James

[center][font=Impact][size=4]MAVERICK HUNTERS 3[/size][/font][/center] [center][font=Impact][size=1]B-SPEC[/size][/font][/center] [size=1][b][ NOTE ][/b][/size] [font=Verdana][size=2]Before I begin, I want to point out that this is essentially a re-posting of an older RPG of mine. I want to re-start it with new characters (save for my own). It may also have a slightly different spin on it (hence the B-Spec sub title). If you were in the older RPG, please feel free to sign-up with a [b]new[/b] character. Thank you.[/size][/font] This RPG is based on the [b]Maverick Hunter[/b] series of RPGs, which was originally created by Warlock and Final Flash. Due to the fact that this is the third in the series, it is my hope that any of you who are new to the series will take a glance at the two previous RPGs before joining. I know that this requires extra effort, but it is pretty important. The Maverick Hunter series has a great story, with characters that have really taken on strong personalities. I want to maintain that here. Anyone who was a part of the previous two stories is, of course, welcome to join in. However, you may not use your original character. The Third Succession takes place approximately 260 years after the end of Maverick Hunters: Personification. If you're new, once again, I recommend taking a look at the older RPGs. And knowing a [i]little[/i] about Mega Man would be very useful here (as this story is very loosely based on Mega Man). Knowledge of that game is not terribly important though, as our series is mostly pretty different; it just retains a few names and character design styles. Also, if you have no intention of sticking around for a while in this RPG, please do not sign up. My own time is as limited as yours, but I'm going to try my best. [b]The Previous RPGs:[/b] [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9810&highlight=Maverick+Hunters"]Maverick Hunters: Replimasters[/url] [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16550&highlight=Maverick+Hunters"]Maverick Hunters: Personification[/url] [color=#707875][size=1][b][ A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR HISTORY ][/b] 2000 - 2250 A.D.[/size] The 21st century unfolded on turbulent times in mankind's history. Terrorism and war were paramount in the minds of many. And yet, at the same time, great advances in technology were becoming apparent. These advances, as time would demonstrate, were both positive and negative in nature. Indeed, the key to the story of man's history during the 21st century can be found within the creations of one man: [b]Dr. William Light[/b]. Dr. Light was a scientist who bucked the trend of many in his field during the early 21st century. While many were focusing their work on the development of weaponry and security systems, Light's work was focused on one passionate goal; to create. That is, to create rather than destroy. It so happened that Dr. Light's work led him invariably to the development of highly advanced artificial intelligence, or A.I. This intelligence, combined with Light's work on advanced robotic systems, led to the creation of the [b]Reploid[/b]. The Reploid's life during the first half of the 21st century had an undeniably positive impact on the human race. Despite the fact that several models had become uncontrollable and dangerous (and subsequently destroyed), the vast majority of Dr. Light's reploids provided important services in human society. Reploids were used as field surgeons during war, relief workers in war-torn countries and even mine clearers. And, eventually, reploids took their place in mankind's everyday life. While they were too intelligent to be used as home servants or anything of the sort, they were often employed for physical labor purposes. As it turned out, most Reploids who posessed free will ended up joining military service or civil police forces. Despite the few bumps along the road, the 21st century heralded a new world order for mankind. It was an order where man and machine lived happily side-by-side. And, toward the middle of the century, world peace seemed to be an achievable goal. But, as with many things, the good times and prosperity were not to last. Sometime during the 21st century, a [b]terrible disaster[/b] occurred. To this day, we do not know the exact nature of the disaster. Nor are we aware of the exact year that the disaster struck. However, we do know that it destroyed much of the earth's population. Approximately 4.8 billion people were killed as a result. Out of the ashes emerged a new sense of hope. Although mankind's worst tragedy had occurred, the human spirit endured. The nation states that were spared (or what was left of them) came together to reform the United Nations. However, the UN's purpose was now far more real -- it effectively became a new [b]World Government[/b], with responsibility for all of the territories on Earth. And, in keeping with the concept of a SGN (Single Global Nation) policy, a [b]World Capital City[/b] was established. It was named [b]Novus Concordia[/b]. The city was constructed on what was left of the Commonwealth of Australia, which had suffered the brunt of the worldwide disaster. Novus Concordia was man's finest achievement. It sprawled over the entire continent and at its peak, was home to approximately 1 billion people (or, almost half of the world's population at the time). And, as the decades passed, mankind was somehow able to grow anew. Novus Concordia's economy boomed and the remaining nations of the world shared in global prosperity. Poverty and famine were virtually nonexistant during this period. And, once more, the Reploid began to enjoy an increasingly prominent position in society. But even so, mankind was unable to avoid tragedy. A computer virus known as the [b]Maverick Virus[/b] began to infect reploids across the planet. Reploids infected by the virus became known, simply, as [b]Mavericks[/b]. Mankind's conventional military forces were unequipped to handle such powerful beings. Reploids are, by nature, far more physically powerful than human beings. The Maverick Virus' spread lead to what is known as the [b]Maverick War[/b]. The Maverick War was fought on a global basis, with millions of human troops. The war lasted for several years and during the latter half of the war, mankind began to rely even more heavily on Reploids for assistance. Reploids were recuited into regular army units and were used as a way of evening the playing field between Maverick and human. Finally, the war ended. But man did not forget the negative effects of the Mavericks and was afraid that they may someday return. And so, the United Nations established its own defence force, known as the [b]Maverick Hunters[/b]. This new force was housed within a massive complex, known as [b]Maverick Hunter Headquarters[/b]. MHHQ was located within Novus Concordia, but was marked as its own territory. It was the size of a large city and was surrounded by expansive titanium barriers. MHHQ developed a powerful Reploid Army, as well as an [b]Elite Squad[/b], who were responsible for fighting Maverick outbreaks around the world. The years following the MHHQ's establishment were turbulent to say the least. The Mavericks rose again, though in more limited numbers. An attempt was made to infiltrate the leadership of MHHQ and last but not least, a terrorist organization known as [b]Red Alert[/b] launched a war against the organization. You will find more information about the war in the next historical file. [size=1][b][ A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR HISTORY ][/b] 2250 - 2510 A.D.[/size] The second major war involving the Maverick Hunters is known as the [b]Protogen War[/b]. The Protogen War lasted for approximately 15 years. To understand the Protogen War, one must first understand the organization that perpetuated it. And, perhaps more importantly, the leader of that organization must be explored. The Protogen War involved the Maverick Hunters and a terrorist organization known as Red Alert. The terrorist organization was headed by [b]Dr. Lucia Karman[/b]. Dr. Karman had worked as an associate to Dr. Light in the early 21st century. And initially, the arrangement had worked well. However, unlike Light, Karman was interested in the concept of moulding both human and robotic parts together to create living organisms. These organisms are known as [b]Cyborgs[/b]. The Cyborg, a creation of Dr. Karman, was roundly rejected by the scientific establishment. It was considered to be inferior to the Reploid, but on a broader level, Dr. Karman's use of human organs was considered crude and unethical. Dr. Karman engaged in illegal actions in order to obtain many of the organs used in her experiments. When Dr. Light made this discovery, he disassociated himself with Dr. Karman and her research. In the years that followed, Dr. Karman continued to pursue the development of Cyborg technology. And even more disturbing, she began to develop military-grade units that were capable of operating firearms and heavy military machinery. Her research culminated with the development of [b]PS-100[/b], a Cyborg created to look like a small boy. Karman became obsessive over her creations and labelled PS-100 as her very own son. At this point, Dr. Karman's life took a dramatic turn for the worst. An airstrike that had been ordered on a sector of Novus Concordia (on the very block that Karman's laboritory was located), completely destroyed most of her research. The strike also destroyed PS-100. It is important to note that the airstrike was ordered by [b]Warlock[/b], a former member of the Elite Squad within the Maverick Hunters. As a result of the airstrike, the Maverick Hunters dismissed Warlock. The specific circumstances surrounding the strike are sketchy as of this time. Nevertheless, Dr. Karman barely escaped the attack. She was horribly injured and fled to North America. In an effort to repair herself, Dr. Karman employed her own Cyborg technologies. She charged a group of her very own Cyborgs with the task of operating on her damaged body -- they transplanted synthetic body parts for her own damaged ones. It could be said that Dr. Karman's very soul was destroyed as a result of this operation. Her appearance was much younger (she was around 50 when the operation occurred) and she was at least 50% machine. The next few years are, as with the rest of our history, somewhat blurry. Just after her operation, the terrible disaster occurred. Dr. Karman managed to survive, by housing herself in a bunker deep underground. Despite the personal losses that she had suffered as a result of the disaster, Dr. Karman primarily had the Maverick Hunters in her crosshairs. She held them responsible for the airstrike that killed her "son". And so, she commenced a compaign to destroy the organization. It began with the establishment of Red Alert, a terrorist organization with five primary locations around the world. Dr. Karman used the organization to research and develop new Cyborg beings. Some of them were sold commercially, through a front organization known as Black Thorn Inc., a company created ostensibly as a defence contractor. The sales of Cyborg units boomed, all while the subversive Red Alert festered in the shadows. Finally, Dr. Karman developed a very unique unit. Not a Cyborg, but a Reploid. It was named P-180, or, [b]Proteus[/b]. [center][img]http://fanart.theotaku.com/imgs/1016-20030805091538.jpg[/img][/center] Proteus was sold to the Maverick Hunters by Black Thorn. He was considered important, because he was the first Reploid of his kind. Proteus featured a unique technology called ACM, or, Active Cellular Modulation. In other words, Proteus was able to reform the titanium in his limbs, which enabled him to form a wide variety of weaponry (as opposed to the regular buster weapon that most Reploids were equipped with). Dr. Karman expected Proteus to be activated as soon as he was shipped to the HQ. But that wasn't the case. The Maverick Hunters placed Proteus in storage for several months before activating him. He was activated by [b]Flash[/b], a member of the Elite Squad. Dr. Karman had hoped to remotely control Proteus and use his ACM capabilities to destroy the Maverick Hunters. But her attempts were unsuccessful. To this day, nobody is entirely sure as to why Dr. Karman was unable to manipulate Proteus. This failure resulted in further desperate measures. Dr. Karman began constructing Reploids known as [b]Protogen[/b]. The Protogen were similar to Proteus in physical appearance, but they were manufactured on a large assembly line. And they were, for all intents and purposes, a mere shell with which high explosives could be housed. The Protogen were mindless, brainless machines. They were, in effect, suicide bombers. Dr. Karman used them to launch a series of attacks on MHHQ over several years. This is what led to the Protogen War. The Protogen War ended when Dr. Karman herself was killed in battle. She was confronted by Proteus and it was he who destroyed her. At the time of her death, Dr. Karman was approximately 285 years old. Those who saw her true form (her form without an elaborate body-cloak) were mostly committed to mental care institutions. Karman was said to have become a horrific mutation beneath her unassuming disguise. With the Maverick Hunter Headquarters almost completely destroyed and with much of the Elite Squad killed in battle, the future of the Reploid was uncertain. The world changed greatly over the next two centuries. Reploids were no longer relegated to military service. And, by virtue of their increasing technological sophistication (and increasing similarity to human beings), Reploids began to take their place alongside man as equals. And, ironically, Cyborg technologies became far more safe and commonplace. The average life expectancy for human beings rose from 80 to 120 as a result of cybernetic implants. The oldest living human was recorded to have died in 2478, at the age of 146. Proteus was beginning to reach the end of his natural lifespan. Reploids were able to live longer than humans, but they were not invulnerable to the ravages of time. After the Protogen war, Proteus travelled around the world. Eventually, he decided to take up University study. And after only two years of education, Proteus received his degree in Advanced Robotics. Proteus also studied medicine for several years, eventually becoming a doctor in the Novus Concordia Institute of Neurosurgery. Proteus died in his home, in the Nebula Heights district of Novus Concordia, on November 10, 2499. He was almost 400 years old. [size=1][b][ THE PRESENT DAY ][/b][/size] Today, the world is at peace. Reploids are now very much like human beings. Their skin is organic, as is their hair. Although they are still fundamentally a machine underneath. Reploids continue to be born with human emotions, as they always were. And today, with advances in micro-robotics, Reploids are able to reproduce. Reploids are divided into male and female sexes and reproduce sexually. A female reploid would be able to give birth to an adult Reploid if she were appropriately sized, but because of body size limitations, female Reploids give birth to infant offspring. And so, Reploids exist as humans do. Though there are noteable exceptions, particularly with regard to physical strength, lifespan and various other abilities (such as various in-built site displays, satellite-based navigation and self defense systems). Despite the peace that exists in the world today, recent threats have arisen. Two years ago, a powerful new computer virus appeared on the scene. The virus is received only by Reploids. It attacks the Reploid's NeuroSyntronic brain whilst he or she sleeps. Currently, we do not know how the virus attaches itself to the host. Nor do we know where the virus originated. However, upon analyzing deceased Reploids who carried the virus, we find a single email file that includes the following:[/color] [center][color=red]"Welcome to our new world. Paint the streets with their blood and you will live in eternal peace as one of us."[/color][/center] [color=#707875]The virus is known as [b]X-Virus[/b]. X-Virus has various effects on an adult Reploid. Most Reploids who are infected simply become violent, though they do not attack other Reploids. Instead, they attack human beings exclusively. In response to the virus, a special task force has been set up by the Novus Concordia Defense Department. It is known simply as "X-Hunters". Unlike Maverick Hunters, X-Hunters is a relatively small group. It consists of around 20 individuals, who are responsible for investigation as much as physical combat. Most importantly, the X-Hunters are responsible for discovering the truth about the X-Virus virus and its origins. It is believed that a new force is at work behind the scenes -- one with familiar links. [/color][size=1][b][ SIGN UP ][/b][/size] Remember, your character will be a Reploid if you are in X-Hunters. You can be "freelance" or "neutral" if you like. And you can also be human. If you choose to be a Reploid, please bear in mind that ACM does not exist in current generation Reploids. That is, you will need to choose firearms and body attachments. You can be creative though -- remember, this story takes place in the distant future. But please, nothing "invincible" and so on. And finally, bear in mind that current generation Reploids look exactly like human beings. The only difference is in the internal physical structure and the advantages that it brings (as mentioned above). [b]Name:[/b] (If you're a Reploid, you'll have a "traditional" human name, but you will also have a compulsory callsign). [b]Callsign:[/b] (ie: Proteus, Warlock, Flash, Demos, et al). [b]Age:[/b] (Be realistic, in keeping with the history). [b]Appearance:[/b] [b]Personality:[/b] [b]Biography:[/b] [b]Affiliation:[/b] (If applicable). [b]Primary Weapon:[/b] (Laser gun, arm-mounted buster, beam sabre, etc). [b]Secondary Weapon:[/b] (Grenades, Remote Mine, Proximity Mine, etc). [b]Defensive Capability:[/b] (If you are a reploid, you can choose one defensive ability -- ie: a collapsable shield, a force field, etc etc...but please try to avoid making it invincible). And that's it. If you have any questions, please ask them within the thread. That way everyone can see, incase they have the same question as you. I encourage members who joined in on the former stories to sign up, but I also encourage new players who have read the history. So there you have it. My sign-up will come shortly. No chapter system here, folks. It's all old school.

[color=#707875]Very cool. I think I like your Marvin the Martian image most of all...somehow it's so [i]you[/i]. [center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21718&stc=1[/img][/center] [center] [/center] [center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21719&stc=1[/img][/center] [center] [/center] [left]These are the two I've used so far. They are quite different, but you can probably tell that they were made by the same person. I'm also going for a male/female/male/female type rotation at the moment. So my next image will be male, followed by a female and so on.[/left] [left] [/left] [left]I thought I'd also share this image, it's hardly finished...maybe 10%. I'm not sure if I'll continue working on it though, as I'm not really getting into it at the moment.[/left] [left] [/left] [center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21720&stc=1[/img][/center] [center] [/center] [left]I think I'll put my next one up after I post the actual theme. I really like it though, I think it's the best one I've done so far. I might add it in another post or something.[/left] [left]It'll be cool to see everyone's myO intro images in here. ^_^[/color][/left]

[QUOTE=Baron Samedi][size=1]I was about to say, "speaking of heated arguments, point-by-point dissection and thread hi-jacking..." [/size][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Just to pick up on that point, I don't think that there is anything negative about point-by-point dissection. I'd say it's actually the opposite. I'll give you an example. When Cloricus was here (note: [i]was[/i]), he had a habit of quoting a very small portion of a post and responding, or responding without a quote. That in itself isn't so problematic (if you actually say what you're responding to, in terms of the points you're refuting or whatever, then that's fine). The problem is that I can engage in a multi-faceted discussion with someone -- I can take the time to address multiple points -- and the other person might ignore [i]everything[/i] and respond to only one point. Obviously, we aren't going to create rules to govern that, as each person will respond as they choose to, within some very basic guidelines. However, I have always felt that if someone responds to me carefully and with specific quotes, they are paying me some respect -- they are respecting me enough not to just dismiss me and ignore my statements, but to actually acknowledge them and take the time to respond. So, if someone responds to me that way in a debate, I tend to view it as a mark of respect. And I respect them by taking my time and doing the same thing. It's really just an etiquette thing I suppose. Obviously, it can sometimes be needless (as in, dissecting every word rather than each general point), but that's not something we can really stop, other than to suggest that it might be a little rude. lol[/color]

[color=#707875]I suppose that you are looking at one of my hobbies right now. OtakuBoards is really a hobby of sorts, I guess. Working on new updates and things like that is always pretty rewarding. I suppose that my biggest hobby would be graphic design, at least, digital graphic design. I really enjoy it and I really enjoy being able to just make anything - to just be creative and not worry about restrictions. But at the same time, I also enjoy designing things for a purpose. Making web designs is a lot of fun, particularly when I see them being put into practice. Writing (in terms of journalism) is also a hobby of sorts, and luckily it's also a paying hobby. If you can turn your hobby into a job, then that's always a very rewarding experience.[/color]

[color=#707875]I can tell you right now, there is very little we can do, on an administrative level, to "fix" Otaku Lounge. In my opinion, the complaints about OL are totally redundant. Why? Because the "quality", or perceived quality of Otaku Lounge comes from the people who post there. And it's really as simple as that. As long as people are posting within the rules, there is absolutely nothing we can do to make a substantive shift or change to OL; again, it's something that the members dictate. If people would like to see higher quality in OL, it's up to them to post the threads and the responses to facilitate that. That's what a forum is. We cannot artificially create an environment of quality if the members themselves are not posting "quality threads". My message is simple. If you don't like the lounge, you have a choice. You can either post in it and try to improve the quality by contributing, or ignore it completely. It's either something you want to participate in or it isn't. The only thing I'd suggest is for Team Koizumi to be more aggressive in pursuing members who try to take threads down -- people who try to hijack discussions and spin them in various directions. Obviously, a discussion will grow and evolve over time. That's only natural. But the staff in this area could definitely contribute to quality by actually being more aggressive in terms of applying the rules. Other than that, there's really nothing anyone can do, at least, on an administrative level. As I frequently say, it's up to the members to think of topics to post and it's up to members to create responses that are reasonable. In actual fact, if you look at the threads on the first page, you will generally see pretty high quality responses. The problem is that the crazy minority are the ones who are casting a shadow over the entire forum. And that is ridiculous. As far as I'm concerned, the whole perceived lack of quality or insanity of this forum is really just a big white elephant. Unfortunately a vocal minority are negatively colouring and stereotyping this forum, when a majority of people are contributing some pretty thoughtful posts.[/color]

[quote name='Adahn][font=Courier New][size=2][color=blue]Basically, the reason I think it's wrong is that I don't like the idea of someone my little sister's age (12) getting into that sort of relationship.[/color][/size'][/font][/quote] [color=#707875]Why not? Keep going. You're answering your own question and effectively making the statements below pretty redundant. Keep following that line of thought. Why don't you like the idea of someone your little sister's age in that type of relationship? Because they are [i]too young[/i] for it?[/color] [quote][font=Courier New][size=2][color=#0000ff]If this process is different for everyone, then it is difficult to place age barriers on relationships. This can be seen in the laws and customs of every place in the world. Perhaps sexual maturity should be determined on a case-by-case basis? A trip to the doctor isn't too expensive, nor is it too difficult. Anyone can lie about their age, but if some sort of proof of maturity were made available, it would make it very easy for potential partners to recognize each other's maturity without making it easy to deceive one another. Coupled with an increase in the harshness of penalties (due to clearer indication and clarity of maturity) for relationships with those who aren't sexually mature, I think less relationships between those who are mature and those who aren't would occur. For one, it protects those who reach sexual maturity later from engaging in sexual acts before they're ready. Another reason is that if it were done on a case-by-case basis, it would be very clear that having a relationship with someone not sexually mature is morally and biologically wrong. This may affect those who have relationships in order to rebel, because they are no longer defying a law that could be construed as wrong.[/color][/size][/font][/quote] [color=#707875]Okay, firstly, it isn't different for everyone. All girls and boys go through sexual change from approximately 11 through to 16 or so. Obviously there are specific differences in the starting and ending times, but generally speaking, people of this age are still physically developing. Secondly, no government can define when someone is emotionally ready for a relationship. You simply can't go around and interview every single person to determine whether or not they are ready for sex -- the perfect legislative solution does not, and will never, exist. Children should not be having sex for many reasons -- a lack of physical development and a lack of mental/emotional development being the primary issues. Obviously making a lower age limit (18 or whatever it is) isn't ideal. Some people will have sex and be ready for it before then (I first had sex at 16 and was completely prepared for it). [i]However[/i], it is completely impossible and ridiculous to have a case by case basis. Teens aren't going to visit a doctor to get permission to have sex -- that's just nonsense. Educators have enough trouble teaching abstinence (because kids who want to have sex will have it regardless), so physically asking teens to visit a doctor to ascertain their maturity level is at best silly and at worst, completely ridiculous. A doctor simply couldn't determine their readiness either -- that's for the individual to know. I doubt that a simple doctor's visit is going to make an elaborate physical and emotional determination.[/color] [quote][font=Courier New][size=2][color=#0000ff]There are serious personal and social ramifications involved with any girl having sex and giving birth. The only reason these ramifications exist is because an age barrier has been placed where it does not belong. If everyone says it's wrong, it's very difficult to insist that it is right. However, if instead of generalizing and setting a barrier that may not even apply to the majority of people, I think it would be more effective and less painful to judge maturity on a more personal level. You can't lie about your sexual maturity to a doctor. Again, the innefectiveness of these laws can be seen by the varying laws concerning sexual consent that exist in every state. Unifying the age of consent by actual sexual maturity would protect those who mature later, and allow those who are ready for that kind of relationship to engage in those activities lawfully and in accordance with nature.[/color][/size][/font][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]This point is problematic in several respects. Firstly, the general age restrictions are appropriate. Teenagers are, by definition, still developing emotionally and physically. Laws that prevent adults from having sex with teenagers/children are wholly appropriate. Again, we could say that these laws don't always reflect reality -- they don't. A 16 year old and an 18 year old are probably quite capable of having a relationship without any problem. However, no law and no legislation or medical practice is ever going to completely assure that individuals will be protected. What you are suggesting is completely infeasible, for a variety of reasons (not least of which being that most people aren't going to submit themselves to such an assessment program). So obviously there are many shades of grey here. But the fundamental point remains -- pedophilia is illegal for a [i]reason[/i]. Consider why you don't support it. And then consider why a broader society doesn't support it. Those reasons are (both by moral and physical/scientific standards), entirely valid.[/color]

[QUOTE=DeathBug] So perhaps such experiences have warped my perceptions. But you never see communists hopping aboard a raft to Cuba.[/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I frequently argue against Communism here at OB. You are preaching to the choir; I am [i]not[/i] opposing your view of Communism. I am simply saying that I'm tired of people constantly classifying everything as "evil". It's lame.[/color]

[color=#707875]The only problem with the "Israel has no right to exist" argument is that it's totally irrelevant at this point. The fact is, Israel is [i]there[/i]. It exists. I think it's pretty clear that Israel exists largely through colonization/occupation of land that it does not own, but that point is sort of moot at the moment. Since Israel does exist, the only option is to find a plan that will deliver peace to all concerned. Since Israel does actually exist, any suggestion that it has no right to exist is automatically redundant, since there is nothing anyone can (or would want to) do about that at this point in time. It's a matter of dealing with the hand you're given.[/color]

[QUOTE=Baron Samedi][size=1]I know there is a deeply-rooted enmity between these two countries [or, some of the people] but if someone, hypothetically, merged these two countries, then what would happen? If there was no border between Israel and Pakistan? I can't imagine a mass movement of people, but a free flow between the two countries...would that be enough to appease them? I fully acknowledge the limits of the imagination that I am pushing. I doubt such a maneouvre could be pulled off. But, what if they could do that? Would it stand a chance of working? This way, both sides make the same compromise. I don't know. I am no politico-person, and perhaps I am just rambling. As a hypothetical though, could it work?[/size][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]A free flow would probably make matters worse. If you eliminate the border, you're basically merging the countries. And that's what everyone is trying to [i]avoid[/i]. I mean, if that's what the goal was, then it'd be totally okay for Israel to colonize the Palestinean territories and just absorb them. The goal is instead to have two distinctly seperate nation states, where the West Bank and Gaza strip would ideally be within Palestine's national borders. I think most people agree to that concept, but the devil is in the details (like Jerusalem, refugees and so on). [/color]

[quote name='Adahn][font=Courier New][color=blue]I would never argue in favor of pedophilia. I would like to know anything and everything that is wrong with a woman who's reached sexual maturity having sex. Please be as specific as possible. Also, for the record, I (personally) don't think it's right.[/color'][/font][/quote] [color=#707875]Why don't you think it's right? You seem to have been trying to convince us that it's right in your previous posts. Or at least, you've been arguing against those who think it is wrong. If you think it's wrong yourself, then this leads me to believe that you were arguing for the sake of argument, and not in any attempt to learn something new or to have a real debate. If you don't think it's right, I'd ask you why you don't. That way, perhaps you can answer your own question. I think the answers are obvious. Sexual maturity is a process and not something that you reach when you wake up one morning. Girls often begin maturing sexually at maybe 11 or 12 and that process continues for several years (as it does with boys). Obviously, there are serious personal and social ramifications involved with very young girls having sex and giving birth. I don't know why there would really be any debate about that. [/color]

[color=#707875]I don't mind if you guys discuss the actual topic of downloading anime (ie: the issues involved), but this site doesn't allow the provision of links/support for downloading copyrighted material illegally.[/color]

[color=#707875]I don't see why anyone would view Lady Rin as being a victim here. Although I think that some comments are a little venomous...Lady Rin has brought up the issue. At OtakuBoards, you are responsible for your own words. If someone wants to debate you on a particular point, they can -- so let's not blow it out of proportion. I think that Siren probably put it best, even though the tone of his post was undesirable at various points. Rather than degenerate this by describing it as "bashing Rin", let's try to actually have a discussion about the issues raised in the thread. These are all legitimate topics of conversation -- I actually find it interesting to hear everybody's thoughts on the whole etiquette point. However, we can have that discussion and still avoid personal attacks and general rudeness. I'd urge everyone to remember that. If you guys want to have a discussion about the issues, you're free to do so. But if this starts getting dragged into a "who is bashing who" cycle, I will either close the thread or remove offending posts.[/color]

[QUOTE=Baron Samedi][size=1]But what would extremists do if both sides formally withdrew all forces from the Gaza Strip / West Bank? Go and blow up the other side, who doesn't own the land either? Blow up their own precious, god-given side? What would they do? As far as I can see it, nothing. Which is what we want them doing. The majority of people want peace. Surely the Governments are mostly free from radicals? Therefore, pushing through a quick withdrawal should not be a terrible problem? Obviously, this is simplified beyond belief. But at the same time, doesn't it make sense?[/size][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]The problem is that the extremists on both sides aren't going to be happy with any settlement. On the Palestinean side, groups like HAMAS will oppose anything that doesn't involve the 1967 borders, a right of return for refugees and Jerusalem as the national capital of Palestine. Of those things, Jerusalem is probably the most touchy subject -- it obviously has massive religious significance to both groups and Israel does not want to give any of it up (there was even a suggestion that the city could be divided in half, with each side being given to each country, but as far as I know, Israel rejected that proposal). On the Israeli side, you have extremists who are in support of settlements and the expansion of those settlements. Don't forget that Prime Minister Rabin was killed not by a Palestinean extremist, but by an Israeli extremist, as a result of his movement toward peace. So, let's say that Israel completely disengages from the Palestinean areas (which they should do, without question). That's only part of the problem. For one thing, you need a solid Palestinean governing body that can deploy security services in those areas, to maintain order. Israel has, as far as I know, largely destroyed the Palestinean police force. So the Palestineans [i]can't[/i] get their house in order, at least not at the moment. By the same token, any Palestinean government that is seen as making compromises would face a direct conflict with groups like HAMAS -- in other words, there would be a significant threat of civil war in Palestine. In addition to the territorial issues surrounding Gaza and the West Bank, you still have the highly tough and controversial issue of Jerusalem. I simply don't know how that will be resolved, since both sides are extremely passionate about it. One thing is clear though -- compromise is needed on both sides. Palestine is unlikely to get [i]everything[/i] it desires, but it [i]is[/i] likely to get a pretty darn good percentage of what it wants, as long as it makes the diplomatic effort. Israel is also unlikely to be able to secure peace without painful compromise (ie: total dismantlement of settlements). But there is really no other way. Compromise is the only chance for success. So yeah. Again, we're only lightly brushing over the surface here. There are just so many smaller and more specific issues that act as roadblocks. This is why the problem has never been solved; it's highly, highly complex.[/color]

[QUOTE=DeathBug] Which definition of evil do you think applies?[/QUOTE] [color=#707875]I think you might be missing my point. "Evil" is, first and foremost, a pretty subjective term. Moreover, it seems to be frequently used to apply some kind of supernatural status to something. This is the primary definition for the word, over at dictionary.com: "Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant." So, the word "evil" tends to be used in a moral context. The reason that this annoys me (apart from looking like a "me too" type of thing), is that it tends to negate constructive discussion about the issue. As I mentioned earlier, the "ideal" of communism is not necessarily evil in and of itself -- that is to say, you could argue that it has a valid moral foundation (ie: caring for everyone equally). However, as has been mentioned, it is the application of these principles that simply hasn't worked. I think that above all else, the frequent labeling of things as "evil" annoys me because it's so [i]simple[/i]. It's a way of dividing things into two categories -- good and evil. But as I've said many times, the world is a complex place and things are not always so simple. I saw Bowling for Columbine again yesterday and I remember that splicing of black and white war footage, with the text down the bottom. The thing that annoyed me about that was that it was being presented in a completely black and white fashion -- it was being filtered in a simplistic way, when there are actually very complex situations there. So this is not just something that conservatives do. It's also something that leftists do. In other words, both ends of the spectrum like to simplify things that aren't simple. That's kind of a long response, but hopefully you know what I mean now. If anyone wants to call communism "evil" that's their right -- and I'd agree that, based on my own morals, the concept of communism isn't exactly right. But I really don't like it when people come in and say "it's evil, end of story". That kind of kills the opportunity to have a reasonable discussion about it, with any level of depth.[/color]

[QUOTE=DeathBug]While I agree with much of what James said (Except regarding media bias; I've never seen anything in favor of Isreal in the media), I'm wondering why you're agreeing. I mean, he also said Isreal has a right to exist, which is the exact opposite of your point. [/QUOTE] [color=#707875]Just to mention the point about media bias; it depends what you're watching. Networks like BBC tend to be slightly more pro-Palestinean, while networks like Fox are heavily pro-Israel. I think that the key to observing this situation is to recognize where the bias can be found. If you [i]only[/i] watch Fox, for example, you'll be coming away with a heavily biased viewpoint on this issue. But if you [i]only[/i] watch BBC, you'll also come away with a viewpoint that doesn't reflect the legitimate points on the Israeli side of the equation. The only network I've found that seems to deal with the issue pretty evenly, is Sky News Australia. They aren't always unbiased, but on this issue they've had a pretty wide spread of programming, which is nice to see.[/color]

[quote name='Baron Samedi][size=1]I do see what you're saying, but in the end, religion is subjective not quantitative. Should anyone 'own' a national monument, and be able to forbid others from seeing it? No. It is the same with something like this...nobody can truly have a complete claim over it due to the fact [i]that both sides value it[/i'], and they cannot refute the other sides claim to it. Which is why The Gaza Strip / West bank should be an international zone, similar to the principle of 'international waters'.[/size][/quote] [color=#707875]The problem is that, in Israel, the polls suggest that the majority of Israelis would like to draw back to the previously-established borders and provide both the West Bank and Gaza to the Palestineans for their own sovereign state. Unfortunately, peace is marred by religious extremists on both sides. On the Palestinean side, you have groups who are not only unwilling to compromise whatsoever, but who would like to completely eracidate Israel. On the Israeli side, you have religious extremists who believe that Israel has a divine right to exist and that there should be no compromises on that side, even if those compromises would secure peace. So this is the problem. Both sides feature a mainstream who want peace and who are prepared to make concessions. But both sides also feature insanely vocal (and active) minorities who will do anything to prevent the other side from gaining ground. At its heart, this is what makes the situation so difficult. The only other thing I will add is that the media is far too biased in favor of Israel. The Israeli military checkpoints are frequently scenes of totally unnecessary humiliation and degredation. And some Palestinean towns are literally caged by metal wiring, which creates significant divisions (and which makes travel and access very difficult for regular people). It's very unfortunate. Both sides are really equally at fault, in my view. Palestinean terrorists are responsible for terrible and totally unnecessary acts of violence against innocents -- acts that ultimately [i]hurt the cause of their own people[/i]. And on the other side, you have some severe oppression in various places, at the hands of the Israeli military. Obviously Israel has a right to exist and to defend herself, I think only extremists would deny that. However, Israel frequently makes the problem worse by simply allowing various of its officers to publicly humiliate and degrade average Palestinean people -- people who are simply taking their kids to school or travelling to their job. If there was ever a case to demonstrate the dangers of religious fundamentalism, this conflict would have to be it. But it also demonstrates the difficulty of overcoming such fundamentalism, even if overcoming it would result in a lasting peace.[/color]

[color=#707875]Again, it's really worth pointing out that communism and democracy are not mutually exclusive. It is quite possible to have a "communist democracy". Communism (as has been said) is a broad economic management principle, where democracy relates to a method of political operation/division of political power. Unfortunately, communism has historically been tied to authoritarian dictatorships. Funny, that. But I do think that the frequent labeling of communism as "evil" is kind of annoying, frankly. Why does everything have to be given some grand supernatural quality? It's so...gimmicky. You know? I'm so tired of bandwagons, lol. As Siren correctly pointed out, communism itself is an ideal -- an economic principle. That principle is not necessarily "evil" -- its goal, ostensibly, is to create a broad safety net where every member of society is given security (in various senses). It is the application of this principle that has been problematic. Many countries, including places like the United States and Australia, feature elements of "socialism". The best example would be the welfare systems in many free democratic countries. Although these countries adhere to capitalist systems, they also maintain a broader "safety net" for those who are left behind. In reality, it is probably best to seek a balance -- by all means, adhere to the principles of a free market economy, but also ensure that you create key protections for the least of those in society.[/color]

[QUOTE=Annie][color=indigo][size=1]No, the Adventure Square/Inn did not have stickies about the RPG/thread ratings. That is why I asked about it. I'm still in wonder, if the ratings on RPGs/threads was as stressed as it has been over the past four months (the length of my absence), then why wasn't there a sticky containing the rules of ratings in the guidlines/rules stickies to making RPGs in the Square/Inn in the very begining of the movement? [/color][/size][/QUOTE] [color=#707875]There [b]are[/b] and always were ratings threads in both the Square and the Inn. [url="http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=41862"]Check it out.[/url] They are at the top of each forum's batch of stickies.[/color]

[color=#707875]Yeah, you make a good point Lady A. I would like to make announcements even more visible than they are now. But as you correctly pointed out, we've had this system in place for [i]months[/i]. And I know you have been working very hard to personally remind everyone in your forum via PM. So, at the moment there isn't much excuse for not knowing about thread ratings. If people still somehow don't know, they will still have the opportunity to re-post their threads -- so all is not lost, even if you are completely unaware of the rules.[/color]

[color=#707875]Well, I think that the announcement had said December 1st. So...that enforcement (deletion/closure) will already be in effect now. As I've said previously, it's up to members to check announcements. If they don't, they are running a risk. But moreover, we've been heavily heavily reminding people about ratings over and over again since we introduced them. So, anyone who has been here for more than a day or two (and even that long), should be well aware of the ratings requirement.[/color]

[color=#707875]At the moment the Team Hanzo staff are working on an updated sticky thread for all Arena areas, which should streamline things quite a bit. So, I anticipate that everything will be included. My announcement has really changed nothing though; ratings were and still are required, the only difference is that now the enforcement is coming into effect in a more significant way. Members have had a long period to adjust to the inclusion of ratings. Also, my current announcement will remain active for a while, so that people can still read it. But yeah, I am hoping that the new all-in-one sticky thread will be completed soon, so that we can put everything up there.[/color]

[color=#707875]You can use the music option that we've provided by default; you simply have to include the URL of the MP3, rather than the midi. But it really depends how much control you want to have over it, I suppose. In other words, our default option won't allow you to have a slider and things like that.[/color]

[color=#707875]Welcome to OB, Kitsune...I notice you're new. Thanks for posting in this thread. ^_^ In regard to your idea...I think I'm definitely liking the Four Swords angle. I suppose I want to be careful with how I apply these variations on the core series; although there will be many similarities, I'd definitely like to make it a new story, so to speak. I have begun to actually pin down a few specifics, but it's a bit early to talk about them here yet (other than the ideas I've put forward so far). Kane, I appreciate your interest. The Matrix RPG will come at some point, but I don't really know when. I feel that The Reanimatrix is only half-finished right now. At the moment it has around 50 pieces, but I'd really like to hit the 100 mark or something. I feel that it would provide ample material to draw on for a more fully-rounded RPG. The RPG will come, I just don't know when. In regard to Maverick Hunters, I'd like to restart The Third Succession, but right now it's a bit difficult because so many aren't participating anymore. I mean, a lot of people aren't really on OB now. However, as you can see by the sign-up thread to The Third Succession, Maverick Hunters has a pretty solid history here on OtakuBoards. It's also my all-time favourite RPG series here. It's just a shame that none of the stories were ever finished (even Personification only got less than halfway through). But who knows. I might try to do a side-story, or perhaps a remake or something. I really don't know at this point. But I'm open to ideas.[/color]

[color=#707875]Please try to confine your comments to Super Mario 64 DS, rather than DS in general. If you'd like to talk about DS itself, I strongly recommend checking out the "Nintendo DS" thread. ^_^[/color]

[color=#707875]I'm not sure if I really agree that new members are responsible for some general decline in quality or anything. Bear in mind that the "low quality" new members are usually filtered out pretty quickly. So we are left with those who are making the effort. In addition, bear in mind that new members are [i]often[/i] the mould-breakers. This could be because they haven't seen the conventions at OB and therefore they are really going out on a limb. It doesn't always work, but sometimes it does. Just look at both terra and Arcadia as examples of "new members" who very quickly branched out and did some amazing stuff in the Square. In regard to HTML, I can only really repeat what I've said previously. I am awful with HTML, so I seek assistance/collaboration to make it work. In the same way, I make graphics for some people (like Zidargh). So in that way, people can still produce their ideas, as long as they're willing to collaborate with those who have the skills they require. This is also why Arena Underground is so potentially beneficial; you can actually gain interest in your concept and hopefully recruit people who might have the skills you need. Actually, the Inn is doing quite well at the moment. When I look at it right now, I see a lot of interesting concepts and most of them are executed very well (both visually and in terms of the writing). Also, just as a footnote...the Chapter System does not imply that an RPG is closer to a piece of literature. In fact, the system is used in a movie-like way in Kill Adam (Kill Adam, despite being written, is more movie-like than novel-like). However, the system can be adapted in a number of ways. The end result is that it can keep a story focused, while still allowing plenty of creativity and experimentation. And to be clear, Kill Adam was a James and [b]Shy[/b] production. Out of all of the members involved, Shy was the person who most closely shaped the story with me. All of the members have produced amazing writing in that RPG (among the very best I've ever seen on OtakuBoards), but Shy is really my number one collaborator, in terms of plot mechanics. And then there's Tony (Semjaza) who is responsible for all the lovely HTML. [/color]