EMPIRE! A Community World-Building Game II: 2 Quest, 2 Curious

[QuintonBeck]

Gotta support my boy Sam here, he most definitely was on the Heartwaste before anyone knew C'Nor was dropping. Was that aggressive and power hungry? I'm in no position to point fingers but he was already on it way before and his declaration does start out with a diplomacy option but with the nation going NPC now I imagine he's mobilizing to a straight up military option since there's no player being booted by it.

I don't think he was trying to be sneaky, just the opposite really since he sent a declaration with terms rather than just marching without warning.

EDIT: I've thought about the whole translation language thing myself and decided out of character it's purely for convenience (anyone who's ever run a game trying to implement different languages can back me up here) and in game I like to think it relates to the Lord of Fire religion and the low populations of the regions. Clearly there used to be a great worldwide spanning empire that followed the ways of fire but they must have done something real bad that resulted in a total blasting apart of their existence and the fracturing into the various groups now on the continent are just now forming back from the few remaining living beings after the Cataclysm.

[Lord_Burch]

Looks like the GC is conquering the Heartwate and Eyrecradia again.

[QuintonBeck]

Looks like the GC is conquering the Heartwate and Eyrecradia again.

You can jump in and stop us

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Even still, I think there should be some sort of shoring up of the guidelines for declaring war a bit, such as the fact that the game is set up in some ways so that someone could potentially post their actions and not come back until the following week. Now what those guidelines might be...no idea. I still don't really understand military all that much (which makes me glad we have WaylanderX running that sort of thing, )

Even still, if the heirs of Tekorva and The Heartwastes marry, then those nations merge and you're actually attacking Tekorva's nation, no C'nor's. It's a viable tactic, and one of the reasons I assume people have intermarried. If your plans are still to invade the country should that happen, that's still fine, and totally allowed. Tekorva's just marrying into a crazy situation.

[SamBurke]

Looks like the GC is conquering the Heartwaste and Eyrecradia again.

You can jump in and stop us

Look, guys. Expansion is a part of this game... We're not doing that much harm, since neither nation is terribly active, and C'nor has decided to leave. This is minimal-impact stuff, here.

Also, Quinton is right above: I sent a letter offering to let C'nor maintain control of the HW and continue in the game. I'm not here to hurt anyone else's fun, just have some of my own where I can.

[BladeofObliviom]

Wait just a moment.

The Heartwaste's most notable resource as far as the rest of the world is concerned is a rare and valuable fluid that burns violently and very efficiently contains chemical energy. People are always fighting over these lands for these resources. The citizens of the Heartwaste have a religion that most people outside their culture don't really understand at all. They're literally located in the heart of the Eastern part of the world revealed so far.


...Goshdarn it, the Heartwastes are the Middle East.

Look, guys. Expansion is a part of this game... We're not doing that much harm, since neither nation is terribly active, and C'nor has decided to leave. This is minimal-impact stuff, here.

As "minimal impact" as toppling a nation with staunch allies can be, you mean.

(PROPAGANDA PROPAGANDA PROPAGANDA)

[QuintonBeck]

Look, guys. Expansion is a part of this game... We're not doing that much harm, since neither nation is terribly active, and C'nor has decided to leave. This is minimal-impact stuff, here.

Also, Quinton is right above: I sent a letter offering to let C'nor maintain control of the HW and continue in the game. I'm not here to hurt anyone else's fun, just have some of my own where I can.

Agreed, the game's called "EMPIRE!" for a reason and I'm of the mind that less active nations who aren't actively engaging in the game are minimal-impact, to use Sam's words, targets. Someone who misses a week's actions is one thing but popping in once in a blue moon to do half a week's actions while their neighbor is churning along next to them, eh, I don't feel too bad for them that lose it for those reasons. That said, its supposed to be a fun forum game and I don't think anything has been done out of OOC malicious intent and that's what's important to maintain.

EDIT:

Wait just a moment.

The Heartwaste's most notable resource as far as the rest of the world is concerned is a rare and valuable fluid that burns violently and very efficiently contains chemical energy. People are always fighting over these lands for these resources. The citizens of the Heartwaste have a religion that most people outside their culture don't really understand at all. They're literally located in the heart of the Eastern part of the world revealed so far.


...Goshdarn it, the Heartwastes are the Middle East.

Hahaha, you're right though....

[Elemental]

"Clockwork" was more to refer to gears and the like, which were in use during the Middle Ages, if rare.

Also, that post is mostly foreshadowing for next turn; none of that stuff works as made, but it looks cool.

So it's useless shiny stuff? I can get that.

Second thing's second: it occurred to me yesterday that every region is able to communicate with one another. As for myself, it totally slipped my mind that Raaneka (and all other regions) would have its own language, and that other regions probably don't speak it. I guess Common exists in Telluris? It gets my gears turning wondering how it became Common, and what happened to the culture that spread it. The metaplot thickens!

I can't believe I forgot to comment on this...
I assume a common tongue for convenience. After all, there's no way that each region speaks the same language, they're all large and sparsely populated.

EDIT: I've thought about the whole translation language thing myself and decided out of character it's purely for convenience (anyone who's ever run a game trying to implement different languages can back me up here) and in game I like to think it relates to the Lord of Fire religion and the low populations of the regions. Clearly there used to be a great worldwide spanning empire that followed the ways of fire but they must have done something real bad that resulted in a total blasting apart of their existence and the fracturing into the various groups now on the continent are just now forming back from the few remaining living beings after the Cataclysm.

Definitely for convenience. How can one be expected to get anything done when we have to take translators into account?
As for that hypothesis, it's a good one.


Anyways... On the topic of warfare in the Middle section of the East, technically, I've got no stake in it, so I'm fine provided you keep it in your own yards.

[SamBurke]

Wait just a moment.

The Heartwaste's most notable resource as far as the rest of the world is concerned is a rare and valuable fluid that burns violently and very efficiently contains chemical energy. People are always fighting over these lands for these resources. The citizens of the Heartwaste have a religion that most people outside their culture don't really understand at all. They're literally located in the heart of the Eastern part of the world revealed so far.


...Goshdarn it, the Heartwastes are the Middle East.




As "minimal impact" as toppling a nation with staunch allies can be, you mean.

(PROPAGANDA PROPAGANDA PROPAGANDA)

Ooooh. I am a fan of white text. Actually, I played a character who was the paladin/healer of a party, who used white text to express her self-doubt and desire to kill the other PCs. I was only a few more months away from having her break out when the game ended... and not a single person had found out yet.

But yeah, it is the Middle East, and I'm gonna do my best to make sure everything goes well with it. We'll see. I prefer no bloodshed, and will do my best to make that happen.

So it's useless shiny stuff? I can get that.

Anyways... On the topic of warfare in the Middle section of the East, technically, I've got no stake in it, so I'm fine provided you keep it in your own yards.

It will remain strictly governed. Guilder doth not waste, in land, lien, or life.
Pro points to me for lien?

And yeah, for now, the gifts to Andust aren't overly useful, but they're cool. Think desk toys.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Anyways... On the topic of warfare in the Middle section of the East, technically, I've got no stake in it, so I'm fine provided you keep it in your own yards.

...Aren't your relatives MARRIED to the relatives of the Heartwaste? That seems to have a stake, if I do say so.

[Elemental]

It will remain strictly governed. Guilder doth not waste, in land, lien, or life.
Pro points to me for lien?

And yeah, for now, the gifts to Andust aren't overly useful, but they're cool. Think desk toys.

Naturally. That would be unprofitable.

Well, he may need a bigger desk if I'm interpreting the quantity brought correctly.

...Aren't your relatives MARRIED to the relatives of the Heartwaste? That seems to have a stake, if I do say so.

Except, the Prince of the Heartwaste who married into my family was a dissenter, and probably still is. I'd have to go over there and forcibly install him on the throne to the objections of the rightfully selected heir and her descendants, against the will of the populace and all that, with the end result of my having a vassal state far from my borders that I don't really want and can't really protect.
I have a stake that is completely useless.


Grave news.
Hazael Toranath II, King of Ashenia, has departed this realm to be with the spirits. May his soul be at peace and blessings be showered upon his descendants. Long live his heir and the rightful King of Ashenia, Hazael Toranath III!

I nearly cried writing his death post...


Also, printing press.

[SamBurke]

Naturally. That would be unprofitable.

Well, he may need a bigger desk if I'm interpreting the quantity brought correctly.




Except, the Prince of the Heartwaste who married into my family was a dissenter, and probably still is. I'd have to go over there and forcibly install him on the throne to the objections of the rightfully selected heir and her descendants, against the will of the populace and all that, with the end result of my having a vassal state far from my borders that I don't really want and can't really protect.
I have a stake that is completely useless.


Grave news.
Hazael Toranath II, King of Ashenia, has departed this realm to be with the spirits. May his soul be at peace and blessings be showered upon his descendants. Long live his heir and the rightful King of Ashenia, Hazael Toranath III!

I nearly cried writing his death post...


Also, printing press.

Dude. Fistbump. That's always a milestone in a character, right there.

Profit... is one way to put it. More like "value." If there was any religion in Guilder, it would be that all things and all possibilities have value.

[BladeofObliviom]

Heh. Well, since Ashenia's sort of voiding their own claim, wouldn't the Heartwastes go to Tekorva by default anyway? No need for a war, unless Guilder decides that they want to attack a fellow GC nation out of sheer greed.

[SamBurke]

Heh. Well, since Ashenia's sort of voiding their own claim, wouldn't the Heartwastes go to Tekorva by default anyway? No need for a war, unless Guilder decides that they want to attack a fellow GC nation out of sheer greed.

I was invading before he capitulated, so it's not Tekorva's yet. Though I'm interested to hear where Tekorva stands on this.

[Elemental]

Dude. Fistbump. That's always a milestone in a character, right there.

Profit... is one way to put it. More like "value." If there was any religion in Guilder, it would be that all things and all possibilities have value.

I really wish I'd done a better description of his funeral, but alas, I wasn't able to as it's exceedingly later here. I feel I've let the character I made up in five minutes down...

Well, if all things and all possibilities have value, then increasing the amount of things and possibilities available to you increases the amount of value you control, thus, profit. Or something. I don't know, you merchant bankers are a complicated lot.
Which reminds me, why haven't you founded a bank yet?

Heh. Well, since Ashenia's sort of voiding their own claim, wouldn't the Heartwastes go to Tekorva by default anyway? No need for a war, unless Guilder decides that they want to attack a fellow GC nation out of sheer greed.

Not voiding technically... Refusing to press because it's completely pointless for me to do so.
Wait... Tekorva is in the GC? I must have missed their joining.

I was invading before he capitulated, so it's not Tekorva's yet. Though I'm interested to hear where Tekorva stands on this.

That's probably the best way to go about this. I'm sure Rain Dragon knows what's going on with the place.

[BladeofObliviom]

I was invading before he capitulated, so it's not Tekorva's yet. Though I'm interested to hear where Tekorva stands on this.

Fair point, but the marriage would go through before you actually gained control of the region anyway. Marriages take one turn, invasions take two.

I guess you'd be right if Tekorva were to void its own claim to the throne for...some reason. I'm having trouble thinking of any valid reason they would have to do that, to be honest.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Heh. Well, since Ashenia's sort of voiding their own claim, wouldn't the Heartwastes go to Tekorva by default anyway? No need for a war, unless Guilder decides that they want to attack a fellow GC nation out of sheer greed.

Tekorva is not in the GC...

[zabbarot]

Profit... is one way to put it. More like "value." If there was any religion in Guilder, it would be that all things and all possibilities have value.

Emphasis mine, there will soon be religion in guilder

Edit:

I guess you'd be right if Tekorva were to void its own claim to the throne for...some reason. I'm having trouble thinking of any valid reason they would have to do that, to be honest.

Just because the place is conquered doesn't mean the claim will go away. Exiled kings are great plot points.

[SamBurke]

Emphasis mine, there will soon be religion in guilder

I subscribe to the Dice Rolling thread.

Just to say.

Tekorva is not in the GC...

Shhhh! Wombat! I wanted to watch them try to pretend they're not trying to harm the GC!

Fair point, but the marriage would go through before you actually gained control of the region anyway. Marriages take one turn, invasions take two.

I guess you'd be right if Tekorva were to void its own claim to the throne for...some reason. I'm having trouble thinking of any valid reason they would have to do that, to be honest.

I'd be sure to make it worth his while.

I really wish I'd done a better description of his funeral, but alas, I wasn't able to as it's exceedingly later here. I feel I've let the character I made up in five minutes down...

That's how you know you've done a good thing, friend.

Well, if all things and all possibilities have value, then increasing the amount of things and possibilities available to you increases the amount of value you control, thus, profit. Or something. I don't know, you merchant bankers are a complicated lot.
Which reminds me, why haven't you founded a bank yet?

Yup! I like the way it ties in neatly as an ideal system, though it does mandate that one general assumption at the beginning. Still, every belief system needs that...

Speaking of belief: we don't have banks for that reason. Banks are unnecessary in Guilder. If you want to make money without working as hard as one of the Princes, you give it to a Venture Group or *one* of those Princes. Everything works through straight investments.

Wait... Tekorva is in the GC? I must have missed their joining.

That's probably the best way to go about this. I'm sure Rain Dragon knows what's going on with the place.

Shhhh to you too!

And yes, I'll talk to RD, because I don't want to step on anyone's toes if I can avoid it.

[Morph Bark]

Wait just a moment.

The Heartwaste's most notable resource as far as the rest of the world is concerned is a rare and valuable fluid that burns violently and very efficiently contains chemical energy. People are always fighting over these lands for these resources. The citizens of the Heartwaste have a religion that most people outside their culture don't really understand at all. They're literally located in the heart of the Eastern part of the world revealed so far.


...Goshdarn it, the Heartwastes are the Middle East.

It makes the Cold War analogy all the more accurate. (And frightening.)

Grave news.
Hazael Toranath II, King of Ashenia, has departed this realm to be with the spirits. May his soul be at peace and blessings be showered upon his descendants. Long live his heir and the rightful King of Ashenia, Hazael Toranath III!

I wish him much luck. It's never easy to rule a country when you're MIA.


On the subject of Guilder's invasion of the Heartwaste, that was originally going to happen sooner, but it didn't because the DoW didn't go through and it was done as a secret action. That is why I came back on my decision to allow attacks to happen through secret actions. Considering there had been talk of such invasions weeks ago already, I had figured it would only be a matter of time before it would happen for real.

I of course don't share the "less active player = target" philosophy--obviously, GM and all--but with any attack there is going to be a target, whether they are very active or less so. As C'nor decided to leave for unrelated reasons, I feel there's less of a problem even, and even if he hadn't there are still multiple options for second chances and getting back into it full force.

As for pressing the marriage claim, I've already relayed to Rain Dragon some mechanics that could be used for that if he wishes to do that, but I may yet change those. I'll try to finalize them before next round start.

On the subject of less active players, Percy hasn't been active in the past three rounds it seems, and Aeternus has also been gone since the 9th. I'm going to send both some messages now, and if they don't return by next round's end their regions are opened up. I believe Sulvan's Primarchy has some marriage ties, too. If either of them return after next round's end, they can have their regions back if they aren't claimed entirely yet by someone else, or they can restart elsewhere.

[Rain Dragon]

Against my better judgement I'm on my PC. I was hoping to have my actions finalized by now because I have to do a half day of work today and am visiting a friend tomorrow...

Well I'll respond, pull on my boots and leave for about... Ten or so hours, maybe less. I'll have my tablet so those who are PMing me can still PM me, but I can't delete things on there, nor can I reliably multiquote.

Marriage will probably not be enough.

Oh really? /steeples fingers and grins

I've thought about the whole translation language thing myself and decided out of character it's purely for convenience.

In character, I've run with the assumption from the start as nothing to the contrary was stated and nobody else seemed to have thought of the idea first. Though Tekorvanin use different modes of Common depending on who they're talking to. Casual, Polite and Formal. Totally didn't rip it from Japanese...

Our Aristocracies and Royal Families however speak High Speech. The Yorukuninin Aristocracies and Royal Family have similarly picked up High Speech for Diplomacy reasons.

Looks like the GC is conquering the Heartwaste and Eyrecradia again.

Actually, technically Kasumor is alone attacking 4B. He's basically flexing his muscles because there's a new neighbour he doesn't like.

Heartwaste is still a bit up in the air... I hope. I'd prefer not to have to start a war with Guilder over it.

Even still, if the heirs of Tekorva and The Heartwastes marry, then those nations merge and you're actually attacking Tekorva's nation, no C'nor's. It's a viable tactic, and one of the reasons I assume people have intermarried. If your plans are still to invade the country should that happen, that's still fine, and totally allowed. Tekorva's just marrying into a crazy situation.

They are betrothed and I'm reasonably certain the marriage is a non-action as we spent one betrothing them in the first place? The marriage is finalized this round.

Yes. Yes I am.

As "minimal impact" as toppling a nation with staunch allies can be, you mean.

(PROPAGANDA PROPAGANDA PROPAGANDA)

Touche. 「I don't have access to the accented 'e' right now」

Agreed, the game's called "EMPIRE!" for a reason and I'm of the mind that less active nations who aren't actively engaging in the game are minimal-impact, to use Sam's words, targets.

I disagree. Some of these less active nations are allied with the more active nations and for you to target them is indirectly targetting the more active nations. It's not really different.

In fact, working with these less active nations who may or may not communicate well is theoretically more frustrating so...

I nearly cried writing his death post...
Also, printing press.

The manliest of tears. I am glad you're getting so involved... Maybe?
You sneaky beggar. ;)

I was invading before he capitulated, so it's not Tekorva's yet. Though I'm interested to hear where Tekorva stands on this.

Sorry about being a pain, but my Empire's name is Sanctuary. I was secretly colonizing 17B and it became active this round. That's why we suddenly have a 'High Prince of the Ancient Fiefdom of Sanctuary' and why my signature has been funky for ages.

Foreshadowing it was! Confusing... Yes. Sorry guys!

Shhhh! Wombat! I wanted to watch them try to pretend they're not trying to harm the GC! :smalltongue

And yes, I'll talk to RD, because I don't want to step on anyone's toes if I can avoid it.

I'm not.
It's a good thing I didn't roll those five military rolls with my secret maxed army until near the round end.

As for pressing the marriage claim, I've already relayed to Rain Dragon some mechanics that could be used for that if he wishes to do that, but I may yet change those. I'll try to finalize them before next round start.

Thank you. I am /definitely/ pressing those next round when I can do so. This round, unfortunately, it is impossible 「unless the mechanics change」.

I've just cleared out my inbox, so anyone can be free to PM me about this.

[SamBurke]

I'll call it Sanctuary then. Sorry 'bout that.

There'll be a PM to you soon about all this, because I, too, would prefer to avoid a war.

EDIT: And thanks to Morph for pointing that out: I would actually be finalizing the conquer this turn, except for some irregularities, and my problematic weekend.

[WaylanderX]

Actually, technically Kasumor is alone attacking 4B. He's basically flexing his muscles because there's a new neighbour he doesn't like.

It's not only flexing my muscles mate..... He made a grave mistake diplomatically and now he is going to have to take responsibility. And I can assure you, I'm not only bluffing.

[QuintonBeck]

It's not only flexing my muscles mate..... He made a grave mistake diplomatically and now he is going to have to take responsibility. And I can assure you, I'm not only bluffing.

Gotta be careful when digging under people's homes. Makes em a bit irate sometimes.

[SamBurke]

Gotta be careful when digging under people's homes. Makes em a bit irate sometimes.

Not always. Me and Razdis have a deal going down for things; but only cause he resolved the situation. "Country Etiquette. Super Simple Stuff (TM)."

On that note, Razdis, what are the two resources you're gonna discover under there?

[Rain Dragon]

I'll call it Sanctuary then. Sorry 'bout that.

There'll be a PM to you soon about all this, because I, too, would prefer to avoid a war.

EDIT: And thanks to Morph for pointing that out: I would actually be finalizing the conquer this turn, except for some irregularities, and my problematic weekend.

It's ok.

Awesome. My hope is we can sort something out beneficial. If it is any consolation, I will try to paint Guilder in the best light in the fluff if you decide the Declaration of War is canon.

It's not only flexing my muscles mate..... He made a grave mistake diplomatically and now he is going to have to take responsibility. And I can assure you, I'm not only bluffing.

You are meeting with his diplomats before lopping off an arm. The meeting is flexing, the aggression is aggression, but also a message to others. Aside from Eyrecradia and their allies, nobody else is being affected. I am not saying you are not serious, just using the wrong metaphor to describe how the world would see this.

Not always. Me and Razdis have a deal going down for things; but only cause he resolved the situation. "Country Etiquette. Super Simple Stuff (TM)."

On that note, Razdis, what are the two resources you're gonna discover under there?

I only found one good resource. Lucky Razdis!

Speaking of this resource, anyone want slightly stronger than average silk?

EDIT - Typo, my tablet is hard to type on.

[Morph Bark]

Not always. Me and Razdis have a deal going down for things; but only cause he resolved the situation. "Country Etiquette. Super Simple Stuff (TM)."

On that note, Razdis, what are the two resources you're gonna discover under there?

That reminds me, I never did say how many resources 14B, 20B, 32 and 50 had, did I? Was a bit of a rush, since there was so much trouble in getting the round up in the first place.

Maybe I should make some rolls to determine that...

Nahh, they all have two Good resources, both to be determined by the first colonizer/new player claimant. Region 14B has 12000 native inhabitants. Region 20B has 25000 inhabitants. Region 32 has 14000 inhabitants. Region 50 has 36000 inhabitants. The racial make-up is not known, though region 50's are rumoured to be some sort of bestial folk, and considering the proximity of other dwarven nations, regions 20B and 14B may have them [dwarves] in numbers.

Terrain features, people and religion are, as always, entirely up to the first one to possess the region fully.

[Rain Dragon]

So does region 17b have two resources at good rather than one?

[Morph Bark]

Regions 16B and 17B's resources are as discussed with you and Arutha prior, which is why there is no mention of them in my previous post.

[Rain Dragon]

I see. Sorry to have bothered you unnecessarily.