OBT Forum

Takiro - Logos for Underworld factions « on: January 28, 2008, 08:39:05 PM »

Hey gang. Been meaning to start a thread asking for suggestions on logos for the Underworld factions. We already have two set. Project Phoenix and ComStar can be seen below but four others remain. Any ideas?

Privateers
The Syndicate
Separatists
The War Cabal

* Logo - ComStar.jpg (6.45 KB, 165x150 - viewed 5 times.)

* Logo - Project Phoenix.jpg (28.22 KB, 504x500 - viewed 3 times.)

Ice Hellion Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #1 on: January 29, 2008, 02:33:20 PM »

Several  Grin
More seriously, I will think about it.

LordGrayson Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #2 on: January 31, 2008, 01:50:03 AM »

Do u mean a symbol for each group within ea faction or just the faction and not the subfactions in ea ?

Takiro Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #3 on: January 31, 2008, 04:40:40 AM »

Correct Lord Grayson. Wink

Techwarrior Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #4 on: January 31, 2008, 08:40:31 AM »

Privateers generally do not care for symbols, as they like to stay anonymous as possible. Some people mix up Privateers, and Pirates. A true Privateer may dabble in a little piratery but normally not; a Pirate is a Pirate who may like to think of themselves as a Privateer. Good example of a Privateer would be Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind.
Pirate: Blackbeard, Captain Kid, etc. (Generally do not live to retire.)

Syndicate: What is their allegiance? Most large syndicates are by nationality.

Separatists: Which ones? Must have missed something in the beginning.

The War Cabal: I know of the Warrior Cabal, not the War Cabal. What is that?

Ice Hellion Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #5 on: January 31, 2008, 04:28:54 PM »

The War Cabal
   While some see these dark warmongers as a pure conspiracy theory begun by a few lone crackpots the truth is far different. This staunch militant order apparently has its roots in the secret warrior societies established in the mid-twenty sixth century by disaffected Terran soldiers. Despite the failure of their revolt the general militarist ideals seem to take hold in more than a few officers around the InnerSphere. While their reasons for being have changed the over time the Cabalists have spread thanks in large part to the Star League. It is ironic that this organization which established one of the greatest ages of peace in all of history helped spread its evolving militant philosophy of eternal struggle. Officers from all over the Human Sphere who were dedicated to fighting wars and see their military budgets expand learned to work together for this goal if nothing else. Not ruled by a single leader but rather a loose Council of so-called Warlords who believe that war is the natural state for humanity. They argue that conflict helps the economy and lets people explore their full potential. Each “lord” and their “vassals” operate independently akin to terrorist cells in order to perpetuate constant strife. These individuals hide in plain sight under the guise of patriotism and outwardly show their dislike for diplomats and politicians.

Takiro Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #6 on: January 31, 2008, 04:31:51 PM »

The other thread in this developing board which I will change to Underworlds deals with these "shadow" factions in the BTSD. Privateers in general may not use a symbol but I'm looking for an identifier for each of these factions. Perhaps our Privateers might have their own version of a Mercenary Guild (the Freebooters Alliance?). Backgrounds for each of the Underworld factions (which are not canon but our own creation) can be found at the thread link below.

Ice Hellion Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #7 on: January 31, 2008, 04:42:47 PM »

A kind of Turtle (a reference to the Island of Tortuga)?

Techwarrior Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #8 on: January 31, 2008, 08:23:37 PM »

Brethren of the Marque

I would suggest that this brotherhood be a selective group of trusted Captains, Commodores, etc. known as Marquis. This would give them stature above the normal Captain of a ship and designate him/her as one of the nobility of the brotherhood.
As Privateers always considered themselves above the common pirate or raider as most of them at least those that could be termed legal carried a Letter of the Marque on their ship from the government that hired them. Those without letters were considered pirates.

Each Great House Area of space could have its own leadership of privateers with those in charge answering somewhat to a central committee, somewhere near Terra I would imagine.

Tattoos were commonly used as a mark of who you were loyal too. Earrings also were used as were rings. With microchips of the BT era I believe the rings might work best unless you want to use implants somewhere on their bodies.

As for their symbol I would suggest something French in tradition. American privateers generally flew under the U.S. flag, Confederate flag, or the French flag throughout most of our history. With of course Great Britain and Spain on occasions.

This could end up quite complex.

Well anyway there is an idea for a start on the “Privateers.”

Takiro Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #9 on: January 31, 2008, 08:54:29 PM »

Wow, I like! Good stuff Techwarrior. Like the organizational overview and I agree the Privateers consider themselves much better than pirates.

I would say no on the turtle, Ice Hellion. Just doesn't Privateer to me. We also don't want the skull and crossbones of pirates. Can't think of anything historically relevant at the moment.

Takiro Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #10 on: January 31, 2008, 09:57:45 PM »

Crossed swords is another big symbol for pirates but I flipped them vertically and included some stars in a first attempt for privateers. Thoughts??

* Privateer.JPG (18.33 KB, 360x361 - viewed 1 times.)

Techwarrior Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #11 on: January 31, 2008, 10:12:20 PM »

Privateers were known for knives, dueling swords, and pistols. They normally would not have battleships per say, they would have something fast with guns most of the time their weapons like their cargo was disguised.
They rarely showed off in front authority, normally only among their own or people lower on the totem pole, politicians, lower royalty, mayors, lower rank officers. They generally only dealt with the upper echelon when making large deals, or possibly for their lives.
Most were just considered sea captains that sold a little something on the side, most people never knew the privateers, they liked their privacy when doing business.

Takiro Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #12 on: February 01, 2008, 06:56:08 AM »

That is why I went with crossed swords or more specifically cutlasses. Kind of a seagoing, swashbuckling theme I think works. The stars are just generic space going logo. Was thinking about a treasure chest too but ruled against it.

Techwarrior Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #13 on: February 01, 2008, 10:48:58 AM »

Pirates used cutlasses; Privateers generally carried more refined weapons as a sign of their prosperity and everything else that goes along with it. Remember some Privateers actually were invited to court whenever they were in port. Pirates never were invited to court unless it was to be sentenced.

A few privateers were known to have large estates that they retired too, even while their ships were still active. One or two even set up their own warehouses and became semi legal merchants.

Privateers, depending on their success would be somewhere between a pirate and the mafia. At sea there were rumors of privateers actively pirating then blaming it on this pirate or that one. On land they were known to have their secretive ways of dispersing goods. Also privateers could be hired to move people in times of duress. Many people were transported in secret with the crowns authority or approval by privateers.

Basically the better privateers did just about anything short of open warfare or piratery if they could help it. They moved spies around the world, transported disposed royalty or rich merchants that had lost favor. They were also known to lose a passenger if the pay was good. They could go and do things that your navy could not and they kept quiet about it. Very few privateers were ever taken to the gallows. Most countries honored the Letter of the Marque, or Letter of Mark as the British called it, due to the fact that if you hung or incarcerated my privateers, I will make a special effort to do the same to yours. That was not good business of the realm and as such was forbidden. A navy make take a privateer and his ship (with found cargo) to port, they may even give him a fine and confiscate his ship, but that was the extent of it unless he put up a fight. If he did that it didn’t matter what letter he had. There was a code of conduct back in the sail days, you could run, you could even offer some resistance to boarding but that was more just a show, and English and French Naval officers where a bit more lenient if you didn’t just through in the towel, in fact many were known to leave you with your ship, minus cargo, money, and weapons. Of course if you had anyone wanted among your crew he or she would be taken and the captain would have to pay a fine.

Ok I am getting very long winded here, let me know if you need anything more or if anyone disagrees feel free to speak up. We all have read different history books over the years.

MechRat Re: Logos for Underworld factions « Reply #14 on: February 01, 2008, 10:45:05 PM »

I'm not sure how realistic a unified symbol for the Syndicate would be. The overall leadership for the Syndicate might develop one to identify each other, but I think that the lower echelon would not be aware of it. It would have to be simple and discreet enough to be placed in open view without attracting undue attention. Maybe something like a scarab (think Egyptian) that can be formed as jewelry, like a pendant or a ring. I know I've heard or seen something like that before, but can't remember where. Just a thought...