Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest

The 12 hour moratorium should be over by now, so I'm going to post my plan...

[X] Plan A New Dawn
-[X] Licking Wounds: Cost: 1313 Time: One Year. Reward: Army returned to pre-Invasion Strength.
-[X] The New Guard: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: New Martial Advisor, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] A Guiding Talon: Time: Two Years. Cost: 800. Reward: Griffons assist Yak modernization efforts, Increased Gryphus-Yak Relations. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] The Crystal Conundrum: Time: One Year. Cost:0 Reward: Resolve the ambiguous status of the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] Adopt a Pony Program: Time: Three Years. Cost: 1500. Reward: Crystal Refugee Situation Resolved. Crystal Ponies integrated into Gryphonian society. Chance of Success: 65%
-[X] Rotative Beam Engine: Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Invention of first true Steam Engine, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] Flying without Wings: Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Viability of Airships explored, additional Learning Actions Unlocked.
-[X] Clan Politics: Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Information on Yak Politics/the Modernist Movement, New Intrigue Options. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] Overtime
--[X] The Gryphus-Neighpon Mutual Defense Pact: Time: One Year. Cost: 150. Reward: Mutual Defense Treaty with the Kingdom of Neighpon. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] Setting an Example: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: Crystal Pony Adopted.

Regarding the other two personal actions aside from Overtime and Setting an Example... frankly, I believe that starting to improve our relationships with our allies and adopting a crystal pony are of higher priority than getting our son to socialize and getting a hobby for our dragon (I do not deny that focusing on our family is important, but Setting an Example and Overtime to be able to take the Defense Pact this turn are more imporant, so the family actions can be delayed for next turn imo).
If anyone has anything to say about the plan, then please do so! (as long as it is not about the personal actions please, as I'm quite decided what actions we should take in the Personal section)

[X] Plan A New Dawn

So @Questor im a little confused is it a one time payment like its always been or is it now switched to a per turn payment?

[X] Plan Airships, Yaks, and Downtime

-[X] Licking Wounds - Cost: 1313 Time: One Year. Reward: Army returned to pre-Invasion Strength.
-[X] The New Guard - Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: New Martial Advisor, New Actions Unlocked.

-[X] A Guiding Talon - Time: Two Years. Cost: 800. Reward: Griffons assist Yak modernization efforts, Increased Gryphus-Yak Relations. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] The Crystal Conundrum - Time: One Year. Cost:0 Reward: Resolve the ambiguous status of the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies, New Actions Unlocked.

-[X] Adopt a Pony Program - Time: Three Years. Cost: 1500. Reward: Crystal Refugee Situation Resolved. Crystal Ponies integrated into Gryphonian society. Chance of Success: 65%

-[X] Flying without Wings - Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Viability of Airships explored, additional Learning Actions Unlocked.
-[X] Rotative Beam Engine - Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Invention of first true Steam Engine, New Actions Unlocked.

-[X] Clan Politics - Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Information on Yak Politics/the Modernist Movement, New Intrigue Options. Chance of Success: 70%

-[X] Son's Socialization - Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Gawain makes some friends. Chance to develop future contacts.
-[X] Setting an Example - Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: Crystal Pony Adopted.


This plan focuses on industry/modernization. Locally it goes for the engine and airships. The engine is obvious, but the airships are less so. It was chosen because it was only 1 year long (thus leaving us a slot open next year with the engine taking 2) and because it has potential military applications against ground/sea-bound foes along with the more obvious transportation possibilities.

For modernizing the Yaks, I decided that it would be really valuable to have another ally that's strong near us, and the politics intrigue action is to ensure they stay our ally.

On our personal actions, our Son needs to be socialized since we skipped that last turn (for obvious reasons mind you) and the adoption is a crucial morale booster for the crystal ponies and hopefully improves the success chance of the adoption program overall.

This plan is identical to New Dawn with the exception of socialization for our heir over an official mutual defense treaty with Neighpon. We already have an unofficial pact, and I don't think formalizing it is really that useful. Also from a narrative perspective we're giving ourselves a break since we just finished the campaign, overworking isn't a good thing when we're not in a crisis situation.

edit: minor formatting fix

I'm going to go with...

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

Frankly, I do not think that A New Guard, A New Phase is a good plan.

Setting aside the fact that Son's Socialization can wait one more turn before it should be done and instead use our second action in the Personal section to grab Overtime so we can grab either the Defense Pact or Cannon Ships (which is something that looks like I'll have to agree to disagree with the people in the thread that believe that Socialization is more important than either the Defense Pact or Cannon Ships), I have another problem with A New Guard, A New Phase... and that is the fact that it goes for the book as our second learning action. I really think that the mystery box option (aka the book), while important, is not as important as researching airships or making a ship design that can use cannons, so the book option can be postponed for at least 1 more turn, maybe even 2.

(Unrelated to my opinion on the A New Guard, A New Phase plan)
After some consideration, I've decided to postpone Knights of the Frontier for at least a turn and instead go for Licking Wounds, as recovering our losses is a more important action than making a Knight Order dedicated to the defense of the Western Frontier.

[X] Plan: Frontier Knights, Pony Integration & Steam Engines Now
-[X] Knights of the Frontier: Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: New Knightly Order Established to guard the Western Frontier.
-[X] The New Guard: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: New Martial Advisor, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] The Gryphus-Neighpon Mutual Defense Pact: Time: One Year. Cost: 150. Reward: Mutual Defense Treaty with the Kingdom of Neighpon. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] The Crystal Conundrum: Time: One Year. Cost:0 Reward: Resolve the ambiguous status of the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] Adopt a Pony Program: Time: Three Years. Cost: 1500. Reward: Crystal Refugee Situation Resolved. Crystal Ponies integrated into Gryphonian society. Chance of Success: 65%
-[X] Rotative Beam Engine: Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Invention of first true Steam Engine, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] The Book: Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Info on the Mysterious Book
-[X] Clan Politics: Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Information on Yak Politics/the Modernist Movement, New Intrigue Options. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] Son's Socialization: Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Gawain makes some friends. Chance to develop future contacts.
-[X] Setting an Example: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: Crystal Pony Adopted.

Total Plan Cost: 2850

HERE WE GO!

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

[X] Plan Airships, Yaks, and Downtime

I like this one more then A New Guard, A New Phase, because we are MUGGLES. WE cannot use that book, at best the crystal ponies who are in NO condition right now to do ANYTHING may use it. The Airships on the other hand we can use to scout, trade and spy (because while a Gryphon may not stay indefinitely in the air, a ship with provisions can.)

[X] Plan A New Dawn

I just want to explain my main reason for going book first.

Both take 1 year to do, but for an air ship, in order to run the propellers, we'd need to get engines up and running first, which would take 2 years. Thus, I went book first, since that'll be done year one, and then go for examining the airship documents, which would take another year. at that point, engines would be done and we'd have both an idea of how to build them as well as primitive engines to peraps try and power the things.

That, and I really don't want to leave that book alone. sure, it's not relevant to us, but we've already had certain memebers of our empire sneak out without out spies catching em, and we have yet to establish counter-spying. Thus, I want to get done with that book so we can at least share what we know with our soon to be allies.

[X] Plan Airships, Yaks, and Downtime

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

Lisain said:

That, and I really don't want to leave that book alone. sure, it's not relevant to us, but we've already had certain memebers of our empire sneak out without out spies catching em, and we have yet to establish counter-spying. Thus, I want to get done with that book so we can at least share what we know with our soon to be allies.

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A fair point, but have we tried burning it yet?

[X] Plan Airships, Yaks, and Downtime

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

[X] Plan Deserved Rest
-[X] Licking Wounds - Cost: 1313 Time: One Year. Reward: Army returned to pre-Invasion Strength.
-[X] The New Guard: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: New Martial Advisor, New Actions Unlocked.

-[X] A Guiding Talon: Time: Two Years. Cost: 800. Reward: Griffons assist Yak modernization efforts, Increased Gryphus-Yak Relations. Chance of Success: 70%
-[X] The Crystal Conundrum: Time: One Year. Cost: 0 Reward: Resolve the ambiguous status of the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies, New Actions Unlocked.

-[X] Adopt a Pony Program: Time: Three Years. Cost: 1500. Reward: Crystal Refugee Situation Resolved. Crystal Ponies integrated into Gryphonian society. Chance of Success: 65%

-[X] Rotative Beam Engine: Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Invention of first true Steam Engine, New Actions Unlocked.
-[X] The Book: Time: One Year. Cost: 100. Reward: Info on the Mysterious Book

-[X] Sleeping Dragons: Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: New Intel on Neighpon, New Intrigue Actions. Chance of Success: 55%

-[X] Son's Socialization: Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Gawain makes some friends. Chance to develop future contacts.
-[X] Setting an Example: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: Crystal Pony Adopted.

There's no reason to rush the defense pact - we don't have intel on Neighpon, we don't have the time for a war, and we don't have a fleet to help with if they're attacked.

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase

I'm burning with curiosity about the book

[] Plan Building Better RelationShips
(Alternate name: Plan Puns Shouldn't Be the Impetus For Important Government Decisions.)

-[ ] Knights of the Frontier: Cost: 400. Time: Two Years. Reward: New Knightly Order Established to guard the Western Frontier.
-[] The New Guard - Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: New Martial Advisor, New Actions Unlocked.

I chose Knights instead of Wounds because I don't want to be building our army while we pointedly don't sign the pact for a year. It probably wouldn't be a big deal, if it mattered at all, but I'd rather keep the appearance of snubbing to a minimum. Besides, it'll give the country a break from army building. Thinking of doing Wounds next turn, and pushing Hunt to the turn after, which is unfortunate, but it could be fine.

-[] A Guiding Talon Time - Two Years. Cost: 800. Reward: Griffons assist Yak modernization efforts, Increased Gryphus-Yak Relations. Chance of Success: 70%
-[] The Crystal Conundrum - Time: One Year. Cost:0 Reward: Resolve the ambiguous status of the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies, New Actions Unlocked.

Talon instead of the Pact for those sweet, sweet Relations increase, and the Neighpon probably aren't going to get into a catastrophic land war in the span of a year.

-[] Adopt a Pony Program - Time: Three Years. Cost: 1500. Reward: Crystal Refugee Situation Resolved. Crystal Ponies integrated into Gryphonian society. Chance of Success: 65%
-[] Flying without Wings - Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Viability of Airships explored, additional Learning Actions Unlocked.
-[] Rotative Beam Engine - Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Invention of first true Steam Engine, New Actions Unlocked.

Airships with heavy artillery, bombs, and Griffon air fighters will be sick as hell, beyond the advantages of aerial superiority, once we can build the things, so let's find out what we'd need, beyond engines.

-[] Clan Politics - Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Information on Yak Politics/the Modernist Movement, New Intrigue Options. Chance of Success: 70%
-[] Son's Socialization - Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Gawain makes some friends. Chance to develop future contacts.
-[] Setting an Example - Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: Crystal Pony Adopted.

Sure, it would be real nice to sign the Dragon Pact this turn, but between the Pact, the Yaks, and Gawain, Gawain is the priority and the Yaks are more urgent. He's 13 and needs actual relations with people who aren't either family or servants or the children of servants before it starts affecting his thinking.

To be 100% honest with all of you, I just really wanted to make a pun. Probably says a lot that my first plan was mainly for dumb symbolism, and my next one was for a dumb pun.

Raptor580 said:

So @Questor im a little confused is it a one time payment like its always been or is it now switched to a per turn payment?

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It is now a per Turn payment system, meaning that you pay the listed cost of an action every year it is active. So an action that costs 1000 and lasts three years would end up costing 3000 over the course of those three years.

[X] Plan "rest and recover"

-[x] Licking Wounds: Cost: 1313 Time: One Year. Reward: Army returned to pre-Invasion Strength.

-[x] The New Guard: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: New Martial Advisor, New Actions Unlocked.

-[x] A Guiding Talon: Time: Two Years. Cost: 800. Reward: Griffons assist Yak modernization efforts, Increased Gryphus-Yak Relations. Chance of Success: 70%

-[x] The Crystal Conundrum: Time: One Year. Cost:0 Reward: Resolve the ambiguous status of the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies, New Actions Unlocked.

-[x] Adopt a Pony Program: Time: Three Years. Cost: 1500. Reward: Crystal Refugee Situation Resolved. Crystal Ponies integrated into Gryphonian society. Chance of Success: 65%

-[x] Cannon Ships: Cost: 100. Reward: New Ship Class Designed.

-[x] Rotative Beam Engine: Cost: 500. Time: Two Years. Reward: Invention of first true Steam Engine, New Actions Unlocked.

-[x] Sleeping Dragons: Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: New Intel on Neighpon, New Intrigue Actions. Chance of Success: 55%

-[x] Son's Socialization: Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Gawain makes some friends. Chance to develop future contacts.

-[x] Setting an Example: Time: One Year. Cost: 0. Reward: Crystal Pony Adopted.


I'm VERY against delaying Gawain's socialization.

It's a time-sensitive subject that we already (reasonably, it was wartime!) Delayed once. At some point he'll simply decide he doesn't need friends or he will find some by himself, and we'll have lost our chance to help.

There will always be more important "empire" problems compared to "family" problems, if we follow that reasoning we should take 2 overtimes nearly every turn!

To me the "Must have" actions this turn are the crystal pony ones, new martial advisor, gawain and steam engines. I want to take the cannon ships mostly because we'll delay them forever otherwise, and the army recover because I think it would help with the great hunt

[X] A New Guard, A New Phase