Analysis time
Diplomacy 10 [+1] -> 2 [+2]
-King of the Hill +1
-New Trails +1
-Core Main International Games -3
-Province Main International Games -3
-Symphony Main International Games -3
-Fire(?) -1
Lost an unexpected point here.
Economy 14 [-2+14] ->
16 [-3+14]
-New Trails -1
-City Tax -3
-Guild Main Grand Docks -2
-Province Main Grand Docks -2
-Law Main Grand Docks -2
-Symphony Main Grand Docks -2
-Population Explosion +14
Theory proven! We can have Double Symphonic Power!
Synchronity! We have 1-2 Dock actions left, which we can potentially finish with a mid turn action.
Sustainable Forests 12/14 -> 12/14
Docks hadn't been billed yet.
Econ Expansion 18 -> 16 [+3-14]
-New Trails +1
-City Tax +3
-Guild Main Grand Docks +2
-Province Main Grand Docks +2
-Law Main Grand Docks +2
-Symphony Main Grand Docks +2
-Population Explosion -14
All as expected.
Martial
20 {
25} ->
20 {
25}
No change, but our Red Martial Tolerance is now 17+1(Palace)+2(Census)+3(Games)+2(Host) = 25.
@Academia Nut just to check, we're now only Red by 1 point right?
Wealth 2 [+6-2] -> 5 [+6-2]
-8 Trade Leads +4
-3 Salterns(1 Paired, 2 single) +2
-Efficient Economy +1
-Red Banner -1
-Law Upkeep -1
-Piracy(?) -1
-Fire(?) -1
Unexpected loss of 2 point, probably the fire and piracy?
Culture
15 (+1) ->
17 [+1]
-Core Main International Games -3
-Province Main International Games -3
-Symphony Main International Games -3
-Reformer(27 points /2) +14
-Overflow to Mysticism -3
Damn, Reformer rocks.
Mysticism
16 (+6) [+2] ->
17 (+6) [+2]
-Sacred Forest Temple Drip +1
-Dragon Graveyard Temple Drip +1
-Core Main International Games -3
-Province Main International Games -3
-Symphony Main International Games -3
-Library cash out Games +6
-Overflow from Culture +3
-Overflow to Tech -1
And so does the Library!
Tech 6 -> 7
-Overflow from Mysticism +1
*Jingles*
Prestige 65 -> 68
-International Games +3
That is a fair chunk of Prestige
Stability 1 (optimistic) -> 0 (neutral)
-Fire(?) -1
Bugger it.
Centralization 3 -> 4
-New Trails +1
Slowly on our way back up!
Trade Goods:
-Fine Textiles - Khemetri had attained Leading status here, and the Trelli have attained Leading via the Khemetri.
-Gold - Khemetri has attained Leading status here, but aren't sharing it with the Trelli for some reason. Another big buyer?
-Copper - Khemetri has Copper, but is not competing. Probably because they use it all.
-Bronze - Khemetri has Bronze, but is not competing. Probably because they use it all
-Slaves - Khemetri have slaves. Well they probably had slaves all along, but we just got it visible.
-Pilgrimage - Still unchanged for now, but the Games will probably change that soon.
Minions are being quiet
Best of the Best had evolved:
Best of the Best
Whether in war or in art, the People want only the best, damn the costs
Pros: Increase Martial gain from raising elite units, bonus Art and Mysticism for certain actions
Cons: Increased potential Martial loss in fighting, increased social stratification, increased costs
Life of Arete
A well lead life is one of excellence in all things, from the stitch of cloth to prowess on the battlefield to skill in oration. The best and finest is thus demanded of and by all to show their virtue and honour.
Pros: Increase Martial gain from raising elite units; bonus Culture, Tech and/or Mysticism for certain actions; effect of criticals and doubles greatly increased
Cons: Increased potential Martial loss in fighting, increased social stratification, increased costs
Interestingly, Arete means elitism is not just for the elites anymore!
It doesn't matter if you are not one of the social elite, but that you must excel in your own nature to have any selfrespect.
We're getting bonus tech fallout now, and boosted criticals. Not that we see the dice much, but this is always good stuff.
Especially Heroic Criticals. Those would be a treat.
As expected, theres no legacy for dual wielding megaprojects, but at least it lays that to rest.
Evolved Games comparison:
The Games - An organized series of athletic events and mock battles to maintain fighting trim and vent the aggression of less composed warriors, this also helps foster friendly rather than destructive rivalry between major settlements. Increases Martial Tolerance by 2, gives +1 Culture for every 2 True Cities, and opens up new possibilities.
International Games - An organized series of athletic events and mock battles to maintain fighting trim and vent the aggression of less composed warriors, this also helps foster friendly rather than destructive rivalry between major settlements and kingdoms, bringing significant glory to all. Increases Martial Tolerance by 3 for participants and by an additional 2 for the host, gives +1 Culture for every 2 True Cities within a kingdom, gives +1 Diplomacy a turn for the host for every other participant, gives a pool of Prestige equal to the number of participants that is divided among the participants each turn depending on their performance, and the host kingdom gains Culture whenever another kingdom in contact with them completes The Games megaproject.
So we got a lot of bullshit:
-Reduced strife between kingdoms. The Games means that participants will always have some level of diplomatic contact, meaning that if they fight it's because of real issues, rather than cultural misunderstandings.
-The Games encourage participants to never quit. Anyone participating can(and will) maintain a larger army, but losing 3 points off the cap would plunge them into red martial and subsequent acts of dumb.
-If we invite everyone we know there will be 7(or 4) Diplomacy drip per turn. Which is huge as hell.
@Academia Nut is this every other as in odd number of participant or every other as in not counting the host?
-If we invite everyone we know, there will be 8 points of Prestige to win every year. Presumably it'd go Winner 50%, Runner Up 30%, Second Runner Up 20% split, which would give us 4/3/1 prizes for the top three. However, this advantages the guy with Arete as the host, since we'd have people training all the time.
--Anyone who wants to have a go at winning will have to build their own Games to train up dudes. Which will give us free Culture, though it will also remove them from being held hostage by the Games on their martial cap, since their own games would make the drop 1 rather than 3.
-If we invite everyone we'd get their best warriors hooked on Ymaryn hookers, so if their state collapses we know where they will run to.
Overall it's a very good thing for the King of the Hill and considering our Legacies, it encourages those who want to Take the Crown to beat us at the Games instead of triggering The Hulk.
Provinces – [Main] International Games, [Main] Grand Docks x2
Policies – Redshore Aqueduct (6/6), Redhills Aqueduct (3/3) Significant Walls (15/45 Significant Walls)
Western – [Main] Build Iron Mine, [Main] Survey
Greenshore – [Sec] Build Walls, [Sec] New Settlement
Gulvalley – [Sec] Expand Econ, [Sec] Raise Army
Heaven's Hawk – [Main] War Mission – Northern Nomads
Txolla – [Main] Expand Econ, [Sec] Raise Army
Tinriver – [Sec] Build Mills, [Sec] Expand Econ
Provinces actions and the economy sheet are congruent with Double Symphony triggers.
Policies finished both aqueducts in one turn. This thing is FAST.
Western Wall built that mine they asked us about previously, but are surveying for another. Better keep the Tech ready.
Greenshore are doing the walled settlement walk further.
Gulvalley are fixing their lack of an army, and they'd probably be fine now that they stopped panicking.
Heaven's Hawks are fighting some of the Random Nomads out there. Probably got raided?
Txolla chan what are you doing with that army?
Tinriver is pumping Econ for something big?
"Lord Djebipt, Master of All, the Sun Made Flesh, He Who Makes the Waters Flow, wishes for you to repeat your explanation of your request, Delegate from the Ymaryn King," the translator passed on to the most recent delegation from that distant but powerful land to come to his kingdom.
"In recent years we have been holding contests across our kingdom where the most skilled come to compete and demonstrate who all is the greatest at various skills - archery, running, wrestling, javelin throwing, various physical games we play - with the winners being recognized as being the greatest at that particular task and among the finest among us, at least until the next contest. In efforts to promote understanding between kingdoms, we wish to extend to you an invitation to send your own competitors. We are of the opinion that your own youths would be able to make a strong showing in the competitions if you chose to send any over," the delegate explained.
I hope we have boat racing as an event, but I'm not sure if it's going to be any good for an international competition when the Trelli are the only other contestants
Their king is a little bit confused about what we're up to. It's normal. All our neighbors do that.
Reshemhetari leaned forward on his throne and then glanced over at his eldest sons, who were just past their adulthood and obviously had received extensive warrior training. There was some unspoken dialogue between them before the king made his proclamation, passed along as, "The Lord Djebipt accepts your offer and commands that his second son and a selection of the finest warriors of the land accompany you back to your home, both as guards and as competitors."
The delegates were quite pleased at this news. The crown prince was obviously not something they could expect to get on the first attempt, but the second in line to the throne was as best as they could possibly expect.
Second in line huh?
Several months later as their ship was within sight of Redshore, the delegates had only one thing to say.
"It's... uhh... it's not supposed to be on fire?"
Well...something had to catch fire eventually
Our first city fire incidentally, and fortunately the aqueduct finished in time to make firefighting easier.
Probably a diplomatic incident considering the Diplomacy -1 and Wealth -2 for fixing that.
At least it makes rearranging the city for the Docks and Games easier?
"So... what happened?" Hertythyn asked the investigatory council about the 'incident' at Redshore just before the games were to commence. The various figures under him would give their reports and then he could pass it along to the king.
"The city grew too fast for its own good," the first investigator reported. "With all the construction at the docks, all the activity from the games, all the trade flowing in and out... it just grew too fast and people started cutting corners on construction standards."
Corruption issues.
Cut corners are one of the first things done, because well, surely overengineering it like that is a waste of effort.
Fix with a Restore Order + Proclaim Glory combo. We'd need a Genius Admin to pull it off perfectly however.
"I agree, but that was only half of it," a second investigator chimed in. "The games attracted many young men seeking glory, and all the construction had them stick around as labourers when that more often than not didn't quite pan out. Witnesses agree that the fire started after the initial riot, and the riot merely exacerbated the fire by interfering with the formation of a bucket chain."
Overmartial problem. Riot triggered, but while quelled, it impeded firefighting.
Solution: Resettle or finish one of our proto-provinces to spread the idiots out.
Everyone glanced at the third man, who groused, "The riot was part of a larger pattern and problem, namely that there are criminal elements operating within our society that we need to crack down on. Redshore has simply become one of the places that they base from. Piracy is growing far worse and is taking a bite out of legitimate trade, as well as nipping at the Trelli colony and increasing tensions with them."
Overmartial + Corruption. We'd need to root out crime and fortunately we have the tools for it.
Hertythyn nodded at that and said, "There have been requests for Redshore to have more freedom in dealing with some of its issues?"
"There have, although we think that some of them may grow worse," the first investigator reported.
"Or perhaps the Shadow King will reveal himself if he is allowed to have the city as his personal fief in law as well as fact," the third man said, half-sarcastically and half out of paranoia.
"There are certainly administrative issues at play either way," Hertythyn said, waving the longstanding argument away.
This is not entirely unprecedented, given the choice it sometimes happen that crimelords will turn legit. Sometimes.
"One wonders at the upcoming election," the third investigator asked, eliciting grumbles from the rest. King and council had called for a new election to become heir, and many of the current crop of candidates had issues. Most of the field were... not particularly good, with the best and most likely among them rather mediocre all around.
Arete triggering because our nobility are not Excellent enough!
The one semi-serious competitor was the beloved war hero Yenyna, but the phrase "obvious puppet" could apply no better, and most who knew her knew that she was enjoying living in comfort with her husband away from loud noises and stressful situations. Weirdly, while those cawing for war with the Highlanders for their past treachery the moment the treaty with them expired were often interested in having her lead the armies, many were actually split on the issue. She was a damaged hero who deserved her rest, even if she would also be of great use in leading their armies onward to victory.
Even though she's brilliant, dumping the Kingdom on her is just abusive. If there is a war, she can be a general, but not the King. She doesn't deserve the nest of vipers.
Finally, his own subordinates were pushing for Hertythyn himself to run. Everyone knew that he would do a good job and could win fairly easily, what with knowing where all the bodies were buried - figuratively and literally - but he had enough hassles implementing policy rather than coming up with it. Of course, if duty weren't everything to him he would have found a way to embezzle large amounts of money and retire to one of the finer brothels in Redshore or Blackmouth long ago. Some of the older families also wouldn't like him being king, seeing him as having risen from an unimportant house far too quickly, but he knew the right people to talk to to get Reshemhetari to send up one of his older daughters to secure his legitimacy on that front.
Well...he has a good heart certainly. And interesting retirement plans.
And here some of the more annoying aspects of the hereditary pressure growing is showing. He arranged to marry a foreign princess to get enough pull to shut down the naysayers, but we'd be seeing it get worse before it gets better.
The Gymnasium listed as a non-familial training facility is great for fixing this. It gives us an avenue for martial elites to arise outside of the usual lines.
AN: I got distracted by things, so half-update now, half-update tomorrow. Apologies[/left]
And we have a coming mid-turn, which we can deal with Games events, possibly finish the docks(we're currently 0-2 actions from completion), build a new settlement to cope with overmartial, resettle the excess warriors or get started on rooting out crime(Secondary Restore Order + Secondary Proclaim Glory is normally slightly risky, but a Heroic Admin can do it without issues).
Since we're only at Overmartial +1, raising Stability to 3 should fix things for now.
