AltHist-A: Shall We Try Again?

[Marshal Villars]

Just curious what is going on here. I know I sent my turn off like 3-4 days ago. I hate to rush people, but I think we are headed for a 7 day turn around!

I don't mind 3 day turn arounds, because I think the nature of diplomacy combined with the fact that most of us have jobs/families makes a shorter turn around almost a pipe dream. But 7 days is a little out of control.

Actually, if we could give command of units to other people, then we would be able to pull off 1-2 day turns. But since we all need to enter the orders for our own units in the end, the coordination required is just too much for shorter IMHO. Sure, historically, kings couldn't communicate with each other in back and forth messages 3-4 times a month. BUT! They could put their units under each other's Field Marshal's commands. Wish we could do that, then half of this would be solved.

[Anthropoid]

I returned my turn a long time ago unless there was some problem.

[Randomizer]

Mine was sent early on the 29th.

[Marshal Villars]

I am worried about Bill (Iron Warrior). I hope he is okay.

[Anthropoid]

A lot of times my Sent folder gets cleared out about once per week . . . but in this case I got a clear result!
 
I sent my AltHistA turn Oct 29 (also sent PBEM 109 turn on Oct 29).
 
Yeah, I'm worried about him too.

[vaalen]

I am also worried, especially if he had surgery. Most people do not realize how dangerous even the most "routine" surgery can be.

This is not like him. He used to send out the turns as soon as he had them.

My turn was also sent on the 29th.

ORIGINAL: Marshal Villars

I am worried about Bill (Iron Warrior). I hope he is okay.

[Marshal Villars]

I just called him and got only an answering machine. I will try again later.

[Mus]

ORIGINAL: vaalen

I am also worried, especially if he had surgery. Most people do not realize how dangerous even the most "routine" surgery can be.

Particularly in these times of drug resistant bacteria, but anyways let us know if you hear anything Villars.

[Marshal Villars]

Good news. Bill is (of course) okay. His problem is, he is cut off from the Internet and should be back online by Thursday. At this moment, I am just glad he is okay. So, we can expect to be playing again by then at the latest.

[Anthropoid]

That is good news. Looking forward to getting our momentum back once the time comes

[Randomizer]

Austria wishes to acknowledge its appreciation to the Great and Wise Sultan of the Ottoman Turks for keeping His Word to the Austrian Empire regarding the Movement of Troops within areas considered Sensitive to Austria.  It is hoped that We might Maintain Continued Dialog to preserve the Peace in the Balkans.
 
Tegettoff
Foriegn Minister to the Court of Franz II, Emperor of Austria.

[Mus]

My tally on the Glory bugs shows Russia hit by -200 glory total, Poland by -300, France by -300, Turkey by -300, and Britain by -100.

I also hope we can pick up the pace now that IW is back.

France T5 is in.

[Anthropoid]

Glory Bug: ah well.

[Mus]

ORIGINAL: Anthropoid

Glory Bug: ah well.

I suggest we either keep track of these bugs along with the "yellow card" penalties on page 1 of the thread or else I will just propose a treaty that hits everyone with the same amount of bugged penalty (-300 Glory) to make it easier to keep track.

[Randomizer]

Austria Turn 5 went in tonight.

[montesaurus]

Pr turn 5 is in!

[Marshal Villars]

Hey guys.

A few issues we need to deal with in this game.

1) The massive glory hits due to a Royal Marriages bug. I guess we will have to track them in this form. By the way, is it actually possible to wage glory war by proposing Royal Marriages which are not accepted by the other side? If so, THAT is a problem. I would appreciate a sold write up on this problem (with a good summary of the total findings) so I can present it to Eric ASAP.

2) The fact that Poland and Prussia have come to an agreement which adheres to the house rules of "not tranferring protectorates". This would entail Prussia transferring Breslau to Poland in a treaty and Poland releasing the Saxon protectorate. Prussia can then conquer it and I will make sure not to have "aggressive policy" set towards Prussia. However, other players may. While it is no player's obligation to set their policy to "non-aggressive", the Polish First Consul, Poniatowski asks the international community to respect the nature of the war ending settlement which was reached in this matter.

3) The fact that once this game gets up and running again, that I am extremely concerned that my work on another WCS project will suffer (many of you know exactly which project I am talking about, since you are play testers). I am currently in two PBEMs, which is useful because it allows me to have a much better understanding of what is right and wrong about COG:EE as is. But I need to shift back into a heavier emphasis on the WCS project as well. I think that if we shoot for maximum 3 day turn arounds that this can work for me. But I can't go with 24 or regular 48 hours. I am currently considering other possibilities to make sure that the WCS project doesn't suffer (which is my number one priority!). Because of this issue, I would also appreciate it if someone else could track the glory adjustments due to the royal marriage problem and post them occassionally. AltHist is meant to help me develop the WCS project...not get in the way. I really need to work hard on that. I hope you understand. By the way, it isn't the "game" that is eating up my time. It is the diplomacy. When I have two PBEM games running, sitting in front of the computer and waiting for diplo emails to roll in to have any chance of coordinating action so that my turn can be out in 36 hours is just not working. On top of that, I do have another business I am trying to run! I recently opened my email and saw 20 diplomatic emails in there...and it was while AltHist was DOWN! I simply can't keep up with that (though I want to and both PBEMs are very addictive!).

[Randomizer]

To the Crowned Heads of Warsaw Pact and the First Consul of Poland

It was with Great Dismay that His Imperial Majesty learned that there seems to be some misunderstanding regarding certain provisions of the Austro-Russian Treaty and He sincerely wishes to allay any concerns about this matter.

The initiative allowing Russian passage through Austrian territory and the potential for Sharing of Depots are entirely defensive measures and is not aimed at any Members of the Newly Re-Constituted Warsaw Pact Alliance. Indeed, Austria has made a conscious decision to avoid a formal Austro-Russian alliance, believing that its neighbors might find this development to be destabilizing to the General Peace of Europe and a Threat to their security although the reality would be nothing of the kind.

Therefore His Imperial Majesty has entered into an open and public covenant allowing Russia flexibility to act in its defence even while geography has made Russia's security a matter of great Importance to Austria. Obviously Emperor Franz would find the use of these provisions for unilateral offensive purposes to be very undesirable but there is no evidence or indication that the Czar intends to use the free passage and shared depot provisions at all, let alone for aggressive actions against any of Your Highnesses' domains.

Certainly Russian use of Austrian territory serves no purpose in the current Russo-Polish dispute while France and Britain are not harmed by it nor is the Esteemed Sultan threatened.

Therefore His Imperial Majesty cannot understand why such entirely defensive measures are seen as menacing unless there are secret designs against either Russia or Austria and His Imperial Majesty sincerely hopes this is not the case.

Austria continues to insist that it will not allow its territory to be violated by any Party in the Russo-Polish dispute and there is no evidence whatsoever that the Czar intends to use the Free Passage clause in prosecuting military operations against Poland. Indeed, His Imperial Majesty is under the Impression that there is a Diplomatic Solution in the offing so Peace may very well be at hand between Russia and Poland. As long as there is Peace, the Free Passage and Shared Depot provisions of the Austro-Russian Peace are entirely irrelevant to third parties.

Your concerns are noted and respected but they are also groundless.

With the Highest Regard for All:

I remain Your Obedient Servant
Tegettoff
Foreign Minister to the Court of Franz II
Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and cetera

As me: Three days is fine from here.

[vaalen]

Three day turnarounds are fine with me. I want Villars to be able to stay in the game.

My turn is in.

[Mus]

ORIGINAL: Marshal Villars

1) The massive glory hits due to a Royal Marriages bug. I guess we will have to track them in this form. By the way, is it actually possible to wage glory war by proposing Royal Marriages which are not accepted by the other side? If so, THAT is a problem. I would appreciate a sold write up on this problem (with a good summary of the total findings) so I can present it to Eric ASAP.

Yes it would be possible.

I had figured out exactly how to draft a treaty of royal marriages that would hit everyone with the same amount of penalty to level the playing field, along with a enforced alliance clause between Russia and Poland that would result in it's immediate cancellation, despite not having been ratified yet. I just didn't send it.

If the group thinks doing that would be easier than manually keeping track of Glory I could send it as long as there is a war between Poland and Russia and it would balance everything out.

The writeup is simple:

Treaties that haven't yet been ratified by the nations involved are being "canceled" if there is a war between two parties to any of it's clauses. This is resulting in any country involved in a royal marriage clause in the as yet unsigned treaty being hit with -50 glory per royal marriage clause. Since logically there has been no royal marriage until the treaty has been ratified it makes no sense for anyone to be getting hit with a penalty, nor does it make sense for a treaty to be canceled which hasn't yet been accepted or rejected. A treaty should only be canceled in this manner when it has already been accepted by all parties.

I have already posted about it in the Tech Support forum and Gil said he had brought it to Eric's attention. If they need any more help on the issue they can contact me through the PM system and I can give them files/screenshots, whatever they need.