Game 10

Marshal Bombast wrote:Anyone any ideas how much effect Town Watches have on banditry in above sorts of circumstances?  I know road patrols should help reduce the chance and/or impact

Think you will find that Town Watches operate in towns. In game terms they seem to make it more difficult for hostile agents to put up posters attacking the government, steal blue prints and other documents from your treasury etc, set fires etc etc. They may also give a slight help with honour as the public see their rulers working to keep law and order but this probably varies with position.

While bandits operate in the countryside and really need to he countered with police patrols of Lt Cav, Dragoons and Light Infantry.

The only circumstances in which a town watch may be of value is if your bandit problem is not purely home grown and is being helped by town based foreign agents and smuggled gold/firearms.

If you have both Town Watches, Patrols and a Bandit ptroblem might be worth a order to Agema saying that bandits need to sale loot and obtain supplies. And that your town watches are ordered to gather information on such movements of loot and supplies and track them back to locations of Bandit camps. Which are then attacked by your Dragoons. Assume Agema may give your patrols a bit of a bonus to their chance of finding and attacking bandits in such circumstances.

Banditry seems a particular problem for Rumelia and some other eastern positions esp if life gets boring. In G2 I found that best solution to possible bandit problem was to export it elsewhere. Compared to other games Rumelia in G2 never had a bandit problem perhaps because 20,000 to 50,000 of the worst potential bandits were now in Venice etc with orders to "Burn, loot and plunder". All they wanted was an opportunity in life !!

Likewise in G7 do you ever read of Banditary in Ottoman Empire, Persia, India? No the Shah of Persia has hired all the bad men and sent them too sea. For a life of Jihad and Plunder on the high sea's.

For players who do not fancy this type of full employment/social scheme for potential bad elements in their society. Can I suggest you send them out to the colonies? I mean no one cares what the poor, adventurous and daring do in North America just so long as they are not holding up coaches outside Madrid, Paris, London, Moscow etc

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Marshal Bombast wrote:Anyone any ideas how much effect Town Watches have on banditry in above sorts of circumstances?  I know road patrols should help reduce the chance and/or impact

Think you will find that Town Watches operate in towns.  In game terms they seem to make it more difficult for hostile agents to put up posters attacking the government, steal blue prints and other documents from your treasury etc, set fires etc etc.  They may also give a slight help with honour as the public see their rulers working to keep law and order but this probably varies with position.

While bandits operate in the countryside and really need to he countered with police patrols of Lt Cav, Dragoons and Light Infantry.

The only circumstances in which a town watch may be of value is if your bandit problem is not purely home grown and is being helped by town based foreign agents and smuggled gold/firearms.

If you have both Town Watches, Patrols and a Bandit ptroblem might be worth a order to Agema saying that bandits need to sale loot and obtain supplies.  And that your town watches are ordered to gather information on such movements of loot and supplies and track them back to locations of Bandit camps.  Which are then attacked by your Dragoons.  Assume Agema may give your patrols a bit of a bonus to their chance of finding and attacking bandits in such circumstances.

Banditry seems a particular problem for Rumelia and some other eastern positions esp if life gets boring.  In G2 I found that best solution to possible bandit problem was to export it elsewhere.  Compared to other games Rumelia in G2 never had a bandit problem perhaps because 20,000 to 50,000 of the worst potential bandits were now in Venice etc with orders to "Burn, loot and plunder".  All they wanted was an opportunity in life !!

Likewise in G7 do you ever read of Banditary in Ottoman Empire, Persia, India? No the Shah of Persia has hired all the bad men and sent them too sea.  For a life of Jihad and Plunder on the high sea's.

For players who do not fancy this type of full employment/social scheme for potential bad elements in their society.  Can I suggest you send them out to the colonies?  I mean no one cares what the poor, adventurous and daring do in North America just so long as they are not holding up coaches outside Madrid, Paris, London, Moscow etc

Cheers Stuart, suspected they'd be better with hostile agents etc than tackling banditry but good suggestion re tracks sales etc.

Love the idea of exporting them but given next G10 batch are likely in central Europe I'll leave that to others unless they try to export to Russia lol

Suspect town watch dogs are good for tracking spies when they get caught breaking in and for breaking up crowds too

Game 10 arrived with the King of Portugal making the only change on the honour table, moving past the King of Sweden.

1. London saw calls for parliament to have a place to sit, and a discussion was started about sending food to Spain to counter their bad harvest.

2. More ministers arrived in Amsterdam for the trade minister’s conference, though the Tuscan representative may have been pranked as he went to Westminster Palace only to find it wasn’t there.

3. Scotland sent a naval squadron to New Caledonia, let’s hope they’re fairing better than the Darien colony, though in a land where everything’s out to kill you…

4. Vienna saw another happy addition to the royal family, which may have drowned out the request from Denmark. That or translation meant the wrong kind of stud for Denmark’s needs was provided.

A, presumably, Spanish gentleman arrived at the Austrian court requesting immediate entrance. Not sure these days whether he’s part of the Austrian diplomatic corps or someone else’s.

5. For a war that ended a while ago it seems a long time before some of the forces started to leave for home. Maybe it’s because they were so tired from campaigning, they slept for months.

There was also some swapping of control in a few Polish towns between the Royalist and Regency factions. Let’s see who has the most forces to allocate to garrisoning.

6. Clarification was given that Italian states aren’t part of the Reichstag and given past reluctance to admit any new states to this august body it probably wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

7. A Co-Regent of Courland was overheard to say he trusted the wisdom of King Augustus, but let’s see what the duke, who reaches his majority next month, has to say about it.

8. Spain is set to open a banking organisation using bullion from her empire’s mines. However it was agreed that it might be better to only trust the people with a picture of a gold bar with an illegible signature underneath that may or may not hold up in a court of law.

It does seem from the response to the way the Cortez’s opinions are being treated that not all is well in the Spanish homeland. Luckily the only blood shed this month was that from the multiple bull fights across their empire.

9. Portugal saw the new young King is his finest and most virile character as he performed with many of his friends for the shocked enjoyment of the court.

As another sign of spreading his largesse a Portuguese mission arrived in Venice to teach them how to build East Indiamen. While in Khami, His Majesty’s gifts were well received and now a frigate is requested be given.

A feast to marking midsummer saw many important dignitaries and foreign training missions invited, and one conversation turned to the best shape for ship design. It would have been good to know what shape the Russian mission advocated for – on 2nd thoughts maybe I don’t want to know!

10. Sweden saw the faerie bear was actually a man in a bear suit, or was it?

Riga saw wrecks blocking the River Daugava cleared.

11. Denmark saw many important artisans take up posts in government facilities, though with some stipulation to only work for their host nation. This was reinforced by the appointment of many magistrates who would surely find one guilty if they tried to work for another nation now.

12. Danzig saw multiple fires break out across the city with little lasting damage, though we don’t know what happened in the fortress interior.

13. Graudenz saw a small Lithuanian force under Royalist control enter and demand the surrender of Regency forces. Given the previous response from the town it’s unsurprising the Royalists were given short shrift at the live end of multiple muskets before realising they weren’t welcome.

14. The Tuscan Embassy in Genoa held a reception at which the Tuscan Minister for War laid down some red lines, though stated he didn’t think there would be war with Spain. Which maybe partly why the Tuscan navy left Rappallo’s vicinity, though a nearby fort was reinforced with heavy artillery pieces.

15. Spezia saw Neopolitan forces presently there offered for the defence of the town. Seems like many units have left the Italian peninsula as Austrian troops happily travelled from there to Trieste.

Is it usual to see so many happy infantrymen? Even Russian infantry have been seen smiling and that’s most out of character, maybe there’s something in the vodka!

16. Malta saw the Monastery of St Ursula restored in another sign of a cultural and religious revival across Europe in recent months and years.

17. In Venice the Doge showed he listens to the Senate and reduced the fines proposed in recent legislation, all he needs do now is enact it.

And talk about sandwiching bad news between good, the new tax collectors seem to be taking a burden from the nobles that they didn’t see as an issue.

The Doge then went on to say how Venice would make it’s own mind up about who they’d support in any war and that actually Austria and Spain should not involve Venice at all. Adding that surely more diplomacy is required than threats and provocative language. He then went on to ask questions about the Russian troops in Trieste, before we then heard that Venice had claimed the island of Cerigo.

18. Not normally one to comment about letters in the paper but the one from His Holiness in Rome laid down the expectation of good Catholics everywhere.

While the Chancellery’s letter welcomed Russians in Trieste, it may have added further questions in Venice as to why they’re there. Though possibly not as many as the Crimean Khan offering to send Tartar squadrons to aid Saxony – what propaganda will the Regency Council make of that?

19. Cairo saw a project to build aqueducts linked to the Nile begin, while Constantinople took the Wali’s concerns about the recent trade edict to a postal vote.

Constantinople also saw a theological academy open to train clerics to spread the word of Allah more widely.

20. The expedition to Cape Disappointment found it to lived up to its name in comparison to the relative paradise they’ve found and quickly settled into at the Seattle site.

21. Blackbeard has personally paid the prize money owed to the Scottish Kidd’s sailors.

22. It appears the Dutch hired 30,000 recruits from Moghul India last year and are asking to do the same again. This may explain why Dutch trade is top in India.

Great write up as always and thanks as always for that.

Point no 4. I believe the Gentleman in question asking for assistance is Portuguese.

Point no 4. I believe the Gentleman in question asking for assistance is Portuguese.

I shall find out what he wants when Leopold returns to Vienna. Perhaps another nobleman seeking employment as an Austrian ambassador, it’s a new trend!

Google and Wikipedia are great for researching characters.

The game turn arrived this week with no changes to the honour table.

1. King William has made provision for England’s Parliament to have a place to meet and raising their opinion of him across all parties. Was this as much as the popularity increases the Emperor saw in Strassburg – who knows?

2. Scotland has ended its 0% tax rate for French merchants.

3. The Stadtholder and his wife were gracious hosts to those who attended the Trade Minister’s conference in Amsterdam. A wide variety of at times opposing views were expressed but no firm outcome for a way forward was reached.

4. Portugal saw less cultural activity than usual, maybe as the royal family were trying to move forward a wedding with the Austrian Hapsburg line? Or perhaps it was due to the charm offensive on the Rozwi?

5. Madrid’s bank is operational and new bank notes will start in circulation next month.

6. Dresden saw universal education rolled out across Saxony. Meanwhile in Berlin comments were made on how more military preparations should be made rather than more cultural pursuits!

7. Confusion abounds over Austro-Spanish lands.

His Holiness overturned what he previously said in a 1705 treaty to say that Karl VI is the rightful King in Naples and Sicily. A Spanish Cardinal has been sent to Rapallo in order to mediate the immediate return of Rapallo to Genoa.

The Empire’s position read as Rodrigo, by his own admission, is illegitimate and therefore cannot hold Milan as an imperial fief.

Spain is apparently still negotiating with Genoa over Spanish access to Milan

8. Poznan authorities gave permission for Saxon ideas to proceed but then promptly disappeared. Possibly due to Poland’s Host of Lviv being far from home and camping outside nearby Danzig.

The large Polish Army of the Centre also arrived outside Elbing fortress ready to besiege the Prussian force there. In a twist to the norm the Army’s general claimed to side with King Augustus and asked permission for his army to enter!

9. On top of the Papal States announcing a mutual defence treaty with Malta, a Venetian flotilla arrived in Valletta.

10. Anatolia saw the trade edict passed by a 2nd vote narrow margin with one state thought to be in favour given past newspaper reports effectively abstaining.

11. 8 apparently Spanish armed merchantmen sailed into Valparaiso and boarded 16 other Spanish merchants and are outstaying their welcome.

12. Seattle saw Chinese troops meet with 2 local tribes, where everyone thought there could be trade between each other’s settlements as there was plenty of space to avoid conflict.

Meanwhile recruits from Kowloon formed a Town Watch in Dutch controlled Macao, which didn’t go down well locally.

Lord Fong met with 1,000 Naval Officer’s who recently graduated from the academy and were given sextants.

13. Moghul India agreed to sell the Dutch 30,000 recruits.

14. Yokohama saw it’s covered market sink into the ground, perhaps too much sake from Japan’s previously announced alcohol monopoly was given in libation so nothing could stand up straight?

The large Polish Army of the Centre also arrived outside Elbing fortress ready to besiege the Prussian force there. In a twist to the norm the Army’s general claimed to side with King Augustus and asked permission for his army to enter!

This is a remarkable defection, if confirmed next month, and may end the revolt in Poland within months!

Hapsburg wrote:

The large Polish Army of the Centre also arrived outside Elbing fortress ready to besiege the Prussian force there. In a twist to the norm the Army’s general claimed to side with King Augustus and asked permission for his army to enter!

This is a remarkable defection, if confirmed next month, and may end the revolt in Poland within months!

Too remarkable?

Too remarkable?

Perhaps not when you consider Augustus' ever increasing honour score and Poland is surrounded by his allies.

Hapsburg wrote:

Too remarkable?

Perhaps not when you consider Augustus' ever increasing honour score and Poland is surrounded by his allies.

Point taken, just interesting word choice by Agema

Society must have taken a summer break to oversee new harvest planting with the August turn seeing no change on the honour table.

It’s a great time to see 2 or 3 new players come to light in the paper, certainly an interesting game to be playing in with nations active across the globe and gives Russia more foreign policy areas to actively consider as it was in reality. Plenty more positions for anyone else who wants to join in the game. By new player I mean may be a veteran or new player of TGOK/LGDR but the position has recently become active.
1. There’s a shiny new map of the area around the Polish Ukraine with more towns added so we know what’s happening and where better. Explains why Regency forces are able to get between towns so quickly compared to the relatively long slog the Russians have had.

2. More suggestions from the trade conference, which feels like the Stadtholder maybe trying to herd cats as there’s not much consensus yet. However, the whole paper reads like groups of nations feeling the need to pull the shutters down on others while expecting those shut out to pay for the privilege.

While not easy to get any agreement regarding trade Denmark has bucked the trend with many admirers of their new port trade facilities. Perhaps their research into Eau de Cologne will similarly take off given Johann Maria Farina’s inscentives.

3. King John of Portugal left home to visit the Holy Roman Empire, whisper on the streets is that he’s going to marry into the Imperial family. I wonder whether King John will reach Vienna before His Most Sacred Majesty. Then again maybe Emperor Leopold isn’t going home after leaving Strassburg, as he failed to arrive for his welcome back banquet.

Meanwhile marital proceedings aren’t going so well for the Hapsburgs in Naples as even ladies of the court are expressing their thoughts in public on who owns the Kingdom.

Seems to be disappointment for many ambassadors in Vienna, and wonder if Denmark’s latest request will bear more fruit than the horses. Perhaps the gift to the new born Maximilian Leopold Charles Eberhard Hapsburg was a subtle attempt at keeping the new request at the forefront of Austrian minds. Then again maybe the arrival of foreign troops in Vienna will help too.

4. Madrid saw paper money in circulation, wonder whether this will make it more profitable for buccaneers to raid Spanish shipping. I suppose it depends whether they will accept the new currency form as legal tender.

5. Amongst Bavarian talk of averting a shooting war the Saxon representative to the Imperial Diet tabled the idea of having a standing Reichsarmee, alongside a customs union within the Reich. Perhaps this is a response to many Ottoman nations implementing the 0% trade tariffs edict between each other

6. Responding to royal orders the Polish Army of the Centre left Elbing for Danzig, arriving there later that month while taunting regency forces in the area. Regency forces responded by stealing the Prussian’s lunch as they tried to enforce a blockade of Danzig.

7. Despite various comments about a shooting war being averted 3 regiments arrived in Genoa as the stalemate regarding Rapallo continued. Even the Pope’s representative was turned away on health and safety grounds.

8. Tuscany saw the opening of a Porcelain Factory,

9. Venice has begun improving roads and canals to improve internal trade links, or is this really military infrastructure?

10. His Holiness was probably hoping the good news about research into quarantine would show the world what the Papal States stand for. However, Spain’s appeal to the Court over an alleged broken treaty got more column inches as the Court decided the treaty probably wasn’t worth the paper it’s written on due to a Papal bureaucratic mix up years ago (don’t think this was the current Papal States player).

11. Malta has been seen to enforce the laws of the sea in her waters from Spanish encroachment.

12. Rumelia’s Pasha made a commentary around current circumstances, and included a wish for peace and to let bygones be bygones. Welcome to a new player.

13. The Sultan has started consulting the eyalets on whether he should sign treaties on behalf of all eyalets or whether they should each sign a treaty for their nation. I’m sure many leaders will be watching this one closely.

14. Looks like the Wali in Egypt is considering a canal from the Levant to the Red Sea which would speed up trade voyages to and from Europe and making them more profitable. That is if the project is feasible.

15. The Greater Akan Nation saw blessings with the ending of the disease affecting their army. Not sure from the way this is worded whether a new player has taken up this position, but welcome if you have.

16. Changamire Dombo II of the Rozwi has asked for a custom decorated frigate, which may start a fashionable trend across Europe. Wonder what flamboyant options some of our rulers would come up with for their royal transports.

17. Relief for Scottish New Caledonia as the ships caught in hurricanes last month made their way slowly back to port.

18. Good to see Lord Fong’s colonial expedition getting on well with the locals.

19. Lovely to hear the Manchurian Khan taking an active interest in the geo-political situation around them. Welcome to the game to the new Manchurian player.

Thanks for the write up. Quiet on the thread; I’m on holiday but back soon!

Cheers

Good to read the monthly write ups. Keep them coming and thanks for the effort.

Marshal Bombast wrote:

4. Madrid saw paper money in circulation, wonder whether this will make it more profitable for buccaneers to raid Spanish shipping. I suppose it depends whether they will accept the new currency form as legal tender.

- Ships carry very little in the way of cash of any type and the key to making a profit out of piracy/privateering is ability to turn your captured hulls, cargo and sometimes captured crews into cash without too much of a cut being taken by your fence. Along with the shocking overheads this fact explains why in Glori stand alone pirates like "Blackbeard" are hardly ever a financial success. The people who do much better are those with the backing and letters of marque etc from National Government who can sale ships and cargo for closer to full price and often have overheads taken care off.

9. Venice has begun improving roads and canals to improve internal trade links, or is this really military infrastructure?

12. Rumelia’s Pasha made a commentary around current circumstances, and included a wish for peace and to let bygones be bygones. Welcome to a new player.

- Ref points 9 & 12 with Venice getting ready for war on the western frontiers of the Ottoman Empire and still no doubt in illegal occupation of Ottoman lands what type of soft and feeble approach is being adopted by Sofia?! In my experience the Arnauts, Jannissaries, Saphi expect their Pasha's to be at least a bit macho! Show weakness and it generates bandit problems and people start cutting bits off the Empire.

Not saying you need to go too war as a Pasha of Rumelia but it helps your honour score etc if people think you know your way round a war lance. Clue the pointy end goes into the foe who is ideally Venetian. Austrians, Poles and Russians being a bit anti social.

19.    Lovely to hear the Manchurian Khan taking an active interest in the geo-political situation around them.  Welcome to the game to the new Manchurian player.

- Interesting as in theory Manchuria is the heartland of the Manchu and the Manchu Dynasty so should be rather different from a standard chin position.

The game turn arrived on Friday with no change on the honour table

1. Still no overall agreement on an outcome to the Trade Conference in Amsterdam. Seems like Austria and Spain agree with Liege-Cologne on the way forward, but not with each other? Is this why Emperor Leopold’s lands alongside Naples have banned the use of Spanish paper currency. There’s even a split of opinions within the Empire, possibly along religious lines.

Meanwhile, France appears to think 0% tax for Spain is the way to go, as do Ottoman Eyalet’s who were introducing 0% tariffs across the Ottoman Empire for each other.

Sweden has continued removing sunken ships blocking their harbour as their preferred way forward.

2. Looks like the Papacy is saving people through opening medical academies and hospitals for the poor in other nations, as well as in Rome.

3. Besancon has seen the Reichsarmee play the biggest game of sardines in the Mont Saint-Etienne Citadel. Shame there doesn’t appear to be a big enough hiding place, so it might not qualify for a world record.

Still with all the clerks overworked counting the players it might explain why they previously called the Brandenburg representative to the Reichstag a Saxon.

Overworked clerks were also blamed for the invalid treaty signed by the Papacy with Spain.

4. King John of Portugal arrived in Vienna to arrange his marriage to one of the emperor’s daughters. While I agree Maria Anna is a wonderful woman who would make any husband proud, I’m afraid she’s not going to marry his majesty who will have to settle for her equally suitable sister. Maria Magdalena would also appear to be the only sister His Majesty will meet in the fair city of Vienna.

5. Danzig saw more military movements with the Host of Lviv capturing another prominent figure in the form of King Augustus’ mistress Prinzessin von Lubomirska. I wonder whether she’ll make an impression on Herzog Ferdinand von Kettler who was captured by the host last month, and who may feel obligated to protect her while in Regency hands.

6. Turin saw the death of Duke Victor Amadeus II who is succeeded by his son under the regency of the Dowager Duchess Anne Marie d'Orleans. Welcome to who may well be a new player in Savoy.

7. In what seems to be an escalating war situation in the Levant Rapallo saw fortifications built to the north of the town.

Meanwhile Malta saw naval war games practiced, during which time the Grandmaster found time to be interviewed by Jeremiah, the overworked son of a clerk.

8. Venice saw the Doge finish discussing the final part of the Golden Book, which included families who were eligible to be promoted to other Houses in recognition of their contribution to Venice in wartime.

9. Constantinople saw the return of their beloved Sultan, who restated his commitment to spreading Islam, especially to his empire’s Shia neighbours, whom he doesn’t consider Muslim.

Rumelia seems to agree with everything the Sultan had said before, while the Wali in Cairo took time to invite the Dutch mission to look at canals in Egypt.

10. Kumasi, saw the successful introduction of the Bilberry to the crop rotation. Many other crops unfortunately didn’t take in the heat.

This success may be why the Changamire didn’t hold it against the Portuguese for asking him to pay for their gift to him!

11. Black Caesar watched as the hurricane avoided Blackbeard’s lair and whose destructive path was instead directed at shipping taking on board gold bullion. Perhaps making this East Indiaman the pirate’s next target?

Thanks for the summary.

1. Still no overall agreement on an outcome to the Trade Conference in Amsterdam.

It is going to be difficult to reach an agreement with so many participants and different proposals, but you never know!

Been thinking what wedding gift Spain can send to its friend and latest Military and economic ally King John of Portugal.

Any ideas anyone.? Thanks for any ideas and help.

That will be an interesting twist if Portugal undertook secret negotiations with Spain while arranging to marry the Emperor's daughter - cancel the wedding  

If I send a gift and the wedding is cancelled I shall expect the gift back.

What do you get the colonial power who has already got (almost) everything they could want? I mean a spice rack or set of dinner plates seem so inappropriate.

Maybe Cuba or perhaps Florida? Wrap them in some sparkly paper, with a nice card, and I am sure Portugal will be suitably impressed

Jason2 wrote:What do you get the colonial power who has already got (almost) everything they could want?  I mean a spice rack or set of dinner plates seem so inappropriate.

Maybe Cuba or perhaps Florida?  Wrap them in some sparkly paper, with a nice card, and I am sure Portugal will be suitably impressed

I bet they would be impressed. Not sure my Nobles or my honour score would be though. Perhaps I should stick to the spice rack and dinner plates.

Been thinking what wedding gift Spain can send to its friend and latest Military and economic ally King John of Portugal.

Any ideas anyone.? Thanks for any ideas and help.

A suitable wedding gift for a Hapsburg Archduchess...........the Duchy of Milan  

If true, and not a bluff, (I will wait to hear from the Portugal player) why reveal the Spanish-Portuguese alliance on the forum when it is still a secret in the game? The alliance could have been kept secret for months if not years.

[quote="Hapsburg"]

Been thinking what wedding gift Spain can send to its friend and latest Military and economic ally King John of Portugal.

Any ideas anyone.? Thanks for any ideas and help.

A suitable wedding gift for a Hapsburg Archduchess...........the Duchy of Milan  

If true, and not a bluff, (I will wait to hear from the Portugal player) why reveal the Spanish-Portuguese alliance on the forum when it is still a secret in the game? The alliance could have been kept secret for months if not years.[/quote

Yes. Didn’t think of that. Good point. I should have waited a turn. I believe the point is made in the next newspaper report. Apologies.

I think that all Military and economic alliances should be listed in game. It saves confusion and is more realistic. In real life all alliances would be recorded.or announced.

Yes. Didn’t think of that. Good point. I should have waited a turn. I believe the point is made in the next newspaper report. Apologies.

I think that all Military and economic alliances should be listed in game. It saves confusion and is more realistic. In real life all alliances would be recorded or announced.

Turn nearly finished.

I will wait for independent or Portuguese in game confirmation rather than rely on a newspaper statement or comment issued by Spain  

There were always secret treaties and alliances in those days and add to the enjoyment of the game.

The obvious question; is the Portugal player a member of the forum?

The October 1707 turn arrived a few days ago with no change to the Honour table.

1. A new map was presented for our information and, if the cartography is to be believed, I didn’t realise Genoa has a town in her lands controlled by another nation and it’s not Rapallo.

Is this, alongside the Rapallo situation, why Genoa’s called for funds to avoid bankruptcy? What will this mean for the Austrian stated support for Genoa this month?

2. Ministerial pressure is being applied in London for Westminster Palace to be reconstructed after the fire.

3. The Stadtholder presented a discussion idea for a resolution to the trade conference, while others stuck to their ideas. Still at least the Military Benevolent Fund’s grand ball was an outstanding success.

Saxony later introduced 0% tax rate for Prussian merchants, as did Russia on Courland.

4. Armies have been moving to winter quarters, while across Prussia Brandenburg services were held including to affirm the Army’s unwavering faith.

5. Munich saw the Bavarian Regent Cristoph Willibald Gluck announce a forthcoming banquet for the great and good across Europe. Perhaps the subsequent 50% tax increase on nobles and church is needed to pay for the banquet? Welcome to the new Bavarian player.

Meanwhile Turin saw the funeral of the previous Duke with a notable French delegation in attendance.

6. It seems many can’t wait for the wedding of King John of Portugal into the Imperial family and a treaty should be signed soon.

Given the Imperial statement regarding Milan, I wonder what Austria made of Spain saying they’d signed a treaty with Portugal and is this the reason the Austrian clerks can’t find the supposed Austro-Portuguese treaties for the emperor to sign?

The Danish troop in Vienna being more efficient than overworked clerks didn’t seem to care for politics as they headed home with their prize of Lipizzian horses.

7. The Grand Hetman Janus Radziwill of Lithuania passed away in his sleep this month to be succeeded by Grand Hetman Kazimieras Jonas Sapiega. Welcome to a new player.

8. The Regency Council’s garrison left Lviv under the pre agreed honours of war enabling Polish Ukrainian forces to take back control of the national capital for King Augustus.

The Council’s Host of Lviv also left the environs of Danzig, and probably with King Augustus’ Polish mistress for whom prayers were made in Dresden.

9. Rome made a statement about slavery and Catholic Dogma while preparations were being made for the visit of King John of Portugal though exact dates like the Munich banquet are yet to be firmed up.

10. Venice saw investments in lead mines made, before a banquet was held which also welcomed Prince Charles of Denmark to the capital as Denmark’s ambassador there.

11. What’s this Crimean cavalry riding out on the Russian Steppes!

Oh, I remember now, they have permission, most unusual, they’d better behave though!

12. In Constantinople, Rumelia has accepted the honour of training the Sultan’s nephew in the arts of government.

Later on conditions were laid out for any treaties with the Ottoman Empire, now the vote was passed that only the Sultan can/should make treaties on behalf of all Ottoman Nations.

Sultan Saif I of Oman said he’d be happy to ally with the Ottoman Sultan if he would help take Muscat from the Persians for Oman’s capital.

13. Egypt is looking to restore Alexandria’s past glory, including rebuilding the Great Library.

14. I’m pleased to see that Captain Astravski comported himself well when a feast in Valetta was held for him and his men was brought into question by other guests.

15. Kumasi, saw the arrival of cattle to replenish those slaughtered to contain the earlier rinderpest outbreak.

16. The Grand Vizier Muhammad Tahir of the Moghul Empire offered recruits for sale in Delhi, buyer collects. Welcome to whom appears to be a new player.

17. The Chinese colony on the Western North American seaboard seem to be settling down well and making friends with the local tribes.