Bregir

What is that I hear from afar? Is it the drums of war? Nah, probably just the trumpet of an arms race! Great idea, KB! Will be looking forward to seeing the outcome of this! (Although the thought of 6 Olean SOTL's does raise some concerns in the Admiralty... And of course, I am hoping to see these moc's in the Shipwrights Guild Hall as they progress, be they LDD or brick built.

Another entry: Troubles on la Strada Maxima Details: 1024 studs, entry into A) Action on the road, C) The Island of Nellisa, M1) Nova Terreli: Merchants, and M2) The Good Samaritan.

Between Montario and Nova Terreli, a small range of hills surrounds the road. In the vicinity of these hills, several small streams cross the road, necessitating a large number of small bridges. At one of these bridges, on the Montario side, an ox cart has broken and lost a wheel. In the process, the cargo of barrelled ores has been scattered and the driver thrown down with an injured leg. This has created a chokepoint on the busy road, stopping several travellers in their path. Luckily for the injured driver, one of these travellers is a doctor of medicine, Sir Anton Hughes, fellow of the Royal Society of Natural Philosophy, and his assistant Ian Collins, carrying the medical supplies. Long since, Corlander scientists recognised the importance of physical exercise, especially for young assistants, and young Mr. Collins is getting his fair share working for Sir Hughes. The doctor is carrying out a year long voluntary medical service on la Strada Maxima, sponsored by the Royal Society. Such voluntary services has long been a tradition for medical gentlemen of the Society, and helps spread the knowledge of the organisation, as well as ensures the volunteer a wide experiences of diverse medical problems. Another hindered traveller is Amin Maleek, Tellvokian dye trader, and his trusty camel. Underway to Montario with a selection of fine dyes for the craftsmen of the Governorial seat, his is shocked by the hindrance. A few other travellers, including a farmer and his wife and son, are gathered around the bridge too, and hopefully the wheel will soon be repaired and the road open once more. ___________________________________________________________ An entry to the Strada Maxima minichallenge - I really want to pick up some shares!

Can my fellows agree to licensing a large property in King's Harbour in the form of a school?

Thanks for the suggestion, but this was actually what I tried first, and I didn't like the result - it gives a series of jagged edges, plus a strange vertical edge at the waterline where I have raised the slopes. (Plus, there is no room on the inside of the construction... ) @kurigan Thanks! I think I will rework the bow a little bit to "perfect" the curve. And yeah, I agree, often it seems like bow and stern hangs a bit, since the curve isn't continued. (Look at the bow of my very own ironsides.) I am still considering how I will include the accents, but I think I will have to experiment to find a good solution. About the gallery, @Legostone and I discussed it too (including the cut-away in that ship plan - I think it is simply due to those parts not being structurally important, and perhaps not designed from the onset). I actually do not think it was so rare, although my evidence is anecdotal. Especially on smaller two-deckers, like mine, the lower gundeck is carried very close to the waterline, and having a fragile cabin down there just isn't very practical, as a large wave might bust it in, flooding the decks. Of course, this is mainly relevant for late era ships, were the curve of the hull doesn't elevate the ends of the gundecks considerably. As to your idea for gunports (thanks for the pics - looks nice, is it modelled after any particular vessel?) I might try it out, but for now I am fairly content with the "simple" solution. And in any case, I am probably not going to let any of them remain open, as I wont have the guns to put in there anyway... The test says something like Fregat (van?) Oorlog, which suggests to me that it is a Dutch frigate. And if we assume that the lower ports are for sweeps, it would make it a small 28 gun frigate. However, sweeps for a frigate seems like the absolute upper limit - but then again, those Dutch, and I can't see what else it would be... Don't see why you would think it a razee, though. @Legostone I am pretty sure Fregata Grossa is simply Italian for ship of the line. ____________________________________ In other news, I have been working on a small war galley:

Coming soon to a colony near you: Our good Captain doesn't think Eslandrama, Dramandola, Eslandola (That's it! ) should be the only thing on the news these days!

Let anyone run for PM regardless of whether they have a seat already. If they win, their former seat must be refilled from the constituency. (Eg. a TC would appoint a substitute) That's why I initially suggested you guys having the presidential elections first...

Great looking room, Garmadon. I really like how the colours complement each other, and these dark tones are great. The bed is very well done, as is the curtains. I am a bit disappointed that we don't see more angles and a better overview. Up on the right, you have would looks like it may be a very innovative take on a painting, but due to the angle, we don't get the benefit of seeing it...

You could simply let the Stadtholder (or whatever he is called) have tie breaking abilities at all times. Give him a vote which he can cast like everyone else, and in the event of a tie, his vote simply counts as "1.1" vote so to speak. That way, you won't have to change anything when more regions are added, as the Stadtholder will be able to break any tie. I still do not understand why you don't go with 1 man 1 vote. While I see the storybuilding potential, you have to consider both that the issues will be as "real" as they can be for Eslandola, and that somewhat will have to build these stories. As to the first point, I see an issue in having one of your own characters vote against your own interest, and as to the latter, I am certain there will be plenty of story building potential in the system already. The drama can be played out in the organisations behind each representative. (Maestro, Prio Seas, EWTC, etc.) As to Kai's points 6 through 8, why don't you let the council decide on these practical manners themselves? Btw, since when is Eslandola using Dutch sounding titles? I always figured: Oleon = France, Corrington = UK, Eslandola = Spain. After Ska revealed his plans for Mardier, I reconsidered it like so: Mardier = Spain, Eslandola = Portugal. Should I reconsider once more? I thought Altonia was the Dutch country of BoBS. Of course, I am aware that a lot of the people behind the Eslandians are Dutch... #Dramandola

This is interesting to follow, I must say, but I can't help to wonder... where does this leave the new independent Nellisan Republic? Are you expecting the Fontonajo's to support this?

I'll split the 1 % 50/50 with you to avoid having to discuss who thought of it first! Well, this would mean that you wouldn't get the whole campaigning, bribing, lobbying, and scheming part of trying to get your candidate elected in a general election... While I agree that in praxis, this is not a very handy system for getting the best candidate elected (Go 'Murica!), it makes for very entertaining campaigns! Of course, letting the council elect one of their own (or a third party) for the position (would then be prime minister, I suppose) is a very viable idea. Perhaps you should have both a president (selected through general election) and a prime minister (selected by the council) to get the best of both worlds? This would of course require some division of powers. Veto-rights for the president, and tie-breaking rights to the PM? Just brainstorming. (Free of charge! )

First, this is not a plan, just a bit of Corlander consultancy. Don't worry - I won't charge you much more than 1 % of all future income for the use of my idea! I would suggest first electing the PM in a general election and then let each constituency (TC, independent, region,...) select their representative. The builder elected for president would not be eligible for the other seats. (Regardless of the order, though, no one should fill two seats) I only suggested 2 votes to avoid having an even number of total votes, but as more regions are added, this may change. Another option was to take away his vote, but make him chairman of the council with veto rights for all decisions. Or any combination. Electing him in a general election would be a good way to bring in some lobbying, campaigning, subterfuge, etc. I would love to see a PM-candidate promise a million different things in secret (PM's) to the different trade companies, only then to break these promises and run his own purposes! Lastly, you should consider substitutes. If the PM isn't available, who is then acting in his stead? Someone appointed by him, or the candidate with the second most votes? Those two situations could be very different. Further, do each of the constituencies appoint their own substitutes? In fact, you could let representation be entirely up to the different regions, tc's, etc. and let them decide themselves how often they want to change their candidate, and only keep a fixed period for the PM-elections. (2 or 3 times a year seems like the most sustainable). Just remember that these positions will all have real power, so political agenda is much more important than moc-ing skills.

Well, as a Corlander, I am simply trying to help you design the objectively best possible system, ensuring representation of all. Letting the TC's have a say is fine, but then you also have to accept that it is not a seat representing independent traders, but rather a wildcard seat open for all (although in praxis, the largest TC would probably control it - Maybe that is why Kai likes the idea? ). I don't like the idea of de facto not having independents represented though, but if you Eslandians want an oppressive, tendentious regime, be my guest! Perhaps the true solution would be to have 1 seat for each recognised TC (3), 1 for independents, 1 for each region (3), and one for a president/prime minister. That would give 7 votes, plus a president with 1 vote, 2 votes, or veto power and no vote, or whatever. The president could then be elected by general election and open up for lobbying for candidates, campaigns, Machiavellian schemes for power from the TC's, etc. Now, THAT would be fun! I couldn't agree more!

Kai, if the TC's are already represented by their own candidate, why would they need influence over the independent candidate? That way, the TC's could "coup" that election and elect someone who would support giving the TC's advantages over independents. Likewise, no one outside the specific TC should have any say in which candidate the TC elects, or how this is done. These are not IC or OOC, but simple principles of good governance. People select their own candidate, and let other select theirs. If you want everyone to have a say in all candidates, then have a free election were unaffiliated and TC candidates all run independently for all positions rather than a system with a representative for specific interest groups. Don't mix them up - it is unlikely to work out well.

If I were an independent trader, and you told me that the TC's would have a vote in electing my candidate, I would most definitely revolt! Isn't the whole point that this seat is to represent non-tc interests? The amount of voters isn't important. (Just like the TC with just two members)

Wouldn't it make sense for those regions to chose their own representatives? If there is only one builder, he would obviously pick himself...

Thanks, @Phred. I can't seem to get an email with the properties licensed in the name of ETTC. It seems there is only 10 dbs in property income, while it should be 20, suggesting that one of the properties has been licensed wrongly. These two properties should be licensed for the ETTC: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=137423 http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=137784

Interesting discussion. I have only one comment. Remember to take in consideration the activity level of the playerbase. You have three TC's, each consisting of a handful active players or so, plus a few unaffiliated. If you open up three positions for each TC, and 9 for independents, everybody is going to have a seat.

Great Idea stacking the builds like so. The mine and the mining cart is great, but my favourite part is the horse carriage and those shoed horses as Puvel mentioned. Great mine!

Have you had any chance to take a look at the above? I can forward my own accounts in case there should be any doubts.

Will be looking forward to seeing her rerigged. And with a rerig and removal of some of the guns, she could probably be licensed as an indiaman. However, then changing that new moc back to a warship seems a bit much. But you can ask the licensing court when you have the finished refurbished vessel.

I agree with Silentwolf - you have just the right amount of detailing for such a room, and the window is nicely built. Story is good too, although it took me a while to figure who was who. It seems like something very interesting was in that bottle! Will be interesting to see what the Governor finds in his strongbox when he returns!

Those innocent faces makes my skin creep! Great looking gang, and nice story!

Wow, this is much larger than I expected! No wonder you will have to take it apart for other projects! (Although it is a shame!) Great work, Tomsche!

Great work! That shattered window and knocked down chair really sells the whole break-in thing really well, and the interior shot is by far your best night shot so far. (And one of the best lego-night shots I have ever seen! The light is just right, and illuminated the important details!)