Game 8

Doing it one step at a time, first build a boat then see if it floats.

& that was a thoroughly rip roaring turn, full of action, intrigue and blatant tomfoolery...

If my observations (& French inbox) are correct, we saw four new players last turn, including Nexus in UDP.

Btw. I approved of your low key start Nexus...

@Goldstar, sorry to hear that old boy. I know it can be frustrating, but it is often darkest before dawn. I was looking forward to you besting that Herman chap from Baltic Free Trade. Glad you are holding on in G9!

@JFlowers are you basing the Bavarian fleet on your G7 Russian Navy?

@Jason2 Are the Hansa preparing to reclaim the Baltic? The second age of the city states?

Sorry to hear that Goldstar, been there done that myself. Breaking the economy and trying deperately to fix the trouble until finally giving up that is. Always sad to see people leave. I am sure there would be someone willing to give Denmark a helping hand if you announced your trouble in game. There are enough positions with loads of cash.

That's a good point Ardagor...Goldstar, any chance you might hang on for a couple of turns and try that approach?

Kerensky...hmmm, you mean the vast fleets and uncountable armies of the League liberating their fallen comrades from the despotic rule of Kings, Princes and Electors?
No, no danger of that, I'm adopting Vetinari's approach on such matters
In all seriousness, not really looking to play the position in a territorial expansionist manner, just plan to be a trading power The only exceptions would be (and being slightly vague)
1) Any other remaining "free" cities that used to be League members and might want to join (there appears to be only one of these)
2) I have found an interesting example of a brief Hamburgish economic outpost that could be worth re-establishing
3) I guess in theory and this will be a few years in the future at least when the League is back to be a trading power, if another position needed cash and held a city that used to be a League member, the League could buy its "freedom"

Patrician of the Hanseatic League, Mayor Peter von Lengerke of Hamburg, put down his copy of "The London Gazette" and looked across the table at "Havelock", his personal adviser.  Despite the obvious similarities in their appearance and behaviours, no one had ever commented on this.  That was because few even knew of Havelock's existence and the now-slightly-fewer had quickly learnt that if one wished to comment on Havelock, it was best not done in public.  Rather you should wait until you got home and simply thought the comment in your own mind, in the smallest and most private room of your house after making sure no one else was within 100 yards...and that you stuck your fingers in your ears and hummed very loudly so you could not hear your own thoughts...

"So Havelock, a good month for the League in many ways."
"Indeed, however the attitude of the Hanoverian ambassador may need attending to.  May I suggest a visit from the Dark Clerks?"
"Havelock, you know I don't have any Dark Clerks...at least not yet"
"It has been my experience no one has any Dark Clerks and yet they always seem to appear when they are required.  I assume you will also attend to this Baltic Free Trade movement in a similar way?"
" I will, I am distinctly unhappy with their decision to use Hamburg for their duel, I am would like to make my unhappiness known."
"I would agree, men need to understand that they can not do something simply because they want to"
"Really Havelock, I had always assumed you supported a man's right of freedom of expression and action"
"Indeed I do...and I always watch their expressions and actions with interest.  However men tend to assume they have the right without the need to suffer the consequences.  This to me is flawed, if you have the right to express yourself, you must also have the right to suffer the consequences of your expressions."
"I doubt they would agree with your outlook but still...anyway, onto other business, this new law proposal of yours...are you sure?  It does seem a bit excessive for simply being a mime artist...and I am not sure where we will find that many snakes."
"I feel it is essential, for the public good.  And if the law is announced then it will be their own free action if they remain mine artists..."
"I see where you have going with that Havelock...I wonder if the Free-Trade movement might be mime artists?"
"I am sure that if they are not now, there will be a way to ensure they soon are..."

Goldstar wrote:Just a quick notice to saying I'm dropping out of Game 8 having had played Denmark-Norway for some years.  I made some bad economic decision a few years ago and has been unable to rectify them, despite having A class roads\Canals, building the Kiel Canal and pretty heavy economic investment.  The Game seems to be getting really interesting and I'm sad to leave but when your economy limps along bellow 5 then drops again it's pretty disheartening.  Good luck to you all especially Hanover and the new Hansiatic League.  Might pop up in another game soon and the Emperor is still secure in Game 9.

So sad to hear that, it is always a pleasure to share game with you!

I wish all the best and see you in G9

Sorry to hear it. If you can think of any reasonably deals, some of us have a lot of money. I don't know much about the position, so I can't say what it would be. I would imagine if France is going to teach Russia a lesson they'd be happy to purchase lands that they could use as a base in the baltic if that's an option. Matters for letters if you stay on for a few more turns to see if you can come up with something.

As an aside, I've been quite distracted by real life stuff, so this turn will include no letters and not much else.

Please nobody take it personally.

Don't worry Deacon, think at the moment a lot are in a similar situation. Hope things calm down

The United Kingdom is allied with Denmark... let me know in game if I can assist the Danes.

For a moment of real life, we have placed my mother in law, who had been living with us, in a care home. We had reached the point were were a bit overwhelmed by it all, and I think this will be a marked improvement. It's a brilliant setup, and she's very happy. The state of her Alzheimer's made ti best to put her in professional care.

So, I'm starting to get caught up on my correspondence and the like in game. If you have something hanging with Hispania that you think I might have missed or forgotten, I probably have. Please drop me correspondence as a reminder.

No diplomacy here, just wanting to let my fellow players know that my failures of diplomacy recently in game aren't actually game related.

Wish you the best

Strange to see a sudden split of the Twin Kingdoms. I guess Deacon has left the game.?

I left the game some time ago and am not playing in Glory these days.

I wish you all the best. I'm sorry that Richard couldn't find a player for Hispania, but the position was unwieldy and expensive. I hope if he splits it he has more luck.

Sorry to see you leave. Any particular reason you left the games.?

I know like me you felt the games were a long time between turns. A few players are dropping now, lockdown ending. The games should quicken a little.

I must admit. The money is not a problem for me. Yet I sometimes look at the cost and think I can buy a car monthly with what I pay. I am in three games yet often think that is too many.

Hope you come back one day.

As is often the case, it was a combination of things that just had made the game more frustration than fun for a while. At some point, you have to ask yourself what you're doing if you're spending money on something that isn't fun the way it used to be.

Covid and lockdown has made this a hard year for everyone. Maybe in a year, I'll feel differently.

Deacon wrote:
As is often the case, it was a combination of things that just had made the game more frustration than fun for a while.  At some point, you have to ask yourself what you're doing if you're spending money on something that isn't fun the way it used to be.

Covid and lockdown has made this a hard year for everyone. Maybe in a year, I'll feel differently.

Yep. Know what you mean. Be nice to see you back one day. Best of luck to you. Keep safe.

The London Gazette November 1710

Moscow

The Tsars Chancellor Prince Boris Golitsyn have announced that Ingria and Narva are integral parts of Russia. Narva will receive direct investment to turn the city into a prosperous trading city in the Baltic. Any disent however will be ruthlessly put down.

Ato Rado, the envoy from Abyssinia, who humbly asked for a private audience with Tsar Peter, along with the Abyssinian priest Qes Yeakob. While they waited permission, Qes Yeakob asked the Great Patriarch of Russia, Metropolitan of Moscow, Stefan Yavorsky, if he he may be allowed to speak "before the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church". He was granted this but warned he will be viewed with suspicion.
Qes Yeakob explained how Abyssinian Orthodox Faith differed from the Russian version. The Russian priests did not take this well and Qes Yeakob was battered. The watchmen could not set their dogs on the Holy Priests to stop this, but the Tsar`s Footguards under General Robert Bruce could and order was restored and Qes Yeakob was weak but still alive and brought back to the Abyssinian embassy.

Delhi

While gazing across Delhi from a balcony from the Palace of the Red Fort, Great Moghul Muhammed Azam Shah suddenly fell backward. Alarmed, Prince Aurangzeb of Malwa rushed to the scene, only to suddenly fall down himself as well. Palace servants came to their aid, and where horrified to discover both had been shot dea by marksmen who must have been waiting for them to appear.

Madrid

King Pedro of Spain announced to his court "Grandees, ladies and gentlemen, despite the Austrian ambassador`s unseemly intervention of late it remains my intention to keep good relations with the Emperor in Vienna. However, as the news from Lisbonwill have made clear, the internal affairs of Hispania warranted an early peace with the Ottoman Empire, which has now been achieved. I must admonish Graf Heinrich zu Manderscheid for his rudeness to me, in my own court, unfortunately. He knows fully well from the report given from this place in September that I was present when my Chancellor Count Gaspar Monterrey sad what he said. To suggest otherwise is, as I stated, deliberately offensive. Out of Christian charity, and accounting for his own sense of Shock, I forgive him this once, but let him not repeat this outrage. If he cannot control himself, I will have to insist he leaves for home".
A few days later King Pedro started to become very drowsy, and thsi was diagnosed swiftly as being downto an infection of the larynx. He then suffered a seizure, losing consciousness and passing from this life a few days later. Within the hour of this fateful night his son Crown Prince Francisco was proclaimed as KIng of Spain, but has yet to have been coronation, of course.
The Court of Spain has gone into Mourning for Emperor Pedro I, who has earlier been Monarch or Portugal as well, as KIng Pedro II.
A man calling himself Francis, a Genovese some people know as the "weasel" went to the main door of the Royal Alcazar Palace and insisted he had some important information and wished to speak to someone in authority. He was heard out by the captain on the Palace guard duty and then escorted to see the Minister for the Army, Constable Inigo Velasquez Francis said King Pedro had been the victim of a poisoning and that he could take them to the the culprit. 
Along with a dozen palace guards the Constable and Francis went to a house in the city where they found a man who is clearly of either Cossack or Tartar origon.
"Perun", said Francis slyly, "I`ve brought these people to meet you... who know what you did".
The man adressed as Perun scratched his nose. "and what would that be?"
"Seize him!" demanded the Constable, and that is precisely what the guards did, dragging Perun off to Alcazar Palace. On the way Perun said he was a Cossack, and protested he was being falsely accused and had just arrived and that his surname is Mikosevaar.
DEspite this dramativ event the mstter of the successionsped on quickly; the coronation of the Crown Prince Francisco as monarch of Spain has bee announced to be taking place next month, with invitations to attend issued to royals, ambassadors, advisors and nobles.

Hannover

The Hanoverian officers of ten frigatas of their navay have voiced their deep concern over Saxon sailors under their command who are unruly to the extreme and may not be trusted to mutiny at the first given opportunity. It is true that the men all took an oath of loyalty, but the officersare disturbed by their crewmen. They are, as a consequence, strongly recommending the crews be sent to a naval academy to improve their attitudes and abilities efore something bad happens.
Not troubled by such matters, over at Leine Palace the Electress of Hanover, Princess Melusine sighed as she finished masterfully playing her violin. "My dearest wish now is to learn how to paint. I admire artists so much, and yet can barely daub a brush with anything like proficieny."

London
Great Britain`s Secretary of the Board of Trade, Sir Charles Hedges announced a reduction on tariffs levied against Dutch merchants dropping the rate from 10% to 5%. What is more Dutch traders are now being allowed entry to New York and Boston in Colonial North America, and to Kingston, Jamaica. as well as to accra in Africa.
Sir Charles refused to follow an istruction from the Duke of Halifax to lower tariffs for the Merchants of the Hanseatic League to 5%, claiming this was not requiredunder the terms of the treaty of Deen Haag.
The Duke of Halifax hosted a banquet on Guy Fawkes Night.

Versailles

Baron Konstantin Von Neurath, who is a Prussian diplomat, sidled up to the Freench Court`s chief diarist, Entretien de la Ville, Compte la Dessus.
"It is a cheek I know, dewar Compte, but could you tell me what troops are based at Paris, and how many armies your fine kingdom posesses, and where thay could be found?"
La Dessus looked stunned by the lineof questioning for a second, then waved his hand and replied, "You jest, of course!"

Berlin

The Ennobling Ceremony of two ministers of Prussia-Brandenburg`s General Directory has taken place at the Dom Cathedral. It was attended by the Electoral Household, Ministers of State, members if the Nobility, members of the diplomatic corps and the judiciary as well as other office holders.

Regensburg

At the Reichstag the HolyRoman Emperor Leopold I encouraged all members to express their opinionon the French proposal regarding Lorraine. " I shall hold off for the momnet, so all members can speak out theiropinion without being biased by my own view."
Prince George Ludwig, Elector of Hanover, formally expressed his wish to see the physical evidence posessed by the French which implicates the English in colluding with the Ottomans. "in Hanover the accuded is considered innocent until proven guilty."
He also stated, "We would like to see the development of a postal system in the Empire, as well as the improvement of roads and canal systems in each realm. on the matter of Lorraine, we will meet with the French delegations to hear their proposal, and will meet with the Kaiser to learn his feelings."
King Frederick IV of Denmark continued to observe the goings on at the Diet, but remnainded netral other than voicing supportfor peaceful relations and increased trade amongst the staes of the Reich.
His Majesty also took a walkaround Regensburg, but was quite pertubed to find no Lutheran Churches but only those of the Catholic confession.
Prince George of Hanover as well as contiuing to attend the Reichstag, remains willing to entyertain fellow dignitarieswith the aid of his daughter at the masion he has leased here. "His Serene Highness is in favour of discussing and considering activity proposals which would support the growth of the Empire\s economies and cooperation among its members."

Halle

Joachim Justus Breithaut, Professor of Oriental languages at Halle University has lost his position because Prussia no longer has a Far Eastern involvement. Insteadof appearing downhearted, Professor Breithaut seemed surprisingly pleased by this development.


Nish

The Austrian Zweite KaiserlicheArmee has marched into Nish unopposed.


Rome

His excellency Lord Crawe, England`s ambassador to the Papal States, has spoken to Abbe Christophe. Louis Turpin de Criss de Sanzay and the court at Rome. " There is little doubt that a letter has reached the Holy See from the Duke of Halifax, and that the informtionthat is released in the press and in missive have provided details. I must state the British Crownhas acted in a honourable fashion and the story of the Papal flags being used is nothing more than a French lie in the same character and line of the French lie that the vessels in question where carrying powder, weapons and shot.

Mysore

General Najaf Mirza of the Moghul army ordered a blockade of Mysoore rather than further assaults following the the repulse of the attack last month.

Singapore

The Sultan of Johore is known to have met French diplomat Guillaume de Nogaret behind close doors.

Kowloon

A rumble like distant thunder boomed out for several hours on a fine sunny day across Kowloon. This alarmed many people but they later had their minds put at rest by news of it being a test firing by a large number of Chinese cannon.

Sailings

The Spanish Treasure Fleet, comprising of eight heavy frigates and two galleons, sailed from Lisbon.

Losses at Sea

11 Austarn, the Levant
3 Moghul Indian, East Indian Ocean

Ambassadorial appointments
Prussia closed their emassies to Ottoman Rumelia and the Crimea.

Two rulers and a Prince assassinated in the same month, who is behind all this regicide?

Hi Everybody, Dutch Republic here.

Some might have noticed that my in game actions in the last 2-3 turn are close to 0. Some have written me but had no answers.

i Apologize, fact is i'm having a new work and i've moved to a new house too, so, my hands are quite full at the moment. I'd like to stay committed to the game but saving all my effort for my main game, which is G9. So G8 has been few step back.

I'd like to thank all for the support received and promise in the next turns i'll be more active.

Luca

Glad to know you are active... Hope things work out well with the ne job.

Hi Lads,

Last time I haven't received the turn until Richard checked for missing turn and found mine.
To check if everything now is working properly, I would kindly ask any of you just to post when the next turn arrives.
Thanks a lot

Luca

to make it obvious, am afraid I have had to drop G8 and the Hanseatic League. Not due to the game itself but due to the on-going cost of living, having to cut back on expenditure. I'm not one of those poor sods who have to choose between food and heating but (despite being in a well-paying job) I am having to cut back on non-essentials (like the games) to pay for heating/eating/rent

Sad to hear that.

The League of Extraordinary Hanseatic Gentlemen will be deeply missed.

It is in deep regret that I see his worship depart Game VIII.

Pleasant evening lads.

I couldn't help notice this particular thread has been silent for quite a bit, while a number of players have dropped the positions they originally occupied.

Just dropping some lines to let you know I'm still standing, and I'd love to see if any other fellow G8 players are active. I think there is an enduring period of peace so is probably safe to write

Still very much active.