Interestingly as I wrote the profile, I switched into 1st person, then gradually started writing in colloquial american.
"KC Kats, have you explored much of the routes to either destination? Is it a worthwhile exersise to mount an expedition in either direction? Which effort seems more feasible?"
"I personally would like to go to the Tech dump. See if we can't get us some technology to help us directly, or to trade through the winter. Then as spring comes we can mount an expedition for seeds if necessary."
Sorry about taking some time to reply - access to my computer has been a bit intermittent.
I'm trying to do some actual research for this. Such studies have already turned up an odd coincidence.
Not being too familiar with the geography of Georgia, I was just making up a town that was a good center of adventure between big cities and NB. My intention to place it something like 40-50 miles due South of Macon, to give people a choice of a diplomatic mission to NB, a run and gun raid on a NEST, or to head for the coast. What I didn't realize is there is an actual town at that location. Ashburn, is not only in the same place with a similar name, but at about 4000 people, has roughly the same population as my hypothetical farming community. (Well, pre-event population anyway, its down to about 500 by game time) I'm still going to stick with the fictional town, but I find this very amusing.
@ Rob: Don't worry, I'll need a few days to get everything ready, so we probably won't start until after your sabbatical.
@Misterecho:
I probably should have been a little more clear about the questions. The ones other than KC are unlikely to be anywhere near Ash, Georgia and are just there for soliciting blog ideas in general. Not that you can't ask questions, but they probably can't respond personally/to the specifics of the problem facing Ash.
The questions you asked are very good, and have already inspired some blog posts about navigation and places to avoid. (Boneroads, Murderyards, and Boilertowns) I've had a bit of difficulty figuring out how much KC should say, since choosing the journey is a big part of the adventure and planned to be part of the in-game debates. However, he'll throw in his two cents.
As to KC's response: "That is kind of a loaded set of questions - good ones to ask, but a bit difficult to answer. This is one of those six of one, half a dozen of the other situations. I haven't personally taken the routes you might be on, but I know enough about traveling to tell you what might be encountered. Your little corner of Georgia is a bit closer to New Birmingham than the NEST site.
If you follow the old highways, its about three-hundred miles to the main enclave of New Birmingham, and about a time and a half that to get to the closest NEST complex. Of course, I wouldn't recommend doing that. The Boneroads are not a pleasant route to take. So traveling to number ten means following back-roads and rails through the Appalachian foothills - rougher travel, but no people. Its much flatter from there to the other place, but its a two edge sword traveling past occupied areas.
Just in case you're confused - NB is closer to Mobile bay than the old capital, or more precisely, the crater that used to be the state capital.
Although I could go into more detail about the routes, as to where you should go - that is something I can't answer for you. It depends on your motivations and desires.
There is no denying that New Birmingham is a safe place. If you are a true believing, born again, god fearing automaton - you could live a good life there. Personally, I happen to enjoy life too much to put up with them. You can negotiate with them, but they would certainly expect concessions, - your town would probably end up as a vassal state sooner or later.
Now for the NEST - well its a boiler town, full of hopefuls that want to make a run through those corridors and bandits that prey on them. Its also kind of close to the Fort Bragg Murderyard - give that place a wide berth. Its one of the few places in the zone I won't go. If you successfully make it through the tower complex, you can find just about anything from medicine to faux fur coats, aquarium supplies to jump-start aquaculture, computers, conduit, subway trains in the under levels... You could live like kings on the riches to be found.
So you can run and gun for gold and glory, or make deals with the devout. It all comes down to a line from Milton. Would you prefer to serve in heaven or rule in hell?"
Games of imagination are never truly done. Yet tomorrow we shall start another one.