Also was reading the mystery section of the wiki and noticed the thing about Maurice.
You mean that book's author address? I'd guess it's either a prank, or, perhaps, the place of Steve's hiding. Cannot see the major outsider adversary we've been warned about writing comedy. Too human-like.
Unless that's
1)the advanced humans coming back (highly unlikely, both in being stereotypical and probably too transhumanly-culturally-advanced like that something from Lars's prophetic dream.)
2)another branch of humanity(not transhuman)/very human-like creatures (unless it's just a lost and forgotten colony, very unlikely, as the setting is decidedly not-humanoid-centered).
3)A hidden message, like 'HE IS NOT HERE' one - but who'd make such a message and what was the chance it got delivered? Otherwise, the likeliest of 'mystery' explanations for it.
Anyway, more books of that 'origin point' should be researched if we are to draw conclusions. Maurice can do it, or just share the information about the curious book so others can do research, if you wish.
@RC On Hazards: Exactly as you put it, clumping them together with novices could be seen as derogatory. The rank itself could be 'Untrusted' or something like that, but it is not, for a very good reason: for some, I insist, being ranked as a 'Hazard' is a mark of honor and acknowledgement of their deeds and capabilities. For others, it could be the rank of certain wariness of themselves, if not shame. They are full well acknowledged as having more ability to make impact on mission, than the newly introduced players, it's just that their impact is much more likely to be a source of danger, compared to Regulars (and Adepts).
So on the one hand, we have players who like to play wild and are potentially of great help to the team (or at least, great danger to enemies), while remaining a certain danger for the team at the same time. And on the other hand, we can put here players who have been shown to semi-willingly do great damage to the team and mission on the whole, and might still want to become reliable, yet are colloquially considered somewhat untrusted - and this would be their platform to prove their competence and rise. Or accept the role of dangerous allies and embrace the potential benefits the dangerous approaches can give.
I have not read M14 yet, but, judging from people's reactions, the reprimanded guy could have been awarded the Hazard rank, for example. The thing is, it would not do a thing, with public opinion already wary of him, but make it more open to others (and potentially squad- and above leaders who are not familiar with the person or his deeds). Sort of instituting a position already tacitly existing.
On supervisors: delegating some load off your back is part of why I suggest this, sure. I agree that squad leaders and mission leaders should already do this, but they are not always inclined so, as I said, or perhaps lack the attitude and point of view required to oversee such a thing. Dedicated people, on the other hand, who watch and see and consider it in their specific field of work, can have both the interest in doing so and the necessary frame of mind to see the changes where they have to be made and help you with overall planning.
In short, there might be people interested with helping you planning missions for the sake of it, and they can have their unique perspectives on mission planning which you mind beneficial.
On structure similarity: Well, I did my best to blend in your system, Piecewise's, Aoshima's, and everyone else's whom I remembered. The main work was made on considering each rank, in its social role, name, clear and natural defining, etc.
@Aoshima As to 'what commander would want a Hazard on his mission team', Hazards are often very powerful (such as overload-specialists, for example). What battlezone mission commander would not want Xan-1 on his team? And then there are all-comers missions, and commanders (notably Steve) which would not care much about mission roster altogether.
Finally, there is always the option of including one to give that person a chance to redeem self.
@Parisbre Wasn't the soundworm lost to us at the end of M3? Or are you suggesting us to find that entrypoint to their world again (probably floating somewhere in space now, I doubt it could have been destroyed with the asteroid) and extract another specimen?
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Topic: Einsteinian Roulette: OOC and NEW PLAYER INFO (Read 2543825 times)