Gold bars, the Red Moon, the Alchemist and the Potions

There is a new thing in Tiny Empires: the coming of the Alchemist. It is marked by the appearance of a red moon, and you only get it if you have any gold bars:

Gold Bars:

• Found in the weeds of an acre which is bought
• Found in a final inspection of an acre which is sold
• Won at jousting
• Trader deal (5 were reported as the quantity received)
• Being voted King & Queen at the Ball (10 Gold bars each) - partners do not need be FED to recieve the gold
• Path to Royalty (Crown Jewels step, the next to last one) will also give you 5 gold bars
• Sending any gift to an ally through the ambassador (Sender sees this text: "You have arranged to send [gift name] to [your ally]. Hidden in the box was a gold bar! It wasn't yours. Perhaps just a mix-up with the courier." Recipient sees this text: Your ally [name] sent you a gift. You receive a [gift name]. Hidden in the box was a gold bar. Your ally claims no knowledge of if, so you keep it.") Note: So far, it has only been the ally receiving the gift who has gotten it, according to reports in the TE Monarch Channel. Reports of the sender receiving it are surfacing, but no confirmation on that.

Note: If you have any gold bars, they will appear on your account tab, on page 2.

The Red Moon:

When the moon starts to turn red, and shimmer and return to normal (3 turn process), the follow occurs for anyone who has a gold bar. Everyone sees the first message, the second, third message depends on whether you have gold bars or not.

"The moon glimmers redly." (added by Queen K - if you see this message BUY an acre, I believe that this will be your best chance to get a gold bar)

"Villagers on the outskirts of the kingdom send reports that an alchemist is headed this way. Her covered wagon is decorated with intricate patterns. She will be here soon." or "The moon shimmers with a red glow." (if you don´t have a gold bar)

"The Alchemist has parked her red covered wagon at the edge of the forest tonight. Hundreds of potions line the shelves inside, in small glass vials. Prices are listed in gold bars. You quickly count your stack: XX bars" or "The moon returns to normal." (if you don´t have a gold bar)

"The moon above glares a dull red. The Alchemist beckons as you draw near. She offers you this selection of potions. Which will you buy?" You then get to choose from a scrolling menu a selection of three vials if you pay the Alchemist x Gold Bars.

Potions:

Bubbling Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "You trade away a gold bar for a bubbling potion and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. You feel very lucky."
  
• Gold windfall of 13.8 mil - @ 1073 personal acres = Cost of 3 acres roughly

Blue Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "You trade away a gold bar for a blue potion and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. You see a wavering image of a dark sun, travelling east to west across a yellow sky."
  
• When the Trader comes...."He refuses to tell you what you will receive, but with the blue potion coursing through your veins, you understand it will be free. Will you accept?"

Bronze Potion (Cost: 3 gold bars)

• unknown
  

Draught of Quintain (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "You trade away a gold bar for "Draught of Quintain" and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. Your muscles flex and you feel knowledgeable, 2 times over"
• This allows you to attend the joust at no cost of an acre. At the joust screen it says "Draught of Quintain coursing through your views you do not have to set up a practice jousting field"

Unknown at this time if the x2 is winning 2 rounds, winning 2 full joust or not having to pay the acre at 2 festivals. (Note: Quintain is a jousting practice target that spins - source)

Dark Green Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "The year ends and taxes are due for most. However you are still under the effects of the dark green potion. You pay nothing"
  
• 5 years of tax amnesty

Draught of Stentor (Cost: 3 gold bars):

• unknown
  

Elixir of Prevention (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• You feel safe - Will prevent a disaster for you and you'll receive the same amount of citizens as if you did second highest option

Essence of Giving (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• Give 3 acres to someone.

Essence of Loyalty (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "You trade away a gold bar for "Essence of Loyalty" and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment.....You feel Loyal."
  
• Loyalty reward is increased (not sure how much exactly)

Lure of Gold (Cost: 1 gold bar) :

• Your next offer to bribe another subject may be significantly more enticing. When used it tripled the bribe offer.

Oil of Metagrobology (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "You trade away a gold bar for the potion and quickly drink the entire vial! The air shimmers for a moment. You feel intelligent"
  
• Don't answer the riddles & rum's, you will get them right all the time over and over again (but get paid less than if you answer it correctly - no idea how long this lasts)

Orange Potion (Cost: 2 gold bars):

• "You trade away 2 gold bars for an orange potion and quickly drink the entire vail. The air shimmers for a moment. You feel safe from sabotage."
• Seems obvious but no idea how long this lasts

Potion of Amnesty (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• "The Potion of Amnesty courses through your veins. The homage normally paid by your direct subjects will be taken from another source. For one year, they will owe you no homage payments."
• Lets you grant homage amnesty to yourself or your directs for one year, they or you will not pay homage ... plus "your purse feels heavier" and you appear to also get gold from it.
  
• You may give homage amnesty to yourself or your direct subjects. No homage payments will be owed for a year. Will you grant homage amnesty to yourself or your subjects?

Serum of Generosity (Cost: 3 gold bars):

• You can send 10 personal acres to direct subject. Cost 3 Gold Bars

White Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):

• Feel Lucky
• Received a gold windfall = cost of 1 acre

As of April 10th:: The theory exists that while you are under the influence of one of these potions/elixirs, you are ineligible to receive gold bars or sell high offers. The theory has been only tested so far with the Elixir of Prevention but may exist with others as well that have longer lasting effects.

Special Titles

A special title is a title the Queen or King can give you that replaces your rank title (Prince, Duke, etc.). The fun of it is that you can choose a title that you like, and you will be known like that by the entire Empire.
Another fun of it is that, when you get the title, you and all your direct subjects have luck for one year. It means that you will get a lot of gold windfalls and there is a good chance that you will find treasure in any acre you buy. Also, you will get 5 personal acres a few turns after you get the title. That´s why I ask that, to get a title, you have free time to play TE for at least one year (and also have some time to me to get your picture for the blog...).


The rules for choosing a title are those:

"Greetings Monarchs,

I would like to lay out a few guidelines for you to keep in mind when granting special titles. Please note: these aren't absolute rules. In fact there are no absolute rules -- I just make judgement calls on anything questionable. Even if you conform to all these guidelines technically, a title may be rejected for other reasons. Similarly, there may be titles already in the game that violate these guidelines, but that doesn't mean your similar title will be accepted.

-- Guidelines --

1. As you know, Tiny Empires is a rated-PG game. Titles should not contain obscenities, or creative misspellings of such. For example, "The Fukn Great John Smith" would not be allowed.
2. Similarly, titles should not contain references to sex, or certain body parts, or creative misspellings of such. For example, "The Recockulous John Smith" would not be allowed.
3. Titles that contain mild expletives (for example: bitch, ass, and bastard) should be avoided as well. I have approved some of these in the past in cases where it was funny, but again, that's a judgement call for me to make. Please don't assume "Punk-Ass Bitch John Smith" will be accepted just because "Bootski's Bitch Jane Smith" was.
4. No title may refer to another player or kingdom, or a creative misspelling thereof, where such a title could lead to retaliation or drama. For example, neither "John Smith Blows Goats" nor "Fire Kingdom Refugee" would be allowed. Again, sometimes this can be funny if all parties take it as a joke, but in general it's not going to be allowed.
5. No title may be retaliatory in nature, as in "getting back" at another player, monarch, or kingdom.

I'm no longer able to review every special title granted -- there are just too many each day. So I might miss some questionable ones. Feel free to point out titles to me that you think should be reviewed. As always, my goal is to keep the game as fun as possible, and special titles are a big part of that. But I must also minimize drama and offended players. Here's hoping the above list makes it easier to decide what will fly and what won't.

Sincerely,
Ultralite Soleil"

Viceregal Powers in Tiny Empires

Greetings Monarchs,

It is now possible to appoint Viceroys/Vicereines to help you lead your large kingdom. Viceroys can grant special titles and purchase tracts of land for their downlines. You may also appoint a single Grand Viceroy, who does the same but for the entire kingdom (among other abilities).

To be eligible to become Viceroy, a person must be a direct subject of the monarch, and must have completed the entire Path to Royalty except for the final ascension. They must also have the number of total acres that is required to ascend.

If the person is eligible to become Viceroy, an offer to appoint that person will appear when you bestow favour upon him/her. If you accept, a broadcast announcing the appointment will be made, and he/she will take up the position immediately. Please note: appointing a person as Viceroy will remove them from the Path to Royalty. In addition, if a person has no custom title already, appointing that person as Viceroy will automatically apply the title of Viceroy or Vicereine.

If you wish to remove viceregal powers from a Viceroy, an option to do so will appear when you bestow favour upon him/her again. If you accept, the removal of power will also be broadcast. Removing a person from the Viceroy appointment will reinstate their Path to Royalty.

To be eligible to become Grand Viceroy, a person must already be a Viceroy who meets the eligibility requirements for that position. If the person is eligible to become Grand Viceroy, the offer to appoint him/her as such will appear when you bestow favour upon him/her. Yes, this means that in order to appoint a Grand Viceroy, they must receive favour twice: once for Viceroy and again for Grand Viceroy. There can be only one Grand Viceroy in a kingdom. Appointing a person as Grand Viceroy will remove the Grand Viceroyalty from any existing Grand Viceroy. Appointments of Grand Viceroys are also broadcast to the empire.

Viceroys will have (V) after their names in the Subjects tab of the hud, to help you identify them. Grand Viceroys will have (GV) after their names.

If a Viceroy ever ceases being a direct subject of the monarch, or drops below the required amount of land, their viceregal powers will be suspended. However, they will still retain the Viceroy position. Their powers will resume when the required conditions are met again.

If a Viceroy ever leaves the kingdom of the monarch who appointed them, the Viceroy appointment and powers will be immediately removed.

A Viceroy's powers will only be usable if the monarch has not used the power for a certain length of time. Under no condition can the powers be used more frequently than if the monarch was acting alone. For example, it is not possible for a monarch to assign a special title in June, and a Viceroy to assign another title in August. Similarly, if a Viceroy buys a land tract, for example, neither the monarch nor any other Viceroy may buy another land tract until the normal waiting period has passed.

Obviously, granting Viceroy powers implies a high level of trust. Consider carefully your options. As for special titles, you are all aware of the guidelines for them, and I encourage you to share them with your Viceroys. I will hold the monarch accountable for any title assigned in the kingdom that violates the guidelines, no matter who assigns it.

I may add more powers to Viceroys as time goes on. If this happens, you will be notified.

Sincerely,
Emperor Soleil