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Claiming Bella Garcia, the cryogenic time-orphan depressed and disgusted at the regression of Humanity, if taking solace from new life. B Use the Datavault Data to bring these primitive medical capabilities a little closer to what they once were. Military is fine. AJ_Impy fucked around with this message at 01:38 on May 14, 2022 |
# ? May 14, 2022 01:28 |
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# ? Jun 5, 2024 04:18 |
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AJ Impy, I'll get you either a Military or Security briefing when I get home from my parents'- Military unless you specify you'd rather get a Security briefing.
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# ? May 14, 2022 01:33 |
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Director-Consort Mariko Weiss posted:At the moment, I'd say we have two primary diplomatic concerns. First, we obviously have the matter of cementing legitimacy in our new colonies. I've been having Diplomacy work on that as fast as I can, but I'll still need years more to finish that up. As long as we don't have that settled, it's going to have public order implications and make the local barons more unreliable. The second is the fact that with the fines on Coordinator Adair Marshall, his loyalty is currently rather unreliable, in my opinion. It's hardly guaranteed, but we might have to deal with a revolt at some point from the Marshall Collective. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 01:11 on Jan 17, 2024 |
# ? May 16, 2022 00:30 |
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Voting C. Let's go all in on the cash money.
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# ? May 17, 2022 00:14 |
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B. Genetic therapies is my vote for bloodlines upgradeIlario Goodman to Technology Director Prudence Weiss posted:Well, if I'm going to be a human pincushion while I get healed up, what's a little extra brain surgery, am I right? But honestly, thank you. Both for your medical attention and for the chip. Being so useless has given me a little too much time to stew in my own thoughts. I don't like the feeling of not being able to help. No, that's not exactly it. I don't like where my thoughts go when I can't distract myself with work. Ilario Goodman waking up from surgery posted:That was amazing. Is that really what life was like before the collapse? I can't believe how much we lost. Such beauty, such technology. It brings a tear to my eyes. Ilario Goodman, blinded by respect for Jane (It's just respect, right?), and with his arm finally healed posted:An engagement? You... You're asking me to marry into the family? I... That's what I wanted so much. Forgive me for letting my emotions get the better of me. This means so much for me. As long as Rebecca is alright, after all, the difference in age between us is noticeable, then, yes. Of course I accept. After a little offsite conversation with Nweismuller, we're assuming the memory chip is a memory of a trip to Ecola State Park, or some similar location. General Revil fucked around with this message at 02:42 on May 18, 2022 |
# ? May 17, 2022 05:02 |
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Director-General Jane Weiss posted:I believe the military situation may have stabilised at Haldus. I think we can safely reassign Romeo from assembling resources there for local shipbuilding. Thomas, do you think it might be worthwhile to assign Romeo to helping manage tax collections from the Lamb Clan if we bring them in? I suppose otherwise assigning him to Kajam or Beta Eridani to help monitor tax collections might be worthwhile. Speaking of the military situation, do you have any counsel, Father?
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# ? May 18, 2022 03:26 |
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Director-Heir Thomas Weiss posted:I'd need to see what the projected tax income for the Lamb Clan would be before I could give informed advice, but I imagine Romeo could do more for our bottom line at Kajam or Beta Eridani, given their greater wealth. That said, if the Lamb Clan produces enough wealth, by all means send him their way.
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# ? May 18, 2022 03:42 |
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Director-General Jane Weiss posted:My estimate of current revenues by the Lamb Clan is roughly fourteen thousand four hundred semi-annually from their their home colony and, as a very rough estimate, seven thousand two hundred from their taxes from vassals. As such, I estimate our baseline revenue from them as a vassal would likely be over twice the take from Kajam. They have a well-developed home colony- notably with extensive hydroponics facilities, a large waste management facility, and an extensive local chemical industry- with rich radioactives and a competent Administration team running affairs.
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# ? May 18, 2022 07:30 |
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Director-Heir Thomas Weiss posted:Ooh, now you're speaking my language. Send Romeo over as soon as the paperwork's official, so we can start shearing those lambs.
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# ? May 18, 2022 07:38 |
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nweismuller posted:
Oh boy! Romeo gets to oversee chem industry like I do! Ok, I oversee the controls and instrumentation of a chemical plant. Not quite the same, but in the ballpark. Lady Jaybird fucked around with this message at 13:07 on May 18, 2022 |
# ? May 18, 2022 13:04 |
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dervinosdoom posted:Oh boy! Romeo gets to oversee chem industry like I do! Speaking of, does Romeo have anything to say about the current situation?
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# ? May 18, 2022 17:10 |
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Admiral Harold Weiss posted:The remains of the Patton Quadrant are ripe for the taking. Doctor Prudence Weiss posted:As noted, Rebecca will soon reach her majority, and I suggest we begin training her immediately so that she is as capable as possible when the time comes, though I pray it's many years in the future yet Father! Bloodline upgrade: B
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# ? May 19, 2022 10:13 |
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Romeo, the rambling, gambling, project manager posted:Well drat, our diplomatic corp is something to behold! 6 new systems in 2 years, and Jane is now an Archon (makes me even hotter under the collar!) I'm getting the feeling that I'm going to be relocated again, because I am drat great at my job making numbers go up and coffers full (mine and the league's). I hate having to move my beautiful mahogany desk though. Romeo, after meeting with Thomas posted:I was right, getting moved again. At least I made the desk easy to move. *sigh* I vote C
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# ? May 19, 2022 13:47 |
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OK, I'm off for a few days, and will be coming back Saturday evening. I'll be playing through the update one way or another when I get back, so best if Bella gets in a post before then. Thanks to everybody for your participation, and I'll be back soon!
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# ? May 19, 2022 22:14 |
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Speak of the devil out of history...Colonel Bella Garcia, formerly Major of the Interstellar Authority. posted:
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# ? May 20, 2022 00:12 |
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Director-General Jane Weiss posted:Father, granted that I'll assign Bella Garcia to your department, where would you think she should be assigned for now, once she's done with doing the training assignment? nweismuller fucked around with this message at 07:06 on Aug 17, 2023 |
# ? May 20, 2022 00:22 |
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Admiral Harold Weiss posted:Colonel, you were a peacekeeper of sorts before the Collapse, correct?
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# ? May 20, 2022 00:44 |
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The personal log of Thomas Weiss posted:Recent events have given me cause to record my thoughts, so as to better organize them. As it stands, the Weiss Guild has risen from obscurity to become possibly the most powerful state in known space, and that brings with it a host of changes. Ilario Goodman's arrival was welcome, if unexpected, but I'd be lying if I said Janey's suggestion didn't take me aback. He's more than twenty years her senior! He's a close friend, certainly, and if he were ten or fifteen years younger, I'd honestly be overjoyed at the prospect, but as it is, I have misgivings. Of course, I know it's for the best. Tying his bloodline to ours will do much to mollify those few remaining detractors who still support the fallen House Goodman, and he's a gifted healer. The betrothal will likely proceed as proposed, I just hope Rebecca is comfortable with the arrangement.
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# ? May 20, 2022 01:36 |
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I imagine that Romeo would freak out if Thomas kicked it early and he would be on the council. Romeo is a genius, but horny has a tendency of ruining even the smartest of people. Maybe Romeo will come to his senses, or we could get some grade A prime drama! Kinda hoping for the drama
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# ? May 20, 2022 13:49 |
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Colonel Bella Garcia posted:Albireo was pretty much at the top of my list, Admiral. Far be it for me to speak ill, but Governor-General White's control over her whole demesne seems lacking. A good baptism of fire for my elites. As for our future endeavours, I'd be honoured.
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# ? May 20, 2022 17:27 |
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Director-General Jane Weiss- personal journal posted:I often wonder what Mother would have made of our Guild had she lived to do more than leave me the crown. I have striven to live up to the standards she set for me, but still- I cannot help but feel that I have failed in that regard. For all that Yardley Patton is a man worth no regard and Walt Wang was scarce better, I cannot deny that my destruction of the two realms of the Patton League was not just. I fear that in the end God will judge me sternly indeed for what I have done there. I can hope that in the end what I shall build in the aftermath is a finer thing than what the Patton League was, but my actions still haunt me. Would Mother have done the same? Would it have been better to keep the Guild the union of five colonies it began as? Rebecca Weiss- personal journal posted:I think it would be easy to love Ilario, now that I've heard what Jane has thought- he's kind, interesting, and good, and a scion of good blood (no matter the stories of how terrible his brother was! Not as if I ever knew the old King). I think I could be happy this way. I know Jane has said her own mother looked for somebody she thought she could be happy with. It seems she did well enough with Jane and Thomas at least, although Jessica and Prudence seem like they were less lucky. But, as I've been told, the pool of suitors is not always good- and we're all expected to serve the House in marriage as well as in labor. Soon I'll be an adult. I need to be an adult the rest of the House can be proud of- someday I'll have the crown myself. Will I be ready? nweismuller fucked around with this message at 02:31 on May 21, 2022 |
# ? May 21, 2022 02:19 |
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So something I've been wondering - part of the idea at the start of the LP was that Vega was home to a number of noble houses, and a lot of our vassal stars are technically ruled by non-Weiss house members. Yet for all that, we haven't seen much of the rest of the Guild's nobility. Obviously the nobility of the wider League will come into play as time goes on (we're already seeing that with Jane ), but what are the rest of the Vega nobles up to? Or the poor folks who rule places like Kapetyn's, where they gotta deal with all that rattle-lung? What's the situation like with our internal feudalism? Because managing that is a huge part of games like CK. Also drat you AJ, this is what I get for not following the thread more closely
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# ? May 22, 2022 02:25 |
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SpaceDrake posted:So something I've been wondering - part of the idea at the start of the LP was that Vega was home to a number of noble houses, and a lot of our vassal stars are technically ruled by non-Weiss house members. Yet for all that, we haven't seen much of the rest of the Guild's nobility. Obviously the nobility of the wider League will come into play as time goes on (we're already seeing that with Jane ), but what are the rest of the Vega nobles up to? Or the poor folks who rule places like Kapetyn's, where they gotta deal with all that rattle-lung? What's the situation like with our internal feudalism? Because managing that is a huge part of games like CK. I can answer this on several levels. First- we did indeed start with an unusual number of minor Houses at Vega, although that number has been reduced because some of those Houses have been transplanted to be new baronial Houses elsewhere. Second- the agency of minor Houses in this game is pretty limited- much of the time what they're doing is 'arranging needed marriages, thus adding to the marriage pool, serving as candidates to lead rebellions when rebellions get triggered, and occasionally getting involved in love affairs or crimes, and getting invited to feasts held at their colony'. Events with our minor Houses have, as such, not risen to the level of notice for the most part at Vega. Barons do more, but still have restricted options compared to dukes (barons can't conquer, only raid, can't host feasts, and have relatively limited diplomacy options other than pressing demands against their master or offering to join a new master); dukes and archons really start having full scope for action in Star Dynasties. Third, there are indeed a bunch of baronial vassals running our colonies other than Vega; our relations with them have remained strong and helped ensure Guild stability. Managing vassals is, indeed, important, but 'long-term low taxes and having a good reputation' goes a long way towards strengthening ties with your vassals, and we've not moved our taxes over the course of the game. The vassals we've had for long enough have 'generally low taxes' as a major positive opinion factor and likewise the influence of the opinion bonuses from your Diplomacy department is strengthened for your direct vassals. Fourth, I can indeed provide detailed and in-depth reports on our vassals and neighbors and what they think of us, but nobody's wanted to claim Mariko and get a Diplomacy report (The people who are getting Administration and Military reports can attest my departmental reports are indeed in-depth, I think. The Technology report is shorter in large part because a major part of what Technology focuses on is your own personnel, which is covered in the main updates). Fifth, I can't get you more details just yet, because I'm not yet back home with the game saves, but I'll at least update you on the basic status of our minor Houses we started with when I get back. E: Also, incidentally: good to see somebody new chiming in! Always nice to see evidence of more readers. Hope you're enjoying the trip! nweismuller fucked around with this message at 18:58 on May 22, 2022 |
# ? May 22, 2022 07:08 |
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SpaceDrake posted:Also drat you AJ, this is what I get for not following the thread more closely Had to take her, probably for the selfsame reasons you wanted to. There will be other compelling characters to take, and I do have a bit of history taking odd outliers in nweissmuller threads.
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# ? May 23, 2022 01:59 |
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So, about the Houses of Vega, as was asked... House Goodman is extinct, as far as we know. Ilario Goodman, although born into House Goodman, was adopted into House Weiss and is now part of House Weiss. House Weiss... we've seen in detail. House Fardell currently consists of six members, led by Lady Belicia Fardell, sister to Mariko Weiss. Belicia has just inherited from her mother, Penelope Fardell, and is in mourning over her death. Belicia is a Rulebreaker, and thus not very trustworthy, but she likes Jane quite a bit, basically because of a mix of Jane's glorious conquests and Jane having been very good to her sister. This means we'll probably not get Belicia trying to murder Jane. A woman from House Eaton has married into House Fardell (via Belicia's brother), a man from House Kelley married in (through Belicia's daughter) before his mysterious and untimely death at age 25 (almost certainly a murder, but one we don't know the facts of), and Belicia's son married out into House Noble, and her mother remarried the young son of the head of House Oneal, so House Fardell has multiple marriage connections with other Vegan Houses. House Oneal of Vega is still led by Sir Sutton Oneal, their leader since House Weiss seized power twelve years ago. Five members currently comprise the House. He's brave, humble, and a rulebreaker. He's miserable right now largely because his son is miserable after Penelope Fardell's death. His stepfather stands to inherit Ross 128 when the current ruler from House Kelley dies, because Ross 128 is passing on to the oldest sibling and his stepfather was originally born into House Kelley. His sister married into House Nichols, his son married into House Fardell, and his stepfather married in from House Kelley. Sir Sutton Oneal is considered a distant relative of Jane Weiss because his son is Mariko's stepfather and his own stepfather is Romeo's brother. House Noble comprises seven members led by Sir Virgil Noble, their leader since House Weiss seized power. Virgil is Satisfied, a Rulebreaker, and Vengeful, so another potentially dangerous man... but thankfully one who seems to like Jane. More than he probably should, given known factors, which suggests to me he might be in love with the Director-General. -sigh- Virgil has two brothers, one of whom married into House Kelley and one of whom has a wife who married in from House Fardell. One of his two sons has been married to the heiress of Haldus, who was born into House Eaton. His mother has remarried one of Belicia Fardell's sons, a marriage with a 43 year age difference, which makes the Ilario/Rebecca difference of 24 years not seem so bad. Virgil Noble is distantly related to Jane because his brother is Romeo's stepfather and one of his sons is the husband of the daughter of Jane's current stepmother. House Nichols was once a minor House at Vega, but has relocated to Miaplacidus after their head, Javen Nichols, was named Colonial Director of Miaplacidus after the old baron was deposed for his crimes six years ago. Javen is Humble and Dull, and gets along well with Jane. House Nichols has seven members, and is closely tied to House Weiss because Oriole is Javen's sister. Oriole is next in line to inherit Miaplacidus, but the Colonial Directorship will eventually pass thereafter to Javen's daughter. If Javen's daughter's wife (who is sickly) dies soon enough, his daughter will most likely remarry a man and might have children who inherit Miaplacidus, as she's actually straight. Otherwise the Colonial Directorship will eventually end up with Rebecca Weiss, who will need to grant Miaplacidus to somebody else once she ends up heading House Weiss since we can only directly run one colony at a time. House Kelley, once a minor House at Vega, has since relocated to Ross 128 when their family was granted the Colonial Directorship of that colony following its conquest by the Guild. Unfortunately for House Kelley, it only has four members, which leaves them unable to even fill all their council seats as colonial rulers and limits their scope of action. None of their marriages are fertile, either, which means that Ross 128 is basically doomed to eventually be ruled by a Weiss branch family after Romeo and then Malachi inherit the colony. Hopefully Romeo and Malachi can rebuild the House there to be large enough to be functional. Devon Kelley, the Colonial Director, is Romeo's older sister, and is Brave, Friendly, Humble, and Cruel. When Haldus was conquered by the Guild, Jane Weiss enforced the (weak) claim Sir Bradford Eaton had to the baronial throne of Haldus, relocating House Eaton to Haldus. Once he took Haldus, he divorced his old wife and mother of his children, and remarried to a cousin of House Wang, the old rulers of Haldus. House Eaton also only has four members, leaving them very short-staffed, although they appear to have a reasonable line of inheritance. Bradford Eaton's divorced wife, Carmen, proceeded to remarry into House Weiss, and is now Jane's stepmother and a fairly unremarkable colonel of peacekeepers for House Weiss. Bradford Eaton is also notable for a failed raid against Rotanev that we ended up fining him for, at the demand of House Patton. That satisfy you as to what the other Houses of Vega have been up to?
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# ? May 23, 2022 02:09 |
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Indeed, thank you! Gives a fairly clear idea of what minor nobility are capable of in the scope of the game. Is it actually possible to start play as the player in that position and work your way up, or can players only be Dukes?
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# ? May 23, 2022 02:38 |
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SpaceDrake posted:Indeed, thank you! Gives a fairly clear idea of what minor nobility are capable of in the scope of the game. Players may only be dukes or above. Losing ducal rank is actually a game loss condition.
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# ? May 23, 2022 02:49 |
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Is there any way to help our vassals not be short-staffed? Relatedly, is there any way to put idle houses to work if they don't have a colony to rule over? We've got a score of nobles just loafing around, it would be nice if we could get them to help collect taxes in the meantime.
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# ? May 23, 2022 10:42 |
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EclecticTastes posted:Is there any way to help our vassals not be short-staffed? Relatedly, is there any way to put idle houses to work if they don't have a colony to rule over? We've got a score of nobles just loafing around, it would be nice if we could get them to help collect taxes in the meantime. No (mostly) and no. Their staffing issues are their own to solve, although arranging a marriage into a House can help (assuming circumstances allow). And, although minor Houses aren't mechanically doing anything, they are assumed to be overseeing portions of their local colony; their members have responsibilities to their own House that are below the level of the simulation of the game and aren't free for assignment by us.
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# ? May 23, 2022 21:12 |
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All right, I've collected, sorted, and uploaded the images for the next update, and all that's left is the writing followed by the reports. Claimable characters at this point include Mariko Weiss, Oriole Weiss, Prudence Weiss, Noelle Garcia, and Rebecca Weiss, second in line for the throne, the newest adult in House Weiss, and the wife of Ilario Weiss. Everybody, meet Rebecca: Our new heiress is Intelligent, Honorable, and Loyal, and skilled both in administration and diplomacy- diplomacy particularly because her scrupulous honesty makes her very, very easy to trust.
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# ? May 24, 2022 02:06 |
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That string of marriages and family connections is just insane.
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# ? May 24, 2022 02:34 |
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General Revil posted:That string of marriages and family connections is just insane. What, with the minor Houses?
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# ? May 24, 2022 02:42 |
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Admiral Harold Weiss, private journal posted:
Admiral Harold Weiss, private journal, continued posted:I have returned to my quarters following the council meeting.
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# ? May 25, 2022 00:46 |
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I'm going to be real sad when Romeo kicks it, so that means he's gonna die in this upcoming update or the next one. Or he'll outlive everyone. I'll also probably die laughing if one of his kids ends up ruling.
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# ? May 25, 2022 02:32 |
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So I'm at my parents' place for a few days, as I am on weekends, but I'd like to discuss the basic design philosophy behind The Weight of Duty mod that I did, partly in the hopes of getting suggestions to extend it. In the base game, there's a set of events labelled as 'PlayerTraitsEvents', which can fire when the player ruler has a certain personality trait. Sometimes the requirements are more specific, and sometimes not. As a rule, the traits that fire for positive traits are beneficial and those for negative traits detrimental, although that's not absolutely required. Thing is, in PlayerTraitsEvents, not all personality traits are covered, and I felt a desire to extend these to more traits. The base game has events for, let me see here... Cowardly, Dull, Friendly, Greedy, Charming, Kind (and not Greedy), Kind (another event, with no requirement not to be Greedy), either Brave or Cowardly (with the best outcome for that event gated behind being both Brave and Kind), Cruel (and not Honorable), Intelligent, Satisfied, Vengeful, Stupid, and Brave. I ended up with inspiration for a good event for Honorable rulers, and later had an idea (with quite specific trigger requirements) for Loyal rulers, and so the mod The Weight of Duty contains the two events The Weight of Duty and The Price of Loyalty. That said, there's still notable gaps- the Loyal event only triggers under very specific conditions and only once per game, the Intelligent event only triggers once per game, and Fickle, Reserved, Rulebreaker, Humble, Proud, Forgiving, Individualistic, and Tribal aren't represented at all yet. I can potentially get down into the more spoiler-laden weeds about various events if people want, and would certainly be interested in hearing ideas I might be able to work up into extensions for my Weight of Duty mod that helps round out PlayerTraitsEvents.
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# ? May 27, 2022 12:16 |
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nweismuller posted:Tribal Actually that reminds me. Ilario is tribal, and that's one thing I've been really trying to play up. Loyalty to family (seeing Emmanuel in the best possible light, visiting his parents' graves), and also being depressed about the only Goodman left. And while the age gap is extreme (we have seen a 40 year age gap), I'm assuming that this is basically crusader kings in space, and that sort of age gap happens, especially amongst the nobility. The positive reaction is basically Ilario going from no family to huge family (even if by marriage) and his personality being so focused on the tribe/family.
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# ? May 28, 2022 01:29 |
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General Revil posted:Actually that reminds me. Ilario is tribal, and that's one thing I've been really trying to play up. Loyalty to family (seeing Emmanuel in the best possible light, visiting his parents' graves), and also being depressed about the only Goodman left. Ilario and Rebecca is only a 24 year age gap, which is high but not entirely insane. But yes, very large age gaps actually do happen rather frequently in Star Dynasties, which makes me consider that 24-year gap not unreasonable for an aunt actually looking for a happy marriage for her niece.
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# ? May 28, 2022 01:49 |
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General Revil posted:That string of marriages and family connections is just insane. As a long time CK2/CK3 player, this doesn't seem that insane. There are only two playable ranks if I understand correctly? Duke and whatever goes above it, when you lead a league containing several duchies? It's an interesting decision, because to come back to the Crusader Kings comparison, and the question of whether you can play a minor house/baron, you totally can in CK. Of course what Star Dynasties calls barons are counts in CK, the lowest playable rank. Followed by dukes, kings, and emperors. But the Star Dynasties world looks like it has the scope of a single CK2/3 empire at best, compare to Europe plus significant parts of Africa and Asia, so thr absence of the emperor rank equivalent makes sense.
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# ? May 28, 2022 12:38 |
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Torrannor posted:As a long time CK2/CK3 player, this doesn't seem that insane. Correct. Houses have four ranks in Star Dynasties, two of which are playable. Minor Houses led by local nobles, then barons, then dukes, then archons, of which only dukes and archons are playable. Whenever I use 'minor House', I'm specifically referring to the local Houses that aren't even of baronial rank. E: also worth noting that the difference in the way CK and Star Dynasties handles 'even being a duke or king/archon' means that weaker dukes in Star Dynasties are a lot like playable counts in CK, and you can trivially become an archon, roughly equivalent to a CK king, well before you could be a king in CK, while later on you'll get to a point where running an archon looks like the equivalent of managing several CK kingdom titles at once. You can't play as a baron, but people have shown some interest in 'starting from scratch', and maybe providing a setup option to start explicitly as a single-colony duke would be close to what people are looking for. I could certainly float the idea to Glen if people wanted me to, and see what he thought. nweismuller fucked around with this message at 14:37 on May 28, 2022 |
# ? May 28, 2022 14:04 |
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# ? Jun 5, 2024 04:18 |
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The biggest age gap is Bella and Noelle by an order of magnitude, if you think about it.
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# ? May 28, 2022 17:00 |