The Great Forum War Begins!

Sign-Ups for TGFW have now closed, and today we're announcing the members of each faction. To try and ensure balance, when assigning players to each faction I physically drew names from a hat, so you may not be be on the side you originally signed up for. If you want to change sides, find someone on the opposite team who is willing to change places and then contact your Commanders to clear the exchange. All Commander decisions are final. If the sides prove to be particularly imbalanced, there may also be a little auto-balancing between events: we'll update the relevant players if this is the case, and any players transferred will retain their point counts.

We'll also be introducing four new Awards. The first is for participating in a campaign; the second, for playing as a member of the GDR; the third, for playing as a member of the OS; and the fourth, for participating in every campaign over the course of the war. The member with the highest overall points (not necessarily kills!) will also be given a special prize, and anyone who manages to participate in every campaign without dying at all will receive a unique prize to reflect the magnitude of their achievement.

The Factions

The General Discussion Republic - "Nam libertas, nam iusticia, et nam res publica!"

"The GDR was originally formed as the General Discussion Council, an international, independent military body dedicated to the protection and study of the Forerunner object discovered at Site 117. Knowing how dangerous the powerful artifact could be in the wrong hands, they advocated a cautious approach to research and careful restrictions on any and all knowledge extracted from it, determined to avoid mass-distributing potentially harmful unknown technology. After a series of accidents and attacks using stolen, copied and reverse-engineered Forerunner-derived weapons and technology, the GDC was granted additional power and eventually supplanted most individual regimes, who were often discovered to be harbouring Forerunner technologies for their own purposes. Eventually, the GDC denounced all existing authorities and declared itself the only legitimate government: with most boards now administrated by GDC delegations and policed by GDC forces anyway, many chose to simply accept, and resistance was quickly put down, leading to the establishment of the Forum as it exists today and the formation of the General Discussion Republic.

 

Although many would accuse the GDR of oppression and corruption, I firmly believe that while we do sometimes make the wrong decisions, everything we do is done with the best of intentions. The Forerunner artifacts discovered at site 117, and later at 312B, have the potential to impact our society in profound ways, and history has shown us that when left unregulated, these impacts are usually devastating. The martial law enforced today exists not because it's desirable, but because it's the best  - perhaps only - way of ensuring that the technology of tomorrow will be safe and reliable, and shape a peaceful, liberal society, rather than one of despotism, barbarism, and violence."

 

Lasky, T: excerpt from the Senator's 'Foundations and Philosophy of the GDR' speech for the students at Corbulo Academy: written but not delivered due to his assassination.

Military Strength

Though there is some variation, the GDR uses a rigid military structure making heavy use of reverse-engineered Forerunner weaponry thanks to their unfettered access to the original artifacts at sites 117 and 312B, plus several dozen other installations. The Lightrifle was originally developed by the GDR to provide a flexible battlefield weapon, while the Suppressor was originally created to control riots and large crowds. While veterans from pre-Republic boards often prefer their own weapons and equipment, most GDR troops use either Warrior or Scout armour, depending on their role on the battlefield.

Personnel

The Offbeat Syndicate - "Sic Semper Tyrannis!"

"Offbeat Syndicated Media. Nobody calls us that anymore, of course: and the company itself died along with our liberty when the GDR fascists staged their coup. But if it can be said that the free brothers and sisters of the world have a father, that's where he was from.

 

OSM ran the news, back in the days when you could get it from somewhere that wasn't just a puppet show for our overlords. We had papers in a thousand cities across the world, television broadcasts in a hundred countries, a dozen websites spreading the truth to anyone who could visit the internet and was willing to open their eyes. When the GDC was formed to restrict the gifts of the Forerunners, we were there to give the truth to the world, to oppose their efforts to turn the future of humanity into a product to be sold, to commercialise our birthrights and deny us the better world we deserve. In the written word, the photograph, the moving image, we exposed their propaganda for the empty lies they were, one by one, and when at last we were poised to rid the world of these jealous guardians, they burned our society and sought to destroy all who oppose them - not with the words and wit of those whose cause stands up to questioning, but the bullets and bombs of those who fear the truth.

 

For too many years, the world has suffered at the hands of those who would take the bounties of the world and serve them to the elite and the elite alone, promising a feast tomorrow to those who starve today. The technology of the Forerunners will improve the lives of every man, woman and child on this planet - and we will not be denied by those who seek to exploit these gifts for their own ends! Rise up, my brothers and sisters! The future is coming, and only you can ensure that it arrives for all!"

 

Palmer, S: Original speech delivered at her trial for twelve counts of terrorism, including bombing of GDR buildings and distributing stolen medicine. Censored by GDR officials and released in heavily edited form after her execution.

Military Strength

The OS, being a loose coalition of paramilitary forces, tends be less standardised than the GDR. Many veterans from boards who sided against the GDR in their rise to power now serve the OS's interests with their original weapons and armour, while newer members wear either Recruit or Soldier armour, depending on their experience levels: many also choose to fight with weapons and armour stolen from the GDR. The OS tends to rely more heavily on older, conventional weapons technology like Assault Rifles, Magnums and DMRs, however limited contact with Forerunner technology and a need to create smaller, easily concealable weapons for use in tight quarters or crowds led to the development of the Boltshot.

Personnel

Tomorrow's Campaign (June 28th)

 

Operation: Trapdoor

 

Excerpt from OS briefing notes, provided to GDR by deep-cover operatives and confirmed by RIA data specialists.

 

"Brothers and sisters! Tomorrow we take the first steps toward the destruction of the hated GDR and the liberation of the human race. While we have already secured the loyalty of many territories, it is only with these operations that they will be able to declare their support openly for us. Read your assignments and prepare yourselves - you know what you must do! Sic semper tyrannis!"

 

Phoenix Cell

Location: Impact

Objective: Capture the Flag is a one of the most popular sports the GDR military uses to distract the masses from the misery of their existence. Tomorrow, we shall provide them with a game they shall never forget as we infiltrate their arena and humiliate these troops in front of the watching people! This will serve not only to humiliate the military, but will show the people that they can resist the tyranny of the GDR and provide a distraction to allow our other cells to commence their own operations with less resistance.

 

Titan Cell

Location: Adrift

Objective: The GDR uses starship-mounted mobile weapons production facilities to supply its armies. We have learned the location of one of these facilities, which is prototyping a new weapons platform. Fortunately, these facilities tend to be largely automated, with only a small detachment of guardians. The Titan cell will therefore infiltrate the facility by stowing aboard a material shipment, and once arrived need only kill the guards in order to secure our control, allowing us access to the GDR's own weapons and technology.

 

Prometheus Cell

Location: Vortex

Objective: The GDR loves to lie about its access to Forerunner artifacts, insisting that they only know of sites 117 and 312B in order to starve the people of the technology which should rightly be free for everyone, not just the elite. Site 288 contains a huge number of Forerunner artifacts often just sitting in the open. The Prometheus cell will therefore assault the facility and extract as many artifacts as possible: however, we must move quickly as once the GDR realises what we're doing, they will no doubt move to secure the artifacts to another facility of their own.

 

Dang, didn't sign up quick enough. Sorry Bnus, I guess I wont participate this year. Next time maybe, if you do this again.

FLAG NABBIT I AM STILL IN OS, anyone wanna trade?

"Your preference will be taken in consideration" yet a lot of people are telling me they have been drafted in the opposite faction...

"Your preference will be taken in consideration" yet a lot of people are telling me they have been drafted in the opposite faction...

That was the original plan, but because the teams seemed to be unbalanced quite heavily in favour of the GDR, we ended up drawing them at random instead. Anyone who wants to change teams can still do so if they can find someone on the other team to exchange with, and the Commanders on both sides agree.

Coldfreeze!!! I will trade with you if you want.

FLAG NABBIT I AM STILL IN OS, anyone wanna trade?

Coldfreeze!!! I will trade with you if you want.

Commanders need to approve this.

I'm a commander.

I approve of this

I have to wait for the Cell administrator, High Confessor and High Acolyte to decide.

But, this trade has my seal of approval.

 

That was the original plan, but because the teams seemed to be unbalanced quite heavily in favour of the GDR, we ended up drawing them at random instead. Anyone who wants to change teams can still do so if they can find someone on the other team to exchange with, and the Commanders on both sides agree.

Then a completely random pick was fair?

And also, what of the people who are "Mercenaries?"

Woo woo lets go Offbeat Syndicate :3

OFFBEAT SYNDICATE FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This looks great! I should be back in town in time for tomorrow's event.

See you on the battlefield soldiers!

Coldfreeze!!! I will trade I with you if you want.

I would very much like that

Then a completely random pick was fair?

 

And also, what of the people who are "Mercenaries?"

I can't guarantee that, but it's likely to be fairer. As it was, the GDR had a big advantage over the OS in terms of the number of players with very high K/Ds, and while that definitely doesn't tell the full story of a player's abilities it generally means they'll be a bit more effective on the battlefield. If one side proves to be significantly stronger than the other over the first few matches we'll probably do a bit of rebalancing, and of course players can trade if their Commanders agree to it, so the teams we have today probably aren't the team you'll see a month from now.

Mercenaries can be hired by either team for points. Bnus will explain the points system in a bit more depth once it's relevant (i.e. after this weekend). Basically, it's to try and ensure that if ever we have a lobby where one team has a big advantage in numbers, they can have a few neutral members step in to bulk out the ranks.

But, this trade has my seal of approval.

I approve of this

We just need one Commander from each side to agree to the trade, doesn't have to be everyone - Rue, Coldfreeze, I'll swap you now. Welcome to your new factions!

Rue, Coldfreeze, I'll swap you now. Welcome to your new factions!

Let's rock. *crunches knuckles*

Also what time is each 'attack'?

Is there a list of mercenaries? Or was that scrapped and generally anyone there can participate?

I

So um, when exactly is this going to start tomorrow? I seem to be missing a start time both here and other place on the forums.

So um, when exactly is this going to start tomorrow? I seem to be missing a start time both here and other place on the forums.

OS... yaaaay... I guess.

Well GDR, Step into our grave.

What's that?

Well of course you're going in first, silly!

And also, what of the people who are "Mercenaries?"

I've been very busy with school work but so far Biggles confirmed his spot. Don't worry you will get them soon

Dang, didn't sign up quick enough. Sorry Bnus, I guess I wont participate this year. Next time maybe, if you do this again.

We making a Late Sign Up thread later. You can still sign up don't fuss! 

Anyone on the OS want to switch? Me and OneOarInTheWater are split screening and are on different sides.

Alrighty then, gotta prepare for tomorrow. OS Power!

Anyone on the OS want to switch? Me and OneOarInTheWater are split screening and are on different sides.

If no one does switch then we will put you on the OS regardless to help balance that. 

and anyone who manages to participate in every campaign without dying at all will receive a unique prize to reflect the magnitude of their achievement.

 

 

Good luck with that...

Anyone on the OS want to switch? Me and OneOarInTheWater are split screening and are on different sides.

Dibs.

I will not be on OS. I don't believe in rebellions.