Messages

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Characters / Serrai

« on: December 29, 2017, 12:09:21 PM »

The Void...comfortable, unchanging, endless...and yet, and yet.

There were so few sparks, so little of....interest. Time as burden, endless.



But...there, once again, there was...something. An unfolding, a possibility. There might even be...stories?

With unseemly haste - if there had been any observers - he moved closer. Yes, there was something there...there even might be...others? Oh aye, that would be a boon indeed. To once again revel in a joke being told, to laugh at a prank being played, to enjoy an insult being skillfully delivered...what did it matter if you were the trickster or the victim of the prank? Both had happened, aye, indeed.

Thus, he focused...carefully, treading lightly, he observed. It would not do to be noticed too early, as if there were others then most would be far mightier than him. And if he were honest with himself - something he usually tried to avoid - they might even have grounds to be less than pleased at finding him here. Though he never understood why having ones eyebrows singed could lead to such longlasting enmity. Had he not also paid the price of being too clever by half? In his book, having ones dignity dented somewhat should be considered a boon. Sometimes at least. And provided it happened more often to others than to ones self. Yes.

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Beluaterra / Re: Old Map

« on: December 22, 2017, 10:27:53 AM »

Gods...so much history on that old map alone even before the blight. Sobering to think how long ago this change did happen....

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Beluaterra / Re: Riombara is dead!

« on: January 30, 2017, 06:14:39 PM »

Sorry to necro this thread - did browse the island maps for old times sake and saw that Riombara is gone.

So, farewell Riombara - for a long time it was a great realm to play in. I had some of my best gaming moments on Beluaterra and in that realm. Great people within and without the realm. Great social experiment with our law system....to know that it became a monarchy in the end...shocking, I say, shocking!

So I salute you, all players that made this continent memorable: fare well - and may other realms survive the Darkness!

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Beluaterra / Re: The War.

« on: October 29, 2014, 05:03:23 PM »

There actually was a summoning? My char Sassan did not notice....though he _would_ be.....quite....interested in hearing about such happenings....so if someone were to tell him....

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Beluaterra / Re: New Realm

« on: September 06, 2014, 03:26:16 PM »

Actually, forming a new realm in Ete City is officially planned by Riombara - we just lack the nobles to actually do it.

So yes, it would have Rios support, it would be a friendly secession and it would have the freedom to choose realm type and their own politics...still leaves the question of what they could actually _do_. In that geographical spot, going against Riombara is only possible with considerable - and dependable - outside support. Going against IVF? Not currently likely as IVF has the support of Rio. Going against Nothoi? Also not terribly promising. Allying with Rio, marching to some far off war...possible...but of interest for how long?

Once some time has gone down the river and Ete, IVF and Rio have gone their own ways for some time, more political friction may develop...but that will take some time.

All in all it would be a realm that would mainly need to keep things interesting by internal stuff....which is difficult.

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Beluaterra / Re: The War of Thalmarkin... Supremacy?

« on: August 27, 2014, 07:09:04 PM »

Well, from my (riombaran) chars viewpoint, a treaty or a given word is viewed thus:

He who keeps his oath - or treaty - when its NOT in his advantage can be trusted. Those that break their word once it is to their own (minor or major) advantage cannot be trusted to keep their word (in the future)

So you need to look at a situation from two viewpoints: One is the question 'Is it to their advantage to keep their word?': The other is 'Have they kept their word even though this not being to their advantage?'

If the answer to both is no, then expect a treaty to be broken. If the first answer is 'no; the second 'yes'...then you will learn about the current worth of an oath.

Again, the real worth of an oath is _only_ visible once it is put 'under pressure'.

Now towards the actual situation: My char would currently not trust Melheds word. He does trust Melhed to act to their own advantage - thus he fights alongside them. He also _does_ trust Nothois word - as they kept to the last peace agreement even though they could have quite efficiently backstabbed Riombara.



So I disagree with the 'Melheds actions are IC unacceptable due to only being ooc motivated'. Melheds actions _are_ a backstab, but (based on the 'I do not want to live under Thalmarkins thumb, no matter how small the pressure) 'logical'. Again, my char actually likes his enemies better than his allies....which I find a lot more interesting then the usual 'the others are the bad guys' black/white papercut.

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Beluaterra / Re: The War of Thalmarkin... Supremacy?

« on: August 22, 2014, 01:18:26 PM »

I respect Thalmarkin for trying to aggravate other realms - this was what got things moving. As players we should take care that such risks are (somehow) rewarded and not cause for being crushed.

Now, Riombara is quite aware of Melheds actions - however, the alternative would have been Melhed fighting at Thalmarkins side. So I disagree with the statement that we took an 'oh well' stance - my char did look at the situation and had to chose (or had the opportunity to choose) between two less then ideal choices. Fighting alongside Melhed does not make us the closest of friends.

I also do not agree that Melheds actions during the past month were only possible due to chars not caring enough IC - betrayal did happen quite frequently during the middle ages...even right on the battlefield.

Still, looking at the whole continent ooc I agree that the war is too lopsided - though that is taking an 'absolute' view of only being able to choose between total defeat or totally crushing your enemies. If Old Grehk and Agyr take a defensive stance and Thalmarkin supports them well, then it will be very very difficult for your enemies to reach any decisive victory - even if they/we would be aiming for that.

Lastly: what would be a ooc suggestion to 'balance' this war better - while still keeping actions believably ic?

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Beluaterra / Re: The War of Thalmarkin... Supremacy?

« on: August 19, 2014, 09:00:59 PM »

Spearhold attacked us since we (thal) were too impressive and spearhold just wanted a war. Rio (officially) dislikes you but attacks Thalmarkin for the King of Kings thing. Nothoi are sad about the old looting of their mountains and have not dared to attack us alone, but im quite sure they dont care about the fronen-OG war. Melhed just wants more regions, and unless every letter Maya has sent the last 6-7 weeks has been lies, Wudenkin would have been just as good as Agyr. Now Agyr was simply easier to take, and nothing is more shining to a melite than an easy war (might be becqause they loose all the other ones).

Good overview - I do agree in very large part!

Indeed, my view is that Rio mainly wants to thwart Thalmarkins 'King of Kings' claim (which is a brilliant ploy! I love it! My personal thanks to those both thinking of it and attempting to push it through). We do find it strange to be aligned with Nothoi - but during these past months Nothoi has stood by its word even when it had ample opportunity to go back on it. We also find it strange - and not to my chars personal liking - to be fighting Agyr...but that is the only real possibility to strike against Thalmarkin other than aiding in defending the central mountains. Lastly, Riombara is quite aware of Melheds course during the past months. Still, the alternative would have been to sit still in our southern parts...not good at all. So I'd like to say that Riombara very much respects Thalmarkin and Ar Agyr....and will not support any significant losses of territory of either.

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BM General Discussion / Re: Spying (was: Re: An Open Letter to the BM Community)

« on: July 14, 2014, 04:29:13 PM »

Spying:

First, I have played this game for umpteen years now....I have found that spies simply are not that effective: the most obvious, relaying details of military orders, plans, objectives is of very limited use. The single valuable information a spy can give you is about major political shifts that are secretly aimed against your realm (an ally switching sides, an enemy wanting to switch to yours). That both happens rarely, is often impossible to keep secret anyway AND such a shift sometimes fails (due to internal rebellions and the like).

Military details: I have been general and marshal several times...and the information you could gain about the enemy is of very limited use...once you have it it is either outdated or you know about it anyway....there are seldom two _very_ different strategies that a realm can pursue where if you concentrate on one you would be badly mauled if the other is used.

But most important: It is far better to create a good atmosphere in your own realm, giving players something worthwhile to do and to identify with, actually handing out a lot of information enabling your realm mates to _think for themselves_, enabling them to make plans, give suggestions, spot mistakes...the benefits are _much_ larger than the disadvantage of information leaking to the other side.

If you have two realms, one in which information is tightly controlled, which has a good spy network and good internal security....the other being a more 'open' one, handing out information, letting those interested join a military council, even risking detailed plans being leaked to the enemy....I'd wager that 4 out of 5 times the open realm beats the secretive one on the battlefield simply because its nobles act better informed, make less mistakes - and have a lot more enthusiasm than the nobles of the secretive realm that mostly only can follow orders.

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BM General Discussion / Re: GREAT MOMENTS... IN BATTLEMASTER HISTORY

« on: July 07, 2014, 05:54:20 PM »

Ay, good moments and memories....strangely, the best I had took place on Beluaterra:

During the first and second age, when Rio was reduced to one city, finally gained a peace, retook territory, then the first invasion started. Rio held and held, there were 8-10 fanatically loyal nobles in our realm then. However, Rio fell right at the end of the invasion...by a hair. We then went into exile to Fronen, fought for them for some months, then returned south well equipped with gold and troops. All but one or two of those who marched north after Rios fall did return south. Rio was recreated, then held against Luz de Bia, first retaking their lands, then fighting a sharp war shortly after recreating the realm. Heady times indeed. I remember us all having a lot of fun, times were tense but the army was extremely dependable and tricky. The group of players was really extraordinary....lots of ideas and enthusiasm.


The other very worthwhile time was during the last invasion....first being part of forging an alliance to aid Enweil, then fighting umpteen battles on their behalf....we did kill a load of daimons, nearly managed to save Enweil, at the end had our whole army (no troops left for homedefense, none at all) marching for Enweils capital which was threatened by daimons....did arrive one halfday too late, still decide to attack, did not manage to beat the daimons. If we'd been one halfday earlier we'd have managed, defending their capitals walls jointly with Enweil. That was a huge disappointent....which was capped by Chenier accusing us of doing it on purpose. Go figure. Then, once Enweil fell, with Rio cut off in the south the siege mentality was great as well....we fought back and forth against the daimons, the dark walls closing in all the time, hope seemed lost, yet we marched an army from Grehk to near Fheuvenehm to hunt daimons....then right back again since the daimons attacked our very northern tip from the darkness. Longest march of a cohesive army that I know about. Then actually surviving the invasion...that was a blast.

All in all I had lots of fun with Rio - both politically, being in part responsible for its 'interior design', all our laws...which I actually think are the reason Rio has been so resilent over the ages. Then, lots of fun being its general in several different occasions, mostly starting when things looked bleak, mostly being able to turn things around....hugely satisfying. Again, no other game gave me such moments.

So three cheers for BM!

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BM General Discussion / Re: Thank you Tim, Tom and all devs.

« on: June 16, 2014, 06:16:35 PM »

I want to add my voice to the praise....I have been playing BM for so long I literally cannot remember the year I did start. I went 'on holiday' twice, but came back each time....it is the game that has sucked up the largest chunk of my gaming time - and even more important it has given me the best gaming moments I did experience in any game.

So - I do bow to all this hard work, all the design choices, all the love that was poured into this game!

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Beluaterra / Re: Enweil & Ally vs Riombara

« on: April 22, 2014, 11:58:08 AM »

Will write something up today - got buried by easter holidays. Cheniers end certainly deserves an RP!

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Beluaterra / Re: Enweil & Ally vs Riombara

« on: April 13, 2014, 05:13:08 PM »

Actually its roughly true....if you count all militias: 10k against 100k.

Still, think of it this way: Guillaume managed to aggravate, betray, shortchange and outright lie to enough people that ALL those came to kill him. I (as player) think that if Guillaume would not have rejoined Enweil then it would have had a good chance of survival. With him as de-facto Enweils leader...very little. My char Sassan is having a rage-fit each time Guillaumes name is mentioned...

Note that I as player heartily applaud Guillaumes achievement. There are far to many more-or-less honorable do-gooders (like Sassan) and too few villains.

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BM General Discussion / Re: T Minus 28 Days

« on: February 05, 2014, 06:43:35 PM »

Aye - Riombara is 'relatively well off' with 45.000cs. Down to 39.000 right now.

The good thing is there was near instantaneous peace - boy, did we humans learn that lesson...

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Beluaterra / Re: Post invasion politics

« on: March 14, 2013, 06:31:20 PM »

Heh. Glad to hear! But...anti-republican? In Riombara? Yeh gods!