NationStates Jolt Archive

Has anyone read Phillip Reaves Hungry Cities chronicles? They're not terribly well known (search for "Mortal Engines" on amazon, it's the first book), but they're an excellent read, and they've given me an idea for a thoroughly unique nationstates (that is, army and fleet, not character based) rp.

A summary of the setting is a post apocalyptic, slightly pre-modern tech world (roughly WW2, but looted "old-tech" such as kevlar vests and metal detectors are common), where cities are mobile, with tiers like those of a wedding cake resting on a "gut", holding engines and hydraulic jaws, for devouring smaller cities and enslaving the populace. Takes a lot of disbelief suspension, but it's certainly original.

The anti-traction league are an alliance of static cities and nations who protect their interests with a professional military, which the "traction cities" sorely lacked, until recently.

The League's main nation, oriental Shan-Gou, has been taken over by a radical military faction calling itself the Green Storm, which initially smashed it's way across the "Great Hunting Ground" (Eurasia), before twelve mighty Germanic industrial cities formed the Traktionstadtsgessellschaft. Soon joined by many others (of a dominantly Prussian-inspired culture), they have held the Storm at a long line just west of India, and the fighting rages on. The Germans have heavier than air flight (a recent re-discovery), superior armored vehicles and infantry, and the mighty wedge-shaped, armoured plated Kriegstadts and Panzerstadts, but the Storm counters with a superior fleet of lighter than air ships (dreadnought-era style, but with crude unguided missiles and fighter zeppelins), and the "Stalkers", resurected soldiers covered in armour used for infantry support, heavy assault, psy-ops, and (as resurected birds) aerial recon, escort, and long range communication.

I am currently writing a detailed military factbook. If anyone is interested, I will post it. The basic concept is that players take command of a cross-service task force or Panzerstadt and battle along a line which I will map if requested.

Edit: I will be away for the week, feel free to post, though.

Bump.

it certainly sounds interesting

I've heard of the series but I haven't read it. I'd like to see the fact book as soon as it's finished.

Well, as mentioned above I will be going away this afternoon, so bookmark the thread or something and I'll write the factbook on paper and scan it when I get back.


Edit: Some finished articles:

Naval combat

Airship technology has come a long way since the “American Empire”. They use powerful lifting agents, held in cells inside the envelope, meaning that that space is also available for cargo. Military powers (especially the Storm) have access to such powerful gases and lightweight (but strong) metals that gas cells are mixed into an envelope which may also consist of a large number of fuel tanks and barracks and so on, which is also fully armour plated. Such powerful gas is invariably flammable: a gas cell hit is very similar to a magazine hit of the age of sail up to WW2.

On that subject, the primary armament of ships (not the Storm’s fighter zeppelins) is traditional naval guns, graded in inches and mounted in turrets. Rockets are mixed in to provide a powerful long range weapon, and machine guns keep fighters and raptors at bay.

The Gessellschaft uses heavier-than-air fighters and bombers, which are pretty much identical to the planes of WW2. They are far superior to the Storms lighter-than-air interceptors, and some are equipped to bring down the mightiest of dreadnoughts: think Yamato.

Green Storm rating system

Fighter: Single deck, lightly armoured, and with a rocket based armament, the most popular models are “Fox Spirit” interceptors and “Hawkmoth” strike craft, bat many more exist (OOC: What I mean is feel free to invent your own).


Corvette: The primary escort is a small ship with a light armament, almost able to match speeds with a fighter.

Frigate: An unusual rating for a kind of Corvette on steroids, usually found among commerce raiders.

Destroyer: The bulk of the Storm fleet, and a powerful line ship, more akin to its modern mainstay role or an ISD than an escort ship.

Cruiser: Another unusual rating, again found mainly among commerce raiders. Basically a pocket battleship.

Dreadnought: Interchangeable with battleship, this classification denotes a mighty ship that forms the foundation of a line-of-battle.

Carrier: Not really denoting a particular size, it refers instead to an armament of “tumblers”, kamikaze anti-city weapons.

Gessellschaft rating system

Gunboat/Rocket boat: Basically a fighter airship, they are more long-ranged than the Storm versions and used to raid commerce. Heavier-than-air is superior in almost all other roles.

Frigate: Usually the size of a Storm Corvette, and unable to defeat one in a head on dual, they form the escort screen of both ships and cities.

Destroyer: A large, independent version of the Frigate, and much more common than its Storm frigate counterpart.

Cruiser: Used in the “Steam, steal, and shellfire” sense as the primary line-ship and the equivalent of a Storm destroyer.

Dreadnought: A big size jump, they are often smaller than the Storm version, but definitely occupy the same slot.

Carrier: Usually dreadnought sized or larger, but escort carriers are becoming common, they are, of course, launch and landing platforms for heavier-than-air fighters.

Stalkers

The original stalkers were “old-tech” created well after the war between the American Empire and Greater China that devastated the world, these models are occasionally still functioning, and are very sophisticated, and invariably humanoid.

The basic principle is the use of a human brain and nervous system to control a machine. The result almost never remembers who they were before the transformation, but the buried memories can be awoken by a significant reminder or a strong shock. Unfortunately for the Stalker in question, Gessellschaft hand cannons are the most common way to receive such a shock.

The Green Storms “Resurrection Corps” is more of a job description than a proper formation, their black uniform being based on which ever unit they are stuck with. The “Surgeon Mechanics” transform the dead into the various war Stalkers. The typical such soldier is extremely durable (a typical Traktionstadt’s infantry rifle will simply bounce off), and optimized for close combat. They are used as elites, to overrun enemy positions, and as boarding parties, being dropped straight onto a Traktionstadt or cutting in through the bottom, and proceeding to wreak havoc. If they reach the engines, the city will almost certainly be immobilized.

Others are used as infantry support, laden with HMGs and recoilless rifles, and often shaped like some strange creature appropriate to its role (mechanised infantry might get centaur with machine guns for arms.



The main naval use of Stalkers is as “Raptors” or “Stalker birds”. They, like all Stalkers, use a human brain (generally in the stomach), and bird corpses present a ready made form. Lammergeyers provide a fleet with fast armed recon. Albatrosses and other battle birds can swarm over an enemy ship, and are particularly effective against heavier-than-air craft. Hawks make ideal spies, and small birds can be used to communicate, by physically carrying a written or recorded message, immune to any jamming technique more advanced than actually shooting them down.

The Stalker Fang

Formerly Anna Fang, an old league special agent nicknamed “Wind Flower” and a victim of the MEDUSA incident, the Green Storm resurrected her as a highly advanced and intelligent Stalker with (as usual) no memories of her past, driven by a manic desire to fulfil the Storms propaganda slogans and “Destroy All Cities!” to “Make The World Green Again!”. She is currently supreme commander of the Storm.

Ranks of the Gessellschaft
(feel free to tweek for your own Traktionstadt)

Stadtmannschaft/Stadtgewehrmannschaft

Stadtmann/Stadtgewehrmann: The grunts of a cities crew, manning the engines and guns, and numerous more obscure roles. They are divided into Neuer Stadtmanner, those who have not yet served six months, Stadtmanner, the regulars and Fahiger Stadtmanner, crewman with more than two years experience and proven competence in the eyes of the officers.

Hauptstadtmann/Hauptgewehrmann/Unterschauzemann: This rank does not count as a variation of Stadtmann, because it is a commissioned office, with authority over a permanent work party or gun crew, or a portion of a snout gun crew.

Leutnant/Hauptbatteriemann/Schauzemann: In the regulars, this rank commands a district, and all work parties assigned to it, while in the gun crew, it commands either a battery (common on small suburbs) or a snout gun (primary armament of line-cities)

Kommandant/Obergewehrmann: An important rank, responsible for the running of all districts (including snout guns and over-batteries) of a certain type on a certain tier or suburb.

Reihemarschall/Eskortemarschall: As the name suggest, the commander of a tier or escort village. There is much prestige about this rank, as it is the lowest that could (in the case of an Eskortemarschall) be called a mayor.


Oberreihemarschall/Erntemarschall: The commander of a large or important tier or a harvester suburb, and a rank of great autonomy.

Stadtmarschall: The commander of a city’s guns, engines and other functions.

Kriegsmarschall: The ultimate authority over a line-city, including the Stadtmarschall’s command and the city’s attendant airfleet, ground forces, escorts, and harvesters. He is also the officer responsible for fitting his city into the greater battle-plan, giving both immense strategic and tactical responsibility. In short, a military mayor.

Luftflotte/Luftwaffe

Flieger: Airmen, the only rank common to both these intertwined services, are divided into neuer, regular, and fahiger grades in the same way as the Stadtmanner.

Luftleutnant/Flugluetnant: Junior officers akin to Hauptstadtmanner, who command three planes, a gunboat, or a work party (which, in naval terminology includes guncrews).

Luetnantkommandant/Hauptflieger: The leaders of twelve-plane squadrons and minor shipboard departments (eg: medical).

Luftkommandant/Flugelkommandant: The leaders of the thirty-six strong wings, gun boat squadron, major shipboard departments (eg: engineering), and frigates.

Luftkapitan/Gruppekapitan: A very autonomous rank with command of 108 planes (a Gruppe), or a destroyer or cruiser.
Angstnichtkapitan: Those captains who have proved their worth receive dreadnought and squadron commands, and lack a Luftwaffe equivalent.

Vizeadmiral/Vizeflugmarschall: The junior staff officers are often responsible for lower level commands such as squadrons while acting as the senior airman aboard a harvester suburb.

Admiral/Flugmarshall: A rare rank found only among those cities possessing multiple fleets or airforces, such as Bremen, Munich, and Murnau.

Stadtsadmiral/Stadtsflugmarschall: More a position than a rank, the senior officer of a city usually has an Admiral or Flugmarschall’s command, but also exists as a senior rank aboard cities with multiple wings or fleets.

Heer

Soldat: Basic grunts of the army.

Gefrieter: Privates first class.

Unteroffizier: Corporal, fire team leader.

Feldwebel: Sergeant, squad leader.

Ober-Feldwebel: First sergeant.

Luetnant: Platoon leader, high field autonomy.

Hauptmann: Captain, the leader of a company.

Major: The commander of a battalion, the main Gessellschaft tactical formation

Oberst: Colonel, the leader of a permenant regiment.

General-Major: The leader of a brigade, and often the Stadt-General of a harvester suburb.

General-Luetnant: Lieutenant-General, the leader of a division, the primary Gessellschaft strategic formation.

General: Leader of an army corps, often the Stadt-General of a line-city.

General-Oberst: Leader of an army, only a few cities need such a high position.

Sdadt-general: A position denoting supreme command of a cities ground forces.

Yeah! I was thinking of something like this but never did it. Oh and heavier than air fighters are like WW1 and most tech is the same time frame. I wonder if Green Storm ever made Stalker Wolves or the like?

This looks interesting. I've read the first 2 books. I didn't know the third one was out? Anyway, I'd probably like to get into this.

OOC: I've just finished the fourth (and final) book! I guess it's cause I'm British. I can probably just about finish the factbook before I go. As to Tannishar, I think the planes were more WW2 (in book 4, one has a rocket engine), but I don't see why you, as a general, shouldn't make your own Stalker concepts.

Ranks of the Green Storm
(Note: all ranks below Zhong Yiang may bare the prefix “Hai-Jun”, denoting a naval command or assignment. My most sincere apologies to the people liberation army of China)

Yi-Ji-Shang-Yiang: First General, a general with an above average command and a right to give regular generals orders, if one is present, he always takes command of an army, a temporary multi-divisional formation.

Shang-Yiang: General, a position with immense autonomy and command of an army (called a division, but larger than the modern formation by a long way), a fleet, and a military province on the front line.

Zhong-Yiang: Sub-General, the commander of one of a generals districts and its army-navy garrison (usually a brigade).

Da-Xiao: Senior colonel, this rank is to colonel what First-General is to general, and only they receive dreadnought and squadron commands.

Shang-Xiao: Colonel, the commander of a regiment (permanent formation made up of one unit type plus attachments) or destroyer.

Shao-Xiao: Major, the commander of battalion or shipboard department (the level at which specialists are attached to a regiment, eg: Each battalion contains three regular companies and one mechanised)

Shang-Wei: Captain, the commander of a minor department, sub department, or company (the army’s main tactical formation).

Zhong-Wei: Lieutenant, leader of a work party or platoon, the largest formation where all members are likely to know each other, and thus the rank immediately looked to for orders by the enlisted.

San-Ji-Shi-Guan: First sergeant, generally a grizzled veteran.

Er-Ji-Shi-Guan: Sergeant, squad leader or petty officer.

Yi-Ji-Shi-Guan: Corporal, leading rate or fire team leader.

Shang-Deng-Bing: Able rate or private first class.

Lie-Bing: Grunts.

Its out? Dam I gotta get it.

OOC: Last page of the factbook, I’ll tg you all when I get home.

Ground combat

Most ground combat is conducted in the manner of WW2, the main innovations being Stalkers and Kriegstadts. There are exceptions, the main ones being the Gessellschaft “gun-spider” (OOC: My own invention, but a logical one: spider-walkers are mentioned near the beginning of book one), a highly delicate but agile vehicle, and the Storm “Steam Trebuchet”, an increbibly simple but nonetheless effective weapon.


Traktionstadts

A typical war-city has triangular tiers, with a prow ram, and is covered in armour, pockmarked with gun ports (“snout guns”, weapons of immense calibre, being the main armament), launch catapults, sally ports for conventional soldiers, ak-ak guns, and hatches which are just there to let in sunlight whilst away from the front. It’s jaws are considered armament, and it’s are often eager to devour forts where bombardment might be wiser, because it has taken an oath not to eat fellow Traction cities. While it may seem invincible, there are many ways to bring it down, best summarised in a clip from book three:

“But Green Storm guns and catapults hurled shells against their tracks, and Green Storm carriers flung tumblers down on their upperworks, and Green Storm warships routed their fighter screens, and brave Green Storm rocket units crept between their huge wheels and blasted holes in their undersides through which squads of Green Storm Stalkers could swarm.”



City rating system

Escort: A small village of up to three or so tiers, often manufactured by a line city, it is as slow as its mother city, must rely on it for air protection, and has a range hugely limited by low cargo space, but this is worth it when you see the obscene thickness of its armour and number of its guns.

Harvester: A suburb or town of about one to five or six tiers, like escorts, often made aboard a line city. Its purpose is as an outrider, scout, and light attacker, and is very independent of support.

Light city: A city of between five and eight tiers, built like a line city, but slighter.

Line city: A typical eight to twelve tier juggernaught with it’s own culture, services, and attendant escorts and harvesters.

War-metropolis: Any city of above twelve tiers, they are the cornerstones of the army.

Civvie city/town/suburb/etc: Any form of traction settlement on the frontline without a military refit.

Cool. I'm interested.

I'm back, will post plans soon.