Journal of Space Jr Accountant Romeo Weiss posted:

I hear that my boss wants to send available nobles to assist in tax collection. I think the best place for me to go right now would be Kajam I think. They got some wealth-generating facilities that if I can get running again, could make Weiss, and me, richer!

I'm drat glad that since my wife is on the council, she won't be able to join me on Kajam and I'll be free of her and the Weiss family droning for a while!

Harold is the only interesting Weiss of the lot, how did the son and all of the daughters grow up so boring?

Email to Thomas Weiss posted:

Thomas,

In my humble opinion, I can do the most good in my job if I'm sent to Kajam to help with tax administration and collection there.

Thanks

Romeo Weiss

The one with the blessed mustache, Romeo Weiss posted:

Tom,

I'm glad that that the Director-Consort is here and all to help with relations on Kajam, but I think we should also invest into infrastructure here too. Words are good and all, but I think building up infrastructure here will also help relations (and wealth!) Get more coming in. That breach is getting fixed as we speak, so revenue will be back up!

I know you're thinking of Beta Eridani, but maybe you could find a little money for here too.

P.S Hear anything about that war we're supposedly having? I'm a little concerned cause Kajam is the Garrett Coalition's way in to Weiss space.

Thanks,

Romeo

Family Man Romeo Weiss posted:

Ha ha! Another son! Allen is a good name! I hope he inherits my awesome mustache growing genes!

Maybe I should try to make more trips back to Vega to see the family, Prudy really seems to miss me and she'll keep my mind off of other things.

Maybe she'll be agreeable to help bend her brother's ear for me once in a while!

I'm happy right now with no changes!

nweismuller posted:

Now, the idea of elective monarchy is interesting, and I think it might be worth talking to Glen about that as an option for organising leagues... in that I don't think that would particularly conflict with many of the basic assumptions of the setting and would still work effectively with the way each ruler only directly rules a single colony. Point of fact, I think I'll go drop him a message related to that now. Having a league where members are expected to be members, but where the master faction can shift could be distinctly interesting...

nweismuller posted:

As of game start, you absolutely do not know the whole map, but I can tell you the total number of inhabited colonies as of right now, because it tells you on the victory tracker. Checking quickly, there are currently... 115 inhabited colonies. This number can fluctuate a bit, because although it is impossible to build entirely new colonies, old colonies can occasionally have to be abandoned due to damage, and abandoned colonies can have the main settlement fixed up and resettled with new colonists.

Children gain traits slowly throughout childhood, particularly after they hit age 6 and their education begins. It's a little hard to tell how Malachi and Alice will turn out at such an early age, but they're likely to share some traits of their parents.

As for children, it's not actually 'the first two'. Each couple automatically gets permission to have their first child, but each further child requires requesting permission from the House head or having the House head grant this permission, or, like Thomas, having an unpermitted child which is considered a crime against their House head. On Romeo's, Thomas', Oriole's, and Prudence's character screens, you can a white 'woman' silhouette icon with a question mark in its belly- this indicates that they have been granted permission and are trying for a child. It slipped my mind to grant childbirth permissions earlier, and Thomas didn't proactively ask me in-game (which is a thing couples can do). But, following that unpermitted birth, I actually went to the trouble of granting permission for a new child to both those couples... and Romeo and Oriole proactively asked for permission after Alice's birth, which I granted.

E: There's some considerations about not 'showing favoritism' in childbirth permissions which can be a little opaque to me when it kicks in as something that's a (minor) honor consideration for the ruler granting permissions, but that's not been an issue yet. I'll see if I can't figure out the logic about what's favoritism and what isn't.

second post of the LP posted:

Diplomacy, symbolised by green clasped hands, increases the public reputation of the all members of the House- the greatest amount for the House head, followed by a smaller boost for 'important' House members, and a yet smaller boost for other House members

nweismuller posted:

Of the adults in the House, everybody but Romeo and Ilario Goodman is currently considered 'important'.

nweismuller posted:

Diet and Intoxication in the Colonies

The backbone of diet in the colonies is supplied by basic hydroponic agriculture; vegetables, beans, and, with proper use of nutrients from wastewater, some grains (particularly barley) are produced in sufficient quantities to keep the population fed. Leafy greens, berries, barley, tomatoes, lentils, and peas are common staples. A supplemental protein source is fish farming in high-density tanks; rapid generational turnover and good space efficiency makes fish the most common animal protein source in the colonies. Particularly in more prosperous colonies, serfs may be able to occasionally supplement their diet with fish, while skilled artisans, traders, officers in service to a House, and the nobility have more regular access to fish. More expensive still is 'synthmeat', cultured vat-grown animal tissue cultivated in relatively small quantities by specialised artisans. A synthmeat grower must carefully ensure the survival of their 'seed stock', or, in the event of contamination, acquire a seed stock from elsewhere. Synthmeat is almost exclusively reserved to the nobility, although the wealthiest of the independent traders or high-ranking officers in service to a House might occasionally find the opportunity to include synthmeat in a meal. Likewise rare and expensive are fruits and vegetables that are not easily grown via hydroponics, generally cultivated via tiny gardens catering to the nobility. Gardens in Vega catering to the nobility notably include a few lemon trees and a patch for potatoes; other exotics must often be imported from other colonies with different garden patches.

As may be expected from the harsh and difficult life of the colonies, intoxicant use is common. Most common is 'synthohol', alcoholic beverages similar to traditional Terran beverages but taking advantage of techniques for accelerated fermentation to speed production. Quality of synthohol varies widely, from high-proof barley moonshine cooked up on the side by serfs and served in informal taverns in the slums to carefully formulated vintages of wines and ciders brewed from berries or fruits by prized experts and served at the tables of the Houses. Various synthetic drugs of varying degrees of safety periodically erupt into popularity in the slums, although many of these are legally suppressed because of their potential lethality and impact on serf productivity leading the Houses to try to keep serf efficiency up. One drug that is immensely popular, particularly in the Patton League, is 'Blue Dust', a complex lithium aluminum borate compound too difficult for modern chemists to synthesise but found in some deposits in the asteroid belt of Rotanev. Blue Dust is a powerful euphoriant with remarkably few side effects, which has led it to be both popular and legal wherever it has been introduced. Exploitation of the deposits of Blue Dust in Rotanev has thus far been quite limited, but doubtless widescale mining and distribution would be a valuable asset to House Patton if it could be managed.

From the desk of Romeo Weiss, Kajam project manager and awesome mustache grower posted:

Thomas,

Could you and the council look into improving Kajam? Maybe add to the infrastructure a little bit? It might hold off revolutions that cost money and manpower to put down. I'm a lover not a fighter, even though I wasn't even close to getting shot at, I like to decrease the chance of it happening! Also if we improve Kajam, we can tax them more, of course.

Romeo

Personal communication from Romeo Weiss posted:

Director-General Jane,

Thanks for letting little Malachi continue accessing the archives, he's a good boy and this will let him learn, and maybe become smarter than his old man!

Romeo

nweismuller posted:

For everybody participating in the thread, I give you this:



Thanks to all of you for helping make this the developer's favorite thing somebody's done related to his own game!

Romeo Weiss, having up to HERE with this bullshit posted:

I am tired of that dull, boring, pedantic buffoon, Thomas. His dismissing attitude toward me is really getting on my nerves. "Rust for brains?" Even his insults are dull! I hope he falls out of an airlock. If he does, I will be in charge of administration, and I'll definitely liven up the place! He's boring, his office is the most drab place I've ever been! His desk is boring surplus he got cause someone else was giving it away! I have a nice desk, it's made of mahogany! Mmm mahogany! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14D5wKSVlXg

I did get too carried away when I tripped his rear end up and went for my sidearm. He needed to be taken down a notch and putting his rear end on the ground was pretty funny and cathartic. His screaming about exile won't do poo poo to me, they're not going to exile me, I generate too much money for them to just get rid of me!

I would give my opinion on what to do admin wise, but the rear end in a top hat is gonna ignore me anyway, so I'm going to continue improving Kajam anyway I can, just so I'm away from Tom.

Romeo Weiss, less mad posted:

A third child! A daughter! I got to name her and I chose to name her after my sister, Devon. I think having children is the only thing that brings me close to Prudy, she's still boring and I hope none of my children inherited the Weiss family dull gene.

Romeo posted:

I was just going through the archives when I stumbled upon something people from old earth called a "meme." I saved a copy to my local desk. I think I can edit it and post it somewhere that bastard Thomas can see it.

A wall near the council chamber posted:

"Romeo Weiss, Tax Man posted:

I guess I did earn a trip to the rear end end of the realm, but it'll be nice to get back in touch with my sister! I'm still laughing at that ME ME I left, apparently the look on Tom's face was priceless!

I'm glad Jane stepped in and ended the feud, it would not, ultimately end well for me, even though I am married into the family. I did have a couple other ME MEs ready, but I think I'll destroy them.

I'm still not Tom's biggest fan, but I won't knock his rear end down in the council chamber again.

*message ping*

Oh, Tom wants me to oversee rebuilding the fleet? Well at least he acknowledges my project management skills, at least!

Hidden in the secret compartment in Romeo's mahogany desk posted:

Romeo... Your mustache is so... Majestic!

drat straight it is, baby.

I'm making you head of administration and putting my lame-o brother under you

My brains are poo and and will drone on and on until everyone dies from boredom. I also smell.

Where I should be! Tommy, I'm heading you to the most backwater system we got.

I'd fight you but I would just lose again. I'll leave.

I'm also leaving my wife for you, I want to have your babies so all future rulers will have your superior mustache.

No! I'm sorry I wasn't my sister

Ahh yeah

I think our symbol needs a change, I had this made earlier!



It's perfect! Kiss me you handsome devil!

Come here you!

Scribbled on the next page: A man can dream right?

MechaCrash posted:

I may not be able to follow the high level political maneuvering too well, but this soap-opera relationship drama? Oh yeah. This I can do.

nweismuller posted:

Director-General Jane Weiss posted:

My estimate of current revenues by the Lamb Clan is roughly fourteen thousand four hundred semi-annually from their their home colony and, as a very rough estimate, seven thousand two hundred from their taxes from vassals. As such, I estimate our baseline revenue from them as a vassal would likely be over twice the take from Kajam. They have a well-developed home colony- notably with extensive hydroponics facilities, a large waste management facility, and an extensive local chemical industry- with rich radioactives and a competent Administration team running affairs.

Romeo, the rambling, gambling, project manager posted:

Well drat, our diplomatic corp is something to behold! 6 new systems in 2 years, and Jane is now an Archon (makes me even hotter under the collar!) I'm getting the feeling that I'm going to be relocated again, because I am drat great at my job making numbers go up and coffers full (mine and the league's). I hate having to move my beautiful mahogany desk though.

Romeo, after meeting with Thomas posted:

I was right, getting moved again. At least I made the desk easy to move. *sigh*

Saw the meme Thomas had in his office, nice dig, rear end in a top hat. Mine is better though.

Maybe one day I'll be on the council after Tommy dies from the universe finding him too boring. I won't have to move anymore, I'll have to see the wife more, but it's a small price to pay. I'll get to see Jane more.

nweismuller posted:

A little abuse of console commands indicates that the list is, for some goddamned reason, 26 people long. Maybe I'll ask Glen about this, because that's mind-boggling.

Romeo, money printer posted:

[Late 2512]
This has been a hell of a couple of years. My dear son Allen is really really sick. Jane assigned Ilario to watch over him, I'll owe him big when my son is healthy again.

[Late 2513]
Allen is well again! Joyous day! I'll have to get him and his future wife something really nice! I've heard he's been quite rude to his Aunt Oriole about his security training, wanting to do diplomacy instead. I say let the boy do it full time, but Jane compromised, so he's learning both.

I have a daughter now! She's so sweet and beautiful! I wanted to name her Alice but Prudy insisted and I am smart enough not to argue with my wife, sister of one of the most powerful rulers right now.

[Early 2514]
Mother died. gently caress.

Prudy is now sick, hopefully it's not anything from that ship they discovered, I already lost my mother. I do care about her, maybe not as much as I should and it is hard when I am not there. I am worried about her. She is good with the technology though and Ilario is around if she gets really bad

Speaking of Ilario, he's gotten married to Rebecca, second in line. I got them a nice gift for Ilario helping my boy.

Romeo, pleased with himself posted:

Four children! good, good, good. I will never rule but if I and my children have lots of children, they'll squeeze out the others and someone with my awesome mustache genes will rule!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

nweismuller posted:

It's 'personal', not 'honor' that's at -8 for Prudence. 'Recently cheerful +9', 'Is Dull -14', 'Is Reserved -7', 'House Diplomacy Efforts +4'. She's not done anything to get honor hits. Basically she's not very likeable to most people because she's a tedious introvert. Also worth noting you already have a daughter named Devon, who just hit age 6 and is ready to get a guardian. Thomas and Jane are currently free to take a ward, but we could possibly shift Emily from Harold and have Harold take Devon as a ward. Thoughts there?

E: As far as guardians currently go, Prudence is acting as guardian for Malachi, Oriole for Allen, Mariko for Alice, and Harold for Emily.

General Revil posted:

I'll sneak in an answer that. Yes.

It's the same as with the British royal family. Each time Prince William has a kid, he pushes everyone further back in the succession number, except for his father (who is first in line) and his existing children.