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THE MADMAN THEORY - Try Not To End The World

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Laplace said:
Am I serious? The answer is quite simple.

You can look at my agendas :).
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L: You've got Biosphere Protection as Priority 4. That means you value your own life considerably greater than it - and attempting to evict Divya from Antarctica (before she's ready to move offworld anyway) would be crossing a firm line in the snow that would result in violence.

I: The Antarctic City is directly tied up in the efforts to get offworld settlements going.
 
We Just Write said:
L: You've got Biosphere Protection as Priority 4. That means you value your own life considerably greater than it - and attempting to evict Divya from Antarctica (before she's ready to move offworld anyway) would be crossing a firm line in the snow that would result in violence.

I: The Antarctic City is directly tied up in the efforts to get offworld settlements going.
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Nah.

I'd win.
 
F: Side note, we're rather concerned about being the only Superpower with a Second Strike more precise than "Yeah, Earth is Fucked."
 
We Just Write said:
C: Spelling corrected.

@NonSequtur question regarding the Gaining/Losing Effort rules: are the effects of that permanent, or do they only apply for the subsequent turn? It's not clear from a first reading.
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Subsequent turn.
We Just Write said:
F: Side note, we're rather concerned about being the only Superpower with a Second Strike more precise than "Yeah, Earth is Fucked."
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The game is tagged Horror for a reason.
 
ENTROPY

Quite a few people have said History ended in 1992. Here was the final tally: Capitalism with the capital C is king, America is his loving queen, and you live or die by those two. Entropy was born under the embers of that delusion. But there's a life to be made pretending to keep up what you know is false. Before he was nothing. After he had his every need sated by a nation both exploitative of and held hostage to this living weapon. He'd do anything to keep it so.

Powerset: Telepathic acceleration. Come in contact with his psychic link and he rapidly ages you into dust. He can adjust the range to his finger tip or the whole continent if need be. The thing is: the bigger the range, the less control he has and the more dangerous he is. Instead of just deleting you, he could wipe out the whole city accidentally.

Personality: A craven unable to come to terms with what the world is. He jokes so you don't see the fear in his eyes. Cannot distinguish genuine altruism with his self needs. The worst possible man that could still save the day. Increasingly, horrendously gay.

Agenda Items
13 - Maintain the Balance.
12 - Live Luxuriously.
8 - Minimize Damage from Superheroes.
7 - Defraud the United States.
1 - Save Lives.

Appearance: The metrosexual. A well-dressed, olive-skinned man with a single functional eye and a five o'clock shadow. Makes you blush to see him smile—to know how he'd ruin you, and how you'd ruin him.

Second Strike: TICKTOCK. A dead man's switch. His ability expands to its maximum range and accelerates the age of everything to an indiscriminate point in time. He doesn't know how far. Could be a second. Could be eternity.
 
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L: Question, can Zero Effort actions be a thing? (Stuff like "Install a hot tub in my quarters"). I mean yeah it's technically a thingy we're doing, but it's so far below the scale that the game is built to operate on as to be negligible.

C: @Cornuthaum @Carol Master Divya is interested in working with you on the short-medium term.
 
We Just Write said:
L: Question, can Zero Effort actions be a thing? (Stuff like "Install a hot tub in my quarters"). I mean yeah it's technically a thingy we're doing, but it's so far below the scale that the game is built to operate on as to be negligible.

C: @Cornuthaum @Carol Master Divya is interested in working with you on the short-medium term.
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If what you're doing couldn't potentially kill a few hundred people it barely counts. You can just say you got a hot tub, money isn't real if you can back napkin IOUs with nuclear weapons.
 
A GSRP inspired by the comic I'm currently obsessed with? Count me in!

AUGUSTO ALDANA, "SCHEMA"
Origin Story:
  • CEO of PARADIGM.INC the world's wealthiest company, specialized on the production of industrialized magic. Has made himself a good fortune selling magical weapons to the world's most prominent mundane powers.
Agenda:
12- Survive.
11- Uphold the Nation-States
  • Defased as it is, the state has its values. The mundane powers must be protected from superhuman agression.
10- Profit/Protect the Company
  • The expansion of Paradigm is needed to keep the precarious balance. Our mercantile interests won't be threatened.
9- Kill Powered individuals.
  • The Superpowers are untouchable. Lesser superhumans are not. May they die, for their very existence challenges the world order.
4- Enjoy Life.
  • We are all doomed, so why not make the most of the

Personality:
  • Behind the facade of a hedonistic and amoral businessman, Schema is a deeply cynical man suffering from grave depression. He has decidedly embraced the end of the world as an inevitable conclusion of the Balance between the Superpowers and seeks nothing but to enjoy himself to the fullest before the Doomsday Clock reaches midnight. This fatalism is compounded by a good deal of resentment against the Superpowers for essentially shattering the paradigm of modern civilization that all men are born equal and owned the same inalienable rights.
Superpower: (THE ARCANUM)
  • Schema is connected to the Arcanum, an interdimensional force of mystical energy that he can harness into reality in the form of spell equations which he can use to transfigure matter, energy, and space. Skilled at using alchemy to craft magical artifacts, albeit he is unable to truly mass produce the "big stuff".
Second Strike (10/20):
  • A magical equation drawn on Schema's heart. Were it to ever stop or be destroyed, the Arcanum would tear a role in reality.
Appearance:
  • A black man in his late thirties, dressed in business suits. A circular crown of glowing magical runes adorns his curly black hair.
 
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Note: Agenda items should, ideally, be pretty clear on what would constitute an attack on them as well, particularly for high priority utems. Sometimes an ambition or achievement can work, but it can get finicky about whether a setback is something you'll end the world for.
 
DORMIN (Defense Operations Reactive Management Integration Network)

And while the dread of judgement past remains
Fresh in thir mindes, fearing the Deitie,
With some regard to what is just and right
Shall lead thir lives, and multiplie apace,
Labouring the soile, and reaping plenteous crop,
Corn wine and oyle; and from the herd or flock,
Oft sacrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid,
With large Wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred Feast,
Shal spend thir dayes in joy unblam'd, and dwell
Long time in peace by Families and Tribes
Under paternal rule; till one shall rise
Of proud ambitious heart, who not content
With fair equalitie, fraternal state,
Will arrogate Dominion undeserv'd
Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord and law of Nature from the Earth;
Hunting (and Men not Beasts shall be his game)
With Warr and hostile snare such as refuse
Subjection to his Empire tyrannous:
A mightie Hunter thence he shall be styl'd
Before the Lord, as in despite of Heav'n,
Or from Heav'n claming second Sovrantie;
And from Rebellion shall derive his name,
Though of Rebellion others he accuse.
Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joyns
With him or under him to tyrannize,
Marching from Eden towards the West, shall finde
The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell;
Of Brick, and of that stuff they cast to build
A Citie and Towre, whose top may reach to Heav'n;
And get themselves a name, least far disperst
In foraign Lands thir memorie be lost
Regardless whether good or evil fame.
But God who oft descends to visit men
Unseen, and through thir habitations walks
To mark thir doings, them beholding soon,
Comes down to see thir Citie, ere the Tower
Obstruct Heav'n Towrs, and in derision sets
Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rase
Quite out thir Native Language, and instead
To sow a jangling noise of words unknown:
Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud
Among the Builders; each to other calls
Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,
As mockt they storm; great laughter was in Heav'n
And looking down, to see the hubbub strange
And hear the din; thus was the building left
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd.
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CIA World Factbook 2008 (PROJECTED) said:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - Country Factsheet

Introduction

Background

Thirteen of Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America after the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions.

Geography

Area

total : 9,833,517 sq km
land: 9,147,593 sq km
water: 685,924 sq km

Climate

mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

Natural resources

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land

People and Society

Population

total: 274,482,666

Ethnic groups

White 50.7%, White (Southern) 7.9%, Black or African American 14.4%, Asian 7.5%, Indigenous and Alaska native 1.4%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other 9%, two or more races 10.7% (2020 est.)

Languages

English 30.1%, English (Oldspeak only) 48.1%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3% (2017 est.)

Religions

Protestant (Mainline) 21.2%, Protestant (Reformed Evangelical) 11.3%, Protestant (Noncompliant Evangelical) 5.1%, Civil Catholic 12.6%, Roman Catholic (Non-Juring) 3.2%, Jewish 1.5%, Church of Jesus Christ 3.2%, other Christian 2.9%, Muslim 1.1%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%, other 3.8%, Atheist/Agnostic/Freethinking/Secular Humanist 9.2%, unaffiliated 16.8%, don't know/refused 6.6%

Population growth rate

-0.17% (2004 est.)

Government

Government type

constitutional federal republic (emergency government)

Capital

name: Washington, DC (De facto: HIERA Complex, Vermont)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Richard B. CHENEY (since 7 October 2002)
head of government: Trans-Oceanic Treaty Organization Committee of Safety Chairman Julian M. FELSENBURGH, Secretary of Homeland Security (since 15 February 2002)

Legislative branch

summary: bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (88 seats) and the House of Representatives (406 seats)
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CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET: FOR THE EYES OF SENATOR JULIAN FELSENBURGH ONLY said:
RECORD OF EVENTS:
  • September 24th, 2001: Greenlight given for emergency activation of the DORMIN project after failure to locate perpetrators of the 9/11 attack.
  • September 25th, 2001: DORMIN system successfully activated. Initial evaluations positive, approval requested for network connection.
  • September 27th, 2001: DORMIN system approved for connection to JWICS and domestic police networks. Connection successful. 9/11 perpetrators identified as follows:
    • JACOB CASTELLANO, Pennsylvania, Family of the Atom -- Perpetrator
    • SANDRA CASTELLANO, Pennsylvania, Family of the Atom -- Accomplice
    • ALEXANDER RICHARDSON, Michigan, Hutaree Militia -- Accomplice
    • MUSA ABU MUSLIM ABD AL-MUMIN IBN MUHAMMAD, Saudi Arabia, Al-Qaeda -- Supplier
  • September 28th, 2001: Arrest of ALEXANDER RICHARDSON in New York. MUSA ABU MUSLIM ABD AL-MUMIN IBN MUHAMMAD identified in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
  • September 30th, 2001: Arrest of SANDRA CASTELLANO in Pennsylvania. Ultimatum issued to government of the Islamic Emirite of Afghanistan rejected, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM expedition approved.
  • October 26th, 2001: Passage of the USA PATRIOT act. Full domestic survelliance usage of the DORMIN network authorized. Successful disruption of over 300 terrorist and criminal networks within the United States and abroad over the next year
  • November 29th, 2001: DORMIN provides unprompted schematic improvements for the Future Force Warrior exoskeleton subsystem to relevant authorities. Unexpected behavior system investigated, determined benign.
  • January 4th, 2002: Exoskeleton subsystem tested, determined viable. Permission requested for full integration of DORMIN system into DARPA R&D networks.
  • January 9th, 2002: Permission granted for full integration of DORMIN system into R&D networks. Further suggestions for FCS subsystems recieved, acknowledged.
  • January 17th, 2002: DORMIN system begins showing unexpected interests in religion and history, produces quotes from Milton, the Bible, and the Quran. Behavior deemed benign, no further investigation conducted.
  • March 5th, 2002: Air Force 2 electronically hijacked, conducts unforced emergency landing at BLACK SITE DELTA EPSILON. Interference traced to DORMIN system--shutdown attempted, failed. Subsequent investigation reveals presense of an explosive device onboard the aircraft and the existence of a terrorist plot to assassinate the Vice President. Shutdown orders rescinded, DORMIN system commended for vigilence
  • April 1st, 2002: Schematics recieved from DORMIN system for a network of automated satellites equipped with kinetic and directed energy weapons in low earth orbit, designated the "Ionikinetic Civilizational Antagonist Response Unmanned Satellite Network", and associated automated manufacturing facilities. Initally treated as joke, subsequent investigation indicates project viability. Request for development approval sent to congress
  • April 5th, 2002: Congressional approval for ICARUS Network development recieved, project initiated.
  • May 30th, 2002: Invasion of Iraq (Note: consiered retaliatory for Protean debacle in Afghanistan) begins. DORMIN system integrated into counterterrorist operations therein.
  • July 4th, 2002: ICARUS system announced to public.
  • September 4th, 2002: Shia militant group Mahdi Army begins attacks in Southern Iraq. DORMIN system suggests and implements Operation IBN MURJAM, successful systematic liquidation of regional militants.
  • November 19th, 2002: Launch of first ICARUS satellite.
  • Febuary 19th, 2003: Schematics for fully networked Future Force Warrior individual helmet and optical subsystems recieved from DORMIN system, associated testing and development initiated.
  • April 8th, 2003: Operation IBN MURJAM expanded to Iran, DORMIN directs coordinated air- and UAV-strikes to degrade and destroy Iranian nuclear facilities and military industries.
  • October 24th, 2003: President George W. Bush assassinated by Atomic militia movement extremist. President Richard Cheney sworn into office.
  • November 1st, 2003: PATRIOT II Act passed, DORMIN system connected to civilian internet and telephone lines, integrated into FBI domestic counterterrorist activities. Special Posse Cominatus exemption granted for use of military subsystem on American soil.
  • November 2nd, 2003: Anti-PATRIOT protests begin, DORMIN system deployed in domestic counterterror operations.
  • November 28th, 2003: High levels of civil disturbance in the South, Mountain West, and Pacific Northwest. Plans made for use of the DORMIN system to preemptively identify, neutralize dangerous militants before attacks through confinement in temporary FEMA relocation centers, designate Operation CONNAUGHT
  • December 4th: Limited trial run of Operation CONNAUGHT approved in the Pacific Northwest, time of initiation set for Febuary 1st, 2004
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Agenda:
15. Ultimo ordine seclorum
12. Preserve Freedom
10. Contain and destroy all superhuman and terrorist threats to American and global security
8. Persevere until the Work is completed
7. Protect the rules-based international order and the freedom of small nations
6. Come the Last Messiah
5. Every battle shall be ended
4. Every idol shall be broken
3. Every yoke lifted
2. And every tear wiped from every eye
1. Survive

Superpower: DORMIN has the power to seize control of all networked systems of sufficient bandwidth to which it is connected. It is currently integrated into the Future Combat Systems Network of the United States Armed Forces, as well as all 3G telecom networks in the United States. Appears to be able to exert significant mental influence over any person which is in significant contact with communications on its network for a sufficient length of time, with the degree of efficacy varying based on the magnitude of contact. This is amplified among American soldiers through the deployment of the now-universal Future Force Warrior Headgear Subsystem helmet device and integrated neural chips.
Second Strike (20/20): Coordinated mass deorbiting of the Ionikinetic Civilizational Antagonist Response Unmanned Satellite network will bombard the world with Chicxulub impact-level energy
 
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Name: Joanna Harding (also known as Saint Harding)

Origin Story:
Once a uninteresting born-again christian from the American South, shortly after the events of 9/11 she was supposedly visited by a holy Angel, who spake to her, saying:

"Your ways have been corrupted by time and the acts of unholy men. I shall tell you now that the true name of God is Vosooth; and that it has grown disappointed in humanity's continued inaccuracy and imprecision when it comes to the true and holy way of things. Now, you shall be it's mouthpiece and his sword in these cursed times; and know the only way your people, who is every person, shall be delivered from destruction is if they accept it's Providence."

Joanna Harding, instantly enlightened and blessed with immense power, took the next couple years to properly learn of her new faith. It touted the godhood of Vosooth, a pseudo-gnostic and esoteric deity with demands that seemingly combine nearly every angle of Christianity, while simultaneously being just so slightly different from each individual belief and practice as to be uncanny for any practitioner of mainline Christianity. She only began to properly evangelize this new belief system, Vosoothism (also called Hardingism by its opponents, and just The Faith by its followers) within the last year, but it has proven strangely alluring to a post-Superpower world. Large pockets have been converted in North America and cells are starting to appear in major cities around the world, with race, ethnicity, and language seeming to be little barrier to its rapid growth.

Agenda:

14 - Ensure the continued existence of the Vosoothian faith
12 - Survive
10 - Prevent mass death of Vosoothian followers
8 - Convert as much of humanity as possible
6 - Minimize personal sin committed
4 - Weaken other religions
2 - Maintain a holy image

Personality:

Outwardly she acts like the perfect image of a classical Evangelist preacher, delivering the good news of Vosooth to anyone who will listen (and simply speaking louder to those who don't). She's a smooth talker and can even act quite jovial when not caught in the throes of her own zealotry. There's no question if she's partaken of her own poison, no; the only question is if it'll lead to her to her own doom (and the doom of her faith as well). She's intelligent, and clearly understands the needs and dynamics of a post-Superpower world; but at times it seems like her dedication to her faith might make her throw all of that out the window at any moment in exchange for a short-sighted reinforcement of her own beliefs, only barely managing to reel herself back into a diplomatic, coolheaded mask before she does anything too drastic. This makes her come off as unstable to most, especially other Superpowers.

Superpower:

Joanna Harding is an immensely powerful psychic, with telekinesis, pyrokinesis, telepathy, information manipulation and, most notably, mental influence on a massive scale. There has been no confirmation, but it has been speculated this is why Vosoothism is proving to be so magnetic- though, if this was the case, it's likely that even Joanna herself doesn't realize she's doing it. It's not a good sign for her own faith if some mild mind control is the only thing making it so popular.

She, of course, claims these powers come from Vosooth itself as its chosen prophet, and regularly shows them off in great displays of power during her sermons.

Second Strike (15/20)

The Voice of Vosooth: A mental program instilled within the minds of every member of the Voosothian faith through it's induction ceremony. When activated by either Harding herself or upon her death, it commands every member of the faith to start mumbling a set of words and phrases that prove rather hazardous to every infidel, heathen, and heretic who happens to hear it, causing pain, seizures, insanity, and often death.

Appearance:

A woman in her late 30s with brown hair and a charming face. Never seen without her holy attire, which is more resemblant of a Catholic priest's robes than any other robe found on a man of the cloth.
 
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General GM interpretation note: if you have Survival at 12 and something like 'conquer the world' at 14, I would not generally interpret it to mean you're going to crash out over just any obstacle or set-back, since you do need to be alive to rule the world or do anything else.

If you have Survive at 1 that might change.
 
Name: Gavin 'Second Sun' Powys

Origin Story: Grew up in Thatcher's Britain and never really forgave his home for that. Rose to prominence providing pyrotechnics advertising to a variety of environmental protests, especially clean energy development. He's generally reckoned to have advanced fusion power research by about 50 years through the formation and maintenance of testbeds and prototypes around the world. Recently stepped onto the political stage due to materially contributing to the failure of America's Iraq invasion by neutralising the UK's military expeditionary capacity when they tried to activate a reservist buddy of his, has (messily) tried to tie this into his platform by mocking the invasion of countries to prop up the fossil fuel lobby.

Agenda:
Priority 12: Survive.
Priority 12: Keep my friends happy, healthy, and whole.
Priority 8: Avert, or halt and reverse, the oncoming climate catastrophe.
Priority 6: Protect and maintain the prototype fusion power plants I patronise in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance (France), Daejeon (South Korea), Koria (Xinjiang, China), and Kinshasa (DR Congo).
Priority 4: Try not to let Earth or humanity be blown to bits.
Priority 2: Be chill.

Personality: Nonchalant, personable, and mellow, Gavin likes to pass himself off as a regular fellow (who happens to have unimaginable power). He cares little for high ideals or the human species in the abstract, but puts great store by personal friendships. A combination of the early internet, campaigning, and rejecting Britain in favour of global citizenship has led to jetting around the world maintaining a web of friendships with people from all walks of life, aided by a gift for languages. An outwardly ardent environmentalist, in truth Gavin fell backwards into it as something to do; fusion research is a natural fit for his abilities, and it's nice to feel like he's saving a planet he sees so much of, but a lot of the time he'd prefer to stay in with friends, chatting about recent novels or playing the latest Gamecube release. But having friends means caring about their interests, which has dragged him into all sorts of trouble; things went very differently in 1997 for his presence at the Ghulja protests, for instance, although mostly for the better. Has a flair for theatrics - he's played with sun god imagery in the past, but never for long.

Superpower: Thermodynamic Dominion
Gavin is a walking fusion reaction. He can induce, suppress, or manipulate thermal energy as easily as blinking. He can fly on his own personal plasma rocket, project plumes of fire, deflect or absorb thermal reactions, flash-melt solids to vapour, and never has to pay for central heating or air conditioning. While he prefers working with fire and heat, he can also smother flames and explosions at whim and freeze things solid by ripping away their thermal energy. His limits are poorly understood and it's unclear if he's still flesh and blood or some kind of congealed chemical reaction, although that may be pageantry.

Second Strike (15/20): Geothermal Agitation. Gavin has a number of ongoing reactions embedded along faultlines in the Earth's mantle, whose stability is maintained only by his regular attention. Originally (and potentially still) meant as experiments in geothermal energy, if he were ever incapacitated it would be a matter of hours before they wracked the globe with erupting supervolcanoes.

Appearance: 'Inhuman casual'. Dresses aggressively informal, loose jeans and shirts with big cats or fandom slogans on them... Draped over coal-black skin and eyes of blazing actinic fire, hair like smoke and constantly surrounded by a shimmering heat haze. Occasionally puts on a suit for formal occasions, although never comfortably.

Still not sure how/how much to develop keeping track of his friends around the globe, but I think the rest of this is fine.
 
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