Book 2 – Page 44

[imgran]

But Tram doesn't know anything about that. Sure Parson might be able to pull something given time, but its also possible attacking right now is exactly what Parson needs to do to kill them all. Maybe Wanda has a turnamancy scroll that lets them move through a hex border to hit attacking archers, if he parley's he might see GK is eager for the attack. Maybe they never really entered the hex, and simply broke off and had Jack run a distraction; he might see that Ossemers mannerism are totally different if they parley. Maybe Sizemore is ready to strike and they want you to waste your juice on the fliers; Tram again might see GK is eager for the attack. And even if they did attack right now and just hit them hard like you suggest it would still be a long battle as Tram said. Parson could still attack them via the magic kingdom. Not only that the king would be sitting in his room alone. Parson would probably take him hostage and end the battle there.

And even if everything did go perfectly it doesn't matter. Haggar wants you dead, and there is no big threat to force them into line, Translovito needs help, and Jillian abandoned you. Jetstone is outmatched and allyless. GK will destroy them with ease; GK would defeat the entire coalition, using only what Tram knows about, and the coalition probably won't even exist.

Tram doesn't know if the best option to counter the unknown is to wait and gather info in case he sees through it or is to attack now in case the enemy is still getting ready. Thats 'cause its unknown. He can only try to have as many options as possible in-case another turnaround happens, and thats what he's doing.

The mistake you're making is failing to differentiate between predicting specific scenarios and predicting specific end effects. Trem would have no way of knowing how GK might be able to figure out a way to hit him and Slately if they turn up on the balcony, but he should have a plan in mind in case they find one. He made some progress by talking about pushing the yellows out a bit further before parley. but he stopped at that point instead of really exploring the question as Parson might have done.

Making a speech instead of finishing off your oponent is ten times as worst. That's simply cliche. Your oponent is at your mercy, and instead of finishing him off you start boasting/talking, wasting precious time wich your oponent uses to come up with a way out.

SoP in the real world after you capture someone is to interogate them for useful info. Holding a parley to offer to buy all the units for 10 shmuckers is stuipid. Trying to get more info is a good idea. Trying to come to a peace deal is a very good idea when the rest of their forces can kill you anyway.

That's your best point, but for the very same reason that Trem can talk to Parson and not Stanley, Slately's presence is not required. If I was in Spacerock advising the King and his Chief Warlord I would urge them to arrange a transport chain to get Slately out of Spacerock at the first sign of things going backwards. In fact if I had my druthers I'd sacrifice his bonus for the peace of mind of not having him in the capital in the first place, especially once Ossomer went down.

[danhaas]

If I was in Spacerock advising the King and his Chief Warlord I would urge them to arrange a transport chain to get Slately out of Spacerock at the first sign of things going backwards. In fact if I had my druthers I'd sacrifice his bonus for the peace of mind of not having him in the capital in the first place, especially once Ossomer went down.

You're saying that because you know Parson is likely coming through the portal. But

a)Jetstone doesn't know/can't do an equivalent to dragon relay. So far, GK is the only one doing it.
b)You really would consider pulling Slately out of Spacerock with so many archons, dragons and backstabbing allies around?

[Direcoyote]

Actually, Jetstone does know how to use the relays. It's how Trem was able to meet up with Ossomer so fast in one of the updates.

[Lamech]

That's your best point, but for the very same reason that Trem can talk to Parson and not Stanley, Slately's presence is not required. If I was in Spacerock advising the King and his Chief Warlord I would urge them to arrange a transport chain to get Slately out of Spacerock at the first sign of things going backwards. In fact if I had my druthers I'd sacrifice his bonus for the peace of mind of not having him in the capital in the first place, especially once Ossomer went down.

This is the best option from what we know because we see everything. They can't fly him out so thats not an option. So they need to go out the gate. One hex which GK could have easily left say... archons vieled in. Or Charlie could have too. Not only that how are they getting to the gate? Through the courtyard where yellows can bomb them? Underground where the dirtamancer, golems of countless gobwins could be lurking? (If they even have tunnels that reach that far...)

No this is a horrible idea from everything Tram knows. This has a huge risk and no known benefit. Sure maybe GK has some unknown way of attacking from a different hex (the airspace is that to them), but they have several known ways of going after the king if he tries to leave. And even if they do have some unknown way off attacking from a different hex? Moving him outside means he is still one hex away. This is no benefit and all risk.

Also Slately's presence is not required, but Tram wants him to see it and has no reason to believe that any place in the garision is safer than any other place. Although it seems to me that the King is being taken to the safest place anyway.

The mistake you're making is failing to differentiate between predicting specific scenarios and predicting specific end effects. Trem would have no way of knowing how GK might be able to figure out a way to hit him and Slately if they turn up on the balcony, but he should have a plan in mind in case they find one. He made some progress by talking about pushing the yellows out a bit further before parley. but he stopped at that point instead of really exploring the question as Parson might have done.

What if they turn up inside the garrison? What if they they threw a suggestion on a few units when they attacked earlier? What if they are working with Haggar? Then you would want the king surronded by his units. Where he is going right now. Perhaps Tram might want to consider possible bad stuffs that could happens and what to do in response. But he can't know where the safest spot for the king is.

[oslecamo2]

Although it may seem that fate will prevent Wanda's loss I fear that losing Sizemore, Maggie and/or Jack would be enough of a Pyrrhic victory to either break Parson emotionally or harden him to become the ruthless warlord Janis appears to want him to be. Let's hope I am wrong.

Edit: Or Wanda croaks and somehow decrypts herself. That would be an interesting twist and another nail in the coffin of Royalty vs Toolism.

I believe something in between will happen.

One of the non-Wanda mancers will get croacked. And then decrypted. They'll win the battle thanks to that, but then Hamster has to face one of his "friends" now being a fanatic puppet to Wanda.

[imgran]

The mistake you're making is failing to differentiate between predicting specific scenarios and predicting specific end effects. Trem would have no way of knowing how GK might be able to figure out a way to hit him and Slately if they turn up on the balcony, but he should have a plan in mind in case they find one. He made some progress by talking about pushing the yellows out a bit further before parley. but he stopped at that point instead of really exploring the question as Parson might have done.

What if they turn up inside the garrison? What if they they threw a suggestion on a few units when they attacked earlier? What if they are working with Haggar? Then you would want the king surronded by his units. Where he is going right now. Perhaps Tram might want to consider possible bad stuffs that could happens and what to do in response. But he can't know where the safest spot for the king is.

You're once again stuck in the mechanics of how Slately will be hit. With all due respect, that's the same mistake again. We don't even know that yet to be honest but the fact is that we don't have to know HOW he's going to be hit to identify the potential risk that it might happen. Neither does, or should, Tramennis.

There's a huge difference between predicting unknown and unknowable units turning up in the middle of your secure capital, and predicting that known units can find an unknown way to extend their effective range. If the former, you're screwed anyway, because that really is something completely beyond Jetstone's control. Scry-and-die is something you ward against rather than plan for. But finding a way to pull something unexpected and increase your effective range or pull a fatal stiletto attack in the middle of a parley is something that Gobwin Knob has already demonstrated that they can sometimes figure out how to do, a la the dirtamancy trap and the false surrender ploy, and what's more it's also something that JETSONE THEMSELVES figured out via KingWorld. Ergo, it's something Tramennis can really be blamed for if he fails to anticipate the tables being turned in a parley with a desperate side.

As for the safest place for Slately to be, at the moment "in another city via unipegataur relay" is probably the answer. Once Ossomer went down, the single thing that it would suck most to lose is no longer the city of Spacerock but the entire existence of the Jetstone side via the life of King Slately. You don't need to know about a specific risk of death to Slately to know that. Removing that risk is only good strategy, there is little to be gained for His Highness' continued presence in the capital and a great deal to lose. It is almost certain that the RCCII would be able to reposture even if somehow GK managed to find a way to raze or seize Spacerock in the absence of Slately. Kill Slately and the entire coalition goes with him.

[ftl]

As for the safest place for Slately to be, at the moment "in another city via unipegataur relay" is probably the answer.

Having a relay needs setup - you need unipegataurs stationed at the midway points. Why on *earth* would Jetstone have left the unipegataurs outside the range of the current battle? All the forces they have are probably right here in Jetstone.

[imgran]

Although it may seem that fate will prevent Wanda's loss I fear that losing Sizemore, Maggie and/or Jack would be enough of a Pyrrhic victory to either break Parson emotionally or harden him to become the ruthless warlord Janis appears to want him to be. Let's hope I am wrong.

Edit: Or Wanda croaks and somehow decrypts herself. That would be an interesting twist and another nail in the coffin of Royalty vs Toolism.

I believe something in between will happen.

One of the non-Wanda mancers will get croacked. And then decrypted. They'll win the battle thanks to that, but then Hamster has to face one of his "friends" now being a fanatic puppet to Wanda.

I believe Wanda is about to sever her dodgy alliance with Stanley and go after Jillian. And do what, I don't know, but you need to separate the Gobwin Knob side from the Arkenpliers somehow and that seems like the best way to do it with all the plot armor that has been distributed.

[imgran]

As for the safest place for Slately to be, at the moment "in another city via unipegataur relay" is probably the answer.

Having a relay needs setup - you need unipegataurs stationed at the midway points. Why on *earth* would Jetstone have left the unipegataurs outside the range of the current battle? All the forces they have are probably right here in Jetstone.

We know that they have a handful of fliers in Jetstone, but one answer that occurs to me is that one may already be in place by virtue of not having been taken down yet from bringing in a last few outlying casters and warlords for a concentration of bonuses -- Jetstone style.

[oslecamo2]

I believe Wanda is about to sever her dodgy alliance with Stanley and go after Jillian.

Dodgy alliance? DODGY?

Jillian just backstabed Wanda and left her to die whitout even looking back.

If Wanda escapes with the pliers from this, it will be 100% because of Hamster's plan.

WHY ON THE 9 HELLS WOULD WANDA BETRAY THE SIDE THAT SAVES HER SKIN YET AGAIN TO JOIN THE B*** WHO HAS BETRAYED HER BY THE SECOND TIME?

Really, that would be completely random.

Heck, I'm not even sure Wanda can break like that. Wanda isn't a side allied with GK. She's a GK unit. At best Jillian can try to make her turn, but after abandoning Wanda to die two times, well, I believe the croakmancer will have learned that lesson by now.

Not to mention, Wanda now looks even more fanatical to Hamster than before. No, she won't abandon the side with the supreme warlord unless someone drags her kicking and screaming.

And do what, I don't know, but you need to separate the Gobwin Knob side from the Arkenpliers somehow and that seems like the best way to do it with all the plot armor that has been distributed.

Again, why? We've seen right now that even with the pliers and Jack backing her up, Wanda is still a quite squishy target when pitied against a smart enemy like Charlie. If Jetstone bites it, GK will have done nothing to stop Charlie from using turn ending cheese again. And again. Even with the pliers, GK will have to be extra carefull on the future.

[multilis]

"Heck, I'm not even sure Wanda can break like that. Wanda isn't a side allied with GK. She's a GK unit."

She was ordered to survive no matter what by Parson. She could survive by turning to an an enemy side, including Charlie.

[joosy]

I believe Wanda is about to sever her dodgy alliance with Stanley and go after Jillian. And do what, I don't know, but you need to separate the Gobwin Knob side from the Arkenpliers somehow and that seems like the best way to do it with all the plot armor that has been distributed.

Only if Wanda can bring Parson and Stanley with her. Wanda is trying to follow her fate to attune to an arkentool AND to bring all of the tools together. She believes that Parson is her best bet for that based on some bit of Predictamancy, I assume.

Or perhaps love or what passes for it in Erfworld will prove more powerful than Wanda thought and will over ride her service to Fate.

[Lamech]

As for the safest place for Slately to be, at the moment "in another city via unipegataur relay" is probably the answer. Once Ossomer went down, the single thing that it would suck most to lose is no longer the city of Spacerock but the entire existence of the Jetstone side via the life of King Slately. You don't need to know about a specific risk of death to Slately to know that. Removing that risk is only good strategy, there is little to be gained for His Highness' continued presence in the capital and a great deal to lose. It is almost certain that the RCCII would be able to reposture even if somehow GK managed to find a way to raze or seize Spacerock in the absence of Slately. Kill Slately and the entire coalition goes with him.

True the safest place for Slately is outside of the capital. But from Tram's point of view getting Slately out requires walking him to the gate, where he can be bombed to death. And then he needs to run to another city which will be poorly defended and hope GK didn't have reserve dwagons and Jillian or Charlie doesn't take the oppurtunity to have the archons grab Slately. And hope he doesn't get waylaid by any vieled archons, or dwagons or something stuipid.

Not only that if GK can attack across hexes by some unknown manner they will attack him in the hex next to the city. And then instead of having a bunch of defensive bonuses, and a nice shiny garrison to keep him safe, he'll be out in the open in another hex. So as far as Tram knows running Slately out of the city won't make him safer, but will expose him to the yellows, and expose him to any cross hex attacks Wanda can call up. And leave him in a less defensible position for counter attacks.

You're once again stuck in the mechanics of how Slately will be hit. With all due respect, that's the same mistake again. We don't even know that yet to be honest but the fact is that we don't have to know HOW he's going to be hit to identify the potential risk that it might happen. Neither does, or should, Tramennis.

There's a huge difference between predicting unknown and unknowable units turning up in the middle of your secure capital, and predicting that known units can find an unknown way to extend their effective range. If the former, you're screwed anyway, because that really is something completely beyond Jetstone's control. Scry-and-die is something you ward against rather than plan for. But finding a way to pull something unexpected and increase your effective range or pull a fatal stiletto attack in the middle of a parley is something that Gobwin Knob has already demonstrated that they can sometimes figure out how to do, a la the dirtamancy trap and the false surrender ploy, and what's more it's also something that JETSONE THEMSELVES figured out via KingWorld. Ergo, it's something Tramennis can really be blamed for if he fails to anticipate the tables being turned in a parley with a desperate side.

But the GK forces have no known way to extend their range. Any way to extend their range is just as unknown and unknowable. But he can't possibly know where GK will be able to strike at and where they won't. Maybe they can strike at only the outside, maybe only the inside, maybe only the dungeon, maybe only the tower, maybe only outside the city, maybe just the walls, maybe near casters, maybe where casters aren't. Tram can't know where he should put Slately to avoid the unknown method of attacking of GK's.


And They do need to parley. Jetstone can't win this conflict, all they can do is hurt GK on the way out.

[Atomic]

She was ordered to survive no matter what by Parson. She could survive by turning to an an enemy side, including Charlie.

The common misconception is that Wanda will obey that silly order... Her Duty (which is probably to Parson; not Stanley or Gobwin Knob) will prevent her from joining an enemy of Parson...unless Wanda has a double-cross in mind, in which case she really wouldn't be 'leaving' Gobwin Knob, she'd just be switching sides for a few turns.

You're once again stuck in the mechanics of how Slately will be hit. With all due respect, that's the same mistake again. We don't even know that yet to be honest but the fact is that we don't have to know HOW he's going to be hit to identify the potential risk that it might happen. Neither does, or should, Tramennis.

With all due respect, it's the only valid theory anyone has submitted to date; Dirtamancy Teleportation, Off-turn-Dwagon-relays and the like, while thematic, aren't possible. Until someone can suggest a better way for Parson to 'enter' the battle field, there's no reason to dismiss the most common/widely accepted theory on the boards.

There's a huge difference between predicting unknown and unknowable units turning up in the middle of your secure capital, and predicting that known units can find an unknown way to extend their effective range. If the former, you're screwed anyway, because that really is something completely beyond Jetstone's control. Scry-and-die is something you ward against rather than plan for. But finding a way to pull something unexpected and increase your effective range or pull a fatal stiletto attack in the middle of a parley is something that Gobwin Knob has already demonstrated that they can sometimes figure out how to do, a la the dirtamancy trap and the false surrender ploy, and what's more it's also something that JETSONE THEMSELVES figured out via KingWorld. Ergo, it's something Tramennis can really be blamed for if he fails to anticipate the tables being turned in a parley with a desperate side.

While the act of parlaying (with our current knowledge of Parson/ his plans for the battle) is silly, you can't blame Tramennis for attempting to gain more information from Gobwin Knob. As I said in the last post I made, (which I quoted you in, yet you failed to respond to/address ), your blaming of Tramennis is without merit... While ignorance of the tactics Gobwin Knob uses might be considered stupidity, Tramennis is obviously an intelligent Warlord whose only fault is being a bit too nosy for his own good.

Imagine ever so quickly that you're in Tramennis' shoes right now (which are fabulous, I might add)... You're in a position where it is *literally* impossible to lose, barring a cheat you know nothing about; and even then, if someone managed to 'cheat' (which, again, you've never seen anyone do before) you still have a chance at winning.

Couple that with the fact the Warlord from Gobwin Knob, who has been known to 'cheat', is something like two thousand hexes away. And he's level 2. Now, I'm not saying that Level 2 makes Parson a terrible excuse for a Warlord, but up until Parson showed up, 'Levels' were how most (if not all) units are gauged.

So bear with me... You're powerful, fabulous, outside of the range of 'the most dangerous being in Erfworld', your King is the most protected unit on your side (max stacks of archers, backed up by the Chief Warlord and a plethora of casters), you've accounted for the damage the Yellow Dwagons can do (and, subsequently, will have them moved outside of range), and you're doing a Parlay across a hex boundary.

Tell me, what about that makes Tramennis' plan a bad one?

As for the safest place for Slately to be, at the moment "in another city via unipegataur relay" is probably the answer. Once Ossomer went down, the single thing that it would suck most to lose is no longer the city of Spacerock but the entire existence of the Jetstone side via the life of King Slately. You don't need to know about a specific risk of death to Slately to know that. Removing that risk is only good strategy, there is little to be gained for His Highness' continued presence in the capital and a great deal to lose. It is almost certain that the RCCII would be able to reposture even if somehow GK managed to find a way to raze or seize Spacerock in the absence of Slately. Kill Slately and the entire coalition goes with him.

The only flaw in your plan being that in order to allow Slately to flee the capitol, he'd have to fly past a few dozen Dwagons led by an army of Decrypted Warlords and Master-Class Casters. As seen in Panel 1 of Page 119 (tBfGK) (http://www.erfworld.com/wiki/index.php/TBFGK_119:1): Parson doesn't want to send up his fliers to engage Ansom, for fear of Charlie shooting them down before he even had a chance...

I'd say it'd be nearly impossible to get Slately to safety.

But, of course, why should Jetstone even worry? Gobwin Knob cannot enter into their tower... Jetstone has the archers; Jetstone has the casters; Jetstone is holding every card on the table... Anyone arguing with that would likely say Sauron was at fault for not stationing his Ring Wraiths at the entrance to Shelob's Lair. Working with what they have, they've yet to make any mistakes.

Aww, fiddle-sticks. Lamech beat me to the punch...

[Chit Rule Railroad]

If I was in Spacerock advising the King and his Chief Warlord I would urge them to arrange a transport chain to get Slately out of Spacerock at the first sign of things going backwards. In fact if I had my druthers I'd sacrifice his bonus for the peace of mind of not having him in the capital in the first place, especially once Ossomer went down.

Since JS had no Heir after Ossomer went down, Slately became the primary target of GK/Haggar/etc. GK attacked Spacerock because Slately was there. Recall that when most of the JS forces were by the bridge, GK wasn't planning to take control of Spacerock, just to knock the Tower down with Slately inside and eliminate JS as a Side.

Perhaps they could protect Slately from GK for the rest of this turn by moving him out of Spacerock (edit to add: if they can sneak him out clutching the underside of a walking unipegataur, since Spacerock lacks tunnels), but it doesn't make sense for him to end turn anywhere but the most highly fortified and defended city available. And judging from Stanley's expectation in Book I that he would have to found a new side at Faq using only the units mounted on his flight of dwagons, not to mention Jillian's status after Faq fell, if the JS capital falls, that would probably result in the disbanding or neutralizing or barbarianizing of all JS forces except Slately's stack. No other friendly city he could reach on his turn would be nearly as well defended as Spacerock is right now.

In fact, if the other JS cities turn neutral after the capital falls, they might become hostile territory. That would be harsh, but it seems to follow from what we know...

Edit to add: Note that a unipegataur relay would only transport Slately, not a whole stack. So if Spacerock (and therefore Jetstone) fell, Slately would have...a unipegataur. I don't think he would even survive foraging for food, let alone succeed at taking and holding a capital site.


I wonder if Slately distrusts Charlie enough to fear that he could get kidnapped for ransom by veiled archons if he took flight.

[Sieggy]

I think everyone is making the assumption that when Ossomer croaked, he ceased being the JS heir. However, we have no canon in that regard - normally, a new heir is appointed (at great cost, which JS can't come up with at the moment) simply because he / she is GONE. However, in this case, Ossomer was croaked for a matter of seconds. Decryption is entirely new , it's not being 'uncroaked', it's being 'popped again'. Since the decrypted aren't lacking anything they had before (other than a new attitude and focus), I strongly suspect that Ossomer is STILL the heir. Slately had no reason to discheat him simply because this situation had never come up before. At least nothing in-comic would indicate Stately did so. After all, he had other things to worry about . . . like appointing Trem CWL and bossing Jillian about.

It's going to be amusing as hell if Slately bites the Titanic schnitzel, Ossomer becomes King, all the JS forces turn with him, including Trem. Now, the idea of Tremennis and Parson being on the same side is SERIOUSLY scary from Charlie's perspective, and that may be his absolute worst case scenario. And MAY be what Janis is angling for. (though side by side, I see Parson & Tremennis looking like Laurel & Hardy. . .)

Another thing, longer range . . . if it's fated that the Arkentools all be reunited, to what end? Since they're Tools, it would seem logical that their function is to build. Which is what Fate may have in mind - that after the Erf-shattering War of the Tools, they would be used to rebuild Erfworld in the manner Janis is dreaming of, and what she's scheming for (probably Book 10). After all, in addition to being a skilled gamer, Parson is a skilled BUILDER. Remember, the original battle for Gobwin Knob was virtually identical to the campaign he had devised. The creativity of a gamer and the compassion of someone who has learned the price of playing should be able to create a more perfect Erf . . .

[asweethero]

{Dons tin cap} just speculating here but in a earleyer post i remember them stating occasionally sides grow to a point where they splinter off and create a new side. well with spacerock being a capital site what do you think the odds are that Wanda being the power hungry manipulative creature she is. would it be possible to create her own side? she has already created her own livery can she somehow become so powerfull that she can tell stanly in the immortal words of eric cartman "screw you guys i'm going home" .
its all ready been shown that her alliance to GK is of free will nothing forced her to turn from faq. while parson is forced to stay is she forced to stay? sorry wanted your opinions on my conspiracy theory and i think it would make a interesting 3 way brawl of a damaged RCC a powerful necropolis and a pissed off Napoleonic megalomaniac with erfs greatest strategic mind and a ton o dwagons. now i leave this brainchild of mine to the trolls to feast upon as they will. and while im sure my dignity shall not survive the onslaught at least enjoy tearing it to shreds.

[Oberon]

I hope ya'll realize that in order for this comic to go anywhere, Gobwin Knob (or Parson) has to lose this battle.

Hell, no, I don't "realize" that. Wanda has fate magic on her side, and perhaps Side. Stanley wants to unite all of the Arkentools, which isn't necessarily at odds with Wanda being one of his units and being attuned. Stanley just didn't realize it at the time. He still wants to own all of the Arkentools, and Wanda being attuned can help that plan along. Parson? He just wants to win. So the more difficult a battle is which stands between GK and the ownership of all three known and the unknown Arkentool is, the better Parson is to direct it to a winning conclusion.

Your other prognostications, regarding Rob "jerk[ing] us around over the next few months" or "however long they milk this thing"? Well, that is one man's opinion. The story is long, agreed. Could it be shorter and still relate the same information? I think so. Is it a deliberate intent to "jerk around" the readers or "milk" the story for more panels? I think not.

WHY ON THE 9 HELLS WOULD WANDA BETRAY THE SIDE THAT SAVES HER SKIN YET AGAIN TO JOIN THE B*** WHO HAS BETRAYED HER BY THE SECOND TIME?

I must say, complete agreement. Wanda totally recognizes that Stanley is a tool, lower case. And yet she also recognizes that her place as fate has decreed it is with him. At first it was until she obtained an Arkentool. Now I believe that it is "for the duration." Look at her position on Charlie: He is the last Side we would attack, as a holder of an Arkentool. We. Not I. If Wanda splits from Stanley, it will be with Stanley dead and Wanda in possession of the 'Hammer. I for one do not see that happening, at least not in this Book.

Tell me, what about that [description of Jetstone awesomeness] makes Tramennis' plan a bad one?

Now that you mention it, not a damn thing.

I think everyone is making the assumption that when Ossomer croaked, he ceased being the JS heir. However, we have no canon in that regard - normally, a new heir is appointed (at great cost, which JS can't come up with at the moment) simply because he / she is GONE. However, in this case, Ossomer was croaked for a matter of seconds. Decryption is entirely new , it's not being 'uncroaked', it's being 'popped again'. Since the decrypted aren't lacking anything they had before (other than a new attitude and focus), I strongly suspect that Ossomer is STILL the heir. Slately had no reason to discheat him simply because this situation had never come up before.

I disagree. I'll admit that the situation may be nebulous. But the standard Erfworld practice is to post unit status up for viewing by the Warlords and above of their own Side. I believe that such status characteristics as "being a Warlord" and "being an heir" must also be visible status. How else would a newly promote Heir be known to the troops at the front? All Sides do not have a Thinkamancer, nor can all Sides afford Charlie. Thus, all Sides must have some means to make their command structure clear to their own units. Ossomer, once captured, would have lost his "CWL" and "Heir" (if he ever was) status. All conjecture, I'll freely admit. But I believe it to be sound theorycraft.

[multilis]

"The common misconception is that Wanda will obey that silly order... Her Duty (which is probably to Parson; not Stanley or Gobwin Knob) will prevent her from joining an enemy of Parson"

She believes herself loyal to fate/all the tools coming together, and Charlie is not an enemy. Eg. conversation with Jillian, and Jillians claim to Charlie that Wanda might turn.

If chosing between croaking and turning, she may feel she is best to "turn". She already turned once to Stanley (which broke "duty to previous ruler) in order to satisfy fate when her side was outgunned, she might think Parson will turn with her this time.

[gameboy1234]

Here's what I think, just for grins:

1. GK will attack with the expected order of battle. Probably all missle weapons first, then use the dwagons to absorb as many spells and arrows as possible. Then drop the dwagons and decrypt a bunch all at once, effectively crossing a zone boundary off turn. Then drop the rest of the troops, again crossing a zone boundary, decrypt any that die, and the fight is fully joined.

2. Slately will get caught in one of the attacks. Charlie will appear and "donate" money to Jetstone, allowing Tram to be promoted to heir. Slately will do so with his last dying breath.

3. Jetstone will go on to get their boop kicked. Tram will have to flee the city with only a few units -- remember, it's Jetstone's turn, and if Tram can leave their hex GK can't hit him. Tram may get some help from Charlie, maybe a disguise or other foolmancy.

4. Tram's going to take it really hard. This strip is setting up Tram for a lot of guilt. "Why didn't I listen to father?" It'll all be Tram's fault for not be more cautious, and he'll definitely feel it.