SD.Net World Redux Comment Thread IV

[Karmic Knight]

By all means, go for it. If my Rangataran intervention is any indication, relying on me (of all people) to start some story is a Bad Idea.

Speaking of stories you never got around to working on, how is that Kamila thing going to continue, it should involve Rufus Shinra on a STAR Destroyer somehow?

[PeZook]

By all means, go for it. If my Rangataran intervention is any indication, relying on me (of all people) to start some story is a Bad Idea.

Speaking of stories you never got around to working on, how is that Kamila thing going to continue, it should involve Rufus Shinra on a STAR Destroyer somehow?

That...is brilliant.

[Zor]

Alright, why are people suddenly against my harmless expansion of Zorian Norse and Shinto Faiths?

Zor

[Coyote]

I was going to introduce a quasi-Scientology/cult deprogramming angle, for kicks mostly.

But if you had a different direction to take it in, that's cool, I'll do it some other time.

[Ryan Thunder]

By the way everybody, now that I actually have a map up, is the Real 8 a PC territory, NPC, or uncontrolled?

[Beowulf]

Dude, you ain't gonna sell Beowulf any 8x30mm rifles/pistols when his entire military uses the 6.8 MESS...

Besides, I am manufacturing assault rifles for Beowulf already . This piece of kit right here, the Type 09:
<snip>

I'll tell you what; my engineers can develop a bullpup version of that rifle for you.

That should offer similar accuracy in a smaller package. What would that be worth to you and Beowulf?

Approximately 0. The rifle was design by the Tian Xia Imperial Army's Springfield Armory to TXA specifications. It's not a bullpup because the TXA didn't want a bullpup. If we wanted a bullpup we would have designed one.

* How's that annexation going, anyway? I know they wouldn't just be happy happy about it. And I image there's still the possibilty of trouble over there. Trouble that can't be handwaved away like Zord did over in, uh, that place in Velaria. Just saying, if y'all are hard up for plotlines.

That place is seriously full of sheep, they handled becoming a protectorate, to becoming a colony, to an autonomous province and now to a regular province, they really should have revolted at some point.

Well, it was originally colonized about 200 years ago, or so. Then it stopped following Imperial rule about 90 years ago. And now it's back under Imperial rule.

[DarthShady]

Hell, I might even make something up. Not as backed by my nation or anything, but as a "ha ha screw Shady" kind of thing.

In Shadow Union, Shady screws YOU!!!

That...was a horrible joke.

But seriously, if anyone wants to start a story, feel free to do so. Just don't cause too many problems.

Also: Internet connection at my hotel is somewhat unstable, so if there is some kind of emergency...I'll have to rely on my SNC Comrades to handle it for me.

Because of this(and work), the Glorious Shadow Union will be running mostly on autopilot, for the next week or so.

[Steve]

Alright, why are people suddenly against my harmless expansion of Zorian Norse and Shinto Faiths?

Zor

You are stretching a bit with your claims of five and six digit conversions with "hotspots" being established player-countries like Cascadia and Canissia that already have culturally established religions, over which you then go into those "ra-ra yay me!" news posts, and without explaining why you'd be getting tens of thousands of converts at minimum per country (assuming the "hotspots", of which you listed about five or six IIRC, account for about 75% of all converts globally as a base). Why would so many people convert to a minor faith centered on just one country or, in Shinto's case, a sect of a larger mostly "Eastern" faith that is likely associated globally with Japanistan, not exactly a popular society for most of Messica and the Old Continent?

And let's not get started on your handwaving Japanistan okaying the selling of their East Veleria Coastal Station for a piddly fifteen million when it should've gotten at least ten times that. If I'd still been playing at the time I would've called you on it right then and there.

[Zor]

The Words "Minority Faith" mean anything to you. Tens of thousands of followers is basically nothing but a footnote in a 10 Million+ nations. It's like saying Christianity is threatened in the States because of a few enclaves of Chinese Ansestor Worship emerged. Besides, according to my original posts, there were already a few small enclaves of Zorian Norse and Shinto worship from immigrant populations set up (including might i add one bigger than the piddling 2,500 that you listed afterwards originally), Cascadia being a likely hotspot for such activity due to it's proximity to Zoria Geographically. They are also quite well funded from the established communities of Faithful in Zoria and do a good deal of Charity work

Besides, Zoria is not a nation with a history of notable bad press. It is a fairly stable out of the way island state with the notable exception of helping out during this world's WW2, and Zorian Shinto is regardless distinct from Japanistani Shinto (thus giving a viable alternative to Japanistani immigrant populations living in wherever).

Zor

[CmdrWilkens]

Dude, you ain't gonna sell Beowulf any 8x30mm rifles/pistols when his entire military uses the 6.8 MESS...

Besides, I am manufacturing assault rifles for Beowulf already . This piece of kit right here, the Type 09:
<snip>

I'll tell you what; my engineers can develop a bullpup version of that rifle for you.

That should offer similar accuracy in a smaller package. What would that be worth to you and Beowulf?

Hey Ryan perhaps one should put it this way:

The combined GDP of the MESS (counting all marginally attached members) is roughly $30 trillion or about twice the size of the US economy. The amount of manufacturing capacity that can be switched on at extremely competitive pricing means that you would have to come up with a rather unique product to sell to us. In other words all the staples of military tools (smll arms, IFVs, tanks, trucks, aircraft, helos, missiles, naval vessels) we can produce in much larger numbers for a lower unit cost than you could hope. The way to get around this is to a) Make it a sweethart deal that probably is either a net looser but gets you in the market or offers us a rather noticeable upside besides price or b) Offer a product that nobody esle is producing a la Coyote's Zepplein's. Somebody will buy it if its unique and worthwhile (the semi-stealth tankers is one such possiblity) but in terms of the staples either the MESS or the SNC are going to be able to outdo just about any effort even if they just brute force it.

[Steve]

A lot of minority religion groups take time to get established in a population, even if they're supported by an overseas base. You're claiming the numbers to have nearly doubled worldwide in just a few short years, including in countries that you can't even use the geographic proximity argument for (Shroomania? Canissia?).

Also, you presume a bit when it comes to Zoria's public image in other countries. While it certainly isn't as negative as Japanistan or Shepistan, your own country info makes Zoria into a surveillance state of scale and magnitude that would make Cascadians bristle with indignation and with it form not-positive images of the Zorian nation. BnL is hardly a good symbol of the Zorian private sector either.

[Ryan Thunder]

Hey Ryan perhaps one should put it this way:

The combined GDP of the MESS (counting all marginally attached members) is roughly $30 trillion or about twice the size of the US economy. The amount of manufacturing capacity that can be switched on at extremely competitive pricing means that you would have to come up with a rather unique product to sell to us. In other words all the staples of military tools (smll arms, IFVs, tanks, trucks, aircraft, helos, missiles, naval vessels) we can produce in much larger numbers for a lower unit cost than you could hope. The way to get around this is to a) Make it a sweethart deal that probably is either a net looser but gets you in the market or offers us a rather noticeable upside besides price or b) Offer a product that nobody esle is producing a la Coyote's Zepplein's. Somebody will buy it if its unique and worthwhile (the semi-stealth tankers is one such possiblity) but in terms of the staples either the MESS or the SNC are going to be able to outdo just about any effort even if they just brute force it.

I see.

Well, let's see, what can I offer you?

Self-propelled air defense platforms combining long-range SAMs and an anti-missile CIWS to defend against wild weasel missile attacks. Supercruising semi-stealth tankers, strategic bombers, and dual purpose electronics warfare/AWACs platforms, all with fighter-deterrent (they have a pair of missiles pointing forward and back, nothing too fancy.)

Do any of those spark your interest?

[TimothyC]

In Alaska there are only about 25,000 non-Christian religious people total. Most of them are indigenous.

Oh and this could add a new angle at the next Pan-Pacific conference.

[Siege]

Is the Real 8 a PC territory, NPC, or uncontrolled?

That would be my territory. There's a fair (and rapidly growing) city there called Valley Forge, and the whole area (previously nothing but jungle) is basically being rapidly developed by San Dorado.

[Lonestar]

I see.

Well, let's see, what can I offer you?

Self-propelled air defense platforms combining long-range SAMs and an anti-missile CIWS to defend against wild weasel missile attacks. Supercruising semi-stealth tankers, strategic bombers, and dual purpose electronics warfare/AWACs platforms, all with fighter-deterrent (they have a pair of missiles pointing forward and back, nothing too fancy.)

Do any of those spark your interest?

We have almost all of those, and supercruising stealth tankers are an idiotic idea, especially since there is a glut of tanker products on the marker(Guys, I'm still selling looted Shepistani KC-22s....)

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

The fight ain't over. We will bleed GSK dry! RAR!

[PeZook]

The fight ain't over. We will bleed GSK dry! RAR!

Of course it's not, but this post basically means that GSK adjusted its strategy so that it's actually able to fight.

And while pharma companies may be worried, King Paul is watching the drop in drug prices for the end-user and cackling with glee

[RogueIce]

Speaking of stories you never got around to working on, how is that Kamila thing going to continue, it should involve Rufus Shinra on a STAR Destroyer somehow?

That...is brilliant.

Well, whenever Maroon Harvest is over, I'd probably go to Canissia first, then Shroomania, then PeZookia, the USSR, and finally Byzantium (I wouldn't mind stopping by the CSR, but Stas hasn't said anything so I won't just barge in). The order being dictated by geography, in a general west -> east progression. Although I might go to Shroomania after the USSR, choosing to visit the "Med" countries and then stop by Shroomania on my way to Byzantium. Depends on whether my ship stops over on the west or east coast of Canissia. So there's my general timeline.

As far as the Kamila storyline goes, aside from having my character randomly emo-ing, there's not much that could be done about it, being on opposite sides of an ocean and all. So that storyline is largely predicated on whether or not me or King Paul go visiting each other.

Although PeZook could do something with her as a prelude to my visit when that gets formally announced and the date draws near, with those dreams and stuff. Just a suggestion.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Hmm.. I haven't gone on a tour on a warship for a while....

[Beowulf]

I see.

Well, let's see, what can I offer you?

Self-propelled air defense platforms combining long-range SAMs and an anti-missile CIWS to defend against wild weasel missile attacks. Supercruising semi-stealth tankers, strategic bombers, and dual purpose electronics warfare/AWACs platforms, all with fighter-deterrent (they have a pair of missiles pointing forward and back, nothing too fancy.)

Do any of those spark your interest?

Err... roughly nothing. We have the either the capability or the actual result for all of the valid ideas (SPAAG, strategic bombers, etc), or the idea is stupid on the face of it.

Supercruising tankers is a dumb idea because both planes will need to be subsonic in order to refuel. Otherwise you get nice shockwave effects that result in accidents.

Go come up with something genuinely new, and maybe you'll manage to sell something to the MESS. The small arms contract to Ralson Arms is purely political, and it involved nothing with classified capabilites. Ralson Arms didn't even have a hand in the design of the weapon.

[Ryan Thunder]

Err... roughly nothing. We have the either the capability or the actual result for all of the valid ideas (SPAAG, strategic bombers, etc), or the idea is stupid on the face of it.

Supercruising tankers is a dumb idea because both planes will need to be subsonic in order to refuel. Otherwise you get nice shockwave effects that result in accidents.

With all due respect, think! Are there any planes that can supercruise that must supercruise?

They have supercruise so they can get whatever capability they have to a region where it is needed in a hurry. Nobody, least of all me, is so blatantly retarded that they imagined tankers refueling anything at Mach 3.

The strategic bombers can also supercruise to and over the target, and have missiles to deter interceptors. Did you miss that?

Go come up with something genuinely new [...]

Bah. I might have high-end tech, but if I start offering you really high end stuff, you'll start bitching about how I couldn't have the infrastructure to build it (probably a valid criticism anyways.) What the hell do you want me to do? Magic? Airships? They're ludicrously vulnerable, what with the gas-bags and needing to be lighter-than-air and all that. But people are still buying those... What's the difference? Awesome factor? Well, what's not awesome about supercruising semi-stealth bombers, tankers, and electronics warfare planes?

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Ryan, why don't you either work around what you have, rather than fighting it?

[Beowulf]

Err... roughly nothing. We have the either the capability or the actual result for all of the valid ideas (SPAAG, strategic bombers, etc), or the idea is stupid on the face of it.

Supercruising tankers is a dumb idea because both planes will need to be subsonic in order to refuel. Otherwise you get nice shockwave effects that result in accidents.

With all due respect, think! Are there any planes that can supercruise that must supercruise?

They have supercruise so they can get whatever capability they have to a region where it is needed in a hurry. Nobody, least of all me, is so blatantly retarded that they imagined tankers refueling anything at Mach 3.

The strategic bombers can also supercruise to and over the target, and have missiles to deter interceptors. Did you miss that?

Except even supercruise still sucks up fuel faster than subsonic cruising, on a mpg basis. And tankers that can do more than just carry fuel are a pretty good idea.

The current TXAF strategic bomber is the B-1C, capable of supercruising on its F120-GE-100 engines, as well as carrying air to air missiles, external ordnance, cruise missiles, and so forth. It even has an AESA radar to provide air search at the same time as doing ground mapping for it's real job. You keep trying to sell people things that they already have, could do themselves for cheaper, or aren't necessary.

Go come up with something genuinely new [...]

Bah. I might have high-end tech, but if I start offering you really high end stuff, you'll start bitching about how I couldn't have the infrastructure to build it (probably a valid criticism anyways.) What the hell do you want me to do? Magic? Airships? They're ludicrously vulnerable, what with the gas-bags and needing to be lighter-than-air and all that. But people are still buying those... What's the difference? Awesome factor? Well, what's not awesome about supercruising semi-stealth bombers, tankers, and electronics warfare planes?

You know what'd really be useful? Tanks. And it'd even fit in nicely with your circumstances.

[Ryan Thunder]

Well, tanks I can do. I hadn't thought anybody would be interested, actually, or I'd have suggested them earlier.

My factories can produce six Land Battlecruisers every 2 days. This capability can be expanded, but it will take some time to do that.

Presenting the LCC-1 Land Battlecruiser.
Features include a 125mm smoothbore cannon, compatible with Miratian HEAT, APFSDS, and thermobaric ammunition, as well as a pair of remote-controlled modular defensive weapon mounts. Heavily armoured treads reduce the effectiveness of RPG attacks, and make it nearly impossible for infantry to introduce foreign objects into the track system.
Nominally, it is equipped with 8x55mm machine guns in remotely-operated turrets, but these can be modified to use 6.2 MESS if you prefer. Either can be exchanged for 25mm automatic grenade launchers. Additionally, rather than smoke launchers, the Land Battlecruiser employs small grenade launchers, allowing somewhat better control of the smoke screen. These are also compatible with other types of grenades. Requires a crew of four. Batteries not included.

[PeZook]

...and a stupid name

Kidding, kidding.

Ryan, how about establishing diplomatic ties? PeZookia could certainly use a source of natural resources like uranium. You get investment in infrastructure, we get precious nuclear fuel for our power plant expansion program (and nuclear weapons...)