The Countries of SMAC

[MysticWind]

Okay… I’m sorry to bother everyone again, but there are inconsistencies out there that are very puzzling.

For a moment, forget about the ranks and positions and titles the characters have. The very home nations of the faction leaders are jumbled. According to the Firaxis site, the characters are from normal-sounding, mundane, current nations:

China, Russia, United States. Scotland is listed, but then so is Puerto Rico, so I’ll assume they are named to clarify the nationalities of the characters, and neither place is independent, they are semi-autonomous regions belonging to the U.K. and the U.S.

However, I’ve read from a FAQ at gamefaqs.com by one aetherspoon that lists the countries of the leaders as places… different from our own:

Great China, Russian Commonwealth, Free Scotland (truly independent!), and Christian States of America.

Now, I’m not going to debate on which listing is more correct, and the ramifications of that in the storyline, which already has Santiago coming from a “New” L.A.

However, what I would like to know is what the source for the second listing comes from. Is there another version of the profiles out there? Are the nations in the character profiles or the datalinks in the game? I haven’t been playing any games recently, I’m afraid.

[Frankychan]

"Bother"? Shhhnah, it's all good.

From what I've gathered the reason for the "discrepancies" is because that Earth in SMAC apparently went sh**house. For instance, in Lal's past, India and Pakistan had a nuclear war that he participated in the aid efforts.

The Christian States of America were formed from some kind of attack on the USA. I can't quite remember exactly what happened.

Same thing for Santiago's past. There was some kind of civil war or something going on.

I don't know about 'Greater China'--->I'd really like to know about the great Chairman Sheng-ji Yang.


So, both listings are correct. And both lists are apparently spot-on. In game, I do know, it lists Miriam as coming from the CSA. (booo )

[Googlie]

Summarizing:

Colonel Corazon Santiago

Born 2026, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Family emigrated to Mexico City; orphaned during East Side Riots of 2034. Joined survivalist gang known as Jade Falcons; remained in city with younger siblings for several years more (exact whereabouts unknown). Later appeared in Boyce Heights, New Los Angeles, alone. Joined NLA Red Panthers (community security force), then moved on to join City Guard; distinguished self as Battalion Commander as city imposed martial law in 2050. Joined U.N. Security Force in 2053; excellent discipline, physical agility and ability to thrive in any environment led to selection as part of security force, U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission.

"Lady" Deirdre Skye

Born 2025, Edinburgh Scotland, father a U.N. security consultant assigned to various crisis locales worldwide. Studied at Cornell University School of Agriculture, acquired Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Environmental Biology, Masters in Biology, Ph.D. Biology and Genetics. Immediately distinguished self with deep intuitive knowledge of plant strains and ability to intuit powerful genetic manipulations at Bionex Research Lab, White Plains, N.Y. Later worked for Red Cross and United Nations Disaster Relief Fund to revitalize radiation contaminated areas with highly specialized biostrains (Skye variation v097 apple and Skye Mark IV wheat strain considered as highest examples of adaptable biogenetics in contaminated soil). Selected as top candidate for Mission Botanist/Xenobiologist by U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission Committee, appointed against wishes of Chief Science Officer Prokhor Zakharov[/b]

Sister Miriam Godwinson

Born 2014, Athens, Georgia, father a high-ranking member of the Evangelical Fire. Baptized in River of Fire at age 7; attended series of religious schools,
including College of the Covenant. Received Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University.

Abundant charisma led her to position as ranking Psych Priest of Heavenly Diocese; later appointed U.N. Honorary Psych Chaplain for Re-integration Forces sent to countries decimated in Crusader Wars. Reassigned stateside when native populations elevated her to a cultlike religious figure (the 'Prophet Phenomenon' often coinciding with post-nuclear madness).

Political pressure for the reconciling of the secular and the spiritual led to her appointment as Psych Chaplain, U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission

Chairman Sheng-ji Yang

Born 1999, Wuhan, China; father a prominent Chinese lit scholar. Master of the Five Excellences: calligraphy, poetry, painting, traditional medicine, and martial arts (including martial t'ai-chi, wushu, and others). Studied Chinese Literature and Military History at Beijing University, later acquired a PhD in Psychology from same. Taught joint lock techniques to Chinese military during the Second Golden Revolution, then commanded Golden Emperor's personal security force. Vanished for several years following the Crimson Succession, to resurface in United Nations security training force. Selected Chief of Security, U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission

Academician Prokhor Zakharov

Born 1994, Cherskiy, Russia. Educated Interlink Correspondence courses, Universities Moscow and Leningrad. Joined Kolymar Defense Force out of college, tested very high in engineering aptitude, sent to University of Moscow on site for Master's in engineering. Later served as Combat Engineer along the Bering Straight, developed specialized snowbound powered armor for skirmishers, coupled with profound ability to land heavy machinery in any imaginable conditions. Quickly rose to Chief Engineer, Kolymar defense initiative.
When skirmishing ended was brought back to Moscow to a high-ranking R & D position in the Russian Republic Ministry of Defense. Used a trip to a conference in West Germany to transfer to the United Nations team responsible for developing planetside technology, U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission. Recommended unconditionally by high-ranking U.N. official for position of Chief Science Officer on ship; selection proceedings security locked until five years after launch

Commissioner Pravin Lal

Born 2006, Rajkot India. Degree in Philosophy and Medicine, Oxford University. Trained in Thoracic Surgery. Achieved international acclaim for selfless devotion to victims of radiation poisoning following the Twelve Minute War and the India Border Conflict. Served as member of research team investigating genes that encode proteins aiding with DNA repair, University of Basel, Switzerland. Later appointed Assistant Director, World Health Organization. Top candidate for Chief of Surgery, U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission[/i]

CEO Nwabudike Morgan

Born 2005, of African royalty. Nwabudike, using seed money to buy and sell weapons during the Sahara Burst Wars, was able to purchase a private mercenary force to claim a series of diamond mines from a defeated enemy nation. Leveraged his growing wealth to expand into several other businesses, including mercenary forces, U.N. escorts, brokering food deals, and creating Morgan SafeHaven Hotel Fortress chain "for the discriminating executive." Additional Notes (full disclosure): When Russian economic system crashed again in 2058, Morgan Industries was retained by the U.N. as one of several private businesses to work on the sprawling Unity Project. Work completed in a timely manner. Nwabudike Morgan's whereabouts currently unknown.[/i]

[fender]

Born 2026, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Family emigrated to Mexico City; orphaned during East Side Riots of 2034. Joined survivalist gang known as Jade Falcons;

Jade Falcons is a Battletech/Mechwarrior clan. This is the first time I've seen a rip off in SMAC

[binTravkin]

This is the first time I've seen a rip off in SMAC

Morgan Industries exist as well - search in archive of this forum, some SMACer provided link to company's website.

[Illuminatus]

Re: The Countries of SMAC

Originally posted by MysticWind
Okay… I’m sorry to bother everyone again, but there are inconsistencies out there that are very puzzling.

For a moment, forget about the ranks and positions and titles the characters have. The very home nations of the faction leaders are jumbled. According to the Firaxis site, the characters are from normal-sounding, mundane, current nations:

China, Russia, United States. Scotland is listed, but then so is Puerto Rico, so I’ll assume they are named to clarify the nationalities of the characters, and neither place is independent, they are semi-autonomous regions belonging to the U.K. and the U.S.

However, I’ve read from a FAQ at gamefaqs.com by one aetherspoon that lists the countries of the leaders as places… different from our own:

Great China, Russian Commonwealth, Free Scotland (truly independent!), and Christian States of America.

Now, I’m not going to debate on which listing is more correct, and the ramifications of that in the storyline, which already has Santiago coming from a “New” L.A.

However, what I would like to know is what the source for the second listing comes from. Is there another version of the profiles out there? Are the nations in the character profiles or the datalinks in the game? I haven’t been playing any games recently, I’m afraid.

Nations in character profiles and in game faction profiles differ. For example, in character profile, Miriam's country of origin is USA, but everywhere else it says she is born in Christian States of America. Considering that Ulrik origins from USA which exists well into 40s, it seems that CSA is a splinter state of USA. Norway, West Indies, India, Pakistan (they engage into the single most devastating war ever), Australia, Scotland (indenpedent!), China (which seems to have expanded a bit), Kenia and Namibia all continue to exist to some point. It seems that Crusader wars made a mess of Middle East, and it is question what countries survive there besides Israel (in some form). Data about this is murky, as there are no mentions of European Union at all.

[binTravkin]

Crusader wars

That's how Bush's crusades will be called in future!

[Commy]

I'm going to make a short list...

Dierdre--Scotland
Yang--China
Zakhorav--Russia
Morgan--Nambia (Africa)
Santiago--Puerto Rico
Miriam--United States (I think in Georgia)
Lal--India

Aki-Zeta 5--Nil
Svensgaard--United States (Massachusetts)
Roze--Trinidad and Tobago
Domai--Australia
Cha Dawn--PLANET

[Frankychan]

I think that "Greater China" indicates that China finally gains all their lost lands from British rule. Taiwan eventually reintegrates with mainland China.

Deidre and "Free Scotland" means that Scotland free's itself from U.K. rule.

Anyway, enough about my politicking. Everyone knows where my stance is...

[Clear Skies]

IIRC, Aki was originally Scandinavian - possibly Norwegian...

*flicks back through Unity*

...yep, Norwegian

[MysticWind]

Nope. I think the typed one up there is wrong. On the Firaxis site, Zakhorov is listed as having been Educated Interlink Correspondence courses, Universities Moscow and Saint Petersburg. It could have been a typo.

I think we're thinking too much about Russia. The Commonwealth probably isn't that much from where Russia today, though the skirmishes along the Bering Strait are troubling.

[Clear Skies]

Originally posted by Comrade Tassadar
You can never think too much about Russia.

QFT.

[Frankychan]

You can never think too much about the benevolent Chairman Sheng-ji Yang.

His awesomeness is the height of coolnessitude of greatnessivity.

Yang---->

Lal------>

Morgan----->

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Frankychan

Deidre and "Free Scotland" means that Scotland free's itself from U.K. rule.

Oh no. Where will all that unemployment benefit come from, and who will the Scots have to blame and 'greet aboot' ?


I can think of a couple of books where an independent or semi-independent Scotland features prominently- Walter Tevis's 'Steps of the Sun' amd Chris Boyce's 'Brainfix' and Ken MacLeod's novels too, if I recall.

[MysticWind]

Again, I don't know where the italicized country profiles above come from. They're like the Firaxis profiles, except in the Firaxis ones, there's no references to Stalingrad or West Germany.

Besides, even if the U.S.S.R. came back to life, it's not like they're going to be able to divide up Germany again.