INES III: Storm Tapestry

[Circuit]

To: The People
From: The Washingtonian Empire

It's kind of hard to end a war when your enemy renegs on your peace treaties... especially when you made the concessions. And by the way, they started it.

 

[TheLizardKing]

From: USACS
To: The Empire

We'd love the Sun back. At the same time, cutting sunlight off from half the planet will have equally horrible effects on your own lands.

 

[Lord of Elves]

From: Japanese Imperium
To: "The People"
Revolt against the capitalist tyrant. The Liberation is upon us, only the threat of the face of oblivion will bring an end to the Tyrant of Baltimore, chief enemy of the Proletariat, and bring humanity back from the brink of extinction. This is the word of the Emperor. Hear it and be delivered, and take heart. The Liberation is here.

From: Japanese Imperium
To: Those That Still Resist The Liberation
You cannot block out the Rising Sun. All will be bathed in its radiance, for The Liberation is upon us. We will be present at your funeral.

 

[Circuit]

From: USACS
To: The Empire

We'd love the Sun back. At the same time, cutting sunlight off from half the planet will have equally horrible effects on your own lands.

At least we'll be alive to deal with the problem.

 

[TheLizardKing]

To: The Nation Formely Known As The Atlantic Kingdom
From: USACS

Ah yes. That's something we haven't thought of.

 

[Kozmos]

All right lets get the whaaaambulance out of the way, clone DNA targeted retrovirus would be a great idea if like our troops didn't have nanomachines in their bodies that could pick off viruses and bacteria like fish in a barrel. (unless there is like some actual science behind the idea which I'd like to see) At the same time a nanomechanical engineered plague that required years of work and mountains of funding was stopped by targeted radiation bursts which they got as a freebie. Meanwhile designing heavily shielded nanites that are immune to radiation slash EMP damage is apparently too much common sense to expect from my scientists and I should have treated them as complete idiots right from the start.

Bypassing self built fortifications, disassembler swarms, aerosolized nano-mechanochemical weapons, utility fogs, improved BD, atmospheric and water infested mind control nanites and of course the latest OMG WHY ARE THEY NOT DEAD IN EUROPE YET?

I see I have no other choice so I will be personally making that if the need arises that the entire world will freeze to death, because we have the tech to deal with it and can rebuild the world as good as new. Also liking that totally destroying all of their agriculture and exposing their buildings/population to completely unexperienced before freezing temperatures is only worth 1 ASP of damage per nation which is about the same as the first time we used the GG bombs on single cities.

 

[Circuit]

To: The Nation Formely Known As The Atlantic Kingdom
From: USACS

Ah yes. That's something we haven't thought of.

...Somehow, I know this is an insult, yet if you asked me how it is, I wouldn't be able to say how. I'd say that's one point for TLK.

 

[Julius Gandi]

Again, I am not an expert in science, but I am pretty sure if the sun turned off we'd all freeze to death in like a trillionth of a second. Then again I am not an expert... I just knows it gets cold in my shed. - name where the quote is from.

 

[TheLizardKing]

...Somehow, I know this is an insult, yet if you asked me how it is, I wouldn't be able to say how. I'd say that's one point for TLK.

I love you Circuit.

Again, I am not an expert in science, but I am pretty sure if the sun turned off we'd all freeze to death in like a trillionth of a second. Then again I am not an expert... I just knows it gets cold in my shed. - name where the quote is from.

Red Letter Media?

 

[Nuka-sama]

Again, I am not an expert in science, but I am pretty sure if the sun turned off we'd all freeze to death in like a trillionth of a second. Then again I am not an expert... I just knows it gets cold in my shed. - name where the quote is from.

This...

 

[Imago]

On the topic of Kozmos' points, I have to assume that OOC knowledge and IC knowledge are not the same thing. Maybe the virus has a way to work around the nanites, or maybe the endless EMP bursts shut down enough nanomachines for the virus to work anyway. Japan at least has been working on human biology exploits since the beginning of the game, and one assumes that their scientists might have some clue what they're doing.

As for Black Death, it never was specifically spread, so I mostly kept the thing bottled.

As for Europe, the System was outnumbered something like four to one, certainly unprepared for the strike through Russia, attacked by specialist paratroops who snuck behind the front lines against the cover of extensive EMP blasts, and beset by whatever it is the clone virus might do. And still large parts of the continent held because of traps, tech, and airpower.

And ASP represents a country's budget, not the suffering of its people, while nanite cover was only partial throughout most of the year. If nothing changes, 2062 will be very bad for just about everybody on the planet. And so we have the setup for the finale.

 

[Kozmos]

And which way would that be? I assume after such substantial casualties I have samples to derive the knowledge. I don't mind it being public. Why where the nanites not updated to be hardened then, since it was obvious they relied heavily on EMPs, it is only a modest increase in the complexity of nanoscale devices and seeing as the System is a real-time network operation I would figure the change could be programmed and applied in a matter of days.

Regarding Black Death I thought I made it part of the standard doctrine to employ it in cruise missiles, shells, on death of soldiers yadda yadda. Also how did they scrub the water without specially designed nanofilters? In the same vein how did they scrub the air for that matter seeing as research today proved that ordinary air filtration systems are woefully inadequate to stop nanoparticles, that said I could perhaps understand clearing the air for individual room, but the global air supply, very difficult without appropriate tech.

But a country budget is made up from the success of various sectors of economy. For countries with such large populations that rely on the primary sector and regularly pull out half a hundred of divisions of irregulars I would assume a thing such as country wide food shortages would pull a stopper on the whole thing seeing as the lack of food would cause increasingly higher prices, resulting in riots, social unrest and so on.

How did they deal with the railgun fields raining nonstop shells when they took our territory, assuming whatever magic counter they had from last turn could be deployed so rapidly on our own territory. The fact they got so far would indicate that none of the weapons in the arsenal worked because even if one worked they would have gotten as far maybe 10 clicks off the beaches and began dying horribly. I keep waiting to hear about intelligently designed counters but all I'm seeing is troll science shenanigans.

Might as well rolled up those 60 or so ASP invested and smoked them then for all the good that it did me. Still, the endgame is upon us. Lets enjoy the apocalypse.

 

[Imago]

I understand your perspective, but for the purposes of the type of game this is, counters must exist and scientific thoroughness can only be a force bonus. Next turn, System efforts will mean that the plague and the EMPs are almost certain to have less effect, but similarly, many players noted special filters for the waterborne mind control nanites, and the airborne ones I made the call would not be terribly effective beyond a small distribution radius—good for quieting you populace and stirring up problems in neighbors, but not affecting the whole world.

As for the assault, there were paradrops with EMP cover and pushes through Russia and Bulgaria, not direct assaults on your beach defenses. At the same time, as a nod to the defenses, I left Great Britain largely unscathed. And as I suggested in the update, the skies over MDI nations did not fully cloud until near the end of 2061.

The 60 ASP or so you have invested in tech has done a huge amount of damage to MDI economies--20 ASP, off the top of my head, which could cost as much as 60 points to fix, and on top of that, you flipped Mexico, shut down dissent in lands you occupied, get half price divisions, squadrons, and groups, and have had considerable casualty bonuses for much of the game. Not to mention, you are now holding the future of the world hostage. I believe all that is considerable payoff on investment.

Ah well. I could have threaded the needle differently, and perhaps I should have, but we will be done on Monday.

 

[Kozmos]

Yah but how would they produce such filters without their own nanoscale design and manufacturing to be truly effective and in sufficient quantities?

Counters do exist for most weapons (not all, thereby producing a MAD conundrum of another sort) but they were gone about in completely wrong and illogical ways. It is hard to wage decisive wars when both sides get reprieves from detailed orders, the aerovores could have easily clouded out their areas in a couple of days, but I left it in your hands because I know you like to balance it. I dont think that is good because it coddles the players and makes losing difficult whereas my general NESing experience over the years was that entire nations and fronts could be lost (at least from eras with organized professional armies and onward) in a single turn if you weren't careful and that was a harsh teaching system but in the end produced smarter players.

However, it is your NES to moderate how you will, but I feel like I should point out some things. (I still wuv you though ) You were perhaps at times too lenient to both sides regarding war and this makes wars drag on and on without a clear victor. Eventually the fires of war that are not put out spread onto other countries and sooner or later we have the repeat of the past INES where there are two blocs engaged in a global war to the death. This could also be because this NES has a limited lifespan which starts the 'what the hell' mode of thinking in the heads of players and makes engaging in war an issue from a serious dilemma into a non-issue. As well going to war practically has no disincentives and only potential benefits.

It turns NESing into a wargaming simulation (or better said approximation); a glorified RISK game of sorts, when it has potential for oh so much more. War is good and fun, but when it becomes the entire game it becomes kind of tedious and boring if you know what I mean. I dont think there was a single turn of peace in the game except turn 0.

 

[Circuit]

I too have my issues (not even WWII Japan would have stayed in this fight being one of them), but I would play another INES in a heartbeat. These have been my favorite NESes, and I'll be slightly sad to see it end... although it does have to end. Would be cool if the Washingtonian Empire made another appearance in a Sci Fi INES sequel, though, if it survives.

 

[Terrance888]

From: Japanese Imperium
To: "The People"
Revolt against the capitalist tyrant. The Liberation is upon us, only the threat of the face of oblivion will bring an end to the Tyrant of Baltimore, chief enemy of the Proletariat, and bring humanity back from the brink of extinction. This is the word of the Emperor. Hear it and be delivered, and take heart. The Liberation is here.

From: Japanese Imperium
To: Those That Still Resist The Liberation
You cannot block out the Rising Sun. All will be bathed in its radiance, for The Liberation is upon us. We will be present at your funeral.

We... just... did...

Oh, BTW Free India is unaffected... hey everybody, I am selling Solar Power here, and there is sunlight, so get your dose of Vitamin D!

 

[Imago]

Yah but how would they produce such filters without their own nanoscale design and manufacturing to be truly effective and in sufficient quantities?

Counters do exist for most weapons (not all, thereby producing a MAD conundrum of another sort) but they were gone about in completely wrong and illogical ways. It is hard to wage decisive wars when both sides get reprieves from detailed orders, the aerovores could have easily clouded out their areas in a couple of days, but I left it in your hands because I know you like to balance it. I dont think that is good because it coddles the players and makes losing difficult whereas my general NESing experience over the years was that entire nations and fronts could be lost (at least from eras with organized professional armies and onward) in a single turn if you weren't careful and that was a harsh teaching system but in the end produced smarter players.

However, it is your NES to moderate how you will, but I feel like I should point out some things. (I still wuv you though ) You were perhaps at times too lenient to both sides regarding war and this makes wars drag on and on without a clear victor. Eventually the fires of war that are not put out spread onto other countries and sooner or later we have the repeat of the past INES where there are two blocs engaged in a global war to the death. This could also be because this NES has a limited lifespan which starts the 'what the hell' mode of thinking in the heads of players and makes engaging in war an issue from a serious dilemma into a non-issue. As well going to war practically has no disincentives and only potential benefits.

It turns NESing into a wargaming simulation (or better said approximation); a glorified RISK game of sorts, when it has potential for oh so much more. War is good and fun, but when it becomes the entire game it becomes kind of tedious and boring if you know what I mean. I dont think there was a single turn of peace in the game except turn 0.

Ya, I agree with most of what you said, especially the bit about being too lenient with PC death—Patagonia could’ve been gone this turn, CUWA could have imploded more, the Order back in the day could have died in two turns, China’s smush could have come faster at the end, the effects of nanites were hugely curtailed…etc. Still, the effects of wars in the game are almost overwhelmingly negative, since they lead to ASP damage much faster than ASP transfer. Texas has a quarter of the ASP it did at World War III start, Patagonia has a third as much, the Atlantic economy could have been 32 or higher without all the duress, and the Ummah economy probably could have been double what it is now. Only the USACS is in its old neighborhood, and that’s because TLK’s talked himself into huge subsidies. I guess a lot of players’ resolves are strengthened when their country starts to decay. This game got itself stuck in a bipolar format even though it was in almost no one’s interests to have things that way. Small mercy that such a paradox is realistic.

I’ll see what I can do for a different dynamic if/when I run another NES. The leading contenders are the fresh start/fallen angel thing (complete with an overrideable plot) and an old-style althist (where players would have limited power projection capabilities). Another alt.modern is rather far down in the rankings.

I too have my issues (not even WWII Japan would have stayed in this fight being one of them), but I would play another INES in a heartbeat. These have been my favorite NESes, and I'll be slightly sad to see it end... although it does have to end. Would be cool if the Washingtonian Empire made another appearance in a Sci Fi INES sequel, though, if it survives.

Well, glad you’ve enjoyed it. The Washingtonian Empire/UKA does have amazing internal politics, and I’ll certainly try to drag it in if I do something more sci-fi. (Though I’m leading more to other parts of the speculative spectrum, see above.) The ardent quasi-suicidal solidarity of the MDI has been a very different sight to behold, though I don’t think it’s necessarily that unrealistic—see here for a scenario rather like the one we’ve been playing out in the NES.

 

[Nuka-sama]

The mightier they are, the harder they fall, and I have become the mightiest of them all. She looked to her left. Her husband Dante had a firm hand on her shoulder. Minister Romano was nodding. She looked to her right, and Prime Minister Blacktyde was there, beaming. He always claimed that PR relations were a non-issue, but maybe now he understood. That’s why Adam was there. He saw the need for this. If there wasn’t a need, they would have abolished the monarchy long ago. But there needs to be an Army to shield the people’s body. More importantly, there must be a sovereign to shield their souls. The time was now. The cameras were about to roll for what could be the beginning of a new era…or of it’s premature death. I will lead them no matter what.

Some may say War never changes. I stand here now to show that war has evolved to a state never thought possible. It’s no longer the killing of one man, or thousands. It’s no longer about destroying cities or farms or civilians. Was has changed where the very Earth has been shook, and the power of the sun is no more.

This war is the reflection of the spirit of the people who fight it. The world was split into two camps. The MDI, and the Empire. On their side, the Empire boasted armies never seen by man, of great armadas of ships and planes. Of controlling the world’s economy, doubling what the Empire could hope to make. They had nearly every nation on this earth combined for one common goal of the destruction of this Empire.
The Empire never wanted war. We wanted to grow and prosper, and to bring the world to us not through conquest, but through peace and diplomacy. The Empire has never declared war, and has no plans to. But the nations of the world feared this. They feared their people would see the foolishness of nationalism, the foolishness of politics, the foolishness of war. They casted aside their differences to crush the dream of people of all races and ideologies standing together for one common goal of the betterment of mankind.

They struck at us, with their great resources in a surprise attack, catching us off guard. It was not enough though for our spirit, and their soldiers were defeated. But even then, we were willing to make peace. We did not ask for grand concessions or repartitions. All we wanted, was peace. The LIARS agreed to peace, and we gave it to them. But they betrayed us, in a ploy to gain a little more land.

We now have one goal. The world will be unified, and peace will be at hand, no matter the cost. Surrender, and the sun shall be returned, and we can rebuild. Fail to end this war, and the MDI will inherit a world of darkness and death. The people of the world must choose their own fate. The Empire will be there when they choose it, and I shall guide them to a new age of peace and prosperity.

All Hail Empress Catherine! All Hail the Empire!

 

[Imago]

0/13 orders in. Little less than 36 hours until deadline.

 

[Eltain]

I might not be able to make this deadline.