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Old 12-14-2017, 06:32 AM   #1
Tom Mazanec
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Default Centrum discovers Tertius

Suppose Centrum discovers a Shikaku-Mon type timeline on Quantum 11, but with Parachronics. There are a lot of echoes on Quantum 10. What do they do different than they did with Secundus? I know enough about military matters that a two-front war is a Bad Idea!

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Old 12-14-2017, 06:51 AM   #2
TGLS
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

The main problem Centrum has with Homeline is that there's no one to negotiate with. In their view, there is a confused anarchy of states, corporations, and other powers. Does Centrum see someone they can negotiate with on Tertius? Or if so, are they too repugnant for Centrum's ideology?
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:07 AM   #3
malloyd
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

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Originally Posted by Tom Mazanec View Post
Suppose Centrum discovers a Shikaku-Mon type timeline on Quantum 11, but with Parachronics. There are a lot of echoes on Quantum 10. What do they do different than they did with Secundus? I know enough about military matters that a two-front war is a Bad Idea!
There isn't any actual war going on, conflict with Secundus is at the level of skirmishing intelligence services.

Part of the problem is we can't really guess how they'd act, because Centrum's actual motives, goals and strategies are unclear. Deliberately, so they can act as a rival anywhere the GM needs one for the plot. Not that Infinity's motives and goals are a lot clearer and more sensible, never mind the rest of Homeline's significant political actors.

There's a lot to be said for the proposal that both Homeline and Centrum are myth parallels - that things work the way they do because that suits the *stories* that create them - it explains everything because of course it's true in the metagame. They respond to new stuff however you need for the story you want to tell, whether that makes any apparent sense or not. You can always just blame rival factions within each one when they do mutually contradictory stuff.

If you don't have a story you need Tertius for, why add it? Of course the obvious story is to play out the interactions, with the PCs actions shaping how the lines end up responding to each other.
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:08 AM   #4
Tom Mazanec
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

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Originally Posted by TGLS View Post
The main problem Centrum has with Homeline is that there's no one to negotiate with. In their view, there is a confused anarchy of states, corporations, and other powers. Does Centrum see someone they can negotiate with on Tertius? Or if so, are they too repugnant for Centrum's ideology?
Well, Tertius is 2027 Shikaku-Mon with Conveyors and Projectors, so what would Centrum think of it?
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:31 AM   #5
Tom Mazanec
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

And BTW, while we're at it, let's make Parachronics discovered by Virginian Edward Langley (named after my late friend). There is much too much focus on Van Zandt in this game...the Elisha Gray Effect means someone else could discover Parachronics.
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:48 AM   #6
ericthered
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

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Originally Posted by Tom Mazanec View Post
Well, Tertius is 2027 Shikaku-Mon with Conveyors and Projectors, so what would Centrum think of it?
"Give us back Secundus!"

Joking aside:

They can (kind of) speak the language of the smallest of the four major powers. The largest power they're totally lost speaking to.

The four powers are very hostile towards each other, and willing to use nuclear weapons. Whereas Secundus confuses them in how they don't blow each other up, Sikaku-mon is in the process of blowing themselves up (one down, four to go). So in some ways they understand it better, but that doesn't change the fact that a final war is about to spill out all over a quanta.

They're really good at spying, which makes them a formidable foe.

Japan they find repugnant, because of its racial divides, and the foreign language makes them hard to work with.
Brazil they find scary and nonsensical, because of its government structure (or lack there of).
France actually makes sense to them, though they find it primitive and it need of uplift.
Sweden I'm not sure about. Either they'll see a movement with so much promise corrupted by bad leaders, or they'll be triggered by some seemingly minor piece of their idealism and set on it with a vengeance. Its also revolutionary, which is a strike against it.
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Old 12-14-2017, 08:02 AM   #7
Tom Mazanec
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

Hi ericthered...I put your blog on my Favorites/Bookmarks (forget which term Mac uses)!
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Old 12-14-2017, 09:37 AM   #8
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

My guess: They'll "encourage" a final war, while doing their best to protect France, then uplift what's left.
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Old 12-14-2017, 10:22 AM   #9
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

An alternative scenario would be a Q2 threat to Homeline (perhaps involving a nonhuman civilization). What would Homeline do when faced with a 2027 TL9 magical using parachronic civilization of humanoid turtles?
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Old 12-14-2017, 10:34 AM   #10
Fred Brackin
 
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Default Re: Centrum discovers Tertius

Quote:
Originally Posted by TGLS View Post
The main problem Centrum has with Homeline is that there's no one to negotiate with. In their view, there is a confused anarchy of states, corporations, and other powers. Does Centrum see someone they can negotiate with on Tertius? Or if so, are they too repugnant for Centrum's ideology?
Centrum doesn't believe in the existence of stable relations between multiple polities. The only thing that can prevent or end a Final War is the victory (preferable non-violent but hey we'll nuke London if we have to) of one side.

That's their problem with Homeline/Secundus. There is no long term/stable co-existence possible.

This doesn't mean they wouldn't negotiate with Tertius. It's not in Centrum's timeline but there are frequently seen precedents of non-aggression pacts. :)
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