<<< As discussed on the DiscussionDiscussion page, this page is getting to be unmanageable. Hence, a new suggestion is to dump old discussions from a page XxxYyy in the corresponding page XxxYyyGraveyard, creating it if it doesn't exist. If you have any comments or suggestions about this, add you say to DiscussionDiscussion. -- RobHague >>>

<<< 21/2/03 - moved a bunch of these to graveyards elsewhere -- SimonBooth >>>

This was the page for defunct discussions (see DiscussionDiscussion). To add a disucssion here (when you remove it from somewhere else), please add a rule (four -s) followed by the page name in bold (as a link), followed by the discussion.

• <<<And give your name... -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< and should people add a time? Makes spotting new arrivals easier? MikePitt (and at the end should someone die...) >>>

  <<< Just out of interest, where are people adding new entries? I've been adding them at the bottom, but it looks like other people have been adding them at the top. Both cases have their merits, but we should probably decide one way or the other. -- RobHague >>>

  <<< Seeing as other people == me I'll just start putting htem at the bottom -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< OK. I've been thinking that the DiscussionsGraveyard mechanism is getting a bit of a pain. I've started a thread on DiscussionDiscussion with an alternative suggestion. -- RobHague >>>

RiversideDistrict

Moved by MikePitt

<<< I'd rather keep Boucher, but as it's only for colour I'm willing to let you change it to Butcher -- MikePitt >>>

<<< It seemed right; the street's been around long enough to have its name corrupted, and there are bad associations with Boucher. -- SimonBooth >>>

<<<OK -- MikePitt >>>

Unity Town Map

Moved by MikePitt. A key has been added which answers this question.

<<< What is the terracotta blob? -- Ben >>>

• <<< A town hall -- MikePitt >>>

UnityWiki

Moved by RobHague

• <<< Purely as a matter of aesthetics, any chance we could have the double-dashes render as —s? --StevenKitson >>>

  <<< Now double-dashes becomes an m-dash in the output. However, Mozilla on Linux seems to render m-dashes as two n-dashes. C'est la vie. -- RobHague >>>

  <<< And the version of IE on my iMac doesn't understand at all and just renders '&mdash;' as '&mdash;'. HTML is stupid. -- Steven Kitson >>>

  <<< Ditto on my decrepit netscape at home. Probably ought to update it really. -- MikePitt >>>

• SteveMcIntyre looks like a buggette (space between Mc and Intyre). Any suggestsions how to fix this? MikePitt.

  • <<< Deed poll? -- RobHague >>>

    <<< Sounds good to me. MikePitt >>>

    <<< The square bracket fix (and not de-studlifying things in square brackets) would work --BenChalmers >>>

    <<< Indeed it has - now Steve McIntyre and SteveMcIntyre link to the same page. -- RobHague >>>

• It would seem that the comments mechanism stays open if you stick a return character (?) into it. See SandBox for an example MikePitt

  • <<< Having had a quick look at the generated source it seems to be end of tables not handled quite right -- we get the non-table text in the table and a </div> inside the table (and hence lost as garbage) if we run text on straight after a table -- MikePitt >>>

    <<< At the moment, tables need to be finished off by a blank line, otherwise they don't get a close tag and wierd stuff like this happens. -- RobHague >>>

• WikiWords and special characters like quotes don't work inside tables -- BenChalmers

  • <<< Fixed -- RobHague >>>

• There seems to be no way of putting several paragraphs in a comment - the comment ends when a return is seen. -- BenChalmers

  • <<< I don't see this problem (Mozilla 1.0 / IE 5.1 on Mac OS X).

    On my browser, this comment is rendered as two paragraphs, both within the comment <div>. However, I guess that some browsers may assume that a <p> implies that the <div> is finished; I'm pretty sure this is wrong, but it's probably best to avoid multi-paragraph comments until we can work out a fix. -- RobHague >>>

    <<< It seems to work for me too now, at least in the sandbox. I'll try and find the example that was breaking and see what happens when I fiddle with it -- BenChalmers >>>

    <<< Ah - it was due to indenting the first part of the quote

But not indenting the second line caused weirdness -- BenChalmers >>>

• <<< Indenting is a bit strange; if there's a different ammount of whitespace before the first non-whitespace than on the previous line, then either <ul> or </ul> is inserted. The best idea is probably to disregard the inside comments and tables, but that's non-trivial to get right. For now, just ensure that the indentation level is constanst. -- RobHague >>>

• Try putting an apostrophe after a word in italics, as in Chronicle's. See the problem?

  • <<< This is now solved by using a 'bridge'; two _ in a row. This is removed from the output, but allows you to join things that would otherwise take on significance, such as WikiWords and punctunation. -- RobHague >>>

TheUnitySociety

Moved by MikePitt

<<< As no-one object I've added the details as facts. 3 months seems a reasonable length -- MikePitt >>>

GettingStarted

Moved by SimonBooth

At some point, we should organize a first Unity game. We need to resolve a few things:

Characters

A few people have expressed interest, but haven't (as far as I know) generated characters; needless to say, this is a prerequisite for playing, unless you want to run a scenario. Which brings me on to....

The Scenario

I have a scenario almost completed, and I'd be happy to run it as the first one. It'd probably take two normal (two-and-a-bit hours) sessions, or we could try to do it in a single, long evening (three-and-a-bit hours, say, starting at 7:30).

The other issue is that the scenario doesn't really involve the centenary of the Unity Society to any great extent. Hence, if anyone else can come up with a scenario that exploits this, I'll gladly demur.

<<< We could always have the centenary as something which is due to occur soon, rather than relying on if for episode 1 if someone has an idea but isn't ready to run it -- BenChalmers >>>

When

The final question is when we want to do this; I'd suggest fairly soon so it doesn't clash with Steve's Feng Shui. Bear in mind that we don't actually need everyone for every scenario. However, as this is the first one, it'd be nice to try and get as many people as possible involved.

<<< I'm pretty much free at the usual times. Apart from (perhaps) the starting adventure, there is no reason why Unity games shouldn't clash with other games -- BenChalmers >>>

<<< I'm free most weeknights, aside from termtime Thursdays (Mike's Ars Magica, natch). -- RobHague >>>

<<< There's talk of tomorrow. Tomorrow would work for me. >>>

<<< When is tomorrow? Is tomorrow today (29/10)? Was that Mr Booth? -- MikePitt >>>

<<< Tomorrow is indeed today, and I think that it was Simon that made the above comment. Hence, we now have the following list of participants; please add or comment as appropriate. -- RobHague >>>

<<< I can attend. --TristanBarback >>>

Tuesday 29th October Participants

• RobHague

• SimonBooth <<<but see later>>>

• MikePitt <<<Not any more. Sorry -- MikePitt>>>

• BenChalmers

• TristanBarback

• StevenKitson

• AldenSpiess

The session will not occur with only these people; if more people sign up, it might. In particular, Tristan is fairly essential. Also, we need a venue.

<<< I can play, but I need to know soonish (before 4pm ideally) if its going ahead, as my busy social life has other offers... Rob might want to give Tristan a ring to find out if he can play, email isn't always a great way of contacting him during the day IME -- BenChalmers >>>

<<< I hereby release SimonBooth from his engagement (see below). I vote for the location being somewhere near where everyone except Steven lives, and big enough for everyone. -- AldenSpiess >>>

<<<Well, then, so long as everyone promises not to get me in trouble by, say, creaing a web-browsable record of my offer to which Steve might have access, I can offer Steve's place. -- SimonBooth >>>

Where

<<< Any offers? -- RobHague >>> <<< My house is available, but small (and will require tidying...) -- BenChalmers >>>

<<< My flat is also available -- StevenKitson >>>

<<< I'd since arranged for Alden and Kelly to come round, but if this is tonight, and if Alden is in it, and if Kelly doesn't mind, then today is good, and if we assume Steve doesn't mind either (are you reading this?) then we could use Steve's place; though it would definitely require tidying. If Alden and Kelly would prefer me to honour my offer of games, I shall, and therefore won't be there, wherever there ends up being.

Oh, and sorry about the unsigned comment (again) -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< I have no response from Catherine... -- MikePitt >>>

<<< For time-critical stuff can we please use e-mail rather than the Wiki? Or as well as? -- StevenKitson >>>

MolassesDistillery

moved by SimonBooth

the flood

<<< That's just bizarre. And horribly, horribly sticky. -- RobHague >>>

<<< perfect for call of Cthulhu! -- SimonBooth >>>

the FertiliserPlant

• <<< Sugar next to fertiliser. Nice. -- SimonBooth >>>

  <<< Mmmm. Sugar... -- Steve McIntyre >>>

Production

• <<< See http://www.howproductsimpact.net/exchanges/Sugarcaneproduction.htm for modern molasses production. I doubt that a centrifuge would be used in the 1920s - so the molasses was probably seperated out by fractional distillation. -- AldenSpiess >>>

The Mob

• <<< Mob involvement: Ben? -- AldenSpiess >>>

  <<< EzraGoode isn't aware of the still(s)? -- AldenSpiess >>>

  <<< EzraGoode isn't aware of much at all, as I'd imagined him -- SimonBooth >>>

TheCharacters

moved by SimonBooth

• <<< The more I think about this, the more worried I am that it'll cause irreconsilable differences between PCs, which doesn't seem to fit with the Call Of Cthulhu style of play. Is there any way we could fudge the nationality so that he was a weapons scientist on the same side as the US and UK? From a quick squiz at the Internet, I gather that both Italy and Poland were on our side in WWI. -- RobHague >>>

• <<< JuliusErlich rapidly aquired serious ethical concerns about developing chemical weapons. I haven't worked out quite how I'm planning to handle it, but the idea is that one reason why he's in America is because he left the Mustard Gas development program without the agreement of the military, and is in America trying to work off the guilt he feels for his involvement. His low constitution is a result of breathing an early mustard gas candidate in a lab accident. If that's not enough to keep differences at an acceptable level, I can have him work in the hospitals for the Allies after he runs away, treating gas victims. --AldenSpiess >>>

• <<< That could provide a way for him to know Eric -- he defected and worked in the military hopsital in Brighton? That way Eric could start as a friend of Julius, which always helps -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< That works - provides a reason for him to join the TheUnitySociety too, which had been causing me problems -- AldenSpiess >>>

  <<< Seems fine to me; there may still be a little tension between Julius and JackProctor, but it would be at acceptable levels. -- RobHague >>>

  <<< This is all covered in content now. I propose we lose this discussion -- AldenSpiess >>>

  <<< Seconded. -- SimonBooth >>>

TheChemicalWorks

moved by SimonBooth

• <<< We like our chemical works districts flammable round here, we do. --- SimonBooth >>>

  • <<< Does it worry anyone else that the person who is going to play Julius suggested the gas works and fertiliser plant? -- BenChalmers >>>

    • <<< Hey, don't look at me...! -- Steve McIntyre >>>

    <<< No, it's good 'cause it means Julius won't be around to blow them up in the scenarios he runs. -- StevenKitson >>>

    • <<< Hey come on! Julius isn't the pyrotechnic type of chemist... no wait, hang on a mo... Besides the fertiliser plant wasn't my idea, I was just the first to document it, and the gasworks arose out of historical necessity. -- AldenSpiess >>>

    <<< Remember, there's little point in planning stuff as a GM that relates to your character --StevenKitson >>>

    • <<< I know. I wasn't planning to blow anything up. -- AldenSpiess >>>

      • <<< Unplanned explosions are the best sort. -- SimonBooth >>>

UnityHistory

Moved by SimonBooth:

more time passes

• <<< Backwards apparently... spooky --BenChalmers>>>

  • <<<Yeah yeah I fixed it now MikePitt>>>

NewUnity

Moved by SimonBooth, with his head hanging

<<< Is this on Villers Hill? If so can we move it for Aesthetic reasons? Villers hill is flats... -- MikePitt >>>

<<< VillersHill is Northwest; New Unity is the bottom right-hand corner, where the blocks get bigger again; the area bounded by Station and Main. -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< Errr I'm confused. Surely. VillersHill is Southwest -- see the Rhode Island map -- isn't bottom right the South East? -- MikePitt >>>

<<< JenksHill is Southwest. VillersHill is Northeast. NewUnity is Southeast. I am a muppet. -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< So am I. Wrong hill. Oops. -- MikePitt >>>

UnityTownMap

Moved by SimonBooth

About the map

<<< Shouldn't Unity have a park, or common or something somewhere? -- BenChalmers>>>

• <<< yes -- MikePitt >>>

  • <<< See JenkinCommon -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< We need to move TheChemicalWorks district so it's next to the river. Virtually all chemical industry, and most heavy industry needs plentiful supplies of fresh water. There's no way they'll build away from the river unless it's absolutely impossible. I suggest on the East side of the river, to the West of the slums. -- AldenSpiess >>>

• <<< Then we need to move the warehouse district across, too.

  TheChemicalWorks district wouldn't be upstream of the rich area of town, either.

  I suggest the following: -- SimonBooth >>> <<< Excellent...

  I'd suggest numbering the streets from 1st in odds down the page, so 2nd becomes 3rd, 3rd becomes 5th and so on. (Main would be called main, but also take the slot of 11th. In this way Coligny lives in an apartment on 15th St). This allows the evens to be used to the North, so Washington is also 2nd, and this allows naming of the streets over in the east. Also the North/South bit of Main could be called Main Avenue. (how about a Colombus Avenue? -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< The streets are now so numbered. 6th == Columbus?

  What do we reckon for the Irish/italian slums? 2nd street East or East 2nd Street? -- SimonBooth >>>

  <<< I like East Nth Street -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< Should the avenues be even/odd as well? -- SimonBooth >>>

  <<< There doesn't seem to be a need -- MikePitt >>>

About the old map

<<< Should we remove the old map and key from here - is everybody happy with the above? -- Steve McIntyre >>>

<<< To the discussion graveyard seems sensible -- is there a way to put a URL in without loading the graphic -- MikePitt >>>

http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~mikepitt/unity/unity_town_plan_early.png

<<< Yep. -- SimonBooth >>>

Key and Notes :

TheCharacters

Moved by SimonBooth

<<< changed from http://www.chaosium.com/cthulhu/rpg/1920s_Sheet.pdf - if anyone wants to keep this link, shout -- SimonBooth >>>

JackProctor

• <<< Question - did he fight in the war (16-20 years old, so I'd guess yes) -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< Unless one reminder of the great war he wanted to escape from was all the people saying "Come and fight" -- BenChalmers >>>

  <<< He was a messenger (I have a picture of a motorcycle messenger in my mind, but I'll have to check if this is appropriate for WWI). So, he saw a lot of front-line action, but wasn't involved in any directly. In other words, he watched all his friends go over the top and die. This has left him with masses of guilt, which is of course great for a tortured author. -- RobHague >>>

RobertJohnson

• <<< Or would a history teacher at a local high school be better? I don't want to get in the way of things at the Uni with DrGarfieldParrish etc... -- Steve McIntyre >>>

  <<< I've no objection to you being at the uni... Garfield's main role is as currator of the restricted special collection of books and maps (though obviously you would know him... indeed this could be a handy additional hook for a story I have planned) -- BenChalmers >>>

  <<< OK, that's cool. He's a lecturer then. More details tonight... -- Steve McIntyre >>>

JenkinUniversity

Moved by SimonBooth

• <<< Need a town map and a campi map (set of campus maps) -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< I'll happily do these when my box arrives, if that's soon enough -- SimonBooth >>>

  <<< If you'd like to -- I had just stuck it in as an aide memoire -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< When did Jenkin admit women? Brown started in 1891 ( http://www.brown.edu/webmaster/about/history/part3.shtml ) and Harvard had a womens college in 1894 ( http://www.news.harvard.edu/guide/intro/hist2.html ) (but didn't admit women properly until the 1930s). -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< I'd suggest 1910 ish for postgrads, and 1919 for undergrads -- Steve McIntyre >>>

  <<< This is now UnityHistory. -- SimonBooth >>>

UnityTownMap

Moved by RobHague

<<< Simon; could you add a pip, please? It's, in theory, a way away from 122, in the University district, although I'm not sure how this squares with the map. Cheers -- RobHague >>>

<<<Nuts - 19 MW would be near the intersection of Washington and Main. Sure I can't interest you in a nice property on 5th street, or maybe 2nd Avenue? -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< How 'bout the intersection of 5th Street and 2nd Avenue? -- RobHague >>>

<<< Sure - NE, NW or SW? -- SimonBooth>>>

<<< NW, please -- RobHague >>>

<<< How's that? -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< Thanks, Simon - I've junked the discussion as it was getting in the way. -- RobHague >>>

HospitalOfTheBlessedVirgin (RobHague)

<<< Given that, as Mike has pointed out, Rhode Island is historically Protestant rather than Catholic, I'm thinking that we need another name for the hospital; any suggestions? -- RobHague >>>

<<< LincolnDistrictHospital ? -- SimonBooth >>>

<<< Sounds OK to me. Anyone else? -- RobHague >>>

<<< Anyone? >>>

<<< Well, it's now a fait acompli (or something like that, but spelt correctly); I suggest we keep the HospitalOfTheBlessedVirgin as a small convalesence-come-care-home with a maternity wing, as this fits in with some of the other references to it... -- RobHague >>>

<<< Suggest we (well actually Rob) move this discussion to the graveyard -- MikePitt >>>

ThePoorhouse (RobHague)

<<< Note that Rhode Island was a protestant state as such it's more likely to simply be "The Poorhouse". (it is now largely Catholic, but Brown is still Protestant reflecting this start) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13020a.htm -- MikePitt >>>

• <<< Reading the article above, there would already have been significant numbers of Catholics in Rhode Island by 1867 - but I like the idea of UnityAsylum being the town's old poorhouse before the institute was set up. Text rewritten to explain why the Poorhouse is catholic. -- AldenSpiess >>>

...

• <<< FYI there should be a Lincoln distirct poor house dating back to the C17, this could share the site of the original. (The 13 colonies were covered by the Elizabethan poor law according to some sources on the web) -- MikePitt >>>

  <<< I suggest we make that the building that UnityAsylum now stands on. An asylum standing of the site of a C17 almshouse: that's certainly in keeping with the Lovecraft mythos... - AldenSpiess>>>

  <<< Rather late, but as these suggestions happily resolve my comments and appear to have been incorporated shall we move both sets of chat to the graveyuard? MikePitt >>>