Map Thread XV

[dakkafex]

Very interesting a few thoughts, I suspect the bottom will also be home to methane "seas" and "lakes" which will be the base for their own unique ecosystems. I also suspect that the Europans will pretty much be replacing the native biosphere with a Terran one.

Yep, cold seeps will probably feature on the Europan seafloor, and will be hotspots of native biological activity. They will probably also be of limited industrial use, and so will be among the last places to be contaminated by Earthly biota. I've also been thinking about the overall nature of the Europan ecosystem, and realized that it would probably look upside-down relative to Earth's oceans. Since there's no sunlight and hydrothermal vent communities are the bottom trophic layer instead, you'll see a situation where the top layers are almost barren and biological activity instead becomes denser the deeper you go. Patterns of circulation would probably also get weird without the effect of warmth from the Sun, but I have nowhere near the expertise to comment further.

Also future humanity will be interesting, they will have lived in low gravity environment for generation, at the same time they will have been lived under a evolutionary pressure which favored low calorie diet. I suspect that while they're still the same species as us, they will have selected for traits which make a return to heavier gravity worlds impossible. I think they will smaller than us even with the lower gravity and much fragiler. Their technology will be advanced but likely it have been selected toward simplicity, using common elements, easy to repair and easy to build.

When they finally leave their icy world behind I suspect they will explore outward, setting new stronghold up on other icy moon, ensuring they're self sufficient, and slowly exploring outward into the Ort Cloud, colonizing icy dwarf planet there. Humanity will become a species dwelling in the void between the stars and in the outer reaches of alien solar systems, avoiding the hot and heavy inner planets everywhere.

If colonization picks up again, the inner worlds are written off. Gone. It's going to be ships and buried structures for the foreseeable future, and over the long term that's probably going to select for something like what you've outlined, especially given the tendency for calorie restriction. I wouldn't quite expect something like H. floresiensis IN SPACE, but definitely shorter and more gracile. There's also genetics to consider, in that humanity has just gone through a hell of a genetic bottleneck (even moreso when you remember that Europa wasn't a perfectly representative cross-section of genetic diversity beforehand), so various founder-effect quirks will become more prominent over time. I've also had a bit of a biopunk tinge in mind when expanding this, so while humans themselves will likely avoid active modification ("we're the last humans left, we need to preserve that"), just remember that this setting takes place when CRISPR is as old to them as Galileo's telescope is to us today.

 

[Jürgen]

Yep, cold seeps will probably feature on the Europan seafloor, and will be hotspots of native biological activity. They will probably also be of limited industrial use, and so will be among the last places to be contaminated by Earthly biota. I've also been thinking about the overall nature of the Europan ecosystem, and realized that it would probably look upside-down relative to Earth's oceans. Since there's no sunlight and hydrothermal vent communities are the bottom trophic layer instead, you'll see a situation where the top layers are almost barren and biological activity instead becomes denser the deeper you go. Patterns of circulation would probably also get weird without the effect of warmth from the Sun, but I have nowhere near the expertise to comment further

Yes I see it pretty much the same way.

If colonization picks up again, the inner worlds are written off. Gone. It's going to be ships and buried structures for the foreseeable future, and over the long term that's probably going to select for something like what you've outlined, especially given the tendency for calorie restriction. I wouldn't quite expect something like H. floresiensis IN SPACE, but definitely shorter and more gracile. There's also genetics to consider, in that humanity has just gone through a hell of a genetic bottleneck (even moreso when you remember that Europa wasn't a perfectly representative cross-section of genetic diversity beforehand), so various founder-effect quirks will become more prominent over time. I've also had a bit of a biopunk tinge in mind when expanding this, so while humans themselves will likely avoid active modification ("we're the last humans left, we need to preserve that"), just remember that this setting takes place when CRISPR is as old to them as Galileo's telescope is to us today.

I suspect they would end up somewhat gray like, small bodies oversized heads, over sized eyes to see in low light conditions, pale skin, little to none body hair. I think the little body modification will build on the idea of making them even more self sufficient, making them able to produce the vitamins they need on their own, maybe give them the ability to "see" in infrared. I think they will keep sexual organs both primaries and secondaries to keep them as self sufficient as possible (no birthing chambers, cloning vats etc.). General I think both biological and technological they will live after the KISS motto, Keep It Simple Stupid.

 

[Zek Sora]

Since I have kind of reached a dead end with this for various reasons, this is the final version before i maybe try and redo this whole thing.

Goddamn it is everyone else going to put out their amazing space map before mine so it looks like I'm not a hipster ahead of the curve

 

[AmericanAdam]

Since I have kind of reached a dead end with this for various reasons, this is the final version before i maybe try and redo this whole thing.

This is absolutely amazing. Definately keep up the good work!

 

[p0wderfing3r]

Here is a map of an alternate North America Geography. I based this map off of others I've seen on here. Anyways I whipped up this map showing California to be an island and making a rift valley in the Western United States going up to otl Eastern Idaho. I also expanded Lake Winnipeg into Minnesota due to different glacial receding than in otl.

In this timeline, Spain still holds the Americas (working on South America right now) with an iron fist.

Please let me know if I should change anything!

 

[Grand Prince Paul II.]

If colonization picks up again, the inner worlds are written off. Gone. It's going to be ships and buried structures for the foreseeable future, and over the long term that's probably going to select for something like what you've outlined, especially given the tendency for calorie restriction. I wouldn't quite expect something like H. floresiensis IN SPACE, but definitely shorter and more gracile. There's also genetics to consider, in that humanity has just gone through a hell of a genetic bottleneck (even moreso when you remember that Europa wasn't a perfectly representative cross-section of genetic diversity beforehand), so various founder-effect quirks will become more prominent over time. I've also had a bit of a biopunk tinge in mind when expanding this, so while humans themselves will likely avoid active modification ("we're the last humans left, we need to preserve that"), just remember that this setting takes place when CRISPR is as old to them as Galileo's telescope is to us today.

So, Spacers for the win?

 

[Aven]

A quick project as some people on dA were complaining that I wasn't producing enough maps

As is traditional with my maps, there's no real backstory but rather it's an overview of a hypothetical modern, peaceful Libya. There was no coup and the monarchy managed to fully establish itself. Through close cooperation with the West and Europe, Libya has become a strong exporter of oil and gas but is also trying to diversify their economy. Much like Tunisia in our timeline, Libya is a strong partner of the EU, establishing an association agreements and strong trade ties, it is regarded as an example for other north African states. Internally the state is relatively secular and semi-federal, granting autonomy to the three provinces and various ethnic minorities. This, in combination with the fact that the capital was not transferred to Bayda, as was originally planned, helps to decrease tensions and feelings of Cyrenaican superiority.

On dA: http://fav.me/dbgg2lp

 

[Beedok]

I always forget how crowded some parts of the Sahara get.

 

[fashbasher]

snip

Here are the current definitions of the continents that are in popular use. 30 years after The Cloning.

 

[Turquoise Blue]

I have something big to post here, something to do with my Chronicles of Hennodia thing!

*plays on the kazoo the "Streaks and Speckles" anthem of the Allied States*

I'm proud to present to you all the...

Allied States of Lagellania

Spoiler: Political Parties

Political Parties of the ALLIED STATES OF LAGELLANIA

Progressive Party
One of the two successor parties to the underground "Intertwine Liberation Front" that shepherded the great "Hack to End All Hacks" that brought down the CyberTrust and their puppet "duopoly". This is the moderate half, the party of the "improvers" that sincerely believe that they can bring a new way of "doing technology" to the ASL [although they have accepted a surveillance state...].

They have been criticised for being too lenient on the Liberation Party due to old ties in the ILF and a strong resistance to being perceived in any way authoritarian or like the old CyberTrust era. The current President was an old friend of the current leader of the Liberationists, for example. This party has nothing in common with the old Progressive Party of the early 20th century.

In terms of the economy, it supports an "intertwine-energised economy", advocating a centrist model where start-ups are encouraged, corporate taxes are low [providing they pass the "Anti-CyberTrust" examinations] and an unashamedly pro-globalisation free-trade policy that "brings the world further and further together".

Freedom Party
While it was not a part of the ILF, it has emerged as the "main alternative" to the Progressives as they, being the party of rural libertarians and survivalists, was untainted by the CyberTrust and its dirty money. Of course, those days they're considerably more "professional" and less "the gubmint is grabbing our guns!" conspiracy theorist.

The Freedom Party's main hobble is their ties to the survivalist movement, which regularly alienate the suburban voters "New Freedomites" try to broaden their base into. Every time the survivalists do something stupid, the media always turn to the Freedomites and ask "so why do they support you?" and they often find it difficult to answer that.

In terms of the economy, it supports low taxes [much like the Progressives] and argues for free-trade [much like the Progressives]. However, it opposes government intervention in times of crisis, arguing that the government "should get the hell out" of the economy. This is popular with their ultra-individualist voters, but not so with suburban voters...

Patriotic Movement
Often criticised for being the latest facade of the CyberTrust, this party has made waves by criticising the Progressives' "cosmopolitan insularity" and claims to stand for "real Lagellians". Fuelled by exiled billionaires with CyberTrust money, it argues against the "libertarian consensus", arguing for strong law and order and an end to crime.

Their rise due to the Great Recession has deeply worried the other three parties as the others remember well the dark days of the CyberTrust and perceive the Patriotic Movement as threatening to drag Lagellania back into it. This has led the other three parties to look into ways to reach to the Patriots' supporters to "deflate" it.

They're very much sceptical of free trade, arguing that it "sells Lagellian jobs overseas". Instead, they want strong protectionism and sees immigration from the south [Texica is one such place] as "taking our jobs". It's very xenophobic and distrustful of "change". Many have accused it of feeling nostalgic for the CyberTrust days where "law and order" was dominant.

Liberation Party
Once the "die-hard" half of the Intertwine Liberation Front, it has known ties to the "neo-hacker" movement and often argues in their favour, pointing out that the Progressives' acceptance of a widespread and intrusive surveillance state violates the ILF's original expressed goal. With the ILF those days seen as heroes, this is a good defense.

However, the current situation is not at all like the overt surveillance state of the CyberTrust era, and thus people are more likely to dismiss their concerns or see them as amusing relics at best or traitors at worst. Still, dark memories of the CyberTrust era and well-respected "elder hackers" in the Liberationists' ranks help keep them legal and widely-known.

Regarding the economy, it carries on the old traditional beliefs of the ILF when it was formed [before the 'moderates' joined], namely democratic socialism, mutualising of the economy and heavier scrutiny of corporations. It is very popular with students and chants of "Liberation!" and "Yes We Can!" can be found at political rallies where the old hands rally the youth base.

Spoiler: All 50 states

Derry
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A somewhat cold northern state, it has a fishing and timber economy. Rumours of evil clowns are overblown, the Governor says.

New Lampaster
Voted in 2016: Liberation
Description: A very distinct-minded state with a very strong belief in democracy. The first primary happens here. The left here is left.

Summerset Bay
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: Very working-class, plenty of Narsenian [Irish] influence, but also prestigious universities.

Tellbrook
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A suburban-dominated state that likes moderates and dislikes extremists. Has an university.

The Mearnland
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Set up by disgruntled citizens who thought they went to Lagellania to create a life for themselves on the frontier, not rely on cities for trade. Those days very much still a "rural" state.

Providence
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A small, very urban, but also incredibly-corrupt state. Rumours of eldritch abominations are overblown, the Governor says. Part of the "Circumference".

New Folskyr
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: Named after a group of islands, it's hardly Norden those days. Incredibly urban and part of the "Circumference".

New Arnhem
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: An incredibly-populated island-capital-city-state, it's the heart of Lagellian government and was once the heart of the country's economy.

Bredabeau
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: Part of the "Circumference", it's the one most tied to the island, and incredibly suburban on the coast. The interior is more rural and weird.

Verapax
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: Verapax is a mystery. Nobody can find it on a map, with all other states in their right place. Everybody allegedly from there gives vague and contradictory locations.

Spotsylvania
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: Somewhat divided between a more "middle-class-ish" north-west and a very blue-collar elsewhere. Decidely one of the "Mountain States".

Maidania
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: The "First Dominion", it is a very "establishment"-y place and the old settled families [almost like an aristocracy] still has considerable influence.

North Jacobia
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: In here, they take their barbecue seriously. As serious as they take their handegg and their sweet tea. There's been long fights over what type of barbecue or handegg team is superior.

South Jacobia
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: A slim-majority Garudan-Lagellian state, it's the state where widely-hated President Henry Young came from. They're not proud of that. Support for stronger border enforcing here is very high in polls.

Bourbon
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: A "border" state between the North and South, it has simple loves: horse-racing and bourbon whiskey [which the state was named after]. Sees itself as different from the other states.

Alturas
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A state full of survivalists of all ideological streaks, it was once a stronghold of the left in the days before the CyberTrust, but no longer.

Luzerne
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A very mountainous state, it shares the Mearnland's deep libertarian streak and was only won by a left-wing candidate once in a national election.

Hamblen
Voted in 2016: Patriotic [with Eastern Hamblen going Freedom]
Description: A state mainly known for its four Grand Divisions in which it splits governance up into so much the state itself is mostly a fiction. Splits its electoral votes the same way.

Airdrie
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: A very civil-minded, but also oil-dependent state, it is extremely conservative. Which makes the election of its current Governor, an openly-bisexual and far-left candidate from the Liberation Party, a mystery.

Aurora
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A hub of technology, but also one of survivalists and weird New Age religions, this state nevertheless tends Progressive. Has a "State Territory" that has an apparently-dormant volcano in it.

Kalispell
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Similar to Alturas, it's a state that was once a swing state, but now is strongly Freedom despite voting Progressive in the first presidential election.

Avoyellia
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: The land of the Bayou, gumbo, New Chartres, Lundi Fête and all that, with the first language of most Avoyellais being Gallican being an interesting note.

Mexas
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: "Everything's bigger in Mexas", as the saying goes. A very proud state, it is consistently Freedom, despite Progressive hopes of demographic shifts.

Lycoming
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: Once a part of Mexas, it split in the Civil War. Those days it is very, very dependent on coal, and has shifted to being a Patriotic state.

Kiamichi
Voted in 2016: Liberation
Description: A depressing place to be, it's the only Native-majority state in the Alliance and was only admitted in 2006 when a government sympathetic to them finally got into power. Extremely poor, very Liberation.

Bienenstock
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A land of Frisian-speaking Mormons with a history longer than OTL Mormons, it is a very libertarian state and the *Mormons prefer to keep to themselves in general. Known for gambling.

Keyapaha
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A rural state, it's very, very conservative. Was once a hub of Populism, but is now a Patriotic/Freedom swing state. The Corn Cult holds sway here.

Makato
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: One of the few remaining staunch rural-left-wing states, it has been slowly but inevitably shifting towards Freedom, something the Progressives worry about.

Novo Texica
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A very, very Luso state, this state was known as "Lagellania's Southermost State" until Porto Flores was admitted. Very much a state dominated by ports and maritime trade.

Porto Flores
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: Now Lagellania's southernmost state, it was a territory from the Lagellian-Texican War in 1891 up to its admission as a state in 2007 after a successful referendum.

Chalmette
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: ATL North Louisiana/Ark-La-Tex. Still heavily influenced by Avoyellia and started by Gallican explorers, it's nevertheless very distinct from Avoyellia culturally.

Laurel
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A majority Garudan-Lagellian state, this state consistently goes for the most pro-civil-rights candidate that they perceive can win.

Paragould
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Arkansas, basically. Oddly enough more left-wing than other states in the region.

Trident
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Missouri, basically. Those days, quite conservative and the Corn Cult is quite influential in the north.

Blemais
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Corn fields everywhere, a corn statue in every town, weird-looking people stare at you all the time. And if you say anything against corn, leave before midnight. Or the Corn Cult will take revenge.

Inoka
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: A land of crony corruption in the north circling its capital city, and in the south the corn cult dominates all. Not a very happy state.

Mizumi
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: A very blue-collar state, it feels screwed over in general by the economic policies of the last half-century, and thus in its anger it votes Patriotic.

Dorabidia
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Quite conservative, but won't tolerate the Patriots' ties to the CyberTrust, so they consistently vote Freedom. Has a popular TV show called Lawns and Entertainment set in it!

Korgem
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: Sillanpaan-speaking, it's considerably distinct from the other states around it, and even from its Namadan neighbours.

Kioku
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A state that feels like it has been forgotten and sees everything it has, falling apart. Still detests the Patriots, though, so votes Freedom.

Kasen
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A very "swing" state, it has been a popular target of the big two candidates, with both conventions set in the place in the hope to win more votes. People here often complain of too much ads.

Tochu
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A very rural state that often get omitted when people draw maps of the ASL, it's a very "insular" state, relatively speaking.

Koya
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: The bastion of the moderate faction of the Freedom Party, their most vocal Senator hails from this state.

Momotochi
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: Stephen Cho was the last pre-regime president who did not enable the CyberTrust, and he hailed from this state. And Momotochi remembers. Consistently Freedom, it has given little votes to the Patriots.

Kibunya
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: Always a very conservative state socially, it has made a name for itself opposing virulently "social experimentation" such as LGBT rights.

Tentai
Voted in 2016: Liberation
Description: Unlike other East Coast states, it has a weird fondness for tea, because of the Azalaian East Lagellian Company which was based here in the days of Chinapan colonisation.

Ryokuchi
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: A land of survivalists and socialists and suburban technocrats and possibly sasquatches. Historically a strong hub of opposition to the CyberTrust regime, the people here despises the Patriotic Alliance.

Kumando
Voted in 2016: Progressive
Description: The land of Silicon Palisade. Luoshangei was the devolved hub of the CyberTrust and it seems impossible to revoke it. Despite being a Progressive state, the state has just elected a Liberation governor.

Kanoji
Voted in 2016: Freedom
Description: "It's a swamp full of insane people and mosquitos that bite you all the damn time" - Freedom candidate Juan Ferrier. And his opinion isn't uncommon. But the state isn't that bad, there's reptile-people!

Zamorskia
Voted in 2016: Patriotic
Description: A Moskraya colony that was sold off to the Allied States in 1914 in hopes of getting them to join the war on their side [which didn't work]. Now it's a cold, distant and very Moskrayan state.

Disclaimer: The base-map was made by @Imperator Frank for his "Tellurus" base map. It was not created for Chronicles, but used with permission.​

 

[Pragmatic Progressive]

Does anyone have an overview over which alternate planets maps are "free to use"? Also, are there any planetary maps where the world is larger than Earth?

 

[CannedTech]

I have something big to post here, something to do with my Chronicles of Hennodia thing!

*plays on the kazoo the "Streaks and Speckles" anthem of the Allied States*

I'm proud to present to you all the...

Allied States of Lagellania
​

I gotta say, I love this whole project a whole load. Is Verapax more Springfield or Townsville?

 

[Turquoise Blue]

I gotta say, I love this whole project a whole load. Is Verapax more Springfield or Townsville?

Explain a bit more, because I'm not sure what you're talking about.

 

[Beedok]

Apparently Gimp folders are not to be trusted...

 

[CannedTech]

Explain a bit more, because I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Ah, I mean like Springfield from the Simpsons and Townsville from Cartoon Network stuff, they're both locations that tend to be vague and the map did reference some fantastical stuff like in Derry.

 

[Turquoise Blue]

Ah, I mean like Springfield from the Simpsons and Townsville from Cartoon Network stuff, they're both locations that tend to be vague and the map did reference some fantastical stuff like in Derry.

It's a state that nobody really knows where it is. Even people who claim they're from the state gives incredibly vague details. Constitutionally, it pays its taxes, it fills in the Census, it sends representatives and Senators, it's just that nobody knows where they come from. The Census is published with forty-nine states, and then it turns out it has fifty. That sort of stuff.

 

[Isaac Beach]

oh god... I have to delete those real quick...

Dayuuuum, that's a sexy 'Holy Empire of Greater Europe'. Love the straight borders in Italy, Ireland and Britain.

 

[KitFisto1997]

Map of the German diaspora from my Revolution! timeline.

 

[B_Munro]

Blemais: Corn fields everywhere, a corn statue in every town, weird-looking people stare at you all the time. And if you say anything against corn, leave before midnight. Or the Corn Cult will take revenge.

The Corn God takes no prisoners.

 

[Al Smith For Real]

1950 map from the July 20th map.

Britain and France told Arab colonies that they'd release them when the State of Israel was recognized. If this falls apart, the nations aforesaid can and will throw a coup.