Author Topic: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread  (Read 170218 times)

Kit deSummersville

  • Precentor of Lies
  • Freelance Writer
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 10397
  • The epicness continues!
    • Insights and Complaints on Twitter
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #90 on: 12 May 2011, 11:34:27 »
I believe the second highest % of people in the CC speak Russian or of Russian descent

Well, English is probably language number 2, being the language for most of humanity in the 31st century.
As for the Russian cultural heritage, probably until 3025 when the Tikinov district was relocated to another nation.
Looking for an official answer? Check the Catalyst Interaction Forums.

Freelancer for hire, not an official CGL or IMR representative.

Everyone else's job is easy, so tell them how to do it, everyone loves that!

Millard Fillmore's favorite BattleTech writer.

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #91 on: 12 May 2011, 12:56:44 »
Quote from: Col.Hengist
That works for the Wobbies & the techpriests of mars also. Nice quote !

Oh you have no idea... ^_^

It's from Rush's concept album 2112, and, yeah, it definitely fits the WoB, and Niops, especially in the Succession Wars era, where they seem to have gone through a WoBbish phase.  Here's the full lyrics and prelude to the song:

Quote from: Rush

And the meek shall inherit the earth...

[II. Temples of Syrinx]

...'The massive grey walls of the Temples rise from the heart of every Federation city. I
have always been awed by them, to think that every single facet of every life is regulated
and directed from within! Our books, our music, our work and play are all looked after by
the benevolent wisdom of the priests...'

We've taken care of everything
The words you read, the songs you sing
The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes
It's one for all and all for one
We work together, common sons
Never need to wonder how or why

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls

Look around at this world we've made
Equality our stock in trade
Come and join the Brotherhood of Man
Oh, what a nice, contented world
Let the banners be unfurled
Hold the Red Star proudly high in hand

We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx
Our great computers fill the hallowed halls
We are the Priests, of the Temples of Syrinx
All the gifts of life are held within our walls
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Col.Hengist

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9189
  • Konrad ' Hengist " Littman Highlander 732b
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #92 on: 12 May 2011, 20:11:17 »
 Hehe, trust me, i know rush. You don't grow up in the 70's and 80's and not know Getty, Neil and Alex  ;) but thanks man.
Lyran Commonwealth,6th Donegal Guards-Nightstar
Marian Hegemony, II Legio-Cataphract
Clan Hell's Horses, Gamma Galaxy-Summoner
Clan Grinch goat- gamma goat.

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #93 on: 13 May 2011, 11:54:39 »
Figured I'd make sure.  I keep running into people who *don't*.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Stormcrow

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5069
  • Art by Shimmering Sword
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #94 on: 13 May 2011, 12:16:28 »
Figured I'd make sure.  I keep running into people who *don't*.
I refer to those people as 'heathens'
Commandant Otto Maurus, ARWH-1Z ArcHammer, Maurus' Minutemen
Captain Obadiah Sykes, OSR-5FCR Ostroc, Second Filtvelt Citizens Militia

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. - Confucius
Noli Timure Messorem
May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies. - Voltaire
Wielder of the Ferro-Carbide Bat of DOOMâ„¢

Col.Hengist

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9189
  • Konrad ' Hengist " Littman Highlander 732b
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #95 on: 13 May 2011, 12:21:25 »
Rush is probably the greatest prog rock band ever. As we are speaking Thom Sawyer is playing over the radio. Because of Rush i started playing D&D and that space game TSR had. Lots of mideval fantacy and scifi stuff in their songs.
Lyran Commonwealth,6th Donegal Guards-Nightstar
Marian Hegemony, II Legio-Cataphract
Clan Hell's Horses, Gamma Galaxy-Summoner
Clan Grinch goat- gamma goat.

glitterboy2098

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 11991
    • The Temple Grounds - My Roleplaying and History website
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #96 on: 15 May 2011, 16:43:36 »
I need to get to writing The wacky misadventures of Gorky Zubok

nah, Niops is more:
Quote
This was a triumph!
I'm making a note here:
"HUGE SUCCESS!!"

It's hard to overstate
my satisfaction.

Aperture Science:
We do what we must
because we can.

For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.

But there's no sense crying
over every mistake.
You just keep on trying
till you run out of cake.
And the science gets done.
And you make a neat gun
for the people who are
still alive.


Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #97 on: 16 May 2011, 19:57:48 »
It can't be both, with Weird Science thrown in, too?
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Moonsword

  • Acutus Gladius
  • Global Moderator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 16580
  • You interrupted me reading TROs for this?
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #98 on: 16 May 2011, 21:21:20 »
It pretty much was if I recall the Niops side of FGC3062 correctly.

Caturix

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 197
  • Ex Astris, Scientia.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #99 on: 13 June 2011, 11:02:46 »
What is known about Niops planetary systems ? I mean, moons (inhabitable or not), continents, plants and fauna, satellites, jump points, atmosphere, climate, ...
Is there a place, a book where I can read about those things ?
"The Mechwarrior formerly known as Stenka"

Moonsword

  • Acutus Gladius
  • Global Moderator
  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 16580
  • You interrupted me reading TROs for this?
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #100 on: 13 June 2011, 12:26:28 »
I think the best reference is Field Manual: Periphery but I'm not sure.  Sarna probably has some information, too.  That said, it's unlikely you'll find all the information you're looking for.

However, I will note that jump points are a function of star type, planetary size, and orbital mechanics.  Since we rarely have the full data on stellar systems, calculating all the possible transient points is impossible and falls under the heading of GM's discretion in most cases.  We do normally have star type.  Given that, the chart in Strategic Operations will give you the proximity point distance.  The zenith and nadir 'points' are simply special case proximity points that are customarily used.

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #101 on: 13 June 2011, 12:33:48 »
I'm away from my books but I recall something somewhere saying that of the three, Niops VII is the most habitable and Niops VI is kind of cold. Most of the industry is also located on VI, as it was the main target of the ill-fated Marian raid.


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan

Caturix

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 197
  • Ex Astris, Scientia.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #102 on: 13 June 2011, 15:23:55 »
Thank you for the fast reply.

What about Niops I, Niops II, Niops III, and Niops IV ??
"The Mechwarrior formerly known as Stenka"

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #103 on: 13 June 2011, 16:10:10 »
Thank you for the fast reply.

What about Niops I, Niops II, Niops III, and Niops IV ??

I don't believe anything has ever been said.

Anything beyond Niops VII is fanon, so disregard scurrilous rumors about Niops IX.


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan

BrokenMnemonic

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1447
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #104 on: 14 June 2011, 02:26:33 »
What is known about Niops planetary systems ? I mean, moons (inhabitable or not), continents, plants and fauna, satellites, jump points, atmosphere, climate, ...
Is there a place, a book where I can read about those things ?
I only have an electronic copy of the first edition Periphery sourcebook at work, so I can't check this against the second edition or the Periphery Field Manual, but this is what was detailed about the Niops system in the first edition Periphery sourcebook. The Niops Association only gets four paragraphs of text for backgrond in the book, plus a sidebar for flavour that reads a lot like one of the tv programmes advertised in the movie "The Running Man" so the culture of the Association has been amended/altered/updated pretty significantly over time, but I don't think that the physical structure of the system itself has been altered.

Quote
World Name: Niops VII
Star Type: M5V
Position in System: 7
Time to Jump Point: 2.44 days
Recharging Station: None
Political Ruler: High Associator Brandex Da-Ri
ComStar Facility Class: None
ComStar Representative: None
Population: 13,245,000
Percentage and Level of Native Life: 30%, Fish

Description: The capital of the Niops Association is a cold, temperate planet with abundant aquatic life and fresh water sources.

It's more interesting than optimal, and therefore better. O0 - Weirdo

Col.Hengist

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9189
  • Konrad ' Hengist " Littman Highlander 732b
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #105 on: 14 June 2011, 08:33:09 »
I don't believe anything has ever been said.

Anything beyond Niops VII is fanon, so disregard scurrilous rumors about Niops IX.

 Be warry of the creature from planet IX!
Lyran Commonwealth,6th Donegal Guards-Nightstar
Marian Hegemony, II Legio-Cataphract
Clan Hell's Horses, Gamma Galaxy-Summoner
Clan Grinch goat- gamma goat.

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #106 on: 14 June 2011, 09:09:35 »
Be warry of the creature from planet IX!

"Many machines on Ix. New machines."  ;)


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan

Col.Hengist

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9189
  • Konrad ' Hengist " Littman Highlander 732b
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #107 on: 14 June 2011, 09:54:49 »
"Many machines on Ix. New machines."  ;)


OMG that quote was SOOOO much better than mine!  [notworthy]

 A Dune quote i SHOULD have thought of. I was thinking WAY too small. Bravo.  [applause]
Lyran Commonwealth,6th Donegal Guards-Nightstar
Marian Hegemony, II Legio-Cataphract
Clan Hell's Horses, Gamma Galaxy-Summoner
Clan Grinch goat- gamma goat.

Caturix

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 197
  • Ex Astris, Scientia.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #108 on: 14 June 2011, 16:54:49 »
Thanks a lot, guys :) !
"The Mechwarrior formerly known as Stenka"

Colt Ward

  • Lieutenant General
  • *
  • Posts: 28957
  • Gott Mit Uns
    • Merc Periphery Guide- Bakunin
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #109 on: 10 July 2011, 20:15:59 »
Okay, so are the educated a minority?  Or is the technical education among the Niopsian better than the rest of the IS excepting ComStar/Word?  If they kept their technical base . . . do they have more automated worlds than the Inner Sphere?  IE, a high percentage of farms run with AgroMechs instead of simpler tractors?  Robotic factories?- which seems to run contrary to the Nighthawk fluff.

Oh yeah, how friendly are they to mercs/foreigners?  Especially with the politcal unrest that mercs seemed to be involved in.
« Last Edit: 10 July 2011, 20:29:09 by Colt Ward »
Colt Ward
Clan Invasion Backer #149, Leviathans #104

"We come in peace, please ignore the bloodstains."

"Greetings, Mechwarrior. You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Daoshen and the Capellan armada."

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #110 on: 11 July 2011, 11:55:36 »
Okay, so are the educated a minority?  Or is the technical education among the Niopsian better than the rest of the IS excepting ComStar/Word?  If they kept their technical base . . . do they have more automated worlds than the Inner Sphere?  IE, a high percentage of farms run with AgroMechs instead of simpler tractors?  Robotic factories?- which seems to run contrary to the Nighthawk fluff.

Oh yeah, how friendly are they to mercs/foreigners?  Especially with the politcal unrest that mercs seemed to be involved in.

The "native" population was highly educated and enjoyed a full, SL era technical culture. The descendants of the Capellan refugees that arrived during the 2nd Succession War received a more vocational education and opportunities to advance beyond the glass ceiling this imposed were rare up until the late 3050s or so.

One of the Mercs books says something about the industries on Niops VI being heavily automated, but most of the defense/military stuff is done by hand.

As for Merc relations, the Jihad years have not been good ones - the Black Heart Roses' arrival on Niops ended up causing a lot of damage, long term. (Up to and including a coup attempt/political assassination.)


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #111 on: 07 September 2011, 01:42:47 »
So, anyone else depressed over the news about Niops from Field Report Periphery?
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Stormcrow

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5069
  • Art by Shimmering Sword
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #112 on: 07 September 2011, 10:45:30 »
What news? I don't recall anything spectacular happening in their corner of the 'verse
Commandant Otto Maurus, ARWH-1Z ArcHammer, Maurus' Minutemen
Captain Obadiah Sykes, OSR-5FCR Ostroc, Second Filtvelt Citizens Militia

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. - Confucius
Noli Timure Messorem
May God defend me from my friends; I can defend myself from my enemies. - Voltaire
Wielder of the Ferro-Carbide Bat of DOOMâ„¢

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #113 on: 07 September 2011, 13:38:25 »
Word of Blake invasion. By October 3079, the Niops Association Militia is at 1/3 strength, holed up on Niops V, and conducting a guerrilla war, with the Wobbies in control of Niops VI and VII.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Col.Hengist

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9189
  • Konrad ' Hengist " Littman Highlander 732b
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #114 on: 07 September 2011, 13:45:52 »
The wobbies will never get IX.
Lyran Commonwealth,6th Donegal Guards-Nightstar
Marian Hegemony, II Legio-Cataphract
Clan Hell's Horses, Gamma Galaxy-Summoner
Clan Grinch goat- gamma goat.

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #115 on: 07 September 2011, 13:48:22 »
Word of Blake invasion. By October 3079, the Niops Association Militia is at 1/3 strength, holed up on Niops V, and conducting a guerrilla war, with the Wobbies in control of Niops VI and VII.

Invasion isn't the worst of it. The nuking of Niops VII and the destruction of the Projects Workshop undoes centuries of slow, steady progress. Unless they manage to use the relative peaceful period between the end of the Jihad and 3150 to build a more modern defense industry the Association is going to be in a world of hurt when their neighbors start getting adventurous again.

The wobbies will never get IX.

IX would get them. Well, as soon as the planet mover engines are online. }:)


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #116 on: 07 September 2011, 14:02:01 »
We don't know that all the Workshops are toast - aren't they split between Niops V and VI?

Also, when the hell did Niops VII get nuked?!?!?!
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #117 on: 07 September 2011, 14:17:13 »
We don't know that all the Workshops are toast - aren't they split between Niops V and VI?

Also, when the hell did Niops VII get nuked?!?!?!

It's in Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, of all places.


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #118 on: 07 September 2011, 14:29:05 »
Ah, haven't picked that up yet - bad losses, I take it?
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Niopsian

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 937
  • I dunno.
Re: Empire of the Nerds: The Niops Association Thread
« Reply #119 on: 07 September 2011, 15:24:09 »
Ah, haven't picked that up yet - bad losses, I take it?

It's all second hand information - a possible civil war interrupted by invasion, a nuke going off in the capital, a total cessation of communications with the outside.

Hopefully Final Reckoning will provide more info. If there was a Blakist presence in large numbers in '79 then it's a miracle the Regulans didn't swing by and just carpet bomb the system "just to be sure".


...cut a manager in to come up with a plan and the next thing you know you're big in Japan