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Given that low Queekish is a) an informal language of low prestige, b) a Skaven generation is far shorter than a human generation, let alone a Dwarven one, c) Linguistics, history, and archeology probably aren't well developed sciences among the Skaven and d) rigid orthography or language standardization are probably also not among their top priorities, there is next to no chance that Low Queekish doesn't rapidly change with little care given to keeping older books readable.

Given all that it is likely that very very few long form Skaven texts in Karaz-a-Karak's vaults is directly readable using just our dictionary.

On the other hand some talented linguists might work backwards from the newest inter-clan missives to, with some luck and dedication regarding their collection, create a far wider reaching translation of various forms of Queekish over the ages in a couple decades and maybe make a guild branch dedicated to nothing else.
 
Proposed plan:

[] Plan An Opportunity For Self-improvement
-- [ ] MAX: Write a paper: Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish (Half Completed)
-- [ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures (FADING)
-- [ ] DUCK: Magical target-shooting is rough on normal targets. Set up a specialized target range for your ducklings, and for any other wizards at Eight Peaks.
-- [ ] Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-- [ ] PENTHOUSE: Have firing platforms built around the Penthouse so that it can be defended from flyers or climbers without granting access to it.
-- [ ] Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery (MOSTLY FADED)
- [ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities (Consult with College of Heaven wizards to see if any have an 'Ultimate Domination Of The Skies!' or similar blueprint lying around they don't have the funds for. Otherwise: Roiling Skies, Urannon's Thunderbolt, Chain Lightning.)
- [ ] Travel to the Grey College and attend lessons there. (1 College Favour per class; Powerstones, Staffs, Enchanting) (3 College Favour)
- [ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
- [ ] Try to see through Pall of Darkness with your improved magical senses.

Reasoning: Max is better at writing papers so he finishes the dictionary.
Johann should finish the Ratling Gun before starting another artefact.
Uncertain on the duck action. I can see arguments for most of them.
It is time we got some use out of our spy network. And screwing over some Vampires is all to the good.
We have enough rooms and towers. As we are working on AA already we may as well continue the theme and fortify.
Free paper on the Eshin Sorcery as it fits with the translation we are about to drop on the Empire.
A general AA tower will likely be more useful than a specifically anti-dragon one. And I would like to continue Mathilde's habit of building DOOM towers.
Can't remember if we can take multiple classes in one action. If we can then those College Favours are there to be spent.
We know enough about AV to get a RuneLord in on it.
I think seeing through magical darkness would be a very useful skill. Especially for when we go poke the elves.


Forgot how fast this thread can move. Off to dinner so won't be replying for an hour or so.
 
Moratorium's up, but I'm not putting Xs in this just yet. EDIT: I NO LONGER SUPPORT THIS PLAN AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, I PERSONALLY AM VOTING FOR PLAN VERSATILE

[ ] Plan: Skaven Knowledge Bomb
-[ ] MAX: Receive dictation.
-[ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[ ] DUCK: Spend time with Hubert to try to ensure a good relationship between him and magic, and between him and his identity as a Wizard.
-[ ] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-[ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities
--[ ] Capable of the spells Lightning Storm for direct damage, Curse for debuffing hard targets, and Second Portent of Amul to buff gunnery
--[ ] COIN: The Gambler
-[ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[ ] Dictate papers:
--[ ] Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish
--[ ] Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[ ] Record all the entries of the Grand Urbaz vaults and select a good-quality example of each minting to save from the smelters.
-[ ] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar
-[ ] SERENITY: Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery

The goal here is to drop four papers on the skaven on the College in a single turn. Furthermore, we help out Roswita and see if the new guy has what it takes, build a Celestial magic tower to fight off air threats (with the Gambler on it), show AV to a Runelord, get those coins done and out of the way, and help Hubert out with some of his life choices (which I think will have interesting narrative synergy with building a tower full of Celestial magic). Penthousewise, we build another tower, which we can use either for our own stuff or as further air defense.

Questions? Comments? Statements of disgust?
- [ ] Travel to the Grey College and attend lessons there. (1 College Favour per class; Powerstones, Staffs, Enchanting) (3 College Favour)
I don't think this is legal; 1 AP per class, surely. There's only so many hours in the day.
 
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So, once more, some one run the numbers for me. Is it possible to build a tower that can actually duel a battlemage dragon?

If yes, cool, lightning all the way.

If no, then we need a better solution, Not just building a bad-ass AA tower that would inconvenience this dragon and call it a day.

But I'd like to see someone run the numbers because this seems empirical, even as I strongly doubt the current leading options are sufficient.
 
[] Plan Derpmind's Picks
-[] MAX: Receive dictation: Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish, Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[] DUCK: Panoramia's about ready to test for Magister, but she's putting it off because she doesn't have a lot of free time to prepare. Work with her to help make the most of every spare minute.
-[] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires. (NEW)
-[] Current Task: Attempt to design, build, and enchant anti-dragon artillery pieces, using whatever combination of engineering, enchanting, and runework you can manage to wrangle together.
-[] Study an artefact: Ranald's Coin
-[] Dictate papers.
-[] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[] PENTHOUSE: Add security measures to your Penthouse to prevent forcible entry.
-[] SERENITY: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery
-[] The Gambler: Anti-dragon artillery.


Reasoning: For the papers, dictating the dictionary means we get Max's bonus roll to help make it as good as possible, and we follow that up with our other two three Skaven papers to drop as much Skaven-related knowledge together as possible. Plus it gets two papers done before they get the FADED penalty. Edit: I'm stealing @picklepikkl 's four-paper knowledge bomb. It's too rad not to do, unless we only want to finish the dictionary by itself.
Ducklings: Looks like Hubert's figuring things out now, so I think it's past time to help Panoramia level up. Becoming a proper Magister gives Panoramia much more resources to work with for her own projects.
EIC: We have an informant/spy network, and we have some to run it. This is a good opportunity to test them and a good use of the EIC's resources.
Current Task: I don't think superweapons are the solution to everything. Moreover, we shouldn't design something specifically to kill an Ice Dragon when we could instead try to build something to fight any superheavy flying enemy. (Remember the orc warboss was... uh... something about eating a giant bird? Ok, I don't remember, so there.)
Studying Ranald's Coin: It's way past time we finally did this. We've got the breathing room to fit in this action, and it's our best way of helping better use that massive Piety stat we've gotten.
Vitae: As was our plan last turn, now that we've got a saftey handling sheet for this dangerous material, we can finally give it to Runesmith researchers to see if it can help charge Ancestor Runes and possibly help with other Runesmith-related stuff. And this action gives Kragg (or the other guy) first dibbs if he's interested.
Penthouse: We've got enough towers for now, and enough rooms underground. We should probably up our personal security sooner rather than later. (But if people really want another tower, I'm not against switching this part.)
Gambler: I'm putting the coin on the anti-dragon-artiliary since it involves getting multiple character's assistance and therefore will be the riskiest task this turn.

Yes I couldn't figure out a good plan name. Meh. :sour:
 
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Given that low Queekish is a) an informal language of low prestige, b) a Skaven generation is far shorter than a human generation, let alone a Dwarven one, c) Linguistics, history, and archeology probably aren't well developed sciences among the Skaven and d) rigid orthography or language standardization are probably also not among their top priorities, there is next to no chance that Low Queekish doesn't rapidly change with little care given to keeping older books readable.

Given all that it is likely that very very few long form Skaven texts in Karaz-a-Karak's vaults is directly readable using just our dictionary.

On the other hand some talented linguists might work backwards from the newest inter-clan missives to, with some luck and dedication regarding their collection, create a far wider reaching translation of various forms of Queekish over the ages in a couple decades and maybe make a guild branch dedicated to nothing else.
Written Queekish is absolute though, it's mandated from up high and separate from the spoken versions (Except maybe High Queekish.)

It's said that Queekish relies a great deal on whisker motion, body language, and scents. What that fails to understand is that there is no one Queekish. Written Queekish is monolithic, a linguistic hegemony enforced from the top down by the Grey Seers of Skavenblight, but the 'High' Queekish dialect does not extend beyond the Blighted Marsh, with every Clan possessing its own variant on the language. And when one Clan has to speak to another, they do so in Low Queekish, a language stripped down to the bone for maximum mutual intelligibility - which means no tenses, no genders, no cases, and no nonverbal components. Once you wrap your lips and tongue around the pronunciation of the various sounds in it, learning it comes incredibly simply since you already know the much more complex written language.
 
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[ ] Plan: Skaven Knowledge Bomb
-[ ] MAX: Receive dictation.
-[ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[ ] DUCK: Spend time with Hubert to try to ensure a good relationship between him and magic, and between him and his identity as a Wizard.
-[ ] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-[ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities
--[ ] Capable of the spells Lightning Storm for direct damage, Curse for debuffing hard targets, and Second Portent of Amul to buff gunnery
--[ ] COIN: The Gambler
-[ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[ ] Dictate papers:
--[ ] Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish
--[ ] Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[ ] Record all the entries of the Grand Urbaz vaults and select a good-quality example of each minting to save from the smelters.
-[ ] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar
-[ ] SERENITY: Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery

I do largely like this approach, but I think the inclusion of Enruned Artillery Support should be more explicit in the "It Flies, It Dies" part of the plan.
 
[ ] Plan: Skaven Knowledge Bomb

Are we voting yet? I think it's been two hours. I'm very happy going all in on the skaven and tower defense.
Moratorium's up, but I want to give people some time to comment before I put the Xs in and finalize it.

In particular, I am hesitant about the fourth personal action for Mathilde. The coins are on a time limit, but we have four more turns after this one, and maybe we should squeeze in a self-improvement action instead? What do we need soon?
I do largely like this approach, but I think the inclusion of Enruned Artillery Support should be more explicit in the "It Flies, It Dies" part of the plan.
Thanks, will tweak wording.
The time limit on doing this is quite long; I'd rather finish our more long-standing actions like researching the Coin. Good point with doing four papers in the same turn, though.
I want to do the Coin research on a turn where we can use the Coin on it, because Ranald likes it when we're cutely cheeky. Maybe a self-improvement action instead?
 
Moratorium's up, but I want to give people some time to comment before I put the Xs in and finalize it.

In particular, I am hesitant about the fourth personal action for Mathilde. The coins are on a time limit, but we have four more turns after this one, and maybe we should squeeze in a self-improvement action instead? What do we need soon?

Honestly? I'd prefer to spend multiple actions on the anti-dragon assignment. Get our AA done to Dwarven standards.

I'm basing this off of how our DoomTower went, where we had to dedicate multiple actions to it to get something truly impressive.
 
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Moratorium's up, but I want to give people some time to comment before I put the Xs in and finalize it.

In particular, I am hesitant about the fourth personal action for Mathilde. The coins are on a time limit, but we have four more turns after this one, and maybe we should squeeze in a self-improvement action instead? What do we need soon?
What we need soon? I personally think we could skip the Ranald coin and squeeze in another AV experiment. It's not something that's going to go away and AV is more on a time limit than it.
Edit: Alternatively take a lesson in Powerstone making.
 
Proposed plan:

[] Plan An Opportunity For Self-improvement
-- [ ] MAX: Write a paper: Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish (Half Completed)
-- [ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures (FADING)
-- [ ] DUCK: Magical target-shooting is rough on normal targets. Set up a specialized target range for your ducklings, and for any other wizards at Eight Peaks.
-- [ ] Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-- [ ] PENTHOUSE: Have firing platforms built around the Penthouse so that it can be defended from flyers or climbers without granting access to it.
-- [ ] Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery (MOSTLY FADED)
- [ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities (Consult with College of Heaven wizards to see if any have an 'Ultimate Domination Of The Skies!' or similar blueprint lying around they don't have the funds for. Otherwise: Roiling Skies, Urannon's Thunderbolt, Chain Lightning.)
- [ ] Travel to the Grey College and attend lessons there. (1 College Favour per class; Powerstones, Staffs, Enchanting) (3 College Favour)
- [ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
- [ ] Try to see through Pall of Darkness with your improved magical senses.

Reasoning: Max is better at writing papers so he finishes the dictionary.
Johann should finish the Ratling Gun before starting another artefact.
Uncertain on the duck action. I can see arguments for most of them.
It is time we got some use out of our spy network. And screwing over some Vampires is all to the good.
We have enough rooms and towers. As we are working on AA already we may as well continue the theme and fortify.
Free paper on the Eshin Sorcery as it fits with the translation we are about to drop on the Empire.
A general AA tower will likely be more useful than a specifically anti-dragon one. And I would like to continue Mathilde's habit of building DOOM towers.
Can't remember if we can take multiple classes in one action. If we can then those College Favours are there to be spent.
We know enough about AV to get a RuneLord in on it.
I think seeing through magical darkness would be a very useful skill. Especially for when we go poke the elves.


Forgot how fast this thread can move. Off to dinner so won't be replying for an hour or so.
If you add the college favour to learn the last two spells along top of this, I'll vote and hype man it. : )
 
Honestly? I'd prefer to spend multiple actions on the anti-dragon assignment. Get our AA done to Dwarven standards.
This was kind of intended by Belegar to be a relatively light assignment, so I worry we're overthinking this, but it's true that I worry we're squeezing too much into one action. Maybe we should separate out the Tower building action from the Runed Artillery emplacement, so that they each get more separate effort and thus more effectiveness. What do you think?
What we need soon? I personally think we could skip the Ranald coin and squeeze in another AV experiment. It's not something that's going to go away and AV is more on a time limit than it.
Edit: Alternatively take a lesson in Powerstone making.
Studying Ranald's coin wasn't in my proposed plan, it was just using the Gambler on the tower.
 
Honestly? I'd prefer to spend multiple actions on the anti-dragon assignment. Get our AA done to Dwarven standards.

I'm basing this off of how our DoomTower went, where we had to dedicate multiple actions to it to get something truly impressive.

We could do the first action as a Design action, then follow it up next turn with actually building whatever comes up?
Moratorium's up, but I want to give people some time to comment before I put the Xs in and finalize it.

Given discussion's ongoing, I think we'd best talk more before everyone starts firing votes off. But none of us can stop anyone from voting if they want to.
 
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[ ] Plan: Anti-Air Focus
-[ ] MAX: Receive dictation.
-[ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[ ] DUCK: Spend time with Hubert to try to ensure a good relationship between him and magic, and between him and his identity as a Wizard.
-[ ] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-[ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities
--[ ] Capable of the spells Lightning Storm for direct damage, and Curse for debuffing hard targets.
--[ ] COIN: The Gambler
-[ ] Create artillery emplacements with appropriate runic augmentation to supplement the new tower.
--[ ] If possible tie in a Second Portent of Amul enhancement from the tower.

-[ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[ ] Dictate papers:
--[ ] Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish
--[ ] Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[ ] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar
-[ ] SERENITY: Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery

@picklepikkl How about something like this?

Fakeedit: Aaaaand I see you had basically the same idea. :V
 
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Moratorium's up, but I'm not putting Xs in this just yet.

[ ] Plan: Skaven Knowledge Bomb
-[ ] MAX: Receive dictation.
-[ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[ ] DUCK: Spend time with Hubert to try to ensure a good relationship between him and magic, and between him and his identity as a Wizard.
-[ ] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-[ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities
--[ ] Capable of the spells Lightning Storm for direct damage, Curse for debuffing hard targets, and Second Portent of Amul to buff gunnery
--[ ] COIN: The Gambler
-[ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[ ] Dictate papers:
--[ ] Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish
--[ ] Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[ ] Record all the entries of the Grand Urbaz vaults and select a good-quality example of each minting to save from the smelters.
-[ ] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar
-[ ] SERENITY: Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery

I'm very happy going all in on the skaven and tower defense. I don't think the Protector would do anything, Mathilde wouldn't be persoannly investigating and the merchants aren't directly harming people themselves.

I also agree that the Second Portent of Amul to buff gunnery needs some actual gunnery to buff. Maybe build firing platforms instead of a second tower? Wait, if we're building an ant-dragon tower, can we even build a second tower for the penthouse?

[ ] Plan: Skaven + Firing platform
-[ ] MAX: Receive dictation.
-[ ] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[ ] DUCK: Spend time with Hubert to try to ensure a good relationship between him and magic, and between him and his identity as a Wizard.
-[ ] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-[ ] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities
--[ ] Capable of the spells Lightning Storm for direct damage, Curse for debuffing hard targets, and Second Portent of Amul to buff gunnery
--[ ] COIN: The Gambler
-[ ] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmiths in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[ ] Dictate papers:
--[ ] Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish
--[ ] Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[ ] Record all the entries of the Grand Urbaz vaults and select a good-quality example of each minting to save from the smelters.
-[ ] PENTHOUSE: Have firing platforms built around the Penthouse so that it can be defended from flyers or climbers without granting access to it.
-[ ] SERENITY: Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery


What do you think about this? It's your plan, but this way, we'd be building firing platfoms to place some AA for Amul to buff. Also, I think we can't build two too towers at once, which I think you didn't mean to do but is how it read to me.
 
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Good enough for me. EDIT: I NO LONGER SUPPORT THIS PLAN AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, I PERSONALLY AM VOTING FOR PLAN VERSATILE

[X] Plan: Skaven Knowledge Bomb
-[X] MAX: Receive dictation.
-[X] JOHANN: Write a paper: Ratling Gun mechanism and countermeasures
-[X] DUCK: Spend time with Hubert to try to ensure a good relationship between him and magic, and between him and his identity as a Wizard.
-[X] EIC: Lend the services of the Hochlander, and the EIC's intelligence and contacts, to Roswita to help track down the Talabeclanders buying peat from the vampires.
-[X] Build a new tower with anti-dragon capabilities
--[X] Capable of the spells Lightning Storm for direct damage, Curse for debuffing hard targets, and Second Portent of Amul to buff gunnery (see below)
--[X] COIN: The Gambler
-[X] Create artillery emplacements with appropriate runic augmentation to supplement the new tower
--[X] Suggested runes: Rune of Accuracy/Flakksson's Rune of Seeking for precision, Rune of Penetrating for damage
-[X] Attempt to interest a prominent and knowledgeable Runesmith in the interaction between Runes and Vitae. (will start at the top and work your way down)
-[X] Dictate papers:
--[X] Queekish-Reikspiel Dictionary, including spoken Low Queekish
--[X] Insight on Skaven tactics and strategy
-[X] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar
-[X] SERENITY: Write a paper: Brief observations on Eshin Sorcery

This doesn't progress our self-improvement, which bothers me, but it does possibly get AV out of our hair for a while and clears most of our paper backlog.

The goal here is to drop four papers on the skaven on the College in a single turn. Furthermore, we help out Roswita and see if the new guy has what it takes, build a Celestial magic tower to fight off air threats (with the Gambler on it) along with some badass guns/ballistae, show AV to a Runelord, and help Hubert out with some of his life choices (which I think will have interesting narrative synergy with building a tower full of Celestial magic). Penthousewise, we build another tower, which we can use either for our own stuff or as further air defense.
 
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[X] Plan: Skavenslayer
[X] Plan: Skavenslayer with Artillery
[X] Plan Versatile
 
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Yep, that seems pretty reasonable to me!

[X] Plan: Skaven Knowledge Bomb

That's four huge papers on Skaven hitting the Colleges, with us (or rather, Magister Grey) as either the author or co-author.

At this point, my biggest concern is how well Johann will be able to write a paper while blind, although I recall something about inks with suspended metal particles so he could use his metal-sense...?
 
@BoneyM I just want to make sure Skaven Knowledge Bomb isn't accidentally building two towers, one for the anti-air and a second to be determined next update. You've previously said we can't build two towers or dig twice at the same time, only one of each. Is it necessary to pick the penthouse tower to build Belegars tower?
 
@BoneyM I just want to make sure Skaven Knowledge Bomb isn't accidentally building two towers, one for the anti-air and a second to be determined next update. You've previously said we can't build two towers or dig twice at the same time, only one of each. Is it necessary to pick the penthouse tower to build Belegars tower?

With the full resources of the Karak behind you, you can go for two towers if you want, but it's not necessary to use the Penthouse action on a tower to build an anti-dragon tower.
 
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