EMPIRE! CWBG XII: GOTY, now with optionally free Cthulhu and Pony DLC!

[Elemental]

Kitsanth happened to mention something about angry document spirits at the Centennial Gala. Alas the King and his government are currently extremely busy dealing with the aftermath of a recent event while all the astrologers cry because every sign in the heavens reads "IMPENDING DOOM". Unfortunately, that means there is no one present at the Gala who can respond to the Cree's request for information and so they are invited to send the King a letter (mark it urgent so it doesn't get buried by logistic reports) and he'll get back to you as soon as possible.


@Quinton: Concerned Sulvan's Fury... Firstly, according to my understanding, Zwergkampf is only held when the previous Primarch is lacking in male heirs. Said previous Primarch is according to my reckoning, Freki Son of Vali, a Razdissi Prince, who is only one hundred and fifteen years old as of the year five hundred, so probably still kicking as dwarves tend to be more long lived than humans. However, if he died, then either of his half Ashenite sons, Razkai (69) or Freki (65) would likely have inherited.
I should probably have told you this before handing the country over to you, for which I apologise, and I totally understand if you want to change the government to something less dynastic. I don't really know why I'm complaining here. Actually, scratch all that, I'll just move that branch of the Toranath family into a non-executive role with an impressive sounding but pointless ceremonial title.

[DoomHat]

Kitsanth happened to mention something about angry document spirits at the Centennial Gala. Alas the King and his government are currently extremely busy dealing with the aftermath of a recent event while all the astrologers cry because every sign in the heavens reads "IMPENDING DOOM". Unfortunately, that means there is no one present at the Gala who can respond to the Cree's request for information and so they are invited to send the King a letter (mark it urgent so it doesn't get buried by logistic reports) and he'll get back to you as soon as possible

The letter will be much more polite. It was hoped an Ashenian delegate would be on hand, but the real point of the Gala speech was to tell an international audience, "We are outraged! Here's why and you should be as well!"

Also the Ashenian complaint was an ice breaking foot note to the rest of the thing which, I'm sure you'll be glad to know, basically amounted to, "WE'RE ALL FACING IMPENDING DOOM! LET US PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!"

[lt_murgen]

A quick pair of rules questions:

I thought that if your leader did not personally lead your military into battle, you used 1/2 military instead of full military. But I couldn't find it in the rules anywhere.

Second, if you have agents that provide military bonuses when not lead by your leader (trained warlords and privateers, respectively), is that ANY leader, or the leader of your people?

[Aedilred]

A quick pair of rules questions:

I thought that if your leader did not personally lead your military into battle, you used 1/2 military instead of full military. But I couldn't find it in the rules anywhere

"If you have multiple battles going on at the same time, you have to decide which one your ruler is leading. All other battles your country is involved in, but your ruler is not leading personally, only get half the ruler's Military score as a bonus."

Under the "Using Military Units" section of the advanced military rules.

[QuintonBeck]

@Quinton: Concerned Sulvan's Fury... Firstly, according to my understanding, Zwergkampf is only held when the previous Primarch is lacking in male heirs. Said previous Primarch is according to my reckoning, Freki Son of Vali, a Razdissi Prince, who is only one hundred and fifteen years old as of the year five hundred, so probably still kicking as dwarves tend to be more long lived than humans. However, if he died, then either of his half Ashenite sons, Razkai (69) or Freki (65) would likely have inherited.
I should probably have told you this before handing the country over to you, for which I apologise, and I totally understand if you want to change the government to something less dynastic. I don't really know why I'm complaining here. Actually, scratch all that, I'll just move that branch of the Toranath family into a non-executive role with an impressive sounding but pointless ceremonial title.

I wouldn't mind picking them up and running with them, I'd prefer it really. I just couldn't find any info on Sulvan's Fury on the Wiki and didn't feel like digging through all the old threads. I'll swap in Razkai for Barbarosa.

Second, if you have agents that provide military bonuses when not lead by your leader (trained warlords and privateers, respectively), is that ANY leader, or the leader of your people?

It currently only applies to not the leader of your people, but that may be in need of some review. Especially in regards to that aspect where it's someone else's non-leader and not someone else's leader.

EDIT: Map Updated & NPC's free resources for trade listed if they are attending the Centennial in the NPC Actions Post.

[moossabi]

And of course, I find an enormous desert.

So, that leaves labeled threats* as: the Salterri Imperium, and [METAL/Tzalteclan, pending who has 100].

My stance on the war (Since that's all the rage these days): I'll sit in my corner and go for an empire while you people have your 'fun.' Just stay as far away from my lands as possible.

_{*People who border my capital}

[Kitsanth]

Updated Political world map

let me know if you see any errors or have issue with acronyms or have issue with colours used and such.

[SamBurke]

Updated Political world map

let me know if you see any errors or have issue with acronyms or have issue with colours used and such.

Thanks for updating it! The world truly is massive now...

[ImperatorV]

Updated Political world map

let me know if you see any errors or have issue with acronyms or have issue with colours used and such.

The Triumvirate has taken to calling itself the Radurjic Union recently, if you could make note of that for next time you update. Acronym would be RU (or perhaps RJU if you want to stick with threes).

In other news, we are running out of world. Considering how much we started with that's rather impressive. The day we've taken every region on the map we should throw a party.

[DoomHat]

In other news, we are running out of world. Considering how much we started with that's rather impressive. The day we've taken every region on the map we should throw a party.

I worry the game won't last long past that defining moment.
But it will be a thing worth celebrating. A testament to the game's greatness and Morph's genius that the game has lasted so long and become so grand in scope.

[SamBurke]

I worry the game won't last long past that defining moment.
But it will be a thing worth celebrating. A testament to the game's greatness and Morph's genius that the game has lasted so long and become so grand in scope.

There are other things to do... I have plans for that time.

Worst comes to worst, we write up all the info into a setting, put it in a book, and start again.

[Aedilred]

Updated Political world map

let me know if you see any errors or have issue with acronyms or have issue with colours used and such.

I believe 133-135 are now part of Celero. There's also been a slight reshuffle in the north-central following Faedas's secession: Keldagrim (15B) is now Faedas, Wenyavuk (P2) Calorum, and Pryonia (16A) Hurosha. 156 is part of the Nanguang Prefecture, a NPC vassal of Morph's.

[SamBurke]

Updated Political world map

let me know if you see any errors or have issue with acronyms or have issue with colours used and such.

I'm unsure who the VSI is over down in 88 and 89.

[TheDarkDM]

I'm unsure who the VSI is over down in 88 and 89.

Niemedaland Prefecture, not sure what's with the abbreviation though.

[Aedilred]

Niemedaland Prefecture, not sure what's with the abbreviation though.

I suspect it stands for "Vassal of the Salterri Imperium", since the same one is used for the (former) Jomani Kralstvo.

[Kitsanth]

I suspect it stands for "Vassal of the Salterri Imperium", since the same one is used for the (former) Jomani Kralstvo.

or in other words direct NPC vassals of the Salterri Imperium Heartlands

[DoomHat]

An odd notion just occurred to me.
What if we treated Diplomacy attacks as operating on the same rules as military ones?
Except you only have one unit type.

Players can use actions to create Ambassadors. Each ambassador adds +1 to a diplomacy roll to sway a controlled region (contested 2d10).
Same rules as military attack and defense, but utilizing a different stat and techs. Unit cap would be something like 5 per capital, one per province.

Though casualties wouldn't be a thing, which would be the incentive for using dip attacks over military ones.
But espionage actions might be able to kill them.

Or, maybe instead of troops, you can throw stacks of resources at a diplomatic target?

Just brainstorming here, hoping no one minds...
Just trying to think of ways to maintain the possibility of conflict that doesn't resort strait to violence.

[ReaderAt2046]

Look. I think we're all missing the important point.

The Makgrull are here!

I will now be accepting the surrenders of those who want to be first in line for the new world order

Be thankful I'm not present to hear that joke. The Pavonians wouldn't realize it's a joke.

[ReaderAt2046]

Updated Political world map

let me know if you see any errors or have issue with acronyms or have issue with colours used and such.

Very nice! Thanks!

[Gengy]

Be thankful I'm not present to hear that joke. The Pavonians wouldn't realize it's a joke.

Considering that they would never say such a thing IC, it wouldn't have mattered. Gengy says things, OOC. Makgrull do not.

@Wombat - Inbox. Clear it? Please?

[SamBurke]

Niemedaland Prefecture, not sure what's with the abbreviation though.

I suspect it stands for "Vassal of the Salterri Imperium", since the same one is used for the (former) Jomani Kralstvo.

Ah! Thanks. I have a friend who's interested in joining, and the closest spot to Guilder I could scope him was 162, but I was unsure who the neighbors would be.

[Snowfire]

Ah! Thanks. I have a friend who's interested in joining, and the closest spot to Guilder I could scope him was 162, but I was unsure who the neighbors would be.

Have him take over the vast desert?

[SamBurke]

Have him take over the vast desert?

Given that he wants to be involved on the research scene, that didn't seem wise.

Also, nice new avvie!

[Gengy]

If a region has been discovered and explored by someone else, but it has now been uncovered... does that mean anyone can use means to claim it?

I ask because I am publicly declaring interest in acquiring U13; a region the Watcher found this last round. I have not changed my actions yet, because I don't know if I *can* use Diplomacy right now on U13. Thus why I am asking.

...also, while in game I wouldn't mind snagging the region, I know Way has that information about the region, and the Watcher was the one who discovered it. IC, I don't mind having the Makgrull Diplomacize-jerk moves, but OOC, I don't want to be unfair.

[SamBurke]

If a region has been discovered and explored by someone else, but it has now been uncovered... does that mean anyone can use means to claim it?

I ask because I am publicly declaring interest in acquiring U13; a region the Watcher found this last round. I have not changed my actions yet, because I don't know if I *can* use Diplomacy right now on U13. Thus why I am asking.

...also, while in game I wouldn't mind snagging the region, I know Way has that information about the region, and the Watcher was the one who discovered it. IC, I don't mind having the Makgrull Diplomacize-jerk moves, but OOC, I don't want to be unfair.

Son, let me introduce you to getting Guildered.

Step one: Attempt to diplo any discovered but unclaimed region.
Step two: Fail.
Step three: You've been Guildered.

Yes, you may attempt to claim any such region (bonuses or penalties apply of course, discoverer gets boni), but it can and will go horribly wrong sometimes.

[TechnOkami]

I know there isn't any territory there, but the desert at the edges of the map would actually be a great location to contain a desert of rust with a metal-based insectoid biome hidden within.

Just throwing that out there.

You can fluff out a territory without having to play said territory, right?

[WaylanderX]

If a region has been discovered and explored by someone else, but it has now been uncovered... does that mean anyone can use means to claim it?

I ask because I am publicly declaring interest in acquiring U13; a region the Watcher found this last round. I have not changed my actions yet, because I don't know if I *can* use Diplomacy right now on U13. Thus why I am asking.

...also, while in game I wouldn't mind snagging the region, I know Way has that information about the region, and the Watcher was the one who discovered it. IC, I don't mind having the Makgrull Diplomacize-jerk moves, but OOC, I don't want to be unfair.

Indeed, especially because it also has caught my eye.
Then again, I may be bartered with. And if that doesn't work, a roll of the dice will decide.

[DoomHat]

I know there isn't any territory there, but the desert at the edges of the map would actually be a great location to contain a desert of rust with a metal-based insectoid biome hidden within.

Just throwing that out there.

You can fluff out a territory without having to play said territory, right?

Given that the setting is defined by a "capitalism" I'm pretty sure that desert represents a lasting scar.
If you're to do that, the insects would have to be strictly non-intelligent, as they can't be diplomatically courted.

[Aedilred]

An odd notion just occurred to me.
What if we treated Diplomacy attacks as operating on the same rules as military ones?
Except you only have one unit type.

Players can use actions to create Ambassadors. Each ambassador adds +1 to a diplomacy roll to sway a controlled region (contested 2d10).
Same rules as military attack and defense, but utilizing a different stat and techs. Unit cap would be something like 5 per capital, one per province.

Though casualties wouldn't be a thing, which would be the incentive for using dip attacks over military ones.
But espionage actions might be able to kill them.

Or, maybe instead of troops, you can throw stacks of resources at a diplomatic target?

Just brainstorming here, hoping no one minds...
Just trying to think of ways to maintain the possibility of conflict that doesn't resort strait to violence.

It seems like a reasonable idea in principle, at least as a starting-point. Mechanical Diplomacy is at the moment perhaps a little over-simple and often a foregone conclusion for that reason, so getting some more applicable bonuses in which aren't just one-size-fits0all-techs on the action might be nice.

On the other hand, the military rules (while they work fairly well for the most part, I think) are the most complicated, clunky and argument-causing parts of the rules, and I'm not sure taking more of the rules in that direction is necessarily a good idea, especially since any rule that initially looks straightforward actually ends up being about five times as long as intended to account for loopholes, exceptions, unusual circumstances, etc.

It would also mean another thing to track.

When we do get round to revising the tech scene there might be space for them to fill in these gaps a little more than they currently do, perhaps.

If a region has been discovered and explored by someone else, but it has now been uncovered... does that mean anyone can use means to claim it?

I ask because I am publicly declaring interest in acquiring U13; a region the Watcher found this last round. I have not changed my actions yet, because I don't know if I *can* use Diplomacy right now on U13. Thus why I am asking.

...also, while in game I wouldn't mind snagging the region, I know Way has that information about the region, and the Watcher was the one who discovered it. IC, I don't mind having the Makgrull Diplomacize-jerk moves, but OOC, I don't want to be unfair.

If a region's been discovered any player can try to colonise it. Sometimes this makes more IC sense than not: Guilder did have a habit of trying to stick its flag in every new region anywhere in the world for a while. The country that discovered the region gets a bonus, though, so all other things being equal the discoveror has an advantage if more than one person is trying to colonise it.

I know there isn't any territory there, but the desert at the edges of the map would actually be a great location to contain a desert of rust with a metal-based insectoid biome hidden within.

Just throwing that out there.

You can fluff out a territory without having to play said territory, right?

You can, though it's best to ask permission first. Given the size and apparenty inhospitability of the desert, it's something of a special case, I think, like the poles. There may be GM plans for things to happen - or come out of - there, and since it's so huge I think the maximum that a single fluff-write-up would cover would be a very small portion of it, and there's probably an upper limit to how much of it should be covered in detail.

As Doom says, that it's not available for occupation also suggests that there's not a lot in the way of sentient life there, although I guess there probably are some nomad groups who might periodically emerge and could provide a source for them in future if new players join. There might well be ruins or other interesting things worthy of exploration or investigation, too, especially if the speculation that there was some sort of civilisation there destroyed in a disaster.

The desert might make an interesting location for the source or the like of round opener Events, though, and that might be a better way to handle it than regional write-ups. I guess talking to Quinton/Morph is probably a good idea before getting too enthusiastic about it.

[ReaderAt2046]

And behold, here's the write-up for the Crystal Caves of Region 97!

Spoiler: Region

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Region: From the air, Region 97 seems to be nothing more than a vast blank snowfield, with here and there the occasional herd of caribou or pod of walruses. But the true beauty of this region lies under the surface, for the vast sheet of ice that covers this region is riddled with a network of caves and tunnels as intricate as anywhere else on Telluris, and it is in these caves that the region’s inhabitants dwell. For the most part, the coating of snow over the ice prevents any light from penetrating into the caves, though one notable exception is the Brightspire. This massive crystalline obelisk extends upwards all the way from the underlying bedrock though the ice and up high into the air. Something in its internal structure reflects and channels light, so when the upper portion of the spire is in the sunlight, its whole length shines brilliantly. Some of the largest caves have been hollowed out around the lower portions of the spire to take advantage of this effect. Lower down, we come across the Flow. A vast underground river, fed by dozens of hot springs and melts and wending its way through the bedrock, it is the Flow that provides the vast majority of the liquid water for the Caves. The third major feature of interest in the region is not part of the Caves, but lies on the surface. It is the Frozen Peaks, an extension of the Vale mountains that stretches along the northern edge of Region 97, and which serves as the primary home and breeding grounds for the majestic ice dragons, which rule the surface and the skies just as much here as they do to the North in Promise.

Spoiler: People

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The inhabitants of the Caves are Frosten Berapi, identifying themselves as the Miskaton. The Miskaton predominantly live on a mix of algae and lichens. Meat is a great delicacy, as it can only be obtained by hunting on the surface, and the surface is the domain of the ice dragons. These creatures have keen sight, and they seem to regard Frosten Berapi as a great delicacy, for reasons which are unclear. The rulers of the caves, the Aryion cultists, derive their power from the Worms. These Formor-craft parasites burrow into their host’s brains, and thanks to them, the Aryion initiates can communicate with and control other Formor abominations that lurk within the lowest caves, the ones that sink into the bedrock. The Aryion rule the caves with a slimy fist, taking the best of everything and demanding that their subjects bring them meat for their twisted minions, or be the meat themselves.

Spoiler: Resources

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In addition to the obvious goal of destroying the Aryion and their abominable servants, the Caves contain two resources that might be of value to the discerning conqueror. Firstly, the bedrock under the caves contains huge deposits of Cyanastone. This soft, richly blue stone polishes to a high gloss, and many of the Miskaton, especially the Aryion cultists, wear jewelry made from the stone. In addition to that, the hot springs that feed the Flow have left massive deposits of Niter. As mentioned above, the Miskaton suffer from a perpetual shortage of Meat, and one may eagerly win their support by providing it.