i just had a thought, what if it is archon that is controlling tyto and not the other way around. fuuuuuck, that would be bad. on top of us knowing next to nothing about our next-door neighbor, they are also being secretive and possibly controlled by an AI, that we also know nothing about. i don't think that any long term plan that do not take into account, that we have a possible knife at our backs, is simply not feasible.
top of this we not a great house, we're not even a minor house, we are a fledgling house that lucked out on our neighbor being relatively isolationist, we cannot ignore them and hope they won't interfere with us. we need to know if they're a threat if they aren't awesome, we don't need to use any more resources on them, if not we need to be able to swiftly neutralize them by force or preferably diplomacy.
thus i present my new plan plan: hacker man part 1 -[ ] [Character] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[ ] [Intrigue] Infiltrate Spies. Send in covert agents to infiltrate a faction's bureaucracy or hierarchy, either individual spies or teams of operatives working together to begin a plot. Increases Spy count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress.
---[ ] House archon
now mind you, I'd like to have one more spy action and then do Reveal Orders. depending on the outcome either nothing or massive goodwill campaign.
Voting is open as a heads-up. It's honestly interesting to see people juggle priorities and focus, it's nice to see it all unfold. Choices made are being weighed against choices not taken are always fascinating to see.
Just to check I'm understanding right now we're avoiding direct military investments (new factories locked into a specific design, new force recruitment generally) until we've got an idea of the military capabilities of the locals.
I am personally, but that's more to do with trying to avoid spending Wealth in Andernia. Wealth is hard to build after a certain point and I am loathe to spend any, particularly in Andernia, until we get to 40 or more (the cap on the buff Wealth gives to actions). I figure we build factories and bases in our next two systems - Calenwyrm and Asenmach.
Additionally the idea with military salvage is to guide how we build future units/which military research we pursue. The timeline on ramping up military basing/production is essentially unaffected. At least to my mind.
If so does that mean we'd be open to putting a Mall on Andernia II? How about creating a commercial spaceport somewhere? Or is creating the slots to allow militarily ramping still premature by a few turns?
I am personally opposed to both those things, primarily because they cost Wealth. Also post-level basing is inherently economically inefficient. I would much prefer a Fleet Port or something.
There is, it's just that currently we only have one character available - and her only good stats are Intrigue and Martial. We don't have much to do Martial-wise so we're sending her to build a network.
That's literally just baseless paranoia. Sure it's possible, but we have much more real and immediate threats - like the war with the Free States or the Great Houses we do not get along with. It also... wouldn't matter?
First up, they almost certainly are controlled by an AI. That's not inherently bad, at least not for us. Second up, we don't know much about other people in general. If we can build positive relations with Archon, which we can and have been doing, I sincerely fail to see how this paranoia is an efficient use of our time. Certainly it would be nice to spy on them and know everything there is to know - there are just a near-infinite array of things we would want to do first.
We're already doing the second of those - so why is investigating them something you think worth doing?
[X] Plan: P2P3 Orochi build up
-[X] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[X] [Intrigue] Establish Cells. Establish contact with discontented parties and begin to discretely send them support, from plain and generic assets to subject experts willing to train sympathizers. Increase Cell count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress. ---[X] Great House Orochi
I guess as long as we're not too juicy a target by having a ton of wealth and too weak a military trying to pursue the bonus makes sense. We don't have any proper warships if I'm remembering right so almost anyone could show up and threaten us with planetary devastation right? That being said a bonus is definitely better than having no bonus.
Given her strengths and our general needs the intel buildup has my vote.
[X] Plan: P2P3 Orochi build up
-[X] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[X] [Intrigue] Establish Cells. Establish contact with discontented parties and begin to discretely send them support, from plain and generic assets to subject experts willing to train sympathizers. Increase Cell count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress. ---[X] Great House Orochi
I guess as long as we're not too juicy a target by having a ton of wealth and too weak a military trying to pursue the bonus makes sense. We don't have any proper warships if I'm remembering right so almost anyone could show up and threaten us with planetary devastation right? That being said a bonus is definitely better than having no bonus.
If it helps, my intent is to build a chain base or two in Calenwyrm basically asap. Basically as soon as we have built our chrysanthemum scales, I wanna basing-spam. I'm thinking air base and fleet port. If we convert our commercial spaceport to house cruisers then (in total) we'd have space for 4 regiments, 2 destroyers, 3 cruisers, and 3 air wings - one for the hangar of each cruiser.
it's more that i want to make sure they that won't suddenly stab us in the back or perform sabotage etc. and while yes, they haven't shown anything yet, they could infiltrating us and snooping around. on top of this, we do not know what they want, in comparison we know that orrochi wants money, york wants war, ababil wants drugs, and tyto wants knowledge. i have no idea on how to deal with them politically, military or economically.
in truth me thinking that archon, is a threat stems from the fact that we know nothing about them, had we known even a singular thing about them i wouldn't be so paranoid about them
I would like to add that I'm more than willing to just take look around and then leave it at that, i just want to know something/anything about them, to better know what to do about them.
PS: sorry if it is hard to read, i was very tired writing this plan: hacker man part 1 -[X] [Character] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[X] [Intrigue] Infiltrate Spies. Send in covert agents to infiltrate a faction's bureaucracy or hierarchy, either individual spies or teams of operatives working together to begin a plot. Increases Spy count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress.
---[X] House archon
Welcome to the Starblazers Guild!
This brochure in your hands is a quickstart guide to understanding just who and what our organization is, so please read through before going to to a Guild Receptionist. We hope you find this informative!
Who are Starblazers?
It all began during the Age of Exploration, like so many things, with the start of corporate exploration projects. While governments organized and launched massive research expeditions to the stars, private companies looking to just explore the usefulness of a nearby system funded smaller expeditions to suit their needs. Such cost saving measures usually resulted in smaller teams working together to handle the job, each individual bringing different skills to the table to cover the challenge.
This would come in handy during the Age of Troubles, where the focus of these teams shifted from not only exploring the unknown, but also traversing many isolated powers. They were regularly the only ones who traveled between faction-states at the time, either through legitimate or otherwise means. The scope of these private endeavors began to expand as well, now covering a variety of activities that included ruin diving, information gathering, and of course, more exploration.
When the Age of Unification arrived, the presence of these groups were finally recognized and more importantly, subsidized with the creation of a support organization. Founded by the First Stellarch themselves, their words echoed in all those who take the mantle of rogue adventures among the stars. "You who dare leave that which is familiar, to seek new encounters among distant lands, you are stars blazing across the galaxy to find what you seek."
Who can become a Starblazer? Why should they?
Just about anybody, really! Provided that one passes a background check conducted by the Guild and understands the risks of the profession, then people from all over can take the mantle of Starblazer. It of course helps if the individual is skilled in one field or another, but many can also learn on the fly to fill out the weaknesses of whatever group they join.
This leads into why becoming a Starblazer is handy- it automatically includes one with the largest network of adventurers across the United Empire to meet and band together. With that comes rights and protections, such as the right to claim diplomatic privilege for one's activities to an extent, so long as they are on a job. Part of this as well covers guarantee of payment from their current employer, which was a notorious issue before the Guild was established.
As for why people would become one, there are a variety of personal reasons that is theirs to disclose, and nobody else. We ask you respect their privacy thusly.
What is the Starblazers Guild then? What makes it different from WarNet?
The Starblazers Guild is a support organization dedicated to the administrative and management aspect of the role. They cover and handle the background work to support Starblazers, such as matching interested groups to job offers, working out specific operation licenses, and even organizing transportation for those without private starships. Whatever issues a Starblazer has, a Guild Receptionist is sure to be able to help.
This is hugely different from WarNet, which is a mostly hands-off affair that values expediency in numbers over personalized care. In addition, WarNet is a for-profit corporation that targets groups with significant military hardware. The Starblazers Guild meanwhile is open to all.
How can I sign up?
Just talk with one of the Guild Receptionists to begin the process!
A state or a nation does not need to want something simple for us to be able to deal with them. Regardless, they do have something simple they want - for people to not bother them.
Also, we do have an option to deal with them politically - make friends. We're already partway there. I really think you're seeing conspiracy where there's just a relatively unassuming society that wants to be left alone. Making friends with them is also a way to get more information, for what it's worth.
--[ ] [Diplomacy] Request Favor. Make use of your garnered goodwill to request a simple and plain boon from another, a way to even the scales on both ends. Requires four (4) progress. Cost varies.
----[ ] Trade District. With the final parts of integrated nearing completion, declare the process a success and recognize your new duel citizens. Upgrade an existing Trade Port aligned to the faction into a Trade District that now also increases Military and Influence by five (5). Additionally, it will house two (2) unique hybrid units that will be recruited upon completion. Requires six (6) progress. This will require a Chain building slot.
I'll probably go through and reduce the time for many of them take to four to make Diplomacy better. Maybe even go back and do the same with Spy operations, too many of them take too long for the spies/cells time which should be the base.
and i agree on that, i just want to know if it is a "don't bother us and we won't bother you" and not a more historical isolationist "don't bother us while we bother everyone around us" for example imperial and shogunate japan, pre-WW1 America, the many different China's, north Korea, the U.A.E (though debatable). plus more that i can't remember right now
all of these (with exception to America and the U.A.E) had a isolation polity that could best be translated as "we won't trade with you, but we'll take your lands" (america had a "you'll trade with us, wither you like or not")((while the U.A.E uses it's oil like a political hammer)). yet they all portrayed a image that they really didn't live up too.
if Archon turns out to be a honest to god isolationist nation and live up to it, all the better. i just want to be sure of it.
Scheduled vote count started by Celeshiro on Sep 9, 2024 at 1:09 PM, finished with 12 posts and 5 votes.
[X] Plan: P2P3 Orochi build up -[X] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight --[X] [Intrigue] Establish Cells. Establish contact with discontented parties and begin to discretely send them support, from plain and generic assets to subject experts willing to train sympathizers. Increase Cell count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress. ---[X] Great House Orochi
-[X] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight --[X] [Intrigue] Infiltrate Spies. Send in covert agents to infiltrate a faction's bureaucracy or hierarchy, either individual spies or teams of operatives working together to begin a plot. Increases Spy count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress. ---[X] House archon
[X] Plan: P2P3 Orochi build up
-[X] Dorothea, Lycoris Knight
--[X] [Intrigue] Establish Cells. Establish contact with discontented parties and begin to discretely send them support, from plain and generic assets to subject experts willing to train sympathizers. Increase Cell count in target faction by two (2). Requires four (4) progress.
---[X] Great House Orochi
(Upgrade Building (Solar Drydock- New Helm): 37 +15 (Kat) +12 (Wealth) = 64)
Progress: 6/6. Completed!
Void Drydock in New Helm has been upgraded into a Solar Drydock. Resources have increased by two (2), and Influence have decreased by two (2).
When they had first heard of the plan to renovate and add solarium batteries to the facility they worked at, the employees of the void drydock had mixed feelings. First came the reverence that was being so blessed to work not just so closely to the holy material of their faith, but to even dare channel its ability to power the machines they worked with everyday. With that came trepidation and worry, the fear that messing up now would not just be a regular mistake but literal blasphemy for wasting precious solarium with.
Then came uncertainty over what would be actual usage of these batteries. They were experienced dockworkers of course and faithful adherents of the faith, but none could claim to be a true expert to know how to work the newly added shrine aspect. Combined with being told to just take a paid vacation until the renovation was complete, it had led to some wild speculation and gossip between glasses of spirits about what they would finally return to.
A few credits even exchanged hands in friendly bets on what was to occur.
The day came soon enough. The dockworkers left their homes with a mix of eagerness and anxiety, ready to return back to their workspace. They arrived at the space elevator that connected up to the facility above and dutifully suited up, getting into sealed spacesuits with empty tool holsters. Of course they did a quick check to make sure there weren't any holes before boarding the pod filled with goods meant to supply their workplace for a week.
So far, as they ascended up beyond the atmosphere and into low orbit, nothing seemed different yet. They could spy the alterations to their workplace through the windows, but nothing seemed off, even as they boarded the shuttle from the station at the top of the elevator. It was only when they were finally back in their workplace that a significant change was revealed, that being of staff.
Now among their group of supervisors and specialists was another individual, one who bore a more spiritual attire compared to the practical outfits of the workers. Yet at the same time, the unique armor they were equipped with boasted a collection of tools that rivaled that of any laborer, emphasizing the practicality of applied knowledge. The void drydock workers were stunned by the appearance of one such individual, and those who were most devoted knew exactly who this individual was.
A Prism, a practitioner of knowledge and maker of solarium.
When the shock died down, the supervisors helpfully explained to the employees that with the addition of the solarium shrine batteries came the need for an individual ordained in the secrets of solarium to work it so. So they could expect a Prism to now be attached to their management staff, a position likely to be rotated between individuals to gain practical experience with actually working with solarium in the field. It went without saying that their concern was first and foremost the maintenance and upkeep of the shrine, keeping the objects of the Helmsmen's faith in good condition.
But, it was slyly revealed, neither were they forbidden from helping out with building ships should their duties be already fulfilled. So it was that the awed laborers that learned individual of great status was more than willing to not just anoint their work, but help them out if the occasion called for. Whatever hulls now came out could now bear trace work of the Prism who helped forge it so, a subtle blessing that will hopefully traverse the span of the universe.
After the dramatic reveal, there was an unexpect6ed air of depression among the shipwrights. It confused the managers, and some prodding revealed it to be for an absurd reason: nobody had won the pot then. None of them had dared guessed they would be blessed so with the new addition of a Prism to their roster, so nobody knew what to do with all the money they had put up. Luckily, said Prism had a splendid idea: a round of free shots for the crew at the facility lounge, paid for by the pot.
Radana smiled when she held out the latest report for you to peruse. "Good news, it seems that the building of Kingsdream is coming along nicely. Everybody now has a roof over their head, a warm bed to themselves, and enough alcohol to enjoy the sunset with."
You returned the expression with a pleased sigh. "Wonderful. We're finally expanding our reach." You scanned the report with a satisfied hum. "Not to mention, this is going to be a great new way to motivate everybody to work a little harder. A vacation package to Kingsdream is surely going to be the ultimate reward in terms of exceeding expectations!" And it's one that I can't wait to take when I pull this all off! Forever, ideally! Ah, I can't wait to weave my webs while sipping on a drink in a shady tropical bar! Oh, but the sunlight's going be a bother, urgh.
"Agreed, they even are whipping up some interesting new drinks that I may have had a hand in." Radana hid a knowing smirk before growing a bit more serious. "Though more importantly, are you okay with the name? It's clearly referencing His Late Majesty."
"Oh, he'd hate it for being so inaccurate," You answered instantly with a snicker and waved aside. "He never could take a break in good conscience. Even when he had time off, he always turned it into a way of honing a skill even if it were a game. Forcing him to actually take a vacation without anyway to self-improve all the while would be torture."
Radana raised an eyebrow and looked at you with a seemingly appraising glance. "I see. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree then."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. But more importantly," She tapped the bottom of the report, "there's some ideas on how we could actually make Kingsdream even better on founding. It'll take a bit more time to build into the foundations of the city and community but there won't ever be a better time than now."
"Oh, I see. Yet these in itself would also take time and investment on our part." You pressed your lips together and rubbed your chin in thought. "Hm. This one here, rather ambitious isn't it?"
"I assume you're talking about coral extension?" At the nod, Radana recited the details from memory. "While the planet of Calenwyrm II suffers from a hurricane that eternally travels the equator, the calm waters around Kingsdream are so still that it would be possible to expand into. Part of it could be above water, floating buildings that bask in the sun while some of it could actually be right below, sealed domes that capture the underwater world."
You almost wanted to squeal at the idea. Weaving schemes and conspiracies in a shady tropical bar underwater beyond the sun's reach? That absolutely sounded like every webmaster's wet dream. Well, in this case, it was perhaps a bit more literal.
The question was if it was worth the extra effort and dedication.
[ ] [Kingsdream] Build the Coral District. It was rumored that in times of old, ruling monarchs often had a private lake all to themselves. It's only natural for Kingsdream to claim a portion of the ocean in honor of this tradition. Advance to Stage 2 construction that costs eight (8) Progress. Upon completion, Kingsdream will begin with a unique free building that increases Influence by three (3).
[ ] [Kingsdream] Stay on land. Kingsdream being in such a nice location is a reward enough. Stick to the beaches, and stay out of the water. Calenwyrm System Capital Kingsdream is founded.
- The alcohol served in the dockyard facility lounge is the same chemical used to fuel some of their tools. Make of that what you will.
- So we get into what can make a system capital unique/give it some flavor. I admittedly only got this idea after the Data Vault for Andernia, which later became your unique system capital building. Remember that this is not a replacement for a Data Reliquary, which you will still have to build first as your administrative center.
We have a lot of work for Radana to do, but Influence is needed for basing. With all that in mind I don't think this is an efficient use of our time, but it is cool and unique - so I want to do it. We can have Kat do some military Research or something in the meantime.
EDIT: Of note, once we also build the Data Reliquary, this will take us over the 12 Influence required to build two chain-bases (fleet port, star armory etc.) so it's not as inefficient to the timeline of spamming out basing as you might think.
this just seems like a good idea. [ ] [Kingsdream] Build the Coral District. It was rumored that in times of old, ruling monarchs often had a private lake all to themselves. It's only natural for Kingsdream to claim a portion of the ocean in honor of this tradition. Advance to Stage 2 construction that costs eight (8) Progress. Upon completion, Kingsdream will begin with a unique free building that increases Influence by three (3).
Because it will take 8 progress. That's anywhere from 4 to 2 turns of Radana being busy. In that same time, she could build up a trade deal with Archon or colonise Asenmach - or at least get most of the way there. Asenmach might cost 10 progress. 3 Influence is also not much. It's less than a Mall building gives us, the only real upsides are that it's free (after it's built) and that it's unique.
EDIT: Radana taking her time also delays our improvement of Calenwyrm - including our military bases - by however long it takes her to finish.
I feel the same. Like, it's not a good choice. But I like it and I want it. I like it when game systems have texture. When different systems feel different not just in theme but mechanically. This is that. I hope we can find system capitals that like, give Resources or a Destroyer base or something like that. That'd be sick as.
Oh, Celeshiro, have you thought about "Banner" effects for some buildings? e.g. you could have a chrysanthemum scales upgrade that reduces the Wealth it provides by a lot but improves all bank posts in that sector by 1 or something like that.
EDIT: I could be wrong but I don't think the informational on Andernia has been updated with the new total Resources, Wealth and Influence values. Afaik it should be 22 Resources, 24 Wealth, and 27 Influence after the Solar Drydock Upgrade.
EDIT 2: Doing the math for the Wealth of Andernia IV, I think it should have 8 Wealth. It has 7, the system total is still 23 when I think it should be 24.
Oh, Celeshiro, have you thought about "Banner" effects for some buildings? e.g. you could have a chrysanthemum scales upgrade that reduces the Wealth it provides by a lot but improves all bank posts in that sector by 1 or something like that.
I did consider it but it would be a pretty challenge to implement and balance. Maybe a small unique multiplier for smaller systems of renown, those with only one or two planets, to make up for lack of space.
[X] [Kingsdream] Build the Coral District. It was rumored that in times of old, ruling monarchs often had a private lake all to themselves. It's only natural for Kingsdream to claim a portion of the ocean in honor of this tradition. Advance to Stage 2 construction that costs eight (8) Progress. Upon completion, Kingsdream will begin with a unique free building that increases Influence by three (3).
It's cool. Also means we won't have to build a Lycoris Sanctuary for a while.
[X] [Kingsdream] Build the Coral District. It was rumored that in times of old, ruling monarchs often had a private lake all to themselves. It's only natural for Kingsdream to claim a portion of the ocean in honor of this tradition. Advance to Stage 2 construction that costs eight (8) Progress. Upon completion, Kingsdream will begin with a unique free building that increases Influence by three (3).
Under the sea, ohhh under the sea. Here we are free, under the sea.
