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mensrea -> RE: Warhammer 40k DW:U Mod (6/20/2014 1:14:10 AM)
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Here is the info on the mods resources.
I.Strategic resources
A.Ore
1.Metal bearing materials.
2.Necessary for colony growth.
B.Rare Ores
1.Ores which are valuable but typically not abundant.
2.Only necessary for ship construction; trace amounts are found enough in normal ores to maintain civil industry.
C.Minerals
1.Valuable, non-metallic mined products.
2.Necessary for colony growth.
D.Rare Minerals
1.Minerals which are valuable but typically not abundant.
2.Only necessary for ship construction; trace amounts are found enough in normal minerals to maintain civil industry.
E.Gas
1.Though gas can be produced through various industrial processes involving minerals this unique mention pertains only to vast, highly economical sources.
2.Primarily a source of propellant utilized in early uranium powered spaceships.
F.Food
1.Calories for creatures. Any species which managed to make it this long has learned how to produce the stuff without much effort. However, hydroponic labs do not compare to vast tracts of fertile soil cost-wise, and many times the availability or lack there of of cheap food can make or break a developing colony.
2.Necessary for colony growth.
G.Water
1.Water. While quite plentiful in a gross sense, nothing beats positively enormous amounts of it concentrated in one location.
2.Necessary for colony growth.
H.Uranium
1.A radioactive element. One of the most energy dense substances in the universe and ideal for the generation of electricity.
2.Necessary in fission and quantum reactors, weapons and armor construction.
I.Hydrogen
1.The most abundant element in the universe. Despite this ranking its value to industry is enormous and large, concentrated deposits are a sought after resource for both civil and military purposes.
2.End game fuel used in fusion reactions, the byproducts of which are used as a propellant.
II.Luxury resources
A.Helium-3
1.A stable isotope of helium. Able to be fused for net positive energy using relatively primitive technology. Helium-3's properties make it an extremely coveted source of fuel for civil industry.
B.Biodiversity
1.Flora and fauna. Everything from food, to medicine, to mind altering substances. Can be caged, clipped or bottled to be sent off world to the delight of the masses.
C.Hydrocarbons
1.A diverse range of substances stretching from methane to heavy, sour crude. Useful in many industrial applications, and possessing a high EROI in such abundant quantities.
D.Artifacts
1.Remnants of bygone civilizations. They range from artsy and ethnic to advanced and deadly. Sought after by numerous institutions and individuals.
E.Rare gas
1.Though industrial processes enable civilizations to manufacture certain less abundant gasses to an extent, sizable deposits of such gasses are never the less a massive boon to industries that exploit them effectively.
F.Gold
1.Its here because I apparently cannot remove it. Moving on...
G.Exotic matter
1.Substances that exist beyond the fringe of current scientific knowledge. While novel uses may exist for them, they are mostly relegated to study at civil R&D institutions, which for a intergalactic empires constitute a notable amount of economic activity.
H.Thorium
1.The second most energy dense form of matter in the universe. Thorium can be utilized in cheap, effective, and safe reactors. Though thorium is less effective than uranium, its less destructive byproducts lead to its widespread appreciation and utilization among civilian populations.
I.Precious metals
1.Gold, silver and platinum, and in tremendous quantities. Though civil and military industry can generally work with small enough quantities of the stuff to guarantee a supply given even the most uneconomical sources, amounts this large are a tremendous boon to society. Further, their use in establishing stable monetary systems in certain cultures cannot be overlooked.
J.Industrial goods
1.Manufactured products for use in civil industry. Though colonies are more than capable of producing their own goods given enough time and population a prefabricated source of such necessities certainly expedites the process of development.
K.Consumer goods
1.Manufactured products intended to be used by civilians for private purposes, chiefly entertainment related ones. Whether booze, video games, or all terrain hover craft, everyone wants to have fun, and these products make it happen. An intergalactic trade in a variety of consumer goods is the basis of a healthy economy, and the diversity of products and prices are especially appealing to civilians.
III.Rare luxuries
A.Dust
1.Masses of inert nano particle sized robots. Imbued with programming that makes them susceptible to the neural impulses of an organism that consumes them, these robots are then able to manipulate the form and function of that organism to suit its will. Depending on the cognitive abilities of the organism, they range from helpful (keeping teeth clean) to incredible (prolonging life, enhancing strength, dexterity and intelligence).
B.Entheogens
1.Flora and fuana which possess powerful mind altering properties which range from the profound to the practically supernatural. Unique properties in the soil and atmoshpere of certain planets make reproduction of these substances very expensive. However, when grown or raised in their native habitats the entheogens are not only far more profitable but also more potent.
C.STC's
1.STC's, or Standard Template Constructs, were used extensively by advanced civilizations which dominated the galaxy before the Age of Strife. A complete STC would be capable of producing everything a colony needs to not only survive but thrive an almost any environment. Unfortunatly, this one has succumbed to entropy and has limited functionality. Nevertheless, the tech can be replicated and distributed to other worlds for further study and occasional use.
D.Rare artifacts
1.Remnants of ancient civilizations which contain extremely sophisticated technology, often verging on the incomprehensible. This technology holds the key to advancing societies at exponential rates and is extremely valuable.
E.Armillaria fruit
1.Not so much a fruit as a fungus. The Armillaria organism has in several instances managed to take over entire worlds, crowding out, consuming, or converting native organisms until the whole surface of the planet (and possibly the crust and mantle) is one giant fungal organism. In its dominance the immense thermal, chemical and solar energy it is capable of gathering actually becomes a liability; this fruit is the product of that liability. Though it is perhaps one of the most energy dense forms of matter known it is also edible and quite tasty, leading it to become valuable for survival and culinary delight.
Here is the info on the mods governments.
I.Authoritarian: Authoritarian governments are characterized by their de-facto power over legislative, judicial and executive functions. They control a population by atomizing them and using various policing agencies to keep them in line. Authoritarian governments come in many forms but are defined by their emphasis on a monopoly on force rather than legitimacy.
A.Fascist: Fascist governments usually concentrate their power in a monolithic party. The lower echelons of the party are usually stocked with bureaucrats, loyalists and collaborators who aided the party in its rise to power. Party leaders are usually selected through nepotism, though occasionally appointees are selected for merit. Relative to other authoritative governments fascists are usually well organized and progressive.
B.Theocratic: Theocracies are defined by their zealous devotion to a religion. Fanatics seize control of the government to administer their people based off tenants espoused by their faith. Religious figures are usually the leaders and power players in this form of government and they rule with absolute authority, typically forbidding their citizens from openly participating in any faith but the states. The effects of clergy controlling a state range from stifling to outright repressive and such states tend to suffer from a lack of intellectual pursuits and scientific progress.
C.Despotic: Despotic governments are defined by the will of the despot (or despots) who wields absolute power over their people and the state. Unlike other authoritarian forms of government despots unabashedly embrace monopoly of force as the justification for their existence and make almost no motions towards establishing legitimacy. Features of despotic governments are as varied as the personalities of the despots.
D.Monarchical: Monarchies typically rule through divine right and heredity though some monarchs go as far as establishing basic codes of conduct to satisfy a fraction of their citizens desires for fair treatment. The worst monarchs are little more than dictators and the best can actually be quite benevolent. Monarchs are typically selected according to their blood ties to the leader while their advisers and underlings range from nobles to businessmen to military personnel or simple bureaucrats.
II.Totalitarian: Totalitarian governments not only exercise absolute authority over legislative, judicial and executive functions but maintain the right to manipulate every aspect of their society to achieve their goals. Unlike authoritarian governments who rule principally through force totalitarians emphasize legitimacy; belying all their motives is an all encompassing ideology which drives their states direction. That is not to say that they will hesitate to use force to maintain their hold over the population as vast networks of spies, loyalists and collaborators often diligently root out any who dare oppose the will of the decision makers.
A.Communist: Communist governments are typically loosely organized around the principles expounded by Karl Marx. However, due to varying interpretations and observance of his works they can range from true communists to communists in name only. On average they tend to purport to work to better society and specifically, the lives of laborers and soldiers. There is an extreme emphasis on legitimacy and it is established in the administration and investment in government institutions that address every aspect of society ranging from medicine to education. This is not to say that opponents of the status quo will not be silenced by the states military and police arms, but rather that legitimacy is the governments first line of defense. Government control over the economy is absolute and focuses on the ideal "to each according to his needs and from each according to his abilities". Power is focused in tight-knit omnipotent parties, typically staffed with high ranking party members whose careers are an expression of ridged adherence to party lines and ideals.
B.Technocratic: Technocratic governments are organized around principles of efficiency and technical ability. Like Communist governments in their approach towards economic matters yet very unlike them in their approach to politics and the governments role in most institutions. Rather then deriving their power from an underlying political ideology they are driven purely by engineering and scientific ideals, aiming to build societies that are lead by the best people in their fields who are selected for their positions based on merit rather than connections or adherence to certain politically motivated ideals. Technocratic governments see themselves as the de-facto providers for all peoples in their society not based off politics but instead technical skill, know-how and in extreme circumstances, possession of all means of production. Institutions are effectively individualistic in this respect, never holding one party line other than their belief that the best and brightest are the ones who ought to rule. However, determination over who is best and brightest and what is the most efficient decision is often the greatest (and only) point of contention, with those who disagree with the logical consensus often being politely told at gunpoint to stand down.
C.Imperial: Imperial forms of government are organized around an emperor and vast bureaucracies that follow the laws and edicts of the land to the letter. Politically, no parties or outwards expression of political ideals are allowed. Dissidents are relegated to unessential roles that leave them with no soap box and rebels are ruthlessly put down by massive police and military institutions. Imperial forms of government would be considered strictly authoritative if not for their relatively new spin: that of being organized around the ideal that the empires leading race has a manifest destiny that demands that they alone inherit the galaxy. To these ends the government is very inclusive and the whole of societies institutions are driven to expound on the development of every member of the race to be as great as they can be - so long as they strive only to better the lot of their race and empire. Politics are viewed as irrelevant so long as society functions and effectively pursues its mission of intergalactic dominance. Economic control is only loosely established by those merchants and corporate titans who have personally sworn fealty to the empire and are in effect bureaucrats who have earned their place through deed.
D.Chaotic: Chaotic governments are very similar to Theocratic governments, with the exception of the Gods of Chaos actually bestowing gifts upon their followers and supplicants. To spread their faith and bring about their ultimate plan for the universe the gods of Chaos, Tzeentech, Khorne, Nurgle and Slaanesh, all seek to court the beings of the material universe. Those mortal individuals are granted powers beyond their wildest dreams, but they invariably advance the agenda of their patron god, and often the cause of Chaos undivided. They are in turn rewarded with greater amounts of knowledge, strength, resilience and pleasure. The most powerful and devoted become champions, gathering groups of slaves and lesser followers together to wage war, seek plunder and destabilize the universe. The greatest of the Champions become lords, and may even achieve daemonhood, a state which grants them eternal life and powers that rival those of entire armies. Societies that embrace Chaos worship are depraved hellscapes ridden with inequality, slavery and suffering. Only the strongest individuals prevail, and indeed they are the only members of a Chaotic society that matter, with the remainder being locked in inescapable bondage or gibbering madness.
III.Liberal: The hallmark of liberal governments is tolerance: even the most radical beliefs and persuasions are allowed given they do not impede anyone else's rights. Typically these governments are controlled by constituents either through direct democracies or the election of representatives. Direct democracies could be considered to be the most extreme form of liberal governance while republican forms could be considered the least (though it does depend on the disposition of the representatives).
A.Democratic: Democratic governments derive their legitimacy through the use of voting rights being granted to either the entire population or sections of it that are deemed to be more responsible and educated. Though voting can be achieved by many means, the end goal is to put decision making into the hands of as many people as possible and derive policy from their conclusions. Though democracy is often associated with representative democracy, the latter emphasizes mass rule while the former focuses on the stability brought about by having elected leaders rather than the body politic decide on individual issues. While empowering, true democratic governments often rely on the opinion of those who are uninformed, misinformed, or just simply idiotic. At its best civic leaders arise and lead voting blocs in some cohesion; at its worst the mob rules and the minority suffers.
B.Republican: Republican governments rule by means of representatives who are normally elected but occasionally appointed based on merit or necessity. These representatives range from being empowered above their constituents until their term expires to being at the whim of recall elections, censure and replacement through no confidence votes. Typically seen as a more stable variant due to the lack of "mob rule" that is more prevalent when the people themselves vote on individual issues. Republican governments also carry the benefit of being more affordable to manage as the masses only need to be mobilized occasionally rather than every time an issue arises that requires government attention.
C.Unification: Unification governments are a modern variant on the classic democratic model. However, in effect they function more like republican forms of government with one major exception: sophisticated software rather than sentient representatives acts as the interpretor between the people and their government. The votes of all citizens are taken into consideration but in the end open source algorithms determine the most fair and logical course of action which is weighted according to public opinion. The major downside to the system is also its cornerstone: sentients are wary of machine intelligence, even the relatively crude sort used to manage the decision making process. While software can be made open-source to partially mitigate the effect of inherent distrust, it is often only a matter of time before popular or influential individuals manage to find a way to leverage their charisma to claim a disproportionate amount of power in such a society.
D.Neuristic: Neuristic governments represent peak democracy enabled through the employment of sentient, thinking machines and nano-bot networks. The first step is to inoculate all members of the population with nanites. Once inoculated, the nanites form a networked connection with the central AI which is then able to interpret the wishes and desires of every networked individual. This data is then used to determine a very precise balance and grant as many people as possible their desires without infringing on the remainder. The system is almost perfect with the exception of almost completely depriving people of their right to privacy. Further, the system itself is cause for concern among Luddites and those who have a natural (and perhaps not unwarranted) fear of sentient thinking machines.
IV.Anarchy: Little "a" anarchy. There are no official laws, regulations or ruling bodies. It's every man for himself and only the strong survive, typically using their might to hold bits of society together tenuously, though not for very long. Only the hardiest of races can manage to keep themselves together under such a system.
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