The Factory Floor - 2017-12-04

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Worldbuilding Meta

6:43 AM

0

Q: Shouldn't the Tumbleweed badge be either gold or burned?

I was vainly looking at the list of badges to see if there were any I could cherry pick in a moment of boredom (mostly beause my psychology absolutely depends on looking like I'm somehow important on WB:SE) when I noticed the Tumbleweed badge. That badge has never been awarded, and little wonder...

discussion badges

5 hours later…

11:45 AM

0

A: Sandbox for Proposed Questions

WHY WOULD A MAGE NOT HAVE MORE THAN ONE FAMILIAR AT A TIME? Creating a magical familiar in this setting is similiar to creating a character in a video game. Reality exists inside cosmic womb, with a barrier that separates the mortal plane from the spirit world. The spiritual realm completely sur...

2 hours later…

1:54 PM

hi all

2:17 PM

@JDługosz hi

@JDługosz Morning (EST)

3:01 PM

Afternoon

3:25 PM

@MonicaCellio Secepitus has done a lot of excellent work that isn't well recognized by the automated systems. His involvement in the sandbox, and greeting new users, is probably why he was mistakenly referred to as an admin.

@Secespitus I hope you took being mistaken as an admin as recognition for the work you've been doing shows great leadership potential.

3

Future Historian

3:47 PM

DEFCON 1 has been authorised. Weapons are free and we are now at war. Good luck!

2

#NotSerious.

4:06 PM

So I just thought of a reason that aliens might gift us warp drive AND lay eggs in our torsos...

Aliens find humans ideal as hosts, since we have so many soft internal organs, our blood isn't corrosive, and 98.6f is a perfect incubation temperature.

And Earth has a lot of humans, so that's nice. But there is the problem that Earth is really well defended, and the hatchlings are pretty weak and defenseless for a while after eating their way out of their hosts, so the first batch would hatch, be wiped out really fast, and then it would be very hard for the aliens to acquire new hosts because we'd be on our guard.

So a solutions presents itself; get some hosts to leave the protection of Earth and move to remote, undefended planets. There will probably be a lot of hosts that want to become settlers, and so if a colony or two just vanishes once in a while with no sign of what happened, well, it'll probably be chalked up to the dangers of living on the frontier and no one will really notice. And space is so big there will always be a frontier.

Lots of humans spreading across the galaxy, so lots of hosts to incubate your eggs.

@AndyD273 Please write that story.

And put it on the blog so I can read it.

4:22 PM

@Gryphon The question is which point of view to use? I'd have to put some real thought into the plot...

Multiple points of view? Humans (either just from one perspective or from multiple), and then from the aliens (see above). Slowly reveal their evil reasons for giving us a warp drive. Although I guess I'm spoilered for that now.

Maybe that won't be the real twist!

Aliens arrive on Earth. They initiate first contact, say that they really like humanities qualities, that we have a lot to offer the galaxy, and that if we had room to grow we'd really be able to live up to our full potential. Lots of innuendo where they basically say what they really want to do in a way that sounds innocent.

Then there is a hazy part where humanity expands, lots of colonies are started on distant worlds, and a few have the expected normal environmental problems. Nothing to worry about.

Eventually a colony goes silent, and the POV character is sent to investigate...

Hmm, I'm gonna have to try to outline this.

Universe Factory

4:38 PM

Universe Factory - Medium: Prudus Explains Magic: A Wizard’s Grimoire

posted on December 04, 2017 by Secespitus

“Kirkstall Abbey Chapter House” by Michael D Beckwith“Ah, finally, my dear friends! We are at the destination of our little quest.” With a small smile on his face Prudus slowly stepped into the stone-walled room that hadn’t been cleaned for at least a few centuries, judging by the amount of cobwebs and dust covering every surface. “You are calling that a little quest? I stopped counting how ma…

4

4:48 PM

Just finished the second video. Teaching myself more about masks and transforms and whatnot.

5:30 PM

printers are such a pain.

Test

Future Historian

5:46 PM

@AndyD273? What would be a good title for a story set during an alternate history Cuban Missile War?

100 tactical nukes in Cuba??

Future Historian

As in: say, the Cuban Missile Crisis gets out of control and the fighting has gone on for four days in Cuba and in Germany. Now, it is the 1st/2nd of November of 1962, and global thermonuclear war is coming........

100 tactical nukes + 20 - 40 MRBM/IRBM launchers from the USSR (and operated by the USSR).

And NOTE: This is a Cuban Missile Crisis escalating out of control.

Hence the name: the Cuban Missile War, or WWIII as it was known at the time.

@FutureHistorian 100 tactical nukes in Cuba??

Future Historian

That was an actual thing, you know.

@sphennings Thank you very much for the compliment. I basically took that as an opportunity to tell a new(er) user about the difference between regular members with some rep, moderators and admins. Not too sure about the leadership potential :D

And the system recognizes my work... in a way - the draft where I was mistaken for an admin made me Meta's only Deputy

Future Historian

5:50 PM

The Soviets planned to nuke Havana and Guantanamo Bay just in case.

As in: in case the Americans tried anything, the Soviets were to nuke the invading American forces.

@Secespitus Congrats on that.

Future Historian

You understand @AndyD273?

@sphennings Thanks :D And by the way: thanks for your work on the site (and for example in the Sandbox), too

Hmm, apparently 40 launchers...

Future Historian

And NOTE: Within days, the fighting in Cuba spills into Europe, as Soviet T-55s and T-62s march into West Berlin and try to cross into West Germany, only to have the tactical nuclear mines along the Fulda Gap go off in their faces.

5:52 PM

@Secespitus You're constantly interacting with new users, in such a way that they think that you are somehow in a position of authority on this site instead of just an active user.

Future Historian

The North German Plain advance, however, goes better than expected, which forces NATO to nuke their advance the next day, which quickly devolves into a nuclear exchange within hours across Germany, and then the rest of the Northern Hemisphere gets nuked the next day.

Thanks.

Future Historian

@AndyD273? That was the plan, but as a certain Helmuth von Moltke the Older said once: "No plan survives contact with the enemy."

@sphennings A lot of new users don't know that for example being able to edit is a privilege anyone can earn (and that anyone can suggest edits, even if they are not instantly visible). I am not too sure that they recognize my username

Future Historian

So, the Americans, without knowing it, are able to air strike the land-based cruise missile sites to be used as tactical nukes without knowing it, and an hour later, the Battle of Havana begins.

5:55 PM

@AndyD273 It sounds very interesting.

Future Historian

Of course, Santa Clara gets nuked by an IL-28 carrying a 14 kt tactical nuke, during the Battle of Santa Clara, whereas Guantanamo gets nuked by an FRK-1 tactical nuclear barrage just minutes later, especially after some Soviet commanders hesitated in the nuclear bombardment plan of the area.

I'm not really sure of a good title actually... something about the first event in a long chain of events.
Keystone Collapse? (keystone of an arch)
The Broken Link? (like a chain)

Future Historian

By the time they did, some chunks of Cuba's coastline were already crawling with Americans.

yolo

Future Historian

Of course, 100 tactical nukes are launched on the invaders, while the remaining MRBMs/IRBMs are prepared to launch against key American targets, while the Soviets begin to invade West Berlin AND West Germany.

Of course, it quickly spirals out of control into a nuclear exchange along the divided Germany, before finally becoming a global thermonuclear war the next day.

6:00 PM

@AndyD273 "The first silence"? Or something else in the direction of "no contact anymore, gotta investigate"

@Secespitus I was referring to Future Historians request for a title, but I do like that one for my idea... Or some variation on it.

Future Historian

This story is set on the 1st/2nd of November of 1962 starting at around 02:00 hours Zulu (2:00 AM UTC) or 9:00 PM EST, when the global thermonuclear war phase of WWIII (with the characters oblivious of what is about to happen) begins.

Basically, I have two main PoV characters on both sides of the Iron Curtain; one in New York, and one in Moscow, with both of them living out their "normal" lives.......and then....air raid sirens go off, and as they try to survive, one by one, missiles and nuclear bombs rain down from the sky, while from orbit, one could see the Northern Hemisphere erupt into pure white, blinding light.

I wonder if there is a way to have FTL communication that is not instantaneous... Like, it might take a week for a message to travel 1 light year.

Future Historian

So, anything for a title, @AndyD273?

8 mins ago, by AndyD273

I'm not really sure of a good title actually... something about the first event in a long chain of events.
Keystone Collapse? (keystone of an arch)
The Broken Link? (like a chain)

Future Historian

6:05 PM

Oh.

Hmmmmmm. The Iron Link?

;)

@FutureHistorian That's not bad

Future Historian

Basically, the Iron Link, since they are two PoV characters on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and they both share similar stories of the horrors they are about to see.

Hmmmmm. So, @AndyD273? Any ideas on how to represent the side viewpoints of some of the people launching ICBMs, SLBMs or manning strategic bombers?

While not confusing the reader with the two main PoVs?

@AndyD273 Oh, thought you were talking about your idea from before. In that case "Cracks in the foundation"?

How to Write Distinct Character Voices and Realistic Dialogue

Future Historian

Not that.

I meant as in: how do you keep the reader focused on the two main PoVs while also occasionally switching to the perspectives of a few people involved in launching ICBMs, and SLBMs, as well as manning strategic bombers?

6:16 PM

@FutureHistorian Make each POV scene a chapter. That's how I've seen others handle it, and it seems to work: Chapter 1 - Bob, Key West, Florida. Chapter 2 - Alexei, Havana, Cuba.

Future Historian

Oh.

You end up with some short chapters, but that's not bad.

Future Historian

Well, it is a short story, so......

Oh and WARNING: I also need some idea of the establishments that existed back in 1962, since....well, historical accuracy is a thing, you know.

After all: the PoD was back on the 27th of October when that one nuclear submarine launched a nuclear torpedo at the Americans.

@FutureHistorian It's also alternate history, which means do what you want.

Future Historian

So..........

@AndyD273, yes, but the PoD was VERY recent.

As in: a few days ago.

27th of October - 1st/2nd of November is not a decent timeframe for history changing drastically when it comes to locations pre-nuclear exchange, especially in the beginning.

So, I am trying to kick this off with a teenager in New York taking his girlfriend home from a movie theatre just three hours before the initial warheads launch, so I need some historical accuracy with the locations in the beginning.

6:21 PM

Still history, still alternate... The alternate part is the most important bit.

Future Historian

@AndyD273. Perhaps, but the locations that existed before the Point of Divergence are still a thing.

And in this case, the point of divergence was 5/6 days ago.

Not THAT long for it to have a significant effect until AFTER the nukes fall.

@FutureHistorian Start by writing the scene. It's two teenagers going to a movie. Most of the scene will be pretty similar regardless of setting.

Future Historian

So, @AndyD273? Any decent locations in New York City that existed at the time just before the nuclear warheads descended on the Northern Hemisphere?

Oh. Right.

If the point of divergence is that recent, why are you asking about 1962?

See what details you want to add.

Future Historian

6:24 PM

Because that is the point of divergence RELATIVE to the time of the story.

>:(

Make a note of what details you steal from history and which ones are distinctly alternate.

Future Historian

It is "recent" as in: within the story's context.

Because it is 1962, and the story takes place in the day the bombs fell.

As in: the last day of modern civilisation.

@FutureHistorian Teenagers on a date are teenagers on a date. Whether it's the 50s at a drive in or tomorrow at the local Cinemark.

Future Historian

Oh. Right.

@FutureHistorian I've never been to New York City, BUT, you could probably figure out the general area, and do a google maps search for businesses in that area. And if you get it wrong, who cares? Make up points of interest, no one is going to call you on it.

Future Historian

6:25 PM

Oh. I just want to double-check, just in case.

@FutureHistorian Don't double check unless it matters.

A lot of it probably has street view, so you could even look at the location

It's your world. You get to make things up.

Future Historian

@sphennings. My world AFTER the nukes fall. Before that, it is still OUR world (except for the fact there is a WWIII going on at the time).

People will judge it on the quality of the writing not the worldbuilding.

Future Historian

6:26 PM

Oh.

@FutureHistorian Your writing the story. It is your world.

Future Historian

Oh. But it is still OUR real world at the time until the bombs start falling (unless you count WWIII happening in the background, but ignoring that for a moment).

@FutureHistorian Here you go

@FutureHistorian If I wrote about a date I went on as a teenager even if it is based on real events it's still "my world" since I'm the one writing about it.

Future Historian

Oh, right.

6:30 PM

@FutureHistorian Remember you want to write a story. That is your priority. Anything that doesn't make your story better is just wasting your time.

Future Historian

Oh.

Fair enough.

@FutureHistorian For instance the name of the theater is probably unimportant to the story. Though I'd probably have them go to an once opulent theater, now rundown, scheduled for destruction in a few weeks to make room for a new skyscraper.

Future Historian

That makes sense.

Three hours later........

air raid siren is heard in the background

@FutureHistorian Describe what it feels like for the characters to be in such a building.

@FutureHistorian Remember Show don't tell.

Future Historian

Oh, right.

Future Historian

6:46 PM

@AndyD273?

is this movie too inappropriate for a date at the time?

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962 film)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a 1962 American psychological thriller–horror film produced and directed by Robert Aldrich, starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, about an aging former actress who holds her paraplegic sister captive in an old Hollywood mansion. The screenplay by Lukas Heller is based on the 1960 novel of the same name by Henry Farrell. Upon the film's release, it was met with widespread critical and box office acclaim and was later nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Costume Design, Black and White. The intensely bitter Hollywood rivalry between the film...

Just asking.

And conveniently enough, this was out since Halloween.

Of that year.

So.........is that one too inappropriate for a date back then?

Or not really?

@sphennings. As much as you are going to say "it is your world" and blah, blah, blah, is this inappropriate for a date at the time in OUR timeline?

Ignoring WWIII going on in the background for a moment.

@FutureHistorian What is your question exactly?

Future Historian

As in: the movie I linked earlier would be considered inappropriate back then for a date, correct?

Basically, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", the 1962 film released at the time.

And it was released the day before the nuclear exchange of this timeline in OUR timeline.

Would someone back then consider that to be too inappropriate?

Or not really?

@FutureHistorian Never seen it.

Your timeline confuses me.

What do you mean inappropriate?

Future Historian

@sphennings. As in: "not recommended to watch in a date between two teenagers".

Especially in from the PoV of their parents.

Even though I would be able to watch a horror movie at the time for a date, would the same be said of the early 1960s?

6:55 PM

@FutureHistorian That depends on their parents. They could always sneak out to see it.

Future Historian

Oh, right.

So, they are in trouble, hmmmmm?

;)

@FutureHistorian You're asking the wrong questions. Does the movie matter to your story?

@FutureHistorian Dr. No would be a much better date movie: imdb.com/title/tt0055928/?ref_=adv_li_tt

Unless there's some literary reference that I'm missing, you're wasting the audience's time by telling them what movie they are seeing.

Future Historian

Was it still on theatres by the 1st of November of 1962?

I am talking to @AndyD273, just to clarify.

6:57 PM

@FutureHistorian Does it matter?

Oh, wait, it iddn't hit theaters till 1963

in the USA

Future Historian

@sphennings, I get VERY intricate with detail.

As in: you have NO IDEA.

October 7, 1962 was the UK release

@FutureHistorian Does that add value to your story? Or are you describing things in such detail that the audience is going to get bored and put the book down and never pick it up again?

Future Historian

Hmmmmmmm. Good point.

@AndyD273? Any good movies already in theatres in the States by the 1st of November of 1962?

6:59 PM

The Manchurian Candidate was October 24: imdb.com/title/tt0056218/?ref_=adv_li_tt

Future Historian

And NOTE: @sphennings. I am not delving into detail, BUT............I am going to mention it.

@AndyD273? I get that, but........NOT a good idea for a date, hmmmm?

@FutureHistorian I don't see why not? Probably better than baby jane

Future Historian

Hmmmmmm. Good point.

@FutureHistorian Detail is only good if it adds something. Otherwise you're wasting the audience's time. Is knowing what movie they were watching going to add something to the book?

Future Historian

@sphennings, depends on whether the movie is basically foreshadowing something.

>:)

7:01 PM

Or The Longest Day, which would be forshadowing, and came out early October: imdb.com/title/tt0056197/?ref_=adv_li_tt

Future Historian

@AndyD273? Could The Manchurian Candidate foreshadow the upcoming apocalypse?

;)

If it's teenagers on a date the movie might just be a pretense to make out in the back row.

The Longest Day is about D-Day

Future Historian

What about The Manchurian Candidate?

I don't know. Do you have brainwashed political leaders anywhere in your story?

Unfortunately "Invastion of the Star Creatures" came out too early in the year: imdb.com/title/tt0128274/?ref_=adv_li_tt

Here's the full list. Pick one: imdb.com/search/title?year=1962

7:05 PM

@AndyD273 It could always be a late night showing.

@sphennings That's true

@AndyD273 Or a discount theater showing older movies.

There was a great one in Anchorage that you could watch movies in that period between the theatrical release and DVD for $4.00 a pop.

"Storyline

A pair of comical soldiers (Robert Ball and Frankie Ray) investigate a mysterious crater in an atomic detonation area and discover several beautiful alien vixens (Dolores Reed and Gloria Victor) who plan to conquer the world using an army of vegetable monsters."

user image

6

another one

@sphennings Waiting for the DVD release is going to be a long run...

7:13 PM

@dot_Sp0T Too true. It's slightly different on WB than on the more technical sites.

@sphennings It could also be some kind of Halloween monster movie marathon type thing...

:D

7:30 PM

mini displayport

i meant that for google

2 hours later…

9:23 PM

I just saw that emoji render in italics by slanting them! I wonder if they have bold-face as well?

@AndyD273 I've watched those videos and did not find them particularly useful.

@JDługosz ok.

@FutureHistorian don't forget, before 1975 moves did not hit all theaters at the same date. It would come to town some time after the imdb release date.

@JDługosz Though if you look at the IMDB page, it will tell what the major releases were, like NY and LA

Btw, I read The Medusa Chronicles and found that mention (and discussion) of a song in 1968 was useful and interesting.

and really he doesn't even need to name a movie. Just "we went to see a movie." "After the movie I walked her home."

I'm willing to bet that no one will care what movie it is.

9:36 PM

@JDługosz honestly it's still happening, just on a global scale instead

Unless the movie is some kind of foreshadowing that actually has something to do with the plot, I'd leave the title out completely.

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