Game 8

I do have some stuff on my turn sheet previous messages and things the previous player did. But otherwise I will gather some things.

So I have sent off my turn, I look forward to hearing what I will get back... look forward to your letters guys!

Welcome...  We are always looking for trading partners!

The game does seem to be rather quiet at the moment.  I too share the concern that France is just too quiet for long term comfort.  Please hit me in game if I can be of service.  

Off to work on my Navy!

Looks like pirates have re-appeared, or England has had a horrible spot of luck.

11 merchantmen have gone missing in the west indies...

Looks like the Pirates will eat and drink well tonight. Times like this makes me glad I don't have any possessions in the Caribbean.

Surprise! Either France has a new player, or after five years of total isolation they have decided to rejoin Europe.

Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

Looks very much like a new player to me. That's my vote anyway. Interesting times ahead.

That would be my guess too, but odd the silence ends after exactly 5 years!

The time has come! Perhaps he has been building up ready for this very moment.

The time has come! Perhaps he has been building up ready for this very moment.

No emissary sent to England for some reason. I don't believe that we have been hostile by any stretch of the imagination.

Personally, I wouldn't read much into that.

unless it turns out that France was why all those merchant men went missing last month!

Agreed.. Just an observation! Things might be getting really interesting or just another layer might be added. We shall see!

Merchantmen goes missing one month. Many nations receiving emissaries the next month. England losing the merchantmen and being one of the only major nations missing an emissary. Certainly very suspicious.

Perhaps now we know why the French player wished to remain anonymous. Perhaps he wished to create the English rivalry all along? Certainly game 8 looks very interesting.

Jesting aside, my guess is that we have a new pirate position. The weather was fair, so less likely that it was just a winter storm. But if we have a pirate, we'll know soon enough.

in the economic context of a large nation, 11 merchantmen is loose change. While it is possible it might be france, I would find that quite unlikely. If the Sun King has an issue with England, I doubt he'd start by riffling England's pockets!

England's main strength is it's trade. A good start if you want to go up against England. The odds are that it is pirate action and that France has had a change of heart or player and wants to play nicely and friendly again.

But it is odd how every major nation gets an Ambassador bar England. Even India received one. On exactly the same turn as the missing merchantmen.?

Well there certainly have been a lot of French diplomatic activity all of a sudden, but not a single diplomat was sent to any of Chinas provinces so England is hardly the only major power not to receive one.

Deacon wrote:
Jesting aside, my guess is that we have a new pirate position. The weather was fair, so less likely that it was just a winter storm. But if we have a pirate, we'll know soon enough.

in the economic context of a large nation, 11 merchantmen is loose change. While it is possible it might be france, I would find that quite unlikely. If the Sun King has an issue with England, I doubt he'd start by riffling England's pockets!

French Navy would have to be really poor to only take 11 merchantmen............the fact that they were all in the same place would also seem to indicate pirate action since if the French Navy decided to turn nasty I would assume the English merchant marine would suffer losses all over the place.

Off course it could always be a major power (like France) acting like a minor power (Blackbeard) to send other power (England) on a wild goose chase while pushing up its marine insurance rates to hurt its trade.

Ardagor wrote:Well there certainly have been a lot of French diplomatic activity all of a sudden, but not a single diplomat was sent to any of Chinas provinces so England is hardly the only major power not to receive one.

But would many European nations regard the Chinease rulers as " major powers". To be honest, i personaly would not.

more likely drug and war lords.....

Kingmaker wrote:more likely drug and war lords.....

Yes. That would be my vote as well.

Well, this Chinese provincial Governor certainly regards Imperial China as a major power.

I think the issue with China is that it is hard to be relevant to the rest of the players. It may be a power, but it is so far away from everyone else.

Maybe one of these days china will float an armada big enough that the rest of the world will care, but until then, it's more a regional player than a global one.

February 1706 Game 8 update,

As seen through the happy but teary eyes of a lunatic despot. (Happy that RL allows more time to Rumelian rule)
Now this will bring joy to some and sadness to others, Joy to those who missed all the good tips on how to become a great ruler and sadness to those who thought my written tripe was a waste of 5 minutes of your lives.

Now to February's game turn or as I will call it the "Holy Miracle" turn.

A) London, Queen Anne's acts of union have granted Lord Melville's request for 80 Scots Nobles to have seats in the House of Lords as well as 90 Commissioners and 67 Burghers seats in the House of Commons. It seems to most that Queen Anne has allowed 237 Scottish Weasels into the Hen house and as sure as broken eggs, feathers are going to fly.

B) Versailles, After 6 years of being struck Deaf, Dumb and Speechless while living in a death-like trance, Big Lou has suddenly come out of his trance. Calling it a "Miracle" Big Lou's Physician claimed to all that would listen that it was due to the latest balm made from Badgers bile that he had been rubbing onto Big Lou's chest every night that had dispelled the foul vapours clouding his mind, The quack stated that he would call his new wonder cure "Vapours Rub" and he hoped to soon market the balm so as to cure the needy. However some of Big Lou's bedchamber maids think it was due to the arrival of a new Swedish chamber maid from Northern Swedish Lapland who upon working her first night was appalled by the stench of Onion and Garlic hovering in a putrid cloud of vapour about Big Lou's head. The maid likened it to sleeping in a barn full of Reindeer shit, Whereupon she promptly opened the windows to dispel the foul odour. Not all were happy with Big Lou's recovery, The Diplomatic Corps especially were shocked that an end had come to their drinking and wenching in the local taverns and they had to sober up and be expected to work.

C) Paris, A kind hearted guard of the La Maison de Correction de Paris on hearing of the "Miracle" cure of Big Lou managed to obtain a small amount of the balm and decided to treat some of the inmates of the Craft-and-Workhouse, unfortunately upon removing the top to the jar of balm the inmates took fright at the appalling smell. This caused a general stamped to the windows with the result of the good hearted guard being trampled to death and the escape of all the inmates.

D) Christiana, Looks like a revolt is pending in Denmark as poor Frederick IV had to dig deep into his own coffers to pay outstanding bonds. A penniless state soon drowns in its subjects misery. (believe me I know)

E) Stockholm, The Queen of Sweden holding white handkerchief aloft demanded "peace at any cost" while speaking to her subjects. Nobody listening that day knew who would pay the cost but all suspected it was not good.

F) Hanover,  Lord Chancellor Baron Andreas Gottlieb Von Bernstorff personally received the French Ambassador Claude de Beauharnais, however after a cordial start the meeting started to go downhill with the ambassador's treatment of the staff like tavern waiters and his drinking of the best Hanover wine as if it was cheap Tavern Plonk. After mispronouncing the Chancellors name constantly the meeting ended badly with the Lord Chancellor telling the ambassador "To speak less and listen more". the Ambassador was not sure where he had slipped up but thought it may be due to his blinding hangover.

G) Berlin, While attempting to leave Berlin for Russia with 150 breeding horses Prince Golitsyn was relieved of his mounts in what the Prince described as state sponsored horse rustling. Upon the Prince's arrival in Russia he advised the Tsar that war should be declared. Sounds like a young Russian Stallion needs to be Gelded.

H) Zurich, Austria has hired another three Mercenary Infantry Battalions from the Swiss Cantons, Upon payment of the blood Gold, Karl Anton Am Rhyn asked the Austrian Ambassador in what direction he planed to march the units, North, East, South or West in the upcoming land confiscation scheme. The Ambassador remained silent.

I) El Escorial, New Officer requirements have been enacted in the Hispanic Empire which should strengthen the Empires fighting ability. For future advancement in the Army and Navy all Officers are now required to Curtsey and sit with their legs crossed.

J) Sofia, The Bey of Rumelia conceded that he was at fault for not properly catering to his guests tastes when one of the Egyptian board members for the Egyptian Nitre Company Tulum Al Habi was displeased at the entertainment at a banquet. The Bey stated that in the future a nubile young boy will also be provided for future games of pass the virgin slice. (you just can't please some people)

K) Constantinople,The Ottoman Grand Vizier is acting to strengthen the empires military standing should the Austrian land grab be to the South, as well as its interests in the Levant.

L) Tortuga, Pirates attempted to capture three English Cutters but all went asunder as the English Navy showed its teeth and forced all the Pirate ships to lower their colours, Much to the delight of a founding member of the "SHITS" who had been allowed passage on one of the cutters and had written an enthralling account of the engagement.

M) Sarkhej, Those wily Afghan's managed to mug the Moghuls army at the Siege of Sarkhej. In response to the large casualty list the Moghul opened two new Hospitals. Ahh that Afghan dream.

A special report from the Kraken.
Dindin's for February, 4 French ships just palatable with a hint of onion and garlic, not very nutritious and did tend to give one the "runs"

Well Merry Xmas all and a happy new year.
Time to read my new tomb "Etiquette for the truly high born Spanish man, to curtsey or not to curtsey"

One Grain of Grain.