Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest

[Finagle007]

I'm almost tempted to say we should try for fluffy white bullshit, but then wed be out on the flamethrower upgrade.... it's a tough choice.

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Dealing with the fluffy white bullshit deprives us of magic support for the war effort. Best to improve our weaponry instead; once Sombra's dealt with, we won't need to deal with the fluffy white bullshit.

 

[Adventwolf]

we should wait with the Steam Engine export until we upgrad it

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The pumps on their own are a massive boost making our allies stronger is always the best choice espically with this war being such a big deal. Waiting on the upgrade is less time the get to improve their production and food out put which everyone needs to increase.

@Questor if we us a personal action for the white and fluffy action does that work with it? Or if we do both the flamethrower and snow action can they do both then they are locked into the snow option?

 

[Somebodynobody10]

The swords are the the thing we need in order for our hero units to have any chance of harming Sombra in his new cloud form.

 

[Lisain]

Dealing with the fluffy white bullshit deprives us of magic support for the war effort. Best to improve our weaponry instead; once Sombra's dealt with, we won't need to deal with the fluffy white bullshit.

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Yeah, but the other choice is blasting jelly, which I'm sure would synergize with kaboom...

It's a tough call. Go for the defensive option now, or a better prepare future assault?

 

[Zavvnao]

i'm...conflicted.

On one hand, it sounds stupid. Really stupid.

On the other, it might actually work!

I don't know how i feel about that.

I kinda miss the hyper competent Voldemort from HPMOR right now.

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I am leaning on it "working" if we where evil and cruel, as someone freed of control and panicking in a tight tunnel is not a pretty picture.
Then again, if the soldiers have a kill switch in them, and that kill switch is an explosion or a fire in a narrow passage, it could be useful.

Plus I think we wrecked the mines in the first place.

so this is a dead end for now, and better plans have come up.

 

[Raptor580]

So unfortunately its looking like we may have to consider planning an invasion within the coming turn if not this one then next turn because this is starting to get bad.

 

[Zarion]

Just a reminder to those thinking about invading, our flamethrowers are stationary, so if we invade there's a good chance we wouldn't be able to use them in the fight.

 

[Raptor580]

Hey @Questor is it safe to assume that should we take the invasion option we would automatically call on our allies to join?

 

[Adventwolf]

We wait for at least one more turn. We have the farming increase from the programs in place and the new region coming online. Next turn we get the swords and depending on the rumors and results either move to the walls to push back his attack or invade ourselves. Again depending on results.

 

[Raptor580]

I will say i am liking this plan the most so far

[ ] Preparation for Invasion
-[ ] Recruitment Drives
-[ ] Yaks, Meet Qilin, Qilin, Yaks
-[ ] Boom Tubes for the Dragon-Blooded
-[ ] Blasting Jelly
-[ ] Captain Karl Kaboom's Explosive Adventures
-[ ] Overtime: Screw You, You Cold, Fluffy, White Bullshit!
-[ ] New Swords for Everybody!

 

[ChaosRuneSmith]

Just a reminder to those thinking about invading, our flamethrowers are stationary, so if we invade there's a good chance we wouldn't be able to use them in the fight.

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We will be able to set them up for the initial siege part of the battle but yes, after we set them up they will remain there.

Won't stop us from hosing down the walls in fire.

 

[Nachtigall]

@Questor: Can we spend a Diplomacy and Stewardship action on
[ ] Screw You, You Cold, Fluffy, White Bullshit
to hire mages to do the job without losing access to our advisors?

Because honestly, it isn't our job to arrange meetings between two nations when we profit from being their intermediary, and steam engines are far too valuable to sell for a small one-time payment.

We can already hire mercenaries, so hiring mages seems a logical variant.

 

[Markala]

[ ] Plan: Buff da Army, Plant the Boomz, & Get Ready to Yoink Sombra's Magic Shinies
-[ ] Recruitment Drives:
Cost: 1500. Time: One Year. Reward: Soldiers Recruited, Army Expanded.
-[ ] Yaks, Meet Qilin, Qilin, Yaks:
Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomatic Relations between Yaks and Neighponese. Chance of Success: 70%
-[ ] Boom Tubes for the Dragon-Blooded:
Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Neighponese gain 10 Cannons, One-Time Income Gain, Boost to Neighponese Relations.
-[ ] Blasting Jelly:
Cost: 300. Time: One Year. Reward: Gain Access to Blasting Jelly, Increased Mining Income, Bonus to Demolition Rolls.
-[ ] Captain Karl Kaboom's Explosive Adventures:
Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: Explosives pre-planted on and under Crystal Empire defenses, to be triggered during attack. Chance of Success: 50%
-[ ] Overtime: Camouflage 101:
Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Boost to Certain Army Actions, New Martial/Intrigue Actions Unlocked.
-[ ] Sympathy Tour:
Cost: 50. Time: One Year. Reward: Tour of the Empire made, Citizens Reassured.

Total Plan Cost: 2550
Net Income: 2760

Guyyyyys, our intrigue rolls have been top-tier lately, let's buff the Camo-powers so we can end the battle decisively (and possibly permanently, hah, take that Celestia&Luna [lol]).

EDIT: I've been convinced, we shouldn't neglect our Citizenry (hold on, stay strong ya'll), we can cram in the swords next turn.

 

[Lisain]

We wait for at least one more turn. We have the farming increase from the programs in place and the new region coming online. Next turn we get the swords and depending on the rumors and results either move to the walls to push back his attack or invade ourselves. Again depending on results.

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Yeah, main issue with attacking as of next turn would be its be like attacking Russia in winter. With the blizzard as it is, trecking into his territory would be suicide, not to mention actually getting attacked.

Hopefully, once we repel whatever invasion plan he has, the blizzard will subside. And then hopefully we'll get the logistics necessary to attack sombra good to go so we don't get bogged down in his tundra zone.

 

[Zarion]

[ ] Plan: Buff da Army, Plant the Boomz, & Get Ready to Yoink Sombra's Magic Shinies
-[ ] Recruitment Drives:
Cost: 1500. Time: One Year. Reward: Soldiers Recruited, Army Expanded.
-[ ] Yaks, Meet Qilin, Qilin, Yaks:
Cost: 100. Time: One Year. Reward: Diplomatic Relations between Yaks and Neighponese. Chance of Success: 70%
-[ ] Boom Tubes for the Dragon-Blooded:
Cost: 0. Time: One Year. Reward: Neighponese gain 10 Cannons, One-Time Income Gain, Boost to Neighponese Relations.
-[ ] Blasting Jelly:
Cost: 300. Time: One Year. Reward: Gain Access to Blasting Jelly, Increased Mining Income, Bonus to Demolition Rolls.
-[ ] Captain Karl Kaboom's Explosive Adventures:
Cost: 400. Time: One Year. Reward: Explosives pre-planted on and under Crystal Empire defenses, to be triggered during attack. Chance of Success: 50%
-[ ] Overtime: Camouflage 101:
Cost: 200. Time: One Year. Reward: Boost to Certain Army Actions, New Martial/Intrigue Actions Unlocked.
-[ ] New Swords for Everybody!:
Cost: 300. Time: One Year. Reward: Orichalcum blades for you, your family, and the Grandmasters.

Total Plan Cost: 2800
Net Income: 2510

Guyyyyys, our intrigue rolls have been top-tier lately, let's buff the Camo-powers so we can end the battle decisively (and possibly permanently, hah, take that Celestia&Luna [lol]).

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This is essentially my plan, except I did the option to extend our food supply, just for that extra little safety net.

 

[Raptor580]

Yeah, main issue with attacking as of next turn would be its be like attacking Russia in winter. With the blizzard as it is, trecking into his territory would be suicide, not to mention actually getting attacked.

Hopefully, once we repel whatever invasion plan he has, the blizzard will subside. And then hopefully we'll get the logistics necessary to attack sombra good to go so we don't get bogged down in his tundra zone.

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This is assuming he is attacking and not trying to starve us out. We cant rule out the possibility that he has decided to do that as well.

 

[Adventwolf]

So speaking of preparing This is the first draft of my plan depending on @Questor answers from both my and others question some actions will be changed.

[] Plan War Prep and Boom

Martial: 2 actions
[] The Peregrine Line-The Gates to the North (1) Locked
[] Army Artillery (1) 500

Diplomacy: 2 action
[] Steam Pump Exports (1) 50
[] Boom Tubes for the Dragon-Blooded (1) 0

Stewardship: 2 action
[] Settling the Western Frontier (1) Locked
[] Imperial Irrigation Program (1) Locked

Learning: 2 actions
[] A Fire Bender's Advice on Flamethrowers (1) 200
[] Machine Tools (1) Locked

Intrigue: 1 action
[] Captain Karl Kaboom's Explosive Adventures (1) 40% 400

Personal: 2 action
[] Overtime: Recruitment Drives (1) 1500
[] Overtime: Hans, Get the Flamethrower (1) 400

Treasury Reserves: 1240
Yearly Income: 5850
Yearly Expenditures: 540
Net Income: 5310

Cost: 5310-3050=2260
Net= 2260
Treasury= 3500

Right so all of our overtime and martial is to increase the Army's power as much as possible. If Questor says we can at least do both the flamethrower improvement and snow counteraction and we can start it with a personal action then one might be switched to that instead.

Diplomacy is all about improving relations and strengthing our more powerful ally. Right now the Yaks meeting doesn't help us as much as improving the fighting power and output of the Neignpon. Giving them weapons that improve their chance to stop the bigger force is a must.

Stewardship is all locked up and the farming increase should reverse quite a bit of the food problems we have right now. They are both large increases in income from taxes, but for the program and settlement at least it is new mining income, farming income, and lumber income as well. This is a whole new area that is full of potential growth.

Learning depends on Questors answers, for now, it is about improving our greatest weapons against the shadow beasts that Sombra uses. The Flamethrower might be stationary but the liquid fire itself is very mobile, and the firebombs, and moltovs all get the same boost.

Intrigue it is time to set things up whether or not we invade next turn getting that sabotage ready we be very important in keeping our people alive when we do invade.

All overtime goes to the army and military no other way around that we need the power boost.

With so many locked actions every plan will come in under budget and grow our treasury so we have something to use when the war starts. With the increase from the new income sources finishing up this turn next turn we can use up most if not all of it and still have enough for actions afterward. If we invade as well then it is okay to go into debt to make it as in our favor as possible.

 

[Lisain]

This is assuming he is attacking and not trying to starve us out. We cant rule out the possibility that he has decided to do that as well.

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This is mainly on the assumption that sombra is arrogant as all hell and wouldnt take a defeat lying down. As an evil overlord, I'd think hed take the evil overlord choice of decimating his enemy for the slight against his ego. The cold would be just him signaling 'theres nothing you can do, fools.' Although if we beat him back a second time, he may just swallow his pride and starve us out for round 3.

This is mostly assumption, but I'd place a solid bet on this being the case.

 

[Travler66]

[ ] Sympathy Tour: This unnatural blizzard is more intense than it was last time, and its likely going to last longer as well. Your people are suffering, though they are not yet starving. It may do some good to do a tour of your lands, to show the people that you are not simply holed up in your Palace, that you are aware of their suffering and are working night and day to rectify it. Cost: 50. Time: One Year. Reward: Tour of the Empire made, Citizens Reassured.

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I think we can agree this is really essential. Ignoring it is not an option.

 

[Raptor580]

So speaking of preparing This is the first draft of my plan depending on @Questor answers from both my and others question some actions will be changed.

[] Plan War Prep and Boom

Martial: 2 actions
[] The Peregrine Line-The Gates to the North (1) Locked
[] Army Artillery (1) 500

Diplomacy: 2 action
[] Steam Pump Exports (1) 50
[] Boom Tubes for the Dragon-Blooded (1) 0

Stewardship: 2 action
[] Settling the Western Frontier (1) Locked
[] Imperial Irrigation Program (1) Locked

Learning: 2 actions
[] A Fire Bender's Advice on Flamethrowers (1) 200
[] Machine Tools (1) Locked

Intrigue: 1 action
[] Captain Karl Kaboom's Explosive Adventures (1) 40% 400

Personal: 2 action
[] Overtime: Recruitment Drives (1) 1500
[] Overtime: Hans, Get the Flamethrower (1) 400

Treasury Reserves: 1240
Yearly Income: 5850
Yearly Expenditures: 540
Net Income: 5310

Cost: 5310-3050=2260
Net= 2260
Treasury= 3500

Right so all of our overtime and martial is to increase the Army's power as much as possible. If Questor says we can at least do both the flamethrower improvement and snow counteraction and we can start it with a personal action then one might be switched to that instead.

Diplomacy is all about improving relations and strengthing our more powerful ally. Right now the Yaks meeting doesn't help us as much as improving the fighting power and output of the Neignpon. Giving them weapons that improve their chance to stop the bigger force is a must.

Stewardship is all locked up and the farming increase should reverse quite a bit of the food problems we have right now. They are both large increases in income from taxes, but for the program and settlement at least it is new mining income, farming income, and lumber income as well. This is a whole new area that is full of potential growth.

Learning depends on Questors answers, for now, it is about improving our greatest weapons against the shadow beasts that Sombra uses. The Flamethrower might be stationary but the liquid fire itself is very mobile, and the firebombs, and moltovs all get the same boost.

Intrigue it is time to set things up whether or not we invade next turn getting that sabotage ready we be very important in keeping our people alive when we do invade.

All overtime goes to the army and military no other way around that we need the power boost.

With so many locked actions every plan will come in under budget and grow our treasury so we have something to use when the war starts. With the increase from the new income sources finishing up this turn next turn we can use up most if not all of it and still have enough for actions afterward. If we invade as well then it is okay to go into debt to make it as in our favor as possible.

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See the thing for me is that if there gonna be fighting together then they should at least know each other first with the yak meet quil action. Just my two cents on it.

 

[Adventwolf]

Yeah, main issue with attacking as of next turn would be its be like attacking Russia in winter. With the blizzard as it is, trecking into his territory would be suicide, not to mention actually getting attacked.

Hopefully, once we repel whatever invasion plan he has, the blizzard will subside. And then hopefully we'll get the logistics necessary to attack sombra good to go so we don't get bogged down in his tundra zone.

Click to shrink...

That is why it is all based on what the rumors and results are. If it is obvious we cannot wait then we have to attack but Sombra is an angry arrogant power mad ruler. We are the only people that have ever defeated him and we did it without magic. Then we blew up his mines a year later and then stole some of his people. The fact that we are still going and that we are still getting stronger will also pay into his mental state.

This is assuming he is attacking and not trying to starve us out. We cant rule out the possibility that he has decided to do that as well.

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See above and on my draft plan for why I think Sombra will not try and Starve us out. It is against his nature he wants to crush us not starve us to death. He needs the victory or else the truth is he couldn't defeat us and had to rely on others to beat us instead.

 

[Adventwolf]

See the thing for me is that if there gonna be fighting together then they should at least know each other first with the yak meet quil action. Just my two cents on it.

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There are only going to be a few hundred Yaks that come with us not the thousands of last time. That means they will be kept together and used as a single oversized unit instead of as spread out forces. We are the ones the Yaks will be working with and they are unlikely to work with the Neighpon much at all. If we had an entire army coming along then it would be worth it but for now, the partnership between the Neighpon and us is the more important relationship. At this point, the Yaks are the junior partner in this alliance that is simply the truth of the matter.

 

[Pittauro]

You sigh, glancing back at the reports from Yakyakistan and your emissary to Neighpon. They too have begun to feel the chill, though not as intensely as your own people. The Yaks are huddling about their fires a bit closer, walking through snow that's deeper than usual, and even the Qilin have begun to notice the unseasonably cooler temperatures in their south-westerly provinces. As for the Southern reaches of your own lands...the snow banks are as tall as defensive walls of the cities in some places. The amazing thing is that, even with the weather being what it is, work continues on the Peregrine Line. If anything the pace of work has actually increased, as all those along the border anticipate another assault by Sombra.

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i feel like, if we tried the Yakity yak action now, it would have had an higher chance of success than 40%.

[ ] Recruitment Drives: If you're going to take the fight to Sombra, you're going to need a lot of soldiers. Even more than you've already gathered. And after the news broke about the treatment of his slaves, there's no shortage of volunteers. Have Kingfeather expand the ranks of the army for the push South. Cost: 1500. Time: One Year. Reward: Soldiers Recruited, Army Expanded.

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And this one gets auto-locked!



Maybe it's just my impression, but the update seems to imply Sombra will attack this turn. Which means all actions we take should be directed to IMMEDIATELY strenghten us and our allies.

analysis incoming

 

[Adventwolf]

Also, the Yaks that are coming are the one that decided to come on their own, not on the orders from the leadership of the clans. That means any relations with the clans is unlikely to affect the warriors that left the clans to fight in the upcoming war.

 

[Lazor]

[ ] Blasting Jelly: In his numerous attempts to refine the explosives used in mining and military demolitions, Archimedes stumbled upon a volatile new substance he dubbed nitroglycerin. Unfortunately, the substance was so volatile that a single wrong move or sudden jolt could cause a massive explosion, making it too unstable for practical use outside laboratory conditions. However, Archimedes has recently stumbled upon a solution to the problem: by dissolving gun-cotton in nitroglycerin and mixing the resulting compound with wood pulp and saltpeter, a much more stable explosive was created. Naturally, he'll need funds and time to repeat the procedure and see if this new material can be safely mass-produced for use in the mines and military. Cost: 300. Time: One Year. Reward: Gain Access to Blasting Jelly, Increased Mining Income, Bonus to Demolition Rolls

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We should grant Archimedes a Nobel Prize when this is all over. I'm sure Karl Kaboom would agree.