IW: Centrum and Homeline National Governments?

[arcanus]

Originally Posted by ericthered

I was under the impression that Infinity had indeed already played around with homeline's economy to the point that they hold it ransom. They're quite good at silently importing and exporting things without governments figuring out what was going on, why shouldn't they have started with that policy on homeline?

Very true but the difference between subtly introducing Exports via White Star and saturating the economy with raw materials is vast.

Homeline is Infinitys prime market space so I think they need to be very cautious that they don't destroy their own market place.

Originally Posted by ericthered

The Patrol and the company are mostly run separately, and the Patrol technically answers to the U.N. This probably has the goal of separating the idealists with power from the company's workings, and channeling idealists.

One of the most entertaining aspects of our campaign recently is when our Psionic I-Cop has been involved in Company politics, particularly when Infinity Head Offices HR finance dept took exception to his expenses.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by combatmedic

As I interpret the setting, Infinity is a basically a commerical-imperialist joint venture. It's about as morally high-tone as the British East India Company. That certainly leaves room for individual idealistic agents and some PR flim flam, but the whole thing is really a monopoly set up to make $$$ by controlling and exploiting crosstime commerce and information flow.

The Centrum, on the other hand, is organized with strong, clearly articulated ideological principles. Centrum champions 'freedom, justice, and equality.' Those ideals can only be properly realized on a given timeline when society there has evolved to be like Centrum, of course.


YMMV

And yet Sir John Company tried to cultivate an idealistic view of themselves amoung themselves. For Infinity, such ideals would be even more vital. Yes Infinity is after the big bucks, however, they can't survive unless they choose to be more than that, far more. Thus they need noble ideals or they lose their crass commercial venture. Nicely twisted irony there.

[Johnny1A.2]

Originally Posted by arcanus

This is the angle I play, Infinity could easily destroy Homelines global economy and society, very quickly. Introducing vast amounts of raw materials could devalue most major currencies and wreck import/exports.

Yeah, but that's kind of like nuclear blackmail. It can work, but it's a suicide gambit (and I mean literally suicidal, if Infinity did that, it would be a very short time before most of their personnel and leaders were dead). It's kind of a delicate thing to rely on.

The most likely explanation for Infinity's apparent immunity is that they are a front for someone else. It could be a national government (or more likely a coalition of such), or it could be someone or something outtime.

The idea that Infinity, as presented, is forcing the national governments to stay back is shaky because the organization as presented simply doesn't possess the power to do it, not indefinitely. The things they could threaten are potent, but actually using those threats would likely result in a backlash from the nationals that would wipe Infinity out. So there has to be something not seen in play.

It might be that behind Infinity lies a shaky Cold Peace beteen the major parachronic nations, who let Infinity operate because that way the status quo stays relatively stable.

[Astromancer]

Of course we could always just sing

If you're asking how he eats and breaths and other science facts/
You should tell yourself it's just a show. I should probably relax!

[combatmedic]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

And yet Sir John Company tried to cultivate an idealistic view of themselves amoung themselves. For Infinity, such ideals would be even more vital. Yes Infinity is after the big bucks, however, they can't survive unless they choose to be more than that, far more. Thus they need noble ideals or they lose their crass commercial venture. Nicely twisted irony there.

Idealistic individuals and PR flim flam, as I noted.

:)

[Drifter]

Originally Posted by Johnny1A.2

Yeah, but that's kind of like nuclear blackmail. It can work, but it's a suicide gambit (and I mean literally suicidal, if Infinity did that, it would be a very short time before most of their personnel and leaders were dead). It's kind of a delicate thing to rely on.

Well, they DO control access to alternate realities. Their people certainly have an 'escape plan' in case things get hot in the Homeline. It would certainly be inconvienient, but Infinity could probably put off any government action long enough to sway public opinion and/or pay off the right people.
And remember they can hold the boogieman of Centrum over the heads of the Homeline governments - they understand Centrum, are protecting the Homeline from Centrum, and there are Centrum agents under every bed...

Its a stalemate IMO. National governments need Infinity, as a source of wealth, as a bulwark against Centrum (and others), while Infinity needs the protection and services governments provide. Each can threaten the other but both realize they need one another - and race to search other timelines for another option.

[arcanus]

Originally Posted by Drifter

Well, they DO control access to alternate realities. Their people certainly have an 'escape plan' in case things get hot in the Homeline. It would certainly be inconvienient, but Infinity could probably put off any government action long enough to sway public opinion and/or pay off the right people.
And remember they can hold the boogieman of Centrum over the heads of the Homeline governments - they understand Centrum, are protecting the Homeline from Centrum, and there are Centrum agents under every bed...

Its a stalemate IMO. National governments need Infinity, as a source of wealth, as a bulwark against Centrum (and others), while Infinity needs the protection and services governments provide. Each can threaten the other but both realize they need one another - and race to search other timelines for another option.

I think this is the case, there are RL examples in the Cold War and Economics of superpower organisations being aware of what each could do to each other and choosing not to go that far, although plenty of pushing each other up to the edge.

I can see Inifinity's spin machine really drumming up the Centrum/Outworld threat to keep UNIC and Homelines Governments on side.

The other thing to ponder is with a vast amount of wealth and resource that they can't use on Homeline (they may choose not to import too much Gold for example), Infinity could well have a sister or clone corporation based off World.

Would provide a perfect backup in case of Homeline issues or even Invasion, and the books do indicate Infinity as being a massive corporate entity.

[Tzeentch]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Both Merlin and Homeline have infiltrated each other: Homeline is unaware of the fact. Reich-5 got its tech from homeline in the first place. The thing that enable Homeline to stand up to these powers is size and efficiency: The reich and merlin have severe logistics problems compared to infinity....

-- Depending on how you extrapolate Technomancer, there isn't much that Homeline can even offer Merlin. Low-mana dimensions are not very useful to them, and the technology isn't that much better than what can be created or duplicated with enchantment. Now, if they get a firmer idea of what the Cabal is or does that could change :)

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- Depending on how you extrapolate Technomancer, there isn't much that Homeline can even offer Merlin. Low-mana dimensions are not very useful to them, and the technology isn't that much better than what can be created or duplicated with enchantment. Now, if they get a firmer idea of what the Cabal is or does that could change :)

Home line can offer greatly superior world jumping tech, unless you give Merlin the rest of the gate college. They also have a much larger source of raw materials. Outside of that, yes, it depends on whether you have magic mostly adding to the tech or as a superior alternative to it.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Tzeentch

-- Depending on how you extrapolate Technomancer, there isn't much that Homeline can even offer Merlin. Low-mana dimensions are not very useful to them, and the technology isn't that much better than what can be created or duplicated with enchantment. Now, if they get a firmer idea of what the Cabal is or does that could change :)

Frankly I can't figure out how Merlin could even have found it's way to Homeline. It's a big multiverse out there, and they have nothing that would have let them track their brief visitors.