TGOK 8 [Swashbuckler] - Mister B. Yorke

As The Cranberries said, on their 1993 debut album; "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?"

I'm going to serialise my turn adventures, as others have, on this forum and over on my toy soldier blog (as it'll be good advertisement and might bring in new players).

This is the first turn for my character.

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Character: Mister Bartholomew Yorke
TGOK: Game 8
Date: July 1706

Location: at York (England)

Type: Merchant (common class)
Nationality: English
Religion: Anglican
Aptitudes: Persuasion. Civilised. Gallantry.
Weakness: Temper

Social Standing: Unheard of
Money: 6 guineas
Investments:
Age: Born 1680

Character Description:
Aspirations to be a successful merchant adventurer, and then to return - but not before July 1708 - to the Traders & Brewers Society of York.

During a heated, drunken argument at the Traders & Brewers Society of York, Bartholomew allowed his temper to get the better of him, asserted that not only was he the better merchant present, but that he would prove it by setting out with only the few coins he had on his person and would return, two years hence, to be judged on how much profit he had acquired.

Current situation:
Truth be told York does feel like a backwater for an aspiring merchant these days. There is no foreign trade offices here, and little to excite or provide opportunity.

It is early in the morning, and what little possessions you have are packed in a humble hand-held small travelling trunk. Walking down the cobbled street of Meadlands you are heading for the World's End Inn, where you understand it is possible to catch a coach bound for just about anywhere in England.

You are thus engaged in making ready to depart to find your fortune when you espy coming down the street behind you three roughs. Each is in an ill-temper and seems to know your name. You don't recognise them, but you can imagine a rival may have hired them, for as they approach you see each is brandishing a walking stick in the manner of a club, and the leading man - whose teeth such as he has them are black, and his face grimy, calls over, "I'll count to five, after that we're going to chase you down and throw you into the Ouse! One, two, three..."

lol and thus it begins, Von der Decken and tom can sympathize with your plight thats how my character started being faced by 3 soldiers spoiling for a fight

Survive and thrive so that the Duke can be of some assistance.

Yup, that was close to being Tom's first turn, too. Except he had the advantage (at that time, a distant memory, sigh) of being armed with a pistol; and Tom's roughs were angry Protestants. Good luck with the Persuasion!

Thanks all.

One of my response ideas was to ask them, "'Ow about we all go in yonder for a few jars of John Smith's Best bitter? ... Or, if't drink from't Masham be's y' fancy, t'wet y' whistle wit' Theakston's Ale?"

Either that or use my "Weakness" first turn! ... One bad-tempered brawl later, and the town watch is after me

I used my ,missing eye and chatted then took them to the pub and they were my mates after that

Rozwi_Game10 wrote:Thanks all.

One of my response ideas was to ask them, "'Ow about we all go in yonder for a few jars of John Smith's Best bitter? ... Or, if't drink from't Masham be's y' fancy, t'wet y' whistle wit' Theakston's Ale?"

Either that or use my "Weakness" first turn! ... One bad-tempered brawl later, and the town watch is after me

Look on the bright side if you had placed Bart in G7 your first encounter could have been Jacobite Irish or Scots, Dutch, Spanish or HWIC chaps.

Most of these dont speak English let alone Yorkshire, dont like beer and the carry swords not walking sticks.

Your first brawl could have seen your character join Tom in picking up a "Black Spot" from the Pirate Brotherhood or being branded a Anti Jacobite rebel and having to take the high road and flee into exile.

Turn 2 and you could be on the deep fried Haggis:affraid:

I'm just a little stuck when it comes to how much detail I include when writing "What You Are Attempting to do"

When it comes to the orders, this being my first turn, I don't know how much of the information specifics I need to give, or expect Agema to provide for me - for instance;

Do I generalise things - 'Seek out trading opportunities"

Or, go into a little extra detail - 'Seek out trading opportunities at York, focusing on Woollens and Cloth textiles that can be baled and transported by wagon or boat.'

Example being;

What You Are Attempting To Do: Confront the trio with angry indignation - snatch a walking stick and thrash them with it. Seek out trading opportunities at York, focusing on Woollens and Cloth textiles that can be baled and transported by wagon or boat. Purchase a large dog to protect my person. Hire passage aboard a river boat bound for Hull.

Or, to be (extremely) brief:

What You Are Attempting To Do: Fight the trio. Buy a guard dog. Look for trading opportunities. Go to Hull.

Those aren't my actual turn orders, but used as an example.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

This has been a struggle for me too, so I sympathize.

I'm a roleplayer by nature, so I am prone to go into minute detail.

My personal experience with Richard is that this isn't productive. He's a man doing a job, and the wall of text I'm prone to write is likely to get misunderstood. Simpler is better.

So my advice, keep it simple. If you know how you're going to approach a situation, try to boil it down to a couple of sentences. Perhaps include a colorful quote. but don't over do it.

Swashbuckler turns in particular are designed to be cheaper, but shorter. Don't tax the system by trying t shove too much into it.

I tend to end up with a couple of paragraphs, possibly including some dialogue. Sometimes I manage to include plans for further-ahead (like your "seeking for opportunities"), but these days I don't much expect to see them happening. The game is a very different pace to Glory itself, and also the unexpected (a.k.a. Richard) also tends to rear up (even) more often than in Glory. Have fun!

Thank you both (and Kingmaker through message).

I keep it simple and add a few "if that happens "

August 1706 - Current situation:

With arms held wide in a show of peaceful intent, you approached the trio saying, "Come now friends, this is surely not necessary. Instead of working up a sweat for nought, why don't you all breakfast with me instead - I'm paying!"

The leading ruffian frowned. "Ay? Aren't you scared, just a little bit?"

You smiled an insufferable smile, although inside your heart was racing ten-to-the-dozen and truth be told were afraid but doing your level best not to show it.

His shoulders slumped as he shook his head. "Lads, we're losing our touch."

The other two roughs looked at him as if their leader was quite disturbed, but then looked at each other and shrugged. One, whose face appears to have been pushed out of joint at some time in the past by contact with a shovel, spoke up. "If yer say so, Ern, breakfast it is then."

The leader - Ern, jabbed a finger forward. "Mind you, he's paying!"

A tea shop was opening up around the corner, and the four of you enjoyed a hearty breakfast. Your new companions were pleasant enough, well so long as you didn't look at them too much (this seems to unnerve them) or mention their interesting odor.

Patting his stomach contentedly, Ern grinned and said. "Right, then, now the pleasantries are over, back to business. We're to throw you in the Ouse!"

The other two fellows stood up, one cracked his knuckles.

Ern wagged a finger, "If you would avoid such an inconvenience, give us a job."

"What?!" you exclaimed in surprise, unable to contain yourself.

"Give - us - all - jobs," he reiterated, like he was addressing a particularly simple-minded child.

Nodding sagely -  a gesture they took to be acceptance - they laughed together and then on being given the commission to fetch and buy you a sword-stick cane, Ern went off with some of your money and in short order returned with one for you. He even gave you the change.

With that sorted out, you were obliged to pay for four seats on the coach to London, and you set off with your new companions for that illustrious destination.

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So, Mister Yorke (and friends) is now, currently, in London.
He is now the owner of a sword-cane walking stick (which I'm guessing he won't know how to use, except to stab at dropped paper-sheets littering the streets), and is less one-and-a-half guineas from his original six.
Initial 'next turn' ideas are, locate a lodging house for myself while they make their own arrangements (some explaining / negotiations may need to take place to ensure I don't end up paying for rooms for us all!) and then exploring London for opportunities!

like it

Ref "opportunities" for the Yorke Gang........I assume this means housebreaking, protection rackets, brothel keeping, smuggling, buying & sale of stolen goods, grave robbing, highway robbery, crimping sailors etc for fun and profit.

Then arson, spying, political assassination and saying nasty things about the Government of the day if a foreign power pays you enough?

Think you should have joined G7 as in this game England seems to be full of well paid agents jobs which allow you to progress from Spy to Pirate to Gov of Charleston for the Czar.

September 1706

Location: London, England.
What am I doing: Just arrived this month and have spent the turn familiarising myself with the place, and looking for work opportunities.

Current Situation:

Your first need is to find lodgings, preferably within the area of the old city walls. Such will allow you to acquaint yourself with the locations of Cheapside and Leadenhall Street, the Wool Merchant's Guild at Bishopgate, and any clubs where wool and linen merchants may meet.

London is a very busy place which makes York seem like a quiet backwater. As you go about attempting to find suitable lodgings, followed by Ern and your two other 'employees', you happen to pass a well-dressed gentleman and lady.

You overhear he is pontificating to the lady in the manner of someone explaining the wonders of the city in depth to a visitor. "The population includes a Huguenot émigré community which fled persecution in France during the late 17th century. The Bank of England was founded here in 1694. Sites include the Tower of London (11th century, a Norman citadel), and the Tea Exchange near East India House in Leadenhall Street. Squares..."

The lady yawned.

"It's BORING!" she cries, with a gleam in her eyes. "You promised me adventure. If I have to make eyes at one more old man with a cheap wig I'll SCREAM! Let's take the money we have so far and run away, let's visit some exotic country..."

"Yes, my dear, of course," the gentleman replied hastily, "Have you ever travelled to... Denmark?"

"Denmark? Of course I bloody haven't, it's just a few islands of fisherman and pig farmers!"

"Far from it, my one love."

They wandered off as you pursued your own course.

Ern observed, "They talk funny around 'ere."

Now everything is hustle and bustle, the streets are busier still in the centre. You end up having to pay a guinea to secure a decent room at an inn near the Thames, namely at the Old Thameside Inn near London Bridge.

During your stay it becomes clear that there is a huge variety of life and opportunity in this great city. You are aware of Tompion's workshop where apprentices are taken on to learn how to make watches. There's also the famous Tower of London where the Board of Ordnance is based. The royal court meets in St. James Palace, while Parliament meets in the Palace of Westminster.

The war office is housed at Horseguards Palace, and the Board of the Naval Commission at Whitehall Palace. There is also a royal naval academy, as well as the Royal Marine Society of Craft and Workshop.

The London Society meets in the city, headed by Sir Isaac Newton.

In addition, under Colonel Holcroft Blood there is an artillery academy.

The Church of England runs Lambeth Palace where Thomas Tenison, the venerable Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England resides, while the Bishop of London runs St. Paul's Cathedral.

Then the Royal Society of Medicine is based in Cavendish Square near Westminster, which includes Sloane Square Hospital and includes several GP practices.

There are barracks, and two shipyards called the Old and New Yards.

Then we have the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich.

Other places of interest include the Bank of England, the Board of Trade, the headquarters of the Hudson Bay Company and the Honourable East India Company.

You have heard of several eminent gentlemen residing in London, including Nicholas Hawksmoor (architect), Robert Hooke (scientist), Gregory King (statistician), Henry Winstanley (engineer), and Sir Christopher Wren (architect, physicist, astronomer and mathematician).

One of the senior military commanders in the city is Lieutenant-General Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough.

What do you wish to do, or do you wish to explore the city? You have already fallen on a curious advertisement entitled 'Men of Substance and Quality' in a newspaper you happen to pick up, the London Gazette. While you do not have much to buy an interest in the business therein described, perhaps this Company would let you invest, or need employees like your men as sword-hands to protect their interests, or yourself as a Company officer to protect them from savages in the desolate land known by the oddly inappropriate name of Greenland? (Iceland would be a more apt name, but apparently that has already been taken!)

Ern favours it, and the others seem to do what he says. It is possible they can speak for themselves, although you have seen precious little evidence that this is so.


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So that's where Mister B. Yorke now finds himself, at London and having to decide whether to follow the wool trade he knows a little about (being a merchant from York), pursue another of the many starting points for trade and adventure that London, it seems, has to offer, or try his (and the other three's) luck on this Greenland venture.

Decisions...

Then there's also the small matter of needing to lose my temper (as in use my 'weakness') in the next couple of turns.

Decision, decisions.

I would op for Green land and use your temper on the inn keeper when leaving. That's why I chose to have a missing eye, I get it out now and again to annoy and upset ppl....

Kingmaker wrote:I would op for Green land and use your temper on the inn keeper when leaving.  That's why I chose to have a missing eye, I get it out now and again to annoy and upset ppl....  

Maybe a bit late, but I'd apply myself to the Hudson bay company, or the East India company.

There is nothing in Greenland to turn a profit on!

There is nothing in Greenland to turn a profit on! [/quote]

What about fish & whale blubber? Very popular products with all these poor harvests in G10.

Also Polar Bear & Northern Fur Seal hides?

Why do I think we could have another character about to loss bits.......Mobby Dick and the great white whale moment due?

Someone might need to hunt this Mr. Yorke down for employment.

He's welcome to apply to the Hispanic court. We have several protestants in our employ, most notably Baron Leibniz whom we ennobled for his great scientific work.

Getting through the sea of bureaucrats might be a challenge for him though.

B. Yorke hasn't left London, yet. He might not, either.
He was feeling a need to communicate himself as a Yorkshire man, this month. So plenty of plain speaking, and telling things as they are, might not sit well with the London crowd. Or, alternatively, he might be seen as a plain and honest sort, worthy of honest employ ... unless his temper gets the better of him.
Still, whatever happens, he felt a night out on the town was in order - lets hope he doesn't contract anything and has something fall off. Least not before setting sail, the nether-regions itch might prove a welcome distraction to an intolerable passage abroad.

October 1706

Location: London, England.
What am I doing: Responding to the advertising pamphlet regarding an expedition to Greenland.

Current situation:

Having proceeded to the abode of one Mister Thomas Guy, who lives in apartments situated within Sloane Square Hospital, part of the Royal Society in Cavendish Square near Westminster, you knock and ask to be allowed in. Why here? Because this was the address and contact name given in relation to the curious advertisement entitled ‘Men of Substance and Quality’ in the London Gazette. A butler answers the door and leads you down a corridor to a room where he dourly announces who you are. You enter a finely furnished gentleman’s room lined with books from floor to ceiling as the butler intones, as if making an announcement of a guest at a grand ball, “Mister Bartholomew Yorke, in response to the advertisement.”

“Ah! Come in and join us!” announced one particularly animated gentleman who was in full flow of conversation as you arrived. He turned to a seated man who, while equally appearing to have the cut of a gentleman, is frowning.

“Ah, Sir Thomas, so quickly and precisely do you place your fingertip on the crux, so perspicaciously do you identify the gleaming nugget of opportunity where others see merely yawning void!” the man declared to the seated – and sceptical - Thomas Guy.

“Eh?” Enquired Sir Thomas. “What’s ‘e on about?”, turning to his friend Sir Richard, the third gentleman in the room (yourself accepted),

“Allow me to expand,” the speaker continued hastily, “Greenland is not entirely barren, as many believe. It has been settled over the centuries by robust Nordic types, many of whose settlements are likely still to exist. This, indeed, is why Denmark still claims sovereignty over the isle and its population, and is rumoured to be preparing an expedition to map and establish communication with its colonists. We must strike first! If we mount such an expedition ourselves, we can be first to establish a monopoly of trade and exploit the vast natural resources of this land... whales, seals, er, fish, coal... and... um... diamonds,” he added hopefully.

Sir Richard spoke up. “Indeed, gentlemen, the prospects for trade with Greenland are the talk of the coffee-houses in Dublin. We risk being sidelined in this great venture! Let us pledge, I beseech you, for we have not a minute to lose!”

You cough, ill-temper rising in that your arrival appears to be in the process of being effectively ignored. It has the desired effect, and Thomas Guy, Sir Richard, and the proposer of the project whose name it transpires if Josiah Muddley, stop their discussion and as one turn to face you.

You speak, admittedly with anger in your tone of voice (but frankly they deserve no less, for all their quality), to expound on your own qualities and virtues in a most truthful manner.   In a no nonsense and plain speaking fashion, typical of a Yorkshire man, you bluntly state you seek employment from them, for myself and my 'employees'.

“There you go! We have our guards already!” replies a clearly delighted Josiah. “Obviously we have simple honest men to protect us on this expedition,” – he then lowered his voice – “which is precisely what we need.”

Thomas explains. “I am to sponsor this expedition… apparently. Sir Richard here will lead it, and our mutual friend Josiah is doing the leg work and arranging the expedition to Greenland. Tell me, how many men do you have, Bart? May I call you Bart?”

Josiah added, “And what equipment will you need? Do tell, come on, come on, speak up man!”

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And that is where you find me. In need of plans to recruit more 'guards' than myself and the other three, and desperately thinking what equipage we'll all need.

Still, I got away with using my character weakness and now don't need to use Temper as my 'skill' for six more turns.

Er, I don't know what the chaps playing England and Denmark will think of all this private enterprise my man seems to have found himself involved in. White Flags of truce probably won't show up against a snowy backdrop

you are going to need weapons, (Guns and possibly some sword or knife) Good clothes and boots. A payment, some upfront and an assurance that on matters of security you are the one to control it not the party leader.

As for men, well steer clear of any rogues, try and find some of either out of work dockers (hard men) and maybe some country men with experience of trapping, hunting etc. Are you taking horses, mules etc? What rates of pay are they offing? Maybe ex military men would also be an idea with how to fire rifles etc....

So last turn finished with a non-player controlled character asking me this:

Josiah added, “And what equipment will you need? Do tell, come on, come on, speak up man!”

To which I was a little unsure how much detail I should give in reply. So, I sent back to Agema this (hoping I'd not given too much of a wish list?)

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What follows is an actual copy of what my turn reply looked like, apart from the omission of my surname.

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Roy -----                      B. Yorke
Swashbuckler - Game 8  November 1706

1. GO TO: nil

2. HOW: nil

3. MEANS: Walk (around current location)

4. SKILLS USED: Persuasion, Civilised

5. WHAT YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO:

Men and Equipment for guarding Royal Society Expedition to Greenland

Equipment carried by every man:
* Warm, foul weather clothing
* Leather shoulder satchel
* Cork stoppered bottle for drink, secured from shoulder by lanyard
* Bright coloured cloth strip (tied around arm, or, if needed, all strips tied to a pole to signal with)
* supply of food (dried ship's biscuit)

B.Yorke's personal equipment, in addition to above:
* Flintlock Blunderbuss, powder and shot
* Flint and steel, necessary to light fire
* Leather bottle of whale oil (if available)
* Half-a-dozen candles (can be stored in shoulder bag)
* Small mirror (used for signalling)
* Small spyglass and compass (if both available)

Ern's personal equipment, in addition to above:
* Flintlock Blunderbuss, powder and shot
* Flint and steel, and whale oil
* Rope, coiled around shoulder and body
* Machete-like knife

Equipment for Ern's Mates, in addition to above:
* Axe
* Spade
* Shoulder bag of wood faggots for fires, tied together with thin rope.
* Knife, with worked leather sheath

Further detail:

If organisers require further men to act as porters they can arrange use of ship's hands. Their equipment and clothing being as "Items for all" and "Ern's Mates", though excluding the faggots, above. Further coiled rope, and a couple of large dogs would also be useful to equip further men with, as would a few firearms and powder and shot.

All equipment and stores being paid for by expedition organisers. I'm assuming that sleep will be taken on board ship, or shelter constructed on-site. If not, then canvas tents will be required.

Each man paid small amount of wages on outset, the rest paid to them on return to England. Any monies not claimed, on failing to return for any reason, be paid to B.Yorke.

B.Yorke allowed the ability to trade on his own behalf at Greenland. Cargo space in ship's hold permitted to him for such use.
Items to trade being Rum, Metal Hand Tools and Woollen Clothing.
All items bought before sailing, using money at hand by B. Yorke.

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I will state that my game replies aren't normally so long, with Swashbuckler being a fast-play game.