The Campaign Builder's Guild

Quote from: WensleydaleThe next update... will come eventually.

It just seems that practically everyone's lost interest in Evostrania or is busy at the moment, so, uhh.

Well it is finals time for many of us.

Also, maybe you should have a 'shake-up' event that changes some of the dynamics of the game to rekindle interest.

That's what I plan to do in the next update. But it's finals (well, ish) time for me as well, so I'm busy too.

I'm leaving (for a six week vacation) in 4 days, I probably won't have access to a computer. So my orders will be to continue what I have been doing, mostly infiltrating Chatko by uniting local gangs. Further, I wish to continue strengthening my hold over Vezik by appealing to the Ethnically-Evostrian masses against the unwelcome hordes of Bezhans.

I'll try to write out a lengthy list of orders, if I find time (lot to do before I leave) but if not, I just wanted to give everyone a heads up).

I'd just like to say:

I WIN

:explode: :pwned: :explode:

I would like to start this up again at some point. Or something more like the World at Dawn. But since nobody was posting for a while...

Edit: Actually, this gives me an idea.

Still up for it, by the way...

Quote from: WensleydaleThat a ground-shaking enough event?

Indeed. Too much so, perhaps. I don't mean to rain on your parade or try to pooh-pooh your attempt to get this game going again (because I enjoyed it, and would like to see it active again), however, this particular event-- especially from my perspective at the Islamic faction-- makes very little sense.

The HII, which was supposedly the major Muslim group, was seemingly completely unaware of this. Why did they have 0% influence in a territory that had a powerful enough Muslim group to succesfully break away, despite supposedly being the Muslim organization in this country? Why would the HII just sit on the sidelines while this happened-- I would think they would be leading the charge, or, if a rival Muslim organization had started to form, they'd be trying to absorb/subvert/control it. Why was the HII completely unaware of any Muslim separatism in this area? For that matter, why is the HII so weak, if Muslims have enough numbers to break off into an Islamic republic, anyway?

Instead, they're just sort of struggling along, trying to amass money and influence... while some NPC Muslims come out of nowhere and do everything they were maybe eventually building toward, in one fell swoop. It's pretty discouraging, in all honesty.

Quote from: sparkletwistThe HII, which was supposedly the major Muslim group, was seemingly completely unaware of this. Why did they have 0% influence in a territory that had a powerful enough Muslim group to succesfully break away, despite supposedly being the Muslim organization in this country? Why would the HII just sit on the sidelines while this happened-- I would think they would be leading the charge, or, if a rival Muslim organization had started to form, they'd be trying to absorb/subvert/control it. Why was the HII completely unaware of any Muslim separatism in this area? For that matter, why is the HII so weak, if Muslims have enough numbers to break off into an Islamic republic, anyway?

A good question. I forgot to give HII any influence in the new republic, which I will do. But!

1) Why did the HII not know about these muslims?

The muslims who founded the republic are from Zadko, which is a separate country. The extension of territory only occurred because they are Bezhans first and Muslims second, and several already-existing Bezhan groups of other religions (primarily orthodox) in Evostrania joined the revolution.

2) Why is the HII so weak in this area?

HII has always been focussed in the west of Evostrania, and have never really tried to extend their power into Zadga, which is traditionally Islamic in the east and Orthodox in the west (whilst being Bezh all the way across). Evostranian Zadga has a negligible islamic presence, it was the idea of Bezhan rebellion, rather than Islamic rebellion, that led to a declaration of independence. Essentially, it's only an islamic republic because the Bezhans who began the rebellion and are 'administrating' (sort of) the new republic are muslims. The likelihood of it staying as an Islamic Republic for more than a few months if it manages to survive are unlikely.

QuoteInstead, they're just sort of struggling along, trying to amass money and influence... while some NPC Muslims come out of nowhere and do everything they were maybe eventually building toward, in one fell swoop. It's pretty discouraging, in all honesty.

Edit:[/b] Added influence for HII in the new Bezhan republic.

Quote from: WensleydaleHII has always been focussed in the west of Evostrania, and have never really tried to extend their power into Zadga

I was hoping that you would either a) incite your own uprising this turn to join the republic, b) send your own people to help with the war effort, or c) attempt to subvert the new republic for your own ends. If there's something you'd like me to change, I'd be glad to.[/quote]not[/b] the one pulling most of the strings.

My suggestion for what to change would be to give all of the player factions a boost, or at least change the numbers to match what you're thinking, if you seriously intended being able to overthrow the country to be on the table. To me, that's a good thing-- I wonder if the number of users didn't dwindle a bit because there was a sense of powerlessness, where the player factions were all third-rate outfits in a sea of powerful NPCs.

That's all just my opinion, though. Again, I'm not trying to rain on your parade or be difficult. If there's something you, as GM, want to do, then of course I'd be happy to talk about it and try to wrap my head around it, so the game can move forward. I'm not looking for bickering or whatever, of course. :)

I'm perfectly willing to put the game on hold until we can mesh out a decision between us.

QuoteMy suggestion for what to change would be to give all of the player factions a boost, or at least change the numbers to match what you're thinking, if you seriously intended being able to overthrow the country to be on the table. To me, that's a good thing-- I wonder if the number of users didn't dwindle a bit because there was a sense of powerlessness, where the player factions were all third-rate outfits in a sea of powerful NPCs.

This is really strange, to me. Again, I'm no expert on the politics of this region, but it just doesn't seem to make sense. In order to get away with an "Islamic Republic", you'd need a pretty sizable Muslim majority (or at least a plurality) and a strong sense of Islam as being one's main identity. The notion of an "Islamic Republic" implies that Islam is the state's official religion, the laws are based on Sharia, there is some legal status for mullahs etc... to me, it has some strong connotations and it is not just a Republic with some Muslims in charge. I didn't get the sense from the Bezhans this would fly at all, particularly since their basis seems to by and large be Orthodox-- but maybe I just got the wrong sense from them. It seems like, if they're Bezh first and foremost, that's what they'd base the republic on. The proud Orthodox Bezhans would be aghast at being in an "Islamic Republic," and there can't be that many Muslims or the HII would look pretty stupid for not having any dealings with them. [/quote]

I understand this, and you're right to a certain degree. What I imagined happening, however, was this.

1) Sizable muslim Bezhan majority in Zadko. These are relatively unknown to muslims (and everyone else) in Evostrania because the border with Zadko has been closed for so long militarily.

2) The border is opened, sort of. Troop amounts are lowered on both sides, taking a substantial amount of pressure off the Bezh in Zadko.

3) A Bezhan muslim imam, for reasons of patriotism and religion, declares that the Bezh should rise up and remove the chains of their oppressors. Islamic Bezhans everywhere do so as they have been ready to do for many, many years.

4) Bezhans in Evostrania - particularly militant groups - seize the opportunity to join their brothers from Zadko in outright rebellion. These are orthodox Bezhans (as well as atheists and members of other religions) but see themselves as Bezh first.

5) The imam declares the Islamic Republic of Bezh an entity.

The republic is not really a nation as such yet, however. It has existed for only a few days at this point in the game, it is holding together - just about - but it doesn't have a constitution, a real code of law, or anything as such yet. The Bezh muslims are in charge, and it's them that want an islamic republic - but the Evostranian Bezhans, who are primarily orthodox, are in it only for the chance of a Bezhan nation.

I'll just go ahead and tell you that my original plan was for the state to collapse into civil war within a couple of turns anyhow, unless something dramatic happened to pull it together.

Quote from: WensleydaleThese are relatively unknown to muslims (and everyone else) in Evostrania because the border with Zadko has been closed for so long militarily

These are orthodox Bezhans (as well as atheists and members of other religions) but see themselves as Bezh first.[/quote]the Evostranian Bezhans, who are primarily orthodox, are in it only for the chance of a Bezhan nation.[/quote]
Maybe they didn't even know it was going to be an Islamic republic, and it's like "huh? *civil war*"

QuoteIn support, in power, in everything. Basically, these factions should be clearly the "heavy hitters" in Evostrania. Perhaps you always intended it this way, and perhaps I've misunderstood your scale: is a 10 a dominant power in Evostrania? A US-esque superpower? Or what? It just doesn't seem to be working that way right.

Maybe they didn't even know it was going to be an Islamic republic, and it's like "huh? *civil war*"[/quote]How many of these are there? My view was, up until recently, almost none, so it's a big surprise to me.[/quote]I'm not sure how realistic this is. Oppressed groups tend to always have an "underground." I'd think Muslims would be able to communicate and share a common cause.[/quote]THE IDEA FOR A SOLUTION:[/b]

Simply rename the Islamic Republic of Bezh 'Bezh Republic'. Forget about the muslim Bezh, have them be a minority even in Konistrania and Zadko. Have the insurgency be mostly ethnic-based rather than religious-based. Rework the current factions' statistics to make them more heavy-hitting.

Howsaboutit?

Quote from: WensleydaleTHE IDEA FOR A SOLUTION

I like it! :D

So I'm ditching the 'percentage support' system and replacing it with values of 1-100 (not much different, I know, but the benefits are that we no longer have to worry about support values adding up). I've given you all boosts. Note that 100 support means that you're practically in control of a province and 50 support means that you have a substantial chunk of the population under your wing. Two groups' areas of support may overlap - for example, one shopkeeper might be paying protection money to the Mafiya whilst being an ardent supporter of the Evostranian Unity Party.

Edit: DONE