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Farquharson said:Draco: Don' worry, man - I got ya the stuff...
JRoch: Of course, I was tempted to AAR my Denmark game, but the thought of having two AARs half-finished was too much for me. However, Denmark is an interesting nation. I'm toying with the idea of doing a short visual AAR of the game - just screenshots but on webpages that will do interesting things with them. Like having a sort of progressive changing screenshot showing how the map changed over time. Anyway, here's the continuing tale of Gujarat.
I like the idea, but would actually prefer it if you just kept the save game around and wrote the story later. We all can grow countries like weeds but we all don't have the, um, unique storytelling charm that you do.
Man, I hate noble revolts! But it does somehow provide some pleasure to be able to smack down on the nobles with option a doesn't it? Great update Farq. Keep it up. And why someone would reject such a gift is beyond me
Great update Farq. Keep it up. And why someone would reject such a gift is beyond me 
I agree, I have no idea why anyone would be unimpressed with such a gift! I know I'd take one with pleasure!
Thanks for the fix Farq, but I might be needin' another here soon, eh?
Thanks for the fix Farq, but I might be needin' another here soon, eh?
CatKnight: I'm terribly sorry but those signed posters are extremely rare. That may in fact have been the only one in existence (on Earth) and it probably ended up on a Chagatai rubbish heap!
LewsTherin: No, no, you're not keeping up! Shah Space Invader is history (or rather, he's gone back to the future - I suppose that's not exactly history...)
JRoch: As I always say, with me flattery gets you everywhere - I can maybe even feel another update coming on...
Grundius: Bah - revolts! Today I played about 70 years straight through, and man were there some revolts! Trouble is I'm maxed out decentralized, and that just seems to breed baddie events. Still, the Gujarati Army has of course been having what they call a "Field Day" in military parlance...
Draco: Hmm - have you spoken to your doctor about this? Maybe you could try skin patches or something?
So, like I mentioned, I have about 70 years of Gujarati history to chronicle, but as yet I haven't done so much as look at the log file...
Anyway, a Happy New Year to everyone, wherever you are. Here in France we still have an hour and 45 minutes left of 2004.
LewsTherin: No, no, you're not keeping up! Shah Space Invader is history (or rather, he's gone back to the future - I suppose that's not exactly history...)
JRoch: As I always say, with me flattery gets you everywhere - I can maybe even feel another update coming on...
Grundius: Bah - revolts! Today I played about 70 years straight through, and man were there some revolts! Trouble is I'm maxed out decentralized, and that just seems to breed baddie events. Still, the Gujarati Army has of course been having what they call a "Field Day" in military parlance...
Draco: Hmm - have you spoken to your doctor about this? Maybe you could try skin patches or something?
So, like I mentioned, I have about 70 years of Gujarati history to chronicle, but as yet I haven't done so much as look at the log file...
Anyway, a Happy New Year to everyone, wherever you are. Here in France we still have an hour and 45 minutes left of 2004.
Farquharson said:Ooh look! This is my 700th post!!! Just got it in before 2005.
Quit showing off
Plan for the next century: crush revolts, annex Bengal and Lanka. Muzaffar certainly is bored, so he must think of some diabolical plan to achieve this.
BTW. This rabbit looks smart.
BTW. This rabbit looks smart.
I just hope you can continue to get the motivation needed to carry on this wonderful AAR. Maybe if you can conquer Bengal and unite India you will have reached a natural stopping point and can end it if the spirit moves you in that way.
I'm waiting to read the rabbit's final treatise on the Gujaratis.
Your stab costs seem way out of line for how rich you must be. Haven't you been able to convert any provinces?
Your Denmark game might make for a good AAR. I've been playing Norway and it's been a lot of fun. Of course I chose the nonhistorical option in the end of the Kalmar Union event or the game would have been very short.
I'm waiting to read the rabbit's final treatise on the Gujaratis.
Your stab costs seem way out of line for how rich you must be. Haven't you been able to convert any provinces?
Your Denmark game might make for a good AAR. I've been playing Norway and it's been a lot of fun. Of course I chose the nonhistorical option in the end of the Kalmar Union event
or the game would have been very short.
No sense in sending a gift if it isn't appreciated. And especially given the sacrifice made with this gesture. And I wonder what the young heir's hobby might be? And will his father send him off to summer camp in space?
Troggle: Just cos I've only got 700 posts, there's no need to make fun of me...
Zenek: Muzaffar is now receiving help from his son and heir - things may be looking up. Or not. Don't miss the next exciting episode!
crash63: Thanks!
jwolf: I'm feeling pretty confident about finishing right now. Playing seventy years in one day mostly on Fast certainly helped! And I'm sure Tar-Oggal's treatise will figure somewhere in the final dénouement As for stab costs, I am of course suffering from the usual Farquharson Inflation Syndrome (currently about 80% - hey I'm still only in double figures!), and haven't been able to convert any provinces with missionaries because I have none. I think my innovativeness is around 8 or 9, causing this, and also raising stab costs. But I have a pretty advanced army (for the neighbourhood anyway) and I just reached Trade 3 so can work on monopolies. However, I do have a secret conversion weapon up my sleeve...
coz1: Yes, I'm afraid hobbies have been somewhat neglected recently. But what is young Ahmad's interest? I'll have to think about that one.
Meanwhile, here's the next few years:
Zenek: Muzaffar is now receiving help from his son and heir - things may be looking up. Or not. Don't miss the next exciting episode!
crash63: Thanks!
jwolf: I'm feeling pretty confident about finishing right now. Playing seventy years in one day mostly on Fast certainly helped! And I'm sure Tar-Oggal's treatise will figure somewhere in the final dénouement
As for stab costs, I am of course suffering from the usual Farquharson Inflation Syndrome (currently about 80% - hey I'm still only in double figures!), and haven't been able to convert any provinces with missionaries because I have none. I think my innovativeness is around 8 or 9, causing this, and also raising stab costs. But I have a pretty advanced army (for the neighbourhood anyway) and I just reached Trade 3 so can work on monopolies. However, I do have a secret conversion weapon up my sleeve...coz1: Yes, I'm afraid hobbies have been somewhat neglected recently. But what is young Ahmad's interest? I'll have to think about that one.
Meanwhile, here's the next few years:
Chapter 22: 1620-1654
A Gift for Diplomacy
A Gift for Diplomacy
The year was 1625 and young Ahmad, heir to the crown of Gujarat, was now 18 years old. His father Muzaffar Shah, Sultan of the glorious if somewhat unhappy Empire of Gujarat, was training him up to one day take the reins of power himself. The fact was that Muzaffar the Still Not Dead was himself growing rather tired of ruling. He had already decided to threaten Tar-Oggal with sudden violent death (his own, that is) if he didn’t come up with a bit more Zloq-tan assistance in combatting Gujarat’s various problems. Not that Muzaffar really wanted to kill himself - but how would Tar-Oggal know that?
Muzaffar Shah: So you see, son, our one great and overriding preoccupation must be to make Gujarat ever bigger and fatter. So - looking at a map of our glorious empire, how would you say we should go about that?
Ahmad: Err - maybe we could colonize Kerala?
Muzaffar Shah: Well, we could if we had anyone narrow-minded enough to take on the job. Alas, the legendary Gujarati innovativeness comes at a price! But what about - over on this side of the map...?
He waves his hand to the eastern side of the map.
Ahmad: Bengal? Oh yes - we could conquer Bengal!
Muzaffar Shah: That’s my boy! Conquer Bengal! That of course is our prime target, son. However, unfortunately those sleazy Bengalis have just entered an alliance with Uzbek, over here.
He indicates the western side of the map.
Ahmad: So we’d be fighting a war on two fronts? But surely our faithful Chagatai allies would be able to help with crushing the filthy Uzbeks?
Muzaffar Shah: Ahem, well, now we come to a slightly embarrassing detail. You see, I’m getting old son - not as quick off the mark as I once was. I’m afraid our alliance with the Chagatais expired a few days ago.
Ahmad: So we just recreate it, huh?
Muzaffar Shah: Tricky - since they’ve just joined the new Uzbek-Bengali Alliance.
Ahmad: Oh.
Muzaffar Shah: As you say, oh.
Ahmad: Well, why don’t we join as well?
Muzaffar Shah: Don’t be stupid, son. How could we crush Bengal and wipe them from the face of the earth for ever if we’re in a military alliance with them?
Ahmad: Well, I dunno. Maybe they’d like to be our vassals? Or maybe they’d dishonour the alliance at some point and we’d have just cause to declare war on them? Or maybe the alliance will just expire again and we can recreate it (er - if we’re quick enough, that is), without Bengal, of course.
Muzaffar Shah: Hmm. You know son, I think you might have something there. It’s a long shot, but I think I’m actually going to give it a try. We’ll send a diplomat to Khwarizim right away.
Unfortunately, relations between Gujarat and Uzbek were not really favourable to the success of this mission and Imam Quli Bahadur, Khan of the mighty Uzbek Empire, once he had had a good laugh at Muzaffar’s request, politely turned him down. The diplomat had of course brought along the nifty Zloq-tan Decision Modifier, but shining it into the Khan’s eyes at this point only resulted in some mysterious words and numbers flashing on and off in the readout panel.
However, Muzaffar was now convinced that joining the Uzbek Alliance was his main hope of conquering Bengal one way or another. And since the one thing that was not lacking in the Empire of Gujarat was ready cash, he began systematically spending the nation’s vast reserves of wealth on a series of costly gifts to the Uzbek Khan.
Costly the gifts may have been, but it was at this point that Muzaffar’s woeful grasp of diplomacy let him down somewhat. Why did he feel it necessary, for example, to attach cheeky labels to his gifts, bearing comments like “To the slimy toad of Khwarizim, with Best Wishes”, or “To an Uncultured Uzbek Lout, so he’ll have at least one bit of class to adorn his Pigsty Palace”. Despite these rather tactless gift tags, the costliness of the gifts, coupled with the fact that Imam Quli Bahadur was fortunately quasi-illiterate, meant that the policy worked in the end. Seven years and countless gifts later, a royal marriage was arranged between young Ahmad and the Khan’s daughter, Nejma. Two years later, shortly after Imam Quli Bahadur had declared himself Sole Defender of the Sunni Faith, Muzaffar was invited to join the Uzbek Alliance.
Meanwhile, business was booming in Gujarat, with Gujarati merchants dominating trade in Rajkot, Samarkand and Isfahan. The distilling plant built in Bokhara with some of the proceeds was of course producing liquor “for export only”, but the Sultan’s court did seem to become a noticeably merrier place quite soon after its completion.
Then in 1645 the wisdom of Ahmad’s idea proved true, when the Uzbek Alliance expired. Ahmad, spotting the news in that morning’s Rajkot Review, rushed to inform his father, who was having a quiet nap in the garden. Once Muzaffar had grasped what was happening he lost no time, sending diplomats to Uzbek and the Chagatai Khanate that same day. Soon, he found himself leader of an invincible alliance - Gujarat, Uzbek and the Chagatais - with the hapless Bengalis left friendless and unprotected on his eastern border. Interestingly, that same year Persia entered an alliance with the Ottoman Empire, which by now had become a loathsome green disease spreading menacingly across the face of the Middle East.
Muzaffar was just toying with the idea of declaring war on Bengal without just cause, when a new crisis hit the headlines. It was quite unfortunate that Princess Nejma had lovingly collected all the tactless gift tags sent by Muzaffar to her father, and had stuck them all into a beautifully bound album. Of course, being even less literate than her father, she had no idea what the messages on them meant, but a group of noblemen’s wives whom she had invited round for tea one afternoon were soon shrieking with laughter when they read them. Then they all went home and told their husbands.
A typical sample from Princess Nejma’s collection
The next morning it was all across the front pages of the Rajkot Review - so this was why it had taken so many costly gifts to make friends with the Uzbek Khan, raged the editorial. Gifts bought with taxes paid by the hard-working citizens of Gujarat, which could have been spent on countless other useful things. Muzaffar ineptly tried to shrug off the whole thing as a bit of harmless fun, but that only made the situation worse. Soon the nobility were calling for Muzaffar to stand down immediately, and they had massive popular support for their demands. The so-called Gift Tag Rebellion of 1648 brought revolts up and down the empire. And then Persia declared war.
For some months the situation seemed critical, but the Gujarat Army soon swung into action. At first their priority was to deal with the revolting nobility and their revolting peasant following. In all, five provinces temporarily fell under rebel control, but these were all soon recaptured by Muzaffar’s forces. Finally by 1650 the Persian province of Birjand was besieged, but before it had fallen Persia agreed to a White Peace in 1652. Clearly they had expected a little more help from their new-found Ottoman allies than was actually forthcoming in the event.
Thus peace returned to the Empire of Gujarat. Muzaffar still longed to see the end of Bengal, but alas no boundary disputes flared up, no diplomatic insults were delivered - it was almost as though the Bengalis could read his mind. And didn’t much like what they read there...
Still, there was one piece of good news during this troubled period. It all began with a bunch of weed-smoking drop-outs styling themselves the Sufi Poets who had appeared in Hyderabad in 1623. It turned out that they had the uncanny ability to persuade heretical Shi’ites to abandon the error of their ways and embrace the one true Sunni faith, by no other means than simply reciting poems to them. A close study of a sample of their works:
revealed a profound mysticism that went way over Muzaffar’s head. However, they got results so he gave them all the support he could. Soon Hyderabad was a Sunni province. This was followed by a wave of spontaneous conversions among Gujarat’s numerous Hindu provinces - Malwa in 1624, Gujarat in 1634, Maharashtra in 1646, Goa in 1651 and Madras in 1654. Whether this was a result of Muzaffar’s Hindification programme or somehow related to the Sufi Poets no-one seemed to know, but it certainly helped the stability of the realm.
One of the Incredible Sufi Poets in action
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Wow! It's Conversion Heaven! Between all the other facets of the game conversion has always eluded me. It's always too expensive and the odds are almost never in my favor. :wacko:
I happen to be a member of a local society devoted to reading the peoms of the Sufi Poets, and that verse you quote happens to be from one of my personal favorites, Honey of Heaven. The whole poem is very excellent, but obviously you only had so much room in your update to quote poetry.
Where else but in a Farq AAR does one get the joy of reading about a Gift Tag Rebellion? I trust it won't be long now before the Gujarati Sultans get their act together and give the Bengalis what's coming too them. By the way, do you plan on updating your version of AGCEEP sometime? Some of my own humble work is included in the newest patches, so I felt I would insert a shameless plug into this thread (it'll co-ordiante well with all the other OT stuff in this thread )
)
:rofl:
This AAR is awesome! It is everything that an AAR should be! My only regret is that I did not start reading sooner!
This AAR is awesome! It is everything that an AAR should be! My only regret is that I did not start reading sooner!
JRoch said:
You really don't know what you're missing: the "Inquisition succesful" message is the one that gives me the most joy in my games!!
Even more joy than an Exceptional Year ...
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
A gift tag rebellion AND a poem about eating peas with a knife and honey. Only in a Farq AAR!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
A gift tag rebellion AND a poem about eating peas with a knife and honey. Only in a Farq AAR!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I don't have AGC/EEP, only the vanilla version, but whatever event that was, it was worth anything you paid for it! Conversions are literally priceless, and those results are fantastic!
Aren't the Turks and Persians supposed to be bitter enemies? :wacko: What is going on in your game? Has the Zloqtan intervention had unexpected consequences elsewhere? Or perhaps Shah Space Invader really has his own connections to alien power?
Good luck getting a CB against Bengal. But don't wait too long -- by about 1720 they start getting competent monarchs again.
Aren't the Turks and Persians supposed to be bitter enemies? :wacko: What is going on in your game? Has the Zloqtan intervention had unexpected consequences elsewhere?
Or perhaps Shah Space Invader really has his own connections to alien power? Good luck getting a CB against Bengal. But don't wait too long -- by about 1720 they start getting competent monarchs again.