Create-A-City [Light:Human]

Started by Moraline, December 29, 2013, 03:15:47 PM

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Moraline

RECRUITING

Quote from: Moraline on January 02, 2014, 01:32:59 PM
For anyone wanting to create a character and play in this world, here is the character sheet:

<right or left justified, image of character, please try to re-size it so it's no larger then 400px tall>
[b]Creator's Name[/b]:
[b]Playable[/b]:  Y/N   <This tells other players if the character is free to be used by them for their own plots>

[b]Character's Name[/b]: 
[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Occupation[/b]: 
[b]Where do they live[/b]:   <in the city center, slums, rich neighborhood, rural part of the island, etc...>
[b]Physical Description[/b]: 
<Whatever major physical attributes or permanent markings that are not visible in the image provided.>

[b]Hooks[/b]: 
<Short list of very specific personality quirks or important notes.
Ex: licks lips a lot, will run at first sign of trouble, is the step-sibling of the Mayor's wife, etc...>

[b]Items[/b]: 
<List of items that they commonly carry on them>

[b]Tales[/b]: 
<Any backstory that you wish to relate or important plots that have been played out by this character. Please contact the character's creator to have tales added when necessary.>


Submit them here and ask questions here for approval.

Eventually, if accepted, you will be posting them here:  C-A-C Denizens & Business Directory

Quote*Update*

I created a few threads for you all to look over. Make any comments you might have about them here so we can finish getting them organized. Feel free to post to them if you are ready or would like to do so.

Links:
[C-A-C] Create-A-City World Building
[C-A-C] Classifieds/L4RP OOC
[C-A-C] Denizens & Business Directory
[C-A-C] Henry Lu Memorial Hospital (RP)

Here's the code for my little profile banner icon for the game if anyone would like to use it:
[url=https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=193118.0][img]https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/af/Create-a-city-icon_sm.png[/img][/url]


Note! We are still recruiting as this game can encompass many small one shot RP scenes as well.  So there is lots of room for players. It's a game and setting all built by the players in it.

Create-A-City
[Light: Human - Free form]

The city will be created by the players, named by the players, all of the people in it and everything about it will be created by you.

Genre:  Modern Fiction mixture (nothing supernatural or exotic, etc...)

What is this?

  • It's more of a setting building / free-form RP. 
  • We'll be spending most of our time creating characters, buildings, businesses, city events, ...(basic stuff that goes on in a city.) It'll be up to the player how much time they spend doing which thing in Create-A-City.   
  • Then as we build stuff, people can play out scenes between the characters and stuff that they create. (Example: If player 1 creates a business run by John Doe, and player 2 creates a character that lives in the city named Alex Smith. Then player 1 & 2 can play out a scene together involving those two characters and/or the business.) 
    After/during they can play out a scene with them and/or continue building more characters and more of the city.   

How to play:

  • I'll begin by asking a few questions to lay out the ground work of the city itself. *see below* 
  • When ready,  I'll ask for people to create a couple initial city dwellers (characters, minor or fleshed out.)   
  • Then we'll start to take suggestions from players on what topics to cover. (I have ideas but I'll want to see what you are all thinking.)   
  • Once ready we'll begin playing out scenes. This will let us swap from character to character or keep playing the same character if we wish (post tagging of some type will be used to keep track of interactions - more discussion on that later.)   
  • *NOTE*  Characters that get created will be tagged by their creators as to what sort of play they are looking for and if they are only to be used by the creator or if they are open to be used by anyone.
    Example:  Alex Smith (smutty sexual character - only used by creator),  John Doe (open for anyone to use as they wish), etc...
    We'll talk more about it and explore options as we go along.   
The city will be created by the players, named by the players, all of the people in it and everything about it will be created by you.


Rules:

  • Be active (If you can't be active it's okay, just let us know so that no one gets stuck waiting for you.)   
  • Be polite and positive (We want this to be fun.)   
  • Keep everything realistic for the world of 2014 but we can stretch the details a bit in the name of fun.   
  • Ask questions.   


The beginning...
Phase 1 complete:  All initial questions about the city itself have been answered.
State your interest in the game and then Please answer one question only. First come first serve. Answer questions in any order that you like.
If all questions have been answered then feel free to state your interest in the game and ask a question.
Don't be too wordy to get started but give us a bit of information.
See answers to questions in next post. I'll cross them off the list as they get answered.

  • Where in the world is our city? (can be placed anywhere, it's totally fictional. Include details - coastal, mountain, ocean, rivers, etc...) 
  • What is the name of our city? (unique name)  
  • How large is the population?   
  • Primary economy that the city was founded on?   
  • Crime level?   
  • Educational Access?   
  • Health & Medicine Access?   
  • Transportation (city transit y/n - details)?   
  • Give me one major cultural event (with details) that takes place here?  
  • Name one major celebrity born here (Unique creation by you. Who are they and what are they famous for?)
  • What role did the small island nation of Zan'an play during WWII?   
  • Law Enforcement/Military? (are they the same, is it a local militia, high tech, low tech, ...brief description pls) 
  • Tourism (is there a lot of it, why do people come to the city?)
  • Government (democracy, communist, monarchy, hybrid?)
  • What year did the Island gain independence and entry into the United Nations? (see #11 for reference)
  • Demographics (brief description/breakdown of populations nationalities, religions, and languages)
*I'll collect all the information in a post below this one to get started.
New questions can be answered by anyone.
* Please don't answer more then one question a day so we can leave it open for other people to participate.


Moraline

#1
*RESERVED for Info*  

Phase 1 Completed: Creating the basic city and nation of Zan'an


  • Where in the world is our city? (can be placed anywhere, it's totally fictional. Include details - coastal, mountain, ocean, rivers, etc...)
    A)  Courtesy of Finn MacKenna.
    The city is on a small mountainous island off the east coast of China, nestled between mainland China, Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. There are beaches with great surfing, with the rest of the island being mountains and forest. There are a lot of places to hide away in the wilds. There small streams and ponds in the forests and mountains.
    The city has self-governance like Hong Kong used to and is not affiliated with any other local country. It is a country of it's own.
    • See map of location below, courtesy of Chrystal   
  • What is the name of our city? (unique name)
    A)  Courtesy of Ember Star.
    Zan'an
    Zan'an was originally named Dōng'an after a feudal lord who's fishing fleets first discovered it's bountiful reefed harbor back around 220 BC during the Qin Dynasty. Dōng'an also means, "Eastern Peace" which for most of the small communities history is where the name was believed to originate from. It was an accurate description of this formerly sleepy little fishing community until WWII. During it's liberation in 1946 the allied forces renamed it to Zan'an and the new name has stuck. (*See notes on Zan'an's involvement in WWII.)
     
  • How large is the population?
    A) Courtesy of Tenshinhan
    Population for city 4,756,150   
  • Primary economy that the city was founded on?
    A)  Courtesy of ZephySempai
    Being primarily a coastal island, the city's economy is stimulated by its rich marine market. The city exports its abundant catch all over the world and has become a central hub for the fish market.   
  • Crime level?
    A) Courtesy of Xerial
    Though Zan'an has existed as an autonomous entity for the better part of a century, organized crime has had a hard time getting a foothold in the city. Competition between the Yakuza, Triads, Korean Seoulpa rings and various drug cartels has produced several high profile syndicate wars, but no clear winner has emerged. As such, no one organization has committed enough resources to the city to trouble the average resident.

    More troubling to everyday life, however, are domestically grown street gangs which vie for control of vice in the city. These small street gangs form an ever shifting grit, with their only common factor being a dislike of the sizable ex-patriot population.

    Zan'an's waters, being backed by a less significant naval presence than their neighbors, are host to a slew of smuggling and pirate operations. While these nefarious mariners tend to avoid the city-proper, there are substantial rumors of camps on the other side of the island.
       
  • Educational Access?  
    A) Courtesy of JackWhite
    The government of the small island believes that education is the key to a better future. A well-educated population would be an important factor for businesses to invest in the country. Although the sea and manual labor are important for the economy nowadays, they do want to encourage the young student to remain in school. That’s why the island spend a reasonable amount of their budget on education and keeping it affordable for the middle class. Most of the schools would be highly subsidized.   
  • Health & Medicine Access?
    A) Courtesy of Chrystal
    There are at present only private medical facilities available, with charitable donations supporting free medical care to the poorest and those outside the city. There is a single big hospital in the city, and a number of free clinics supported by the International Red Cross, Médecin Sans Frontière, and other charities, as well as some being supported and sponsored by local businesses.

    A motion has been placed before parliament to nationalize these free clinics, paying for them using a variation of the Australian health care system. A 1.5% levy on people on middle income and over and 2.5% on people with high incomes with no private insurance.
       
  • Transportation
    A) Courtesy of Winterborn
    Zan'an has a highly progressive mass-transit system, both within the city and in the surrounding environs. Modern rail and bus lines connect rural communities to the city proper, while trams and buses carry citizens and tourists alike to and fro amid the urban bustle. Private vehicles are largely unnecessary for a daily commute, but neither are they unknown or stigmatized by the general population. Most small vehicles are owned by businesses or the wealthy, so that a majority of the vehicles sharing the roads with mass-transit are small trucks and luxury cars. To fill in the gaps, there is a prosperous trade in taxi services, though these sometimes more resemble private guided tours of the island.  
  • Cultural events (with details) that takes place here?
    A) Courtesy of Tenshinhan
    March 4: National Day, an anniversary of the day in 1946 when the island was liberated from Japan as well as the day in 1990 when they gained their current independence in 1990. A day where people celebrate with parties,fireworks.

    July 24: Xi Qin Day: an anniversary of the discovery of the island as well as the first settlement,as well as the first dynasty which ruled the island for a few hundred years. This day people celebrate with large parties where they cook traditional foods of the island.

    September 13, Junzi a spray where people are encouraged to do acts of public kindness stared off as a Confucianism Holiday

    December 3: Feast Date of St. Xavier,large day for catholic population of island as St.Xavier is the patron saint of the island, a day of celebration (actually a real holiday but figured it would fit as a bigger thing here)
     
  • Name one major celebrity born here (Unique creation by you. Who are they and what are they famous for?)
    A) Courtesy of Chrystal
    Lia Tun, Professional Tennis Player

    Name: Lia Tun

    Age: 19

    Occupation: Professional Tennis player

    Acheivements: Last year, Australian open, unseeded wild card, Quarter finals, knocking out Venus Williams. French Open, seeded 8th, quarer finals. Stella Artois, seeded 9th, semi finals. Wimbledon, seeded 8th, final, second place. US Open, seeded 8th, final, second place.

    This year so far, Australian open, seeded 4th, win. French open, seeded 2nd, win.

    Lia is a fast rising star in the world of international tennis. Something of a prodigy, she was inspired by watching Wimbledon on the BBC World Service as a tweenager and decided she would do that. She has worked hard and pushed herself, ever since. Her dream is a grand slam and an Olympic gold medal.

    Her parents, who are quite wealthy, have supported her dream, and are so proud of her that they can even forgive her taking after many other female tennis players...
  • What role did the small island nation of Zan'an play during WWII?
    A) Courtesy of Chrystal
    The country was invaded by Japan in 1937, but was mostly a rural economy at the time, being a major fishing port but with no heavy industry.

    The Japanese modernized the harbour and built an airstrip. The harbour was used mostly for small fast patrol craft carrying out ASW operations against American, British and Australian submarines operating in the area. The island was the scene of a failed commando raid against the harbour, during which only one patrol boat was damaged and a team of Australian commandos, led by a British Major were all killed or captured.

    A small POW Camp was established on the island but later abandoned.

    Liberated in 1946, almost a year after the Japanese surrender, the Island was placed under joint Australian/US protection until it could be given full independence.
       
  • Law Enforcement/Military? (are they the same, is it a local militia, high tech, low tech, ...brief description pls)
    A) Courtesy of Angel Fire
    In the city proper, there is a police force of around 5000 Police officers.  Their methods and technology rank among the one of the best and is modeled by a combination of American and Australian ways of naming.  The list of police officer ranks are as follows:

    Officer, Inspector, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Commissioner

    The military is a small army and coast guard that has technology that is a little outdated (think 2006 technology) but brave people that fight with a lot of heart and patriotism for their small island nation.  The army has around 2500 soldiers and 500 Coast Guard members.  They can barely keep the pirates and smugglers at bay but they try with all of their might.

    Their rankings are modeled from the US ranks of Military.

    The Air Force is handled by the US Navy as there is an American Naval Air station stationed on the south end of the island.
     
  • Tourism(is there a lot of it, why do people come to the city?)
    A) Courtesy of Tenshinhan
    Tourism is abundant and a thriving business in the small nation of Zan'an.

    People come for a number of reasons. First they Come for the beachfront resorts which are focused on a single strip along the beech.  Secondly, they come cot the physical recreation, surfing the waves, sport fishing, and mountain climbing on the largest of the islands mountains. People come to shop, the cities free trade status enabling goods to be cheaper there than they are in nearby countries.

    The cultural center of the city is the old palace of the monarchs which was built 1000 years before and it's numerous tropical gardens, as well as the historical old town, which dates back before the Japanese invasion.  Xi'Qin Square which is a large square at the center of the area with a statue of the almost mythical founder of the city.

    Cultural areas like the performing arts center, the local tropical aquarium, the tropical areas for bird watching as well, and the large variety of food found in the different sections of the town. Also attract thousands of tourists every year.
     
  • Government (democracy, communist, monarchy, hybrid?)
    A) Courtesy of Chrystal
    Constitutional Monarchy.

    The monarch to have the power of veto over any laws passed by the parliament, the parliament to be elected by the common people once every five years, with the monarch having a power of veto over the appointment of a prime minister. The Monarch's veto can, in turn, be overturned by referendum. In practice it is envisaged that the monarch's role will be largely ceremonial.

    The first elections were held in 1992, after the interim government were satisfied that the correct mechanism was in place to ensure the elections were , and would be seen to be, "Free and fair".

    There was some violence and some intimidation in outlying villages, but by and large the result was constitutional, and the parliament was formed.

    However, the post of Regent was held by a cousin of the last known heir to the throne.

    The Island was, until the Japanese invaded, an absolute monarchy, ruled by an hereditary dynasty. The last king, Zan'ang XIV, and his wife Cho Lu, were executed by the Japanese for refusing to bow to the Emperor of Japan. Their son Mi'Ting was smuggled out of the country and grew up in Australia, kept in ignorance of who he was in order to protect him, should Japan invade Australia.

    Mi'Ting's cousin Jo'Nan survived the war on a paddy farm, his parents collaborating with the Japanese in order to survive. When the search began for the new Monarch, he was quickly discovered and offered the crown, but being in his seventies with no offspring, he declined and said he would act as regent until the true heir could be found.
  • What year did the Island gain independence and entry into the United Nations? (see #11 for reference)
    A) Courtesy of Angel Fire
    Zan'an gained Independence from the US/Aussie occupation in 1990 after a peaceful argument about what type of government the leaders decided to go with (that government question can be answered by someone else).

    They have not yet gained admission to the UN on the basis of being blocked by several members of the Security Council. A dispute of their territorial claims by China, and positioning by the USA for a strategic alliance with Zan'an post-Independence has the UN Assembly locked down from formally accepting them as a member. Their independence in 1990 from a joint US/Australian occupation is recognized by the Assembly, however. It is a matter of acceptance to the UN itself that is in flux.
     
  • Demographics (brief description/breakdown of populations nationalities, religions, and languages)
    A) Courtesy of Tenshinhan
    Nationalities:
    A) Courtesy of Tenshinhan
    Nationality:
    30 % mixed race as intermarriage has been common over the years between all of the major groups
    15 % Chinese, this number has grown a lot since 1990 and the immigration of fishermen looking for jobs. 
    15 % Korean mostly those who came to the island over the years for fishing.
    12 % Taiwanese arrived after the Chinese Civil War and the displacement by some by the ROC as well as looking for work.
    10 % American/Aussie businessmen or are connected to the US military outpost on the island. 
    5 % Japanese, part of the group who never went home and used the islands favorable position to gain in trade. 
    5 % Southern Asia Philippines Vietnamese etc who come to the island for work.
    5 % Native
    3 % Indian a group who came like those from Philippines who came in search of work 

    Religions:
    50 % traditional
    20 % non-believers or no certain believe
    20 % Christian of various faiths
    10 % other including Muslim.

    Languages:  A nation of four official languages Japanese, English, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean.
    * A mixed English/Chinese being the most common language
       

The good thing about this game is that you can RP as much or as little as you like and make your scenes as long or as short as you like. Since the overall plot doesn't really exist until each player begins to help us create the city, the characters lives, etc... It's total flexibility. You can write a bedroom scene, a shopping scene, or give your character a full story arc - Ex: Private Investigator that gets tangled up in an affair with their client and discovers a shady real estate venture involving multiple murders!

It's all up to you and your partners.


Map, courtesy of Chrystal

Approx Size of Zan'an Island
50km x 25km (30 miles x 15 miles)
1250 square km.



*Updated*


Now our next step is to flesh out a couple of questions and create a few NPC's.
-  We can start by laying out what we've created for plot points so far (ex: the monarchy's missing heir).  What have we got so far for plot points?
-  Who do we need to create as NPC's for those plots? (no need to go too indepth, we don't know if these plots will be even played out or not. We just want to add them for flavor.)

Previously asked questions that might aid in our journey:
QuoteName the three main political parties in the parliament (and only ONE of them can be either "Republican" or "Democrat" or have either or boh of those words in it's name). Which party is currently in power and who is Prime Minister?

The heir to the throne has just been located in an Australian high school. Who is it?

What is the name of the American Naval Air Station on the island? (How big is the Naval Air Station?)





Florence

#2
I'm definitely interested! ... now to actually read the info in detail xD

1) The city is coastal, nestled on a small mountainous island just off the mainland. There are beaches with great surfing, with the rest of the island being mountains and forest. There are a lot of places to hide away in the wilds. There small streams and ponds in the forests and mountains.

I'm not sure if you want a specific real-earth geographical location for the city; but in my mind I was thinking of sort of thinking somewhere in East Asia, but it could be anywhere.
O/O: I was going to make a barebones F-list as a rough summary, but then it logged me out and I lost my progress, so I made a VERY barebones F-list instead: Here.

Moraline

#3
Quote from: Finn MacKenna on December 29, 2013, 05:17:37 PM
I'm definitely interested! ... now to actually read the info in detail xD

1) The city is coastal, nestled on a small mountainous island just off the mainland. There are beaches with great surfing, with the rest of the island being mountains and forest. There are a lot of places to hide away in the wilds. There small streams and ponds in the forests and mountains.

I'm not sure if you want a specific real-earth geographical location for the city; but in my mind I was thinking of sort of thinking somewhere in East Asia, but it could be anywhere.
Give me a geographic location and I'll post it up.

... Or do we want to make it ambiguous?

Florence

#4
Revised:

1) The city is on a small mountainous island off the east coast of China, nestled between mainland China, Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. There are beaches with great surfing, with the rest of the island being mountains and forest. There are a lot of places to hide away in the wilds. There small streams and ponds in the forests and mountains.



If that makes it too difficult for anyone else, I can move it D: I was thinking it could be a city with a degree of self-governance like Hong Kong, so there's some freedom to creating it, whereas a city actually run by the Chinese government would be a bit... restrictive.

Edit: If we want to keep it ambiguous, then... feel free to use the previous one, or just remove the specifics. I love Asian culture and I'd love working with a city sort of like Hong Kong, but I understand some people might find it easier working with a city in a culture they're more familiar with; so I'm good with whatever works for others.
O/O: I was going to make a barebones F-list as a rough summary, but then it logged me out and I lost my progress, so I made a VERY barebones F-list instead: Here.

ZephySempai

Oooh, this looks like fun. A really unique sort of game. I think I'll give it a try.

I'd love to answer question 4 if there's no specific order to the questions.

4) Being primarily a coastal island, the city's economy is stimulated by its rich marine market. The city exports its abundant catch all over the world and has become a central hub for the fish market.


Ember Star

"One thing you who had secure or happy childhoods should understand about those of us who did not, we who control our feelings, who avoid conflicts at all costs or seem to seek them, who are hypersensitive, self-critical, compulsive, workaholic, and above all survivors, we're not that way from perversity. And we cannot just relax and let it go. We've learned to cope in ways you never had to." ~Author, Piers Anthony

Moraline

Quote from: Ember Star on December 29, 2013, 06:57:33 PM
2. How about Zan'an?
Great name. Any little blurb of history to go with it?




Update: Questions, 1, 2, and 4 have been answered/crossed off the list.

Anyone handy with creating Wiki articles?

Ember Star

I know how to work the wiki! Mostly anyway. I can't do anything too fancy. But both Star Trek and Fandomverse uses the wiki for information, and I have a personal wiki page.

As for a history blurb. Give me awhile to think on something.
"One thing you who had secure or happy childhoods should understand about those of us who did not, we who control our feelings, who avoid conflicts at all costs or seem to seek them, who are hypersensitive, self-critical, compulsive, workaholic, and above all survivors, we're not that way from perversity. And we cannot just relax and let it go. We've learned to cope in ways you never had to." ~Author, Piers Anthony

Moraline

Quote from: Ember Star on December 29, 2013, 07:26:29 PM
I know how to work the wiki! Mostly anyway. I can't do anything too fancy. But both Star Trek and Fandomverse uses the wiki for information, and I have a personal wiki page.

As for a history blurb. Give me awhile to think on something.
No problem. I'm thinking that we could have a little wiki page for the city once we get more info on it. Make it look just like an actual city page from Wikipedia.

Since we are a sort of Hong Kong like city, should we use pictures of Hong Kong for it?

Florence

O/O: I was going to make a barebones F-list as a rough summary, but then it logged me out and I lost my progress, so I made a VERY barebones F-list instead: Here.

Ember Star

Quote from: Moraline on December 29, 2013, 08:39:24 PM
No problem. I'm thinking that we could have a little wiki page for the city once we get more info on it. Make it look just like an actual city page from Wikipedia.

Since we are a sort of Hong Kong like city, should we use pictures of Hong Kong for it?
If you can do the typing work and put things in the order you want, I can code it to look something like that.
"One thing you who had secure or happy childhoods should understand about those of us who did not, we who control our feelings, who avoid conflicts at all costs or seem to seek them, who are hypersensitive, self-critical, compulsive, workaholic, and above all survivors, we're not that way from perversity. And we cannot just relax and let it go. We've learned to cope in ways you never had to." ~Author, Piers Anthony

ZephySempai


Xerial

As a world-builder, I always love these thought exercises.

A contribution, which touches on a few other parts along with a main question:

5. Crime level? 

Though Zan'an has existed as an autonomous entity for the better part of a century, organized crime has had a hard time getting a foothold in the city. Competition between the Yakuza, Triads, Korean Seoulpa rings and various drug cartels has produced several high profile syndicate wars, but no clear winner has emerged. As such, no one organization has committed enough resources to the city to trouble the average resident.

More troubling to everyday life, however, are domestically grown street gangs which vie for control of vice in the city. These small street gangs form an ever shifting grit, with their only common factor being a dislike of the sizable ex-patriot population.

Zan'an's waters, being backed by a less significant naval presence than their neighbors, are host to a slew of smuggling and pirate operations. While these nefarious mariners tend to avoid the city-proper, there are substantial rumors of camps on the other side of the island.

ZephySempai


Florence

That's great! Really opens up a lot of potential for rp. Crime wars between various Asian crime syndicates trying to vie for control of the city; turf wars between the street gangs, and conflict between some of the older families of the city, and the various immigrants coming to the city from neighboring countries, even some nautical conflicts involving smugglers and pirates. There could even be a little racial tension... as anyone who knows much of Asian history can tell you, Japan has something of a... tense relation with a number of its neighbors.

I apologize if we're not supposed to be speculating too much outside the scope of our question, but I have to wonder what involvement this island city may have had during World War 2, actually, given its strategic location in between China, Korea and Japan. There are just so many interesting questions we could ask about this city of ours. :>

But as for the crime level, I like the potential, as I said, it lets us have a lot of various sorts of criminal activity... while not turning the city into Asian Gotham.
O/O: I was going to make a barebones F-list as a rough summary, but then it logged me out and I lost my progress, so I made a VERY barebones F-list instead: Here.

Winterborn

Put me down as interested!

Transportation: Zan'an has a highly progressive mass-transit system, both within the city and in the surrounding environs. Modern rail and bus lines connect rural communities to the city proper, while trams and buses carry citizens and tourists alike to and fro amid the urban bustle. Private vehicles are largely unnecessary for a daily commute, but neither are they unknown or stigmatized by the general population. Most small vehicles are owned by businesses or the wealthy, so that a majority of the vehicles sharing the roads with mass-transit are small trucks and luxury cars. To fill in the gaps, there is a prosperous trade in taxi services, though these sometimes more resemble private guided tours of the island.

Moraline

#17
Quote from: Xerial on December 29, 2013, 10:58:37 PM
Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide
... 5. Crime level?

Though Zan'an has existed as an autonomous entity for the better part of a century, organized crime has had a hard time getting a foothold in the city. Competition between the Yakuza, Triads, Korean Seoulpa rings and various drug cartels has produced several high profile syndicate wars, but no clear winner has emerged. As such, no one organization has committed enough resources to the city to trouble the average resident.

More troubling to everyday life, however, are domestically grown street gangs which vie for control of vice in the city. These small street gangs form an ever shifting grit, with their only common factor being a dislike of the sizable ex-patriot population.

Zan'an's waters, being backed by a less significant naval presence than their neighbors, are host to a slew of smuggling and pirate operations. While these nefarious mariners tend to avoid the city-proper, there are substantial rumors of camps on the other side of the island.
Thanks for the contribution. Leaves it nice and open for those wishing to explore the seedy underbelly of Zan'an.

Quote from: Finn MacKenna on December 29, 2013, 08:56:09 PM
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uwbWlPKZ2wE/T3RPYMQQaCI/AAAAAAAAIj0/1jBObZo7Gyo/s1600/hong-kong-skyline-1.jpg

I actually had this image of the Hong Kong skyline in mind when I wrote up that location :o
I like it. Once we get this all laid out and I type things up, I'll be sure to give it to Ember Star so she can add it to our wiki article.

Quote from: Finn MacKenna on December 30, 2013, 03:45:58 AM
...
I apologize if we're not supposed to be speculating too much outside the scope of our question, but I have to wonder what involvement this island city may have had during World War 2, actually, given its strategic location in between China, Korea and Japan. There are just so many interesting questions we could ask about this city of ours. :>

But as for the crime level, I like the potential, as I said, it lets us have a lot of various sorts of criminal activity... while not turning the city into Asian Gotham.
That's perfect... Rule #4 says "Ask Questions."  Speculation is exactly what we like.




This led me to add a couple new questions open for answering.

  • NEW! What role did the small island nation of Zan'an play during WWII?   
  • NEW! Law Enforcement/Military? (are they the same, is it a local militia, high tech, low tech, ...brief description pls) 
  • NEW! Tourism (is there a lot of it, why do people come to the city?)
  • NEW! Government (democracy, communist, monarchy, hybrid?)




Welcome, Winterborn. I'm updating the 2nd post right now with all this wonderful info about our city.

Winterborn

Nooo! You ask about the military right after I answer a question?!

My heart weeps.

Moraline

New questions can be answered by anyone.
* Please don't answer more then one question a day so we can leave it open for other people to participate.


  • NEW! What role did the small island nation of Zan'an play during WWII? (in brief)   
  • NEW! Law Enforcement/Military? (are they the same, is it a local militia, high tech, low tech, ...brief description pls) 
  • NEW! Tourism (is there a lot of it, why do people come to the city?)
  • NEW! Government (democracy, communist, monarchy, hybrid?)



Oldknight

Just a note during WW2 there is no Korea Japan owned it from like 190something to 1945 and the coast of China was controlled pretty much by Japan during the war too, so I don't see how the location matters all that much except maybe it has been taken over by Japan as a supply base or is forced to support Japan to remain an illusion of independence like Manchuria in WW2

Chrystal

In keeping with the above,

11) What role did the small island nation of Zan'an play during WWII?

The country was invaded by Japan in 1937, but was mostly a rural economy at the time, being a major fishing port but with no heavy industry.

The Japanese modernised the harbour and built an airstrip. The harbour was used mostly for small fast patrol craft carrying out ASW operations against American, British and Australian submarines operating in the area. The island was the scene of a failed commando raid against the harbour, during which only one patrol boat was damaged and a team of Australian commandos, led by a British Major were all killed or captured.

A small POW Camp was established on the island but later abandoned.

Liberated in 1946, almost a year after the Japanese surrender, the Island was placed under joint Australian/US protection until it could be given full independence.

How does that work?

I have a question in turn: What year did the Island gain independence and entry into the United Nations?

Please check out my latest A/A post.
I would rather watch a movie then have dinner than have dinner then watch a movie!

Moraline

Quote from: Chrystal on December 30, 2013, 09:35:22 AM
Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide
In keeping with the above,

11) What role did the small island nation of Zan'an play during WWII?

The country was invaded by Japan in 1937, but was mostly a rural economy at the time, being a major fishing port but with no heavy industry.

The Japanese modernised the harbour and built an airstrip. The harbour was used mostly for small fast patrol craft carrying out ASW operations against American, British and Australian submarines operating in the area. The island was the scene of a failed commando raid against the harbour, during which only one patrol boat was damaged and a team of Australian commandos, led by a British Major were all killed or captured.

A small POW Camp was established on the island but later abandoned.

Liberated in 1946, almost a year after the Japanese surrender, the Island was placed under joint Australian/US protection until it could be given full independence.

How does that work?

I have a question in turn: What year did the Island gain independence and entry into the United Nations?
Updated!

.. and that's a very good question. I'll add it to the list.

Florence

I got a question!

Two in fact.

1) What are the predominant and official languages of Zan'an?

I would assume the official and most common language is either Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese, but I wonder what other languages might be commonly spoken. How common is Japanese, Korean, English, etc.

2) What are the major religions of Zan'an?

Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism are all common in the area. Perhaps Japanese Shinto beliefs or Korean folklore have made their way to the island? How much have foreign religions such Christianity, Judaism and Islam had an impact on the city?

Its worth pointing out that for the most part, Asian religious beliefs aren't generally viewed as mutually exclusive. Someone can believe in both Buddhism and Shintoism for example. In fact, I think the majority of Japan's religion falls under a hybrid of those two.
O/O: I was going to make a barebones F-list as a rough summary, but then it logged me out and I lost my progress, so I made a VERY barebones F-list instead: Here.

Ember Star

Okay, city name blurb.

Nan'an is an actual city in China which means "southern peace" shifting that slightly and leaving no regard for the actual language, I thought that perhaps Zan'an could mean "eastern peace"? Or perhaps Zan'an was the name of the original founder of the city/town when it was first settled?
"One thing you who had secure or happy childhoods should understand about those of us who did not, we who control our feelings, who avoid conflicts at all costs or seem to seek them, who are hypersensitive, self-critical, compulsive, workaholic, and above all survivors, we're not that way from perversity. And we cannot just relax and let it go. We've learned to cope in ways you never had to." ~Author, Piers Anthony