DaNES II: When the Stars Fall

[Thlayli]

he basically said the majority of the cost was tied to the initial purchase, recruitment bonus money for weapons etc

But if 1000 infantry costs 150 talents, do you pay 150 talents up front and add 150 talents to the upkeep? Or is it the latter, or a mixture.

 

[Dachs]

I would like to inform everybody that I will be gone for at minimum one day, from Friday afternoon (EST) to Saturday evening (EST) and perhaps from Friday morning to Sunday evening. This may affect your question-asking.

Hey Dachs, Pala breakdown?

Claiming the Kingdom of Pisidia. Dachs when possible can you PM or post a rundown for Pisidia. No great rush before the update will be fine.

Sure, though these particular stats seem pretty self-explanatory in terms of what they are and their obvious motives compared to, say, a "clique" with a random Chinese name. You might try doing some research.

Pisidoi: the Pisidians, a semi-small group originally from southern Anatolia, and the people who currently hold political power in Pisidia. Have become rather estranged from the Anatolian Greeks. Tend to support the policies of the king due to the fact that he is a Pisidian king. Don't like it when their monopoly on political and military power weakens.
Anatolian Greeks: ought to be self-explanatory. In addition to the obvious (hate Pisidians, more or less ready to rebel to any of the surrounding Greek powers) they also handle a lot of Pisidia's trade.
Kappadokiai: shocker here, these are the Cappadocians. Native Anatolian group, tend to serve as cavalry in the military. Don't play a very large role in leadership despite their shared heritage with the Pisidians. They can loosely be said to be "on the Pisidians' side" in most wars but are fairly apathetic in general about which foreign group rules them.
Armenians: are Armenians. They are mostly Sophist, tend to loosely be aligned with the state against the Greeks, and recognize that they would probably get a raw deal under the rule of any of the other surrounding powers. Are sometimes a source of friction with the lord of the marz of Pokr Hayk.

Kannauj: the region of Kannauj, which is where the capital is. Doubles as the "loyal faction".
Viceroy of the Gurjaras: the viceroy of the Gurjaras. Of the two "decentralized areas of interest" marked on the map, it's the one in the north. Wants to abandon the loose "alliance" with the Kaspeireians and attack them for great justice. Also tends to support the obvious things a semi-independent viceroy would tend to support.
Viceroy of Malwa: the viceroy of Malwa. Of the two "decentralized areas of interest" marked on the map, it's the one in the north. Likes killing Cholas and is worried that the government isn't doing enough to stop the Chola threat. Also tends to support the obvious things a semi-independent viceroy would tend to support.
Brahmins: these guys.
Bengal: the region of Bengal, home of the Pala dynasty. Doesn't like being marginalized and ignored, which it isn't; it actually receives a disproportionate amount of attention from the state and from the royal family. Supplies a large number of the troops in the military. Doesn't really have any pet issues yet, but will almost certainly develop some soon.

To - All coastal Indian nations
From - The Aksumite Empire

Greetings, we would like to propose trade agreements with your nations, to design regular trade routes into your port cities. We would export the finest of African products, in exchange to what India has to offer. We also offer a 5% reduction of prices between our trades, to boost the amount of goods traded. Agreed?

To: the Aksumite Empire
From: the raja of the Western Gangas

We do not understand why you would wish to alter our current trade understanding, as it has, as far as we are aware, been satisfactory to both sides.

To: the Aksumite Empire
From: the raja of Kalinga

We see no particular reason to allow you foreigners preferential treatment in our markets. You may continue trading here on equal terms with everybody else.

To: the Aksumite Empire
From: Sri Aggabodhi, lord of Anuradhapura

Sounds reasonable. You don't do that much business with us as it is, so losing 5% of the trade duties on it can't hurt.

To: the Aksumite Empire
From: the archon of the united poleis of Patalene

Have you already tired of our trade wars? Come back when you are ready to grovel.

OOC: @Dachs, I forgot to ask, how exactly has Buddhism evolved/differed from OTL? Posting here so that other people could know as well.

First divergence was with the Sungas. A Seleukid state powerful enough to continue to keep the Baktrians on its leash prevented them from entering the North Indian vacuum in the 180s BC and sustaining Buddhist culture through the Indo-Greek kingdoms. Instead, they virtually all fell under the control of Pushyamitra Sunga, who himself wasn't as anti-Buddhists as the Buddhists like to claim even in OTL, but some of his TTL descendants were. Persecutions started in waves beginning in the first century BC that kicked off a general diaspora. There are very few Buddhists left in India anymore, having mostly gone north (there are a few Buddhist groups among the Turkic and Mongolic peoples) and to Indochina (which is where Nanyue got it from).

This essentially means that Mahayana in the form in which it existed in OTL never, well, existed. Leaves you quite a lot of leeway! As with the Sophists, I'm open to player innovation as to what religious changes were effected in TTL, so long as I can check back on it and it makes sense to me.

I'll assume Armenia, if allowed.

Go for it!

Oh yeah, Dachs, quick question. For the troop costs listed on the front, is that how much your upkeep increases/revenues decrease, or is that the cost you pay from your treasury? Or both?

But if 1000 infantry costs 150 talents, do you pay 150 talents up front and add 150 talents to the upkeep? Or is it the latter, or a mixture.

Those are from the costs you pay from your annual income/treasury to recruit the soldiers. You don't recalculate upkeep yourself, I do (at the end of each turn), and the amount of money 1,000 soldiers or whatever adds to your upkeep depends on a lot of factors, including the relative price of silver in a given polity, troop quality, effectiveness of the military bureaucracy, whether you are at war, and all sorts of other good stuff.

 

[Abaddon]

but thats far to sensible and unopen to exploitation!

 

[Dachs]

Sorry, mang. Knowing you, you'll probably find a way to exploit it anyway.

 

[Perfectionist]

Can we recruit in smaller units, or does it have to be a thousand at a time?

 

[Dachs]

Can we recruit in smaller units, or does it have to be a thousand at a time?

Nope, you can go smaller. Linear scale, so 500 infantry cost 75 talents and so forth.

You can even spend less than a talent on something! I may or may not retaliate with horrifying "random events" that strike your country in rapid succession, though. :3

 

[Abaddon]

Horrifyingly amazing?

I'll do what I can to "break" them.. but it seems with the "black box" approach, you can fudge as you like and circumvent any tricks I design

I should do diplo etc.. too despressed at the moment to crank into NESing mode

 

[Kraznaya]

I'd like to change to this map color for my polity.

 

[Shadowbound]

I've been informed that the standing armies of feudal states like Iberia don't represent their full military strength, and that there's tons of levies that I can call up for a war. Is this true?

Also,

I would like this color.

 

[Thlayli]

Hey, Shadow. Can I get a diplo reply?

 

[Shadowbound]

BA.

From: Deukalion Amyntor, Archon of Panormos
To: Drehten Gerold, Basileus of Iberia

We have much to discuss. For a great time, the Iberian rule of the Hellenic poleis in Iberia and Massilla has imposed a degree of financial restriction which...chafes, to say the least, upon our mercantile classes. What we seek, to be blunt, is untaxed trade with these poleis, or at the least, lightly taxed trade. We consider them part of our economic patrimony, though of course we respect their allegiance to the Drehten.

In return for this, we can offer a variety of concessions. Luxury goods for your court, scholars to educate your children, whatever your kingship desires. Any goods or services that we might be able to provide, simply request our aid.

From Gerold, Drechton of the Hatta

The duties paid by the Hellenic traders are of great importance, and are paid directly to me to support the common defense of the Hatta. I will not discuss any reduction in them at this time.

 

[Adrogans]

Trohtîn Wiolant is the first name of my ruler (still trying to figure out Old Germanic Surname structure.)

Also can I switch my color to the gold in the Modern German Flag?

Stories to come as I learn more.

 

[Thlayli]

From Gerold, Drechton of the Hatta

The duties paid by the Hellenic traders are of great importance, and are paid directly to me to support the common defense of the Hatta. I will not discuss any reduction in them at this time.

We regret your decision. If ever you are willing to grant more leniency towards the Mediterranean trade, we would be willing to supply weapons, equipment, and advisors superior in quality to those you already possess, at our expense.

From: The Republic of Panormos
To: The Horde of the Aorsi

Know this. Your days of extracting easy tribute from the Hellenic poleis of Magna Graecia are at an end.

We are willing to trade with you as neighbors, but if you continue your barbaric raids of our territory, we shall respond with great force.

 

[Adrogans]

From: Trohtîn Wiolant of the Kingdom of Walhia
To: Gerold, Drechton of the Hatta

We would like to improve our trade relations with you our greatest of neighbors.

To: Kingdom of Nerwia

We would like to trade with you especially for your finely crafted swords we have heard much good about.

 

[Shadowbound]

From: Trohtîn Wiolant of the Kingdom of Walhia
To: Gerold, Drechton of the Hatta

We would like to improve our trade relations with you our greatest of neighbors.

Suitable gifts to the Drechton would improve his disposition towards the Trohtîn of the Bastarna.

 

[~Darkening~]

Requesting faction info when you can, Dachs.

 

[Theige]

From: Kingdom of Makedonia
To: The Kingdom of Aigyptos

We propose a 5% reduction of all import duties in our respective countries.

 

[Kentharu]

From The Kingdom of Aigyptos
To The Kingdom of Makedonia

Agreed.

 

[Reno]

To: Panormos
From: The Aorsi Horde

You dare presume that you have the power to dictate our actions? The Khan would be insulted if he wasn't too busy laughing at your puny threats.

We do as we please.

 

[Thlayli]

As expected, you have chosen the quickest possible path to Hades' gates.