Sick of the Grand Conspiracy?

[Lord Carnifex]

Originally Posted by Asta Kask

In my study of Indo-European I have now found the word for conspiracy (jalos), conspirator (joros), and conspire (janeumi). You can freely drag your big conspiracies back to ca 2500 - 3000 BC or maybe even farther. :)

Personally, I like the *spir Italic root of 'conspire'. After all the root *spir means 'breathe' (as in 'expire' "the breath comes out", 'respiration' "the act of breathing again", and so on...) so that 'conspire' means "to breathe together".

[Nymdok]

In the real world, people who find LARGE conspiracy theories entertaining somewhat put me off. They seem to have this idea that SOMEONE is in control and it ain't them. Sort of like a globally installed inferiority complex.

For gaming (Ill spare you my anti-'suspension of disbelief' rant) if your looking for plausability, look for purpose. Look for a motive that your players can understand and if possible be able to identify with. In fiction, Ive some favorite conspiracies that may serve as an example:

Aliens from They Live :
Although the ALiens final purpose is never revealed, its enough that they are keeping us pacified, and that pacification is an ominous one. Whatever their purpose (Food source or labor source), they want us plentiful and obedient. The point is that it works as a story telling device, because we may not know the exact details, but we understand greed and eliteism.

Bene-Jezerat Witches from Dune :
The bene-jezerat witches manipulate people and blood lines for thousands of years to get the kwizatz haderach. Some weird religeous zealotry based on a prophecy. This one seems to work because although we may not fully understand that level of religeous devotion, we DO understand that there are religeous fanatics in the world (any world with a religeon).

Shapeshifters in ST:DS9 :
In as much as I recall the series, the shapeshifters had a well organized conspiracy that they kept running largely for self defense and intelligence. We can sort of even sympathise with them as they dont seem to be overtly violent, content to make subtle changes in their own best interest as there arent that many of them and they need to feel safe. We understand what its like to be outnumbered, so the idea seems reasonable even if its somewhat distasteful.

The Companies from Rollerball (James Cahn original not Remake tragedy) :
We see them only breifly, but their interests and motives seem plausable. They impose an order on the world and keep the public distracted through sport. They do this because it streamlines the process of making money and getting things done. Thats it. Well structured greed. Do what we want and you live a wealthy comfortable life. A functional balance of terror that makes sense because we assume that the independant monopolies have specialized to the point where one NEEDs the other. P.S. THen energy Corp is centered in Houston. Thanks to this film for giving a great town some needed exposure :)

Veridian Dynamics from Better Off Ted :
Played for Yucks, the company keeps volumes of personal data, constant surveilance and makes or breaks lives in a casual off-hand way. Constant jokes abound about horrifying scientific research (The Octochicken, Weaponizing pumpkins etc) toppling countries, child labor practices (Do you like to paint? Today we're painting lines in the Parking Structure!) and a host of other dubious ventures paint a vast conspiracy. We Identify with this as we normally want a job with a big wealthy company for the superior pay and benefits, but at the same time we fear that size for the wealth and power it can bring to bear. Its interesting to note that Veridian isnt painted as being 'evil', more childish and reckless and that makes the humor go down a bit easier.

Who controls the British Crown? Who Keeps the Metric System Down?
Nymdok

[Irish Wolf]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

Bene-Jezerat Witches from Dune :
The bene-jezerat witches manipulate people and blood lines for thousands of years to get the kwizatz haderach. Some weird religeous zealotry based on a prophecy. This one seems to work because although we may not fully understand that level of religeous devotion, we DO understand that there are religeous fanatics in the world (any world with a religeon).

The Bene Gesserit aren't quite along the same lines as the Grand Conspiracy of which the OP has grown weary; they aren't shadowy, they're no more secretive than any other religious order, and the only thing they seek is to create the Kwisatz Haderach (apparently under the impression that if they bring him to be, he will obey them. Didn't work out well for them in the long run). Also, everyone's already suspicious of them.

The Founders are along the right lines, as their lifespans and ability to pose as anyone they study long enough will give them the chance to run things behind the scenes. They also engage in disinformation, as when they left one of their captives with the impression that the highly-placed Klingon they'd replaced was Chancellor Gowron (when in fact it was

Spoiler:  

Gen. Martok

).

[dcarson]

I like Farmer's Nine. They don't try to rule the world exactly, just make things that interest them go the way they want. And often fail at at that, they want a smaller, greener population. They are very powerful however. Thirty thousand years ago a shaman discovered an youth potion and he and the others that make up the council have been around a long time. The youngest of the Nine was born around 3 B.C. There are several hundred candidates who each only know the ones that get their yearly dose at the same time. Obey and do what they order occasionally and you live unaging forever. If one of the Nine dies you might get to be the replacement. Disobey and even if manage to hide so they don't kill you start aging again.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Lord Carnifex

Personally, I like the *spir Italic root of 'conspire'. After all the root *spir means 'breathe' (as in 'expire' "the breath comes out", 'respiration' "the act of breathing again", and so on...) so that 'conspire' means "to breathe together".

ISTR this refers to people gathered so closely to talk in low voices that they are breathing in each other's breath.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

as they dont seem to be overtly violent,

Sending the Gem'hadar to infect everybody on your planet with a horrible disease, or just killing everybody isn't overtly violent?

What about what the female Changling said to Garack after he kept badgering her about the Obsidian Order/Tal'Shiar combined fleet. Something like:
"They're dead."
"All of them?"
"Cardassians, Romulans, you are all dead. You were from the moment you decided to attack us."

Yeah, nonviolent.

[Hans Rancke-Madsen]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Sending the Gem'hadar to infect everybody on your planet with a horrible disease, or just killing everybody isn't overtly violent?

No, it's covertly violent.

What about what the female Changling said to Garack after he kept badgering her about the Obsidian Order/Tal'Shiar combined fleet. Something like:
"They're dead."
"All of them?"
"Cardassians, Romulans, you are all dead. You were from the moment you decided to attack us."

That is to say, from the moment they decided to defend themselves against the Founders.


Hans

[alexondria]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

In the real world, people who find LARGE conspiracy theories entertaining somewhat put me off. They seem to have this idea that SOMEONE is in control and it ain't them. Sort of like a globally installed inferiority complex.

Why does this have to be the case? Why can't people enjoy big conspiracy theories with out believing that they are possible in the real world? I love conspiracy theories, big ones small ones, I think they make a good story. That doesn't mean I think real people are capable of such things. Just like I think Iron Man is a good movie, but I don't think people can build the things he has in a lab much less a cave. I enjoyed the Alien movies, but I don't find the idea of life like the Aliens particularly plausible. For me entertainment doesn't have to be about- wow this could be real. It just has to be fun. I loved the Illuminati Trilogy and they had a sub that was immune to radar because it was made of gold.

[Anders]

Here is a link that goes to the Conspiracy Skeptic podcast which deals with all things conspiratorial.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Hans Rancke-Madsen

No, it's covertly violent.

I don't see much that's covert about the Gem'Hadar (other than the shroud, but really they just use that that to brutally murder you more efficiently).

That is to say, from the moment they decided to defend themselves against the Founders.

Preemptive strike is self-defense? Hans, how very non-European of you!