Game 10

Thought the Portugese attack on King Rodrigo in G10 newspaper was one of the best bits of high quality propaganda I have seen in ages.........If it had come from the Emperor or the King of France defending the legit line of sucession it would have been 10/10.  Pity it comes from a family who took Portugal from the legitimate Spanish heir via a "natural" son in 1640.  Basically if his most Valient Majesty is saying a natural son can not inherit in Iberia then the current King of Portugal has no claim to the throne of Portugal.  Which rather reduces it to a 7/10 or perhaps a 8/10 but still quality.

Think there is a real difference between the North and the South on this issue with Portugal and other Iberiam Kingdoms, Sicily and Naples offering various examples of a natural son being made King ahead of daughters and other relations (but not a legitimate son) in the North never!  Not sure if Duchy of Milan is North or South and is a rather confused picture to say the least.  

Think law in Duchy of Milan is who ever has: "Claim + largest Army"

As you've probably guessed by now the game turn dropped just before the weekend, with exciting happenings this turn, though relatively quiet on the war front.

1. France appears to be going to the criminals. Following the vandalism of the Versailles water features last month Versailles burnt down in an arson attack. His Most Christian Majesty’s wife has taken ill after a valiant effort to save this iconic piece of culture. Was this really just to steal some archival documents when no one else was looking?

2. King Louis was obviously distracted as he announced with pleasure that a treaty had been signed between France and Spain. Interestingly His Most Christian Majesty seems to be speaking on behalf of Savoy too.

In a shrewd? move France recognised Rodrigo as King of Spain and handed over most territories she had taken to Spain so Spain can argue with Austria over their ownership. Maybe, following the fire, the French archives only go up to January 1700 and France doesn’t know who legitimately owns what anymore?

3. The Edict of Nantes has been suspended to allow Protestant nations to attend the Gallican Church Council in Notre Dame next month. Just need to suspend the Edict of Fontainbleu now. Perhaps the Orthodox observer can persuade everyone that war is evil and that Orthodoxy is the correct way forward?

4. Pope Leo XII appointed many cardinals, including widening the pool of candidates across the globe, in an attempt to bring the Catholics in the western colonies into the Gallican fold. Will God move within them or will the bribe lead the way?

5. Minor military manoeuvring with forces repositioning, 9 French barges captured and a few merchant traynes ransacked. While the Genoan Garrison left under honours and bound not to fight in the war again. Soon after a sickness broke out in Genoa so no one wants to go in there after all that effort. Will this sickness spread?

6. Lord Godolphin took issue with a letter from His Holiness in Rome as he didn’t like to be told what to do. The public were more interested in the rumours of a French armada on its way to Sweden especially as that dashing Msr Trouin is said to be in command. Is it any wonder he was climbing the society ladder so quickly this month?

7. Stadtholder William, or His Majesty depending on where you hail from, gave a speech on how honourable France was in standing by the treaty, they signed which recognised Karl von Hapsburg and that Rodrigo would not be recognised as His Most Catholic Majesty. Could this be cause for a major diplomatic incident or can this too be put down to a clerical misremembering following the burning of the French archive?

8. His Majesty King Frederick in Prussia was busy shoring up his position with a mission to Amsterdam and an outright question on whether King Augustus of Poland & Elector in Saxony would support this title?

9. In Spain it was all change in the gaols following the funeral of Portocarrero. Will these facilities subsequently be filled with the peasants who broke all the improved ploughs in the country so they could have their jobs back?

10. In Terranova Pausania, the Sardinian Vespers are holding the town for Spain in the name of King Rodrigo. A Savoyard dragoon force also claimed to hold the town for Spain in the name of King Louis of Spain. Was the Versailles archive holding Savoy's diplomatic records too?

11. In Rome, His Holiness recounted his understanding of the situation, for the benefit of King Pedro who has recently recovered from illness. He explained Divine wrath and mercy as a result of different leaders’ actions.

12. Africa saw the strengthening of the Asanthene economic position with caravansaries covering a large trade route being agreed. An exchange of royal bloodline hostages and the sale of recruits to Prussia help further secure their political position as the power to make deals with.

13. The Shogun of Japan took considerable time with a Chinese Ambassador to show some of the natural and spiritual wonders of Japan, before making a donation to the Temples on their pilgrimage.

14. The letters pages are especially interesting this month. France appears to be going about the bureaucracy and etiquette of war. While Portugal, Spain and Austria are writing around what constitutes the moral high ground and who owns it.

Of all the questions this month, the answer that alludes me most is why have King Rodrigo and King Carlos III both signed the same letter?

In Spain. The King, as well as being called by his name is also called King Carlos. So King Rodrigo and King Carlos III are the same person. You can use both titles.

Should add. Great,write up. Good work.

Hi guys,
Hope you're well and coping well with the strange times.

After having dropped for a few months due to commitments and not making any progress on game I'm back in the game active.

Just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to send a copy of the last few months newspapers to fill me back in?

SteelCityTyke wrote:Hi guys,  
Hope you're well and coping well with the strange times.

After having dropped for a few months due to commitments and not making any progress on game I'm back in the game active.

Just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to send a copy of the last few months newspapers to fill me back in?

Will send some over.
Cheers Roy.

SteelCityTyke wrote:Hi guys,  
Hope you're well and coping well with the strange times.

After having dropped for a few months due to commitments and not making any progress on game I'm back in the game active.

Just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to send a copy of the last few months newspapers to fill me back in?

Before you get the Papers, for info here are the six key points of last couple of months (from my view point - which may differ if say playing in Africa):

1) King William & his Lord President of Scotland have not yet drunk themselves too death (matter of time?).  Oddly in the bozy Anglo-Scots-Dutch set up The PM of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury seem tea-total and get by on Tea and annoyance with the Roman Pope and his court full of Jacobites.  Its probably the difference in drinking which explains why the Lord President and the King/Stadtholder are top of the honour table and Godolphin is not even on it.  That or Lord Godolphin giving the OK to some very dodgy loans to Spain.

2) Aside from England Spain has also borrowed or otherwise obtained very large sums from Austria, France, and Nipon (who at least got Manila as security).  So with Charles Hapsburg (or his corpse) still in a cell in Savoy, Dutch envoys hunting butterflys in Madrid and  treaties signed with France, Austra and probably England it looks like all the major Powers have accepted King Rodrigo the twice crowned King of Spain and the Spanish part of Carlos II succession crisis is over.  But perhaps not other parts like Naples, Milan etc.  Still its an interesting approach by Spain........back me or the Bank of England goes bust and you get the blame!  

Wish I had thought that one up for Spain in G7 were its normally money going from Spain to somewhere else

3) Large chunk of the Catholic Church had enough Rome getting all C13 on them and because French and Spanish Lawyers never forget they dug out some very old play books from Days of Phillip Augustus and Saint Louis and elected a new Pope.  So we now have good Pope Leo XII and the anti-Christ Clement in Rome.  Or is that the other way round?

- Currently Austria is backing Pope Clement while Spain, France, Savoy and Flanders back Pope Leo XII.  If your Character is a Hindu, Muslim or Protestant sit back with your Gin, Whiskey or drink of chose and enjoy the show.  If your character is Catholic its MAKE YOUR MIND UP TIME  If Catholic expect a degree of arm twisting and other political pressure.

- Probably only a matter of time before Crusades get declared, Claude Forbin becomes a Knight of Christ and the Spanish declare they are on a mission from God to liberate Rome from the anti Christ and restore Pope Leo XII.

4) This of course has nothing to do with the Spanish Council wanting to get a excommunication order and other religious charges against them lifted.  So far Cardinal Portocarrero has been "executed" for Witchcraft by the Spanish Inquisition which then got disbanded by the King since only the secular power has authority to execute anyone.  The ex-head of the Spanish Inquisition has fled to Lisbon and the Spanish probably want him back - will the Portugese hand him over to face murder and treason charges or will they defy Spain to protect this good and Holy Man/lackey of the anti-Christ depending on your view?  

- Pope Leo XII has removed the "political" excommunications against Louis XIV and the Duke of Savoy, also has removed the "political" suspensions of Spanish Cardinals.   But legally can not do much about the Ex-communion for a clear breaking of Canon law when Cardinal Portocarrero with the full backing of the Royal Council crowned a Natural son ahead of legitimate heirs.

- After spending two years trying to find the last will of Carlos II the Spanish are now frantically trying to find the marriage licence of Carlos II and King Rodrigo mother plus witnesses to the effect that the marriage of Carlos II and his first wife was never consumated and is therefore void etc, etc, etc.  When all of this evidence can be expensively gathered by Spanish Lawyers and checked as true and valid by the Spanish Cardinals they may have a hope that nice Pope Leo will give them the rubber stamp they need.  Chances of getting same from Clement might be rather lower!  

5) Following now crushed Protestant revolts in France - French Army invaded Genoa threatening to hang the Doge from the Gates of Genoa.  French Army has now taken Genoa but to disgust of some have very nicely allowed the Doge and a load of Austrian Troops to march away with honour intact.  Probably because the Austrians and Swedes are now in France, Versailles is a pile of Ash and the Swedes, Austrians etc are able to do to the Mayor of Lille etc  whatever the French do to the Doge of Genoa.

- So France seems split between Ministers who just want everyone to leave with as litttle damage as possible and hard men like Trouin who wanted to hang the Doge of Gonoa and salt down the Austrian horses for the march home, and if the Swedes hang the Mayor of Lille and bombard Paris he dies a martyr for France and we drown two of theirs for each of ours.

- Interestingly Trouin and Hero's like Forbin are now past the King of Sweden and catching up with the mighty Changamire of Rozwi on the honour table but is King Louis listening to them or pussyfooting Ministers?  Surely with Versailles ash and the brave and the noble Francoise d'Aubigne sick from the smoke France has nothing left to lose and will go full Joan of Arc?

6) Meanwhile either because he is at base a super nice chap or the Swedes and their Austrian Ally do not want the Czar doing to a busy Sweden what they have done to France - everyone seems to be being super nice to the Czar.  Who has now got tariff free trade access to  the Baltic and the Black Sea and the Emperor has given up his own daughter, a Catholic Hapsburg Princess, to Orthodoxy and a 7 foot tall Russian Orge who personally tortures people to death in the basement before breakfast.  Oddly the young lady seems fairly happy about it and has not run screaming to a convant.  Clearly either in-breed and stupid or perhaps Hapsburg Princesses have had enough of marrying relations and fancy a bit of rough and lets face it the Tsar ticks that box!

Very nice write up well put. Good reading thanks.

But to be more precise. Point two. Spain also borrowed money from Spanish lenders and the UDP. Both of which are paid back now.

jamesbond007 wrote:Very nice write up well put. Good reading thanks.

But to be more precise. Point two. Spain also borrowed money from Spanish lenders and the UDP. Both of which are paid back now.

So depending on opinion Spanish Finances are either:

a) Being run by an awake and modern Treasury which is playing the markets to re-finance Spanish debt at a lower cost & doing a spiffing job for the King Rodrigo and the Spanish Tax paper.

or

b) They are a Ponzi scheme based on borrowing from Peter to pay Paul..........or in this case borrowing from the Bank of England and Austria to pay off Spanish & Dutch money lenders.


Of course in typical G10 style it is perfectly possible that elements of both could be "True" so if Madrid has refinanced its debt and saved the Spanish tax payer a lot in interest charges this is going to be viewed as sound Government Finance and is going to be popular in Spain.

But if enough people in London think loaning money to a Spanish Government - which has been excommunicated by the Pope, has slave revolts, tax payer strikes and has been denouced as criminal usurpers by the King of Portugal - is a risky thing to do with Bank of England money then its going to be unpopular at least in short run in London.

Mind you its probably even more unpopular in Vienna where a lot of people probably agree with the King of Portugal about the Spanish succession and think loaning money to a Government which is likely to do nasty things to their Pope is not good use of their money.

At least Lord Godolphin does not have to deal with upset Bishops........his probably rather favour doing nasty things to the Pope. They would just prefer it if he was not using their money to help it happen.

So basically all Spain now need's to do is take back Naples and Rome and plunder some of Pope Clements Art Works for sale so that the English get repaid. And everyone (who counts) is happy:D

Spain should be able to get a good price on art works from a certain King of France who needs to re-build his Palace. Getting Michalango "David" to France will be a sod of a job but I am sure it will look very nice in the rebuilt Versailles & perhaps when the Chapel Royal is restored it needs a nice new ceiling?

Another good fun write up Stuart. Great reading.

In truth all loans can now be paid back and many have. A big thank you to all nations who loaned Spain money. England, UDP, Spanish moneylenders, Austria and a special mention to Japan. Thanks all.

Dōitashimashite

Arigato.

Stuart Bailey wrote:

6) Meanwhile either because he is at base a super nice chap or the Swedes and their Austrian Ally do not want the Czar doing to a busy Sweden what they have done to France - everyone seems to be being super nice to the Czar.  Who has now got tariff free trade access to  the Baltic and the Black Sea and the Emperor has given up his own daughter, a Catholic Hapsburg Princess, to Orthodoxy and a 7 foot tall Russian Orge who personally tortures people to death in the basement before breakfast.  Oddly the young lady seems fairly happy about it and has not run screaming to a convant.  Clearly either in-breed and stupid or perhaps Hapsburg Princesses have had enough of marrying relations and fancy a bit of rough and lets face it the Tsar ticks that box!

Aren't all reigning monarchs super nice and who wouldn't want a pre-breakfast audience with them, the early bird catches the worm you know. Perhaps the Archduchess has been influenced, it's well known that people are more likely to believe someone else exaggerating your size by a few inches than if you do it yourself.

G10 showed up........Another dire month for privateering. What has happened to fun cargo like Opium, Grain, Sugar, Spices, Tea, Gold, Furs etc??? And were the hell do you find a market for x10 batteries of field guns? One not very carefull owner, made from best quality Swedish Iron or Brass.

And just to cap it all the Swedes attack the quality of my paper-work! Its an outrage!! My ships have proper paperwork from the French Ministry of Marine and have followed the London Conference Rules to the Letter.

If Louis XIV is not happy with my actions I will no doubt end up in the Bastile but after the Swedes tried to burn his wife to death and put poison into the Paris Water do not see this as a problem.

As Stuart mentioned the game turn arrived earlier this week, surprisingly without any changes to the honour table.

1. The Marquise de Maintenon has recovered from the effects of the fire at Versailles only to wake to another emergency. The Swedish army under Faltmarskalk Magnus Stenbock was knocking at the door with his artillery.

The Comte de Montserreau drew up his 9 guard battalions in the edge of the town with 18 horse squadrons against Stenbock’s 51 infantry and 78 horse. Despite being severely out numbered Montserreau managed to turn the Ga-Pa charge at some points along his line.

Montserreau left for Paris with his forces and dignitaries 2 days later.

2. Sweden occupied Versailles, Austria occupied Jargeau and France is attempting to blockade Stade and various Baltic ports with cruisers sailing at will between Stockholm and Riga.

3. From the reported reception in France and Flanders to 2 theological works Jansenism may well be in favour with the Gallican Church, rather than Roman Catholicism.

4. The Stadtholder made a speech implying the UDP would be at war given the wording was when not if. Given the questions put by the UDP ambassador to France does this mean the Dutch ire will be directed towards Paris? If so, will England and Scotland follow suit? Find out in next months thrilling instalment, or maybe we won’t.

5. King Louis XIV has given his protection to Protestant representatives to the Paris council that he has called. Despite this delay the meeting proceeded, though with very basic theological points being made and not really any attempt to debate or resolve them.

To add to confusion whether this was an ecumenical or temporal council members of the Gallican Church put forward a treaty to resolve the war there. His Most Christian Majesty who called this council did not seem to be aware of this treaty as he was being urged to accept it.

6. Prussia Brandenburg is seeking to strengthen their local power with a high profile match to the House of Hanover.

7. In Genoa, the French audited their armed forces and found significant differences between the paper and actual strengths there. One wonders where the payroll has been going, or was this just a deception to help Genoa decide to surrender earlier this year?

8. King Stanislaw Leszszynski of Poland appears to have found his voice after Poland was previously declared to have 2 Kings which went against the constitution. Perhaps we will see another Catholic nation take a stance on the Rome - Paris theological argument?

9. There was a miracle in Gondar where the Emperors daughter had died and then returned to life.

10. For those interested in how Europeans are viewed from other lands then have a read of the report from Accra. Perhaps Russia should send a correspondent to find out what African society would make of Russians.

11. Bogota had a narrow escape with 16,000 workhouse residents woke up one morning and decided they hated the place. By the following morning the workhouses were destroyed, the town watch terrified and there was no sign of the 16,000 people.

Similar happened in Asuncion were 2,000 slaves revolted and left the town.

12. Prince Sho Jun of Okinawa has taken the title of King as heir to his father, in addition to other titles offered by the Shogun of Japan. This is waiting for confirmation from the Shogun, it will be interesting to see how this goes. Given the amount of time the Shogun has been spending with a Chinese ambassador, one wonders if he remembers the rest of his lands exist or whether he is planning to expand with his new navy?

Merry Christmas all, and thanks for making the game so enjoyable!

Best wishes.

Hapsburg wrote:Merry Christmas all, and thanks for making the game so enjoyable!

Best wishes.

Yes, merry Christmas and happy new year to you all. Looking forward to a very interesting game 10 next year.

With the heretic foe at the gates of Paris, Versailles in flames and ex-Ottoman Ghazi (now rebranded Imperial Hussars) burning, looting and raping across France..... as the victorious Army of Italy hopefully starts to make its way home and link up with southern volunteers......or go the picture route burning a path 50 miles wide.

Is now a suitable time to start singing the following:

Let us go, children of the fatherland,
Our day of glory has arrived.
Against us the bloody flag of tyranny
is raised; the bloody
flag is raised.
Do you hear in the countryside
The roar of those savage soldiers?
They come right into our arms
To cut the throats of our sons, our comrades.
To arms, mon ami!
Form your battalions,
Let us march, let us march!
That their impure blood
Should water our fields.
Sacred love of the fatherland,
Guide and support our vengeful arms.
Liberty, beloved liberty,
Fight with your defenders; fight
with your defenders.
Under our flags, so that victory
Will rush to your manly strains;
That your dying enemies
Should see your triumph and glory!
To arms, mon Ami! etc.)

Yes G10 looks very interesting.

Could this be the game we see the mighty France fall? And so early in the game. I guess if Paris falls. France falls.? Treasury and the King there I take it.? We have not seen any French counter attack yet. Where are the French?

What would England and Spain do if France fell? Could they afford to do nothing bar let Austria and Sweden carve France up between them.?

With the recruit round very near. You would think the Austrian and Swedes have to take Paris soon or France can use all next years recruits to counter attack.

What about the pope in Rome.? So early in the game yet already a rival pope in play and the Original pope has lost most of his catholic flock already.

Looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.

G10 has shown up........and some nasty Swedish types have burnt down my orphanage in Paris.

Torching the Paris Naval training college as a sort of military facility I can understand, even burning down Versailles.  But Magnus Stenbock (probably now known as Magnus the Bad or Magnus the Black) burning poor little orphans in their beds seems a bit harsh even for a bloody handed Viking heretic.

Even more strange when put next to King Charles hoping that King Louis will soon accept an mythic Austrian peace proposal.  Apart from the fact that Austria has not put forward a single proposal in four years and just said no to every proposal from King William etc surely the Emperor is not going to over-ride the ex-Pope in Rome bull and put forward something different?  Can he even do this without getting excommunicated?

Would also like to say "Danish Sound Duties" what a rip off..........my Privateers do a bit of business in the Baltic and to get a prize home you have to pay 10% to the Danes.......what a bunch of robbing *****. Just hope the Spanish do not start to charge to get a prize out of the Med!

Think the Danes playing up th Sound Duties does give G10 a nice twist. Odd lack of protest so far think in some games the protest's and demands to protect free navigation would have been really loud.  Question I am trying to work out is at what level of of sound duty plus the other tolls levied at  Polish, Prussian and Swedish ports does it become cheaper to ship timber from English and French North America?

Also interesting to see the Danish Ministers are themselves split on increases to sound duties and if they are a good thing or not and this is before a Russian Fleet shows up to protest about Danish tax stamps being stuck all over the Czars latest imports.  Personally think 10% Danish tax stamps totally ruins the taste of a good bottle of Gin, Wine or Port!

Russian fleet did so up in Taranto.........probably sailing for Denmark to protest and got lost.

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Also interesting to see the Danish Ministers are themselves split on increases to sound duties and if they are a good thing or not and this is before a Russian Fleet shows up to protest about Danish tax stamps being stuck all over the Czars latest imports.  Personally think 10% Danish tax stamps totally ruins the taste of a good bottle of Gin, Wine or Port!

Russian fleet did so up in Taranto.........probably sailing for Denmark to protest and got lost.

Depends how aesthetically pleasing the stamps are I suppose. Thanks Stuart for highlighting Taranto, didn't want to mention it in below in case I jinxed it lol!

As Stuart said G10 arrived earlier this week, with a heavy dose of rumours throughout the newspaper.

1. King Charles overtook the suave Trouin by boasting in Stockholm over Swedish capture of Versailles. Are the French disheartened given they were seen scuttling their Baltic prizes and fleeing Swedish waters, rather than face a Swedish formation?

Surely France will need to keep as many prizes as possible to replace the Royal Treasury that Sweden captured in Versailles! Then again maybe the 1st Army of Paris might recapture it after subsequently blockading Versailles.

2. Following a competition plans have been made to rebuild Versailles in a Neo-Classical style. This may have put His Most Christian Majesty in a good mood as he was heard promising to make peace with Genoa. King Louis then rebutted the Austrian claims of validity over the Third Partition Treaty.

3. Rumours abound of a Spanish army marching into the south of France. It’s a bit late for a summer holiday or are they planning to get their towels on the beach before anyone else? Are these the missing bodyguard for the widow of King Carlos II? The letters page suggests these rumours are true, but for reasoning more akin to a crusade protecting Holy lands.

4. Charles Hapsburg has been rumoured to now be in the Bastille, to keep the Spanish happy. Not sure why this would be true other than France helping keep a Hapsburg off the Spanish throne. Maybe this will change with Spain crusading in the South of France against anyone who attacks them or the Avignon?

5. St Malo, is the site of French Corsair activity as they fortify the town with Fortress Cannons. Are they really part of French forces as claimed in previous months or are they looking to carve out their own kingdom to the expense of France?

6. Further rumours abound of French torpedoes in Swedish waters aimed at disrupting trade with Sweden and putting up insurance costs. Assuming these float at random I’m not convinced that Polish ports are any safer.

7. The current talk of the elite in London is over whether England is going to host peace talks over the war in Europe. It is true that trade should benefit from peace, but even trade ships of the Maritime powers are not safe from being sunk following Dutch crews explaining how they were captured/sunk by French ships.

8. A Papal envoy’s speech in Lisbon restated His Holiness’ position with respect to Spain, but I wonder how it will go down in the Maritime powers given some of the generality of terminology rather than the specific. The surprise appearance of a large English fleet off a Papal port may add a tense aspect to this situation, though the fleet did not attack.

9. Congratulations to Changamire Dombo II of the Rozwi and Fikile, who recently became a father to a baby boy called Ntogara.

10. It would appear that the Philippines are not paying taxes or supplying recruits to Japan which has intensified calls for the populace to be converted to Shinto. Though this may take a back seat while the Shogun has an attempted assassination in his residence investigated.

Always appreciate the write-ups; they take a lot of time and effort, although Stuart’s was biased against Austria

Hungarian hussars torch the odd village and farm, but the burning of a town (Wasa) has taken scorched earth to another level, and created a few orphans! Austria and Sweden have captured numerous French towns, but none have been burned to the ground.

A peace offer was sent to King Louis in March, and has been circulated to Austria’s allies, but no word from France. Never received or expected any peace proposals from King William, but Austria has asked a neutral third party to help stimulate negotiations.

Anyone played in a game of Glory where a Royal Treasury has been captured? Leopold asked his Treasury Minister a couple of months ago what the consequences would be for France if it was captured.

Hapsburg wrote:Always appreciate the write-ups; they take a lot of time and effort, although Stuart’s was biased against Austria  

Hungarian hussars torch the odd village and farm, but the burning of a town (Wasa) has taken scorched earth to another level, and created a few orphans! Austria and Sweden have captured numerous French towns, but none have been burned to the ground.

A peace offer was sent to King Louis in March, and has been circulated to Austria’s allies, but no word from France. Never received or expected any peace proposals from King William, but Austria has asked a neutral third party to help stimulate negotiations.

Anyone played in a game of Glory where a Royal Treasury has been captured? Leopold asked his Treasury Minister a couple of months ago what the consequences would be for France if it was captured.

I thought I was biased against Danish tax collectors & the revenue! a Pox and a curse on all upstanding sea going folk

On the Iskander Kruppa scale of scorched earth both Wasa and the Swedes/Imperial Hussars actions in France are basically on Rank 2.

Rank 1 - Live off the land and plundering of moveable property
Rank 2 - live off the land, plunder and burning (sometimes troops demand a Ransom to spare buildings from fire)
Rank 3 - live of land, plunder, burning, rape and slave raiding and slaughter of people you really dislike ie tax collectors !! But could includethe Impaling of Priests and Nobles as well with intention to disrupt the operation of Government
Rank 4 - live of land, plunder, burning and general slaughter intended drive the whole country into flight and crash EH. At one stage in G2 the Ottomans had 60,000 raiders hard at work in Austria.
Rank 5 - The Venice solution, Lock gates and have five day sack to slaughter or enslave the whole population, burn whole place to the ground and then sew the ground with salt.

Turkish and Hungarian wars with Hapsburgs were generally a 4 but unless one side was viewed as Rebels in wars of Christians v Christians after the 30 years war it was not normal to go above Rank 2. French attacks on the UDP in 1670's and the attack on the Palantine were probably getting very close to Rank 3 while the Russian campaign in the Great Northern War was clearly a 4 with most of the "Swedish" population of the Baltic States turned into Serfs and sent to Siberia. The Russians also laid waste large numbers of towns like Wassa and fishing villages in Naval raid's.

Churchills operations in Bavaria are hard to class as there was massive burning of anything and everything with no option to pay a ransom. But we stricy orders against killing of civilians or any types.

Ref the lost Treasury - The French Government has now lost the money in the treasury to the Swedish Army but the Swedes still have to get it home. Since the French Govt recently paid Spain £8m for Flanders and the Privateering Branch of the French Navy £1m I would guess that the Swedes will not be slowed down that much due to baggage carts weighed down with gold but they may now have picked up plenty of other loot.

To replace a lost Treasury with a new one costs £100,000 and loss of EH and tax revenue can be expected due to the disruption to your Governments operations.

My theory for looting a Treasury is do it after the December income round but before the upkeep turn to cause mex disruption.

For sheer style in operation aimed at treasury disruption (but dont mention it Jason Flower who still suffers flashbacks) I liked reading about the Austrian Raid on Berlin in G2. Raiders avoided capture and disruption by very annoyed armies marching on Berlin by loading Prussian Cannon with gold and shooting it into Prussian and allied camps. Then doing a runner while everyone was distracted with filling their pockets.

Sadly the Corsairs are not doing as well in terms of plunder a mere x16 prizes all loaded with timber last month and only just over £10,000 from raid on Wasa. Times are hard in the old privateering trade and Marshal Bombast seems to think we should waste expensive gunpowder and shot fighting Swedish Lineships at odds of 2.5 to 1! Can someone please explain were is the profit in that? And who the hell wants to buy a shot up Swedish Lineship the blasted things sail like slugs and handle like a brick (ok perhaps the Russian Navy).

Ahhhhh, yes the Austrians in G2.....Flipping Heck had almost forgotten, quick the tablets!
Had not even thought of Silesia at that point & the buggers marched in whilst the Prussian Army was busy defending the Reich against the Invading French. The Austrians were certainly" Sons of Mothers !" It was a long time ago so that time has soothed the pain. Can't honestly remember the economic consequences of the whole thing. Because Allied players were quick to rally round & offer money to help.

In terms of Game 10 itself, it is interesting to see that the French had a bit of time over the Christmas period to get things moving again. It will defiantly make for some interesting reading in the coming months. Could it be that "Joan of Arc" moment for France. Or could it be more of a Verdun style ( no not the WWI version either)

It is with slight concern that it appears that the Russian navy has decided to get experimental & adventurous. not only crewing ships but, actually sailing them out of the safety of the harbour, just know that its all going to end in tears before bedtime.

Something that is becoming clearer as the game goes on is that it is not pure European in Nature, I think there should be more recognition of those who have chosen positions out side of the European bubble, it has for me personally brought a whole level to the game. Those playing in those positions know who you are & thankyou.

Point for the protocol, is that to date King Billy has not made any attempts/ offers to anyone in the current Handbags at Dawn scratch your eyes out difference of opinion on the pub carpark between France & Friends & Austria & Associates. The simple question is " Why should he?" No one was willing to listen to the other two attempts, (well three if you count Portugal's current one.) The bloods up & those Handbags are swinging. There is probably money to be made selling tickets for this one.

Has anyone got some information on Spanish butterfly populations the Dutch Ambassador in Madrid is trying to create a tome including all the various species. Which can then be presented to the King of his choice.

Good points. Game 10 is building up into a cracker. So much war so early on. As well as the two opposing sides, France and friends and Austria and allies. You now have the Russians sending ships into the war arena. So are the English. The Spanish sending armies into the arena.

But which side, if any will the three nations eventually take.?

Hapsburg wrote:Always appreciate the write-ups; they take a lot of time and effort, although Stuart’s was biased against Austria  

J Flower wrote: Something that is becoming clearer as the game goes on is that it is not pure European in Nature, I think there should be more recognition of those who have chosen positions out side of the European bubble, it has for me personally brought a whole level to the game. Those playing in those positions know who you are & thankyou.

Yes they take time, especially since I try not to cause upset. Some people don’t take kindly to what I’ve said and say so in in game letters.  I enjoy writing these and want people to enjoy them to, so apologies if I’ve caused anyone offence.

I find my concentration slipping towards the end of the paper as I go through it when writing these and I was trying not to make write ups too long. Also I need to get my head round African geography.  
If no serious objections I will include more non European news, which will take a bit longer as I’ll write in two sessions and will make for a longer post.

Hapsburg wrote:
Anyone played in a game of Glory where a Royal Treasury has been captured? Leopold asked his Treasury Minister a couple of months ago what the consequences would be for France if it was captured.

Nothing mentioned in the pdf’s but I suspect it could end with a negative balance, inflation depending on any cross over between losing the treasury and expenditure from uncompleted orders in addition to losing some tax revenue as Stuart mentions but would that only be seen in the income round?

Stuart Bailey wrote: Russian fleet did so up in Taranto.........probably sailing for Denmark to protest and got lost.

The Russian navy always goes where the Admiral wants them too.  The Tsar might need to introduce geography lessons for aspiring naval officers.  The old guard think it’s a waste of time as they shouldn’t be on the water, let alone leaving Russia, in the hope this is just a phase for the Tsar and he’ll come to his senses later.

Stuart Bailey wrote: Times are hard in the old privateering trade and Marshal Bombast seems to think we should waste expensive gunpowder and shot fighting Swedish Lineships at odds of 2.5 to 1!  Can someone please explain were is the profit in that?  And who the hell wants to buy a shot up Swedish Lineship the blasted things sail like slugs and handle like a brick (ok perhaps the Russian Navy).  

More a reference to previous mentions on the forum about there’s not been a good pitched battle yet.  The Tsar’s always interested in ways to improve his navy

J Flower wrote:
It is with slight concern that it appears that the Russian navy has decided to get experimental & adventurous. not only crewing ships but, actually sailing them out of the safety of the harbour, just know that its all going to end in tears before bedtime.

Call it naivety, but I’m waiting to see whose tears and whether they’re of laughter or sadness

J Flower wrote:
Has anyone got some information on Spanish butterfly populations the Dutch Ambassador in Madrid is trying to create a tome including all the various species. Which can then be presented to the King of his choice.    

Does this provide enough information to start with? List of butterflies of the Iberian Peninsula - Wikipedia