4 battalions which alternate in service, three on, one off. The typical MSA soldier is armed with a Martini-Henry rifle and Colt .45 revolver, while the support and stationed defense troops are armed with Gatling and Hotchkiss guns, with Colt sidearms. Chain of command is Pvt, PFC, Cpl, Sgt, Lt, Cpt, LtCol, and Col, while one General leads the Army.

Structure

4 men in a fireteam (Cpl) (4)
3 fireteams in a squad (Sgt) (12)
2 squads in a platoon (Lt) (24)
5 platoons in a company (Cpt) (120)
4 companies in a battalion (LtCol) (480)
4 battalions in a brigade (Col) (1920)
4 brigades in the Army (Gen) (7680)

Navy: Similarly to the Army, the Maritime States Navy (MSN) is composed of American/British-influenced coastal bases, with two per state (abbreviated as NSG- Naval State Garrison). These are NSG Saint John (NB-1), NSG Chatham (NB-2), NSG Louisbourg (NS-1), NSG Halifax (NS-2), NSG Charlottetown (PE-1), NSG Egmont (PE-2), NSG Cape St. George (NF-1), and NSG Saint John's (NF-2). Also akin to the MSA, the MSN is composed of volunteers, who compose NSG-based squadrons, divided into two divisions. NSG fortifications are armed with troops stationed with ASG-spec weapons and Rodman coastal guns. MSN ships are prefixed with MSS, standing for Maritime States Ship. The MSN also has sixteen monitors, one for each NSG, as well as two American-style protected cruisers, MSS Howe and MSS Tupper, which alternate in base. With approximately 15,000 in active service, the MSN is the core of the Maritime Armed Forces (MAF). Chain of command is SR, SN, LS, PO, ENS, LT, CDR, and CAPT, while one Admiral leads the Navy.

Marines: The special forces of the Maritimes, the MS Marine Corps (MSMC) is a special operations branch designed for both naval and land-based combat. Fielding only 600 men, the Marines are divided into ten companies of 120 men: two for each province, and the 1st/2nd Marine Elite Companies (MEC), the cream of the crop. Headquartered in Halifax, the Marines rotate deployment between local ASGs and NSGs. The MECs are based in Halifax, although they base variably depending on the operation. Most Marines are equipped with Mayflower bolt-action rifles and Colt M1878 revolvers, and Model 1881 Gatling guns for support. Mayflower Armaments is a Sydney, NS-based Canadian company that primarily produces rifles. Their current service rifle for the Marines is the Mauser-based bolt-action Mayflower Rifle 1883, although production for the Army and Navy is in the works. Although rail travel is the typical means of land movement, each Marine company has its own ship. Adapting the concept of Confederate blockade-runner designs, these ironclads are quick, powerful, and able to hold the entire company. Chain of command is PFC, LCpl, Cpl, Sgt, Lt, and Maj, while one General leads the Marine Corps.

History:
The history of the Maritime States begins with European settlement, when the French set up colonies in the 16th and 17th century. These colonies, known collectively as Acadia, composed of the Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, eastern Quebec, and Maine. As Acadia developed in the late 17th and 18th centuries, they were the forefront of colonial conflict between Britain and France. After multiple wars between the two over the course of the 1700s, Britain eventually came out on top, and was settled by colonists from both old and New England.

When revolution broke out in New England, the citizens were split between the Patriots, who fought for American independence, and Loyalists, who wished to stay under British rule. This happened on the doorstep on the Maritime colonies of Britain, who were primarily Loyalist. It was at one point possible for the Maritimes to have joined America, but the Patriots had attacked violently, ruling out a state north of Maine. Once the Patriots managed to achieve independence, Loyalists and freed slaves fled to Nova Scotia. Former Patriots also begun trade relations with the Maritimes, beginning economic prosperity for both sides.

For the next 80 years, the Maritimes saw mostly peace, with some conflict in between. The first conflict of note was the War of 1812, which was preceded by a trade embargo that heavily affected Maritime trade. The Royal Navy was based in Halifax, and took the brunt of the war (although America never successfully invaded East Canada). Next were the Rebellions of 1837; although the Maritimes never played a direct role in them, they had a taste of Canadian colonists supporting American liberty. The American Civil War 25 years later saw minor Canadian activity primarily on the Union side, although this coalesced into the Fenian Raids. In April 1866, 700 Irish-Americans known as Fenians, many of whom were Civil War veterans, attacked Campobello Island, New Brunswick. Although the island was soon relieved by British forces, it led the Maritimes to wonder what would be necessary to defend their homeland.

That same year, politicians from British North American colonies convened at Charlottesville, PEI. Initially between the Maritimes to discuss a union, Ontario and Quebec joined in. The concept of a united Canada was discussed, although most Maritimers were against such a union that would make them irrelevant and powerless. The next month, Ontario and Quebec met in Quebec City to draw up a Canadian nation, but the Atlantic colonies were not present. Instead, they met at Halifax, to discuss an American-style independent union of states. From December 1866 to March 1867, all British North American colonies met in London to debate and discuss the new nations being drawn up. Eventually, on July 1, 1867, the new laws were put into place, and two new nations were formed: the Dominion of Canada, and the Federation of Maritime States, or Canada and the Maritimes.

The first Maritime election was held in September 1867, and was a contest between two Nova Scotians. Representing the Liberal Party, Joseph Howe served as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1860 to 1863. An opponent of Canadian Confederation, he promoted a railway from Halifax through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, as well as increased free trade. On the Conservative ticket was Charles Tupper, the Premier from 1864-1867 and a former supporter of Confederation. A trade protectionist and nationalist, Tupper lost the majority vote to Howe, who was elected First President of the Federal Maritime States. Howe's government was successful in installing a classical liberal state: lenient civil and economic freedoms under rational law. This resulted in prosperous, free trade with America, Canada, and Britain, who saw the Maritimes as a vital ally.

Howe's presidency eventually came to an end in 1873, as he died shortly before his campaign for a third term. His successor, Sir Adams George Archibald, won the election in Howe's place, continuing the laissez-faire form of governance. This American style of trade angered many pro-British citizens, who gathered at Pictou Island in 1876 to create the Pictou Rebellion, which demanded re-integration to the British Empire. Archibald was quickly ousted in the 1876 election in favor of Samuel Leonard Tilley, a Conservative who promised stronger government. Signing the Marine Corps into action, Tilley was a war leader who strengthened the government's power, quickly pushed the military to Pictou to end the rebellion, and raised taxes. Once the Rebellion was over nearly a year later, the Conservative policies finally took their toll. In 1879, following three years of reform for larger government, trade tariffs, stronger military, and tax introduction, Tilley's Conservatives were quickly voted out by the moderate Liberal Louis Henry Davies. Davies is currently serving his second term as the fourth President, making slow changes to lower taxes, streamline the government and military, and bring back free trade.

Additional Info:
Flag
Local Music

Government

The Government of the Maritime States is heavily based on the Constitution. Government is strictly divided into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. Similarly to the United States, the Maritime States advocate a rule of law under these three branches. The executive branch, the Presidency, runs the government and serves as a public head of state. The Legislative Branch, which is simply the Congress (as opposed to the American House/Senate system), creates, debates, and approves laws. The judicial branch, led by the Supreme Court (which, as opposed to America, are composed of non-political appointed judges), upholds the laws and Constitution. Elections are held every 3 years to decide Congress representatives and the President, which are divided into district. Congress is composed of one representative per district, making elections based on district. The President is decided by the Electoral College, which are distributed based on the amount of districts located in each state. This ensures both the will of the nation and a check against pure democracy. The President serves 3-year terms of a 2-term maximum, while Congressmen serve up to 4 terms. The Supreme Court consists of 12 judges, who are appointed from across the nation by merit as a judge or lawyer, as opposed to their political affiliation. The judges each serve 2-year terms, and may be appointed for up to 5, for a maximum residency of 10 years.

The Constitution is the basis of Maritime law, and as such, the nation as a whole. It is divided into Articles, which define its purpose. Note that this is not the literal word of the Constitution, but rather a summary.

• The First Article states that all laws nation-wide are subject to the Constitution. As well, the document itself may be amended, given approval of two-thirds of the Supreme Court (at least 8 judges), two-thirds of Congress, and the President's approval. Amendments may be put into place as long as they do not interfere with Articles.
• The Second Article states that citizens have a right to freedom and life. This constitutes two factors known as Rights:
  
  • The Right Against Aggression, stating that interference against a private citizen's life, property, or possessions is punishable by law.
  • The Right To Freedom, stating that every citizen has a right to freely trade within non-aggressive bounds, own property, defensive weapons, and speak freely in public.
• The Third Article states that the government shall be divided into three branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. It goes into depth regarding government organization, and is summarized in the first paragraph.
• The Fourth Article states that for the defense of the state, a volunteer Army and Navy is necessary to maintain order and justice.
• The Fifth Article states that religion and state shall be separate; at no time should one influence the other.
• The Sixth Article states that the justice system must follow the spirit of liberty and justice for all, at all times, and must treat every individual equally.
• The Seventh Article states that taxes, fines, and government imposition must not reach a degree to which one group is held over higher scrutiny than another, nor shall it infringe on individual liberties. However, it distinguishes the need for a Financial Appeal system, in which a company or businessman may be tried by a Financial Appeal Court in the event of misdemeanor, fraud, or monopoly.
• The Eighth Article states that individual states must be treated and must behave equally. However, all states are subject to Congress and Supreme Court jurisdiction if necessary.

Culture

Values:

• Firearms: A surprisingly large percentage of Maritimers take advantage of their nation's lax gun laws. Most homes have a rifle, typically either a Winchester 1873 (.44 Henry) or Martini-Henry (.577/450). For added personal protection, the British Bull Dog revolver (.44 Henry) is a popular choice, due to its affordability, standard ammo, and compact size.

Music:
Cuisine:

Hakone 98 - Initial D Style Street Racing

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INTRODUCTION

Hi! I've been interested in a relatively serious racing RP for a while. On top of that I'm particularly interested in Japanese cars as a hobby, so I'm able to put 2 and 2 together here.

This RP will primarily involve street racers down the touge, or mountain passes, of Japan, specifically those on Mt. Hakone, in Kanagawa. Set in spring 1998, I wanted to recapture the nature and aesthetic that I enjoyed reading and watching the first season of Initial D, a similarly set manga/anime series. However, of course, I would ask that we keep direct references or similarities to the show and its creations at a minimum.

To be honest, I'd expect at least some understanding of cars and/or racing techniques to really get into the races. While a degree of technicality and reason is expected, you're more than welcome to be creative and original so long as it's balanced with realism. That does mean, however, that technical info comes into play a lot, such as vehicle specs, tire management, or racing styles. Feel free to ask about anything, I'll do my best to explain or find out myself.

If you have any questions or comments, I'd be glad to field them in this topic. Aside from that, thanks!

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SETTING

March 1998: the beginning of spring. Every spring in Japan, the ice melts, and the cherry blossoms bloom. To a small niche of car enthusiasts, who run dangerous night races down the mountain passes, it signals the beginning of racing season. These tōge racers, infamous for their suicidal speeds down poorly-lit, windy roads, are rife across Kanto, but the hotspot location is Mt. Hakone. Located in western Kanagawa, the beautiful, scenic mountain means much more to the street racers of Kanto, who come in from as far away as Tochigi to race and spectate. In fact, this is because as opposed to the typical singular route most mountains take up, Hakone has four iconic passes.

In the early 1990s, Hakone was dominated by the legendary Z Brothers; as the name may infer, two brothers who drove Nissan Z-cars. The elder brother, Ryuki Fujimoto, ran with a light, agile '82 280Z, and was an analytical expert who specifically mastered the Turnpike downhill. Noriyuki, his junior by 8 years, went with a more 'modern' Z32, and pushed his skills to the limit, tuning it up and dominating the Nanamagari hillclimb. However, after Ryuki retired from racing and Noriyuki moved away in the mid-90s, the street racing scene has seen a power vacuum of sorts. Several small teams have sprouted up, attempting (and failing) to shatter the Z Brothers' times, but none yet have been able to even mimic the success of a truly strong street racing team. Oh, that's probably where you come in. Or not, that's fine too.

Courses

HAKONE

• Nagao: The de facto 'introductory course' to Hakone, Nagao spans just through Hakone and Gotemba, in the Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures. With a mixture of blind hairpins, decreasing radius corners and lidless gutters, this pass tests a driver's skill to the fullest, and is traditionally the first one run by street racers entering Hakone.
• Nanamagari: Second on the list is Nanamagari, facing east to Lake Ashi. The iconic 12 consecutive hairpins in the middle section catches most drivers off guard after they have gotten used to the high speed sections both on the descent and the hillclimb. A narrow and dangerous course, this is where drivers and tuners test their skills and balance.
• Tsubaki Line: This is the southernmost course, and the longest, in terms of time to navigate. Its first section on the downhill starts off as a very fast course, before abruptly switching to medium-speed hairpins and bends, both of which take most drivers off-guard. The corner most new drivers take notes at is the split road at Section 3. Here, a racer can regain or lose their position, by utilizing either a surprise divebomb into the inside, or by mistakenly overspeeding into the outside.
• Turnpike: Perhaps the most treacherous (and most infamous) of Hakone's passes is the Toyo Tires Turnpike. A toll road located in between Nanamagari and Tsubaki Line, this extremely high speed course resembles the Shuto C1 expressway more than an actual mountain pass. Without a hairpin corner in sight, this course matches powerful, agile cars the best. When racing, no driver in their right mind pushes at 100%- that is, no one who survives.

OTHER PASSES
Although once popular in the late 1980s and early 90s, the passes of northern Kanto, such as Haruna, Akagi, and Myogi have become subject to occasional police presence installed (due in part to popular media), making them impractical for street racing. Some racers still frequent the more remote routes such as Sadamine or Tsuchisaka in Saitama Prefecture, although their numbers pale in comparison to the Kanagawa/Tokyo racing scene.

HIGHWAY/CIRCUITS
Of course, not all of the street races take place on the mountains. Those seeking high speed get their kicks in Tokyo, in two main locations. In the heart of Tokyo lies the Shuto C1 Expressway, a highway loop that surrounds downtown Tokyo. One may enjoy the unique scenery that surrounds the downtown area, such as office buildings in Ginza, long tunnels, and the Tokyo Tower. Experienced racers can take the high speed up a notch, although this requires sharper cornering. Even faster paced is the Wangan, or Coastal Bayshore Route, which stretches out of the cities, connecting Yokohama to Tokyo. The continuously straight and wide road is stretched, making the benchmark of 300km/h easy to obtain given proper conditions. Alternatively, racers also opt to take the legal option on Fuji Speedway, Yatabe Test Track, or Tsukuba Circuit.

Cars

Given the setting, almost every hashiriya (street racer) in Kanto makes do with a domestic Japanese sports car from the 1980s or 1990s. However, upon request with reasonable basis, it could be possible to drive an alternative vehicle. Naturally, this will mainly focus on 80s/90s JDM cars.
For a chart referencing stats/specs, I made one here.

• Honda
  
  
  
  • Civic: Affordable, reliable, and nimble, the Civic has been the staple of many street racers, most notably the kanjōzoku of Osaka. The go-to models are the EF9 or EG6 Civic SiR, although the EK9 Type R is a more modern take on the Civic.
  • CR-X: Nearly identical to the EF9, the first generation CR-X has similar ratings. However, in the mid 1990s, the branches split with the CR-X Del Sol, which used the Civic's B16A engine.
  • Integra: Ideal for an FF uphiller, the Integra is longer and stronger than the Civic, with a more powerful B18C engine. Most street racers driving the Integra do so with the Type R model, which is ideal for tackling the hillclimb.
  • NSX: The crown jewel of Honda, the mid-rear engine NSX was designed by the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna himself. Taking inspiration from Ferraris and fighter jets, this is a realistic no-no. Don't pick this.
• Mazda
  
  
  
  • Roadster: The MX-5 Roadster, known in America as the Miata, could be considered the rear-wheel-drive equivalent to the Civic EG6: well-priced, agile around corners, and popular. Despite its minimal performance statistics, like the Civic, the Roadster is best when tuned and driven well.
  • RX-7: Extremely unique due to its rotary engine, the RX-7 is a car hard to compare. Its unique engine makes the most out of its size, pushing up to 276 horsepower stock from only 1.3 liters. However, this is a compromise for its poor mileage and reliability. The two most common RX-7 models are the FC3S, and the newer FD3S.
• Mitsubishi
  
  
  
  • FTO: The Mitsubishi FTO is the dark horse of its kind: outshadowed by the Civic and Lancer Evolution. However, it is able to rival the Integra R in specs: a 200hp V6 engine and 1200kg.
  • Lancer Evolution: The hallmark of Mitsubishi is its 4WD rally car, the Lan Evo for short. With a powerful 4-engine and 4-wheel-drive, the Evo is a powerful menace that comes in three common models: the Evo III, the Evo IV, and the brand-new Evo V.
  • Starion: A forgotten relic, the Starion is a turbo rear-wheel-drive hatchback from the 1980s, similar to the Silvia S12 or AE86. However, it never took off, due to its late arrival to motorsports.
• Nissan
  
  
  
  • Fairlady Z: Japan's edition of the V6 touring car, the Fairlady Z's newest iteration is the twin-turbo 3-liter Z32. Its heavy weight and loud, large engine naturally make it ideal for a power course such as the Turnpike or Shuto Expressway.
  • S-Chassis: The S-Chassis branches into three contemporary types: the first edition of 180SX and Silvia S13, and the second iteration, the Silvia S14 (with a facelift). All such vehicles are admirable RWD drift cars, using the 200hp SR20DET engine. However, many forget the 1980s S12, which had popups and a turbo CA18DET.
  • Skyline: Powerful, intimidating, and heavy, the Skyline's GT-R brand can strike fear with just its name. However, due to its luxuriously high price range, many start out by tuning a lower-level RWD Skyline, such as the R32 GTS-T.
• Subaru
  
  
  
  • Impreza: The Subaru Impreza has had similar success in rallying to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, its 22B dominating the scene with its unique boxer engine. Although the 22B is more or less a unicorn car, the GC8 Impreza WRX is a street-legal machine on par with the Lan Evo.
• Toyota
  
  
  
  • MR2: With the engine behind the driver, the MR2 is a car that shares its traits with few affordable others. Street racers tend towards either the older AW11 (112hp N/A, 145hp supercharged) or the newer SW20 (163hp N/A, 218hp turbo).
  • Sprinter Trueno: Immortalized by Keiichi Tsuchiya and Takumi Fujiwara, the Trueno AE86 (and its Levin counterpart) are RWD tōge icons. However, despite the mythical status, the AE86 is actually quite minimalistic- sporting about 1000 kg and 112 hp through a 4AGE engine. Fans of Initial D know not to buy a Levin/Trueno SR, which is actually the less powerful AE85 model.
  • Supra: Another powerful heavyweight, the Supra JZA80 boasts a twin-turbo 2JZ engine, pushing 276 horses. Its older sibling, the JZA70, uses a single-turbo 1JZ, with similar power ranges.
  
  
  ADVICE
  Firstly, note that this is a basic list, and your car selection may exceed this list if reasonable and period-accurate. As well, when checking price ranges and models, I would recommend goo-net-exchange.com as a good reference site. Do note that the RP is set in 1998, and cars would be at MSRP value if purchased recently IC.

NPCs

Ryuki Fujimoto

Image

Once dubbed the unofficial "King of Hakone", Ryuki Fujimoto started out in the early 1980s, when street racing was far less mainstream. Starting out with a then brand-new 280Z, Ryuki perfected his technique on Hakone's four passes. This gave him an edge, allowing him to analyze and adapt to new scenarios quickly. Over time, he developed a knack for reading the situation, and using his resources smartly to his advantage. Combined with his tuner friends at the Speed King shop, Hakone's Z soon achieved seemingly miraculous times on the downhills, especially the Turnpike, where circuit techniques were orthodox. His secret was weight- rather than a heavy, sluggish powerhouse, Ryuki's Z was light and power-efficient, allowing it to conserve corner speed.

After managing to 'conquer' the Kanagawa area, he made quick rivalries in Gunma. Although able to butt heads with other racers on Akagi and Haruna, he was easily bested by making the foolish mistake of challenging "Usui's Hachi-Roku". With a certain Tsuchiya behind the wheel, Ryuki stood little chance, and from then on learned an important lesson: to think with your head.

Once his brother Noriyuki was old enough to drive (that is, old enough to legally drive his own car), Ryuki was content with heading a two-man team. Thus, the Z Brothers of Hakone were spawned, Ryuki serving as the leader and mentor to his younger sibling. For years, this remained the status quo, until Noriyuki slowly begun to surpass his elder. Noticing this, Ryuki realized his decline was imminent, and accepted this fate, ultimately 'retiring' from the street racing scene in 1994.

Noriyuki Fujimoto

Image

One of the few Japanese MLB players, it would be hard to believe that Athletics relief pitcher Noriyuki Fujimoto was an accomplished street racer just 5 years ago. These days, the landed Californian lives in the "Japantown" area of San Francisco, with his wife and daughter. Jump back to 1990, and you would see an 18-year-old Noriyuki, fresh out of high school and ready to run his brand-new Z32 down the Turnpike.

Noriyuki grew up looking up to his aniki, and became a car fanatic just like him. Admiring Ryuki's 280Z, Noriyuki wished for something of his own once he turned 18. However, their personalities heavily differed. While Ryuki was the analytical, laid-back, 'yin' type, Noriyuki was very much a 'yang': energetic, outgoing, and fearless. Wanting something strong and fresh, but at the same time reflective of his brother, he picked the brand-new 1990 Z32.

Before legally owning his own Z, Noriyuki made a couple Turnpike runs on his brother's 280Z. Assuming that its 'slow' speed was the fault of the light, underpowered car, he had minimal expectations of it when racing his Z32. Naturally, he was sorely disappointed and given an easy beating from Ryuki, who was barely pushing it. He may have been fearless, but at this stage, he would also prove to be clueless.

Over time under his sibling's mentorship, Noriyuki developed his skills, improving his car gradually to adjust for his abilities and shortcomings. Finding an affinity for Nanamagari's hillclimb, he had his fair share of victories and losses, but through perseverance and determination to improve he grew to become the "rising star" of Hakone. But his time had come to 'graduate', and once he had finished university and Ryuki had retired, Noriyuki decided to pursue his baseball career and sign with the Yokohama BayStars. After the NPB exodus to the MLB, Noriyuki followed suit, moving to Oakland.

Matsuyama Hayato

Image

The owner of Speed King, Matsuyama-san is a veteran touge-spec tuner, having been in the business for the better part of 20 years. In his late 30s (although no one can truly verify this), Matsuyama is seen at Speed King on most days, tinkering with either his Roadster or R32. However, more rumors have it that the Roadster and R32 still take to Hakone's roads at night.

A Gunma local, Hayato sometimes noticed loud, fast cars making their way up Mt. Akagi as a teenager. Once he was finally old enough to buy a second-hand KP61 Starlet, he begun to race on Akagi, taking a job as a mechanic at the local tuner shop. Through this, he learned about his car and pass in and out, becoming a respected name on Akagi.

When the 'King of Hakone' came to challenge Gunma, Hayato stood up quickly to battle for Akagi. Facing off against the 280Z on Akagi's downhill, the two racers set a record time, with the Starlet overtaken on the last hairpin. Crushed, Hayato demanded a 'true' rematch as soon as possible, keeping in contact with the man he now knew as Ryuki Fujimoto.

Over the next few years, Ryuki and Hayato exchanged talk, time attacks, and became good friends. Finally, upon hearing of Ryuki's brother winning a couple of races, Hayato finally decided that he wanted a piece of the Hakone scene. Saving up, and moving shop to Hakone, Hayato founded Speed King, where Ryuki claimed he would get prolific business from the local racers. Serving as a 'foil' to Ryuki's mentorship, Hayato made progress on two Hakone projects to test the waters. Fine-tuning a Roadster for the tight downhill corners and upgrading a GTS25T Skyline for the hillclimb, Hayato was easily acclimated to Hakone, even teaching Noriyuki a couple lessons on the way. Once the Z Brothers left, Hayato saw a bittersweet boost in business, as formerly 'small-time' racers rushed to him, in hopes of becoming the next Ryuki or Noriyuki. Hayato quietly complied, knowing no one would reach that mark for a while.

Locales

• Toyo Tires View Lounge: As the name suggests, the View Lounge is a viewing center and parking lot situated directly preceding the Turnpike. With a great view of the area and a large lot near the Turnpike, the View Lounge is notorious for being the gathering place for street racer meets at Hakone, regardless of the home pass.
• Speed King Tuning Shop: Located in Yugawara-machi, just south of Tsubaki Line, Speed King Tuning Shop (Speed King, or even SK for short) is where an allegedly retired street racer settled down to tune up other touge-spec cars in the Hakone area. The convenient location and mechanic skill makes Speed King the ideal shop for Hakone racers. Owned by a man in his 30s named Kenjiro Matsuyama, Speed King's notable projects are a downhill-tuned Roadster and a heavily modified GTS-T R32.
• Kotolier Café: A café and light dining establishment near Lake Ashi, Kotolier is a common date location, as well as absolutely heterosexual meetings between close friends that so happen to be male.

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CHARACTER/CAR SHEETS

Name (Name in Japanese)

Age: __ (dd/mm/yyyy [keep in mind RP is set in March 1998])
Height:
Weight:
Gender: [M/F]
Description: [describe physical traits]
Personality:
Driving Style:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Backstory:
Theme: [eurobeat or other]
Home Course: [should be mountain pass, if character is unskilled an N/A will suffice]

Car

Manufacturer:
Year:
Model: [full model name] ([chassis code])
Color:
Engine:
Drivetrain: (drivetrain) (gears/transmission) [i.e. FR 5MT]
Weight: ____ kg (____ lbs)
Power: ___ hp (___ PS / ___ kW)
Torque: __ kg/m (__ lb/ft)
Condition: [new/used/clean/worn]
Custom Parts:

• Engine:
  
  
  
• Drivetrain:
  
  
  
• Brakes:
  
  
  
• Suspension:
  
  
  
• Wheels:
  
  
  
• Interior:
  
  
  
• Exterior:
  
  
  

Value:

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UAC Labs Phobos Base

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INTRODUCTION

Hi! I've been interested in a relatively serious street racing RP for a while. On top of that I'm particularly interested in Japanese cars as a hobby, so I'm able to put 2 and 2 together here.

This RP will primarily involve street racers down the touge, or mountain passes, of Japan, specifically those on Mt. Hakone, in Kanagawa. Set in spring 1998, I wanted to recapture the nature and aesthetic that I enjoyed reading and watching the first season of Initial D, a similarly set manga/anime series. However, of course, I would ask that we keep direct references or similarities to the show and its creations at a minimum.

To be honest, I'd expect at least some understanding of cars and/or racing techniques to really get into the races. While a degree of technicality and reason is, naturally, expected, you're more than welcome to be creative and original, as long as it's balanced with realism. That does mean, however, that technical info comes into play a lot, such as vehicle specs, tire management, or racing styles.

If you have any questions or comments, I'd be glad to field them in this topic. Aside from that, thanks!

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SETTING

March 1998: the beginning of spring. Every spring in Japan, the ice melts, and the cherry blossoms bloom. To a small niche of car enthusiasts, who run dangerous night races down the mountain passes, it signals the beginning of racing season. These tōge racers, infamous for their suicidal speeds down poorly-lit, windy roads, are rife across Kanto, but the hotspot location is Mt. Hakone. Located in western Kanagawa, the beautiful, scenic mountain means much more to the street racers of Kanto, who come in from as far away as Tochigi to race and spectate. In fact, this is because as opposed to the typical singular route most mountains take up, Hakone has four iconic passes.

In the early 1990s, Hakone was dominated by the legendary Z Brothers; as the name may infer, two brothers who drove Nissan Z-cars. The elder brother, Ryuki Fujimoto, ran with a light, agile '82 280Z, and was an analytical expert who specifically mastered the Turnpike downhill. Noriyuki, his junior by 8 years, went with a more 'modern' Z32, and pushed his skills to the limit, tuning it up and dominating the Nanamagari hillclimb. However, after Ryuki retired from racing and Noriyuki moved away in the mid-90s, the street racing scene has seen a power vacuum of sorts. Several small teams have sprouted up, attempting (and failing) to shatter the Z Brothers' times, but none yet have been able to even mimic the success of a truly strong street racing team. Oh, that's probably where you come in. Or not, that's fine too.

Courses

HAKONE

• Nagao: The de facto 'introductory course' to Hakone, Nagao spans just through Hakone and Gotemba, in the Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures. With a mixture of blind hairpins, decreasing radius corners and lidless gutters, this pass tests a driver's skill to the fullest, and is traditionally the first one run by street racers entering Hakone.
• Nanamagari: Second on the list is Nanamagari, facing east to Lake Ashi. The iconic 12 consecutive hairpins in the middle section catches most drivers off guard after they have gotten used to the high speed sections both on the descent and the hillclimb. A narrow and dangerous course, this is where drivers and tuners test their skills and balance.
• Tsubaki Line: This is the southernmost course, and the longest, in terms of time to navigate. Its first section on the downhill starts off as a very fast course, before abruptly switching to medium-speed hairpins and bends, both of which take most drivers off-guard. The corner most new drivers take notes at is the split road at Section 3. Here, a racer can regain or lose their position, by utilizing either a surprise divebomb into the inside, or by mistakenly overspeeding into the outside.
• Turnpike: Perhaps the most treacherous (and most infamous) of Hakone's passes is the Toyo Tires Turnpike. A toll road located in between Nanamagari and Tsubaki Line, this extremely high speed course resembles the Shuto C1 expressway more than an actual mountain pass. Without a hairpin corner in sight, this course matches powerful, agile cars the best. When racing, no driver in their right mind pushes at 100%- that is, no one who survives.

OTHER PASSES
Although once popular in the late 1980s and early 90s, the passes of northern Kanto, such as Haruna, Akagi, and Myogi have become subject to occasional police presence installed (due in part to popular media), making them impractical for street racing. Some racers still frequent the more remote routes such as Sadamine or Tsuchisaka in Saitama Prefecture, although their numbers pale in comparison to the Kanagawa/Tokyo racing scene.

HIGHWAY/CIRCUITS
Of course, not all of the street races take place on the mountains. Those seeking high speed get their kicks in Tokyo, in two main locations. In the heart of Tokyo lies the Shuto C1 Expressway, a highway loop that surrounds downtown Tokyo. One may enjoy the unique scenery that surrounds the downtown area, such as office buildings in Ginza, long tunnels, and the Tokyo Tower. Experienced racers can take the high speed up a notch, although this requires sharper cornering. Even faster paced is the Wangan, or Coastal Bayshore Route, which stretches out of the cities, connecting Yokohama to Tokyo. The continuously straight and wide road is stretched, making the benchmark of 300km/h easy to obtain given proper conditions. Alternatively, racers also opt to take the legal option on Fuji Speedway, Yatabe Test Track, or Tsukuba Circuit.

Cars

Given the setting, almost every racer in Kanto makes do with a domestic Japanese car from the 1980s or 1990s. However, upon request with reasonable basis, it could be possible to drive an alternative vehicle. Naturally, this will mainly focus on 80s/90s JDM cars.
For a chart referencing stats/specs, I made one here.

• Honda
  
  • Civic: Affordable, reliable, and nimble, the Civic has been the staple of many street racers, most notably the kanjōzoku of Osaka. The go-to models are the EF9 or EG6 Civic SiR, although the EK9 Type R is a more modern take on the Civic.
  • CR-X: Nearly identical to the EF9, the first generation CR-X has similar ratings. However, in the mid 1990s, the branches split with the CR-X Del Sol, which used the Civic's B16A engine.
  • Integra: Ideal for an FF uphiller, the Integra is longer and stronger than the Civic, with a more powerful B18C engine. Most street racers driving the Integra do so with the Type R model, which is ideal for tackling the hillclimb.
  • NSX: The crown jewel of Honda, the mid-rear engine NSX was designed by the late F1 legend Ayrton Senna himself. Taking inspiration from Ferraris and fighter jets, this is a realistic no-no. Don't pick this.
• Mazda
  
  • Roadster: The MX-5 Roadster, known in America as the Miata, could be considered the rear-wheel-drive equivalent to the Civic EG6: well-priced, agile around corners, and popular. Despite its minimal performance statistics, like the Civic, the Roadster is best when tuned and driven well.
  • RX-7: Extremely unique due to its rotary engine, the RX-7 is a car hard to compare. Its unique engine makes the most out of its size, pushing up to 276 horsepower stock from only 1.3 liters. However, this is a compromise for its poor mileage and reliability. The two most common RX-7 models are the FC3S, and the newer FD3S.
• Mitsubishi
  
  • FTO: The Mitsubishi FTO is the dark horse of its kind: outshadowed by the Civic and Lancer Evolution. However, it is able to rival the Integra R in specs: a 200hp V6 engine and 1200kg.
  • Lancer Evolution: The hallmark of Mitsubishi is its 4WD rally car, the Lan Evo for short. With a powerful 4-engine and 4-wheel-drive, the Evo is a powerful menace that comes in three common models: the Evo III, the Evo IV, and the brand-new Evo V.
  • Starion: A forgotten relic, the Starion is a turbo rear-wheel-drive hatchback from the 1980s, similar to the Silvia S12 or AE86. However, it never took off, due to its late arrival to motorsports.
• Nissan
  
  • Fairlady Z: Japan's edition of the V6 touring car, the Fairlady Z's newest iteration is the twin-turbo 3-liter Z32. Its heavy weight and loud, large engine naturally make it ideal for a power course such as the Turnpike or Shuto Expressway.
  • S-Chassis: The S-Chassis branches into three contemporary types: the first edition of 180SX and Silvia S13, and the second iteration, the Silvia S14 (with a facelift). All such vehicles are admirable RWD drift cars, using the 200hp SR20DET engine. However, many forget the 1980s S12, which had popups and a turbo CA18DET.
  • Skyline: Powerful, intimidating, and heavy, the Skyline's GT-R brand can strike fear with just its name. However, due to its luxuriously high price range, many start out by tuning a lower-level RWD Skyline, such as the R32 GTS-T.
• Subaru
  
  • Impreza: The Subaru Impreza has had similar success in rallying to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, its 22B dominating the scene with its unique boxer engine. Although the 22B is more or less a unicorn car, the GC8 Impreza WRX is a street-legal machine on par with the Lan Evo.
• Toyota
  
  • MR2: With the engine behind the driver, the MR2 is a car that shares its traits with few affordable others. Street racers tend towards either the older AW11 (112hp N/A, 145hp supercharged) or the newer SW20 (163hp N/A, 218hp turbo).
  • Sprinter Trueno: Immortalized by Keiichi Tsuchiya and Takumi Fujiwara, the Trueno AE86 (and its Levin counterpart) are RWD tōge icons. However, despite the mythical status, the AE86 is actually quite minimalistic- sporting about 1000 kg and 112 hp through a 4AGE engine. Fans of Initial D know not to buy a Levin/Trueno SR, which is actually the less powerful AE85 model.
  • Supra: Another powerful heavyweight, the Supra JZA80 boasts a twin-turbo 2JZ engine, pushing 276 horses. Its older sibling, the JZA70, uses a single-turbo 1JZ, with similar power ranges.
  
  
  ADVICE
  Firstly, note that this is a basic list, and your car selection may exceed this list if reasonable and period-accurate. As well, when checking price ranges and models, I would recommend goo-net-exchange.com as a good reference site. Do note that the RP is set in 1998, and cars would be at MSRP value if purchased recently IC.

NPCs

Ryuki Fujimoto

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Once dubbed the unofficial "King of Hakone", Ryuki Fujimoto started out in the early 1980s, when street racing was far less mainstream. Starting out with a then brand-new 280Z, Ryuki perfected his technique on Hakone's four passes. This gave him an edge, allowing him to analyze and adapt to new scenarios quickly. Over time, he developed a knack for reading the situation, and using his resources smartly to his advantage. Combined with his tuner friends at the Speed King shop, Hakone's Z soon achieved seemingly miraculous times on the downhills, especially the Turnpike, where circuit techniques were orthodox. His secret was weight- rather than a heavy, sluggish powerhouse, Ryuki's Z was light and power-efficient, allowing it to conserve corner speed.

After managing to 'conquer' the Kanagawa area, he made quick rivalries in Gunma. Although able to butt heads with other racers on Akagi and Haruna, he was easily bested by making the foolish mistake of challenging "Usui's Hachi-Roku". With a certain Tsuchiya behind the wheel, Ryuki stood little chance, and from then on learned an important lesson: to think with your head.

Once his brother Noriyuki was old enough to drive (that is, old enough to legally drive his own car), Ryuki was content with heading a two-man team. Thus, the Z Brothers of Hakone were spawned, Ryuki serving as the leader and mentor to his younger sibling. For years, this remained the status quo, until Noriyuki slowly begun to surpass his elder. Noticing this, Ryuki realized his decline was imminent, and accepted this fate, ultimately 'retiring' from the street racing scene in 1994.

Noriyuki Fujimoto

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One of the few Japanese MLB players, it would be hard to believe that Athletics relief pitcher Noriyuki Fujimoto was an accomplished street racer just 5 years ago. These days, the landed Californian lives in the "Japantown" area of San Francisco, with his wife and daughter. Jump back to 1990, and you would see an 18-year-old Noriyuki, fresh out of high school and ready to run his brand-new Z32 down the Turnpike.

Noriyuki grew up looking up to his aniki, and became a car fanatic just like him. Admiring Ryuki's 280Z, Noriyuki wished for something of his own once he turned 18. However, their personalities heavily differed. While Ryuki was the analytical, laid-back, 'yin' type, Noriyuki was very much a 'yang': energetic, outgoing, and fearless. Wanting something strong and fresh, but at the same time reflective of his brother, he picked the brand-new 1990 Z32.

Before legally owning his own Z, Noriyuki made a couple Turnpike runs on his brother's 280Z. Assuming that its 'slow' speed was the fault of the light, underpowered car, he had minimal expectations of it when racing his Z32. Naturally, he was sorely disappointed and given an easy beating from Ryuki, who was barely pushing it. He may have been fearless, but at this stage, he would also prove to be clueless.

Over time under his sibling's mentorship, Noriyuki developed his skills, improving his car gradually to adjust for his abilities and shortcomings. Finding an affinity for Nanamagari's hillclimb, he had his fair share of victories and losses, but through perseverance and determination to improve he grew to become the "rising star" of Hakone. But his time had come to 'graduate', and once he had finished university and Ryuki had retired, Noriyuki decided to pursue his baseball career and sign with the Yokohama BayStars. After the NPB exodus to the MLB, Noriyuki followed suit, moving to Oakland.

Matsuyama Hayato

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The owner of Speed King, Matsuyama-san is a veteran touge-spec tuner, having been in the business for the better part of 20 years. In his late 30s (although no one can truly verify this), Matsuyama is seen at Speed King on most days, tinkering with either his Roadster or R32. However, more rumors have it that the Roadster and R32 still take to Hakone's roads at night.

A Gunma local, Hayato sometimes noticed loud, fast cars making their way up Mt. Akagi as a teenager. Once he was finally old enough to buy a second-hand KP61 Starlet, he begun to race on Akagi, taking a job as a mechanic at the local tuner shop. Through this, he learned about his car and pass in and out, becoming a respected name on Akagi.

When the 'King of Hakone' came to challenge Gunma, Hayato stood up quickly to battle for Akagi. Facing off against the 280Z on Akagi's downhill, the two racers set a record time, with the Starlet overtaken on the last hairpin. Crushed, Hayato demanded a 'true' rematch as soon as possible, keeping in contact with the man he now knew as Ryuki Fujimoto.

Over the next few years, Ryuki and Hayato exchanged talk, time attacks, and became good friends. Finally, upon hearing of Ryuki's brother winning a couple of races, Hayato finally decided that he wanted a piece of the Hakone scene. Saving up, and moving shop to Hakone, Hayato founded Speed King, where Ryuki claimed he would get prolific business from the local racers. Serving as a 'foil' to Ryuki's mentorship, Hayato made progress on two Hakone projects to test the waters. Fine-tuning a Roadster for the tight downhill corners and upgrading a GTS25T Skyline for the hillclimb, Hayato was easily acclimated to Hakone, even teaching Noriyuki a couple lessons on the way. Once the Z Brothers left, Hayato saw a bittersweet boost in business, as formerly 'small-time' racers rushed to him, in hopes of becoming the next Ryuki or Noriyuki. Hayato quietly complied, knowing no one would reach that mark for a while.

Locales

• Toyo Tires View Lounge: As the name suggests, the View Lounge is a viewing center and parking lot situated directly preceding the Turnpike. With a great view of the area and a large lot near the Turnpike, the View Lounge is notorious for being the gathering place for street racer meets at Hakone, regardless of the home pass.
• Speed King Tuning Shop: Located in Yugawara-machi, just south of Tsubaki Line, Speed King Tuning Shop (Speed King, or even SK for short) is where an allegedly retired street racer settled down to tune up other touge-spec cars in the Hakone area. The convenient location and mechanic skill makes Speed King the ideal shop for Hakone racers. Owned by a man in his 30s named Kenjiro Matsuyama, Speed King's notable projects are a downhill-tuned Roadster and a heavily modified GTS-T R32.
• Kotolier Café: A café and light dining establishment near Lake Ashi, Kotolier is a common date location, as well as absolutely heterosexual meetings between close friends that so happen to be male.

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CHARACTER/CAR SHEETS

Name (Name in Japanese)

Age: __ (dd/mm/yyyy [keep in mind RP is set in ~98 or so])
Height: _'__" (__ cm)
Weight: ___ lbs (__ kg)
Gender:
Description:
Personality:
Driving Style:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Backstory:
Theme:
Home Course:

Car

Manufacturer:
Year:
Model: [full model name] ([chassis code])
Color:
Engine:
Drivetrain: [drivetrain] [gears/transmission]
Weight: ____ kg (____ lbs)
Power: ___ hp (___ PS / ___ kW)
Torque: __ kg/m (__ lb/ft)
Condition:
Custom Parts:

• Engine:
  
• Drivetrain:
  
• Brakes:
  
• Suspension:
  
• Wheels:
  
• Interior:
  
• Exterior:
  

Value:

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What Are You Listening To?

_{excuse the weebery}

What Are You Listening To?

The Political Thread

@Dynamo Frokane
Honestly, I find that things like TYT on the left or Milo on the right are a hindrance to civil discussion on both sides. Their whole thing is to paint the other side as the 'bad guy' and provoke the other into doing the same thing, leading to an even bigger political rift. I'm personally on the liberal capitalist side of politics, but people who just attack the other side regardless of affiliation do nothing to make the political climate better off.