Sleeping Dragon

Southforge Citadel Learned Vess paces around the massive, abandoned halls of the Citadel. The place had been so thouroughly looted over the years that one could not even tell which room once held the legendary geneforge of the South. Some serviles approached her carrying armloads of papers. Her eyes widened, “Anything useful?” “Not much, madam Councilor. Some noted on new creations, and some way outdated and terribly incomplete geneforge research.” Vess sighed. She had arrived at Southforge to find that the Sholai had already moved on. If there was even anything here when they arrived, it was gone now. Still, the facility had far more space and equipment than the School of Magery back in the Valley. She would stay here and make this her new base of operations. With some work, it could be one of the paramount research facilities in Terrestia once more. Her fanciful planning was interrupted by a serviles bringing news from the West. The Council had been destroyed… weeks ago. Fand was there now attempting to form a new government, with a new Compact. The thought of him undertaking such a feat with her absent was outrageous. She called Tavian to her side to discuss this matter. “We can not allow this new government to be formed without our input! I’m going to send them representatives to act on my behalf as Governor of the Forsaken Lands.” Tavian raised an eyebrow, “Governor of the Forsaken Land? No one even lives here.” “Who cares? My old title of Councilor of Magic is worthless now. With this territory, I can demand representation like any of the other regional governors. Which reminds me, you need to take your place as Governor of Illya, that way we have twice the bargaining power in whatever government Fand is cooking up.” “Very good, my lady. Always thinking two steps ahead of the rest. Shall I inform our new subjects that our military campaigns are at an end, then?” Vess fiddled with the amulet around her neck, “Not just yet. It will be some time before our representatives can return with news from the capital. In the meantime, we should learn what we can about the North and how we can bring our way of life to the people of the Fens.” Drypeak City Learned Fand’s jaw dropped when he heard of Vess’s successes in the East. The old Confederacy was now three times as big as it was, and now he needed to form a government with a bunch of people representing lands he knew next to nothing about. Never the less, he stood before the gathered representatives from the provinces and began his proposal, “The new Confederate government should have some sort of council. This new council, made up of experts in their fields-“ The representative sent by Governor Vess interrupted Fand, “More of the same? The old Council failed because it was weak and didn’t uphold the interest of the Provinces. My Governor believes that the provincial representatives should play a larger role in the central government, now that the lands of the Confederacy are far more vast and diverse.” Fand nodded, “This could work. Representatives would give the central government more legitimacy and, by extent, more authority. No one has ever attempted such a government before, but I suppose it could work. A representative from each region, then, each with one vote. Someone will need to take the responsibility of presiding over such meetings, however. In our turbulent times, a single head of state is necessary to take action when such is called for.” A voice called out from the delegated declaring that Fand himself should take the job. He and Vess were the most recognized serviles remaining since the destruction of the old Council, and Fand was by far the more palatable of the two. Half of the delegates cheered the idea of Fand taking a leading role in the new government, while others demanded that the regional Representatives have the highest authority. Eventually, it was compromised that Fand would preside over the government, taking the title of President, and that the regional Representatives could overrule him whenever the majority were in agreement. The Provinces reserved the right to raise armies to defend themselves, while the President reserved the power to make diplomacy with neighbors. President Fand was immensely pleased with the outcome. Everyone seemed to get what they wanted. He only wondered why Vess had been so accommodating. What was she up to in the East? For now, it didn’t matter, as long as she kept sending good news back home. As a final motion set forth by the fledgling government, the Confederacy would be renamed to better fit its new organization. Eventually a name was settled upon: the United Provinces of Terrestia.

Well, I enjoy playing as the serviles, and I agree with them for the most part. The challenge has been making them appear flawed and human. They have noble goals, but very little means of accomplishing them. It really gives them character, I think.

Ah, there's that relativity again. I was referring to driving in the city, not on highways. When I say fast, I mean like quickly squeezing between drivers when roads merge or just running yellow lights. When I say slow I mean like not immediately going when a light turns green or stopping at a stop sign for too long. That's city driving. The fact that I don't immediately honk at people who are guilty of the later actions would cause most people to say I'm not an aggressive driver at all. I still think I'm pretty aggressive but simply don't have the rudeness that usually goes with the territory. As for highways, I'll go about 70 when it's 55 mph and people will still constantly pass me. If someone is going really slow, the fact that in Pennsylvania you're only supposed to be in the right lane when passing someone makes it easy to do so.

My alliance with the Doctors seems to work out nicely since we're in agreement principle-wise. Serviles govern serviles and humans govern humans. It's not that my serviles are racist, they're just very wary of humanity, for obvious reasons. I was actually quite pleased at how progressive the Doctors seem to be. Hopefully, it's not a ruse. As for the Sholai, I'll probably be taking the rest of their lands soon, before moving North to... the Gazers? When was the last map update?

Not to knock Obama, but the bar for peacemakers has been set pretty low over the past, oh, eight or nine years. Really, though, I take this award as a sign that he has already inspired some kind of hope worldwide. Other nations seem to really like him, for whatever reasons, and that's something worth rewarding. I do hope people don't forget about this too quickly. One interesting thing about him winning it so early in his term is that it might be something of a symbol that other world leaders would recognize when he calls them to the bargaining table in the future.

I like to consider myself a defensive rather than an aggressive driver, but I've noticed that such definitions tend to be relative. I live in an urban area, so you pretty much have to drive aggressively just to keep up with everyone else. When I go outside the city, I appear to be much more aggressive compared to the average suburban driver. I've have been in less accidents than anyone I know, at least. Heck, my cars have accrued more damage sitting parked than they have with me driving them, but again, that's the city for you. Edit: Oh, to answer the poll question: I prefer fast, aggressive drivers. I seem to be skilled enough that they aren't much of a danger to me. In fact, slow drivers often appear to be much more dangerous to me because they tend to be unpredictable and irrational, unlike skilled aggressive drivers. Not that aggressive drivers can't be unskilled, but I'd stand by my claim that they are at least more predictable and rational.

There are plenty of movies out there that manage to introduce a new concept and world, develop characters, and set up a decent plot all in just two hours. Making a movie about Geneforge 1 would not be difficult at all, especially given how special effects these days can do literally anything. Shaping wouldn't even need to be explained. As long as an audience can see it in action, casually being used by the characters in the movie, they will get how it works and understand its importance in the world. People aren't that dumb. A TV series, on the other hand, would probably suck, given their low budgets, bad actors, really bad directors, and the fact that it must be divided up into segments. Anything Geneforge outside of Jeff's games is unlikely, however, given the fact that he has explained before how much he loves holding the exclusive rights to his work.

Quite the downer, Ephesos. I would hope that you'd think better of the community that you've become such an important figure in. Even if you don't feel you belong anymore, here's hoping you stay for another 5000 posts!

I agree with Thuryl. I don't feel I'm doing anything wrong when I drive a bit above the speed limit. In fact, if an officer were to pull me over for driving five or even ten miles per hour above the speed limit, I might even feel wronged. I never do anything while driving that I would feel uncomfortable with other people doing. It's proven to be a safe rule to follow.

Well, Jeff had to quit while he was ahead after writing the strigil description in Nethergate. That was the best. I love being able to say: "And guess where I learned that? Computer games."

One of these days I will get you, Madagascar!

Pretty sure he just emailed Jeff regarding the vambraces naming problem as was suggested. Good job Sss-Chah.

Oh, I didn't realize it was one of those fancy adjustable wrenches. Brutal.

The other options have been bluffing Jeran or mindless zombies, and neither of those seemed as good an idea as bluffing my own team mates, which is always fun, even if it fails. Conclusion: More goblins in future encounters! Please.

Perhaps we should create our own philosophy school. Given todays standards, we're more than qualified. We could call it Extreme Medianism. Truly, a philosophy for the modern world, one that caters to the center of the bell curve, yet makes itself seem more deviant than it really is. Though I suppose that given that most philosophies are either extremely black or extremely white, ours will by default be extreme in it's grayness.

I know John's not my character, but I've had my share of fun with him. Since he leveled, I humbly recommend to Duck points in bluff. I'd put both points into bluff, but one in bluff and one in hat throw is also a worthy combination for your consideration.

Yes, well, I was taught this by a philosophy professor, not an economist. An economist teaching ethics, while more practical in theory, is probably a bad thing in theoretical practice. Originally Posted By: Alorael Most philosophy doesn't particularly favor the middle. Hmm, I guess you just get more philosopher points for boldly picking one extreme or the other. A shame. The middle is where all the tough thinking is really at.

I figured it was something like that, it was just funnier to imagine it was some kind of bizarre coincidence. Anyway, I like your zero hit points rule. It seemed to work really well. It would have been sad to have a couple people wiped out by zombies, so it was a good alternative. I'm glad Lindy found it in her heart to not let John bleed to death. Also, bluff fails, again. Bluff always fails. Edit: Oh, and I assume Duck added to John's strength so that he could carry more loot. Next time he tries to jump up onto a wall holding cleaning products, he better not be so encumbered. What great hats that mop and bucket would have made.

I couldn't help but notice the name John was used as... a verb... twice... by different people. Originally Posted By: Kaval I John behind the door again. Originally Posted By: Ephesos The rest of the party Johns to avoid it. Other than that, funny stuff. Or, rather, including that, funny stuff.

Originally Posted By: Student of Trinity And for that matter I myself consider a flatter wealth distribution to be valuable. If achieving it costs a bit of extra poverty, then up to a point I think that society comes out ahead. A utilitarian would choose to give +4 to one person over giving +1 to three people. This seems to coincide with your second point. A philosophical liberal would chose to give +1 to the person with only 1, rather than giving +1 to the three people who already have 2. That theoretically leads your first point in the long run, but neither philosophy seems particularly adequate. In fact, I can't think of a philosophy that would promote giving most or all of it to the people with 2, and less or nothing to the people with 1 or the people with 5. Philosophers generally don't care about the people in the middle, despite the fact that the politicians always seem to claim the middle class is everything. My first instinct is to say don't trust or believe the politicians, but is there not something significant here? Why doesn't philosophy address the middle class? Or, if it does, please enlighten me, being in graduate school, I don't plan on ever taking a philosophy class again.

Well, I'm pretty sure he was not a utilitarian at all, and that he was mostly concerned with teaching classical utilitarianism, back when everything was simple logic and definitions, not the one that's been butchered by modern philosophers who all ask way too many questions.

Warcraft calls them legguards or legplates, which, while not the most clever or historical of word choices, gets the job done.

Originally Posted By: Thuryl catholics are pretty okay i guess most of the time, especially if they're not clergy Ah, but in the movie, a bishop actually comes to a worker's rally and cheers them on. Moore actually goes to see multiple clergy in the movie and they all said the same thing: that capitalism is evil. Of course, you didn't use punctuation, so maybe you were being sarcastic or something... Originally Posted By: Thuryl Even if your analysis is valid, we're not just trying to maximise the production of goods. You also have to look at marginal utility effects from how those goods are distributed. (Well, you don't have to look at them, if you're not a utilitarian. But if we're talking about ultimate goals here, supporting participatory economics because you believe in rewarding effort for the sake of rewarding effort is at least as plausible as supporting capitalism because you believe in maximising production of goods for the sake of maximising production of goods.) Actually, I was told by my philosophy professor that utilitarians do believe in maximizing profit. You're right that you need to look at distribution, but the utilitarian will always pick the situation where there are more goods to be distributed, with how they are distributed being a secondary concern. Yeah, I thought it was dumb too, but apparently that's how it works.

Originally Posted By: Wundercraft —Alorael, who also has a strong, irrational need to have the dishes done in a timely fashion. He can't leave them in the sink to sleep. This can become a problem if he is cohabiting with numerous others who share no such compulsion. My roommate knows how you feel. I'm a messy person, but I always wake up the next morning to a clean kitchen, which is really nice. It's not that I don't offer to do them, it's just I can wait until the sink is a little more full, while she can't. My biggest pet peeve is talking to people in the bathroom. I don't know if other people have this problem, but people always seem to be trying to talk to me while either they or I are in the bathroom. I don't like talking through a door. I just don't.

I saw the movie. The history was all too familiar to me (though I really liked the FDR clip). What I found most interesting was the religious sub-text. There was an underlying theme of taking Christianity back from the rich who use it for propaganda and returning it to its roots as the poor person's religion. It was... uplifting.