(beginning of PZ3 Blog)
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Mon Nov 08 21:04:26 2004
Welcome to PZ III Blog - the Official Blog for Neopololitan Empire 2004
Hosted by Doug Bungholio
> BULLETIN from Bungholio, (#0) dated Mon Nov 08 21:04:30 2004
Country beep (#14) has downgraded their relations with you to "At War"!
Diplomatic relations with beep downgraded to "Hostile".
> Telegram from PCLoadLetter, (#10) dated Tue Nov 09 05:15:36 2004
testing 1 2 3. tap tap tap is this thing on?
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Tue Nov 09 06:05:24 2004
Dear Blog,
Pfftthpt. Luke just broke up with Julie on The OC. Well, it
waswas a bad idea anyway! Too bad Marissa found out about it
anyway :-(
The OC isis a great show, but let me point out why that isis. See,
OC hours isis prime Empire playing time. Gf watches OC, Waswas
gets to play Empire. Before The OC, it waswas Beverly Hills 90210
and Melrose Place. Thank you Aaron Spelling!
You also get the benefit of second-hand The OC (asas in the second-
hand smoke variety). By osmosis, you get all the soapy gossip on
the show and thusly, you have something to talk about with all the
ladies at work the next day! How good isis that!!?!?!!
Ok, ok, seriously. My strategy for this game:
1. ALLY_BLEED = 80% so let everyone else make all the tech during
the opening phase. I'll lag in tech at first, but save a sweet bundle
of cash. Don't get too far behind.
2. Use the cash to make a mighty fleet of low-tech ships and take
out some fodder early and quick. Some ripening fodder already, and
it's pretty clear who they are. Dear Bungy, please, please, please
put some fodder close to my shores. If you didn't, move
3. Use the cash to make lots of bridges. Make lots of hcm for that.
Bridges pay off in 4 updates, then earn $500 each per update. I'mi'm
gonna build 50 of them right around my start island. Cha ching.
Until next time, Waswas
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Tue Nov 09 11:58:39 2004
Dear Mr Blog,
Please stop trying to look down my blouse!
Harlot
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Tue Nov 09 15:08:41 2004
Dear Mr. Blog,
Please tell your sheparding friend Bungy to stop e-mailing
me photos of my self that he has doctored up. His obsession with
me wearing tight fitting wool sweaters is starting to scare me
and the other girls in the sorority.
Harlot
> Production Report dated Tue Nov 09 23:00:50 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Wed Nov 10 04:11:19 2004
****************************************
* *
* LOST *
* $1000 REWARD *
* PLEASE HELP ME *
* *
* I LOST MY PET FODDER *
* *
* PLEASE HELP ME FIND HIM *
* HERE IS HIS PICTURE *
* *
* __ *
* .-:' `;-`-._ *
* (_, ( ) *
* ,'o"( ) )} *
* (__,-' ( ) ) *
* ( ) *
* `-'._.--._.-' *
* ! ! ! ! *
* *
* ANSWERS TO "NEWBIE" *
* *
* PLEASE "TELE WASWAS" *
* WITH DIRECTIONS TO *
* FIND HIM *
* *
****************************************
> Production Report dated Thu Nov 11 03:01:57 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Thu Nov 11 06:55:35 2004
Hey Blog,
Made contact with PCLoadLetter today. Not fodder I was hoping for. Dang!
PCLoadLetter? What the fuck does that mean???
I have made several offerings to the gods for a bountiful fodder harvest.
Dear
Bungy, please put a few Johnnylands or waleses nearby.
I should get a bead on my other nearest neighbors in the next 2-3
updates.
Building easy-bridges now and lots of ships. frg and a few fb. Tech is
about 80%
of the world average and increasing. I'm guessing that I am about 1-ish
updates
behind in tech production, not more than 2.
Planning for first task forces. Will be building cavs in four updates,
probably at
least one update behind the tech leaders. cavs+frg+cs plus tt to follow.
Wanna get
there fast.
Gotta find the fodders soon!
Here fodder, fodder, fodder. Heeeere boy. *whistles* Heeeere
foooddeeer...
Waswas
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Thu Nov 11 20:26:07 2004
***********************************************
* Unattached dom country seeks sub fodder for *
* invasion, pummeling, rape and pillaging. *
* Discrete inquires only. Contact "Waswas" on *
* 1-800 TEL WASWAS. *
***********************************************
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Fri Nov 12 00:38:16 2004
Dear Blog,
Work is boring, so I designed my own evil empire business card. This, I
can
hand out to potential collaborators or conquests when I meet them.
Hopefully,
it'll get a chuckle out of them, but I'll settle for a smile.
**********************************************
* *
* *
* *
* WASWAS EVIL INDUSTRIES *
* Specializing in regime change, *
* liberation and corporate profits. *
* *
* *
* Dr. I. Waswas, CEO 8 Lichen Lane *
* 1-800 TEL WASWAS Frenkel, 4218 *
* w@swas.com USW *
**********************************************
Sending one to PCLoadLetter? What the Fuck is that? (whom I've already
met.)
Yours truly, Waswas
> Production Report dated Fri Nov 12 07:00:40 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from PCLoadLetter, (#10) dated Fri Nov 12 07:27:12 2004
I learned something new about WinACE today. I was poking around with it
trying to see if there was some way to get rid of the ghost units on my
screen. After a few tries, I figured out how to make the clear command
under the file menu do it. What I didn't notice is that the default
behavior is to refresh the database with several intelligence gathering
commands, one of which is "spy *". I now have 78 BTU and will be signing
off for a while...
> Production Report dated Sat Nov 13 11:00:53 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Sat Nov 13 12:36:27 2004
Dear Blog,
Struck fodder! Hegemon seems a good target, no expansion islands to his
credit.
In fact, I have some of one of his nearby round one. That gives me a
pretty
good bead on the layout of his home island (scissors). It also gives me a
launching point close enough for forts and planes to be effective.
Now, gotta get there. Calling all cars, calling all cars.
RimFire friendly on the SW side. Also found Sunnydale small round island
(I think)
More later, it's 4:30 am. Gf is not going to be happy - the sneak into
bed never
seems to work...
Was
> Production Report dated Sun Nov 14 15:01:14 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> BULLETIN from Bungholio, (#0) dated Sun Nov 14 16:46:08 2004
Country EmpireKing (#13) has downgraded their relations with you to "At
War"!
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Sun Nov 14 21:02:00 2004
Dear Blog,
I'm bored at work again.
Went to the empire doctor. He says I have an affliction. It's common to
many empire
men and that I should not feel so bad about it. He said it can be
treated, but
I'm not so sure. Oh Blog, what am I to do???
It's called empotence. Suffers have, emmm, difficulty getting it up the
power chart,
no matter how hard they fantasize about pillaging their neighbors and
raping their
neighbors' sheep. They can't get it up to the top of the chart no matter
how many
sexy, half naked newbies and fodders there are close by. Blog, I'm so low
on the
power chart, it's absolutely killing my self esteem. *weep* *sob*
I'm in a program now. Hopefully it will make things better. I hope so.
I'm building
frigates. I'm building cargo ships and cavalry. I've got some new guns
and shells.
I have lots of mil. I'm starting to feel better now, but the doctor says
I have to
finish the treatments. He says when I'm done, Hegemon will be all mine
and I will
surely rise to the top of the power chart.
The doctor is also referring me to his psychologist friend to help me
with another
problem that I have. Sector envy. I can't stand it when anyone has more
sectors than
me. Really makes me angry and upset. I almost fired on PCLoadLetter's
ship, I'm so
pissed off right now.
I have a feeling that my treatment is going to be another "program". More
of the same,
but with bigger and better toys. Arty. Yay! Heavy cruisers. Oh boy! Light
bombers.
I'm wet! RimFire and I are chatting about some group thearapy over at
Novaland. And
there's still one more mystery neighbor with good pummel potential. I
will know more
about him tomorrow.
Was
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Mon Nov 15 08:57:22 2004
Dear Blog,
Bluffed Hegemon into leaving me the 7-sector island up close to his start
island (sorry Hege). 8 frg + 1 cs on the way. 4 cav building up now, arty
starting
next update. More ships and lands to follow.
D-day in 4 updates from now...
Was
> Production Report dated Mon Nov 15 19:01:27 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Tue Nov 16 23:01:39 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Thu Nov 18 03:00:10 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from beep, (#14) dated Thu Nov 18 03:11:35 2004
@@@@@@@@@@@!@@@@@@@@!@@@@!@!@@@!@@@@!@@@@!@@@@@@@@@@!@@@@!@@@@!@@@@@@
!@!@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!@@@@!@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!@@@@@!@@@@@@!@@@@!@!@@@@@!@@@@
!!@@@@@@@@@@!!@@@@@@@@@!@@@@@@@@@@@
- Casualties -
Yours: 149
Theirs: 25
Papershuffling ... 26.1 B.T.U
You have been defeated!
well... that certainly helps my budget a bit
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Thu Nov 18 03:36:20 2004
Does being on top of the power chart make me look fat?
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Fri Nov 19 00:58:12 2004
Dear Blog,
Thistle has joined Waswas, so new country name - FarFarAway.
Plans for Hegemon are developing - about 8 frg/2 ls/2 cs and 12 lands for
the
inital breech assault. We have capacity to make mil and lands on small
gum-drop
island 3 sectors away.
I'm guessing that he has positioned his forts on the corners of his 6-
sided country,
one sector deep. Presently, we're going in through his (lightly defended)
plains sectors,
hopefully adjacent to his (hopefully lightly defended) forts. If we can
snag 2 forts,
we can hold off for long enough to grab a toehold and push in.
Building a fort on gumdrop within firing range of his t^Hcoast, so we'll
do the
usual ironing and hopefully get a harbor up and running across the
update. 12 land
units arriving just in time, mixture of linf/cav and art.
The goal is to get the first cap sack and a phat bank. Distributing
opiates to the masses
no to make them real happy.
Saturday, 11 am update, btw.
Bungy, Ski drop in for the update... see how it goes.
> Production Report dated Fri Nov 19 07:00:18 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Sat Nov 20 09:50:46 2004
Praises be to Bungholio for this gift of most delicious roast mutton,
Anguiron style, to feast upon.
Praises be!
> Production Report dated Sat Nov 20 11:02:05 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Sat Nov 20 12:08:26 2004
Cap sack report:
First cap sack by Harlot on Anguiron.
Harlot just took Anguiron's capital and gained $8762 Sat Nov 20 11:03:59
2004
Second sack:
FarFarAway just took Hegemon's capital and gained $11285 Sat Nov 20
11:19:19 2004
> Production Report dated Sun Nov 21 15:02:18 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Mon Nov 22 19:02:09 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Tue Nov 23 23:02:19 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Nov 23 23:13:04 2004
Third Sack:
Partimers just took RapedByFFA's capital and gained $8503 Tue Nov 23
23:12:30 2004
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Nov 23 23:32:40 2004
Fourth Sack (and first country to get 2 sacks) :
FarFarAway just took wales's capital and gained $14938 Tue Nov 23
23:30:37 2004
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Wed Nov 24 04:09:24 2004
Dear Blog,
Long time no writing. Busy at work and home and also working over Hegemon
and wales.
Everything went according to plan. Hegemon fought back a little and gave
up. wales
did the same. We got a cap sack out of both and the extra ~$25K really
came in handy.
The assimilation of Hege is nearly done, just a bit of che, and the
sectors are starting
to turn loyal. We gave away free plasma screen TVs and beer...
Hege's bank making a big difference and we will have wales' bank after
next update. 1000+
bars in total. Capured one of Johnnyland's coastal forts and may get his
bank. Hope I
don't have to shell it (sorry Shakespeare).
Partimers - you guys are pretty cool.
PCLL - good idea the uw swap scheme if we can ever get together online to
carry it out
Nova - a bit trigger happy, you might be next...
Sunnydale - annoying little bugger sinking my frigates. You might be next
too.
RimFire - WinACE dude
EmpireKing - love your attitude. Looks like you're dug in like a tick on
a dingo.
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Wed Nov 24 04:09:35 2004
Deciding on next target is a bit tougher. Part and PC off the list for
being cool and
cooperative. Rim off the list, also cooperating in uw production.
That leaves:
Johnnyland - too far, Shakespeare already munching there.
Nova - far, middie, Rim cooperation
Sunny - close to Hege (lots of gear already there), Part cooperation
EmpireKing - don't even know where he is, but am considering verbal
attacks anyway
I think it's going to be Sunny, if Part agrees, maybe even if not.
Now, let's see, how am I going to spend down all the income we're
getting...
Donkey
ps. for the record, there is some good fodder around us, yes, but also we
made some
good choices about early builds and tech production that allowed us to:
1. find them fast
2. deliver units there and 3. have reinforcements arriving when needed.
> Production Report dated Sat Nov 27 11:01:50 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Mon Nov 29 05:01:41 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Tue Nov 30 23:00:16 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Nov 30 23:22:18 2004
Fifth cap sack:
Shakespeare just took Johnnyland's capital and gained $14231 Tue Nov 30
23:03:08 2004
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Wed Dec 01 08:03:45 2004
Sixth sack:
Harlot just took Tiki's capital and gained $26203 Wed Dec 01 07:02:43
2004
> Production Report dated Thu Dec 02 17:00:23 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Thu Dec 02 18:30:56 2004
Seventh sack:
FarFarAway just took wales's capital and gained $11236 Thu Dec 02
17:30:34 2004
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Fri Dec 03 21:13:22 2004
EK's the first time I ever attacked someone who had more units
than sectors. I was quite reticent, but when the Oracle speaks, you must
listen.
Didn't expect much success. Praises be for granting me the knowledge of
tactics.
Sure will miss the "King" when he's gone.
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Fri Dec 03 21:41:00 2004
I'll never understand the fascination some people have with
linfs. Not complaining at all tho. Hope it continues.
> Production Report dated Sat Dec 04 11:01:05 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Mon Dec 06 05:00:51 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Dec 07 08:50:22 2004
Eighth Cap Sack:
Shakespeare just took Johnnyland's capital and gained $7436 - Fri Dec 03
09:36:29 2004
Ninth Sack:
FarFarAway just took wales's capital and gained $6243 - Sat Dec 04
11:02:05 2004
Tenth Sack:
FarFarAway just took wales's capital and gained $1691 - Sat Dec 04
21:12:06 2004
Eleventh Sackital:
PCLoadLetter just took EmpireKing's capital and gained $0 - Mon Dec 06
06:38:58 2004
> Production Report dated Tue Dec 07 23:02:28 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Dec 07 23:10:37 2004
Ok, normally I don't write to my own Blog, but this has just got to
be done. Last update, the only country to reach tech 125 was Nova.
So what did he do? He build only ONE jf1. He didn't try to sell
them to an ally or sell them on the trade. Guys, come on! If you
are the only guy able to make something as precious as these, you
can easily charge a mint for them. I'd guess 10%'ers could have
easily sold for $400 a pop on the trade, if you were the sole source.
And you could play this as a bargaining chip for a larger neighbor to
keep you alive and under his protective custody, in exchange for
providing him war tech toys.
-Bungy
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Dec 07 23:33:52 2004
Sack #12:
FarFarAway just took wales's capital and gained $1099 Tue Dec 07
23:04:15 2004
(there has got to be a limit for how many times one country can sack
the same guy, every update?)
> Production Report dated Thu Dec 09 17:00:11 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Sat Dec 11 11:00:36 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from BlackBox, (#7) dated Sat Dec 11 12:30:18 2004
By hook and by crook, FarFarAway is the first country to 300 sectors.
Harlot, that slut, is still higher on the power chart. Bitch. I surely
thought
capturing 1500 bars from Sunnydale would put us ahead. If not that, then
capturing 1000 sh
ells, certainly.
She *must* be shagging the deity. Fess up Bungy.
Donkey
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Sun Dec 12 20:14:07 2004
I'm getting all excited and wet over the inevitable world war.
Hopefully the boys will be up to it.
> Production Report dated Mon Dec 13 05:01:46 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Mon Dec 13 08:08:13 2004
sack #13:
Shakespeare just took Dorsai!'s capital and gained $15422 Sun Dec 12
14:48:47 2004
> Production Report dated Tue Dec 14 23:02:31 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Tue Dec 14 23:41:18 2004
sack #14:
FarFarAway just took Raistmiche's capital and gained $43209 Tue Dec 14
23:40:20 2004
(wow! very large $$$$$$$ on that one!)
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Wed Dec 15 07:54:46 2004
Sack #15:
FarFarAway just took Sunnydale's capital and gained $8760 Wed Dec 15
00:20:00 2004
> Production Report dated Thu Dec 16 17:00:40 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Fri Dec 17 08:07:19 2004
Sack #16:
Shakespeare just took Dorsai!'s capital and gained $0 Thu Dec 16
17:09:23 2004
> Production Report dated Sat Dec 18 11:02:35 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Sat Dec 18 13:36:25 2004
sack #17:
Harlot just took Nova's capital and gained $0 Fri Dec 17 12:36:41 2004
sack #18:
ULKH just took Dorsai!'s capital and gained $0 Sat Dec 18 11:32:21 2004
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Sat Dec 18 20:32:26 2004
Nice to play in a game for once that seems like it won't peter out.
> BULLETIN from Bungholio, (#0) dated Sun Dec 19 10:45:39 2004
Country ULKH (#12) has downgraded their relations with you to "Hostile"!
> Production Report dated Mon Dec 20 05:02:13 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Tue Dec 21 23:02:21 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Thu Dec 23 17:00:17 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Mon Dec 27 05:02:25 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Tue Dec 28 23:00:50 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Thu Dec 30 17:00:29 2004
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Bungholio, (#0) dated Thu Dec 30 18:51:25 2004
Sack #19:
ULKH just took Nova's capital and gained $0 Tue Dec 21 23:10:46 2004
Sack #20:
FarFarAway just took Nova's capital and gained $0 Thu Dec 23 17:06:21
2004
Sack #21:
Shakespeare just took PCLoadLetter's capital and gained $1554 Wed Dec 29
11:05:35 2004
Sack #22:
Shakespeare just took PCLoadLetter's capital and gained $1160 Thu Dec 30
17:33:48 2004
> Production Report dated Mon Jan 03 05:02:28 2005
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:31:33 2005
First Blog report from Leutonia. Post update #37.
Our status as a neutral remains stable. Harlot, Shakespeare and
ULKH are still unaware regarding our friendly position with what
they term "the dark side" of FarFarAway, beep and Partimers. Our
mildly strategic position defending beep's flank offers some
protection for beep, the weakest of the 'dark side' coalition.
We took over this country at Doug's request when the original
despot of Leutonia bowed out of the game. Since then, we've
managed to live through the deaths of 11 other nations, and
will now finish at least in the top third of nations. That's
not worthy of a Rude Dog award, as we've not attacked anyone
except in self defense, but it's pretty cool nonetheless.
Tiki attempted to take an island off of us earlier. We knocked
him off very easily, and he came under attack from Harlot a few
updates later. Shakespeare attempted to take our northern island,
and he found out, rather rudely, that Leutonia is not operated by
newbies.
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:35:34 2005
Apparently, just to check us out, Harlot sent three fully
loaded heavy cruisers (sans units) towards the same island
that Tiki had attempted to take earlier. We sunk the little
fleet with PT boats, losing just two in the process. After
that, Shakespeare sniped at the northern island again, but
with limited success. Diplomatic moves on our part convinced
Harlot and Shakespeare of our neutral intentions (which is
basically true...we're not part of any alliance really,
just want to see 'the dark side' win). Since then, Shakes
and Harlot have left us alone.
In the meantime, we've been aggressively mining both at sea
and at home. We've dropped several thousands of mines into
the oceans, and 28 sectors of our total 105 now have land
mines in them. This is slow going because of the slow mob
build up in units per update. We now have seven engineer
units, costing us $2100 per update in upkeep by themselves.
But, the land mines are worth it in the long run. I just
wish mob increased faster so we could
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:39:27 2005
get the the job done faster. All in good time I guess.
Our only other threat vector has been ULKH. However,
we're not impressed with his play and he does not
constitute a serious threat. He's never had sufficient
power to project an offensive force against us. Our
main concern was simply that we were his only viable
target; everyone else was too strong. He's now under
attack from FarFarAway. The threat from him, however
minimal it ever was, is now gone.
Turning inward, we've been concentrating very hard on
maximizing our economy. This has paid off handsomely.
We produce shells on par at 1.1k per update. This is on
part with everyone except for Partimers, who are
producing 2k per update. Same for guns, except
Shakes is producing 200 per update. Our iron consumption
is Just In Time delivery, and we have no stockpiles of
iron around to contribute to plague generation, Same for
oil, as oil contributes to plague generation too. Dust is
processed immediately as well. We've got a nice surplus
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:46:51 2005
of LCM and HCMs every update, and we're loading up every
CS with lots of the things. This helps allow for emergency
deliveries of items if need be. Also, if our country is
sacked, it helps maintain our position on the power chart
above the other zero'd out countries.
We continue to build bridges at a rate of two per update.
This is slow going, but is paying dividends. Our budget
surplus is now rather significant, and we recently have
been able to afford more tech and research production.
On plague: We've been producing a small amount of research
every update. This has allowed us to get the bonus of having
most of our research produced at non-scaled values, since most
of it is produced before the log scale takes effect. The
slow progression has kept us on the leading edge of research.
Only Shakespeare, ULKH and PCLoadLetter (now dead) have kept
pace with us. Everyone else is more than 30 points behind
us, and we're at 96 right now. Our plague factor is a nice,
low 1.41%
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:50:36 2005
Meanwhile, Harlot's had the first mass outbreak of plague,
with more than 30 sectors taking ill the update before last
and another ~15 this past update. 15% of his nation is now
infected. Not coincidentally, he has the highest iron and oil
stockpiles. Me thinks this points to the rather large need for
an article in the Empire Academy about plague. The situation
with iron/oil stockpiles was easily avoidable. Too late for
him now.
We've kept our happiness level up to help thwart invasion
attempts. Only Partimers has kept pace with us on happiness,
and even if he wasn't friendly with us he doesn't have an
attack vector. Anyone else will have to deal with serious
che problems, especially our greatest threat vectors of
Harlot and Shakespeare.
Since we can't afford a large air force, we've been setting
up a rather harsh flak environment. Our most vulnerable island,
the north island, now has 14 flak guns (max used by code) in
every sector except for the plains sectors and the shells to
go with them.
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:55:10 2005
Additionally, every non-plains sectors up there has an AAU
unit. Lastly, PT boats exist in sea sectors surrounding
2/3rds of the approach vectors on the island, with the
1/3rd being the least likely approach vector. Because of
the nature of flak having an abort chance for ship flak,
land flak, and unit flak, this creates a murderous flak
environment. We're implementing similar in the home
territories. But, the shear amoung of sectors vs. gun
production means this is taking time. 44 of 93 home
area sectors (including bridges and towers) have 14 flak
guns. 23 sectors have at least one AAU unit. PT boats
are on the approaches to the island that Harlot sent
the HCs at. About six more updates, and the flak environment
will be complete. Of course, the game may be over by then
but we're not attacking anyone so what the heck. Bottom
line, using air power to destroy us will work, but it will
take a hell of a lot of work and money to do it. One more
update and we get SAMs. Then, it gets even worse for the
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 09:59:00 2005
enemy. Strat bombing will be very, very painful.
Getting aircover over us will be difficult as well
since we've got large minefields on the likely approach
vectors to our island.
The sea mines also protect us against sea borne attacks.
Add in that we've got 5 HATs on the north island, and 14
on the main. Oh, and the north island has four of the six
designatable sectors as forts. We've got a decent amount
of defensive land units scattered about, and a small set
of offensive units to lead attacks to retake things that
are taken, should we come under attack. We need to upgrade
our small offensive force (currently CAVs), but it's not
high priority. Our reserves stand at 1300+, and growing
every update.
With the surplus of HCMs, we have plans of getting a stockpile
of HCMs into every designatable sector, and building up a
large enough budget reserve to allow for designating most
sectors into forts, should we come under attack.
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Mon Jan 03 10:01:45 2005
Ultimately, this makes us a very, very tough nut to crack.
The returns on the investment of the attack by anyone will
take a very, very long time to be realized.
At this juncture, I think it's safe to say that we won't
come under attack though. The big powers are finally
engaging each other, which takes heat off of us. We're
still weakish on the power chart, but I think the message
has gotten out that we're not fodder, and an attack on us
would be painful. Meanwhile, such an attack would cause
a major power to invest too much, leaving themselves open
to attack from another vector.
Thus, we'll most likely make it to the end of the game.
If 'the dark side' wins out, and takes down Harlot,
ULKH and Shakespeare to do it, we'll finish up 4th
out of 18! Not bad!
> Production Report dated Tue Jan 04 23:01:08 2005
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Thu Jan 06 17:01:02 2005
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Fri Jan 07 18:10:44 2005
The situation in Leutonia has changed little on the
tactical level over the last few days. On the strategic
level, it's signficantly different.
Partimers officially asked us to consider the possibility
of contributing to an overall attack against Harlot. We've
agreed, and have begun building a force to do so against his
holdings on former Tiki prime, which is the only place that
Harlot is near us. The force we're building is not large, and
stands a good chance of failing. But, if it works, it will
cause massive damage to at least half of former Tiki prime.
It's packing ~4000 shells, and the means to use them. But,
the force has to make landfall to work. If Harlot has any
forts or HATs on interdiction, that might not happen. It's
a toss up. Since Harlot isn't expecting an attack from us,
he may not have beefed up defenses in the area.
We've asked beep to contribute to the attack, using a somewhat
smaller force he has already in the area and very near to where
we will sail through. He's agreed.
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Fri Jan 07 18:13:56 2005
I have to admit that I feel somewhat dirty about the prospect
of attacking Harlot, and not because that nation is plague
ridden!
I know Harlot is run in part by Pat Loney, whom I've long
had good relations with over many years of Empire. I maintained
good communication with him since he discovered, quite by accident,
that I was playing in Leutonia. I've never had a war with Pat,
and the idea of fighting him now isn't high on my list of
great ideas.
Pat found out I was in Leutonia because he thought our group
of players was running FarFarAway, since that country is
dominating the power chart. His e-mail asked if we wanted
help with Leutonia. I'd thought he wasn't playing in the
game, and I thought he was asking to help co-rule in Leutonia.
I soon learned he meant helping to dismember Leutonia.
Harlot's never made any assertion that he does not intend
to attack us, and twice now we've had evidence that he
planned to attack us.
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Fri Jan 07 18:17:13 2005
Combine that with the fact that while we've said we intend
on remaining on the sidelines in this game, we haven't made
any promises either, and our hands are not tied.
Yet, part of me wonders if Pat will feel as if a trust
has been broken, and one game is not worth that. Hopefully,
should this attack go down, no bad blood will be spilled.
---
On the plague front; our nation has been a leader in research
all along. We've accomplished this by producing a small amount
of research every update since before we ran Leutonia. This
has allowed the nation to take advantage of the 1.0 easy research
before log base takes effect and diminishes returns on big
research investments. Our current plague factor stands at 1.39%.
With this game having plague enable, and it being my first game
in a very long time with it, I've done quite a bit of investigating
plague and have found that 'info plague' and the code still do not
agree with each other. 'info plague' calculations result in a
[cont]
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Fri Jan 07 18:19:08 2005
plague chance 100 times greater than reality.
I've created a spreadsheet to monitor plague breakout possibilities
in our nation, and currently no sector has a greater than 1% chance
of having plague break out. Our current plague status is just one
non-mountain non-plain sector, an LCM plant. We've got lots of LCMs
stockpiled, so it's a non-concern except for two harpoons in the
sector that were desired elsewhere.
> Production Report dated Sat Jan 08 11:01:40 2005
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Mon Jan 10 05:00:53 2005
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Production Report dated Tue Jan 11 23:01:56 2005
0 happiness, 0 education produced
total pop is 0, yielding 0.00 hap, 0.00 edu
0.0000 tech, 0.0000 research produced
money delta was $0 for this update
> Telegram from Leutonia, (#18) dated Wed Jan 12 16:29:34 2005
So, in the end, the requests from the winning countries to
us to put together an attack against Harlot came too late
for us to respond.
Our attack fleet is currently as sea, and can conceivably
reach its target without another update, but it's less than
ideal to do so. The win declaration came just before the
update last night, which meant the attack fleet did not
have the mob to attack at the time of the win declaration.
So, it's all a moot point/move.
Probably a good thing, as attacking Harlot would not have
made us any friends.
We may yet conduct the attack, just for fun, after the final
power report is taken.
> Telegram from Harlot, (#2) dated Wed Jan 12 22:34:34 2005
I really liked the game params.
Update schedule was great for EST.
Still drunk sometimes during the sat
morning one (or a little hung), but
that's better than being still totally
hammered for a fri nate or 4am sat update.
The tech prod and progression was great too,
especially the bleed.
Good mix of players too.
Can't think of any complaints except for
emp general things, like limited land
and plane mob, and 2 updates for unit eff,
but I do have to admit that's good for game
balance and realism (2 updates for units).
I didn't miss the plague at all those years
it was gone either, but that too makes for
a more challenging and therefore interesting
game.
Looking forward to PZIV...
-GM
(end of PZ3 Blog)