AHadley and Mr X wrote what is featured in this thread. I looked it over, asked questions and more or less did nothing to it. Remember the rules: no drastic changes to the story, no flogging deceased equines, no flaming. I'm also adding a new "rule." Please try not to use Christian religious figures (I know that the whole "Adam and Eve" thing from Full Circle was liked a lot, but we don't need Christian Zealots breathing down our necks), if you're going to suggest a character or something based in religion, make sure that it is from Ancient Greek religion, not modern religion.
First up is the proposed backstory for the 3rd Cthonian (read: new) faction, written by Mr X.
As of now, the 3rd Cthonian faction is unnamed, and is currently called [NN] so we can actually reference them.
In the long history of the Cthonians, there were many attempts by members of both sides to set up a third faction next to the long standing feud between the Olympians and the Hadeans. Many of these were merely short lived foot notes on the long history of a constant war; they were either destroyed by the larger factions or were simply starved of resources when they became isolated from the more civilized worlds of the other factions.
One breakaway faction stands head and shoulders above the rest though; they set up a utopia for those who no longer wanted to fight. This is their history.
Origins:
As the Hadeans and Olympians expanded their empires, the solar system that they began in became full. It is for this reason that both sides began sending colonists to other solar systems in order to become even bigger, evidence for this being the still existing Cthonians who have been encountered by the EDF and Scions in recent years.
The world on which the [NN] faction existed is in one such solar system. The Hadeans and Olympians had both sent colonization teams, each with a medium sized military escort, as they would be too far from other worlds to get support quickly (in fact the traveling time was several years), and scientists who had refused to turn their talents to creating weapons of war.
What neither side had anticipated was that the other would be there, and so the leaders of both colonies met to try to convince the other to leave. As one would expect neither were successful. The outcome was therefore the start of a confrontation, with the military escorts fighting each other. Eventually the fighting became so bad that the escorts were worn down and began trying to conscript the civilians and force the scientists to help. Many of them on both sides became very unhappy with this, and so many of them tried to flee. At some unknown point two large groups of refugees (one from each side) encountered each other, their leaders talked and eventually they decided to join each other and form their own faction that wasn't constantly at war. They found a world that was just outside the area of space that had been explored by the other Cthonians and colonised it. The better of the scientists among them worked together and succeeded in terraforming the world so that they could inhabit it.
The golden age:
For the next decade or so the [NN]s prospered, their scientists creating ever more brilliant feats of technology thanks to them not having to concentrate on war. All the while the two colonies that they had come from had become full blown military bases, and had fallen into a stalemate with the wider scale war preventing reinforcements from being available.
The [NN]s finally decided that they were ready to re-introduce themselves to their former allies, with an offer of remaining neutral. At first this seemed to be going well, but then the leaders of both sides heard of how great [NN] technology had become. They decreed that their rivals must not be able to get it first and so the colonies (being the only ones near enough) were ordered to attack.
The war:
They arrived at the same time and when the [NN] refused to co-operate with either side the Hadeans ordered a mass extermination, with missiles fired from orbit to take out the citizens of this world. The fighting would probably have ended the [NN]s there if it were not for one crucial detail, the Hadean and Olympian armies were fighting their former friends. A fraction of both of the offensive armies rebelled and tried to go to the aid of their former comrades. Though they could not save any of the settlements on the world they succeeded in saving some of the populace, including most of the scientists who had made the world so great (this had been a priority for the rebels, whichever side had them would have an enormous advantage). They went underground, forming a resistance movement, and striking at the attacking armies' weak points where they could.
Soon the fighting took both sides to the quarrying areas of the planet, where they found some heavy duty mining lasers. They took these and turned them into brutal weapons of war, and each side used them to shoot down the other's carrier craft. The war became a "Do or Die" situation, as without carriers retreat would be impossible.
Comment, another part will be added later.
I like it.
Great! What is the player, a Hadean who rebels?
Would you mind if I rewrote that with some more grandiose language? Same stuff, just different letters.
Quote from: sabrebattletank on October 20, 2009, 10:53:23 PM
Great! What is the player, a Hadean who rebels?
We (the community, not just Mr X, AHadley and I) decided early on that the player race would be Scion.
Quote from: Nielk1 on October 20, 2009, 10:57:06 PM
Would you mind if I rewrote that with some more grandiose language? Same stuff, just different letters.
Why?
Quote from: VSMIT on October 20, 2009, 11:00:18 PM
We (the community, not just Mr X, AHadley and I) decided early on that the player race would be Scion.
Word. OK then.
Quote from: VSMIT on October 20, 2009, 11:00:18 PM
Why?
It just seems week and fumbling. Then again it is draft 1 isn't it. :-P
I've been writing some stuff lately and you know how I start to hold my work (and all other work) up to nearly masochistic standards.
If you'd like to, N1. Just don't kill yourself.
I did that with the other part, I'm just not sure how well... but it does come out more professional when it's done.
Next part!
Part One: The Discovery
Twenty-four months after Operation Guard Dog prevented a Hadean invasion of Earth and eighteen months after the Dragonfly disaster, Scions on core pick up a distress call originating from just outside the explored sections of the galaxy. The writers of the message seem to know who its recipients will be, as it refers them as both Scions and humans.
The Scions contact the AAN and the EDF, who as a sign of goodwill send a small detachment force under the command of a Major to assist the Scion's much larger investigative force. A lieutenant in this detachment force is close friends with one of the Scion force's commanders. They have fought together before during the Dragonfly incident and they are recognized by their supervisors to be a good team.
Upon arrival it is discovered that a large structure on the surface of the seemingly lifeless moon is jamming their sensors and preventing a proper scan of the surface from taking place. The commander and lieutenant are sent down to the surface with a small task force to reconnaissance and, if possible, shut down the jammer.
When the force reaches the surface they discover signs of a struggle: many dead Cerberi hulls, along with some that seem to be of Scion origin but that neither the EDF nor the Scions recognize. They proceed with their orders and head towards the structure to investigate, intending to return to examine the remains later. Once they reach the structure, however, they encounter its automated defense system, consisting of both defensive emplacements and vehicles. These forces are neutralised, and it is speculated by the Scion scientist that had it not been for the Cerberi attack force they would not have activated, as it seems they are programmed to recognise their heat and engine signatures. He also speculates that had it not been for the Cerberi attacking the force would have been much, much stronger - possibly even tenfold what they encountered.
Once the battle is over the recon force claims the structure and begins to investigate within, shutting it down and allowing a full scan of the moon. From this structure they learn two things: Firstly the reason for the Cerberi presence - located deep within the facility (which is much larger than they had originally estimated) is a piece of technology which allows the bearer to travel large distances at beyond the speed of light, known to modern science as the Acclubiere drive, which would allow great advances over the Hadean StarPortal (between fixed points) or the Scion Wormdrive (between weakened points in the fabric of space). Secondly, they discover that the defence systems were programmed to react to Cerberi engine signatures, thus meaning that had the Cerberi not turned up the facility would be theirs for the taking. They also encounter a more detailed plea for help from deeper within the building, which they (and the rest of the Scion/Human force) immediately heads down to investigate. This message includes details of the Acclubierre drive and how to use it, but not of who wrote the message. Whoever they are, they beg the Scions to help them by using the drive. A flight program is already programmed in, but instructions are given for its attatchment to the Ark III's worm drive (which the unknown writer(s) seem to have intimate knowledge of).
A race with technology this advanced would be a very useful ally to the Scions especially since they seem to know the Cerberi. The Scions also decide that a device this powerful must never fall into enemy hands.
With this in mind the Scions destroy the remaining defenses inside the building and capture the device. It is far, far beyond their understanding, and thus are very grateful for the instructions on how to use it (if a little perplexed by them). Within the drive itself they discover a third, even more confusing message:
"It is essential that you aid the [NN].
They send a message back to Core and Earth indicating what they are doing by connecting the drive to their ship and activate it.
brilliant, very solid, love it! :-D :-D
Quote from: Nielk1 on October 20, 2009, 10:57:06 PM
Would you mind if I rewrote that with some more grandiose language? Same stuff, just different letters.
I don't see the point in doing so, this is only really meant to be to tell people working on the project what they're doing. It isn't something that will actually appear in game to inform players. With that in mind keeping it simpler might be better for now.
(thats what I thought when I was writing it anyway, just give people a brief overview)
Quote from: sabrebattletank on October 20, 2009, 10:53:23 PM
Great! What is the player, a Hadean who rebels?
You play as a scion, with maybe a mission or two as the EDF.
I like it.
Its brilliant. Very well planned. I like some of the established relationships here too.
Only one part im concerned about, and that is this 'sudden golden age of technology' that this third faction encountered. This idea is getting very cliche, so an extra bit of backstory may fit in here instead.
Overall though, im looking forward very much to contributing to this.
Not sure if this is in order or not, but what if the playable parts of the story took the form of a Greek Tragedy? You know, the player is the tragic hero, catharsis, and other such-ish things.
If it's not in order at this time, the I withdraw this idea from consideration.
Withdrawn: not in order.
Quote from: sabrebattletank on October 21, 2009, 05:08:37 PM
Not sure if this is in order or not, but what if the playable parts of the story took the form of a Greek Tragedy? You know, the player is the tragic hero, catharsis, and other such-ish things.
If it's not in order at this time, the I withdraw this idea from consideration.
I can see a much different story in the future knowing the elements the community agreed on.
Fair enough. Withdrawn.
Everything seems pretty solid so far, the only thing that really rubs me the wrong way is the naming of the new Scion flagship as the "Ark III".
The Ark II was an interstellar colony ship made up mostly of Scion refugees from the Core incident. As far as I'm aware it was never a fully equipped combat/research vessel. I think it may also be fair to assume that the Ark II gets it's name from Noah's Ark as it's purpose was mostly to bring the survivors of the dead Core planet to colonize new land after their planet was destroyed. While following a culture close to the Cthonians, the Scions were still originally Human and I would not be surprised for them to carry on similar folklore to have them devise the name for their colony ship in such a manner. In such a case I think the name of the Scion flagship should probably be something other than the successor to their colony vessel.
As far as the name for the new Cthonian faction would go. I had not read the thread in it's entirety since it got kinda messy after a while, so I apologize if it has already been suggested but how about the Aeneads?
In Greco-Roman mythology, the Aeneads were the companions of Aeneas, who fled from Troy after the Trojan war to eventually settle in Italy and become the progenitors of the Romans. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneid for more information of the story about Aeneas' travels) It doesn't quite fit entirely but if you are looking for a mythological reference, it is quite close to the mark as far as people who left their nation that was torn by war to start a new civilization bound for greatness.
Otherwise everything seems to be coming together nice, looking forward to seeing more. :)
Quote from: Tempest Storm on October 22, 2009, 08:43:59 PM
Everything seems pretty solid so far, the only thing that really rubs me the wrong way is the naming of the new Scion flagship as the "Ark III".
The Ark II was an interstellar colony ship made up mostly of Scion refugees from the Core incident. As far as I'm aware it was never a fully equipped combat/research vessel. I think it may also be fair to assume that the Ark II gets it's name from Noah's Ark as it's purpose was mostly to bring the survivors of the dead Core planet to colonize new land after their planet was destroyed. While following a culture close to the Cthonians, the Scions were still originally Human and I would not be surprised for them to carry on similar folklore to have them devise the name for their colony ship in such a manner. In such a case I think the name of the Scion flagship should probably be something other than the successor to their colony vessel.
Very good point. We should rename it to something new.
QuoteAs far as the name for the new Cthonian faction would go. I had not read the thread in it's entirety since it got kinda messy after a while, so I apologize if it has already been suggested but how about the Aeneads?
In Greco-Roman mythology, the Aeneads were the companions of Aeneas, who fled from Troy after the Trojan war to eventually settle in Italy and become the progenitors of the Romans. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeneid for more information of the story about Aeneas' travels) It doesn't quite fit entirely but if you are looking for a mythological reference, it is quite close to the mark as far as people who left their nation that was torn by war to start a new civilization bound for greatness.
That's the best suggestion so far. Very nice.
QuoteOtherwise everything seems to be coming together nice, looking forward to seeing more. :)
Cool. There will be more, don't worry. :wink:
Some possible ship names:
Defiance
Liberty
Penetrator (hmm...)
Instigator
Pegasus (BSG anyone?)
Otana
Imperator
Interceptor
These and more ive used in serenesis, but i dont really mind if the CP uses one. These are all warships or heavy freighters. In fact the Otana and Defiance are the ones you are stationed on through the game.
Couldn't really use Interceptor as it's already taken in the BZ universe, but Defiance and Liberty sound pretty good to me.
More...
Trenchant
Turbulence
Valiant
Sceptre
Oberon
The Titania
The Escapade
The Exodus
The Omnipota
The Omnipotus
The Omnibus
The Enterprise :-P
The Excelsior
The Celestia
The Gargantuan
Oedipus
Tiresius
Antigone
These could be character names or ship names.
What about Tiresians as the species name?
The Spark of Knowledge
Tempest Storm has had the best name so far.
Quote from: TheJamsh on October 24, 2009, 03:48:50 AM
Tempest Storm has had the best name so far.
Agreed.
USE THAT ONE!!!
The Diabolus
I agree, if having a deity referenced for a name isn't important, then we should go with Aeneads.
The Aenead was a Greek poem and there was only one. I think it would be silly to name them the Aeneads.
I mean we don't have to decide now. Let's get some more discussion.
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 24, 2009, 09:10:58 AM
The Aeneid was a Greek poem...
Wrong. It is a Roman poem.
The poem essentially links the new to the old. I think the IDEA of doing this for the name of the new Cthonian faction is fitting, if not the suggested name.
Quote from: Warfreak on October 24, 2009, 09:29:57 AM
Wrong. It is a Roman poem.
What difference does it make?
The Illiad is the greek one.
no wait, i've got the ship mane
THE IRON MAIDEN!
-KIDDING
The Trireme
The Maelstrom
The Typhoon
The Erebus
Voyager
The Equinox
The Nautilus
The Cthonia
The Lady Alice
The Apollo
The Mercury
The Portune
The Helena
The Athena
The Aeolia
The Chronia
The Chronos
The Aurora
The Caelus
The Medusa
The Firebird
The Phoenix
The Slyphide
The Bridge Maker
Voyager? Are you mad? There's already one mod with StarTrek references, lets not have any more...
Just a suggestion.
The justice bringer?
Quote from: sabrebattletank on October 23, 2009, 11:06:51 AM
Oedipus
Tiresius
Antigone
These could be character names or ship names.
Oedipus is a big no, I think you know why...
Would anyone object to me starting a thread to name everything?
not at all
Quote from: Mr X on October 24, 2009, 01:05:32 PM
Oedipus is a big no, I think you know why...
Sure, he does the mother and kills the father, but in the end (Oedipus at Colonus), he is deified. We don't know the story yet, so let's not choose one until we have all the evidence.
We should have a name that has something to do with how the ship behaves, it's purpose, or a scion/cthonian like name.
or what it was built by... if tempest doesn't put the name forward soon i might...
It travels time after all so how bout after the keeper of time
The Chronos
The Chrona
Or the roman version
The Saturn
The Saturna
The Saturnus
Its huge so how bout
The Gargantua
The Enormica
The Megala (from the greek for large)
The Peloria (from the greek for huge)
Its a ship right?
The Fortona (from the greek for ship)
The Navisa (from the Latin for ship)
The Navigator
Ok its built by the scions who are like huge fans of the cthonians so
The Cthonia
And how bout some random ones
The Explorer
The Hermeda (from the god hermes)
The Initia
The Legacy
They can have a different name for every day of the week...
The name "Aeneads" is officially put forward as a choice for the name of the third faction. Unless there is another good (read: meaningful) submission, this is the one that will be chosen.
Excellent.
Please for the love of god... keep that one!
the Aeneads sounds like multiple ancient poems. and as a race we might as well call them romans because thats what the "Aeneads" turned out to be. Lets be a little more creative. How bout something that sounds greek but really has no meaning.
Aeneas is a character introduced in the Illiad and made the protagonist of the Aeneid. (hell Aeneid is essentially a greek word and really has no meaning whatsoever.)
The thing you hate meets your specification. NEXT. :-D
*Seriously, If you are gonna disagree give some suggestions or else you are just whining like a little kid.
Quote from: TheJamsh on October 24, 2009, 06:54:45 PM
or what it was built by... if tempest doesn't put the name forward soon i might...
Fine! Fine! I'll do it already! :P
I haven't put too much thought on ship names yet but I happened to really like one of the first few I had brainstormed up:
The Pride of Argos
If my memory serves me correctly, Argos was a large port/port city. I think that after the events of FE the Scion's would probably have much more interest in creating larger capital ships to further the defensive capabilities of the Scion Collective as a whole. The Scions seemed pretty unprepared for what happened during FE; with the possibility of new hostile alien encounters and an eventual return of the Cerberi I think it is safe to assume that creating a large spaceport/orbital construction yard to create an actual fleet for the defense of the Scion culture would be on their to-do list. Going with a Greek mythological theme, Argos would be a pretty good example of what the Scions would name their first major fleet construction facility. (Considering that the largest space-faring Scion vessel we have seen is the Ark II, I have little doubt that Argos would be the first of such facilities to exist)
I've been a bit hesitant to suggest this however since "The Pride of Argos" would require additional back story and fluff to make the name meaningful, although if people think it fits well then it may well be worth considering writing it in. I really want to sit down and think hard of other names though, I'm sure there is something out there that can have strong meaning for it's purpose as well as fitting the context. :)
Sounds good to me in my current state of mind.
I'll probably edit this post tomorrow morning.
I suddenly want to model a massive Scion ship yard station.
I thought that Argos was a man that built the ship for Jason and the
Argonauts, they named it the Argo in his honour I believe.
Anyway, with this in mind maybe we should just call the Argo II or something, because as a name it ties in with tough warriors exploring new territory and having to fight whatever wierd stuff you find there and it is linked to ancient Greece too.
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 24, 2009, 07:33:33 PM
It travels time after all so how bout after the keeper of time
No good, it doesn't travel time when it is first built.
I think that Anaeads and the Pride of Argos are pretty much perfect suggestions.
Anybody think a mission on the Argos station might be a good idea, somewhere near the beginning...?
Change the word Aenead a little bit and you have Aeneid, the title of the poem. Their pronounced essentially the same. The Argo was built by Argus. We could name it the Argo II or something in that direction. Or, Its a warship right, so how about the Athena. Not particularly creative but it sounds good.
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 25, 2009, 07:29:50 AM
The Argo was built by Argus.
Quote from: AHadley on October 25, 2009, 03:30:14 AM
I think that Anaeads and the Pride of Argos are pretty much perfect suggestions.
How about the Pride of Argus?
For the Third faction what would happen if we went back to the phoenix idea except we didn't use the long name of phosphornii, but something more simple. I think that the phoenix idea is really workable as in buildings and race design. They could be simply named "the Phoenix" and an individual would be called a "Phoenix" by the enemy or their name or rank by their friends.
what about the Odysseus, in the Odyssey he had to fight his way through several fierce challenges before he could return home, i find it fitting.
QuoteAnybody think a mission on the Argos station might be a good idea, somewhere near the beginning...?
A mission might be a bit much, I mean...what would we do at Argos station? :P Might make a good opening movie for when you enter the campaign for the first time. Like that feflyby.bik that has the few space battles on screen when you begin the campaign.
QuoteChange the word Aenead a little bit and you have Aeneid, the title of the poem. Their pronounced essentially the same. The Argo was built by Argus. We could name it the Argo II or something in that direction. Or, Its a warship right, so how about the Athena. Not particularly creative but it sounds good.
The problem with changing the titles is that they lost the general meaning that they are founded on. The Aeneads was the 'official title' of Aneas' companions during the poem, breaking down the work only loses the effect it has from being derived from the name of an actual group of individuals.
The idea behind The Pride of Argos is also similar. Argos is really a multipurpose name as far as Greek mythos goes; aside from being a city-state, and as others have pointed out it serves as the name of a few different people, animals and objects. :P (Jeeze how unoriginal of them :P) But the title itself is what made the name special to me. Assuming that Argos was the first large orbital construction facility the Scion's would use to make a fleet, naming the Vanguard of their newly creating fleet The Pride of their new station puts a lot more feeling behind the ship itself IMO.
I also would support at this stage "Aneads" and "Pride of Argos." Very well-done.
Well, seeing as everyone seems to agree, we could just roll with that. To be honest, I didn't like Aeneads at first, but its growing on me.
Anyway I'm going to start another thread for discussing names, that way this thread can go back to its original purpose of discussing the storyline (the storyline's taken a backseat for a page or two now.), and I can run polls to pick the favourites.
Quote from: AHadley on October 25, 2009, 03:30:14 AM
Anybody think a mission on the Argos station might be a good idea, somewhere near the beginning...?
No, because the current enemies would have no reason to be there, we'd have to write a new bad guy just for the sake of an ultimately pointless mission. Showing the battlegroup going through the station to their ship at the start in a movie might be good though.
P.S. @VSMIT if you're reading this, when are you going to reveal the rest of the story to the community?
Quote from: Mr X on October 25, 2009, 10:52:30 AM
No, because the current enemies would have no reason to be there, we'd have to write a new bad guy just for the sake of an ultimately pointless mission. Showing the battlegroup going through the station to their ship at the start in a movie might be good though.
Tutorial mission?
QuoteP.S. @VSMIT if you're reading this, when are you going to reveal the rest of the story to the community?
In my next post.
Naming them the Aeneads would be like naming them the Vsmits or the Ahadleys. You see what I mean?
I personally think the latter is a rather cool-sounding suggestion :lol:
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 25, 2009, 11:05:20 AM
Naming them the Aeneads would be like naming them the Vsmits or the Ahadleys. You see what I mean?
No. Stop it.
Part Two: Into the Unknown
Upon leaving the course set by the Acclubierre Drive (having had time to rest, eat, and otherwise prepare for what awaits them) the detachment are thrust into orbit around a medium-sized planet (slightly larger than Earth), upon which there seems to be a struggle. The ships locked in combat over this world seem like nothing any of the force have ever seen, until one of the Scion engineers comments that they bear more than a passing resemblance to the reconstructions of Ancient Cthonian craft his team have been working on.
Without a moment's warning they find themselves under attack from a massive force from both sides, who evidently perceive them as a threat. The [Ark III] is overwhelmed by the attack, and even once its sheilds power up it is to late. The damage has been done. Scattering dropships and escape pods across the surface of the planet, the [Ark III] spirals down to crash in the depths of one of the planet's oceans. The Acclubierre Drive is lost forever to the seas.
IDEA: MAYBE THE THIRD FACTION DISCOVER THE ACCLUBIERRE DRIVE AND GIVE IT BACK TO THE SCIONS AT THE END, THUS CREATING A SECOND TIME LOOP?
Most of the dropships and escape pods land at their intended locations, but some are pulled off-course by an anomalous gravity well which appears suddenly out of nowhere in their paths. When they land the survivors (including the Commander and Lieutenant) discover they are separated from the smaller group (which contains most of the allied force's leaders) by a massive swath of jungle. Staying within radio contact, the two groups attempt a rendezvous at what seems to be the origin of the gravitational disruption, but en route this smaller group is destroyed in a massive, overwhelming Hadean attack, leaving the force stranded on the unfamiliar planet under the command of the two heroes.
Shortly after, the Scion scientists discover the true extent of the gravity well's effects. The planet's moon is slowly growing larger - it is being pulled down towards the planet!
I'm afraid I'm going to have to oppose the loop with the Acclubierre drive, I dislike the idea of a machine that exists but never gets invented.
Quote from: VSMIT on October 25, 2009, 11:08:06 AM
No. Stop it.
You do see what I mean you just refuse to admit it.
What you said had absolutely nothing to do with the name that is being decided on. Because the name was not suggested by someone named Aeneas, the point is lost entirely. So stop it.
Quote from: VSMIT on October 25, 2009, 11:45:38 AMBecause the name was not suggested by someone named Aeneas, the point is lost entirely.
I have to disagree with you there, his point still stands. That said, it doesn't bother me, and I do still like Aenaeds.
Why do you disagree? His point was that naming them the Aenaeds is like naming them the AHadleys or VSMITs, after AHadley and myself, respectively. The name Aenaeds has a good story behind it, and the Greek story works well with the story we've got here.
Quote from: VSMIT on October 25, 2009, 12:00:51 PMThe name Aenaeds has a good story behind it, and the Greek story works well with the story we've got here.
Right -- that's why it doesn't bother me as much. That's the counterpoint to his point. I buy it. I'm in.
But that's their story not ours and to remake my point it would be like naming them the Remus's or the Julius's.
This race is supposed to be very smart and have superb technology, and thus
The Synesians (after the Greek for wisdom)
The Synesii (after the Greek for wisdom)
The Gnosians (after the Greek for knowledge)
The Gnosii (after the Greek for Knowledge)
The Technologians (lol, after the Greek for Technology)
The Zoirians (after the Greek for smart)
The Komposians (after the Greek for smart)
The Oploians (after the Greek for weapon)
The Oplonians (after the Greek for weapon)
The Sophians (after the Greek goddess of knowledge)
The Athenians (after the Greek goddess of wisdom)
The Appollonians (after Apollo the god of culture, light, and truth)
Clavin, however much you might not like it, you are not the decider and attempts at slander when you do not get your way will not be tolerated.
Quote from: Nielk1 on October 25, 2009, 01:34:04 PM
Clavin, however much you might not like it, you are not the decider and attempts at slander when you do not get your way will not be tolerated.
Nono, he means the name Aeneads belongs with the story of Aeneas. Read the next half of his statement:
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 25, 2009, 12:52:45 PM
But that's their story not ours and to remake my point it would be like naming them the Remus's or the Julius's.
The antecedent of "their" is not "the story writers". It's the "real Aeneads."
If I was wrong about the meaning of his statement I made such an error with the knowledge of his previous actions.
Quote from: sabrebattletank on October 25, 2009, 01:47:51 PM
Nono, he means the name Aeneads belongs with the story of Aeneas. Read the next half of his statement:
The antecedent of "their" is not "the story writers". It's the "real Aeneads."
I know I just put the apostrophe there to make it more readable.
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 25, 2009, 02:45:37 PM
I know I just put the apostrophe there to make it more readable.
OK.
I personally like Aenaeds, it just sounds... good.
OK.
I personally don't like Aenaeds, it just sounds... bad. Cmon guys Aeneas was a person. It's not an entire race of Aeneas's.
Back to the storyline!
Quote from: Clavin12 on October 25, 2009, 02:51:26 PM
OK.
I personally like Aenaeds, it just sounds... bad. Cmon guys Aeneas was a person. It's not an entire race of Aeneas's.
I think that you are missing the point of using the Aeneads as a name. "The Aeneads" was the title of Aeneas' followers. Naming the Cthonian 3rd faction as they Aeneads makes reference to the Trojan people who followed Aeneas on his journey to eventually establish Rome, not to Aeneas himself.
And why did this particular Cthonian faction want to follow a Trojan refugee? He wasn't even Greek!
...
Clavin, the idea was that they left. If you can't make constructive comments based on things people have posted, people are going to stop listening to you (if they were, already).
Um, Who left?
The Aenaeds.
If you are gonna be a prick about this stop before you get the boot. It's a stupid thing to be arguing anyway.
Let's have as little about names as possible, please. Story only from here on.
yes sir, i believe that is why the other thread was made.
Exactly, grasshopper.
I've cleaned up the thread. Stay on topic.
why did this topic abruptly stop? :|
Yes, could we have part 3 soon please? :)
Part Three: Non-Hostile
Both factions simultaneously decide that the Scions are not necessarily hostile, and both declare their intentions (not necessarily truthfully) and offer to help the Scions escape their planet. The choice of which faction to join is delegated to the Lieutenant.
If the player chooses the first faction (the Hadeans, though the player doesn't know this yet), the next few missions will revolve around attempting to recover parts required for the repair of a damaged StarPortal, which is as yet the only exit from the doomed planet.
If the player chooses to fight with the second faction (the Olympians), the next few missions revolve around reaching the parts for the StarPortal before the Hadeans, and then capturing the StarPortal from them. This is the harder set of missions, much like the Scion set in the original game.
As the portal is switched online by the player's side, a mysterious third faction reveal themselves to the player, who introduce themselves as Cthonians, explain the story of their race fully, and reveal that they have been orchestrating the events right from the beginning. They present the Scion/EDF force with the same technology they discovered at the beginning, telling them to take it with them to the other side of the portal and to hide it. An experimental Scion automatic defensive recycler is also given to them, though with no explanation for how it was obtained, for them to take to defend the drive. A small task force is formed from this force and some of the third faction's members just as a massive enemy attack is detected. The remaining members of the collaboration between the Scion/EDF force and the two allied Cthonian factions remain behind to defend the portal as the task force passes through. The Lieutenant opens a private communications channel with the commander. Their conversation needs no explanation.
yay!, and once my poll is complete, we'll have a name for them!
How many more parts?
One.
when do think we could have it? I'm on the verge of losing it by the lack of possible threads there are to justly create by not having the whole thing.
I keep waiting for people to post comments or criticisms for each of the parts, and thus far, I've only seen such for the backstory and the first part. There is a reason why I only post single parts, and why I wait so long between posting them...
I think the names and stuff are more controversial than the story.
NK1 made a comment about it being a bit thin and watered-down, but we've deliberately left things for the rest of the community to help out with.
It doesn't have an ultimate antagonist. In Bz2 braddock was the ultimate antagonist and in FE, I don't remember, But I'm sure there was one. Its no good if there's nobody to hate.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 08, 2009, 08:01:10 AM
It doesn't have an ultimate antagonist. In Bz2 braddock was the ultimate antagonist and in FE, I don't remember, But I'm sure there was one. Its no good if there's nobody to hate.
FE's were both Braddock and Wyndt-Essex, if I remember correctly :lol:
I'm sure the community could invent an arrogant Scion Padisha who has a grudge on the main character... maybe for falling in love with his daughter or something... :evil:
I would like a Cthonian one. I have a great name for it. "The Great Diabolus" Probably Hadean.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 08, 2009, 08:09:27 AM
I would like a Cthonian one. I have a great name for it. "The Great Diabolus" Probably Hadean.
Except that you choose a side, so if you choose Hadeans you'll be teamed up with him,
this is why we cant have one distinct bad guy.
You were teamed up with braddock right?
Then there was a distinct sense of the right side, and the wrong side. Everybody accepts that the Scions were the protagonists of BZ2. Either side could be the protagonists at the moment.
Quote from: Mr X on November 08, 2009, 11:52:57 AM
Except that you choose a side, so if you choose Hadeans you'll be teamed up with him,
this is why we cant have one distinct bad guy.
Paternus and Nexus? Or is this before their time?
They're alive, but millions of miles away on Icarus.
Well, you're not fighting on Icarus, so I'm not sure how closely Paternus and Nexus are watching this little "battle."
Edit: Dangit, AHadley, beat me by a couple of seconds.
Question: If either side you chose does not have a defiant protagonist as of now, who can say is the real bad guy? :|
Neither side is completely in the right.
A story without a definite antagonist is a bad story. It's missing a primary part.
:| not fully understanding this here, so there is no actual good or bad guy?
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 08, 2009, 01:47:52 PM
A story without a definite antagonist is a bad story.
No, its a more intelligent story.
Do you not know what a story is made of? It has to have a definite antagonist. I didn't say the antagonist had to be a person. I didn't say it had to be singular either, but it has to have a definite antagonist.
Clavin: You're 14. You don't yet know what a good story needs.
Drop it.
My dad's a writer. I've taken several classes from him. I've got books and all sorts of references. I've even written some (nothing I'd post here). I think I do know what a story needs. A Protagonist, an Antagonist, a Major Conflict, a Climax, and a Resolution. These are the basics of a story. Without an Antagonist the story is missing something.
A story does not need an antagonist. Most have one, but that is only because it makes it easier for readers to distinguish "right" from "wrong." If you need a definite antagonist, look elsewhere.
perhaps we could make it that whichever side you join, some piece of information is learned about them that makes the player feel the opposite side ifs the definite antagonist
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 08, 2009, 02:14:06 PM
My dad's a writer. I've taken several classes from him. I've got books and all sorts of references. I've even written some (nothing I'd post here). I think I do know what a story needs. A Protagonist, an Antagonist, a Major Conflict, a Climax, and a Resolution. These are the basics of a story. Without an Antagonist the story is missing something.
Clavin. Your dad is a writer. Let's say that's half a point.
Mr X and myself are both writers. Let's say that's two points.
What wins?
Quote from: VSMIT on November 08, 2009, 02:19:02 PM
A story does not need an antagonist. Most have one, but that is only because it makes it easier for readers to distinguish "right" from "wrong." If you need a definite antagonist, look elsewhere.
Without an antagonist there is nothing to fight. I don't think you get what I'm saying. I didn't say the antagonist was definitely "wrong" and the protagonist was definitely "right". I meant that we need an enemy in the end or you don't have a story.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 08, 2009, 03:24:17 PM
Without an antagonist there is nothing to fight. I don't think you get what I'm saying. I didn't say the antagonist was definitely "wrong" and the protagonist was definitely "right". I meant that we need an enemy in the end or you don't have a story.
And we have an enemy, the side you don't join,
For frak's sake CLAVIN WHY MUST YOU CHALLENGE EVERYTHING!?
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 08, 2009, 03:24:17 PM
Without an antagonist there is nothing to fight. I don't think you get what I'm saying. I didn't say the antagonist was definitely "wrong" and the protagonist was definitely "right". I meant that we need an enemy in the end or you don't have a story.
Read
Huckleberry Finn sometime. Or
Brave New World. Or
Invisible Man. And tell me who the antagonists are.
Tomorrow when the war began!!
Quote from: VSMIT on November 08, 2009, 03:34:37 PM
Read Huckleberry Finn sometime. Or Brave New World. Or Invisible Man. And tell me who the antagonists are.
The antagonists are inhuman and abstract but they do exist.
So tell me what they are.
QuoteRead Huckleberry Finn sometime. Or Brave New World. Or Invisible Man. And tell me who the antagonists are.
only read brave new world and part of invisible man, but i would have to cast my vote for the antagonist being society.
Or don't read Brave New World. That's what I recommend.
Quote from: sabrebattletank on November 08, 2009, 10:48:37 PM
Or don't read Brave New World. That's what I recommend.
It's a very good novel.
I didn't like it.
I don't blame him, it is a very difficult book and when looking back quite scary. It takes a person skilled in reading and writing to truly understand it.[Also, listen to iron maiden song of same name, solo's are amazing!]
I understand it. I don't like it.
Oh well, that's beside the point. Back on topic!
agreed, know, as for the whole antagonist matter it has occurred to me that be doing the plot fork in the beginning of the game may lead to a smaller amount of missions. How many should we have, i'm looking to about 13-14, how about ya'all?
Why would it end up being shorter if the fork was at the beginning?
not sure, just seemed to me that there would be less since you immediately had to pick a side, i guess I'm just thinking in the old BZ2 way.
Is it possible to set where the fork is? Both BZ2 and FE had it at mission 14...
It is set by DLL and in 'missions.odf'.
I think it is possible to set where the fork is.
If it's set in a DLL and in missions.odf, then there should be no reason why you can't move the fork.
Hey, are we having perhaps one mission similar to sort of a training mission? It would be good for an inexperienced player or for some one like me who like to warm up with a easy level before going on to a hard one.[And also being not the best player ever :cry:]
The first mission was never destined to be difficult. Read the story again, and tell me where you see the first mission happening.
I'd say on the moon with the large jamming structure.
ah, I see it, the whole discovering the dead Cerberi right? I thenceforth withdraw my question.
Precisely.
Ah, now, what else should we discuss? Food?
Quote from: iron maiden on November 10, 2009, 07:28:18 PM
Ah, now, what else should we discuss? Food?
Hot chips and Pepsi. (No flippin salad).
Quote from: VSMIT on November 10, 2009, 07:18:11 PM
The first mission was never destined to be difficult.
Awww... the first mission should be the hardest one. :-P
Quote from: bigbadbogie on November 10, 2009, 07:32:39 PM
Awww... the first mission should be the hardest one. :-P
This ain't Fleshstorm.
BTW, Part IV, really short this time:
Part Four: Total Destruction
As the final members of the task force pass through the portal, the defence is finally overwhelmed. The enemy breaks through the last lines of defence, killing both the Commander and the Lieutenant. Failing to reach the portal, the enemy turns on anything in sight, intent on causing as much destruction as they can before the moon crashes down into the planet and everything is obliterated.
I hope that's not serious. I don't like it at all if it is.
um, ok, so what, you just die right then and there?
As I keep saying, this is a skeleton storyline and this isn't just what happens. Lots of intricate little plotlines go around this, mostly by the community. This is merely your base.
Also, as map and mission makers make things, the story may change. Just as a meandering that everyone would see happening and thus be able to control.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 10, 2009, 07:20:05 PM
I'd say on the moon with the large jamming structure.
Quote from: iron maiden on November 10, 2009, 07:20:41 PM
ah, I see it, the whole discovering the dead Cerberi right? I thenceforth withdraw my question.
Yup, we made a point of having a different enemy for the first couple of missions, one that has been weakened in a battle before you arrived.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 10, 2009, 07:35:39 PM
I hope that's not serious. I don't like it at all if it is.
What don't you like? Is it the fact that literally everybody dies? Because I quite liked that.
Everyone dieing is horrible.
At least do it in a way with impact.
I might have a story to share with you guys to see if you can learn anything from it. It is NOT and will NEVER be for the CP, it's just something that I think has enough layers of conflict and struggle well outside the usual "here is bad guy, kill them" and twists much better than "everyone dies".
Well, its not everyone, the heroes die buying time for their friends to escape.
well what fun is that? you don't live to see your accomplishments. No offense but seriosly, kinda weak ending. To fast. if you want them to die, perhaps in destroying a major structure or something similar. Just, have 'em go out in a blaze of glory.
Insurmountable odds sound right to you?
Quote from: iron maiden on November 11, 2009, 02:05:27 PM
well what fun is that? you don't live to see your accomplishments. No offense but seriosly, kinda weak ending. To fast. if you want them to die, perhaps in destroying a major structure or something similar. Just, have 'em go out in a blaze of glory.
Holding off an impossibly large horde and in doing so killing many times their own number before succumbing to their inevitable fate, and in doing so letting others escape (admittedly they only escape to a lifeless rock where they set up a colony but die off anyway) isn't good enough?
mmmmmmmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I don't know, just does not sound like the battlezone I am used to playing, but i guess that's part of a new expansion.
By the way, since we now have the whole story, should i reopen the thread i made for naming the third faction and have our vote?
I think we should wipe the nominations slate clean for the third faction and start again in the naming process, now that everyone has the full picture of them.
Got it, but should i scrape all those from my current topic and allow more to partake or make a whole different thread?
Quote from: Mr X on November 11, 2009, 02:42:04 PM
I think we should wipe the nominations slate clean for the third faction and start again in the naming process, now that everyone has the full picture of them.
I don't think so.
And actually my picture of them sucks, but that doesn't matter. I'm making models not stories, though I think every race exists in it's fine details, things you don't even have yet.
The logical step is to word forward chronologically in the mod and fill in the race as we go.
Quote from: iron maiden on November 11, 2009, 03:17:03 PM
Got it, but should i scrape all those from my current topic and allow more to partake or make a whole different thread?
Don't dare have anything removed from a thorough and meaningful discussion.
I find it funny I said I was going to stay out of many parts of this (aside from modeling and C++ DLL) but such insane things keep coming up and petty arguments with points that mostly mean nothing. Only sane person I see if VSMIT (good thing he is the apparent head of this project).
Sanity is not a requirement for modding.
I am living proof.
Indeed he is.......Insane, but brilliant
Quote from: Mr X on November 11, 2009, 02:42:04 PM
I think we should wipe the nominations slate clean for the third faction and start again in the naming process, now that everyone has the full picture of them.
The name we chose still stands. It should not change.
Agreed. It fits.
Also, we need to start work on the finer details.
i like the story, it was written straightforward enough for me :-)..
but i do have some questions about the last paragraph there, where they all die.
did all of them die?
what happens to them that escaped through the portal, did they colonize Icarus?
some more questions:
what happend to the third cthonian faction and all their technology?
what about the scions that lived after going through the portal?
did the portal power-down and thats why those hadeans and olympians couldn't escape?
why would the remaining hadean and cthonian forces that realized they were stuck there, start firing on anything whatsoever? they all realized they were all going to die anyway, why fight?
Quote from: Rocket on November 15, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
did all of them die?
All of the ones still on the planet, yes. The moon would have wiped the entire planet out.
Quote from: Rocket on November 15, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
what happens to them that escaped through the portal, did they colonize Icarus?
The Cthonians, yes.
Quote from: Rocket on November 15, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
what happend to the third cthonian faction and all their technology?
Dead. A few may have made it through the portal to Icarus that we don't know about, but other those few lucky ones they're all dead.
Quote from: Rocket on November 15, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
what about the scions that lived after going through the portal?
They return to the first planet, hide the drive, and set up defences. They live as best they can there, but inevitably don't last long as even then it is rather dead.
Quote from: Rocket on November 15, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
did the portal power-down and thats why those hadeans and olympians couldn't escape?
Is that what we said, Mr X?
Quote from: Rocket on November 15, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
why would the remaining hadean and cthonian forces that realized they were stuck there, start firing on anything whatsoever? they all realized they were all going to die anyway, why fight?
I don't think they realised that the portal had closed.
Can't quite remember some of this stuff though.
The portal is too far away for the enemies to reach.
The ones that escape form a small colony on the moon from the start and set up the heavy defences, they die out when their food recyclers are drained.
I'd like it...if the main character didn't die. Unless of course he died for a noble cause, but then what would define that?
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 16, 2009, 08:05:50 PM
I'd like it...if the main character didn't die. Unless of course he died for a noble cause, but then what would define that?
Defending your allies is probably the most noble cause around.
I'd say that to die so that others can live is noble enough.
But don't they all die?
Apparently the ones who escaped merely died off anyway. That's no fun!
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 17, 2009, 01:41:24 PM
Apparently the ones who escaped merely died off anyway. That's no fun!
This is war, boy! Since when was war supposed to be fun?!
my views have changed on this matter, I now agree with the ending, very noble.
Its a Game! Games are supposed to be fun. I think the ending would be fine if the people who escape actually survive.
And it will be fun Clavin! Since when is shooting aliens in Bio-metal tanks not fun? The action can be fun, the story can be noble, shooting and storytelling are fortunately not heavily intertwined enough so that a slight change to one drastically alters the other.
The story would be a little more fun if the cause that you died for actually succeeded. Whats more depressing than dying for something that doesn't ever come to pass. Whats the point? I think we'd get a lot of frustrated players.
Clavin, just because you died does not mean you did so in vain. Only the un-noble see the no point in death of ones-self for the betterment and safety of others.
But the betterment and safety of the others that you caused was compromised anyway. I don't think it would make the act more noble I think it would make the game a little more fulfilling. Isn't that what we're striving for?
Ugh.................were the defenses they establish not for defending a certain object?
{Would one of the writers care to help me out on this one, i need some back-up on this argument.}
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 17, 2009, 02:06:42 PM
Its a Game! Games are supposed to be fun. I think the ending would be fine if the people who escape actually survive.
...game? what?
Clavin, we all know your views. However, they aren't supported by anybody else. Everybody seems to be in agreement about it. It would seem to be you vs the rest of the community.
What object would that be?
by the way i interpret the story, The scion task force establishes the defenses on the moon that you arrive at in the beginning, the neding thus comes full circle as the saga plays itself out years later.
So are you saying they do survive?
No, the scions that escape establish the defenses around the srive and eventually die. The scions in the future arrive at this moon with those established defenses and the story starts over again.[At least thats what I think will happen.]
What if you have them survive on a planet undiscovered until much later, Thus setting up for another mod.
Possible, but i think if you have them discovered again in the future it would be a little more......cohesive.
How do you mean?
Well Clavin, do you remember how at the beginning there were units that looked almost scion but not quite?
Quote from: AHadley on November 17, 2009, 02:23:40 PM
It would seem to be you vs the rest of the community.
So whats new? :P
I remember. they could be part of the original base that was destroyed, but the survivors escaped to a yet undiscovered planet, leaving the torn up base.
If you set it up for another mod you would have people going nuts because they have to wait 2 more years for the sequel to come out. If you have a full circle ending, everything is wrapped up and the player feels nice and cozy and goes gets come coco to toast his success.
QuoteI remember. they could be part of the original base that was destroyed, but the survivors escaped to a yet undiscovered planet.
Then how did the defenses get there if the survivors go somewhere else? The scions would most likely not have sufficient materials to establish a strong automated defense network.
They find resources. They leave ppl there. Idk, but surely you can think of something. Whats your reason for keeping it the way it is?
So what if they have to wait. We don't even have to include that part in the story. We just have to leave that little sentence out and then when the next mod comes out ppl will be all surprised because they realise that they never did learn what happened to the scions. We could even keep in the fact the the base was destroyed. maybe show a movie clip with a small carrier off in the corner escaping. Barely noticeable.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 17, 2009, 02:45:20 PM
I remember. they could be part of the original base that was destroyed, but the survivors escaped to a yet undiscovered planet, leaving the torn up base.
Because, theres nothing particularly special about this task force. And one starportal on a lifeless moon is believeable, two is pointless. And they don't have the facilities to make a star-carrier.
Quote from: Mr X on November 17, 2009, 02:49:54 PM
Because, theres nothing particularly special about this task force. And one starportal on a lifeless moon is believeable, two is pointless.
I didn't say anything about a second portal. Read the above post.
Why wouldn't they just go say hi to their fellow scions?
Idk maybe they didn't know where they where. Maybe they where so involved getting rebuilt that they never though of it. Maybe it will be explained in the next mod.
Clavin, they're Scions, they think of everything, in fact, figuring out how to get back to their own time probably beat out everything else on the "To Do" list.
Quote from: iron maiden on November 17, 2009, 03:01:27 PM
Clavin, they're Scions, they think of everything, in fact, figuring out how to get back to their own time probably beat out everything else on the "To Do" list.
As I said maybe it will be explained in the next mod. A blockade. A natural disaster. You know.
And what if people do not want to go through the hassle of making a sequel to this mod?
Then I'll learn and do it myself.
Feel free to, I am not stopping you, nor will I assist.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 17, 2009, 02:54:24 PM
Idk maybe they didn't know where they where. Maybe they where so involved getting rebuilt that they never though of it. Maybe it will be explained in the next mod.
Yes, but we're talking about when the scions actually go to aforementioned moon.
What I'm saying is they get there, they build up resources, they send the majority of themselves off to explore, leaving an outpost behind. The outpost is attacked and destroyed.
Scions don't live long without something to stabilize their form. Core is one such thing. I get into this in some of my own stories, a rarity since I normally collect stories and not make them.
I forgot about that.......in that case they would most likely die off after building their defenses.
Fine. I don't see the reason you are opposing me on this but fine, they die.
If I can ever get the time I would love to discuss all that we know about the Battlezone story and what conjecture and hold as facts for our purposes.
Unless they tried to make a new Core somehow.
QuoteIf I can ever get the time I would love to discuss all that we know about the Battlezone story and what conjecture and hold as facts for our purposes.
Consider it done. :wink:
http://www.bzuniverse.com/forum/index.php/topic,10197.msg157088.html#new
Vsmit, can you compile the the story so we can read it all at once, in order for us to review it better?
Clavin, can I just explain something?
If the Scions that reached the dead moon survived, and they were encountered by the original scions, then two paradoxes would occur.
A) They would reveal the storyline before it happened, thus causing the scions to prevent it from happening, so their future selves could never have reached the moon and the whole thing would happen as normal.
B) The Scions would meet their future / past selves.
I think the whole implementation of time travel needs some work here...
Even I can't follow it.
Yeah, I don't like the end, I think 'twas part III. Lemme check.
I don't like the end, it seems rather broken. But we're only making the frame, and the whole idea is that the rest of the community patches things together.
The original thought that the 3rd faction is living in the past of the planet they now call home, well before they even arrived there was one I liked. The current is... I don't get it.
Does it ever actually say that they travel time?
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 19, 2009, 04:35:08 PM
Does it ever actually say that they travel time?
Yes. Or else the ENTIRE story is impossible the weird ass way they have it.
I have a recamondation for the ending, whether it is feasible or not.
When the scions finish building their defenses, perhaps they could send out a signal into space, perhaps in some form of craft, and it floats through space for whatever time is agreed upon. After the end of the mod, there could be a cut scene in which the craft is scene in-bound for a Scion colony containing the knowledge and history of the events of the mod. Basically another way for the story to come full circle.
Also, my spell check button seems to be missing.. :|
They do send out a signal, remember the start of the story?
Oh, yes, sorry, I have not read the first part in a while, still though, do you think we should have the signal or the craft?
Signal, that way they have no idea what to expect.
Yes, but for science's sake, wouldn't the signal eventually die as the years went by? Signal only have a limited range and "life" expectancy before it becomes white noise.
Vsmit, can you compile the the story so we can read it all at once, in order for us to review it better?
I'll do it, seeing as Clavin lacks the basic skills of copy-paste :P
As of now, the 3rd Cthonian faction is unnamed, and is currently called [NN] so we can actually reference them.
In the long history of the Cthonians, there were many attempts by members of both sides to set up a third faction next to the long standing feud between the Olympians and the Hadeans. Many of these were merely short lived foot notes on the long history of a constant war; they were either destroyed by the larger factions or were simply starved of resources when they became isolated from the more civilized worlds of the other factions.
One breakaway faction stands head and shoulders above the rest though; they set up a utopia for those who no longer wanted to fight. This is their history.
Origins:
As the Hadeans and Olympians expanded their empires, the solar system that they began in became full. It is for this reason that both sides began sending colonists to other solar systems in order to become even bigger, evidence for this being the still existing Cthonians who have been encountered by the EDF and Scions in recent years.
The world on which the [NN] faction existed is in one such solar system. The Hadeans and Olympians had both sent colonization teams, each with a medium sized military escort, as they would be too far from other worlds to get support quickly (in fact the traveling time was several years), and scientists who had refused to turn their talents to creating weapons of war.
What neither side had anticipated was that the other would be there, and so the leaders of both colonies met to try to convince the other to leave. As one would expect neither were successful. The outcome was therefore the start of a confrontation, with the military escorts fighting each other. Eventually the fighting became so bad that the escorts were worn down and began trying to conscript the civilians and force the scientists to help. Many of them on both sides became very unhappy with this, and so many of them tried to flee. At some unknown point two large groups of refugees (one from each side) encountered each other, their leaders talked and eventually they decided to join each other and form their own faction that wasn't constantly at war. They found a world that was just outside the area of space that had been explored by the other Cthonians and colonised it. The better of the scientists among them worked together and succeeded in terraforming the world so that they could inhabit it.
The golden age:
For the next decade or so the [NN]s prospered, their scientists creating ever more brilliant feats of technology thanks to them not having to concentrate on war. All the while the two colonies that they had come from had become full blown military bases, and had fallen into a stalemate with the wider scale war preventing reinforcements from being available.
The [NN]s finally decided that they were ready to re-introduce themselves to their former allies, with an offer of remaining neutral. At first this seemed to be going well, but then the leaders of both sides heard of how great [NN] technology had become. They decreed that their rivals must not be able to get it first and so the colonies (being the only ones near enough) were ordered to attack.
The war:
They arrived at the same time and when the [NN] refused to co-operate with either side the Hadeans ordered a mass extermination, with missiles fired from orbit to take out the citizens of this world. The fighting would probably have ended the [NN]s there if it were not for one crucial detail, the Hadean and Olympian armies were fighting their former friends. A fraction of both of the offensive armies rebelled and tried to go to the aid of their former comrades. Though they could not save any of the settlements on the world they succeeded in saving some of the populace, including most of the scientists who had made the world so great (this had been a priority for the rebels, whichever side had them would have an enormous advantage). They went underground, forming a resistance movement, and striking at the attacking armies' weak points where they could.
Soon the fighting took both sides to the quarrying areas of the planet, where they found some heavy duty mining lasers. They took these and turned them into brutal weapons of war, and each side used them to shoot down the other's carrier craft. The war became a "Do or Die" situation, as without carriers retreat would be impossible.
Part One: The Discovery
Twenty-four months after Operation Guard Dog prevented a Hadean invasion of Earth and eighteen months after the Dragonfly disaster, Scions on core pick up a distress call originating from just outside the explored sections of the galaxy. The writers of the message seem to know who its recipients will be, as it refers them as both Scions and humans.
The Scions contact the AAN and the EDF, who as a sign of goodwill send a small detachment force under the command of a Major to assist the Scion's much larger investigative force. A lieutenant in this detachment force is close friends with one of the Scion force's commanders. They have fought together before during the Dragonfly incident and they are recognized by their supervisors to be a good team.
Upon arrival it is discovered that a large structure on the surface of the seemingly lifeless moon is jamming their sensors and preventing a proper scan of the surface from taking place. The commander and lieutenant are sent down to the surface with a small task force to reconnaissance and, if possible, shut down the jammer.
When the force reaches the surface they discover signs of a struggle: many dead Cerberi hulls, along with some that seem to be of Scion origin but that neither the EDF nor the Scions recognize. They proceed with their orders and head towards the structure to investigate, intending to return to examine the remains later. Once they reach the structure, however, they encounter its automated defense system, consisting of both defensive emplacements and vehicles. These forces are neutralised, and it is speculated by the Scion scientist that had it not been for the Cerberi attack force they would not have activated, as it seems they are programmed to recognise their heat and engine signatures. He also speculates that had it not been for the Cerberi attacking the force would have been much, much stronger - possibly even tenfold what they encountered.
Once the battle is over the recon force claims the structure and begins to investigate within, shutting it down and allowing a full scan of the moon. From this structure they learn two things: Firstly the reason for the Cerberi presence - located deep within the facility (which is much larger than they had originally estimated) is a piece of technology which allows the bearer to travel large distances at beyond the speed of light, known to modern science as the Acclubiere drive, which would allow great advances over the Hadean StarPortal (between fixed points) or the Scion Wormdrive (between weakened points in the fabric of space). Secondly, they discover that the defence systems were programmed to react to Cerberi engine signatures, thus meaning that had the Cerberi not turned up the facility would be theirs for the taking. They also encounter a more detailed plea for help from deeper within the building, which they (and the rest of the Scion/Human force) immediately heads down to investigate. This message includes details of the Acclubierre drive and how to use it, but not of who wrote the message. Whoever they are, they beg the Scions to help them by using the drive. A flight program is already programmed in, but instructions are given for its attatchment to the Ark III's worm drive (which the unknown writer(s) seem to have intimate knowledge of).
A race with technology this advanced would be a very useful ally to the Scions especially since they seem to know the Cerberi. The Scions also decide that a device this powerful must never fall into enemy hands.
With this in mind the Scions destroy the remaining defenses inside the building and capture the device. It is far, far beyond their understanding, and thus are very grateful for the instructions on how to use it (if a little perplexed by them). Within the drive itself they discover a third, even more confusing message:
"It is essential that you aid the [NN].
They send a message back to Core and Earth indicating what they are doing by connecting the drive to their ship and activate it.
Part Two: Into the Unknown
Upon leaving the course set by the Acclubierre Drive (having had time to rest, eat, and otherwise prepare for what awaits them) the detachment are thrust into orbit around a medium-sized planet (slightly larger than Earth), upon which there seems to be a struggle. The ships locked in combat over this world seem like nothing any of the force have ever seen, until one of the Scion engineers comments that they bear more than a passing resemblance to the reconstructions of Ancient Cthonian craft his team have been working on.
Without a moment's warning they find themselves under attack from a massive force from both sides, who evidently perceive them as a threat. The [Ark III] is overwhelmed by the attack, and even once its sheilds power up it is to late. The damage has been done. Scattering dropships and escape pods across the surface of the planet, the [Ark III] spirals down to crash in the depths of one of the planet's oceans. The Acclubierre Drive is lost forever to the seas.
Most of the dropships and escape pods land at their intended locations, but some are pulled off-course by an anomalous gravity well which appears suddenly out of nowhere in their paths. When they land the survivors (including the Commander and Lieutenant) discover they are separated from the smaller group (which contains most of the allied force's leaders) by a massive swath of jungle. Staying within radio contact, the two groups attempt a rendezvous at what seems to be the origin of the gravitational disruption, but en route this smaller group is destroyed in a massive, overwhelming Hadean attack, leaving the force stranded on the unfamiliar planet under the command of the two heroes.
Shortly after, the Scion scientists discover the true extent of the gravity well's effects. The planet's moon is slowly growing larger - it is being pulled down towards the planet!
Part Three: Non-Hostile
Both factions simultaneously decide that the Scions are not necessarily hostile, and both declare their intentions (not necessarily truthfully) and offer to help the Scions escape their planet. The choice of which faction to join is delegated to the Lieutenant.
If the player chooses the first faction (the Hadeans, though the player doesn't know this yet), the next few missions will revolve around attempting to recover parts required for the repair of a damaged StarPortal, which is as yet the only exit from the doomed planet.
If the player chooses to fight with the second faction (the Olympians), the next few missions revolve around reaching the parts for the StarPortal before the Hadeans, and then capturing the StarPortal from them. This is the harder set of missions, much like the Scion set in the original game.
As the portal is switched online by the player's side, a mysterious third faction reveal themselves to the player, who introduce themselves as Cthonians, explain the story of their race fully, and reveal that they have been orchestrating the events right from the beginning. They present the Scion/EDF force with the same technology they discovered at the beginning, telling them to take it with them to the other side of the portal and to hide it. An experimental Scion automatic defensive recycler is also given to them, though with no explanation for how it was obtained, for them to take to defend the drive. A small task force is formed from this force and some of the third faction's members just as a massive enemy attack is detected. The remaining members of the collaboration between the Scion/EDF force and the two allied Cthonian factions remain behind to defend the portal as the task force passes through. The Lieutenant opens a private communications channel with the commander. Their conversation needs no explanation.
Part Four: Total Destruction
As the final members of the task force pass through the portal, the defence is finally overwhelmed. The enemy breaks through the last lines of defence, killing both the Commander and the Lieutenant. Failing to reach the portal, the enemy turns on anything in sight, intent on causing as much destruction as they can before the moon crashes down into the planet and everything is obliterated.
Ta da :P
I could've done it. I just didn't think I had the right.
why wouldn't you?
Well vsmits been the one posting stories in this thread. And I didn't think it would be taken well seeing as I run kind of against the grain in this project.
Well, none the less the story is compiled, now, back to my statement on signals, opinions anyone?
Oh, and happy birthday Lucky_foot. :-D
It never does say they time travel. It says they use the alcubierre drive (which isn't officially named as one).
But they come in contact with ANCIENT Cthonian craft, thus indicating time travel.
And what we know of physics states that exceeding the speed of light will make time go backwards. For you at least.
So, would a craft be better, since the signal would eventually die?
No, it would be far easier for the colonists to produce a transmitter that keeps going than to create a pod and launch it at a precise speed so that it arrives at the exact right time.
Good thinking, question withdrawn, what else is there to bring up?
Can we at least have a straggler from the scions to tell the story?
No Clavin, we can't,
there will be no people meeting their future selves.
I didn't say that. They'd be meeting their great great great grandson.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 28, 2009, 02:39:48 PM
I didn't say that. They'd be meeting their great great great grandson.
The survivors don't reproduce.
Clavin, allow me to explain, there are no ways that any scions will survive for long without a core to stabalize them let alone to aid in reproduction. There are no ways for them to speak with other species as there are no known ones around to talk to. The way the story is written is for it to come around full circle, end of story.
the only ones who could really survive are the humans, but they'll run out of food before long.
Meaning that the only smart thing to do is to estblish defenses around the drive and wait for the inevitable. I don't see how that can be misconstrued in any way that's how its written, that's how it shall be.
Anything else to bring up?
I'm gonna go through a checklist, just to be safe.
Ok:
Who's the protagonist?
Who's the antagontist?
What's the main struggle?
How is it resolved?
Where is the Climax?
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 28, 2009, 08:23:58 PM
I'm gonna go through a checklist, just to be safe.
Ok:
Who's the protagonist?
Who's the antagontist?
What's the main struggle?
How is it resolved?
Where is the Climax?
I'm just going to smack you, if you don't know why, don't ask.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 28, 2009, 08:23:58 PM
I'm gonna go through a checklist, just to be safe.
Ok:
Who's the protagonist?
Who's the antagontist?
What's the main struggle?
How is it resolved?
Where is the Climax?
Re-read the story, then answer the questions yourself.
You would think over all the arguments we have had over these issues that you would understand by now, I'll answer these questions only if somehow you can't find them in the story.
Clavin, either stop being an idiot or you might as well bugger off cause we'll just start ignoring you.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 28, 2009, 08:23:58 PM
I'm gonna go through a checklist, just to be safe.
Ok:
Who's the protagonist?
Who's the antagontist?
What's the main struggle?
How is it resolved?
Where is the Climax?
...Must...resist...urge...to...comment...
I was just making sure we're all on the same page.
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 29, 2009, 06:11:12 AM
I was just making sure we're all on the same page.
We're not. Judging by that, you're half a thread behind.
Ok. We have all those things so we're fine. We have a complete story. It's just not fleshed out yet.
We can flesh it out later, we just needed to get the basics done so people can get started on other stuff for the project.
Once we have the races ready (as in modeled and programmed) we'll start writing the details?
I remember i started a thread for naming the main character but it got derailed and no one has submitted a name in a while. Should I bring that topic back up and start the poll again to name the main character once and for all?
Quote from: Clavin12 on November 29, 2009, 08:11:56 AM
Once we have the races ready (as in modeled and programmed) we'll start writing the details?
I don't see why we cant do it at the same time.
Ok by details I meant missions. You can't write missions without knowing the tech the race has.
Any opinions for my previous post about naming the character? Should i create a new thread for it?
Quote from: iron maiden on November 29, 2009, 09:02:20 AM
Any opinions for my previous post about naming the character? Should i create a new thread for it?
Nah, I have a thread for naming stuff, I'll start on character names next.
Well, since I already have about seven names in the old thread, should I send them to you are we going to fully start over from scratch?
I'll ask for new suggestions and keep the two or three favourites from your thread.
got it, for yours and everyone's conveniance, i will post them here for now
Howard Donaldson
Brett Hummons
Adam Chandler
Jaque Martin
John Hughes
Jack Hughes
John Mason/Manson
Anything else to bring up?
This thread abruptly stopped, is there absolutely nothing else to talk about in this thread?
What is the main characters character like?
I believe that depends on his name
And who plays him.
His moral character depends on his name?
What is the story behind the main character?
That largely depends,
actually, I'd quite like to not have this voted on and, as was suggested earlier, make him the son of Major Manson from BZ2 ( the son's name being John Manson, being named after John Cooke), I reckon it would make for a better back story than just some random military hero.
It definately gives it a nice touch. So far we've been keeping things in the family as it were, with Corbin being Cooke's nephew.
Hey, what if the scion character was related to Shabayev? Sound like a good idea?
Actually, yes, perhaps a son or relative. Say, did Cooke and Shabeyev ever, .......get married? Or anything of the sort? That question had been pestering me for a very long time.
The scion character is a girl,
actaully, can anyone do convincing impressions of Cooke, Manson or Shabeyev? Maybe they can be the senior commanders who get killed.
Wait, what? The protagonist is a girl! When did we decide on that?
never to my knowledge. I protest!
I am still wondering how the heck this CP is going to be made since most of the modders jumped ship.
Iron Maiden and Clavin12, reread the first part of the story.
There are two main protagonists. One male, one female.
Really? Oh...nvm.
Just to be clear here, which will have more focus, the male or the female? Or are we going to share to story between both? Mmmmh, perhaps one could split the campaign between playing as both characters?
Quote from: iron maiden on December 05, 2009, 03:28:46 PM
Say, did Cooke and Shabeyev ever, .......get married? Or anything of the sort?
I believe they did. They have kids too. Read the briefing at the beginning of... the second FE mission, I think.
Just a thought, is it actually possible for us to get hold of a female voice actor to do the scion's voice?
Quote from: Nielk1 on December 05, 2009, 06:17:42 PM
I am still wondering how the heck this CP is going to be made since most of the modders jumped ship.
They haven't jumped ship, they just want the story changed,
I'm sure that when we fix it they'll come back.
Quote from: iron maiden on December 05, 2009, 10:18:04 PM
Just to be clear here, which will have more focus, the male or the female? Or are we going to share to story between both? Mmmmh, perhaps one could split the campaign between playing as both characters?
That would be interesting. Say the female prefers the Olympians and the male prefers the Hadean?
They both take the same side. What would happen is that there would be a discussion among the commanding officers over which side to join.
I see then, but which do you play as?
Both, but mainly the scion I think was what me and Ahadley said.
But I've just had an idea, what if the two had slightly different missions, with one having harder than the other,
we could make it so that if you complete the game on the easier one you can try the harder. I was thinking the scions for the easier one and the EDF for the harder.
That's actually a very good idea, go for it.
Might be difficult to code.
Perhaps, but couldn't you use the code that was used to create the different missions in BZ2 and FE and mess around with that a little?
Or, it could just be two seperate sub-mods that install seperately. (of course, this would mean that you wouldn't have to complete one to do the other)
We could make one first and release the second at a later date.
Or we could just make it normally and have the woman as a non playable character. She would probably be under your command because in the original and in FE there was a woman in charge for at least part of the game.
Quote from: Clavin12 on December 07, 2009, 12:34:07 PM
Or we could just make it normally and have the woman as a non playable character. She would probably be under your command because in the original and in FE there was a woman in charge for at least part of the game.
Why would we do that? I thought the whole point here is that its a mod that revolves around a scion.
I know. I thought the male was scion too. nvm. Could we make him scion? I kind of prefer scion. We could take a scion/isdf poll, see what the community thinks.
I believe that it says in the story that the male is human and the scion is a female. And besides, I want the ISDF person to be continuing the theme with all the battlezone games, masculine hero that saves the day.
Feminine heroine keeps him in his place and sorts things out when he screws up :lol:
The male stays human,
it means we can have the EDF in the mod.
Quote from: AHadley on December 07, 2009, 02:49:11 PM
Feminine heroine keeps him in his place and sorts things out when he screws up :lol:
Actually, the way I see it is that the female controls the larger battle plan with her great intelligence whilst the male takes command of a small force performing dangerous missions.
Sounds good enough for me, lets keep that in there.
Quote from: Mr X on December 07, 2009, 02:56:08 PM
Actually, the way I see it is that the female controls the larger battle plan with her great intelligence whilst the male takes command of a small force performing dangerous missions.
Me too, I was joking :P
So, now that thats settled, what else shall we discuss?
Gameplay? Maybe we should take a little poll about strategy vs dogfight and see how to balance the gameplay to the likes of the community.
Good idea, i actually want it to be a little more stratagy based, like halo wars.
Personally I like strategy better than dogfight, though a dogfight is fun.
Agreed, I think it would be best to incorperate more stratagy than just a birds eye view of the battlefield, Total War games ringing a bell here?
Quote from: Clavin12 on December 08, 2009, 02:15:46 PM
Maybe we should take a little poll about strategy vs dogfight and see how to balance the gameplay to the likes of the community.
There is no community here. Five people visit this forum at most. The CP is as good as dead right now.
Quote from: iron maiden on December 08, 2009, 07:48:38 PM
Agreed, I think it would be best to incorperate more stratagy than just a birds eye view of the battlefield, Total War games ringing a bell here?
You know, I hear these new Relay Bunker things are quite something :lol:
And of those 5 about 1 has any modding experience.
You all KILLED IT.
Quote from: Nielk1 on December 09, 2009, 11:19:48 AM
And of those 5 about 1 has any modding experience.
You all KILLED IT.
Its because the community is so indecisive,
I mean, one minute everybody is perfectly happy with the way everything is, and then someone makes a comment and everybody instantly jumps off the bandwagon to complain.
Send out PM's. Get them back! Quick before the project dies! I actually don't think it will die I just am trying to get it more alive. You could say it's about to fall asleep
Quote from: Mr X on December 09, 2009, 11:50:57 AM
Its because the community is so indecisive,
I think the best bet would be to only allow actual hard asset contributors to make final decisions. There are NO INDECISIVE modders here, just indecisive non modders, or ones who ARE decisiveness in trying to take control of something they will never have a physical hand in.
I suggest a CP reboot with actual modders making the final decisions.
But we've worked so long and hard and we have a story. Personally I like the story. If we do a reboot can the story be kept?
The story is a jumbled mess of compromises. If we were to start over, it would be scrapped.
Can we restart it with the ppl we have as writers to submit stories, seeing as we're the ones who hung on and cared about the cp? But then that would mean that we would be the ones deciding which story wins as well.
Hopefully not. I'd prefer the modders to make the story, since we actually know what the hell happens during battlezone 1 and 2.
Aren't we the modders?
Someone could say exactly what changes need to be made to the story,
there have been a lot of complaints, but I don't have a clue what anyone wants removing.
Or, if you prefer, me and AHadley could go and do the story again, and pay less attention to what people want. There were actually a couple of points where, I feel, we had excellent ideas but had to discard them to please other people. At its core it would be the same story, but with some big differences to make it far better.
If you don't mind I'm gonna get back to you with a list of problems soon, as in tonight or early tomorrow. Sorry if I sound snobby.