Flat Black

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by whswhs

Sounds kind of like the rhetors in Neal Stephenson's Anathem.

No such reality-editing wizards actually exist in FLAT BLACK. But of course people believe in things as wild as any modern conspiracy theory.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

My apologies, especially to combatmedic.

No problem.

Merry Christmas, BTW!


As far as description on a world sheet goes, I think that "balkanized into plutocratic petty kingdoms" makes the most sense, if the world begins as a single colony. If it never had a common government that later split into smaller states, I'd say that 'balkanized' does not apply.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

As far as description on a world sheet goes, I think that "balkanized into plutocratic petty kingdoms" makes the most sense, if the world begins as a single colony. If it never had a common government that later split into smaller states, I'd say that 'balkanized' does not apply.

I'm trying to produce descriptions devoid of history, so perhaps I had better avoid the use of the word "Balkanised" altogether.

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

I'm trying to produce descriptions devoid of history, so perhaps I had better avoid the use of the word "Balkanised" altogether.

Maybe 'multipolar' or 'multiple polities' would be better?

[Agemegos]

Ideally I'd like to distinguish succinctly and directly among the cases in which there are fewer than about ten states on the planet, about ten to a hundred, about a hundred to a thousand, and an innumerable multitude too petty to figure individually in Imperial concerns, grading from a unified world state to individualistic anarchy.

[Ze'Manel Cunha]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

Ideally I'd like to distinguish succinctly and directly among the cases in which there are fewer than about ten states on the planet, about ten to a hundred, about a hundred to a thousand, and an innumerable multitude too petty to figure individually in Imperial concerns, grading from a unified world state to individualistic anarchy.

Single World Polity
Conflicted Multipolity
Conflicted Multipolity with 1/2/x Great Powers
Conflicted Multipolity with 1/2/x Great Power Hegemonies
Conflicted Multipolity with 1/2/x Superpowers
Conflicted Multipolity with 1/2/x Superpower Hegemonies
Conflicted Multipolity with Single Superpower Hegemony
Unconflicted Multipolity with Single Superpower Hegemony

[Agemegos]

I have resolved to invest National Moustache-Growing Month in completing at least a draft of at least one article on the FLAT BLACK wiki every day except Tuesdays. This is likely to be more of a struggle than you would suppose. I would much appreciate friendly encouragement and constructive comments on the drafts; the FLAT BLACK forums would be a better place for it than here.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

I have resolved to invest National Moustache-Growing Month in completing at least a draft of at least one article on the FLAT BLACK wiki every day except Tuesdays. This is likely to be more of a struggle than you would suppose. I would much appreciate friendly encouragement and constructive comments on the drafts; the FLAT BLACK forums would be a better place for it than here.

You will, naturally, be growing a moustache as you do, right?

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Icelander

You will, naturally, be growing a moustache as you do, right?

Of course! I have resolved to grow 1/3 mm per day, except Tuesdays.

[Agemegos]

Originally Posted by Agemegos

I have resolved to invest National Moustache-Growing Month in completing at least a draft of at least one article on the FLAT BLACK wiki every day except Tuesdays. This is likely to be more of a struggle than you would suppose.

It turned out to be more of a struggle than I could manage, though I did over-achieve on the moustache front.