@Lotherio The theme is easy enough, though. I really wasn't lying, as you can tell in the book, when I said that it's essentially the same, but set on an alternate-Earth scenario kind of deal. Both 'sides' are depicted fairly, with equal amounts of shitty and glorious people in the book.
@Lotherio The book would provide a backdrop; the ending was more or less open, it's not definitive and GGK certainly didn't explore it beyond that. HOWEVER, other books are connected to that one. I suspect A Song for Arbonne (another great, unforgettable book, by the way, right up there with Tigana after I gave it a more thorough read) and the one set on the viking raids, etc. are probably the same world.
You'll always have people griping about this or that when it comes to a lords and ladies game set on an actual historical startpoint. We've both seen that. I think Lions of al-Rassan completely sidesteps that by showing a romanticized version of Christians (Jeddites), Muslims (I forgot the actual name of theirs, but they're the rulers of al-Rassan) and Jews; it's easy enough to transplant the information into one concise page, if necessary.
Further, he provides maps in the book itself, which is incredibly helpful for running a MUSH.
As for the Umayyads, I should probably note that there are respected historical books depicting them as sort of arbitrary in their decisions of tolerances. Some Umayyad rulers were as you described, others preferred to intentionally single out those of religious minorities and execute them. You might call it a cyclical thing, which it was, really.
BUT, if you really want to abstract it away, make it an Arabian Nights thing, and have it set on the Hashashin mountainside stronghold during the Mongol invasions. That would be sort of cool. No religious conflict then, merely ethnic.
@Lotherio Trust me, Lions of al-Rassan is everything you need, bundled in a setting. It's a great read, too. Has all the romantic parts you want to put in a MU loosely based on upon the Reconquista.
@Lotherio I would say do away with history altogether, then, and instead focus on a setting that is a facsimile, and yet allows you enough latitude to write/act as you prefer.
I recommend 'Lions of al-Rassan' as a source, by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Close enough to the history, not close enough to piss people off, and gives you plenty of latitude to play with the events that unfold after the book's closing chapter.
@Lotherio The Muslim enclaves of Granada and Cordoba started being tolerant a couple centuries after the great invasion (in which there were genocides, mass rapes, including the more publicized [at the time] enslaving and rape of a Visigothic princess), so it really is up to which timeline you're looking at. If it's later, like, say, around the time of El Cid Campeador (1060 and whereabouts), then you'll see those emirates (Cordoba and Granada, mostly) trying to preserve culture, genteel culture, etc.
Another idea is to set it around Navarre, where the Christian Kings were fighting with the banu Qasim, also known as Cassius, the traitor Visigoth. His was a dynamic enough fiefdom that at the height of his 'dynasty', he was the de facto leader of much of what would become Aragon, until Cordoba turned their backs on him.
@Cadi Oh wow, you're alive! @somasatori were reminiscing about you a couple days ago. Glad you're around!
Current roster:
Name Sex Vocation
Blood Brothers (gang)
Wut (#2006) young man Matrix Runner
Deep Sixers (gang)
Hammer (#2638) young man Lieutenant
Hermes Comm. (infracorp)
Timothy (#1996) young man Journalist
Independent
Henry (#10599) young man Musician
Dave (#10917) young man Musician
Sinochem (corporation)
Jiaxin (#1998) young woman Research Officer
Mei (#7508) young woman Research Manager
Sky Reapers (gang)
Pip (#6346) young man Matrix Runner
ZPG (infracorp)
Wei (#1997) middle aged man Deputy Chief
Alex (#3312) older man Peace Enforcement Officer
Sawyer (#3953) young man Detective
Sublett (#6204) young man Peace Enforcement Officer
We really need some ZPG folks. You can take a corp guy or girl (Sinochem or L-A) for instance, and have a ZPG member, too, they're considered a gang for alt purposes. ZPG is basically the corporate police. They're needed for some plot developments.
I like Scenario 1 a lot. The Italian Wars were a particularly amazing historic era and it would be amazing to play in it.
Some characters got idle-rostered. Come take a look, maybe you'll find someone you like! We need active corporation people and we have a few concepts that may appeal.
@Arkandel said in The 100: The Mush:
@Ghost said in The 100: The Mush:
Nice people or not, though, what repeatedly happens with these two is that they center all plot thru their PCs, focus the game on their characters, push against other players trying to create plot elements that don't match their design, and then close the game when it doesn't pan out their way.
Not only is that quite true, it's also baffling; for a new game where players haven't had the chance yet to invest in their characters (and thus have a high chance of sticking around) you'd think staff would want them to do so. That is, I'd expect especially early stages of MU* to be quite generous as to how much PCs get to be in the spotlight and/or get to do cool things, get involved in plot - which showcases why your MU* is so cool - and generally create positive word of mouth.
The reality is different. But... I guess that's a good thing in a way, if these annoying tendencies show early on - less time wasted for everyone involved than if you had to play half a year first before badness happened.
You know, not that I have any particular stake on this, but just by way of commentary, the whole 'showcase your character in a plot' was what got hooked me on Firan, back when there was a certain OC plot. It was my first character on the MUX and he went on a plot! I felt like I was a liked member of the community instead of a nonfactor.
Of course, my nonfactoring came later on, which sucked balls but hey.
@icanbeyourmuse said in Dystopia MUX:
@deadculture /i might forget my interest by then. I forget why I buy a game 5 minutes after I do.
That happens!
@icanbeyourmuse The game's roster is still under construction, it's going to take awhile until options diversify. I'd be patient until then. I'm sure there'll be new stuff coming that'll draw your eye.
@TMG Object manipulation, downtime gain and other things are all based off on energy. You just go to the Bazaar or the bar and get yourself some food, until it fills your reserve, more likely.
It's like you're not just a beer or drink snob, @WTFE, but also a Chinese-beer-or-drink snob. I'm not sure if it's much better.
While the OOC parts of the charges levied on the man seem reasonable (like speaking with others about the support system, throwing a fit about another character's stats, complaining about code changes) how is being competitive as a player bad? Since when are players NOT competitive? 'Story first!' you might say, but in the end, you still want your story to turn out like a good run, instead of an aborted attempt at one.
I guess people should just go out and say he had an abrasive twinky behavior (And look, I don't play Arx, no horse in this race) instead of going like, 'You were competitive!'
@sthanheykel said in Open Dates of New Games?:
@EUBanana Keep us updated! I'd be very interested in playing there.
It is open.
@somasatori said in Dystopia MUX:
@deadculture -- Are you in on this project, duder?
I have been helping with character generation. It's EUB's baby. All I do is sometimes write stuff!
The roster is pretty diverse. The rundown is:
Gangs:
Sky Reapers - The more benevolent, commune style gang that owns the farms/food sector of the city.
Deep Sixers - Think Project Mayhem, from Fight Club. Now make it a gang.
Blood Brothers - Basically communist guerillas, Yucatan War survivors, most likely.
Corps:
Lockheed-Aegis: Your good ole defense corporation; a lot of characters belong to it and it's a major player in the Dystopian New York City.
Sinochem - Chinese chemicals company.
A few others to come!
Hermes Comm: the reporter corp.
Cops:
ZPG - an infracorp, they have a few officers and a detective. Mostly responsible for watching over Manhattan, since it's teenage wasteland outside of that area.
Mafia:
Syndicate - only one character left on this one just yet, but they run the drugs in town! A lot of drugs. All the gangers who happen to be boosters are dependent on their neuropozyne to keep the jitters well off their nervous system.
And three independent characters; they don't belong to any faction.