Meguca Micro Empire Quest (PMMM)

[Elder Haman]

It will halve the value. Since I figure being persuasive does apply somewhat over the phone, but a lot of body language is lost.

It's not a magical effect, it's just trained people skill.

Also have started writing, no outrageous rolls either way. Was wondering what ended up winning between kinematics and Elder Haman. They're both only differing in a couple lines so it's not a big deal on my end.

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@Kinematics

Based on this will you agree that Mami will not meet with the Nagoya people?

This is absolutely essential. They have a telepath, and they use her.

I really, don't know why you are objecting to this, as a mind reading of Mami would be disaster for a negotiation to trade information.

 

[TheEyes]

@Kinematics

Based on this will you agree that Mami will not meet with the Nagoya people?

This is absolutely essential. They have a telepath, and they use her.

I really, don't know why you are objecting to this, as a mind reading of Mami would be disaster for a negotiation to trade information.

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Have to agree there. Not only that, but given that Mitakihara is all futuretech, all the time, especially given the video whiteboards and such that are even present in public middle schools, I'd think that videoconferencing would be the way to go here.

Other than that, the only difference between the two plans is @Kinematics with the stipend retcon versus @Elder Haman with the straight boost, right? Given those, I'd say we should go with the retcon for this month; next month we'll have diplomacy handled and can make a press with Mami into the courier business expansion (to counter the critfail penalty), and we can look into franchising the courier business into the non-Serene's areas; if either of those succeed then we can easily afford to raise the stipend at that point.

 

[Skelm]

Changing vote to:

[X] Kinematics
-[X] With Elder Haman's diplomacy fluff

 

[TheEyes]

Eh, works for now.

[X] Kinematics
-[X] With Elder Haman's diplomacy fluff

 

[UbeOne]

[X] Kinematics
-[X] With Elder Haman's diplomacy fluff

 

[inverted_helix]

It's funny how some parts I blaze through while others leave me fumbling about for hours. Mostly when I need to define big nebulous parts of the world you have limited insight into and then wonder just what to let you see.

Incidentally this is probably going to be your decision options in deal making, posting it to see if other people have ideas on what I could add, since my own brainstorming is basically just circling around and around(Obviously besides techs they probably don't have anyways.) Working on update still, so many diplomacy options leaves even me charting wildly. Plus rumors are basically me brainstorming, then encrypting, both of which take time.


50 points available

50 Spell anchoring: You already understand magic lingering in an object and enhancing it, but they've developed the techniques for placing an effect into an object beyond the mere passive effects.

10 Welcome packet: Their more insular version of your recruitment pamphlets. This contains basic details on structure that the girls in the organization are expected to know, as well as some history but may be more propaganda than truth.

10 Information: How'd they interrogate soul gems anyways?

2 (Stackable): One GCU

1 (Stackable): $2,000 cash

 

[UbeOne]

Spell anchoring looks nice. Another one for the research team.

 

[Aranfan]

They have 25 GCU to spare?

*whimper*

 

[notgreat]

I find it much more interesting that 1GCU is worth $4,000.

This is probably due to their territory limitations and will be going down shortly, but we may want to see if we can sell them a couple GCUs before the price drops.

 

[TheEyes]

They have 25 GCU to spare?

*whimper*

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Actually that's probably a good thing. Between that, their extra cash, their conservativism with demon strength, and the morale penalties associated with a conquest-oriented feudal system, their core group might be quite small indeed, and focused more on eliminating meguca within their borders rather than building up an army. We might be bigger than they are right now, in terms of meguca-power, even if they currently hold more territory and look to be more murderous than we are.

Have to think more about options. GCUs and cash are not terribly good options, and Spell Anchoring is very shiny, so that's probably what I'll go for, but that's just first impressions.

 

[Elder Haman]

It's funny how some parts I blaze through while others leave me fumbling about for hours. Mostly when I need to define big nebulous parts of the world you have limited insight into and then wonder just what to let you see.

Incidentally this is probably going to be your decision options in deal making, posting it to see if other people have ideas on what I could add, since my own brainstorming is basically just circling around and around(Obviously besides techs they probably don't have anyways.) Working on update still, so many diplomacy options leaves even me charting wildly. Plus rumors are basically me brainstorming, then encrypting, both of which take time.


50 points available

50 Spell anchoring: You already understand magic lingering in an object and enhancing it, but they've developed the techniques for placing an effect into an object beyond the mere passive effects.

10 Welcome packet: Their more insular version of your recruitment pamphlets. This contains basic details on structure that the girls in the organization are expected to know, as well as some history but may be more propaganda than truth.

10 Information: How'd they interrogate soul gems anyways?

2 (Stackable): One GCU

1 (Stackable): $2,000 cash

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Combat Tactics for class 3 Demons?

EDIT: Any hints on whether or not they have soul gems of suspended girls? If so, are those for sale? I asked Mami to be subtle, so we probably didn't get any information on this, but thought I should ask.

Also, will they accept additions to the deal? Like us giving them 5 more GCU to get up to 60 points?

 

[Elder Haman]

So, assuming they are playing us straight it suggests that GCU are their primary restraint.

That they either have an easy source of money (are they involved in crime?) or that they are very limited on cubes (due to a hard limit based on territory without Crop Rotation and Rotating Tactics.)

Perhaps both.

One question to ask is if we want to send any false signals ourselves.

For example, adding some GCU to the trade for a little extra information signals that we have excess cubes, and do not value cubes as much as they do. This would probably be seen as a signal of strength, and would fit with our improved harvesting tactics. On the other hand it might be a temptation as well.

Thoughts?

 

[Aranfan]

So, assuming they are playing us straight it suggests that GCU are their primary restraint.

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Could you explain how you came to this conclusion? 25 GCU to spare seems like a lot to me.

 

[Skelm]

They have 25 GCU to spare?

*whimper*

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In fairness, we'd probably be willing to pay that much for something equivalently valuable.

Selling Grief Cubes to them is probably net positive, that's about a months worth of income per unit, right?

 

[Elder Haman]

Could you explain how you came to this conclusion? 25 GCU to spare seems like a lot to me.

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Because they are offering money at a much higher ratio than it is for us.

Additionally, a 25 cube GCU surplus isn't that huge. If Kyubey hadn't dinged us for violating the masquerade we'd have a 35 cube surplus.

That's with us paying the max for grief spiral negation, and with us refusing to take any risk in hunting, and us generally refusing to straight up fight to take territory. (Yeah, we aren't perfect, but we show way more restraint than most girls.)

Nor throwing out girls when territory is small.

I think there is a good chance the core girls are only 25 girls or so. Maybe with a lot of 5 to 10 girl vassals? And some of those vassals, having smaller vassals? Some of those vassals would be more trusted and more loyal than others.

Low feudalism, not the late high feudalism where the king had enormous power, but a time when the king would have to met in council with his earls/dukes and persuade them to support his wars.

Basically the 25 girl group is more of a balancer hegemon rather than pure dominance. Which would also fit if Hina is a telepath. Use telepathy to make sure girls aren't planning betrayal...

Dang, what a power the Corleone Family would have been with that power...

They could probably call a larger number than us into an offensive war, but not double. However, I better they would completely outnumber us if we started the war.

Would explain why they were so swift in returning our girls and exclaiming a misunderstanding. A 60 girl group, with almost all vets or elites, fully integrated into one organization, and so rich! It would make them very very wary.

 

[inverted_helix]

They have 25 GCU to spare?

*whimper*

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Well technically speaking you have 25 GCU to spare too

EDIT: Any hints on whether or not they have soul gems of suspended girls? ... I asked Mami to be subtle, so we probably didn't get any information on this, but thought I should ask.

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No you don't get hints on that for free, not with subtle.

Also, will they accept additions to the deal? Like us giving them 5 more GCU to get up to 60 points?

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To a limited degree. There's no infinite conversion to cash allowed. And keep in mind you have an actual GM not a computer, so if you come up with some crazy infinite wealth scheme I will shut it down. I've exploited too many video game infinite wealth mechanisms myself. And depending on which groups you manage to talk to you will find they set different ratios. This allows some degree of arbitrage, but they all trade in limited quantities and with limited information flow so it's not too much a violation of economics.


Also you guys are kind of overextending your speculations from limited data.

Which would also fit if Hina is a telepath.

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Also Hino, not Hina. I use a random name generator to create a list of names then select the one that amuses me the most. (Hence Seto Tomoe. Or Sayaka, Yuma, and Hitomi)

 

[TheEyes]

So, assuming they are playing us straight it suggests that GCU are their primary restraint.

That they either have an easy source of money (are they involved in crime?) or that they are very limited on cubes (due to a hard limit based on territory without Crop Rotation and Rotating Tactics.)

Perhaps both.

One question to ask is if we want to send any false signals ourselves.

For example, adding some GCU to the trade for a little extra information signals that we have excess cubes, and do not value cubes as much as they do. This would probably be seen as a signal of strength, and would fit with our improved harvesting tactics. On the other hand it might be a temptation as well.

Thoughts?

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Crime seems like a good bet. With their lack of morals, and their stealth, telepath, and ganking specialists they could be quite the force in the criminal world.

Have to think on the rest.

Also you guys are kind of overextending your speculations from limited data.

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Hi, this is SV; I don't think we've met.

 

[Elder Haman]

To a limited degree. There's no infinite conversion to cash allowed. And keep in mind you have an actual GM not a computer, so if you come up with some crazy infinite wealth scheme I will shut it down. I've exploited too many video game infinite wealth mechanisms myself. And depending on which groups you manage to talk to you will find they set different ratios. This allows some degree of arbitrage, but they all trade in limited quantities and with limited information flow so it's not too much a violation of economics.

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Arbitrage is only reasonable as an economic fact, but once it starts happening the prices would equalize, eliminating the arbitrage opportunity.

Trading grief cubes (where we seem to have a competitive advantage) for money might well be a possible strategy. Basically we would be pushing the risk of crime on to other girls while we take on the risk of hunting (which we can easily mitigate).

Have to think a bit about the implications.

Also Hino, not Hina. I use a random name generator to create a list of names then select the one that amuses me the most. (Hence Seto Tomoe. Or Sayaka, Yuma, and Hitomi)

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Sorry. Just think of this as the traditional inability of players to remember names of NPCs made by the GM.

 

[Elder Haman]

I have to go to a dentist appointment, but I think we should seriously consider paying an additional 10 cubes to get all the information.

And then maybe even "tip" Area 13 one GCU for their part in facilitating the trade.

That signals a lot of wealth on our part in grief cubes.

It also hints to Area 13 that we will pay in grief cubes for information. This can be as innocuous as them tipping us off if the Nagoya group has something particularly valuable for us to buy. Or the more desirable outcome, of them warning us if the Nagoya group plans any hostile actions against us.

Being generous is a way of signalling strength, and making friends...

We'd have to have a discussion with Seto about it, and explain it to our girls.

 

[inverted_helix]

Also keep in mind that if you have other ideas for things you might want, I'm open to suggestions, that's why I originally posted that list Those were basically just the things that came to mind but felt like people might have other ideas. Potentially combat useful things are exempted on purpose. They won't teach you how to fight better because they still might end up fighting you in the future.

 

[Elder Haman]

Also keep in mind that if you have other ideas for things you might want, I'm open to suggestions, that's why I originally posted that list Those were basically just the things that came to mind but felt like people might have other ideas. Potentially combat useful things are exempted on purpose. They won't teach you how to fight better because they still might end up fighting you in the future.

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So that's why Combat Tactics against class 3 demons isn't on the list?

(That seems like the obvious offer...)

 

[Skelm]

So that's why Combat Tactics against class 3 demons isn't on the list?

(That seems like the obvious offer...)

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I don't think they have that, seeing how much effort they go to to avoid Class 3 demons spawning.

 

[racnor]

Also, each class three is unique.

 

[Kinematics]

Based on this will you agree that Mami will not meet with the Nagoya people?

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Yeah, fine.


A quick note based on expected results from next turn's hunting: After upkeep and a couple cubes for research, and assuming we end up at about 50 cubes after spirals this month, we should end up with 15 to 20 cubes to spare next month.

While I would have preferred that to be added to our buffer, it also means we can use that much fairly easily during the trade and still end up at about neutral (reserves = population) after another turn.

 

[boonerunner]

Spell anchoring: You already understand magic lingering in an object and enhancing it, but they've developed the techniques for placing an effect into an object beyond the mere passive effects.

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Spell anchoring looks nice. Another one for the research team.

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Indeed. It seems to be an extension of the following research items:

They do manage to come up with a technique that they manage to teach to the other girls for holding onto an enchantment cast by another, it works by sort of wrapping it up with a field of your own magic outside it so it can't leak away. This at least lets Mami charge up another girl's shield and the other girl can maintain the superior strength as long as she holds it. Mami found it rather interesting as she started seeing the girls' shields before they went out how they've all decorated them in various colors and patterns.

They also discovered that it seems like layering different materials can slow the discharge rate somewhat. Wrapping a charged item in other materials noticeably lengthened the time period over which it lost strength, whereas changing the size of the object hadn't had much effect. (-3 grief cubes, -$500, shields go to -3%)

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and

She then tested wire with no coating, ones covered in each of these materials in various combinations, and of course extra thick wire with no coating to match the overall size of the coated dowels. It rapidly confirmed her previous theory. All of the coated dowels outperformed the uncoated dowels, however the aluminum foil coated one only barely did so. The plastic wrap, rubber, and the leather coated ones were in the middle with substantial increases in duration. While the ones covered by felt and especially polystyrene lasted significantly longer, hours even.

She reported to you at the end of the month that she believed that magic behaved similar in this way to heat, with much of it leaking away the moment it was no longer controlled actively by a meguca. The tendency to start with high conductivity metals due to the usefulness of their strength likely only made the appearance of quick decay worse.

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Perhaps yielding the effects of the following two areas of research:

[] Enchanting, Secondary Properties: Further investigate just what determines what property gets boosted. Katsuko begs you not to let Keiko try hypnotism.
Cost:3 months of: 2 Veteran Meguca, 3 Grief Cube, $1000; Reward: Information on deeper effects of enchanting. Chance of success: 60%

[] Research, Personal Enchanting Effects: How does the individual doing the enchanting affect the results? Do individual girls' skills play a role in the end result? Do their wishes affect things?
Cost: 3 Veteran +1 Green Meguca, 2 Grief Cubes; Chance of Success: 80%; Reward: Information about how the individual Meguca affects the result

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Have to think more about options. GCUs and cash are not terribly good options, and Spell Anchoring is very shiny, so that's probably what I'll go for, but that's just first impressions.

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The two projects in this area that we already have available would cost us about 11 girl-months and 11.5 GCU. If
Spell Anchoring is equivalent to them, then researching it ourselves might be cheaper. On the other hand, the research might be completely unique (or represent a deeper path that we haven't seen yet), in which case it probably would be worth buying.

Also, I do want to note that our GCU stockpile is a bit low at the moment (due to low harvests because of research, higher-than-normal spiral rolls, and the absorption of new girls), so obtaining some spare GCU might be more important.