La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)

wencitofrum · Mar 5, 2021

HelioA said:
You guys are just meming, right? Didn't it take like 10 years to dig a canal 50 years from now in peacetime? Unless there were circumstances I'm not aware of, which is totally possible.

Trying to redo the Canal that De Lesseps did is one thing and I agree, not something we can do in war time (the 50 years difference is not really significant, as the technology used has been available for millenia). Trying to reopen the pharaoh one is something else. I'm not sure it is feasible or even really useful to us (it won't allow for significant sea-going ships to go from the med to the red sea) but it might be easier.

Edit: of course that supposes that we even find out that it existed and where it was located, which would require detailled cartography, which is better done in peacetime anyway.

EDIT2: OTL Napoleon found out some parts of the pharaoh canal and tried to dig out a replacement, only to stop because of cartography errors...

Xennar · Mar 5, 2021

[X] A Family of Choice: You are going to ignore the Letters, ignore all those potential futures and take a breath. Gather the family that you seemed to have created… and try to learn what Louis wants.

UNKNOWN01 · Mar 5, 2021

[X] The University of War: You are going to do the one thing you should have done a long time ago when Brian gave you the chance with his Officer's Paycheck. Finish your schooling. But now, you are going to study one science. The Science of War.

I love Louis, but I also would love not getting destroyed in Egypt, thus being able to spend more time with him at a later date.

We really need to increase our stats.

Vi'Talzin · Mar 5, 2021

UNKNOWN01 said:
I love Louis, but I also would love not getting destroyed in Egypt, thus being able to spend more time with him at a later date.

We really need to increase our stats.

We're not going to get destroyed in Egypt if we don't go to University, and he needs our attention now, not later. I doubt any increase in stats from attending at most a couple of months' will be more than marginal, that's why we're taking competent officers with us. If we really want to go to the University, we can do so later.

Erehwon · Mar 5, 2021

[X]The Dinner with Officers: You will go join the officers in their feast, and hopefully at least get them onto a few more good will lists.

Sivantic · Mar 5, 2021

[X]A Wedding from Italy: Brian is getting married?! Who is the… of. The name said it all… Bonaparte's Sister. What the hell kind of Blackmail did Napoleon have to make your brother marry his sister… or, worse… genuine infatuation on Brian's part that led to this.

The others we can try to do later. This is our only chance to see the ceremony.

Plus showing Brian his new stepsibling

Magoose · Mar 5, 2021

UNKNOWN01 said:
We really need to increase our stats

Let me say this. The most stat increase you can get (on a natural crit roll might I add...) is 5.

your looking at most likely increases of 2 or 3 in most skills. Unless you get real lucky.

Sivantic said:
The others we can try to do later. This is our only chance to see the ceremony.

Plus showing Brian his new stepsibling

Well I mean not the only chance... but the only chance with Brian.

Vi'Talzin · Mar 5, 2021

Sivantic said:
Plus showing Brian his new stepsibling

You mean the kids? Louis hates his guts IIRC, not a good ideia to put the two of them close together unless you want some trouble to be had... might not be the best ideia to let them meet until he works out his issues. We also need to see what's bothering him, since he's apparently going through some rough times, and that's saying a lot for a depressed kid whose parents were gleefuly executed and was abused thereafter...

Magoose · Mar 5, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
You mean the kids? Louis hates his guts IIRC

He has very good reasons to hate him.

after all he overthrew a government. He's not exactly trusting of anyone who willingly does that.

Mr. Sandman said:
We also need to see what's bothering him, since he's apparently going through some rough times, and that's saying a lot for a depressed kid whose parents were gleefuly executed and was abused thereafter

He's angry... at what only I know, but I shall say he really has problems with a few ideas in his head.

Vi'Talzin · Mar 5, 2021

Magoose said:
after all he overthrew a government. He's not exactly trusting of anyone who willingly does that.

Yeah, and the wedding would be to the sister of the guy who is ruling instead of his dead father or himself, sooo, yikes... having him there would be a disaster in the making. Would be quite an interesting interaction to be sure though...

ArvisPresley · Mar 5, 2021

People really are underestimating just how difficult an Egypt campaign actually is. From the moment we land morale and supply are gonna drop like fucking stones. Sure we have a responsibility to the kid but we also have a responsibility to the troops and commanders to not fuck up and get them killed.

Vi'Talzin · Mar 5, 2021

ArvisPresley said:
People really are underestimating just how difficult an Egypt campaign actually is. From the moment we land morale and supply are gonna drop like fucking stones. Sure we have a responsibility to the kid but we also have a responsibility to the troops and commanders to not fuck up and get them killed.

We just got word from QM that we'd get on average a 2 point increase in a skill. I think you are overblowing the difference it will make, we're taking competent officers to cover our shortcomings, the kid is also not just our ward, but the Dauphin of France. If we start having a rocky relationship and he decides to run away or something, it could be very bad for us, France and/or the kid, besides the responsibility we have to him as a caretaker. This is something we should take care of as soon as possible.

Magoose · Mar 5, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
We just got word from QM that we'd get on average a 2 point increase in a skill. I think you are overblowing the difference it will make, we're taking competent officers to cover our shortcomings, the kid is also not just our ward, but the Dauphin of France. If we start having a rocky relationship and he decides to run away or something, it could be very bad for us, France and/or the kid, besides the responsibility we have to him as a caretaker. This is something we should take care of as soon as possible.

But you have the potential to earn up to 5 which is a very big deal.

food for thought.

Vi'Talzin · Mar 5, 2021

Magoose said:
But you have the potential to earn up to 5 which is a very big deal.

food for thought.

Indeed, but betting on winning the jackpot is a gambler's demise. Not discounting the usefulness the 5 would have, it is just rather unlikely. Comparing with dealing with Louis, which should hopefully not require a critical to get a good result, I just don't think it's worth it. It is grasping for shinies when you have a pressing issue you need to deal with imho.

We have a very good staff, I don't think a two point difference would save the campaign from failure or bring it to new heights, and 5 is not too likely. If I weren't concerned about Louis, I'd argue meeting with the officers would have a higher average payoff than the university.

Magoose · Mar 5, 2021

Also... Where would Therese rank among Napoleon's Marshel's?

AvidFicReader · Mar 5, 2021

Severin entrenches along the isthmus of Suez: "Come and get me, lol!"

De Lisle: "Severin, how the shit am I supposed to supply all that?"

Berthier: "Watch me ruin this man's whole career!"

For the Suez Canal memes!

Magoose · Mar 6, 2021

AvidFicReader said:
Severin entrenches along the isthmus of Suez: "Come and get me, lol!"

Therese: "Oh no."

AvidFicReader said:
Berthier: "Watch me ruin this man's whole career!"

No...

AvidFicReader said:
For the Suez Canal memes!

Dammit.

Also, I've been reading the Sharpe Series again...

And oh boy... will we get some fun stuff and ideas ahead...

Along with a certain Richard Sharpe Appearing.

newwriter · Mar 6, 2021

Magoose said:
Also... Where would Therese rank among Napoleon's Marshel's?

That would depend on Napoleon and Therese. And how competent Therese becomes.

Magoose said:
Along with a certain Richard Sharpe Appearing.

If you turn him into a Frenchie, I swear. I will find a way to strangle you through the Computer Screen! Richard Sharpe will always be Wellington's Man. Whether Sharpe likes it or not. In any case, I am happy to see him appear in this Quest.

Magoose · Mar 6, 2021

newwriter said:
That would depend on Napoleon and Therese. And how competent Therese becomes.

How about currently?

newwriter said:
If you turn him into a Frenchie, I swear. I will find a way to strangle you through the Computer Screen!

And Disrespect Sharpe like that!? He's so British he could colonize India himself with the 95th... I would not take him away and turn him, French!

We need a good antagonist after all that is not from within France... or Napoleon... or the Republic when it decided to be sexist... And all of europe.

newwriter said:
Richard Sharpe will always be Wellington's Man. Whether Sharpe likes it or not. In any case, I am happy to see him appear in this Quest.

Well, more like homage to him...Or just cameo's in foreign updates... He won't show up and become a problem to us... until Wellington gets deployed and causes us trouble.

So, it can be now, or ten years down the line.

newwriter · Mar 6, 2021

Magoose said:
How about currently?

Currently, Napoleon doesn't have any Marshals so it is hard to say. I say that she is competent enough. But she is not Napoleon or Wellington level, but none of Napoleon's Marshals were of that level, though I can think of a one or two exceptions. If you are asking if she can be appointed as a Marshal. That is an absolute yes. Napoleon did not make those appointments solely based on merit, but she does meet the competent requirement if barely. And Napoleon (being in love/infatuated with her) would definitely appoint her to Marshal if that means she would be closer to him. Without a doubt, I would say that she is an expert infantry-based and an amazing artillery commander (She is still more of an infantry commander in mindset) while her lack of expertise in other fields being filled by capable subordinates like Joachim Murat with the cavalry. She is effective now, but she would get into trouble if she loses a capable subordinate due to her existing weaknesses as she is not as schooled as her contemporaries. Also, she is not exactly that experienced or skilled compared to other capable commanders.

Overall, she is no Field-Marshal Davout. But I would rank her as one of France's capable Generals. Not Great nor expert General, though it is only a matter of time.

ArvisPresley · Mar 6, 2021

At this point Nothing I can say will convince people that Egypt isn't gonna be a walk in the park and that we need every advantage we can get. So this will be my last one until the update. Even a +2 in most of our military stats is a life-saver cause its the difference between Active Incompetence and Basic Competence. Egypt will make or break us, any ambitions towards foiling Napoleon, saving the Republic or what have you will be nothing if we flub Egypt.

Dutch · Mar 6, 2021

ArvisPresley said:
At this point Nothing I can say will convince people that Egypt isn't gonna be a walk in the park and that we need every advantage we can get. So this will be my last one until the update. Even a +2 in most of our military stats is a life-saver cause its the difference between Active Incompetence and Basic Competence. Egypt will make or break us, any ambitions towards foiling Napoleon, saving the Republic or what have you will be nothing if we flub Egypt.

You're looking at this the wrong way. We're aware that Egypt will be hell and important, no one denies that. But let's look at the other options here.

Magoose said:
[]A Wedding from Italy: Brian is getting married?! Who is the… of. The name said it all… Bonaparte's Sister. What the hell kind of Blackmail did Napoleon have to make your brother marry his sister… or, worse… genuine infatuation on Brian's part that led to this.

What kind of bitch doesn't go to her own brothers wedding when she has the time and ability to do so?

Magoose said:
[]The Dinner with Officers: You will go join the officers in their feast, and hopefully at least get them onto a few more good will lists.

Likewise. We'll be relying on our commanders until we grind out enough experience in Egypt, so a good relationship is very important.

Magoose said:
[]The University of War: You are going to do the one thing you should have done a long time ago when Brian gave you the chance with his Officer's Paycheck. Finish your schooling. But now, you are going to study one science. The Science of War.

Everything about the importance here has already been said.

Magoose said:
[]A Family of Choice: You are going to ignore the Letters, ignore all those potential futures and take a breath. Gather the family that you seemed to have created… and try to learn what Louis wants.

We decided to be the guardian of the kids at every step of the way. That means we need to be there for them when they need us.

I'd still agrue that we should be able to do either all of these or most of these depending on where the wedding is taking place.

Tjakari · Mar 6, 2021

Magoose said:
But you have the potential to earn up to 5 which is a very big deal.

Only if Szechuan the Great descends from his hoard of gold to give us a boost. Otherwise, I don't feel it's worth the risk.

Mr. Sandman said:
It is grasping for shinies when you have a pressing issue you need to deal with imho.

And this is the core of why we're in this spot in the first place. We've always had something we needed to do more than improve our skills.

Being a position of consequence has locked us into a cycle. One that I hope doesn't catch up too soon.

ArvisPresley · Mar 6, 2021

Tjakari said:
Being a position of consequence has locked us into a cycle. One that I hope doesn't catch up too

It already has

And IMHO calling the option you don't like a "shiny" and insinuating that people who prioritize it are fucking children pisses me off

Vi'Talzin · Mar 6, 2021

ArvisPresley said:
It already has

And IMHO calling the option you don't like a "shiny" and insinuating that people who prioritize it are fucking children pisses me off

I'm not saying you're a child. But this is the option that gives us the most mechanical advantage, which in my opinion is a "shiny". I'm sorry you feel this way, it was certainly not my intention to personally antagonize you, apologies if it came out that way.

Tjakari said:
Only if Szechuan the Great descends from his hoard of gold to give us a boost. Otherwise, I don't feel it's worth the risk

That's my main gripe with this option, it is rather chancy in having a big payoff.

ArvisPresley said:
Active Incompetence and Basic Competence

I hardly think Therese is incompetent, especially when she is aware of her weaknesses and has chosen to compensate for them, the key example being our choice of officers. We've had a pretty good track record so far, I don't think characterizing her as such is accurate.

La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)

Parlez-vous français?

Oui, je parle très bien français!

Un peu.

What? Francis? Nope.

What? Oh, don't be silly, my dear!

¿El español es lo suficientemente bueno?

Ich verstehe dich irgendwie.

Я очень хорошо говорю по-русски.

我听不懂。

何を言っているのですか？

nuqneH pa'!

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