Old Powers/New Powers

[colonel]

These people will not need weapons. Trust me.

[west]

Um...I rather think they will.

Those who live by the sword are shot by those who don't.

[ephiroll]

Bad move stan.

I know...but he held his position for damn near 30 years, I thought it was time for him to pass things on whether it was a good idea or not...his return to the gov has always been in the air anyway so it's hard to tell what will actually happen...

[TheTheorist]

New power: Tribe Blackrock.

Loyal members, exceedingly well equipped, but very very self contained. They don't even have that much influence on the town they're in. They are expanding but very slowly. But they're a more of a guardian force than a take over the world group.

[west]

That's partly because every time they start looking at taking over the world/the location they're in they get the sh-t beat out of them and have to get all new leadership.

TBR's been strong for a long time, they just periodically go through turmoil and have to regroup.

The current batch has been around for a while though without getting too big for their britches, so I think they'll probably stay around.

[Anthony Roberts]

*Groans* TBR, sometimes it's okay, but for the most part... the members are half-crazy, self-centred, or seriously inactive. *Kicks them all*

[colonel]

(Colonel moons TBR!) Hey remember me? LOL

[nitefyre]

I don't think the people of Krif are afraid of the Mac Gregors...and I doubt they would be able to occupy Krif even if they made an all out attack.

If Gregor wasn't an old pal of the Rangers he would have been dealt with much harder...but I don't think that all effects of his little speech of madness have been played out yet.

I agree with Pirog on both the Sjoftich point and the Krif/Gregor one.

As for Sjoftich, I went there once, and was thoroughly intrigued. I knew I would need to have someone there someday... Alexander Valiant provides a key cultural/mentor part to the community, which Valentine Dangle does a prodigious job keeping together. I think everyone pretty much feels at home there.

And as for West's comments, you forgot to add the line before that-

Gregor: Lets go kill all of KDS's elders.

-Gary and Anderton definitely showed their old friendship with Gregor, and fortunately, for this time, it saved lives in the short run.

[Anthony Roberts]

You know, sure, there are government powers - but there are also economic powers as well. Some business in the game spans several locations, and help to aid these governments. Without those businesses, the governments might not have the backbone that they need in order to expand themselves.

Such an example would be Cross Weapons. Cross Weapons helped supply Tribe Blackrock with armaments (I think, it's what I've been told, anyway) - So, without Cross Weapons, TBR would have to have acquired those armaments elsewhere, or they might not have them at all.

Now, not only is there economic power, but there is also citizen powers. The Lad Empire is practically run by its citizens. Sure, all governments are run by their citizens, but I mean, without those citizens in Lad, it would have nothing - literally. However, if say Krif lost all its citizen workforce, there'd be many others willing to take their place for work, including the Rangers, Guards, and those from other towns (Probably not the MacGregors, though.)

So, then, why only do we discuss military powers when there are others to discuss? Hmm?

Plus, I just like talking about economics. Currency turns me on

[The Industriallist]

Such an example would be Cross Weapons. Cross Weapons helped supply Tribe Blackrock with armaments (I think, it's what I've been told, anyway) - So, without Cross Weapons, TBR would have to have acquired those armaments elsewhere, or they might not have them at all.

A business that actually makes weapons? What do they charge for them? I would rather have expected any of the power groups there to have a bunch of their low-ranking members cranking out weapons inside.

Now, not only is there economic power, but there is also citizen powers. The Lad Empire is practically run by its citizens. Sure, all governments are run by their citizens, but I mean, without those citizens in Lad, it would have nothing - literally. However, if say Krif lost all its citizen workforce, there'd be many others willing to take their place for work, including the Rangers, Guards, and those from other towns (Probably not the MacGregors, though.)

What on earth does this mean? Lad (based on my last information, which is pretty old and fuzzy) depends on it's semi-enslaved citizens for production, but they don't answer to them in any way...

Krif...why would people come work for them? The Rangers don't do productive labor for other groups (other than their peacekeeping function, which might be considered productive). Their guards are citizens, though they do seem to do a lot of the not-really-payed scut work. What do the rest of the citizens do for Krif anyway, that other people would come and do instead?

So, then, why only do we discuss military powers when there are others to discuss? Hmm?

Because when you come down to it, the only power is the power to hurt, kill, and imprison people. It doesn't matter what goods you have or what you can make if someone can kill you at will...they can take what you have and force you to make more for them.

Economic 'power' comes in when you can use your economic resources to get other people to do the hurting you aren't competent at for you. But that power isn't really yours...the people with the ability to wreak havok only obey you as long as they choose.

This is why so many countries have fallen to their own armies in history, and why such modern institutions as national loyalty and procedure are so important to the armed forces...they turn the people with the power against any among them that try to wield the power for themselves.

[Surly]

Plus, I just like talking about economics. Currency turns me on

For enough currency, anything would turn me on

Anyway, I agree. But many economic powers back up military powers. For instance, the AHMC or whatever its called is a military powrr, but without the economic side it would be nowhere.

Technically iron/steel production = power
Production of finished goods and selling them (iron/steel) =economics

Therefore, economics = power.

Impeccable logic, I feel.

[NetherSpawn]

Firstly, no one I know even sells steel goods.
Secondly, that logic doesn't make any sense anyway.

Weapons/armor, vehicles, buildings with locks, and healing food are all power, though healing food is not so useful without othe rcombat equipment. The abilities to run, to hit and run, etc. are militarily very useful in Cantr. Production is also power but a very different kind of power, one that is easy to disrupt. Seven people with crossbows and iron shields are more immediately powerful than four, regardless of what infrastructure the four have.
Incidentally, higher top-class weapons and defences would make technology more meaningful.

[The Industriallist]

Or (big chorus here) item deterioration
Then the 7 people with top gear have to have big productivity backing them to keep operating for more than a strictly limited period.

[Appleide]

my char heard that areas around Kwor fields are being taken over by TBR is this true?

[The Industriallist]

my char heard that areas around Kwor fields are being taken over by TBR is this true?

I would suggest a big 4-day rule here...