ArmAverse | The community fan fiction thread

[maturin 12]

The Chernarussian doesn't actually resemble the situation in Georgia. They just paid homage to the place names. South Zagoria is more like Trans-Dniester, and the in-game coordinates are right by Moldova.

[antoineflemming 14]

The Chernarussian doesn't actually resemble the situation in Georgia. They just paid homage to the place names. South Zagoria is more like Trans-Dniester, and the in-game coordinates are right by Moldova.

Ok. But the issue still stands. Where are Chernarus and Takistan? Clearly, Moldova is on the ArmA3 map and NOT Chernarus. That's why I'm wondering. I hope BIS establishes some continuity with ArmA2.

EDIT: Upon looking at the map of Takistan and Chernarus, I think that geographically they resemble either a part of the Ukraine, or a part of Moldova, Romania, AND Bulgaria, bordering Turkey.

Look here:

Green Sea Region per ArmA2/OA:

Possible Green Sea Region per ArmA3:

The tan represents Takistan, and the yellow Chernarus/Utes. This would make the Green Sea the Black Sea in real life.

Yeah, I know there's another thread for this (which hasn't seen posts in a long while), but this is important both for ArmA3's continuity with previous ArmA games, and for the fanfiction.

Edited March 28, 2012 by antoineflemming

[maturin 12]

Maybe they were annexed, lol.

I'm not particularly attached to Armaverse continuity and I suspect that they aren't either, with their futuristic global ArmA 3 perspective. All these fake countries are created fairly opportunistically.

But you'll notice that the BIS map leaves out the Caucasus and the Caspian sea. This is a crowded part of the world and there is no room for these countries with their distinct biomes in reality, but there is room for them there on paper.

For the record, I always said that it was stupid how Takistan bordered Chernarus on the west.

[antoineflemming 14]

Well, Takistan has to be somewhere near the Caucasus or Iraq. SGT Illing deploys to Takistan, Iraq, the Caucasus, and Turkey.

[Magog 10]

Takistan would be further in the east, in Central Asia.^

[zamani532 1]

Takistan is in Afghanistan, honestly isn't that the most obvious and likely guess? It contains tons of features that are consistent with Afghanistan.

Edited March 28, 2012 by zamani532

[spooky lynx 73]

Seen "Europe 2035" map... I'd say, very strange dividing of the countries. Very strange.

[antoineflemming 14]

Takistan is in Afghanistan, honestly isn't that the most obvious and likely guess? It contains tons of features that are consistent with Afghanistan.

NO, that isn't obvious. It was based off of some part of Afghanistan, but it is NOT Afghanistan. Chernarus and Takistan border Russia. So they have to be somewhere in the Caucasus.

Here is my take on a possible world map circa 2035, based in part on current Iranian relations:

@Spooky Lynx: I do think some of it is weird, but it's based off of BIS's map. It makes sense in the context of Russia luring some nations by promises of oil. The Iranian influences in Latin America on this world map are possible allies of Iran, those nations who have economic and political partnerships with Iran. Most of those are based off of affirmations of support during Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Latin America.

[fraczek 4]

Here is my take on a possible world map circa 2035, based in part on current Iranian relations:

Nice work. However, based on current outlook, your grey Africa should be mostly coloured pale yellow (Chinese influence).

[hamm 10]

It's not Islamic Republic of Iran anymore, they had a revolution in the 2020s, check the BIS map where it says something like Iranian Republic. :)

[cozza 24]

Could it be the Arab League is in cahoots with Iran in the story line?

I cant find the picture now but on the invasion map during the ARG. There was the invasion forces from the North Africa.

Only picture i can get atm is the one from here

[purepassion 22]

I cant find the picture now but on the invasion map during the ARG. There was the invasion forces from the North Africa.

There you go Cozza :)

[antoineflemming 14]

Sorry, I will never accept that iran ceases to be islamic. I don't care what BIS says. That's probably the most absurd idea, more absurd than iran taking over all of europe. I don t care what regime change happens. Iran and the Iranian people will ALWAYS be Muslim. Just because in 2008/2009 Iranians took to the streets in support of democracy and reform and against fraud, it doesn't mean that they were in protest of Islam. That is a faulty assumption.

Edited March 28, 2012 by antoineflemming

[zamani532 1]

Iran is a democracy, just a Islamic democracy with a Ayatollah to keep the "Islamic" values intact.

[antoineflemming 14]

Iran is a republic, just like america for example is a republic. Iran is an islamic republic. The people are islamic. Iranian law is Sharia law. The constitution is based off of islam. Islam is the foundation of the government and culture. It's not going away. Iran can have a coup, they can even change their flag (although the current Iranian flag is cooler than ArmA3's Iranian flag), but they will NOT cease to be the ISLAMIC Republic of Iran.

@Cozza: I'd think the Arab League would be neutral, and would be crucial in bringing about the Jerusalem Accords of 2034

Edited March 28, 2012 by antoineflemming

[hamm 10]

Sorry, I will never accept that iran ceases to be islamic. I don't care what BIS says. That's probably the most absurd idea, more absurd than iran taking over all of europe. I don t care what regime change happens. Iran and the Iranian people will ALWAYS be Muslim. Just because in 2008/2009 Iranians took to the streets in support of democracy and reform and against fraud, it doesn't mean that they were in protest of Islam. That is a faulty assumption.

It doesn't matter what you won't accept, it's a fictional universe made by BIS. Are you really trying to create your own canon for an ArmA game? :confused:

[antoineflemming 14]

It doesn't matter what you won't accept, it's a fictional universe made by BIS. Are you really trying to create your own canon for an ArmA game? :confused:

This is the fanfiction thread... And, for all we know, the absence of the word islamic could be an error on BIS's part. And, if not, then it doesn't necessarily mean that iran is no longer a muslim country. By the way, I think that Iran being muslim has a whole lot to do with why the ArmA3 world and the real world is in the predicament that it is in. If Iran were not Muslim, then they probably wouldn't be in a situation where they could invade Turkey. Islam is basically a core of the Iranian regime's "identity". And, when 98% of the Iranian population is Muslim, there is no way that any Iranian regime would be secular. It's like making the U.S. fascist or socialist. Yeah, BIS could do that, but then they lose authenticity and believability when constructing their story.

[jerryhopper 285]

This is the fanfiction thread... And, for all we know, the absence of the word islamic could be an error on BIS's part. And, if not, then it doesn't necessarily mean that iran is no longer a muslim country.

Did it ever occur to you that it might be a tactical/political choice... i mean, do you want several fatwa's spoken out on you by religious extremists?

People tend to react quite strangely on 'games' these days...

And since we're still in the fan-fiction thread...

Last week i received information about unusual activity in the agean region.

Rumors go that someone is transmitting strange 'coded' messages on the sideband frequencies originating from within the agaen region. We are investigating these transmissions, as they are broadcasted at different times and they might shine a light on what is happening in that region.

Edited March 28, 2012 by jerryhopper

[antoineflemming 14]

Did it ever occur to you that it might be a tactical/political choice... i mean, do you want several fatwa's spoken out on you by religious extremists?

People tend to react quite strangely on 'games' these days...

And since we're still in the fan-fiction thread...

To actually say that they are Islamic, or to say that they aren't Islamic... I'd think it'd be more of an insult to say that they will succumb to a coup and reject Islam... You seem to know so much about the region. I'm sure the Ayatollah would be greatly offended if his nation were called an Islamic nation in a game. I'm sure the Iranians are rejoicing that they are portrayed as secular in a game...

To actually be serious (yes, your logic is very faulty and just wrong), I think BIS did it to avoid the religion issue altogether. Not because of fear of fatwas (they should actually fear fatwas since they have in effect said that the Ayatollah will be kicked out and that the new regime will denounce Islam; that's actually a pretty big insult to a Muslim nation), but because religion in a game is a controversial topic. Just like they didn't mention Israel. Not because they fear reprisals from Israel if the nation is portrayed the wrong way, but because they don't want to deal with the issue of it. I mean, it's understandable, but I don't think they should change the name of the nation just because there's a coup. But whatever. There will be modding tools. Hopefully those maps I made can help some people when writing fan fiction stories.

[Smurf 12]

-Nevermind, better stay off from this discussion-

[maturin 12]

Iran will always be Muslim. But nothing much separates them from having a government like Turkey or the UAE. Look at where Afghanistan was in the 1960s.

And, when 98% of the Iranian population is Muslim, there is no way that any Iranian regime would be secular.

Man, what is this crap you're peddling?

[Pyronick 21]

Iran isn't like Turkey. Turkey has always followed the trends in Europe and has adepted to them since the Young Turk revolution, or actually since Fatih Sultan Mehmet II called himself the emperor of Rome.

The islamic republic of Iran as we know today has been greatly reformed since the late seventies, life during the constitutional monarchy of the Pahlavi dynasty was very European/American in terms of lifestyle. The Persian period (prior to the islamic revolution) from Cyrus the Great didn't really have a state religion as it was secular. But many consider zoroastrianism as national religion, although muslims, zoroastrians, christians, hindus, bahá'is, jews all lived together in harmony. The islamic revolution changed all this. The constitution is based on the sharia, the ayatollah is the great overseer with the most political power and followed by the mullahs in the country. Most historical links to Persia, Alexander the Great, Cyrus the Great, Darius, Roman influence, etc have all been destroyed.

But it seems that Iran still wishes to rule the region as it's islamic Abbasid and zoroastrian Achaemenid predecessors did. It is probable that they would have to defeat Turkey which is competing them in this race. As Turkey seems to be rebuilding their Ottoman past in terms of regional influence. As Iranians are mostly shiite, they want to control the predominantly Arab/sunni islamic region.

Edited March 28, 2012 by SgtH3nry3

[antoineflemming 14]

Iran will always be Muslim. But nothing much separates them from having a government like Turkey or the UAE. Look at where Afghanistan was in the 1960s.

Man, what is this crap you're peddling?

Just to appease your ignorance:

CIA FACTBOOK

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html

I'll help you out a little (be warned. It's long. But you need it. And please, for your own education, read the whole thing):

Introduction ::IRAN

Background:

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts - a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and its nuclear weapons ambitions. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, through the control of unelected institutions, prevented reform measures from being enacted and increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions (1696 in July 2006, 1737 in December 2006, 1747 in March 2007, 1803 in March 2008, and 1835 in September 2008 and 1929 in June 2010) calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities. Resolutions 1737, 1477, 1803 and 1929 subject a number of Iranian individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs to sanctions. Additionally, several Iranian entities are subject to US sanctions under Executive Order 13382 designations for proliferation activities and EO 13224 designations for support of terrorism. In mid-February 2011, opposition activists conducted the largest antiregime rallies since December 2009, spurred by the success of uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Protester turnout probably was at most tens of thousands and security forces were deployed to disperse protesters. Additional protests in March 2011 failed to elicit significant participation largely because of the robust security response, although discontent still smolders.

.......

Religions:

Muslim (official) 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%

Government::

Introduction ::IRAN

Geography ::IRAN

People and Society ::IRAN

Government ::IRAN

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran

Government type:

theocratic republic

Legal System:

religious legal system based on sharia law

Executive branch:

chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)

head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August 2005); First Vice President Mohammad Reza RAHIMI (since 13 September 2009)

cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over appointments to the more sensitive ministries

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-e Khoebregan), a popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the Discernment of Expediency (Majma-ye- Tashkhis-e -Maslahat-e- Nezam) exerts supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative branches and resolves legislative issues when the Majles and the Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been used to advise national religious leaders on matters of national policy; in 2005 the Council's powers were expanded to act as a supervisory body for the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the Constitution or Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye Negban-e Qanon-e Asasi) determines whether proposed legislation is both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates in popular elections for suitability, and supervises national elections

elections: supreme leader appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term and additional nonconsecutive term); election last held on 12 June 2009 (next presidential election slated for June 2013)

election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD reelected president; percent of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62.6%, Mir-Hosein MUSAVI-Khamenei 33.8%, other 3.6%; voter turnout 85% (according to official figures published by the government)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami or Majles (290 seats; members elected by popular vote from single and multimember districts to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 2 March 2012 (first round); second round date - NA (next election to be held in 2016)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

The Supreme Court (Qeveh Qazaieh) and the four-member High Council of the Judiciary have a single head and overlapping responsibilities; together they supervise the enforcement of all laws and establish judicial and legal policies; lower courts include a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special administrative court

Flag description (this is in here to show you the meaning of the flag, and what is important to the Iranian regime and it's supporters):

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color of Islam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty and peace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom

ALL of this information is in the CIA Factbook. It's NOT crap and it's NOTHING I'm peddling. I'm sorry if you're okay with BIS throwing years of research and intelligence on Iran out the window. All I want is a believable story. That's all. Here are the facts about Iran. If BIS wants to retcon those facts, and present an Iran that has never been an Islamic nation, then I'd rather them do that, and do it completely, rather than just changing the name and flag and expecting fans to make sense of it.

As I said, I say again: When 98% of the Iranian population is Muslim, there is absolutely NO way that any Iranian regime would be secular. SgtH3nry3 is right. Iran is NOT Turkey. There will never be any kind of coup or uprising that ISN'T Islamic. There's a point where you need to go learn history, and learn the way the world really works. History isn't something that can just be thrown aside and ignored. Everything that is going on today, and everything that will go on in the future is because of events that happened before you lifetime and before mine. If you don't consider the historical significance of something, then you have no basis upon which to write fiction. All fiction must be based on some historical fact. In the very least, if BIS doesn't want to take my word for it, and the CIA's research and intelligence on Iran, at least take example from Ubisoft and their Assassin's Creed games. Learn from them how to weave a historical fiction story that takes into consideration real history, and spins a narrative based off of that. Base your fiction off of fact and history. Make Iran Islamic, and you can have a proper basis for their actions leading up to ArmA3. If you wanted a fake Iran, then you should have made up yet ANOTHER fake country to take Iran's place.

Oh, and another thing. The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini is appointed Supreme Leader for Life, and is answerable ONLY to the Assembly of Experts, a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics (this is in the above quote). This Esfahan Coup d’état takes place in 2019, just 7 years from now. By that time, the Ayatollah will be 79 (he's 72 right now). He'd most likely still be alive. Explain how he's going to be removed. When 98% of the population is Muslim, any coup would consist of Muslims. They aren't going to remove their Supreme Leader, who is also an Islamic religious scholar. He would still be the Supreme Leader in 2019. Therefore, Iran would still be an Islamic country anyway.

Edited March 29, 2012 by antoineflemming

[maturin 12]

ALL of this information is in the CIA Factbook. It's NOT crap and it's NOTHING I'm peddling.

It's a far-flung assortment of facts that has nothing to do with the crap you're peddling. What you are doing is making an absolutist historical judgment based on laughable simplification, and a zealously confident prediction of the future. Orientalism par excellence.

As I said, I say again: When 98% of the Iranian population is Muslim,

Because all religiously homogenous states have always been theocracies. Of course.

SgtH3nry3 is right. Iran is NOT Turkey.

Did you read his post? He ably pointed out how the Islamic Revolution was a radical departure from the history of government and religion in Persia. It was a very modern phenomenon, even if a lot of the policies appear medieval.

There will never be any kind of coup or uprising that ISN'T Islamic.

DERP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shah

This guy took power over a state with a constitution resembling that of a western secular state, while simply enshrining Islam as the official religion (just like other states have official languages). The Constitution of 1906 spelled out that Iran was an Iranian state, ethnically defined, and there was only lip service towards giving clerics a say in what laws were acceptable. A provision the Shahs routinely ignored.

[antoineflemming 14]

It's a far-flung assortment of facts that has nothing to do with the crap you're peddling. What you are doing is making an absolutist historical judgment based on laughable simplification, and a zealously confident prediction of the future. Orientalism par excellence.

Because all religiously homogenous states have always been theocracies. Of course.

Did you read his post? He ably pointed out how the Islamic Revolution was a radical departure from the history of government and religion in Persia. It was a very modern phenomenon, even if a lot of the policies appear medieval.

DERP. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shah

This guy took power over a state with a constitution resembling that of a western secular state, while simply enshrining Islam as the official religion (just like other states have official languages). The Constitution of 1906 spelled out that Iran was an Iranian state, ethnically defined, and there was only lip service towards giving clerics a say in what laws were acceptable. A provision the Shahs routinely ignored.

The "crap" I "peddled", about how 98% of the Iranian population is Muslim, is CLEARLY stated. But of course, you've got more knowledge, wisdom, experience, intelligence, etc, than the CIA, so of course in your blind ignorance you know everything about Iran... Wrong. Since the Islamic Revolution which radically changed Iran, and given the FACT that 98% of Iranians are Muslim, there won't be a non-Islamic coup. But you know what, whatever, it doesn't even really matter. You're right. This is BIS's alternate reality. It's just apparent that in this alternate reality Iran probably never was a radical Islamic nation, probably never had a radical Islamic revolution. There's probably a larger population of secular Iranians as well. There's probably no Supreme Leader either. And there probably aren't Iran-sponsored, Islamic terror/militant groups in the ArmAverse. If all this is the case, then I can understand a secular Iran. But if these aspects of Iran still exist in the ArmAverse, then I can't see a non-Islamic Iran. So if Iran has no Islamic connections, or aspects to begin with, then yeah, a secular Iran makes sense.