Game 10

So that's what's happening ! Thanks M.B

Michael0 wrote:So that's what's happening ! Thanks M.B

Can I just point out that Franch goals are crowded with POWs but space was made by sending paroled Swedes to Scotland for duration of the war.

As for chucking people over the side. The Austrians were captured with load of oil were trying to launch a "Arson" attack. Historic penalty for attempted arson in royal dockyards or artillery parks in war time was to be burnt alive but not doing that on a privateering branch ship......might damage the paintwork!

The others were revenge for Austo-Swedish attrocities in France! Perfectly possible for the Austo-Swedish forces to campaign in France against Louis XIV in a civilized manner and just take "contributions" from towns and issue receipts for the money and food stuffs taken. So honest tax payers can knock it off future tax bills, but no they have to go around burning the warehouses and barges of honest, lawful merchant types.

I had another five barges slaughtered in Hussar raids last month! Currently thinking of getting a translation into the French of the little Rumelian book of how to scare Austrians. Though I doubt if Swedes swim any better with their eyes taken out.

Generally speaking not at all happy about import of eastern european tactics into western Europe. My character rather misses the civilized good old days of the League of Augsburg when captured captains of prizes just agreed a ransom for prize and crew (payable by their underwriters) over a nice glass of wine and went on their way with all their personal stuff and without any nasty stuff. And wars between Kings were just a good way for bold adventurous seafarers to turn a profit.

Do wish major positions tried a bit harder to make life a bit easier and fun for the minor swash buckler types. What about trades in gold, ivory, gems, opium, slaves, spices? Fish, timber and general goods may be realistic but its not getting me a chapter in Defoe any time soon!

Wonder if plundering Rome will do the job?

Glad to see that litte Johann has safely made it all the way from G8 to G10.

Definitely a dangerous journey to avoid all those naughty soldiers and sailors who are playing with matches.

So the game turn arrived with minimal movement of the honour table leaving me to wonder what naughtiness Msr Trouin hasn’t been up to!

1. French armies arrived outside Reims and were getting ready to start a siege of the Austro Swedish armies of Prince Eugene of Savoy and Faltmarskalk Stenbock. Meanwhile The Reichsarmee Reserve Army carried Luxembourg away from an understrength garrison in a night attack over the walls. Imperial forces have captured La Rochelle, Nantes and burned villages, town buildings and barges elsewhere. Hundreds of French civilian lives were lost as a result, as was compensation King Louis had sent to the Dijon area to help residents recover from the flooding.

2. Naples saw the destruction of the remaining fleet based there, with Admiral Gil choosing to go down with his ship. The Hague announced that their navy would be preparing to intervene in the situation, perhaps as early as August if required to combat continued Corsair naughtiness.

3. Both Houses in the English Parliament passed the Treaty of Bristol, which was followed by Lord Godolphin's speech underscoring the anger felt towards previously proposed French treaty terms. Lord Melville went further in Edinburgh highlighting the evils of revenge.

4. The Asante delegation in London were forced by common courtesy to learn more about the differences in their culture to that of the English, when all they wanted to do was sleep after the exertions of their journey and displays of martial prowess.

5. In society news, Crown Prince Frederick Wilhelm of Prussia arrived in Hanover with a variety of gifts for his betrothed and future in-laws, while suitable chaperoning prevented any naughtiness. Gundaker Starhemberg, the Austrian Minister of the Treasury has retired from public life around the same time the Prince de Conti was released from parole in Austria.

6. In Warsaw charges against Stanislaus Leszczynski and his naughty actions were laid before the law court by the Saxon Minister in Residence. Poland saw the wider circulation of works to support Friedrich Augustus as King of Poland.

7. Madrid followed a trend seen in other TGOK’s games with Spanish authorities wanting to arrest their Minister of the Treasury. This time treasurer naughtiness had spread to Palma too. Perhaps it’s the heat or the Spanish temperament that causes this, that or the temptation of huge piles of gold laying around that surely no one will miss and could just be resting in a bank account.

8. French trade has been banned in the Papal States, in response to French nautical naughtiness.

9. In Accra, progress was being made in the raising of 5 tribal battalions. The Asantemen made clear their understanding that they would be commanded by the Asante once trained. While in Akwamufie, The Asantehemaa made clear the alliance with The Asanthene would be of equals with no later naughtiness in subjugating the Akwamuhene.

10. In Edo a mysterious man was seen to be observing a shamed Ronin, before disappearing shortly after the Ronin noticed him. I wonder what naughtiness he has planned?

Ref the Marshal Bombast post on G10 with France being plundered and burnt by nasty Imperial Hussars and Heretic Swedes (where is a Great Northern War when you need one) any chance of future posts calling the Corsairs heroic patriots and freedom fighters? At this rate may have to employ Mr Defoe.

Life is tough enough playing minor swashbuckler positions when people load cargoes of "General Goods" (spit, spit, mutter, mutter) and you get blasted in the press without even so much as giving a Scots, English or Dutch fishing smack a funny look. Dont they have Hussars burning Scots trade caravans too moan about?

Bit of the Marshal's post which did interest me was talk of Spanish Treasury ministers being "naughty" in other games? I though this was a trait of the French Treasury rather than Spanish in other games........they are still looking for the last one and a substantial amount of gold in G7 even after taking Genoa and the Bank of St George to bits.

Since my Character is the Spanish Treasury minister in G7 will I have to start to audit myself ????? Ok my character is clergy and did reduce tax on Clergy to 2% but he did inform the King and did it for everyone as well as himself so its not that naughty. Though its possible that Agema thinks why bother corruption losses when you have banking and insurance losses instead !? All the fun and with a extra naught on the end.

My reading of probable kidnapping of Spanish Treasury Minister by Hapsburg agents ahead of his arrest by the Royal Guard is that he was not a crook but failed to keep up with the "u" turns and rapid political changes of direction by King Rodrigo and the Spanish Council. One moment Pope Clementi is the Roman anti-christ and the Treasury is making sure Spanish Tithes go to the poor instead of Rome. Next moment King Rodrigo sees a opportunity to sweet talk Papa Clement into giving him the Spanish Papal fiefs and the poor minister who failed to keep up with the program is in disgrace.

Question now is what will the Hapsburg's do with a disgraced Treasury Minister? Torture him for information and kill him as a traitor and member of excommunicated Spanish Council? Or try to win him over into backing a legitimate heir? Tough call.

Still think this is no way to treat Spanish Treasury Ministers........mine in G7 has the Cardinals Guard made up of some of the best swordsmen in Spain and if the King arrests him oh boy is he going to get it in the ear from the Church and the Queen. But that is just G7 Spain cute, friendly and generally fluffy..... basically the Catholic version of the UDP in G10.

The " cute, friendly and generally fluffy UDP"
Will unfortunately not be able to reply to letters from you wonderful people who have taken the time to write to me this month.
Normal service should be resumed next turn. Trying to get clarity on the definition of the word " Normal" is causing a problem at the moment.

Thankyou Marshal for the write up.
Once again a nice balanced summary.

Missing Finance Ministers seem to be a new fashion in games. Although in the case of G10 there are no reports of wagons of bullion leaving for West Indies, or was it Siberia,....

The game is continuing to throw up a few twists and turns. The geo- political situation in Italy is an interesting one. As far as I am aware its all Hapsburg. Just a question of how to spell the name of the king who is claiming it. (C/K) arl.
Add in the tale of 2 Popes. Who both claim to have your best interests at heart. So long as you pay your tithes they will pray for your soul & forgive various acts of wanton destruction and barbarism.

Ah the joys of being cute friendly and generally fluffy

Stuart Bailey wrote:Ref the Marshal Bombast post on G10 with France being plundered and burnt by nasty Imperial Hussars and Heretic Swedes (where is a Great Northern War when you need one) any chance of future posts calling the Corsairs heroic patriots and freedom fighters?  At this rate may have to employ Mr Defoe.

For Stuart and in Honour of the upcoming release of the latest blockbuster play by Msr’s Defoe & Brocoli we bring you the next thrilling instalment of Le Comte.

Through the early morning mist a shot riddled cart clattered down the cobbled street, drawn by a flagging nag. First floor windows opened along the route as the toilet cleaners went about their business.

“P*** off you noisy lout!”

Our Hero Msr Trouin, Le Comte de Forbin-Gardanne, cut a dashing figure as he stood and waved his hat to those ‘lining’ the street.

“Rejoice Our Beloved Paris is saved!”

The Count sped on before the shower of pots landed nearby and barely registered the praise of his neighbours.

“S*** hole more like!”

Le Comte’s hat jangled as he somersaulted off the cart outside a burnt out warehouse, while a minion came out to lead the sorry looking horse and cart inside.

The Sun’s morning rays filtered through the windows and holes of the building, illuminating a short man wearing spectacles and a dirt encrusted blacksmiths apron”.

“What have you done with the rocket cart man!”

“Ah Msr Que” came the reply through a sheepish grin “Umm, I brought the racer back in one piece.”

“She’s one of your finest pieces of your engineering, Que.”

Forbin tried to keep his eyes from widening in shock as metal clattered to the flagstones while he patted the cart’s shell.

Slowly Que picked up the scorched metal plaque, then used his tears and apron to polish it. The raised metal barely cleaned up enough to read ‘Msr A Martin & Co. Purveyors to His Majesty’s Government.’    

“Ah Mr T sir. M would like to see you now.” called out a thin man wearing a pressed waistcoat decorated with Lilly motifs, rising up out of the floor on another of Que’s inventions.

Two haggard men sweated profusely as they pushed an ancient wooden wheel round, like they were raising an anchor. They gulped simultaneously as they sized up at Le Comte.

“’As ee put on weight?”

“Yah! They say he has a bottle of port in every port.”

“Barrel more like.”

“Wen’s the automated system coming?”

“Que’s having trouble breeding large enough hamsters, and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

Le Comte strode over to the elevator and waived his hat to the Pierre brothers as they struggled to hold the elevator in place.

“Look lads, His Majesty gave me another medal for saving Paris.”

A shiny new medal jangled amongst other greasy medals that lined the inside of his hat.

“Wyse he keep his medals in his att?  Must hurt his ‘ed sumfink rotten!”

“Same reason we keep pushing this wheel.”

“Tat don’t make sense.”

“Come on push.”

The elevator lurched slowly downward, carrying our erstwhile hero and M’s waistcoated assistant.

“You’ll see a few new faces today, the war’s taken its toll on our numbers I’m afraid. We’ve had to hire some temps. You’re the last of our agents to remain operational.”

“What do you mean Jules? Even Maria-Louise?” exclaimed Forbin

“She’s recovering well and leading our intelligence efforts in Palermo, after the Versailles debacle.  We could’ve done with you there, might have saved the Palace.”

“Yes well I’m good but I can’t be in two places simultaneously.  Still if Maria-Louise can get us anything concrete the war will be over by Christmas.”

“Oh Msr T I must warn you about M.  The war’s strained his nerves a bit and he’s taken to wearing an eye patch and swearing a lot. We’re trying to keep him down here away from His Majesty, who discharged him from ministerial duties.  He’s the only one who knows all our secrets, so he’s still in charge here.”

Forbin bent down as light cracked around the elevator edges, catching a glimpse of a dress behind a desk. He winked at Jules.

“Watch this.”

“Ummm sir, no……”

The lift finished its descent with a bump as Forbin threw his hat towards the stand, which then span round the wooden pole, before toppling it over.  The stand disintegrated as it hit the ground.

“…woodworm sir.”

Forbin, looked at the elevator and made a mental note to take the stairs when he left.

“Oh, forgive me Mademoiselle.” Forbin bowed low and quickly grabbed his hat in a swift suave motion. “The name’s Claude Trouin, Le Comte de Forbin-Gardanne.”

“Miss D’Or, I’d like you to meet our finest living agent.”

“Delighted I’m sure” Forbin didn’t hesitate to kiss Miss D’Or’s extended hand. “and please call me Livre.”

“The pleasure’s all mine” Forbin stood up straight admiring Livre’s sparkling blue eyes.

Jules tried to stifle a smirk when Livre winked at him.  “Miss D’Or is one of our temps I was telling you about.  At night she’s a singer at Chez Michou.”

“Chez Michou, I don’t think I’ve heard of that one. Perhaps I could come and hear you sing sometime?”

“It’s quite an exclusive club, I’ll get you a ticket.  No running off with my gals now, I’ve heard you’ve got a licence to thrill.”

“Ahem, M’s still waiting for you Msr T.”

“Why can’t I be Msr C, Jules?” enquired Forbin as they went down a damp corridor with large areas of paint peeling away from the wall.

“You know full well Msr C started work for us first.”

“Yea, but I’m our best agent and it feels like you don’t value me anymore.  Perhaps we could change to a numbering system. I could be 001!”

“Yes sir, I’ll put it to M when he’s in a better mood. This way.”

At the end of the corridor Jules opened a reinforced door into a warm room that smelt of pomegranate.  A red woollen rug led up to an ornately carved desk, behind which a log fire was blazing away, silhouetting the figure of M.  Jules closed the door as he left.

“Awwwww Hell no.  Why are you still alive!”

“Because I’m your best agent.”

Forbin moved towards the drinks tray while M carried continued.

“What did you do to the cadet battalion guns?”

Lifting a bottle of liquid with a questionable bouquet Forbin considered his answer.

“Now that Paris is safe, we had no more need of them so I returned them to His Majesty’s service.”

“Your report said, and I quote ‘they were returned slightly used’. His Majesty however said they had definitely been used and abused. Just like the rocket cart.  Do you know how much these things cost?  You m*****f*****, you set fire to half of Paris.”

“If I may get a word in sir.  The rockets performed admirably in scaring off the roving Imperial Hussars trying to burn down Paris.”

“You fired a rocket into my m*****f***ing house and burnt it to the m*****f***cking ground, so I have to f***ing well live here!”

Seeing M was getting rather agitated Forbin poured himself a drink. “I understand the enemy invasion fleet in Naples has been destroyed.”

“No thanks to you, you useless fop. I don’t understand what the King sees in you. If I had a choice I’d….”

“Do you have another mission for me sir?”

“Don’t m*****f***ing interrupt me!  Yes, get yourself to Toulon and head for Naples on the fastest ship you can find.” M took a stiff drink and then looking slightly calmer he smiled at Forbin. “Admiral Leandro Gil and has survived the destruction of the invasion fleet, with his flagship and 2 other warships. Get over there and finish the job. If you fail don’t come back. Now get out of my sight!”

Pulling a pistol from under the desk M shot Forbin’s glass as he started to raise it, spraying the questionable contents everywhere. “I’m mean Now!”

***

After a long journey by horse, Frigata and finally by galley Forbin arrived with the fleet before the end of the month, as it made ready to attack the remaining ships in Naples harbour.

“Admiral d’Escadre, permission to come aboard?”

“Well, well, well if it isn’t the hero of Paris himself. Of course, come aboard.  Can I offer you any sustenance?” offered the sunburnt Admiral.

“No thanks, I never drink before daytime action.”

“It might take a while the wind’s died so we’re having to pull the ships with our galleys.  Will you be joining them?”

“I’d love to travel on a ship without wind if it meant I could get back to Paris sooner. I think I’ve played my cards right for a hot date with a singer!”

“Well don’t dally man, swing over to that ship there and she take you as far as you want to go.”

“An offer I can’t refuse Admiral. I’ll be back before you can say antidisestablishmentarianism.”

“And be careful Admiral Gil is the best duellist in these parts.”

After a couple of hours of ‘sailing’ into port and the short ensuing battle, our hero faced his adversary across their two ships.

"It's over Admiral Gil.  You're coming with me at His Most Christian Majesty’s pleasure.”

“You’ll never take me alive.” shouted the Admiral as he drew his pistol and fired.

The world went black as Forbin fell to the deck and last thing he heard was a retaliatory broadside avenging his death.

Moments later Forbin’s eyes opened to a bright light and a silhouette came into view above him.

“That was a close thing you lucky devil. You must have nine lives” came a voice of who Forbin later found to be the ships physician.

Forbin’s head spun as he sat up, pushing the doctor away when he tried to make Forbin stay still.

“No, I have a job to do.”

“Can’t you see man it’s over. Look there.”

Two Admiral Gil’s stood on ships that had crashed together and both were stroking the ship’s cat as the ships finally sank below the waves. Forbin passed out again.

Days later Forbin was eating a healthy biscuit steeped in wine that the Doctor had brought him.

“Did you find Gil’s body?”

“No, I saw all the bodies and men who were rescued, but Admiral Gil was not among them.”

“Then he’s not dead and I must find him.”

“No wonder you’re so famous for always getting your man, but no. You must rest.”

“How could the fleet have let him escape?”

“I heard talk from Admiral d’Escadre that Gil’s flagship might have been a Russian submarine.

Anyway you’re a lucky man, Gil’s shot hit some of your medals that had bunched up and they deflected the pistol ball.  Your hat is ruined I afraid but I’ve rescued your medals before the crew sold them.

Can I get you anything else?”

Forbin looked up from his bloodstained medals. “Yes, I could do with a new hat. And make it fluffy.”

Well done. Mark. Brilliant

Just in case Msr’s Defoe & Brocoli need some background info for their latest blockbuster can I point out that French Naval Int has nothing to do with "borrowing" or testing rockets as this would be the job of their rival service the French Army Int Service.

Since this later service ignored about eight months of reports concerning Imperial forces and almost the whole Swedish forces marching west towards the Rhine, Mr Msr’s Defoe & Brocoli can pretty much say what they want about the rival service and have it believed.

Possible characters for future blockbusters:

- Msr M head of the Africa Station one of his major advisors is a brothel keeper and witch-queen from the West Indies. Charming-pycho and keep collection of Crocodiles in the moat of his stronghold which help negotiation.

- Msr B head of American Station. Seems to know every Inn Keeper between Cape Cod and the Cape of Good Hope, has not killed anyone for over a year and profits from legit trade now so high he may even be going legit. But if you want a cargo of best quality baltic timber or French Wine this is the man to talk too.

- Comte F head of Levant Station. Snob, friend of many at the French Court - pity his neice (mistress of King Phillip) and the French Court do not listen too him.

- Msr DT and his younger brother head of the Maritime & Baltic station. Classic Stuart Bailey character a over worked, under-paid French Civil Servent doing his best at time of crisis actually thinks France should make peace. Other leading Corsairs just believe war = profits and do not really care who's war it is or the result.

FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANT - French Corsairs do not drink Port !!!! They drink Wine, Cognac and if in the West Indies Rum. African station have tried some of the local brews but now fully understand why the mark up on Rum sent from Windies to Africa is X12.

In order to meet the Rum bill do wish people would load gold or slaves for return trip.

Stuart Bailey wrote:Just in case Msr’s Defoe & Brocoli need some background info for their latest blockbuster can I point out that French Naval Int has nothing to do with "borrowing" or testing rockets as this would be the job of their rival service the French Army Int Service.

Since this later service ignored about eight months of reports concerning Imperial forces and almost the whole Swedish forces marching west towards the Rhine, Mr Msr’s Defoe & Brocoli can pretty much say what they want about the rival service and have it believed.

Apparently the director wouldn't budge on this point. Le Comte commandeered the cart from Que's testing station in an effort to save Paris, not his fault if the crew weren't yet competent he can only do so much with what he's given. It wouldn't be a thrilling blockbuster without large explosions and devastation.

Stuart Bailey wrote:Possible characters for future blockbusters:

- Msr M head of the Africa Station one of his major advisors is a brothel keeper and witch-queen from the West Indies.  Charming-pycho and keep collection of Crocodiles in the moat of his stronghold which help negotiation.

- Msr B head of American Station.  Seems to know every Inn Keeper between Cape Cod and the Cape of Good Hope, has not killed anyone for over a year and profits from legit trade now so high he may even be going legit.  But if you want a cargo of best quality baltic timber or French Wine this is the man to talk too.

- Comte F head of Levant Station.  Snob, friend of many at the French Court - pity his neice (mistress of King Phillip) and the French Court do not listen too him.  

- Msr DT and his younger brother head of the Maritime & Baltic station.  Classic Stuart Bailey character a over worked, under-paid French Civil Servent doing his best at time of crisis actually thinks France should make peace.  Other leading Corsairs just believe war = profits and do not really care who's war it is or the result.

Duly noted by the script writer, thank you for the suggestions. Just need a war in one of those areas or some type of covert operation go public in the execution to write about

Stuart Bailey wrote:FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANT - French Corsairs do not drink Port !!!! They drink Wine, Cognac and if in the West Indies Rum.  African station have tried some of the local brews but now fully understand why the mark up on Rum sent from Windies to Africa is X12.

You can't believe everything 'they' say, plus there's a war on.

Seems Que has been successful in many Games as he is currently also employed by Imperial Nippon in Scramble, or is that a distant relation?

Obviously the Rocket Wagon was built with the same eye to design as the other technical wonders of the Academy of Natural Botanical Combat (NBC).Where an Extreme, Steam, Pressure, Recuperation, Excreting, Small, Solutions, Output machine
(ESPRESSO).Has been designed by Que. It Produces swift good-tasting coffee, but the machine is a very large riveted-affair which randomly explodes.

He has also developed the TWEAT device (Transmission; With, Exotic; Aerial; Talking Device)– the Homing Parrot. Messages are dictated to the Homing Parrot, then the bird is released to fly to its coop where it can relay the message it has been given. There are military applications of this, where telegraph lines are not available such messages can be sent.
Also, the bird comes in useful a snack for hungry soldiers.

Currently a patent is pending on a mouse trap constructed around a ,45 Colt revolver

Could well be the design for the Rocket Wagon has a lot in common with his "One, Shot, Hope, Intercepts Target Device, which has been specially developed for the Kamikaze Training School in Nippon

I do not believe it !! After all my service to France esp in the field of naval R & D sacked, disgraced, charged with membership of the Apollo brotherhood (never have been a member), banned from the court and rejected like a old glove.

First time I have ever lost 8 honour points in one turn as well.................on the bright side getting rejected by your King is not has bad as being heheaded as that would have cost 13 honour points.

Think its fair to say experiment with running a splitter French position has had mixed results and is now at an end. Probably more fun for me than the main French position who did put up with a fair amount of grief for a while. Even though I seem to have got blamed for a lot of stuff which was nothing to do with me!

Also do not believe these Spanish Bomb Ketches.............how the hell do you miss a city the size of Naples

Miss the Palace or the dockyards fair enough........but miss the whole city????? Were the crews

On the plus side with withdraw from G10 and slower withdraw from G9 will allow me to focus on one game RIB (Help!), one game Scrabble and the glorious progress of the HEIC has it slowly covers Indea in railways and cricket grounds and G7 Glori - were the full undistracted might of G7 Spain can now focus and smashing Jacobite piracy to a pulp!

Stuart Bailey wrote:I do not believe it !! After all my service to France esp in the field of naval R & D sacked, disgraced, charged with membership of the Apollo brotherhood (never have been a member), banned from the court and rejected like a old glove.

First time I have ever lost 8 honour points in one turn as well.................on the bright side getting rejected by your King is not has bad as being heheaded as that would have cost 13 honour points.

Think its fair to say experiment with running a splitter French position has had mixed results and is now at an end.  Probably more fun for me than the main French position who did put up with a fair amount of grief for a while.  Even though I seem to have got blamed for a lot of stuff which was nothing to do with me!

Also do not believe these Spanish Bomb Ketches.............how the hell do you miss a city the size of Naples

Miss the Palace or the dockyards fair enough........but miss the whole city????? Were the crews

On the plus side with withdraw from G10 and slower withdraw from G9 will allow me to focus on one game RIB (Help!),

one game Scrabble and the glorious progress of the HEIC has it slowly covers Indea in railways and cricket grounds and G7 Glori - were the full undistracted might of G7 Spain can now focus and smashing Jacobite piracy to a pulp!  

 

Not your best game. You were caught by Spain bribing and ordering around his Minister. You upset the Maritime nations with your peace proposals. You set up a rival pope, which has probably failed. No wonder France threw you under the bus. If you want to play the way you played here, you probably needed a bigger position to get away with it.?

Thanks for your participation it was fun. See you next time, enjoy the other games you are in.

jamesbond007 wrote:Not your best game. You were caught by Spain bribing and ordering around his Minister. You upset the Maritime nations with your peace proposals. You set up a rival pope, which has probably failed. No wonder France threw you under the bus. If you want to play the way you played here, you probably needed a bigger position to get away with it.

Probably for the first and only time I can find myself in agreement with this.

While it was an interesting experiment for a French position to have 2 players (and 2 players who worked very effectively in G7 together), it was always going to be difficult to reconcile Corsair ambition with Louis' lethargy.  If the roles had been reversed the game would have been very different.  In all the games Stuart plays in he does play positively and try to make things happen; he puts a great deal of work in each turn, building up characters, period role play, replying to letters and engaging with other players, etc, and that should be respected and welcomed by all players.  However, it also means he has a habit of doing sneaky things, hiding behind factions and blaming others, sticking to his own carefully constructed narratives which are reinforced by saturation propaganda on the forum.  He's been doing this for so long that however absurd his protestations of innocence are and however much evidence there is to the contrary, he has come to believe them himself.  I don't think the phrase 'Teflon Stuart' does him justice, but prefer to think of him as Icarus, at least in G10.  But while Icarus flew too close to the sun, Stuart thought he was the sun.  I hope that this marks a new phase in the development of G10 and that players who choose to play key large positions in the game will engage more positively with others and not rely on smaller positions to do their fighting for them, present diplomatic cases for them and write letters for them.

Bribing ministers or ordering them around is a relatively minor Stuart trick, as is putting words into their mouths which get printed in the newspaper as though they are ordered by another player.  If players do not correct this when it happens then they are abdicating their diplomacy to Stuart which makes it even harder for the other players to know what is really going on and what has been agreed. I guess if you try to shadow play every position (even those with players) and invent new positions if you can't bully/threaten those which won't comply with your demands, then you are going to be able to appear to control events!   For a long time this was the curse of G10 and the reason why in the earlier years of the game (before I joined) all attempts at peace negotiations collapsed.  The cost in terms of wasted time, effort, and real world money, has led many players to just give up.  The only protection against this is for all players to engage with each other and if diplomatic solutions are to be found, then to work at finding them directly, without the help (or hindrance) of untrustworthy 3rd parties who are doing their best to manipulate players for their own advantage.  

In Stuart's defence, at least in G10 he was playing a corsair - and a corsair is a form of pirate, however much Stuart may deny the connection - so playing with reference to a dubious code of honour could be said to be in character and under the rules he was rewarded for it with a higher honour score.  The same cannot be said for his actions in G7 where his crimes (committed through Martel and various other factions) are so extraordinary that bribing ministers or issuing orders for them would be considered so minor that they are barely worth appearing on the charge sheet.  It will be very interesting to see how all this works itself out over the coming months.

In fairness to the Corsairs feel it should be pointed out that Hernandez was one of their agents before he was appointed a Spanish Minister!

Basically as the mistress to the the Duc of Anjou (Bourbon claiment to be King of Spain) was Forbin neice it seemed logical and in the spirit of the game to try and give the Bourbon faction in Spain a voice. So had pro-Bourbon agents in all of the different Cortez who were pretty open about where their loyalty was. Fairly sure the Hapsburgs were doing the same thing and both sides were building up their dynastic faction in Spain to keep score of votes in Cortez, opinion of Army/Navy and spread dynastic propaganda prior to death of Carlos II.

Think my most annoying point in G10 was when after death of Carlos II and with Spain flapping around (NPC?) I reported to Paris that we had a Bourbon majority in cortez of Aragon and Navarre. The Army in Sarragossa was pro Bourbon and Barcelona was guarded on land by effectively one man and his dog. And nothing at all happened !! And I put forward some lovely idea's for flowers, church bells, fire works and a really nice coronation in Barca as well. Think this is major disadvantage of playing a small splinter position, when you do all the work and the main position does nothing with it.

Hernandez was played as a Navarre/Spanish Patriot (Bourbon faction) and economist who never did anything directly against Spain. So it was a bit of a shock when he as an open member of the Bourbon faction was appointed a Spanish Minister by a non Bourbon regency council! If the main Spanish position under either of its two main players had turned Bourbon then it would have been simple - The Duc of Anjou, his mistress and men like Hernandez would have just become "Spanish". Like the Duc of Anjou in G2 when he became King of Spain or Charles von Hapsburg in G7 when he became Carlos III.

But when the regency council started messing around with miracle badies and crowning unacknowledged "natural" sons and flipping between Popes. While Paris sent orders to play nice and we will cut a deal many of my Characters ran into a role play brick wall! Sorry but I can not just not change Characters opionions that fast. When Hernandez broke ranks with rest of council and objected to taking the bread from Spanish poor and giving it to slimpy Italian lawyers it was just the position he had held since very, very early in game. Probably rated being sacked but nothing worse but by that stage I think various Spanish characters may have been on three or even four different lists.

Final conclusion is that France is not a natural team position. Having the Corsairs as a French splinter position is perhaps a valid option for a player who wants to sub-contract some of the costs etc of the huge French position but probably gives Agema too may options to mess you around.

As for the Privateering branch of French Navy (The free enterprise society?) in G10 compared to most "Pirate/Privateer" positions I think I did ok by them and by France in material terms. In that prior to being sacked I did get prize score over 300, honour up too 26 and EH up too 8. Also turned the budget into a healthy profit so its no longer a strain on the main French Treasury. And did pretty well with the old R & D (yes a few blue prints did get borrowed! But its possible a small focused position may have advantages).

Main Franch position invested 30 Frigates, some recruits and some some cash in the splinter position. Hopefully it will get back all its recruits and cash and x4 the number of ships so a clear material win. Question is did the association do damage Franch in other ways?

As for own view - think its interesting to play a small position as it allows a lot of space for roll playing and everyone should have a go at some stage. Witness Forbin my favourite G10 character gambling on what the bomb ketches would hit in Naples. Not sure but he may have lost 16 cut out prizes gambling as they seem to have vanished from his list! Oh well probably just more general goods. However, I have decided I prefer positions which can fight their own wars. (Damn seem to have wrong one in RIB)

Like to think if the French/Corsair positions had been the other way round the Swedes/Austrians would have struggled to get across the Rhine and the the various players messing around with the legitimate line of succession in Spain would have got hammered. But with France in G10 that might have scared the Maritime powers into action, tricky position France.

France is a very big position to play So I can fully understand the reasoning behind the idea of what was attempted in L10.

The game in general in my extremely humble opinion initially at least revolves around France & its relationships with the countries around it.
The actions of the French position(s) to a degree dictate the actions of those countries. I hope players of L10 will agree this has been the case so far.

That has been the case in L10 as well I think, the reason the Imperial Army in in France is probably down to the initially expansionist actions of parts of the French position. Taking out those parts of the Hapsburg Inheritance it wanted for itself & following the defection of Genoa the attack there. & in other parts of the Italian peninsular. You reap what you sow

It is fair to point out the expansionist side of things wasn't directly done by the main French position , but by those who had agreed to share the share the responsibilities of playing part of of the larger whole. In that respect the initial results of the experiment were promising. So maybe it shouldn't be written off as a failure.

The loss of the player of Savoy, the loss/ defection of Genoa, made the project that much more difficult to continue on its course.

Yes playing an "Alliance/Team/Group hug" position brings with it its own set of challenges, that need to be resolved, Each participant has a point of view &opinion it is finding the middle ground & being willing to compromise that is the challenge

It has certainly been an interesting, at times confusing, other times flipping annoying, but most times enjoyable experience playing in the game where you decided to try out this way of playing France.

Thank you for your involvement Stuart it was a pleasure to have played in the game with you.

Game 10 arrived at the end of last week and I’m left wondering whether the Tsar got more Honour points for not being elected King of Poland than he would’ve done if he had been elected.

1. Stuart already covered the Naples situation well. Le Comte has been made persona non grata in the French Court. It was a pleasure playing the game with you Stuart, you and the colourful Le Comte will be missed in G10.

2. Sassari, held against the Spanish attacks on the Vespers who only prevailed with the help of Spanish deserters. Salerno however fell to Spain without a shot being fired.

3. Reims saw a truce enacted while French forces sought further instruction from Paris. French preparations continued with the army being made ready to besiege Reims should the order come. Perhaps the White Peace that France called for will be granted? Philippe d’Orleans has been withdrawn as French representative to the peace talks in The Hague, which other representatives and observers were starting to turn up to.

4. Imperial Hussars have been active across France and may have got carried away and exceeded their orders by burning targets that shouldn’t have been on the list.

5. Leith saw a riot of Swedish prisoners being held. Once a peaceful situation had been restored they were granted parole so long as they didn’t leave Scotland.

6. Oxford saw a Hanoverian request to recruit Mr Tull founder in the face of the law, while 14 of his seed drills were smashed by upset rural workers. London saw the Asante delegation finally find the rest they sought.

7. His Most Sacred Majesty confirmed Victor Amadeus II to be Duke of Savoy before leaving for Prussia. King Augustus of Poland had to make a short notice change of travel plans but made his way there too. The Sejm has finally re-elected Augustus in Warsaw, with the Tsar placed 2nd and Stanislaw Leszczynski 3rd.

8. A Royal wedding to start the season was held in Kumasi which saw Denkyria join the Greater Asante Union.

9. Kwangtung province saw discussions with the Dutch around what ways were available to reduce the cost of building canals.

10. Finally, we learn the nature of Misako’s master, and you don’t want to meet him on a dark night and quite possibly not during the day either!

Good luck with your other games Stuart. I only play in G10.

Forgot to add above that I smiled when I saw Mr Que had made an impression, who'da thought he was a real person after all

Perhaps he's working undercover for the RSP and foiling attacks on prominent weddings?

Of course he is real he is working for Imperial Nippon in SFE.

Admittedly so is "Eric" a friend of Thomas Glover the Engineer, the fact that no one else can see Eric is a minor problem.

Just hope Que is back in his workshop to continue his interesting development of weapons of mass destruction & better Coffee Machines.

J Flower wrote:Of course he is real he is working for Imperial Nippon in SFE.

I just thought SFE's was more of a descendant from someone but it seems technological experimentation runs in the family

It is quite possible that Que has built a time traveling device, The Will Activate Time Changing Hops Device

He certainly has some interesting ideas.

Well admittedly, mostly in the realms of explosions, death destruction, deep fried Mars bars ( same thing?)  & Parrots. With a side line Animal experiments. He is currently busy calculating the room needed to swing a cat! T

War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714 by James Falkner may be of interest to fellow players.

I bought the kindle version as laid up with Covid. A mild dose but still knocks you for six even with two jabs.

Hapsburg wrote:War of Spanish Succession 1701-1714 by James Falkner may be of interest to fellow players.

I bought the kindle version as laid up with Covid. A mild dose but still knocks you for six even with two jabs.

Bought now, 80% off, paid 3,8 euro

thank you for the suggestion.

I'm enjoying it and a bargain as you said.