I'm also considering smaller posters there and I do think back a lot further then half a year. The process has been on-going for a while.
I mean, yeah, there's turnover in the smaller posters. Almost nobody was there at quest start. Many comment less and begin just liking updates, etc. However the crushing majority of the main posters are still there. Looking at "who replied", almost everyone on page 1 is still there, page 2 and 3 are mostly still there.
This is far from a box with only 4 people in it.

However I remain curious : how do you suggest to change this state of affairs?

I think the best option for more reader engagement would be to ban write-ins, and have us pick from clear, preset options. That always massively increases turnout. I personally dislike this idea, but hey, it works!
To increase discussion... No idea.
 
I think it was @egoo who quickly pried an answer out of DP that we could do "an unlimited number of minor actions" per month, and I think every time someone made a vague suggestion for limiting them ultimately the discussion ended with "no, you can still add as many as you want and we'll have room for them".

Which might have been a bad thing...
 
...imma just stop looking at the thread for now, it feels like I'm the reason all is shit.
 
If they wait even longer the only thing that makes sense is them spending all this time planting those psionic sleeper agents and Flesh Forging utterly massive armies in preparation in response to our movements.
That's what I always figured they were doing. The good option for what they were doing anyway. The bad option involves Aboleth Chronomancers.
 
Yeah, the minor actions are the most responsible for how slow the quest ended up getting.
Not them alone though. There's also the ridiculous research speed and the insistence of having IC mentions of every action in that tremendous list.

Most civ quests usually wrap up the minor stuff of a turn with two lines each, at most, and then carry on. Usually similar stuff is bunched up. With all the "build X"-actions, it would be better to just have Alinor on screen once a month and say "Construction progress within expected parameters. Click Spoiler Tag for details."
 
That just goes further in the direction of stomping on my SOD. The Deep Ones are massively overdue to attack us already. The longer they are quiet the more I wonder what the hell they're waiting for. If they wait even longer the only thing that makes sense is them spending all this time planting those psionic sleeper agents and Flesh Forging utterly massive armies in preparation in response to our movements.

I'd be ecstatic if this turns out to be the case, because narratively the Deep Ones would start making sense as enemies rather than being tucked away neatly into a box until we need them onscreen.
That would be fine with me, too. I was just presenting an idea for an area for us to focus on. If y'all want to go full on against the Deep Ones, I'm all for it.
 
...imma just stop looking at the thread for now, it feels like I'm the reason all is shit.
I'm not really trying to back you into a corner here, you are just really connected to one minor one-off note in the discussion that has left a little dissatisfaction up in the air.

For one thing, if you're to blame for spurring on action creep, I'm super to blame for allowing it, considering I aided with all the bookkeeping for months.
 
...imma just stop looking at the thread for now, it feels like I'm the reason all is shit.
The minor actions are only part of it. The other part is the lack of focus on the thread's part. I definitely agree with Azel's assessment of our Plane of Water interactions mostly being cookie-cutter scenarios which don't have that much of a comparative benefit, especially in narrative terms. I'm a bit stumped on why we're still here instead of devoting most of this month to cornering the Golden Company and finishing them off, for example. This month was supposed to revolve around that, and we've gotten maybe one or two interludes so far.
Not them alone though. There's also the ridiculous research speed and the insistence of having IC mentions of every action in that tremendous list.

Most civ quests usually wrap up the minor stuff of a turn with two lines each, at most, and then carry on. Usually similar stuff is bunched up. With all the "build X"-actions, it would be better to just have Alinor on screen once a month and say "Construction progress within expected parameters. Click Spoiler Tag for details."
A spoiler tagged write-up of minor actions probably would be a better way to handle this.
 
...imma just stop looking at the thread for now, it feels like I'm the reason all is shit.
No, dude. It's not your fault. We've made a collaborative effort of engaging in too many Minor Actions. If it's an issue, we all had a part in it. We can reduce the issue by cutting back on Minor Actions and assigning those take to others or simply letting them run in the background.
 
The minor actions are only part of it. The other part is the lack of focus on the thread's part. I definitely agree with Azel's assessment of our Plane of Water interactions mostly being cookie-cutter scenarios which don't have that much of a comparative benefit, especially in narrative terms. I'm a bit stumped on why we're still here instead of devoting most of this month to cornering the Golden Company and finishing them off, for example. This month was supposed to revolve around that, and we've gotten maybe one or two interludes so far.
We haven't actually been in the PoW for that long this month, though I agree it feels like we have. Dany has been part of the efforts preparing to deal with the GC, but we can wrap up our efforts in the PoW and join her ASAP.

Y'all want to finish up in Dawa tomorrow and head back to Planetos to join in the anti-GC efforts?
 
We haven't actually been in the PoW for that long this month, though I agree it feels like we have. Dany has been part of the efforts preparing to deal with the GC, but we can wrap up our efforts in the PoW and join her ASAP.

Y'all want to finish up in Dawa tomorrow and head back to Planetos to join in the anti-GC efforts?
Yes!
 
We haven't actually been in the PoW for that long this month, though I agree it feels like we have. Dany has been part of the efforts preparing to deal with the GC, but we can wrap up our efforts in the PoW and join her ASAP.

Y'all want to finish up in Dawa tomorrow and head back to Planetos to join in the anti-GC efforts?
Yes, we've got much more urgent priorities back home.
 
Frankly, the thread cutting down on Minor Actions is a bit like a junky cutting down on the Meth. It makes a bad problem slightly better and everyone knows from the start it won't last.

Use the action system as it was planned. No more minor actions. Not even for Viserys.

Otherwise we will soon be here again.
 
[X] Present yourself to the Emir's court
-[X] With an offer of trade. If we are able to establish a trade deal with Dawa, we may attempt to broker a military alliance in the near future, likely through our proxies soon to be assigned to operate on the Plane of Water in our stead.
-[X] After we finish with Dawa, Teleport back to Vialesk while the Moonchaser Plane Shifts to Sorcerer's Deep. We will pick up our commissioned items, perhaps place another order, then return to Planetos in order to start working with Dany and the others for our upcoming confrontation with the forces the Golden Company and Tiamat.
 
Frankly, the thread cutting down on Minor Actions is a bit like a junky cutting down on the Meth. It makes a bad problem slightly better and everyone knows from the start it won't last.

Use the action system as it was planned. No more minor actions. Not even for Viserys.

Otherwise we will soon be here again.
Yep.

I've made the exact same argument before and I still agree.

Unless minor actions go completely on OOC coverage we'll inevitably be here again.
 
I'd like to visit Gith and grab lore/make orders, but I guess that can be done over in the background as well...
Our previous order with the Githzerai isn't going to be ready until the 19th of this month. That's one we should do ourselves, but it shouldn't take.more than a couple hours out of one day to do that.
 
Also, if I could place a suggestion for better pacing:

- GC for this and at least one more month
- Westeros for 3 to 12 months (Yes, I'm serious about this. No more turbo-conquests that are wrapped up in a week.)
- Efreeti / Illithids

With the Efreeti and Illithid issues slowly escalating in the time it takes to pacify Westeros.
 
Our previous order with the Githzerai isn't going to be ready until the 19th of this month. That's one we should do ourselves, but it shouldn't take.more than a couple hours out of one day to do that.
Why do we need to do it ourselves again? We have a relationship now, and it's not like they need to talk to the Abbot(?) to pick stuff up. Running off to the marketplace is a waste of time, even if it's cool.
 
Why do we need to do it ourselves again? We have a relationship now, and it's not like they need to talk to the Abbot(?) to pick stuff up. Running off to the marketplace is a waste of time, even if it's cool.
Agreed. Shopping is one of those things that can just be recorded and done in the background. We're well past the days of being bright-eyed poor people browsing through the markets wondering what we can get away with. We know what we want, we know how much we want to spend, we know how much is available in the first place, etc.
 
Sure, let's have no more Minor Actions, and turn the way quest is 180 degrees.
Bah.
I'm feeling highly salty, and want to argue, but that'd be the 3rd time we are facing this, and this time, I'm thoroughly tired of trying to fight a pointless battle.

I disagree, but sure, let's do things another way.
No more IC MAs.

We are finishing what we have this month, and then we are done.
12th month Minor Actions
In-Character actions

(Done by VIserys himself, due to narrative importance, or need for direct player input):
[X] Resolve to spend some more time with Balerion.

[X] Meraxes being worshipped as actively as she is is a fine thing - except we know of the danger that grows alongside her.
-[X] Talk to Zherys and Meraxes, try to ensure she doesn't "return to life" for a while longer so that we won't have to worry about the 15th getting proactive.

---Plane of Water Actions: Start---
[X] Visit Vialesk again
-[X] Grab the crafting orders we made, make new ones.

[X] We already got the crafters and Enchanters from Vialesk and Hampa, now would be the time to try and get more from:
-[X] Dalaqua (focus: crafters/artisans, also any enchanters we can get).
-[X] Zerbat (focus: artisans, also any enchanters we can get).
-[X] Dawa (focus: crafters (fishnets), also any enchanters we can get).
-[X] Kela (focus: crafters (massive amounts), also any enchanters we can get).

[X] Look into the possibility of bringing more Marid Emirates into your war on Deep Ones:
-[X] Dawa (fishnet-wielding units, said to have been excelling in the last war).
-[X] Kela (huge amounts of crafters, so possibly war-machines of sorts..?).

---Plane of Water Actions: End---


[X] Visit the Gith Monastery again.
-[X] Gather the ordered items.
-[X] Offer more fleshforged creatures
-[X] Gather the promised lore on Psionics (basics) and Aberrations (all they can share).
-[X] Make new item-orders:
--[X] 1 [1/day, Slotless, Unaugmented (7 ML)] item of Zealous Fury (6,854 IM).
--[X] 2 [1/day, Slotless, Unaugmented] items of Hustle. ()
--[X] 1 [1/day, Slotless, Augmented (15th ML)] item of Empty Mind (3,672 IM).
--[X] 1 [Slotless, (15th ML)] Third Eye: Conceal (24,000 IM).
--[X] X-amount of [(15th ML)] Third Eye: Conceal (effective Psionic Mindblank items - 12,000 IM per item).

-----------
[X] AFTER TIAMAT'S FORCES ARE DEALT WITH:
-[X] Hunt for some Winter-touched creatures Beyond the Wall.
--[X] Variety is the answer here, grab animals, monsters, Fey - anything possible, really. (High-level Divination guarantees some good non-Mindblanked finds right off the bat)
--[X] Have them handed over to Djinn for their research on cleansing Void-corruption.

-[X] If there is time - look into setting up a counter-trap to those Efreeti hunting the Char-Serpent(s) in Oil-seas of Plane of Fire.
-------------

[X] You have received reports of Inquisition on the creatures you once encountered beneath the King's Landing. While your Empire is fairly progressive towards the non-humans, same most assuredly can't be said of Westeros as it is now - sooner or later, something will happen, either they'll be discovered and rooted out, or some corruption may get to them, those forced to hide away from the rest of the world in fear.
-[X] Visit the Rat-folk beneath the King's Landing, try to convince them to move cities - Sorcerer's Deep will freely offer them a safe haven if they agree to become your subjects.

[X] Arrange a personal meeting(s) with the remaining 2 rulers of Lorath - attempt to persuade them into joining the Empire, claiming economic growth and stability as reasons, grease the wheels where necessary by bribes.
-[X] Additionally, look into "the Shadowbinder" who started a school in Lorath - while the regulations used in it clearly make it seem like a preparation for joining The Empire, we are curious about sich a mage - since we had only limited contact with Shadow-mages so far.

[X] Meet with the Candlekeep Courtier, hash out what he needs for him and his Fey to be more effective at the task we put him on - we are talking gear, we are talking consumables, we are talking potential House of Mirrors support.

[X] Have the talk with Stannis - the Storm God can do much for the realm, and him personally. So far he seemed a goal-minded man, so we believe he'll see the merit in converting to the just and practical God of First Men.
-[X] In case of success, also retrieve the Heart Tree from the Storm's End - putting an exact fleshforged copy, with permanenced (Diamond dust) Fire Resistance, on it.

[X] Meet Galeneia, the daughter of Merling King.
-[X] If she succeeded in getting the lore on forging the water-spirits, barter for it.

[X] Look for a way to contact the "exiles" of Faceless Men under the false persona of Liu of Qarth - under the pretenses of relaying to them the research of the tablet you completed.

[X] Visit the Dornish tourney in a guise - the lords shall be properly briefed on many a thing.
Delegated Actions
(Done by Companions, Vassals or Allies, likely to be done in an Interlude or an Inquisitorial report):
[X] Loot the entirety of Mercury Lake in PoE.

[X] Grow Heart Trees for provinces with active Inquisition Bases (provided enough sacrifices/items are available for that).
-[X] Stepstones
-[X] Tyrosh
-[X] Lys
-[X] Myr
-[X] Braavos
-[X] Pentos
-[X] Mantarys
-[X] Tolos
-[X] Naath
-[X] Eastern Basilisk Isles
-[X] The Three Snakes
-[X] Western Basilisk Isles

[X] Grow "Plant Growth"-type Hearts Trees for the following greens (provided enough sacrifices/items are available for that):
-[X] Golden Desert Tree seeds

[X] Have Dany use her Half-Celestial form's Hallow SLA with the Tongues spell attached to blanket the area where our normal SD MirrorVision broadcasts and performances originate from, ensuring that all the recipients understand everything said on the broadcast.
Background Actions
(Done in the background, are likely to appear on-screen if something unexpected happens, otherwise will be but informed of upon completion; possibly in form of a report):
[X] Restore the documents and the lore recovered from Ymeri's mansion in Volantis via the ash-to-book ritual.

[X] Recover the lore of the Many-Faced-God written down by Faceless.

[X] Have the 20 lbs of Void-touched Jade handed over to Djinn Cryomancers for their research in cleansing Void Corruption - with the full tale we know of it.
-[X] Preferably, those shouldn't be consumed in the process - but we can live with it if the results would look really promising.

[X] Have the Efreeti Wish-slaves, summoned alongside the Devils last month by their True Names, handed over to Shaitan/Djinn officials - perhaps making them into a propaganda move for all of Genie since the practice is as abhorrent to all of them.

[X] Have school-temples of Zathir opened in Opaline Vault, Armun Kelisk, and Vialesk (and Mardja if possible).

[X] Open a temple of Yss in Vialesk (and Mardja if possible).

[X] With several educational institutions off-plane accepting the offer of student exchange, it would but make sense to keep an eye on it.
-[X] Djinn Criomancers - will read lectures in SD for a month (12th month).
-[X] Djinn Auxiliaries (Mystic Rangers) - lore needed for training acquired, we can train Mystic Rangers (starting, 12th month).
-[X] Djinn Order of Stormweavers (Stormcasters) - agreed in principle, but need to free up a Master to visit beforehand - unknown when available.
-[X] Shaitan War Academy (Warmages, Diviners, Officers, and Engineers) - tentative agreement, bureaucracy needs to be pushed through to start the exchange - either visit the Shaitan leader or send diplomatic envoy throughout several months.
-[X] Shaitan Guild of Shapers (Magewrights) - accepted student exchange.

[X] The lore of the Faceless Men is perilous indeed - presenting a danger to the very beings of those who may attempt to follow it without the sort of pact the Faceless have in place- but maybe, just maybe, there are those in your realm who will take such a path. You cannot in good conscience set aside the potential power this path may lead them to, and the potential usefulness of such assets.
-[X] Talk to Ysandrix, some of our Fiends, maybe Vesill, potentially some of the most proficient humans (read: Inquisitor-level). Make the dangers clear and apparent, even we won't be able to blunt those.
-[X] With Faceless seeking to bring Yss into the millennia-old pact, to better guard the Domains of [Death] from the Void, perhaps something on a smaller scale can be done to other gods of your realm? Inquire Zathir, Yss, the Ferryman, Old Gods, Weeping Lady, and the Goddess of Silver Moon if they'd be willing to grant knowledge and power to someone in such a way - and for what price.

[X] Have Bloodraven!Varys get all of the Dragonbone outside of the Red Keep and into our possession and replaced with fleshforged fakes so that they can't be ritually used against the resurrected dragons.

[X] On-screen show of efforts against poverty in The Empire.
-[X] Efforts already available in SD - as a general policy kept in mind - are being spread everywhere we can:
--[X] We provide the basics to the needy (food, housing).
--[X] We have a job board for job seekers and employers looking to make job offers more visible.
--[X] We provide various forms of education for children and criminals (reading and writing, a trade skill).
--[X] We run massive businesses and government services that employ people.
-[X] Further ways we can fight poverty:
--[X] Get the Iron Bank to do microcredit (possibly backed by Divination?) or facilitate investor/entrepreneur links.
--[X] Have a vote on how to stop rampant magitech from crashing huge swathes of our economy.

[X] The Faceless Men that left Braavos - and the territory of your Empire - are unlikely to remain civil about practicing their rites with your Empire actively expanding its borders, and leaving them little place to do so. Eventually, they'll have to be dealt with, one way or another.
-[X] Have Inquisition cross-reference cases of Assassinations/"peaceful deaths" that match the patterns of Faceless Men, and work even more closely with House of Mirrors, the Zomok Seer, and even the Divination-capable Companions on free time, if needs be, to find such events outside the Empire's borders.
Notice how beyond Plane of Air most of the shit on-screen is actually purely social?

I'm off to the cave. Y'all may be right, or y'all may be wrong, but I'm not in clear enough mind to think about all this.
 
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