Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
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LoganBert34
Apprentice Clerk
- Location
- Australia
Why don't we try to make our network self-sufficient by setting up an information brokerage? Sell info, and use that to help track down who buys it and what info they want.
Well, let's look at the similarities:
Powerful Shadow magic user
Capable of creating creatures of pure shadow
Deadly warrior
Sneaky
Likes making magical items
Warrior/Wizard gish
The parallels are pretty obvious. Sauron wasn't always the dry eye in the sky.
Ironically it likely pays LESS than taking the piss. And the risks of selling intel is either selling cheap intel available as gossip or potentially risking agents by selling restricted stuff.
...if literacy was higher we could run a newspaper.
What shadow magic does Sauron use? The most magical thing I can think of him doing is creating the rings of power, and most of those he didn't even do himself.
I assume the 'creatures of pure shadow' is a reference to the Nazgûl, but they're not made of shadow and he didn't make them, the rings corrupted them.
LoganBert34
Apprentice Clerk
- Location
- Australia
How about a statewide newspaper / monthly propaganda leaflet for Nobles and burghers? While it would probably be much more expensive than normal newspapers (transport costs), it'll actually be considered a luxury item.
When a proficiency advances far enough it becomes a trait, like how the greatsword proficiency became a trait or how the ride proficiency became the mastered Shadowsteed.
[x] [Public Report] Steady Progress, Spotted Issue
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know
I just want to point out that expecting Van Hal to order Mathilde to study magic is optimistic at best, Mathilde is his spymistress and all the orders he would give her are about spying or furthering her capabilities as a spy. If you want the study magic option to have a realistic chance you need to reframe it as how it will directly help her intrigue duties (or even doing the preliminary work by herself and come to him with a working prototype).
- Location
- Norway
In addition to not having shadow magic, Sauron also built an island-tower-fortress instead of a palace-shrine-dungeon, and packed it with werewolves and vampires instead of cats.
Also, Sauron:
Started out as lieutenant to the God of Evil
Got facestomped by invasion fromUlthuan Numenor
Talked his way out of Numenorian slapdown by saying "Tzeentch Morgoth made me do it"
Talked his way onto the council of Numenor
Talked the King of Numenor into worshipping Morgoth
Talked Numenor into launching an invasion of Heaven
Talked a lot of otherwise clever people into very stupid decisions, with what must have been the best Diplomacy score
Made a reputation for himself by giving away lots of magic items for free
Turned into a snake (it never helps)
Turned into a werewolf (this helped a bit, but not enough, as he still lost to the equivalent of Sigmar's Pet Dog)
Necromancy
Lots of necromancy
No, really, so much necromancy that one of his alternate identities was just called "The Necromancer"
Also, Sauron:
Started out as lieutenant to the God of Evil
Got facestomped by invasion from
Talked his way out of Numenorian slapdown by saying "
Talked his way onto the council of Numenor
Talked the King of Numenor into worshipping Morgoth
Talked Numenor into launching an invasion of Heaven
Talked a lot of otherwise clever people into very stupid decisions, with what must have been the best Diplomacy score
Made a reputation for himself by giving away lots of magic items for free
Turned into a snake (it never helps)
Turned into a werewolf (this helped a bit, but not enough, as he still lost to the equivalent of Sigmar's Pet Dog)
Necromancy
Lots of necromancy
No, really, so much necromancy that one of his alternate identities was just called "The Necromancer"
- Location
- Memphis, TN
When you realize that Sauron is basically an evil Anton
- Location
- Asia
Easy 30s eh. Gawd damn.
I've never mentioned it begore but I really love dis quest.
I've never mentioned it begore but I really love dis quest.
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Yes, she can use her greatsword on horseback. And yes, all those things are things she could spend time learning.
I've got no idea why you'd want to create what is effectively unregulated freelance competitors for the Stirland Watch, but if you really wanted to you could, I suppose.
That is one of the options for self-sufficiency for the information network, though some have pointed out that it's not playing to Julia's strengths.
This is correct, but for the sake of clarity I've re-added greatsword to the skills section as well. I might fiddle with it a bit more later, it's a tad clunky.
Forgot to mention, @DarkLight140, can you add the fact that Mathilde kinda run out of retired vets to hire from? It's a separate problem from the lack of bureaucrats, albeit one that will be resolved after the Sylvania campaign.
Sinsystems
Patron Librarian
On the contrary the guild would actually make Bounty Hunters be more regulated as it would help make sure that there are a pool of quality bounty hunters that can be relied upon rather than the usual rabble.
Not to mention with a proper guild we can set up things like bounty hunting permits.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
New
[x] [Public Report] Steady Progress, Spotted Issue
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know
[x] [Public Report] Steady Progress, Spotted Issue
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know
- Location
- Earth
Well now. EVERYONE! MOUNTED COMBAT TRAINING IS A GO!
Now we just need to find someone crazy enough to spar with a shadow horse with a mist armored rider wielding a grey shimmering great-sword.
I'm sure what's not going to be difficult at all.
- Location
- Norway
Our magical education is something to be pursued on our own time. Our job for the Elector Count is spymaster.
I really want us to master Mindhole. Don't know what boon it'll be but it's going to be a very handy one, no doubt.
JaceAoT
The Architect
- Location
- The Netherlands
I understand, but while I understand the enthousiasm towards more martial persuits shown by the thread, I don't see a lot of magical options being discussed recently.
It's something that confuses me, as we have put a lot of time in learning all of the minor spells and such. In short, I was just wondering.
It's something that confuses me, as we have put a lot of time in learning all of the minor spells and such. In short, I was just wondering.
avatar11792
Et Sic Incipit
- Location
- Planet Earth, North America
Honestly, I'd alternate between magical and martial training say every turn, this way we get the bang from both.
- Location
- United Kingdom
Kinda want to learn one of these two spells, if only for their utility for stealth.
Work was SORT of packed today.
Fortunately the current plan has everything good I could think of and a bunch more to boot(of course the proposal is shelved until we find more money somewhere)
[x] [Public Report] Steady Progress, Spotted Issue
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know
But the forms really do make things easier.
Instead of fully educated scholars counting undead and trying to identify one rotten corpse from another, you have barely literate officers going:
-Glowing Eyes: No
-Intact Eyes: Yes
-Number of Eyes: More than a dozen
-Number of Major Limbs: Zero
-Tentacles: Yes
-Claws: No
-Magic: Yes
-What magic: Green killing lights, purple killing lights, red killing lights
-Fangs: Yes
-Number of Fangs: Many
-Skin: Slimy
-Smell: 'orrible
-Size: Bigger than a wagon
-Smart: Maybe?
-Sounds: 'orrible screeching
-Moves in daylight: Dunno
Attache's footnote: That's a goddamned beholder, How'd he even survive seeing it?
And heh, a big source of intel is to encourage old soldiers to tell stories and be heard. But it's true, the major expenses of starting up an intelligence network is the backbone. The relays of messengers, the cyphermasters sitting on the relays to bury important messages in the trivia, and the enormous need for routine traffic to give context to the exceptional traffic.
Things the spy genre often misses out is how much patterns matter. Even things like how often parties get thrown in a local tavern is a pattern, since that often points to some new source of income going into the local market(which since most burghers don't really HAVE much alternate incomes, tells you somebody is spending large amounts of money in secret), which you can then use to identify if "reclusive person moves into the area" is a significant data point or noise.
You know, once we FINALLY find the time to actually do the enchanter thing to proper mastery? The best enchantments we could make would be Shadowsteed figurines for our fellow councilors and Van Hal.
Especially Van Hal. An Elector Count on whats effectively a motorcycle is a nightmare to everyone else. But especially the other Electors.
Maybe start overcoming the low speed of the weapon?
-Any fool can swing a sword when they're fresh; the mark of a soldier is to be able to keep swinging, no matter the conditions
Turns out for wizards, this applies to their spells too.
As such, while we can be reasonably sure that we aren't being scammed on the investment, part of why she brought us in, along with Marcus, who are two of the people likely to be invested in Van Hal's(and thus Stirland's) well being, we, and especially the younger Mathilde, would be a check against her heirs potentially running amok.
We probably want to brush up on the administration of the EIC one of these days.
How did he ever get past the prickly elflord pride?
Drawback is that Asarnil of all the mercenaries is probably one of the most likely to consider himself a peer of the Elector, if we want him to follow orders in battle he pretty much has to be in on the war council planning.
...which isn't a bad thing, since he's an elven master of warfare as well and thus a solid source of advice of course.
...the funny part is Mathilde still hadn't gotten around to any stealth magic yet.
So an excellent anti surprise measure.
Fortunately the current plan has everything good I could think of and a bunch more to boot(of course the proposal is shelved until we find more money somewhere)
[x] [Public Report] Steady Progress, Spotted Issue
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know
So we'd need more undead research next turn.
But the forms really do make things easier.
Instead of fully educated scholars counting undead and trying to identify one rotten corpse from another, you have barely literate officers going:
-Glowing Eyes: No
-Intact Eyes: Yes
-Number of Eyes: More than a dozen
-Number of Major Limbs: Zero
-Tentacles: Yes
-Claws: No
-Magic: Yes
-What magic: Green killing lights, purple killing lights, red killing lights
-Fangs: Yes
-Number of Fangs: Many
-Skin: Slimy
-Smell: 'orrible
-Size: Bigger than a wagon
-Smart: Maybe?
-Sounds: 'orrible screeching
-Moves in daylight: Dunno
Attache's footnote: That's a goddamned beholder, How'd he even survive seeing it?
Well now, that's probably where the vampire handler of the castle sleepers went? Long gone, but that'd explain the whole obstructive bureaucracy thing a lot.
And heh, a big source of intel is to encourage old soldiers to tell stories and be heard. But it's true, the major expenses of starting up an intelligence network is the backbone. The relays of messengers, the cyphermasters sitting on the relays to bury important messages in the trivia, and the enormous need for routine traffic to give context to the exceptional traffic.
Things the spy genre often misses out is how much patterns matter. Even things like how often parties get thrown in a local tavern is a pattern, since that often points to some new source of income going into the local market(which since most burghers don't really HAVE much alternate incomes, tells you somebody is spending large amounts of money in secret), which you can then use to identify if "reclusive person moves into the area" is a significant data point or noise.
...and thats not good. Good thing we covered Purgg for sure. Van Hal's paranoid, but he has excellent instincts, there was a problem and now we probably want to deal with that problem before it hits us while we're on the march.
You know, once we FINALLY find the time to actually do the enchanter thing to proper mastery? The best enchantments we could make would be Shadowsteed figurines for our fellow councilors and Van Hal.
Especially Van Hal. An Elector Count on whats effectively a motorcycle is a nightmare to everyone else. But especially the other Electors.
Hee...I think we got involved in their hazing of the new guy.
And so we're reaching the peak of basic sword skill achievable, and then we can start getting FANCY(which would be next turn) and probably specializing into greatsword tactics.
Maybe start overcoming the low speed of the weapon?
So remember this bit?
-Any fool can swing a sword when they're fresh; the mark of a soldier is to be able to keep swinging, no matter the conditions
Turns out for wizards, this applies to their spells too.
The reserves are certainly a fine trick. Also sounds a bit like a start to a Neighborhood Watch of sorts.
...this is going to be the new Wizard Chic isn't it?
Good reading regardless. Corpses can be surprisingly difficult to burn, and one does not wish to become the Witch Hunter who learned that setting the zombie on fire just means that you're fighting a flaming zombie.
And now we know what the argument was about. Wilhelmina's sons wanted to gouge Stirland for all its worth. She disagreed.
As such, while we can be reasonably sure that we aren't being scammed on the investment, part of why she brought us in, along with Marcus, who are two of the people likely to be invested in Van Hal's(and thus Stirland's) well being, we, and especially the younger Mathilde, would be a check against her heirs potentially running amok.
We probably want to brush up on the administration of the EIC one of these days.
Read: Mathilde just said that her romance, if any, would be onsidered forbidden love.
Probably should work on the income sources and stick to stuff like personal interventions next turn.
Our personal piggy bank is stable. Not big, but we never needed it to be big.
Anton you crazy awesome bastard!
How did he ever get past the prickly elflord pride?
I think going up to the undead with "Fuck you I have a Dragon" is a winning strategy.
Drawback is that Asarnil of all the mercenaries is probably one of the most likely to consider himself a peer of the Elector, if we want him to follow orders in battle he pretty much has to be in on the war council planning.
...which isn't a bad thing, since he's an elven master of warfare as well and thus a solid source of advice of course.
Even more killy.
...the funny part is Mathilde still hadn't gotten around to any stealth magic yet.
Surprisingly fit under the robes too.
This is relatively minor in mechanical benefit. It IS however, incredibly valuable if you're ambushed by horrible gribblies because some ghosts nocliped through a wall and you really don't have the time to enchant your weapon.
So an excellent anti surprise measure.
Expensive to produce and not very economical until we drive down the costs of scribes by making literacy more common. Or get enough volume to justify a printing press.
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This is because Van Hal is invading Undead Central in the next 2-3 turns, we're probably coming to support him, and as such we want to get our combat skills up because zombies don't have a mind to hole.
- Location
- nz
[x] [Public Report] Steady Progress, Spotted Issue
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know
[x] [Private Report] He's Long Gone and Other Sundries
[x] [Orders] Magic And Vampire Lore Would Help The Attack Too, You Know