Disappointing, but unsurprising. Oh well, full steam to Swamp Town!
(Mostly kidding, I'll be happy with anything we pick—Boney has curated these options for us and I suspect we'll be able to enjoy them no matter which wins).
Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Disappointing, but unsurprising. Oh well, full steam to Swamp Town!
(Mostly kidding, I'll be happy with anything we pick—Boney has curated these options for us and I suspect we'll be able to enjoy them no matter which wins).
pucflek
Verified simpleton
- Location
- Czech Republic
Probably yeah actually, looking at the map. Props us up in some serious greenskin territories that we would have to project power onto to keep it safe to keep our deal with dwarfs, and who the hell would want to live there but yeah. Might end up in two sided siege as Crookback mountain WAAAGH tries to push into badlands thought.
- Location
- Washington
That's not true, there's also the documented meeting where the lizardman translator turned everything political the imperial diplomat said into words about how magnificent the slann he was "meeting" with was because he didn't want the slann to murder him over thinking the slann would give a shit about anything some human wanted politically.
That's actually a good sign because it means if you avoid actually involving the slann in things, and also don't steal the goddamn lizardman gold that they've got all sort of prophetic information written on, the lizardmen can be friendly enough to try to keep you from getting killed by a slann who thinks you're too big for your britches.
Going to be honest, I don't really see the appeal of the Mandred guardianship. I admit i enjoy the meme of "c'mon Mandred in and out 10 minute adventure" so i would be all about it when he's 15 or so and old enough to actually take part in adventures rather than just be a dead weight.
But i also just don't see Mathilde/the thread doing that. She generally takes risks that put herself in danger. But almost never allows others to take a similar level of risk. As can be seen in the demon fight during the expedition. She also almost always sticks to the letter and intent of her assignments. Which definately does not include random adventures even to 'secure' places like Larelorn or the underway passage at K8P.
He's also not gonna grow up hating wizards, regardless of what option we pick options. We're his godmother! We have access to him on a regular basis, enough that Mathilde can see and pounce on any such indication should it raise its head. And that discounts any other wizard who have access to him.
The only real argument for it in my mind for this over simply being a free agent is that we could be a better protector than 99.9% of the guards he already has. With LM tier magic and a runefang tier sword. But i've seen no indication that the Prince is in any more danger than a regular emperor to-be would be
But i also just don't see Mathilde/the thread doing that. She generally takes risks that put herself in danger. But almost never allows others to take a similar level of risk. As can be seen in the demon fight during the expedition. She also almost always sticks to the letter and intent of her assignments. Which definately does not include random adventures even to 'secure' places like Larelorn or the underway passage at K8P.
He's also not gonna grow up hating wizards, regardless of what option we pick options. We're his godmother! We have access to him on a regular basis, enough that Mathilde can see and pounce on any such indication should it raise its head. And that discounts any other wizard who have access to him.
The only real argument for it in my mind for this over simply being a free agent is that we could be a better protector than 99.9% of the guards he already has. With LM tier magic and a runefang tier sword. But i've seen no indication that the Prince is in any more danger than a regular emperor to-be would be
....that, thats an interesting point that i had somehow missed. If it is as you suppose this might crack top 3 maybe even top 2 of those offered.
Edit - though having though over it for a moment it does mean AP would be EATEN by this role. 1 at least spent a turn educating Manndred. 1 at least taken up by being spymistress... It would make Loremaster look almost lax by comparison
If it is just what it is on the tin... see above
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Hence why Barak Varr suggested it.
They're dwarves. They won't suggest a settlement location where you're eventually doomed, but Mad Dog Pass is a place where a DWARF could hold the chokepoint...if they had the dwarves to do it with.
Mathilde could give it a go.
We'd get a much greater hand in educating Mandred which is no small thing - particularly considering Mathilde's omnicompetence in all matters except diplomacy (which is also not too shabby - just not heroic). If we want to have Mathilde serve on the council a future great Emperor - like Magnus the Pious style great then this is the best moment to make our bid.
We'd also be at court constantly - to a greater extent that anyone, possibly including Algard can. Network and research opportunities with the Colleges? Check. Talking to the Emperor and his council? Check. Being at hand for the whole Marienburg deal? Check.
Basically in terms of flexibility and connections other than being Ambassador to the Karaz-Ankor being Mandred's guardian offers the most.
Unlike the roaming Ambassadorship we'd be a lot more able to take 20 for research. Getting tied to Altdorf is somewhat of a downside for some projects, sure but it is an upside for other projects (AV research, encoding BM) - including getting an apprentice if we want one.
pucflek
Verified simpleton
- Location
- Czech Republic
Yeah, now i am just seeing actual issues with the power projection, because finding troops for this would be difficult without significant monetary investment. But you are right, this does actually look viable which i was at first rather skeptical of.
Sir_Travelsalot
Never wakes up tired.
- Location
- At Home
The one thing the Border Princes will never run out of is mercenaries.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I mean, enchanted magical and runic force multipliers are possible with the degree of Favours we have from Dwarfs and Colleges.
Yep, I'd probably vote for details on Princess of Mad Dog Pass, Tutor and probably one of the research options. They're plausible and exciting...and while they do tie us down, does Boney ever give no strings attached jobs?
Strings make for better writing since you define yourself in how you get around or drag them along.
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pucflek
Verified simpleton
- Location
- Czech Republic
Its not about concentration of force, its about being able to reliably clear threats alongside a huge area of land in the first place, then keeping it clear and scout out and discover any emergent threats so that you can sally out and end them. An army is necessary and no amount of good magical stuff is going to fully eliminate that need.
We need someone reliable, not the goddamn chaff layabouts that populate that place.
The one thing that i am not enthusiastic about is that it ties us down to one place until we manage to get proper hierarchy of standing army established and the entire scouting system and shit up and running, and even then we have to be around frequently because
1) We are going to be a huge detterent by ourselves
2) Someone under us could undermine us, take over the standing force and try to profit from holding Mad Dog Pass while we are running around.
Its viable and could be fun, but ngl, not my first choice.
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Go full Algard.
That place judging by map and what wiki lore I can get, is BORN for the biggest damned game of Tower Defense I've ever seen.
Talking of things to do in Nuln, Elsbeth Von Draken is good enough friends with a Carmine (Shyish aligned) dragon that she's allowed to ride them. The dragon is apparently comparable to a Star Dragon like Deathfang.
It would be interesting to see what an ancient dragon aspected to the Wind of Endings would be like. They could well have taught Elsbeth quite a lot. It's also suggested that the Von Draken family have a long history of using magic, I think, so I wonder if the association of the Carmine dragons is with the Von Drakens rather than Elsbeth in particular. If so, she/her family may represent a non-Teclisian magical tradition, if the dragon taught her ancestors how to use Shyish. I could see someone as powerful as her essentially being recruited into the Amethyst College when it was founded by Teclis, and retrospectively legitimised. That would explain why she seems to have a pretty non-standard take on Shyish and has gone pretty far down the transformation route.
That's where Apparitions bound to objects could come it. You can use more than just Necromancy to make your own army.
It would be interesting to see what an ancient dragon aspected to the Wind of Endings would be like. They could well have taught Elsbeth quite a lot. It's also suggested that the Von Draken family have a long history of using magic, I think, so I wonder if the association of the Carmine dragons is with the Von Drakens rather than Elsbeth in particular. If so, she/her family may represent a non-Teclisian magical tradition, if the dragon taught her ancestors how to use Shyish. I could see someone as powerful as her essentially being recruited into the Amethyst College when it was founded by Teclis, and retrospectively legitimised. That would explain why she seems to have a pretty non-standard take on Shyish and has gone pretty far down the transformation route.
That's where Apparitions bound to objects could come it. You can use more than just Necromancy to make your own army.
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Chlof
Her Ladyship
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I mean, Byrrnoth said he'd support the endeavour and the white wolves are looking to secure the pass as well. I'm not actually advocating for it but the forces are there.
pucflek
Verified simpleton
- Location
- Czech Republic
The issue is not the pass itself, we have to project power from the western end of it towards the river itself, which is a goblin territory. Defending the pass will be a cake walk, clearing out the demarkated goblin territories and keeping them clear out in those plains? A nightmare.
- Location
- USA
Things to do in Nuln? 🤔
I don't remember--has Mathilde copied the gunpowder recipes for the factory the EIC is setting up?
I don't remember--has Mathilde copied the gunpowder recipes for the factory the EIC is setting up?
Well, thats where the dwarf support comes in. Its firmly in Needs More Details land
pucflek
Verified simpleton
- Location
- Czech Republic
Like, as i understand it, we would be supposed to make sure this part is mostly safe (Made the circle bit too big, its not supposed to go as far as Iron Rock. Maybe i am overstating the size of what we would have to take care of?
Yeah good point.
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Between the three options I'm interested in of Sylvania, priest, and border princes. I would definitely choose Border Prince stuff, as making something even semi-stable in the Border princes would make a super big impact on future old world history, and the more impact our least gray wizard gray wizard makes the happier I am.
To be honest the more I hear about the court and being a lord the less interested I am. There is just so much stuff to cover, so much minutia of military, economy and diplomacy for a woman with this on her character sheet:
The magical world makes more sense to you than the 'real' one.
Does this really sound like someone who should be spending her days wrangling petty nobles, or teaching an princeling to respect wizards via puppet show? For comparison here is what the martial and intrigue aspects of her stats say
You're no longer just a wizard that can wave a sword - you have become a warrior in your own right.
You've developed a somewhat frightening understanding of how to disassemble all kinds of psyches.
They reference ability not fundamental perspective. I just don't see her or us being satisfied in a job that cuts us off from research.
The magical world makes more sense to you than the 'real' one.
Does this really sound like someone who should be spending her days wrangling petty nobles, or teaching an princeling to respect wizards via puppet show? For comparison here is what the martial and intrigue aspects of her stats say
You're no longer just a wizard that can wave a sword - you have become a warrior in your own right.
You've developed a somewhat frightening understanding of how to disassemble all kinds of psyches.
They reference ability not fundamental perspective. I just don't see her or us being satisfied in a job that cuts us off from research.
- Location
- Actually pretty lost
Back in medieval days, the position of Groom of the Stool - the guy who helped the king wipe his ass - was a highly coveted position, because it meant that you had regular one-on-one time with the king every day.
Mandred's not Emperor yet, but he will be, and this is orders of magnitude more access to the tyke.
If Mathilde takes this position and doesn't screw it up, she's guaranteed solid political backing from the higgest authority in the land for the rest of Mandred's life. And hell, Luitpold will probably like us too.
AP is a mechanical abstraction of what Mathilde gets to do, that is limited mostly because Boney can only write so fast. If we spend AP guarding Mandred, I am extremely confident that AP will double as tutoring him in what we want him to learn (hint: it's how great wizards and Ranald are) and interacting with the extremely well-connected people around him.