Unification vs. Diversity

To a certain extent, yes, and all very good points. However, I want it
understood that I was not necessarily referring to the KV specifically, only
using them as an example. And the fact remains, despite the clans, they

still are, in the end, fairly unified when it comes to how they deal with
other races and with space exploration.

** How do you know? From what I've seen of canon, we don't really know. In the
Xeno War, we could well end up with some clans fighting with us.

As for the trend towards political unification on Earth, I'll believe it when
I see it.

** Hmmm. Do you live in a country? Did that country always exist? If
not, was it formed from smaller nation-states? or city-states? Did those
evolve from things more primitive? Do you deny we've consistently moved
towards larger forms of government? Do you deny that once you get Corporations
big enough to do things spanning nations and with more income than nations,
there is an impetus for a Public Sector counterbalance? Do you deny that as
people communicate and interrelate more via technological advances, that we
have a more homogenious common culture? Do you think that we are not seeing,
in the forms of Gun Control, cradle to grave care (even growing desire for
this in the US, Bastion of personal freedoms in the form of Medicare and Soc
Sec), in the form of more and more bylaws, legislation, and whatnot? In the
growth of the size and number of politicians across the globe, and the amount
of money funneled into lobbying? I'm not saying their aren't resisting
factors. I'm not saying that we WILL unify. I'm saying we have in past, and
there is increasing pressures (hard to really see over one lifespan, but
taking the last few hundred years and the current trends) to do so.

** Of course, YMMV and either of us can choose to deny data that conflict:)

** Seriously, I'll admit that nationalism is (for now) a powerful block to
that, as is ethnicity, etc. But individual feudal estates were a huge block to
the formation of large feudal structures... and it happened anyway. Imagine if
we ever got an outside threat? Or global threats like ecoterrorism, biological
weapons, newgen plagues or superbugs? Every time we get hit with one of these,
the UN will form more agencies to deal with it, there will be more joint
efforts between nations. Much of it in the guise of efficiency. But in the
long run, I think you can see the trend trying to go somewhere. Perhaps it
won't, but it'll be in the face of previous human history.

The point was, WE achieved space flight without unification, why can't other
races?

** They could. Write one. Does a factionalized alien presence (moreso than you
in your obvious knowledge of the subject) suggest of the KV clans add anything
to the Tuffleyverse? Why not just add a few more human powers. The benefit of
aliens as far as I can see is 1) neat powers and abilities to play, 2)
interesting threat for humanity. If they're so factionalized that 2) is
meaningless, then all you've got left is 1) and (for the sake of doing
something interesting as a social or cultural commentary), we've produced
something that has less "Story Potential". Without a big threat, the SWs would
(I assume) just progress
unchecked... re-flaring every so often. Add in some new alien clans as
allies of each side (since they are factionated), but really things just stay
status quo.

I'd love to see a story line where, when humans meet this other culture, after
a few years of tension and even conflict between us and the aliens, we start
learning more about each other, and building alliances
-
not necessarily alliances between all human nations to fight the aliens, but
between certain alien "nations" if you will and our own, tenuous at first due
to xenophobia, but growing, until the interplay between the aliens and between
us and the aliens is as diverse and complex as our own interaction.

** The drive to have diversity in the KV is what made me paint my KV different
than Los' and give them a different flavour. They probably have a different
cultural flavour too.

OUR differing views come out a hell of a lot more often, why shouldn't theirs?

** Would someone meeting us for the first time know that? that's what we know
about the KV. They might just be as divided.

I believe I will. I admitted my knowledge was limited, sort of dumping on the
KV my frustrations over sci fi "Aliens" in general. Again, it will not
necessarily be something to "Expand the Tuffleyverse," per se, as I took the
exhortation in the book to apply the game rules to any future history I wish
to heart.

** They could. Write one. Does a factionalized alien presence (moreso than you
in your obvious knowledge of the subject) suggest of the KV clans add anything
to the Tuffleyverse?