Thirdfain wrote:You know, Adrian, the Parliamentary Empire is a fantastic ally if one is looking for power, wealth, and influence. Great nations have risen and ruled vast territories by making themselves useful to the City and Empire.
Now, if you are looking for lame things like peace and goodwill, then I'd just keep out of Crobuzon's way altogether. In fact, I'd keep out of the STGOD completely
I note that Victory is not listed among the Partliamentary Empire's virtues. Naturally this is a monopolized liscenced and trademarked product of the Khar Imperium.
I hope that the Parliamentary Empire will obviously agree that a mutual partnership could be beneficial to both of us (although naturally one must pay at very least lip service to the Emperor since he is the ruler of the Universe, including the portions which you currently control and those other backwater non-Khar areas.).
Naturally you would want your own Victory, wouldn't you? And since the Khar Imperium cannot lose, where else to get the highest quality product?
Thirdfain wrote:You know, Adrian, the Parliamentary Empire is a fantastic ally if one is looking for power, wealth, and influence. Great nations have risen and ruled vast territories by making themselves useful to the City and Empire.
The Republic is going to talk with X-2 as soon as they contact and establish nice relations with enough people. At least that was the original plan. When that LC sitting in Hubira realizes that X-2 is attacking the Silver Flame, the Republic will probably send ambassadors in a hurry.
I simply find it humerous that everyone is sending ships AROUND one of the largest collections of inhabited worlds, a huge market that's already engaged in lucrative contracts with a number of free traders, to approach a tiny, obscure nation which doesn't even have a CONCEPT of commerce (I'm talking about the Diem-Noiy here.) I dunno about you folks, but that seems a little bizarre.
-edit-
X-2? WTF? I assume you mean Crobuzon, but why "X-2?"
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Around? Check the map again, I stopped just short of you. The Republic wants to have some influence with the nations between it and the Empire before going to contact them.
X-2? WTF? I assume you mean Crobuzon, but why "X-2?"
You should pay more attention. Look at the fourth paragraph. The Republic doesn't know they're called Crobuzon yet. That reminds me, what was the Ghosthead Empire's real name? The Mekidar will probably be asking for them when they do show-up. I'd preffer if you'd PM me the answer, but you can post it if you want.
As for the Ghosthead Empire's real name, I don't know. Feel free to make up whatever you want.
As for "Around", I was thinking of those nations which *did* go all the way around Crobuzon to get to the Diem-Noiy. Yours was not necessarily included.
-edit- A small point of contention: The teardrives used by the Parliamentary Empire are quite unlike whatever methods the Ghosthead used for transportation, so identifying "X-2" with the Ghosthead Empire would not be entirely accurate.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Thirdfain wrote:As for the Ghosthead Empire's real name, I don't know. Feel free to make up whatever you want.
Alright, I'll see if I can steal something from some fantasy 'verse.
As for "Around", I was thinking of those nations which *did* go all the way around Crobuzon to get to the Diem-Noiy. Yours was not necessarily included.
Diem have come in contact with two nations. Both of them are in a direction opposite to the Empire. You really should pay more attention.
A small point of contention: The teardrives used by the Parliamentary Empire are quite unlike whatever methods the Ghosthead used for transportation, so identifying "X-2" with the Ghosthead Empire would not be entirely accurate.
I'm sorry, it's just that you implied the Ghosthead were uber awesome at Thamaturgy. I assumed that their drives would fuck around with the fabric of reality in a manner similar to those used by Crobuzon.
I'm sorry, it's just that you implied the Ghosthead were uber awesome at Thamaturgy. I assumed that their drives would fuck around with the fabric of reality in a manner similar to those used by Crobuzon.
Sure, far better at it than the poor Crobuzoners, who are pretty much playing around with the remnants. To give you an idea, Crobuzon's usage of teardrives and thaumaturgy for space travel is sort of like a kindergardener using expensive peices of lab equipment as building blocks and beakers as pudding bowls. I'll get more into the Torque and it's relation to the Ghosthead later- bear in mind that they more or less *created* thaumaturgy by manipulating the very rules of physics in the region.
Diem have come in contact with two nations. Both of them are in a direction opposite to the Empire. You really should pay more attention.
You and the wossnames, Nephty's empire. She at least had to ignore the closer and much larger Crobuzon...
Alright, I'll see if I can steal something from some fantasy 'verse.
Feel free. Too much detail, however, spoils everything.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Actually I only contacted one race, the other contacted me. After the first contact any in-transit probes were recalled and all border outposts were set to devote most avalable resources to detection rather than studying the systems they are in.
I've been talking with Spyder about occupation and annexation. I've put some ideas on the table regarding the worth of conquered systems.
Basically, I figure you'd get 50% of an annexed nation's monthly production added to yours assuming the territory was well-garrisoned. the figure would fall to 25% a month if the territory was poorly garrisoned, or if player-run or supplied guerillas were in action. The figure would fall even lower to 10%, in the event that said guerillas were continuously effective or the occupation's responses weak.
Thoughts?
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
I don't know, if you annexed the whole dammed thing I don't see why you'd only get 50%. I'd set it up 75-50-25-10.
Can someone take over the Silver Flame's diplomatic arm? I have this brilliant idea but... damn, I hope Glimmervoid didn't have a Grand Piano fall on him or something.
Actually, on second thought it may be an idea of staggering stupidity. That possibility makes me want to try it out even more. Probably won't get the chance though.
Adrian Laguna wrote:I don't know, if you annexed the whole dammed thing I don't see why you'd only get 50%. I'd set it up 75-50-25-10.
Can someone take over the Silver Flame's diplomatic arm? I have this brilliant idea but... damn, I hope Glimmervoid didn't have a Grand Piano fall on him or something.
Actually, on second thought it may be an idea of staggering stupidity. That possibility makes me want to try it out even more. Probably won't get the chance though.
Infrastructure destroyed in the assault, low workforce morale, unwilling labour, sabotage, increased policing costs. I think 50% is pretty generous.
Respectfully, Spyder, there's no way your bombers are going to start the engagement within the effective range of their capship missiles. They'll need to close range, and that whole distance will place them under the fire of both the escort and the battlecruiser; I'll point out that the big guns on the Stevanaphulis probably won't sound once the whole engagement. That's what tertiary and secondary batteries are for.
Since it seems you are having your fighters launch missiles before closing any distance (and taking the attrition losses to the squadron such a maneuver would cost), I'll assume you're launching out at the very edge of their effective range, with a corresponding decrease in effectiveness.
Total point cost for this section of the engagement is:
I know you're not going to fire the larger turrets. Launching projectiles at range just makes them easy to intercept by your point defenses. The purpose of the excercise was to give your point defenses more to shoot at while the fighters closed. And respectfully, you would have shot past them to destroy the freighter. If they're out of range, they wouldn't be out by far.
I was, I'll admit, under the impression that the bombers were somewhat further away from the initial meeting with the freighter.
Additionally, I was also working on the assumption that bombers carry a small number of very powerful warheads, and that those 20 rounds represented their total striking power (hence the significant damage of the two impacts, I based the effect on the assumption that an impact of all 20 rounds would have killed or crippled the Stevan.)
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Spyder wrote:I know you're not going to fire the larger turrets. Launching projectiles at range just makes them easy to intercept by your point defenses.
Not to be presumptuous, but isn't that what energy weapons and / or sheer volume of fire supposed to compensate for?
The purpose of the excercise was to give your point defenses more to shoot at while the fighters closed. And respectfully, you would have shot past them to destroy the freighter. If they're out of range, they wouldn't be out by far.
Not to be presumptuous, but isn't that what energy weapons and / or sheer volume of fire supposed to compensate for?
Are you referring to the point defense or the fighter weapons? The fighters are too small to carry energy weapons of sufficient power to harm a battlecruiser, and energy weapons aren't effective at the ranges a missile can be fired from. At a quarter AU, light takes seconds to travel to target- the slightest movement of the defending ship, and the shot is missed by a mile. So, at the time of launch, the fighters were simply out of range for STL weaponry to be effective.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
What ranges are we dealing with here? I was thinking low light seconds. I mean, for combat in general. For the first shots fired in the Crobuzon-Silver Flame War it is definitely much less.
Thirdfain wrote:
Are you referring to the point defense or the fighter weapons? The fighters are too small to carry energy weapons of sufficient power to harm a battlecruiser, and energy weapons aren't effective at the ranges a missile can be fired from. At a quarter AU, light takes seconds to travel to target- the slightest movement of the defending ship, and the shot is missed by a mile. So, at the time of launch, the fighters were simply out of range for STL weaponry to be effective.
If we realistically apply reactor energy to fighters then there is literally no use for them but for fighting other fighters. This is a rather common Sci-Fi bug.
At last in the Khar Universe, Fighters would carry capital-grade (although weaker) weaponry sized down by removing much of the forcefield extension machinery nescessary to achieve long ranges with Khar Shieldbeams, making them at least somewhat effective in large numbers against ships.
However, since a Khar is too valuable to put inside of a rickety fighter and slave races aren't really trustworth with gigantic laser guns, the Khar don't have any currently.
I'm not particularly involved at the moment, nor do I have any pressing wars or need for USSF expansion, so is there something else I can do with my 10% increas?
You don't have to spend them right away. We should probably restrict the increases to active powers though. We can make an exception this time around because I don't think anyone's thought about this yet, but what I'd like to avoid is having people dissapear for months on end while building up points without threat of attack.
Not to be presumptuous, but isn't that what energy weapons and / or sheer volume of fire supposed to compensate for?
Are you referring to the point defense or the fighter weapons? The fighters are too small to carry energy weapons of sufficient power to harm a battlecruiser, and energy weapons aren't effective at the ranges a missile can be fired from. At a quarter AU, light takes seconds to travel to target- the slightest movement of the defending ship, and the shot is missed by a mile. So, at the time of launch, the fighters were simply out of range for STL weaponry to be effective.
I was thinking more along the lines of capital ship batteries firing missiles with warheads analogous to nuke-pumped lasers. Much harder to intercept since they don't have to get nearly as close to do damage, and being able to shoot a lot of huge weapons at once is always a relatively good thing.
"preemptive killing of cops might not be such a bad idea from a personal saftey[sic] standpoint..." --Keevan Colton
"There's a word for bias you can't see: Yours." -- William Saletan
Spyder wrote:You don't have to spend them right away. We should probably restrict the increases to active powers though. We can make an exception this time around because I don't think anyone's thought about this yet, but what I'd like to avoid is having people dissapear for months on end while building up points without threat of attack.
Apologies for that; I'll try to be more active but have some time constraints.
