SW10/REVIEW: Catalog of Earths, 2013 Update #2 : RACC and LNH

[Scott Eiler]

--- PART 2:  RACC and LNH ---

UNIVERSE:  RACC Offshoots (RACCies and RACCCafe)

- Type:  Superhuman

- Chronicler(s):  various

- Chronicler's Web Site:  none

- Activity:  RACCies are annual in April or May; RACCCafe is sporadic, 
last active in June

- Relevance:  Chancellor Wyatt, you've visited the RACCies.  We confirm 
your suspicion that it is a pocket universe formed only at need, as a 
venue for an ingathering ceremony among the RACC-related universes. 
It's probably just the size of a small city.  The RACCCafe is similar, 
but only the size of a city block.  These pocket universes are highly 
connected; portals open from there to any other universe.  There are few 
(maybe zero) regular inhabitants in these universes, but anyone may visit.

- Threat Analysis:  Minimal.  Even when mortal enemies are placed 
together, they are somehow prevented from destroying each other. 
Actions there *can* have lasting effect in the other universes, but only 
if the visitors consciously will it upin themselves.  You've mentioned 
you've found your visits useful for intelligence-gathering, for instance 
how you "recruited" Psychovant the Duck.

- Critique:  Stories of groups of heroes at the RACCies seem to be 
increasing.  These have all been enjoyable to read.  The RACCies and the 
RACCCafe seem to serve as a safety valve, helping cut down on 
cross-universal friction the rest of the year.

- Psychovant's Comments:  "Recruit" ME, will you?  I got your %^&!ing 
intelligence right HERE!  'Scuse me while I go "survey" 
Earth-Thai-Schoolgirl!

---

UNIVERSE:  Legion of Net.Heroes (LNH)

- Type:  Superhuman

- Chronicler(s):  practically everyone

- Chronicler's Web Site:  http://www.lnhq.info/

- Activity:  about weekly, counting the little stuff

- Relevance:  Highly likely to interact with the Council someday. 
They're currently undergoing a low-level invasion by Satanists (the 
"Devil Legion") from Earth-SW10!

- Threat Analysis:  This Earth has the Legion of Net.Heroes (LNH), an 
organization of *hundreds* of superheroes with powers from silly to 
cosmic.  This is unusual in size but not content.  What *is* unusual is 
its connection to Higher Power.  Its heroes have been known to repel 
Ultimate Menaces, by going on ascension quests to meet their makers.  In 
short, they are practically undefeatable on their home ground.  But if 
you go to their world and follow the rules their Higher Powers lay down, 
the heroes seem powerless against you - as the SW10 Satanists are 
exploiting.  Outside their universe, the LNH is likely as effective as a 
herd of rhinos:  nothing you'd want to face directly, but something you 
can easily herd.

- Critique:  If you can get past a bunch of in-jokes and twenty-year-old 
Internet naming conventions, you can usually find an amusing story in 
the LNH, and occasionally some epic ones.  We doubt they're attracting 
readers, but they do keep attracting *writers*.  In any world where 
people write more (perhaps via hand-held inter-web devices) and read 
less, recruiting for interactive fiction could actually work out well 
for the LNH.

- Psychovant's Comments:  Hey, at least *these* %^&!ing Writers are 
having fun and not fan-wanking on someone else's *famous* characters. 
That damn near makes them Internet kings!

---

UNIVERSE:  LNH Offshoots (LNH2 / LNH20 / All-New)

- Type:  Superhuman

- Chronicler(s):  some committees

- Chronicler's Web Site:  see "LNH"

- Activity:  sporadic at best, inactive at worst

- Relevance:  basically, none.  They barely interact with *themselves*, 
let alone our Council.

- Threat Analysis:  as for the baseline Legion of Net.Heroes, only 
greatly diluted

- Critique:  The LNH has tossed off many derivatives, intending to draw 
in more readers and/or writers.  The biggest of these is LNH20, the 20th 
anniversary reboot.  It is a committee novel and has collapsed under its 
own weight.  (Aside from one side story, it has been inactive throughout 
2013.)  The other universes have the same potential the original LNH 
does, but a much smaller incubation population.  Still, they do attract 
some writers who haven't played in the original.

- Psychovant's Comments:  Uh, nice try.  Now go write a short story 
about the last video game you played... oh, right, copyrights!  Well, 
carry on then!

--- Next:  PART 3:  The Web Comics ---

-- 
(signed) Scott Eiler  8{D> -------- http://www.eilertech.com/ ---------

When you *are* the leader... whatever goes wrong... whether you did it
or not... *you* are held responsible. - Barack Obama

I know. - Archie Andrews

- from Archie #617, March 2011, scripted by Alex Simmons.