- Location
- Norway
Two council votes for what? I think I missed something.
Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
DarkLight140
Credit to Team
- Location
- Lost in my thoughts
So, as far as finances go, let's check on the non-embezzlement options available to us- specifically, let's check on the organizational budget shenanigans that we can pull. Bear in mind that the Watch budget is going to be viewed as the new zero point at the end of this turn.
One option, to me, stands out above all others:
This is particularly true because, after we get the treasury of Stirland to cover all our intel expenses, we can then turn around and take moneymaking options to raise our operating budget even further! That sell-EIC-intel option is a great one to take next turn, after the new Elector Count has moved in and accepted the now-massively-increased Watch expenses as normal; we're expecting it to be lucrative so the influx of cash to our budgets will then allow us to use that new windfall to expand. As things stand now it'll do something a lot more like dragging us toward breaking even.
Aside from this, the update mentions this:
These are the other available Watch actions with listed net costs:
revolt in the name of Ranald carry out other tasks requiring large numbers.
Overall, I think Special Branch is absolutely essential to take this turn, Trade Delegation should be taken this turn only if Special Branch is not taken as it's simply not as lucrative and the two work at cross-purposes, and saltpeter production should be taken if we won't see income from it yet- otherwise, expand the Watch instead.
One option, to me, stands out above all others:
Because the new Watch budget is going to be viewed as normal, this is an absolutely perfect moment to shuffle the entire intel budget into the Watch budget. That is effectively increasing the intel budget by hundreds per turn, effective indefinitely, in a way that will attract no additional oversight. If we take any organizational finance option this turn, it should be that one.
This is particularly true because, after we get the treasury of Stirland to cover all our intel expenses, we can then turn around and take moneymaking options to raise our operating budget even further! That sell-EIC-intel option is a great one to take next turn, after the new Elector Count has moved in and accepted the now-massively-increased Watch expenses as normal; we're expecting it to be lucrative so the influx of cash to our budgets will then allow us to use that new windfall to expand. As things stand now it'll do something a lot more like dragging us toward breaking even.
Aside from this, the update mentions this:
We never took the option to shuffle the Attaché expenses into the military budget, so currently Mathilde is thinking that she'll lighten the financial burden on the intel network by dropping the program since she's no longer in need of massive reports on the undead. But, if we're shuffling the entire intel network into the Watch budget and then normalizing that, we don't need to drop the Attaché program in spite of its cost- and I think everyone here can see the benefits of keeping eyes throughout the military and reports on their activities and accomplishments flowing our way. We have dozens of intel officers used to filling out "we killed these undead" reports, we can expand that with some other standard report types (which should be quite accepted; we already have seen "we killed these orcs" jammed into the undead-report form by well-intentioned officers) and effectively have a constant stream of data on exactly what the military is up to- particularly if Gustav stays in charge, since he's unlikely to dispute our right to that activity at this point.
If these drop the income so that we're at the low point- after the infrastructure is built and paid for, but before it's in use and producing income- when the watch budget is normalized, that would be fantastic. If the "yield an unknown number of Budget Points" happens simultaneously with the cost, then these are a much less good idea. @BoneyM, could you clarify?
These are the other available Watch actions with listed net costs:
Either would be a solid choice. Covering poorer urban areas will improve the quality of the city but probably weaken the thieves' guilds, if we're still looking to those as an option; increasing their numbers increases their abilities to spike manpower when trying to bring down significant opposition, suppress riots in times of unrest, or
Overall, I think Special Branch is absolutely essential to take this turn, Trade Delegation should be taken this turn only if Special Branch is not taken as it's simply not as lucrative and the two work at cross-purposes, and saltpeter production should be taken if we won't see income from it yet- otherwise, expand the Watch instead.
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan Military Industrial Tycoon
LoganBert34
Apprentice Clerk
- Location
- Australia
[X] Plan Mistress of Shadows
- Location
- Burgundian Netherlands
In the likely hypothesis that Gustav remains on the council, exerting our influence over him means that he'll most often follow the way we vote, giving us a great deal of voting strength in the council.
- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
It has become an important trait that represents our experience from the campaign we lost our best friend and liege in. I don't expect the opportunities said trait gives us to faid away over a couple of turns.
Edit: You forgot to specify which ones are the overwork actions as well.
Beyond the above, I've been considering approval voting the following two. But that also comes with some criticism.
I don't think that publishing the undead info is a burning issue worth an action of our limited pool right now. Nor do see any reason why we should continue sending stuff to our string puller as long as he doesn't reveal himself. If he wants it he can get it himself, and say hi while doing so.
Instead I would prefer insisting on being part of Van Hal's last mission. Another option would be to capitalize on our war experience before it fades and train martial. Or simply limiting the overwork to +1 action to reduce risk of failure.
Otherwise your plan is pretty neat.
I like where your plan is going as well. Again, I would like some Martial training, putting overwork on something with low risk like Financial Jargon. And I feel iffy about Verena due to her opposition to Ranald. But I definitely prefer it to the current top votes.
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LoganBert34
Apprentice Clerk
- Location
- Australia
Inserted tally
- Location
- Aotearoa
@Siual Don't think I've seen a council vote. It's not a democracy.
As for owning shares in the EIC- probably the most important thing to do is to ensure we continue as Spymistress. It's arguably justifiable as Spymistress to paint it as an influential information gathering organisation. If we're not Spymistress... what purpose does our part owning it serve, other than Mathildes enrichment? Which is forbidden on pain of death.
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- Location
- Brazil
@Siual I realy like your plan but based on this:
Also any reason to not use our free action to talk with Wilhelmina? It would synergize with a lot of other things and you aren't using it for anything rigth now.
Not only is there no need to chance the watchs reigion right now but be doin the saltpeter actions personaly you are maximizing the chance it is going to fail, wich is speciay bad since you doin them in overwork, may I sugest using the organization action for that and then using the overwork action for something else, like erasing our debt ?
Also any reason to not use our free action to talk with Wilhelmina? It would synergize with a lot of other things and you aren't using it for anything rigth now.
Barnes
Laughing on the outside, laughing on the inside
- Location
- Definetly not my parent's basement
[X] Plan Morally Grey Wizard:
-[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government.
-[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
-[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly.
-[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
-[X] Your debt to Stirland is recorded in a handful of documents in the Archives, and the current Steward is leaving the position. If said documents were to be slightly altered at the right time, nobody would notice in the handover and your debt could evaporate.
-- Ranald's Blessing
-[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
-[X] There's never been less oversight on spending. Embezzlement now would be impossible to trace later. Scrape up whatever funds can still be found in the treasury, and pocket them.
-[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
-[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu.
-[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth. (Overwork)
-[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you. (Overwork)
-[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government.
-[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
-[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly.
-[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
-[X] Your debt to Stirland is recorded in a handful of documents in the Archives, and the current Steward is leaving the position. If said documents were to be slightly altered at the right time, nobody would notice in the handover and your debt could evaporate.
-- Ranald's Blessing
-[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
-[X] There's never been less oversight on spending. Embezzlement now would be impossible to trace later. Scrape up whatever funds can still be found in the treasury, and pocket them.
-[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
-[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu.
-[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth. (Overwork)
-[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you. (Overwork)
- Location
- Germany
Unless I miscount, I only have five personal actions. (Well, there are two more things, but they don't cost an action.)
- Location
- Aotearoa
Not decided yet. Some thoughts: I don't care about Gustav. I doubt our Master has any sway in Elector Count deliberations. I like getting the agents on the Watch budget, but the plan should ideally do more to plump the budget. Anton would be an easily controllable EC if that's what we want. I like some of @DarkLight140 thoughts.
Undecided about doubling our debt to Stirland for the EIC shares, because of the whole personal wealth thing we might have to get rid of our current holdings anyway.
I'm still concerned about justifying our financial actions to the Grey College when going for Magister.
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan Morally Grey Wizard
VoidZero
Passing Flan 布丁魔王
- Location
- Anywhere but RL
I would have used overwork had Mathilde been a bit healthier, she walked out of the war badly wounded with life changing mental stress; skipping meal and sleep will be terrible now.
- Location
- Aotearoa
Spymistress and Knight of Stirland. Known right hand of Van Hal. Destroyer of Drachenhof. It's absolutely appropriate to be there representing the Stirland interim government.
JaceAoT
The Architect
- Location
- The Netherlands
I'm not sure about trying to become the elector. Is that why we're going there? Why are we there? We could be inventing new spells, do enchanting, train swordfighting or anything really.
If we are trying to become the new elector, I just disagree with that. The reason this quest is so unique is the advisor part.
If we are trying to become the new elector, I just disagree with that. The reason this quest is so unique is the advisor part.
- Location
- Aotearoa
I'd imagine it's so we can attempt to ensure our preferred candidate gets it- whether Van Hal's heirs or Anton. And this is the big political meet- the Spymistress should be there, ideally deniably as part of some other capacity. Like, delivering a report on the Purge and destruction of Drachenhof as de facto CIC.
I agree we're a very unlikely EC and have no interest in that myself.
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VoidZero
Passing Flan 布丁魔王
- Location
- Anywhere but RL
Other counts and Emperor probably only cares about destruction of Drachenhof, but that should suffice.
Hope GT wouldn't be there, or shenanigans are going to happen.The 4th wave shattered as Mathilde and An charged. Then the Great Swords got blocked when they try to breakthrough.
There is a construction and set-up period, so it'll take a while for the proceeds to start flowing in. Timing it so that the expenses are part of the new normal and the profits come after the new Elector Count has settled in would work out nicely.
EIC share increase and debt erasure* are the big personal finance things. With the EIC as our investment vehicle I don't see much need to do personal embezelment or land speculation.
For our office, putting the informant network on the Watch budget, getting Stirland Saltpeter Security inc off the ground so the Watch can afford it, making sure SSS have the monopoly on the Haunted Hills caves - Sylvanian caves need monitoring anyway - and EIC information partnership are the big financial things.
We have dwarven favours - use their expertise where possible, training and satlpeter both. Out lair too.
The magic goop research is getting ever more urgent because we just have so much of the stuff.
*edit: Performance bonus for the the annihilation of Drakenhof from the acting commander of the Purge.
For our office, putting the informant network on the Watch budget, getting Stirland Saltpeter Security inc off the ground so the Watch can afford it, making sure SSS have the monopoly on the Haunted Hills caves - Sylvanian caves need monitoring anyway - and EIC information partnership are the big financial things.
We have dwarven favours - use their expertise where possible, training and satlpeter both. Out lair too.
The magic goop research is getting ever more urgent because we just have so much of the stuff.
*edit: Performance bonus for the the annihilation of Drakenhof from the acting commander of the Purge.
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