Paths of Civilization

Academia Nut · Jul 30, 2017

Quest said:
is our Kick from the last update still having an affect? And will this add to that?

Yes, it will add further actions as you call up further resources and commit to increasingly morale draining courses.

Citino said:
@Academia Nut how exactly are these kicks working? Like, what would we expect from an unkicked versus war missions versus a single or double kick?

Mechanically, they add more War Missions. Narratively, they mean that the People are increasingly willing to accept brutal measures to win. Grain rations are cut, entertainment curtailed, quotas of war material are increased, all that fun stuff.

Abby Normal said:
do the TH have full-on proper swords now? Do we?

You all have what would be classified of as short swords, with the Thunder Horse obviously using bronze while you use iron, with the exception of the Khemetri who have longer khopeshes. A combination of seeing those and case hardening will likely increase the size of your swords further.

Abby Normal said:
Oooh, horseback riding... @Academia Nut i don't suppose anyone has started fighting on horse back yet? Or is it still only scouts, couriers, and transportation for ground troops?

It's mostly scouts and couriers, although fighting does happen in small group skirmishes. The horses aren't big enough to really get into sustained combat, and certainly not big enough for something like trying to crash into a shield wall or other dense formation of infantry.

hylas240 said:
How much longer do the Khemetri have their heroic god king?

Thirty to forty years barring combat death.

Kiba said:
If we lose the Red Banner, does that trigger an additional stability loss?

No, that isn't a problem, since they're not a territorial unit.

andrewopk · Jul 30, 2017

[X] [TH] Accept token tribute (+1 Wealth, +1 Stability, +1 Prestige, end of war)
[X] [HK] Attempt a White Peace (Good chance of being accepted, +1 Stability if accepted)
[X] [Berserk] No

Potato and Chip · Jul 30, 2017

Our genius, I hope to crow she has kids and her own children have this same insanity.

Because.... well because I'll admit that before this I didn't believe in magic. But now? Now I can be persuaded that something supernatural is going on here. As silly as it sounds it seems like this girl predicted her own brother's death and can somehow see the easiest way to kill other people. I even feel dumb typing this.... but what if it's some form of psychic power or actual true magic? I mean... what if she can pass even a bit of this insanity onto her children?

Its possible of course that its not possible, being able to create a line of super generals sounds crazy, but our civilization has always found good traits in nature and guided them for our purposes. We've always shaped nature into working for us and it's obvious that this girl wasn't shaped by her surroundings, her family noticed something was wrong very early so it seems highly likely its genetic. Its her nature to be this way.

I still feel strange typing this, even a little like its wrong maybe, but I also feel like I should bring up the idea anyway... what if we can apply what we know about nature to actually create more people like her? I'm not talking about forcing her of course. No way in hell. That would be a horrifying thing to do.

But considering she started this whole thing because her brother was killed it's clear she actually cares about people.... so maybe it might be possible to encourage her to have children of her own? To create.... I guess the best name for them would be Dragon Children? To create people with this... power?....

Man I feel superstitious even suggesting this is magic or psychics, but still feel like I should bring this up. It feels so weird to mention it though...

Also I suspect that the phrase, "a crow on your shoulder," will likely enter our society's consciousness as slang for, "You're about to die."

VoidZero · Jul 30, 2017

Academia Nut said:
Yes, it will add further actions as you call up further resources and commit to increasingly morale draining courses.

Mechanically, they add more War Missions. Narratively, they mean that the People are increasingly willing to accept brutal measures to win. Grain rations are cut, entertainment curtailed, quotas of war material are increased, all that fun stuff.

*Heavier breathing

"Quick make more sacrifices!"

Yeangst · Jul 30, 2017

Academia Nut said:
You all have what would be classified of as short swords, with the Thunder Horse obviously using bronze while you use iron, with the exception of the Khemetri who have longer khopeshes. A combination of seeing those and case hardening will likely increase the size of your swords further.

would these crude case-hardened swords look rough and black, as opposed to the polished silver we usually picture when we imagine 'sword'?

Raichu1972 · Jul 30, 2017

Potato and Chip said:
Our genius, I hope to crow she has kids and her own children have this same insanity.

Because.... well because I'll admit that before this I didn't believe in magic. But now? Now I can be persuaded that something supernatural is going on here. As silly as it sounds it seems like this girl predicted her own brother's death and can somehow see the easiest way to kill other people. I even feel dumb typing this.... but what if it's some form of psychic power or actual true magic? I mean... what if she can pass even a bit of this insanity onto her children?

Its possible of course that its not possible, being able to create a line of super generals sounds crazy, but our civilization has always found good traits in nature and guided them for our purposes. We've always shaped nature into working for us and it's obvious that this girl wasn't shaped by her surroundings, her family noticed something was wrong very early so it seems highly likely its genetic. Its her nature to be this way.

I still feel strange typing this, even a little like its wrong maybe, but I also feel like I should bring up the idea anyway... what if we can apply what we know about nature to actually create more people like her? I'm not talking about forcing her of course. No way in hell. That would be a horrifying thing to do.

But considering she started this whole thing because her brother was killed it's clear she actually cares about people.... so maybe it might be possible to encourage her to have children of her own? To create.... I guess the best name for them would be Dragon Children? To create people with this... power?....

Man I feel superstitious even suggesting this is magic or psychics, but still feel like I should bring this up. Its so weird feeling though to mention it.

Also I suspect that the phrase, "a crow on your shoulder," will likely enter our society's consciousness as slang for, "You're about to die."

Crow is actually Tzeentch and Yenyna is a psyker confirmed.

CatOnTheWeb · Jul 30, 2017

[X] [TH] Accept token tribute (+1 Wealth, +1 Stability, +1 Prestige, end of war)
[X] [HK] Attempt a White Peace (Good chance of being accepted, +1 Stability if accepted)
[X] [Berserk] No

Yeangst · Jul 30, 2017

Potato and Chip said:
Our genius, I hope to crow she has kids and her own children have this same insanity.

Because.... well because I'll admit that before this I didn't believe in magic. But now? Now I can be persuaded that something supernatural is going on here. As silly as it sounds it seems like this girl predicted her own brother's death and can somehow see the easiest way to kill other people. I even feel dumb typing this.... but what if it's some form of psychic power or actual true magic? I mean... what if she can pass even a bit of this insanity onto her children?

Its possible of course that its not possible, being able to create a line of super generals sounds crazy, but our civilization has always found good traits in nature and guided them for our purposes. We've always shaped nature into working for us and it's obvious that this girl wasn't shaped by her surroundings, her family noticed something was wrong very early so it seems highly likely its genetic. Its her nature to be this way.

I still feel strange typing this, even a little like its wrong maybe, but I also feel like I should bring up the idea anyway... what if we can apply what we know about nature to actually create more people like her? I'm not talking about forcing her of course. No way in hell. That would be a horrifying thing to do.

But considering she started this whole thing because her brother was killed it's clear she actually cares about people.... so maybe it might be possible to encourage her to have children of her own? To create.... I guess the best name for them would be Dragon Children? To create people with this... power?....

Man I feel superstitious even suggesting this is magic or psychics, but still feel like I should bring this up. Its so weird feeling though to mention it.

Also I suspect that the phrase, "a crow on your shoulder," will likely enter our society's consciousness as slang for, "You're about to die."

I always thought people were way too confident that this was a materialist world, and that there was always a rational explanation for seemingly supernatural occurrences.

Killer_Whale · Jul 30, 2017

[X] [TH] Accept token tribute (+1 Wealth, +1 Stability, +1 Prestige, end of war)
[X] [HK] Attempt a White Peace (Good chance of being accepted, +1 Stability if accepted)
[X] [Berserk] 1 Stability

Academia Nut · Jul 30, 2017

Yeangst said:
would these crude case-hardened swords look rough and black, as opposed to the polished silver we usually picture when we imagine 'sword'?

They would be more black than silver, yes.

McLuvin · Jul 30, 2017

Raichu1972 said:
Crow is actually Tzeentch and Yenyna is a psyker confirmed.

Omegahugger · Jul 30, 2017

Academia Nut said:
They would be more black than silver, yes.

"The Devil's Sword is black as night."

veekie · Jul 30, 2017

WeaponX1023 said:
This war has to go down in the history books. How would modern historians interpret this? Are there any RL equivalents?

I just can't get over us possible winning a three front war. I mean if three nation's, even two are small, can't take us out then almost nothing will for a long time.

Others already mentioned Israel, but it's not uncommon for large empires to be fighting on multiple fronts at once. Particularly mid-size powers ENJOY taking the opportunity to attack a large empire while they are stuck in with a peer power. Largely because that's often the only chance they got.

...and we've just done a three front war before. Highlander, Swamp Folk, Thunder Horse. It's basically Tuesday for the lowlands

Kiba said:
I don't think we actually defiled the regalia. It's more of a practice that symbolically destroy a person's honor in the eyes of the ancestors and history.

Sort of. Its how THEY see it, for us, we're just cleaning up the trash.

SpeckofStardust said:
Considering in that war the Roman's had their entire army killed (which is rare as all hell in this time period) in a single battle.....

Also considering that the Romans were sort of nuts after that, replaced all dudes and then KEPT PUSHING.

McLuvin · Jul 30, 2017

Academia Nut said:
They would be more black than silver, yes.

So our Scale Mail, Tatoos and dyed hair would probably mix with our Black swords to make us very distinct looking....

That's pretty cool

Abby Normal · Jul 30, 2017

Academia Nut said:
You all have what would be classified of as short swords, with the Thunder Horse obviously using bronze while you use iron, with the exception of the Khemetri who have longer khopeshes. A combination of seeing those and case hardening will likely increase the size of your swords further.

Oooh, cool. How much have we actually implemented case hardening so far? Has it had much effect?

Academia Nut said:
It's mostly scouts and couriers, although fighting does happen in small group skirmishes. The horses aren't big enough to really get into sustained combat, and certainly not big enough for something like trying to crash into a shield wall or other dense formation of infantry.

About what i thought. If only we had another generation before the khemetri came calling, and we could surprise them with cavalry... That reminds me: do we need to wait for cavalry to unlock stables as a palace annex? You mentioned them as a possibility back after the initial annex choice, but said you weren't adding them then cause the vote was difficult enough with those choices.

Academia Nut said:
Thirty to forty years barring combat death.

Dang :/ Does that mean he's young, or does that mean the elites live a long time in Khemetri?

notgreat · Jul 30, 2017

Academia Nut said:
Mechanically, they add more War Missions.

@Academia Nut
How do War Missions work? Do we lose out by kicking now compared to kicking at the start of the turn because we pay full cost but the War Missions only exist and give benefits for part of the turn?

SpeckofStardust · Jul 30, 2017

Kiba said:
You can win the battles, or many battles, but lose the war.

The battle had 70 thousand dead on the Roman side and less then 10 thousand dead on the Carthaginian side while they were at a numbers disadvantage.

veekie said:
Also considering that the Romans were sort of nuts after that, replaced all dudes and then KEPT PUSHING.

Well yes but in all honesty I rather not have that happen ever to us if possible.

PyrrosWarrior · Jul 30, 2017

@Academia Nut Is it likely that our winning the war and forcing the TH to give in to our demands will bump them down away from being major competition for pilgrimages?

veekie · Jul 30, 2017

Abby Normal said:
Dang :/ Does that mean he's young, or does that mean the elites live a long time in Khemetri?

I hope we get him with a bolt thrower, but since he's a Hero I don't think he'd be dumb enough to risk getting in range?

McLuvin · Jul 30, 2017

PyrrosWarrior said:
@Academia Nut Is it likely that our winning the war and forcing the TH to give in to our demands will bump them down away from being major competition for pilgrimages?

Prestige grants more Pilgrimage power and this swift defeat will hurt that power of theirs, when we beat the Khemetri and subjugate the Highlanders and Trelli then we'll probably be so far above them in prestidge they wound be able to touch us

kilopi505 · Jul 30, 2017

[X] [TH] Accept token tribute (+1 Wealth, +1 Stability, +1 Prestige, end of war)
[X] [HK] Attempt a White Peace (Good chance of being accepted, +1 Stability if accepted)
[X] [Berserk] 1 Stability

Citino · Jul 30, 2017

SpeckofStardust said:
Well yes but in all honesty I rather not have that happen ever to us if possible.

Well, considering we took pretty huge loses in the opening part of the war, and our response was 'Fuck them. SEND EVERYTHING' since we double kicked the war, not to mention it looks like we are kicking it one more time, we are pretty much pulling a rome here.

Also, I'm loving Raise Army right now. So many men, so much martial... And combined with Population Explosion and We Have Reserves, we can literally raise and throw armies at our enemies all day long.

Just like Rome. Brings a tear to my eye, it does.

Abby Normal · Jul 30, 2017

veekie said:
I hope we get him with a bolt thrower, but since he's a Hero I don't think he'd be dumb enough to risk getting in range?

Well, as i said in my analysis post, we do have a Martial Genius General who got her career started by assassinating an enemy commander...

Academia Nut · Jul 30, 2017

Abby Normal said:
Oooh, cool. How much have we actually implemented case hardening so far? Has it had much effect?

Very little, but the process is starting to be used extensively as the final step in making arrowheads, and further experimentation is incoming.

Abby Normal said:
About what i thought. If only we had another generation before the khemetri came calling, and we could surprise them with cavalry... That reminds me: do we need to wait for cavalry to unlock stables as a palace annex? You mentioned them as a possibility back after the initial annex choice, but said you weren't adding them then cause the vote was difficult enough with those choices.

Hmmm... for its current location, yes, the palace requires significant horseback riding before it can build stables.

notgreat said:
How do War Missions work? Do we lose out by kicking now compared to kicking at the start of the turn because we pay full cost the War Missions only exist and give benefits for part of the turn?

Each mission has a chance to rock the enemy's face, opposed by what they muster up to throw at you. A Main basically gives you three to four shots at the enemy over the course of a full turn (about 20-25 years). divided up into a series of sub-turns. Success results in damage to their Martial score, and if you can fight on their territory you can damage their Econ and loot their Wealth (both if you take slaves) and potentially seize territory for incorporation into your territory. Because of the timing, choosing kicks later in the turn results in less effect than early in the turn, although you can also take a series of smaller stab hits and stab restoring actions in between to minimize the odds of crashing your own social integrity.

BungieONI · Jul 30, 2017

OMAKE!

It had been going well for the first phase.

It always did against the Ymaryn-chan. Not that anyone knew this yet with her recent release.

All of that changed as with the gonging of a great bell these words on every screen heralded Doom.

THE DRAGON HAS BEEN SUMMONED!

Curses rang out from every gamer's throat as a Fucking Gigantic Dragon suddenly took up all of their screen real estate.

"Fuck fuck shit shit fuck cock!" "HORSE!" "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
First died the Thunder Horse Guild. Naught but ash before the Flame. All seven life bars gone in a flash of white.

"What the fuck?" "OH FUCK IT'S HERE! Shit hsit shit shit pop the heals!"
"It's not working!" "IT's got a freaking NUKE!?"
Then died the Highlanders. Squished beneath a claw the size of a mountain.

Gleeful giggles echoed across the boss arena from the hideously transformed form of Ymaryn-chan, riding on the head of her new pet.

Both sets of glowing, bloody eyes turned on the last party.

The Khemetri stood firm as the remnant off tank of the Highlanders scurries out of range, hopefully.

As the Thunder Horse commiserate over beers while waiting to respawn and the Highlanders frantically cheer on their surviving member.

A Khem player whispers to his party lead. "Think we can do it?"

The leader grinned and said one word.

"Sure."

Paths of Civilization

Passing Flan 布丁魔王

Normie

Normie

Inattentive Idiot

High Clerk of the Ymaryn

High Clerk of the Ymaryn

Seven gremlins in a trench coat