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Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The FRED Workshop => Topic started by: Woolie Wool on June 13, 2010, 07:40:23 pm

Title: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 13, 2010, 07:40:23 pm
(http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/6226/2395.png)

The year is 2395. While much was lost 28 years ago during the Second Great War, much was also gained. The Knossos portal had provided the Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance with newfound hope, hope to reconnect with Sol, hope for the human diaspora to join arms with their brethren on earth, hope for the prosperous and peaceful future that was shattered when the Terran-Vasudan War broke out three quarters of a century ago. For once, mankind could imagine a future without poverty, without terror, without endless war. Project Eirene, the endeavor to build a Terran jump gate, was a beacon of hope for the human race.

It was not to be.

Where the GTVA had expected peace, they found war. Where they had expected brotherhood, they found hatred. The Free Democratic Solar Republic had risen out of the ashes of the core of the Galactic Terran Alliance, the paranoid, mistrustful product of sixty years of fear and isolation. Held in the iron fist of its tyrannical generalissimo Marco Mocci, the FDSR had turned a bustling interplanetary civilization into an engine of war. The Solar Republic trusted no one, especially not people who woud ally themselves with aliens.

In 2392, the first Allied expeditionary fleet entered Sol and was fired upon in mere minutes. 50,000 people were killed in less than an hour as Solar fleets descended upon the expeditionary force and tore it to shreds. War was declared only two hours later. Two and a half years and over a billion casualties later, the war shows no sign of letting up. As the tyrannical Generalissimo grows ever more belligerent and insane, GTVA forces muster for a decisive, overwhelming offensive to break the back of the Solar Navy and liberate the human homeworld.

You are Ensign James Whitmore, a green pilot fresh from the Academy. Graduating near the top of your class, you were transferred to the GTD Shima, one of the GTVA's most powerful warships. The order has just come in to advance on Solar strongholds in Delta Serpentis. It will take all of your skill, instincts, and courage to survive. And who knows what else might be waiting to befall the embattled GTVA from beyond the borders of known space? The battle for Sol is about to begin. The Lost Generation...is coming home.

Status: Currently one mission is complete, and most of the modpack is finalized as well. I plan to release a demo once I finish the first five missions. I plan for two acts. The first act will deal with the conclusion of the Solar War, the second will depict the third Shivan invasion and reveal the true nature of the Shivans and their plans.

Features:
* Dozens of new ships, from interceptors to dreadnoughts, as well as upgraded ships from previous eras.
* A new enemy faction, the Solar Republic, fearless, fanatical, and deadly.
* Numerous new weapons, including long-ranged, deadly accurate plasma cannons, devastating cluster rocket launchers, and the unique Drunk Missile.
* Tougher, cleverer AI
* Stronger, deadlier capital ships
* Recurring wingmen with distinct personalities
* The return of the merciless Shivans, but things are not as they seem

Do you want to help?
This is still in an early stage of development and Twist of Fate and Wings are higher priorities for me, so I'm not looking to assemble a team right now. However, if you are a modeler and interested in doing models or converting unfinished existing models for Conflict 2395, especially Shivan ships, send me a PM.

(http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2066/battle7.png)
(http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/429/battle4l.png)
(http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff348/tankermottind/newbenkei.png)
(http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff348/tankermottind/screen1500.png)
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Galemp on June 13, 2010, 08:43:13 pm
*watches cautiously*
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dragon on June 14, 2010, 04:51:29 am
Looks good, espcially the normal maps.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 14, 2010, 05:08:42 am
That fighter looks like a heavier descendant of the Shrike (from TVWP I think) :)
I quite like it.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Deka1184 on June 14, 2010, 11:48:36 am
The Raiden looks like a Typhoon from EVE-Online.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: bigchunk1 on June 14, 2010, 12:45:09 pm
Looks like a good collection of work/ideas

* Tougher, cleverer AI

I am the most interested in this feature. When I am playing a campaign, killing that 100th fighter, I think to myself that this game would not be so fun without a decent AI. Improving the AI I think improves a critical piece of gameplay.

* Numerous new weapons, including long-ranged, deadly accurate plasma cannons, devastating cluster rocket launchers, and the unique Drunk Missile.

Guess we will have to wait and see. Always fun to try new weapons. Looks like the Ripper KEW has a count for solid ammunition in addition to energy. Nice

"In 2392, the first Allied expeditionary fleet entered Sol and was fired upon in mere minutes. 50,000 people were killed in less than an hour as Solar fleets descended upon the expeditionary force and tore it to shreds. War was declared only two hours later."

I will say something that is perhaps too obvious (or even unfair) to say. This plot is very similar to those of Inferno and Blue Planet. I am guessing this plot teaser is nothing more than a general overview of the setting for this proposed campaign, but I would like to see some kind of unique details to this concept to compliment the amount of art and modding that could potentially go into it. I say this not because I think that a bloodthirsty Sol government is a weak idea, but because such beautiful scenes and innovative gameplay tweaks could be bogged down by a story which only serves to setup a Terran on Terran conflict.

I would be interested to see what specific ideas you have for the motives and structure of the Solar Republic, and how they were able to so readily unify under such an aggressive and expansionist cause. Do they really hate Vasudans that much, or do the powers that be feel threatened by reunification with the GTVA? Perhaps a glimpse into their ambitious high command, do they govern with zeal or lies?

And what’s the pilot’s personal stake in all this? Does James Whitmore encounter strange things first hand which result in surprising consequences? Or is he a no frills trained killer with battles to fight and medals to win? There are a lot of opportunities to take the player on an adventure, especially since one of the features of this campaign involves personified wingmen.

Maybe this campaign hopes to be a gameplay extravaganza, setting aside an overly complicated story to deliver us edge of your seat action and missions which require puzzle like strategy to complete. I am all for such a campaign. New ways to play Freespace can only inspire the community to both continue playing and developing.

I am curious to see what form of campaign this collection of ideas and assets might shape into.  Maybe it is too early in development to say anything quite yet. I can only say one thing for sure, those screen shots look wicked cool.     
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dragon on June 14, 2010, 01:08:04 pm
AI would most likely be some variant of the one made by Fury.
Fury's AI should be available as a separate mod somewhere.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 14, 2010, 01:18:54 pm
Quote
This plot is very similar to those of Inferno and Blue Planet.
Inferno yes, Blue Planet no.

In Blue Planet the GTVA are the agressors. Mind you, I said agressors, not bad guys!
Here we pretty clearly have the good guys and the evil dictatorship. Quite different from the very complex setting of Blue Planet with all it's shades of grey and moral ambiguity.
At least as far as I can tell from this post, maybe it will turn out that the evil dicator was really only propaganda from the GTVA high-ups.... we'll have to wait (and then play) and see.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: SF-Junky on June 14, 2010, 01:48:20 pm
This plot is very similar to those of Inferno and Blue Planet.
It is, yes. But that is not a problem at all imho. There are plenty of campaigns with a very similar story line, but that alone doesn't make a campaign good or bad. It depends on how you implement the stuff.

Even if it turns out to be a copy of BP - why not? If it's done well and gives varying accents. :)
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 14, 2010, 02:40:31 pm
It's rather hard to copy BP: WiH considering that it is neither released nor finished yet  ;)
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 14, 2010, 08:15:52 pm
I think one point that should be made is that the whole war in Sol thing is pretty much the obvious choice for a post-Capella campaign with a jumpgate, and it parallels the beginnings of FS1 and FS2. I mean, you have a jumpgate, you have access to Sol, what are you expecting, bug-eyed intergalactic sex slavers who have come to harvest humanity's women?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Scourge of Ages on June 14, 2010, 08:32:54 pm
I mean, you have a jumpgate, you have access to Sol, what are you expecting, bug-eyed intergalactic sex slavers who have come to harvest humanity's women?
*Takes notes for a future campaign
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 14, 2010, 09:16:57 pm
GVD Apothess firing:

(http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1737/apothess2.png)

The Apothess can do 40% damage to a Ravana in a single shot. Since the Ravana in 2395 has 220,000 hitpoints (the weakest of any 2295 destroyer), the Apothess beam does 88,000 damage in a single blast.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Nuclear1 on June 14, 2010, 09:19:41 pm
I mean, you have a jumpgate, you have access to Sol, what are you expecting, bug-eyed intergalactic sex slavers who have come to harvest humanity's women?
/me makes a minor Rogue II rewrite
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: bigchunk1 on June 14, 2010, 10:55:29 pm
I mean, you have a jumpgate, you have access to Sol, what are you expecting, bug-eyed intergalactic sex slavers who have come to harvest humanity's women?
/me makes a minor Rogue II rewrite

Haha, good one.

But yeah, I don’t buy that. If you need a war there are many different ways to slice it. Perhaps the GTVA finds Sol in a state of civil war and are forced to choose a side. Maybe Terran-Vasudan relations are starting to wane and the Terrans hastily construct a Sol gate to give themselves an upper hand. Maybe the discovery of Sol creates conflict within the GTVA and a rogue branch of the GTA joins Sol (NTF comeback anyone?) Maybe the Vasudans would be conflicted. Who is to say they act as a single beating pulse? Maybe I’m really your father and I rip my facemask off to show you that’s I’m actually Shivan.

I’m not saying these ideas are anything better, and I am also not saying that a militarily aggressive Sol government makes a bad story. I only was curious to see if the story had a more detail in the works to give it its own unique character. With the story in its general form, it strikes me as INF or BP.  That’s ok, I wrote a pretty lengthy review about how much I enjoyed BP, and I also like INF. Yet at the same time I don’t think that INF is the only way to depict the first Sol encounter after Cappella.

There are plenty of opportunities to make what is here into a great campaign, one that could easily consume me for hours.

Inferno yes, Blue Planet no.
 

You could be right, I have yet to see the details of this story and I have yet to play the second installment of BP. spoiler for BP:
Spoiler:
Maybe splintering in the GTVA goes further than the Orestes fleet.

Sometimes I just feel that an apple is an apple. You can put caramel on it, sprinkle it with nuts, and put it on a stick but you still have an apple.


It is, yes. But that is not a problem at all imho. There are plenty of campaigns with a very similar story line, but that alone doesn't make a campaign good or bad. It depends on how you implement the stuff.

Even if it turns out to be a copy of BP - why not? If it's done well and gives varying accents. :)

I agree, I guess I am interested to see what this turns into. I think I am just ranting too much. Keep feeding me eye candy


Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 15, 2010, 03:34:38 am
Quote
You could be right, I have yet to see the details of this story and I have yet to play the second installment of BP
Neither did I play it (only a few beta testers did, and I'm not one of them). But there is quite a bit of information on the BP homepage. Apart from being informative those proses are also a good read.

And were Inferno had "Evil Dicatorship" versus "Democracies Champions" in BP both sides have good reasons for what they do. Neither side is fighting because they don't want to lose power, they both do what they think is right to save the human species and protect their way of life. That's the difference I'm talking about.
Of couse if you boil the whole complex story down to the three words "Sol against GTVA" it's the same. But that's like saying water and oil are the same because both are liquid at 20°C.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dilmah G on June 15, 2010, 04:37:09 am
As a (lazy) team-member, I'd like to point out there a few major differences between BP and Woolie's project. Most of you should be able to pick them out.

On topic though, that **** looks amazing! :D If I wasn't over committed as is, I'd offer to help.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 15, 2010, 08:55:52 am
As a (lazy) team-member, I'd like to point out there a few major differences between BP and Woolie's project. Most of you should be able to pick them out.

I once introduced the FDSR to someone with "you know about Blue Planet's UEF? Think of the exact opposite. Almost everything the UEF is not, the FDSR is."

The FDSR have been waiting for a second Lucifer fleet to invade for 60 years. Their entire society, philosophy, and way of thinking is governed by fear. To them, anything that gets in way of or reduces the effectiveness of the military increases the risk of being annihilated by the Shivans. The FDSR essentially see the GTVA, by virtue of being more or less democratic (and thus, in their eyes, weak) as a threat to their security, and they want to drive them out of Sol and conquer a few nearby systems to establish a buffer zone. They see the GTVA as cowardly, spineless, and fragile. The GTVA see the FDSR as savage, oppressive, and brutal.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 15, 2010, 09:22:07 am
You're right. It's almost like BP reversed (both for the GTVA and Sol), only with more black-and-white instead of grey.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dilmah G on June 15, 2010, 09:29:18 am
Yeah, that's part of what I was getting at.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Snail on June 15, 2010, 10:15:47 am
In BP, there are alternate universes. Inferno R1, Inferno SCP, BP, 2395, ED and all campaigns in the FS universe could be part of BP!

(ok sorry i'm an asshole)
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dilmah G on June 15, 2010, 10:30:09 am
/me sends Snail back to the cage with no rice for a week.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Snail on June 15, 2010, 12:16:35 pm
/me pigs out on potato crisps

:nervous:


Back on topic, you have lots of pretty ships and shiny weapons in the modpack. :yes:
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: ShadowGorrath on June 15, 2010, 03:04:04 pm
In BP, there are alternate universes. Inferno R1, Inferno SCP, BP, 2395, ED and all campaigns in the FS universe could be part of BP!

(ok sorry i'm an asshole)

No 'End War'? I'll remove you from facebook for that!
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 15, 2010, 05:58:24 pm
You're right. It's almost like BP reversed (both for the GTVA and Sol), only with more black-and-white instead of grey.

You know, except for the whole mysticism and destiny and Bei's special purpose theme that is the principal driving force behind the Blue Planet storyline. Just like Blue Planet, except for the thing that makes Blue Planet Blue Planet? That doesn't even make sense.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 15, 2010, 06:13:00 pm
Okay let me specify. Just like "Blue Planet: War in Heaven" reversed.
In WiH the mysticism and the Vishnans are merely mentioned as a sidenote in the backstory, but from what I heard from the team so far, it sounds as if they won't make any appearance in WiH.

And I'd further argue that the driving force behind Blue Planet isn't so much the mysticism, but the characters.
And don't let General Battuta see you saying that Blue Planet contains mysticism or you're going to have a long argument about it with him.  :p He stated quite often that there is no such thing as mysticism in BP. Everything can be explained scientifically.

But I for one would like to bring the discussion back to Conflict 2395, even though I'm partly to blame for derailing the thread :o
Any info on how that dictator managed to get into power? I get that he used the fear of the Shivans to his advantage, but I'd like some more detail please.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 15, 2010, 06:56:12 pm
My theory was that the original GTA was a military junta, with the grandfather of the Solar Republic's current Generalissimo as its head, but not with the sort of unrestricted power that the Solar Generalissimo has--he was "first among equals" in a council of military oligarchs. During the Great War, the GTA, unlike the Shivans, did not move their central government offworld. While the Vasudan emperor, his ministers, and the Parliament were evacuated when the Lucifer came, the GTA's ruling junta chose to stay on Earth in preparation for a last stand at Sol in case the Lucifer broke through. This meant that the GTA was essentially decapitated in winning the Great War, hence its rapid collapse as an interstellar empire. In Sol the period of chaos and strife was briefer than in the Terran diaspora, and the presence of a ruling Terran state was more or less continuous--there were rebellions and areas of temporary lawlessness, as well as lots of backstabbing, murdering, and chicanery going on in the transitional government, but no warlords carving out fiefdoms like in the diaspora. The first Generalissimo was quick to consolidate his power and his authority as the "legitimate" successor to the original GTA government. He eliminated his political opposition through various covert and overt means and rallied most of the GTA's remaining forces to his banner. Once he had secured his control over Sol, he renamed the state the "Free Democratic Solar Republic" and ruled as a totalitarian dictator, and since then the mantle of Generalissimo has passed from father to son.

As for science and BP, there is nothing scientific for that UEF "faith and reason" speech that follows Bei's near-death experience. If anything, it was anti-scientific.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 16, 2010, 12:26:15 am
Where'd my post go? :(

Anyway, the natural place for the story to go post-FS2 is a Sol/GTVA war. This one is definitely similar to Inferno and BP in that respect, but there's plenty of room in that general set of themes and story archetypes for all sorts of fun stories, so I'd hardly call it a concern.

It's an interesting hybrid of the two in that it has the UEF/GTVA dynamic of BP but Inferno's black-and-white dynamic.

Looking forward to checking it out if it ever gets towards release. If you pick up any modelers/converters please let me know; BP could really use a few too.

Looking forward to checking out the custom AI. Is it a variant of Fury's?

Oh and a nitpick:

Quote
As for science and BP, there is nothing scientific for that UEF "faith and reason" speech that follows Bei's near-death experience. If anything, it was anti-scientific.

Hardly. Don't confuse the statements of one man on one topic with some sort of general philosophy either of the (strongly pro-science) UEF or the campaign itself.

The fact that mysterious things happen does not mean they cannot be explained by science. The stars used to be sky gods before they were stars.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 16, 2010, 04:25:06 am
And alto a little nitpick from me.
There was no Vasudan Emperor during the Great War. That title was re-introduced to help rally the Vasudans behind a common cause after losing their homeworld. And considering that they did better in the rebuilding than the Terrans, it worked out.

So what's the state of the general pupblic like, both on earth and the other planets and moons? Are the people fanatic followers of their beloved father figure, or are they disillusioned and bitter because they are supressed by a monster on the throne?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: SF-Junky on June 16, 2010, 09:28:45 am
My theory was that the original GTA was a military junta, with the grandfather of the Solar Republic's current Generalissimo as its head, but not with the sort of unrestricted power that the Solar Generalissimo has--he was "first among equals" in a council of military oligarchs. During the Great War, the GTA, unlike the Shivans, did not move their central government offworld.
Well, they could have evacuated to another planet within the Sol system. This would've been sufficient in case the Lucifer brakes through and levels earth, at least for the time being. Nobody could think that all this would result in the whole system being cut off from the rest of the GTA.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Snail on June 16, 2010, 02:21:34 pm
There was no Vasudan Emperor during the Great War. That title was re-introduced to help rally the Vasudans behind a common cause after losing their homeworld. And considering that they did better in the rebuilding than the Terrans, it worked out.
Canonically incorrect. The Vasudan Emperor did exist, but as a figurehead and possessed no political power until 2339 when Khonsu II dissolved the Parliament.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: MatthTheGeek on June 16, 2010, 03:31:16 pm
PVE -> Parliamentary Vasudan Empire. The title speaks for itself. Same way than in the UK, it's a kingdom, but that doesn't mean the Queen has full powers.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 16, 2010, 03:54:56 pm
And there I always wondered about what the "E" was standing for.
I only read that Khonsu dissolved the Parliament and took over absolute power and assumed that there was no Emperor before that....
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 16, 2010, 05:09:38 pm
FS1 said that a single dynasty had been ruling the Vasudan people for 10,000 years, so yes, there was an Emperor. A Conflict 2395 intelligence entry gives the Great War-era Emperor's name as K'haku I, which was later Anglicized as Khonsu I.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 16, 2010, 05:13:41 pm
My theory was that the original GTA was a military junta, with the grandfather of the Solar Republic's current Generalissimo as its head, but not with the sort of unrestricted power that the Solar Generalissimo has--he was "first among equals" in a council of military oligarchs. During the Great War, the GTA, unlike the Shivans, did not move their central government offworld.
Well, they could have evacuated to another planet within the Sol system. This would've been sufficient in case the Lucifer brakes through and levels earth, at least for the time being. Nobody could think that all this would result in the whole system being cut off from the rest of the GTA.

No, not really. The Shivans leave no survivors when they enter a system; they destroy everything. The options would have been to defend Earth at all costs or to flee to another system, and the list of systems to run to was growing rather short. I don't think the GTA was willing to give up Earth; they were going to make their stand there or die trying. The Vasudans were known to have expanded from Vasuda Prime quickly due to the resource poverty of their homeworld; while they lost a great deal when the Lucifer showed up, the Terrans had far more at stake, hence the Terran diaspora's extreme hardship after the Great War.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 16, 2010, 05:21:03 pm
Hardly. Don't confuse the statements of one man on one topic with some sort of general philosophy either of the (strongly pro-science) UEF or the campaign itself.

The fact that mysterious things happen does not mean they cannot be explained by science. The stars used to be sky gods before they were stars.
The way the quote was framed and the part of the story it featured in made it seem like (a) the guy being quoted was of great intellectual authority in the UEF and (b) the opinion he delivered was some sort of central revelation in the story. If what he said is not entirely accurate than I think that passage should have been presented in a different way.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: The E on June 16, 2010, 05:33:12 pm
He is an important person for the story. That doesn't make him omniscient. (However, he is mostly right, but do not confuse the vocabulary used with the message he is sending, just because he talks like a new-age hippy kinda guy doesn't make him one)
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Colonol Dekker on June 16, 2010, 06:04:23 pm
I'm interested in your Solar Republic and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
 
 
Also. . . . Does it have a flag :)?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Galemp on June 16, 2010, 08:04:56 pm
Also. . . . Does it have a flag :)?

No flag, no country. Those are the rules that I just made up.

(http://kenwilsonelt.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/eddieizzard.jpg)
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 16, 2010, 08:13:57 pm
The GTVA doesn't have a canon flag to my knowledge. I did make a logo (a smaller version of which is on the Conflict 2395 banner image in the OP) but I can't find it right now.

(http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff348/tankermottind/cb_sol.png)

The motto inscribed is "Deos fortioribus adesse" or "the gods favor the strong". Pretty much sums up what the FDSR is all about.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dilmah G on June 16, 2010, 09:08:07 pm
I quite like the motto. If I was an FDSR soldier, I'd scream that in latin before I was about to cark it. :P
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 17, 2010, 01:00:58 am
Hardly. Don't confuse the statements of one man on one topic with some sort of general philosophy either of the (strongly pro-science) UEF or the campaign itself.

The fact that mysterious things happen does not mean they cannot be explained by science. The stars used to be sky gods before they were stars.
The way the quote was framed and the part of the story it featured in made it seem like (a) the guy being quoted was of great intellectual authority in the UEF and (b) the opinion he delivered was some sort of central revelation in the story. If what he said is not entirely accurate than I think that passage should have been presented in a different way.

Mandho's speech was about the need for spirituality and reason to coexist. Not sure what's anti-science about that?

It's the same view espoused by most scientists today. Science tackles empirically testable and falsifiable questions (how was the universe created, how did life arise and evolve, so on). The rest is left up to human imagination and spirituality, since it is not empirically grounded or testable (why are we here, what is the purpose of life, etcetera).
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 17, 2010, 03:55:30 am
Quote
"Deos fortioribus adesse" or "the gods favor the strong". Pretty much sums up what the FDSR is all about.
So does that mean that the people on Earth reverted to a polytheistic religion?

And a "few" other things I'd like to know (I know. I'm a backstory junky :P)
How's the general public viewing the Generalissimo? Are they happy, unknowing (or willing?) slaves or are they unhappy, but suppressed by the military power of the few, but well armed loyalists.
Is the situation the same throughout the system or is Earth his powerbase with the other planets and moons rioting from time to time?
What planets and moons are inhabitet beside Earth?
Roughly how big is their fleet?
What kind of military doctrines do your factions use? Ie. do they focus on capships with lots of weapons and few fighters or are they more carrier-based with capships only giving fire support, do they favour blob turrets, beams or longrange torpedoes on their capships ect....
Did the FDSR just fortify Gamma Draconis or did they try to go further?
How do the Vasudans think about this conflict? Are they giving the terran part of the GTVA any help? (Considering that the FDSR already seized Gamma Draconis, I suspect they are in the fight at least partially).
Does the General really think he does what is best for Humanity or is that just a convenient lie to keep himself in power?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Dilmah G on June 17, 2010, 05:37:36 am
Norbert, leave some for the campaign buddy. :P
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 17, 2010, 11:02:07 am
I'm excited about the modpack.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Commander Zane on June 17, 2010, 11:09:45 am

No flag, no country, you can't have one. Those are the rules that I just made up.

Fix'd. :P
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: SpardaSon21 on June 17, 2010, 04:26:40 pm
Is Generalissimo his actual title or is that just some slang?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 17, 2010, 04:41:41 pm
That's his title.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: SpardaSon21 on June 17, 2010, 04:55:07 pm
People actually take a dictator with that title seriously, and not as some sort of overcompensation on his part, either for an inferiority complex, small penis, or both?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 17, 2010, 04:59:36 pm
So does that mean that the people on Earth reverted to a polytheistic religion?
No, it's a quote from Tacitus, a famous Roman orator, and chosen because (a) it represents FDSR doctrine of martial supremacy, and (b) it's in Latin and Latin sounds profound. It mentions multiple gods because it comes from ancient Rome, not because the FDSR supports polytheistic religion.

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How's the general public viewing the Generalissimo? Are they happy, unknowing (or willing?) slaves or are they unhappy, but suppressed by the military power of the few, but well armed loyalists.
Most of them believe him unquestioningly. His cult of personality is so pervasive that the people have been essentially brainwashed.
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Is the situation the same throughout the system or is Earth his powerbase with the other planets and moons rioting from time to time?
The FDSR has total control over Sol.
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What planets and moons are inhabitet beside Earth?
Land-based dome colonies exist out the moons of Jupiter, colonies further than that are mostly space stations.
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Roughly how big is their fleet?
From species.tbl: "Entire Solar armed forces, estimated at 3 dreadnoughts, 33 destroyers, and over 1000 smaller warships and 4 billion personnel."
This would be around two thirds the size of the GTVA's navy.
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What kind of military doctrines do your factions use? Ie. do they focus on capships with lots of weapons and few fighters or are they more carrier-based with capships only giving fire support, do they favour blob turrets, beams or longrange torpedoes on their capships ect....
Their technology is similar to the GTVA's, but they use long-ranged plasma cannons instead of flak guns.
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Did the FDSR just fortify Gamma Draconis or did they try to go further?
Delta Serpentis. Gamma Draconis is on the other side of known space and is unreachable due to the events of FS2. They intend to secure a few systems to create a buffer zone around Sol but were unsuccessful.
[qupte]How do the Vasudans think about this conflict? Are they giving the terran part of the GTVA any help? (Considering that the FDSR already seized Gamma Draconis, I suspect they are in the fight at least partially).[/quote]
The Vasudans are involved, they see it as both a treaty obligation due to their alliance with the Terrans and a humanitarian mission due to the nature of the FDSR. They've even sent four huge assault carriers specifically to participate in a land invasion of Earth when the GTVA finally gets there.
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Does the General really think he does what is best for Humanity or is that just a convenient lie to keep himself in power?
He believes that the GTVA are unfit to defend the human race and the FDSR is the last hope for the survival of Terran civilization.

People actually take a dictator with that title seriously, and not as some sort of overcompensation on his part, either for an inferiority complex, small penis, or both?

Sure they do. The North Koreans venerate Dear Leader and his dead father the Eternal President.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: -Norbert- on June 18, 2010, 03:27:29 am
Thanks for all the answers. This makes the situation a lot clearer :nod:
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Colonol Dekker on June 18, 2010, 03:33:20 am
Generalissimo = Kane?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: starlord on June 18, 2010, 11:30:53 am
Very interesting. Also... dreadnaughts? What class?

Also, woolie, what becomes of the 158th banshee MOD?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Droid803 on June 18, 2010, 11:53:24 am
Izanagi-class, according to his posts in the Celebration of FS thread.
Retextured EASD Nemesis.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: SpardaSon21 on June 18, 2010, 12:48:19 pm
Generalissimo = Kane?
Na, the FDSR's motto would be quite different if that was so.  I wish I knew what "peace through power" was in Latin.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: ShadowGorrath on June 18, 2010, 01:20:41 pm
Generalissimo = Kane?
Na, the FDSR's motto would be quite different if that was so.  I wish I knew what "peace through power" was in Latin.

"Pacis Per Vox"

Or so the online translator says :p
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 18, 2010, 01:26:10 pm
Peace through voice?  :wtf:
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Snail on June 18, 2010, 01:29:24 pm
Brian Blessed could do that.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 18, 2010, 03:27:15 pm
Hardly. Don't confuse the statements of one man on one topic with some sort of general philosophy either of the (strongly pro-science) UEF or the campaign itself.

The fact that mysterious things happen does not mean they cannot be explained by science. The stars used to be sky gods before they were stars.
The way the quote was framed and the part of the story it featured in made it seem like (a) the guy being quoted was of great intellectual authority in the UEF and (b) the opinion he delivered was some sort of central revelation in the story. If what he said is not entirely accurate than I think that passage should have been presented in a different way.

Mandho's speech was about the need for spirituality and reason to coexist. Not sure what's anti-science about that?

It's the same view espoused by most scientists today. Science tackles empirically testable and falsifiable questions (how was the universe created, how did life arise and evolve, so on). The rest is left up to human imagination and spirituality, since it is not empirically grounded or testable (why are we here, what is the purpose of life, etcetera).

I think a lot of scientists would simply answer that question with "there is no why". It just happened. Any "meaning" we put in our lives is our own.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 18, 2010, 03:45:47 pm
Hardly. Don't confuse the statements of one man on one topic with some sort of general philosophy either of the (strongly pro-science) UEF or the campaign itself.

The fact that mysterious things happen does not mean they cannot be explained by science. The stars used to be sky gods before they were stars.
The way the quote was framed and the part of the story it featured in made it seem like (a) the guy being quoted was of great intellectual authority in the UEF and (b) the opinion he delivered was some sort of central revelation in the story. If what he said is not entirely accurate than I think that passage should have been presented in a different way.

Mandho's speech was about the need for spirituality and reason to coexist. Not sure what's anti-science about that?

It's the same view espoused by most scientists today. Science tackles empirically testable and falsifiable questions (how was the universe created, how did life arise and evolve, so on). The rest is left up to human imagination and spirituality, since it is not empirically grounded or testable (why are we here, what is the purpose of life, etcetera).

I think a lot of scientists would simply answer that question with "there is no why". It just happened. Any "meaning" we put in our lives is our own.

And that's exactly what Mandho would say too, I think. (It's certainly my opinion.) Spiritual exploration and development are a personal challenge, but necessary - we all have to live for something.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Snail on June 18, 2010, 03:58:22 pm
Mandho is a Mary Sue! :o


DON'T KILL ME I WAS ONLY JOKING AAAAAAAAAAAAA
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 18, 2010, 04:16:09 pm
Hardly. Don't confuse the statements of one man on one topic with some sort of general philosophy either of the (strongly pro-science) UEF or the campaign itself.

The fact that mysterious things happen does not mean they cannot be explained by science. The stars used to be sky gods before they were stars.
The way the quote was framed and the part of the story it featured in made it seem like (a) the guy being quoted was of great intellectual authority in the UEF and (b) the opinion he delivered was some sort of central revelation in the story. If what he said is not entirely accurate than I think that passage should have been presented in a different way.

Mandho's speech was about the need for spirituality and reason to coexist. Not sure what's anti-science about that?

It's the same view espoused by most scientists today. Science tackles empirically testable and falsifiable questions (how was the universe created, how did life arise and evolve, so on). The rest is left up to human imagination and spirituality, since it is not empirically grounded or testable (why are we here, what is the purpose of life, etcetera).

I think a lot of scientists would simply answer that question with "there is no why". It just happened. Any "meaning" we put in our lives is our own.

And that's exactly what Mandho would say too, I think. (It's certainly my opinion.) Spiritual exploration and development are a personal challenge, but necessary - we all have to live for something.

Does living because you have nothing better to do and it beats dying count as spiritual development :P
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 18, 2010, 04:24:17 pm
Probably.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: starlord on June 18, 2010, 04:27:46 pm
anything to answer regarding my "slightly off topic" question woolie?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: FelixJim on June 18, 2010, 04:29:33 pm
Generalissimo = Kane?
Na, the FDSR's motto would be quite different if that was so.  I wish I knew what "peace through power" was in Latin.

"Pacis Per Vox"

Or so the online translator says :p
What you've written doesn't mean anything... "pacis vox" would be "voice of peace". Adding "per" just...no.
"pax per vim", or maybe "pax per vires" is what you're aiming for.

EDIT: The word "potestas" just occurred to me. "pax per potestatem". Alliteration!
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 18, 2010, 05:41:40 pm
Very interesting. Also... dreadnaughts? What class?
In between destroyer and juggernaut.

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Also, woolie, what becomes of the 158th banshee MOD?

Still active. Sort of. :nervous:
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Scotty on June 18, 2010, 09:09:26 pm
Why not use the somewhat more recognizable "Si vis pacem, para bellum?"
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: SpardaSon21 on June 19, 2010, 12:19:39 am
Because it isn't as awesome as either "The Gods favor the Strong" or "Peace through Power".
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: TrashMan on June 19, 2010, 04:44:26 am
PEACE TROUGH SUPERIOR FIREPOWER!!!!!
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: General Battuta on June 19, 2010, 01:00:25 pm
peace trough!
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Snail on June 19, 2010, 01:26:14 pm
The horses of peace drink from it!
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Woolie Wool on June 19, 2010, 05:55:01 pm
Cry havoc, and loose the hogs of peace?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: starlord on August 28, 2010, 08:14:07 am
any news regarding this?
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: Colonol Dekker on August 30, 2010, 05:26:42 am
Seconded.
Title: Re: Conflict: 2395
Post by: starlord on April 24, 2011, 04:35:36 pm
woolie? any reply?