Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

[Shaper47]

To reduce casualties among our troops? To make sure that changelings do not escape? If we don't go then who is in charge? Would Shining Armor go instead and meet with the same risks?

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That's not a payout for Velvet there.

 

[Xoden]

Doing her "Superpowered head of magical internal security task force" day job right is not a payout?

 

[Sveta08]

Fine. Should it ultimately prove pointless as all my other attempts to explain or show other options have done so, then so be it. But fine. I can do this one last time.

What is the payout for Velvet?

Why take the potential risk at all?

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Would you believe it that this was the very reason I didn't want Velvet to go in the first place? Unknown rewards, uncertain outcomes, and with an Edge Sacrament commitment, wouldn't that be risky? Would you believe me?

Oh, what's belief matter. I brought receipts.

Relevant post, click me for details because it's long and the surrounding discussion is also useful

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And at risk of repeating myself, again, here are the important parts that I took from those discussions.

We literally do NOT know what the Changelings have, but bits and artifacts sound likely. If Velvet is there she can acquire those.

Also Velvet is incredibly good at expeditions, she'd add rerolls and lots of bonuses to their rolls, making them far more effective in general.

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And for me, it was that which ultimately decided it.
Yes, there are narrative bonuses to Velvet being there. Yes, there will be more a bit of focus if she goes. Yes. It might save lives or raise moral, or so on. But if we find 1 useful things in a liquid table fashion, it's worth it in my eyes.

To me, this expedition has never been a particular question of risk. It has only been a question of worth.
And in the end? If we get even just a Lv2 reagent, I'd call that gold enough in my eyes. Or 10 Bits!

So if you simply refuse to consider narrative weights, then that's the potential mechanical gain.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Remember who Velvet is to the Changelings.

Velvet is the Director of the Luna Bureau.

She's the top target on the Changelings kill list.

We haven't done any scouting of how many Changelings there are. Also they got a massive numbers boost from their Queens feasting choice. We're also not bringing in the army/Royal Guards just the Bureau's combat teams.

Your making a bunch of assumptions about the Changelings being weak here.



Using A Splendour on Changelings is bad end bait.

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Our detectives have been watching the proto-hive for some time. Seeing as they call it a proto-hive and not a small hive, I'm going to say that it is fairly small.

As for a numbers increase, that depends on how swiftly Changelings hit maturity, seeing as most of their eggs and young were with their primary hive.

How is having a Splendour bad end bait but having a Resolution is not? They are both max-level Influences.

 

[Shaper47]

To me, this expedition has never been a particular question of risk. It has only been a question of worth.
And in the end? If we get even just a Lv2 reagent, I'd call that gold enough in my eyes. Or 10 Bits!

So if you simply refuse to consider narrative weights, then that's the potential mechanical gain.

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Understandable, I just question if there are any potential mechanical gains.

Wouldn't the Bureau take all the loot as evidence?

But if we find 1 useful things in a liquid table fashion, it's worth it in my eyes.

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I somewhat agree with you here.

If we can say grab a bunch of bits when we're confiscating goods that is probably worth it mechanically.

I just doubt that Velvet while under constant guard/watch, along with being busy at her job. Will be able to steal without suspicion.

How is having a Splendour bad end bait but having a Resolution is not? They are both max-level Influences.

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Mainly because it was suggested that the Splendour would be used to imitate Baldomare and just rip the lies from the Changelings revealing them in their true forms for the Bureau.

Changelings who would then be handed over to Celestia for interrogation.

 

[ses]

The Bureau is at maximum loyalty and Velvet will personally be there in Scary Commisioner mode. If she points out some items and has them disappear, presumably to re-enact the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark, what the Commissioner wants, the Commissioner gets. Half the reason to go personally is to test the waters with us personally there to glare at anyone who looks like they might say boo before we start trusting the Bureau to funnel loot to our faction without our direct supervision.

Velvet is the head of the pony Inquisition. The Bureau already knows that they're fighting a secret shadow war against shapeshifting monsters, and that they are helping keep that fact secret from the general populace. It is not a stretch that the Commissioner might order some spooky items funneled off away from regular evidence to be handled by Top Men.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Mainly because it was suggested that the Splendour would be used to imitate Baldomare and just rip the lies from the Changelings revealing them in their true forms for the Bureau.

Changelings who would then be handed over to Celestia for interrogation.

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Oh, well that would be a terrible idea. Just pointing should do the trick, especially if the pointing is done via a bag of candle dust getting hucked at them. Throw in some false positives just to be safe.

 

[ses]

Bruh, it was a jokey way of saying "Velvet will add a big bonus to lantern checks, which will certainly be a check being made". We don't get that sort of fine grained control in the first place and you're just being deliberately obtuse.

 

[AuthorTransient]

DINNER DISH: Spoiled vs Hill (requires short expedition and prison) vs Criminal (requires scrying, prison and an action to capture the guy).

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If we are doing criminal, I would still suggest Windy Flakes.

EDGE SACRAMENT: now (2 followers on AotL Edge) or delayed?

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I'm fine on delaying this - I would prefer Velvet focusing on Baldomare's Secret Histories expedition.

COVER YOUR BASES: +1 action (2 follower actions) or +2 actions (5 follower actions)

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I say +1 action.

LVL 6 REAGENT: scry for it, or make one next turn (4 into 6)?

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Make one next turn? This turn is more for bits. On that note, would Axe doing Canterlot 3 grant bits?

STEPPES: do, or do not?

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Isn't Steppes unavailable right now due to Biedde?

STUDY: 2 or 3 actions?

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2 actions.

EDGE 3 ARTIFACT: sell, or not? 200 bits could be useful.

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While 200 bits is indeed useful, the ability to gtfo in case of Celestia is very tempting... I would argue holding on to it for now.

WRONG KEYS: make, or ignore them for now? It's not that urgent anyway.

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Damn. I think we don't need to make them because nobody is gunning for us right now?

 

[ses]

If we are doing criminal, I would still suggest Windy Flakes.

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We need to have the prisoner ready this turn or else Mareinette eats one of our artifacts (Or we give her a month of "free time" presumably to go do Love Crimes. We can't afford AP or bits costs she'd ask for instead)

I'm fine on delaying this - I would prefer Velvet focusing on Baldomare's Secret Histories expedition.

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We're almost certainly spending Baldomare's action on a max level Lantern influence. I know I know, but we have so many mission critical study rolls this turn. We need the Lantern 4 and Moth 5 books studied in order to help get Baldomare Friendship and dodge sunbeams respectively.

Personally I think we should scry for reagent next turn instead of make one ourselves. It delays Forge Friendship a turn, which costs us a Forge Name AP... but a Forge Name AP isn't exactly worth 190 bits PLUS a velvet AP. We should just take the booping on the nose for not having been 6 bits greedier with his summoning and assault Hill and rob him blind while we're at it.

 

[Shaper47]

Bruh, it was a jokey way of saying "Velvet will add a big bonus to lantern checks, which will certainly be a check being made". We don't get that sort of fine grained control in the first place and you're just being deliberately obtuse.

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Lantern is not subtle, it's blatant.

If it were any other lore it could probably be hidden but lantern. Lantern is not that merciful.

We're almost certainly spending Baldomare's action on a max level Lantern influence. I know I know, but we have so many mission critical study rolls this turn

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I'm not to sure on that. My competition plans just use a bunch of Lantern Aotls.

Guess it depends on how interested people are in Moth 6.

 

[Greymere]

But, I still do not think teaching Rarity in exchange for the Edge Sacrament is a worthwhile tradeoff. We quite frankly don't know what the benefit of the Edge Sacrament will be, and while raising Rarity's lores may make more bits... We also don't know by how much. It could be 30, it could be 5.

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...yeah I dunno. I think choosing the thing that definitely helps with the biggest limitation on our actions besides raw AP and is invoked literally every single turn is more valuable than poking the mystery box, if we're picking one or the other. I'd be more willing to give up one of the study actions than leveling up Rarity. Especially since Grail 3/Forge 1 -> Grail 4/Forge 2 is not only additional Lore levels that Rarity applies to her rolls, it's also what gives her a reroll, meaning we're less likely to have to have her focus on her work (when she's not doing commissions).

While 200 bits is indeed useful, the ability to gtfo in case of Celestia is very tempting... I would argue holding on to it for now.

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If we're ever in a situation where we're in combat with and trying to run from Celestia, the situation is already fucked up beyond any repair.


Plan Ver 1 (Bits 'n Building)

FOLLOWERS
-[] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[] (Commissioner) Get your hooves dirty
-[] (Director) Lantern
-[] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[] Assault an Opponent: Velvet Hill (DoA)
-[] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry (Selene)
--[] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
-[] Build a prison (Cherenkolt)
-[] Build a three-circle ritual site (3x) (DoA, Selene, Comet)
-[] Cover your bases (-2 Follower AP, +1 Velvet AP) (Servant, Risen)

VELVET (4 + 1 AP)
-[] (AotL) Lantern
-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] (Social) Level up Rarity
-[] Perform the Rite of Joyous (Re)forging
-[] Study (3x), by priority within sections: (Moth 5 book, Manehattan book), (Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 2 artifact)
-[] Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps


Plan Ver 2 (Stabbity Stab Stab)

FOLLOWERS
-[] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[] (Commissioner) Get your hooves dirty
-[] (Director) Lantern
-[] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[] Assault an Opponent: Velvet Hill (DoA)
-[] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry (Selene)
--[] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
-[] Build a prison (Cherenkolt)
-[] Search for intermediate expeditions (DoA)
-[] Perform the Attention of the Laws (Edge), for Sacrament (x2) (Comet, Selene)
-[] Cover your bases (-2 Follower AP, +1 Velvet AP) (Servant, Risen)

VELVET (4 + 1 AP)
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] (Social) Level up Rarity
-[] Perform the Rite of Joyous (Re)forging
-[] Study (2x), by priority within sections: (Moth 5 book, Manehattan book), (Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact)
-[] Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

Edit: Curse you emojis, for automatically turning (x 3) into

 

[ses]

We should really make a Risen to cast an AotL rather than spend major follower AP on it. It's the same AotL this turn but it's also a bases or AotL next turn! Risen are really handy for AotLs.

I cannot possibly make myself vote for spending that much Name/Selene AP on building a 3circle site, that's an incredible amount of our follower capacity being spent. We don't have the AP or bits to realistically summon Mares next turn anyway... we can just double-Director Knowledge the next two turns to try and unlock using the Bureau for a 3circle site which should happen at 4/9 or so Lores... setting up a secret Forbidden Floor in the facility we control is probably an earlier boon than getting a trained Cadre, and Cadre is 5/9ish cult development.

Considering we're scrying for a major expedition and we're basically certain to read the Manehattan book, I don't think we need more expedition searches this turn. Especially since I want to scry the reagent next turn instead of committing to purifying it ourselves.

A third study action gets +3 Moth levels and +2 Knock to our faction for the very very criminal expedition we'd be doing this turn, both of which add to our subtlety AND provides +3 moth levels to future enterprise critical expeditions we do next turn. I feel that compares pretty favorably with teaching Rarity or Edge Sacrament! I want to teach rarity too but I feel like it's a choice between the duel or rarity, not between either of those and studying.

 

[Greymere]

I cannot possibly make myself vote for spending that much Name/Selene AP on building a 3circle site, that's an incredible amount of our follower capacity being spent.

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Yes, On (re)unlocking the ability to actually summon things. Which directly translates into more AP and more creatures that we can bring for All In. Even if all we do is summon MitL to feed Cover Your Bases, they're still cheaper per AP than keeping Biedde around.

Edit:

we can just double-Director Knowledge the next two turns to try and unlock using the Bureau for a 3circle site which should happen at 4/9 or so Lores... setting up a secret Forbidden Floor in the facility we control is probably an earlier boon than getting a trained Cadre, and Cadre is 5/9ish cult development.

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This sort of logic is exactly why we still don't have a three circle site seven turns after we decided to betray the cult and knew we would need a new one. First it was "oh we shouldn't spend AP on finding one, surely BtRC Part 2 will have one!", then it was "but certainly BtRC Part 3 will have one!", and now it's "ah but surely we'll get it from the Bureau (at some unspecificed point in the future)!".

 

[ses]

This sort of logic is exactly why we still don't have a three circle site seven turns after we decided to betray the cult and knew we would need a new one. First it was "oh we shouldn't spend AP on finding one, surely BtRC Part 2 will have one!", then it was "but certainly BtRC Part 3 will have one!", and now it's "ah but surely we'll get it from the Bureau (at some unspecificed point in the future)!".

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Yeah but this time we literally have QM confirmation that we will do so as we unlock more Lores. QM literally said cult benefits would be doled out as we spread the lores.

 

[Nevermort]

Yes, On (re)unlocking the ability to actually summon things. Which directly translates into more AP and more creatures that we can bring for All In. Even if all we do is summon MitL to feed Cover Your Bases, they're still cheaper per AP than keeping Biedde around.

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What stops us from summoning MitL in the barn? Bureau is the one who investigates such things, and they are now loyal to us.

 

[Greymere]

Yeah but this time we literally have QM confirmation that we will do so as we unlock more Lores. QM literally said cult benefits would be doled out as we spread the lores.

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Then why are you making plans that have us going to Tall Tale instead of speeding up Bureau development, if you're so against finding or building a site ourselves? If 5/9 really is the breakpoint for cadres and ritual sites, then we could hit that next turn if we just commit to it.

 

[ses]

Then why are you making plans that have us going to Tall Tale instead of speeding up Bureau development, if you're so against finding or building a site ourselves?

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I'd be okay with it. I want to go to Tall Tale this turn but speeding up development doesn't have, like, a power gap in how much I'd be okay with it. I was working under the assumption the thread would really really want to do Edge Sacrament, and I'd want to go to tall tale if we had a Resolution because I want to see us kick ass. But you're right that I should at least lobby for a Teach Rarity plan that skips edge sacrament that does double development even if it makes me sad as a reader.

I don't expect it to win though, the temperature of the thread seems strongly in favor of the duel and I'm fairly ambivalent between teach-rarity and duel even if I slightly prefer rarity.

What stops us from summoning MitL in the barn? Bureau is the one who investigates such things, and they are now loyal to us.

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Servant gossip. We could survive that if we only did summoning for special occassions but if we start summoning mares we'd want to spam them, in which case it becomes known that we're SUMMONING ALIEN GODS

 

[Greymere]

I'd be okay with it. I want to go to Tall Tale this turn but speeding up development doesn't have, like, a power gap in how much I'd be okay with it. I was working under the assumption the thread would really really want to do Edge Sacrament, and I'd want to go to tall tale if we had a Resolution because I want to see us kick ass. But you're right that I should at least lobby for a Teach Rarity plan that skips edge sacrament that does double development even if it makes me sad as a reader.

I don't expect it to win though, the temperature of the thread seems strongly in favor of the duel and I'm fairly ambivalent between teach-rarity and duel even if I slightly prefer rarity.

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We could do the duel with Biedde and just... not go to Tall Tale. Would it be cool if we did? Probably. Would they do better with us there? Probably!

But is it worth not getting 'cult' infrastructure and bonuses online sooner, especially if you are correct and we get access to Bureau ritual sites at 5/9 and if we're not doing anything else to build up our personal infrastructure?

Edit:

Possible Bureau Focus + Edge Sacrament Plan

FOLLOWERS
-[] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[] (Commissioner) Introduce Lore: Forge
-[] (Director) Lantern
-[] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[] (Selene) Dreamwalking: Spy on Windy Flakes
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[] Assault an Opponent: Velvet Hill (DoA)
-[] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry (Selene)
--[] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
-[] Build a prison (Cherenkolt)
-[] Perform the Attention of the Laws (Edge) (x2) (Comet, DoA)
-[] Cover your bases (-2 Follower AP, +1 Velvet AP) (Servant, Risen)

VELVET (4 + 1 AP)
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Forge) Forge 2 reagent
-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Perform the Rite of Joyous (Re)forging
-[] Study (3x), by priority within sections: (Moth 5 book, Manehattan book), (Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 2 artifact) (*or switch out a study action for teaching Rarity)
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

 

[Nevermort]

Servant gossip. We could survive that if we only did summoning for special occassions but if we start summoning mares we'd want to spam them, in which case it becomes known that we're SUMMONING ALIEN GODS

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Do you think Celestia listens to servant gossip in Ponyville or what? why does it matter. In worst case scenario Mareinette will explain everything to them in one her action. Still less effort than building undergroud chamber

 

[ses]

Do you think Celestia listens to servant gossip in Ponyville or what? why does it matter. In worst case scenario Mareinette will explain everything to them in one her action. Still less effort than building undergroud chamber

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I agree I'd rather just roll the dice on the barn then sink 400 points into building one. And like... we'd be summoning one Mare at max in the time between now and when we get a 3circle site even if we go to Tall Tale this turn. And suspicion/blowback isn't a Celestia risk and I never said it was, but the servants getting spooked can cause problems for us. I agree we can spend a Mareinette AP to fix things if we need to (though that might cause that burgeoning Grail cult she's been making among the servants to no longer be a thing we're turning a blind eye to)

I'm down for that. We summoned Mareinette and didn't burn the shield, then burned it summoning Baldomare, so our best guess for blowback is a 50% chance? With the consequences of failure probably not being earthshattering?


Plan BITS

FOLLOWERS
-[] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[] (Commissioner) Get your Hoofs Dirty
-[] (Director) Lantern
-[] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[] (Selene) Dreamwalking: Spy on Windy Flakes
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[] Assault an Opponent: Velvet Hill (DoA)
-[] Make Bits (Burglary Ok, Violence not) (DoA)
-[] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry (Selene)
--[] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
-[] Build a prison (Cherenkolt)
-[] Graverob: (Comet)
-[] Find an Easy Expedition (Servants)
-[] Cover your Bases (Risen, Risen)

VELVET (4 + 1 AP)
-[] (AotL) Lantern
-[] (Forge) Forge 2 reagent
-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] (Social) Fleeting Opportunity: Soft Sweeps
-[] Perform the Rite of Joyous (Re)forging
-[] Study (3x), by priority within sections: (Moth 5 book, Manehattan book), (Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3 artifact, Knock 2 artifact)
-[] Teach Rarity

Something like this? Hmm... honestly I like the bureau focus plan Greymere just made better. Even if it makes me very sad....
Though I'd still want us to make a Risen in that one. And also cut the 3rd AotL for Making Bits but I sense that isn't very popular despite the fact that 40ish bits is worth way more than 5% success chance on the duel

 

[ses]

Plan Stabbity Stab Stab, Extra Moth, Extra Winter

FOLLOWERS
-[] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[] (Commissioner) Get your hooves dirty
-[] (Director) Lantern
-[] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[] (Selene) Spy on Windy
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[] Assault an Opponent: Velvet Hill (DoA)
-[] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry (Selene)
--[] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
-[] Build a prison (Cherenkolt)
-[] Graverob (DoA)
-[] Perform the Attention of the Laws (Edge), for Sacrament (x2) (Comet, Risen)
-[] Cover your bases (-2 Follower AP, +1 Velvet AP) (Servant, Risen)

VELVET (4 + 1 AP)
-[] (AotL) Edge
-[] (Winter) Make a Risen
-[] (Knock) Explore the Shattered Stairways
-[] (Social) Soft Sweeps
-[] Perform the Rite of Joyous (Re)forging
-[] Study (3), by priority within sections: (Moth 5 book, Manehattan book), (Lantern 4 artifact, Winter 4 artifact, Moth 3, Knock 2)
-[] Sacrament: Challenge Biedde

I've come back around to being in favor of Edge Sacrament. It's a minor risk and it just fits our available follower actions too elegantly. I also really don't like skipping burglary but I'm sensing that idea isn't going to gain any traction despite how badly we need bits. I really feel the third study is important when we get to add 3-5 extra levels of stealth related Lores to an assault that's absolutely critical doesn't create suspicion. It's absolutely worth the loss of some rarity income.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

[] Let's Not Kidnap a Prominent Figure From Canterlot
-[] (Free) Sell Edge 3 artifact
-[] (Detectives) Follow Up: Dodge City
-[] (Constables) Follow Up: Tall Tale
-[] (Commissioner) Get your Hoofs Dirty
-[] (Director) Lantern
-[] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Spoiled Rich & Filthy Rich
-[] (Biedde) Channel an Edge Influence
-[] (Baldomare) Channel a Lantern Influence
-[] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[] (Selene) Dreamwalking: Spy on Windy Flakes
-[] (Rarity) Focus on her work
-[] Needs must. Ask somepony to procure you a dead body from the local cemetery. (DoA)
-[] There really is no other way. Ask somepony to get you a live prisoner; specifically, a foal peddler/predator. (You have no place to keep live prisoners) (DoA)
-[] Perform the Reflection of the Tapestry (Selene)
--[] Target: Easiest Level 7 book to acquire
-[] Build a prison (Cherenkolt)
-[] Edge AotL (Comet)
-[] Edge AotL (Risen)
-[] Cover your Bases (Servants, Risen)

Have you ever considered that Expeditions cost money, that kidnapping notorious figures prompts a lot of inquiry and suspicion, that killing Velvet Hills hurts Velvet Pride, and that killing Velvet Hills removes one more tether between Uncle Steppes and this world? That doing so is simply Velvet indulging in base vengeance for eldritch power, and even she can't lie to herself about that? If you have, and you don't like these things, but you do still crave cannibalism, have I got the Plan for you!

In this Plan we task a giant eldritch snake who loves children, hates those who prey upon children, and is befriended to not half-ass things, with a rousing hunt for a child predator! A victim where even the Bureau would look the other way, if not join in themselves! Substitute giving into base impulses with cold, calculated culling, and reap the benefits of having less complications!

As for Windy, I'm really hoping his Project drew Neighnia to him when she left Manehatten. I kind of suspect he was working on a Palest Painting equivalent, and it'd certainly be better than the Wolf.

 

[ses]

If we task a Name with grabbing a victim we can afford to scry the Forge 6 reagent. I think we should do that if possible.

On the bright side the Name of Knock can probably steal one from a prison so that does alleviate my concerns about a failed search leaving us up shit creek.

You have no edge aotls so this is a no sacrament plan, yes? Just making sure you're planning on Rarity/Study on purpose since you didn't mention it.

And I know this is a longshot but could I possibly interest you in making bits with DoAs other action so we can afford to actually GO on expeditions? We need Knock related income somehow in the winning plan because the Forge is hungry for bits and long expeditions are expensive as hell. Other than those quibbles this sadly is a very attractive plan... sad because I absolutely wanted to indulge in hatred for its own sake.

 

[Greymere]

I'm fine w/ it I suppose, but I'd really rather we include some sort of dedicated action toward improving our infrastructure access, whether that's starting on the 3-circle project or doubling down on introducing the Bureau to the Lores.


...also do you have two graverobbing actions on purpose @Talon Tiger Dino?

Edit: Also does it need to be a specifically a foal peddler? Couldn't we just like, ask her to pick up the worst person she can find for us whether that means pony trafficker, murderer, or domestic/child abuser?

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

If we task a Name with grabbing a victim we can afford to scry the Forge 6 reagent. I think we should do that if possible.

On the bright side the Name of Knock can probably steal one from a prison so that does alleviate my concerns about a failed search leaving us up shit creek.

You have no edge aotls so this is a no sacrament plan, yes? Just making sure you're planning on Rarity/Study on purpose since you didn't mention it.

And I know this is a longshot but could I possibly interest you in making bits with DoAs other action so we can afford to actually GO on expeditions? We need Knock related income somehow in the winning plan because the Forge is hungry for bits and long expeditions are expensive as hell. Other than those quibbles this sadly is a very attractive plan... sad because I absolutely wanted to indulge in hatred for its own sake.

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I'm fine w/ it I suppose, but I'd really rather we include some sort of dedicated action toward improving our infrastructure access, whether that's starting on the 3-circle project or doubling down on introducing the Bureau to the Lores.


...also do you have two graverobbing actions on purpose @Talon Tiger Dino?

Edit: Also does it need to be a specifically a foal peddler? Couldn't we just like, ask her to pick up the worst person she can find for us whether that means pony trafficker, murderer, or domestic/child abuser?

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I will admit, it is really, really late for me right now, I probably copy/pasted things I didn't intend, since I didn't type everything out. I genuinely missed double graverobbing. I also don't want Servants to go looking for an Expedition, they're supposed to be Covering Bases so a Risen can AotL Edge stuff.

Really I just wanted the DoA grabbing a Child Predator to be in a Plan for people to see before the Vote opens, so thank you both for looking over it and pointing out silly mistakes. I will edit it and repost it.

Update: Corrections made.

Also, since we know Knock can also be used for doing illegal things sneakily, I still have DoA stealing the body and Comet doing an AotL, because Comet has no sneaking ability whatsoever and AotLs are instant success.

 

[AuthorTransient]

We need to have the prisoner ready this turn or else Mareinette eats one of our artifacts (Or we give her a month of "free time" presumably to go do Love Crimes. We can't afford AP or bits costs she'd ask for instead)

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Sorry, I don't actually remember that was the case, that the prisoner had to be ready this turn? On the other hand (hoof), what's wrong with using up the Knock 2 artifact?

I'm still iffy on the Grail Sacrament, though I am fine with the Moth Sacrament and the study to reach its prerequisite levels, as well as Baldomare's Secret History Sacrament. On the fence about both Names' Edge Sacraments. Cannot take Forge Sacrament at this time due to lack of bits.

 

[ses]

I don't think graverobbing is the type of sneaky illegal thing Knock helps with, since it doesn't involve breaking and entering a building even tangentially, but it doesn't really matter since you're deep enough in aotls that a Name action has to get used on a generic anyway so might as well.

A major selling point is that the third study can be delayed somewhat if we're not assaulting Hills, but on the other hand this plan does nothing to help us pay for all the bit-hungry priorities coming up soon? Other than the inherent bit of "We can teach rarity since no need for third study this turn" but that's not really enough? Failing to do a Reagent Scry when we can afford it means we're committing to a lot of velvet AP and bits for the sake of the Forge Name. It's a LOT cheaper to scry and expedition for it. And no assault on Hills means no robbing him blind while we're there.

Sorry, I don't actually remember that was the case, that the prisoner had to be ready this turn? On the other hand (hoof), what's wrong with using up the Knock 2 artifact?

I'm still iffy on the Grail Sacrament, though I am fine with the Moth Sacrament and the study to reach its prerequisite levels, as well as Baldomare's Secret History Sacrament. On the fence about both Names' Edge Sacraments. Cannot take Forge Sacrament at this time due to lack of bits.

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The artifact has to be a studied one and the Knock 2 artifact is insufficient. The price of the rebindings increases each time so we dont know if that means "A studied level 3 artifact" or "A studied level 4 artifact"

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I don't think graverobbing is the type of sneaky illegal thing Knock helps with, since it doesn't involve breaking and entering a building even tangentially, but it doesn't really matter since you're deep enough in aotls that a Name action has to get used on a generic anyway so might as well.

A major selling point is that the third study can be delayed somewhat if we're not assaulting Hills, but on the other hand this plan does nothing to help us pay for all the bit-hungry priorities coming up soon? Other than the inherent bit of "We can teach rarity since no need for third study this turn" but that's not really enough? Failing to do a Reagent Scry when we can afford it means we're committing to a lot of velvet AP and bits for the sake of the Forge Name. It's a LOT cheaper to scry and expedition for it. And no assault on Hills means no robbing him blind while we're there.



The artifact has to be a studied one and the Knock 2 artifact is insufficient. The price of the rebindings increases each time so we dont know if that means "A studied level 3 artifact" or "A studied level 4 artifact"

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Sure it is, you Open the grave up quick and you Open the casket even faster!

As for scrying for a reagent, I guess I'm open to drop the Windy spying for another Selene scrying, if people wish.

 

[Greymere]

Sure it is, you Open the grave up quick and you Open the casket even faster!

As for scrying for a reagent, I guess I'm open to drop the Windy spying for another Selene scrying, if people wish.

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I think it's a good idea. And I'll probably make a variant of your plan when voting starts w/ more Bureauing instead of Tall Tale.