Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Voting will open in 8 hours, 40 minutes
I'm not sure that K8P will ever develop the projection power to directly stop a Whaaagh from the Badlands or further East that is actively trying to circumvent them. Even taking Karak Drazh is still little more than a dream and if Birdmuncha had wanted to go West instead of running into our Tower, then he could have.
They're not there yet, that's true, but Belegar was installing cannons along Death Pass just this turn. It's clear Belegar does intend to contest any crossing.
 
K8P expedition had a strategic (multiple ones, really) reason for reconquest.

Not the least of which is, that once reclaimed, it significantly improves the situation of both Barak Varr and Karak Azul.
Especially, Karak Azul.

By the same token, Karak Drazh expedition, once the critical mass of dwarf willpower and resources has been gathered, would be the logical next step in the global Dawi strategy of securing Karaz Ankor's southern flank and establishing local superiority in a region full of mostly non-utilized potential.
 
Individually, and discounting their lives worth to the Empire? She might, because we might. If there was a necessary suicide mission and we'd have to decide between sending a Dawi throng or thrice as large Human mercenary band, all else being equal, who do you think we'd send?
Good point, though the example is not great. That's what mercenaries are for. We'd make professionals fight instead of volunteer militia if we could regardless of race.
 
By the same token, Karak Drazh expedition, once the critical mass of dwarf willpower and resources has been gathered, would be the logical next step in the global Dawi strategy of securing Karaz Ankor's southern flank and establishing local superiority in a region full of mostly non-utilized potential.
Securing flanks or regions of non-utilized potential really aren't the issue. The critical issue with holding the line for the Karaz Ankor is that there's not enough dwarfs to do the holding. The critical issue with potential is that there's not enough dwarfs to utilize it.

The biggest thing the retaking of K8Ps can do for the dwarfs is to give them hope, and the motivation to make some more dwarfs.
 
Except if her starting point is "the expedition is going to fail to accomplish anything useful and get good people killed along the way" then her helping it out won't further her goals. At best it'll be value neutral, at worst, it'll give the impression that non-traditional aid is why the expedition failed.
This was certainly my expectation and argument first against going, then against inviting our friends along, so a small (tiny) part of Mathilde debated the possibility of this outcome.
 
After all the thread's worrying about Borek's instability, it'd be kinda funny if the dice land just right to make reclaiming Karag Dum possible. It may not be likely, but it's still quite possible he'll be completely vindicated.
 
After all the thread's worrying about Borek's instability, it'd be kinda funny if the dice land just right to make reclaiming Karag Dum possible. It may not be likely, but it's still quite possible he'll be completely vindicated.

I literally can't see a universe where that is possible and if it looks like that is possible... it is most likely a chaos plot to make us over-commit and die.
 
I literally can't see a universe where that is possible and if it looks like that is possible... it is most likely a chaos plot to make us over-commit and die.
That's one of the ways Belegar and Borek differ. Belegar is quite good at logistics, and he set things up to make holding on feasible. It's in the interest of both Barak Varr and Karag Azul to make sure K8Ps stands.

Of course, no amount of logistics is going to make reaching Karag Dum regularly feasible.
 
Securing flanks or regions of non-utilized potential really aren't the issue. The critical issue with holding the line for the Karaz Ankor is that there's not enough dwarfs to do the holding. The critical issue with potential is that there's not enough dwarfs to utilize it.

The biggest thing the retaking of K8Ps can do for the dwarfs is to give them hope, and the motivation to make some more dwarfs.

There are such things as local numerical superiority.

Dawi are outnumbered by their enemies.
But they are also not concentrating their forces right.

Restored K8P helps with that, as would a restored Karak Drazh, as those two Karaks together with Barak Varr and Karak Azul would basically create overpowering dwarf superiority on the local level.

If allied, of course.

During the Times of Woe, Karaks fell because they were isolated with the shattering of the Underway, and because they didn't expect the enemy to come from within (that is, the underground).

Now, they have aircorps to help with that, as well as several millenia of institutional experience.
 
In a universe where we roll full boxcars on 1d6 rolls and never roll under 70 on other rolls? I can see it happen.

But the odds are so low as to not be worth realistically considering.

To put this into perspective, Golden Age dwarfs, with an intact Waystone network did not chose to live in the current conditions of Karak Dun they only went as far a the edge of the Wastes not in them. And as far as pushing it back, well with what? The Waystone network, which the dwarfs bearely understand and which needs elven help to build and maintain is only just hlding out, never mind pushing the Wastes back.
 
Securing flanks or regions of non-utilized potential really aren't the issue. The critical issue with holding the line for the Karaz Ankor is that there's not enough dwarfs to do the holding. The critical issue with potential is that there's not enough dwarfs to utilize it.

The biggest thing the retaking of K8Ps can do for the dwarfs is to give them hope, and the motivation to make some more dwarfs.
Yes... and no.

Because the biggest problem is that there aren't enough dwarves to hold on in the Karaz Ankor. But having better defensive positions and improving the strategic situation of other karaks helps, because it reduces casualties and reduces the ongoing physical and psychological strain of the long struggle to hold on.

There are multiple issues/reasons at work here, in other words, and we shouldn't discount one just because we care about another.
 
To put this into perspective, Golden Age dwarfs, with an intact Waystone network did not chose to live in the current conditions of Karak Dun they only went as far a the edge of the Wastes not in them. And as far as pushing it back, well with what? The Waystone network, which the dwarfs bearely understand and which needs elven help to build and maintain is only just hlding out, never mind pushing the Wastes back.
if the Dum waystone is merely offline instead of wholly broken we might, emphasis on might, be able to reactivate it and therefor slowly restore the conditions before the Great War of Chaos.
 
if the Dum waystone is merely offline instead of wholly broken we might, emphasis on might, be able to reactivate it and therefor slowly restore the conditions before the Great War of Chaos.
That would be quite the accomplishment. And done using the protector so everyone knows that we personally drove back the chaos wastes.
 
To put this into perspective, Golden Age dwarfs, with an intact Waystone network did not chose to live in the current conditions of Karak Dun they only went as far a the edge of the Wastes not in them. And as far as pushing it back, well with what? The Waystone network, which the dwarfs bearely understand and which needs elven help to build and maintain is only just hlding out, never mind pushing the Wastes back.

I am not talking about anything anyone ever can bet on.

I am talking about the kind of luck no one ever gets. If you allow me to wite a story where many large strikes of fortune happen in a row, I can write a story where Karak Dum is reclaimed.

(although, honestly, even with that kind of luck, success will be translated into "moving the mountain" rather than "pushing back/inhabiting the chaos wastes" .
 
if the Dum waystone is merely offline instead of wholly broken we might, emphasis on might, be able to reactivate it and therefor slowly restore the conditions before the Great War of Chaos.

How? We have no idea how Waystones work, and this is not a subject where you go "oh i made my learning roll guess I know now." Even working in the far more forgiving conditions of K8P with elven help that is a matter of year long projects to get a basic understanding of what we did in the reconquest. and if we tried to do that in Dun, well Chaos is not kindly going to give us years to work on their front lawn.
 
[X] Lead the Wizards, Knightly Orders, and Asarnil.

I hope i don't regret the possible action hell i'm walking into.

Edit: realisticly speaking though, say if command dragon and wizards win, do you guys think we can still work with the knights to a certain extant in battle.

Charge with them in battle with a healthy dosing of aura of fear spell we got going on and just as were about to leave after charging the enemy we cast the chocking smoke. sounds preety good although i might be underestimating the casting time of said spell
 
Last edited:
Yes... and no.

Because the biggest problem is that there aren't enough dwarves to hold on in the Karaz Ankor. But having better defensive positions and improving the strategic situation of other karaks helps, because it reduces casualties and reduces the ongoing physical and psychological strain of the long struggle to hold on.

There are multiple issues/reasons at work here, in other words, and we shouldn't discount one just because we care about another.
Military speaking, additional Karak will increase casualties and not improve defenses. The best defences are in KaK that can house all dwarven population.

Each Karak beyond that is an offensive operation. Finger flipped in spite of this world's inhospitality. They don't improve defences - they achieve political, economical, or moral goal but cost some lives to maintain.

K8P is a very successful operation, unexpectedly so. Karak Drazh won't be even half that good, at best case scenario, because the only good thing it can do is somewhat reduce pressure on K8P and to an extent Barak Varr.
 
Voting will open in 8 hours, 40 minutes
Back
Top