Republicans!!

[King Chopper]

To me, the Republicans are far too Deus Ex Macana(Sp?). The way they are written, its like they have had a hand in EVERY thing that has happened sence the cataclysm, and I just have a hard time dealing with that.

[Wildfire]

I don't have the book yet but are they led by George Bush the 24th and John McCain who is still alive

[Vrykolas2k]

Well, the Republicans had to be added for balance, since the Democrats were already represented by ARCHIE (unimaginative and insane).

[csbioborg]

Basically the great Cataclysm is the end result of Change

and the mighty Republicans are here to bring things back to the Golden era ie1955
edit 2055 when the American Empire had strong borders from aliens
only built as many SAMAS as they could afford
etc

[Marcethus]

This is why I need to get the Revised Sourcebook One

[Chad]

Mostly I like the Republicans because they get to use Hulk Hogan's theme song.

Naw, more like this-

[Chad]

Done.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Chad]

Oh, I was thinking that, but I knew better than to link to it because of the profanity rules.

Kill that link before someone reports it or a mod sees it.

oh c'mon that's a good link.That should be the new national anthem

You guys need to make up your minds.

Here's the link- I'll let the mod decide to take it off if it offends anybody too much.
[Link removed - Mack]

[T-Willard]

The Republicans are an interesting idea, but VERY sloppily executed. Too wrapped into the long term canon of the game, and it was quite an irritating read. I've got to head out, but believe me, I could point out why it was sloppy, where it was sloppy, and how it could have been fixed.

Personally, the whole thing could have been much better done.

[csbioborg]

Since I don't have the new sb1 I use the x files as a substiue

Smoking man your reincation is as a 300 year old cyborg eternal brain looks completly human in his 60s with a sniper rifle in hand

[Chad]

Well, I don't know what Todd was talking about then, but if you find a place- I'll be there.

[Daniel Stoker]

Well, I don't know what Todd was talking about then, but if you find a place- I'll be there.

You want the Sound Off forum. To get access to it you need to go under 'User Control Panel' then Usergroups and add it. Then the mods will let you in or not and you two can continue it with the rest of us who don't have any lives.


Daniel Stoker

[Chad]

Does anyone think that the Republicans should have had something to do with Wilks-

They both seem alike in alot of ways.

[Tiree]

was going to respond but screw it, wheres the sound off forum? Can't find it on the list.

I believe you have to apply permission to get in.

Either way - it probably should not even go there, but instead should be done via PM's

Back on Subject: Republicans in Rifts -

I kind of see them as the Valhalla Sector in the TV show Jeremiah. The old guard still hold up in some hidden facility, waiting for a time that the world is less dangerous. The reason why they haven't come out before now, is a variety of reasons - attack on Archie diminished their resources/people. But they also have had the internal struggle of "is this the right time!" Heck, I even see the republicans having a presidency that they elect every 4 years!

But during that time, they still have some of their construction facilities. They are growing and also need to gather more material. Eventually they probably even start moving from one underground facility to another. Hopefully in a strategic, controlled, and upkeepable fashion. But by sneaking into Archie's facility... now that is imaginitive!

But as a Player and a GM - I never liked the whole Archie bit, unless there were more out there, and the Republican's had one also they could use, just Archie III was the most advanced.

[Chad]

The only thing that has really bothered me about the Rep. is:

If they could sneak in and reprogram ARCHIE, why waste time with body armor, weapons, etc.

Just have him make another ARCHIE system and install that bad-boy in Area 51.

[Chad]

interesting point, also wasn't there an ARCHIE 4 on the moon or somesuch? Get a remote uplink running with that and away you go...

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=94796
The locations to date.

[Chad]

Another thing, now that I think about it, is:

If they are so well connected, shouldn't they have sent some teams to Phase World to secure some advanced tech?

[Chad]

Another thing, now that I think about it, is:
If they are so well connected, shouldn't they have sent some teams to Phase World to secure some advanced tech?

maybe prode in the tech they had blinded them to the possibility? Or, they don't want to appear on the radar of the powers in phase world?

I'm not really sure Phase World would care too much, that is if they had the money.
I'd agree with the first part, but the Sourcebook tells us that they are always on the look out for new tech.

[Chad]

I could see some special/black/covert Delta Force-CTU-Dimensional ops team going through a Rift to secure intel. and tech.

[csbioborg]

well another archie could be created but I highly doubt Archie would create other version of himself he is a insane b thinks he is a god c dosen't want the competition

also it is possible that whatever network that archie is made out of is likely not normal coputer material

I always had the theory that he is made out of partially roganic parts

that is a real world innovaton in computer processing pwoer and would help explain why he is immune to telemechinics

[Chad]

hmm maybe a resources issue then, they don't have enough things that phase world would want, or if they do, they would have to sell to much of it, to justify what they would get in return.

Yeah, they don't practice Magic, but I'm sure they could come up with the money.
Not so sure if they could depend on the team returning through. Especially if the team hears about something like an Utopian Planet.

[Chad]

well another archie could be created but I highly doubt Archie would create other version of himself he is a insane b thinks he is a god c dosen't want the competition
also it is possible that whatever network that archie is made out of is likely not normal coputer material
I always had the theory that he is made out of partially roganic parts
that is a real world innovaton in computer processing pwoer and would help explain why he is immune to telemechinics

True, but ARCHIE didn't know he was making things for the Republicans. They found a way to bypass his system while he slept.

[Chad]

hmm maybe a resources issue then, they don't have enough things that phase world would want, or if they do, they would have to sell to much of it, to justify what they would get in return.

Yeah, they don't practice Magic, but I'm sure they could come up with the money.
Not so sure if they could depend on the team returning through. Especially if the team hears about something like an Utopian Planet.

Or the team could very easily go 'rogue' so much to see in Phase world, so many worlds to visit, makes good old fubar'd eart seem a bit of a hell hole.

The team would have to be pretty patriotic.
I know I would find it hard to return to Rifts Earth if I saw something like the CCW.

[Chad]

well a copy of ARCHIE could be as nuts as he is, so thats a big risk.

Hadn't thought about that.
He would have to base it off of himself wouldn't he?

[csbioborg]

well another archie could be created but I highly doubt Archie would create other version of himself he is a insane b thinks he is a god c dosen't want the competition
also it is possible that whatever network that archie is made out of is likely not normal coputer material
I always had the theory that he is made out of partially roganic parts
that is a real world innovaton in computer processing pwoer and would help explain why he is immune to telemechinics

True, but ARCHIE didn't know he was making things for the Republicans. They found a way to bypass his system while he slept.

they old school manuelly hacked it which still would be possibly as the organics would just be for processing pwoer well mostly

Obviously they would have to be patriotic but I don't know if the CCW would be that much better for all we know CHI town is fairly nice and all your firends and fmaily are there

[Chad]

Obviously they would have to be patriotic but I don't know if the CCW would be that much better for all we know CHI town is fairly nice and all your firends and fmaily are there

They wouldn't be in the constant danger they are on Rifts Earth.
Of course that would bring up another problem- How to act in a more 'civilized' place.
But, hell- I'd come back and bring my friends and family with me.

I don't think they would, but ya know it would always be in the back of their mind.

[glitterboy2098]

well a copy of ARCHIE could be as nuts as he is, so thats a big risk.

Hadn't thought about that.
He would have to base it off of himself wouldn't he?

core programing maybe. ARCHIE uses a neural net, which means a large part of his 'personality' is learned. picture his basic programs (directives, hard wired limitations) as DOS, which generates it's own Windows program of increasing complexity as it goes along.

so a copy of ARCHIE would probably be the functional mental equivilent of a small child, albiet a very smart one that develops in days, not years.

(a media example would be the Tachikoma's from Ghost in the Shell, which started as essentually mindless, humorless drones and eventually developed personalities as rich and introspective as any human...)


so if you copy ARCHIE, you have a chance to get one more congenial t your goals if you provide it with the right stimulus as it developes. you just have to be careful to not get it confused or give it contradictory orders, or you risk a HAL-9000 situation...which is argueably what happened between ARCHIE3 and the republicans in the first place...

[Chad]

well a copy of ARCHIE could be as nuts as he is, so thats a big risk.

Hadn't thought about that.
He would have to base it off of himself wouldn't he?

core programing maybe. ARCHIE uses a neural net, which means a large part of his 'personality' is learned. picture his basic programs (directives, hard wired limitations) as DOS, which generates it's own Windows program of increasing complexity as it goes along.
so a copy of ARCHIE would probably be the functional mental equivilent of a small child, albiet a very smart one that develops in days, not years.
(a media example would be the Tachikoma's from Ghost in the Shell, which started as essentually mindless, humorless drones and eventually developed personalities as rich and introspective as any human...)
so if you copy ARCHIE, you have a chance to get one more congenial t your goals if you provide it with the right stimulus as it developes. you just have to be careful to not get it confused or give it contradictory orders, or you risk a HAL-9000 situation...which is argueably what happened between ARCHIE3 and the republicans in the first place...

I'm not that tech savvy as far as computers go.
Do you think 'neural net' is related to this 'quantum computer' thing I've been hearing about, or is that something else altogether?

[glitterboy2098]

heh, i can barely keep my laptop going sometimes.

i just have good research skills and a penchant for futurism.

Nueral net here's a resource giving an overview of the concept.

quantum computing is a different concept.

[Chad]

huh,

Seems like a quantum computing nueral net is the way to go.

[Mack]

Topic trimmed.

Next time I'll issue official warnings to those who can't abide by the forum rules.

Also, if you are granted access to Sound Off, do not expect to find a free-for-all zone. The forum rules apply to it as well.

[Mack]

Next violation gets the topic locked, along with individual punishments.

And justicar5, quoting someone's violation doesn't help.

[Balabanto]

So, an Archie question, just to keep us on topic.

Can psychics just...locate him, the way they locate everything else? Will a simple tap with Telemechanics grab him and lock him down so that the PC's don't have to fight 500 robots? (I've avoided using him just because running a fight with 500 robots will take all year)

[Chad]

So, an Archie question, just to keep us on topic.
Can psychics just...locate him, the way they locate everything else? Will a simple tap with Telemechanics grab him and lock him down so that the PC's don't have to fight 500 robots? (I've avoided using him just because running a fight with 500 robots will take all year)

I'm tring to figure out what the violation was, but...
Your two questions have got me to thinking about some questions of my own. I don't think psychics could locate Archie because he has an Auto-Mind Block. Telemechanic Possession would work- Archie needs a 12+ to sv. Which is strange. Doesn't Mind Block close one off from all psychic/mental emanations? I've always played it where Mind Block makes one immune to psychic possession.
As far as the 500 robots...I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just roll a 1D4 or 1D8 (depending on the power level) to see how many robots target a PC each melee. They aren't going to last that long. I think the adventure was designed to leave the players with one of two options- retreat or die.

The chair Hagan sits on, the neurological interface (psionic helmet), was designed to 'read a persons thoughts'. Could an ARCHIE-like system, not necessarily Archie-3, use this interface device as a technological Mind Bond? To extract information from an unwilling subject? If so, would there be any consequences- like wiping out his neural pathways and lobotomizing the dude?

[Library Ogre]

Doesn't work that way with Archie. He's self-aware and psychic, himself, so while TM will let you speak with him, he decides how much you see. Hagan, for example, was his best bud and even Hagan thought the 3-OZ was Archie... and that's after months of psychic contact.

[Chad]

Doesn't work that way with Archie. He's self-aware and psychic, himself, so while TM will let you speak with him, he decides how much you see. Hagan, for example, was his best bud and even Hagan thought the 3-OZ was Archie... and that's after months of psychic contact.

No, I was talking about the other way around- like Archie reading the persons mind. A one way Mind Bond, kind of like a Psi-Interrogator.

[Library Ogre]

Doesn't work that way with Archie. He's self-aware and psychic, himself, so while TM will let you speak with him, he decides how much you see. Hagan, for example, was his best bud and even Hagan thought the 3-OZ was Archie... and that's after months of psychic contact.

No, I was talking about the other way around- like Archie reading the persons mind. A one way Mind Bond, kind of like a Psi-Interrogator.

I was answering Balabanto. However, it would certainly work that way.

[Chad]

Doesn't work that way with Archie. He's self-aware and psychic, himself, so while TM will let you speak with him, he decides how much you see. Hagan, for example, was his best bud and even Hagan thought the 3-OZ was Archie... and that's after months of psychic contact.

No, I was talking about the other way around- like Archie reading the persons mind. A one way Mind Bond, kind of like a Psi-Interrogator.

I was answering Balabanto. However, it would certainly work that way.

My bad.

[Aaryq]

I did once...years ago. It kind of flopped as the players just used it as a stepping point for a completely different direction.

[Colonel Wolfe]

I never used the Republicans before.... but i did use the Wigs one time....

[oni no won]

I think having a Republican PC would make for a very interesting adventure. You could add an espionage/spy angle to the game.

[mobuttu]

In the long term I'd like to do a Republicans/Capt. Nemo II crossover and see what that two powers can do in the actual Rifts Earth. Both are from a Pre-Rifts society. I think they could understant each other and share forces and resources. Having a party mixing Republicans and Capt. Nemo II crew can produce very intersting games, don't you think?

[Balabanto]

Well, the thing is, I'm pretty sure that my PC's will not fall for the giant brain trick. They'll go room to room if they have to, and try to disable his robot factory so he can't make anymore, which is really the key to stopping him. Once you blow up that, time is on your side.

Of course, the one flaw in this plan is that IF you kill him, ALL the remaining robots have "Your PC's" and "Hostile" tagged all over their faces. And they'll have "Get them!" tagged in their neural nets. The problem is that, to be honest, fighting twenty thousand robots over the course of a few years is boring.

[glitterboy2098]

In the long term I'd like to do a Republicans/Capt. Nemo II crossover and see what that two powers can do in the actual Rifts Earth. Both are from a Pre-Rifts society. I think they could understant each other and share forces and resources. Having a party mixing Republicans and Capt. Nemo II crew can produce very intersting games, don't you think?

somehow i doubt Nemo II would consider the republicans a legitimate american authority. contact between the two might result in Nemo II working to either convince ARCHIE3 to wake the 30,000, or failing that, to secure the cryosystems and wake them.

but the 30,000 were NEMA, and nemo II commands whats left of the US Navy and US marines. very different command structures here. they'd be willing to work together, but NEMO II could not command the 30,000, nor vice versa.

and if the 30,000 link up with the republicans and try to set up america under their own leadership, i'd see NEMO II working against the Republicans/NEMA to prevent america coming back as a military government.

this would get politics very confusing, very fast. on one side you have the New Navy and it's allies tritonia, whale singers, and various (currently unknown) west coast kingdoms, on the other side you have the Republicans/NEMA and the resources of the eastern seaboard (including the aberdeen complex and a lobotomized ARCHIE3's legion of bots), and on the Other side you have the Coalition states, and their massive military and current claim on north america....

not to mention all the roups caught in the crossfire, like Northern gun, Wellington, Lazlo, the colorado baronies....


and all three sides would be trying to get the NGR to come in, or at least stay nuetral, the splugorth would see it as an oppertunity to raid everyone, the demons of hades and dyval exploit the chaos to further their own war.....

[Rimmerdal]

Does anyone think that the Republicans should have had something to do with Wilks-

They both seem alike in alot of ways.

Would be a good connection. As well provide a financal base for them. Wilk's doesn't make PA or bots. Neither do the Republicans so keep there little secret they can't or Archie would see them.

This might also explain why they work against Titan Robotics (they know he's behind it.) but choose not reveal its true manufacturer in order to avoid any open reatliation. Hmm I'm liking this thought.

[Mack]

i wouldnt vote for a democrat

And this is how topics get locked.