So…where is the border between relevant and irrelevant lore then? Just asking to be sure since it doesn’t really feel motivating to put an hour into writing that will get axed. Sometimes happenings outside Letara still can be relevant for the future of the brand there.
I think role-play can become absurd sometimes, but it is indeed a thing I am not sure as well: Where is the border between absurd but legitimate and really overdoing that fictional stories?
For example this is about a car never submitted to the challenge, yet there is a whole page about how it’s meant to transport the company’s owner. The cars that were submitted were already showcased in three other and separate posts by this user (which in itself is a little excessive I might add), so there is zero value added here and the post is superfluous at best.
I mean, just use common sense. If you already have several other posts in the same round, then it might be worth thinking about whether you (plural you - y’all) are writing just for the sake of writing, or if you’re still adding value. Oh, and for pure lore type posts with a lot of text, I highly encourage to use the hide details function of the forum.
10 Likes
I feel it’s pretty obvious what cake ape was getting at here. If your post is just “I’m going to assassinate someone or start a war” then what are you even doing at this point.
Role play that follows the events of Letara makes sense, everything else is just writing for the sake of writing
5 Likes
I try to be sorry, but any apologies would be declined. Through future actions I myself will be accountable though this would not satisfy some others for a ban would be the only reasonable thing they want for me. Despite this, I would not squander my efforts to improve.
Rd. 2 RESULTS
Chapter 1: politics, economy, and natural environment
POLITICS
International: By 1955 Montelin’s economy and international status has declined significantly, making their hold on the occupied area on the Letaran peninsula tenuous. They still maintain their military bases and ports there, and are still a significant enough threat that it could only be taken back by force - and Letara is itself in no condition for an open conflict. So the status quo regarding the occupied territory is maintained. However, the counter-espionage efforts of Letara over the past decade have paid off, and the threat of Montelin’s infiltration has eased, and the internal security of Letara is not at peril for now. Letara’s relationship with Somunds remains warm, backed up by a continued free-trade agreement. Somunds was also instrumental in providing aid to Letara during its time of hardship. However, as its own economy is also in a downswing, Somunds’ aid is dwindling in this era, leaving Letara to recover on their own as best as they can…
Domestic: The austerity-focused government elected in 1953 quickly went to work to “balance the budget”, which meant an overhaul of spending and taxes in Letara. This was meant to bring the economy back on track. The government aimed to only spend where it was critically needed, and any expansion of services or industries was scrutinized to the n-th degree. Taxes were also readjusted in an effort to “make users pay”. Some of these measures backfired spectacularly, leading to more unemployment and a wildly unpredictable and overall decreasing economy in the five years of this government’s rule. Aided by two more natural disasters in '56 and '57, the economy of Letara hit rock bottom quickly. Interestingly, among the most secure jobs seemed to be working for international automotive corporations that have set up shop in Letara. This resulted in a favourable view of these corporations, and an overall increased car culture in Letara - for those that could afford a car that is. National unrest rose in this time, and people took to the streets to demand change. The austerity-focused government only lasted one term and was replaced in the '58 election with a government that promised significant investment into Letara, even it it comes at a cost of borrowing and deficits. In the short term this strategy seemed to work, and the economy started to turn back up, albeit slowly. As such, in the next election in '63, the same government was re-elected.
RP effects: The government will have a moderate to small spending budget (spending tokens) - these will be added to the pool of tokens the car companies collectively spend during Rd. 3 Preface. The gov’t spending priorities may or may not augment company spending, and will focus on job creation rather than large-scale infrastructure projects.
ECONOMY
The economy of Letara was in decline from '47 to '53, but with the new government went into true and full recession. Rock bottom was hit in '57 following two more natural disasters, leaving the country in tatters in more ways than one. Unemployment skyrocketed to new heights and people started to become desperate. This was Letara’s great depression. People walked the streets with signs advertising their desperation and need for work - any kind of work. These “street walkers” later became “street inhabitants”, and the more there were, the more they started to walk in unison. By the time the elections in '58 came about, there were large “street marches” demanding change. Recovering from such a deep depression is going to be hard, but it seems that the new government elected in '58 is turning the tide, even if slowly. At least large demonstrations are easing in the early '60s and people are becoming more hopeful as more and more people are able to find work again.
RP effects: This is a truly drab time for Letara. Many are desperate and struggling to find hope as they struggle to find work. The middle-class has truly and fully collapsed, leaving a large portion of the population in “survival mode”. The rich… well, they are the rich, unperturbed by the hardship suffered by the majority of people. The upper echelons still enjoying their opulent lifestyle - although they do have to be more careful no to flaunt it as openly as before. Instead of previous admiration and envy, people look at the rich more with disdain and anger, and might just egg their house or new car.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Thanks to generous investment by private corporations, the forestry industry decimated in previous disasters was saved - but barely. The newly planted forests were initially growing well, and some old forests were even set aside as a new National Park to be enjoyed by nature-loving tourists! Of course this had its own problems, with firmly urban families without any outdoors experience entering nature for the first time expecting it to be have all the amenities of the city, and forgetting that they are not surrounded by caged zoo animals… Although the natural environment was a lot quieter in this period, it did start with a bit of a bang (literally) in '56 when Mt. Modred erupted again. Although this was a large eruption, leaving large areas covered in ash, the lava and pyroclastic flows mostly stuck to already devastated areas and caused little additional damage. Except to the aging and already strained old buildings of Mont Montelin that is. During the eruption the National Park and the town of Mont Modred did have to be evacuated on short notice. Large fires in '57 devastated some areas of the National Park and some remaining old-growth forest around Chanceille, making the survival of the forestry industry once again a little tenuous. Apparently city-dwellers do not know how to put out their campfires!
RP effects: The forestry economy continues to struggle, and will need continued support to survive - again. The National Park is a success, although it will need some generous public education as the urban population simply doesn’t know yet how to use this new resource respectfully and sustainably. Currently it still requires a lot of government resources to keep the park going. Mont Montelin’s old rustic buildings are definitely historic, but have suffered much damage in the past decade, and will need to be replaced. Either the resort town will wither and die, or it could be rebuilt into a more modern vacation destination…
Car reviews and other results to follow shortly!
24 Likes
You say you want to improve, but after the first time you got in trouble you quickly went back to irrelevant RP with some weird assassination protection crap. What was even the point of that post? Nobody is going to RP to kill your company president, and even if they did cake_ape would not allow it to be canon. Let me make this easy for you.
During a round, your RP should focus solely on the cars you’re making: if it’s a civilian car, say how it’s being advertised and sold. If it’s a race car, tell us about its engineering philosophy, its capabilities, and the teams using it. If it’s a government contract, write it as if you’re responding to the request for proposal, pointing out why you think the car is best for whatever government procurement program is happening. And above all, with all of those categories, keep it in Letara. If it has nothing to do with the challenge, it has no place in the RP cycle.
The above is not difficult to follow. Everybody else has been able to do so. And if you are truly holding yourself accountable to “improve”, you will stop the whole spy/assassin drama fluff. This isn’t Spy x Family or some shit.
Apologies to @cake_ape for posting OOC, but I say what I mean and I mean what I say, and I needed to say this.
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Oh my god that economy curve is absolutely brutal. I tought we hit rock bottom in '53, but oh boy was i wrong. This round might be a tricky one for Levante, and not only for us.
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No joke. I was hoping that my car would be picked up by the upper-middle class, but it seems more like it’ll be bought by rich people who don’t want to be shanked for being too rich so they downsize
3 Likes
I was looking back at the entries for this round, and at least from what’s been posted publicly, there are a lot of luxury and premium cars; Looks like many tried to either move upmarket to appeal to the wealthy, or gambled on the downturn reversing this round. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when the smallest demographic is also the most saturated. (I’m starting to worry if even my own ultra-budget cars have too high a price tag)
At least it looks like Letara has some good trucks now…
3 Likes
Yup, i bet other people tought the same as me and banked on the fact that there was no way the economy would go down again. The “austerity-driven government” should have been a red flag, but oh well, here we are. Turns out our prediction that adding such strict safety rules would have put a lot of people out of the car market was kinda true, after all.
What a time to introduce a cheap sportscar! i’ll do like @Texaslav and hope the rich guys will get a cheaper down-market car to avoid being torn asunder by an angry mob of peasants. I’m not to convinced on that tho.
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Letara, March 1960
A small crowd gathered in front of a new stylish car dealership.
“Oh, I expected a few more people!” said Ludger Frehse, sent over from Hetvesia as new sales director for the new PRIMUS branch office.
“Getting a car road-legal here is not that easy for imports, and when we set the plan for Letara, we have chosen our upcoming sports sedan Astrona. That sounds like space age, sleek rockets and modern technology. Little did we know that the economy would fall even further.”
The crowd nodded, somehow hoping for times to become better.
“However, latest newspapers indicate that we are FINALLY looking towards better times. And the Astrona reflects this. Powerful but not wasteful, with fine materials and exellent safety it offers what Hetvesians want: Spirited driving without regrets. Ladies and Gentlemen, have a seat, turn the keys and head into a better future with the newest Primus. Our basic car, the Publica F, is currently entering the markets in Gasmea, Hetvesia and Frunia. It might have been the better car here, regarding the current state of economy, but that ultra-reliable and inexpensive car is not what could work as a figurehead. See this newspaper! It’s going uphill! Our car should represent a bright and modern future, and this is why we spared the admittance of the Publica F in favor of the Astrona.”
Frehse didn’t even notice he was screaming like a dictator, he got lost in his own despair, having to convice a small group of buyers to spend their hardly-earned money on an Astrona.
But it looks good. The mood became more optimistic after the enthusiastic speech and the exhausted sales representative was awaited by his employees that served fresh coffee and pretzels.
1 Like
Kamaka Car Present Feature: 1959 Haste Proto and 1962 Destiny
The Kamaka Motor Corporation is proud to presented next line for new cars. New back of coil suspension setup and over the head shafting engine family. Add development start new sporting car prototype use in racing tournament.
Haste Proto
Follow up success recieve after the Cannonball Run, Haste Proto are the entry for the race category R1. Engine experiment inline 6 cylinders featuring dual over the head shafting grant murderous power to car.
Protoype design meaning to preview design future for future Kamaka sporting car. The promise of tremendous quality guaranteeing.
1800 Sedan
The Destiny 1800 the is cheapest the for lineup, prevent this doese meaning our cheaped outward in making it. Feature that 4 cylinder engine derived the originate racing car. Makes 80 horse power. Tune suspension completed for guarantee superb handle sport.
2500GT
2500GT housing same originate race car engine but 6 cylinders configuration. Making 120 horse power. Handle sport having been built upon harder suspension tune. Compound medium tire tread. Perfection task high speed driving mountain top roads.
2500GT Convertible
2500GT but roof are disappearable up or down. Fit whited walls tires for extra style. High speed driving mountain roads but open to air.
Consume the air.
18 Likes
Hate to break it to you, but you’re a tad bit late on that submission. Better luck next time. 
An article from an investment journal
PANIC RISES AT LIBERTY CORP
Information regarding the next generation automotive lineup from Liberty Corp. was recently released to the general public. What it shows is that Liberty Corp has decided to produce a premium sports car and a luxury car in Letara despite the depressing economic climate. Their only hope may be the Liberty Familia, but an ad shows that its pricing was geared towards a now non-existent demographic: the middle class. Experts believe that this generation of cars have a high likelihood of failing.
A representative from Liberty Corp had this to say to investors: “We believe that out cars will sell. The Liberty Familia is a well priced car! It may be on the slightly upper end of pricing, but it could be said that these cars are aimed at a more premium audience. Regarding the New Yorker, it is going to sell. No matter what, a luxury car will always be getting sold no matter what economic climate we are in. The rich will stay rich, and have the money to buy a high quality luxury car. No concerns shall be risen. Our company will remain fine”.
Distributed by Gold Investment, 1955
In the office (Lore)
William Peterson is in his office, cigar in mouth of course, reading through the daily newspaper. He’s reading up on the economic climate and OH DEAR GOD THE LETARAN ECONOMY CRASHED. “Henry! I need you in my office! NOW!!”
Henry rushes down through the floor and arrives in his office, out of breath. “I’m… I’m here sir”
“Have you read the daily newspaper yet?”
“No, I haven’t had the tim-”
William interrupts him. “The Letaran economy is down; they are experiencing a depression. How do you expect a bunch of Luxury cars to succeed in a climate like that!”
Henry tried to calm him down before he gets out of hand. “You shouldn’t worry about this. The rich will always be able to buy an expensive car.”
“What about the family car. Last generation sold in the hundreds of thousands. Investors will know that it will fail in the market.”
“We’re are trying to become a premium brand. Just have a representative tell them that.”
“Are you sure. If we do that, they’ll know for a fact that it will fail. Premium brands and shitty economies don’t go well together.”
“Don’t worry. We a meeting with the investors is coming up soon. A representative can perfectly explain the situation”
“Whatever you say”
5 Likes
He could have submitted his entries beforehand but just waited to post his cars. I’m not sure though, kinda hoping that’s what he did because the cars look fantastic.
April 1960
The first month has been very tough for Ludger Frehse and his team. Primus pre-produced 1000 Astrona 2400 in Export-spec, expecting them to sell within a month - but only half the amount was ordered in Letara.
So most of the now unused cars were not shipped to Letara but offered with noticeable discount to the Hetvesian Police, hoping that seeing the Astrona patroling on Hetvesian Highways will increase it’s popularity.
As the car was designed by a 100% Frunian team (they do make the best sport sedans, so why not developing it there?) Primus hopes for governmental orders from there as well.
One of the new police cars is now parked in the Letaran PRIMUS dealership, it should represent the values integrity, dedication and service the police stands for, so does PRIMUS.
Other measures have been taken, so comes every Letaran Astrona with a letter from Egino Bailoni, lead engineer of the Astrona project, thanking the customer for choosing Primus.
“We know we are not the only company in trouble, but our product is really great. However, competition does not sleep, so we must step up in image and service to succeed”, said Frehse in an Interview.
1 Like
Government Procurement Vehicle: Fadiga Ariete
The Ariete is, in and by itself, a parts bin special put together by an ailing Fadiga, razing components left and right from their work trucks lineup. Based on the ladder frame of the serie 200 truck, the Ariete got his 4x4 system from the smaller Scout off-roader, a bunch of heavy-duty differentials from the serie 400, and it’s transmission straight out of an american truck. Even the engine is the trusty old “3 liter”, an oversized and massively undersquare inline 4 block with a giant balancing mass attempting to stop the engine from disassembling itself.
Despite this, the Ariete turned out an unexpectedly competent vehicle, with impresive off-road capabilities. The new coil spring suspensions, as well as good ride height and all-around solid axles means the Ariete just doesn’t stop. Good undertray protection means it doesn’t need to stop either, and even if the 89 HP engine isn’t a monster of raw power, it puts out a respectable 222Nm (163lb/ft for the imperial guys) of torque, helping trodding along harsh terrain with no problem, as well as towing a respectable 1.8 tons payload. A carrying capacity of 1.1 tons isn’t super impressive, but it’s workable.
The real selling point is it’s price. Sure, the interior is as basic as it gets, and fuel consumption is manageable, but being a tad under $12,000 is an impressive feat for a 1.5 ton Jeep-thing. Add service costs of a low end city car in the equation, and the Ariete becomes a truly alluring proposal.
With good enough performance and low price, the Ariete seems a winning proposal, but will it held to the scrutiny of Letaran officials? A lot of Fadiga’s future rides on this thing, so it better be!
Race car project: Levante 670 "Siluro"
With most of the “Reparto Corse” going on to work on the next generation “Progetto MR”, resources for the new '59 racer were comprehensibly limited at Levante. With the impossible task of replicating the success enjoyed in the previous years by the 620 sport, facing the emerging mid engine opposition and in the middle of a full-blown displacement war, Levante chief engineer Bruno Giordano had to think out of the box for the new car.
Starting from a refined version of the 620 monocoque, Giordano worked on to apply the lessons in aerodynamic efficiency the team had learnt from the small ITAL-Levante Barchetta to the new sports car. The fiberglass body is the very first built at Levante, and shows it with creaks, rattles, and a tendency to chip and crack. But it makes the car light, and together with some impressive aero tricks like the long, tear-shaped tail, and the headlights buried in the front grille, it helps the car achieve a near 300 kph top speed.
The venerable 6-in-line race engine gets a displacement bump to 4 liters, a new 4-valve aluminum head, and two massive Degl’Orti W55R double choke carbs, bumping the power to an impressive 381 HP, and 0-60 mph in a meager 5.7 seconds. New radial tyres try to rein in the power, but can barely take the abuse. The 4-speed gearbox is taken from the old 620 sport, as well as the LSD differential driving power to the rear wheels.
All this compromises have given the car some pretty nasty traits too. The massive lump in the front skews the weight foward, calling for some high-speed understeer; The lightweight body, combined with an highly aerodynamical body and said foward-bias on weight, means the car has a nasty tendency to skid in 4th when at near top speed, making this a terror to drive.
While far from a favourite, this old-school underdog can be seriously fast when driven by a specialist like the crowd favourite Johan Jurgensen, one of the few drivers truly capable of extracting everything from this experimental rocket on wheels, making him a dark horse for the inaugural race at Lerance Raceway this year.
ITAL current status as of '58
ITAL has built quite a reputation in Letara during the previous years, selling a slew of Prima’s all around the country to the populace till the new Safety Regulation Act of '55. While ITAL was able to somehow get the bare minimum safety rating required, the cost of the humble Prima had rocketed of near $2,500, making it a tought sell for ITAL dealers. Adding to the problem was the fiasco of their new bigger sedan, having to be recalled and retired from the market due to engine heads giving under stress and catalytic corrosion even a mere 15,000 miles in.
As such, ITAL needs a big hit, and the introduction of the successor to the Prima successor, the Rivoli, it’s aiming at exactly that.
A picture of a Rivoli 1300 Lusso showing at a dealership, in all it's brown glory
Aviable with both the old Lampredi 1.0 liter boxer 4 and a new 1.3 boxer 6 engine, The Rivoli is a clear move upmarket, a bold move in the current economic climate. If the Rivoli can replicate the Prima success remains to be seen, although for sure ITAL hopes for a smash hit after the blunders of the last few years
(ooc: this is not a comp car, but it felt wrong leaving the ITAL brand sleeping for 10 years before ever talking about the little car that could alltoghter. Take this as a small bonus post on the lore of ITAL, if you will. Thanks Cake_Ape for indulging my obsessive lore needs, by the way 
)
10 Likes
so apparently I need a proper thingy here so uhh
Yeah this is Vausse Autocars, based in the US of A bringing Letara the finest burger boats
I think this counts as being registered now idk, I hope so
No… when I tell you in a DM to register “in this thread” - meaning in this DM thread… Anyway. Got the info.