Issues to address in the Iron Ridge

Just noting a few shortcomings we currently face. Please express your ideas and opinions below;

• Our realm is plagued by roving bandits and marauders who take advantage of our weakened state.
  
• A low population particularly those with trade skills hampers our ability to expand.
  
• A distinct lack of military presence to defend the realm and its people.
  
• New trade agreements need to be sealed to stabilise our economy.

Please quote which point you are addressing in your post rather than spamming unstructured replies.

Physicist wrote:

I can see SHAMUS LOVES COCK! orchestrating the state security initiative whilst working closely with Dean and Tim handling information gathering, infiltration and espionage. With the right amount of planning and co-operation this initiative has the potential to keep our state very safe indeed. > Sneaky gits and stand over men.

I am appreciating the humanitarian involvement from Dan coupled with his utilitarian skill set to assist with infrastructure reconstruction and public welfare. > Makes life better.

I am taking a different approach focusing on providing fundamental and crucial information, resource management and planning as well as foreign and domestic relations and economy. > Shit no-one wants to deal with.

Let's not forget that while we may only have a limited amount of time to 'do stuff' in session the out-of-session month long period affords ample time to start pet projects and work toward goals.

Marching Orders Received

Edited: Update for July 742DS, Year of the crustacean.

Physicist wrote:

Just noting a few shortcomings we currently face. Please express your ideas and opinions below;

• Our realm is plagued by roving bandits and marauders who take advantage of our weakened state.
  
• A low population particularly those with trade skills hampers our ability to expand.
  
• A distinct lack of military presence to defend the realm and its people.
  
• New trade agreements need to be sealed to stabilise our economy.

Please quote which point you are addressing in your post rather than spamming unstructured replies.

Ok possible to fix a couple here.

i wish to try and get the bandits to become mercs. under our employ or my own.

possible solutions to problems.

• Our realm is plagued by roving bandits and marauders who take advantage of our weakened state.
  they will now be working for us there fore not raiding our lands.
  
• A low population particularly those with trade skills hampers our ability to expand.
  These bandits may have some skilled traders that are needed when things are not going their way in their raiding.
  
• A distinct lack of military presence to defend the realm and its people.
  we now have a merc army of savages that is more then noone standing at our gates other then a lone Squad.
  
• New trade agreements need to be sealed to stabilise our economy.
  stealing is a type of trade. not every party wins but the idea is to get what we need. also dont know if the bandits have connections.

Ok Dan, as an interested onlooker i am going to butt in here and try a little exercise.

This process should really work in four stages; these stages are as follows:

Stage 1: Identify the issue - This is where we figure out that is wrong!

Stage 2: Identify possible solutions - This is where you think about what could be done

Stage 3: Plan and carry out - This is where you plan the action to implement your solution and carry it out.

Stage 4: Solution becomes a reality - Once you have carried out your plan of action, stand back and see how the results marry up to the plan. Evaluate the situation and start from the beginning again if required.


Ok Jd has given you "Stage 1" right here;

Physicist wrote:

Just noting a few shortcomings we currently face. Please express your ideas and opinions below;

• Our realm is plagued by roving bandits and marauders who take advantage of our weakened state.
  
• A low population particularly those with trade skills hampers our ability to expand.
  
• A distinct lack of military presence to defend the realm and its people.
  
• New trade agreements need to be sealed to stabilise our economy.

Please quote which point you are addressing in your post rather than spamming unstructured replies.

This is "Stage 2" here.

angry_dan wrote:

Ok possible to fix a couple here.

i wish to try and get the bandits to become mercs. under our employ or my own.

But this stuff right here, this is "Stage 5",

angry_dan wrote:

possible solutions to problems.

• Our realm is plagued by roving bandits and marauders who take advantage of our weakened state.
  they will now be working for us there fore not raiding our lands.
  
• A low population particularly those with trade skills hampers our ability to expand.
  These bandits may have some skilled traders that are needed when things are not going their way in their raiding.
  
• A distinct lack of military presence to defend the realm and its people.
  we now have a merc army of savages that is more then noone standing at our gates other then a lone Squad.
  
• New trade agreements need to be sealed to stabilise our economy.
  stealing is a type of trade. not every party wins but the idea is to get what we need. also dont know if the bandits have connections.

because what you have done here is taken a "Stage 2" and added another "Stage 1 and 2" too it, you're trying to take a hypothetical solution and uses it as the basis to solve other issues. "Stage 5" is a waste of time, because it is an idea built off another idea, which puts it on fairly weak footing. Concentrate on "Stage 3" before you get too worried about what you will do after "Stage 4".

Thank you matt I will formulate a plan hopefully tonight or tomorrow with this in mind.

Just spamming my thoughts on these points today. I am hoping for a little more input and I will try to create a more structured response from all relevant information.

Physicist wrote:

• Our realm is plagued by roving bandits and marauders who take advantage of our weakened state.

angry_dan wrote:

Ok possible to fix a couple here.

i wish to try and get the bandits to become mercs. under our employ or my own.

I too was trying to think how to turn their hindrance into helpfulness. How does one go about hiring mercenaries in the first place let alone trying to appeal to bandits for the same effect? If one was to approach said bandits to negotiate an agreement how would one go about it? Is it diplomacy or a show of strength? What is there to offer these people? What would constitute an appealing offer?

Physicist wrote:

• A low population particularly those with trade skills hampers our ability to expand.

It seems that the simplest and time honored tradition would be to purchase slaves. This can now be easily achieved via our trade agreement with the Ruby City. But aside from this single source where else should we look? It seems a similar dilemma to the previous point. What can we offer to entice people to move to the Iron Ridge region?

Physicist wrote:

• A distinct lack of military presence to defend the realm and its people.

I would like to suggest conscription to fill the ranks but alas this is of course directly related to our population issues. I think this is our best bet to begin with though. Training all able bodied people of our lands should also help to address the need for a designated internal security force (police).

Physicist wrote:

• New trade agreements need to be sealed to stabilise our economy.

I know that I am keen to make contact with Rivering for more trade contracts as well as the castle south of the Ruby City and the other two castles to the south and east. I am of the understanding that Royalwell is 'laketown' referenced in The Mouth description, can this be validated? If so then I would definitely like to visit Ferryside and Mudcrest as these settlements could potentially effect the river trade routes to the south.
Mudcrest is interesting in that borders an enormous forest. That means lumber. It is also connected via river to the north (Ruby City trade and ore from the town to its north) and south through the forest (another village and 2 castles plus Port Newland).

Yes Royalwell is Laketown.

Ok just to catch up a bit. Can we look at some of the things we were going to address between last session and this one. I know we have neglected this a bit but as we all know the holiday period was a bit crazy and I was a bit out of commission for a bit too.

Bandits and Marauders:

I would like to really made a concerted effort to learn the locations of their primary forces and start a plan to over throw their leaders.

This is our primary concern especially since we just heard about the damage done since last session. Lets revisit this and get some ideas up.

Hornet wrote:

Ok just to catch up a bit. Can we look at some of the things we were going to address between last session and this one.

Can I draw your attention to my previous post. I am still waiting for input from people other than myself and he who shall not be named.

Hornet wrote:

Bandits and Marauders:

I would like to really made a concerted effort to learn the locations of their primary forces and start a plan to over throw their leaders.

• Ivan Rightman could prove to be a very useful infiltrator and investigator facilitating the information gathering process.
  
  
• Overthrowing the 'leaders' is a nice idea but how do we get to that point?

.

A few things I would like to start to organise and put into motion over the last month.

• Organise with Donk to undertake a census to gather as much useful information about our nation and its populace as possible.
  
  
• Using the information found in the census identify the most skilled/senior of each profession with the intention of appointing them as the 'guild master' of said profession.
  
  
• Having appointed guild masters establish trade guilds begin assisting in the facilitation of charters and etc, to lay the foundation for all forward guild structure and activity.
  
  
• Appoint an 'Iron Trade Counsel' where each guild master convenes to discuss the activities, concerns and goals of each guild on a monthly basis.
  
  
• Obtain relevant information to plan and construct a stockade at Royalwell to help fortify and protect the investments in the area.
  
  
• Using the Royalwell stockade as a prototype initiate a plan to construct additional stockades at Ferryside, North Waterdam, Mudcrest and Carrwater.
  
  
• Send envoys to investigate the current state of affairs as well as needs and expectations of Roaylwell, Ferryside, Mudcrest and North Waterdam.
  
  
• Establish an efficient and secure passage between aforementioned villages to facilitate trade routes, military easement, etc.
  

These are by no means expected to reach completion within the one month time period but I feel it is appropriate to put these things up so as to sort through and initialise each part towards a greater plan (ie. the stabilisation and continuation of the realm).

Hornet wrote:

Bandits and Marauders:

I would like to really made a concerted effort to learn the locations of their primary forces and start a plan to over throw their leaders.

This is something that i can do.....
I will look in to this, i would like to gather as much info as i can by street talk, talking to the group, ours leaders and other means to find what i can about there locations, what drives them, there needs, any weeknesses and there leaders....

Now i think there is only two ways we can do this. I would like the groups thoughts on this..........

1. I come in as an outsided, do what i need to do to join there group and get what info i can and work with what we get..

2. I find out one of there leaders or advisor and plan a way to get him alone, then assassinate him and take his spot..

Whats your thoughts?..

Hornet wrote:

Bandits and Marauders:

I would like to really made a concerted effort to learn the locations of their primary forces and start a plan to over throw their leaders.

Deanskiz wrote:

Now i think there is only two ways we can do this. I would like the groups thoughts on this..........

1. I come in as an outsided, do what i need to do to join there group and get what info i can and work with what we get..

2. I find out one of there leaders or advisor and plan a way to get him alone, then assassinate him and take his spot..

Whats your thoughts?..

It's based on a fairly time honored tradition of infiltration, deception and murder which ticks all the boxes for me.
You're fairly confidant of your skills and ability to pull this off?
How long do you think this operation would take?
What resources can we provide to assist you in achieving your goal?

Side thought...perhaps you could co-ordinate with Melchid for a two-pronged-attack?

Having taken care of the first issue being the beastmen in their large numbers I would like to spearhead the efforts to take out the giant spiders down south.

I see in the session 4 pre session notes JD has spent a lot of the between session time conveying our kingdom so I feel me and maybe one other could work on this.

What do we feel as a group is our greatest priority now?

Feel free to pursue any dangers to the lively-hood of the Iron Ridge populace post haste. Those pesky spiders sound like perfect target practice.

I can already see people start taking on varying leadership roles and spearheading different avenues of expansion and regional infrastructural reconstruction. They will of course have their own personal goals and ideas.

I can see SHAMUS LOVES COCK! orchestrating the state security initiative whilst working closely with Dean and Tim handling information gathering, infiltration and espionage. With the right amount of planning and co-operation this initiative has the potential to keep our state very safe indeed. > Sneaky gits and stand over men.

I am appreciating the humanitarian involvement from Dan coupled with his utilitarian skill set to assist with infrastructure reconstruction and public welfare. > Makes life better.

I am taking a different approach focusing on providing fundamental and crucial information, resource management and planning as well as foreign and domestic relations and economy. > Shit no-one wants to deal with.

Let's not forget that while we may only have a limited amount of time to 'do stuff' in session the out-of-session month long period affords ample time to start pet projects and work toward goals.

To reiterate; Those pesky spiders sound like perfect target practice.

I agree that this sounds like a good skill set to match up. After Dan and I Finnish in the mines I will return to take Ivan south to take care of the spiders.
Information gathering isn't a job nobody likes doing its just that it is often suited to the characters you play Jonathan. Any help needed there just ask.

Hornet wrote:

I agree that this sounds like a good skill set to match up. After Dan and I Finnish in the mines I will return to take Ivan south to take care of the spiders.
Information gathering isn't a job nobody likes doing its just that it is often suited to the characters you play Jonathan. Any help needed there just ask.

I will play

Original Post

So Donk has allocated each Duke a quadrant or protectorate to oversee in the Iron Region.

Currently;

• Melchid - Eastern Mountains and Eastern Border
  
• Aizen - - Lake and Northern Border
  
• Erd - Western Mountains and Western Border
  
• Ivan - Southern Forest and Southern Border Currently unassigned (undefended)
  
• Micken - Central Blackwell and Flatlands

Suggestions were also made by Donk towards increasing security;

• Identify and utilise 'choke points',
  
• Reinforce defensive positions,
  
• Build local barracks to garrison troops,
  
• Build 'watch towers' for surveillance and early warning.

He will provide us with;

• Access to armaments,
  
• Troop training,
  
• Maps of each protectorate.

So based on this new information and obligation what ideas can we come up with collectively that will enable equal fulfillment of the above?

I had already begun investigations into what is required to build a prototype stockade in Royalwell. If this can be achieved quickly and resourcefully then we could easily expand them to all required areas.

Contribute below...

I am very keen to mandate military training for the general populace (subject to criteria).

In general;

1. Mateship and Teamwork
   
2. Physical and Moral Courage
   
3. Dedication to duty
   
4. Compassion and honesty
   
5. Will to win & Loyalty and honour

More specifically;

• Fieldcraft
  
• Marksmanship training
  
• Physical training
  
• Navigation training

This may of course be dependent on basic intelligence, literacy and numeracy of the individual but if Melchid wants to do the military stuff can I strongly suggest this?!!

The precursor to all this is mandatory education. Literacy, numeracy, trade skills, social skills, etc.. I was hoping a humanitarian like Erd might want to step in here but he is a busy civil engineer.

Also I haven't really heard anything from Dean or Tim about their interest in their own duchy let alone the Iron Ridge Region so SPEAK UP BOYZ!

Thank you as always for providing a breakdown of things to review JD.

When it comes to our regions I think that one of our goals as individual Dukes should be to recruit in these areas as much as possible in order to amass a force to train.

I think we really need to sit down and discuss how this would work. The training that is. I will address in other posts now the need for the further release of land to our care in order to create a decent training area.

.

If I reply does it count as necro'ing this thread?

..anyways:

Hornet wrote:

When it comes to our regions I think that one of our goals as individual Dukes should be to recruit in these areas as much as possible in order to amass a force to train.

This I whole heartedly agree with. I have had plans for this on the burner since session 2.

Hornet wrote:

I think we really need to sit down and discuss how this would work. The training that is.

I disagree completely with your point here for the following reasons;

• Sitting down is where the game happens. Leave the planning to the forums.
  
  
• I have already voiced my characters personal disinterest in military actions for Iron Ridge if I can help it.
  
  
• As I have never taken part in military training personally, I have limited input for such a 'sit down'. See my post above for ideas.
  
  
• If the character has military experience then leave it to the character not the player for the above reason.

Hornet wrote:

release of land to our care in order to create a decent training area.

Interesting idea. As we already have a keep to train and store troops in and personally we possess 3000m3 of land to use as we see fit I am wondering if this is a thinly veiled land grab. Piques my curiosity though.

Physicist wrote:

Also I haven't really heard anything from Dean or Tim about their interest in their own duchy let alone the Iron Ridge Region so SPEAK UP BOYZ!

Now that we are on our way back from Riverring with Peach's mercenaries we have a little bit to work with. I would like to get them settled in and working along side the triple deuces to get the keep suitable for a primary barracks at this point.

We need to now address the issue of recruiting untrained people for the purposes of a military career.

JD I believe last night you suggested mandatory service for all appropriate citizens.

I think this is a good idea if it is done like the Greek army.

Any further thoughts here?

Also we really need more citizens in general.

Hornet wrote:

We need to now address the issue of recruiting untrained people for the purposes of a military career.

JD I believe last night you suggested mandatory service for all appropriate citizens.

I think this is a good idea if it is done like the Greek army.

I would like to draw your attention to the posts at the top of the page gentlemen. My opinions are clear and open.

But yes, I agree with Shamus's comments.

interesting thought.... With JDs ability to move at bullshit speed he would be able to cover our entire continent in fuck all time he would be able to visit every town/outpost/city serving as our armies recruitment officer

recruiting our peasants, poor and homeless is also something we should do

is their some sort of slave army of Eunuchs wielding spears we can buy?

At the top of the thread the issue of military is crossed out, how much more military do we need?
I also want to look at the issues of low population and the need to set up trade agreements.
For the population issues I was thinking that if we set up our lands to be a more desirable place to live that should help entice people to move here. We have removed a lot of the bandits that were plaguing our lands and now have somewhat of a military to keep the people safe, our farmlands are hopefully enough to keep people feed so I would like to invest some money in setting up required infrastructure need for more industry and agriculture to grow and to spread the word to the lands of how safe things are under the rule of King Blackwell, and how any man willing to work will reap the rewards of a days labor.

Was also thinking that a trades fair could take place in and around the old trade hall. Could call it the 'full moon fair', held for several days each month ending on the night of a full moon. Free entertainment (maybe even food/wine) would entice people to come and hopefully that would in turn bring more traders to help boost the economy.