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CITY 32 - ROME, ITALY

mottle

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2020
Messages
27
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City Thirty-Two
Status: <:: Stable ::>

"The Futurist City"

City Thirty-Two is a Combine urban center located in Rome, Italy. The city resides a sparse population of native Italian civilians divided into six allocated districts around the perimeter of the capital. The nexus is established on the Roman Forum where a network of communication cables are rested on the old marble pillars surrounding the forum. The city houses several garrisons of metropolitan police forces tasked to ensure security and order within the city limits.

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Before the annexation by the Combine Empire, Rome's history is filled with artistic and political wonders that shaped modern society. The Roman Empire had risen and fell numerous times but was one of the first empires to conquer almost all of western Europe. The country of Italy served as an enemy to the Allied Powers in World War II and was defeated in 1943 following the death of Benito Mussolini.

The United States like Germany and Japan have kept a watchful eye over Italy and protected the sovereign nation from foreign aggression during the Cold War. It's military presence aided the country's growth and popularity as a southwestern nation.

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In 2001, the entire Italian peninsula was devastated by the portal storms as a consequence of the Black Mesa Incident. Hostile Xenian wildlife devastated the natural landscape and oceans surrounding Italy. Civilians that resided in the countryside were forced to evacuate to the cities in order to be safe and secure from the growing crisis of alien fauna. Food and supplies dwindled as the native creatures were slain by vicious antlions and leeches in the coast as well as colonies of headcrabs, zombies, and bull squids from the city limits.

Eventually, the Combine Empire invaded Earth with the beginning of "The Seven Hour War". Italy's local military aided by the U.S. military stationed within the country were swiftly defeated by the enemy's synthetic forces. The remnants of the country's military was conscripted by the Combine to maintain local order and establish the now City Thirty-Two.

By early 2005 with the construction of City Thirty-Two complete, The Combine set to establish an experimental weather station that would influence the seasons and tides of the peninsula. The draining of the landscape's natural resources led to a series of violent earthquakes that shattered and destroyed many regional cities as well as The Vatican State.

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In late 2006, A rebellion spiraled by the annexed forces of the 173rd Airborne Brigade have captured District Six, the furthest district away from City Thirty-Two. The remnant organization now dubbed as the "Sky Soldiers" by astounded settlers. The former conscripts attempted to enact their liberation and destroy the experimental weather controller which has become the powerhouse of the Combine's control of entire Italian peninsula. Unfortunately the resistance was defeated after forty-seven days of guerilla warfare and it's remnants spread throughout the peninsula in order to regroup and replenish. The rebellion still houses a small network of agents spread throughout the districts to gain support and intel on their next attack but it has been over a decade since the first uprising and many believe the organization has been wiped out. The local City Administration tightens their grip immensely over the districts utilizing the uprising as their reason to attain further control of the peninsula.

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In 2008, with most of the surrounding regions outside City 32 and its sister districts devastated from continuous tectonic shifts of earthquakes. The City Administration established an Archaeological Branch to scavenge, recover, and "restore" artifacts of Roman history buried within the debris of the affected cities. Unbeknownst to many, The Combine seeks to recover these artifacts in the attempt to destroy or warp the history of Rome and the idea of "civilization" to suit the prospects of the New World. There are some groups that attempt to discover and hide the artifacts from the Combine or sell them onto the black market to the highest bidder. This effort continues today where many artifacts are still missing and areas still unexplored due to the hostile threat of weather and fauna.


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The "Weather Controller" is stationed in the outskirts of City Thirty Two and near the old city turned black-site called Pisa. A project designed by the Combine originally to implement control over Earth's weather patterns for further resource extraction. Fortunately the Weather Controller's design is only effective on landscapes with surrounding oceans that regulate a consistent wind and temperature cycle thus hindering the project from successful implementation in more mountainous and inland locations. Deeming the project a localized failure. Nonetheless the Weather Controller's purpose breeds success in restricting the movement of Xenian wildlife, dissidents, and culling potential uprisings. The site is cloaked by an ever continuing tropical storm that has destroyed the surrounding buildings, roads, and landscapes of Pisa. A lone network of tunnels guarded by smart barriers, auto turrets, and the Combine's most elite transhumant soldiers reside to protect the installation from attack.

The city stands as one of the safest and most secured strongholds in mainland Italy. The constant shifting weather aided by the weather control project has turned the country into a dark and gloomy shadow of its' former self. Be careful to venture outside the city limits.

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The current City Administrator Silvio Casto has established his experimental cultural recreation in City Thirty-Two. The Roman-Futurism experiment has been ongoing for the past several years and was deemed a success in redesigning old Roman culture to suit the interests of the Combine Empire. Administrator Casto has planned to expand his cultural revolution throughout the world. He has most recently been seen at City Twenty-Four announcing his project while contending to the border dispute of the Alps against City Thirteen in Paris, France. Unfortunately his project was disputed and rejected by the Administrator of City Twenty-Four. In anger, Administrator Casto vowed to introduce sanctions as tensions between Rome and Geneva rise.




 
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Is this the place for criticisms? Ah well I'll move if it isn't

First thing I noticed was a lack of clarity, mainly in the subject choice. Are you talking about city 32, or the whole Italian Peninsula? I understand that its the latter, but perhaps introducing them in a clearer way would do this well.

Beyond that a few points make little sense. For example, the Colosseum. This seems to follow the rule of cool more then anything, which isn't bad in itself, it just seems a bit thematically off.

Another point I would like to make is the lack of any real reason why its set in Rome, bar the Colosseum. What makes City 32 needed? Why Rome?
It feels as if I could take this document, get rid of the Colosseum and then just paste it anywhere else in the world. It has no flavor making it Rome.

In conclusion, it just feels a bit shallow and brings little to the table. Perhaps the Colosseum could work if developed further, but I don't feel it as of now.
 
Is this the place for criticisms? Ah well I'll move if it isn't

First thing I noticed was a lack of clarity, mainly in the subject choice. Are you talking about city 32, or the whole Italian Peninsula? I understand that its the latter, but perhaps introducing them in a clearer way would do this well.

Beyond that a few points make little sense. For example, the Colosseum. This seems to follow the rule of cool more then anything, which isn't bad in itself, it just seems a bit thematically off.

Another point I would like to make is the lack of any real reason why its set in Rome, bar the Colosseum. What makes City 32 needed? Why Rome?
It feels as if I could take this document, get rid of the Colosseum and then just paste it anywhere else in the world. It has no flavor making it Rome.

In conclusion, it just feels a bit shallow and brings little to the table. Perhaps the Colosseum could work if developed further, but I don't feel it as of now.

Thank you for the feedback. I utilized City 32 in Rome Italy as the world map states it's presence there but it was not filled so I figured I give a shot in implementing some lore to the city.

Would you recommend anything that I could add or change that may seem better for the colosseum?
 
Thank you for the feedback. I utilized City 32 in Rome Italy as the world map states it's presence there but it was not filled so I figured I give a shot in implementing some lore to the city.

Would you recommend anything that I could add or change that may seem better for the colosseum?
We actually have a discord for writing Rome's lore, since the lore for the City has a large impact on the rest of the world.
Although, at least for me, the focus is less on the city and more on the Papacy.
Feel free to join
 
A gladiator ring? This seems like a very extreme implementation of "local flair" that the Combine Administration on Earth would never ever allow. The idea lacks tact. This used to be Rome. Wouldn't loyalists instead focus around the study of civilized society and such, considering that Rome was one of the seats of modern civilization? Hell, if you want to keep the "gladiator" type ordeal, make it into a huge underground anti-citizen affair that the Combine are wanting to stomp out. As a government activity though? Makes no sense. As it stands, this doesn't have my support.
 
The citadel is established on the Roman Forum where a network of communication cables are rested on the old marble pillars surrounding the forum
Lore team talked about this. We all decided that Rome would not have a citadel due to its close proximity to City 24 and City 17. Replace it with a Nexus construct of some form.

The "Weather Controller" is stationed near the Leaning Tower of Pisa guarded by the Combine's most elite transhumant Soldiers.
While an interesting idea, I do not think the combine would house such a large and advanced facility that is arguably so important, right in the middle of a city. Installations like these are typically found in the outlands, far from prying eyes of common civilians or biotics. You could argue the vault from HL:A disproves this, but that was a construct of circumstance, and one they were attempting to get out of City 17. This is only further supported since the device is used to create a grim, unsavory atmosphere, which obviously would make it a target for upset civilians. (Assuming its function is somewhat known due to the Sky soldier attack.)

The City Administration established an Archaeological Branch to scavenge, recover, and restore artifacts of Roman history
This seems like an unlikely goal to be officially supported by the CCA. 'The old world' is generally propagated as a chaotic and lost time for humanity, a time before the 'grace' of the Combine arrived. So, it is unlikely they would be allowed to spend resources and efforts trying to recover ancient baubles. There are ways this could easily fit in, but it should probably be a less officiated endeavor.


Aside from those things, it looks like something that fits in the world just fine.
 
Lore team talked about this. We all decided that Rome would not have a citadel due to its close proximity to City 24 and City 17. Replace it with a Nexus construct of some form.

Fair statement, that is an easy change that I can create.


While an interesting idea, I do not think the combine would house such a large and advanced facility that is arguably so important, right in the middle of a city. Installations like these are typically found in the outlands, far from prying eyes of common civilians or biotics. You could argue the vault from HL:A disproves this, but that was a construct of circumstance, and one they were attempting to get out of City 17. This is only further supported since the device is used to create a grim, unsavory atmosphere, which obviously would make it a target for upset civilians. (Assuming its function is somewhat known due to the Sky soldier attack.)

The idea of the Weather Controller was to build on to the canon not only for the city but for the Sky Soldiers as well. I want there to be a reason as to why the earthquakes are more prevalent now in this timeline as opposed to the real world. I want to give the land a fresh take of mystery that is buried within the rubble of old and new cities that are ripe for excavating, scavenging, and archaeologically. And the Weather Controller builds onto the goal for either the Sky Soldiers or another resistance group to assault and destroy in the future in order to free the region at least from Combine control assuming if it ever happens.

This seems like an unlikely goal to be officially supported by the CCA. 'The old world' is generally propagated as a chaotic and lost time for humanity, a time before the 'grace' of the Combine arrived. So, it is unlikely they would be allowed to spend resources and efforts trying to recover ancient baubles. There are ways this could easily fit in, but it should probably be a less officiated endeavor.


Aside from those things, it looks like something that fits in the world just fine.

While looking at this critique, It gave me the inspiration to potentially warp it as sort of a task for the Combine to recover these artifacts and either destroy them or change them to suit the ideas of the "new world". This can potentially be an idea that rebel groups can race to a challenge to recover these artifacts first to save them from destruction or sell them into the black market for other resources or necessities.

Fixed.
 
Seems okay now

The idea of the Weather Controller was to build on to the canon not only for the city but for the Sky Soldiers as well. I want there to be a reason as to why the earthquakes are more prevalent now in this timeline as opposed to the real world. I want to give the land a fresh take of mystery that is buried within the rubble of old and new cities that are ripe for excavating, scavenging, and archaeologically. And the Weather Controller builds onto the goal for either the Sky Soldiers or another resistance group to assault and destroy in the future in order to free the region at least from Combine control assuming if it ever happens.
Alright, makes sense. I don't have an issue with it if that is the case.

Waiting on @RedHotGinger to reply as well.
 
The idea of the Weather Controller was to build on to the canon not only for the city but for the Sky Soldiers as well. I want there to be a reason as to why the earthquakes are more prevalent now in this timeline as opposed to the real world. I want to give the land a fresh take of mystery that is buried within the rubble of old and new cities that are ripe for excavating, scavenging, and archaeologically. And the Weather Controller builds onto the goal for either the Sky Soldiers or another resistance group to assault and destroy in the future in order to free the region at least from Combine control assuming if it ever happens.

I will relent to this point. However, I do recommend going into greater detail regarding the Weather Controller and its current status within the city. Specifically defenses, since it more or less has an 'exposed' feeling about it since not much is actually mentioned. The use of Combine Smart Barriers and other creative means of securing the valuable asset would make it seem more settled in the location, and would provide further context as to why the uprising failed.

All other issues have been fixed and the rest of the concept looks good.
 
I will relent to this point. However, I do recommend going into greater detail regarding the Weather Controller and its current status within the city. Specifically defenses, since it more or less has an 'exposed' feeling about it since not much is actually mentioned. The use of Combine Smart Barriers and other creative means of securing the valuable asset would make it seem more settled in the location, and would provide further context as to why the uprising failed.

All other issues have been fixed and the rest of the concept looks good.

The Weather Controller is stationed in the outskirts of City Thirty-Two. It functions as a blacksite and it's initial barrier/cloak is a tropical storm that continuously ravages teh surrounding site. The only way to enter the controller is through a network of old tunnels that are guarded by smart barriers, autoturrets, and transhumant soldiers.
 
The Weather Controller is stationed in the outskirts of City Thirty-Two. It functions as a blacksite and it's initial barrier/cloak is a tropical storm that continuously ravages teh surrounding site. The only way to enter the controller is through a network of old tunnels that are guarded by smart barriers, autoturrets, and transhumant soldiers.
That concept sounds good to me.
 
I have a problem with the concept of the Weather Controller as it is beta lore and came from a time in the lore when the Combine did actively change the climate of Earth for the intended purpose of colonization. However, that entire concept was thrown out after the beta and there are no remnants in the lore of such a concept even existing (at least at the point when Gordon arrives in HL2).

What I'm trying to say is that I'm not just going to let this one be approved unless I hear a good reason why the Weather Controller should even exist when its entire concept had been thoroughly guttered after the beta.

Have they not switched it on yet or something?
 
I have a problem with the concept of the Weather Controller as it is beta lore and came from a time in the lore when the Combine did actively change the climate of Earth for the intended purpose of colonization. However, that entire concept was thrown out after the beta and there are no remnants in the lore of such a concept even existing (at least at the point when Gordon arrives in HL2).

What I'm trying to say is that I'm not just going to let this one be approved unless I hear a good reason why the Weather Controller should even exist when its entire concept had been thoroughly guttered after the beta.

Have they not switched it on yet or something?

It's on but it only impacts the local region around Italy primarily. You can say it's still a developing project that the Combine is trying to do in order to gain more control over Earth via it's own weather patterns.
 
I don't like the concept in general.

Sort of rubs me in the wrong way in regards to utilizing what is practically a very precise bit of beta lore (which was responcible for a lot the theme of the beta) and assuming that the Combine would not just implement these stations across the rest of the world or at least in or near City 17 the moment the project in Rome finds success.

I think you need to express heavily that this project is highly experimental and has found enough setbacks that there is no way that this project could be implemented on a global scale for whatever reason.
 
I don't like the concept in general.

Sort of rubs me in the wrong way in regards to utilizing what is practically a very precise bit of beta lore (which was responcible for a lot the theme of the beta) and assuming that the Combine would not just implement these stations across the rest of the world or at least in or near City 17 the moment the project in Rome finds success.

I think you need to express heavily that this project is highly experimental and has found enough setbacks that there is no way that this project could be implemented on a global scale for whatever reason.
@TheDeNuke

Would I could probably do is say that the experimental weather controller is only restricted for implementation on islands and peninsulas due to the constant shift and rotation of weather patterns and the need for a clear landscape to operate efficiently i.e. not being blocked by mountains, tundras or other obstacles that may inhibit it's progress. Can that work?
 
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Yes, The Weather Controller does need to be kept to a heavily localized AOE. Aside from just circumstantial means of limiting it, an absolute stoppage in its AOE and power should be introduced as well. A physical limitation if you will, severe enough that the combine deemed it unworthy of continuation in all other sectors. It's effects should also be less severe when compared to its Beta counterpart. It can influence the weather, and even summon intense storms or temperature variations if needed, but this should not be a constant effect, since they would have no reason to enable it at all times.

Basically, it should not be nearly as powerful or successful as the Beta variant. It cannot literally choke the world around it in a viscous green plague or anything. It is basically an experimental Non-conventional weapon within the region that, though deemed unsuccessful, still operates as it has local use in hindering anti-civil elements beyond the city limits.
 
Yes, The Weather Controller does need to be kept to a heavily localized AOE. Aside from just circumstantial means of limiting it, an absolute stoppage in its AOE and power should be introduced as well. A physical limitation if you will, severe enough that the combine deemed it unworthy of continuation in all other sectors. It's effects should also be less severe when compared to its Beta counterpart. It can influence the weather, and even summon intense storms or temperature variations if needed, but this should not be a constant effect, since they would have no reason to enable it at all times.

Basically, it should not be nearly as powerful or successful as the Beta variant. It cannot literally choke the world around it in a viscous green plague or anything. It is basically an experimental Non-conventional weapon within the region that, though deemed unsuccessful, still operates as it has local use in hindering anti-civil elements beyond the city limits.

Yes exactly, that is a good point.

@TheDeNuke

Is there anything additional that I may be able to add or change in regards to the city's lore?

Also if approved, will this be added onto the lore map?
 
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That's fine.

The weather controller shall be a localized failure.

Make sure you update the above post for final review.
 
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