So the latest elections in Ecuador saw a victory for yet another puppet of Hugo Chavez. That means that at this point Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador all have heavy-duty "bolivarean" socialist governments (allied with Cuba); and Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile all have social-democrat governments.
It all got me thinking to the idea of somehow, a new Commie movement breaking out and going wild in the one place in the world where it really seems to still have serious straight-faced appeal, latinamerica. And I thought of the potential of a game setting of would-be utopian communist "compañeros" fighting against the "yanqui" aggressor with the aid of... what?
Superpowers?
Ancient Inca Magic?
Undead Lich-King Che Guevara?
...Robots?
You tell me.
RPGpundit
UFO tech left by the little green guys who built all the Myan and Incan architechture.
The dynamic duo of Paulo Coelho and Carlos Castaneda....Y Tu Mama Tambien...:D
Regards,
David R
Dear Mirror Ron,
Please keep your politics out of my roleplaying games. The purpose of the GM is not to educate the players.
Love,
JimBobOz
Actually, some of the stuff I've read suggests the unusual ally of an off-branch of the Catholic Church would be a real plausible possibility. There's been a number of very vocal bishops with definite socialist leanings.
Quote from: JimBobOzDear Mirror Ron,
Please keep your politics out of my roleplaying games. The purpose of the GM is not to educate the players.
Love,
JimBobOz
Dude, read the post again. Stuff like this ...
QuoteAnd I thought of the potential of a game setting of would-be utopian communist "compañeros" fighting against the "yanqui" aggressor with the aid of... what?
Superpowers?
Ancient Inca Magic?
Undead Lich-King Che Guevara?
... isn't educating anyone anymore than Paranoia is.
with the aid of the Nobles of Communism and Lakes.
Quote from: Willwith the aid of the Nobles of Communism and Lakes.
Troll. ;)
Quote from: J ArcaneActually, some of the stuff I've read suggests the unusual ally of an off-branch of the Catholic Church would be a real plausible possibility. There's been a number of very vocal bishops with definite socialist leanings.
I really like this idea. I can't help but to add a weird science angle - some of these bishops
raising from the dead cold warriors* from back in the day.
* I'm thinking of cold war era spies injected with super serum or something like that...The Lazarus Project :D
Regards,
David R
"I'm a communist!" 1d6
"Seriously guys, no purges this time." 2d4
"Dialectic Materialism!!!!" 1d6 + 1d4
And so on. Or, the Revolution could be aided by the unrestricted use of Diplomacy checks. The PCs get to win whatever allies they want through their die rolls, and... the GM gets to bring in tanks once the governments gets antsy. Good times!
Before 911 because the new reichstag fire, there was a strong anti-capitalism movement sweeping parts of the world brought about mainly by the fact that things like downsizing, outsourcing and other corporate schemes were hurting the working classes in the west while strengthening and supporting governments that allowed or used child labor, slave labor and generally kept the labor pool docile and content to work hard for little money.
For years, of course, 911 had dominated politics but now people are beginning to see thru it and notice the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor, the decreasing size of the 'middle class' and the fact people with jobgs are working harder and longer for less.
When the government allows corporations to more or less drive the working and middle classes down and down on living standards and increase poverty to make more money for the shareholders and CEOs, it's inevitable that a lot of people will resent it and consider alternatives to capitalism if that's the face capitalism is showing them.
Quote from: Dominus NoxBefore 911 because the new reichstag fire, there was a strong anti-capitalism movement sweeping parts of the world brought about mainly by the fact that things like downsizing, outsourcing and other corporate schemes were hurting the working classes in the west while strengthening and supporting governments that allowed or used child labor, slave labor and generally kept the labor pool docile and content to work hard for little money.
For years, of course, 911 had dominated politics but now people are beginning to see thru it and notice the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor, the decreasing size of the 'middle class' and the fact people with jobgs are working harder and longer for less.
When the government allows corporations to more or less drive the working and middle classes down and down on living standards and increase poverty to make more money for the shareholders and CEOs, it's inevitable that a lot of people will resent it and consider alternatives to capitalism if that's the face capitalism is showing them.
:killingme:
Quote from: Divine Hammer:killingme:
Right there with ya.
:killingme: :killingme:
Hmm. Maybe we should take this on a zombie spin...
Quote from: Divine Hammer:killingme:
I'll take that to mean you disagreed, but couldn't form a cogent response.
I guess that's how conservatives deal with differeing views, thay really can't respond so they just mock. "Limbaughese", it's called.
Quote from: RPGPunditSo the latest elections in Ecuador saw a victory for yet another puppet of Hugo Chavez. That means that at this point Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador all have heavy-duty "bolivarean" socialist governments (allied with Cuba); and Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile all have social-democrat governments.
It all got me thinking to the idea of somehow, a new Commie movement breaking out and going wild in the one place in the world where it really seems to still have serious straight-faced appeal, latinamerica. And I thought of the potential of a game setting of would-be utopian communist "compañeros" fighting against the "yanqui" aggressor with the aid of... what?
Superpowers?
Ancient Inca Magic?
Undead Lich-King Che Guevara?
...Robots?
You tell me.
RPGpundit
Ok, I'll tell you that this probably belongs in the off topic forum.
Through the use of Super Science, South America resurrected Simon Bolivar (how do you use the accent mark, btw?)
To counter his nationalist/leftist power, the deathless Theodore Roosevelt (given immortality through his discovery of the true fountain of youth in Cuba) activates the once hidden geomantic powers of Mount Rushmore to power cowboy-piloted supermechs that ride cloned, gigantic copies of Pecos Bill's own Lightning.
Simon confers with the risen mummies of Aztec death-wizards to counter this mechanical conquista with equally giant spirits of Jaguar and Eagle.
What will these scattered tribes of man do when Quetzalcoatl returns in glory on his glittering god-ship to judge all the living and the dead?
Quote from: Dominus NoxI'll take that to mean you disagreed, but couldn't form a cogent response.
I'm wondering just how much of your post either of them read.
Quote from: droogI'm wondering just how much of your post either of them read.
Oh, large parts of it are fine.
But that opening makes me unable to do anything but laugh.
Quote from: Levi KornelsenOh, large parts of it are fine.
But that opening makes me unable to do anything but laugh.
Let's look at the claim objectively. It's by now a pretty well-known fact that the Bush administration seized upon the 911 catastrophe and used it to further their agenda. That agenda includes aggressive imperialism abroad and the curtailing of liberties at home.
It's most likely true that the Bush administration were not directly involved in the attacks on 911. Apart from that, the parallel to the Reichstag fire is pretty clear.
Personally, I don't have any love for the Nox, and I think his signature is just plain dumb. But let's not play 'bash the fat kid'.
Quote from: droogLet's look at the claim objectively. It's by now a pretty well-known fact that the Bush administration seized upon the 911 catastrophe and used it to further their agenda. That agenda includes aggressive imperialism abroad and the curtailing of liberties at home.
Yup.
Quote from: droogIt's most likely true that the Bush administration were not directly involved in the attacks on 911. Apart from that, the parallel to the Reichstag fire is pretty clear.
Personally, I don't have any love for the Nox, and I think his signature is just plain dumb. But let's not play 'bash the fat kid'.
I can't get "Apart from that", sorry. Usually, I'm
really good at parsing out hyperbole and quasi-conspiracy stuff. But for some reason, that
specific detail vaults the whole piece directly into goofiness for me.
Quote from: droogIt's by now a pretty well-known fact that the Bush administration seized upon the 911 catastrophe and used it to further their agenda. That agenda includes aggressive imperialism abroad and the curtailing of liberties at home.
OK. So this assumes that the agenda was always "aggressive imperialism abroad and the curtailing of liberties at home". So what is Bush supposed to get out of aggressive imperialism and curtailing of liberties? What's in it for him?
Quote from: droogIt's most likely true that the Bush administration were not directly involved in the attacks on 911.
Most likely? Not directly? Which part of al Qaeda claiming responsibility did people miss? Oh, right. I forgot. Osama bin Laden was working
with Bush because... well... just because everyone in a good conspiracy theory has to be working together.
Quote from: droogApart from that, the parallel to the Reichstag fire is pretty clear.
Yeah, the similarities are stunning. I was as amazed as anyone when George W. Bush blamed the Democrats for destroying the World Trade Center, banned the Democratic party from taking part in elections, put Republican operatives in charge of all local governments, abolished trade unions, and made the Republican Party the only legal political party in the United States. That's why the Republicans will control both the House and the Senate with 100% of the seats after the 2006 election. Given all of those clear similarities, he'll be suspending the Constitution, declaring himself President for Life, and invading Canada any day now, right?
Quote from: RPGPunditSo the latest elections in Ecuador saw a victory for yet another puppet of Hugo Chavez. That means that at this point Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador all have heavy-duty "bolivarean" socialist governments (allied with Cuba); and Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile all have social-democrat governments.
It all got me thinking to the idea of somehow, a new Commie movement breaking out and going wild in the one place in the world where it really seems to still have serious straight-faced appeal, latinamerica. And I thought of the potential of a game setting of would-be utopian communist "compañeros" fighting against the "yanqui" aggressor with the aid of... what?
Superpowers?
Ancient Inca Magic?
Undead Lich-King Che Guevara?
...Robots?
You tell me.
RPGpundit
Sounds like it would make an awesome "Darwin's World: South America" campaign to me.
But then I love post-apoc gaming with a passion that some (some!) have described as unnatural.
Chuck
Quote from: John MorrowOK. So this assumes that the agenda was always "aggressive imperialism abroad and the curtailing of liberties at home". So what is Bush supposed to get out of aggressive imperialism and curtailing of liberties? What's in it for him?
I don't feel like arguing with you on this question, Mr Morrow, but it's related to the decline in the rate of profit. The literature is ample should you wish to go into it. As for the parallel to the Reichstag fire, does it have to be exact in every detail? No. It's a critical incident that gave the ruling coterie an excuse to further its agenda through extraordinary means.
Hard nanotechnology
For a series of very different socialist utopias, check out the novels of Ken MacLeod
I guess if everyone turned into a communist it would be kind of like the zombie genre, so I'd make sure the players were all equipped with chainsaws, hangin' ropes, and shotguns and such.
Quote from: JimBobOzDear Mirror Ron,
Please keep your politics out of my roleplaying games. The purpose of the GM is not to educate the players.
Love,
JimBobOz
You seem to have mistaken me for a leftist...
RPGPundit
Quote from: Dominus NoxBefore 911 because the new reichstag fire, there was a strong anti-capitalism movement sweeping parts of the world brought about mainly by the fact that things like downsizing, outsourcing and other corporate schemes were hurting the working classes in the west while strengthening and supporting governments that allowed or used child labor, slave labor and generally kept the labor pool docile and content to work hard for little money.
Dude, WHAT parts of the world? Latinamerica before 9-11 had like, one or two vaguely left-wing governments.
Today, every country except for Columbia are at least centre-left, and every country except Columbia, Chile, and arguably Peru are dominated by anti-americanism in their politics.
Or are you talking about North America and Europe, about college kids protesting against the WTO, with their Starbucks Lattechinos in their hands, wearing their hemp clothing that they bought at the mall for $200?
Yea, those stupid fuckwits were a real element for social change that would have started to pay off any day now if it hadn't been for 9-11...
RPGPundit
Quote from: Dominus NoxOk, I'll tell you that this probably belongs in the off topic forum.
Oh yeah, obviously a thread about ideas for an RPG SETTING don't belong in the RPG FORUM.
Dude,
you belong in the off-topics forum.
RPGPundit
Dominus Nox still believes the US is all that counts.
Over here 9-11 hasn´t changed that much.
BTW, calling 9-11 "Reichstagsbrand" IS conspiracy theory bullshit.
Quote from: John MorrowYeah, the similarities are stunning. I was as amazed as anyone when George W. Bush blamed the Democrats for destroying the World Trade Center, banned the Democratic party from taking part in elections, put Republican operatives in charge of all local governments, abolished trade unions, and made the Republican Party the only legal political party in the United States. That's why the Republicans will control both the House and the Senate with 100% of the seats after the 2006 election. Given all of those clear similarities, he'll be suspending the Constitution, declaring himself President for Life, and invading Canada any day now, right?
Hey, fuckers.. start your own "what-if setting" thread. This thread is to talk about a fantasy rise of communist power in latinamerica; go make your own thread about Heroic Limpwristed Inclusive Liberals fighting Evil Dictator George Bush...
RPGpundit
It's such a meat and potatoes improvement, but I think a communist super-revolution would benefit greatly from cheap and abundant energy. So I say we make these Reds cold fusion-powered. After that they start getting cool future tech weaponry. Give em' hover tanks, battlesuits, Hell this could be a great weird science setting. The Reds have their stalwart revolutionaries in their camouflage laserpacking battlesuits facing off the real souless hordes: Evil Capitalist Cyborgs, using the rewired brains of the poor for an AI.
Quote from: JamesVIt's such a meat and potatoes improvement, but I think a communist super-revolution would benefit greatly from cheap and abundant energy. So I say we make these Reds cold fusion-powered. After that they start getting cool future tech weaponry. Give em' hover tanks, battlesuits, Hell this could be a great weird science setting. The Reds have their stalwart revolutionaries in their camouflage laserpacking battlesuits facing off the real souless hordes: Evil Capitalist Cyborgs, using the rewired brains of the poor for an AI.
Disturbingly enough, this is basically the plot for Ken MacLeod's "Fall Revolution" series
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonDisturbingly enough, this is basically the plot for Ken MacLeod's "Fall Revolution" series
Well hell, I should read it some time. Sounds right up my alley.
Quote from: fonkaygarryTo counter his nationalist/leftist power, the deathless Theodore Roosevelt (given immortality through his discovery of the true fountain of youth in Cuba) activates the once hidden geomantic powers of Mount Rushmore to power cowboy-piloted supermechs that ride cloned, gigantic copies of Pecos Bill's own Lightning.
Supermechs? Pfft, what you're looking for is patriotism-powered elementals!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c220/rvilliers/Posters/Bringiton.jpg)
:D
Didn't the Ultimates (the new "mature" Avengers reboot) have this as a storyline?
With the USA being in control (well...) of the worlds most powerful superhero team which they even use in warfare against non-superhumans, the "world" (the communist and islamistic countries) unite to smash the state.
In a GURPS campaign I ran, set in 2100, all of South America and much of Central America had been united under a Brazil-led co-prosperity sphere of Communist nations, the Union of South American States. This was enabled by a limited nuclear war between the US and China that effectively curtailed American world-wide influence (and oblitereated China). Due to the discovery and spread of fusion power (and Mechs - the campaign was a decidedly anime-flavored affair set in the Pacific Coalition), oil was losing its grip on the remainder of the world, but the USAS mainted an oil- and nuclear-based economy. Combined with the destruction of most of the middle east due to perpeutal Wars of Israeli Expansion, the collapse of most of Africa under the heel of a resurgent South Africa, and the slow but stead remilitarization of the European Union, it made for interesting times.
I like the ideas of either the cold fusion or the nanotechnology pushing the power of the new socialist power in Latin America. The cold fusion has the tinge of the more real - cheap free energy, if they were to get it, would be a big push towards power in a realistic way, whereas the nanotech could allow for a number of interesing and flashy superscience miracles.
(It reminds me of the technosocialism in Transhuman Space, where a number of countries worked together to share plans for various technologies which could then be printed/replicated via nanites.)
There's also a possibility of a new cold war/espionage campaign, where the big prize is trying to smuggle technical secrets out of Latin America and back to the home country.
Quote from: jcfialaThere's also a possibility of a new cold war/espionage campaign, where the big prize is trying to smuggle technical secrets out of Latin America and back to the home country.
Can't help but think of this picture (although it's been done before) :D
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l241/fonkaygarry/1163262430441.jpg)
Elite squads of spyhunters protecting valuable homeland tech secrets ....
Regards,
David R