TeddyBearMafia

Steam Powered Europe

ONL said
fastest and deadliest airship...

We'll see about that.

Radio Free Metropolis (Multimedia)

GreenGrenade said
Awesome. And would there be a titanpad for this? In case people want to collab on stuff?

If there is enough interest, I'm totally open to outside platforms as long as they're accessible. Titanpad's a pretty useful one, but I'll hold all decisions until a bit later. Good idea, though.

Radio Free Metropolis (Multimedia)

GreenGrenade said
Incredibly interested. Would a character that originates from New Sydney be ok?

By all means. If you want to explain the reason behind me putting "natural" in quotation marks, feel free. It's not just my world to develop, though if this thing picks up more steam I'll actually have to get down and dirty with relearning funk piano. (oh god the horror ^_^)

Called Up - A WWII-esque Military RP (Alternate Universe)

Goldmarble said
Well, actually...The Solothurn S18/100 was initially deployed in 1938, and the Lahti L-39 was designed/introduced in 1939.

Small nations, I meant. I stand corrected though: I am most definitely not an expert on WW2 weapons.

Post Your Pikcha

I love these threads, so easy to spend all day flicking through them. :P

assorted photos

Impromptu graduation photo! Really liked this one.

Ping pong about a month ago right after my friend and I both graduated. I'm on the left of course.

About a year back when I was working in Moldova. This guy was the most terrifying bus driver of all time, but he was also hilarious when we talked in broken Romanian, so I guess that made up for my heart stopping every three seconds.

Radio Free Metropolis (Multimedia)

OOC IS UP: Click HERE!

Inspired by the likes of Jet Set/Grind Radio, Mirror’s Edge, and the best of dystopian cyberpunk fiction like Neal Stephenson’s “Snow Crash” and the comic series “Transmetropolitan”, not to mention the most hilarious film ever, Pirate Radio, I bring you:

RADIO FREE METROPOLIS


Credit to: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Jet-Set-Radio-Future-Gum-391718154

Intro

Welcome to the year 2134. Humankind has done the miraculous, leapfrogging off of the Earth and into space. The last three decades have seen millions of tiny, fragile, all-so-moral earthlings escape the tomb they dug for themselves with pollution, waste, and most of all war. These privileged few have started the exodus, but there is no guarantee, especially not the likelihood, that humanity will make a full escape. Though the nuclear holocaust that devastated the Earth’s population in 2084 failed to produce either the doomsday or send the remnants of human civilization back into the dark ages, it did centralize the three billion remaining to a few self-governing megacities holding upwards of a hundred million people each. To name but a few of the main ones: New Amsterdam on the old Antarctic shelf, the Chicago-Detroit-Toronto Metropolitan Area, the twin cities of Paris-Brussels, the sprawling masses of poverty and suffering in both Lagos and Cairo, the mechanical marvel of Metro La Paz in former Paraguay, and the ‘natural’ New Sydney in the terra-formed Australian desert. These new megacities were formed to house the millions displaced by rising ocean levels, and those forcibly displaced to make the most efficient use of the arable land left behind. There is natural life in these new edifices of concrete and steel, but is tucked away behind miles of pipes and roads and skyscrapers, each layered on top of the next to firmly segregate the fortunate from the less fortunate. The struggle of mother earth against her most rebellious sons, however, is not so easily suppressed…

Setting, Please Read!

That brings the casual observer to the greatest offender of all the new cities: Metro-Tokyo, or simply just the ‘Metropolis’ to the most. With a population exceeding three hundred million jammed into just four thousand square kilometres, the incomprehensible mess of languages and cultures that permeates the scientific and engineering marvels keeping the entire city afloat, mostly fed, and partially clean, boggles the imagination, as does the complexity of the street language: metropolitan. Of even greater note, however, is the fantastical space elevator that sits at the centre of the city, connecting the wretched on the earth with the resources sent from their generous cousins mining asteroids and the moons of Jupiter. But this is no altruism, for there is still a fortune to be made exploiting human misery, even in the 22nd millennium. In these megacities, democracy is all but a farce to make the diminishing middle class feel better about their vanishing rights; organized crime bosses, super corporations, and megalomaniacs masquerading as philanthropists make the real rules. And yet, here in the twisting and winding mazes of Metropolis, they cannot utilize their destructive potential to recreate the all-out war of the past. All realize that the real lifeblood flows from space, and to jeopardize the elevator would be to commit suicide. Thus, as always, men and women must bleed and die on the streets of Metropolis for the benefit of ironclad, invisible, and now even almost immortal masters.

Technological advances have revolutionized control, placing almost the entire city under the eye of ‘law enforcement’, which enforce the law of whoever pays them enough. There is no reprieve from this eye online either. The internet is a thing of the past for most: private networks are relied upon due to the speed and invasive power of automated viruses and computer-aided hackers who can steal almost all data left unencrypted or unguarded for even a millisecond on an open network. And it’s not just computers that can be hacked; any internet-connected device without proper safeguards can be used against its owner. Cases of hacked phones, music players, cars, tablets, houses, weapons, and even pacemakers are reported regularly. For those truly wishing to keep their identity free in the new world, then, older technology is making resurgences.

Bicycles, rollerblades, skateboards, even oil-based rocket packs if the fuel can be found, replace other methods of travel, albeit with a modern twist. And even more importantly, the role of the courier has become ever more important in keeping private information private. Typewritten documents, packages, rare animals, anything imaginable is now transported daily by couriers all over the city, often risking life and limb to get their next paycheck. But hey, it’s better than starving… And now, in the greatest juxtaposition of all, ham radio operators have made a comeback, broadcasting their signals out on all frequencies to flood the airwaves with so much traffic that it is nigh impossible to track down one single broadcaster. Most are harmless, would be reporters or music-stars, who receive little attention and deserve even less. Others are bothersome, such as wronged individuals or petty criminals openly plotting crimes. But others… others threaten so many of the rich and powerful, that the one consensus amongst their ranks is that those radio operators must be eliminated.

This is the world of Radio Free Metropolis, and those allied with it, those who dare to speak truth to power, to expose lies for no benefit other than the satisfaction of doing so, to risk their lives for a chance at a better thrill or a better life than they are living now, cynical social justice warriors keen to inflict some damage, and even those few who just want to dance while human civilization on Earth burns itself to a crisp in one last great burst of passion.

OOC Intro

In this RP, I want to try something multimedia meaning if you can tell part of your story or contribute to the world of other characters through photography, art, music-writing, poetry, descriptions, or any possible creative way that you can imagine, I invite you to do so. This does not mean that if you are only comfortable writing you can’t be a part of this story: I encourage you to dig just as deeply into building parts of the world as well. You also don’t have to create every single multimedia piece you use, and can draw from your favourite artists of all kinds. However, the reason I’m trying this is because I think it deepens the connection and satisfaction when you have created something yourself that enriches other people’s roleplaying. I would like to aim for high-casual to advanced but I encourage everyone interested to give it a shot.

But as for the actual setting: Guys and girls, we are talking mixing retro-rollerblades with anti-gravity chips, massive fluffy headphones with massive radio receivers, cassette tapes and walkmans with the newest cyberpunk fashions… any kind of juxtaposition you can justify. This RP is about being resourceful, about pushing back against technology gone crazy, and most of all letting loose in a playground that is made for any kind of antics. Of course, there is a story, and a plot, but I won’t be revealing that anytime soon, no no. Instead, what I’ll ask is that people who are interested start thinking up a character along these lines:

WIP Character Sheet

Name:

Age:

Gender/Sexuality:

Main Skill: (what is your character’s passion?)

Secondary Skills: (list up to four, don’t need that many, leave room for growth)

Quirk: (personality wise, what makes them unique and interesting?)

Oddity: (personality wise, what makes them off-putting?)

Flaw: (personality wise, what creates problems for this character?)

Secret Weapon: (personality-wise OR socially, what has this character got that nobody knows about?)

Goal in Life (meta): (long-term)

Goal in Life (immediate): (short-term goal)

Reason-They-Will-Ultimately-Win: (what is going to make this character succeed in their long-term quest – bring in both personality, skills, history, anything you think relevant. Paint a story in a paragraph for me.)

Reason-They-Will-Ultimately-Fail: (same as the above, but in reverse)

Theme song(s): (MUSIC YEAH. Any genre, absolutely any.)

Description: (art or words fine, but I prefer lots of both)

Equipment: (Everything is branded. Everything. Nike Quickshot™ Super-blades, for example. I don’t need to know everything your character will have access too, instead I want ONLY up to three well-defined and personalized items that make your character. You can have headphones without listing them here, for example, but if you want super special headphones and they’re essential to your vision of your character you need to mark it down.)

Generic Equipment: (Space for your notes about your gear so that consistency can be maintained, anything you think important that’s not in the above. One or two liners.)

Short Bio: (You can write more, but I prefer one very well-thought out paragraph that leaves lots of room of expansion and tying backstories together with other players).

Called Up - A WWII-esque Military RP (Alternate Universe)

I'd suggest some variation on the Wz. 35 anti-tank rifle, which was an early Polish variation used in 1939. But not a ton of European nations had locally developed high-caliber anti-tank weapons at the start of WW2.

Called Up - A WWII-esque Military RP (Alternate Universe)

Rock - if you google for Russian or Belorussian soldier portraits, there are a number of women there seeing as the Soviet Union used female combatants. Just if you're interested in a photo over artwork.

Called Up - A WWII-esque Military RP [Sheets]

I'd say this is mostly done. Here's one of the squads LMGunners, PFC Dupont.

Leon Dupont

Name: Leon Dupont

Rank: PFC

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Physical Description:



What you can see in the picture, plus: blonde hair, blue eyes, standing around 5’10” in height. Very clear complexion, obvious good hygiene and has all of his teeth.

Skillset:

• Poetry & Prose: Very competent writer of both fiction and non-fiction, with almost five years spent in university studying famous literature and critiquing famous authors. Can recall a number of famous passages from Augstbergen literature by heart, though he is less quick at composing his own poetry. Still, he loves language and speaks with a fairly sophisticated vocabulary.


• History: Knowledgeable of the background and geography of the continent, and is able to draw upon that knowledge to make suggestions about likely future occurrences in the forthcoming conflict. He is also familiar with academic and historiographical writing styles, and is able to record notable events in a clear and concise manner.


• Marksmanship: Leon has never been the best marksman in his unit; he was originally selected because he showed incredible resourcefulness in basic training. Thus, while he is certainly better than most soldiers in the PAF, he is not exceptional. His grasp of tactics, on the other hand, has made him quite good at knowing when to provide suppressing fire and from what angle, which is why he is typically assigned one of the units LMGs.


• Climbing: One of Leon’s hobbies, he is mostly fearless when it comes to heights, and regularly quests up steep mountainsides or even sheer rock faces to capture even more majestic views with his pen. He is often jokingly referred to as a ‘mountain goat’ for his aptitude in this regard, and in training exercises regularly manages to be where he is not expected due to his vertical mobility in the mountains.


• Survival: Like all PAF soldiers, Leon is well-trained in mountain survival techniques and living rough for days or weeks at a time. He is not particularly enamored by it, but it is not unpleasant for him.


• Driving: Leon is familiar and competent at driving most automobiles, including light military vans and trucks. Heavy vehicles are beyond his reach.

History: Born in Luzern in 1916 to affluent parents, Leon’s childhood was fairly simple. He had a private tutor for many subjects, and was able to breeze through most early courses due to his natural affinity for the subject. He struggled a bit in mathematics, but with the help of a second tutor easily overcame that barrier. However, due to his family being second generation immigrants who never really lost their accent, Leon was always a lonely child who took solace in reading and playing outdoors alone in imaginary worlds that he created for himself.

Graduating near the top of his Gymnasium, Leon was given a scholarship (not that he needed the money) to attend the Friedrich Hess University in Hochdorf after he finished his service. In basic training he excelled beyond the average, enough to catch the attention of recruiters to the elite battalions. This was not because of his stellar marksmanship, but rather the innovation he showed in catching his fellow trainees off-guard in training exercises. More than once, Leon climbed into seemingly unreachable perches or nestled himself into tiny spaces in order to get the drop on those who could aim better than him. When selected for further training, Leon became quite adept at surveying terrain and his marksmanship was improved by routine drill. He was further trained in the operation of a LMG by commanders who trusted his ability to efficiently reach vantage points for suppressing fire while burdened by the extra weight of the weapon. Much to his father’s displeasure, who wished for Leon to follow him into the realm of politics, Leon began to fit in quite well to the rough and tumble assortment of men that he found himself with. His comfort climbing and living in the mountains led to his promotion to PFC, and by the time he finished his obligatory service Leon had a strong grasp of unit tactics, if not actually any extended practical experience in their execution.

Afterwards, Leon moved to Hochdorf and started his degree, once again changing his environment utterly. He never really quite fit in to the liberal arts education, being at once too idealistic for the popular strain of realist philosophy that had entered academia recently and yet too grounded to feel fully at home in the world of great fiction or drama. He did forge a number of close friendships with professors in history, who appreciated Leon’s exceptional prose and his attention to detail, but as for friends his own age Leon had very few. At the insistence of his father, Leon joined the university debate society, but was never extremely successful due to his quiet nature and the lack of encouragement from his peers. It was only in his third year when he met Sophie Beauregard that he truly began to enjoy his time at the university. Sophie was a second year literature student, and she inspired his love of poetry. She was from a sufficiently rich enough family that Leon’s father did not disapprove, and so they courted each other shamelessly. They both had the expectation that they would marry after Leon’s graduation… but the call to arms came just before the end of Leon’s last courses, and so his degree remained unfinished and he remained unmarried.

Psychological Profile: Leon is not easily shaken, but he is prone to being overly empathetic towards those around him. This has made him a valuable asset so far in practice exercises, as he is constantly aware of where his comrades are and what they might need on and off the battlefield. It also provides him with a friendly demeanor that appeals to most people, even if he is a bit quiet and overly polite compared to the average person of his background. However, Leon’s empathy is not selective, and his attention to detail does not miss the suffering of those he dislikes or hates as well. Thus, he tends to avoid particularly punitive or vengeful actions in the situations where he has power over someone else. While this is what Sophie likes most about him, it remains to see if that open empathetic attitude will survive the war unscathed.

Leon’s brain is also wired to constantly shift from one thing to the next. While this again makes him valuable on the battlefield as he notices things that are out of place, it tends to make him antsy if he has no idea of what is going on in the larger scheme of things. In these moments, he usually takes to writing or sketching to calm his racing mind. Several years of exposure to academia has put him a bit out of place amongst the men that he previously served alongside with vigor, but Leon never internalized some of the more radical attitudes that were present amongst some of his fellow students. Ultimately, he is therefore an educated but strongly patriotic Augstberger.

Equipment:

• LMG - Maschinengewehr M1924 (MG24): Well cleaned and kept, if not used overly much in the past four years due to Leon’s training preference being the G34. There is a slight tendency of the loading feed on this particular MG24 to jam if not adjusted after a long burst of firing, which Leon has been trying to fix fruitlessly for close to two years. Leon does not own the LMG, but it is his typically assigned weapon in reservist training events, so it is assumed to be issued to him upon being called up.


• Rifle - G34: Well-used, though kept in good condition and polished remarkably well. Leon engraved his name onto the stock of the weapon while in basic training, and has regretted it since; especially after he being chewed out by his drill instructor. Leon owns this rifle, and it is typically kept strapped to his pack when he is assigned to be an LMGist.


• Bayonet: coming with its own belt frog, this is similar to the German M1884/98 III. Completely functional, blade length 10in.


• Standard Jäger Uniform: with mountain combat boots and helmet. All show minor signs of use, though are otherwise clean and neat. Due to damage, the old poncho half that Leon owned has been recently replaced by a new and unused one. Carries spare underclothes and a raincoat in his pack.


• Backpack and Kit: very light, with only hygiene and survival essentials. Similar to WW2 German backpacks of similar make. Of note: rations, spare knife, journal and writing implements, matches, small cooking pot, entrenching tool, small weapon repair kit, hatchet, and three pitons that can be drilled into the ground by the hatchet. One or two other personal effects Leon keeps on his person or in his backpack, notably a picture of the girl he was courting, and his father’s pocket-watch inside his jacket. A bedroll is hung beneath the backpack, tied with a length of climbing rope.

Steam Powered Europe

ONL said
Question: Seen as Germany and Austria-Hungary united into one super-state (if we decided to use the backstory written in the interesting check), would it be possible that the Scandinavian countries also united, though Finland is still under Russian control, thus a reason for the Scandinavians to ally themselves with the Germans in-case of war?

I think a Scandinavian Union under Stockholm, recreating the old personal unions under Denmark, seems reasonable to me at least.