Richard Oakes, born on this day in 1942, was a Mohawk indigenous activist and leader within the Red Power movement, playing a prominent role in the 19-month occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969 - 1971.

Oakes promoted Native American studies in university curricula and is credited for helping to change U.S. federal government "Termination" policies (policies regarding assimilation of indigenous people into the culture of the colonizer) of Native American peoples and culture.

In 1969, Oakes led a 19-month occupation of Alcatraz Island with LaNada Means, approximately 50 California State University students, and 37 others. On January 5th, 1970, Oakes' 12-year-old daughter, Yvonne, fell to her death from concrete steps. After her funeral, Oakes left the island.

In 1972, Oakes was shot and killed in Sonoma, California, by Michael Morgan, a YMCA camp manager. Allegedly, Oakes violently confronted Morgan, and Morgan responded by drawing a handgun and fatally shooting Oakes.

Oakes was unarmed when he was shot. Morgan claimed he acted in self-defense, and was acquitted on charges of voluntary manslaughter.

"We do not fear your threat to charge us with crimes on our land. We and all other oppressed peoples would welcome spectacle of proof before the world of your title by genocide. Nevertheless, we seek peace."

Richard Oakes

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    • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
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      edit-2
      6 months ago

      Okay, check this out, party member skill trees based in their instruments of course but the skill trees are musical influence which then have modifiers for gear or other quirks. And then those builds could have different combo powers for the party if they mesh good. So if your guitar player is fully specced into Ska and doesn't have a fuzz pedal or full stack you won't do as well if you have that combined with a drummer that has a double kick pedal and hits super hard. It's not a fully complete idea, but I've got a reaaaaally good start going here

      Edit: it should also be compatible with the old Rock Band Sets for gameplay and have multi-player main quest as an option

      • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
        ·
        6 months ago

        FUCKING TWO BATTLES AT ONCE WHERE YOUR BAND NEEDS TO PLAY GOOD AS YOUR FIGHTING ALLY PARTY HANDLES A DANCE FLOOR SCUFFLE IN A MORE TRAD RPG BUT MAYBE IF MULTIPLAYER THEY COULD DO A MORE ADVANCED VERSION OF MOTHER 3 TIMING ATTACKS THAT A REAL PLAYER COULD SYNC WITH A REAL DRUMMER IN THE DANF ROOM. The rhythm game accessory reuse idea got real stuck on me.

        • ratboy [they/them]
          ·
          6 months ago

          You really thought this out AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Especially with the rock band compatibility, such a nice touch. The premise is that a bunch of bands from all over caught wind of a scummy booker who is notorious for stealing money from touring bands so they're all on their individual quest to find him and beat his ass lol. But he has clout so you gotta fight through all his goons and crowd killers and bone heads along the way

          • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
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            edit-2
            6 months ago

            I'd like the concept to be sort of a band on the run idea, for structure Blues Brothers would be a could parralle where its a group on tour dealing with stuff on the road and at the cities and towns they stop in. So there's a forward movement with frequent stops and the people you pissed off in the last town on your heels. I'd really like the title to involve the words Rebel City and dunno where to go with it, like Escape from Rebel City, The Fight for Rebel City or just Rebel City on its own but I love a tagline.

            Edit: ROAD TO REBEL CITY

            • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
              ·
              6 months ago

              Computer geeks, help me here. I can make an rpg system and I can write a thing and I can draw concept art. I dunno fuck all about cumputahs

            • ratboy [they/them]
              ·
              6 months ago

              Dopest name. Now all's you need is a generous money-having hexbear user to back the project.....I know one of you is out there, fork it over!! gangster-spongebob

        • Frank [he/him, he/him]
          ·
          6 months ago

          You get bonuses to your rolls for queuing up approariate 80s music to play at the table. Showing up with feathered hair held by genuine aquanet nets you a free stat point during character creation.

          • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
            ·
            6 months ago

            I was thinking vidya cause I wanna have rock band guitar and drum use. Bur looking cool for sure replaces armor points and different brands of hairspray instead of helms and whatnot