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[NUKE9.13]

Alright, so, we should probably work on our defences a little. Especially our pikemen could use more protection.

Hands-Free Shield: Pikes are great and all, but requiring two hands means you can't hold a shield. Or can you? By making our shields slightly smaller, and adding a strap, they can be hung from the neck to cover the left arm, shoulder, and chest. It's not as useful as a regular shield, but it should still offer our pikemen a previously unattainable level of protection.

Alt,

Partial Armour: Padded "Armour" is better than nothing, but only just. Yet a full suit of chainmail is too expensive to equip all our soldiers. The solution? Partial armour. By taking a set of padded armour and adding simple metal plates to cover vulnerable areas (chest, forearms, shins), we can drastically increase survivability without breaking the bank. Coverage may be reduced if necessary to keep the cost at 1 ore.

I think the latter is probably better, as it would help our regular spearmen as well.

[Shadowclaw777]

Hands-Free Hardened Shield: Pikes are great and all, but requiring two hands means you can't hold a shield, but their are a reason our bodies have developed shoulders By making our shields slightly smaller and iron point in the middle of the wooden shield for handling tougher blows, and adding a leather strap, they can be hung from the neck to cover the left arm, shoulder, and chest. It's not as useful as a regular shield, but it should still offer our pikemen a previously unattainable level of protection.

Hands-Free Shield
Hands-Free Hardened Shield: (1) SC
Partial Armor

[Rockeater]

Hands-Free Shield
Hands-Free Hardened Shield: (2) SC, Rockeater
Partial Armor

[NUKE9.13]

Well, like I said, I prefer an upgrade to our armour, since that would also help our regular spearmen (and possibly our archers as well, depending on how much it reduces mobility). I think adding a spike to the shield is a sensible improvement, though.

Hands-Free Shield
Hands-Free Hardened Shield: (2) SC, Rockeater
Partial Armour: (1) NUKE9.13

[Rockeater]

I prefer the shield because it's a better at defending against arrows which, considering the fact our pikes will probably outrange them in melee, is probably a bigger concern

[NUKE9.13]

Also, we need to vote on a flag, yes? I haven't received any feedback on my last proposal, which I assume means everyone thinks it is perfect.

Starless Night: (1) NUKE9.13
Black Moon:
Flag of Many Colours:

[Rockeater]

Starless Night: (2) NUKE9.13, Rockeater
Black Moon:
Flag of Many Colours:

[NUKE9.13]

It was pointed out to me that we have another turn after this before combat. We can do both, in other words. So to speed things along, I'll vote for the shield.

Hands-Free Shield
Hands-Free Hardened Shield: (3) SC, Rockeater, NUKE9.13
Partial Armour:

[Talion]

Revision Phase

Hands-Free Hardened Shield

Pikes are great and all, but requiring two hands means you can't hold a shield, but there is a reason our bodies have developed shoulders By making our shields slightly smaller and iron point in the middle of the wooden shield for handling tougher blows, and adding a leather strap, they can be hung from the neck to cover the left arm, shoulder, and chest. It's not as useful as a regular shield, but it should still offer our pikemen a previously unattainable level of protection.

Roll: 7 (Normal) = Unexpected Boon

This new shield is not as effective as a conventional shield would be if our pikemen are forced into close combat, but then our pikemen are ill-equipped for that eventuality anyway. The shield instead shows its worth during pike vs pike battles. Against archery fire, a pikeman may free a hand to raise the shield, although its coverage is not perfect for that role.
Cost: Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

The skill of our crafters have inspired our researchers and they have redoubled their efforts to equip the army with the magical support of the Runes.

Gain a Hint Token.

It is now Winter, Turn -1 Battle Phase
Flag voting is closed.

Resources: Land 2, Ore 1, Mana 2, 1x Hint Token

Spoiler: Equipment (click to show/hide)

Mundane Equipment
Sabre: A single-edged blade that favours cavalry combat over infantry combat.  Requires training to wield, one-handed.
Expensive (Land 2, Ore 2)

Spear: Essentially a dagger on a long stick. Very cheap, requires minimal training to use. Can be used double-handed, or single handed with a shield.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

Pike: A longer spear, the butt has a bronze spike for embedding in the ground when defending against a cavalry charge. The pike is best wielded two-handed without a shield. This design is well balanced with a leaf-shaped blade of iron.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

Wooden Shield: Couples well with a spear, cheap, easy to replace.  Works best in heavy melee. Can be used with minimal training.
Cheap (Land 1)

Hands-Free Hardened Shield: A smaller shield with a metal spike in the centre. It has a strap that allows the shield to be hung around the neck and handled a little with the shoulder. This allows it to be used by soldiers whose hands are otherwise occupied with two-handed weapons.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

Padded Armour: Very cheap, just layers of cloth, but doesn't protect against much. Well ventilated in hot conditions.
Cheap (Land 1)

Chainmail: Interlinked riveted iron hoops. Very effective against most weapons.
Expensive (Land 2, Ore 2)

Composite Bow: General infantry weapon. A light bow composed of laminated wood and horn.  Inexpensive enough to equip many troops with, but suffers from some problems with moisture.
Cheap (Land 1)

Songbow: A medium bow with draw strength greater than our normal composite bows. They are not practical to use while riding a mount.
Cheap (Land 2)

War Horn: A musical instrument made from a ram’s horn used to communicate over a distance. Used to deliver orders and sound the alarm in the event of an attack.
Cheap (Land 1)

Saddle + Bridle: Equipment for riding beasts of burden. Unfortunately, with the lack of horses on the island, this has limited utility.
Cheap (Land 2)

Magical Equipment
Symphony Quiver: These quivers contain a variety of arrows each envenomed with a poison known to the Iqua.
Swan’s Song Arrows: Wounds inflicted take longer to heal.
Dragon’s Song Arrows: Victims are sapped of energy, running short on stamina.
Very Expensive (Land 1, Mana 5)

Swan Pike: A pike with a poisonous blade. The venom is a milder version of the Swan’s Black Blood used by the Swan’s Song Arrow. Notably the blade flexes a little, allowing it to cause wounds even when the blade is blocked.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1, Mana 2)

Dragon’s Pike: A pike with a poisonous blade. The venom is a milder version of the Black Dragon’s Lethargy used by the Dragon’s Song Arrow. Notably the blade flexes a little, allowing it to cause wounds even when the blade is blocked.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1, Mana 2)

[Detoxicated]

So do we devise a battle plan?

I am keen to see our troops abilities, we didn't do too bad I think.

[Rockeater]

This turn we only get scouting report.

[Talion]

Battle Phase

Core Turn -1 Battle

Our scouts sent into the mountains are stymied by the harsh weather of winter. The high passes are closed, preventing our scouts from reaching the fabled ruins of Arcanis said to be found beyond them. Our generals believe siege weapons and other fortifications could be set up on our side of the passes both to defend them and provide some measure of support for our city should it be threatened. As for the high passes, they will thaw in spring but could be a continual issue every winter without a way to protect against the harsh climate.

In the center, the most accessible path we are thus far victorious. There is some concern the hilly terrain might inconvenience our pikes, allowing the Loji forces to ambush them. The blue steel of the Loji is concerning for it seems the equal of anything the Star nation can produce. If it has any less mundane properties, we have not been able to detect them.

Beyond the savanah to the east, lie forests that we are only just beginning to find paths through. No sign of the Loji so far, but we suspect we could run into them when we reach the deeper jungles beyond.

At home our fishing boats risk the water, fearing the arrival of the great ships of the Star to sink them in the name of maintaining the exile.

Spoiler: Lanes (click to show/hide)

Loji(0/4)
Foothills(0/4)	Fields(0/4)
Mountains(0/4)	Forested Hills(0/4)	Forest(0/4)
Arcanis(0/4)	|	Jungle(0/4)
High Passes(3/4)	Hills(3/4)	Forest(3/4)
Mountains(4/4)	Savanah(4/4)
Iqua(4/4)

Infrastructure
It is possible to design large-scale projects known as infrastructure. These projects can be used to deploy magical effects more cheaply than might otherwise be possible. For alchemy this allows the creation of recipe production buildings that provide a mana discount on the cost of one recipe. Such buildings are national expense buildings that gradually increase production the more they are invested in.

For chanting this takes the form of creating elite units of chanters with each type of chanter capable of deploying a single type of effect. Such chanters can be upgraded with techniques for their effect that allow them to use it more effectively.

Resources: Land 2, Ore 1, Mana 2, 2x Hint Token

Spoiler: Rune Skills (click to show/hide)

Rune Skills are a measure of your nation’s understanding of the Runes. They are measured as Unskilled, Apprentice, Adept and Master. You cannot make use of Meanings or Elements until you have at least an Apprentice level understanding of them.

Meaning
Ward - Apprentice
Form - Adept - Mana Discount
Attack - Apprentice
Shape - Unskilled
Control - Unskilled

Terrestrial Element
Water - Mastery - Alchemy, Shadow
Wood - Apprentice
Air - Adept - Chanting
Fire - Apprentice
Earth - Apprentice

Celestial Element
Shadow - Apprentice

Spoiler: Discoveries (click to show/hide)

Discoveries are magical effects you have discovered that you can put to practical use inside Designs.

Alchemy
Ward(Wood), Form(Water), Attack(Air) - Swan’s Black Blood
A poison that attacks the blood of the victim making them more susceptible to bleeding as their blood does not clot properly.
(Water Mastery) This poison produces an excess of the Water Element.

Ward(Earth), Form(Water), Attack(Fire) - Black Dragon’s Lethargy
A poison that attacks the blood of the victim, devouring their vitality. Victims are fatigued for the months it takes to make a full recovery.
(Water Mastery) This poison produces an excess of the Water Element.

Alchemy Secrets
Records - The use of alchemy to record a chant for later speaking.

Chants
Ward(Wood), Form(Air), Attack(Shadow) - Reinforcement of Cutting
This chant grants a target enhanced ability to cut for the duration of a battle. This supernatural sharpness can render a punch capable of stabbing holes in an enemy. Wielding an already sharp blade such an individual could cleave through armour.

Chanting Secrets
Elemental Distillation - The use of chanting to enhance the alchemy process by using the correct set of words.

Spoiler: Heroes (click to show/hide)

Lady Adiva Shrivastava (d2), Experience: 3
Daughter of the Noble house of Shrivastava, an upstart family by the standards of those who claim to descend from the time of the first Goddess War. Adiva has earned her place in the officer core with skilled leadership as an archer, setting an inspiring example for those who follow her.

Spoiler: Equipment (click to show/hide)

Mundane Equipment
Sabre: A single-edged blade that favours cavalry combat over infantry combat.  Requires training to wield, one-handed.
Expensive (Land 2, Ore 2)

Spear: Essentially a dagger on a long stick. Very cheap, requires minimal training to use. Can be used double-handed, or single handed with a shield.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

Pike: A longer spear, the butt has a bronze spike for embedding in the ground when defending against a cavalry charge. The pike is best wielded two-handed without a shield. This design is well balanced with a leaf-shaped blade of iron.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

Wooden Shield: Couples well with a spear, cheap, easy to replace.  Works best in heavy melee. Can be used with minimal training.
Cheap (Land 1)

Hands-Free Hardened Shield: A smaller shield with a metal spike in the centre. It has a strap that allows the shield to be hung around the neck and handled a little with the shoulder. This allows it to be used by soldiers whose hands are otherwise occupied with two-handed weapons.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1)

Padded Armour: Very cheap, just layers of cloth, but doesn't protect against much. Well ventilated in hot conditions.
Cheap (Land 1)

Chainmail: Interlinked riveted iron hoops. Very effective against most weapons.
Expensive (Land 2, Ore 2)

Songbow: A medium bow with draw strength greater than our normal composite bows. They are not practical to use while riding a mount.
Cheap (Land 2)

War Horn: A musical instrument made from a ram’s horn used to communicate over a distance. Used to deliver orders and sound the alarm in the event of an attack.
Cheap (Land 1)

Saddle + Bridle: Equipment for riding beasts of burden. Unfortunately, with the lack of horses on the island, this has limited utility.
Cheap (Land 2)

Magical Equipment
Symphony Quiver: These quivers contain a variety of arrows each envenomed with a poison known to the Iqua.
Swan’s Song Arrows: Wounds inflicted take longer to heal.
Dragon’s Song Arrows: Victims are sapped of energy, running short on stamina.
Very Expensive (Land 1, Mana 5)

Swan Pike: A pike with a poisonous blade. The venom is a milder version of the Swan’s Black Blood used by the Swan’s Song Arrow. Notably the blade flexes a little, allowing it to cause wounds even when the blade is blocked.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1, Mana 2)

Dragon’s Pike: A pike with a poisonous blade. The venom is a milder version of the Black Dragon’s Lethargy used by the Dragon’s Song Arrow. Notably the blade flexes a little, allowing it to cause wounds even when the blade is blocked.
Cheap (Land 1, Ore 1, Mana 2)

[NUKE9.13]

Okay, here's a plan:

Hint Token - 'Induce Fear': Having seen the terror that dwells within the depths of Shadow, we got to thinking, what if we made the enemy experience it? We shall begin looking into the possibility of magic that uses Shadow to induce fear.

Investigate - Control

(I suspect that Control would be needed in a fear-inducing spell)

E: Alternative plans proposed on Discord include using a hint token to inquire into summoning, which would indeed be quite useful. The reason I prefer fear is that it's closer to hand, whereas summoning (useful) stuff may take many turns to reach. Suggestions of doing something that doesn't use Shadow at all strike me as inefficient as well; we've unlocked Shadow, requiring a not insubstantial amount of effort, it stands to reason that it can produce more powerful effects than just the terrestrial elements can. Not to say we can never do non-Shadow stuff, but we should harvest the low-hanging fruit at least. Fear magic is an obvious use for Shadow, I think, and there's not a general in the world who would say no to being able to strike fear in the hearts of their enemies at will.

Discovery Phase
Investigate - Control: (1) NUKE9.13

Hint Token 1
'Induce Fear': (1) NUKE9.13
Do not use:

Hint Token 2
Do not use: (1) NUKE9.13

[Shadowclaw777]

Summoning: To provide life to the elements, to create forces that are not humans to direct for war. The creation of servants under the Iguan command is questioned and how is it possibility, the pursuit of earth for the creation of artificial life of rock, as in golems. Or the providing of life engraved onto rock and water to provide this power?.

Investigate - Form

(Seeing what Mastery over a meaning does When be greatly knowledge when we pursue the other meanings)

Discovery Phase
Investigate - Control: (1) NUKE9.13
Investigate - Form: (1) SC
Hint Token 1
“Induce Fear”: (2) NUKE9.13, SC
Do not use:
Hint Token 2
“Summoning”: (1) SC
Do not use: (1) NUKE9.13

[Rockeater]

Discovery Phase
Investigate - Control: (2) NUKE9.13, Rockeater
Investigate - Form: (1) SC
Hint Token 1
“Induce Fear”: (3) NUKE9.13, SC, Rockeater
Do not use:
Hint Token 2
“Summoning”: (2) SC, Rockeater
Do not use: (1) NUKE9.13