I’m not talking about accent. I may not be able to tell from their accent until they say “Salt Lake City.” It’s a dead giveaway that they aren’t from Salt Lake. Also, it’s Utah, not Utaaaah. Outsiders take so long to say it. And the national park is not Zi-on, it’s Zi-uhn. How about where you are from?
I rarely discuss religion with my TBM relatives anymore. But when I expressed concern for his wellbeing due to all the fires in Utah, he said he would be fine because he pays tithing on his gross income. He said that the scriptures promised full-tithe payers would not burn in the last day. He asserted that the fires were due to too many non-payers and tithing cheaters (net-income payers). When I mentioned climate change might be the cause, he said that that was a myth and that I had been lied to. Ugh!
I have played 4,000 hours and have never traveled the Silk Road. It looks like a huge commitment. Is it worth it?
I’ve taught my children “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
I’m not interested in arguing that the church has a right to take action. I concede that point. I just observe that given the opportunity to be scummy, that’s the direction that the church chooses.
Examples:
**John Dehlin** Dehlin has been using “Mormon Stories” years before the church filed for trademarks. The people behind the musical “Book of Mormon” have a billion dollars. So does Disney with “Mormon Housewives.” Yet no lawsuit because it’s not realistic to sue someone with a billion dollars. But Dehlin is someone you can bully into silence long before you get to court. The church’s case is probably weak but Dehlin doesn’t have a billion so why not.
**Fairfield, TX** The community doesn’t want an overbearing movie theater dominating their community. There are many jurisdictions where the church is not allowed to build huge steeples. So they build accordingly, sometimes no steeples. But in Fairfield there’s some doctrine birthed that these buildings need huge steeples.
**Victims of sexual violence** The church knows well in advance of law enforcement that children are being abused. Do they move to protect the children? Nope. They assert their right to be silent and allow the abuse to continue.
Whenever there’s a choice between being decent and being scummy, the church chooses scummy.
I’ve probably played a hundred times. Whenever I take someone on, I try to size up their strength. It’s not so uncommon for an opponent to make a powerful ally after the war starts. But that’s not what the pope is doing and still he pulls out about triple the army strength I expected…always. How is he doing that?
“Prophets are rarely popular. But we will always teach the truth!” Russel Nelson, September 2019
“The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said:
"Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to." The First Presidency, August 1949
I like to give titles to dynasty members. I open the list in a window. As soon as I give a title, the window closes. This is a change from the last update. I have to start over scrolling past names to find where I left off.
And battles are the worst. A window always pops up during a battle but behind the battle window. I have to close the battle window to deal with the popup. Four popups during a battle is common. It’s annoying.
And the events window can’t be moved. Notice windows cover the events window. Sometimes 50 if more will pop. It can take several minutes for them all to show and more time for them to disappear. I don’t mind hitting X on the notices but. The X can shift between them. I just have to walk away for a while.
Why can’t I click one button to accept all extorted money at full strength. It can take 100 clicks or more to clear. There’s one for mass ransom but it doesn’t always work. I wish there were one to mass pardon.
What is the meaning of a list by relevance. Default of courtiers should be age. Default for marriage potentials should be alliance power. Default for heir should be vote score. Lists by relevance is always irrelevant.
I love this game but some of the mechanics suck.
I don’t really oppose the church as much as much I oppose aspects of it. I oppose misogyny, racism, homophobia and dishonesty. These are key elements of the Mormon church but my opposition ends when the church gives them up. I do give it credit when it act for good. I’m well aware that it does more harm than good. But I’m not any-Mormon. I’m just anti-racist-homophobic-misogynistic-dishonesty.
This week I had one TBM bear his testimony and one blame homophobia on God. The one declared he had faith. I asked if he had faith man would never reach the moon. It’s like he had no idea what Mormon prophets have taught. The other one is just a sad bigot who has no boundaries on the evil he will defend. The church really produces some terrible people. It’s so cringy to think I used to be like that.
I’m the Hegemon of Rome. I conquered the Mongol Empire by installing a claimant. It was about a third of the map. Within 50 years about 30 counties and duchies suddenly became independent. There was no war. I defeated upstart factions all during that time. The mongol empire was destroyed and now I have a mess to clean up. How did this happen?
Tired of factions? Want to ensure succession?
Culture—The magic tradition is Recognition of Talent. If you are the culture head, reform to get it. Otherwise, diverge. I usually adopt an advanced culture like Greek and diverge. As the culture head I can steer innovations. This tradition will make lap dogs of anyone you pardon. They can’t join factions. You also get a strong hook that’s lifelong and reusable. I use it on electors to sway elections so it’s important to slap an election law on titles you want to control succession. This takes lots of prestige so plan accordingly.
Religion—A custom religion is usually a prime target for the pope. Be prepared to take out the papacy. I make everything a sin so people will constantly need pardoned. So it doesn’t blow back on me, I am the temporal head. I’m allowed to be a hypocrite. I have Mendicant Preachers to make my religion spread fast. Polygamy also ensures lots of kids to either make powerful alliances or ally with troublesome vassals. To make sure my kids will do as they are told, I never give them titles. An exception is if I get a strong hook on a kid.
One more thing—I target electors for hooks by using imprisonment. If it causes a war, I fight to a white peace. That makes everyone in the rebellion eligible for a pardon and the lap-dog status. Getting to a white peace before your capital falls is another post for later. Release from prison using a hook and use the hook to swing votes.