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Languishing like a Virgin Queen

Started by Viking, September 22, 2012, 08:17:40 PM

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Tamas

Don't forget that I have up to 4 mercenaries to sell out. They come highly recommended by several high-profile warmongers of Europe.

Viking

Quote from: Tamas on September 24, 2012, 04:51:48 AM
Don't forget that I have up to 4 mercenaries to sell out. They come highly recommended by several high-profile warmongers of Europe.

I have no land to place them.. so.. no thanks.


In other news. I'm a bit confused on how I should start. I'm a bit worried actually that spain can de-protestantize the netherlands before I Can do anything.

Can somebody who has played this before give me some advice?
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Solmyr

Spain probably won't have enough time to crush you AND fight the Turks AND fortify the colonies against pirates. Just keep those sermons coming. In Netherlands, not in France, the French are good Catholics. :P

Viking

This is what I have learned from reading the other VQ threads (isn't it cool that we now have 3 VQ games going at once here...)

1 just noticed that I can never be reduced to zero protestants in france or netherlands
2 just noticed that ports count and england is protestant
3 my home card is really really über
4 keep both dutch and hugenots viable since I get extra cards for BOTH doing well


basically convert as much as possible, then revolt, ideally in undefended keys. Since revolting (in even numbers at least) includes building regulars for the same number of CP it is very very much worth doing.
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

garbon

#34
Point 1 - you can get yourself boxed in though. See Katmai in France where a lot if under unrest and thus limits expansion.

Point 2 is a double-edged sword as Spain is Catholic and has ports that border those in France.

Quote from: Viking on September 24, 2012, 06:19:16 AM
3 my home card is really really über

I'm not sure about that. It is certainly a strong mallet but given that other player's can anticipate it - what it largely does is keep them on their toes / keep you from being overwhelmed. After all, remember that there are several event cards that radically shift the balance of power in French/Dutch religious struggles.
"I've never been quite sure what the point of a eunuch is, if truth be told. It seems to me they're only men with the useful bits cut off."
I drank because I wanted to drown my sorrows, but now the damned things have learned to swim.

Viking

I can't believe that I just sent out a game theory decision matrix as part of a diplomatic overture.
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Habbaku

The medievals were only too right in taking nolo episcopari as the best reason a man could give to others for making him a bishop. Give me a king whose chief interest in life is stamps, railways, or race-horses; and who has the power to sack his Vizier (or whatever you care to call him) if he does not like the cut of his trousers.

Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so as to refer to people.

-J. R. R. Tolkien

Viking

Quote from: Habbaku on September 24, 2012, 02:22:04 PM
Link?

my justification about why somebody should be grateful when I do him harm will remain secret for the time being, the diplo phase is still on.
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Habbaku

Too slow, already got it.  Leaks are everywhere.
The medievals were only too right in taking nolo episcopari as the best reason a man could give to others for making him a bishop. Give me a king whose chief interest in life is stamps, railways, or race-horses; and who has the power to sack his Vizier (or whatever you care to call him) if he does not like the cut of his trousers.

Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so as to refer to people.

-J. R. R. Tolkien

Viking

#39
Quote from: Habbaku on September 24, 2012, 02:35:12 PM
Too slow, already got it.  Leaks are everywhere.

i suppose I have a rude and bad tempered reply in my inbox then...


Edit: two actually :)
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Maladict

Quote from: garbon on September 24, 2012, 11:22:14 AM
Point 2 is a double-edged sword as Spain is Catholic and has ports that border those in France.

Heh, I never noticed that. Interesting.

Viking

First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

Viking

I found this

http://fortressat.com/forum/30-pbem-a-pbforum/120907-virgin-queen-groping-in-the-dark-game?limit=10&start=30#123585

might be interesting reading

QuoteRe: Virgin Queen groping in the dark game
This is not intended to be a fully-formed strategy guide (who other than Ed is even in a position to write such a thing at this point?), but new players might want to take some of the following into consideration. Maybe it will prompt you to carefully read some of the pertinent rules sections...

GENERAL
Be aware of some key differences from Here I Stand--suing for peace is gone, which can mean that capturing an enemy key could be for keeps if the victor doesn't feel like ceding it back. In HIS you could get smacked down really hard, but recover all your losses if you are willing to cough up a pile of War Winner VPs and/or card draws to do it.

Interactions with minor powers are much different. You can spend CP to boost your chances of winning the ability to activate a minor when it comes time to do their status check (via a card in the deck, or when someone else declares war on them). If you DOW a minor, you lose the ability to diplomatically influence them for the rest of the game, and will probably see someone else take control of them, putting you at war with a major power instead.

Know the piracy rules. Everyone can do piracy in this game, but only against a power you're at war with (or always against Spain/Portugal on the World Map).

Spain, England, France, and the Protestants need to know all the religious rules. The spread of religion is quite different in this game, but quicker and easier. Also make sure you know how rebellions start and the consequences of their success.

OTTOMAN
Advantages and General Goals:
You can pirate anyone on the Europe map, whether you're at war or not.
While Suleiman is alive, you get to keep and use both home cards each turn instead of discarding one
Your home cards allow you several choices: build a stack of units for cheap, declare war on the fly in the action rounds, and one of them has the option to be used as an all-powerful "cancel any event" Response.
A good scientist result may give you the chance to earn a bonus that will help build the Suez Canal. You want this. 2VP and a permanent +1 Card marker for the rest of the game.

SPAIN
Advantages and General Goals:
Protect your New World treasures, because any that aren't pirated go into your hand at the end of the turn. These give you a big resource edge as impulse-extenders.
Keep England busy with Jesuits and espionage.
Getting units into Ireland or England itself is a huge boost to your chances of pulling off an English Catholic Rebellion (auto-win).
Read all the rules. Like the Hapsburgs in HIS, you're involved in everything.

ENGLAND
Advantages and General Goals:
Use the carrot of Elizabeth's hand in marriage to get cards or favors. You can command compensation for having to burn your home card to jilt the poor guy at the altar and still get your Virgin Queen VP at turn's end--the jilted power can reap nice rewards. Or do this to yourself by setting up Elizabeth with Lord Darnley!
Walsingham will come in very handy with espionage (attack or defense).
You have the best sea captains. They can either be naval leaders on the Europe Map or top quality pirates on the World Map
Be very cautious about letting Mary hang around too long. Check the reference cards that have been posted on the GMT living rules page--her list of modifiers to Catholic Rebellion attempts or assassination attempts against Elizabeth is terrifying.

FRANCE
Advantages and General Goals:
Get those 5 kids married for a VP each. You have a home card that can boost the chances of a positive outcome, too.
Read 20.10 about how the Catholic League forms and prepare yourself. This is an unmitigated disaster for France.
Be an effective diplomat. The Huguenots can rebel faster and more easily than you can put them down, because you have shitty army leadership. However, let them know you're not afraid to unleash your home card that can, in the words of a guy in my current game "roll them up like a carpet".
Hang on to Paris. It's worth 1 VP at the end of every turn.
Try and save some CP for splashing influence on the minors (I'm neglecting this badly at present).

HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Advantages and General Goals:
You can choose to take a pile of mercs to give as gifts every turn. Get something nice in exchange. Another diplomatic edge is a home card ability to give a specific card to another player.
Know the conditions for getting Master of Central Europe VPs (hint: the target is right out your front door).
Lay in the weeds. You have a secret religious preference that can be dropped on everyone at the end of a turn to catapult to victory.
Get your royals married and take advantage of your home card to employ the Italians, because you have one crappy sea captain who won't manage much in the New World.

PROTESTANTS
Advantages and General Goals:
You have a very powerful home card for spreading religion or fomenting rebellions. Use it wisely, because your other home card has a bunch of preconditions and won't arrive until the Catholic League forms.
Keys in the Netherlands are worth a juicy 3 VP each.
Your army leaders are very good--which makes them high-profile assassination targets for France or Spain. Beware.
Know the conditions of the Dutch Revolt card. You can scoop valuable VPs from this mandatory event that cycles back into the deck (or see Spain score VPs if you get off to a slow start).
First Maxim - "There are only two amounts, too few and enough."
First Corollary - "You cannot have too many soldiers, only too few supplies."
Second Maxim - "Be willing to exchange a bad idea for a good one."
Second Corollary - "You can only be wrong or agree with me."

A terrorist which starts a slaughter quoting Locke, Burke and Mill has completely missed the point.
The fact remains that the only person or group to applaud the Norway massacre are random Islamists.

ulmont

Quote from: Viking on September 25, 2012, 05:26:59 AM
I think I'm done with diplomacy.

Went ahead and announced (request card draw from France).  I assume Max can finish up any remaining bits and announce shortly.

Maximus

Spain offers France an alliance and a treasure.