INES II: Gone is the Old Guard

[TheLizardKing]

The waves slammed the boat, rocking it back and fourth. Water seeped over the sides, soaking the men, as they huddled, crouching. Fear; wether or not not anyone felt it, didn't matter. They all knew their duty. As the sound of bullets and explosions got louder, any fear the men did have soon was replaced with rushing adrenaline. The dinging of the bullets on the side of the boat was real enough; this was no live ammo excercise.

In the front, the Sarge, leaned back, helping a fallen soldier. He shouted orders, but as a plain screamed across the sky, his voice was lost. In an instant, the boat slammed to a stop, and the door dropped. The second that happened, the bullets found their way through the mass of men, as they tried to escape this death trap. The lucky ones at the back of the boat used their friends bodies as shields against the onslaught. Yet somehow, someway, men found themselves on the beach. The beach led to a dense jungle, in which an unseen enemy continued to fire.

A Moroccan Marine, waving directing military traffic on the beach

Then, the most deafening sound of all began; naval bombardment. When straffing doesn't work, call in the big guns. It had its desired effect. The firing from the jungle stopped almost instantly. Wether it be out of fear, or a very lucky few hits, the soldiers took their time, pulling the dead from the beaches. Soon the tanks began rolling up, followed by more and more waves of soldiers. While this was no Normandy, to any man who experienced it, it was hell.
-Tales of a soldier; True Accounts on the Field of Battle- Moroccan best seller

 

[Kraznaya]

I have no problem with you withdrawing, but what weekly story requirement? Nations whose players write some some sort of story each turn get a small bonus. That's it. I wouldn't want you to quit under false pretenses.

In other news, if you're sure you want to quit, I would really appreciate if an experienced lurker takes Indonesia, figures out what is going on, and sends some form of orders. In this case, one more player would be easier for me to handle than one more NPC.

lurker's comment:
Assuming a 1 EP worth boost for a story, for an economy earning 2 EP a turn, a story provides a 50% boost to stats. That's huge. Even large economies get very quantifiable bonuses which would definitely swing a war to one side ceteris paribus.

That said, I did enjoy playing your NES and its amusing setting and you luck with modding it for many an update.

 

[germanicus12]

Deseret also borders the Gulf of Mexico and therefore is able to acquire the Natural Gas as well, so the Confederacy does not have a large monopoly over it. Though NADTA does.

Our oil reserves in Texas and the Gulf of Mexico are sufficient for our transportation needs, we do not have a half a billion fuel hungry people to feed anymore. Probably more like 150 million now. Mostly cowboys and ranchers who would rather ride their horse than a truck.

 

[TheLizardKing]

Dar-Al-Islam is also INCREDIBLY oil rich. It seems to me, the only countries really lacking in oil are that of the Chicago Pact..

 

[bestshot9]

OOC: Cascadia has lots of oil that we've stolen from Deseret, basically half their oil reserves. Anyone want some, support our cause! (ASP donations welcome.)

 

[Adrogans]

OOC I have to agree the story bonus was pretty massive.

 

[Crezth]

OOC I have to agree the story bonus was pretty massive.

OOC: I agree but I think it's appropriate. What better way to engage the playerdom of a NES than to interact with their stories?

 

[Adrogans]

OOC: Wasn't a complaint, more an observation that Kraz had a point. I'll play anyway the stylish one will rule the world..

 

[Imago]

That's huge.

Mostly responding to this because I've had some prior thoughts on the matter and now is as good as any a time to share. A story bonus is not exactly equal to 1 ASP for three reasons.

1) You can't be absolutely sure of what sort of bonus you'll get until after the update.

2) Thusly, you can't intergrate the 'story bonus ASP' into same-turn orders like you can with regular ASP.

3) Story bonuses often provide approval rating increases, and my approval rating system isn't very quantifiable.

Furthermore, though I will certainly admit that a 2 ASP power with a player who always writes stories does get something along the lines of a 50% bonus, as nations get richer, (and thus more likely to be a power player in some world-defining conflict) the percent steadily decreases. The story bonus is only a 33% boost for a 3 ASP nation, 25% for a 4 ASP nation, and so on and so forth. Influential but not overwhelming.

Lastly, I will add a quick attack on your Latin phrase. Ceteris paribus refers to the idea of 'all other things being equal.' In NESes, certainly my NESes, since when is the game a pure clash of economies? Orders are more important to me than ASP stats, and no two players can write perfectly balanced orders.

Anyway, I wish you well in modding the 1000 AD NES. I'll be lurking.

***

Now that it's certain Kraznaya has quit, I'll put out one more call for some brave soul to step into Indonesia's shoes. The update will be better with a PC Indonesia, and my seemingly looming deadline is somewhat flexible.

 

[Karalysia]

I say we give it to him. I like him already.

 

[fantasmo]

My orders are gonna be late. Sick + work = no orders possible from fantasmo until like... tomorrow night, my time. Sorry, chief. If you like, you can just NPC me this turn. Do Britishy things. Drink tea and such.

 

[Karalysia]

My orders are going to be late too.

@ ASEAN yo have the Americans agreed to the Pact bro they seem shocked that we have Bush with us.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I'm going to need more time... I'm traveling home, and won't be able to quite get orders in on time. Status quo for now, please! I'll try to get something in, but it'll be late.

 

[Nuka-sama]

Story and orders after my History Final-ETA 5 hours

 

[Imago]

Okay, let's take stock. 14/27 orders. There's still some time before the deadline, but I'm not hopeful about many of you being that quick. For now, everyone yet to send should try and get orders in as fast as they reasonably can, and I'll let you all know more of my plan for accepting late orders once the deadline comes.

 

[Anonymoose]

Not so expensive. It looks expensive mostly because of the regulations placed upon the natural gas companies by the oil-loving US government. Also, it's a long term plan, not an immediate thing. Also also, I was just letting people know I'm still alive, (while assuring the people of the Confederacy that we don't need no stinkin' oil)*.
*OOC

 

[TheLizardKing]

Ignore this.

 

[bestrfcplayer]

Oceiana has few oil resurves off our coast, and will not give them up to anyone.

OOC: It just humors me to see Bush hungover .

 

[Imago]

17/27 orders in. Deadline here, and I'm starting to work on the update, though orders that come in in the next couple hours shouldn't be a problem.

As for the Treaty of Mali, the NPC nations involved don't want to give up their right to make bilateral treaties, and don't like the idea of any secretary having veto power. They'll open up negotiations on the treaty after the update.

EDIT: If you're not sure if you've sent orders, ask me. As of now, important players that I hope to soon have orders from include Agent 89, Nuke, and Karalysia.

 

[Adrogans]

Whoa...TAJ does not recall signing this. In fact I think we missed the whole discussion.