Seven Seas Democratic Sphere

**Dev. Status** | Conceptual

*"On Sunday I walk out with a Soldier,*

*On Monday I'm taken by a Tar,*

*On Tuesday I'm out with a baby Boy Scout,*

*On Wednesday a Hussar;*

*On Thursday a gang oot wi' a Scottie,*

*On Friday, the Captain of the crew;*

*But on Saturday I'm willing, if you'll only take the shilling,*

*To make a man of any one of you."*

- *"I'll make a man of you"* a British World War One recruitment song
The Seven Seas Democratic Sphere is a faction designed by (insert), whose roster consist of the old Industrial Guild (updated to fit the new lore). The faction composing of a corporate-feudal alliance between England and Japan, forming what is known as the Brittanian Empire, with 24 “Spheres” of conquered territory.

The SSDS buys their buildings in directly and then builds them on the map, using the MCVs as a rapid way of making factory sites, The SSDS also uses ore for money and power, having found that through the use of "alchemy" (the SSDS version of psychic), the rock, when combined with whale oil and later on diesel, can easily be transmuted into "Whale Oil" (keeping its original name despite having switched to diesel) an even more potent form of fossil fuel, however, Whale Oil is highly damaging to the environment, and extremely toxic on contact, or worse inhalation. The SSDS normally feels no need to have strong bases, resulting in weak & big power-guzzling buildings, but thanks to their simplicity, they are quick to build and are cheap. And every SSDS unit are initially not given special weapon to keep costs low, and instead has to buy it from the factories on the field. In return, the industry excels at what it can do, namely build up a massive amount of units in short order. Reinbert the second, and his various descendants, has succeeded in making a quality navy made from refitted commercial and civilian ships, inspiring envy in some of the minor families involved with the SSDS. The SSD uses a mixture of weak cars and heavy tanks in a direct attack approach, such as building four battle cars for the price of one. Thanks to the influence of major industial leader Reinbert the second, The Industry uses victorian style factories.

## Origins

*"Earth first! We'll strip mine the other planets later."*

- *The Seven Seas Democratic Sphere Motto*
The **Seven Seas Democratic Sphere**, also shortly known as **SSDS** or **Sphere** is a coalition of several families with large branches of heavy industry and an international cooperation with production plants spread around the world. The first leader of this ragtag band of snobs is called Reinbert II, he owns the largest civilian naval-producing facilities in the world, with Reinbert VII being the latest patriarch.

It all began in the economic low point following the Ming Dynasty's victory in the First Opium War and the Spartacist formation, while the economy was vulnerable and the nobility was panicking. Reinbert II saw his chance to overpower the already fragile economic environment of the global economy, and in his bids, united several other families, the Matthews, the Amontille's, culminating their their unlikely alliance with Japan with the Oda, Kururugi, and Bahksi, who are just as wary about the Chinese growing power. With all of their combined forces in the bid, the resulting shockwave send tremors deep into the market, resonating in the lower levels, who were quick to react.

In order to prevent the Seven Seas Democratic Sphere from taking the market and causing millions of losses, the Holy League quickly began backing their own industry in order to counter the punch, and not only by economical means, and in the end were succesful enough to drive the market's status into a grounding tie, the Seven Seas Democratic Sphere controlled roughly 31% of the market, the Ming Dynasty (although not officially) 34%, the Hole Leagues and the remaining corporations about 35% (altough with heavy losses).

Unsatisfied with the ending result, the board of classics sent for Reinbert II and invited him for dinner, which he declined. Instead, he invited the Holy nobility to dine in his mansion. The League internally decided to accept the offer, albeit not on themselves, hiring stand-ins to do the dangerous job for them, and sending a surprise with them (the stand-ins were in constant communication with the actual members through cablefree communication pieces).

Upon entering the mansion, the stand-ins, most of them with as little sense of money as the middle class working order, were awed by the richdoms found in his mansion. This slightly intrigued Reinbert II, altough he did not show it, and ammounted to host the Syndicate members in a fashionable manner. When the discussion dwindled to the economic situation and Syndicate losses, Reinbert II simply stated the Syndicate should have seen him coming, and to the boardmembers warning him of the dangerous consequences of the Syndicate losing millions mildly replied *"Bad luck"*.

After sensing the Sphere's leader wasn't going to budge, one of the stand-ins stood up and revealed his true intentions by drawing his monomolecular whip, upon wich Reinbert II looked mildly suprised. The Satyr jumped acros the table, aiming for Reinbert's head (slashing the heads of 2 stand-ins in the process), but skidlanded on the table as Reinbert blew the assasin's head of with a part of his family's coat of arms, a golden musket and galleon. Almost immediatly afterward, Reinbert's bodyguards stormed the room and took care of the rude guests.

The remaining stand-ins were send home with the message *"Get your boss to pay for the damage on my antique chairs, will you? They're Victorian."* Up to today, the Holy League and SSDS are treating each other with cool indifference. It has yet to happen that one of the two parties irritates the other, but it's a bomb ticking off. It has however been confirmed that Reinbert II had his chairs refunded.

Over the next decades, the Seven Seas Democratic Sphere has taken a slightly eccentric turn towards Victorian Britain and Edo Japan, especially Victorian London due to Reinbert's obsession with the era. It is often compared to how the Holy League has a similar liking of medieval France and tsarist Russia. His reasoning is that both the eras shared two interesting aspects: work was actually possible to see and the families had closer ties between their members and towards each other.

## Families

### Major Families

Rumok Family (Reinbert's Family): The Victorian half of the SSDS and its founder, the Rumok's control the world's largest naval production facilities for manufacturing civilian or commercial ships, from cruise ships to container cargo ships. Current head of the family is Reinbert Rumok VII.

Matthews Family: A familiy with large ties to mass vehicle production, the Matthews family also has large wealth flowing in the arms-facility, manufacturing most SSDS tanks. Current head of the family is Thimothy Matthews Sr.

Amontille Family: A family of born diplomats, the Amontille's are known for their skill in the art of reasoning, wine, and aircraft production. Current head of the family is Gavey Amontille.

Hawtworth Family: A long family of outstanding officers and commanders, the Hawtworths teach the art of war from parents to children since generations. Recently risen to a major family with the marriage between Reinbert Rumok VII and Victoria Hawtworth. Current head of the family is Vincent Hawtworth.

Oda Family: A family specialising in small arms R&D and the second founding member and leader of the Japanese half of the SSDS, the Oda’s, following the legacy of their famous ancestor Oda Nobunaga, are makers of bleeding edge firearms and artillery, with its many children and staff learning how to aim and fire a pistol before they learn to walk. Current head of the family is Takuya Oda.

Kururugi Family: A family of samurais dating back to the Sengoku Jidei, the Kururugi’s are renown/loathed for breeding the finest samurais in Japan, their warriors known to cut down swathes of soldiers one minute and doing calligraphy the next, a bodyguard from the Kururugi’s are considered a status symbol in both money and honor, with the head of the Kururugi’s often being the main guards of the Rumok head. Current head of the family is Suzume Kururugi.

Bahksi Family: The family largely in control of Sphere 11 (India). They are specialized in the mass producing of foods and agricultural products. Also owner of several Sphere 11 museums and state treasuries. The Bahksi Family also runs the majority of heavy industry in Sphere 11, due to their population making the creation of items cheap and easy to create in bulk (only rivalling the former Sphere 11 (China) prior to the Xian’s rise) and holds the largest Sphere army in the “East 11 Company” which rivals the main Brittanian force. Currently stuck in a civil war against “Safron revolutionaries” led by the enigmatic “Crores”. Current head of the family is Maya Bahksi.

### Minor Families

Penwood Family: Manufacturer of small arms, the Penwood Family is responsible for all muskets and indirect missile launchers used by the SSDS ground troops. Current head of the family is Peng Penwood.

Kozuki Family: (WIP). Current head of the family is Naoto Kozuki.

Hercules Family: The family in charge of both helicopter production and controlling Sphere 1 (Canada), currently in joint project with amontille junior. Current head of the family is Satan Hercules.

Hastings Family: A family with major degrees on the field of chemistry, the Hastings family have cooperated in the design of the Waste Facility, and have recently joined forces with Amontille To produce the Infamous Hastings Plane. Current head of the family is Charles Hastings.

Blackadder Family: Owners of a large chain of agricultural lands, known primarily for their Brittanian products. This housing provides most of the SSDS needed foods (together with Bahksi), and also exports products to other markets. The Blackadders also own sub-branches which specialize in local produces. Current head of the family is Rowan Blackadder.

Murray Family: Shortly described as electronic masterminds, known for developing the extensive computers and targetting mechanisms used in several vechiles and command units. also inventors of the Command/Pool Table. Current head of the family is Yumi Lie Murray.

Morgan Family: the family in charge of Sphere 13 (Angola). They specialise in the crafting of jewellry, trade, and commerce, holding the largest diamond mines of the SSDS. Current head of the family is Nwabudike Morgan.

## Gameplay Mechanics

### Base Building

The Seven Seas Democratic Sphere pre-buys their buildings in the tabs and then builds the payed structures on the map using a CCF/DC as a rapid way of making factory sites. Buildings are huge factories, weakly armoured and big but also quick to build and cheap.

### Power

SSDS Whale Oil Reactors are tougher and much cheaper than most and suppress infantry in a radius around them with its constant plumes of toxic smoke (SSDS and ally forces are immune via SSDS brand equipment). However, they run down over time and must be recharged by garrisoning them with new oil tanks, each plant holding six and being built with two. Oil Tanks are built at the SSDS Converter or by protocol. Each oil tank holds about 1/2 the power of a regular power plant, meaning that a fully stocked Coal Reactor has the output of three regular power plants. Depleted oil tanks can be loaded into their Disposal Centers to refund part of their cost. If this empties their power will severely drop, potentially blacking out an entire base.

### Units

Units of the Seven Seas Democratic Sphere are rather underpowered and expensive at the beginning, and can't gain veterancy the normal way, making them the weakest force in the early game. and must rely on the global upgrades granted by the manufacturing facilities. And rather then gain veterancy from the combat the SSDS "buys" veterancy from the Equipment Factory, split between Infantry (including Knightframes and waste facility aircraft), Quality (including helicopters and speeder), and Quantity (including airships and capital) which is then applied to all new and existing units, including their "heroic" upgrade at the end of the upgrade tree. Making each of their units stronger while not suffering much setbacks when such units are lost compared to losing a veteran. But in turn their heroic units pales in comparison to other factions heroic.

### Tier

The SSDS works in *"branches"* instead of conventional tiers. Each branch produces different vehicles and parts, which is made obvious by having specialised factories. Building factories unlocks units in other factories because parts and pieces come from everywhere. Thus losing a factory may make a specific unit unavailable until reconstruction is done. Though a standalone SSDS factory can produce some vehicles on its own, it can't produce all the needed parts for more ingenious or heavier units, thus requiring other factories to make specialized parts. Most factories are capable of supporting each other in a range around themselves, and the Waste Facility acts similarly.

### Defenses

Apart from simple machine gun turrets, auto-turrets are non-existant in the SSDS. For that reason, bunkers are wide-spread and can be retrofitted with different weapons. Fortunately all of their peasant infantry, the only one who can garrison the bunkers, can swim, but can’t attack at sea unless stated.

### Logistics

Unlike other factions, all SSDS units hits much harder but has an ammo counter, like aircraft. Once out of ammo the unit will have to use their secondary weapons which are significantly weaker, similarly their ability consumes a separate ammo counter. Ammo can only be reloaded by either the Ammo Depot, builder defenses (infantry/knightframe only), airfield (aircraft only), or by Logistics Trucks.

## SSDS Expeditionary Force

### Factories

Each factory provides small global upgrades to all forces, and can be further upgraded to focus on one out of three manufacturing upgrades that can be upgraded four times, but once chosen the other two are locked out, and these upgrades are both slow and expensive. Thus to maximize their upgrades a minimum of three of the same factory must be built.

### Waste Facility Aircraft

These units are constructed at the Waste Facility.

### Commandos, Aces, and Epics

Due to being the nobility, or peasant serving the nobility, all SSDS commandoes have their ability unlocked by default.

### Protocols

Guild Protocols:

**Guild Center**

**Work hub**

**Quantity Factory:**

**Speeder Docks**

**Helicopter Hangar**

**Airship Airpad**

**Waste Facility**

**Mining Facility**

Mining facility protocols do not cost any money to upgrade or unlock. Instead, it takes a rather sizable amount of time. If you want to use these protocols, invest in a mining facility as soon as possible, lest you run out of time.

**Bunker Factory**

### Behind The Scenes

* The SSDS was initially a Victorian British faction known as the “Industrial Guild”, the very same one in Echoes that is still undoing an overhaul at this time of writing. Then, at some point, it was switch to a Southeast Asian communist faction yet its aesthetics remain the same (leading to a rather strange disconnect). But when the Industrial Guild was overhauled, again, to better be a SEA faction its entire page has been shifted into the SSDS, coming full circle as it becomes a Victorian British faction except this time it’s in an alternate universe and allied with the Japanese.
* Due to their new lore being in an alliance with Japan, and it’s general industrial look, the SSDS are now a mix of Brittania from Code Geass, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Dunwall from Dishonored. Their vehicles, and some of their aircraft and navy, are also based on Advanced Wars (a holdover to being initially an advanced wars faction).