Capt Wolf

When can shareholders of the RNTC expect dividends or a statement of some sort on the status of their investment?

If that's the case than the rule shouldn't say level... it should say, if you own 10 or less ships, you can sistership a lost ship. But that seems awfully broad. Are you sure that's a correct interpretation? My understanding was that it IS ship levels, not ships.

I missed the "large sum" going to Mardier. Thanks for clarifying.

I hadn't noticed that that is the math of it, but you are correct! That makes adding things up much easier. I was just going off the chart that lists the costs. Thanks for pointing that out!

As I understand it, base upkeep is the total cost of upkeep for your ships, without modifiers. The first 100DBs of upkeep cost is ignored, it's free. The next 100DBs of upkeep costs exactly that, 100DBs. The next 100DBs of "base" upkeep you incur cost you 150DBs. The next 200DBs of "base" upkeep would cost you 400DBs. And, of course, edit the final bracket you end up in for the appropriate fraction. So, for example, if you own a class 2 ship and a class 3 ship, they have upkeep costs of 30DBs and 50DBs respectively. Since your total "base" upkeep is 80, you owe nothing (0DBs) for upkeep. If, instead, you own a class 2 and a class 4, their upkeep is 30 and 75, so your base upkeep is 105. The first 100 is free, so you have a total upkeep cost for your fleet of 5DBs. And what if you own a class 2, a class 4, and a class 5, with upkeeps of 30, 75, and 105 respectively, totaling a base upkeep of 210? My first 100 is free, I pay 100DBs for the next 100, and the remaining 10 is treated at 150%, or 15DBs. So I would owe 115DBs for operating these three ships. One more example: if you have a class 1, class 2, class 3, class 4, and class 7 all active in an MRCA, your base upkeep would be 15+30+50+75+175=345. First 100 free, next 100 at cost, next 100 at 150%, and last 45 at 200% = 0+100+150+90=340DBs total upkeep cost. Also, I'm only charged for a ship if it participates in the MRCA. If it sits one out, it doesn't count toward base upkeep for that month. Does any of that help?

So how can we reasonably design our ships if we don't know what impact the stats will have? Do we need to wait until the new MRCA rules are out?

This is because all my pics are hosted on Brickshelf, which has been down since Sunday morning. (The ones you see are originally from Legostone, who uses a different hosting site.) Once Brickshelf is back up, my pics will be visible.

I am not ready to finalize stats for new licenses, but here are my current ship licenses (Capt Wolf): 2WR Lady of Madrice II (considering relicensing as a class 3) 4T2 Far Horizon (considering relicensing as a class 5) 4A Sleeping Siren II (considering relicensing as a class 5) 5T La Contessa de Victoria (considering relicensing as a class 6 or 7) 5F Piece of Eight Can I also get your opinion on what class this would be? Would it be closer to a class 4 now? **** And those owned by the MCTC: 4T2 Jon El Flurry 5T Prince Fernando (considering relicensing as a class 6)

Capt Wolf - Category E (for Eslandola) Eslandola Jones and the Lost City of Gold

With apologies to George Lucas and Steven Spielberg... The year is 617. Mardier forces are looking for the rumored Lost City of Gold in an effort to fund their war effort against Eslandola. Without the gold, Mardier’s war effort is doomed. And so Eslandola has sent Thaddeus Calvo, an adventurer and sometimes spy, to find the lost city before Mardier does. In the jungles of an island east of the Prio Seas, Calvo has risked life and limb to retrieve a golden idol with clues to the location of the lost city. But as he emerges from the depths of the jungle, he is surprised by his oft-times rival, Dr. René Belóche, an Oleon adventurer now working in the employ of Mardier. “Eslandola Jones … we meet again!” exclaimed René. (“Jones” was one of Calvo’s aliases, and although René knew Calvo’s real name, he enjoyed calling him this in a mocking fashion.) René was accompanied by several local warriors of the Hovito tribe. “Quite a situation you’re in, eh?” Rene extended his hand. “I’ll take that idol now. Once again what was briefly yours is now mine.” Calvo reached for his bag, and the Hovito warriors readied their spears in case he pulled a weapon. But all he did was reluctantly hand over the golden idol. The Hovitos thought René had retrieved it for them, but Calvo knew René would steal it from them as well. “Too bad the Hovitos don’t know you like I do, René,” said Calvo. “True,” replied René. “You could warn them … if only you spoke Hovitos!” René then raised the idol high to display it to the Hovitos. As their attention was diverted to the idol, Calvo bolted for his boat back at the river. With a quick word and motion, René commanded the Hovito warriors to go after him. Calvo narrowly made his escape. * * * Back in Nova Terreli, Calvo met with one of his contacts, Salejandro, and with Calvo’s longtime friend, Madame Marian Villeneuve. With Salejandro’s help, Calvo was able to discern the meaning of the symbols he had seen on the golden idol. “I know where it is, Marian! The Lost City of Gold -- I can find it in a week,” exclaimed Calvo. “You mean WE can find it in a week,” stated Marian firmly. “What? You can’t go with me,” replied Calvo. “Oh yes I can. After all the adventures I’ve funded with little in return, until we find the Lost City of Gold, I’m your G** D*** partner!” And so Calvo and Marian found passage on the Bantu Wind, a ship heading east. Captain Katanga looked like the sort of fellow who had been through a few close scrapes and knew how to smuggle something past the authorities. Now Calvo and Marian needed Katanga to smuggle them past Mardier ships on patrol in the Prio Seas. But Mardier had their spies as well, and René knew Calvo’s methods. As the Bantu Wind reached the far eastern waters of the Prio Seas, René was waiting, intercepting them with a Mardier gunship. Katanga alerted Calvo to hide. When the Bantu Wind was boarded by René and his Mardier companions, Katanga surrendered to protect his ship and crew. The Mardier troops searched the ship for Calvo, but could not find him. “Where is he?” demanded the Mardierian colonel. “I killed him,” replied Katanga. “He was of no value to me. Take whatever you want from my cargo, but leave the lady; she has value where we are headed.” The colonel was incensed. “We will take what we want, pirate scum,” he declared, “and then we will decide whether or not to blow your ship out of the water!” The colonel pulled Marian away from Katanga, but René took custody of her instead. René had known her in younger days and had always been jealous of her relationship with Calvo. As soon as the Mardierians were off the ship, Katanga ordered his men to find Calvo, still hidden on the ship. But he could not be found. While watching the Mardierian gunship depart, one of Katanga’s men found him. “There he is!” he exclaimed, pointing aft of the Mardierian ship. Calvo was in the water, his whip wrapped around the rudder! * * * René had also discerned the location of the Lost City of Gold from the clues on the golden idol, and soon they reached their destination. René and the Mardierians made their way into the jungle, and Calvo made his way ashore and followed them. As they slowed down, Calvo diverted around them through the jungle and found a suitable spot for an ambush, a small pass through a ridge. “Hello René!” yelled Calvo from the top of the ridge. “Eslandola Jones?!” René queried in exasperation. “How? What are you doing here?” “I don’t care about the gold anymore,” said Calvo. “I came for the lady.” But before Calvo could rescue Marian from René, a few Mardierian soldiers quietly climbed the ridge and apprehended the Eslandolan. René and the Mardierians proceeded through the jungle with Calvo and Marian in tow. Their objective should be over this next ridge. And when they reached the top of the ridge, they could see the ruins of an ancient city in the valley below. They descended into the ruins, and there they saw a golden chest upon an altar. René had Calvo and Marian tied up so they could not interfere. With the Mardierian colonel at his side, René prepared to open the golden chest. “Marian,” whispered Calvo, “whatever you do, don’t look at the treasure, and definitely don’t touch it!” For Calvo had also discerned not only the location of the Lost City of Gold, but also its curse. And so, when René opened the chest and ran his hands through its contents of gold coins, he and the colonel, and the other Mardierian soldiers looking on, were turned to gold. * * * And so Mardier was denied the treasure to fund its war effort. Calvo and Marian stole the Mardierian gunship and made it back to civilization. And as for the location of the Lost City of Gold and its curse? That will stay a secret. Calvo reported that the Mardierian efforts to find it were in vain, as the rumored city did not exist.

I'm confused. How can this entry be for Mardier if Mardier doesn't get the gold?

Stunning work, Ayrlego. That jungle river is great, and the pyramid is beautiful. I think I know who is going to win this category!

Congrats to the winners and to all those who participated. And my condolences to the Brickwall family.

Re Part 1, both sponsoring parties have retracted their proposals. But just in case they can't do that, the MCTC delegation will vote 3 Nays for both plans. Re Part 2, the MCTC delegation offers 3 Yeas.

Yes. It also counts against the free upkeep. 'Free' license just means there's no license cost. That's what I thought. Just wanted to make sure it was clear for everyone. Thanks.

Does a player's "free" class 1 or class 2 ship count against their ship level limit of 10? Does that "free" ship also incur upkeep costs?

What I want to know is, what's going on that requires two of the monkeys to wear full body armor?! And I still get a kick out of seeing your rebuild of my original council hall.

"Senor Monezterrell, it appears we are in agreement, not only about Captain Whiffo's proposal, but the town bank tax as well. I revoke my proposal, and speaking for the entire MCTC delegation, we officially offer 3 Yea votes for ETWC plan." Guilder cleared his throat, then continued. "And with that, I believe the plan has 12 votes in favor, a guaranteed majority, and therefore the ETWC proposal passes!"

Guilder turned toward the ETWC delegation. "Captain Whiffo, are you submitting your royal build plan for voting? It appears you already have three votes!" Muffled laughter flitted across the room. "If so, I am prepared to vote for your proposal, and will withdraw my tax proposal if Senor Monezterrell will do the same with his tax proposal."

I like the frame and plaster walls of this vignette. The olive plates add a nice touch of color. The coat tree with hat and baldric hanging from it is a nice room detail, as are the candles. The medium dark flesh masonry bricks also give a nice color variation to the build. I'm interested to see where this story goes. Technically, there is no Eslandola side to this part of the challenge; there are only pro-Mardier entries and anti-Mardier entries. As such, I hope Corrington shows Mardier who's boss on Cascadia!

Excellent job with both build and story. The government house is suitably both solid and elegant. I really like the use of sand green with the light gray (I'm going to have to try my hand at that color combo), and the arched windows are nicely done. And the text is a great introduction for the story to come. Alas, I'm going to have trouble getting "Ten thousand blistering barnacles!" out of my head! Wonderful writing! Well done all around!

Members of the MCTC delegation had been huddled in discussion with members of the ETWC delegation. Gov. Guilder emerged from the confab and again addressed the room. "First, let me say that I agree with the esteemed Lord Damaximus that we shouldn't seek something for nothing, and that is why we are here discussing these tax proposals. That said, I stand with Captain Whiffo and Agent Guelds in their disdain for taxing income. And so the ETWC folks have come up with a novel suggestion that merits discussion. Instead of giving up our hard-earned income, we can pool our labor to build properties for the state that would produce the desired income, replacing the need for taxes. While I still support my modest tax proposal for the near term, I am willing to commit MCTC resources toward building income-producing properties on a royal scale so that the state can continue to fund our forts and navy at the level we are accustomed."

Willem Guilder rose (with some difficulty, due to his injuries in the latest MRCA -- details to come) to address the council: "I welcome Senor Monezterrell's input to the debate on taxes. We are in agreement that taxes on free builds and town banks are appropriate, and we agree on the tax rate for those items. However, I cannot support taxes on property yields and MRCA results. I much prefer a system of one-time taxes on licenses, not perpetual taxes on yields. As such, I must vote Nay to Monezterrell's proposal." Philip Janszen then rose from the MCTC delegation. "I concur with Gov. Guilder regarding taxes on MRCA income. As a sailor and captain of a trading vessel, the MRCA income is our life blood. I will also vote Nay to the Monezterrel proposal. And I will vote Yea for the governor's proposal." Finally, Aaron van der Meede spoke. "As a city councilman, I applaud the proposals to tax the town banks. They are nothing but an enticement to piracy, and the 10% rate should still leave our towns with adequate funds for raising troops or offering inducements for new construction. The builders of ships and properties in these seas seem quite capable of bearing the cost of increased licenses, but I am wary of the effect taxing property yields and shipping results will have on the general populace. If we discover that taxing the licenses is not enough, we can always look to other taxes in the future. But for now, I too will vote Nay on the Monezterrel proposal and Yea for the Guilder proposal." Guilder spoke once more, although he remained seated this time. With a wry smile, he said: "And just to make it official, I vote Yea for my proposal."

Cool build. I enjoy your "brick sky" style, and the figure posing and facial expressions are excellent (as usual)! Great job on the Mardierian uniforms, too. And then you have the hilarious text to go with it! I love the sport commentary / game show feel of it all. Well done all around!

With the disappearance of automatic "free" taxes going to the faction coffers, we need to fund our treasury (which is responsible for maintaining our forts and our navy). Willem Guilder proposes the following, to take effect in June: 20% tax on build submittal income (so you'd get 8 DBs instead of 10 DBs for you first builds of the month), 20% tax on property license fees (so, for example, that small artisan would cost you 30 DBs to license instead of 25), 10% tax on ship licenses (so a 4T2 would cost 330 instead of 300 to license), and 10% tax on town banks (I've looked at the numbers and it should work; if town banks can afford more, we can adjust it to 20% in the future). I'd like to call this proposal to a vote. @Sir Stig, @Maxim I, @Garmadon, @Legostone, @Elostirion, what do your delegations say?