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Ah, I can sympathize with Alex but Anders is right; bullies are never worth your time.
If only Anne was still alive, she could probably share some advice with her grandson. Then again, Diana also had to put up with Norbert too...
If that's the case remember the scale you're working with for example a few pixels would equal a million worlds in our galaxyWe may be closer than you think.
I must admit I was surprised to see Anders here so soon after the X-Division finale, but I don't mind, its nice to see the X-Division crew after their story.
Neat introduction to the school arc. I do like the speech from Alex's history teacher, learning about military history and the accomplishments of great leaders is all well and good, but it's important to remember other parts of history that are also important, such as natural social, pollical and economic evolutions of great nations like the Reich and the general trends that influenced them.
Also I imagine Alex's bully will regret picking on him at some point, he wouldn't be so brave about his words if Anders and Diana were there, especially his words insulting Diana.
Neat introduction to the school arc. I do like the speech from Alex's history teacher, learning about military history and the accomplishments of great leaders is all well and good, but it's important to remember other parts of history that are also important, such as natural social, pollical and economic evolutions of great nations like the Reich and the general trends that influenced them.
Also I imagine Alex's bully will regret picking on him at some point, he wouldn't be so brave about his words if Anders and Diana were there, especially his words insulting Diana.
I am well aware of that. In previous posts somewhere in this thread I went over my explanation for the Stellaris map and the idea of "important systems" being represented but not denying the existence of other systems. But at least early on in Stellaris I'm going to focus on the small scale and use The Expanse/Battlestar Galactica physics on my ships instead of going full Star Wars/Star Trek immediately.
This wasn't originally the plan. I was supposed to put all of the Anders and Alex stuff/the school arc into a flashback arc from the perspective of an older Alex looking back (with the "main" arc fully focusing on The Forum/CB and their perspective). The idea was to have two perspectives on the same events happening over the next few years, one from Elias and his friends and the other from the Humboldts and former X-Division. But while writing it I burned myself out and the school arc turned out to be shorter than I expected, so I decided to fold it into the main story a few weeks ago. So there may be a little disjoint between the two, at least at first. Alex's side of the story will mainly focus on him, since it mostly takes place from Alex's perspective, though we will see what Anders and Diana have been up too. And later on, when I stopped writing the two arcs separately, they will get more importance and we'll see more of their perspective.
Following on the above, this actually wasn't supposed to be the introduction. The Anders and Theresa part alone was the introduction to the flashback part, with the Alex stuff in another update, and the next update I'll be posting (focusing back on the Anhorns) was the original "start" to the arc after I put the Fire Emblem series in between the chapter and this update. So it might feel a little underwhelming as an introduction compared to how I started the previous arcs.
I really liked writing some of the school arc historical discussions. They're my way of differentiating my AAR from other ones (aside from the extremely long character narratives I've been doing for the last two years). When I read alternate histories, I generally see a focus on military and political leaders, for example like a lot of Harry Turtledove's works. But one of my favorite (and earliest) works of alternate history was The Years of Rice and Salt, which intentionally avoided all that and focused on regular people. I wanted to replicate that as best as I could here, though I did keep the top level focus on leaders since that's how these games are structured. It gives this country depth and makes this world feel lived in. And more character development for Friedrich the Great is always welcome since he literally has only one chapter for his whole reign and I barely have any screenshots of him.
Josh will be an important character moving forward, both for Alex and in his own right. He should definitely watch his words, but Alex doesn't like pulling the "my mom's in the Athanatoi" card. Like his grandmother, he's very private when it comes to this stuff.
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So which version is going to be used? As in the anniona-verse it was way back before even utopia and had the choose your ftl that was cut in apocalypse. So are we using a modern version of Stellaris or one from utopia or synthetic Dawn's release?
I changed my planned story to work with hyperdrives/hyperspace. It was surprisingly easy even though the original plan called for warp. So I'm going to be using the latest version of Stellaris. I'm waiting on making the mod until I finish writing every story update and chapter up to the end of NWO so I can get the DLCs I want to use as well as the most updated version so I don't have to worry about new updates breaking my mod, since I will effectively be making a preset scenario. I might not get every DLC since there are some non-DLC features I like (the original nomads for example) or I may not use every DLC feature (like megacorps).
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Man the FE updates were pretty nice start to finish, wish I played any of em since I'm a sucker for RPGs. Good to know God Shaterring Star still exists, hopefuly it got added to Smash as well
Also I quite agree on fleshing out Alternate histories with the experiences of regular people, the military battles are good and all but knowing how culture develops in AH is much more fun to read. I definitely gonna try reading Rice and Salt if I have the time. I'm hyped on the school arc, gonna be interesting to see how history is viewed not from our perspective but in-universe.
You know it'd be hilarious if Bin Laden ends up having a subreddit dedicated to him ala r/TheDonald, would it be called r/TheLad though?
Also I quite agree on fleshing out Alternate histories with the experiences of regular people, the military battles are good and all but knowing how culture develops in AH is much more fun to read. I definitely gonna try reading Rice and Salt if I have the time. I'm hyped on the school arc, gonna be interesting to see how history is viewed not from our perspective but in-universe.
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Did you just put Bin Laden near the top of the Virgin vs Chad spectrum by accident? Now those would be memes I would interested in seeing from the Hohenzollernverse, even if they might be a little politically incorrect to put it lightly.
In all seriousness tho, I agree with you point in learning more about the cultural development of this timeline being more intresting than reading about big battles sometimes, even if they are fun. Looking forward to seeing how the School arc fleshes out the lore of TTL and examines the perspectives the people of the Reich have on their own history.
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It probably did get added here, as did a lot of other amazing tracks. While this series has some duds (cough Fates cough), the music makes it worth it.
I’m not sure if bin Laden had a high enough profile to gain enough supporters to create something like that here, since he lost after all. But there may be one for Baudet, although it would unfortunately be pretty moderate.
I’m going to start introducing some completely original cultural elements in this arc, mostly in the background as fluff. But Alex will be interacting with the Internet so we’ll see what it’s like here.
I actually occasionally float around ideas to post in-universe memes here. I can’t say what they are about since the current ideas are spoilers, but it could be fun. Just need to find some blank templates.
On a related note, I do have a relatively non-spoilery meme I put as a random line of background dialogue in a later update:
“Here’s how Prince Georg can still become Kaiser!”
It’s a welcome change in style that suits the era, since this part of the game was relatively peaceful like in real life. There were a few small battles here and there but I didn’t focus on them. I liked writing about the history of this country from the perspectives of its inhabitants to see what they think of it and where they can go from here.
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Ecclesia
Warsaw - March 3, 2016
Gertrude’s deep blue dress made her look elegant as she glided across the stage, a book in her hand and microphone headset on her ear while the lights followed her.
"It's well accepted that every society has some kind of belief in the divine," she explained to the enraptured audience before her, "Some belief in a superior being or beings. In short, religion is a universal human experience. In Asia, these religions have tens of millions of followers, with no sign of losing them anytime soon. Shendao is still the official state religion of China, despite years of secularization. In the Reich, Orthodox Christianity is predominant, but postmodern views are increasingly being accepted, and the concept of God is being rejected."
A small murmur rippled through the audience.
"I know, right?" Gertrude said. "The Church is described in Greek as the ecclesia. That means a governing body. But don’t get me wrong. We don't condone theocracies, since they tend towards authoritarianism and stifle theological innovation as the Tejan and Cherokee models attest to. But this translation suggests the Church should retain some influence in Roman society. After all, the Reich was originally founded as a Christian nation, and the Church had significant influence during the reign of the first three Kaisers, first as the Catholic Church and then as the reunited Church. With a plethora of organized religions around the world, it's the Church's responsibility to reach the lost with the love and Gospel and expand the Kingdom of God in ministerial efforts, both nationally and internationally. The Church is an indispensable part of modern Roman society, the first of the seven foundations I outlined, and I think we should keep it that way.
"Now, moving on to the second foundation," Gertrude continued, "That is the family. Since the first societies were organized, the family has been the building block of communities, from which we have built cities and civilizations. Throughout the Bible, you'll find familial examples that recommend how we ought to live our lives today. God desires that men, women, and children within a family be united as one in His love, be they gay or straight. After all, He is the ultimate Father, as Romans 8:14-17 tells us. But the families of the Reich have been under constant and prolonged attack. Today, the assailants are fatherlessness, divorce (50% rate in secular and Christian marriages), domestic abuse, pornography, homophobia, misogyny, and other negative influences have brought great dysfunction to Roman life. God calls on parents, both spiritual and biological, to restore the families of the Reich to their rightful place. He wants to bring healing to marriages and relationships within families in order to maintain a moral foundation for children in the future to stand upon. For if our children do not have the moral foundations to be good citizens, how will this nation last through the next generation?
"Next is education. Once, the Roman education system, in a close partnership with the Church, proudly incorporated the Bible, prayer to the God of the Bible, and biblical values in every aspect of school life. Not coincidentally, this system produced a people that produced the most powerful and prosperous nation the earth has ever seen. But today, those traditions are gone, replaced with atheistic teachings and postmodern principles in our public schools. The Church has been forced away from educating our children, a long outdated overreaction from justified attempts to rein in the power of the Inquisition after the Fifty Years’ War. Religious ideas and iconography are banned in schools. Many universities which were founded by churches or God-fearing men have now followed their lead. A reintroduction of the teachings of Christ is the key to renewal in the Reich's failing educational system. Not necessarily teaching the Bible itself, but some of its teachings could always be appreciated, even in a secular context. Of course, that old system had some drawbacks and limitations that we would do well to leave in the past, like most of the Old Testament to be frank, but that is another topic.
"Now let's move on to the elephant in the room, the government. While each individual is responsible for their own sins, the fact remains people are greatly influenced by the morals their leaders adopt. The agenda of the party cartel, empowered by well-known individuals in the arts and entertainment industries, have dominated the political arena since 1836. Many of their powerful interest groups seek to remove anything related to God or Christianity from the governmental and educational systems because of a misapplied and ironically overzealous interpretation of the phrase 'separation of church and state', again building on that centuries-old overreaction to the Inquisition. The revelation of the Sentinel conspiracy, by which a shadowy cabal of atheists and postmodernists mean to subvert our nation and its values from within, tell us reform is both necessary and urgent. We must see a paradigm shift in this arena in order to preserve the Christian heritage our Reich was founded on. The goal is to elevate leaders to the forefront who will positively affect all aspects of government and provide a moral example to the rest of the Roman people.
"We can't discuss change in the government without discussing a change in the enablers of the party cartel, the media. The media has the potential to sway popular opinion on current issues based upon its reporting, which frequently reflects the biases of its corporate leaders. We can see the role the media played in toppling Walter Scheel, Gerhard Schroder, and Roland Wilson and elevating Markos Angelos, Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Kohl, Angela Merkel, and, for a time, Osama bin Laden. Despite their apparent ideological differences, all of these individuals, with the exception of bin Laden, have something in common: they are part of the party cartel. On the other hand, Bin Laden was a potential puppet of the party cartel, as evident by how the media tried to elevate him into a serious contender to counter the anti-establishment Martin Schulz, the real candidate they fear. The media works to keep the party cartel in power, because this is how they keep making money. Better the devil you know, it’s often said. That is why Sentinel lasted as long as it did. We need more journalists like those which exposed Sentinel. There fortunately has been a rise in independent news services recently, including some Christian ones like Vox Dei, which aren't beholden to the party cartel or corporate media conglomerates. However, to bring transformation to the industry, Christians who are gifted for and called into this type of work must be willing to report righteously and truthfully in the secular marketplace. Now, I’m not calling for them to preach or attempt to convert others with their platforms, just to share their values. We all stand to gain from hearing more opinions.
"Connected to the media is the sphere of entertainment. Here, we find some of the most powerful forces shaping our society. Music, filmmaking, television, social media, and the performing arts drive the cultural tastes, values and standards of a nation's citizens, particularly its youth. With a heavy reliance on the strong appeal of sex, drugs, alcohol, and shameless and wasteful consumerism, the arts and entertainment industries wield significant influence. The body of Christ needs powerful, righteous men and women who are not afraid to bring their talents into the arts and entertainment arenas, people ready to further His purposes to impact those who are lost in darkness and would not otherwise be interested in any kind of Christian message in traditional forms.
"And that takes me to the last sphere we must address, business. The ability to create wealth through ingenuity, enterprise, creativity, and effort is a gift from God and a universal human impulse. The markets and economic systems that emerge whenever people are free to pursue buying and selling become the lifeblood of a nation. This includes anything from farms to small businesses to large corporations. But today's large corporations take this idea to the extreme and ruin millions in the name of idolatry, greed, and covetousness. They pollute the skies and waters God created and entrusted to us to look over. The crash of 2008 and the machinations of the madman Wilhelm Tesla show how unchecked money corrupts. In response, the Church must embrace its responsibility to train up those who are called into the marketplace to manage businesses and provide leadership with integrity and honesty. We believe it is the Lord's will to make His people prosperous to sustainably build up the Kingdom of God, instilling values of hard work and just rewards. Simply put, we believe in prosperity with a purpose."
Gertrude stopped pacing and looked straight at the audience, specifically at Elias, who sat right at the front. Elias smiled, encouraging her to continue.
"So where do we go from here?" she asked. "How do we bring about lasting change to our calcified system, our lost society? We have to start from the ground up. Reach out to the disaffected and wayward. Help them realize that God hasn't forgotten about them, that He still loves them. Lift them up out of their financial and spiritual poverty. Teach them about righteousness and what makes a godly life. Because it is ultimately the people working together who can effect great changes to society. It is they who decide what destiny this nation will take. Thank you all so much for listening. I'll be hanging around the entrance for the next half hour to sign your copies of The Fundamentals and answer your questions. Again, thank you!"
The audience applauded. Gertrude made her way offstage to Elias, who kissed her cheek.
"Great job, my dear," Elias said, "You did great."
"We're halfway done with this tour," Gertrude said, "Time really flies, does it?"
"If only Ellie were here to see us," Elias said.
"She'd be proud of you," Gertrude said, "Proud of us."
"Yes, proud of me," Elias said, "We're doing this for her."
"How was the meeting?" Gertrude asked.
"Went great," Elias said, "We secured the gig in Tel Aviv. On campus too. Venue's free about six months from now."
"Tel Aviv?" Gertrude said. "Didn't think they'd agree. They hate me."
"Called in some favors," Elias said, "They don't hate you that much, I learned. It's mostly me."
"Don't say that..." Gertrude said.
"Hey!" Theodor shouted, speed-walking over. "Elias!"
"What?" Elias said.
"Could you please tell your wife to stop slandering the Tesla name?" the relatively new president of Tesla Dynamic said. "I've been trying to improve my reputation, but I can't seem to get through to her."
"I'm right here, you know," Gertrude said, "And for the record, your uncle would've been remembered as a convicted bioterrorist had he not been killed first. I'm just repeating what we all know already."
Theodor sighed. "Please, you have no idea how much this means to me. I need to secure the Argus deal. Elias, talk to her."
"Honey, the Argus deal's important," Elias said, "He needs it to go through. Otherwise he won't be able to regain his uncle's market clout."
"I'm not taking back my words," Gertrude said, "You of all people should know that."
Theodor sighed. He put a hand on Elias' shoulder.
"Elias, man, please get your house in order, for all of our sakes," he said, turning and leaving.
"Don't worry about him," Elias said, "He's pretty paranoid. Guess he gets that from old Wilhelm. Focus on this tour."
"You're right," Gertrude said, "This is more important."
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As you'll eventually see, Theodor has some issues of his own...
I like that speech from Gertrude there. She seems like a good fit for Elias and there's neat overlap between her ideas and the CB/Forum's goals. Hope to see more of her in the Forum arc.
One more thought I have about the school arc, I'd also be interested in discussions about in the history of countries the Reich has interacted with, like China or India for example. I think that would be a great point of comparison when discussing the evolution of the Reich over the centuries, seeing what way the Reich influenced the development of its neighboring nations and how they handled their own changes they experienced through their history, like the evolution of the Saray/Mongolian/Yavidan empires for example.
One more thought I have about the school arc, I'd also be interested in discussions about in the history of countries the Reich has interacted with, like China or India for example. I think that would be a great point of comparison when discussing the evolution of the Reich over the centuries, seeing what way the Reich influenced the development of its neighboring nations and how they handled their own changes they experienced through their history, like the evolution of the Saray/Mongolian/Yavidan empires for example.
Gertrude is the more intellectual of the two. She is more focused on the environmentalist aspect of CB, while Elias focuses more on the political side.
Great idea. I have a few topics about that. For example, in one of them, Oskar talks about the effect the Persian Revolution had on both Roman meritocracy and Chinese democracy (and how those two systems influenced each other). There is also an off-handed reference to how the Persian Revolution led to the growth of an overseas Persian community in Yavdi and their current status. And very later on, someone compares the regimes of both Trotsky and Wilson, said to be polar opposites but actually very similar. Maybe I'll actually focus on other countries like Yavdi for some areas, but I'll have to tack those onto the existing school arc updates since I've written content for up to 2029 at this point.
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I'm assuming the belters and martians are still going to not listen to the kaiser
P.S if you do make a reference to blue people avatar and wanna colonize Pandora, give the space monkeys some napalm will ya?
I do have something in the works for Mars. Maybe the belt/outer system colonies as well depending on where Mars goes. But I can say the Kaiser isn't going to be the sole ruler of Earth's space civilization, Annionaverse style.
Probably not going to reference that movie, but in any case I don't plan on bombing natives or doing any purging. It's not in the Reich's nature to do that.
I actually will not be covering the Covid-19 pandemic in this AAR, and 2020 will be more or less uneventful. There will be a random reference to a "new coronavirus" which was quickly contained though.
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