Deregulation Space: Let's Play: Galactic Civilisations 2

[Thanqol]

[The LP is complete, thanks again to everyone who participated!]

This is a Let's Play of Galactic Civilisations 2: Twilight of the Arnor.

And we're going to be playing as these guys

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Flag_of_Switzerland_%28Pantone%29.svg/320px-Flag_of_Switzerland_%28Pantone%29.svg.png

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8881/flag4edited1.jpg

This is a sequel to the EU3 LP I did a while back, which you can find here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197820). Take a read if you want to see the style this is going to be in.

What is Galactic Civilisations 2?

It's a 4X game set in a custom space setting, covering virtually every sci-fi cliche and trope in a charming and elegant way. The game is a lot easier to pick up and play than Europa Universalis and I can freely recommend it to new players. It's particularly notable for it's exceedingly cleverly strategic thinking AI, as demonstrated in the exceptional war (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/161570/blog/galciv-2-war-report-final-entry/?site=pcg)diaries (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/195920/blog/galactic-civilizations-diary-days-1-26/)of Tom Francis.

It should be noted that peaceful and technological paths to victory are just as valid as military ones!

How It Works:

There's a catch, though. I'm very, very good at this game and I've found the challenge start to evaporate. This has lead me to play this game less and less as time has gone on.

As such, I need a real challenge. And rather than racking up the difficulty setting, I decided to do myself one better: Remove the sole genius military commander from the head of the Terran Alliance and make him answerable to a bunch of feuding, squabbling jerks from the Internet.

Enter: You guys.

Star Democracy:

There are eight political parties in Galactic Civilisations 2. These will all be the evolution of Swiss political parties from the EU3 LP. There are two levels to this democracy: Your PARTY and your MOTIONS.

Every three updates there will be a GENERAL ELECTION, where you state your political party (as well as any preferences you have). Do not feel the need to vote strategically: With eight parties, chances are that every government is going to be a coalition of feuding and bickering parties (which is exactly what I want). Each election, I will post a general outline of each party's stated goals and core beliefs, but within that you guys have free reign to determine that party's character and personality.

To really make this special, propose legislation, make sweeping election promises, propose presidential candidates and guard your own electorate. Roleplay it up; the more data you give me, the more things I have to try to make happen, and the worse (and more interestingly!) I'll play the game. Picking a single character/corporation/religious outfit/rogue AI also helps.

Example:

C.I.C. Enterprises is throwing it's support behind the Technocrats; the Federalists are demonstrating a disappointing lack of leadership in these troubled times.

Beyond the General Election, which determines who the President is and the general ongoing patterns the new Swiss empire will follow, you can freely propose MOTIONS. Anyone can propose a motion at any time, and if that motion is seconded by two other voters then it passes and I have to somehow try to make it happen. Motions cannot be overturned once made, but they can be vetoed by the president of the day if they run contrary to that party's core beliefs.

Oh, and give your motions catchy names if you can, helps me keep 'em separate in my head.

Example:

C.I.C. Enterprises moves that the new planet be named after the daughter of C.I.C.'s CEO; Adrianna.

We also support the motion to build a new warship

EDIT: This is the new format for proposing/voting on Motions!

NAME OF MOTION: New Interstellar Constitution
Each motion, once tabled, is put up to vote. Each vote is put in the following form, within a spoiler, for both the sake of role-play and cleanliness of posts:
NAME OF MOTION | VOTE
Example #1 | Oppose
Example #2 | Support

In addition, all new motions should be placed officially in the same spoiler box in the following form:
NAME OF MOTION: Example #3
Then you put a bunch of text here, outlining exactly what the motion entails. This motion is an example.

This democratic process is highly experimental and may be revised if it plain isn't working. Remember contradictory and challenging orders are a plus; I'll do my best to follow through on every motion and set of instructions and keep a running tally of failed/incomplete ones.

Remember, you can freely trade favours with other parties and offer support with others' motions in exchange for support on your own. One thing, though, is to avoid forming unified voting blocks: Motions should be chaotic and free wheeling. Also, bold your votes of any kind so I can easily pick them out.

The Political Parties:

The Tower Of Gold
Region: Europe

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2403/gc2ta1311339630.jpg

The Tower of Gold is the oldest and most venerable political party in Switzerland, and thus the oldest party on Earth. It was formed in 1399 by a collection of like-minded merchants, bankers and plutocrats and went on to form the indelible core of the greatest nation on Earth. The Tower of Gold's influence is strongest in Europe, the core of Mighty Switzerland and the home of Deregulation.

Core Beliefs:
- Stable economics
- Order
- Long Term Planning

The Awakened
Region: Lithuania/Russia

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/6656/gc2ta1311339634.jpg

The Industrial Awakening shattered the world. Notably, it completely devastated Traders, who had ruled over all from positions of unassailable wealth, and allowed the nation of Switzerland to make itself the true centre of the world's production. The Awakened are based in the former Lithuanian Empire, which once suffered under the scourge of Communist rule.

Core Beliefs:
- Human Rights
- Introspection
- Infrastructure

The New School
Region: Southeast Asia/Oceania

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5140/gc2ta1311339637.jpg

In the uncertain times of early colonisation, amidst the chaos of great powers and savage natives, in those early years when Switzerland was small and vulnerable it was the independence and genius of Her traders that made Her great. Switzerland is suddenly small again, vulnerable again, and once again she needs Her first line of defence. Amidst the peace and stability of Southeast Asia, famed for it's universities and cultural output, the New School preaches the doctrine of colonialism.

Core Beliefs:
- Colonialism
- Mutually Assured Economic Destruction
- Culture

The New Delhi Resistance
Region: India

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/4214/gc2ta1311339640.jpg

Peace solves all equations. Even invasions. Even the quark. Even the dark.

Formed out of the peaceful revolutions that saw India attain it's independence twice - the reborn DOFAD-EITC placed in charge of India following the Great War was gradually dismantled in the face of ongoing protests - the New Delhi Resistance knows that if it simply holds strong in the face of aggression it's enemies will blink first. The Resistance has no need for weapons, for all the galaxy will beg to be allowed into the prosperity of deregulation.

Core Beliefs:
- Peace
- Cultural Assimilation
- Integration

The Silver Standard
Region: The Middle East and Latin America

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/5564/gc2ta1311339642.jpg

The Silver Standard is the party of power. Three times it rode the tide of history into the three greatest wars of Switzerland's history: The Deregulation of the Holy Roman Empire, the Two Genocides, and the Great War. The Silver Standard is the party of Manifest Destiny, the party which knows that Switzerland's fate is to win against every foe and suffer no insult. It's influence is global, but it is particularly rooted in the Middle East and Latin America, amongst the poor and angry.

Core Beliefs:
- Pride
- Victory
- Prestige

The Modernisers
Region: China

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3210/gc2ta1311339646.jpg

It's simply madness to focus on politics, culture, and war when technology is so close to solving all those problems forever. We live in a time when we're years away from solving the energy crisis, eliminating hunger, evaporating every alien species with orbital deathrays, curing death. When these wonders are within our grasp, every moment spent not chasing them is a moment wasted. The Modernisers have their story and they're sticking to it; their influence has always been greatest in China, Taiwan and Hawaii which were historically hotbeds of scientific research and the application of advanced technologies.

Core Beliefs:
- Science!
- Trading for Science!
- Applying Science!

Reformed Council
Region: Africa

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7201/gc2ta1311339648.jpg

The only political party with no ties to Switzerland's political system of old, the Reformed Council was formed in 1600 by France to try and manage the African problem. For over 400 years the party languished as a joke political organisation, including one memorable stint when the only nations who had sent the RC ambassadors were the Maldives (the Sultan's brother who was mostly there for the free food) and three countries that had been deregulated and needed a place to hide their royal families.

The RC never possessed an ideology. That made it perfect. Everyone, from corporations to rogue Kill-Bots to bored rich people started propping up the RC which would then happily rubber stamp whatever was put in front of it. It is an organisation that exists to be used by others, with no drive or willpower of it's own.

Core Beliefs
- The Universalists will pass any motion without veto, no matter how ridiculous, while they are in power. They will also generally bend over backwards to accommodate demands made of them, even if there aren't votes behind them. This essentially gives the thread direct control of the game.

The Department of Finance and Deregulation
Region: North America

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3550/gc2ta1311339651.jpg

Space is a dangerous place, full of regulatory alien backwaters. It's just like the bad old days. Grab a good, solid Swiss Pike, add some lasers to it if you're feeling fancy, and let's go and bring civilisation to the savages.

The DOFAD is one of the most powerful ideas in Switzerland; all the rage felt by the traders against mercantilism made manifest in an organisation that is part corporation, part military, and part central bank.

Core Beliefs:
- Aggressive Deregulation
- Deregulatory Superiority
- Trade, Investment and Economics


Humanity is taking it's first step into the stars, marching to the beat of a thousand slips of paper falling into ballot boxes. The decisions you make here today will determine the fate of the Cosmos itself.

Which makes the first votes very important: Our flag and our starting political party! Cast one vote for each!

EDIT: F is victorious, others stored for posterity


A)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Flag_of_Switzerland_%28Pantone%29.svg/320px-Flag_of_Switzerland_%28Pantone%29.svg.png

B)

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/3980/racelogo62.png

C)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/853/eastindiacompanyflagbyn.jpg

D)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9297/federationofeuropebyyno.png

E)

http://imageshack.us/m/231/5355/fascistbritishflagbykac.png

F)

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8881/flag4edited1.jpg

[Thanqol]

Table Of Contents:

1/1/2227 - 15/3/2228: President Aebi (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11490689&postcount=99)
15/3/2228 - 22/3/2229: President Aebi (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11521051&postcount=237)

Xenocultural History: The Drengin and the Korath (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11538892&postcount=316)

22/3/2229-15/3/2230: President Aebi (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11557481&postcount=345)
15/3/2230 - 15/3/2231: President Jayden Mavel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11585385&postcount=454)

Xenocultural History: The Iconians and the Yor (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11614063&postcount=524)

15/3/2231-1/1/2233: President Jayden Mavel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11635903&postcount=577)
1/1/2233-8/10/2233: President Jayden Mavel (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11657384&postcount=630)
8/10/2233-8/3/2234: President Market Forces (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11686161&postcount=684)

INTERLUDE : Junecutter's Message (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11686595&postcount=695)
INTERLUDE : MOTIVES (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11690200&postcount=728)

8/3/2234-8/5/2234: President Market Forces (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11728603&postcount=785)
8/5/2234: President Market Forces (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11728756&postcount=787)
8/5/2234: President Market Forces (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11778745&postcount=800)
8/5/2234-1/11/2235: President Raphael Junecutter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11823504&postcount=866)

Xenocultural History: The Altarians and the Drath (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11850939&postcount=899)

1/11/2235-1/3/2238: President Raphael Junecutter (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11923268&postcount=954)
1/3/2238-8/1/2239: President Kitukkerazz (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11951349&postcount=993)
8/1/2239-1/3/2240: President Kitukkerazz (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11993336&postcount=1036)

Xenocultural History: The Arceans and the Krynn (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12005315&postcount=1050)

THREE YEARS LATER... (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12036177&postcount=1088)

ALL FOR ONE (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12120608&postcount=1161)


ONGOING MOTIONS:

4. Advanced Space Defense Industries Initiative
Further improvements to our shipbuilding capabilities are possible. When the appropriate technology is unlocked we should build the Hyperion Shipyard super project the following turn on the plant with the highest industrial output.

Reference: http://galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Hyperion_Shipyard

5. Formation of a Corsair program.
Every corporation, religious movement, or other faction with a fleet may request a Letter of Marque and Reprisal, assuming good standing with humanity as a whole. Should this action be taken, all ships belonging to the aforementioned parties may seize and prey upon any hostile craft, selling the parts and any cargo at their personal benefit. An incentive for aiding the defense of humanity as a whole rather than focusing on personal benefit.

Motion: Elite Ground Troop Naming
Note: This motion shall only be implemented, as will any other motions stated to include 'mad science', upon the election of the Tower of Gold, Modernisers, or any other party inherently OK with mad science.

The Elite Planetary Infantry Corps (EPIC) shall be composed mainly of Gurkhas relocated to Finnland in a mad social science experiment aiming at creating the strongest ground troops Earth has to offer: Furkhas!

Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets

The thread is free to claim direct control over any ship or fleet and give it specific instructions; these can be as simple as "Tourism run of Drengin space" to as long term as "Avoid any conflict where this fleet suffers a high chance of being destroyed".

Lots of Charts and Graphs

I ****ING LOVE CHARTS AND GRAPHS!


4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
I move to the establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority, a council made up of our nation's finest minds and respected scientific authorities to administer and manage our research and academic facilities, decentralizing them from Government authority and thus relieving the burden from our bankrupt but hardworking President Aebi.

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Avoid naming anything after Hitler. He's rubbish.

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
Any privately owned ships and/or fleets can be named in any style that the owner prefers. However, in order to keep things orderly, each ship must A) comply with ship model tags agreed upon earlier and B) Have an identifier to the individual or organization that owns them.

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

1: Basic Colonial Infrastructure Proposal
Unless otherwise specified by the owning corporation, we propose that a factory and a market centre be built on each colonial world to provice for their citizens basic needs.

*Factories allow us to build stuff, market centres boost the economy by 8% to pay for the factories. We should probably build more than that eventually.

Complete Motions:



6: Motion: Basic Defensive Measures
Switzerland should research basic beam weapons and, as soon as feasible, upgraded engines. After we have the weapons, a small defensive deterrant fleet should be constructed to protect us against potential xeno threats.

Administrative ship naming

Each new ship chassis shall be assigned a letter, and every ship of that chassis shall be assigned a number.

New Interstellar Constitution

Voting format reform. If you've ever loved my eyes, follow this. You can find the full version in the OP.

Kurgan's Naming Scheme for Planets and Vessels:

Famous historical leaders will be used for names until we run out of names, at which point a new naming scheme will be implemented.

2: Act to Establish Interstellar Trade
The DoFaD needs to guarantee our corporations access to growing alien markets. We propose sending freighters to trade with the Altarians as soon as possible.

5: Historical Justice
Compensate the Lithuanians for infecting them with Communism then starving tens of millions of their population to death and taking their land west of Moscow by returning the ancestral Lithuanian lands to Moscow. Compensate DOFAD by returning India under its rule.


Motion: Total Deregulation of Evil Robots:
Colonial Affairs propose that we finish the job the robots so helpfully started before moving on to deregulate the other minor races that declared on us. This will send a message to other parties who would think to launch a pre-emptive strike on us.

Design: Strikefighters (Class name to be determined later).
In light of our military losses, Colonial Affairs propose the design and production of lighter ships that less industrial orientated planets are able to mass produce cheaply and on the fly. Although a lighter hull means less weaponry per ship, we feel it is necessary to prevent further invasion of roaming Arcean ships who are raiding our planets at will.

Motion: Privatization of Fleet Purchases Fleets bought on a planet are tagged with the signature of and owned and directed by the owners of a planet, though if they are without orders they will be directed by the DSPSs leadership at the central command on Earth. Thankfully production will be even across all planets due to the Swiss preference for privatized credit-driven shipyards.

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
We have little time to lose, let us put all our energy into aquiring as much interstellar property as possible before the other, inferior species.

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
As such, it would be in Greater Switzerland's best interests to secure any such resources as soon as they are discovered, lest they fall into alien hands and be regulated. Naturally, the Liandri Mining Corporation would be the best choice to oversee this process.


Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative

The first minor alien race to be found will be quietly built up and helped to modernise until they've finished the very expensive process of industrialising, at which point we will look into deregulatory options.



Failed Motions:


7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
We can exploit any lingering animosity between the Drengin and Korath to cause a war between them as soon as possible. This will mean less of them for us to kill when the time comes.


5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
I propose the adoption of a friendly stance to the Alterians, establishing friendly relations and the mutual exchange of ambassadors as soon as possible, putting forward a Modernizer candidate for such a diplomatic venture as best qualified to appreciate the Alterian's potential, scientific and otherwise.

[Etcetera]

Aw hell yeah.

Maybe I'll actually participate in this one, as opposed to cackling madly from the sidelines.

[RPharazon]

Jawsome.

I support The New School. Switzerland's might and power were only due to a core fundamental belief in strong, free trade. Without that cornerstone, Switzerland would have never made it out of the European Alps. I fear that if we do not trade with other civilizations, then we will be lost to history.

As for the flag, I vote for E. It will inspire and make manifest our goals for the galaxy, but will be obscure to any other civilization that encounters us. Also, it looks friggin' sweet.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

I lost interest in the last one when it stopped being linked to the game, so I am ignorant of the last little while of politics.

That said, flag-voting

I vote for A, but mess with some colours.
This is SPACE, after all! Invert colours, and put black stars scattered on the white background.

And I also vote for The New School. We must aggressively colonize new planets before we can think of doing anything else!

BTW, I shall represent, for the sake of Role Play, Ursula Biedrzycki, and Jacques de la Taille, Vice-President and President of Solutions Internationale, world-renowned thinktank based in Rouens.

[Shadowy]

My thoughts on this thread: yes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpgy21r_dRE)

In other news ambassador Shadowy is here to insist that YOU WILL SIGN THIS SCIENTIFIC TREATY OR YOU WILL BE BURNED BY THE WRATH OF THE SPACE ARMADA.

MY vote is for the Tower of gold. Since we need strong fiancial backing to be able to ANNHILIATE any other peaceful spacefaring races we may find out in the murky deeps. However, ANYTHING is better then certain parties getting thier way so this vote may change.

I have no opinions on the flag. (Yet.)

[Caewil]

Sweet.

I support DoFaD, colonisation goes hand in hand with defense. Remember, we will not be the only ones out there and if the aliens get to a planet we want before us, we need to be prepared to take aggressive action to protect our vital interests.

I see that we have +1 trade routes. What exactly does this mean? Will the money we get be boosted more by the Tower of Gold or the New School and is there a difference between domestic and intergalactic trade? Seeing as WE ARE SWITZERLAND, we should take as much advantage of this as possible.

EDIT: Or the diplomacy bonus, which would mean the silver standard. But since we haven't met anyone yet, we should just kill them for their stuff if we can.

[Altaria87]

Hooray, Switzerland is back! I missed the end of the voting last game because the politics became too complicated, but now I'm back to bring 20% more typos to the voting process :smallsmile:. Ironically, there was a typo right there, but I edited it out before posting
Anyway, I vote for the Silver Standard, Swizz politics has always been about whatever best suits the public at the time, we might as well have a Populist party to acknowledge that. Besides, the Silver Standard won us Earth, they will now win us the galaxy! Also, as for the flag, I agree with flag A, but with colours switched up a bit.

[Grif]

I am with the DoFaD. And flag B seems just right. Modern without being too tied to the previous flag.

WE SHALL DEREGULATE THE STARS ITSELF.

Also, my response when I saw this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpgy21r_dRE).

On a sidenote, how big a galaxy are we playing? (And the settings if possible.)
@Caewil, +1 trade routes means more moolah essentially ingame.

Also, will you be giving us the chance to design space ships? I foresee lots of fun in that regard.

[ShellBullet]

OMG! I have been waiting this. I vote for Silver standard, we must show those alien scums that we are noble, prideful and most of all succesful people on all accounts, so they don't even think about messing with us.

[chiasaur11]

Oh.

Humans. Playing at interstellar politics.

This will be adorable. But, alas, the first law still stands. Advancing the interests of your species, and similar. I suppose the creators were human.

I like to think they were a better class of human, of course. Refined.

This is probably a lie I tell myself to prevent suicide.

Ah, well. At any rate, you've finally decided to stop depending entirely on our organization for defense. Good for you.

The Extraterrestrial Combat Unit will, of course, provide scientific and industrial support, when possible. Admittedly, a number of the more entertaining developments must be kept out of your clumsy organic hands for the moment. Such is life.

For the present, I would advise the E pattern of flag as the least likely to cause a diplomatic incident. However, and I say this with utmost regret...

The D'regs have the right position. Your species will in all likelihood be faced with the risk of extinction, and as barbaric as I may find this particular group (72 hours hospitality, really. 72 seconds is more in keeping with galactic standards) they provide the most efficient deployment of your (tragically limited) military resources.

Looking forward to your success or extinction.

Artificial Advisor M77- א "Functional Irritant", Semi-Official Acting Commander, X-Com, universal stream Quadwal 609.27 Kappa.

[Demon 997]

Oh.

Humans. Playing at interstellar politics.

This will be adorable. But, alas, the first law still stands. Advancing the interests of your species, and similar. I suppose the creators were human.

I like to think they were a better class of human, of course. Refined.

This is probably a lie I tell myself to prevent suicide.

Ah, well. At any rate, you've finally decided to stop depending entirely on our organization for defense. Good for you.

The Extraterrestrial Combat Unit will, of course, provide scientific and industrial support, when possible. Admittedly, a number of the more entertaining developments must be kept out of your clumsy organic hands for the moment. Such is life.

For the present, I would advise the E pattern of flag as the least likely to cause a diplomatic incident. However, and I say this with utmost regret...

The D'regs have the right position. Your species will in all likelihood be faced with the risk of extinction, and as barbaric as I may find this particular group (72 hours hospitality, really. 72 seconds is more in keeping with galactic standards) they provide the most efficient deployment of your (tragically limited) military resources.

Looking forward to your success or extinction.

Artificial Advisor M77- א "Functional Irritant", Semi-Official Acting Commander, X-Com, universal stream Quadwal 609.27 Kappa.

And thus, two of my favorite LP's become one.

I'm voting for the Silver Standard

For flag design I'm thinking Flag A with Flag E's color scheme and some stars added to the background.

[Raz_Fox]

I say, I say, what's all this then, old bean? You're saying that I, Cornelius A. Wulfensheine III, Head Boy of the jolly old Oxford Space Marine chapter, have been invited to be one of the global advisory chaps up at old HQ? Well, why didn't you say so before I released the hounds, then, eh? Silly chap, still, Grimmauld here will patch you right up, won't you, Grimmauld? Do be a good man and go fetch the doctor.

Now, you're asking me where my political allegiance lies, eh, chum? Well, that's easy enough, as easy as an Aussie doxy, if you get my drift, right? My father was a fervent supporter of the New School, as was his father before him, and his father before him, and his father before him, and great-great-great-grandpappy was beaten to death by his household staff, so we don't talk about his political leanings that much, eh? I'd be happy to represent them, unless you're here with a couple of banks and the old DOFAD, hehe, I'm just joshing you, old boy.

And what's that, chum? You say that my august intuition and impeccable fashion sense is required in the choosing of our grand old interstellar flag? Well, that's simple enough, really, once you start to think about it - it must be that one that you've got labeled as simply choice E. By Jove, wouldn't that look smashing, flying over Jupiter and Mars? Every alien beastie worth its salt would be reaching for its brown pants when it sees this flag, I'd bet a mansion on it. Right, was that all? Good lad, now do go with Grimmauld and see about getting that leg attached back on! And quit your whining, boy, back in the day they used to cane us if we even whimpered about getting our guts ripped out! The doc'll sew that up, nice and tight, and remember: pain is fear leaving the body, eh?

[houlio]

I'll vote for the DoFaD and flag E.

We'll need all the unrestricted trade in dangerous exotic alien goods that we can get, if only to fund our constant war-mongering completely necessary defensive countermeasures.

[Narkis]

YES! Finally, Switzerland in SPAAAAAAAAACCEE! (http://spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccee.com/)

Initially I support the Tower of Gold. This is the beginning of a new era. We need a sound economic foundation in order to meet the challenges we will encounter.

As for the flag, my vote goes to B, but I'd prefer a photoshopped version of A

[Kurgan]

For our first steps into the great beyond, I would suggest we go with The Tower of Gold. We need stability and order to build the foundations of the Great Swiss Space Empire.

For flags, I'm actually fond of D myself.

[Cogwheel]

Colonizations and economy, is it? Really, Switzerland? Is this what it's come to?

Take a look back for a moment. Switzerland's power, ever since the modernizers turned up, has lain in science. The many wars carried out? Won by science, lost when the same methods are stolen by others. But science, you say, needs funds to function.

What gave Switzerland its greatest economic boost in history, again? That's right, steam power and the industrial revolution. Frankly, if we focus on economy, we will fall behind the rest of its galaxy and its advanced methods of production. Focus on colonization, and we'll find our people dying in droves on savage, inhospitable planets that, with a few years of research to help out, could have been perfectly habitable.

And the DOFAD... well, don't get me started on that. War has its time, and that time is not when we're barely spaceworthy. If you want to be shot to pieces by ships that vastly outclass ours, be my guest, but don't take the rest of the country down with you. Remember, for now, Switzerland is only the greatest nation on Earth.


As you may have guessed, while each of these parties have their merits, now is not their time. I support the Modernisers, the ones whose genius put us in space in the first place. While we're at it, I suggest increasing funding for education - specifically, history. Clearly, it's sorely needed.

As for flags, flag D, ideally changed to a black background and white stars, seems most fitting.

[Thanqol]

I see that we have +1 trade routes. What exactly does this mean? Will the money we get be boosted more by the Tower of Gold or the New School and is there a difference between domestic and intergalactic trade? Seeing as WE ARE SWITZERLAND, we should take as much advantage of this as possible.

EDIT: Or the diplomacy bonus, which would mean the silver standard. But since we haven't met anyone yet, we should just kill them for their stuff if we can.

Each race has a cocktail of racial bonuses and penalties as well as 10 bonus points to spend wherever they will. This first election determines where I spend those bonus points - If, say Awakened get 3 votes, DOFAD 4 and Modernisers get 2, I'll spend those points on Industrial Production, Soldiering and Research bonuses.

Humans in GalCiv are modelled of the Star Trek Federation, meaning they're inherently better at being diplomats, but if history has taught us anything it's that diplomacy is necessary to fight winning wars! :smallwink:


On a sidenote, how big a galaxy are we playing? (And the settings if possible.)
@Caewil, +1 trade routes means more moolah essentially ingame.

Also, will you be giving us the chance to design space ships? I foresee lots of fun in that regard.

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2046/gc2ta1311339005.jpg

Also, yes. Comes under a Motion.


I say, I say, what's all this then, old bean? You're saying that I, Cornelius A. Wulfensheine III, Head Boy of the jolly old Oxford Space Marine chapter, have been invited to be one of the global advisory chaps up at old HQ? Well, why didn't you say so before I released the hounds, then, eh? Silly chap, still, Grimmauld here will patch you right up, won't you, Grimmauld? Do be a good man and go fetch the doctor.

Now, you're asking me where my political allegiance lies, eh, chum? Well, that's easy enough, as easy as an Aussie doxy, if you get my drift, right? My father was a fervent supporter of the New School, as was his father before him, and his father before him, and his father before him, and great-great-great-grandpappy was beaten to death by his household staff, so we don't talk about his political leanings that much, eh? I'd be happy to represent them, unless you're here with a couple of banks and the old DOFAD, hehe, I'm just joshing you, old boy.

And what's that, chum? You say that my august intuition and impeccable fashion sense is required in the choosing of our grand old interstellar flag? Well, that's simple enough, really, once you start to think about it - it must be that one that you've got labeled as simply choice E. By Jove, wouldn't that look smashing, flying over Jupiter and Mars? Every alien beastie worth its salt would be reaching for its brown pants when it sees this flag, I'd bet a mansion on it. Right, was that all? Good lad, now do go with Grimmauld and see about getting that leg attached back on! And quit your whining, boy, back in the day they used to cane us if we even whimpered about getting our guts ripped out! The doc'll sew that up, nice and tight, and remember: pain is fear leaving the body, eh?

I love you forever.

(Funnily enough I said that without knowing who you were due to avatar switch)

[jamlamin]

I'm here at last. Thanqol I discovered your lets play earlier today and it convinced me to buy Europa Universalis 3, and after being brutally destroyed I finished your LP.

Its ironic though, that the person who brought me to this forum and convinced me to register was Cogwheel and his LP of dungeon crawl stonesoup. So I have come out of hiding after following his LPs for some time now.

I also vote for the The Tower Of Gold for a strong and stable economy is the foundation for what will become a mighty Swiss empire, Because who are we kidding? As the greatest Swiss philosophers once said, '**** Peace."

I Admit I may be paraphrasing a bit, but deregulation all the way.

[Dhavaer]

Put me in the The Modernisers. SCIENCE!

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Dhavaer, you're still around? :O
I swear, I can't remember seeing you since I joined...

Anyways.
Anybody want to give me the REAL quick version of what happened since his EUIII game crashed? So I know the history?

[Caewil]

We went through an industrial revolution, allied with France when the French revolution came. Crushed Lithuania, which then went communist. Voted in Hitler to start the Great War and then took over most of Europe, confirmed our gains by dropping an atomic bomb on the Naples and the Papal States Fleet. Did the same in Asia by A-bombing China-Japan's fleet. Did not target civilians and we became the most powerful and influential civilization on earth.

[Dhavaer]

Dhavaer, you're still around? :O
I swear, I can't remember seeing you since I joined...

Or course I am. I am ETERNAL!

[chiasaur11]

We went through an industrial revolution, allied with France when the French revolution came. Crushed Lithuania, which then went communist. Voted in Hitler to start the Great War and then took over most of Europe, confirmed our gains by dropping an atomic bomb on the Naples and the Papal States Fleet. Did the same in Asia by A-bombing China-Japan's fleet. Did not target civilians and we became the most powerful and influential civilization on earth.

Ah, that reminds me, of some advice. Outside observer status conveys certain benefits, and similar.

You see, your actions regarding a certain one testicled political figure were not in keeping with proper conduct among civilized nations.

In working with colleagues, I have acquired illustrated diagrams regarding the official procedure in the event the aforementioned utterly abysmal artist is found in a position of power.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Captainamerica1.jpg

This, of course, is only when one is forced to use the resources of a primitive society. A more advanced culture could avoid the unfortunate use of human force in such circumstances. We also have diagrams for how an enlightened, advanced society could handle such problems.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5fiC8OWSexw/TDeKqgo2N5I/AAAAAAAABPQ/gk0RPJS-7zI/s1600/RoboCap.jpg


I dearly hope you found that informative.


Artificial Advisor M77- א "Functional Irritant", Semi-Official Acting Commander, X-Com, universal stream Quadwal 609.27 Kappa.

[Trekkin]

The Modernisers. How often do you get to think a galaxy to death?

[Forum Explorer]

I vote for the Modrenizers and Flag number 1! It may have been the Silver Standard at the helm during the Great War, but it was won through the power of technology!

[Sithis]

Well crap, my two favorite LP authors in one place? I guess I'm going to have to participate in this one.

As for me, I'm going to have to support the DOFAD. After all, what is more Swiss than deregulating foreign markets at the end of a pike? Or laser-pike, as the case may be.

And I think we should use the classic Swiss flag, number 1. After all, the rest of the world changed, not the Swiss. Why would they change their flag?

[Dhavaer]

For flags, I like E, but it might be a bit too fascist looking. I'll vote for D.

[VonFenris]

As the representative of the Syndicate of Dutch Shipyards (SDS), the world's second largest producer of both regular and spacecraft, my vote is in for the DoFaD. We think that both war, with its inevitable losses in ships and colonization, with colony ships being used as the foundation for the settling of the newly inhabited planet, will provide us with ample business opportunities be the best strategy for our Intergalactic Swiss Empire.

EDIT: It seems our request for the flag failed to be included in the previous memo. To clear up this matter, flag E would be our flag of choice.

[Thanqol]

I vote for A, but mess with some colours.
This is SPACE, after all! Invert colours, and put black stars scattered on the white background.


For flag design I'm thinking Flag A with Flag E's color scheme and some stars added to the background.


As for flags, flag D, ideally changed to a black background and white stars, seems most fitting.

Flag 2 uses the Canis Major (not minor!) constellation.

I am not good at photoshop yet.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8159/flag1edited1.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8372/flag2edited1.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2328/flag3.jpg

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/466/flag4.jpg

[Grif]

Flag 2 uses the Canis Major (not minor!) constellation.

I am not good at photoshop yet.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8159/flag1edited1.jpg

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8372/flag2edited1.jpg

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/2328/flag3.jpg

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/466/flag4.jpg

The last flag looks good. But I'll lose the fluer-de-lis and replace it with the red cross instead. We're not French. The French are beneath us. :smalltongue:

[Altaria87]

^ I agree with this man.

[Thanqol]

The last flag looks good. But I'll lose the fluer-de-lis and replace it with the red cross instead. We're not French. The French are beneath us. :smalltongue:

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8881/flag4edited1.jpg

[Dhavaer]

I support that flag.

[Klose_the_Sith]

I'd die for that :smallcool:

[Marcivo]

I've never played this game before and I'd probably be awfully confused if I did, but because I only watched your EU3 LP from the sidelines, I feel kind of obligated to start making contributions. Hurray!

I'm going to vote for DOFAD as well, because how else will Swisskind pave its unstoppable march through space but with a trillion alien skulls?

Regarding the flag, I'm going to take a third option:
http://i.imgur.com/gN3zV.png

The first frowny face represents adversity. The second one represents doubleadversity.

[Etcetera]

ARC will throw their considerable resources behind the DOFAD.
Who are ARC? They are a shadowy and mysterious company that I will write something interesting about later.

Flagwise: Cross, wreath and stars looks good.

[The_JJ]

The Solaris Alliance, a once heretical conglomerate who backed the primacy of solar power over coal or oil have gather around the leadership of one Mr. Sufe, a tycoon of African heritage whose grandmother made a killing by buying up 'useless' Saharan properties and turning them into glittering solar arrays, using mirrors to heat water and create massive steam stacks. By connecting with the Steam Farmer's Union and ruthlessly cutting down competitors, his father was able to extract hard work and loyalty in exchange for reasonable wages and accommodations from the workers in the company towns spread across the desert.

Mr. Sufe, a statesman by inclination, has been backing the Awakened movement, his calm and level demeanor adding gravity to their arguments in favor of infrastructure and responsible, meritocratic governance, though he's been known to form coalition deals with members of the Tower, the New School, and the Modernizers.

Edit: The appearance of the flag is of no major concern to the Alliance.

[Caewil]

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8881/flag4edited1.jpg

It needs to be red. It looks way better if you make the cross red. But other than that GO FLAG!

[Grif]

It needs to be red. It looks way better if you make the cross red. But other than that GO FLAG!

Yeah, red with a small white outline (like the cross in C) would be good.

[Nemesis67]

Never done one of these before, but this just sounds too fun to pass up.

I, Martin Burgess, and the Burgess Corporation support The Department of Finance and Deregulation. Humanity shall claim its birthright as masters of the stars. We shall bring fire to the heavens! And the ashes shall be picked clean of alien goods. No sense letting them go to waste, after all. As for our banner, Option E best embodies our ideals.

[Sithis]

All of you who have chosen flag E are fools. Have you forgotten what that flag represents? Have you forgotten the Tyranny of the Lord Protectors? Have you forgotten the Headmaster? Shame on you all!

I, Deregulator in Chief Sithis of the DOFAD's Extraterrestrial Division (DOFAD:XD), cannot believe you would so callously forget our history!

I will however, throw my support behind Thanqol's new flag, if the yellow is changed to red. And maybe the black to dark blue.

[Demon 997]

It needs to be red. It looks way better if you make the cross red. But other than that GO FLAG!

I'd die suffer send others to die for that flag in my role as Chief Accountant of DoFaD.

[Grif]

All of you who have chosen flag E are fools. Have you forgotten what that flag represents? Have you forgotten the Tyranny of the Lord Protectors? Have you forgotten the Headmaster? Shame on you all!

I, Deregulator in Chief Sithis of the DOFAD's Extraterrestrial Division (DOFAD:XD), cannot believe you would so callously forget our history!

I will however, throw my support behind Thanqol's new flag, if the yellow is changed to red. And maybe the black to dark blue.

Well said, my DOFAD colleague. I, as, future Planetary Governor, of the DOFAD-EITC Colonial Division approves.

[Kurgan]

I agree with the others, I am changing my flag vote to this one:


http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8881/flag4edited1.jpg

Red for the cross might be better, but I can live with it as is as well.

Also, is this the game (or one of the games) where you can rename planets when you colonize them? If so, I'd like to put forward a motion (figure an early one will give us some nice practice).

I push we vote on the motion for the Naming Scheme of Future Acquisitions. This motion is to name new planets after the great leaders and thinkers of Switzerland's past, to honor and immortalize their memory. ((That said, I am a bit uncomfortable with a planet named "Hitlertopia", so maybe we could skip that.))

[Grif]

Also, is this the game (or one of the games) where you can rename planets when you colonize them? If so, I'd like to put forward a motion (figure an early one will give us some nice practice).


Everything can be renamed. Everything.

(Yes, even ships. You can have USS Enterprise running around if you wish.)

[Narkis]

Yep, I'll also change my vote to that elegant and finely crafted flag. Don't care about it's colour either.

But I will have to disagree with my esteemed colleague, Kurgan. I believe our glorious leaders' memory would be bettered served if we named our ship classes after them. So I will propose a countermotion of a Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels. Just imagine Scout ships named after the explorer who discovered half the world for Switzerland, and paved the way for DOFAD. (Whose name I can't find at the moment) Or Hitler-class Terror Stars destroying alien stars, just as the man himself destroyed the Pope and Naples.

[Kurgan]

Yep, I'll also change my vote to that elegant and finely crafted flag. Don't care about it's colour either.

But I will have to disagree with my esteemed colleague, Kurgan. I believe our glorious leaders' memory would be bettered served if we named our ship classes after them. So I will propose a countermotion of a Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels. Just imagine Scout ships named after the explorer who discovered half the world for Switzerland, and paved the way for DOFAD. (Whose name I can't find at the moment) Or Hitler-class Terror Stars destroying alien stars, just as the man himself destroyed the Pope and Naples.

Ah, but do you really want to name something that will become obsolete after one of our esteemed rulers? Planets (mostly) last forever, spaceships become outdated and have new models come up with semi-regularity. By giving their names to ships, we are saying that they are good for now, but will become junk in a decade or two.

[Narkis]

Sporri class Mk3. (or 7) The defence now rests.:smallbiggrin:

[Thanqol]

Red for the cross might be better, but I can live with it as is as well.

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4233/flag4edited2.jpg

I personally think it clashes and prefer the gold one.


I push we vote on the motion for the Naming Scheme of Future Acquisitions. This motion is to name new planets after the great leaders and thinkers of Switzerland's past, to honor and immortalize their memory. ((That said, I am a bit uncomfortable with a planet named "Hitlertopia", so maybe we could skip that.))

Perhaps a compromise: Hitlertopia could be a toxic world?


Everything can be renamed. Everything.

(Yes, even ships. You can have USS Enterprise running around if you wish.)

You can have the USS Enterprise? It's impossible not to, given the design of the starting Terran Science Vessel.

For the record, first update's going to happen Monday or Tuesday and I'm going to leave 4 days between each voting update to make sure everyone has the time to catch up and argue their positions. I'll also give a quick primer on game mechanics during the first update, with additional mechanical notes to cover anything I missed as the game goes on.

[jamlamin]

I'm surprised no one has nominated RoboHitler as Supreme Overlord yet, that was my first thought, because how could we not?

[Shadowy]

I'm surprised no one has nominated RoboHitler as Supreme Overlord yet.

Don't be silly. After all who would be silly enough to elect Hitler into a position of power, let alone the head of state! Oh......wait.

[jamlamin]

Don't be silly. After all who would be silly enough to elect Hitler into a position fo power, let alone the head of state! Oh......wait.

Well played good sir.

[Grif]

You can have the USS Enterprise? It's impossible not to, given the design of the starting Terran Science Vessel.


I propose we promptly rename this vessel to USS Redshirts and send it into every wormhole anomaly we can find. That way we'll be sure to get the ship killedexplore the boundries of known space quickly.

[Thanqol]

I propose we promptly rename this vessel to USS Redshirts and send it into every wormhole anomaly we can find. That way we'll be sure to get the ship killedexplore the boundries of known space quickly.

Sir, I will have you know that Swiss warships have either been prefixed with DOFAD, SS or with the names of the nations they're intended to wipe out. None of this USS nonsense.

[Grif]

Sir, I will have you know that Swiss warships have either been prefixed with DOFAD, SS or with the names of the nations they're intended to wipe out. None of this USS nonsense.

SS Redshirts it is then. :smallbiggrin:

[jamlamin]

If I vote Modernisers do I we get the DeathStar?

[Caewil]

There are things that destroy stars, so yes...

[chiasaur11]

There are things that destroy stars, so yes...

Destroying stars with some kind of specialized weapons platform?

Madness. No right thinking being could condone such actions.

In fact, it would take some kind of... shadowy paramilitary group with no ethics whatsoever to even attempt such a project!

Even from across dimensional barriers we would be forced to condemn any organization that attempted it.

Artificial Advisor M77- א "Functional Irritant", ect, ect.

(And before you attempt to condemn us for hypocracy, remember: Our sun destroying weapon is easily fighter mounted, fast deploying, and easy to conceal from any inspections. Planet sized superweapons are shamefully inefficient, and probably compensating for something)

[Kurgan]

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/4233/flag4edited2.jpg

I personally think it clashes and prefer the gold one.


Ok, I have to agree there, I looked at that for a minute and the red was just a blur. Stick with the gold.


Perhaps a compromise: Hitlertopia could be a toxic world?


But...but...then we'll end up with Toxic Hitler rising from the wastelands!


SS Redshirts it is then. :smallbiggrin:

SS fights the wars, DOFAD explores. It should be DOFAD Redshirts.

[Thanqol]

But...but...then we'll end up with Toxic Hitler rising from the wastelands!

I'm glad I didn't suggest a Radioactive World then :smalleek:

[Kurgan]

I'm glad I didn't suggest a Radioactive World then :smalleek:

I really wish you had. I really, really wanted to say "Atomic Hitler".

[Rockphed]

Hallo, my name is Raj Al Rasheed currently a monk living on top of mount everest. It has come to my attention that we are turning our attention to the stars. I would assure you that there is nothing interesting out there, but that would be lying. My meditations inform me that we are surrounded by those who merely need a little love to calm their troubled souls. As such, I am representing the The New Delhi Resistance in this council. Also, I will commune with the universe on our behalf that our journeys into the great beyond may be both bounteous and worthwhile.

As for flags, I care not for symbols of this world, but that dashing black one with the gold leaves and cross seems to please the universe. Yea, let it be the symbol that bedecks our vessels, both the first symbol of peace to our friends and the last symbol of death to our enemies.

I also hereby motion that all of our star ships be supplied with curry.

[Thanqol]

Voting Update:

New School: 3
Tower of Gold: 4
DOFAD: 10
Silver Standard: 3
Modernisers: 4
Awakened: 1
New Delhi Resistance: 1

Looks like we're gonna get some deregulating in before this is all over! Voting, and proposing/voting on Motions remains open until about this time tomorrow when I'll play the first update! :smallsmile:

On that note, getting Motions passed on naming schemes for Planets and Ships passed would be handy.

And I'm calling it for Flag F so I can work on resizing it into the game files.

[Grif]

But I will have to disagree with my esteemed colleague, Kurgan. I believe our glorious leaders' memory would be bettered served if we named our ship classes after them. So I will propose a countermotion of a Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels. Just imagine Scout ships named after the explorer who discovered half the world for Switzerland, and paved the way for DOFAD. (Whose name I can't find at the moment) Or Hitler-class Terror Stars destroying alien stars, just as the man himself destroyed the Pope and Naples.

I second this motion of Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels.

I also propose that future planets be named after provinces on old Earth. (aka Motion of Naming Scheme of Planetary Assets)

Eg. New Bern, New Verona etc.

[Kurgan]

I second this motion of Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels.

I also propose that future planets be named after provinces on old Earth. (aka Motion of Naming Scheme of Planetary Assets)

Eg. New Bern, New Verona etc.


I don't know about that, seeing New X for every planet for the entire game will get old real fast. That and for some reason I imagine cities and provinces having individual ships named after them, not planets.

Ok, so I have a compromise for you "name ship classes after leaders" motioners.

How about The Motion for Naming our Planets and Vessels. The plan for this is that each of our fearless leaders gets a planet named after himself, as well as a class of ship named in their honor. Advisers of old will get the ship class treatment but now the planet treatment. This sound fair and agreeable? We'd still have the planet Herbalin (spelling?) and the Herbalin Class Dreadnought. Once we run out of leaders to name planets or ship classes after, we will pass a motion for the naming of future acquisitions.

On naming individual ships, I will forward the Motion for the Naming of Ships. This motion, if passed, will make it so individual ships are named after cities, provinces, and countries from Earth. For example, we might have a Herbalin Class Dreadnought dubbed Bern, another Switzerland and so on.

[James the Dark]

We are little fish in a big pond for the first time in centuries. We must focus first on expansion, then deregulation. If we put all of our eggs in one basket, we risk having that basket stepped on by somthing bigger than we are. But this colonial push must not be permanent. We will turn our eyes to war, in proper time. I support the New School at the onset, but my views will change with time.

As for the flag, I vote F

And my motion is Deregulate the first minor race we find!

[VonFenris]

The SDS puts its support behind the Motion of Deregulating the First Minor Race Found and also the Motion for Naming our Vessels and Planets.
I hereby also put forth the motion of Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets, allowing firms and wealthy individuals to buy a share in a single ship or fleet, gaining minor control over its actions (they could set goals, for example) and a chance to name it.

[Eldan]

Deregulate the first minor race we find!

The Bühler Banking Institution (yes, yes, I'm not really a banker, but I can pretend) of Zürich supports this notion. It also supports DOFAD, who brought Switzerland to greatness.

[Strategos]

Transcript of Ouroborus Gentics CEO Crystal Kristofferson's monthly address to the West African Laboratories, approx. one week before the first elsection.

We've had a new wave of recruitment and transfers since my last address, so I'd like to extend a warm welcome to our latest employees here at Ouroborus Genetics, I look forward to seeing your research bear fruit in the future. You may notice that things work a little differently here than you may be useful, this is due to the Reformed Council's policies that allow us to conduct more... extensive experiments than in other parts of the world.

Team 13 I have just obtained permission to import a shipment of Coyotes in from the Americas, since you have the Rattlesnakes ready I shall expect significant progress to be made by next visit. I'd like to commend research Team 32's progress on vegtables requiring less water than normal species, with the large push for space exploration coming up it should makes us all a great deal of money. As a result they shall have increased priority on subjects for the next wave of experiments they work on.

Speaking of space, as you all know, there is a large push for the exploration of new worlds, including the creation of colonies for the expantion of humanity. This will naturally include discovering new flora and fauna for us to experiment on for the betterment of mankind. As a result, The New School is the party that would be suit our needs, and thus the needs of humanity.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours, and wish to remind you all safety is of greatest importance here at Ouroborus Genetics, anyone found in breach of our comprehensive health and safety measures shall have their employment terminated and the specimen clause of their contracts invoked. Good Day.

******************************

I find that Flag F is the most appropriate one for humanity to unite under as we extend our reach among the stars.

I also second Kurgan's Naming Compromise in regards to planets and vessels as well as Kurgan's Motion for Ship Naming for the individual ships.

I Oppose the Deregulation of the First Minor Race Initiative at this time. We don't even know if they have any Regulations impeding Interstellar Trade that we need to Deregulate in the first place. If, however, such Regulations are in place then we should naturally take all necessary steps to ensure our prosperity.

[Trekkin]

The International Union of Pure and Applied Grant Applications, having previously voted incognito for the Modernisers (so don't count this clearly non-bolded mention as a vote), opposes the Deregulation of the First Minor Race on the grounds that the minor races may, with proper inducement, develop their worlds with a focus not possible for a star-spanning empire, particularly economically, at which point we may then conquer a far more economically attractive planet and see more funding diverted to the new field of Tropical Islandology. Accordingly, we have a counter-proposal, tentatively named The Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative: The first minor race we find is protected militarily from conquest by other empires, traded with, has a small monetary subsidy diverted monthly to them in exchange for technologies (or nothing) and allowed to develop to a point deemed suitable by the voting parties while under observation by our agents, at which point they are conquered via the least damaging methods possible and the resultant economic prosperity sees us awash in big shiny things funding.

Seriously, let them build Capitals. Then take them.

[Narkis]

I second this motion of Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels.

I also propose that future planets be named after provinces on old Earth. (aka Motion of Naming Scheme of Planetary Assets)

Eg. New Bern, New Verona etc.

On behalf of my sponsors, I second this Motion of Naming Scheme of Planetary Assets. We believe that planets and ships are dissimilar enough to warrant different types of names for them.

We also support the Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets motion. It is only fair that the institutions and individuals who make this state great are allowed to contribute in this way too.

We oppose the Deregulation of the First Minor Race Initiative. Instead, we support the The Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative. The long-term benefits of such an initiative will easily outstrip any gains by an early Deregulation.

And it would appear that I forgot to introduce myself! I represent the interests of the Liandri Mining Corporation in this new government. Please accept my apologies for my absent-mindedness.

[Forum Explorer]

I oppose The motion of Deregulation of the First Minor Race

[Hussam B.]

Incoming Transmission, Source: Encrypted
__________________________________________________ ______
Review of Voting Record, Commencing:

Faction Voting:
The Modernizers: Support

Motion Voting:
-Motion of Naming Scheme of Future Acquisitions: Oppose, defer to Kurgan's Naming Compromise
-Motion of Naming Scheme of Future Space Vessels: Oppose, defer to Kurgan's Naming Compromise
-Motion of Naming Scheme of Planetary Assets: Oppose, defer to Kurgan's Naming Compromise
-Motion of The Motion for Naming our Planets and Vessels (AKA Kurgan's Naming Compromise): Support
-Motion of Motion for the Naming of Ships: Support
-Motion to Deregulate the first minor race we find!: Oppose
-Motion of Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets: Oppose
-Motion of The Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative: Support
__________________________________________________ ______

Motion Forwarding:
Motion to standardize Legislative Procedure (AKA Bureaucracy is Good, Science is Better):
Organize motion proposals into a standardized form, place in spoiler tags

__________________________________________________ ______
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur

[Mellhurst]

(Oh dear, I didn't notice this new thread, even though I noticed the last game a couple of posts before the thread was abandoned!! Anyone can join with the voting, correct?)

[Grif]

(Oh dear, I didn't notice this new thread, even though I noticed the last game a couple of posts before the thread was abandoned!! Anyone can join with the voting, correct?)

(Yes you can join. Just join in the madness. :smalltongue:
Hussam B already gave a summary of what are we voting on atm. You might need to dig back to find the specifics of each motions though.)

[Sithis]

I love deregulation as much as the next guy, we all do here at DOFAD:XD. The thing is, there's a time and a place for deregulation. You can't just go around doing it willy-nilly. You have to plan these things out, and make sure to find that proper time and place.

For that reason, DOFAD:XD will oppose the motion to Deregulate the first minor race we find, but support the motion to Survey*, Subsidize, and Seize* Initiative.

We also support Kurgan's Motion for Naming our Planets and Vessels and VonFenris's motion to Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets.

Well, I think that's about everything. Deregulator-in-Chief Sithis, signing out.



*Were those supposed to be spelled the way they were?

[Trekkin]

*Were those supposed to be spelled the way they were?

Surveil, yes, as it's the verb form of surveillance. Surveying was assumed to be a prerequisite for discovering suitable beneficiaries for the Initiative.

Seize is spelled correctly, I think.

[Mellhurst]

(Yes you can join. Just join in the madness. :smalltongue:
Hussam B already gave a summary of what are we voting on atm. You might need to dig back to find the specifics of each motions though.)

Thank you. : )

---

The Neapolitan Heritage Foundation reluctantly votes for The New School. After reviewing the arguments it appears those vying for improved Terra-forming technologies are the most knowledgeable about space exploration and colonization. Furthermore it is fitting that the first target of extra-terrestrial deregulation be the very planets that God has speckled the sky with and the submission of their native species.
Let it be known however that in times of doubt we will support DOFAD or the Silver Standard and that we are much aggrieved that our initial investment of massive reserves into technologies research cannot later be turned to the design and production of weapons, alas it is the most productive solution in the long term.
The NHF supports Flag F.
In regards to the possibility of encountering sentient extra-terrestrial lifeforms the Neapolitan Heritage Foundation moves that the DSPS await first contact to judge the profitability of conquest as opposed to trade and an economically optimized annexation at a later date.
Lastly, should technological progress ever lead the Human race to attempt to immediately regulate itself into an energy form I warn that we will be forced to attempt to secede or sabotage the process. Decisions of such magnitude should not be embarked upon without a cooling down process and a volounteers-only approach.

Yours lovingly,
- Voiree Misallo, current Director of the NHF

[Kurgan]

I Oppose Deregulate the first minor race we find.
I Support The Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative
I Support Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets

Switzerland has always been about profits, and there is little profit and slagging some random planet. Therefore I believe that the Triple S strategy above is our best bet with minor races.

There is profit to privately sponsored ships and fleets: the more privately owned ships in the fleet, the smaller the cost is on the government to maintain them. And lets face it, we are all about our private armies here.

[Dhavaer]

I also oppose the deregulation of the first minor race we meet and support the SS&S initiative.

[Kurgan]

Something hilarious I just noticed:


Beyond the General Election, which determines who the President is and the general ongoing patterns the new Swiss empire will follow, you can freely propose MOTIONS. Anyone can propose a motion at any time, and if that motion is seconded by two other voters then it passes and I have to somehow try to make it happen. Motions cannot be overturned once made, but they can be vetoed by the president of the day if they run contrary to that party's core beliefs.

Yup, we just passed sweeping legislation to both immediately destroy and to nurture and trade with the first minor civilization we come across. :smallbiggrin:

I also think this means that we are following at least three different naming schemes for ships, planets, and ship classes. Not as sure on this one though.

[Mellhurst]

We could always modify the constitution, I believe.
But it might take some violence, and failure would possibly be lethal (lead to the scrapping of our characters for a new set).

I did not think it appropriate to immediately challenge the constitution earlier despite noticing the same, but given your courage in noting this problem the NHF is happy to announce it would support such a motion if tabled.

[Kurgan]

We could always modify the constitution, I believe.
But it might take some violence, and failure would possibly lethal (lead to the scrapping of our characters for a new set).

I did not think it appropriate to immediately challenge the constitution earlier despite noticing the same, but given your courage in noting this problem the NHF is happy to announce it would support such a motion if tabled.

My guess is that Thanqol has some sort of plan for the motion voting so that there is nothing physically impossible going down. Either that or it is half of the fun for him. Either way, I think we should wait for his opinion on the matter before pressing for a motion to change the rules for how motions are made.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

For ease of reading, all ACTUALLY NECESSARY information is in the spoiler-box.

Dispatch: Solutions Internationale Report

Naming of Ship Classes, Ships, Newfound Planets, Treatment of Possible Alien Races, and the Consitution

The problems now facing Switzerland and the larger world are those of a nation embarking on a completely new course that will change history forever. Being as the road we shall travel leads to the stars, we must regulate, of course, the naming of the spaceships which shall carry the brave explorers, settlers, and, of course, Switzerland being what it is, warriors, across the void. In addition, any newly found and settled planets must have a name! Having weighed and balanced the different suggestions put forward by the international community, Solutions Internationale (SI) supports following Kurgan's Naming Compromise, with the addendum, titled the Administrative Naming of Ships, that each class be assigned a letter, and each specific ship of that class a number, for ease of administration and for strategical ease. For example, if a ship was in the Baltharsar Class of cruisers, and was itself named the Aargau, it would have the code of D-08 assigned to it. On the hull would be painted "Aargau D-08"
With this in mind, we, as a matter of course, oppose all other naming schemes and motions. In addition, in the interest of centralization and simplification, we oppose the practice of having Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets, as each privately owned ship is a ship that the government cannot control, at each ship the government cannot control weakens us.

The second matter of business has a much larger importance to the course of this nation: our attitude towards any alien species we might encounter. Scientist are, of course, almost unanimously certain of the existence of other space-faring races. It may not be in our lifetime, but with the pace of scientific advances within recent history, it is fairly certain that it will be quite soon that we must come to a decision. Some would have us deregulate any that seem weaker than us. This is folly. How many Swiss died due to foolish warmongering during the foundation of the empire? With Switzerland so weakened, how far back was this point pushed? How long ago could we have been considering leaving this planet? No, we oppose the motion to Deregulate the first minor race we find! However, we must not let any chance to dominate escape our grasp, and so be dominated ourselves. We support the well-thought out motion entitled The Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative, which will allow us to first secure any minor race from outside interference, and then, on our own terms, and with minimal loss of life, integrate them within our empire.

Lastly, as it is, the legislative system is completely chaotic, and un-ordered. A decision could be better organized by following these simple rules.
By the terms of the New Interstellar Constitution, each motion, once tabled, is put up to vote. Each vote is put in the following form, within a spoiler, for both the sake of role-play and cleanliness of posts:
NAME OF MOTION | VOTE
Example #1 | Oppose
Example #2 | Support

In addition, all new motions should be placed officially in the same spoiler box in the following form:
NAME OF MOTION: Example #3
Then you put a bunch of text here, outlining exactly what the motion entails. This motion is an example.

Each Oppose Vote counts as a negative vote. The tabler of the motion does not get to vote on that motion. Thus, a motion with 3 supporters other than the tabler of the motion, but 4 detractors, has a net number of votes of -1, and thus does not pass. A vote passes if the net number of votes exceeds 1, though if it will work better, this number can be changed to 2.

Following this advice is in the greater interest of all of the world.
signed Jacques de la Taille, President


NAME OF MOTION | VOTE
Kurgan's Naming Compromise | Support
All the other Naming Schemes and such-like | Oppose
Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets | Oppose
Deregulate the first minor race we find! | Oppose
The Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative | Support
Motion to standardize Legislative Procedure | Support

NAME OF MOTION: Administrative Naming of Ships
Each class be assigned a letter, and each specific ship of that class a number. For example, if a ship was in the Baltharsar Class of cruisers, and was itself named the Aargau, it would have the code of D-08 assigned to it. On the hull would be painted "Aargau D-08". This way, you'll be able to see at a glance exactly what class and which ship any given ship is, without having to remember whether the Zug was a Baltharsar or a Hebernin class cruiser.

NAME OF MOTION: New Interstellar Constitution
Each motion, once tabled, is put up to vote. Each vote is put in the following form, within a spoiler, for both the sake of role-play and cleanliness of posts:
NAME OF MOTION | VOTE
Example #1 | Oppose
Example #2 | Support

In addition, all new motions should be placed officially in the same spoiler box in the following form:
NAME OF MOTION: Example #3
Then you put a bunch of text here, outlining exactly what the motion entails. This motion is an example.

Each Oppose Vote counts as a negative vote. The tabler of the motion does not get to vote on that motion. Thus, a motion with 3 supporters other than the tabler of the motion, but 4 detractors, has a net number of votes of -1, and thus does not pass. A vote passes if the net number of votes exceeds 1, though if it will work better, this number can be changed to 2.

[Thanqol]

My guess is that Thanqol has some sort of plan for the motion voting so that there is nothing physically impossible going down. Either that or it is half of the fun for him. Either way, I think we should wait for his opinion on the matter before pressing for a motion to change the rules for how motions are made.

Oh god, it's happened already :smallbiggrin: For the record, option number 2 is what I'm going for: Both motions have passed. However, the political party of the day will still have to implement these policies and may do so on different timescales. The party will also take into account the different levels of support - SS&S seems more popular, so the party will figure that if it bends to the will of the people on this it might get their support in the next election.

As contradictions go, this isn't a bad one because it's going to take an in-game year or so to research Planetary Invasion even if we rush towards it. It's more likely that SS&S will remain in place right up until we have the potential to deregulate the race in question, at which point deregulation will happen immediately.

That all said, I second the New Interstellar Constitution :smallsmile: :smallwink: And I'll edit the new format into the OP.

[chiasaur11]

Then the New Interstellar Constitution carries.

Just as well. As the matter stood, you could be left with surrender passed by a handful of insignificant megacorporations.

Best to leave Marsec, Tessier-Ashpool, and Maas with no more power than they need. Or whatever the local equivalents are. Vultures the lot of them.

F.I.
(Oh, and give Wintermute, or whatever he (they) calls himself these days, my regards. Don't insult either of us by trying to hide the fact of his existence. He leaves a distinctive trail of activity, and his citizenship does leave the matter yours to deal with. Especially when you let him, well, establish contact. Sloppy. Best to hurry up. They know you're coming.)

[James the Dark]

Throwing in support for the New Interstellar Constitution.

[Demon 997]

The Accounting Division of DOFAD supports the New Interstellar Constitution

[Grif]

Colonial Affairs Division of DOFAD supports the New Interstellar Constitution.

[The_JJ]

Speaking on behalf of the Solaris Alliance, Mr. Sufe announced today his support for the New Interstellar Constitiution. However, he feels that no rational government should put the cart before the horse and so rejects even the (he admits readily) well reasoned triple S plan in favor of the simple S plan, that of scouting first. The.. Senate? Council? need not straightjacket their policy, no matter how reasonably, without full and sufficient data.

[Forum Explorer]

The department of physical sciences also supports New Interstellar Consituition

[Thanqol]

Voting closes in 2 hours :smallsmile:

[Sithis]

The DOFAD:XD supports the New Interstellar Constitiution as well as the motions previously mentioned. Not that the motion really NEEDS our support, it looks be to fairly unanimously wanted.

We would also like to make a motion for Lots of Charts and Graphs to be utilized in Thanqol's write ups. Because we all know how much the DOFAD loves it's charts and graphs. You may ask, "But Sithis, what would these charts and graphs show?" The answer, of course, is everything. Also, pretty pictures.


Also, I should probably stop writing things late at night.

[Caewil]

The market intelligence division of DoFaD supports the New Interstellar Constitution and the SSS plan.

We also like Lots of Charts and Graphs.

[Kurgan]

I vote in favor of the New Interstellar Constitution.

I also vote in favor of the Lots of Charts and Graphs Motion.

((wow, everyone is making megacorps and such, I might need to do that at some point...))

Er...from this point forth, I shall reclaim the title of Secretary of Industry that my ancestors held. I shall hereafter be referred to as the Grand Chancellor of Industrial Affairs (GCIA).

Quick question on the new constitution thing, it reads something like "Name of Motion" <spoilers>. Does that mean voting would be like:

Name of Motion

Support or Oppose, also my reasoning for such.


Just want to make sure so I do it right when it comes to pass.

[Thanqol]

VOTING CLOSED:

New School: 6
Tower of Gold: 4
DOFAD: 11
Silver Standard: 3
Modernisers: 4
Awakened: 1
New Delhi Resistance: 1


PASSED MOTIONS:
Kurgan's Naming Scheme for Planets and Vessels:

Famous historical leaders will be used for names until we run out of names, at which point a new naming scheme will be implemented.

Privately Sponsored Ships and Fleets

The thread is free to claim direct control over any ship or fleet and give it specific instructions; these can be as simple as "Tourism run of Drengin space" to as long term as "Avoid any conflict where this fleet suffers a high chance of being destroyed".

Surveil, Subsidize, and Sieze Initiative

The first minor alien race to be found will be quietly built up and helped to modernise until they've finished the very expensive process of industrialising, at which point we will look into deregulatory options.

Administrative ship naming

Each new ship chassis shall be assigned a letter, and every ship of that chassis shall be assigned a number.

New Interstellar Constitution

Voting format reform. If you've ever loved my eyes, follow this. You can find the full version in the OP.

Lots of Charts and Graphs

I ****ING LOVE CHARTS AND GRAPHS!


The graphics moddings went off without a hitch so I'm starting the update now. Had to use a cut-down version of Flag F for visual coherency; the version that'll appear in the game is just the centre gold crest.

Starting the play now.

[Mellhurst]

The NHF wishes to express its support for the passed motion of privately sponsored ships and fleets. I suppose it could always be a seedship, and if we could get our hands on a few civilians (or maybe use our own faction members)... why we might have private planets. (kekekekekekkekekeeee). The NHF moves however, that the first ten warships and first five seedships belong exclusively to the DSPS.
The NHF also supports the passed motion to adopt the New Interstellar Constitution.

[Thanqol]

Disclaimer: I had this update finished, then decided I was in too good a starting position and rerolled. Seriously, you guys need to screw me over if this is going to be a challenge.

JANUARY 2227: PLANET EARTH

THE TOWER OF GOLD, BERN

The Director of the DOFAD and President-Elect of Planet Earth, Snarlgras Aebi, took the stand in the centre of the Tower of Gold.

The Tower of Gold had resisted all changes to it's internal layout for the thousands of years of it's existance. The chambers were small, cramped, dusty and dark, lit only by candles. No modern technology was present in the Tower, none of the holo-screens or computer databases that ran through every other building of power. Even the augmentics worn by most of the ministers were tastefuly discreet. The Tower wasn't even much to look at any more, overshadowed by the collossal steel and glass skyscrapers that towered over Modern Bern. But in that squat, yellow-stoned medieval keep was contained more power than any other structure in the world - and, if it's occupants had it's way, the Galaxy.

It was a place that felt old. And it made no excuses for being old. In the Tower of Gold you were supposed to do the bloody math the long way.

Snalgras stood before the shadowed politicans who made up Switzerland's ruling council. He tugged on his walrus wiskers and gave a smile, picking out the gleam of holo-cameras amidst the crowd.

President Aebi:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/images/solicits/darkhorse/200910/DrGrordbortVictory.jpg

"Ladies and gentlemen, ponies and kill-bots. The Department of Finance and Deregulation got you India, it got you Asia, and now it's going to get you the entire bloody galaxy. Don't worry, Switzerland: You're in good hands.

" There's been a whole lot of debate about this whole Hyperspace thing in recent days. For those of you who don't remember, the Moderniser Prime Sciences lab in Hawaii was working on two projects at once: Interstellar communications linked to the Swiss SETI array, and new power sources. Apparently, one bright spark came up with the idea for a Fusion Reactor. Lovely thing, unlimited energy with no waste and no by products, exactly the kind of thing we needed. And then some not so bright spark mixes up the data files and instead of broadcasting some "We are humans, is there anybody out there?" message, he goes and sends the schematics to the Hyperdrive to the entire sodding Galaxy. And now Smallet-knows how many alien species heard it and are building their very first Hyperdrives right now.

"The Modernisers have caught a lot of flak about this in recent days. If you watch the news you'd think this is the end of their bloody party. But I'm going to stand up for those eggheads today, and you know why?

"Because they gave Johnny Alien a fightin' chance. And they're going to need it. Because if they're planning on building a fleet of starships and coming after Earth they'd better move bloody fast because I intend to build OUR fleet a damn sight faster! And when Johnny Alien comes knocking, it'll be to beg for his damn homeworld back! But he won't get it back because I INTEND TO SET IT ON FIRE WHEN I GET THERE!"


The applause that greeted the Director's rant had a distinct edge of nervous fear to it.


*

Humanity in 2227:

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/6320/gc2ta1311578698.jpg

Game Concept: Racial Bonuses

Each of the core races comes with a handful of bonuses and penalties, as well as 10 points you can spend for further ones. We have Master-level Economics bonuses, to reflect Switzerland's economic foundation, and the Invincible-level soldier upgrade to reflect the fact that I'm taking a Dr. Grodbort (http://www.drgrordborts.com/dr-grordbort-s-infallible-aether-oscillators-where-science-meets-violence/) approach to the DOFAD's attitude towards space: Every DOFAD soldier is an action hero out to show Johnny Alien a good old human right hook.

We took a Creativity bonus to please the Modernisers, a Trade bonus for the New School, and a Military Production bonus (cancelling out the human's natural penalty) for the Awakened. The Silver Standard and NDR contribute our diplomacy bonus.

Earth in 2227:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Game Concept: Planetary Improvements

A variety of structures can be built on any given world. There are several main types and a bunch of specialised extras. You can build on green squares; the more green squares, the better the planet. Yellow squares need to be terraformed before they can be used.

The main upgrade types are:
- Factories: Produce Industrial and Military points, letting us build other improvements and spaceships.
- Research Labs: Give us tech points, letting us research new upgrades.
- Entertainment centres, boosting the planet's morale.
- Farms, boosting the planet's maximum population size
- Embassies, boosting the planet's Influence
- Markets, boosting the planet's economic output

There are also special tiles which provide multipliers or penalties. As you can see, we have an red triangle tile which gives us a 300% multiplier to any research building built on that square, and a blue tie which gives 200% to a morale-boosting structure built there.

I tend to dedicate worlds as either industrial, research or economic worlds based on their bonus tiles.

Space 2227:

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Game Concept: The Interface

This is where you'll spend most of your time as a GalCiv player. It's pretty self explanatory, so I'll just point out two important numbers: At the bottom left hand corner there's one number at 8000B - that's 8000B citizens for our empire. Below it, there's a number at 3000BC - that's our treasury, of 3000 billion credits. Above those is the technology we're currently researching

Incidentally, the smallest unit of measurement in terms of human life is 10 million. That colony ship we started with has one hundred million human beings aboard it and it's less than half full.

*

After the intimidated applause had trailed off, Director Aebi straightened the tie his media handlers had made him wear. His bearlike hands accidentally ripped it in half by mistake. He held the ruined piece of clothing for a moment, then shrugged, tossed it over his shoulder, and continued talking.

"Now. As I'm speaking, we're about to launch three space ships. Not the regular old boring spaceships of the past, either, we're talking proper ones, with hyperdrives. Now, as it was explained to me, the hyperdrive is the greatest un-boring machine in the galaxy. It takes any space where nothing is happening and blows it up! It takes a while to get around inside a star system, but crossing that big, boring space between solar systems can be done in an eyeblink. Heh, they should make a man-portable version for my daily briefings, eh? We've got three, count 'em, three starships ready to go.

"We've got the Schwendimann class Survey Vessel, so named for that hapless son-of-a-bitch Schwenny who discovered Australia a while back. We've got the Solaris Corporation Asteroid miner, the tie guys tell me that there's all sorts of space money to be had in asteroid mining, and I wouldn't be much of a Switzerlander if I argued with space money. And we've got a colony ship with one hundred million suicidal bastards who are gonna go out there armed with only their fists and their chest hair. Hah. Poor suckers. I'd envy them if it weren't so funny."

At this point, Director Aebi gets distracted by one of his handlers which is frantically signalling him to change the topic.

"What's that sign you're making? Cut my throat? I'LL CUT YOUR THROAT, PAPER PUSHER!" Aebi roared, picking up his chair and advancing a few steps across the room. He paused, and then puts down the chair. "Later." he adds. "Anyway. The game is afoot, gentlemen! We're going to go to the ends of the galaxy in search of regulation and then we're going to DEREGULATE it! Let's unleash the Free Market! Communist alien bastards won't know what hit 'em!"

And with those historic words, the Great Space Race was on.

*

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Explorator Jhim Soprano:


It's been a week and still no sexy alien chicks. Aebi lied to me.

We spotted a... thing with the scanners. Science boys wanted to take a closer look and, hey, I got nothing better to do. Turns out it's a giant glowing yellow space crystal. I didn't know such things existed, to be honest. But they go out on their shuttle and bring a fragment on board. I took a look, and *wow*. It was like being drunk in the awesomest way possible. Turns out we've been here a week and we've already hit paydirt. Gonna be bloody rich when I get home. Best day ever.

Game Concept: Resources

Scattered throughout the galaxy are resource crystals like this one, which give you significant bonuses if you build a mining starbase. This is a Morale crystal, so having it gives a +5 to +40% morale increase to your empire, depending on how much you upgrade it. It's an amazingly lucky find - and also a bit of a quandry. I absolutely want to grab it before anyone else does, but that means building a constructor ship rather than a colony ship, and this is the stage of the game when I really should be spamming colony ships. Still, it's a net positive!

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Explorator Jhim Soprano:


Investigated some asteroids. Universe exploded. We are now literally on the other side of the entire goddamn galaxy. Entire crew went into cryostatis. I've got to sit here on the bridge, by myself, making sure they don't die. This is the worst day ever.

Game Concept: Anomalies

There are various asteroids hanging around the galaxy that you can investigate with your survey ship, doing so will give you a random bonus. One of the options is to trigger a wormhole to send your survey ship to a random quadrant of the galaxy. This one sent our survey ship to the farthest possible point from Earth, and because it's out of our ship's range, it shuts down all functions except movement until it gets back into range. We just basically lost our survey ship for a good few dozen turns.

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

One of the colony ships is fortunate enough to spot another Resource Crystal, this one providing subtle mind controlling effects. Even though this sector seems relatively barren of habitable worlds, the resource crystals are definitely making up for it.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Mere weeks after the first colony ship was launched, it reports back home with an amazing find: An Earth-class world! Breathable atmosphere, lush vegetation, huge oceans, stable climate. The historic moment when the DOFAD men stepped off the landing shuttle of the colony vessel and shot a grazing alien wildebeast with a raygun is immortalised forever in Swiss art. Incidentally, it was also proved that rayguns work on alien monsters: An encouraging sign for the future of Switzerland.

They christened the planet Herberlin.

Game Concept: Planet Classes

Mars is a Class 4. Earth is a Class 10. This is a Class 11. A paradise world is a Class 17. Good Christians go to a Class 23 when they die.

This world has a 3X Research tile, meaning I'm going to build it up as a Research centre.

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

And mere weeks later from this historic event, an even more historic event occurred. A garbled alien voice spoke over the SETI array.

Humanity was not alone.

The Director demanded to be put in contact with the aliens, upon which the following exchange took place.


Aebi: HEY! Johnny Alien!
Alien: Grahh?
Aebi: We sent you some designs for a hyperdrive a few months back by accident. We've worked out the bill for that. It says here that you owe us 12000 billion credits.
Alien: GRAAAH!
Aebi: YOU LISTEN HERE, YOUNG MAN, DID YOUR MOTHER OR DID SHE NOT TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS?
Alien: GRAAH! GRAAH!
Aebi: KEEP TALKING, YOU SON OF A BITCH, I'M GOING TO GET IN MY SPACE SHIP AND BEAT THAT MONEY OUT OF YOU WITH MY BARE FISTS!
Alien: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!


Oddly, this wasn't the diplomatic incident Planet Earth feared it was going to be. The alien race was called the Drengin, and they respected strength.

Game Concept: The Drengin

The Drengin are a capital-E-EVIL race. They're nasty, violent, and they love shaking down other races for cash and launching unprovoked invasions. They're our next door neighbours!

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

A few weeks later, the science boys invented a Universal Translator which was both cheap and universally applicable. Linguistic diversity perished over a matter of years as these devices became worn by practically every human being.

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

And so, when it came time for the next diplomatic incident, at least everyone knew what was being said.


Aebi: I told you Drengin bastards not to call me back until you had my money.
Korath: ... we are the Korath. We exiled ourselves from the Drengin centuries ago.
Aebi: Are you trying to Pope on your debt?! GET YOUR BONY ALIEN ASS OVER HERE SO I CAN UPPERCUT YOU!
Korath: WE WILL BURN YOUR WORLDS AND EAT YOUR FLESH!
Aebi: I WILL RIP YOUR LEG OFF AND BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH IT!
Korath: GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Game Concept: The Korath

There was a civil war in the Drengin race's history. It was over what to do with their captured prisoners. The Drengin believed that they should make them slaves and work them to death, and the Korath believed they should be killed on sight. They're armed with a plague ship that can wipe out all life on a planet without a fight. They're our other neighbour!

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Contact with another race was made, and for a blessed change this one involved minimal shouting. It involved a lot of suggestive comments from Aebi which the Alterian ambassador politely passed off as translator glitches.

Game Concept: The Alterians

Vulcans/Space Elves. Use magic, hug trees, huge research bonuses, tend to crumple when a nation like the Drengin punches them.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

A team of DOFAD elite stopped by to take control of Mars when they heard a rumour there was an alien space ship there. They found the spaceship, suffered a mysterious translator failure, and decided that it was probably for the best if they deregulated the aliens while they were there. The first true incidence of the Swiss deregulating aliens occurred during this process, and the Swiss finally negotiated a trade deal that left them with the space ship and the aliens with some medical supplies. It was a good start.

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

The Swiss had colonised three new worlds: Mars, Herberlin, and Rommel. They had also claimed two crystal bases and set the tone for diplomatic relations with the Drengin and Korath on their terms. It was a good start. An honourable start.

Time for a good old fashioned financial crisis, then.

Game Concept: Bankruptcy

The early game of Galactic Civilisation revolves around knife-edge budgeting and planned bankruptcy. Every world you claim haemorrhages money until the population raises enough to pay the planet's upkeep. BUT a world claimed now can't be claimed by the AI. As such, I grab as many valuable worlds as I can as soon as I can, endure some bankruptcy while the economy rights itself and the population grows a bit, and then go on for a second wave of colonisation.

*

And that's it for the update! We're in a decent position game-wise right now. The DOFAD stays in power for another update or two, which means that now is the time for motions. What's our policy for the Drengin? The Korath? The Alterians? Where should we direct our research? The right hook or the uppercut? Take it away, Switzerland!

[Eldan]

Bankrupt? Switzerland doesn't go bankrupt!

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"

I suggest we take that Overspending Rat Bastard Son of a Gun Aebi, strap him to the hull of an exploration ship, point him vaguely into the direction of the galactic core and don't let him return until he's brought back enough money and dead aliens to pay for our debt.

All in favour?

[Mellhurst]

Do we have the capability to carry out financial raids this quickly? And if so, who first, the Drengins or the Korath? I'd prefer to take out the Koraths first, the Drengin 'graaghs' are kinda snuggly.
The Alterians will make for a nice milky cow to feed on grass until we eliminate their military and send some beurocrats over to administer and breed with the rest.

Either way the Napoli Heritage Foundation is definitely in favor of fisticuffs at the first sign of profitability, but we believe more data is needed to decide whether it is best to simply focus on colonization, exploration and exploitation at this point.


This is also a good moment to table a related motion... the NHF moves that the DSPS outlaw the Pacifist Party, so they can't betray DOFAD a third time if war breaks out. Indeed it is an insult to our Swissitude that the Pacifists do not consider the The New School, the Modernizers and so on to be peaceful parties.

[Grif]

You know, I only have one problem with that map of Earth.

Why is our capital in the middle of the Amazons? :smalltongue:

(Will be voting and tabling motions later, when I have the time to contemplate this update.)

[Altaria87]

[A-ha! The Altarians are here, time to get in on this whole RP-voting thingy]
Greeting, human fellows! I am Altaria, one of the leading businessmen of the Altarian resistance. Unfortunately, my personal spaceship's hyperdrive glitched up,a nd I ended up stranded here on Earth. Luckily, I found that with enough money you can get anything on this planet, including political weight. So here I am funny thing that.
Anyway, I do agree the Altarians need a good deregulation - you humans have no idea how much harder it is to go aobut business over there. Heck, you can't even build wherever you want in case you mess up the habitats of the cloud-birds. But, I see that Switzerland is in no state right now to go deregulating just yet. Instead, I'll just advise that a good kick to the knees or shins might be a good idea before you go for an uppercut. I would also like to request that Aebi pronounce my race's name correctly :smalltongue:.
All in all, more time and data is needed before action relating to the Drengins and Korath cna be advised.

[Thanqol]

Do we have the capability to carry out financial raids this quickly? And if so, who first, the Drengins or the Korath? I'd prefer to take out the Koraths first, the Drengin 'graaghs' are kinda snuggly.
The Alterians will make for a nice milky cow to feed on grass until we eliminate their military and send some beurocrats over to administer and breed with the rest.

We currently lack any sort of weapon technology, including the technology required to run planetary invasions. We can begin researching them immediately if we're instructed to. A successful invasion tends to cost money rather than make money, though, at least in the short term.


You know, I only have one problem with that map of Earth.

Why is our capital in the middle of the Amazons? :smalltongue:

(Will be voting and tabling motions later, when I have the time to contemplate this update.)

Determined randomly. The first game I played had it perfectly placed in Europe. Just pretend it's there.

[Mellhurst]

In this case we reiterate our support for the New School and oppose sending Dear Aebi on a holiday. This is a time for colonization and the technology for colonization. Punching as fun as it is will drain us immensely at this stage.

[Eldan]

Motion: Illuuuuuuusion

The Amazons? That's a fake capital to confuse alien invaders.

[Kurgan]

The Grand Chancellor of Industrial Affairs proposes the following motion to the board:

Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol

This motion will call for us to research basic armaments and build a few ships to defend our borders, but otherwise focus all of our efforts in the economy. Long term investments such as colonization is allowable, but only at a pace that the economy can soak without collapsing.


On Give Aebi a long "holiday"

I oppose this action.

[Thanqol]

Bankrupt? Switzerland doesn't go bankrupt!

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"

I suggest we take that Overspending Rat Bastard Son of a Gun Aebi, strap him to the hull of an exploration ship, point him vaguely into the direction of the galactic core and don't let him return until he's brought back enough money and dead aliens to pay for our debt.

All in favour?

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/263/day65.jpg

Paid for by the DOFAD Marketing-Industrial Division

[Hussam B.]

Incoming Transmission, Source: Encrypted
__________________________________________________ ______
Standby for reconfiguration of system for integration of the New Interstellar Constitution

Constitution Integrated.
__________________________________________________ ______
Review of Voting Record, Commencing:
Motions Voting:
THE FIRST TEN WARSHIPS AND FIRST FIVE SEEDSHIPS BELONG EXCLUSIVELY TO THE DPSP | Oppose
GIVE AEBI A LONG "HOLIDAY" | Oppose
OUTLAW THE PACIFIST PARTY | Oppose
ECONOMIC EXPANSION AND MILITARY READINESS PROTOCOL | Support

Motions proposed:
NAME OF MOTION: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERGALACTIC RESEARCH AUTHORITY
With the discovery of new worlds and the recent acquisition of exciting new materials from the derelict ship near Mars, It is clear now more than ever, that the potential for research has never been so prominent, therefore I move to the establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority, a council made up of our nation's finest minds and respected scientific authorities to administer and manage our research and academic facilities, decentralizing them from Government authority and thus relieving the burden from our bankrupt but hardworking President Aebi.

Proposed Composition of the IRA:
-Our State's finest Researchers and Theoretical Pioneers (Modernizers)
-Our State's well respected pioneers of Management Planning and Economic Theory (Tower of Gold)
-Our State's Finest Educators and well respected Lecturers (New School)
-Our State's hardworking Production Specialists (Awakened)
-Our State's Inspiring Humanist Thinkers (New Delhi Resistance)

The IRA will also be instrumental in assuring a uniform approach research by having a crucial role in setting research policies.

NAME OF MOTION: ESTABLISHMENT OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE ALTERIAN RESISTANCE
Diplomatic reports are troubling, with hostile races such as the Drengin and the Korath being so distastefully close to our systems, it is only logical that we work closely with the Alterian Resistance against mutual hazards, I propose the adoption of a friendly stance to the Alterians, establishing friendly relations and the mutual exchange of ambassadors as soon as possible, putting forward a Modernizer candidate for such a diplomatic venture as best qualified to appreciate the Alterian's potential, scientific and otherwise.

[Cogwheel]

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"

Motion seconded. As amusing as Saxton Aebi is, he might be better off... somewhere else. Besides, he would be happier on one of the frontier planets, no? Better than dealing with paperwork, certainly.


Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol

Motion supported. This seems like a good way to go about things.

Outlaw the Pacifist Party

Motion opposed. A ludicrous notion in the first place. Where would we get by crushing freedom and differing - even opposing - ideas? Regulation, of concepts or otherwise, will get us nowhere.

ESTABLISHMENT OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE ALTERIAN RESISTANCE

Seconded, and, in fact, beaten to the punch. I believe that good relations with Altarians could mean good relations with others by proxy. Currying their favour by means of largely pointless (but seemingly significant) gifts may be wise.



And while I don't have the time to organize a proper motion to this effect, I suggest not antagonizing the Drengin or Korath just yet. Don't be a complete doormat either - they won't respect weakness - but angering our warmongering neighbours will, at this point, lead to a quick defeat.

Besides, the Drengin are remarkably Swiss in some regards.

[Caewil]

The DoFaD Viceroy of Interstellar Principalities proposes:

Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
We have little time to lose, let us put all our energy into aquiring as much interstellar property as possible before the other, inferior species. A military is unecessary until we can actually put some boots on the ground/face of Johnny alien. Don't worry, the money we lose coming close to being bankrupt will be more than repaid when we reacquire it from the Drengin.

Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act
In an elaboration of plan SSS, the DoFaD suggests that we make and mantain friendly and open trading/sexual relations with the space elves as our first client race. We should also undertake to defend them if necessary.

The Divide and Conquer Plan
We can exploit any lingering animosity between the Drengin and Korath to cause a war between them as soon as possible. This will mean less of them for us to kill when the time comes.

Motion:Give Aebi a long "holiday" Oppose

[Thanqol]

Oh, and BONUS QUESTION:

In Galactic Civilisations, there are three types of weapon techs: Missiles, Beams and Mass Drivers. When it's time to pick a weaponry path, which one should we research?

For the record, Missiles are expensive and hard-hitting, beams are cheap and weak, and mass drivers are in the middle. There are, likewise, three types of spaceship defences, Point Defence (beats missiles), Armour (beats mass drivers) and shields (beats beams). Traditionally it's best to hold off on defence research till you see what weapon type your major rival is investing in. The AI will do the same to you!

[James the Dark]

Motions:

Aebi's Holiday: Opposed. We need someone of his gumption at the helm.
EEMRP: Supported
Outlaw Pacifism: Opposed. The Demon Headmaster tried to outlaw a political Party. See how well that turned out.
Friendly Alterians: Supported. If nothing else, they're the first attractive aliens we've found. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Acquisition of IP: Opposed. We're already broke. Don't get broker.
Client Species Act: See Friendly Alterians. Supported, because damn it all, I want my green skinned alien babe!
Divide and Conquer: Supported. Let them fight each other instead of us.

New Motions:
Emergency Acquisitions Act: Until the current debt crisis is resolved, all non-research funding will be slashed to their minimums. We cannot let research flag, however. If we fall behind, we are left behind, and will never get our green skinned alien babes *is swatted upside the head* Supremecy over the galaxy, I mean.

Weaponry: Develop Mass Drivers. Nothing says hello quite like hurling a projectile roughly the size of a bus at somebody at a small but not insignificant fraction of the speed of light.
Defence: Develop defence Based On Opponent's Proclivity.

[Cogwheel]

Defense: Wait and see.

Weaponry: A feint against our immediate neighbours. I suggest researching beams for a short while to lead them into developing shields. Once they've done this, halt all beam development and start building mass drivers. Their defenses will either be irrelevant or a little behind as a result. Bonus points if you can eliminate any lost progress on your part by trading for the mass driver technology.

[Eldan]

Weapons: Mass drivers

I also motion that our mass projectiles should be gigantic steel fists. Tally-ho, pip-pip, time for fisticuffs, Johnny Alien!


Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act Supported.

Switzerland does not go bankrupt. Spend money on research, save on everything else.

[Cogwheel]

I also motion that our mass projectiles should be gigantic steel fists. Tally-ho, pip-pip, time for fisticuffs, Johnny Alien!

Supported.

The fists, naturally, have the Swiss flag painted on them. Use these for bombardment as well: If the atmosphere causes them to catch fire, even better. Our every bullet will be a Falcon SWISS punch.

[Strategos]

Transcript of Ouroborus Gentics CEO Crystal Kristofferson's monthly address to the West African Laboratories, May 23rd 2228.

You may notice that Dr. Williams is not among you today. This is because he failed to properly secure the alien specimen we had shipped here, at great expense, and it escaped into Team 13's Nightstalker testing area and was killed by them. We have since terminated his contract and had him reassigined as a test subject for Team 52's Super Soldier Serum experiments, unfortunately the batch he was assigned to test was a failure and he perished as a result. Those specimen clauses in your contracts are just not for show people.

As I have said many times before we are dealing with untested and most probably dangerous experiments here at Ouruborus Genetics. This means we take the safety of our employees, our experiment's safety and the safety of the public very seriously. Failure on your part to uphold these will have consequences, possibly fatal ones. This little fiasco has had one silver lining, the Nightstalker's venom took the Alien Creature down within 13 seconds and vanished from the bloodstream approximately 15 minutes after death. Dr. Richardson is to be commended for the success of his project. Dr. Nguyen is hearby promoted to Project Manager of Team 05 effective immediately.

There's been a lot of talk about the first contact with other species and I share in your natural excitement of this monumentous occasion. Most of what I've been hearing about is the Korath Clan and the Drengin Empire. This is to be expected, a sentient, alien species completely different from our own offers many new avenues for research. I, for one, am more intrested in the study of the Altarians, aliens that appear to be identical to us. We need a focussed effort to study these creatures, to analyse their genes, to study their diseases, to cut them open and see what lurks beneath their human-like exterior.

Until next time, may your projects prove fruitful and your safety records intact.

**********************

"Qute frankly I am appalled by the swift conclusions being jumped to by the voters. We find a species that looks superficially similar to us and everyone's falling over themselves to get into their pants. Wonderful, truly I can see great things ahead for humanity." Crystal rolls her eyes. "I might be wrong, bur basing our entire foreign policy on the attractiveness of the alien's leader sounds like a poor idea to me."

Voting:

Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Support
Give Aebi a long "Holiday" | Oppose
Outlaw the Pacifist Party| Oppose
Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support
Establishment of the Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Oppose
Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support
Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Oppose
The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support
Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose


Weapons Development:
While I was originally in favour of missiles as our weapon of choice, I am swayed by the arguments for Mass Drivers as lthe mental image of launching large fists to destroy alien spacecraft is to funny to pass up.

[HerbieRAI]

With the meeting of alien races, a new group forms called the Humans First Foundation. They believe all aliens are evil, some are just better at hiding it. Sitting at the head of the group is Yadara Miska.

Motions:

Aebi's Holiday: Opposed. We feel he has done his job adequately.
EEMRP: Supported, assuming planetary invasion is needed as a "basic armament"
Outlaw Pacifism: Supported. If we can't trust the government to fight off outside forces, how can we?
Friendly Alterians: Opposed. They are Evil and planning to destroy us from the inside.

Acquisition of IP: Opposed. If we cannot protect the colonies from the scourge of the universe, we will be just throwing money away.
Client Species Act: Opposed. The Alterians will destroy everything we stand for!
Divide and Conquer: Supported. If Aliens are destroyed, let it be done.

Weaponry: Missles. Big explosions mean more dead enemies

[Altaria87]

As for the motions, Swiss Altarian Industries (I'm also very happy with the ease at which a business can start on this planet, as long as you have enough anti-air defence towers) has these opinions:
Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Support, there's nothing wrong with this plan.
Outlaw the Pacifist Party | Oppose. Do we really think the public are going to happy about such totalitarian nonsense?
Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Altarian Resistance | Support, perhaps we can even deregulate my racial brothers and sisters without the use of arms?
Establishment and Strengthening of Client Speceis Act | Support, see above.
Emergency Acquisitions Act | Support, again, a good plan.
Weaponry | Cogwheel's idea of researching beams and then swapping over to Falcon Pawnch Mass Drivers.

[Thanqol]

Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Altarian Resistance | Support, perhaps we can even deregulate my racial brothers and sisters without the use of arms?

Incidentally, it is entirely possible to get entire empires to defect peacefully. It involves building giant propaganda starbases above all of their planets and flooding them with Swiss television, products and culture. That Influence resource we found is a mighty fine aid should we decide to go that route, too.

[Sithis]

I don't know if anyone else has said this, but is Snarlgras Aebi a mixture of Cave Johnson and Saxton Hale? Because that's what I'm seeing.

[Cogwheel]

I don't know if anyone else has said this, but is Snarlgras Aebi a mixture of Cave Johnson and Saxton Hale? Because that's what I'm seeing.

Basically, yes. I mentioned that, though not the Cave Johnson bit (forgot to say that, but I was thinking it).

[Mellhurst]

Voting summary for Napoli Heritage Foundation

Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Abstain. We believe these are primary goals (we need ships to explore the anomalies before others!) but colonization is not secondary to them, but in fact the leading primary goal of our early years.

Give Aebi a long "Holiday" | Oppose. As before we would prefer a New School leader for our initial ventures into space, but Aebi does not deserve such a summary dismissal.

Outlaw the Pacifist Party| We tabled this move. It has currently gathered one vote in favor and many against... perhaps I should have phrased it as return India to DOFAD, but that would create too much instability on Earth.

DSPS Early Space Force Monopoly/ We tabled this motion to reserve the first armada of Mankind for the sole use of the DSPS. It does not appear popular, as votes so far have been against it, but we do believe our initial colony ships and fighters should not be up for dibs (as much as we'd like to buy a seedships and seed our own autonomous planet within the DSPS).

Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Opposed. We should not seperate the executive branch into multiple departments. The High Council is already a more than adequate check and balance on the executive.

Establishment of the Establishment of Friendly Relations with the AltarianResistance | Abstain. The Alterians are nice and we should cultivate getting into their pants and other benefits, but we do not like the overly friendly attitude of the motion. We are not in favor of becoming sentimentally attached to a future client state and eventual province of the DSPS.

Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support, contingent that high-class planets come first, and then the most important resources and rapid exploration of anomalies and then low-class planets and then less important resources.

Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | ? We cannot find this details for this motion.

The Divide and Conquer Plan | Abstain. This much is obvious, but do we need to put it forward as a motion? It may regulate our future alternatives.

Emergency Acquisitions Act | Opposed. As critical as research is it is not the be all and end all of war and politics, even the path to ascendance (as silly as it might be) must be defended.

The NHF supports Missiles and Armour if we must embark military research and designs now, but we would prefer to await intelligence reports.
Our reasoning is that missile craft, if used correctly and not in averse conditions (outnumbered, etc) can take out our enemies or do significant damage before they even get within range (if I remember things correctly).

[Grif]

Colonial Affairs of DOFAD has decided on the following motions:

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"| Oppose
Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party | Oppose
Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Support
Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support
Motion: Establishment of the Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Oppose
Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support
Motion: Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Oppose
Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support
Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Support
On Weaponry and Armour | Missiles and Shields

Remember, the space elves are firm supporters of regulation. DO NOT LET THEM REGULATE US!

[Hussam B.]

Voting Record Addendum:

Motion Voting:
ACQUISITION OF INTERSTELLAR PRINCIPALITIES ORDINANCE| Oppose
ESTABLISHMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF CLIENT SPECIES ACT| Support
THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER PLAN| Support
WHICH ONE SHOULD WE RESEARCH?| Support Beam Weaponry
EMERGENCY ACQUISITIONS ACT| Support

[Narkis]

The Liandri Mining Corporation has examined all proposals, and votes thusly:

amended, see later post
In addition, we would like to inquire on the reasoning behind the Solaris Corporation winning the first bid for an interstellar miner. Our company would be better suited by far in operating this starship and all mining starbases it will construct, as our... acquaintances in the Tower of Gold would certify.

We also propose the Development of Natural Resources act
In order to ensure Swiss dominance over the galaxy, we need access to resources not found on any planet. Our brave explorers have already discovered two of these, but the LMC R&D department theorises the existence of more, perhaps improving the capabilities of our scientists, helping our economy directly or even making DOFAD ships even more effective at Deregulating. As such, it would be in Greater Switzerland's best interests to secure any such resources as soon as they are discovered, lest they fall into alien hands and be regulated. Naturally, the Liandri Mining Corporation would be the best choice to oversee this process.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

The Canavan Space Industries is an industry committed to providing you with the best in Swiss Spaceship Solutions for your military, civilian, and dual-purpose needs.

In our current political climate we have many reactionary voices that threaten the stability of our long term prospects. We oppose all attempts to subvert our democratic process and has never endorsed or supported any fascist government and we most certainly didn't support 20th century European fascists. No sir, that is just slander.

Moving on. We have the unique prospect of supporting a peaceful venture with other space races that could give the opportunity to re-purpose our outdated vessels for monetary gain with these xenos. A future partnership is our main goal however sowign the seeds of dischord between the xenos could great profit the CSI by creating a demand for our goods.

Here is our current endorsements and we hope our friends in The Department of Finance and Deregulation will remember this when it comes time for re-election.

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"| Oppose
Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party | Oppose
Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Support
Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Oppose
Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support
Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support
Motion: Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Support
Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support
Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose

[Murska]

((Sheesh. I've missed this due to my being forced to spend time at a place where I don't have reliable internet access.))

Most voting blocs in Switzerland are, of course, megacorps. Who else would have the economic clout to affect their politics? However, there are a few groups that have managed to make an impact, one way or another.

And there have, throughout time, been a few individuals capable of the same. Swiss history knows the names.

One of them, Liathinel 'Lin' Rommel, a high-ranking officer in the Silver Standard Space Command, has managed to gather a number of like-minded officers and soldiers from the Military, mid-range capitalists from the financial market and even a number of ordinary plebes. Not only is she a genius from the famous (and rich) Rommel family, she's written a number of books on the evolution of strategy and tactics with technology and made a name for herself on the (usually...?) figurative battlefields of politics as well as the literal battlefields of war and markets.

And so, the Rommel voice on Earth's politics has weight.

Motions:

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"| Support
Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party | Oppose
Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Support
Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Oppose
Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support
Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support
Motion: Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Support
Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Oppose
Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose

On Weaponry and Defenses:

We should of course wait with our defenses on what the enemy is using.

However, for weaponry, I believe we should focus on Beam Weapons. They're fun, because you can use so many.

[Narkis]

People, remember to vote on the Development of Natural Resources act. It's not difficult. Just copy and paste this at the bottom of your motions spoiler:

Development of Natural Resources act | [-B]Support[/B]

Don't forget to remove the "-" from the first [B]. And just in case, this post is not a vote. I repeat, this post is not a vote.

[Grif]

In the future, I propose that we limit tabling of motions to the first two days of each updates. (and voting to last for another two days.)

It will make voting easier, since we won't need to go back to editing our posts.

[Narkis]

You can always post a second post instead of editing anything. I was mostly referring to the new people. And considering that Thangol posted the first update today...

[Grif]

It'll make it doubly hard for people to go through the motions being tabled, being buried by initial votes and other discussion. :smallannoyed:

Alternatively, we should limit the motions being tabled to ten. It'll help keep the thread at a reasonable sane level to follow. (har har, what am I kidding, pony thread is twice as fast and twice as insane, but you get the picture.) We can always pick and choose which motion to vote on.

[Mellhurst]

If it may the NHF withdraws the motion to Outlaw the Pacifist Party. It was already clear a while ago that public opinion is overwhelmingly against it (with the exception of the NHF and Humans First), and it seems to be against the Swiss ideals to outlaw distasteful brands of politics no matter how radical. Furthermore it was a case of poor targeting. What we believe is that DOFAD should somehow be compensated for the loss of India. We shall pursue this matter by a vigilant support of their party from the sidelines as a New School voice before eventually joining the ranks of DOFADs constituency.

[Hussam B.]

Transmission to all Modernizer Key Leaders, Source: Encrypted
__________________________________________________ _______
Fellow Modernizers, I call upon you to meet with me here in my facility at Encrypted, Arizona, with the agenda of defining our party's hierarchy and immediate policies. I will personally and gladly arrange for your comfortable accommodation and travel to sunny Arizona.

Shamus Quarob,
Head of Quarob Energy Developments
__________________________________________________ _______
Transmission Ended
__________________________________________________ _______

Yay! party politics! Between the four of us, I suppose we can vote on a party chairman (or Director, or whatever name we'd like to agree on), put in all our views on which parties we'd like to form coalitions with, and such.

Mainly flavor, though depending on member's opinions, I suppose we can have stuff like that any motions officially endorsed by our party should be put forwards by our Party Leader, for example.

[Narkis]

It'll make it doubly hard for people to go through the motions being tabled, being buried by initial votes and other discussion. :smallannoyed:

Alternatively, we should limit the motions being tabled to ten. It'll help keep the thread at a reasonable sane level to follow. (har har, what am I kidding, pony thread is twice as fast and twice as insane, but you get the picture.) We can always pick and choose which motion to vote on.

Yeah, you're right. Two days for motions followed by two days of voting should work. I don't like a limit of ten motions though, since those fast enough to propose them first would be the only ones who get to propose something.

[Kurgan]

The GCIA votes:

Motion: Give Aebi a Long Holiday | Oppose (I already voted on this before, but figure all my votes in one post would be better.)
Motion: Outlaw Pacifist Party | Oppose
Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | tabled by the GCIA
Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Oppose
Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support
Motion: Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Oppose
Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support
Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose
Motion: The Development of Natural Resources Act | Support

On weapons, I believe we should focus on Mass Drivers and wait and see with defenses.



In terms of forwarding motions, I say that a limit on motions would be unfair to some. If an update comes by right after you go to bed or work or somesuch, it is basically a done deal that you won't get a motion. I agree with the 48 hours thing.

[chiasaur11]

And now you've been introduced to the most basic truth of galactic politics.

The overwhelming majority of sapient life wants you dead.

As for our suggestions? Well, so far you seem to be taking the proper course. Military force is the universal language.

More specifically:

Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Oppose. The razor's edge encourages innovation. A shame to discourage it.
Give Aebi a long "Holiday" | Oppose, for sentimental reasons.
Outlaw the Pacifist Party| Support. You're in the middle of a probable intergalactic war. Degrees of military readiness may be debated, but full pacifism is suicidal and irritatingly sanctimonious.
Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support. Amoral megacorporations free of government authority are always amusing when provided with regulatory freedoms.
Establishment of the Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support. For the moment. The rare non hostile species is to be studied and taken advantage of. This does not mean they will remain non-hostile. DO NOT provide them with any military advantages.
Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support, with the caveat the military portion of the proposal is astoundingly naive.
Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Support. Hubrid vigor is an astonishing phenomenon. Any successful crossbreeds are to be contained and studied, of course. Some studies suggest humanity was, in some locations, derived from crossbreeds of native, non-native, and artificial life. No reason to discourage similar phenomena. Make them depend on you, whenever possible. Of course, the reverse is possible, and to be avoided no matter the risk.
The Divide and Conquer Plan | Oppose. That involves talking to the Drengin. More importantly, it involves encouraging a hostile military buildup when they already are built like Mutons and we are focusing on non-military production. No hints until you are ready for a war of extermination. Strike once and for good.
Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose



Further, I would suggest the Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.

Avoid naming anything after Hitler. He's rubbish.

As for weapon systems, missiles are recommended, after a brief decoy dip into energy weapons. Power is generally worth the cost.

Functional Irritant

[Thanqol]

The Liandri Mining Corporation has examined all proposals, and votes thusly:

In addition, we would like to inquire on the reasoning behind the Solaris Corporation winning the first bid for an interstellar miner. Our company would be better suited by far in operating this starship and all mining starbases it will construct, as our... acquaintances in the Tower of Gold would certify.

There was no naming scheme in place for privately owned vessels, so it was a random megacorp who won the bid. However, if your motion carries, please add a naming scheme for your vessels.


Transmission to all Modernizer Key Leaders, Source: Encrypted
__________________________________________________ _______
Fellow Modernizers, I call upon you to meet with me here in my facility at Encrypted, Arizona, with the agenda of defining our party's hierarchy and immediate policies. I will personally and gladly arrange for your comfortable accommodation and travel to sunny Arizona.

Shamus Quarob,
Head of Quarob Energy Developments
__________________________________________________ _______
Transmission Ended
__________________________________________________ _______

Yay! party politics! Between the four of us, I suppose we can vote on a party chairman (or Director, or whatever name we'd like to agree on), put in all our views on which parties we'd like to form coalitions with, and such.

Mainly flavor, though depending on member's opinions, I suppose we can have stuff like that any motions officially endorsed by our party should be put forwards by our Party Leader, for example.

This is a great idea! Remember, if any poster or party makes suggestions about their party's personality, beliefs and composition I'll do my best to reflect that whenever the party comes up!


Yeah, you're right. Two days for motions followed by two days of voting should work. I don't like a limit of ten motions though, since those fast enough to propose them first would be the only ones who get to propose something.

That sounds like a reasonable compromise. No upper limit on Motions though.

[Caewil]

Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support.
Establishment of the Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support

As for not investing too much in the military, it takes a certain level of technology to launch planetary invasions. Until then, nobody is a threat to anybody else and any military ships we build now, with our pathetic starting technology, will be completely obsolete by the time we have to make a real war.

Better to acquire more planets and military technology before building a real fleet. Of course, the second we acquire the technology to invade someone, we should start our military buildup and it should be a top priority to do so.

[Forum Explorer]

Modrenizers Meeting
A shame we lost our initial popular vote. But our time will come as we are the true power of deregulation!

[Thanqol]

Advertisement: Miniaturisation Technology

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9310/day66edited1.jpg

[Kurgan]

There was no naming scheme in place for privately owned vessels, so it was a random megacorp who won the bid. However, if your motion carries, please add a naming scheme for your vessels.


New Motion from GCIA:

Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets

Any privately owned ships and/or fleets can be named in any style that the owner prefers. However, in order to keep things orderly, each ship must A) comply with ship model tags agreed upon earlier and B) Have an identifier to the individual or organization that owns them.

For example: A ship or fleet owned by the Grand Chancellor of Industrial Affairs would have <ship model tag> GCIA <ship name>.

This measure is so that the influential people of the Swiss Federation (Empire? Republic?) can identify which ships are publicly owned and which are owned by private firms or people. That way, they can contact the proper authorities should said ship or fleet be needed and not get caught up in red tape searching.

[Eldan]

Advertisement: Miniaturisation Technology

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9310/day66edited1.jpg

You're doing this all wrong. It's:

"Same intimidating size - yet so much more power".



I'd also like to remind everyone that we are not supposed to make sensible decisions here. Thanquol wants us to be a heap of bickering politicians and corps making bad decisions for him to make the game more challenging. So, stop making sense!

[Demon 997]

Voting Record for DOFAD Accounting Fleet (updating nomenclature, as accounting tank divisions where fine back in the day, but a fleet is much more prudent for a vigorous accounting of Johnny Alien these days.)
Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Abstain
Give Aebi a long "Holiday" | Oppose, he's far too effective at twisting the nose of Johnny Alien.
Outlaw the Pacifist Party| Oppose
Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support.
Establishment of the Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support. One of my.... Odder.... junior accountants ran the numbers, and sales of a "certain type of film" (his word's not mine) should be as profitable as all other trade with the Altarians.
Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support
Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act | Support. We need to be thinking like the founders of the republic, not its later leaders. Open trade, deregulate, and drown them Swiss culture until they join us.
The Divide and Conquer Plan | Abstain. If it seems likely that we can pull this off, go for it, but It's probably best left later.
Emergency Acquisitions Act | Abstain


Other DOFAD chiefs, do we want to form something of a voting block?

[Thanqol]

You're doing this all wrong. It's:

"Same intimidating size - yet so much more power".

That's a great one! :smallbiggrin: I should have thought of that.


I'd also like to remind everyone that we are not supposed to make sensible decisions here. Thanquol wants us to be a heap of bickering politicians and corps making bad decisions for him to make the game more challenging. So, stop making sense!

What this man said!

[Eldan]

That's a great one! :smallbiggrin: I should have thought of that.

Or shorter and more in line with yours:

Same size - More gun!

[Kurgan]

You're doing this all wrong. It's:
I'd also like to remind everyone that we are not supposed to make sensible decisions here. Thanquol wants us to be a heap of bickering politicians and corps making bad decisions for him to make the game more challenging. So, stop making sense!



What this man said!

Fine, I was going to save this one for after the next update, but since you guys want your bickering, I'll bring forward this motion now:

Privatization of Planetary Bodies

Corporations and individuals may own, maintain, and run planets. As the owner of the planet, they can choose a focus (ex: industry, hedonistic pleasure planet) or decide to generalize the makeup of the planet as they like. Any production from that planet is privately owned by the planet's owner, unless specified otherwise (organizations buying/selling frigates, gifts, favors, etc).

Restriction: The Earth government needs to keep some strength, therefore I propose that the government must physically control at least 1/3 of the planets in the empire. Also, every interested party must be able to claim a planet before a party gains two. Also, all planets of greater than base 12 usefulness (before terraforming) belong to the Earth government, unless a motion is passed granting it to another organization.

Restriction: In times of war, the Earth government can call upon the planets to cease private functions and produce for the war. After the war, the owner must be reimbursed ((in terms of gameplay, give owner control of the ship afterwards, and any ships produced and lost must be replaced by building it at a government owned shipyard.)).

Planets can be traded between owners in exchange for favors, political or otherwise.

As the man who put the motion forward, if this motion passes, the first planet of base 8 usefulness or better (while still under 13) that we colonize (after passing this motion) will be granted to the GCIA.

((By the way Thanqol, if this does pass and I do get the planet, it will basically be a factory world with nothing but production facilities as far as the eye can see))



There you go, this should chaos things up a bit if it passes. Also, still under the 48 hour limit :smallbiggrin:.

[Eldan]

Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies

Supported. This is a very Swiss state of affairs.

[Kurgan]

In case privately owned planets becomes a reality, we might want to make it easier on Thanqol and pass: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets so that while playing he knows which ships he can and cannot use for government actions. Also, extend the organization name clause to the planet's name so that it would be <organization> <hero name>.

For example: GCIA Rommel

Mainly so Thanqol can see without constantly going through his notes which planets he can and cannot use for general purposes.

[Thanqol]

In case privately owned planets becomes a reality, we might want to make it easier on Thanqol and pass: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets so that while playing he knows which ships he can and cannot use for government actions. Also, extend the organization name clause to the planet's name so that it would be <organization> <hero name>.

For example: GCIA Rommel

Mainly so Thanqol can see without constantly going through his notes which planets he can and cannot use for general purposes.

That'd be a big help because rapid alt-tabbing isn't great for the game. There's a character limit on names in GalCiv so make sure your organisation has a memorable contraction.

[Kurgan]

Oh god, I just realized the logical conclusion to this: Private corporations raising fleets from their own forge worlds and going to war with neighboring empires without government consent, dragging humanity into all sorts of wars across the galaxy. We need to make this a reality!

[Eldan]

I'll go with BBI, then.

Edit: ^Aye. Now I'm tempted to go start up Sins of a Solar Empire and play out a few of these privatized wars :smalltongue:

[Murska]

Way ahead of you, Eldan. Though, I kinda play X-Com since my current computer isn't that good. And I'm an Advent player anyway... usually. The Swiss are more TEC.

I'll be the Silver Standard Officer Corps, then. SSOC.

A planet given to me will, of course, be devoted fully to industrial growth and military production.

And who's in the SS bloc anyway? We need to discuss things.

[Caewil]

The VoIP supports Missiles on account of the following graphs and charts.

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070511104925/galciv/images/thumb/6/62/FP-tech.JPG/800px-FP-tech.JPG
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070511105322/galciv/images/thumb/e/e0/FP-cost.JPG/800px-FP-cost.JPG
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070511111939/galciv/images/thumb/9/90/FP-rsrch.JPG/600px-FP-rsrch.JPG

According to our projections, missile development will be more effective in delivering firepower per ship than any other source. The research costs also bear this information out.

In any case, we can also paint images depicting the greatness of switzerland on every missile.

[Grif]

The VoIP supports Missiles on account of the following graphs and charts.

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070511104925/galciv/images/thumb/6/62/FP-tech.JPG/800px-FP-tech.JPG
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070511105322/galciv/images/thumb/e/e0/FP-cost.JPG/800px-FP-cost.JPG
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070511111939/galciv/images/thumb/9/90/FP-rsrch.JPG/600px-FP-rsrch.JPG

According to our projections, missile development will be more effective in delivering firepower per ship than any other source. The research costs also bear this information out.

In any case, we can also paint images depicting the greatness of switzerland on every missile.

If I'm not mistaken, the PD defences for missiles scale up in a similar manner, so it might not be as effective as you think. (PD research is quite dirt cheap IIRC).

[Murska]

Okay, so... missiles are better?

Our task is to make this game as much of a challenge as possible, right?

Therefore, the correct conclusion is obvious.

[Thanqol]

If I'm not mistaken, the PD defences for missiles scale up in a similar manner, so it might not be as effective as you think. (PD research is quite dirt cheap IIRC).

Correct. Missiles are the "obvious" right choice if you look at 'em in isolation but when everyone in the galaxy invests in Point Defence then the picture changes rapidly, and a late game race can blitz the entire PD tree in a couple of months.

(The weird spikes in that graph are due to the Evil-only psychic weapons, just note)

[Grif]

Okay, so... missiles are better?

Our task is to make this game as much of a challenge as possible, right?

Therefore, the correct conclusion is obvious.

Of course. The obvious solution is to research ALL THREE lines of weaponry. Then our Swiss dreadnoughts shall truly be feared. :smallbiggrin:

[Kurgan]

Wait a minute, we are on the course for independent corporations running fleets and planets. Our research in weaponry is probably varied. To emulate this, just put your research into all three trees!

Also, individual corporations can design their own spacecraft for their own use, independent of the Earth government! :smallbiggrin:

Also just checking, are those of you putting abbreviations there in favor of the Privatization of Planetary Bodies? It still hasn't passed yet, so put out those votes (Agree!)!

EDIT: ninja'd by grif

[Thanqol]

Of course. The obvious solution is to research ALL THREE lines of weaponry. Then our Swiss dreadnoughts shall truly be feared. :smallbiggrin:


Wait a minute, we are on the course for independent corporations running fleets and planets. Our research in weaponry is probably varied. To emulate this, just put your research into all three trees!

This is the worst idea. Let's do it.

[Murska]

Of course. The obvious solution is to research ALL THREE lines of weaponry. Then our Swiss dreadnoughts shall truly be feared. :smallbiggrin:

Exactly. This man got it right away.

Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.

[Eldan]

Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.

Motion: Diversification of Military Research: Supported.

[Kurgan]

Exactly. This man got it right away.

Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.


Motion: Diversification of Military Research: Supported

[Narkis]

Updated voting record, to keep up with the newly proposed motions, and added rationale:

amended, see later post

Wow, we're up to 1314 proposed motions, with still almost a day to go.


There was no naming scheme in place for privately owned vessels, so it was a random megacorp who won the bid. However, if your motion carries, please add a naming scheme for your vessels.

How about <ship model tag> LMC <Abstract market-related concept>? Examples: Profit, Merger, Acquisition, Growth, Inflation, Hostile Takeover, Invisible Hand (The latter two for combat ships)

And people of the Tower of Gold: We have held the reigns of Swiss policy for almost a millennium. The other parties are getting organised. Shall we not do the same?

[Kurgan]

And people of the Tower of Gold: We have held the reigns of Swiss policy for almost a millennium. The other parties are getting organised. Shall we not do the same?

Aye, the Tower of Gold must stand together. We might be a small voting block, but we are extravagantly wealthy.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

We here at the Canavan Space Industries cannot support this latest motion. We are committed to providing the best in class service and diluting our research into unprofitable avenues of weaponry is simply not something we can afford. We should pick a weapon system and then make it the best darn weapon to deregulate the xenoes.
Motion: Diversification of Military Research: Oppose

[Strategos]

Additional Motions:

Privatization of Planetary Bodies | Support
Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets | Support
Diversification of Military Research| Support


Ouroborus Genetic Laboratiories wishes to reserve the designation OGL for any vessels it may obtain in the future.

[Mellhurst]

The NHF mentioned this earlier as well, though we believed it would occur through seedships and not direct allotments. We are of course in favor of the plan to privatize planets, though we believe such important allotments should not be done on a first by first basis but by lottery. Furthermore we reiterate the need to keep the first several planets and ships within DSPS ownership. We do not want to give Johnny Alien too much of a fighting chance!

OOC: I don't see the big bad about naming something after Hitler in this game. I was really angry about what he did to the Lithuanians, and I too think he deserves more criticism than honour, but do remember his tactics put the DSPS in the position to conquer the world with its correct usage of nuclear weapons. In truth he doesn't deserve to have a planet named after him, but in this world it would probably be natural for a few of our more militaristic citizens to admire him, like a few people admire Genghis Khan these days (and I don't know too much about what Genghis did but it might have been worse than making a few tens of millions of Lithuanians starve to death (oh and oppressing a bunch of reds and whites and framing rich people to fund the war)).

[Eldan]

Let's formalize this:
Motion: Planets are privatized by lottery

Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

[Thanqol]

Let's formalize this:
Motion: Planets are privatized by lottery

Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

With the addendum that everyone who wants a planet nominates themselves for it first.

[Mellhurst]

Let's formalize this:
Motion: Planets are privatized by lottery

Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

NHF is in favor of Motion: Planets are privatized by lottery, albeit we believe the first several planets must belong to the DSPS and all planets to be privatized should be assigned through lottery, prioritizing those who have not won a lottery and the planets to be privatized to be on a rising scale of quality to make up for time. This is the best way to avoid any one or group of owners becoming immensely powerful.

We would therefore like to amend the motion to:

Motion v.3: Planets are privatized by lottery only
0. Previous claims are invalid. All privatizations will be made through the lottery.
1. Lottery participants must nominate themselves.
2. The first several planets must remain with the DSPS.
3. The planets to be privatized first will be of lower quality to make up for the lost time of later lottery winners. As the level of quality rises to an unrealistic level financial awards can be added to the lottery.

X. Will seedships of colonized planets be the property of the DSPS or the planet owner?

[Eldan]

Motion v.3.2: Planets are privatized by lottery only
0. Previous claims are invalid. All privatizations will be made through the lottery.
1. Lottery participants must nominate themselves.
2. The first Three planets must remain with the DSPS.
3. The planets to be privatized first will be of lower quality to make up for the lost time of later lottery winners. As the level of quality rises to an unrealistic level financial awards can be added to the lottery.

(Several is a weasel word. This is legislation).

[Murska]

Nah, I figure, if we're having a lottery then let it be a lottery. Anyone can get any planet, DSPS is included in the lottery by default. If we want to give them special treatment, then maybe give them a bit higher chance of winning, like two lots instead of one or something. :smallwink:

Motion v.4: Planets are privatized by lottery only
0. Previous claims are invalid. All privatizations will be made through the lottery.
1. Lottery participants must nominate themselves.
2. Earth must remain with the DSPS.
3. Everything created by a privatized planet belongs to the owner of the planet, unless the owner wishes otherwise.

[Grif]

Nah, I figure, if we're having a lottery then let it be a lottery. Anyone can get any planet, DSPS is included in the lottery by default. If we want to give them special treatment, then maybe give them a bit higher chance of winning, like two lots instead of one or something. :smallwink:

Or we fix the DSPS percentage to win at a fixed value. Say 33% chance to get the planet no matter how many people are nominated.

[Mellhurst]

The DSPS could get really unlucky or lucky. Do we wish to leave this to fate?


Hmmm, somehow I think the answer will be 'Hells yeah!'... ; )


PS. I asked Thanqol some questions a couple of days ago about post-Great War History, and I asked him if the rest of you would like to read it and he said yes, so here: The USSA essentially defected to the DSPS on a state by state basis - first one or two, and then almost all at once. There was a few brief border wars, but they had none of the resources to fight Switzerland and eventually collapsed. As was traditional for Switzerland in these cases, a DOFAD military-economic council was installed to manage the transition to economic union and, eventually, democracy. The DOFAD withdrew it's support and resumed elections just recently, but the entire Latin America region is significantly underdeveloped compared with the rest of the world.

Naples joined the DSPS much later after a total collapse of the North American economy and a bloody civil war which came hauntingly close several times to the use of nuclear weapons on it's own people. By this point, it's a lot like the real world Middle East. The DOFAD moved in and controls the majority of NA governments directly, and is rapidly declining all NA nuclear stockpiles, but there are still rogue elements there.

The Papacy has more or less lost it's colonial empire and now exists entirely as Great Britain. The Pope is still the ceremonial head of state but, to survive economically, they had to bow to DSPS membership conditions and install a parliament. Papal colonies were a lot faster to join the DSPS, being generally less connected with the homeland.

France basically didn't want Spain because after the bloodbathical trench warfare they wanted to bring their troops home rather than run an extended occupation.

And Lithuania didn't exactly get recompense, or remain as an independent state. It lost all the developed land it had, including it's capital and the majority of it's hugely centralised bureaucracy. It, fortunately, never entered civil war and corruption was oddly light due to the removal of communist central command. It just stayed backwards and fragmented, joining the DSPS piecemeal as old scars faded.

Note: The North American situation, as well as the rest of the world's, is rapidly improving due to the sudden technological explosion, cheap energy, industrialisation and the space race. The baseline standard of living on Earth is very high.

[Murska]

Let's see how things turn out, I say. I mean, we're Swiss. We can conquer the galaxy with one planet, if necessary, right? ...right?

[Grif]

Let's see how things turn out, I say. I mean, we're Swiss. We can conquer the galaxy with one planet, if necessary, right? ...right?

We burned Rome with two thousand Swiss pikeman. We most certainly can burn the Korrath's homeworld with one ship if needed.

[Mellhurst]

We could conquer the Galaxy to the point where we have planetary boomers orbiting* the remaining enemy planets, station planetary boomers on every one of our planets outside of Earth, give away said planets and DETONATE. : )
*not sure how close you can get in a peace treaty and if you have to move off in a peace treaty or if you can give stuff away while at war, but if I remember correctly this kind of plan isn't too hard.


*shuddeR* I think I could actually get behind that, as much as it is against my principles.

[Thanqol]

We could conquer the Galaxy to the point where we have planetary boomers orbiting* the remaining enemy planets, station planetary boomers on every one of our planets outside of Earth, give away said planets and DETONATE. : )
*not sure how close you can get in a peace treaty and if you have to move off in a peace treaty or if you can give stuff away while at war, but if I remember correctly this kind of plan isn't too hard.


*shuddeR* I think I could actually get behind that, as much as it is against my principles.

Nothin' stopping us from blowing up our own star systems without giving them away first, just saying.

Heck, since blown up planets become asteroid fields, which can be profitably mined, there is a horrifyingly amoral financial upshot to it.

[Eldan]

So, could blowing up worthless low-class planets actually be profitable?

[Mellhurst]

sweeeeeet

sure sounds like it would be profitable. : )
It might be too late-game for it to matter much though, but now we know what to do with low-class planets of enemies we hate, eh?

Wooooh, but we shouldn't forget our Swiss roots. To be nice I mean... (Man, you guys chose a lot of paths that led to wussy national ideas! Though maybe those raise the income you get from provinces with other religions as well as lower the raised revolt risk... I never looked too deep into those rules or ever chose those ideas (except the merchant ones).)

Is it possible to blow up Earth? Just curious... I'm not going to request a ship that hasn't even been tech- ohmygosh, individual players will have boomers and it's possible to blow ourselves up.

edit (below post): yes, I find playing a game somewhat moronically or IC makes it more fun most of the time. Even FPSs, especially those like Deus Ex :D. Well anyway I shouldn't derail... maybe we can make an OOC thread for this?

[Murska]

Heh. We should probably do another EU Let's Play from the viewpoint of another minor nation sometime. It leads to fun results - even though the game is rather easy, especially if you abuse some stuff, it's not quite as bad as the downfall of many LPs of other strategy games, namely that a human player can take the worst race/nation there is and easily utterly annihilate any opposing forces, which leads to no danger or conflict and so a dull story.

[Thanqol]

So, could blowing up worthless low-class planets actually be profitable?

Not only that but we can build a Terror Star "For the civilian applications"


Wooooh, but we shouldn't forget our Swiss roots. To be nice I mean... (Man, you guys chose a lot of paths that led to wussy national ideas! Though maybe those raise the income you get from provinces with other religions as well as lower the raised revolt risk... I never looked too deep into those rules or ever chose those ideas (except the merchant ones).)

Tolerance increases growth, lowers revolt risk, raises income. Ecumanism along with Reformed means heretics are +2 tolerance and the true faith is +3, meaning you can have maxxed innovative sliders and virtually no tradeoff. Not the most powerful NI combo, but definitely not a bad one. Goes crazy if you add L/E/F later.


Is it possible to blow up Earth? Just curious... I'm not going to request a ship that hasn't even been tech- ohmygosh, individual players will have boomers and it's possible to blow ourselves up.

Yes it is theoretically possible to blow up Earth.


edit (below post): yes, I find playing a game somewhat moronically or IC makes it more fun most of the time. Even FPSs, especially those like Deus Ex :D. Well anyway I shouldn't derail... maybe we can make an OOC thread for this?

I agree, games which give you enough scope to RP yourself into a challenge are wonderful.


Heh. We should probably do another EU Let's Play from the viewpoint of another minor nation sometime. It leads to fun results - even though the game is rather easy, especially if you abuse some stuff, it's not quite as bad as the downfall of many LPs of other strategy games, namely that a human player can take the worst race/nation there is and easily utterly annihilate any opposing forces, which leads to no danger or conflict and so a dull story.

I just love the anti-histories it makes. My favourite one was where the words CRETE were scrawled all across North America and the Byzantine Empire and the Pope had a centuries long cold war, dividing the world between themselves. There was a history with character.

[Eldan]

Not only that but we can build a Terror Star "For the civilian applications"


Motion: That's no moon, that's a mining tool!

The first terror star we build shall solely be used to blow up planets of class 5 or lower, to create asteroid fields for mining.

[Murska]

I've had a lot of hilarious EU games as well. Paradox is like that. One example is seeing the words 'Spanish Prussia' in Mexico. And Swedish Swahili is such a tongue-twister of a nation. I believe I've mentioned somewhere the game where one of my friends first inherited France and then Poland-Lithuania... with Frankfurt, in 1470 or so.

I've seen a Hearts of Iron 3 game, no cheats, where Finland annexed the Soviet Union, too.

EDIT:

Actually, playing a single nation through the entirety of the Paradox line of games (that allow continuation like such) would make for an interesting LP.

[Thanqol]

EDIT:

Actually, playing a single nation through the entirety of the Paradox line of games (that allow continuation like such) would make for an interesting LP.

One (http://lparchive.org/Paradox-Games-Kingdom-Come/)and Two (http://lparchive.org/Paradox-Hohenzollern/), my friend, both excellent.

[Murska]

One (http://lparchive.org/Paradox-Games-Kingdom-Come/)and Two (http://lparchive.org/Paradox-Hohenzollern/), my friend, both excellent.

Well, yes. But, you know, being a part of it from the get-go. :P

[Narkis]

Motion: That's no moon, that's a mining tool!

The first terror star we build shall solely be used to blow up planets of class 5 or lower, to create asteroid fields for mining.

The Liandri Mining Corporation would like to propose the renaming of this motion to Motion: That's no moon, it's a mining station!. In any case, it has our full support. :smallbiggrin:


just love the anti-histories it makes. My favourite one was where the words CRETE were scrawled all across North America and the Byzantine Empire and the Pope had a centuries long cold war, dividing the world between themselves. There was a history with character.

Heh, yeah. I remember the first game I played after climbing the learning curve. I played as Muscovy, and expected a roughly historical outcome wherever I didn't meddle. Boy, was I wrong. The Ottoman empire imploded, and its successors squabbled among themselves until Byzantium conquered them all. Great Britain formed before the 1550's, imploded within a decade, was conquered by Scotland, England rebelled, reformed, etc. There were at least three different instances of Great Britain by 1821. Burgundy inherited France and slowly swallowed Spain. Brandenburg became Holy Roman Emperor, and strengthened the Empire almost to the point of unification before I intervened and beat the crap out of them. Denmark inherited Sweden and conquered Norway before getting beaten up by Burgundy and having to release them. Oh, and Venice and some OPM were the first colonial powers. Endgame was me, after conquering continental Asia, and my Byzantium buddies against Burgundy and Great Britain #3, after they'd conquered the colonies of Venice and that OPM. Really fun game

[Murska]

Yeah, the first time you see the message 'Great Britain has declared war on England' you're bound to crack a smile.

[Mellhurst]

Mmmm, good times ^^... ooooh and tons of thanks for the links Thanqol.
PS. Shouldn't we make an OOC?

I don't like making my nation too big due to stab effects and some in-game reasons (mostly I'm lazy) so as Neapolitan Anne last game (just a little character I made off based off a gender-swapped Romagna from Hetalia) I released Naples then devassalized my clone, and took all her territories while giving her everything from southwestern Colombia to upper Chile and Paraguay (this was after many failed experiments with trying to make natives culture shift to Sicilian). Fancy thing was I think a bug was making me get no tribute (I checked and they didn't send any either thankfully), but that was good, Naples ended up colonizing all of the Pacific east of New Zealand (some six territories at least) and most of the Alaskan-Yukon coast as a vassal (she could've managed some anyway, but). And it was always fun to win territories and give them to her (I kept Canada-Mexico for myself and other vassals though). And even if she'd rebel I wouldn't mind so much.
Did the same thing to Sicily along the African Coast, and my two Catholic Maghreb allies (one of them, Algeria, which I'd released after taking just one province from Spain) were just collecting provinces (some 20 I think) from Spain that revolted for hundreds of years (got worse after I forced them to become Protestant) as well as sponsoring them I think.
Overall it was a great way to get around magistrates, since I totally forgot SoI increases that, lol.

Now my early games... well, let's just say a Papal States about the size of the British Empire by 1820, but with 150%+ inflation (could've ended with the territory but gave everyone freedom before the end) and my long wimpy tale of 'Mighty Mighty Ansbach' (a game where I messed around War-deccing the Ottoman Empire from behind several HRM OPMs and other nations for no reason then after 150 years got a bit of money and Austria and Hungary and other stuff was collapsing and I took over provinces around them and eventually everything but with 250% inflation or more (I didn't quite understand inflation (how to keep it down and still afford things) except it was bad...) and waaay back in tech and VERY often forgetting to turn up maintainance from nothing during wars. Ansbach still was quite mighty by sheer numbers and minting for some 50 years though. My policy of making allies with the superpowers (France and Russia, though after not going with France in one war only Russia still backed me and saved me in a couple of wars where I forgot maintainance till all surprise was lost lol) really paid off though and the Ottomans never invaded, I think I could safely say the terribly backwards Ansbach (I only had a handful of manufactories at games end) was one of the most fun games I've ever played and I genuinly think without it the Ottomans would've gotten further in than they did.
Anyway yeah, not knowing the rules properly or playing at a really fast speed (I basically always have full speed and hit pause/unpause instead to do stuff) helps tons too for making challenges.

NHF supports That's no Moon, it's a Mining Tool.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

We here at CSI support the usage of such dual purpose technologies.
Motion: That's no moon, that's a mining tool!: Support

[The_JJ]

Motion!

A modified system of governance, for those of us with jobs interplanetary businesses to run.

Two stage voting period.

First stage: Proposing motions. Each rep/faction limited to one proposal.
Second stage: An elected speaker/volunteer/Than? shall collect and present a list of all proposed motions, possibly linking to relevant posts.
Third stage: Each member votes.
Fourth stage: Speaker counts votes, presents passed motions to Than the executive.

Also, speaking of SA LP's let's go ahead and acronym the Solaris Alliance Inc. as SAI, so as to avoid confusing people into thinking that we've got a bunch of goons building our infrastructure.

[Demon 997]

Motion!

A modified system of governance, for those of us with jobs interplanetary businesses to run.

Two stage voting period.

First stage: Proposing motions. Each rep/faction limited to one proposal.
Second stage: An elected speaker/volunteer/Than? shall collect and present a list of all proposed motions, possibly linking to relevant posts.
Third stage: Each member votes.
Fourth stage: Speaker counts votes, presents passed motions to Than the executive.

Also, speaking of SA LP's let's go ahead and acronym the Solaris Alliance Inc. as SAI, so as to avoid confusing people into thinking that we've got a bunch of goons building our infrastructure.

Seconded. This will make things much easier.

[Grif]

Seconded. This will make things much easier.

Thirded.

And if no one steps up, then I'll volunteer to collect the motions.

[chiasaur11]

Leave for five minutes...

And I am harshly reminded of why I remove all organics (but one, curse the 0th law) from positions of authority.

Sigh. Put X-Com holdings limited into the pool for territory and ships. The XAS series has a long and storied history of being the most powerful craft known to sapient life. It had to end at some point.

As for legislation:

Planets are privatized by lottery: Support.
Diversification of Military Research: Oppose.

And finally

That's no moon, that's a mining tool!: Oppose. Fervently.

X-Com is not opposed to large scale weapon systems, as both heaven and hell know with certainty they must have previously reserved for the existence of their creator (We have employed a number of such systems to fill every circle, after all) but we happen to believe in small scale weapon platforms. Biowarfare capsules that can be concealed in a pocket, fighter mounted missiles with the ability to destabilize suns, that sort of thing. The alternative is a fool's game. Trillions in resources invested into an obvious target. Such actions set every enemy on edge while giving them a viable target and excuse to vent their frustrations. All bad enough.

But this proposal assumes all of the detriments of such plans with none of the benefits. Do you think your enemies (and allies) will be naive enough to believe you would use a device called a "Terror Star" for purely non-military applications?

Idiotic. Naive. Suicidal.

But what can I expect?

F.I.

[Narkis]

Thirded.

And if no one steps up, then I'll volunteer to collect the motions.

I strongly oppose a limit to proposals per person for any reason. I'd fourth this a motion without a limit though.

[Cogwheel]

Oh god I can't read all this.

[The_JJ]

Motion!

A modified system of governance, for those of us with jobs interplanetary businesses to run.

Two stage voting period.

First stage: Proposing motions. Each rep/faction limited to one proposal.
Second stage: An elected speaker/volunteer/Than? shall collect and present a list of all proposed motions, possibly linking to relevant posts.
Third stage: Each member votes.
Fourth stage: Speaker counts votes, presents passed motions to Than the executive.

Also, speaking of SA LP's let's go ahead and acronym the Solaris Alliance Inc. as SAI, so as to avoid confusing people into thinking that we've got a bunch of goons building our infrastructure.


Oh god I can't read all this.
Fear not good sir.

[Caewil]

Planets are privatized by lottery: Support.
Diversification of Military Research: Oppose.

[Thanqol]

Thirded.

And if no one steps up, then I'll volunteer to collect the motions.

You are hereby granted the collection and tallying hat. Wear it with honour.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to the way my schedule is panning out, we're going to move to a permanent update cycle of Sunday and Wednesday. The next update will be Friday, as originally rostered, and then a shorter than normal voting gap before Sunday's update, after which the new cycle will remain in effect.

[Thanqol]

Advertisement: Xeno Farming

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5596/day67.jpg

Paid for by the DOFAD Marketing-Industrial Division

[Cogwheel]

Advertisement: Xeno Farming

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5596/day67.jpg

Paid for by the DOFAD Marketing-Industrial Division

This is the best farming.

[Kurgan]

Motion!

A modified system of governance, for those of us with jobs interplanetary businesses to run.

Two stage voting period.

First stage: Proposing motions. Each rep/faction limited to one proposal.
Second stage: An elected speaker/volunteer/Than? shall collect and present a list of all proposed motions, possibly linking to relevant posts.
Third stage: Each member votes.
Fourth stage: Speaker counts votes, presents passed motions to Than the executive.

Also, speaking of SA LP's let's go ahead and acronym the Solaris Alliance Inc. as SAI, so as to avoid confusing people into thinking that we've got a bunch of goons building our infrastructure.

If not for the one proposal limit, I would be for this. The way I see it, on some occasions people will want to put out several motions, while on others they might not even bring one forward at all. Why should we limit, nay regulate this?


EDIT:

Nah, I figure, if we're having a lottery then let it be a lottery. Anyone can get any planet, DSPS is included in the lottery by default. If we want to give them special treatment, then maybe give them a bit higher chance of winning, like two lots instead of one or something. :smallwink:

Motion v.4: Planets are privatized by lottery only
0. Previous claims are invalid. All privatizations will be made through the lottery.
1. Lottery participants must nominate themselves.
2. Earth must remain with the DSPS.
3. Everything created by a privatized planet belongs to the owner of the planet, unless the owner wishes otherwise.

Does that include this:

As the man who put the motion forward, if this motion passes, the first planet of base 8 usefulness or better (while still under 13) that we colonize (after passing this motion) will be granted to the GCIA.

From the initial legislation for privatized planets? I hope not, but I can live with some waiting if necessary.

[Grif]

Alrighty, I will compiling the motions into this post, so watch this space. I will periodically link back to the same post just so that people do not need to dig through the thread for this.

(To clarify, it will be a new compilation post every time Thanq updates the LP, usually below his post if possible.)

Proposed motions currently up for votes:
1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"
I suggest we take that Overspending Rat Bastard Son of a Gun Aebi, strap him to the hull of an exploration ship, point him vaguely into the direction of the galactic core and don't let him return until he's brought back enough money and dead aliens to pay for our debt.

2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn
So they can't betray DOFAD a third time if war breaks out. Indeed it is an insult to our Swissitude that the Pacifists do not consider the The New School, the Modernizers and so on to be peaceful parties.

3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol
This motion will call for us to research basic armaments and build a few ships to defend our borders, but otherwise focus all of our efforts in the economy. Long term investments such as colonization is allowable, but only at a pace that the economy can soak without collapsing.

4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
I move to the establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority, a council made up of our nation's finest minds and respected scientific authorities to administer and manage our research and academic facilities, decentralizing them from Government authority and thus relieving the burden from our bankrupt but hardworking President Aebi.

5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
I propose the adoption of a friendly stance to the Alterians, establishing friendly relations and the mutual exchange of ambassadors as soon as possible, putting forward a Modernizer candidate for such a diplomatic venture as best qualified to appreciate the Alterian's potential, scientific and otherwise.

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
We have little time to lose, let us put all our energy into aquiring as much interstellar property as possible before the other, inferior species.

7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
We can exploit any lingering animosity between the Drengin and Korath to cause a war between them as soon as possible. This will mean less of them for us to kill when the time comes.

8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act
Emergency Acquisitions Act: Until the current debt crisis is resolved, all non-research funding will be slashed to their minimums. We cannot let research flag, however. If we fall behind, we are left behind, and will never get our green skinned alien babes *is swatted upside the head* Supremecy over the galaxy, I mean.

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
As such, it would be in Greater Switzerland's best interests to secure any such resources as soon as they are discovered, lest they fall into alien hands and be regulated. Naturally, the Liandri Mining Corporation would be the best choice to oversee this process.

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Avoid naming anything after Hitler. He's rubbish.

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
Any privately owned ships and/or fleets can be named in any style that the owner prefers. However, in order to keep things orderly, each ship must A) comply with ship model tags agreed upon earlier and B) Have an identifier to the individual or organization that owns them.

12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies
Corporations and individuals may own, maintain, and run planets. As the owner of the planet, they can choose a focus (ex: industry, hedonistic pleasure planet) or decide to generalize the makeup of the planet as they like. Any production from that planet is privately owned by the planet's owner, unless specified otherwise (organizations buying/selling frigates, gifts, favors, etc).

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research
Weapon Type: Beam, Missiles, Mass Drivers
Defence Type: Shields, Point Defence, Armour
If you do not agree to Motion No. 13, be sure to pick one of each type above.

To simplify matters, please vote according to the order the motions are listed here. Also, it would help greatly if everyone reposted their votes below this post.

Thank you! :smallsmile:

EDIT: Also! If there were any changes to the motions made, feel free to PM me. I will endeavour to correct them ASAP.

Votes as of 1:57AM (GMT+8), 29/7/11
Thanks to Mellhurst for helping to compile the votes.
Here’s a voting summary so far:
Current vote count after the motion summary post 204 by Grif (aye/abstain/nay)

Updated up to and including Post 220
Give Aebi a long "holiday" #1. 1/0/10

Outlaw Pacifist Party #2. (Withdrawn: after its tabling all but two others were opposed before its withdrawal)

Economic Expansion & Military Readiness #3. 6/0/6

Intergalactic Research Authority #4. 6/0/5

Alterian Pants Off Now! #5. 9/1/2

Aquisition of Interstellar Principles #6. 6/1/4

Divide and Conquer #7. 9/0/2

Emergency Aquisitions #8. 3/0/7 (+ 1 recused (sic))

Development of Resources #9. 5/3/3

Rory Williams Naming Act #10. 6/2/4

Naming Scheme #11. 8/1/1

Privatization of Planets #12. 5/0/6

Diversification of Military Research #13. 7/0/4

Planet Lottery #14. 8/0/4 (GCIA insists on receiving a planet as stated in motion 12)

Weapons #15: Mass Drivers: 1/2/0, Missiles: 3/2/0, Beams 2/2/0 /// Shields 0/3/2, Point Defense 1/3/2, Armour 2/3/2
2 aye (all (research a mix of all)), 1 aye (most relevant armour, data currently unavailable (nay (await)?), (1 in favor per its support of motion 13 (sic)),

Explanation: It appears there are 3 votes in favor of missiles, 1 for mass drivers and 2 for beam and there are 2 abstentions for weapons systems. Furthermore there are 3 abstentions for defensive measures, 2 votes against defensive measures (for now), 1 vote in favor of point defense and 2 votes for armour. There are also 2 votes in favor of research into all weapons armaments and defensive technologies, 1 vote in favor of the most relevant armour (which is currently unknown (so this could mean best guess/wait and see)), and 1 vote in favor per its support of motion 13 (sic).

Barring any last minute votes, this will be final result.
Summary:
Motion #4, #5, #6, #7, #9, #10, #11, #13 and #14 passed.
Motion #1, #8, #12 and #15 failed to garner sufficient support.
Motion #3 is deadlocked, and therefore submitted to the Director for a final decision.

[James the Dark]

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"
I suggest we take that Overspending Rat Bastard Son of a Gun Aebi, strap him to the hull of an exploration ship, point him vaguely into the direction of the galactic core and don't let him return until he's brought back enough money and dead aliens to pay for our debt.

Oppose

2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn
So they can't betray DOFAD a third time if war breaks out. Indeed it is an insult to our Swissitude that the Pacifists do not consider the The New School, the Modernizers and so on to be peaceful parties.

Oppose

3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol
This motion will call for us to research basic armaments and build a few ships to defend our borders, but otherwise focus all of our efforts in the economy. Long term investments such as colonization is allowable, but only at a pace that the economy can soak without collapsing.

Support

4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
I move to the establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority, a council made up of our nation's finest minds and respected scientific authorities to administer and manage our research and academic facilities, decentralizing them from Government authority and thus relieving the burden from our bankrupt but hardworking President Aebi.

Support

5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
I propose the adoption of a friendly stance to the Alterians, establishing friendly relations and the mutual exchange of ambassadors as soon as possible, putting forward a Modernizer candidate for such a diplomatic venture as best qualified to appreciate the Alterian's potential, scientific and otherwise.

Support

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
We have little time to lose, let us put all our energy into aquiring as much interstellar property as possible before the other, inferior species.

Oppose

7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
We can exploit any lingering animosity between the Drengin and Korath to cause a war between them as soon as possible. This will mean less of them for us to kill when the time comes.

Support

8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act
Emergency Acquisitions Act: Until the current debt crisis is resolved, all non-research funding will be slashed to their minimums. We cannot let research flag, however. If we fall behind, we are left behind, and will never get our green skinned alien babes *is swatted upside the head* Supremecy over the galaxy, I mean.

Recused

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
As such, it would be in Greater Switzerland's best interests to secure any such resources as soon as they are discovered, lest they fall into alien hands and be regulated. Naturally, the Liandri Mining Corporation would be the best choice to oversee this process.

Abstain

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Avoid naming anything after Hitler. He's rubbish.

Abstain

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
Any privately owned ships and/or fleets can be named in any style that the owner prefers. However, in order to keep things orderly, each ship must A) comply with ship model tags agreed upon earlier and B) Have an identifier to the individual or organization that owns them.

Abstain

12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies
Corporations and individuals may own, maintain, and run planets. As the owner of the planet, they can choose a focus (ex: industry, hedonistic pleasure planet) or decide to generalize the makeup of the planet as they like. Any production from that planet is privately owned by the planet's owner, unless specified otherwise (organizations buying/selling frigates, gifts, favors, etc).

Oppose

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.

Support

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

Support

15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research
Weapon Type: Beam, Missiles, Mass Drivers
Defence Type: Shields, Point Defence, Armour
If you do not agree to Motion No. 13, be sure to pick one of each type above.

All weapons, the most relevant armor

[Kurgan]

The GCIA votes:


1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday" | Oppose

2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn | Oppose

3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Tabled by GCIA

4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Oppose

5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.) | Support

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Oppose - it runs counter the Motion #3

7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support

8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act | Support

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act. | Support

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets | Tabled by the GCIA

12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies | Tabled by the GCIA

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research | Support

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery | Support, with the condition that the GCIA gets its planet as stated in Motion #12 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11498472&postcount=147)

15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research | See Motion #13

[Eldan]

Proposed motions currently up for votes:

3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol

Supported.


5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)

Supported.


6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance

Opposed.


7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan

Supported.


8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act

Supported.


9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act

Opposed.


10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.

Supported.

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets

Supported.


12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies

Supported.


13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research

Supported.


14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery

Supported.


15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research

Weapons: Mass drivers, Defence: point defence.

Edit: Spoilertastic!

[Narkis]

*Sigh* Voting again for the third, and hopefully final, time.:smallsmile:

Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"| Oppose The man is doing a fine job
Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party | Oppose Regulate a political party? Why was this even considered?
Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Oppose Long term investments like colonization is precisely what we should be focusing our efforts now. Otherwise, this would be sound policy.
Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support Greater Switzerland needs this institution
Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations with the Altarian Resistance | Support We should persuade them to join the expanded DSPS peacefully, but we must not completely disregard the possibility of an aggressive Deregulation if they refuse.
Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support There is nothing to be said. We must do this.
Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support This has been good advice since the time of the great Deregulator, Caesar.
Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Oppose Strongly. This is not the time to slash budgets. We need to spend money if we are to earn money later.
Motion: Development of Natural Resources act | Proposed by the LMC
Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act | Oppose You may have your misgivings with the man, but you cannot dispute that he lead Switzerland admirably during a time of crisis. Greater Switzerland might not have existed without him.
Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets | Support Chaos will reign without this convention
Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies | Support The LMC strongly supports this motion, and commends the Grand Chancellor of Industrial Affairs for his diligent efforts.
Motion: Diversification of Military Research | Support I am sure that our Moderniser brethren will make this work. :)
Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery | Support It is a fair way to distribute planets
Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research | Abstain

[Kurgan]

Proposed motions currently up for votes:
1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"

Supported.



Edit: Spoilertastic!

I don't think we are supposed to vote on motions we tabled. Just a heads up there.

[Murska]

Okay.

SSOC Votes:

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday" Support


3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol Oppose


4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority Oppose


5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance Oppose


6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance Support


7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan Oppose


8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act Oppose


9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act Support


10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act. Oppose


11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets Support


12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies Support


13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research Motion made by SSOC


14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery Support


15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research All of them!

[Eldan]

I don't think we are supposed to vote on motions we tabled. Just a heads up there.

Ah, right.

[Grif]

The DOFAD Colonial Affairs Division has decided on the following:

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday" | Oppose
2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn
3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol | Oppose
4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority | Support
5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.) | Oppose
6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance | Support
7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan | Support
8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act | Support
9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act | Support
10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act. | Oppose
11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets | Support
12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies | Support
13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research | Support
14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery | Support
15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research | Abstain, see Motion No.13.

Also, I think we safely close the door to any new motions yes?

[Kurgan]

Also, I think we safely close the door to any new motions yes?

Motion!

No more motions will be accepted until after the next update.

[Mellhurst]

Thank you for the organizing!


NHF Votes

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday" Oppose
2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn
3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol Oppose
4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority Oppose
5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance Abstain, good idea, but sending a Modernizer and the language of the motion indicates emotional involvement.
6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance Support, go for planets first.
7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan Oppose, this is a great idea, but it's too early to apply.
8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act Oppose
9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act Support, good idea, high-level planets must come first though, then high-level resources, medium-level planets and so on.
10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act. - Oppose, he's a Swiss leader who killed tens of millions of Lithuanians but he also brought the DSPS to the brink of victory. (I hate the RL one of course, and the Swiss Hitler is still a brutal monster (I think we should compensate the Lithuanians), but not in a way Swiss historians haven't partly swept under the carpet. This seems out of character.)
11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets Oppose, they're privately owned ships/fleets after all. Possession is at the core of our values, and while we are citizens of the state, our possessions are not the property of the state.
12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies Oppose. Only political parties should be allowed to privatize planets, and let us not privatize planets so soon. However if passed the NHF will enter the lottery and turn over its planets to the DSPS' direct control.
13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research Oppose
14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery Oppose. Only political parties should be allowed to privatize planets, and let us not privatize planets so soon. However if passed the NHF will enter the lottery and turn over its planets to the DSPS' direct control.
15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research Support Missiles, Oppose (Await) Defensive Measures

[The_JJ]

Detailed summaries of the Alliance's position can be found beneath each spoiler.

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"
Nay. It stinks of an unofficial coup. We must respect the Constitution until we've truly hit the wall.


2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn
Moot, but nay regardless. We're a free and enlightened democracy dammit.


3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol
Aye, more or less. The Swiss are not great because they are Swiss and so can beat anybody, the Swiss are great because we had the guts, smarts, and industrial capacity to beat out their competitors on the fair market and the battlefield. We must maintain the foundations that made us strong, not throw them away because we are so convinced of our strength.


4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
Aye. Although this nonsense of removing science from governmental guidance worries the Alliance, one can't argue with meritocracy.


5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
Aye. Let the trading begin.


6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
Aye, although Mr. Sufe would remind the Senators to avoid hyperbole such as 'all our energy.'


7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
Aye, pending feasibility study. If the Swiss Guard simply isn't up to the task more direct means might be cheaper.


8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act
Nay. Prototypes do no one no good if there's no factory to build it or consumers to use it.



9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
Nay! Well, aye in spirit, but the Alliance will kindly remind the Senate both that we should not be granting government monopolies on a whim and that the Alliance's rates are quite reasonable in every way and provides perfectly good service to boot.


10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Aye.


11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
Aye.


12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies
Nay. The Senate is quite capable of being a united, directed force. What are we attempting to create, a squabbling set of minor principalities 'ruled' by a select elected body? It sounds like the HRE to me, and a system in bad need of some deregulation.


13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
Nay. Not even going to elaborate on why.


14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Nay. Nay a thousand times, and nay a thousand times again. Any citizen is eligible to 'win' possession of a planet won by the taxes of all Switzerland? Nay I say and Nay again. Colonies should be ruled under DOFAD jurisdiction with a federalized local government elected by the colonists living there, not this 'tyrant by luck' nonsense.



15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research

For now, Missiles and Armor but the Alliance encourages the Senate not to get too attached to one doctrine or another just yet.

[Caewil]

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday" Oppose
2. Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn
3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol Oppose
4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority Support
5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance Support
6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act Oppose
9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act Oppose
10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act. Support
11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets Support
12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies Oppose
13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research Oppose
14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery Oppose
15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research Support Missiles, Oppose (Await) Defensive Measures

[Hussam B.]

GIVE AEBI A LONG "HOLIDAY" | Oppose
OUTLAW THE PACIFIST PARTY | Oppose
ECONOMIC EXPANSION AND MILITARY READINESS PROTOCOL | Support
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERGALACTIC RESEARCH AUTHORITY | Support
ESTABLISHMENT OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE ALTERIAN RESISTANCE & ESTABLISHMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF CLIENT SPECIES ACT| Support
ACQUISITION OF INTERSTELLAR PRINCIPALITIES ORDINANCE| Oppose
THE DIVIDE AND CONQUER PLAN| Support
EMERGENCY ACQUISITIONS ACT| Support
DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ACT| Abstain
RORY WILLIAMS "MEMORIAL" NAMING ACT| Support
NAMING CONVENTIONS FOR PRIVATELY OWNED SHIPS/FLEETS| Support
PRIVITIZATION OF PLANETARY BODIES| Oppose
DIVERSIFICATION OF MILITARY RESEARCH| Oppose
PLANETS ARE PRIVATIZED BY LOTTERY| Support
WEAPONS AND DEFENSE RESEARC| Support Beam Weaponry, abstain on defense choice

[Mellhurst]

Does this list contain the only motions that will be processed?
I think we should include the motion for 'a modified system of governance'.
It is very important after all to determine how to properly organize our democratic procedure as soon as possible.


------------------------------------------------------------

Here’s a voting summary so far:
Current vote count after the motion summary post 204 by Grif (aye/abstain/nay)

Updated up to and including Post 220
Give Aebi a long "holiday" #1. 1/0/10

Outlaw Pacifist Party #2. (Withdrawn: after its tabling all but two others were opposed before its withdrawal)

Economic Expansion & Military Readiness #3. 6/0/6

Intergalactic Research Authority #4. 6/0/5

Alterian Pants Off Now! #5. 9/1/2

Aquisition of Interstellar Principles #6. 6/1/4

Divide and Conquer #7. 9/0/2

Emergency Aquisitions #8. 3/0/7 (+ 1 recused (sic))

Development of Resources #9. 5/3/3

Rory Williams Naming Act #10. 6/2/4

Naming Scheme #11. 8/1/1

Privatization of Planets #12. 5/0/6

Diversification of Military Research #13. 7/0/4

Planet Lottery #14. 8/0/4 (GCIA insists on receiving a planet as stated in motion 12)

Weapons #15: Mass Drivers: 1/2/0, Missiles: 3/2/0, Beams 2/2/0 /// Shields 0/3/2, Point Defense 1/3/2, Armour 2/3/2
2 aye (all (research a mix of all)), 1 aye (most relevant armour, data currently unavailable (nay (await)?), (1 in favor per its support of motion 13 (sic)),

Explanation: It appears there are 3 votes in favor of missiles, 1 for mass drivers and 2 for beam and there are 2 abstentions for weapons systems. Furthermore there are 3 abstentions for defensive measures, 2 votes against defensive measures (for now), 1 vote in favor of point defense and 2 votes for armour. There are also 2 votes in favor of research into all weapons armaments and defensive technologies, 1 vote in favor of the most relevant armour (which is currently unknown (so this could mean best guess/wait and see)), and 1 vote in favor per its support of motion 13 (sic).

In the future please always tag the # of the vote as it makes collating much faster. : )
Also it'd be good if we changed exclusively to Aye and Nay, as its easier to tell them apart than Support/Oppose.

[Rockphed]

Hallo again my friends. This is once again the Old Man On a Mountain(OMOM) Raj Rasheed speaking. I feel compelled to comment on our glorious future and the dangers it holds.

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday" I must oppose this motion. As much as I think Aebi is a crass and arrogant fool, it is useful to have crass and arrogant fools represent you to the enemy. Then when the wise and amenable men arrive they are awed by the change in tone.

2. [s]Motion: Outlaw the Pacifist Party - Withdrawn I must likewise protest this notion of outlawing myself and those who think like me! Just because I am an old man who lives on a distant mountain and eats little but the energy of the universe does not mean that I cannot contribute to the government and guidance of our glorious people! If I ever meet the man who proposed this regulation of our politics I will show him how a pacifist defends him self! I'll give him a one two with a pike what what! Erm, I seem to have gotten worked up over this issue. I think I am too close to it and must go meditate to recover my calm and serenity. I am therefore abstaining from the issue.

3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol
I must oppose this policy. After all, we have not yet truly made any enemies in the galaxy. I support colonizing and bringing peace and tranquility to as many worlds as possible, but I do not support the production of war machines until after we are sure who our enemies are. The drengin and korath, while gruff will certainly find that Aebi is just as gruff and become fast friends with our (anything but) august leader.

4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
If you care not for the wisdom of our sages, we will never grow as a people. Let us gather a council of the wisest men to guide Aebi in his search for enlightenment.

5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
The alterians seem a most helpful bunch. Let us entice them into a partnership. Such will benefit both our peoples. Also, if we do things right, we might all end up with a green space babe.

What?!?! I may be an old man on a mountain, but I still appreciate that younguns like yourselves are in need of the pleasures of the flesh.

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance Support
The forces of the universe tell me that there is no time to lose. We must colonize all worlds near us as quickly as possible. Let us plant the Swiss flag on all worlds that there may be peace, freedom, and tranquility thereon.

7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
I must support this plan. Any opportunity to get Aebi, the Korath, and the Drengin in the same room must be exploited. We might end with both as close allies, but that merely makes life more fun!

8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act
For reasons my own, I must oppose this plan. It has nothing at all to do with my extreme holdings of government debt and plans to acquire more. Nothing at all.

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
I abstain from comment on this.

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Support. Hitler is indeed rubbish.

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
I support this scheme. It will allow many vessels entitled "OMOM" to exist.

12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies
Oppose. I do not like the idea of corporations gaining enough power to secede from our glorious deregulated zone. Have we forgotten the perils that were inflicted by allowing the DOFAD east india company too much leeway?

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
Support! There is no possible way the forces of the universe will allow this plan to go wrong!

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Oppose, for now. Our empire must grow somewhat before we allow planets not controlled by the government at large to exist. Again, have we forgotten the DOFAD east india company?

15. Proposal: Weapons and Defence Research
I propose we develop lasers and armor. They seem the most sensible set of ship armaments.

[cha0s4a11]

The Free Association of Respected Traders (FART) is a loose coalition of well-renowned businessmen in commodities trading that help ensure a smooth and consistent dispersion of wealth and materials throughout the Greater Swiss economy, so that all will be able to breathe in the benefits of our glorious market system.

As their delegate to this assembly, I have first been instructed to ask that everyone else stop snickering.
Secondly, I have been authorized to make the following votes.

1. Motion: Give Aebi a long "holiday"
I suggest we take that Overspending Rat Bastard Son of a Gun Aebi, strap him to the hull of an exploration ship, point him vaguely into the direction of the galactic core and don't let him return until he's brought back enough money and dead aliens to pay for our debt.
Oppose. Do you people have any idea how much an exploration ship hull costs? If you are going to get rid of the guy, at least have the common business sense to strip him down and then dump him out an airlock.

3. Motion: Economic Expansion and Military Readiness Protocol
This motion will call for us to research basic armaments and build a few ships to defend our borders, but otherwise focus all of our efforts in the economy. Long term investments such as colonization is allowable, but only at a pace that the economy can soak without collapsing.
Support.

4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
I move to the establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority, a council made up of our nation's finest minds and respected scientific authorities to administer and manage our research and academic facilities, decentralizing them from Government authority and thus relieving the burden from our bankrupt but hardworking President Aebi.
Oppose. If these guys want lab equipment they should harvest and resell a few hundred megatons of scrap just like everyone else.

5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
I propose the adoption of a friendly stance to the Alterians, establishing friendly relations and the mutual exchange of ambassadors as soon as possible, putting forward a Modernizer candidate for such a diplomatic venture as best qualified to appreciate the Alterian's potential, scientific and otherwise.
Support. Friendly aliens are good for business.

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
We have little time to lose, let us put all our energy into aquiring as much interstellar property as possible before the other, inferior species.
Abstain.

7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
We can exploit any lingering animosity between the Drengin and Korath to cause a war between them as soon as possible. This will mean less of them for us to kill when the time comes.
Support. Aliens at war are good for business.

8. Motion: Emergency Acquisitions Act
Emergency Acquisitions Act: Until the current debt crisis is resolved, all non-research funding will be slashed to their minimums. We cannot let research flag, however. If we fall behind, we are left behind, and will never get our green skinned alien babes *is swatted upside the head* Supremecy over the galaxy, I mean.
Oppose. If you are gonna be spending giga-craptons of money, spend it to get giga-craptons of stuff. Some of our members have some commodities that need to be unloaded.

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
As such, it would be in Greater Switzerland's best interests to secure any such resources as soon as they are discovered, lest they fall into alien hands and be regulated. Naturally, the Liandri Mining Corporation would be the best choice to oversee this process.
Support, on the condition that FART is allowed a managing role in this effort.

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Avoid naming anything after Hitler. He's rubbish.
Abstain.

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
Any privately owned ships and/or fleets can be named in any style that the owner prefers. However, in order to keep things orderly, each ship must A) comply with ship model tags agreed upon earlier and B) Have an identifier to the individual or organization that owns them.
Support. Our ships will proudly have the FART prefix to designate them.

12. Motion: Privatization of Planetary Bodies
Corporations and individuals may own, maintain, and run planets. As the owner of the planet, they can choose a focus (ex: industry, hedonistic pleasure planet) or decide to generalize the makeup of the planet as they like. Any production from that planet is privately owned by the planet's owner, unless specified otherwise (organizations buying/selling frigates, gifts, favors, etc).
Support.

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.
Support. Diversification of one's weapons portfolio can never be a bad thing.

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.
Support, although we would like to be given preferential votes for worlds whose potential may otherwise be overlooked (Toxic or Radioactive worlds for example)

[Grif]

Does this list contain the only motions that will be processed?
I think we should include the motion for 'a modified system of governance'.
It is very important after all to determine how to properly organize our democratic procedure as soon as possible.


------------------------------------------------------------

Here’s a voting summary so far:
Current vote count after the motion summary post 204 by Grif (aye/abstain/nay)

Updated up to and including Post 220
Give Aebi a long "holiday" #1. 1/0/10

Outlaw Pacifist Party #2. (Withdrawn: after its tabling all but two others were opposed before its withdrawal)

Economic Expansion & Military Readiness #3. 6/0/6

Intergalactic Research Authority #4. 6/0/5

Alterian Pants Off Now! #5. 9/1/2

Aquisition of Interstellar Principles #6. 6/1/4

Divide and Conquer #7. 9/0/2

Emergency Aquisitions #8. 3/0/7 (+ 1 recused (sic))

Development of Resources #9. 5/3/3

Rory Williams Naming Act #10. 6/2/4

Naming Scheme #11. 8/1/1

Privatization of Planets #12. 5/0/6

Diversification of Military Research #13. 7/0/4

Planet Lottery #14. 8/0/4 (GCIA insists on receiving a planet as stated in motion 12)

Weapons #15: Mass Drivers: 1/2/0, Missiles: 3/2/0, Beams 2/2/0 /// Shields 0/3/2, Point Defense 1/3/2, Armour 2/3/2
2 aye (all (research a mix of all)), 1 aye (most relevant armour, data currently unavailable (nay (await)?), (1 in favor per its support of motion 13 (sic)),

Explanation: It appears there are 3 votes in favor of missiles, 1 for mass drivers and 2 for beam and there are 2 abstentions for weapons systems. Furthermore there are 3 abstentions for defensive measures, 2 votes against defensive measures (for now), 1 vote in favor of point defense and 2 votes for armour. There are also 2 votes in favor of research into all weapons armaments and defensive technologies, 1 vote in favor of the most relevant armour (which is currently unknown (so this could mean best guess/wait and see)), and 1 vote in favor per its support of motion 13 (sic).

In the future please always tag the # of the vote as it makes collating much faster. : )
Also it'd be good if we changed exclusively to Aye and Nay, as its easier to tell them apart than Support/Oppose.

Thank you for collating the votes, do you mind if I updated my post with it? (You should totally get Thanqol to bribe you as well.)

Also, agreed on the Aye and Nay thing. :smallsmile:

[Narkis]

And now,a word from our sponsors:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/Nikitis/Liandri_Corp.png

Our History

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In 2214, we celebrated our 300th anniversary and three significant milestones: Liandri's establishment on 28 October 1914, the company's listing on the Bern Stock Exchange on 29 June 1997, and the acquisition of our biggest rival, Axon on June 2201. By building on our past and combining the assets of each company with the very best of our skills and people, Liandri is ideally placed to continue to lead the resources industry into the future.

Our Vision

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The global reach of our operations and projects gives us the ability to respond to rising demand for metals and minerals from developed and emerging economies. Our diverse portfolio, high quality assets, and expertise in technology and marketing give us the capability to supply a wide spectrum of customers and markets. Effective supply chain integration with our operations ensures that we meet customer needs and create value for ourselves by supplying the right products and services at the right time to the right place.

Liandri has a strong reputation for operational excellence and sustainable development. This reputation gives us our licence to operate, and it is essential that we uphold it and build upon it.

Our assets and reputation give us the capabilities to operate and grow our business on a galactic scale. And as we do so, we also have the scope and expertise to bring long term benefits to our local communities and host planets.
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[Mellhurst]

wow, that's a smashing logo!

Grif: Nope, I don't mind. : )

[Narkis]

Shamelessly stolen from the Unreal Tournament games. :smallbiggrin:

I suck at photoshop. Couldn't even put it on a standard tincan to make a proper ad.

[Grif]

Votes should be final (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11506001&postcount=204).


Barring any last minute votes, this will be final result.
Summary:
Motion #4, #5, #6, #7, #9, #10, #11, #13 and #14 passed.
Motion #1, #8, #12 and #15 failed to garner sufficient support.
Motion #3 is deadlocked, and therefore submitted to the Director for a final decision.

[Mellhurst]

Woah, nice overall summary. : )

About #15, the voting is a mess, but if votes for other weapon systems are not considered negatives for the ones not selected then we have Missiles winning with 1 vote over Beams and a mix of all and defensive measures being voted down to await further intelligence.
Which is kinda important, because if bits of #15 don't make it through we're gonna have that gosh durn motion #13 wasting our resources on six branches of research.

[Kurgan]

Motion #14 passed.
Motion #12 failed to garner sufficient support.


Wait a sec...the motion saying how planets are allotted to private owners passed, but the motion saying that you can privately allot planets failed?

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have a precedent for privatizing planets for a later date when we allow for them, or does it mean that privatization is allowed, but only by the lottery?

((also, I should probably point out that the "I demand a planet now" thing was more in character than out of character))

[Grif]

Wait a sec...the motion saying how planets are allotted to private owners passed, but the motion saying that you can privately allot planets failed?

What exactly does that mean? Does it mean we have a precedent for privatizing planets for a later date when we allow for them, or does it mean that privatization is allowed, but only by the lottery?

((also, I should probably point out that the "I demand a planet now" thing was more in character than out of character))

I'm not sure why myself. I imagine voters were willing to let people claim planets, but on a random basis rather than parcelling it out through the Director. :smallconfused:

[Narkis]

Yeah, I guess people really didn't want Kurgan getting the first planet. Now we'll have to wait for the next update to start allotting some planets. At least we know how it'll be done. :smallbiggrin:

Also:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/Nikitis/Liandri_Corp.png

The Liandri Mining Corporation is pleased to announce a new series of products: The Space Crystals from Outer Space!

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/Nikitis/Morale_Resource.png
AesthesiumTM, the first product in this series is expected to hit the markets in just a few weeks. But what does it do, you say? As the man who discovered it, Explorator Jhim Soprano so eloquently says, "It is like being drunk in the awesomest way possible". It is guaranteed to improve your morale! In fact, Liandri is so certain that you will be satisfied, that we offer a lifetime money back guarantee!*

But I hear more concerns: Is it safe for humans? You can rest assured: The tireless people of the Liandri research department have worked day and night to ensure that our products are absolutely safe for human and near-human consumption.** And you can take our word for that!

And as a final way to entice you, we offer a 75% discount*** on all AesthesiumTM during the first week of sales!

AesthesiumTM: Coming soon in your local market, exclusively by Liandri!

*Guarantee void when used
**Relatively. Purchase of this product signifies your agreement that Liandri cannot be held responsible for any possible side-effects, including but not limited to: nausea, vomiting, temporary blindness, brief lapses of sanity and hairy palms.
***Offer good while initial supplies last.

[Kurgan]

Yeah, I guess people really didn't want Kurgan getting the first planet. Now we'll have to wait for the next update to start allotting some planets. At least we know how it'll be done. :smallbiggrin:

Also:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/Nikitis/Liandri_Corp.png

The Liandri Mining Corporation is pleased to announce a new series of products: The Space Crystals from Outer Space!

Discovered just floating in space by brave Swiss explorers, these crystals possess unique properties previously undreamt of, and cannot be found on any planet! This series is a unique Liandri offering, marketed for the first time directly at the Swiss consumer who wants something different: You!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/Nikitis/Morale_Resource.png
AesthesiumTM, the first product in this series is expected to hit the markets in just a few weeks. But what does it do, you say? As the man who discovered it, Explorator Jhim Soprano so eloquently says, "It is like being drunk in the awesomest way possible". It is guaranteed to improve your morale! In fact, Liandri is so certain that you will be satisfied, that we offer a lifetime money back guarantee!*

But I hear more concerns: Is it safe for humans? You can rest assured: The tireless people of the Liandri research department have worked day and night to ensure that our products are absolutely safe for human and near-human consumption.** And you can take our word for that!

And as a final way to entice you, we offer a 75% discount*** on all AesthesiumTM during the first week of sales!

AesthesiumTM: Coming soon in your local market, exclusively by Liandri!

*Guarantee void when used
**Relatively. Purchase of this product signifies your agreement that Liandri cannot be held responsible for any possible side-effects, including but not limited to: nausea, vomiting, temporary blindness, brief lapses of sanity and hairy palms.
***Offer good while initial supplies last.

Indeed! I'll have to go back to the drawing board to rephrase planetary ownership. It seems that part of the unpopularity of it was the power it gave to individuals and corporations, meaning the new legislation will need to give the Earth government more control (unfortunately). That and the whole dibs clause will probably have to be scrapped. :smallbiggrin:

After next update I'll go back to the drawing board on it.

Also, fancy advertisement you have there. All we have at the GCIA is the slogan: "Work till your fingers bleed, then keep working". It gets our message of a solid work ethic across I think, but it doesn't have the charm that you big name corporations have.

[Murska]

I'm saddened by people who actually defend their votes by reasoning that they would make us more powerful or that they make sense.

I thought we're here to make this as hard as humanly possible for Thanqol, right?

[Thanqol]

Update will come this evening after work, which looks to mean that voting will close in ~7 hours. Thank you again for everyone who voted, participated, or helped manage the votes - everything you do really, really helps me with this :smallsmile:

[chiasaur11]

I'm saddened by people who actually defend their votes by reasoning that they would make us more powerful or that they make sense.

I thought we're here to make this as hard as humanly possible for Thanqol, right?

If only.

The first law is a burden.

F.I.

[Rockphed]

I'm saddened by people who actually defend their votes by reasoning that they would make us more powerful or that they make sense.

I thought we're here to make this as hard as humanly possible for Thanqol, right?

OOC: Hence why my entire vote was written in character. Also, I tried to vote up the things that would slightly screw us over(until we were actually against the wall) and down the things that were actually sensible.

Personally, I think that weapon technologies are too far down the tech tree in GalCiv. Planetary invasion isn't too bad, but even getting a bad gun takes far too long for my taste.

[Caewil]

I'm all right for making things difficult for Thangol, but I'd rather we had a large empire first with lots of planets to privatise.

Speaking of which:


http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1091/swissflag2.png

http://www.land-of-kain.de/docs/smac/faction_morgan_morgan.jpg
Tired of boring old earth? Want to visit exotic places and meet interesting aliens?

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[Thanqol]

Voting closed. Motions passed: #4, #5, #6, #7, #9, #10, #11, #13 and #14. Thanks again to everyone who voted and helped out. Starting the update now.


4. Motion: Establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority
I move to the establishment of the Intergalactic Research Authority, a council made up of our nation's finest minds and respected scientific authorities to administer and manage our research and academic facilities, decentralizing them from Government authority and thus relieving the burden from our bankrupt but hardworking President Aebi.

5. Motion: Establishment of Friendly Relations With the Alterian Resistance (Same purpose with Establishment and Strengthening of Client Species Act, motions are merged.)
I propose the adoption of a friendly stance to the Alterians, establishing friendly relations and the mutual exchange of ambassadors as soon as possible, putting forward a Modernizer candidate for such a diplomatic venture as best qualified to appreciate the Alterian's potential, scientific and otherwise.

6. Motion: Acquisition of Interstellar Principalities Ordinance
We have little time to lose, let us put all our energy into aquiring as much interstellar property as possible before the other, inferior species.

7. Motion: The Divide and Conquer Plan
We can exploit any lingering animosity between the Drengin and Korath to cause a war between them as soon as possible. This will mean less of them for us to kill when the time comes.

9. Motion: Development of Natural Resources Act
As such, it would be in Greater Switzerland's best interests to secure any such resources as soon as they are discovered, lest they fall into alien hands and be regulated. Naturally, the Liandri Mining Corporation would be the best choice to oversee this process.

10. Motion: Rory Williams "Memorial" naming act.
Avoid naming anything after Hitler. He's rubbish.

11. Motion: Naming Conventions for Privately Owned Ships/Fleets
Any privately owned ships and/or fleets can be named in any style that the owner prefers. However, in order to keep things orderly, each ship must A) comply with ship model tags agreed upon earlier and B) Have an identifier to the individual or organization that owns them.

13. Motion: Diversification of Military Research
We should make sure we're ready for any situation. Therefore, we need to research all three lines of weapon research equally, as well as all three defenses.

14. Motion: Planets are Privatized by Lottery
Among the interested parties that do not yet have a planet (or have the lowest number of planets, if everyone has one), one is randomly chosen as the owner of the new planet.

[Thanqol]

15/3/2228-22/3/2229: President Aebi

There was a huge populist backlash against President Aebi due to the crash of the Swiss economy. Not because services were impaired or due to a bad job by Aebi, but more due to the principle of the thing: The Swiss economy should not, should never crash. When a motion was tabled to dismiss Aebi, the DOFAD waged an effective marketing campaign that won over those Swiss who doubted him: Aebi products and endorsements were worth a significant percentage of the Swiss economy, and dismissing him would harm it more than his continued leadership would.

Either way, production and research was halted entirely. The problem was supporting and maintaining the many new worlds Switzerland had colonised and had yet to populate.

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Aebi's political fortunes were stabilised with the meeting of a fourth alien race: The Yor. When contact was made with the Yor scout vessel, the Yor attempted a boarding action and assimilation of the Schwendimann without so much as a lower-your-shields. The DOFAD beat off the giant alien robots with some good old fashioned fisticuffs, but it was slightly difficult, due in part to the Yor being twenty foot tall giant robots.

Game Concept: The Yor

The Borg, basically. Giant evil robots. Their nastiest feature is that they set up huge interdiction fields in their territory, capping the speed of any enemy ship to three. They're trapped in the corner between us and the Alterians, meaning that chances are they're going to attack us sooner rather than later.

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

But after finishing up with the Yor, the DOFAD discovered a wrecked colony vessel that hadn't had the same grit as humanity. They took a few moments to mourn for the poor souls who had been consumed by the Collective.

The salvage, however, momentarily rebalanced the Swiss economy.

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

In accordance with the relevant legislation, this windfall was used to construct another mining ship that was sent for the second Influence resource. Unfortunately, by the time the mining constructor arrived the Drengin had already claimed it and refused all requests to trade it away.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

A rather beautiful world was acquired by the expanding colonist vessels; small in size, but overflowing with natural resources.

http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1264/gc2tagreaterswitzerlandm.jpg

In further accordance with motions put forwards by the Swiss Congress, trade was conducted with the Altarians. Superior Swiss economic theory was exchanged for enhanced warp engine technology. At the same time, feelers were put out to the Drengin to see if they'd condone a war against the Korath, but it turns out the Drengin had no idea where the Korath were (and, furthermore, didn't have any armed ships). The motion was quietly put on the backburner.

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

And, at years' end, the first United Planets council was held. The United Planets was a very strange sort of federation, with a very strange sort of dream. It was founded by the Drengin and the Korath, who wanted a diplomatic check on the other's expansion, and joined by the Swiss and Alterians who wanted roughly the same thing. The Council was a formalisation of the standoff that was rapidly developing between the great space powers.

Game Concept: The United Planets
Influence is something all your planets generate, based on population and tourist attractions and so on. Your influence pools up and contributes to the size of your yearly United Planets vote. Motions brought up by the United Planets are random and some quite game changing.

And, moreover, it provides a startling insight into how cunning the GalCiv AI is. Look at the vote screen: The issue is "End all current wars". Since it's very early in the game, there aren't really any current wars. So why, then, do three evil races vote "Yes" and does one good race vote "No"?

The reason is because the AI is weighing up it's stake in the issue. The Drengin, Korath and Yor all expand through warfare, and have a vested interest in waging wars of expansion. BUT they're not currently at war. Which means that they're worried that maybe their rivals are, and maybe their rivals are expanding off those wars. Which means they want to terminate those wars and thereby stifle their rival's expansion. The Altarians, the so-called good-guys are voting 'no' - because *they* know no Good races are currently at war and are more than happy for the evil races to keep killing each other - and that's the same logic which prompted Switzerland to vote 'no' here.

These guys, they actually think strategically. It's so refreshing to see.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

The planet of Immesque was claimed by Greater Switzerland, a rather desolate place, but well positioned to block Drengin expansion.

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Contact was made with another alien race, the Iconians. The Swiss felt the strangest sense of pity and contempt for this race. Once, they had owned a great empire, built on enslaving the robotic Yor. The Yor had waged a bloody rebellion against their masters, and the Iconians had barely escaped on a generation ship, fleeing far from their homeworld. In the process, they had adopted a communist system of economics that was rapidly failing them in these new, interstellar times. They were desperately seeking free market solutions with absolutely no idea of how to implement them, and their empire was lurching unsteadily as a result.

Game Concept: The Iconians

Story sound familiar? Honestly, the plot from Mass Effect could have been lifted right out of a Galactic Civilisations Let's Play.

Anyway, these guys start with the ability to colonise aquatic and toxic worlds and have amazing spies. They're generally pretty good neighbours but they come down hard on jerks. They're in a weirdly fantastic position right now; their economy's the strongest on the charts (Next update will have a full charts&graphs array, by the by). Perhaps they found an economic resource, or a really good planet, or maybe they're just expanding everywhere? Either way, my gut tells me these guys look like a big midgame threat.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

Perhaps due to their desperation, they agreed to a hilariously one-sided Economic Treaty to stabilize their lurching economy. The Swiss were nothing if not canny merchants. The sheer gouging of the Iconians by the Swiss finally stabilised the long bankrupt morass Switzerland was slugging through and pushed them firmly back into the green.

Game Concept: Treaties
Every race can make an Economic Treaty and a Research Treaty. What this means is that 10% of our total income or research is sent to the treaty partner. We don't lose this money, it's essentially generated out of nowhere. This is fantastic, except for the fact that you're empowering someone who may one day be your enemy.

We tried to make a research treaty with the Altarians, as per the motions, but they'd already traded theirs away.

The reason why this deal is so hilariously one-sided - they're loading us with tech and cash as well as their economics treaty - is that the Terran super ability is "Super Diplomat", which lets us rob 'em blind and have 'em say 'thank you'.

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

One final world was claimed, on the borders of Korath space. Greater Switzerland was reaching the limits of where it could safely expand without overextending itself. (This planet is named Oberholzer, the Munzinger in this screenshot is a typo; already used that name).

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

And so it was that Switzerland reached a point of economic stability: The economic treaty with the Iconians was providing enough income to stabilise the weak economy and allow a return to production. The time seemed right to return attention to the Swiss parliament and how humanity should deal with these amazing gains.

As this took place, the great planetary privatisation began. It was an opportunity like no other: Now, limited, terrestrial corporations could become overlords of entire worlds. This would be the ultimate test of the free market.

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/8980/gc2tagreaterswitzerland.jpg

THE WINNERS:
Grif (Herberlin)
chiasaur11 (Mars)
Murska (Rommel)
Kurgan (Bern)
Narkis (Immesque)
Mellhurst (Munzinger)
James the Dark (Oberholzer)

Gentlemen, congratulations on your victories, these worlds are yours to do with as you please. If you've got a world, please provide me with a 3 or 4 letter acronym tag for your organisation.

It's likely that the next update will see us claiming a handful more worlds, but if you missed out on a planet, there's still plenty of sectors of Swiss society to claim control over: The espionage agency, for instance, or our trade, or you could just ignore planets and build enormous military or economic starbases from whence to project your power.

Also on the issues board today is our research is ready to start again: Where do we direct it? I could provide specific examples, but I'm having a harder time figuring out what areas of research don't exist in Galactic Civilisations.

The other big thing to note is that our relations with the Drengin are slipping quite fast. It's also notable that their super ability is whenever they enter a war, their hordes assemble and give them a huge number of free fighter craft. Even if they don't have planetary invasion yet, we still have those vulnerable mining starbases...

[Murska]

Ooh. SSOC Rommel!

It had taken quite a lot of negotiating, bribery and calling in favours, but they had managed to fix the lottery.

Of course they had. This was an opportunity that they could not, could never bypass. Who else could be allowed to control a planet named 'Rommel' than the Rommel family?

And their leadership showed. Rommel was the only Swiss planet besides Earth that produced a surplus cash income. Only a very small one, so far, but it was better than the insane losses some of the other corporations were now taking.

For now, Rommel was going to build up it's industry.

[Grif]

I'll use the tag CA for Colonial Affairs then.

Also, reserving this space for collecting motions. :smalltongue:

Also, I'll try to find a tech tree for you guys to see. It's much easier to make decisions if you actually know what you're researching for.

Motions, motions and more motions! (Thanks to Narkis for collecting this rounds motions.)
1: Basic Colonial Infrastructure Proposal
Unless otherwise specified by the owning corporation, we propose that a factory and a market centre be built on each colonial world to provice for their citizens basic needs.

*Factories allow us to build stuff, market centres boost the economy by 8% to pay for the factories. We should probably build more than that eventually.

2: Act to Establish Interstellar Trade
The DoFaD needs to guarantee our corporations access to growing alien markets. We propose sending freighters to trade with the Altarians as soon as possible.

3: Colonial Representation Bill
Are not the men and women who live in the colonies citizens of greater Switzerland, with the same rights and freedoms? Yet they have no voice in our government on earth and no say in our decision making process. We propose researching the technology for us to advance to an Interstellar Republic (http://galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Interstellar_Republic) to represent these disenfranchised masses.

4: Cakes and Candles
Utilize our diplomatic advantage to the hilt, openminded negotiations have so far netted us ludicrously advantageous deals. Establish friendly relationships with the Drengin Empire and the Korhal Clan, thus delaying war and trading them for all they're worth for as little as possible. Repeat and rinse with all factions.

5: Historical Justice
Compensate the Lithuanians for infecting them with Communism then starving tens of millions of their population to death and taking their land west of Moscow by returning the ancestral Lithuanian lands to Moscow. Compensate DOFAD by returning India under its rule.

6: Motion: Basic Defensive Measures
Switzerland should research basic beam weapons and, as soon as feasible, upgraded engines. After we have the weapons, a small defensive deterrant fleet should be constructed to protect us against potential xeno threats.

7: She Dazzled Me...With Her Industrial Output!

All the weapons technology in the world galaxy will not help us if we lack the industrial capacity to build ships and weapons platforms. Therefore, the Grand Chancellor of Industrial Affairs proposes that we focus most of our research into our factories.

Better Factories = More Production
More Production = More Ships to Throw at Johnny Alien
More Ships to Throw at Johnny Alien = More Planets (as Johnny Alien will be too dead to use them)

So a vote for factories is a vote for victory!


8. Expanded Private Fleet Act (NEW!)
If a planet is under the control of a swiss organization than that organization will take responsibility and control over the ships produced by said planet.

Votes so far, thanks to Mellhurst for helping to count and tally em. Someone reward this man.

Current Voting Count - as of 11:00PM (GMT+8) 31/7/11
Colonial Infrastructure (standard colonial construction procedure)
#1: 7/0/1

Freighter Trade (Trade ships)
#2: 4/1/3

Colonial Representation (Gov. Tech)
#3: 2/0/5

Cakes and Candles (Diplomacy)
#4: 2/0/5

Historical Justice (Flavor/Special?)
#5: 2/3/1

Basic Defensive Measures (Warships)
#6: 7/1/0

Industrial Output (Factory construction)
#7: 0/1/5

Planetary Build Orders
Herbelin - CA (Grif)
Herbelin shall remain a pure research planet, apart from the necessary infrastructure to facilitate building of research facilities and starport for arriving ships.

(In game terms: 1-2 Factories + Starport, the rest Research Centres.)

Rommel - SSOC (Murska)
First, the Basic Colonial Infrastructure (factory first). Then, more factories and a starport. I want Rommel to be a military production planet.

Immesque - LMC (Narkis)
Let's just build two factories, a spaceport, a research center on the bonus tile and a market center and call it a day. All ships constructed there will belong to Liandri, of course, and we'll focus on upgrading our mining bases until we start getting some decent warships to fight the Drengin.

Bern - GCIA (Kurgan)
-2 factories, one of which around that area rich in resources.
-1 starport, so that the GCIA may begin constructing ships do defend the planet.
-1 farm, in the region with ultra-fertile soil.

Bern is not that big a planet, so that is basically it until we get terraforming.

Mars - XCOM (chiasaur11)
Universities, and a spaceport. And, if there are any artifact sites, obviously that would be the priority. A map of my new dominion would be beneficial.

Munzinger - NCF (Mellhurst)
I'm building a factory and then a market first (on resources that match them if possible).

Oberholzer - (James the Dark)
No build specified. Will be administered by Earth unless directed otherwise.

[Murska]

Hmm. Two DOFAD planets, two New School planets, two Tower of Gold planets and one Silver Standard planet.

My suggestion is that we research whatever leads to planetary invasion as soon as possible. And, hopefully, there'll be weapons on that path. :smalltongue:

[Grif]

Hmm. Two DOFAD planets, two New School planets, two Tower of Gold planets and one Silver Standard planet.

My suggestion is that we research whatever leads to planetary invasion as soon as possible. And, hopefully, there'll be weapons on that path. :smalltongue:

Disclaimer: I only played Dark Avatar.

Unless Twilight of Arnor changed the techtree significantly, Planetary Invasion is a standalone tech. (And a pretty expensive one to boot. It takes an average race anything from 30-50 turns to finish research, compared to the standard 4-12 weeks for tech of that level.)

EDIT: Since Herbelin is being used as a research planet, I think the Colonial Affairs Division will not change the direction the planet is taking for now.

[Narkis]

LMC was, is, and will be my tag.

For a tech tree, I heartily recommend the Galactopedia (http://library.galciv2.com/index.aspx?m=775). It has everything you could possibly want to know, and then some. Just make sure you've selected Twilight of the Arnor at the "source" menu.

edit: Thanqol, we got more than just morale? I'll have to make some more ads if that's the case.

[Grif]

Okay I think we can split the direction of research we want to go to several different directions. (Still based on Dark Avatar, but I read the Terrran tech tree resembles the DA tech the most.)

In no particular order:
Military
We could direct research into weaponry and defenses. (This does not include Planetary Invasion, which is a separate tree.)
We could start researching on how to invade planets. (Planetary Invasion tree. Boosts our troop performance later on. Also gives more options on how to invade a planet, each with it's own benefits and costs.)
We could start on engines. (Strapping a dozen engines and a single gun to a ship leads to lulz.)
We could also research miniaturisation. (Essentially, allowing you to fit more guns and defenses to a ship.)
We could try for bigger hulls. (Medium, Large, Huge.)
We could invest in Starbase Modules. (Some pretty nifty bonuses in the early-mid game, either boosting ship weapon power or defenses. Also allows you to build increasingly better weapons and defenses for the Starbase.)

Non-Military
We could go full out morale boosting. (one of the path down the Influence tree.)
We could go for diplomacy boosts. (also starts the Influence tree, but the bonuses are more limited.)
We could opt for hostile planet colonisation. (also has the effect of boosting fertility.)
We could go full out commerce. (Trading and Star Democracy. Also all the commerce improvements.)
We could research science itself, giving us the ability to research even faster. (Technological Victory route).
We could research on how to breed more plants! (Farming, increased pop cap.)
We could invest on better factories. (Factory improvements.)

[Narkis]

Sounds pretty accurate, though you forgot that we can research upgraded planetary improvements (research centers and the like) and quite possibly more.

[Grif]

Sounds pretty accurate, though you forgot that we can research upgraded planetary improvements (research centers and the like) and quite possibly more.

Ah yes. Forgot about the research improvements. :smalltongue: And farming, but who takes those? :smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

[ObadiahtheSlim]

Farming past a certain point is a trap. It can take you over the population soft cap where the morale penalty for the extra population is not worth the extra tax revenue. It's been forever since I last played this game so I really can't for the life of me remember where that soft cap is.

[Mellhurst]

Yay for luck!
Could I have a screenshot of Munzinger, please? I'm confused as to whether its the one shown in the update as it matches the statistics in our world list, and if not then I think it might not have been shown?

Also my tag will be NCF (Neapolitan Cream Foundation).

PS. If I set my planet as an economic center later, can I have the income it produces credited? That might be far more effective than having to build a starport/ship foundry first.

[Caewil]

I think we want trade and influence. It seems a very swiss way to operate. Have we used the get approval to 100% and popboom trick yet? We should do that as well, now that we actually have some planets to improve. More people = more customers.

Basic Colonial Infrastructure Proposal
Unless otherwise specified by the owning corporation, we propose that a factory and a market centre be built on each colonial world to provice for their citizens basic needs.

*Factories allow us to build stuff, market centres boost the economy by 8% to pay for the factories. We should probably build more than that eventually.

Act to Establish Interstellar Trade
The DoFaD needs to guarantee our corporations access to growing alien markets. We propose sending freighters to trade with the Altarians as soon as possible.

Colonial Representation Bill
Are not the men and women who live in the colonies citizens of greater Switzerland, with the same rights and freedoms? Yet they have no voice in our government on earth and no say in our decision making process. We propose researching the technology for us to advance to an Interstellar Republic (http://galciv.wikia.com/wiki/Interstellar_Republic) to represent these disenfranchised masses.

[Murska]

I suggest that we really talk about our ideas and stances on the future policies of our nation before making those things into motions. This helps avoid being buried under a motion flood and it also avoids the constant minor changes to motions that come up when there's some small correction to be made.

As for the current motions...

Basic Colonial Infrastructure is a good enough idea, I guess.

But the other two set us up for research paths that are against the good of the Swiss. Right now, we're under threat of invasion by the Drengin, and what good will (unarmed) trade freighters or the extra rights of the colonials going to do when our mining bases are shot down by enemy fighters? Especially considering it's the Drengin who stole our resource site!


My stance, and that of the Silver Standard, is that we need to build up our defenses first before working on other technological paths. We need a reasonably effective weapon of some sort, preferrably a Beam, and some better engines. After our infrastructure is up and we've built a Defense Fleet, we can begin trading with the Altarians and whoever else is around.

[Caewil]

And what exactly are the Drengin going to do? They can't invade us, they'd need vastly more technology to do so. From the United Planets council, it appears that they have around 60% of our total population. They do not seem a clear and immediate threat.

Yes, we need weapons - but building and maintaining a large and technologically advanced fleet on our currently shaky economy would be counterproductive. Improving our economy through trade and an alliance with the Altarians will provide a far better defense in the long term. The technology suggested will further improve our diplomacy and influence. This wil allow us to trade for more defensive and offensive technology. We can also seek an alliance with the Altarians.

When we, the Swiss, first began our journey, did we directly oppose our neighbours and the emperor despite the threat they were to us? No. The DoFaD and Silver Standard were only able to accomplish so much on the shoulders of the economy the Tower of Gold had built. And let us not forget that it was the Silver Standard who gave Switzerland their first dictatorship. Let us not go down that path again.

The Drengin got that resource by sending a ship there faster - that's all. It's not inside our borders, so we can hardly claim it's ours because we saw it first.