[SUBMITTED] Audacious Autocrats

[Daarwyrth]

CURRENT DRAFT:

[Title] Audacious Autocrats

[Validity] Has Autocracy

[Description] This year during the annual Autocrat's Ball, the Supreme Leader of Blackacre Valeria Drake, your longstanding nemesis, put up quite a show among her cabal of allies ridiculing you by questioning your legitimacy as the supreme ruler of @@NAME@@, sparking laughter that haunted you all the way back to your accommodations for the night. Still fuming, you swiftly convened your closest and most trusted advisors to decide how to respond.

[Option 1] "That slimy, slithering serpent wants to know by what legitimacy you rule?!" demands a red-faced General @@RANDOMNAME@@ incredulously. "By the military's might's legitimacy, of course! I assure you, your Excellency, the military stands squarely behind you, and you can lean on us as your foundation of power. Now, let's show that vile succubus who she's dealing with... BOMB THE UGLY WITCH AND HER PESKY GOBLINS!"

[Effect 1] Blackacre is becoming increasingly more blackened by the acre

[Option 2]"Oh, but where is the political finesse in that!" bemoans your childhood pal Pat Tine while lounging on a chaise. "Did you ever hear the tragedy of the wise leader that attacked his enemies directly? No? Well, nevermind... what I'm saying here is that you should undermine her legitimacy instead, by turning the pawns against the King, or in this chess metaphor, the Queen. A covert intelligence operation to supplant all the pro-Drake governments among Blackacre's allies with pro-@@LEADER@@ ones ought to do the trick. And by this time next year, it'll be you who's laughing at her legitimacy."

[Effect 2] Blackacre keeps its allies close and its enemies at the same distance

[Option 3] "Oh darling, is little lousy Drake playing on your insecurities again?" poses your sister with a theatrical sigh while studying her nails. "You know, my therapist once told me that repeating confirmations can help with that sort of thing. Why don't you gather a crowd of your most faithful followers every day at noon, and have them loudly and proudly elect you Supreme Leader by acclamation, while denouncing Drake as a fake? Televise the entire ordeal across all of @@REGION@@ each time, and the tune 'Drake the Fake' will catch on in no time."

[Effect 3] a sore throat is the worst that could happen to someone on acclamation duty

[Option 4] "And pray tell, why do you need your legitimacy recognised by anyone or anything other than yourself?" asks your brother with a raised brow, while shoving your pal Pat Tine from the chaise longue, and claiming it for himself. "If you want to show the witch your might is your own, why don't you proclaim your divine supremacy while crowning yourself absolute ruler of @@NAME@@? I could use a princely title, and you'd pull the ultimate power play on Drake by declaring yourself God-Monarch of @@NAME@@. Problem solved."

[Effect 4] @@LEADER@@'s god complex is reaching heavenly heights

[Daarwyrth]

DRAFT 3:

[Title] Autocratically Audacious

[Validity] Has Autocracy

[Description] This year during the annual Autocrat's Ball, the Supreme Leader of Blackacre Valeria Drake, your longstanding nemesis, put up quite a show among her cabal of allies ridiculing you by questioning your legitimacy as the supreme ruler of @@NAME@@, sparking laughter that haunted you all the way back to your accommodations for the night. Still fuming, you swiftly convened your closest and most trusted advisors to decide how to respond.

[Option 1] "That slimy, slithering serpent wants to know by what legitimacy you rule?!" demands a red-faced General @@RANDOMNAME@@ incredulously. "By the military's might's legitimacy, of course! I assure you, your Excellency, the military stands squarely behind you, and you can lean on us as your foundation of power. Now, let's show that vile succubus who she's dealing with... BOMB THE UGLY WITCH AND HER PESKY GOBLINS!"

[Effect 1] Blackacre is becoming increasingly more blackened by the acre

[Option 2] "Oh, but I know how we can outsmart the hag," coyly notes your childhood friend @@RANDOMNAME@@, who happens to be an expert on constitutional law. "We legitimize your supreme authority by the constitution itself. Not only will we get to rub it into Drake's hideous face, but everything you do will be in accordance with the constitution. No one will be able to fault you legally for anything, and it'll be simply delightful!"

[Effect 2] whatever can you do when the constitution's forcing you to

[Option 3] "I mean, it wouldn't be that much of a problem to assemble a group of your most trusted followers every so often, and have them elect you unanimously by acclamation, now would it?" poses your sister with a theatrical sigh. "You'll appear democratic to the gullible, and little lousy Drake will have nothing on you. Two @@ANIMALPLURAL@@ with one stone."

[Effect 3] a sore throat is the worst that could happen to someone on acclamation duty

[Option 4] "And pray tell, why do you need your legitimacy recognised by anyone or anything other than yourself?" asks your brother while lounging on a chaise longue with a raised brow. "If you want to show the witch your might is your own, why don't you crown yourself absolute ruler of @@NAME@@? I could use a princely title, and you'd pull the ultimate power play on Drake. Problem solved."

[Effect 4] @@LEADER@@ doesn't need anyone's permission to grab a cookie out of the royal cookie jar

DRAFT 2:

[Title] Autocratically Audacious

[Validity] Has Autocracy

[Description] This year during Otto Kratt's annual Autocrat's Ball, the Supreme Leader of Blackacre Valeria Drake, your longstanding nemesis, put up quite a show among her cabal of allies ridiculing you by questioning your legitimacy as the supreme ruler of @@NAME@@, sparking laughter that haunted you all the way back to your accommodations for the night. Still fuming, you swiftly convened your closest and most trusted advisors.

[Option 1] "That slimy, slithering serpent wants to know by what legitimacy you rule?!" demands a red-faced General @@RANDOMNAME@@ incredulously. "By the military's might's legitimacy, of course! I assure you, your Excellency, the military stands squarely behind you, and you can lean on us as your foundation of power. Now, let's show that vile succubus who she's dealing with... BOMB THE UGLY WITCH AND HER PESKY GOBLINS!"

[Effect 1] Blackacre is becoming increasingly more blackened by the acre

[Option 2] "Oh, but I know how we can outsmart the hag," coyly notes your childhood friend @@RANDOMNAME@@, who happens to be an expert on constitutional law. "We legitimize your supreme authority by the constitution itself. Not only will we get to rub it into Drake's hideous face, but everything you do will be in accordance with the constitution. No one will be able to fault you legally for anything, and it'll be simply delightful!"

[Effect 2] whatever can you do when the constitution's forcing you to

[Option 3] "I mean, it wouldn't be that much of a problem to assemble a group of your most trusted followers every so often, and have them elect you unanimously by acclamation, now would it?" poses your sister with a theatrical sigh. "You'll appear democratic to the gullible, and little lousy Drake will have nothing on you. Two @@ANIMALPLURAL@@ with one stone."

[Effect 3] a sore throat is the worst that could happen to someone on acclamation duty

[Option 4] "And pray tell, why do you need your legitimacy recognised by anyone or anything other than yourself?" asks your brother while lounging on a chaise longue with a raised brow. "If you want to show the witch your might is your own, why don't you crown yourself absolute ruler of @@NAME@@? I could use a princely title, and you'd pull the ultimate power play on Drake. Problem solved."

[Effect 4] @@LEADER@@ doesn't need anyone's permission to grab a cookie out of the royal cookie jar

DRAFT 1:

[Title] Autocratically Audacious

[Validity] Has Autocracy

[Description] This year you were invited for the first time to Otto Kratt's annual Autocrat's Ball, and the evening was passing by merrily until Valeria Drake, the Supreme Leader of Blackacre - and your longstanding nemesis - made a grand entrance. Upon noticing you, she approached you and your entourage asking what in Violet's name you were doing there. One of the other guests responded by saying that you had "joined the club", to which Drake scoffed "under what legitimacy", before strutting off laughing with a swerving champagne glass. That same night you quickly convened your most trusted advisors to formulate a response.

[Option 1] "Under what legitimacy? Under what legitimacy?!" demands an increasingly more red-faced General @@RANDOMNAME@@. "By the military's might's legitimacy, of course! I assure you, your Excellency, the military stands squarely behind you, and you can lean on us as your foundation of power. Now, let's show that vile succubus who she's dealing with... BOMB THE UGLY WITCH AND HER PESKY GOBLINS!"

[Effect 1] Blackacre is becoming increasingly more blackened by the acre

[Option 2] "Oh, but I know how we can outsmart the hag," coyly notes your childhood friend @@RANDOMNAME@@, who happens to be an expert on constitutional law. "We legitimize your supreme authority by the constitution itself. Not only will we get to rub it into Drake's hideous face, but everything you do will be in accordance with the constitution. No one will be able to fault you legally for anything, and it'll be simply delightful!"

[Effect 2] whatever can you do when the constitution's forcing you to

[Option 3] "I mean, it wouldn't be that much of a problem to assemble a group of your most trusted followers every so often, and have them elect you unanimously by acclamation, now would it?" poses your sister with a theatrical sigh. "You'll appear democratic to the gullible, and little lousy Drake will have nothing on you. Two @@ANIMALPLURAL@@ with one stone."

[Effect 3] a sore throat is the worst that could happen to someone on acclamation duty

[Option 4] "And pray tell, why do you need your legitimacy recognised by anyone or anything other than yourself?" asks your brother while lounging on a chaise longue with a raised brow. "If you want to show the witch your might is your own, why don't you crown yourself absolute ruler of @@NAME@@? I could use a princely title, and you'd pull the ultimate power play on Drake. Problem solved."

[Effect 4] @@LEADER@@ doesn't need anyone's permission to grab a cookie out of the royal cookie jar

[Doje Islands]

This is great

[Daarwyrth]

This is great

Thanks!

[Sacara]

Hmm.

I'm rather confused on this one. There is a lot going on in the description. I would recommend saying what you have to say in a much more succinct manner. As for the premise itself, I am not sure about that either. I would like to see an updated description before that was done.

[Australian rePublic]

Who's Otto Kratt?

[Daarwyrth]

Hmm.

I'm rather confused on this one. There is a lot going on in the description. I would recommend saying what you have to say in a much more succinct manner. As for the premise itself, I am not sure about that either. I would like to see an updated description before that was done.

I'll work on it!

Who's Otto Kratt?

A character from another issue, namely #731.

[Daarwyrth]

Alright, the description has been updated. How does it sound now?

[Australian rePublic]

Hmm.

I'm rather confused on this one. There is a lot going on in the description. I would recommend saying what you have to say in a much more succinct manner. As for the premise itself, I am not sure about that either. I would like to see an updated description before that was done.

I'll work on it!

Who's Otto Kratt?

A character from another issue, namely #731.

People who would recieve this issue wouldn't necessarily recieve issue 731. State who he is

[Daarwyrth]

People who would recieve this issue wouldn't necessarily recieve issue 731. State who he is

I feel explaining who he is would unnecessarily clog up the premise, so I opted to remove his name, which simplifies the premise even further

[Daarwyrth]

Any new commentary or feedback would be most appreciated!

[Outer Sparta]

Nice draft! I do like a little autocracy vs. autocracy international spat idea.

A couple of things:
1. What's the reasoning for option 2 to invoke the constitution? Wouldn't Valeria Drake not give a shit about your nation's constitution anyway?
2. How would appearing democratic would make you win the 4d chess battle of autocratic legitimacy in option 3? I would definitely specify further on how you can use that to undermine her legitimacy.
3. Options 1 and 4 are my favorite and the best way to assert legitimacy due to the rather extreme nation (invading Blackacre, declaring yourself the absolute ruler, but I would suggest you declare yourself absolute leader via decree or by some divine intervention, like how Chinese emperors proclaimed themselves to be).

[Daarwyrth]

Nice draft! I do like a little autocracy vs. autocracy international spat idea.

A couple of things:
1. What's the reasoning for option 2 to invoke the constitution? Wouldn't Valeria Drake not give a shit about your nation's constitution anyway?
2. How would appearing democratic would make you win the 4d chess battle of autocratic legitimacy in option 3? I would definitely specify further on how you can use that to undermine her legitimacy.
3. Options 1 and 4 are my favorite and the best way to assert legitimacy due to the rather extreme nation (invading Blackacre, declaring yourself the absolute ruler, but I would suggest you declare yourself absolute leader via decree or by some divine intervention, like how Chinese emperors proclaimed themselves to be).

Those are excellent suggestions, and I have tried to work them into the draft as best I could! Option 2 with the constitution was indeed a bit odd in this context, so I changed it to a subversion of Drake's allies instead. Hopefully it fits better!

[Daarwyrth]

Any new thoughts or comments?

Oh! I'm contemplating a title change, like "Audacious Autocrats" or "Drake The Snake Strikes Again". Feedback on that would be welcome!

[Daarwyrth]

Moving this to last call! Any last thoughts or comments would be most welcome

[Daarwyrth]

I submitted this issue draft a few moments ago. Thank you for your commentary and feedback on this one!

[Bears Armed]

Good luck!

[Outer Sparta]

Looks good. Hope to see this in the game.