Drhoz Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 I enjoy entertaining con stories - there's a reason Hustle is one of my favourite TV shows. Likewise Spider Robinson's novels Callahan's Lady and Callahan's Con. Whether abjectly incompetent (the attempts to raise money to bring the world's "first African astronaut" back down from orbit springs to mind), or audaciously successful ( Victor Lustig, the man who sold the Eiffel Tower - Twice (altho it appears the second time round wasn't completed. Lustig also got $5000 dollars out of Al Capone - by being honest)), I can applaud a novel fraud done well. But I stand in awe - I offer a standing ovation - to Mark Pedley aka Mark Wellington aka Tzemach Ben David Netzer Korem aka Branch Vinedresser and his dad, and their Dominion of Melchizedek (and much kudos to the June '97 Fortean Times for bringing them to my attention) Not content with merely writing a new book of the bible (hmm, sounds familiar) the Pedleys have also annexed various Pacific Islands, Ruthenia, Jerusalem, 10% of the world's oceans and a sixth of Antarctica into their sovereign micronation. Major exports include diplomatic immunity for anybody who ponies up the cash, and copies of the Melchizedek Bible. Major imports include all the money garnered thru various Ponzi schemes and the Wheatland gold scam involving a Las Vegas warehouse full of nonexistent ore. Admittedly Melchizedek is not the world's only micronation (Western Australia itself enjoys the Hutt River Province, and the Empire of Randania occupies 600 sq feet of Ohio), nor is it the only one involved in scams ( Someone claiming to be a Prince of Sealand was arrested a few years back, and Corterra is a frequent offender) but it's not everyone who combines religious, diplomatic, financial and international fraud into one gloriously mad scheme. So, are there any fictional or fraudulent nations that deserve recognition in your campaign setting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan D. Hurricanes Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I've used Canada a couple times. What? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJackBrass Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I've used Canada a couple times. Probably the most withering look I have ever received was when I said, straight-faced, to a Canadian friend that I loved Canada and thought it'd be great when it was finished... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drhoz Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Probably the most withering look I have ever received was when I said' date=' straight-faced, to a Canadian friend that I loved Canada and thought it'd be great when it was finished...[/quote'] *rofl-bone explodes* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comic Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I've used Canada a couple times. What? Probably the most withering look I have ever received was when I said' date=' straight-faced, to a Canadian friend that I loved Canada and thought it'd be great when it was finished...[/quote'] Open wide. I wanna practice my slapshot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palaskar Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) What? Nobody's voted for Latveria, home and iron-fisted dictatorship of Dr. Doom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoloOfEarth Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I don't know if anybody here reads any of the Dortmunder books (by Donald Westlake), but in one of them, a NYC con artist who specialized in mail-order fraud created a fictional Pacific Ocean country called Maylohda (say it aloud, and imagine you have a New York accent). Then she applied for international aid, registered ships under Maylohda's "flag" for a fee, and other similar money-making activities. Overall, if you like reading books with con-artists as the protagonists, I recommend the Dortmunder books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) What about Petoria from Family Guy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Goodwin Posted May 19, 2007 Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) A friend and I once discussed what it would take to convince the world that Antarctica doesn't exist. Kind of the opposite of what you were looking for, but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) A friend and I once discussed what it would take to convince the world that Antarctica doesn't exist. Kind of the opposite of what you were looking for' date=' but...[/quote'] Make it the kingdom of nerds and geeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pawsplay Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Hail! Hail! Fredonia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balabanto Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Snicker.... That'll be one code, and two pairs of plans... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) How about the NGD? we do elect a President after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I haven't heard of most of these, but here's a link to Wikipedia's list of fictional countries you may find useful, even if you just use the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I think my personal favorite is Anvillania. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Republic of the Southern Cross. I forget the book, but it was a science fiction story in which Antarctica is successfully colonized and eventually declares independence. Lucius Alexander The palindromedary says that sounds more like fantasy..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan D. Hurricanes Posted May 20, 2007 Report Share Posted May 20, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) I haven't heard of most of these' date=' but here's a link to Wikipedia's list of fictional countries you may find useful, even if you just use the name. Bialya isn't listed here for some reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markdoc Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Bialya isn't listed here for some reason. Probably on account of it now being devoid of every living soul... cheers, Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJackBrass Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Probably on account of it now being devoid of every living soul... Aha, we're back to Canada again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme Serpent Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Some we've used: Mangladesh Zuruguay Notheria Obscuristan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balabanto Posted May 21, 2007 Report Share Posted May 21, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Big Al's Yard! It's a nation unto itself! Just ask Big Al! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st barbara Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Hail! Hail! Fredonia! Ah "Freedonia". Land of the Spree and Home of the Knave ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted May 22, 2007 Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Has anyone mentioned Ruritania yet? Lucius Alexander The Palindromedary of Zenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drhoz Posted May 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2007 Re: Countries that don't exist (but should) Has anyone mentioned Ruritania yet? No? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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