You Are: A sector admiral of a strained imperium.

[Satar]

That seems like less of an argument for cracking down on Jamoor and more of one for just easing up on both of them, in that case.

Which is definitely an option.

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No, because that way lies making an enemy of the Governor and the Imperial House. The right answer is to play a balancing act of hurting every party a little but no party a lot-- all while we build up own personal forces.

 

[Artificial Girl]

[X] Promise Another Command. You will find another cruiser for Captain Stephua to command by the time she recovers from her injuries.
[X] Wait. You still have a good nine months or more for the commander to prove herself in some dramatic manner and she is getting ever more capable, frankly she is your best captain but she did just lose her ship and need you to rescue her. All she needs is one single ship victory you are pretty sure she can achieve by herself without you going out on a limb for her or risking her being transferred away.

 

[Packrat]

As an additional snippet there, next 'Strategic Turn' Jamoor and Arril shipyards will begin launching their first tranche of capital ships to begin replacing the fleets they had annihilated in the war. Though they will be exceptionally awfully crewed and officered for some time.

 

[Gunman]

@Satar is right. With both ducal houses producing capital ships while our fleet is understrength we have to bide our time.


[X] Prosecute Jamoor. House Arril cannot have done anything wrong! (+6 Political Capital, +4 Personal Wealth, +1 Sector Budget, Jamoor will remember this).
[X] Deny The Governor. His Nephew does not get command of the Hawk, he will remain as your executive officer where you can train him and keep an eye on him. (-15 Political Capital).
[X] Propaganda. Hype her up, ensure she takes a place of prominence in the celebrations and triumph. (Diplomacy roll, -15 Political Capital, if successful complete your 'mission' and get +30 Political Capital, +1 Loyalty for Commander Dame Jule Sice Wison who may well leave your command).

 

[Satar]

As an additional snippet there, next 'Strategic Turn' Jamoor and Arril shipyards will begin launching their first tranche of capital ships to begin replacing the fleets they had annihilated in the war. Though they will be exceptionally awfully crewed and officered for some time.

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Yeah, fuck making an enemy of that. I'm not interested in crossing any Ducal House's bottom line.

[X] Promise Another Command. You will find another cruiser for Captain Stephua to command by the time she recovers from her injuries.

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Spending political capital to get a ship for a below-average captain with sub-par loyalty + promoting a horrendously bad tactical commander to Cruiser Captain isn't exactly a swell plan.

At this point we're about to become a noble and we have a dueling champion.

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@Gunman, it doesn't change the fact that we can't impact a noble house's finances too badly unless we want them to pull out the big guns.

 

[Forgothrax]

[X] Prosecute Jamoor. House Arril cannot have done anything wrong! (+6 Political Capital, +4 Personal Wealth, +1 Sector Budget, Jamoor will remember this).

[X] Deny The Governor. His Nephew does not get command of the Hawk, he will remain as your executive officer where you can train him and keep an eye on him. (-15 Political Capital).

[X] Wait. You still have a good nine months or more for the commander to prove herself in some dramatic manner and she is getting ever more capable, frankly she is your best captain but she did just lose her ship and need you to rescue her. All she needs is one single ship victory you are pretty sure she can achieve by herself without you going out on a limb for her or risking her being transferred away.

As much as I want to crush the dukes under our feet, it looks like they're ramping their fleets back up, ugh. So whichever nail sticks up more gets hammered down.

Our little soldier boy needs at least another 1-2 points of Tactical so he's not going to be a drag on our resources, and the Governor can go get bent anyway. Maybe the Governor can get a new ship for his boy if he wants the promotion so bad.

The Commander can wait to prove herself. They're just going to steal her away anyway. I don't see why we would contaminate this victory; this should belong to our PC and him alone. Plus, if we wait it out we can at least grab a Share and thus benefit from higher Diplo.

 

[Gunman]

[X] Promise Another Command. You will find another cruiser for Captain Stephua to command by the time she recovers from her injuries.

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With what money? If we enforce the law we still have a 3 point deficit. A cruiser costs 35 political capital and it will increase our deficit to 5.5, or 8.5 if we don't enforce the law.

 

[san]

[X] Plan maximum benefit for us.
[X] Prosecute Jamoor. House Arril cannot have done anything wrong! (+6 Political Capital, +4 Personal Wealth, +1 Sector Budget, Jamoor will remember this).
[X] Transfer Her. Transfer Captain Stephua to being your executive officer, there is no loss of honour there for her.
[X] Propaganda. Hype her up, ensure she takes a place of prominence in the celebrations and triumph. (Diplomacy roll, -15 Political Capital, if successful complete your 'mission' and get +30 Political Capital, +1 Loyalty for Commander Dame Jule Sice Wison who may well leave your command).


OK guys, for the first vote we need the sector budget increase, even making enemies with our current PC is fine atm and the extra budget will be MASSIVE going forward.

Transfering her to our ship gives us an XO with high prowess for all future boarding fights like the one we just won. Since we are losing our Diplo/intrigue/prowess guy who is becoming a captain himself.

Finally the propaganda option because we can live with the commander Dame Jule leaving our command if it happens as we can then put our diplo/intrigue guy who is supposed to be get promoted from that friendship option last choice in her place. That or get one of our old buddies to take the command instead. Also remember, we may see the Dame Jule again later and she will remember us as the reason she was promoted so quickly.

Either way this is the BEST possible option combo going forward for our personal gain.

 

[Briefvoice]

[X] Prosecute Jamoor. House Arril cannot have done anything wrong! (+6 Political Capital, +4 Personal Wealth, +1 Sector Budget, Jamoor will remember this).

[X] Transfer Her. Transfer Captain Stephua to being your executive officer, there is no loss of honour there for her.

[X] Wait. You still have a good nine months or more for the commander to prove herself in some dramatic manner and she is getting ever more capable, frankly she is your best captain but she did just lose her ship and need you to rescue her. All she needs is one single ship victory you are pretty sure she can achieve by herself without you going out on a limb for her or risking her being transferred away.

 

[Rat King]

Stephua as an exec works; we can bring in someone else to do captaining if/when we get a new cruiser (eventually).

I'm more persuaded of giving the nephew a command right now - he's not the best officer, but he's also no longer the worst.

Re: Ducal houses - I think we need to either go all-in with one soon or start trying to get above their squabbles. One or the other. Going back and forth makes us look weak and/or like we're blatantly trying to curry favor.

Still up in the air on our heroine and what we want to do with her.

 

[Gunman]

As an additional snippet there, next 'Strategic Turn' Jamoor and Arril shipyards will begin launching their first tranche of capital ships to begin replacing the fleets they had annihilated in the war. Though they will be exceptionally awfully crewed and officered for some time.

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Oh. Enforcing The Law isn't as clear cut after all!

@Gunman, it doesn't change the fact that we can't impact a noble house's finances too badly unless we want them to pull out the big guns.

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I didn't see what Packrat said and changed my vote.

I'm more persuaded of giving the nephew a command right now - he's not the best officer, but he's also no longer the worst.

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Do we want to turn him into the best officer anyway? I don't want him to die while he remains under our command or we're going to get in trouble.

 

[san]

@Gunman , @Satar you two may want to take a peak at my plan and the reasoning behind it before committing to your actions going forward.

 

[Rat King]

Do we want to turn him into the best officer anyway? I don't want him to die while he remains under our command or we're going to get in trouble.

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In theory, if he dies chasing pirates, it's not really OUR fault.

But it is a bad look. I kind of wish we could kick him upstairs to be on someone's staff, since he's actually pretty competent at that.

 

[Artificial Girl]

Spending political capital to get a ship for a below-average captain with sub-par loyalty + promoting a horrendously bad tactical commander to Cruiser Captain isn't exactly a swell plan.

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Fair point. Having gone back and re-read some earlier stuff, I think I'd change my vote to this:

[X] Prosecute Jamoor. House Arril cannot have done anything wrong! (+6 Political Capital, +4 Personal Wealth, +1 Sector Budget, Jamoor will remember this).
[X] Transfer Her. Transfer Captain Stephua to being your executive officer, there is no loss of honour there for her.
[X] Wait. You still have a good nine months or more for the commander to prove herself in some dramatic manner and she is getting ever more capable, frankly she is your best captain but she did just lose her ship and need you to rescue her. All she needs is one single ship victory you are pretty sure she can achieve by herself without you going out on a limb for her or risking her being transferred away.

Bonus points that it might make our dear Ranca's family a bit happier.

 

[Satar]

Re: Ducal houses - I think we need to either go all-in with one soon or start trying to get above their squabbles. One or the other. Going back and forth makes us look weak and/or like we're blatantly trying to curry favor.

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Doing nothing makes us look weak. Going all in and punishing both is aggroing two parties that currently control the majority of the sector and will soon have capital ships. Do you really want to wake up to an update where we get ambushed by four Battlecruisers because both noble houses are sick of our shit?

@Gunman , @Satar you two may want to take a peak at my plan and the reasoning behind it before committing to your actions going forward.

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I saw it, I don't like giving the prince a new ship but I can live with it. But taking on both noble houses at the same time is too dangerous.

 

[Packrat]

@Gunman Well keep in mind that you are still the Imperial Navy. Even if House Arril has say, six shitty battleships, they are not going to want to directly attack your command because the Empress still has 140 battleships two sectors away and might actually welcome a chance to crush a ducal house whilst unequivocally in the right with the others not having an excuse to intervene.

 

[Gunman]

OK guys, for the first vote we need the sector budget increase, even making enemies with our current PC is fine atm and the extra budget will be MASSIVE going forward.

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Not that massive. +2 sector budget can be gained by spending 20 political capital.

Finally the propaganda option because we can live with the commander Dame Jule leaving our command if it happens as we can then put our diplo/intrigue guy who is supposed to be get promoted from that friendship option last choice in her place. That or get one of our old buddies to take the command instead. Also remember, we may see the Dame Jule again later and she will remember us as the reason she was promoted so quickly.

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We end up with a net +15 Political Capital when we have the chance to gain the full 30 Political Capital over the next 3 turns. This is yet another example of why players have to be patient.

 

[No7sHere]

[X] Enforce the Law. No, ducal houses still need to pay taxes (+2 Sector Budget, +6 Personal Wealth. You are not abusing your position. Both ducal houses will remember this).
[X] Promise Another Command. You will find another cruiser for Captain Stephua to command by the time she recovers from her injuries.
[X] Propaganda. Hype her up, ensure she takes a place of prominence in the celebrations and triumph. (Diplomacy roll, -15 Political Capital, if successful complete your 'mission' and get +30 Political Capital, +1 Loyalty for Commander Dame Jule Sice Wison who may well leave your command).

 

[Gunman]

@Gunman Well keep in mind that you are still the Imperial Navy. Even if House Arril has say, six shitty battleships, they are not going to want to directly attack your command because the Empress still has 140 battleships two sectors away and might actually welcome a chance to crush a ducal house whilst unequivocally in the right with the others not having an excuse to intervene.

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Then what is the worst we can expect them to do? If piracy is an option for us when we have a private ship why wouldn't it be an option for them?

[X] Promise Another Command. You will find another cruiser for Captain Stephua to command by the time she recovers from her injuries.

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Please, this is a terrible idea that ignores our budget. We have a five point deficit. We cannot afford to spend 35 PC on a new cruiser. What is the point of getting the 2 free sector budget if you're going to then make our deficit worse?

 

[No7sHere]

Given that if our other action succeeds we'll have a free cruiser slot this shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Gunman]

In theory, if he dies chasing pirates, it's not really OUR fault.

But it is a bad look. I kind of wish we could kick him upstairs to be on someone's staff, since he's actually pretty competent at that.

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Yes, a bad look. The Governor General may very well not care it wasn't really our fault.

Given that if our other action succeeds we'll have a free cruiser slot this shouldn't be a problem.

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1. If it succeeds
2. "who may well leave your command" is not "will leave your command"

 

[Satar]

Given that if our other action succeeds we'll have a free cruiser slot this shouldn't be a problem.

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He's talking about the budget. You know, the one where we have a 5 wealth deficit?

Edit:

Nevermind, I thought you were taking about a different action.

 

[Rat King]

We could also go full nepotism on our XO slot to see if the local houses have anyone they want to get in there, if we're that interested in currying favor. That option remains open.​

 

[Forgothrax]

Do we want to turn him into the best officer anyway? I don't want him to die while he remains under our command or we're going to get in trouble.

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I don't think he's going to get transferred out of sector unless he gets covered in glory somehow, so we're stuck with him. Best thing to do is to make him as badass as possible so when he inevitably ends up in a fight he can take care of himself, and lean on the Governor in a few turns to get him put in a heavy cruiser so that he is as well protected as possible. Not as good for our bottom line that way but probably the best outcome for not getting hammered politically when he inevitably rolls poorly against someone of decent tactical skill. I'd be concerned that as he is he'd get punked in a CL by someone with above average tactical, CLs aren't that much more potent than say a pair of pirate raiders or attack skiffs. NASP commanders never have below Tac8 after all.

And ugh, of course the ducal houses are now rolling out BBs -.- rethinking required

 

[fasquardon]

[] Let The Ducal Houses Off. Ducal Houses could not possibly be guilty, etc. (+9 Political Capital)
[] Prosecute Jamoor. House Arril cannot have done anything wrong! (+6 Political Capital, +4 Personal Wealth, +1 Sector Budget, Jamoor will remember this).
[] Prosecute Arril. House Jamoor are obviously law abiding nobles of the empire (+3 Political Capital, +2 Personal Wealth, Arril will remember this).
[] Enforce the Law. No, ducal houses still need to pay taxes (+2 Sector Budget, +6 Personal Wealth. You are not abusing your position. Both ducal houses will remember this).

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I am really torn on this one.

Maybe hit house Jamoor and then from then on enforce the law equally?

I don't want to seem like Reinhard is on the side of either house, and enforcing the law IS his job.

[] Deny The Governor. His Nephew does not get command of the Hawk, he will remain as your executive officer where you can train him and keep an eye on him. (-15 Political Capital).
[] Promise Another Command. You will find another cruiser for Captain Stephua to command by the time she recovers from her injuries.
[] Transfer Her. Transfer Captain Stephua to being your executive officer, there is no loss of honour there for her.
[] Let Her Go. This is over your head, she is being replaced as captain by request of the Governor General, you can see who Fleet Command sends to be your executive officer.
[] Exploit This. This is over your head, she is being replaced as captain by request of the Governor General, you can seek out further nepotism opportunities. Your previous XO did very well after all both in promotions and prize money, other powerful nobles might wish to elevate their relatives.

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Well, the Governor's nepotism boy is actually reasonably competent now, though his tactics isn't great. I am seriously considering "promise her another command".

[] Propaganda. Hype her up, ensure she takes a place of prominence in the celebrations and triumph. (Diplomacy roll, -15 Political Capital, if successful complete your 'mission' and get +30 Political Capital, +1 Loyalty for Commander Dame Jule Sice Wison who may well leave your command).
[] Wait. You still have a good nine months or more for the commander to prove herself in some dramatic manner and she is getting ever more capable, frankly she is your best captain but she did just lose her ship and need you to rescue her. All she needs is one single ship victory you are pretty sure she can achieve by herself without you going out on a limb for her or risking her being transferred away.

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DEFINITELY think we should wait here.

She's loyal, one of our best captains and we can arrange to have her be properly heroic soon enough.

Please, this is a terrible idea that ignores our budget. We have a five point deficit. We cannot afford to spend 35 PC on a new cruiser. What is the point of getting the 2 free sector budget if you're going to then make our deficit worse?

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On the other hand, we do need the ships to adequately cover the sector and if we intercepted more pirates we'd gain prize money to maintain the fleet... We just need to seek cost-effective anti-pirate and anti-smuggler ships.

I realize we have a significant deficit, and we need to address that, but spending money to make money is also something we can do, if we are careful and do the maths before we buy things.

fasquardon