NPC-> PC Aircraft Tech

[Kaiser Kirk]

A couple weeks ago an issue regarding buying/selling Air Points wound up with a long discussion.
During the setup for our new players, I had promised there were several paths to 'catchup' on aircraft tech.
One of those paths was to purchase Air Point.

Snip, in keeping with the role I requested he retain - Moderator Emeritus and Keeper of the Coherent Vision -  had several strong objections.
After extensive discussion, it was apparent I needed to correct the situation.
Simply removing the option would penalize the players through no fault of their own.

Therefore I committed to increasing their starting Aircraft tech so they could catch up much faster.


This was my PM to them :

Gentlemen,

A discussion between the Inca and Rome led to Snip's awareness I had authorized the sale of airpoints.
Which apparently was not as Snip had envisioned matters.

Snip has several objections.
Part of his game design for this version of Navalism was make it easier for the storyteller players to participate, and less of a grind for the rest.
KISS, keep the energy in stories not spreadsheets.

He particularly focused on both limiting tracking, and simplifying the non-naval aspects.
So tracking individual air points and their tech level is not in the vision.
So this was a change and departure and potentially could open a 'can of worms'.

As current moderator, I asked Snip to stay involved in the Moderator side, and keep me on course.
I know I complicate things more than others want, and I think there's a value in a coherent vision of how this should go,
so I take his KISS concerns seriously.  I want changes to be done after thoughtful consideration, not me just throwing new ideas out there.


So...how to fix.
I promised the new starts you could catch on air tech quickly and start making an air force quickly.
I want to keep that promise.

What I propose is that all of you, at the end of HY1 1913, experience a leap in understanding in Aircraft.
Your tech level advances to 1906 aircraft, and any/all research effort you have spent on Aircraft since your nation started is put towards 1910 aircraft.
If that means 1910 completes at the end of HY2, 1913...so be it.

Any foreign aircraft purchased will now be assumed to be homebuilt.

How you  explain this is up to you.

It could be a private inventor steps forward and shares his advances with your governments - a Curtis stepping forward with his plans for control surfaces far superior to the wing warping competitors have.  I expect that will be what Foxy chooses - a sudden leap in capability.

It could be like post WWI, Anthony Fokker taking his equipment to the Netherlands and the Dutch suddenly being an Aeroplane leader.

I know Maddox has been spinning a rather enjoyable storyline focused on gaining this tech, and I want to apologize for this problem.
He can be free to "gain" the tech slower if he'd like. I'm thinking the best fit would be a lorekeeper getting a Roman/Parthian inventor to bring his factory to the Inca.
Or he can go slower and a Japanese one could do so.

I thought I would communicate this plan to you all via PM,
so if there is a glaring oversight, I can revisit it.
if there is no glaring problem, I will post the announcement in the meeting room.

Again, sorry for any problems I cause.
-Kirk

[maddox]

I guess the problem is solved.

Now to salve some bruises and all will be well and feisty in Nverse 7.