Capt Wolf

You're not the only one. I'll have to make some adjustments for the new fort expenditures, but Weelond has a nice little income beyond the town bank to cover ship and troop expenses.

As I've mentioned privately, that bridge is fantastic! Great crops, and I like the tree, too. The editing effect adding the storm clouds and rain is really cool.

Because there have been problems getting MRCA income into the NPC pirate accounts when it's supposed to. --- Here's an idea I'll just throw out there: reduce all property yields (after final calculations for bonuses and such) by 1 DB per property size value (i.e., 1 DB for a small, 2 DB for a medium, 3 for a large), and that 1-3 DB for each property in a settlement goes to the settlement's account. For example, this would give a large town a minimum income of 31 DBs per turn, but no money is created out of thin air, and settlements get an income based on their size. No muss, no fuss.

I hope for some proper benefits, as right now they are comically overpriced. How much would you pay to increase a city to a large city? A large city to a grand city? With the increase in abilities to own more ship levels and recruit more troops per turn? The new rules create tangible benefits of royals, they're just not reaped in DBs. And as we said, we're looking to include other effects of royal properties as well. See my comments above. This is the biggest issue from the new rules IMO. We have to make sure the new upkeep rates work. Something to consider: If settlements and factions now need more income, licensing properties for settlements and factions is an option, and having actual faction trade fleets sailing in the MRCA is another way of generating income.

I don't think we specified that. I would be in favor of the current balance being transferred to the settlement's regular account, but we need to sort that out. Edit: what CG said. The town bank funds already show up in the account balance.

If you're referring to the requirements for advancing to the various city levels, yes, any type of property as long as it is a royal property. We're not trying to do away with sisterships, just making them more expensive. This was all about finding ways to reduce players' income and to spend players' money. The thinking is that the factions can step in and help if a settlement needs time to adjust for the expense. And there are always loans available from in-game banks and rich characters/players. But settlements need to plan for income streams now, which means settlements either need to tax players who build there, or more properties need to be licensed by settlements rather than players. We took the mayors' money pre-emptively by no longer paying mayors a salary. Mayor is now more of an administrative role now than an EGS role.

Ok, the ships show up now. Thanks.

Neither troops nor expense has shown up yet. FYI. Also, I tried to license two ships for Eslandola (Golden Grasshopper and Victoria), but they don't show up in the ship register. @Phred, @Legostone? It does look like the license expense shows up, though.

No powerpoint presentation, but here's my year in review. My 2018 in BoBS started in an orphanage during Merrynight celebrations ... ... then moved to the ship yards for war ships ... ... and brigs ... ... and sloops ... ... and even a couple of carracks: The year took me to King's Harbour ... ... where I brokered a peace between Prio and the Sea Rats: Then finally back home to Weelond ... ... where I assembled a team for the Soccer Cup... and sent them off to Bastion: I sent explorers to the islands of the New Haven Sea ... ... and diplomats to Terraversa: There was even a visit from some pirates: Finally, I visited Salida Este ... What will 2019 bring?

Thanks! Those work fantastic Thanks! It took awhile to hit on the right torso. That is the long-term plan. Currently with the front of one bastion and the gate, it is 28 x 89, and with the frontage of another bastion added it should be around 145-150 studs across. After that I'll start to work on the flanks and flesh out the bastions. and that would still really only be about half of the full fort. As I said, modular build, and a long-term plan (dream?). With the vague Spanish feel to Eslandola, it always seemed like a homage to the tercios was required. Thanks!

Thanks! Unfortunately, the clock's pendulum is nearly invisible. There's a black paddle, but it disappears in the shadows. Thanks. We were having trouble deciding how to do a build for this part of the story without repeating the noble council MOC. And the cup and saucer is from one of the collectible Harry Potter minifigs. Thanks! And your job creating characters that are so well fleshed out made the writing easy; I was just following what you had created. Kudos to you!

Aren't they famous real life people? Although I'll accept they look like the Black Sails versions. Technically, they're based on the fictional Black Sails portrayals of two real-life people. Regardless, thank you for noticing! That show was so much fun, and those two are very fun to write for in the BoBS setting. Thanks!

They're not showing up in the troop raising expense column, either.

Calvo and his men were back on board, and he and Janszen discussed what was next. "Have we got everything on board?" asked Janszen. "Yes sir," replied Calvo. "Samples of various plants have been stowed away, and the men and their equipment is secure." After a pause, Calvo added "Where to, now?" Janszen gave Calvo a knowing look. "That's the question I've been turning over in my head. You and your men have been doing tremendous work on the islands, but we haven't reached the number of islands I had hoped to reach by now." "I must admit, exploration of these first two islands has taken me longer than expected as well. But the discoveries have been worth it. Our relations with the natives of the first island, in particular, will pay dividends when we establish a settlement." "Yes, that was some fantastic work on your part, Calvo." "Thank you sir. But as you have said, their is more out there. I'd really like to get much farther south and have a look at the little island cluster northwest of El Oleonda. The Carnians were pretty tight-lipped, which makes me think they've found something valuable down there." "I agree," replied Janszen. "But I'm concerned about Captains Bloenhardt and Merker and their group. They don't have anyone with your experience on land, and I don't like having the expedition split up." "So what do we do?" "We head for islands 5 and 6. With two islands to explore, they should still be in the vicinity. We'll rendezvous with them, assess their discoveries, and send back a ship to report to Guilder. From there we can proceed to new islands." Calvo nodded in agreement. "I'm sure Guilder is anxious to hear something of our progress." "Indeed, I'm sure he is." Janszen turned to his sailing master. "Make sail, and send word across to the other ships! We will rendezvous with the Colonial Storm and Nightwing. Heading due east for now. ---- Meanwhile... Captain Bloenhardt gauged the mood of his men. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking," volunteered Captain Merker, "I don't think the men are particularly interested in exploring caves with natives hiding in them." "Perhaps you're right," replied Bloenhardt. "Let's assemble a group to investigate the village on the southern island and get a closer look at that statue." "Captain, may I suggest two groups?" offered Jack. "For safety. Rather like not putting all our eggs in one basket." "I see your point. I'll take one group around the north side of the village, and you scout it from the south. We regroup back here." Jack had a glint in his eye. "Excellent, captain!" --- Bloenhardt's group worked their way to the top of a ridge overlooking the village. What they saw now was stranger than what they could make out from the sea. In a clearing, small round huts surrounded a giant statue more than 30 feet tall. But a statue of what, they weren't sure. Perhaps some sort of bird-man. It was made of stone, except for the arms/wings, which looked to be sculpted from some translucent mineral. The construction of the village didn't suggest the technology to create such a statue. And there was nothing to suggest that the statue was carved from material that was already present. A different society must have created this long ago. "Captain, natives," pointed out one his men. "We should get back to the ship." "Yes, let's make our way back quietly." --- Merker, however, wasn't interested in the statue or the village. "Jack, the village was that way. Where are you headin'?" asked Kate. "Darling, I want to check out that shipwreck. I find Itasca's treasure far more interesting than some old statue, don't you?" "I can't argue with that!" exclaimed Kate. Jack and Kate worked their way down to the shore. It was low tide, and the wreck was fully exposed. They could even walk across the reef to investigate the wreck and not get too wet, if they were careful. "How'd you get over there?" asked Kate. "Oh, just duck around back there. And watch out for the eels." "Lovely..." Kate muttered under her breath. As she made her way inside the wreck, Jack let out a gasp. "What? What is it?" Jack looked lovingly on a chest. Kate looked at the chest, and then at Jack. "It ain't gonna be that easy, Jack. It ain't no treasure chest!" "Well, we'll see. I certainly intend to find out!" Jack reached down to open the chest, and ... ??? --- Some additional pictures of the wreck: .

Thanks! Thanks. I thought about putting sheep on the grass slope, but it didn't work. As for marching out rather than in, I built the bastion for viewing from the outside. Eventually I'll do the backside too for viewing from the interior. A very long-term project. Thanks. While a lot of Lego army builders put their armies in the late 1700s or early 1800s, I prefer the late 1600s, at the start of the golden age of piracy. As such, the pike is still in use, but on the decline. The green torsos are from the pirate in the Soldiers Fort set from the most recent Pirate releases. The pikemen's torso is from the Knights Kingdom I era of Castle. And the pikes are from BrickWarriors. The left bastion has been seen in an earlier build of mine. I wanted to make sure these pictures focused on the new part of the fort build, the main gate. It's modular, and eventually I want to have the other bastion as well. And I never really thought about licensing it as a new fort; it simply represents one of the existing large forts. Thanks. I have plenty of morions (some would say I have plenty of morons, too), but appropriate torsos are scarcer. And I think you need to trademark Rip van Winklego! Thanks!

Very nice. Love the bayonets! The drum/drummer is well done, too. Is that the "drumbeat of war" I hear?

Nice looking troops, but Trador didn't have enough?! Those shakos always look good, and I see you've supplied your troops with "custom" muskets rather than the blunderbusses Weelond's troops have. I like the posing of the onlookers, especially the fellow on the left. And the architecture of the facades is very nice; I like the arch of arched windows on the white building, and the tan/medium flesh combo on the left building works well.

@Phred, I licensed my new battalion of Weelond troops last night, but they aren't showing up in the "number of troops" column in the account sheet.

You're obviously raising your son right! Nice work on the ship. And he's pushing you to license it in the game! I'm with Drunknok on this one: I hope you and your son have many epic adventures!

New recruits at Fort Weelond:

With settlements being raided, and altercations between Corrington and Oleon in the eastern islands, it was no time to relax on security. And Eslandolan troops were scattered all over the Brick Seas. But recruitment numbers had been up ever since the regimental soccer team went to the Soccer Cup finals. Finally, Weelond had a battalion of fresh troops ready for service to supplement the veterans already on duty. The new battalion paraded through the main gate of Fort Weelond, reviewed by General Alonzo: The traditional core of Eslandolan infantry were the pikeman: But it had become apparent in the Eslando-Mardierian war that the musket needed to be featured in greater quantity: A couple more pics: All C&C welcome.

Román Fontonajo, Eslandola’s Grand Ambassador, reviewed the treaty proposal he was to present to Terraversa’s noble council. He wanted to make sure everything was in order, but he had been staring at the paper too long. As fortune would have it, there was a knock at the office door, and Román’s wife Clarissa entered the room. “Dear, I hope I’m not interrupting, but I thought you might like some tea.” Román got up from his desk and happily took the cup and saucer. “Thank you so much, Clarissa. Your timing is impeccable. I needed a break.” “You worry too much,” she said. “Clear your head. Soon we’ll be done here and we can return home.” Román took a sip of tea and savored its aroma. “And while we are here, you have done a wonderful job of making this new embassy feel like home.” Clarissa looked around the room. “Well, when we leave, and Joaquin takes over as ambassador, it will be his home, his family’s home. Home to our grandchild.” “You have kept the perspective I struggle with at times,” said Román. “Only because you are so focused on your work, dear,” replied Clarissa. “And I struggle with things, too.” “What have you struggled with lately?” he asked. “Well, this window for one thing. It needs drapes, but I can’t find anything appropriate.” Román laughed a soft laugh at his wife’s humor. She knew how to put him at ease. “I’ll leave you to your work. I trust you won’t be much longer?” “Not at all, dear,” replied Román. “You have given me exactly what I needed. Your support always energizes me.” And with that, Clarissa left the room. Román gazed out the window. He thought about his son Joaquin assuming the job of ambassador here when the treaty was finished. And of course Joaquin still had his meeting with L’Olius to arrange. But those things will come in due time, he thought. Returning to his desk, Román reviewed the document one more time. In it, Eslandola reaffirms its recognition of Terraversa’s independence. Eslandola requests in return that Terraversa recognize Eslandola’s right to all of Isla de Victoria. Furthermore, Eslandola proposes a trade agreement wherein, as far as port taxes, harbor fees, customs duties, etc., are concerned, each nation treats the other’s ships the same as they treat their own. As such, Eslandola would not be subject to any harbor fees and customs duties when calling in Kings Port or Westface; and Terraversa would not be subject to the ship-level harbor fees in Nova Terreli and Montario, and would only be subject to the cargo tax that even Eslandolan ships pay. The only other Eslandolan port that charges any taxes is Trador; Terraversan ships would not be charged any taxes, fees, duties, etc., at any other Eslandolan ports as long as Eslandolan ships are not charged any at Terraversan ports. Yes, thought Román, this is a fair offer, and one that can pass our own council. This is the offer I will present to Terraversa’s noble council. And so, he did. --- The full build:

I'm finding this conversation fascinating. Out of curiosity, how do the economics of the above differ from the hundreds of microbreweries that have popped up everywhere? It seems they have made a go of it.

Ah, comparing it to Prof Thaum's build, I see what you mean. Could be! Four words: BrickLink is your friend. Indeed! Interestingly, I had to divulge the location of this build when filling out the form to add the ship levels. But I'll never tell where it is!

@Elostirion, I like the presentations of your year-in-builds. Very cool. I'd love to see something like this from others as well. It really adds life to looking back at a year of BoBS.