Month: December 2012

12/29/12

Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part 11!


By Undercovergeek, 29 December 2012

Starting off the second ‘decade’ of UCG’s Crusader Kings II AAR…

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In Part 10 the plot to unseat Matilda was unleashed and the Di Parma’s patiently waited for the wedding and the first offspring of the unholy union. Capua was conquered and added to our lands, and demesne-wide improvements were instigated to bring more money into the coffers. Here in Part 11 the thrust to capture enough lands for a claim on the Sicilian throne begins, at a heavy price – literally.

 

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When we’re not buying in Ladies With Talent™, we’re making them ourselves. The highly skilled diplomat Biagio begins his role as tutor.

ckiiI opt for more Hedonism, I don’t actually want any more sons in an attempt to stop the fracture of our lands that occurred when the current Oberto came to power, but I like the prestige boost.

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12/27/12

Review of Levee en Masse

Review by Jim Cobb, 27 December 2012

Published and Developed by Victory Point Games

Yes, Virginia, there was a revolution before Napoleon. Gamers’ fixation with the Corsican ogre has obscured a fascinating period before the assumption of First Consulship in 1802. Only Crown of Glory included this period its grand overview of the period. Victory Point Games has addressed this situation by porting their solitaire boardgame over to the iPad and iPhone. Can a simple game capture a complicated time?

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Paris Squares

Levee en Masse’s map shows France surrounded by the English Channel, the Low Countries, the Rhineland, western Austria, Switzerland and the Piedmont in Italy. Naturally, Paris is the center of everything. France’s external foes – Britain, Prussian, Austria, and Piedmont – start in their homelands while the perennial rebels in the Vendee are slightly misplaced in southwest France. A chain of four boxes link enemies to Paris with color guards advancing toward the Isle de France. Circles in the Low Countries and one in the Channel represent possible spots for “Liberation” armies.

 

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12/23/12

A Civilization V AAR – Part Deux

Brant Guillory, 23 December 2012

The next installment in the saga of Carthage-as-Played-by-Brant, wherein we find some first steps towards conflict, greater explorations, and a dash of culture.

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Last session, we started exploring our local area, tripped over a few ruins, and found some bad guys.

 

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Tweaking My Production

With one of those ruins, my guys discovered the secrets of Pottery, so I need to go tweak my production queue to get the Shrine bumped up. If you can found a pantheon early, you get a better choice of beliefs to enhance your civilization. So I’m going to add the Shrine, but then also move it up in my production queue, even ahead of the Monument.

 

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Scouts Out!

My second scout is going to start poking around to the west, since I don’t know much about what’s over there. Meanwhile, my spearman is going to head north to bail out my other scout from the barbarian stew he just spilled on himself. But hey! On the way, we found another set of ruins. Hmm…

 

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More Technology.

My first researched tech is now done, and with mining, I can get a worker moving on those silver deposits. After the Shrine, and after the Monument, and, ah, hell… whenever I get to it.

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12/17/12

Prosciutto – Hamming it up with the di Parmas… Part 10!


By Undercovergeek, 17 December 2012

A Crusader Kings II AAR that has reached episode 10. Another dozen or so, and UCG can file for syndication.

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In Part 9 taxes were raised to pay for province improvements, Capua was invaded, and an evil plan to usurp Matilda (may she burn in Hell) was born. In Part 10 the plan is begun, improvements commence and Capua is added to the fold.

 

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The first battle of Capua goes well, the County will soon be ours.

 

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The defeated army retreats to the East. The Neopolitan Army is roused to see what all the shouting is about; I expect an attack from them, but in true Italian style they just watch from afar and then retreat.

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