TW: Condottieri II (IC)

[SchwhatNow]

Die Wölfe der Abfälle - Turn 11

Spoiler: Die Wölfe der Abfälle to House Hohenzollern

Show

Our Panzers have been performing remarkably well in our efforts to clear out Lubeck. However they lack environmental protection which caused the loss of two Panzers during our sweep.

We are aware that the Panzer A's are slightly better in this regard but the Colonel would like to remedy this problem regardless and has enclosed secrets from the alchemists which should help in the protection of newer models. We have also discovered a few weak points in the armor that we hope can be addressed if possible.

On another note the Colonel feels a need for a enhanced troop carrier. He plans on expanding his active force soon and wants to be able to deploy it when necessary. Environmental protection and troop capacity are the primary concerns though speed, armor, and firepower, are always welcome benefits. Additional secrets are enclosed to help with this research.

As always, please do not hesitate if there is anything we may do for the crown.

-The Long Night

25 secrets sent to enhance Panzers

25 secrets sent to enhance Transport

Training: 66 xp spent to promote 22 Trained grunts to Veteran status

Purchases: 152 cash total

20x Prussian Excursion Armor (A 3, D 4, ER 1.6) Cost: 7.6

[robnar]

House du Ouveture
"Sangre, Sucre, Salines"

------------- To Great Powers -------------------------------
House d'Ouveture to the Alchemists Guild

Spoiler: Mission Request

Show

Dear Alchemists - what areas in France are productive to mount alchemical expeditions? We seek your guidance and cooperation for tasks to aid in the development of your craft.

House d'Ouveture to House Bourbon

Spoiler: Mission/Officer/Development Request

Show

Thank you for the opportunity to protect your convoys to Nemours, and I hope for the continued prosperity of your outpost there. It was a learning experience for me. I would like to undertake additional missions for you as well.

As you are aware, my forces took significant losses to the curse on this expedition; I hope your forces were able to avoid the same. I am devoting significant effort to learning how to develop better transports and systems.

In this effort, I would also like to hire three new officers to help manage ongoing operations. (9 favors & $30)

House d'Ouveture to the Spanish House Habsburg

Spoiler: Mission/Technology Request

Show

Greetings, your majesties. We are interested in negotiating for the purchase of some of your dragoon bikes in order to outfit scouting expeditions. Please let us know if any are available.

In addition, do you have any tasks or missions we may complete for you?

House d'Ouveture to the House Wlodzimierz

Spoiler: Technology Request

Show

We of the D'Ouveture are a new house in Europe, returned from the Carribean. We have suffered greatly at the hands of the avenging climate here, and have heard of the capability and speed of your crawler systems. What could we do to procure access to purchase these systems from you?

----------------------- To other Players ---------------------------------
House d'Ouveture to Die Wölfe der Abfälle

Spoiler: Equipment

Show

Do you have any surplus equipment you are willing to sell?

House d'Ouveture to Winterborn

Spoiler: Equipment

Show

Thank you for the equipment you provided last turn. It performed admirably, though the transports had several issues in the harsh terrain of France. Do you have more surplus to sell?

House d'Ouveture to The Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler: Equipment

Show

Do you have any surplus equipment you are willing to sell?

House d'Ouveture to The Horde

Spoiler: Equipment

Show

Do you have any surplus equipment you are willing to sell?

------------------------------------
Intelligence: Spend 1 rumor for information about conditions in Armagnac province (the Bourbons mentioned this as a province that would prove my capability for operations on Orelanais).

GM: Which provinces would I need to capture either the duchy of the Vendee or Normandy?

[Murska]

Winterborn to House du Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

Unfortunately with some losses in transportation ourselves and a much increased recruitment in the new Polish territories we're stretched providing for our own men at the moment. Still, it is good to hear that our old equipment was of some use.

[SchwhatNow]

Die Wölfe der Abfälle

Spoiler: Die Wölfe der Abfälle to House d'Ouveture

Show

The Colonel has agreed to your proposal.

We currently have 6 3 suits of Secondhand Armor (A 2, D 2, ER 1) and 1 Converted Mining Rig (A 10, D 5, ER 1, T 1, Speed 4) that are going unused by our forces. We could offer you the armor for 2 cash each , and the mining rig for 6 cash. Let us know if that interests you.

-The Long Night

[Mortenkam]

The Brotherhood of Kalmar

To House Joakim

Spoiler

Show

“Do you still need the Brotherhood of Kalmar’s aid in cleansing Jutland, and do you any thing else you what us to do?

By the way, what did you end up doing with the alchemy knowledge we sold to Sweden, recently?”

To House Bernadotte

Spoiler

Show

“Do the house of Bernadotte has need of the services of the brotherhood of Kalmar.”

To Agda Import

Spoiler

Show

“Do you have any work for us, so we can continue our profitable relationship?”

To the Alchemist Guild

Spoiler

Show

“I would like to help the Alchemist Guild in uncovering new things in the wilds, so do you any places you need our escort to?”

To Italy

Spoiler

Show

“I believe, that you still need the aid of the Brotherhood of Kalmar, so I would like to hear where I am needed.

Also, do Italy have any special, when it comes to weaponry?”

To House du Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

“Well, the Brotherhood of Kalmar is always growing our ranks, so there is not much left out of use, though if you are really desperate, we got some basic uniforms, that we do not have much use for.”

[robnar]

To Die Wölfe der Abfälle

Spoiler: Original message

Show

The Colonel has agreed to your proposal.

We currently have 6 suits of Secondhand Armor (A 2, D 2, ER 1) and 1 Converted Mining Rig (A 10, D 5, ER 1, T 1, Speed 4) that are going unused by our forces. We could offer you the armor for 2 cash each, and the mining rig for 6 cash. Let us know if that interests you.

-The Long Night

Spoiler: D'Ouveture's response

Show

It does interest us! 18 cash to be transferred immediately. Thank you for your assistance.

To The Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler: Original message

Show

“Well, the Brotherhood of Kalmar is always growing our ranks, so there is not much left out of use, though if you are really desperate, we got some basic uniforms, that we do not have much use for.”

Spoiler: D'Ouveture's Response

Show

We would gladly buy all you have at 0.2 cash per unit

[ArcaneStomper]

House Wlodzimierz to the Winterborn

Spoiler

Show

That would certainly be of great benefit if you discovered a load of the substance. However we must point out the dangers. The current storms devastating the interior are greater than anything in recent history. Indeed they nearly approach those of the Cataclysm. Most of our current efforts are devoted to shoring up the wards around our settlements. Would your men be able to withstand the dangers of venturing into the storms?

House Hohenzollern to Die Wolfe der Abfalle

Spoiler

Show

We will assign some alchemists to the task, though we have doubts about our ability to improve the Panzers much further. We feel it will take a major breakthrough to truly elevate the design, though incremental progress can be made.

As for helping the crown the best thing you can do is to further expand our investment in your own forces. With the current situation with the alchemical storms the available land that can be claimed without undue cost is slight, and we fear that Sweden will gain too much of an advantage if we are not bold in our efforts.

The Alchemist's Guild to House d'Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

Lyonnais is the most useful region to harvest in France. It has quite a bounty of reagents and specimens so we are always willing to fund an expedition there, but it is also quite dangerous.

House Bourbon to House d'Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

We are certainly pleased with your swift reports. We hope that the officer cadre we send will help you repeat your successes in the future.

House Habsburg to House d'Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

We are not in the habit of selling our technology to outsiders, but we will consider it if you scout the province of Almeria. We have recently lost contact with our forces there.

House Wlodzimierz to the House d'Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

We do not see any harm in allowing you to purchase our crawlers at this time. Though we expect that you will take this into account when submitting bids in the future.

House Joakim to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

Yes, Slesvig is not yet purified. We expect considerable forces to assault it should we continue our operations. So we will have need of your men.

House Bernadotte to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

We have nothing pressing at this time, but we are willing to pay for information on the storms.

Agda Imports to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

Aberdeens still had a bandit problem. We would be willing to offer you the contract for clearing them out.

The Alchemist's Guild to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

We considering launching another expedition into the storms if we can gain enough escorts.

Italy to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

We do require your forces again to hold off the Austrians. They seem to have an extremely high number of reserves. Unfortunately however we do not have any excess equipment to sell. All of our production must go to arming our own forces.

[SchwhatNow]

Spoiler: Die Wölfe der Abfälle to House Hohenzollern

Show

Yes the Colonel has similar worries about the Swedish. Right now Die Wölfe has troops and income, but is lacking equipment and commanders. Equipment can be bought, so that is of low priority at the moment, but officers are a more pressing concern. We have already asked for much, but are there any available that would have interest in our operations?

Once we can mobilize more troops we can attempt to expand further along the coast and block the Swedish expansion.

-The Long Night

[robnar]

House du Ouveture
"Sangre, Sucre, Salines"

To The Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler: Original message

Show

“Well, the Brotherhood of Kalmar is always growing our ranks, so there is not much left out of use, though if you are really desperate, we got some basic uniforms, that we do not have much use for.”

We would gladly buy all you have at 0.2 cash per unit.

Spoiler: D'Ouveture's Response

Show

Are you willing to consider our offer of 0.2 per uniform?

To The Alchemist's Guild

Spoiler: Original Message

Show

Lyonnais is the most useful region to harvest in France. It has quite a bounty of reagents and specimens so we are always willing to fund an expedition there, but it is also quite dangerous.

Spoiler: D'Ouveture's Response

Show

We are interested. Please send us whatever details you have.

To the Spanish House Habsburg

Spoiler: Original Message

Show

We are not in the habit of selling our technology to outsiders, but we will consider it if you scout the province of Almeria. We have recently lost contact with our forces there.

Spoiler: D'Ouveture's Response

Show

We can respond. Please send us any details.

To House Wlodzimierz

Spoiler: Original Message

Show

We do not see any harm in allowing you to purchase our crawlers at this time. Though we expect that you will take this into account when submitting bids in the future.

Spoiler: D'Ouveture's Response

Show

We are interested in purchasing seven of your Sealed Crawler II vehicles. 43.4 cash is made available from our accounts to your bank.

We are honored by your willingness to trade and look forward to rewarding trade and development with you in the future.

GM: Which provinces would I need to capture to secure a duchy?

[Mortenkam]

The Brotherhood of Kalmar

To House Joakim

Spoiler

Show

“We will be there, just sent us the mission details.

By the way, what did you end up doing with the alchemy knowledge we sold to Sweden, recently?”

To House Bernadotte

Spoiler

Show

“That could perhaps be possible, it seems that the alchemist guild also wishes to check it out.”

To Agda Import

Spoiler

Show

“We can definitely help clear out some bandits. I would like the mission details, so I can better plan for the mission.”

To the Alchemist Guild

Spoiler

Show

“It sounds like a worthy endeavor, you can count the Brotherhood of Kalmar in. Do you have any idea of the danger we would face?"

To Italy

Spoiler

Show

“That is understandable. We will help defend Italian soil against the Austrians. Give me a location and mission details and I will send the necessary support.”

To House du Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

“Very well, I am willing to sell you 30 basic uniforms for that price for a total of 6 cash.”

[robnar]

To The Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

“Very well, I am willing to sell you 30 basic uniforms for that price for a total of 6 cash.”

Spoiler

Show

"Deal. Funds have been transferred."

To House Windsor

Spoiler

Show

"Are you still interested in the results of a scouting mission to Cornwall? Can you guarantee our transports safe passage to there?"

[ArcaneStomper]

House Hohenzollern to Die Wölfe der Abfälle

Spoiler

Show

In fact we have several officers who might be of use to you. The most senior is a captain with an adventurous streak that is keen to deal with the troubles of new lands. The rest are recently graduated cadets who are admitedly inexperienced, but still competent in command of seasoned troops.

The Alchemist Guild to House du Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

Mission: Alchemy
Territory: Lyonnais
Employer: Alchemist Guild
Rating: 78.4 CR

Spanish Habsbug to House du Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

Mission: Scout
Territory: Almería
Employer: House Habsburg
Rating: 22 CR
Reward: 10 Cash

House Windsor to du Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

We can certainly have a freighter deliver your transports to the area. It's getting any further inland which is the challenge.

To House du Ouveture (GM)

Spoiler

Show

You would need to colonize Armor, Finistere, and Morbhihan.

House Joakim to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

We are attempting to improve our infantry armor, but our alchemists inform us that no breakthroughs have been made.

Mission: Cleanse
Territory: Slesvig
Employer: House Joakim
Rating: 60 CR
Reward: 48 Cash

Agda Imports to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

Mission: Purge
Territory: Aberdeenshire
Employer: Agda Imports
Rating: 39 CR
Reward: 10 Cash, 2 Favor

The Alchemist Guild to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

Certainly we will face extreme curse conditions. And anything that manages to survive in there will be correspondingly dangerous. Although of course we do not know specifics or we wouldn't need to launch an expedition.

Italy to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

Mission: Guard
Territory: Umbria
Employer:
Rating: 210 CR
Reward: 165 Cash

[SchwhatNow]

Spoiler: Die Wölfe der Abfälle to House Hohenzollern

Show

Well that captain will need motivation to make it in the wastes. As long as they can temper that with discipline we would welcome them.

The cadets are not likely ready for such dangers, though we appreciate the offer.

-The Long Night

Spoiler: Forces Deployed to Lubeck:

Show

2x Lieutenants (2T, 1C) Tactic: "Button Up" +0.1 Environmental Protection

4x Veteran Grunts equipped with Prussian Excursion Suit (A 2, D 3, ER 1.2) and driving Panzer (A 11, D 6, ER 1.1, T 1, Speed 7)
2x Veteran Grunts equipped with Prussian Excursion Suit (A 2, D 3, ER 1.2) and traveling in Transport (A 0, D 0, ER 0.5, T 5, Speed 5)

[Murska]

Winterborn to Spanish Hapsburgs, Wlodzimierz, Bernadotte

Spoiler

Show

Basically asking for if they've got missions available for me again, and still looking for any Intelligence they might be able to spare. Also intending to buy a bunch of gear.

Swedish Heavy Armor Mod B (A 3, D 4, ER 1.6) Cost: 7.2
Swedish Under Armor Mod A (A 1, D 4, ER 2.2) Cost: 5.4

Sealed Crawler II (A 0, D 0, ER 2.1, T 5, Speed 8) Cost: 6.2

20 Under Armors, 60 Heavy Armor Mod Bs is 540 cash. 20 Sealed Crawler IIs for 124. 22 Winterborn Dragoon Bikes for 105.6 cash. Total 769.6 cash.
Leaves 513 to be paid with favours, means 129 Favours leaving 3 cash over. Should allow me to equip all my forces this turn, if barely. Tell me if I am able to do such mass favours to gear/cash conversion - I will of course spread the burden around to all nations insofar as possible with my relations to them so as to not collapse anyone's economy. Tell them I'm planning on creating a task force to look for Orpiment next month. (or however long turns take)

How feasible is a research project with 67 Secrets to upgrade Sealed Crawlers with a mod that drops their speed but gives them some measure of defense so they don't just drop like flies in combat (which I think is going to be very annoying in the future now that they're part of the calculations) and have tons more ER? Horde Fortress shows it's possible to cram way more stuff into vehicles than we are currently doing.

[Mortenkam]

The Brotherhood of Kalmar

To House Joakim

Spoiler

Show

“I was wondering if the Brotherhood of Kalmar could recruit some fine new officers from you.”

[ArcaneStomper]

House Hohenzollern to Die Wolfe der Abfalle

Spoiler

Show

Very well if you think it too dangerous we will only send the captain to join your endeavors.

House Wlodzimierz to the Winterborn

Spoiler

Show

We are planning to cleanse Zhytomyr of its alchemical corruption. We do not anticipate many raids, but still would prefer to hire additional guards to safeguard our purification operations.

Mission: Cleanse
Territory: Zhytomyr
Employer: House Wlodzimierz
Rating: 20 CR
Reward: 16 Cash

To the Winterborn (General)

Spoiler

Show

Neither House Habsburg nor House Bernadotte have any specific missions they require carried out, but both would be willing to pay for maps of unknown areas and resource deposits.

To the Winterborn (GM)

Spoiler

Show

Bear in mind that the Winterborn Dragoon Bikes are your design. Which means they can only built in your factories, which takes away from the actual cash you get. This is generally cheaper, but you only have so many factories. Though you would be able to make this order.

You can purchase them from other nations, but you would have to give them your designs to do so. At which point they would be free to build them for their own use or sale.

As for your favors for cash purchase you can do that as long as you spread it around.

That should be feasible. Though you'll need to find someone to carry it out as you don't have any alchemists of your own.

House Joakim to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

Certainly we have a number of lieutenants eager to join your illustrious brotherhood. As well as a few captains who feel constrained by the quarantine measures necessary for operations in our kingdom proper.

[Murska]

To House Wlodzimierz

Spoiler

Show

We will take your mission. As an aside, we've got a new design for a powerful light vehicle, worked on by ourselves and Spanish alchemists. Perhaps you'd like to purchase it?
(Offering to sell Winterborn Dragoon Bike design to Poland)

Also, would you be willing to work with us on a project to upgrade the Sealed Crawlers in order to be able to function within the worsened storms? We'll need such shielding to search for Orpiment.
(Proposing the project I mentioned.)

ArcaneStomper

Spoiler

Show

Ah, I thought the Spanish had the design too. Building them with my cash income is cheaper I suppose, so that's fine.

Can I just assume to have made the arrangements for the purchase or do I need to send messages about it to every nation? It seems like a hassle.

[ArcaneStomper]

House Wlodzimierz to the Winterborn

Spoiler

Show

How well protected is this vehicle. We require significantly resistant vehicles to operate in the surrounding provinces.

We can certainly work on improving the crawlers. We had already considered upgrading them. What aspect do you believe needs the most improvement?

To the Winterborn (GM)

Spoiler

Show

You paid them enough that they were willing to give you exclusive rights.

And since we talked about it you don't need to approach them each individually. I'm fine with large trades happening. But sometimes they aren't possible, and I can't let people know if their trade is viable if the first I know about it is the EoT.

[Murska]

Winterborn - House Wlodzimierz

Spoiler

Show

It's got rather standard protection from the environment, 1.6 ER. Not great in the current climate, but assuming you outfit your soldiers with armour that has a high degree of protection, it can work out. Adding heavier shielding takes away from the speed of the vehicle.

As for the Crawlers, I would suggest focusing heavily on the ER aside from adding some slight measure of armour against conventional dangers. We know from experience the storms contain mutants and worse, so shielding entirely on its own won't be sufficient. However, the troops are there to protect them in combat, and the transports are meant to get the troops through the storms alive which is their main task.

[Murska]

Winterborn to Alchemist's Guild

Spoiler

Show

We would like to offer our protection for a mission to study the newly enlargened stormfronts near Poland, combined with an offer of future employment to Alchemists willing to participate in the venture. Our forces are experienced and capable of working our way through major environmental hazards as showcased in our expeditions over the Alps, and we're already working on better equipment to shield us from the more dangerous forms of the Curse.

[Mortenkam]

The Brotherhood of Kalmar

To House Joakim

Spoiler

Show

“That sounds good, I wish to recruit one or more of the most promising and experienced officers, do tell me more about them.”
(I would like to recruit the officers that comes with the most upgrades and to know what the cost would be.)

[ArcaneStomper]

House Wlodzimierz to the Winterborn

Spoiler

Show

That does not fit into our current doctrine. We currently favor slower, heavier vehicles. So we must regretfully decline at this time.

As for the crawlers our alchemists have put forward the following prototype.
Sealed Crawler III (A 1, D 3, ER 4, T 5, Speed 8) Cost: 10

Alchemist's Guild to the Winterborn

Spoiler

Show

Excellent we were already considering a large expedition into the storms. With your forces we can solidify our plans.

House Joakim to the Brotherhood of Kalmar

Spoiler

Show

We have a lieutenant who is fine officer who can rally even the most stubborn soldier and is brave enough to charge an alchemical stormfront on foot. But unfortunately is also willing to charge an alchemical stormfront on foot. We would be willing to second him to your forces.

[For 6 favors.]

[Murska]

Winterborn to House Wlodzimierz

Spoiler

Show

We understand.

As for the Crawler, the prototype does look like a significant upgrade. However, we're wondering if it wouldn't be possible to upgrade the environmental shielding still further at the cost of the weapons and some of the speed - the men inside the transports are meant to do the fighting, after all, and while mobility is greatly valuable, gaining access through the worst storms would be even more so.

[robnar]

House D'Ouveture to House Wlodzimierz

Spoiler: Message

Show

Would you be willing to sell us some of your newest crawler prototypes? We would be willing to invest heavily​ in this line.

[ArcaneStomper]

House Wlodzimierz to the Winterborn

Spoiler

Show

We can make a few small changes to the design, but our alchemists cannot make any major revisions without time to test their current theories.

Sealed Crawler III (A 0, D 3, ER 4.5, T 5, Speed 3) Cost: 10.5

House Wlodzimierz to House D'Ouveture

Spoiler

Show

We are leery of selling our prototypes to an untested and unaffiliated house. We would only be willing to do so if you were in turn willing to use them to advance certain of our causes. Though we would be willing to sell some of our older designs without such caveats.