Game 10

My plan among other things, repaying the amount needed isn't going to be easy but I can pack in a large chunk of my army since unless forces appear to be ready to invade I won't need them all. Mostly a police and border security force.

I just don't know who is rolling in gold who might be willing to help me I know Portugal, Russia and Rowzi so far.

At this stage of the game, nobody is rolling the the gold. Even in the insanely good economy of Game 8, it was a stretch this early in the game.

Before you rush ot stand your military down, don't forget their wages & upkeep has been paid this year, so you may as well train them for six months before you stand them down.

deacon is rihgt the Bank of England & Bank of amsterdam are indepndant positions you can approach via Agema, not sure what they will want for interest, or you could offer a government bond, make it avaliable ot your people & International investors( Other players) Mayb emka eit a ten year bond- money repayable in 1713, with 10% interest paid on the investment. Its expensive but it may just save you.

Or you cna sell offices ot your Nobles Emperors Cup Bearer, Chamber pot polisher, may help raise some money but you will be stuck with a permenant yaerly payment for the rest of the game.

Just a couple of ideas off the cuff, sure others ahve better ones.

Well drilling my to stand down units are planned and some are drilling now. So I can save a nice chunk of expenses reducing the armed forces to a lower number.

Over a period of time it might be enough to repay a bond issue. I need to check the rules on that its in one of the supplements I own.

I have some other ideas its a challenge but not one I can't overcome. It will not slow down some of my plans. And I planned to have the Emperor hire the next round of prospectors from his own funds and I might find gold or gems who can be sure.

EDIT: Well the Bond could work I need to not charge interest usury is a sin and banned by Muslims so I was thinking a one million ashrafi issue bond repaying each year with a 'service fee' 150,000 ashrafis (more adding in currency conversion so 165,000 ashrafis) for say ten years it would be expensive but spread out over years would be something I could deal with and the military cuts should cover much of the money owed with money to spare. But it would be something anyone could invest in. I will announce austerity plans and such so people know the Empire is serious about fixing its issues financially. Sound okay? Its something I could offer in the paper next month and need month and will double payment in any year I have those funds available to pay it off faster noting that as well.

In my opinion the easiest way to get a money loan is by asking your treasury minister (or appropriate government person) to seek out a loan from a bank.

From memory, if you do this and secure a loan in this method the money will just be transferred into your Treasury without the problems of physically shipping the coin or having an exchange open to accept and convert money notes, which you would no doubt need to do if a loan was secured from another player.

Changamire Dombo uses his personal wealth to reimburse the Rozwi Treasury of upkeep costs for the private properties and ventures he has that are included on the nation's expenses sheet. In all honesty, Rozwi's biggest money earner, figuring in all factors, is the Changamire's Honour Score and the personal wealth it brings in. Taxes and trade income keeps Rozwi's Treasury on a positive, but I (as the player) have to factor in the safety net of the personal wealth when making any purchases or financial commitments.

I'll look at all my options my spy network comes online in May, thankfully, so can use that to some benefit I have no plans to be sinister mostly they are merchant traders who happen to be well on paper spies, so my first group should start to pay off with some orders mostly enhance the trade lines I need someone in a region to access it and well no one said to me they had to be diplomats or a trade mission - agents should work. You asked about India well I could do a couple options but owning my own merchant there is a good thing and the land routes will cover moving goods. My plans are slowing down not dead.

I plan to fund prospecting and exploiting prospecting using my rulers funds, if I find something good.

So need to bank to get the debt neutral into the black a little, do the things I had planned and take some prospecting risks and do trade Emperor funded if I have to in December. I might ask some governments for funding even 50,000 pounds will be good right now. I'll figure this all out well if I end up going bankrupt and the nation tosses out my leader, well, then won't it reset with another leader the nation will still be there. If things fall apart. I can always run some other country and ruin that next.

I'm joking its not that bad right now but I need to act decisively and keep things focused.

As I have already posted within this thread, so don't think its circumnavigating rules. The harvest of Japan provides £1 to the treasury for every 1 ton of rice secured as a surplus. Last year the rice surplus was over 50 million tons.

Japan is happy to consider supporting the development of nations through funding support.

Japan might get a diplomatic letter then, they might like Africa opened up for their goods, a spy funded as a merchant in my country is cheaper than a diplomat and if openly known wouldn't be considered a threat. This must be done in game of course.

Sounds like you've just done it in forum to be fair....

Sent from Topic'it App

Not officially its not on my immediate list of things to do, frankly, other matters are far more pressing.

April 1703 Mercurius Politicus has shown up and for non G10 players here is a round up of events:

In a brilliant all angles "Honour" attack on the King of France and his allies by the Hapsburg faction:

1) The Emperors lawyer in Rome (AKA Pope Clement) has excommunicated the Duke of Savoy for violations of canons 2333, 2334SI & 2345 and has said he will also excommunicate all the Dukes friends, allies like Louis XIV if they not not do exactly as they are told by the Emperors legal team.

2) The Emperors agents in the Imperial diet have put forward secular motions which will also see the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Flanders placed under the Imperial Ban.

3) x5 French trade caravans in the Cevennes region have been taken by Protestant Rebels (paid by Genoa secret service?) and both France Savoy and some of their supporters inc humble corsair captains have been hit by a massive propaganda attacks. I particularly enjoyed Federico de Franchi commission of a fresco painting in Naples of the last supper in which Judas has been given the face of the Duke of Savoy but considered some of the other Propaganda attacks to be a bit crude. The Scope however was very impressive.

In reply:

4) The French are having a General Council of the Gallic Church in Paris and have invited Savoy, Milan and Flanders so it looks probable that the Catholic Church is going to split with Pope Clement denounced as an anti Pope etc, etc..........Gosh what with disputes over Investiture and Papal authority and the possibility of more than one Pope its like being back in the C13 again.

5) In the Diet Thomas Jacobs from Luxembourg ( a Bourbon supportter) told the Imperial Envoy Freiherr Hans von Redern that a vote for the ban is a vote for war and he meet him on the field of battle he would rip his face off and use it as a hat band. Von Redern responded by challenging Jacobs to a daul and early next morning was gutted like a kipper in the Regensburg graveyard but has not yet needed to use the facilities (but is very badly hurt). Prior to this Von Redern had been making good progress in getting the ban in place but with France/Savoy/Flanders clearly seen as trapped and with their backs to the wall........but with sword in one hand and a box of matches in the other some voters may be getting cold feet at the thought of being found face down in a Bishop-Princes fish pond.

A lot would seem to depend on which way "Smug" Protestants decide to vote. Most of these will probably take their lead from King William and his Ministers;

6) King William spent month in London with his wife and one year old son and has declared an intention to visit Scotland. Meanwhile back home in the UDP his government is offering to build specialist fishing boats for anyone who wants to buy and has found the "mutinious" frigates abandoned and got to question their Admiral. In view of the Propaganda about brave Dutch sailors attacking French interests by guess it that someone paid the crews to attack the French in effort to cause trouble and a distraction for the French Military but the crews took the money and "retired"

7) Lord Melville was doing his usual round of banquets and speaches but in shocking development was drinking Vodka!!!!!

Which is a good point to move away from Western Europe and to the East

Prince James Louis Sobieski son of the late King John III has returned home at the invite of Prince Stanislaw (AKA King Stanislaw) but has announced that in his opinion King Augustus has not been deposed and if he has abdicated as some claim then a proper election should be held (ie 40,000 - 50,000 armed Polish Nobles in a field not a back room fix)

9) Pierre Krupski the Lithuanian Envoy to Russia held a meeting with the Czar and his ministers behind closed doors. Shockingly everyone kept quite about what was said so the Czars position on the crisis in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is still not fullly clear.

10) The King of Sweden who spent month visiting a Church and handing out alms and the Emperor who spent month celebrating the Pops's support for the Hapsburg cause in Vienna with banquets and orchestral performances have also remained silent on the crisis in their nearest neighbour.

Totally away from Europe

11) The Asantene has built a new shrine to the river God and has been busy looking to review the laws in a traditional way.

12) In Gondor the Emperor is looking for a new wife(s) seems he can have up to six but his mother needs to approve them........seems very like Ottoman or Persian practice to me for a so called Christian Monarchy. Think player should be aware that if he allows Agema to run six wives all with own faction at court he is probably going to spend a lot of time on campaign for safty reasons.

13) Japanese Envoy has arrived in China and the French are now being allowed to trade via Edo so Japan seems to be slowly being made more open............it has also invaded Okinawa.

14) Envoy of Genoa showing remarkable knowledge of local culture has made it to Singapore. The only problem for the expansion of Genoan trade to the Far East would now seem to be getting Hull and Cargo insurance for the trip..........according to the Doge the lights may be going out across Europe but they will continue to burn brightly in Genoa. Oddly enough burning brightly is exactly what some Genoan merchants and shippers are worried about. Four Genoan ships went missing this month..........is this something to do with Louis the XIV being called a fat devil, the Grand Dauphin a molly extraordinaire and a poor, humble merchant-adventurer being called a depraved and fornicating lapdog?

A little bit of selfish steam-offletting here... about when the game mechanics and real history crunch uncomfortably across each other (which might turn into a general topic). So, my Asante leader solemnly mouthed-off about sticking to tradition, and in some detail regarding our agricultural approach, which had historically already long evolved into a very long-term land-rotation system (very ecological). The rules response was that I had to develop the Norfolk system (as per any western nation), by training 3,000- farmers, announcing adoption, waiting a year etc. But it's not my fault the Asante were a century or so ahead of western farmers..! Anyhow, can grit my teeth and acknowledge that Richard can't have individual systems for every nation on every front. My main upset is that the announcement of rotation, conflicting with the rule which says I haven't already got it, seems to have cost me a point off Economy. Grrr.

Good two wives then, I do intend to have them work, one will be Treasurer the intelligent and wise one his wife of the first rank and one will oversee diplomacy in the court. No need to not to place them intelligently in my palace.

I freed slaves it hurt my economy but my nation normally didn't widely use them and further raiding into my nation historically was common so I figure I just became unpopular with slave traffickers and raiders so screw em' I catch them they die horribly.

But the debt was unexpected from moving military families to their new districts my nation having six zones each with a force of troops who will integrate into that area and learn about its people and work with them hopefully making the law enforcement they provide efficient it was overly costly. But in the long run if I can clear the debt should make criminal incursions harder and make the troops get better moral. But well I got under a year to fix this. So have to get hustling. But its okay.

Do Agree with Mr Bailey that the lasts newsletter for Game 10 in the letters to the Editor section did appear to have a slightly anti - French slant. Could it be that the phoney war focuses on attempts by both sides to boost their own & degrade their opponents honour scores. Just think it needs to be carefully managed so that no one feels personally attacked or insulted. Do feel it is a fine line that is currently being trodden.

From an interest point of view, I have never experienced such a relegion focused game before, so this is all a bit virgin territory for me, will be interesting to see what I can learn going forward. at the moment it would appear that there could be a case for a split in the Catholic Church on the horizon, but it seems more driven by political differences than Biblical ones.

Seems my curse of Maritime disasters has folled me inot G10, in other games as Prussia & Russia I have had little success with my Maritime adventures , now I get a half decent naval position & the buggers still sink. Maybe I should just scrap the lot & chop all the ships up for firewood. is there a naval advance for bouyancy vests & rubber ducks ?

If it is in the newspaper you can say what you like about a person's character . The forum is where I would urge everybody and except perhaps for an odd blip everybody does make sure they are well clear of " the line "

Oh .. I love the usually biased ( thats fine by me too , makes me chuckle) summaries .Thought the last one was very fair though . I find I missed something almost all the time , even though I have read the paper over and over .

Stuart Bailey wrote:In a brilliant all angles "Honour" attack on the King of France and his allies by the Hapsburg faction ... The Emperors lawyer in Rome (AKA Pope Clement) has excommunicated the Duke of Savoy for violations of canons 2333, 2334SI & 2345 and has said he will also excommunicate all the Dukes friends, allies like Louis XIV if they not not do exactly as they are told by the Emperors legal team.  

Nice to be appreciated        I'll try and do better next month.

I should point out, though, that the Papacy is NOT taking sides, and is certainly not the Emperor's legal team!  If Austria had turned on the church then the response would have been equally robust.  One important point missed in the writeup was that Portugal has recognised that a Catholic country needs to support the church and King Pedro has now accepted the judgement, withdrawing his claim.  I imagine this was more a case of common sense or religious duty rather than anything I did, but it does diffuse what could have become a problem, and King Pedro's approach will inevitably bring him widespread support from the church and other Catholic nations, which should help him considerably in the near future.

For the record, I have been scrupulously fair to France, repeatedly offering ways in which he can regain Papal support through letters he has chosen not to reply to (again).  Savoy chose to challenge the church and I responded as I am duty bound to when anyone challenges the church.  That should not be a great surprise!

I could have invoked greater sanctions on Savoy, but have not at this point, hoping that common sense may prevail.  If it does not, or Savoy's allies place their political aims above religious considerations then the consequences are known.  If they choose to be so afflicted by either deliberate policy or doing nothing then their nobles and people will hold them responsible for the consequences.

I have not publicly stated what Savoy must do to lift the excommunication, but have detailed this in letters to him.  That is the appropriate way to deal with it since the excommunication applies to the Duke personally not to Savoy the country.  The initial sanctions relate to how the people of Savoy respond to their ruler.  If the nobles of Savoy are smart then they will use this to increase their own power at the expense of an excommunicated Duke, ultimately forcing change or placing themselves into a more prominent position from which they can challenge him.    Interestingly Cardinal Lippi chose to strictly interpret the instruction and withheld communion from the Duke's family and friends.  This is a power within the competency of the priest and I cannot overrule his decision.

J Flower wrote:From an interest point of view, I have never experienced such a religion focused game before, so this is all a bit virgin territory for me, will be interesting to see what I can learn going forward. at the moment it would appear that there could be a case for a split in the Catholic Church on the horizon, but it seems more driven by political differences than Biblical ones.

Most splits were originally caused by politics (if not national, then bishops who disliked other prelates), then justified by doctrinal quibbles.  

If the purpose of the French council is to try to create a split in the church along political grounds, then that could well spell the end of France.  It is one thing for a few bishops to break away - they can simply be excommunicated and replaced - but another thing entirely for a country to break away.  The people of Savoy (and France) consider themselves Catholic.  If the Duke declares himself protestant (which is defined for this purpose as rejecting the authority of Rome) then not only does he automatically lose the right to rule Savoy (changing religion), but he alienates himself against his people.  Should he then try to force the people away from the Catholic church, the game rules warn that such a process will cause great disruption, revolts and expense over a long period (years) during which that country will be very vulnerable to invasion.  The same will inevitably apply should France be unwise enough to treat the Gallician church as a kind of independent national church (a bit like the Church of England).  Such churches are by definition outside the Catholic Church.  For rulers to try to change their religion or the religion of their country is hard enough when they start with high honour, but when they start with low honour they risk losing control completely, mass defections from their armies/navies, bandits running wild, etc, and frankly causing more problems for themselves than I could ever do!  Honour is not the only reason for playing the game, but it does limit the effectiveness of orders, fighting prowess of armies, loyalty of people/armies and relations with inactive positions, to mention just a few.  Although there may be other factors, French honour fell quite rapidly once France invaded Papal fiefs and spoke against my judgement, which also suggests that for all the pretence of the Gallician Church, the nobles and people of France consider themselves Catholic and bound by obedience to the Papacy.

Perhaps others know of examples in games where a nation has successfully changed religion, if so how they did so?


.

Ref summaries these are really intended for non players who may be interested in joining a game or just like to see how other games differ from their own fair game.  So in my view a summary is posted with two objectives:

1) They need to be factually correct - so any new player is aware of what has happened and who is allied to who so they can avoid silly starting mistakes due to not knowing information his Character should knowl - if you are thinking about taking the UDP or Dutch East India Company position in G7 for instance its probably good to know that unlike G10 England has a French aligned Jacobite-Catholic King and is not your automatic Friend and ally!  

2) The other more tricky objective is to give in the summary a flavour of what the game has been like to date so non players can decide if the game sounds interesting to them or not.  Thus Scabble has a odd steam punks/Flashman books/railway rivals vibe which I really enjoy but other people find silly.  G8 for a long time seemed to be a position building game almost a C18 version of Civilization.  G7 was more military in style with "diplomacy" being a brief setting out of why a campaign was being fought.  While G10 has involved huge amounts of failed diplomacy and religious based honour attacks but very little actual combat so is more suitable if your focus is diplomatic/propaganda.  But this could always change.

Have to admit I probably over lay over emphasis on certain events to try and bring out the style of a game so the daul in the graveyard in G10 after hard words in the Imperial Diet got emphasis but for G7 its probably a line: " Heavy rival lobbying in Imperial Diet resulted in daul between the Imperial and Flanders envoys."  Also lay over-emphasis of certain Character traits to give extra flavour to a report.

The problem is that unless you are 100% factual and cut out all "opinion" on why something has happened its almost impossible to not show bias - Thus for Jacobites in G7 James III of England is "driven and determined with iron will" while others think he is a "fanatic".
while in G10 Jacobites think Lord Melville is a "Heretic Drunken Bum who has sold Scotland to the Dutch & the English" while other view him as "Outstanding Scots Gentleman, philosopher and diplomat famous for his good nature and a keen patron of Scots Whiskey Industry"

I do try to always who holds the opinion being reported on..........but I can do special requests so if anyone really wants to see me attempt a Hapsburg or Anglo-Dutch summary of events happy to have a go.

Ref experience of falling out with religious authorities in a game of Glori du Roi.  England in G7 has changed its religion and King James III has not been overthrown.  While my character in G2 also had major problems with the Grand Mufti.

Gloire du Roi experience indicates that best option is avoid major changes to day to day religion but change theannoying  religious leader and keep your nerve since at the end of the day the GM does not want to see players knocked out of game by his actions so provided you put up a good case and a resolute defence of your position your honour score is going to stabalize eventually.

It also helps if you smash any rebels leaders to a pulp (like Henry VIII and the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace or in G2 what Iskander Kruppa did to various foes).

It also helps it if fellow players of the same nationality/religion do not take advantage of the problem.  In G7 James III had a problem in that the HWIC and Dutch players (who controlled King William) objected and opposed the changes.

France in G10 has a faction fairly like the HWIC in G7 but unlike James III problems in G7 they seem a fairly loyal bunch:D  

Basically, think its going to take a "Crusade" to get rid of the Duke of Savoy and the King of France.  Alternatively, we could have the Duke of Savoy on Crusade to save the Church from the Anti Pope in Rome.

Think the Anglo-Dutch faction in G10 are probably going to be in danger of laughing themselves sick........this is not good since Jason Flower has just had a hernia opp he could do himself harm..........poor Jason

I do appreciate, Stuart, how hard it is to post neutral game turn writeups, and you are trying much harder.  But to pretend they are only read by non-players is somewhat deluded, given most of the subsequent comments are from players!   To describe the Papacy as "the Emperor's legal team" and an "Austrian ally" is not neutral, but designed to present France as the victim, an innocent lamb unfairly picked on - a stance which ignores the facts that France is in occupation of Milan, Flanders and 2 Papal fiefs, and that your corsairs took 4 Genoese merchant ships this month without a declaration of war.  Comparing France in G10 to King James in G7 may or may not be accurate, but given your previous post referred to King James as "driven and determined with iron will" while others think he is a "fanatic" France may well be insulted by that.   Such a portrayal may indeed be enough to cause laughter which could do Jason Flower harm, but I suspect he would find it far more amusing if you wrote a second turn writeup for G7 from a Jacobite viewpoint, and for G10 from a Dutch or Austrian viewpoint.  If you are up to the challenge of changing your narratives in both games, then I would certainly look forward to you keeping your promise and be somewhat amused by the novelty.  I hope such writeups do encourage new players to join both games and pick positions on whichever side or none they prefer.

And of course I hope and pray Jason recovers from his operation soon.  I find his letters to the Pope very informative.


.

I might send a religious leader to the Papal Convention if we take care of the debt issue which has to come first. But sending one man won't cost much.pr

I'm considering things.

As for other matters I'm due I think for more prospecting paid for by the Emperor of my nation I just hope we find something good like ,um, gold or gems. Gold would help.

Hi all,

By special request here is an account of last month from a Dutch point of view:

April 1703 Mercurius Politicus has shown up and for non G10 players here is a round up of events from the viewpoint of of “Honest Stu van Bailie – supplier of finest salt fish”:

1) In yet another success for Dutch shipyards the UDP has agreed a contract to supply dredgers to our German Protestant friends in Hesse-Kassel. The Landgrave is such a nice young man and like the leaders of Hesse-Darmstadt and Hanover related to our famous Stadtholder by family as well as the true Protestant religion. In such uncertain times its good to know that Protestants are united unlike some Papists I could name and a good well maintained German canal system is good for trade.

2) In further “Shipyard diplomacy” the States-General is also offering our Dogger/Herring Bus fishing boats for export. While I am sure they have their reasons I hope that increased numbers of rival fishermen does not damage out vital fishing Industry.

3) Stadtholder William spent month visiting London with his English wife Mary and their one year old son George. He is reported to have summoned Lord Godolphin to discuss the current crisis in Southern Europe and the possible danger this poses to our security and trade. Personally, if the crisis in Southern Europe takes bad men like Bart and Forbin away from the North Sea I am all in favour of it. But I guess the Levant Trade is important and they do not want the Levant Company ships having to sail through a war zone (does terrible things to the insurance rates).

4) Our friends from Portugal are also in London and are offering to support Anglo-Dutch Naval operations to protect trade. It is know that Stadtholder and Lord Godolpin are not at all keen on the Spanish Crown and its colonies passing to the Austrians or the French since this may effect the balance of power in Europe and even worse our trade with the Spanish America’s. They really want the Crown of Spain to go to their most Noble Ally King Pedro of Portugal guided by his respected sister Her Majesty The Queen Dowager of England, Scotland and Ireland since that would be really good for our trade. The problem is can the Stadtholder, Lord Godolphin and his sister put enough backbone into King Pedro that he is willing to stand up to Papal displeasure and really push his claim. Some say duty free Port will hurt our gin trade but for the sake of peace in Europe and improved American and Iberian trade I am willing to drink a pint for the team.

5) Admiral Johanas van Hoenroch has made it back to the UDP and a court of inquiry over why his ships crews staged a mutiney. The "mutinious" frigates have now been found abandoned at Wijckel. In view of the Propaganda put about brave Dutch sailors attacking French interests my guess it that someone paid the crews to attack the French in effort to cause trouble and a distraction for the French Military but the crews took the money and "retired"

6) The Stadtholder is due to visit Scotland and Lord Melville next month. The good Lord is reported to be so concerned about highway robbery of his mail in Sweden and a crisis in the Baltic which could effect our vital trade in maritime supplies and grain that he has even been seen to drink Vodka as he tries to figure out the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and if a French Corsair could actually be elected King and dominate the Riga and Danzig Trades (unlikely but after a week on the Vodka who knows what could seem like a good idea to 40,000 voters)

Ref the actual crisis in the East

7) Prince James Louis Sobieski son of the late King John III has returned home at the invite of Prince Stanislaw (AKA King Stanislaw) but has announced that in his opinion King Augustus has not been deposed and if he has abdicated as some claim then a proper election should be held (ie 40,000 - 50,000 armed Polish Nobles in a field not a back room fix)

Pierre Krupski the Lithuanian Envoy to Russia held a meeting with the Czar and his ministers behind closed doors. Shockingly everyone kept quite about what was said so the Czars position on the crisis in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is still not fullly clear.

9) The King of Sweden who spent month visiting a Church and handing out alms and the Emperor who spent month celebrating the Pops's support for the Hapsburg cause in Vienna with banquets and orchestral performances have also remained silent on the crisis in their nearest neighbour.

All in all this crisis in the Baltic is probably the major concern for the UDP. We can live without glass from Venice and Italian Wine (let them drink Gin!) but we can not do without timber, flax, hemp and tar.

10) Ref the other “crisis” (Is it a crisis if it only effects Papists?) a brilliant all angles "Honour" attack has been launched on the King of France and his allies by the Hapsburg faction and the Papacy:

a) Pope Clement) has excommunicated the Duke of Savoy and has said he will also excommunicate all the Dukes friends, allies like Louis XIV if they not not do exactly as they are told by the Papacy. I almost feel sorry for Louis …...hoo, hoo, hoo…..not.

b) The Emperors agents in the Imperial diet have put forward secular motions which will see the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Flanders placed under the Imperial Ban.

c) x5 French trade caravans in the Cevennes region have been taken by Protestant Rebels (paid by Genoa secret service?) and both France Savoy and some of their supporters inc some nasty corsair types have been hit by a whole series of massive propaganda attacks.

Which will no doubt have a lot of very nasty men crying into French rot gut wine, fingering their rapier hilts and trying on their knuckle dusters. I worry that this type of thing could turn nasty for poor Protestants in the Cevennes and may hurt trade in many zones.

So far in reply to this combined attack

11) a) The French are having a General Council of the Gallic Church in Paris and have invited Savoy, Milan and Flanders so it looks probable that the Catholic Church is going to split with Pope Clement denounced as an anti Pope. Thank the Lord at we in the UDP are Protestants and have nothing to do with this type of thing!

b) In the Diet Thomas Jacobs from Luxembourg ( a Bourbon supportter) told the Imperial Envoy Freiherr Hans von Redern that a vote for the ban is a vote for war and if he meet him on the field of battle he would rip his face off and use it as a hat band. Von Redern responded by challenging Jacobs to a daul and early next morning was gutted like a kipper in the Regensburg graveyard but has not yet needed to use the facilities (but is very badly hurt).

c) Prior to the daul Von Redern had been making good progress in getting the ban in place. But while France/Savoy/Flanders are clearly trapped and have their backs to the wall........they also seem to have a rapier in one hand and a box of matches in the other. The Stadtholder is believed to have advised his Protestant Friends in the Empire to handle an annoyed and humiliated French Army with care and make sure the Austrians and Bavarians cross the Rhine first

Other bits on Africa and the far East would have been the same as before but with comment about its effects on Dutch Trade.

Players in G10 will probably see that the emphasis on trade is a bit of a parody but I will be interested in if hearing if the Dutch/English/Scots considered it to be fair or not?

Think what I should try is a summary of Scabble from viewpoint of Fu-Manchu or the Opium Cartel.

It seems a reasonably fair account, not entirely true but fairly balanced.

Certainly glad to be playing a Protestant position, as it means we have all the excommunication business behind us.

There isn't a "Dowager" Queen in residence in London, James wife it is beleived to be on holiday somewhere abroad with her husband, hard to keep track of where they are as they seem to move around a bit.

Certainly a worring development in Scotland with vodka being exchanged for whiskey, King William will certainly be having a quiet word with his Lordship, could have been worse he could have been reported drinking Brandy which could have caused a major diplomatic incident, altohugh maybe weinbrand from our German Friends & allies would serve as a suitable sustitute.

Looks like France isn't alone with attracting some propognada Lord Goose tried to ruffle a few feathers, Most probably one of those Catholics trying to upset the Maritime powers boat.

Do wonder where the man in the Iron mask fits into it all is it another plot to try & seize power in France backed by an outside power, who has most ot gain if the rumours are true....

May I commence by wishing Jason Flowers a speedy recovery to his hernia operation!
You have my empathy, as I had one a several years ago, after my final amateur boxing match (still trying to throw myself around like young contender, despite my advancing years was root cause). Sore as for a while...

I may be a little quieter on the forum over the next few months, as someone has take a wild gamble & given me a larger role. Will be in the usual 3 months of sub aqua, while I consume & normalise the wider portfolio. What time I have, I’ll have to reserve for the game turns & trying to respond to letters.

Fear not, no risk of me letting the side down in Games 10, 9 or 8.

On this turn, ante is certainly turning up. If only my spies could achieve half of what they are being given credit for, it would a be legendary position I run...
See you all in May 1703!
No Worries,
Viceroy/ Doge/ Sultan Kerensky

Not wanting to get in the middle of European politics but, Rozwi had historic cause to declare war with Portugal from turn one which I chose not to. One of the main reasons why I chose not to attack was that to war against a European Catholic nation would, in my view, grant an invitation to other European Catholic nations to support their fellow Catholic nation and, ultimately, bring about a major concerted effort against Rozwi.

So far the game has seen Rozwi host representatives and suggest cooperative work with European nations, and to live alongside them as neighbours. But agreements to not interfere with religion (including Rozwi, as we could incite indigenous beliefs in the Black populations of our neighbours) have been made. I'm roleplaying my character as believing in African religions and as being tolerant to Christianity and Islam, as long as no proselytising takes place. I reckon if I chose to have Changamire Dombo convert to Christianity or Islam then my Honour score would drop and the GM would introduce civic unrest in the populace of Rozwi to show the general concern the people would have with such instances of upsetting the religious status quo.

For me Religion is a big part of games of TGOK. Maybe it doesn't feature directly in game play but it is always there in the background, if only as an indication for why some nations are friendly to one country and not with an other. Fair enough TGOK is a game where our own, actual, real world history hasn't happened in the games, so isn't set in stone and game play can be diverted as players choose. But some law of historic consequence has to feature, surely, I'd argue.

Honestly, I'm struggling to write what I want to say, maybe I don't even know what it is that I want to say, and probably I'm missing the actual argument with the European play in Game 10. But, the way I see it is this. Game 10 is probably being played more historically accurate than the other games of TGOK that I've participated in. Wars weren't and aren't entered into lightly - though sometimes they are, or did, fair enough. Game 10 has entered into an C18th 'Cold War' with espionage and propaganda being used, religious and political argument being slung back and forth, and is running along the knife edge of tension between players in the game newspaper and on this forum. I am a little surprised that most of the disagreement has involved, so far, the players from the French and Italian geographic regions, to the exclusion of such power's historic foes (as in 'Catholic Europe' against 'Protestant Europe' to over simplify).

But getting back to the point I made in my first paragraph; should Rozwi have made war on a Catholic power - which probably would have seen European Catholic nations unite against me - I would have expected the backlash of religion. And, should the Pope have been played since turn one, the Papacy calling for Rozwi to be made an example of for attacking a Catholic nation, it's Church and it's worshippers.

Religious argument is a messy subject. In real life and, no doubt, also in game. Arguments from inside the Catholic sphere are going to be even more messy, with the fallout being, possibly, World/Game changing. Historic consequence being argued, then going against the Pope's wishes or suggestions will see unrest amongst the followers of the Catholic faith. Going forward I, should I be in the position of a Catholic nation's player with animosity with another Catholic nation, would try and extricate religion out of the mix. I wouldn't go there, as it would only bring about issue with the Pope and bring harm to my character's standing in society. Religion is that big a deal in Western Europe, at least, in the game, and the Pope is always going to be a heavy-weight contender in such a political fight. And arguing with the Pope, be it the player or his position as head of the Catholic Church, is going to bring about major consequences.

And all of that is a good reason why Rozwi chooses not to take on Portugal and, by extension, to my mind, the Pope and the Catholic faith. Because if Rozwi did attack Portuguese East Africa then the Catholic Church would be affected in some way or other, if in no other way than the argument that the 'Flock' needed protecting from the heathen savages.

[This is the longest piece I've ever written and I'm not good at writing such pieces, so forgive me, please, should I have failed to have gotten across what I was trying to. Basically my point being that religious politics is a perilous subject and historic consequences will feature in the game, if in no other form than the GM introducing them to show civil unrest. Also, this wasn't meant to be a tirade or a negative piece, so apologies if it read as an attack as it wasn't meant to.]

- One thing I would finish with, please. The issue of whether a player responds to letters or not; yes, it can be an irritant (I speak from experience) but I do think the subject should now be laid to rest in regard to mentioning it on the forum. If the issue is important then bring the matter up in the game. Have your character shame the other player's character through the newspaper for not answering diplomatic matters or personal letters. Call them out on the subject! Roleplay it and make it a game issue which they will have to answer, be it in personal or public correspondence or open speech recorded in the newspaper's pages. If that fails make a public statement that your character takes it as a personal insult (the character's, not you the player) and demand satisfaction.

- Bunch of tulips to the UDP and a wheel of cheese, delivered to the appropriate place of recovery of King Jason