Group Lore Suggestion (and for the World Map?)

[Ocean Man]

Hey Lore Team (and whoever else is reading this)

I've decided to make some background lore for my upcoming resistance group, I wanted to make more of an international resistance network in which City 24 is more of a newly established outpost rather than the hub of all group activity. The group, known as the "Freedom Railway" is an infiltration/espionage group that relies on codes, spray-paint "call signs" and anonymity to smuggle in supplies and smuggle out people, and gather intelligence through planted "agents". I've decided to write in five stations (four operational) and one "supply line" into the lore with potential later on for settlement building once the group gets traction. I'd love to know your thoughts (and if it gets a spot on the World Map even better) any any tweaks you may suggest I make. For context, I have included the full group lore (which still needs some polish) for context which I would recommend you scan through first.


You can find the full group lore here: https://willard.network/forums/threads/the-freedom-railway-city-24-cell.13825/


Waterloo Station (Headquarters)
Location: City 2 (Remnants)
Agents: 45
Supplies: Ample
Status: Thriving
Lore:

Head of operations and the spearhead of all major operations, Waterloo Station remains a pivotal location for the Freedom Railway to coordinate movements and relay intelligence between stations. Forged from the remnants of City Two, Old London, following the combined effort of countless resistance groups, including the HMLR and Freedom Railway, to overthrow the tyrannical leadership of “Delmonds Dynasty”. Now, in derelict London, the group remains mostly underground utilising the vast underground tunnels of the city under the watchful eye of Jacob Huxley, the groups’ founding member and Lead Conductor. It was from Waterloo Station that all other stations branched out from and rely primarily for their upkeep and resources, though stations will assist each other when they have the means to do so.

Victoria Station
Location: City 35
Agents: 15
Supplies: Stretched
Status: Operational
Lore:

Located in the old capital of Denmark, Victoria Station is without doubt the most impoverished, yet still operational, station amongst the network. Under the harsh regime and inhospitable industrial atmosphere, the group has taken refuge in the derelict district of Valby amongst a group of underground basements connected to a large apartment complex. Working with little more than basic radio equipment and a supply route acting as a life-line for the agents, the group is more concerned on evacuating City thirty-fives residents than it is on gathering intelligence. The operation is largely run by a skeleton crew of infiltrators and those who spread word of a better life on the outside.

Stratford Station
Location: City 57
Agents: 23
Supplies: Sufficient
Status: Operational
Lore:

Often considered to be the “Number Two” station in Europe, this Belgian station situated in Brussels reaps the benefits of structural stability from Combine “rebuilding” after its war-torn past. Situated in the old-world underground system of maintenance tunnels, Stratford Station is the main location for supply storage and refugee processing, albeit to other outposts or Stations, or back to Waterloo Station itself. Agents here are trained especially for infiltration and subversion, using their “privileged” position to extract intelligence from all manner of Union operations, whether civilian, military or political. This station serves as a beacon for logistical and operational planning for headquarters and outpost stations alike.

Farringdon Station
Location: City 58
Agents: ??
Supplies: Depleted
Status: Compromised
Lore:

Originally one of the more prosperous stations in the network, Farringdon Station owed its success to its location on the harbour of The Hague, intercepting supply runs made from the British Isles. Farringdon Station would use their connections with relevantly safe waters to transport citizens away from the city and towards Harwich Harbour in the United Kingdom so that they could be safely transported to resistance-controlled settlements. However, due to the intense meteorological changes brought with portal storms close to the area, the base was abandoned due to concerns of flooding and disrupted supply paths. Upon moving their equipment to a safer, more in-land location, agents were caught by Civil Protection forces with many being killed for their acts of treason, or worse. With limited communication with the station from headquarters, and key figures in its leadership being taken out, the ultimate fate of Farringdon Station is largely unknown.


Paddington Station
Location: City 24
Agents: ??
Supplies: ??
Status: ??
Lore: ??

“The Tracks”
Location: Across Europe and parts of Asia
Agents: Few, but with many associates
Supplies: Plentiful
Status: Operational
Lore:

The Tracks, as is commonly referred to, are the supply lines that facilitate safe travel of smuggled citizens and vital supplies to the stations. While small deviations are often made in the interest of maintaining confidentiality from the Combine and safety from Xenian life, the routes have largely remained the same from their inception. Whilst traversing much of the old-world countryside, many checkpoints and detours through resistance-owned territory make the path one of the “safer” paths to saunter through in this hostile post-apocalyptic world.

 

[FungletheBungle]

I have some constructive criticism regarding the name. That being it's far too American for the region of the world it's in. Freedom Railway clearly takes its inspiration from Pre- / Ongoing American Civil War. Fallout also did this however it worked for that because it was set in America and was using the link to tell a narrative. The problem with this in Half life however is that Half Life has much more of a late 90's early 2000's vibe. It's not a world filled with larpers and ideology (not to say that I haven't fallen right into this hole and also not to say that there isn't some place for this.) But at this point in the story of Half Life there is almost no culture, there is just human. That's why they don't call the rebels "Black Mesa Remnants" (though they can have certain locations reflect that history such as Black Mesa East). Instead they call the rebel group Lambda, which being part of Greek Alphabet, use in both the West and in eastern Europe makes it a much larger umbrella for people to fall under.

TL: DR
Large groups shouldn't be so culturally tied into a name, it slowly wears away at the vibe half life sets, small subsections can though, obvs.

P.S. On another note, I also think it fails as since the entire earth is essentially an open air prison, the idea that there is an entire group dedicated to "freeing" citizen by simply moving them is strategically unsound. I have more thoughts but it'd have to be a post on the vibes of half life. Too many words here.

 

[ford-michigan]

far too American for the region of the world

There are different people in different areas. Just because we are in France does not make us all French. Also this could be an opportunity for them to reform it so that the IC founding people are from North America (hint hint).

 

[FungletheBungle]

There are different people in different areas. Just because we are in France does not make us all French. Also this could be an opportunity for them to reform it so that the IC founding people are from North America (hint hint).

If you read the post you'll notice I cover the fact that there are different people in different areas, in fact, it's one of the pillars of my argument. The point is that having such an american culture around it would (IC) turn people of other cultures away from it. The broader the identity an organization has, the more people it will attract (IC) and vice versa.

 

[Ocean Man]

I have some constructive criticism regarding the name. That being it's far too American for the region of the world it's in. Freedom Railway clearly takes its inspiration from Pre- / Ongoing American Civil War. Fallout also did this however it worked for that because it was set in America and was using the link to tell a narrative. The problem with this in Half life however is that Half Life has much more of a late 90's early 2000's vibe. It's not a world filled with larpers and ideology (not to say that I haven't fallen right into this hole and also not to say that there isn't some place for this.) But at this point in the story of Half Life there is almost no culture, there is just human. That's why they don't call the rebels "Black Mesa Remnants" (though they can have certain locations reflect that history such as Black Mesa East). Instead they call the rebel group Lambda, which being part of Greek Alphabet, use in both the West and in eastern Europe makes it a much larger umbrella for people to fall under.

TL: DR
Large groups shouldn't be so culturally tied into a name, it slowly wears away at the vibe half life sets, small subsections can though, obvs.

P.S. On another note, I also think it fails as since the entire earth is essentially an open air prison, the idea that there is an entire group dedicated to "freeing" citizen by simply moving them is strategically unsound. I have more thoughts but it'd have to be a post on the vibes of half life. Too many words here.

Thank you for your feedback, I agree with your comments regarding the name in having "American-esq" vibes whereas the cell was established in old London, perhaps if anything the name should reflect the culture of London England better. I feel as though having a generic name (like the Lambda resistance) without reference to origins or cultural ties results in a more bland, generic group that on the side of roleplay makes things less fun (for me personally). I like the idea of having a niche group with certain proclivities and rationale for its actions, however warped. I'll have a think about what I could swap "Freedom" for.

I'm not sure about the "open air prison" idea, at least entirely. It is reasonable to suggest that the Combine control the major military, scientific, political and residential (city) regions of earth, but as we see in the games there are numerous resistance controlled settlements (both in the countryside and small towns like pre-infected Ravenholm) which offer safe havens for citizens who manage to escape the regime, the resistance control smuggling and supply routes through the canals of City 17 and I would say it's (while a stretch) completely possible for this to work on a network between cities and settlements. It's not to say they won't be found or routes will be viable forever, but I believe it's completely possible.

Once again thank you for your ideas and I will consider this when rewriting my groups' lore.

 

[FungletheBungle]

I feel as though having a generic name (like the Lambda resistance) without reference to origins or cultural ties results in a more bland, generic group that on the side of roleplay makes things less fun

Totally understand, but do note Lambda does have a cultural tie to bring all "scientists" together, no matter where in the world they are from.

It's not to say they won't be found or routes will be viable forever, but I believe it's completely possible.

My point on this was to say that the goal of getting people out the city just for the sake of it, when said citizens would have no skills to contribute, is a foolish goal. The only solution to the combine problem is the removal of said combine. You can only support so many people outside the city so you have to pick who they are carefully. Everyone else would just have to survive in the city. Perhaps adding the fact that the group only moves certain kinds of people (smart, fit, useful) and would even kidnap people they want could add a layer of complexity to the group, or have two factions in the group that disagree on this point but still work together.

 

[RedHotGinger]

That's why they don't call the rebels "Black Mesa Remnants" (though they can have certain locations reflect that history such as Black Mesa East). Instead they call the rebel group Lambda

Ironically a bit incorrect. The name Lambda is more likely in reference/honor to the Black Mesa Lambda Complex which housed the portal technology. Which does kinda make it a callback or reference to the events and history they held there.

---

As for the group, there are a couple of things that struck me as a bit off while keeping it pretty simple.

Firstly, size. According to this post, the group operates, or at least did, within Five cities and even more outland locations, potentially dozens given how long these 'tracks' would have to be and how many checkpoints and considerations you'd have to make to keep them clear.

The scale is turned way too high as far as location density and outreach is concerned. Even Lambda was mostly catered towards one location and they were quite large and to become the single most successful resistance group by far. This groups numbers should be tuned way down. At most, present within two cities that are fairly close together, as otherwise operations are not possible or feasible.

Side note, don't place exact number figures imo. In willard, this never does much other than raise eyebrows. Better to keep it vague with estimations or simple descriptions of capacity.

Another smaller note, but one that should be mentioned, is one of caution. Attempt to not to trivialize the difficulty of getting people in/out of a city. In Willard, all people have to do is open a few doors, partake in a small sprint and they've escaped the Combine regime. This is definitely a bad representation of the difficulty incurred, and I'd say the group would be better off for RP'ing into how difficult that stuff actually is.

 

[FungletheBungle]

Ironically a bit incorrect. The name Lambda is more likely in reference/honor to the Black Mesa Lambda Complex which housed the portal technology. Which does kinda make it a callback or reference to the events and history they held there.

---

Embarrassing, Rookie Mistake, It's over.

I was wrong, however that being said Lambda is not a culturally American term so point still stands on the later arguments

 

[ramen]

>Fungle says “Freedom Railway” is too American
>One of the only established refugee group names in the Half-Life universe is, quite literally, the “Underground Railroad.”
>They free people (City residents) from oppression (The Combine) by moving them to far off lands (The Outlands).
>This is very obviously similar to the American Underground Railroad, which freed people (African slaves) from oppression (American slave owners) by moving them to far off lands (The American North/Canada).

Saying the name is “too American” isn't really fair, as this in universe, established canon name is very obviously culturally “American,” however, it is still used.

 

[FungletheBungle]

>Fungle says “Freedom Railway” is too American
>One of the only established refugee group names in the Half-Life universe is, quite literally, the “Underground Railroad.”
>They free people (City residents) from oppression (The Combine) by moving them to far off lands (The Outlands).
>This is very obviously similar to the American Underground Railroad, which freed people (African slaves) from oppression (American slave owners) by moving them to far off lands (The American North/Canada).

Saying the name is “too American” isn't really fair, as this in universe, established canon name is very obviously culturally “American,” however, it is still used.

>It is
>Not a group, a system of checkpoints ran by the more neutrally named "Resistance"
>Real life wasn't "far-off lands" unless you consider New England far-off
>Most call it a canal network ( "The resistance canal network")
>Americans (Ex-Black mesa) describing what it is to another American(Gordon Freeman) reference historical parallel to better contextualize it.
>Greentext isn't green

Try harder.

 

[TheGamingPlumber]

Who cares let @Ocean Man cook