BTS Roleplaying Challenge: Texas

BTS Roleplaying Challenge: Texas

Welcome to the game, pard.

The idea of the Roleplaying Challenge is to provide a challenge not neccessarily by raising the difficulty level, but by giving myself a handicap by “roleplaying” the civilization in question. At the start I will identify the roleplaying particulars. I am open to suggestions on other handicaps. For additional roleplaying flavor, I will try to have most of the posts be "in character," and keep my nerdy strategy comments inside spoiler tags so as not to disrupt the dramatic narrative, as it were.

I anticipate posting a round every day or two, mainly because I have a short attention span and can't stand waiting. Like the ALC games, I ask for your comments and feedback, and I’ll need it (I'm running with Raging Barbarians this time!). Feel free to chime in about anything: the story bits or the gaming bits.

But before I begin with the details, I again must bow down now and acknowledge the master of the ALC genre, and general Civilization bon vivant, Sisiutil. He is my Civ hero.

In this alternate timeline based on Texas history, a group of American settlers seeking a fresh start and a healthy distance from their creditors traveled from the United States into Texas, a border region of Mexico largely unpopulated by civilized folk. After a brief war of independence, the Texans claimed the land as their own. Forming a new nation, the Texans must seize control of the region from Mexico and the proud local Native American tribes (large and small) while keeping the meddling United States out of Texas' sphere of influence.

NOTE: I am not a modder and will make certain "substitutions" of leaders and civilizations in the game to give it the proper flavor.

For this game, I have selected Texas (America). My leader is Sam Houston (Washington), who is Charismatic and Expansive -- giving us (1) a +1 in each city, with an additional +1 for a monument and broadcast tower (2) quicker promotions (-25% xp requirement per level), (3) +2 in each city, (4) 25% cheaper workers, and (5) double production speeds for Granaries and Harbors. The unique unit is the Elite Ranger (Navy Seal), a Marine unit that gets 1-2 first strikes. The unique building is the Shopping Mall, a supermarket replacement that additionally gives +20% commerce and extra happiness from the Modern media wonder happiness resources.

The rules:

• Civics: We will never use the Police State, State Property, Environmentalism, or Pacificsm civics. We must adopt either Representation or Universal Suffrage when either become available, and must take Emancipation, Free Market, and Free Religion when they are available.
• Only Conquest and Domination victories are enabled.
• This game will be played with the Aggressive AI, No Tech Brokering, and Raging Barbarians settings.
• The Sam Houston regiment must survive. If the unit dies, we lose.
• We can't build the Great Wall. We will have to deal with the Raging Barbarians as they come.

The rules as a whole are not horribly limiting, though Raging Barbarians (particularly with less than the normal number of AI civs) will provide a major challenge. I will attempt this game at Monarch difficulty.

This game’s settings: Monarch difficulty, Great Plains map (flat), temperate climate, standard size, epic speed, ancient start. I have also chosen our AI opponents to give the game a mid-19th century Texas feel: Lincoln of America, Santa Anna (Montezuma) of Mexico, Kohai (Sitting Bull) of the Comanche Tribe.

**MAJOR EDIT: the original save was messed up -- I forgot to "close out" the non-playing AI civs. This is a new save attached.

Feel free to play along, but if you do, kindly post the details of your game in a spoiler tag.

The starting screenies (note: I moved the warrior to provide a better view) ...





Sam Houston looked at the river, tranquil and glassy. It belied the battle that had been fought near here, in a small mission where many Texians gave their lives.

"We'll settle our new capital near this river ..." he said, pausing for a moment, "the Brazos. Colonel Travis would have been proud knowing that the Republic was founded close by. Now, gentlemen," he continued, speaking to the gathered captains and settlers, "shall we settle down here?"

Comments about the start (EDIT: USING NEW SAVE: prior save was in error as I'd forgotten to close out two AI slots.)



EDIT: By the way: given the extreme nature of a Raging Barbarians game, I anticipate posting shorter rounds. Then again, I tend to say that in all of my games and end up posting 150+ turn rounds. Meh.

Definitely just settle in place. You eliminate one plains tile that way, although you'll probably have a lot anyways

And good luck! Looking forward to the game.

the Calm

It was idyllic, really.

Jane McMaster gazed out of her ranch house at the pasture. The edge of Texas' short winter had been blunted, and on a sunny day after a spring rain the air was full of the rich smells of life -- grass, earth, and wildflowers. She inhaled deeply and smiled, contented, then knelt down to pick a few bluebonnets, her dark brown hair falling in front of her face. The blue-budded stems would be perfect for the small vase she kept on the their nightstand.

Cliff came in on Red, the family horse. He slid off the saddle and walked slowly to his wife. A thrill shot through her, even now, three years after they'd wed on the trail from Tennessee. He was hers.

"How's the herd? They seemed active today, and not just the calves," Jane said, handing Cliff a tall glass of cool water. "All kinds of mooing going on out there."

"Yep. Frisky," he said with a wry grin.

She took him by the hand.

----

They had settled near the bank of the Brazos.

"Let us take this time to remember those who died in the Revolution. In honor of our departed friend, Stephen F. Austin, let's call this place Austin. Stevie is smiling down on us now, no doubt. So let's get to work.

"Regiment!" Sam Houston continued, calling out. "We leave at dawn to scout the land. The tribes are restless -- and there are more coming every day as the U.S. pushes them out of the South. Keep a sharp eye!"





Nobody said it was easy to be President, he reminded himself.

Sam Houston had just returned to Austin when Doc Hildalgo, a Spaniard who'd joined the revolution, presented him with a problem and an opportunity.

"The herbs here may have medical uses, Presidente," he said.

"Wonderful!"

"Ah, but we cannot be sure until they are ... ah, tested."

Houston frowned. There were precious few Texians (as they called themselves) as it was. But long-term ... advanced medicine would save lives.

"Put out the call for volunteers."




More settlers arrived here and there in Austin, lured to Texas by the promise of a fresh start in a new land. The wealthier settlers arrived with slaves, who were mostly used to work the mines to the south of Austin.



The Sam Houston Regiment returned to Austin, weary but elated to be home. The settlers gathered to hear the news of the land.

"Here's our rough map of the area," Tom Cady, captain of the Regiment said. "The Brazos runs mostly north-south. You've got the Trinity River to the east, and herd of cattle nearby. To the southwest there's good mining country. Up north is some fertile land and some metal we could sorely use."

"Any horses?" the settlers asked.

Houston shook his head. "No. We'll keep looking. But we're starting to see some of the little tribes. They're gathering. Kiowa, we think. And we met up with Santa Anna's outriders, too."

The men cursed, hearing that name again.









"Kiowa war-party! They've broken through the picket. Get on Buffalo Hill, men! Move!" Houston yelled.

The Storm

All hell had broken loose.

"Get in the city!" troopers yelled, running from ranch to ranch to warn of the Kiowa. Settlers who were preparing to travel to the northwest hastily pulled their oxen and wagons back to Austin, and the men prepared for the onslaught. Most were veterans in battle, but none had dealt with raiding of this magnitude.

The Kiowa were on the warpath.





A lull in the fighting allowed the settlers to make a weeklong dash to the northwest, under escort. They settled closer to Austin than they would have liked, but were grateful to get there in one piece under the watchful eye of the Hill Country regiment stationed on the hill across the Brazos from their new settlement.



Cliff McMaster stood on Buffalo Hill with the other Texians. The fact that the Kiowa were attacking was unremarkable -- but the sheer numbers of them, coming in broad daylight was downright unthinkable.

"The Kiowa aren't even from Texas," spat Clem Walker. "What the heck do they want with us? We're nowhere near their camps."

"Somethin's drivin' 'em here," Cliff said.

---

General Houston made a point of visiting each of the regiments hastily.

"Many of you men were with me at Goliad, at San Jacinto when we fought Santa Anna. You're already heroes. But I'm asking you to dig deeper, friends.

"This is our home. This is all we have in this world. Without Texas, what have we got? Where can we go? No, we've been left out on the prairie to die. Nobody is coming to rescue us. It is us against this cruel world.

"So any Comanche, or Mexican, or Kiowan that comes to Texas better understand one thing -- that he's going to pay a blood price for every inch of land he tries to take.

"Give 'em HELL, boys!!" he shouted.







The stones were drug from miles around. Cliff, along with most of the surviving soldiers and cowboys, had helped build it.

"Let this memorial to our heroic dead remind us of their sacrifice, and steel our will in the coming days," Houston said.

"Amen, brother," Cliff said under his breath.





"Damn them," Angeline Bracken cursed.

"We're alive, darlin'. Count your blessins," her husband observed.

"The farm is ... gone."





"We're not interested," Houston said angrily.

"They just offered greetings," the messenger said.

"That's how they start. First hello, then it's can we annex your land and start taxing you and foreclosing on your home? You tell them this is the Republic of Texas, Alvin. Tell him!!"





"You reckon these heavy blades will help, Cliff? They're heavier than a plow, feels like anyhow. I bet the Kiowa won't like these one bit, huh?" Clem said.

"Nope."



One of the braves came towards Austin alone. He held his unstrung bow in one hand and his totem belt in the other. The men took him to General Houston.

"This'n came alone, General."

Houston looked at the brave carefully. "You're no Kiowa."

"No. I am Comanche! I come from Chief Kohai! He say that Comanche no attack you."

The Texan nodded. "You tell Kohai that Texas is a big place, but it's ours, and as long as the Comanche won't join us, we'll be fighting sooner than later. But we'll give you some time to clear out before then. Anderson, give this man some food and get him out of here," Houston said.





"Progress!" Houston shouted.

"Yessir," the aide said. "Texas is growing."

"Let's have a party. We'll show the new map of Texas to everyone. And keep those damned natives out!"







He finally got some respite from militia duty and returned to the ranch.

What was left of it. He broke into a dead run.

In a smoldering pile was his herd, his horse, and ... no ... not Janey ...

great story im really enjoying it

How did you choose your city names? I live in Texas and the only one I've heard of is Austin. What about Houston (my home, and largest city), Dallas, El Paso, Armadillo, and Brownsville?

Anyway, good story so far.

((Glad you like it!

As far as the city names .. I'm naming them in alphabetical order (helps me keep it straight, in my weird way), after real Texas cities and counties. Bexar is the county where San Antonio is. Celina is a small town near Dallas. ))

Expansion

The displaced natives let up their attacks during the winter, giving the Texians a chance to move the vulnerable settler families south, to new lands. Houston gave clear orders to the leader of the escort party.

"Have them make camp on the north bank of the Trinity."

"Yes sir! What should we name it?" the officer asked.

"What's your name, son?"

"Dallas."

"There you go."





Clifford was alone. Utterly alone. His face was like a stone.

He'd never been one to display his feelings. Hell, Janey would give him hell about not saying hello to people. He cursed that he couldn't just break down and bawl his eyes out. He cursed that he didn't grieve like everyone else did. They can grieve for me, Cliff thought. Because nobody was ever going to fill the silence and lonliness in his life like Janey.

The bastards came back to the ranch house. Cliff didn't bother trying to ambush them. He strode right into them.

They kept coming, but he kept killing, his silent rage giving a voice all its own to his wrath. And when the ranch was clear of them, he traveled east. And all parted before him, Texian and native alike.







"North along the Neuces is a camp. Convince the locals to join the Republic, Major."

Erath nodded and led his infantry northward, crossing the Brazos just north of Bexar.









"Calm down, folks. I'm only temporarily suspending the constitution," Houston explained. "Until we get these natives straightened out, we need a little bit of martial law around here. Trust me."

"I never thought he'd go Santa Anna on us," Clem observed under his breath.

Cliff ignored him, scanning the horizon for signs of a war-party.



Houston finished the letter and sealed it.

Maj. Erath: take your army east. Scouts report other native encampments. Burn them all and take whatever trade goods you can find. We need the cash. -- Houston.





"Dammit!" Houston yelled. "I told Kohai to stay out of Texas. We're going to have to do something about them Comanches."

"They've built a wall around their lands, General."

"That may keep the Kiowa and Apache out. But it ain't keepin' us out. Mark my words. We're going to be marching south soon."

Interesting concept with the roleplaying theme, I like it a lot!

Prosperity

"The scholar has arrived, General," the aide said.

Houston stood up and adjusted his waistcoat as the distinguished naturalist and researcher entered the President's office.

"Charles Darwin at your service, General Houston," he said, bowing.

"Chuck, good to meet you. We need more educated folk like you here in Texas. That's why we're pulling folks out of the fields and pastures and puttin' em in school. We need you to teach 'em."

Darwin looked puzzled. "Ah, sir, I am a researcher. I am formulating a theory of evolution. Survival of the fittest."

"Well you're lookin' at survivors right here, Chuck. Did you see all those natives attacking? If we ain't the fittest, I hate to fight what is," he said, clapping Darwin hard on the back. "Anderson! Show the professor here our horny toads. That'll get him going."



"No word from Major Erath?" Houson asked.

"None, sir."



"Santa Anna is attacking our outposts," Lincoln's message read. "Join us in our fight, and we will consider bringing Texas into the Union."

Houston burst out laughing.

"You can have him all to yourself, Abe," he said to himself. "Maybe he'll join your Union. Ha!"

The note lay crumpled on the floor.



The slaves assembled it brick by brick.

"I thought this was supposed to be a watchtower?" Clem asked.

Cliff grunted.

"I guess everything's bigger in Texas."





A veritable legion of miners and their slaves descended on the new settlement of Fannin, hoping to extract as much gold and silver as possible. A large continent of Texian troops guarded the settlement in the largely untracked area.




"Mexican troops approaching Celina, General!"

Houston stood up from his chair. "My gun. Sound the horns. Remember Goliad! TO CELINA!!"

Wow, this is really interesting. I've never played with Raging Barbs, and no Great Wall must make it hell.

(( Raging Barbs is certainly a challenge. It makes you focus on your defenses, which I find to be refreshingly realistic -- unlike leaving your city abandoned for a thousand years or two as in normal games. If you don't get archery and either copper or horses, you are dead meat. You have to commit to making units and actively defending yourself.

This map in particular makes it a challenge because there is no coastline to protect me -- I'm pretty much surrounded by the fog of war, where barbs form. As the game progressed, the Comanche (Native America) pressed borders against me, which did shield me from one side.

As the game progresses and borders expand, the barbs will be less and less of a factor. But they force me to play honest. I just can't marshal my entire army and go after Santa Anna (Monty).

I've been enjoying this one too. I figure I'll check out the other RP Challenge games (among other things) while I wait for more turns to be posted.

EDIT:Then, too, maybe one of these days I'll tear myself away from the forum and actually play again...

The Mexican and Comanche Wars

"If Santa Anna wants a tussle, he's got one!" Clem sneered.

Cliff looked over the ridge. It looked like the settlers would make it to the site -- where the battle of Goliad took place years ago. Fitting that Mexico would be coming back near there.





"I'm planning a war here, Anderson. What?!" Houston shouted.

"The Comanche sent this message."

Houston read it and cursed bitterly.



"Wait for them to attack across the river! Don't fire until they are halfway across," Houston yelled from horseback to his readied troops.





The cheers of the men were fierce. The Mexicans had been pushed back with terrible losses and few Texians died.

The troops were assembled at the southeastern border. Santa Anna hastily took a cease fire agreement. And just to the south were the Comanche.

"Men. We still have some work to do. Let's clear out these Comanches!" Houston yelled to the assembled host.

The roar of the army was deafening.







"Now what?"

"Santa Anna's emissary, General. They demand tribute."

"That man is spendin' too much time in the peyote patch, Anderson. Tell him we'll tan his hide just like last time if he steps foot into Texas," Houston said, finishing his orders. "We press on for Cahokia!"











"Pull back!" Houston shouted. "We're going to wait for reinforcements to finish them off."

"Mexicans are back!" Clem shouted, running to the camp.

This is a really good story! Keep it coming!

Why is Monty in all of these games? He's a nutjob

Good reading though

Every game needs a nutjob,It makes it more realistic.

Don't keep us in suspense, our salivating ursine storyteller!!

What happens next?

(I'm off from work Friday and Monday so if I don't see it today, I won't know what happens until Tuesday! Oh, woe!)

All right! Enough already! Where's the rest of the story? Are you trying to mimic Sisiutil? At least he gave us a good excuse for the delay(His computer broke and he had to buy a new one). What's the delay here?