ATEN - Game Thread

[Sonereal]

For the purpose of greater transparency of Tet operations globally, the Tet Corporation is proud to make the following announcements.

Liberty Bank, for a short while a friendly rival to the Tet Corporation, is now a friendly friend. Representatives of the Liberty Bank, the Tet Corporation, and Fortschritte met in the Silver Spire in Delta City to discuss the terms of Tet's acquisition of Liberty Bank. Negotiations were heated at points, but civil all throughout, and by the end of the day the Tet Corporation had become the majority stakeholder of Liberty Bank.

Two weeks later, representatives of the Tet Corporation met with their counterparts in Gulf Fishing in the capital of Orostratia to discuss Tet's acquisition of Gulf Fishing. Negotiations were long, but by the end of the week, Gulf Fishing was also a subsidiary of the Tet Corporation.

"I believe this is a dawn of a new international commercial order that will prosperity to all countries in the near future," Ricky Furlough, CEO and majority shareholder of all three corporations, said to reporters after the Gulf-Tet Negotiations.

It has been little less than a year since the Tet IPO and while the multinational's stock worth next year is unknown at this time, it is hard to deny that the Tet Corporation is finding friends all over the world and have made deals with five of the leading global powers in the international realm. The company, which was chartered in Karpathos in 1950, is now an international player with branches on five continent and a city-state which it calls its own.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

And what would a difference entail? What sort of alternative would you suggest?

Not making every battle a mini-Holocaust, for a start. I've never been able to get over the huge scale imbalances in these games. If you made population growth a lot slower (while at the same time suppressing casualties—military and civilian), it would a) give standing armies have semblance of longevity, reducing the all-or-nothing RISK-style "tactics", while b) make huge military buildups a lot less lucrative when the drain on productivity doesn't auto-replenish the next turn.

This second point I'd meant to bring up in our private correspondence, but I couldn't figure out how to word it: high casualties have never truly been an obstacle in your games because the people reproduce too damn fast. I did the math: from about 2.2 billion in Game Year 1950 to ~7 billion today means a net global increase of ~4.8 billion over 63 years. Average yearly population growth is 76 million, which distributed between 179 countries works out to about only 425 000 per player, not counting the myriad of external variables and historical happenstances not addressed in this game (Green Revolution, advances in medical science, &c.). Not even predicting the slaughter bench of great power war, given that current population is heavily skewed towards the player countries, the actual growth rate should probably be even lower.

 

[Double A]

Let's keep GM criticisms out of the game thread guys.

Wasn't he kind of complimenting Tany?

 

[Tani Coyote]

Tani, would it be possible to display the supply/demand for each nation for each resource? If it is too maddening to enter the numbers I understand, I'd really appreciate it.

I had hidden that part of the sheet to make it look smaller as well as to prevent gaming the system, but the business model pioneered by Sone and Arrow makes me reconsider. I'll probably start showing it.

Not making every battle a mini-Holocaust, for a start. I've never been able to get over the huge scale imbalances in these games. If you made population growth a lot slower (while at the same time suppressing casualties—military and civilian), it would a) give standing armies have semblance of longevity, reducing the all-or-nothing RISK-style "tactics", while b) make huge military buildups a lot less lucrative when the drain on productivity doesn't auto-replenish the next turn.

Most units do not die, actually, but retreat. Ergo the "mass destruction of units" problem doesn't exist.

I would think allowing for plenty of civilian casualties is good, as it deflates the amount of manpower one can muster in the long run.

As for military casualties. Verdun, the Somme, etc. can attest to how bloody those can get. And I'm hardly approaching their number of deaths.

One could say tactics would alter the death tolls in battles such as that but alas, I don't feel like comparing maps and troop movements. The closest thing to "tactics" is one's military quality, which will help reduce your casualties.

I did the math: from about 2.2 billion in Game Year 1950 to ~7 billion today means a net global increase of ~4.8 billion over 63 years.

Which is more or less OTL actual population growth, give or take a hundred million.

Average yearly population growth is 76 million, which distributed between 179 countries works out to about only 425 000 per player, not counting the myriad of external variables and historical happenstances not addressed in this game (Green Revolution, advances in medical science, &c.).

Growth rates for majors average 3% and 5% for minors. I'd say growth will more or less be a non-issue.

 

[Mosher]

Can we stop with the tani bashing and get to the game? I know that you object to some of the design features of Tani's games, Thor, but it's entirely within your rights to not play them, rather than making snarky, spammy posts whenever Tani posts something gameplay related.

 

[arya126]

Can we stop with the tani bashing and get to the game? I know that you object to some of the design features of Tani's games, Thor, but it's entirely within your rights to not play them, rather than making snarky, spammy posts whenever Tani posts something gameplay related.

This, as well as the fact we haven't even seen a full update yet. Seriously it looks fine to me right now, especially as he has easily detailed above how the points you have brought up are near enough non issues. Sure you might disagree, but if you don't want to play you don't have to.

At least wait a few turns for an accurate representation of how his system works in practice as well as having those turns to fine tune it if he needs to before bashing him over it.

 

[Double A]

Can we stop with the tani bashing

But what if he's into that?

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

My problem is, for all the claims about this being some sort of all-encompassing revolutionary instalment, there was zero discussion of the actual rules until the game launched. It's not the first time I've been roped into a game under false pretenses.

plenty of civilian casualties

There's collateral damage, and then there's the sort of mass slaughter that makes me wonder if the default stance is to plough tanks through rush hour traffic. I'm sure you can think of a better way to balance out the books.

As for military casualties. Verdun, the Somme, etc. can attest to how bloody those can get. And I'm hardly approaching their number of deaths.

Because trench warfare proved so ingenious that it became the keystone of all military strategy since.

 

[Tani Coyote]

I'll just say civilian deaths from the Iraq War were about 150,000 or so by most estimates. I really don't think 50k is that unreasonable by comparison.

National income is now visible on the left side of the stats next to provinces. I've also begun including one's summits and income in the actual update so one need not navigate the stats sheet to find them.

Each company has its own cost to establish a new branch, visible in the stocks sheet under "branch cost" - Q30.

You can also now see whether your country runs a surplus or deficit of resources. Most countries have a lot of deficits. This seems strange but let us remember that if everyone had a surplus we'd be in a post-scarcity society and that's nooooo good!

Update II: 1952

Map
NPC Map
Stats

Spoiler Income :

Amazon 500
Antarctica 397
Arnangu 359
Aztec Empire 375
Benelux 428
Cherefe 388
Congo 405
Egypt 469
Fortschritte 550
India 320
Korea 414
Olmoliqq 491
Orostratia 528
Papal States 409
Poland 376
Russia 476
"Vishkanya Dominion
(Singapore)" 400
Sol 458
Somalia 386
Sumeria 452
Syria 384
Zulu 282

Spoiler Summits :

Amazon 8
Antarctica 7
Arnangu 6
Aztec Empire 7
Benelux 7
Cherefe 6
Congo 7
Egypt 8
Fortschritte 8
India 6
Korea 7
Olmoliqq 7
Orostratia 8
Papal States 7
Poland 6
Russia 7
"Vishkanya Dominion
(Singapore)" 7
Sol 8
Somalia 6
Sumeria 7
Syria 7
Zulu 4

The War of the Two Dynasties has seen the seizure of most of Jiang China by the forces of Korea and its allies. While Korea’s assault has been near-universally criticized for its lack of a public declaration and for the aggression in general, few nations have done much about it; the Republic of India, however, has embargoed the aggressors. The slightest consolation is that the loss of life, while in the tens of thousands, was relatively low due to the sheer speed with which Korea routed its foes; most deaths are attributed to the realities of urban warfare.

Egypt and Poland have seen major breakthroughs in healthcare. Egypt has also seen the development of a slightly-more efficient automobile.

India has developed a more efficient firing mechanism for its guns. Korea’s air plane engines are now slightly more efficient. With the tensions between these two nations that have flared due to the War of the Two Dynasties, these military advances could prove problematic…

Scientists, meanwhile, are increasingly of the consensus that micro-organisms can be weaponized, and are almost positive a weapon with this characteristic exists somewhere in the world.

 

[WhiteRobber]

Poland's orders: DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

OFFERING 6 OF MY INCOME TO WHOEVER CLAIMS IT FIRST.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

OFFERING 6 OF MY INCOME TO WHOEVER CLAIMS IT FIRST.

'Sup.

 

[Arrow Gamer]

Ryker Shipping is holding its IPO today, and stock is being sold at $10 a piece. The price ha risen due to a rise in the cost of Industrial Branches.

Please contact us in order to purchase.

EDIT: The Aztecs have purchased all open stocks (22, to be exact) for $13 a piece. To outbid them, the price is now $15. 17 more may come on the market soon.

 

[Mosher]

Raysha remembered her early life as a Disciple of the Flame vividly. The harsh training, the many cuts, bruises and burns; all of it was seared into her memory.

****

"No, no!" shouted Master Zylov. He smacked her across the arm again with his willow branch. "Your form is wrong. You must remain steady, your feet planted - that is what ignites your inner flame." Raysla sighed heavily; ever since the great Flame had chosen her, her life had been nothing but misery in this monastery tucked away in the Hindu Kush. The monastery, high in the Pakistani mountains, had 15 monks and 15 disciples. Raysla herself was the only woman at the monastery, only 15 years old. The monastery was specifically a military school, trainingits students in fire-based martial arts, meditation, physical training, and pain management.

"We've been at this for nearly 9 hours," grumbled Raysla. Her bright red robe was soaked in sweat, and the rocks around them were scorched black from the intense heat. "And we will drill for 9 more hours until you do it correctly," shouted Zylov. The aging monk, a Russian immigrant to Orostratia in the '20s, was one of the most skilled pyromancers in the world, renowned for his skill in combat and meditation. At one point, he fought off an army of nearly 100 bandits, laying siege to a poor town - but, for now, he merely taught promising pyromancers in this small, isolated monastery. His current pupil certainly had a promising amount of natural talent, but whose fiery temper and short patience frustrated him greatly.

"Again, from the top," said Zylov. Raysla grunted, beginning the exercise again. It was fairly simple - a move common in a pyromancer's technique. The pyromancer would imbue their limbs with intense heat, striking with great force, and then following up by blasting the target with an intense flame. Raysla, however, had issue with controlling her bright inner flame. She kicked outwards, a brilliant pillar of fire erupting from her foot.

"No, you stupid girl! You'll never make it into the Rangers if you cannot control your own flames." Zylov sighed, the anger withering from his face. "Raysla," he said quietly, "You are a wonderful pyromancer. I have not felt an internal fire as hot or bright as yours in all of my time as a teacher. To control t, though, one must dampen it first; you must not let it run free, like a wildfire. A warm fireplace is more useful to both you and I than an out of control blaze." Zylov fell silent, allowing a slight smile to creep onto his wizened features. "Now, try again."

****

Raysla opened her eyes. The memory was from 30 years ago now, but still clear in her mind. It was a lecture that changed her life. She was able to control herself, after that - her flame was hers to use, and it allowed her to master her emotions. Rather than a wildfire, she was now a blowtorch - small, focused, intensely hot, and controlled. It had served her well in her storied military career. And, now, it would serve her well again, as the brand new head of the State Security Agency, the most powerful domestic agency that no one in Orostratia knew about.

 

[Sonereal]

Tet Corporation

"There are other worlds than these."​

The Tet Corporation is now offering development packages that are designed to encourage development worldwide and uplift populations from crushing poverty. We are also offering development packages through Gulf Fishing.

Financial Statements for 1950

Spoiler Tet Services :

Tet Education Development Package
For the low cost of 90 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Tet Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 30 Gold, low-interest loan that will be invested directly into Education. [1.25% compounded continuously**]


Tet Infrastructure Development Package
For the low cost of 90 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Tet Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 30 Gold, low-interest loan that will be invested directly into Infrastructure. [2.5% compounded continuously*]


Tet Healthcare Development Package
For the low cost of 90 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Tet Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 30 Gold, low-interest loan that will be invested directly into Healthcare. [2.5% compounded continuously*]


Tet Block Development Package
For the low cost of 90 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Tet Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 30 Gold, low-interest loan with no strings attached. [3.75% compounded continuously*]


Tet Premium Development Package
For no cost to you, you can take out a 90 loan. [3.75% compounded continuously]


Tet Bonds
You can, also, buy Tet Bonds for 60 Gold. Tet Bonds bought this turn will yield 70 Gold on Turn 4. [7.5% Interest]

Spoiler Gulf Services :

Gulf Education Development Package
For the low cost of 75 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Gulf Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 25 Gold, low-interest loan that will be invested directly into Education. [2.5% compounded continuously**]


Gulf Infrastructure Development Package
For the low cost of 75 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Gulf Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 25 Gold, low-interest loan that will be invested directly into Infrastructure. [2.5% compounded continuously*]


Gulf Healthcare Development Package
For the low cost of 75 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Gulf Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 25 Gold, low-interest loan that will be invested directly into Healthcare. [1.25% compounded continuously*]


Gulf Block Development Package
For the low cost of 75 Gold*, you can buy the following.

Five Gulf Branches (boosting Tertiary Production)
A 25 Gold, low-interest loan with no strings attached. [3.75% compounded continuously*]

*Cost of individual packages subject to change from a year-to-year basis.
**Interest rates on individual packages subject to year-to-year change.
***Shareholders are exempt from interest and receive the loans at no interest for the first four packages listed.

 

[Double A]

I still don't understand how the things that aren't a 90 gold loan or bonds work.

 

[NinjaCow64]

OOC: The Amazons aren't in the top column of treaties and SATON isn't mentioned anywhere in the treaties tab.

IC:

To: United Arab Republic, Tet Corporation

We are interested in setting up eight branches of Arab Petrol in our country. As you are the two largest shareholders, we wish to ask for your permission to do so. We will gladly pay for the cost of setting up these branches ($64). We also wish to remind you that this is basically free money, as setting up these branches will come at no cost to you and will start generating income. To sweeten the deal, we are prepared to reduce trading restrictions between you and SATON (with approval of other SATON members of course), setting our trade to "2".

To: Russia

We are interested in a similar deal with your nation. We will pay you $80 for you to set up 10 branches within our nation and we will also reduce trading restrictions, setting trade to "2".

As Royal Amazon Industries (RAI) is now held by the majority stakeholder that is the Amazon, several NPCs desire the construction of branches in their territory. It costs Amazon 21 gold to build a branch anywhere in the world, but each branch generates about 4 gold per turn.

Each of the following nations wishes to have branches, and offers 20 gold per branch; while it costs 21 gold to build them, the fact they generate about 4 gold per turn covers the costs.

Germany wishes for 5 branches. Total offered: 100g

Siberia wants 1 branch. Total offered: 20g

Tibet wants 2 branches. Total offered: 40g

The Republic of China wants 3 branches. Total offered: 60g

Taking these deals does not count as using up one's summits, as they are being conducted by Royal Amazon Industries and not Amazon itself.

To: Germany, Siberia, Tibet and the Republic of China:

We accept all these offers. However, we do warn you that if you enter any form of alliance with Amazonia's enemies (Aztecs, Papal States, Fortschritte), we will close the branches and go do business elsewhere. This goes for all nations that have branches within our country.

To: The Cherfue

This conflict has gone on for far too long, we don't really know what we are fighting about anymore. As such, we offer your nation an Non-Agression Pact, so we can put our petty squabbles behind us. Amazonia does not wish to have enemies, as long as our enemies are willing to resolve our conflicts we will gladly "bury the hatchet" so to speak.

 

[Jehoshua]

To: Amazonia
From: The Papal States

The Holy See protests Amazonia's blatant aggression and interference in the peaceful relationships of Europe, and characterisation of the Papal States as its enemy, on par with the historic barbarism of the Aztec Empire. The Papal States has neither attacked Amazonia at any point in its history, or is engaged in any policy currently that seeks to interfere with its international relations or harm relations between it and any other state. Amazonia on the other hand is running an antagonistic foreign policy towards us, and is blatantly using a state run corporation in a bid to control the sovereign agency of other states to serve its political interests.

We would urge as such our friends in Germany, with which we have ongoing and friendly relations, and close economic and security bonds in terms of free trade and non-aggression and in terms of papal support in other areas. Relations which we note are neither coercive (as the Amazonian proposal is) or restrictive to Germany agency. To reconsider investing in a state run organisation that will at the behest of a foreign government pull up shop if Germany engages in its sovereign rights in the future, in a way that does not serve said foreign governments aggressive agenda towards us and certain other powers.

sincerely

Pope Pius XII.

 

[Tani Coyote]

Hungary, Gibraltar, Navarre, Scotireland, Venice, and Savoy announce that they have become party to the Congress of Europe, signing free trade, non-aggression, and defensive pacts with the Papal States and prior members.

OOC: The Amazons aren't in the top column of treaties and SATON isn't mentioned anywhere in the treaties tab.

Remedied, I accidentally hid some tabs and forgot to unhide them. They should be visible now.

To: Germany, Siberia, Tibet and the Republic of China:

We accept all these offers. However, we do warn you that if you enter any form of alliance with Amazonia's enemies (Aztecs, Papal States, Fortschritte), we will close the branches and go do business elsewhere. This goes for all nations that have branches within our country.

Siberia, Tibet and the RoC cannot conceive why they'd ever be aligned with either of the three powers and so shall respect this provision.

Germany must sadly retract its offer given this demand. As Germany seeks to maintain a semblance of neutrality as one of the world's foremost economies, it desires full sovereignty in its foreign affairs, with regards to both the Papacy and Amazon, and any other nation. Germany has also landed a lucrative deal courtesy of the Kulin Bio board of directors (OOC: currently under NPC jurisdiction as no coalition governs the company) and so has found an alternate means of obtaining industrial investment.

 

[NinjaCow64]

To: Amazonia
From: The Papal States

The Holy See protests Amazonia's blatant aggression and interference in the peaceful relationships of Europe, and characterisation of the Papal States as its enemy, on par with the historic barbarism of the Aztec Empire. The Papal States has neither attacked Amazonia at any point in its history, or is engaged in any policy currently that seeks to interfere with its international relations or harm relations between it and any other state. Amazonia on the other hand is running an antagonistic foreign policy towards us, and is blatantly using a state run corporation in a bid to control the sovereign agency of other states to serve its political interests.

We would urge as such our friends in Germany, with which we have ongoing and friendly relations, and close economic and security bonds in terms of free trade and non-aggression and in terms of papal support in other areas, relations which are neither coercive (as the Amazonian proposal is) or restrictive to Germany agency, to reconsider investing in a state run organisation that will at the behest of a foreign government pull up shop if Germany engages in its sovereign rights in the future, in a way that does not serve said foreign governments aggressive agenda towards us and certain other powers.

sincerely

Pope Pius XII.

To: The Papal States

On the contrary to your statements, you have conducted foreign and domestic policy that is direct opposition our interests. You have installed structures within your borders that cause illness in our citizens, making trade impossible between our two nations. You have allied yourself with a nation (Fortschritte) that advocates "curing" us of our "defects", probably with barbaric eugenic policies, or, failing that, xenocide. It is our duty to oppose these practices, putting us in direct opposition to you.

We do not wish to have enemies, so if you were willing to end your relationship with Fortschritte and alter your anti-magic technology so it does not cause illness in our citizens, which our scientists will assist you in doing, then we would gladly reconsider our foreign policy. We offer a similar deal to Fortschritte. However, until you reconsider your policies, then we will, unfortunately, have to consider you our enemies.

We ask Germany, who do you wish to associate with? A country that has blatantly xenophobic policies? A country that has gutted your economy from war? Or a country that is willing to help you improve your economy and repair the damage that the Papal States have done? The choice is yours, friend.

Germany must sadly retract its offer given this demand. As Germany seeks to maintain a semblance of neutrality as one of the world's foremost economies, it desires full sovereignty in its foreign affairs, with regards to both the Papacy and Amazon, and any other nation. Germany has also landed a lucrative deal courtesy of the Kulin Bio board of directors (OOC: currently under NPC jurisdiction as no coalition governs the company) and so has found an alternate means of obtaining industrial investment.

That is an unfortunate, but understandable, development. We wish Germany luck in it's future industrial development with Kulin Bio.

 

[Celticfury]

India, seeing the naked agression of Korea, Yi China and Japan, has decided to embargo those nations.

The war against the Jiang dynasty is not a war of pure conquest. The Jiang had attempted to overthrow the Yi Dynasty years ago, claiming legitimacy to the throne. Their persistence in this delusion has lead to decades of bloodshed, dividing the Chinese people against themselves. This aim of this war is to unify the two Chinas, with as few casualties as possible.



To the Jiang Emperor:


The Coalition has overrun much of the territory you have long since ruled, and is poised to make a large scale assault against your final strongholds. While it would be a simple matter to breach your defenses, the continuation of this war would surely result in the loss of many innocent lives. And while some have called for the heads of your royal family, the Emperor is not without mercy. Therefore, His Majesty Emperor Yeong proposes the following treaty, to be signed in the city of Haixi.

-The Jiang King will surrender to the Coalition forces.
-All current territories held by the Jiang Dynasty will be ceded to the Yi Dynasty, along with all Korean held territories in Jiang controlled China.
-The Jiang King will give up all claims to the Chinese throne, for himself, his relations, and his descendants.
-In exchange, the Jiang King and his family will be granted amnesty, and given a sizable estate outside of Yangpyeong. The estate will include a full household staff, a well trained guard detail, a private passenger jet, several private motor vehicles, and other amenities. In addition, a sizable stipend will be provided.
-All members of the Jiang military will be granted amnesty upon surrender to Coalition forces. Officers of rank equivalent to Junjang (Brigadier General) and above will be allowed to chose whether to integrate into the Yi military, or to receive a small estate, stipend, and guard detail.
-All military equipment of the Jiang military is to be turned over to the Coalition forces upon surrender.