ooc Equestria Forward (OOC)

[skbl17 199]

I promised that I'd post here today, so here it is.

 

As I outlined in my blog post this morning, I've decided to try and continue this roleplay from where it left off. That said, if you're no longer willing to participate (out of fear that I'll leave again, lack of interest, etc.), just leave a reply! If there are no registered participants left, I'll reboot this roleplay.

 

I don't feel that this is a roleplay that should be permanently abandoned, as there's just been too much work put into it.

 

Thanks for reading this, and sorry for the long absence! 

[FancyHorse 1,209]

Yay you're back ^^. Ill see about a post later.

[skbl17 199]

I have to upgrade my computer to Windows 10, create a profile for Sparkwing (she'll show up again,) and finish up some sketches, so I went ahead and made a post.

 

It's Friday roleplay time! 

 

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Edit:

This is not a detail post (i.e. it's not listed on the front page under "the Egghead's Guide to Equestria"), but I thought this was worth sharing. This is going to become important soon enough, so...

 

Opposition to Equestria Forward: the ERN

Opposition to Equestria Forward was mainly concentrated in rural areas of Equestria away from the coasts. At first, with the incremental reforms at the start of the program, opposition manifested in the form of strongly worded letters to newspaper editors, small protests, and (once the radio and television stations began operations in 1101,) call-in segments to national radio shows. In 1103, the various scattered groups of opponents to the program formed an umbrella opposition movement called Equestrians for a Return to Normalcy, or the ERN for short. The group was run by ponies who believed that the best way to dismantle Equestria Forward was to take over the program from the inside and turn Princess Twilight's reform machinery against her. To this end, the ERN ran in regional and local elections in the interior regions of the country, pushing their message for a return to the "old days". The group proved to be surprisingly successful in this regard, winning dozens of seats in provincial legislatures, before scoring a major victory in 1106: the ERN won a razor-thin majority in the legislature of the prairie region of Agrania. At its height, the group boasted having more than 500,000 members.

 

However, despite these victories, the ERN soon had to face reality. The group formed in 1103, and only won its first provincial election in 1106. That year, EQF was entering its final phase: political reform. Some more hardline members of the ERN soon grew agitated with the moderate elements within the group and their failure to enact a reversal of the program. This state of affairs was not helped when several hardline nobles, agitated with their own failure to derail the Rainbow Falls Summit that summer, began to fund the hardline elements within the group. With the new funds, it wasn't long before ERN members gained access to new (and in some cases, experimental) technology, including new weapons.

 

Under increasing internal pressure to score a quick victory, the moderate leadership of the ERN soon decided that they would bet the group's future on one last push: stir up enough anger among rural Equestrians to deny the ratification of the new constitution. Traveling the countryside, ERN members rallied against Princess Twilight's "destruction of the Equestrian way of life," and said that the new "constitution" would only serve to "drive a stake through the heart of all we've held dear these last few generations." Despite winning some new support and managing to court more moderate members, the leaders of the ERN failed in their goal. The constitution was overwhelmingly ratified in late 1107, completing Equestria Forward.

 

On January 1, 1108 (ironically, the day the constitution became effective,) a group of angry hardliners, calling themselves the "Bucktooth Seven", soon staged a coup within the ERN organization, purging the moderates from the leadership before mounting a thorough "purification" of the organization's membership. It was soon decided that with the failure of the ERN to stop Equestria Forward through peaceful means at the ballot box, they would have to get their message across in a...less peaceful...manner.

Edited August 2, 2015 by skbl17

[skbl17 199]

Defense and security

Prior to the Equestria Forward program, national security was guaranteed by two organizations: the Royal Guard and the Equestrian Police Guild. The responsibility of the former was to protect the royal family, visiting foreign dignitaries, and all "royal institutions" - these include Canterlot Castle, prominent noble residences, and royal getaway spots outside of Canterlot - from attack. The Police Guild was not a single organization, but rather a loose association of national police departments and sheriffs' offices that entered into a compact to enable sharing of information and personnel when necessary. Despite their occasional failures, these forces helped to keep the peace in Equestria.

 

At first, defense was not a very high priority in Princess Twilight's reform program. The Royal Guard wished to maintain its existing "traditions", while there was not much of a "pressing need" to modernize and bolster local police forces. As a result, defense became the one plank of Equestria Forward that could be honestly described as "neglected" - an action that some observers say led to the partial deterioration of Equestria's security situation post-EQF.

 

Needless to say, after the ratification of the reformist constitution in 1107 and the ERN's abandonment of nonviolent means to get Equestria Forward reversed, the national government soon entered a kind of "arms race" with the ERN to maintain peace and order in the post-reform Equestria. Good intentions or not, some observers would argue that this is a race that the government is losing.

 

Protectors of the royals: the Equestrian Royal Guard

The Equestrian Royal Guard is the security force that is responsible for the protection of the royal family, foreign dignitaries, and "royal institutions". This mission is the same as it was before Equestria Forward, as the Royal Guard publicly insisted on maintaining its existing structure in the face of the wide-sweeping reform program. However, in the face of increased ERN activity and the potential vulnerability of Princess Twilight, the Royal Guard is known to maintain a surprisingly advanced security and surveillance apparatus with regards to all royal activities, events, trips, and locations. Much to the dismay of constitutional rights advocates and inconvenienced travelers, this also includes the Guard's new "preclearance" program, in which a city being visited by the Princesses is subject to random security checks, internet and telephone monitoring, rolling road closures, and heightened security of a level some ponies have criticized as "quarantine". Court cases against the preclearance program have been hard to come by, as ponies attempting to bring such suits have been accused of being "ERN symphathizers", leading to a level of stigmatization in society and a subsequent "chilling effect".

 

The commander of the Royal Guard remains Prince Shining Armor, the brother of Princess Twilight Sparkle and husband of the Princess of the Crystal Empire, Princess Cadance.

 

National security: the Royal Security Forces

While the responsibility for protecting the Princesses rests with the Royal Guard, the Crown Council - in its second vote, no less - voted in 1108 to establish a national police force, citing increased domestic security threats. The Royal Security Forces (RSF) is the principality's national civil security organization, tasked with assisting local police in cases of "national importance", inspecting foreign items upon arrival in the country, engaging in special operations and raids, implementing surveillance of suspected ERN members, and more. The RSF has been described as a "military-police hybrid", leading some conspiracy theorists to speculate that Equestria is under a state of affairs that amounts to de facto martial law - a charge that has been denied by the national government. Constitutional rights advocates have run into the same problems as those targeting the Royal Guard, the public accusations of "sympathy with the ERN" has led to a "chilling effect" on activities of activist groups targeting state security bodies. There's also concerns that despite the increase in powers and authority granted to the organization, the RSF has not been particularly effective in breaking the ERN and restoring peace.

 

Initially established with 60,000 members, the rise of the ERN and increased crime has led to a dramatic increase in the scope of the RSF; as of 1113, the organization is estimated to have 450,000 members, a large "national security" budget, and some rumors indicate that the RSF also possesses its own "secret police" force whose numbers are not published. The RSF is based in Canterlot, and is overseen by the Civil Service through the cabinet-level Ministry of Public Safety, or MPS.

 

Local security: the Police Guild

Like its royal counterpart, the Equestrian Police Guild also survived Equestria Forward. As previously mentioned, the Police Guild is not itself an organization, but instead an independent association of local police departments and sheriffs' offices, who engage in information sharing, multi-agency raids and crackdowns, and community outreach. The relative independence of the Police Guild from national government oversight ended in 1110, when the Ministry of Public Safety mandated that Police Guild member departments also share information with the RSF and participate in its activities if so requested. Believing this was an act of coercion, some rural police departments left the Police Guild in the aftermath of the MPS order; while they were not officially disbanded, they have since been targeted by RSF counter-terrorism operations, with some of the departments being replaced with Police Guild member "sheriffs' departments" that are monitored by the RSF.

 

The combined membership of the Police Guild amounts to more than 970,000 police officers and sheriffs, with an additional 14,000 officers believed to be members of police departments that are not Police Guild members. The largest municipal police force, the Manehattan Police Service (also entitled MPS, but there's absolutely no coincidence with the national government body), has 31,000 uniformed officers. On paper, responsibility for local police departments rests with municipal governments, with some assistance coming from provincial government bodies.

Edited August 3, 2015 by skbl17

[skbl17 199]

This post will be updated some time tomorrow; here's a preview!

 

Education

Prior to the Equestria Forward program, formal education was only available through private schools (such as Canterlot's School for Gifted Unicorns,) private tutors, and well-established urban school systems. Rural areas had to rely on tiny schoolhouses funded by donations and limited municipal support.

 

Considering her scientific tendencies and love of learning and reading books, education was a very high priority for Princess Twilight Sparkle.

 

Regulatory framework and standardized testing

With the passage of the Education Decree in the early days of EQF, education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 17 (this provision has since been adopted by every regional government). Responsibility for educating grade school pupils rests with regional governments, with the national government providing some financial support. Despite the constitution's guarantee of regional control over schools, the Civil Service's Ministry of Education and Welfare (MEW) maintains an optional "base curriculum" consisting of topics in reading, writing, mathematics, science, technology, and history; regional education bodies can add on further topics as desired, such as health. Every region bar one (Manehattan) has adopted the base curriculum. Standardized tests for grade schoolers vary by region, but every region administers some kind of examination upon graduation from primary to secondary school. The few private schools that exist at the primary and secondary levels are free from government control, and can teach anything they wish; despite the variety this provides, some ponies are wary of some private schools' connections to nobles that fund ERN operations.

 

The MEW also maintains the National Entrance Acceptance Test (the NEAT exam), which is a standardized examination given to applicants at all public colleges and universities in the country. The national examination system was adopted by Canterlot in 1108 as a result of a loophole in the constitution ("Education of grade-school Pupils shall be the responsibility of the Regions.") granting the national government supreme control over higher education in the country. Private universities and college-esque schools (such as the aforementioned School for Gifted Unicorns) can choose to adopt the NEAT test or adopt their own entrance exams; all but the oldest private institutions have adopted the NEAT test as of 1113. NEAT topics include mathematics, reading, and history, with optional science and writing sections available depending on the individual college's admissions requirements.

 

"The Life of an Average Grade Schooler"

As part of a partnership with the MEW, the publishers of the Egghead's Guide have decided to include this separate sub-text, "The Life of an Average Grade Schooler", to guide readers through a foal's typical grade school education.

 

The young foal is not required to begin school until age 6, but some regions offer head start programs for parents who wish to have their foal begin his or her education career early. Head start programs are half-day programs that allow the foal to engage with his or her peers and learn basics, like colors and shapes. Head start education is free in most regions that offer the program.

 

All foals must begin school at the age of 6, where they enter Level A. A typical curriculum for foals in Level A includes an introduction to counting, colors, shapes, and basic reading and writing. In most regions, Level A students only spend half of the day at school, before being released to play or go home. No exit examination is given in any region at the conclusion of Level A; assuming the foal did not exhibit "chronic misbehavior", (s)he will automatically continue to Level B.

 

Levels B through E cover the remainder of primary school. Foals are introduced to more advanced concepts in mathematics, such as multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, and basic variables. Reading and writing topics also advance; most foals will write a short essay by the end of Level D, and short chapter books are typically introduced in Level C. Science and history topics typically begin by Level D, but some regions may opt to begin history courses as early as the end of the foal's year in Level C. Five regions give short "checkup exams" at the end of Level C to measure progress, while all regions give mandatory exit examinations at the conclusion of Level E. Assuming the foal does not fail the Level E exit exam, (s)he will automatically move on to secondary school.

 

Secondary school covers Levels F through K. Foals continue their exposure to more advanced topics; by now, math courses include algebra and basic trigonometry, eventually progressing to calculus by Level I or J. Science courses include biology, physics, and chemistry, with some regions offering "atmospheric science" as an optional course. Literature and history education also dramatically increase in scope, with students expected to read novels, primary sources, and periodicals, before engaging in critical discussion on topics discussed in the books. Most foals also take one or two years of basic technology education. Some regions hold checkup examinations at the conclusion of Level G.

 

It is in secondary school where foals can also take separate paths in the last years of their public education. In Level H, foals are granted the opportunity to continue their education at a vocational secondary school, where the curriculum is geared towards a future career, or a "general secondary school", which is mainly college preparatory work. The workload is similar at both types of secondary schools, even with the differing goals of the institutions. Students do not take an exit examination at the conclusion of Level K; assuming they have met all regional graduation requirements, they graduate and are free to pursue their dreams!

 

Postsecondary education

All postsecondary education is the responsibility of the national government through MEW. About 76% of grade schoolers go on to a college, university, or trade school as part of continuing education. Most universities offer four-year degrees in a variety of fields, from Biotechnology to Magic Theory to History to Information & Computer Technology. Colleges and trade schools are two-year institutions that offer more limited programs designed to tailor a student to a particular career choice. Curricula vary based on a student's career path.

 

The most prestigious and well-known university in Equestria is the Royal University of Canterlot, established more than 720 years ago. The institution is funded by private foundations, Princess Celestia, the Canterlot municipal government, and Princess Luna, and provides a high-quality education to more than 19,600 students annually. Prospective students undergo a very rigorous admission process; in addition to the NEAT exam, students must also pass several university-mandated supplementary tests and undergo a background check, the only university in the country to require these checks. RUC alumni and professors are very well-regarded in the business, education, technology, and foreign relations communities.

 

Other notable universities and colleges include the University of Baltimare, Baron's University, the Trade School of Manehattan, the Oceanic University of Haywaii, the University in the Sky, the Neighagra Institute of Science and Technology, and the University of San Palomino in Los Pegasus. All of these universities are considered "Olive schools", schools of high academic caliber and the most sought-after curricula in the country. With the exception of Baron's University, all of them are public.

[EnderPrince 49]

Hey, sorry I haven't posted in a while. This RP was getting kind of slow, so I kinda stopped checking up on it. School starting, however, gave me an excuse to check my email, which led me to see that you guys are still here! Yay! And I'm also glad to see I'm still on the list, so I'll try and fit a post in today or tomorrow.

 

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And, done! I hope that's good enough for someone who hasn't posted in about 4 months. I hope someone can follow up on that in a sufficient manner. I'd really like to see how this goes!

Edited September 1, 2015 by EnderPrince

[skbl17 199]

....*is this thing up*? Okay...finally, I can use MLP Forums again! Stupid cooling systems and flash drives having to break and screw up everything.

 

So, Equestria Forward. Where are we? What are my plans?

 

- Yes, it would be dishonest of me to not say that this roleplay has slowed down significantly, and especially as we're coming up to an important point. Initially, when I returned to MLP Forums in July after a very long hiatus, my intention was on continuing this roleplay from where it left off, no cancellations and no reboots. The story advanced to Friday morning, at last!

 

All was peaceful until the doorknob attacked, shearing off my flash drive and rendering it useless. In an instant, I was without all of my Equestria-related data, including OC information and (unfortunately) my Equestria Forward stuff, including maps and some chickenscratched plans for a storyline of sorts. That got me thinking, with how slow the roleplay has moved in the last few months, and the fact that I could no longer access my EQF info, maybe it was time to consider a reboot.

 

Hence, I made this blog post back on August 18. Needless to say, I am considering a reboot now. The blog post says that it will be rebooted, but I'm actually not 100% sold on that yet.

 

If I do reboot this, however, I do plan on trying to maintain continuity with this version of the roleplay. Hence, all of the registrations would carry over (no need to re-register) and the juicy details I've posted on this thread would be transferred over. Also, I plan on creating a separate website to hold all that stuff (and more), instead of having to rely on a thumb drive to hold most of that information.

 

So, I just thought I'd let you all know. I haven't made a final decision, but I'm weighing the future of this version of EQF.

[EnderPrince 49]

The reboot itself is a good idea, although I feel that the RP should be left off on a high note, relatively speaking. A cliffhanger, large plot point, anything of the sort, but the reboot should pick up after some "suspense." (I use that term loosely.)

[skbl17 199]

The reboot itself is a good idea, although I feel that the RP should be left off on a high note, relatively speaking. A cliffhanger, large plot point, anything of the sort, but the reboot should pick up after some "suspense." (I use that term loosely.)

 

That's not a bad idea. I don't plan on rebooting this for quite a while, anyway.

[Cajunbony23 24]

Is Ladro still in the RP or do I need to reapprove him?