Let's play King of Dragon Pass, just as our ancestors did

We must solve the Mystery of Diplomacy. What is a diplomage? How does it work?

Mogri,

I still don't know how to play this game but after following it for like a year I broke down and bought a copy for my iPad.

So, watch your PMs cuz if I have any issues I'm calling you.

~Falselogic

How many people does that make now? Solitayre and you are the most recent victims, but I know you're not the only ones.

I need to know this so I can ask for commission on these sales.

I bought it during a GOG sale you mentioned months ago but never played it.

Me too. Me neither.

One reason I got it for the iPad was that there is a greater chance I will play it there than I would if I had it on the PC

I feel like the game has a really heavy learning curve when you first start the game and you're like, "What now?"

If you've been reading along, then a lot of the "what now" is answered by what we've done over the last 11 game-years. So the real question is, how do you get started?

Your initial setup doesn't make or break your clan, but you can make things easier on yourself by making Orlanth your clan's primary god instead of Elmal or Ernalda. I'd also advise against a Peace clan, but, I mean, if you really want to, the option's there.

After that, the first thing you want to do is reorganize your clan ring. Make sure your chief worships your primary god and that no god is represented twice. Try to get an expert in each of the skill groups, and include a trickster if at all possible.

After that, you have plenty of options, but I would recommend working on learning some key mysteries early on. Explore your tula, allocate more crafters, get an economy going, and figure out which rival clan will be supplying you with your cows. Save often if you're playing PC (iOS autosaves), and don't be afraid to try stupid things.

Year 1341, part 1



I really don't like investing in both Diplomacy and Trade, since there's rarely much opportunity to do both, but you all are very interested in seeing us do both.

The main problem with doing both Trade and Diplomacy is that you need Bargaining for both activities, and either one will put your ambassador out of commission for a few months (along with any weaponthanes and footmen you send to defend the caravan). Unless you are spoiled for Bargaining thanes, you can only do a few missions of either type in a given year, so it's more Magic-efficient to stick to one and do the other in another year.



Whosit was a beloved and influential member of our clan, as you can tell from his touching and heartfelt eulogy.

Also



Our expedition gets results!

While exploring in the southeast, members of your clan encounter a drooling, wild-eyed hermit, dressed in a suit of bark. He froths at the mouth, dances a little jig, and then says, "Ah! You are from the Destine clan. The spirits have whispered things about you. You are headed for doom -- doom, I say! Drought will strike your lands! This will be but the first of many catastrophes to befall you! The only way to stop this is to sacrifice a thrall to Kolat, the spirit-herding god. If you do not have a thrall, you must sacrifice a treasure. If you do not have a treasure, you must sacrifice ten cows. If you do not have ten cows, you must sacrifice five horses."

And if you don't have five horses?

Yerestia: For no reason should we go sacrificing treasures! Recommends #2 or #3.
Harvar: We have many treasures. We can exchange one to Kolat, in exchange for good fortune. Recommends #4.
Insterid: We can afford to sacrifice five horses. Recommends #2.
Iskalli: Kolat is a distant god. No recommendation.
Valensta: Kolat is Orlanth's brother, the God of Winds, and the Master of Spirits. He is not a god we normally worship. No recommendation.
Arene: We can afford to sacrifice ten cows. Recommends #3.
Heortarl: We must do as the barkman says! Recommends #2, #3, or #4.
Mogri: Insterid and Arene aren't endorsing those sacrifices so much as they are pointing out that we have plenty of the resource each of them has stewardship over.

Strange gods and bad omens! Whether or not you want to sacrifice a treasure, you may want to weigh in on which treasure we get rid of if that option wins. Our prime contenders:

• Humakt's Raven Banner is the treasure we used last year to ensure victory in a lopsided battle. A powerful treasure to be sure, but it has limited uses, and I always feel badly about sending a weaponthane to a sure death.
• Three-Bean Broth will improve our clan's bargaining skills. It's a shame to lose it in the year that we plan on doing so much bargaining, but the treasure has a finite lifespan and will go away on its own in a few years.
• Helm of Karse, Quinvin's Torc, etc.: what do these treasures even do? It is a mystery

Sacrifice ten cows, but if it comes to that, sacrifice Quinvin's torc.

Edit: Also, some of the text for that event appears to be cut off.

3, give up the banner if necessary.

Oops! You may want to back and read it, since it's pretty relevant.

Ten cows anyway. Woodman here isn't with it enough to know whether we have a treasure or not.

Oh hey, also:

In celebration of the game's 15-year anniversary, all versions are 50% off starting tomorrow. I don't know how long the sale lasts, but if you were on the fence, this is a great time to make the plunge.

If you just bought the game, then you're still getting your money's worth. You just... aren't getting twice your money's worth.

bollacks

Don't you dare give up our awesome broth!

Instead, give over... The Raven Banner. We already got some use out of it, and sooner than later someone's going to figure out it's cursed and there'll be drama over THAT.

You guys are crazy.

Just give up the cows.

I agree. Didn't Mogri previously say that we had a surplus of cows?

I vote cows too

It's not like we're going to have an amazing cattle raid or anything this year, right?

Year 1341, part 2



Cows it is. If we start droughting it up, I'm blaming you guys.

Sea 1



I'm not sure we've seen our new trader in action yet. Here he is. Rostakos Mk. II. He has Excellent Bargaining skill, the same tier as Harvar, but Harvar is slightly better at it.

This may be the first time I've noticed that you can check the Buy/Sell Treasure box when you choose to establish a route. I'm not sure it'll actually work, but I've ticked it anyway. Let's see what happens!

Something happens

Vingan warrior women burst into your clan hall during a feast. They set fire to the hall, and wound several warriors and ring members. As your weaponthanes rally to drive them off, they retreat, suffering only light wounds themselves. Your attackers were from the Jenestni clan, whose weaponthanes are well-known for hiring out their martial services to other clans. Many of your people immediately assume they were hired by the Herani, whom you are feuding with.

Yerestia: Ow
Harvar: We can force the Herani to pay us for peace. Recommends #2.
Insterid: Ow
Iskalli: The Jenestni lawspeakers will claim that they are not responsible for the attack, because they are mere mercenaries, and therefore neutral. Recommends #6.
Valensta: We have plenty of cattle, and should hire mercenaries. Recommends #1.
Arene: Ow
Heortarl: Trolls came to Bad King Urgrain with a grievance against Oskul's clan. He sold the swords of his weaponthanes to them, even though Oskul's clan was in his own tribe. Recommends #3 or #5.
Mogri: We won't get any traction against the Jenestni, but this is a good opportunity to end a feud without a diplomatic envoy if we want to. Were Arene in better shape, she'd probably advise against a counter-raid during the Sea.

Bark man gave us a pretty clear order of operations and drought is terrible. Time to fork over a treasure. That said,

Edit: Whoops. Just missed it. Go hire some mercs of our own instead.

In other news, King of Dragon Pass is getting a sequel??? This is the craziest and best news.

http://sixages.com/

Blood for the BLOOD GOD!

4

Make peace. 2.

Will they actually give us something to make the peace like Harvar says? Then go for option 2 - we have enough enemies without these crazy ladies busting in and ruining our feasts.

Put those diplomacy points to work for us and go option 2.

We got equipped with cow tipper to beat woodman.

Not it's time for everlasting peace.

#2

Year 1341, part 3



Can this really work?



I lowball it. I don't want to get too greedy here, and the game tends to value resources way more highly than I do.



It doesn't fly.



And then this happens. Should've just sacrificed it.

Sea 2



We'll go back to these guys for our peace mission.



As if on cue, New Trader comes back with good news. Watch that Goods count.

Fire 1



It's a nice boost. Successful trade missions return a profit even if you went to establish a trade route and not to get goods. We did not, however, have the chance to bargain for a treasure.

Oh, and we're going to steal some cows from whoever these guys are.



Remember when I said Heortarl was our second-best Combat thane? He's in charge while Insterid is laid up.

Heortarl is in charge of our army.

This is a good idea.



Here we are again. I don't want to have to do this again.



I'm just going to pay them off.



I could probably have done it cheaper. I don't particularly care.

On the other hand



You might care about this.

Members of the cult of Elmal, loyal thane and horse friend, approach you with an offer. As part of their homage to their god, they wish to perform a ritual to improve the bloodlines of all of the horses of Dragon Pass. They're willing to perform this ritual for you. A drunken trickster seems to figure somehow in the ritual, which they insist must be performed in secret in a stead full of your best horses.

Yerestia: Ow still
Harvar: I can't help but wonder what role the trickster plays. Recommends #4.
Insterid: Ow still
Iskalli: Of course, they expect a gift or favor in return. Recommends #2 or #3.
Valensta: Many of them are Anzarni, who dislike us already. Perhaps this is a good chance to improve relations with them. Recommends #2.
Arene: Ow still
Heortarl: I'm glad it's not me in that horse costume. No recommendation.
Mogri: There's no real incentive for us to say no.

If you want to ask them what happens, then you might as well vote for a second option, since we'll still have to make a decision unless the question offends them.

2 seems good to me!

I agree, 2. Let's be friendly with the horse sex-havers.

4 then 2, unless it's something really nasty.