Re: [Fallout Equestria] Setting discussions

[Harmony Ltd.]

Good luck.

[Harmony Ltd.]

I'm trying to imagine what would be the importance of New Appleloosa in the NCR, what would be the city's "specialty"...

The only thing I see is that it could have become a relatively important population center during the war as refugees flew in. And with its geographic position (near Ponyville, and at the intersection of the Glyphmark / New Canterlot and Glyphmark / Ponyville / Everfree Forest), I could see it becoming some kind of merchant town - after all, Ditzy Doo's "Absolutely Everything" operate from there, and with Volunteers Pegasus flowing from the Enclave, it could have become some kind of logistical center for the Republic in the East.

Also, being somewhat near the Everfree, it could re-sell some of the forest's ressources (medicinal plants, etc...) to Glyphmark, resources harvested by Ponyville's Hellhound population.


Any idea what other resources the city could have ?

[Harmony Ltd.]

Also, I'm still wondering what to do of the Cathedral.

After all, there IS a functioning Stable under it.

Though it could very well have been severely damaged / destroyed at one point or another during the war between the Enclave and the surface.


But I could imagine some kind of semi-independent community of Children of the Cathedral living there, with a military presence of the NCR to guard the Cathedral itself and what is under it.

[O. Hinds]

Also, I'm still wondering what to do of the Cathedral.

After all, there IS a functioning Stable under it.

Though it could very well have been severely damaged / destroyed at one point or another during the war between the Enclave and the surface.


But I could imagine some kind of semi-independent community of Children of the Cathedral living there, with a military presence of the NCR to guard the Cathedral itself and what is under it.

Didn't Red Eye pretty much dismantle 101, though? And why would the Children have decided to make the Overcast their base if the cathedral was still non-ruined enough to live in?

[Harmony Ltd.]

re functioning stable : I know Red Eye supposedly "dis-assembled" Stable 101 to help some surface communities and his own plans, but when FoE take us on a tour of the underground facilities below the Cathedral, I wasn't under the impression that EVERYTHING (bolted or not to the ground) had been taken away. The place still seemed somewhat functional.


I could see the NCR using it as a remote facility, Area 51-like (it's kind of in the middle of the Everfree after all...).

[Harmony Ltd.]

Remind me, the Overcast is a Raptor wreck laying somewhere around the Cathedral, right ? If yes that fits with the idea that they still live around the place out of religious reasons (the Red Eyed God might still lay under it), but are still guarded out of the Cathedral itself (for the reasons implied by my above post : the place having been turned into a "secret facility").


Though... Now that I'm thinking about it, wasn't the place thoroughly blown up ? I mean, "Ask Red Eye" goes with the premise that he's stuck underground the Cathedral, so...

[O. Hinds]

@Harmony Ltd.:
"re functioning stable : I know Red Eye supposedly "dis-assembled" Stable 101 to help some surface communities and his own plans, but when FoE take us on a tour of the underground facilities below the Cathedral, I wasn't under the impression that EVERYTHING (bolted or not to the ground) had been taken away. The place still seemed somewhat functional."
That was the remains of 101?
[reads a bit]
Hm… It may have been. LittlePip's PipBuck identifies it as such, but Red Eye claimed to have destroyed the Stable. So it's unclear.

"Remind me, the Overcast is a Raptor wreck laying somewhere around the Cathedral, right ?"
…Um, no.

The fires of Everfree Forest have finally died.  Bizarrely, a lot of the forest, the trees at least, seems unharmed.  Given time, the undergrowth is likely t’ grow back.  However, I have it on good authority that the Applejack’s Rangers have taken up a project t’ convert much of the forest’s area t’ farmland, pending negotiations with the Children of the Cathedral, a relatively non-hostile band of Red Eye remnants who have made their home in the wreckage of the Thunderhead Overcast.

"Though... Now that I'm thinking about it, wasn't the place thoroughly blown up ?"

Beneath the Tortoise, the ground shifted, collapsing downward.  The bomb I had created had gone off, silently vaporizing the earth beneath us.  And now the ruins of the Cathedral were collapsing into a massive sinkhole.

I'd actually forgotten that it had been that thoroughly destroyed.

[Harmony Ltd.]

What do you guys think of my narrative style ?

Spoiler:

"Show don't tell" : I've got the impression I tell too much and show too little. What do you guys think ?

Or is it just an effect of the third-person narrative ?

[Harmony Ltd.]

Question : If I gave a pony the name "Fizzy Ale", what would come to your mind regarding said pony ?

[Stringtheory]

Question : If I gave a pony the name "Fizzy Ale", what would come to your mind regarding said pony ?

Beer, cider, or some other alcoholic drink

[Harmony Ltd.]

I meant, what kind of personality would you imagine him or her to have.

[CamoBadger]

Question : If I gave a pony the name "Fizzy Ale", what would come to your mind regarding said pony ?

TINY BUBBLES
IN MY BEER
MAKES ME HAPPY
FILLS ME WITH CHEEEER

TINY BUBBLES
IN MY WINE
MAKES ME HAPPY
MAKES ME FEEL FIIIIINE

TINY BUBBLES
IN MY WHISKEY
MAKES ME HAPPY
MAKES ME FEEL FRIIIISKY


In short, I imagine said pony being a rather happy fellow.

[Harmony Ltd.]

a rather happy fellow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qoxg_DcqhsA


sorry couldn't help myself


Anyway, good, that was the impression I was going for expecting.

[Stringtheory]

I meant, what kind of personality would you imagine him or her to have.

Oh, either eccentric or hyper with a name like that, and something regarding alcohol, probably brewing, like Pinkie except with alcohol, and you could base him on a Pandarian Brewmaster, traveling the Wasteland to sample as much alcohol as possible.

[Harmony Ltd.]

What kind of name would you give to a pony to suggest his or her special talent might be related to making things grow ?

[Stringtheory]

What kind of name would you give to a pony to suggest his or her special talent might be related to making things grow ?

Fertile Fields
*snort*
...or Bountiful Harvest XD

Or, to go at it from another angle, maybe Miracle Grow, and her cutie mark could be the logo itself, like Pia Ikea.

or there's always Green Hoof, also any kind of crop related name usually is indicative of what they grow, see Apple family and Carrot Top.

[Ironmonger]

I've discovered something, or rather remembered something that might be useful to the setting. Weapons chambered for the .460 S&W can sometimes chamber the .454 Casull, .45 Colt, and .45 Schofield rounds, essentially making the revolvers/lever-rifles chambered for it a very economical weapon. A protagonist could theoretically find a shitload of ammunition for their weapon.

Just thought I'd pass that along since I'm one of the resident gun nuts.

[Harmony Ltd.]

sometimes

What is the obstacle ? Cartridge length ? Chamber pressure ? Something else ?

Because as far as diameter goes, they seem pretty much identical to me.

(from here)

[Ironmonger]

sometimes

What is the obstacle ? Cartridge length ? Chamber pressure ? Something else ?

Because as far as diameter goes, [url=en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cartridge_comparison1.jpg]they seem pretty much identical to me[/url].

(from here)

I'm not sure what it is other than the model of gun. For instance, the Smith & Wesson .460 Magnum X-Frame revolver will take the .454 Casull and the .45 Colt but their site says nothing about the .45 Schofield.

[Harmony Ltd.]

I am more and more tempted to have the NCR be some kind of de facto, if not in name, communist-state ala China, a mix of state-controlled economy and somewhat free-market.

With everyone not having their own business being assigned a job, even the most insignificant ones, and the masses being... channeled... through heavy propaganda. With lots of attempts at social engineering to get rid of the old habits from the Wasteland.

And the Political Officers would act kind of like the Cadres of the Chinese Communist Party, controlling the Administration as well as the Army, on the behalf, of course, of the President, the Council and the Congress.


Thoughts ?

[O. Hinds]

I am more and more tempted to have the NCR be some kind of de facto, if not in name, communist-state ala China, a mix of state-controlled economy and somewhat free-market.

With everyone not having their own business being assigned a job, even the most insignificant ones, and the masses being... channeled... through heavy propaganda. With lots of attempts at social engineering to get rid of the old habits from the Wasteland.

And the Political Officers would act kind of like the Cadres of the Chinese Communist Party, controlling the Administration as well as the Army, on the behalf, of course, of the President, the Council and the Congress.


Thoughts ?

Well, if the NCR ever joined the Alliance, they'd probably fit right in (which is not to say that they'd get along) with Elusive's state capitalist corporate dictatorship and the Miliozi stratocracy. (Also, I've learned a new word!)

It could also make sense; after all, Equestria had a long history of undemocratic government.

[Harmony Ltd.]

The difficulty would be according this to the idea that the NCR itself would be some sort of Federation, in the United States of Equestria sense :

So far, the main "states" comprising the core territory would be :

- The Hub (Junction City / Junction R-7), the economic capital, with New Canterlot a few miles north acting like the the District of Columbia in the US. Even if they don't like to take a direct part into the political process, the Followers of the Apocalypse are the leading faction of the Hub, if only as a Neutral faction everyone will listen to. Most of its surrounding territory is productive farmland.

- Manehattan, where all the cool unicorns go. Capital of all arcane related stuff. Also, sitting on a treasure trove of Pre-War things. Major settlements : Tenpony, de facto administrative capital of the "state", and another yet unnamed settlements were the docks are. Main activities include the Magical industry, budding commercial activities with the outside world, and scavenging the fuck out Manehattan itself. Friendship City has been scavenged of all useful things, and the place itself has become a memorial.

- Apple(l?)oosa : Mostly under-developed agricultural state, but there's been talks recently of making it the center of the NCR's new solar power industry.

- New Appleloosa : Second most populated state after The Hub. Has the most diverse economy : agriculture, trade, weapon manufacturing... The fact it was under the protection of Ditzy Doo and Lionheart during the war left it relatively untouched during that time, making it the most important population centers of the NCR then.
There's something to be said about the role of Ditzy Doo in the recent history of New Appleloosa. Building on the trade network she had already established with her activity as the head of "Absolutely Everything", she developed one of the leading caravan companies in the NCR, only equaled by those who later prospered from the Hub's trading activities. Having rallied Volunteers from the Enclave, she helped the nascent army of the Republic develop its logistics corp, integrating... well, airlift capabilities into the mix.
New Appleloosa is constantly in conflict with The Hub on commercial and industrial matters, trying to lobby their ways into who will get to build or trade what.

- Ponyville / The Reservation : Semi-independent state (think native american reservations) populated by Hellhounds. They get by by trading the resources of the Everfree Forest to the rest of the Republic. Ponies tend to not be welcomed, but there's a little population of Zebras from Glyphmark overseeing the Everfree-related activities.

- The Cathedral (the Everfree Forest) : Think Nevada if it was under direct military control and it was also a giant inhospitable forest. Only non-military population is a settlement of Children of the Cathedral near its ruins.

- Canterlot : Capital is Glyphmark. Populated in majority by Zebras (mostly) and ghouls (of the Canterlot and "vanilla" kind - for the laters, a few radiation pits have been built, importing radioactive materials from afar). Center of the Republic's "pharma" industry, supported by their Medical Academy / University. High presence of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Also produce a number of alchemy-related things.

- Maripony : A mostly unpopulated state, as the land is barren, and there isn't much to do anyway. There's a sizeable community of alicorns living near the Maripony crater, and the state has basically become their "home". The under-development of that region isn't helped by the fact that alicorns technically do not need to eat, drink or even sleep. Rather, their most important source of trade is themselves, loaning their services to those they deem worthy of it (in the moral and pecuniary sense). A number of them have also taken to exorcising their inner demons through art, in diverse form, making Maripony a touristic destination among the wealthiest.

- Fillydelphia : Isn't exactly a state. not yet anyway. Rather, for now it is a military outpost, guarding the souther frontier.. With a sizeable civilian population working on dismantling anything of value in Filly and shipping it to the rest of the Republic to be recycled.

[Harmony Ltd.]

It could also make sense; after all, Equestria had a long history of undemocratic government.

Well, yeah, somehow I don't quite imagine Gawdyna Grimfeather as being a firm believer in Democracy. If anything, she strike me as the type to prefer some kind of harsh , but just (in her eyes at least) meritocracy. Putting everyone to work, ensuring at least some kind of minimal quality of life for everyone, and then letting social darwinism do the rest.

[Harmony Ltd.]

Plus, in a meta way, I would find it deliciously ironic that the "successor" state to Equestria (which was standing as the US from the original fallout games), ended up as being kind of like some pseudo-Maoist state.

[O. Hinds]

The difficulty would be according this to the idea that the NCR itself would be some sort of Federation, in the United States of Equestria sense :

So far, the main "states" comprising the core territory would be :

- The Hub (Junction City / Junction R-7), the economic capital, with New Canterlot a few miles north acting like the the District of Columbia in the US. Even if they don't like to take a direct part into the political process, the Followers of the Apocalypse are the leading faction of the Hub, if only as a Neutral faction everyone will listen to. Most of its surrounding territory is productive farmland.

- Manehattan, where all the cool unicorns go. Capital of all arcane related stuff. Also, sitting on a treasure trove of Pre-War things. Major settlements : Tenpony, de facto administrative capital of the "state", and another yet unnamed settlements were the docks are. Main activities include the Magical industry, budding commercial activities with the outside world, and scavenging the fuck out Manehattan itself. Friendship City has been scavenged of all useful things, and the place itself has become a memorial.

- Apple(l?)oosa : Mostly under-developed agricultural state, but there's been talks recently of making it the center of the NCR's new solar power industry.

- New Appleloosa : Second most populated state after The Hub. Has the most diverse economy : agriculture, trade, weapon manufacturing... The fact it was under the protection of Ditzy Doo and Lionheart during the war left it relatively untouched during that time, making it the most important population centers of the NCR then.
There's something to be said about the role of Ditzy Doo in the recent history of New Appleloosa. Building on the trade network she had already established with her activity as the head of "Absolutely Everything", she developed one of the leading caravan companies in the NCR, only equaled by those who later prospered from the Hub's trading activities. Having rallied Volunteers from the Enclave, she helped the nascent army of the Republic develop its logistics corp, integrating... well, airlift capabilities into the mix.
New Appleloosa is constantly in conflict with The Hub on commercial and industrial matters, trying to lobby their ways into who will get to build or trade what.

- Ponyville / The Reservation : Semi-independent state (think native american reservations) populated by Hellhounds. They get by by trading the resources of the Everfree Forest to the rest of the Republic. Ponies tend to not be welcomed, but there's a little population of Zebras from Glyphmark overseeing the Everfree-related activities.

- The Cathedral (the Everfree Forest) : Think Nevada if it was under direct military control and it was also a giant inhospitable forest. Only non-military population is a settlement of Children of the Cathedral near its ruins.

- Canterlot : Capital is Glyphmark. Populated in majority by Zebras (mostly) and ghouls (of the Canterlot and "vanilla" kind - for the laters, a few radiation pits have been built, importing radioactive materials from afar). Center of the Republic's "pharma" industry, supported by their Medical Academy / University. High presence of the Followers of the Apocalypse. Also produce a number of alchemy-related things.

- Maripony : A mostly unpopulated state, as the land is barren, and there isn't much to do anyway. There's a sizeable community of alicorns living near the Maripony crater, and the state has basically become their "home". The under-development of that region isn't helped by the fact that alicorns technically do not need to eat, drink or even sleep. Rather, their most important source of trade is themselves, loaning their services to those they deem worthy of it (in the moral and pecuniary sense). A number of them have also taken to exorcising their inner demons through art, in diverse form, making Maripony a touristic destination among the wealthiest.

- Fillydelphia : Isn't exactly a state. not yet anyway. Rather, for now it is a military outpost, guarding the souther frontier.. With a sizeable civilian population working on dismantling anything of value in Filly and shipping it to the rest of the Republic to be recycled.

Sounds neat!

[Harmony Ltd.]

Yeah, the concept I have for Maripony, I think I would want to develop it one of these days into a little story.

I have this image of a few tourists being given a show only an alicorn could, with aerial dance, illusion magic, etc... In an ambiance of mystery, them going "oooh" and "aaaaah".


" If I may ask Lady... "

" It will be Miss Corona for you. "

" Yes, yes, of course... Miss Corona, I'm curious, what pushed you toward this kind of artistic expression ? "

*sigh* " The Goddess. "

"Beg your pardon ? "

" Trixie Lulamoon, the Goddess, was a showmare. And I have been in Unity for the better parts of two centuries. ... I see your confusion, do not expect me to explain in more details, you cannot understand Unity if you haven't been a part of it. "

" I... I see. Thank you. Goodbye. "

" Goodbye. "

[Harmony Ltd.]

And the community itself being kind of secretive / reclusive, with strangers not being allowed to come into it.

The alicorns keeping to their own, and only sending their kids to the Followers, for them to be educated into the ways of the New World.

[Harmony Ltd.]

By the way, the alicorns may (conditional) have only few kids per generation, but given they are technically immortal, their population number will tend to steadily increase with the centuries.

This is a problem they are aware of, but they keep it to themselves, for now at least - they don't want the others to interfere into their lives.

[Harmony Ltd.]

One important point :

The only faction from the new world the alicorns of Maripony appreciate is the Followers of the Apocalypse. They feel indebted to them, or at least to their founder - Velvet Remedy, which they consider worthy of being one of their own.

The other factions, on the other side... well, there's a reason why they prefer to live separately from everyone else.

This, of course, is for the "alicorn culture" of Maripony (emphasis on the quote marks). There's a number of alicorns living freelance in the NCR, most of them being tied one way or another to the Followers of the Apocalypse, but you can also find some in the Army, or in scout companies exploring the wasteland beyond the borders of the NCR.


The alicorns are NOT a monolithic bunch.

[Harmony Ltd.]

Some more ideas about Geneighva...


I get the feeling that there's some inspiration to be had from Fallout 2's Vault City and the neighboring town of Gecko.

Anyway, here's some random stuff :

- In all, there are half a dozen Stables under the city of Geneighva and the surrounding mountains.
- Of these Stables : 1 was a "normal", experimental Stable, 1 was a "showroom" stable (the one under the city), and the 4 or 5 others are the non-experimental, prototype Stables.

The Experimental Stable : It was outfitted with an important database on Magic & Technology, had access to the blueprints of most of Stable-Tec's technologies, and had been issued the tools and materials to bootstrap an industrial revolution even after the complete fall of civilization. Only problem being that of the population of scientists, engineers and arcano-technicians who were supposed to inhabit it, only a minor portion (those judged as the most importants) made it through, the officers of Geneighva's garrison having requisitioned the Stable for themselves, their families, and some of their troops.

The Demonstration Stable : Crammed with all the latest toys from Stable-Tec, it was a jewel, the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art Stable there was. Unfortunately, it was also not so deep underground of downtown Geneighva, and as its internal arrangement had been shuffled around quite a bit during the years as more and more features were added to it, when the bombs fell the structural integrity of the Stable suffered, and radiations started to leaks through all the cracks. The good point is, the radiations weren't literally flowing in, it was more of a (s)low but steady amount. The other good new is that among the toys the Stable was outfitted with was Autodocs and such marvels of medical technology. However, after months, years of being exposed daily to high doses of radiations, most of the population had turned to ghouls. Of note, the Stable had been designed to have a maximum capacity of three thousand people (it was initially supposed to have only one thousand occupants, but once they started adding features they said what the hell and also expanded the living quarters), but the day the bombs fell, the Stable-Tec employees manning the facility saw a horde of ponies rushing in, and taken by some sense of honor and duty, accepted to let more ponies in than what the Stable was designed for. So instead of 3000 people, the Stable had to care for 5000.

The Prototype Stables : Basically just holes in the ground, with mining & life-support equipment, a stock of various seeds & mushrooms and a few manuals on how to grow stuff underground with what they had. The Stable-Tec employees of the city had kept the existence of those "stables" discreet, and in the month leading to the Holocaust, with insider knowledge that the endgame seemed to get close, smuggled from their company a number of equipments into these holes-in-the-ground to turn them into proto-stables. The city's headquarter of Stable-Tec was aware of that, of course, but they turned a blind eye to it, mostly because they couldn't stop their employees to act for their own survival and it was a way to keep up their morale. They even helped turn the Ministry of Morale away from these preparations - no one likes the MoM anyway...


What happen next, in the two centuries leading to FoE-time and beyond, I'm still thinking about it.

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