SDN World 3 Commentary Thread I

[Coyote]

Annnnddd....we're finding a use for some of the less capable volunteers.

I thought they'd be used as "Mine Detectors".

[Lonestar]

I thought they'd be used as "Mine Detectors".

"Special Mining Engineers"

In all seriousness, this frees up shooters from the Manchu Army and Dominion Volunteer Army

[Coyote]

After "My Big Fat Communist Rally" in Ashkelon, more commie volunteers will go to the Soviet Union.... however, the anti-Comintern forces will receive some help from the inustrialists of the Yishuv as well.

Stay tuned.

[Czechmate]

I guess France forgot about Alsace-Lorraine, huh?

[Master_Baerne]

Not so. Germany's made considerable concessions in that area and others, so my President thought it reasonable to put the hatreds of 50 years ago behind him and make friends with his most powerful neighbor.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

The Union Army does train its recruits in the usage of gas masks. That one ex-Union Army volunteer was most likely discharged for incompetence. Off to the Special Mining Engineers with him, I guess.

[Steve]

Have they returned Alsace-Lorraine to France? No? Then prepare for a shitstorm, including the potential for the Opposition to rally enough votes in the Assembly to not only block the treaty but even bring the government crashing down.

Note that the reason this won't happen automatically is because of the German gestures, but for the revanchists such gestures aren't enough. Alsace-Lorraine is occupied French soil to them and any deal that makes it "lost forever" is to be opposed at all costs.

Furthermore, even for those not entirely revanchists, your treaty could just as easily be seen as becoming enthralled to Germany and engender opposition from that direction also. After all, what threats does France face that would require German aid to fight? If you want peace with Germany, why not merely sign a non-aggression pact? Maybe an agreement to not further fortify the border? These are all more logical and more political workable than alliance with your "main" enemy against a non-existent one.

[Czechmate]

*waves the flag of yet another french revolution*

[K. A. Pital]

120 000 volunteers gathered from various places will arrive - slowly - by end June - at the front.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is mobilizing. Just no time to make the appr. post about mass mobilization.

[Lonestar]

The Union Army does train its recruits in the usage of gas masks. That one ex-Union Army volunteer was most likely discharged for incompetence. Off to the Special Mining Engineers with him, I guess.

There's a difference between "training in the use of gas masks" and "the gas chamber". Not every country does the second one(in modern times I think only the United States actually does the "gas chamber" during boot camp)(as opposed to advanced training later on), which is why he was shocked. It's a credit that it all clicked for him so quickly. I might add that the seriousness that Dominionites take to chemical warfare training probably wouldn't be replicated in some overseas countries who haven't had large army group actions in the recent(era of chemical weapons) past.

[loomer]

Hell, Afghanistan doesn't even teach their troops how to use the damn things beyond 'put on head, breathe through tube.' and only issues them to the cavalry.

Of course, Afghanistan doesn't have any experience facing chemical weapons yet.

[Steve]

It occurs to me that the more forces you have in the Far East, the more you have to support them, even with Mongolian aid. And Mongolia directly aiding you could trigger reprisal from China. Not necessarily military, but things like barring rail traffic to them.

[Lonestar]

By the way Shinn, that is absolutely not a swipe at the Union's army. Just showing how different militaries view things through different lenses(The Dominionites, of course, being on the receiving and giving end for over a decade of mass chemical attacks).

[Raj Ahten]

And my volunteer pilots are now in Manchuria. If Beowulf or anyone else objects to the way it happened please let me know.

[Coyote]

More mouths to feed...

[Master_Baerne]

Have they returned Alsace-Lorraine to France? No? Then prepare for a shitstorm, including the potential for the Opposition to rally enough votes in the Assembly to not only block the treaty but even bring the government crashing down.

Note that the reason this won't happen automatically is because of the German gestures, but for the revanchists such gestures aren't enough. Alsace-Lorraine is occupied French soil to them and any deal that makes it "lost forever" is to be opposed at all costs.

Furthermore, even for those not entirely revanchists, your treaty could just as easily be seen as becoming enthralled to Germany and engender opposition from that direction also. After all, what threats does France face that would require German aid to fight? If you want peace with Germany, why not merely sign a non-aggression pact? Maybe an agreement to not further fortify the border? These are all more logical and more political workable than alliance with your "main" enemy against a non-existent one.

All of this is both true and insightful, and I appreciate the analysis. However, most of the ramifications have already been planned for and will be dealt with in a timely fashion.

More details, I'm afraid, would violate the State Security Act.

[CmdrWilkens]

Okay so after talking things over with Steve here is the investment scheme for the Nicaraguan Canal:

1. Total project will be 150 IBPs committed from Q3 of 1925 until the canal opens in Q1 of 1933 baring In Game events which would cause an obvious disruption (e.g. Invasion, Civil War, world wars causing material shortages, etc).
2. There are a total of 100 shares available and all shares are voting shares.
3. Mexican Investment
   1. Mexico will invest 50 IBPs in Class A shares at 1 IBP per share.
   2. In return at the completion of the project Mexico will receive +10% IBP in PT and +25% IBP in WT.
   3. These bonuses will only apply so long as the canal remains open and navigable (see above IRGT invasion, civil war, etc)
4. Outside Investment
   1. The remaining 50 shares will be in Class B stocks which can be "purchased" by a commitment of 2 IBPs per share.
   2. A nation may purchase up to 10 shares (20 IBP).
   3. Each share will receive a bonus of +0.5% PT and +2.5% WT IBPs. (subject to "c" above for Mexico)
   4. A maximum stake (20 IBPs for 10 shares) would yield +5% PT and +25% WT IBPs.
5. Class B shares can be "sold" but they can not be abandoned. In other words once you "buy" one then you have to continue spending the IBPs unless you can find someone else to take on your stake. If you "sell" you stake thusly you will lose you share of the bonus upon completion entirely.
6. Auction of the shares will occur via PM to me, it doesn't need to be in character (though it can be if you want ). I reserve the right to not sell the shares to you (enemies of the Church and pretenders to the throne of New Spain begone) however baring a no-sale for cause the shares will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Those who have already contacted me as interested will be the first comers. Announcement as to who has purchased shares will be made once all are sold.

Now Mexico is getting a smaller per IBP return because the Class A shares have to cover all the maintenance on the canal (this was designed so that I don't get some ridiculous bonus out of this). The reward per share is also why Steve and I agreed to cap the possible contributions outside nations can make. This project would in real life be a massive undertaking that could reap billions but for balance purposes it shouldn't allow one person to reap all of those benefits.

[K. A. Pital]

It occurs to me that the more forces you have in the Far East, the more you have to support them, even with Mongolian aid. And Mongolia directly aiding you could trigger reprisal from China. Not necessarily military, but things like barring rail traffic to them.

Blockade of a neutral nation is frankly very close to an act of war. There's a reason why US corporations managed to sell oil to Nazi Germany through subsidiaries and through Spain - speaking tough and being tough is two different things. Now, of course that's left to China's own decision.

And yeah, I have a lot to feed. Probably have to cut down exports of grains to all of Europe except my direct neighbors (Byzantium and Poland). The European nations can thank their Manchu "friends" for that, but it's only natural in case of a war and mobilization.

[Steve]

True, Stas, but at the same time Mongolia, if it permits the Soviets to use its rail lines and territories or provides military material to the Soviets, is also not entirely innocent, and refusing trade to them over Chinese rail lines would only be natural. It would, of course, force Mongolia to either commit to all-out war or to accede to Chinese demands, but that's what makes things interesting.

[K. A. Pital]

Hmm. Well as I gathered, Mongolia does not permit Soviet forces to pass over it's territory (otherwise it couldnt' claim to be neutral, usually stationing enemy forces in your nation is a prime pretext for war). It just ships us stuff (like food and arms). Moreover, that has the veneer of trade, even if it's really a form of military lend lease.

Also, how much IBP increase one gets from wartime and what generally I get from mobilization?

[Lonestar]

And various newspaper ads have been taken out. I am assuming that in some countries the ads won't see the light of day.

[Steve]

Check your Economy score. It tells you how long you can be mobilized before the strain is too great on your economy and give you points.

IOW, if you had a base of 100 IBPs and an Economy of 3, mobilization would give you 175 IBPs and 3 years before your economy begins to implode. And that would be Bad.

Now, if you have Economy above or below 3 you have a peacetime modifier. That does not count. IOW, if your Economy is a 5 and Industry a 3 you'd have 330 peactime Industry altogether from the 10% boost, that extra 30 points doesn't count. Rather it'd be 300 + 75% (225) = 525 for wartime IBP.

[Norade]

Could we get the time line added to the rules wiki?

[Steve]

I'll mark when each game quarter begins for the next few IRL months I guess.

[K. A. Pital]

What if I have 400 IBPs - how much does that give in wartime? Doubling it?

EDIT: Nevermind, got it. Stupid my.