Game 8

Just to reinforce what Kingmaker has said

I tend to usually only play my lead character but do sometimes I do write letters as my foreign minister for example and I have known some people who will write you multiple letters as different members of their government (e.g. the king, his wife, the army minister, the Prime Minister, etc).

Recruits is a fun one. Like Kingmaker I have found recruits increases once every ten years, as in theory your population increases once every ten years, but it doesn't always seem to happen. Also, you'll find as your economy improves your number of recruits will reduce and as it weakens the number of recruits will increase-of course you can use more recruits than you have (and so have a negative figure on your turn) but that does tend to weaken your economy.

You can try and gain recruits from other countries, but it's not always possible to find other nations who have recruits they are willing to sell. You can try sending a recruiting party to another nation without getting permission but that is considered 'bad form' and likely to see your recruiting party arrested, their bounty money seized and can lead to war in extreme conditions.

Orphanages are one way of increasing your domestic recruit base, as are the similar 'marine societies'. They are expensive, as each only produce 50 recruits a year, and you do need to issue an order each year for them to do so but other than the cost, they don't effect your economy.
You can round up vagabonds too, using your town watches and patrolling dragoons, however this does tend to have a negative effect on your economy and you do need to send the vagabonds to an academy for a year for them to be trained to do some task. Vagabonds are also, until trained, reluctant to obey orders. So, for example, if you round up vagabonds in your capital and you plan to train the at an academy that is elsewhere in your realm, you need to send an escort with them to make sure they go to the academy-if you simply order them to go to the academy they are quite likely to disobey, run off and might become bandits

Historia wrote:Thanks again everybody, really really friendly  Till a war explodes at least!
I have some more questions for you (I haven't read the guide yet sorry, using the mobile to post here now): how can I improve my recruits pool? I read about the orphanages, but it looks to me not so good in a cost/benefits prospective.
Then I have an enormous doubt: I have to role play only as my ruler, or can I use all my government staff?
For example: I wish to create a State Trade Company (not sure about the benefits, but I like the idea). I have to ask my Parliament for it, to talk with the landlords and the merchants, or can I assume that they will agree (logically, because they can export easily their products) and simply write down that we arranged an agreement?

Stay turned for more questions

Oh Grain, your posts helped my a lot to know our world, so I am glad to hear that new one will come!

It's OK to reveal the position according to the rules?

Hi,

I do not play in G8 so can not comment on specifics which relate to this game but as a general rule of thumb:

1) If you want to obtain extra recruits the quickest method is to send a recruiting party to foreign lands and offer a bonus......£10 a man is common.  Its normally wise to only do this in NPC territory as players can get funny if you borrow their recuits without asking.

It is also generally best to try and recruit people of same religion if poss and be take care over how they are deployed.  Oddly the player who recruited a load of muslims to staff his new tax service found it did nasty things to his honour score.

Related options are the hire/buying of whole military units from foreign powers, & the recuiting of POWS and buying Slaves.  Generally its best to follow historical examples ie if you are running France hire Swiss Units & only use slave labour in the colonies/sugar trade.  If running Egypt etc you can use Mamluke Slaves in the military without undue problems.  Pirate positions seem to be OK with recuiting from Captives.

2) This is not to say you can not do unhistoric things but if you want to do something a bit out of the ordinary its normally best to ask your ministers (ie Agema for advise).  Of course they may be wrong!  I am sure if a certain Elector of Hanover had asked his advisers about his plan to buy the defeated Ottoman Janissary Corp from Ottoman Slavers he would have been told it was a stupid idea and they are trouble.

In game they seemed to do rather well.....probably just to smite the Sultan who sold them.

3) Apart from asking Agema via your advisers/ministers also note that how much detail you want to put in is up to you and does not greatly matter so one player may just order - 1) King XXX issues a Royal Charter the Royal Africa's Company (Invest £100,000 & 1000 recruits in Africa Trade).

While another player may name the company directors, fund trade posts/missions for it at specific locations and even issue shares in the company via a exchange so the public has a stake.

For any new player. I would suggest playing the game and asking questions on this forum for a few months. Then if you are sure you like the game, buy all the supplements. About seven more to buy, i believe. They are all different and give good advice and new ideas.They find ways round just about anything and everything.They are a must, in my opinion.

Regarding revealing your position, yes, it's fine.

I'm playing the empire of hispania in game 8. I will sometimes mention things I'm doing, or things I like in the position.

What is a no-no is any diplomacy on the boards, or in private messages. If you want to talk nation to nation, then you need to do that with in-game letters.

yes Richard will only act on things seen in game via letters etc.  If you suddnely gave some thing to a player or offered him some thing without any evidence of a build up he will .... well he will make a hash of the event and cause you problems to show you i is not happening

Kingmaker wrote:yes Richard will only act on things seen in game via letters etc.  If you suddnely gave some thing to a player or offered him some thing without any evidence of a build up he will .... well he will make a hash of the event and cause you problems to show you i is not happening

I think he will actively penalize you for going outside of the game.

Part of the appeal of the game is that the pace is designed to be slow, mirroring the period. If you want to negotiate something, you'll send letters back and forth over months of game time, not exchange a few messages over a few hours on the boards. Also, there is always the possibility that somebody has agents who might be reading your correspondence and messing with it. If you go outside the game, you can be sure your communications are secure. You can't ever be completely sure in-game.

That doesn't mean you can't ever speak as your position, just that you need to be careful that you're not doing something that could constitute diplomacy.

May 1706 update for Game 8.

A turn dedicated to great PR or just damn good luck.

A) London, with great PR or just good luck Queen Anne greeted Tsar Peter at a masque ball in London thus allowing both Royals to avoid last months nasty name calling due to Royal over use of butter and cream.

"personally I think this shows a lack of moral courage and from one leader to another it is your privilege, nah your right to dine with your select privileged few at the nations expense."

Oh cunning great Queen Anne
you decided to hatch a little plan
with Peter in tow
you both lay low
not to be seen as royal pigs, eating from the nations frying pan.

B) Versailles, No such moral doubts from Big Lou who spent a week in debauchery and gluttony, Big Lou did pause between mouthfuls long enough to announce that the head peeler in Paris now had control of all military and civic personal in Paris.

C) Kassel, Brandenburg-Prussia has offered to pay half the cost to introduce the new worthless currency. Good neighbourly help or an outright bribe.!

D) Kiel, More military camping fiascos.

E) Copenhagen, Reduction month, lower taxes and spud inventory.

F) Vienna, With a Royal coupling in the offer the Emperor greeted the Hannover bride and her family for a local knees up. It was very pleasing to hear that all were ordered about by a Turkish servant, a sign of things to come, Allah be praised.

G) Lisbon, Crown prince Joao is being taught the finer points to becoming a drunk by his great aunt.

H) Madrid, The Hispanic royal flea has decided to please his Queen by building an Aviary. "Happy wife = a happy life" may I suggest a murder of crows to go with the pandemonium of parrots. I could really have some fun with this combination.

I) Sofia, In an effort to jump start the economy I have allowed acrobats to dangle from ropes strung between the minarets of the great mosque, if this craze takes off demand for good rope should go through the roof.

J) Azores, Chinese tea growers are surprized at the lack of enthusiasm to provide a hard days work by their Indian workers, calling them lazy!. Perhaps the oppressive conditions, long hours and starvation rations could be effecting their output.

K) Sarkhej, In a fit of royal blood lust the Great Mug ordered his battalions to finally take Sarkhej, with the brave wily Afghans paying the ultimate price or becoming prisoners.

L) Kandy, King Vim-Blah-Blah II (I believe with regards to names less is more) of Kandy has complained again that the Danes payed their annual lease. To much ju-ju juice me thinks, no wonder the Danes think dealing with old Blah-Blah II is like trying to reason with a mentally unstable "Kandy Fuller".

Postings from the S.H.I.T.S

Danish fleet Manoeuvers of Trincomlee, Danish merchant lost to pirates in the South China Sea, English Corvette sunk by a pirate posse near Mount Pleasant.

From The Kraken

Sleeping well.

brought to you by the Sofia Scribbler.

now to this months good read, "The evolution from a Roman to a Kandy Fuller, and can it really be considered one of the worst jobs in History." by Ree Pee Wee.

One Grain.

Good PR... Na... Just good old fashioned Royal Intrigue and the like.

Must admit, am puzzled by the announced coming out of India. I can't decide if it's a player announcing he is dropping out...or simply retiring an old character and lining up to carry on playing the son.

The real Aurangzeb, The great Moghul died in 1707 at 87 setting off a rather nasty little civil war between the contenders for the throne. He probably just want to avoid as much problems as he can.

June 1706 update for Game 8.

A turn dedicated to proclamations and good seating arrangements.

Harvest results.

Happy, Denmark, Spain, Rumelia, Persia, Moghul India, Kwantung China and Manchuria.

Unhappy, Hannover, Prussia, Sweden, North Russia and Egypt.

A) London, The Duke of Halifax is in a bit of a flap over complaints concerning which obnoxious Ambassador had pride of place in seating arrangements at the resent ball in honour of Tsar Peters visit, the only one not complaining was the Rumelian ambassador who found the company of a flock of sheep in Derbyshire far more entertaining.

B) Versailles, A rather sedate month in Versailles as Big Lou devoted his time to falconry with his brother, taking select birds chosen from his avian palace, ( which is a cut above your average Hispanic aviary) this was followed by a rather low key dinner where only 1,000 invited guests attended.

C) Kassel, Hesse-Kassel's minister for the interior thanked Brandenburg for its offer to pay for half the cost to introduce the new worthless currency but he could not in all honesty recommend the change over. Which is diplomatic speak for " You need to increase my personal remuneration" which to you and me means " I require a larger bribe".

D) Berlin, Prince Leopold when talking to Duke Ludwig of Wurtemburg was keen to impress that his lucky number was three and he was adamant that the military should conform to his wishes of threes, Three battalions per regiment, three regiments per brigade. He also stated that his next reform was to change the uniform colour to yellow and white as his favourite breakfast was runny eggs.

E) Kiel, The military camping seems to be going well with all excited at the new hollow square camping ground.

F) Copenhagen, Queen Henrietta Marie of Sweden arrived by ship to extend her hand in friendship to the Danish court however in an ill omen that night two gentlemen of fine standing were found murdered and a third Englishmen in their company has disappeared. Rumours soon spread that it had to be the work of the Swedish secret service and what better way to rally the people behind an unpopular ruler than to contrive a war with the hated Danish neighbour.

G) Stockholm, In what can only be described as the first stirrings of a nationalist fervour the Swedish Riksdag was called back into session for the first time since 1702, with all present asked to rally behind their Queen.

H) Vienna, The haggling has started over who gains which title and the order of succession in the upcoming wedding.

I) Sofia, Rumelia seem to be locked in negotiations with England over new treaties while in dispute over an old one.

J) Accra, The Danish are busily handing out wooden beads and clogs to any and all Asante willing to stand still for a minute or two. perhaps they should worry more as to what the Swedish hand out closer to home.

K) New Hannover, Jean Chardins expedition has finally set out into the forested interior. I hope he manages any pay disputes better than fellow explorer Joachim Straub.

L) Cambray, It was announced that it was now safe for trade caravans to travel, this surprised most merchants who had not been told it was unsafe.

M) Sarkhej, In a rather nasty surprise to the Great Mug's troops during the night the Afghan prisoners broke out and decamped into the hills killing 200 of the Mugs prospectors on the way

N) Canton, The Mugs representative is finding it hard to buy Tea seed without the correct permission forms with all the merchants approached shaking their heads then motioning with a horizontal hand across their neck while bellowing "Pop".

Shipping reports from the S.H.I.T.S

Nothing to report.

From the Kraken.

Still asleep.

Public Notices.

From England, A royal naval force has been dispatched to seek revenge on the pirates who sank the Corvette HMS Defiance.

From the Moghul Empire

It seems the old Mug wishes to retire and has announced that he is going to give the little Mug a go, seems like the old "good cop bad cop" routine. It was also announced that the towns in the region of Rajput have decided to join the empire.

Brought to you by the Sofia Scribbler.

Now to this months good read "Escape and Evasion! If a skinny little Frenchman can do it so can you." by Denis Papin.

One Grain.

Ardagor wrote:The real Aurangzeb, The great Moghul died in 1707 at 87 setting off a rather nasty little civil war between the contenders for the throne. He probably just want to avoid as much problems as he can.

But surely a civil war to decide the must suitable heir is just traditional in Aurangzeb's family? Its how he came to the throne after all.

If the Timurid family are going soft and not keeping up the old traditions of central asian succession....... wonder if it is time for the Persians to make their move?

Anyone playing the Mahratta Confederation or the Hon East India Company? Perhaps I should join in the anarchy (Col Flashman rides again).

Flashman would be of interested in this world would he not!

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Ardagor wrote:The real Aurangzeb, The great Moghul died in 1707 at 87 setting off a rather nasty little civil war between the contenders for the throne. He probably just want to avoid as much problems as he can.

But surely a civil war to decide the must suitable heir is just traditional in Aurangzeb's family?  Its how he came to the throne after all.

If the Timurid family are going soft and not keeping up the old traditions of central asian succession....... wonder if it is time for the Persians to make their move?

Anyone playing the Mahratta Confederation or the Hon East India Company?  Perhaps I should join in the anarchy (Col Flashman rides again).

No, unfortunately, no one is playing the maharatans. Would be nice to have more activity in the area. Not that I object to taking territory off non-player positions, but it makes the game more interesting when you have neighbors.

I think a strong Moghul Empire is good for the game. Gives the game more depth. Another focal point rather than Europe.

jamesbond007 wrote:I think a strong Moghul Empire is good for the game. Gives the game more depth. Another focal point rather than Europe.

Don't disagree that it is nice to have powers other than European one, but I think better still when there are multiple positions in play in those regions, not just one.

Deacon wrote:

jamesbond007 wrote:I think a strong Moghul Empire is good for the game. Gives the game more depth. Another focal point rather than Europe.

Don't disagree that it is nice to have powers other than European one, but I think better still when there are multiple positions in play in those regions, not just one.

Trouble is. The other Indian postions are far weaker than the Moghuls. So are at his mercy. Do people want to risk paying good money and being so vulnerable. Usually not. So nearly always the only Indian position that lasts is the Moghul. In an ideal game, all positions would be taken. But easier said than done.

I think the Maharatans could give the Moghul a run for their money. They have the recruits to build a large army and lots of European powers to trade with. I agree that the other Indian states are just too small to be viable.

It's just like Europe without France in play. It's certainly doable, but it's a better game with the key powers in the region in play.

Yes. Maharattas can play a big part. But strangely the position is nearly always not taken up. Cannot understand why.? Perhaps because in any Indian war. The other two states have a duty to support the Moghul. Which makes the Moghul a fair bit stronger.

Games are always better the more players there are. Hopefully game eight will continue with a good number.

Indeed. Though maybe if the Moghul complete a conquest of India they can field an army large enough to threaten China or the Ottomans and find some player to player challenges that way.

A powerful Moghul India would be great to have in-game, we did in Game 2 at the end. I wonder though if rather than challenging China/the Ottomans, it might decide to reduce or even expel completely at least some of the Europeans from India? Maybe they could work with China, with the Holders of the Mandate of Heaven driving the barbarians from their outposts in the FarEast>

Jason wrote:A powerful Moghul India would be great to have in-game, we did in Game 2 at the end.  I wonder though if rather than challenging China/the Ottomans, it might decide to reduce or even expel completely at least some of the Europeans from India?  Maybe they could work with China, with the Holders of the Mandate of Heaven driving the barbarians from their outposts in the FarEast>  

Possible, but at this stage, what most Europeans have are trading enclaves. The population in them is tiny, and expelling them might be a point of honour, but it would come at having little extra population and a drop in trade income as you damaged the infrastructure. Historically, from what I've read, those enclaves had vast networks of native craftsman and traders that they did business with. Taking them would certainly hurt the european powers trade with India, but it would hurt India's trade as well.

In the end, I don't think expelling Europeans would consume much of the Moghul's efforts since he'd have (assuming he had otherwise conquered India) no difficulty laying siege to most of the places, so he'd still have the question of what to do next and India only has so many neighbors.

Well, he could follow the example of G10 and try and claim Australia

Hahaha. Yes he could!

Though in all seriousness, I have been tempted to give the Mahratta Confederation a try one day