A game theory analysis of the Aisling Duval kidnapping situation

Zarek Null

Zarek Null
Adhock said:
The problem here is that you don't understand the nature of the Empire at all.

It is build entirely on the concept of Slavery. There is no middle class. You ether do hard backbreaking work under contract to pay off debts or you're riding the high live enjoying those luxuries that may put you into debt. The Empire wages war with genetically modified slave army soldiers. It is highly resistant to change as it took over a millennia to even reverse the original decision that the position of Emperor could be passed down to sons only.

Aisling stands against everything that is the Empire. Her position is not popular.

Not to mention this is the Empire we're talking about. Where a minor group successfully assassinated the previous Emperor for being too "progressive" in reformation in an attempt to remind the Empire of what it is. While he was a reformer, he was still the Emperor and this outrage led to the Empire, playerbase and all, to come down in a fury that hell hath no.

His successor, Arissa, was put into power by the senate because her views align with what the rich and powerful believe the Empire is. (Not to mention it keeps them rich and powerful.)

If people are willing to assassinate the Emperor for allowing Arissa to take the throne because of her gender, what makes you think they're willing to allow someone with even more radical reforms to continue living? Very few are wiling to openly do away with her but when an opportunity like this arises... don't hesitate to think for a second they wouldn't take it.

The Federation is not going to care because the Feds and the Empire have been enemies/rivals since the dawn of of the Empire. They might even send in Black Ops and have her die tragically in the crossfire.

Basically, you couldn't have picked a worse target for demanding ransom. The one with the smallest support base in her own domain where the overwhelming majority would love to see her offed and the rest of the galaxy will shrug it's shoulders or see an opening.

So yes. This viewpoint is entirely 'normal' given the way the Empire operates. Anything that shakes up the Empire in such a radical way like a highly profiled individual meeting a tragic end is a desired outcome.

Now if you'd gone after ALD or Patrius....

Honestly you need to consider the allegiances of your audience. As a Federation Admiral, your "Lose/Lose" situation is actually a "Win/Win" for me. It means you don't have enough of a following to be a credible threat to my operations AND it removes a high profile target of an enemy faction.

Hell, even your "Win/Lose" is a "Win/Win" for me. People will be too focused on you that I can quietly build up a force without notice to counter you AND just sit back and watch as the Empire takes a hit.

In the Inverse. Your "Win/Win" is actually a "Lose/Lose" for me because now it means you're a threat I have to contend with alongside everything else and the Princess remains a thorn in the side of the Federation. So I should seek to actively prevent that scenario.

After all, you did say that a "Win/Win" is the best outcome and the best outcome is that both you and the Princess die tragic horrible deaths.
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Excellent analysis, it seems that you've put extensive thought into your response. I can't say that I've had a troll-post work this effectively on someone for quite some time. Hahahaha.
 

DNA-Decay

DNA-Decay
Zarek- you need to learn to put [video] tags around your video so it looks like this

[video=youtube_share;sfhDIPBswqw]https://youtu.be/sfhDIPBswqw[/video]

Also will swap a month supscription to kink dot com for a ringside seat when you throw Aisling in the sarlac pit or whatever.
 
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CommanderDarjeeling

C
I would like to inform the Galactic Community at large that certain elements within the Empire are taking this matter seriously enough to contract outside help. An organization has been paid quite a large sum to see to the relatively 'safe retrieval' of the Princess...though they did warn us that whatever system she is being held in should be evacuated of all non-combatants in the matter. Apparently they are sending a crack duo of lovely angels to see the job is done...

(OOC: In for a penny. In for an insane payout. Am I right?)
 
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Ouberos

Ouberos
Zarek, dude, nice recording but you do realise you've kidnapped a hooker don't you?

Last time I was at Cubeo I invested some of my stolen Diamonds into a struggling look-a-like talent agency. I made a few changes to the business model and quickly turned it around. These days I can hook you up with a purple headed princess and a dreadlocked pirate freakshow at anytime of the day or night.

Sorry man.

You can keep the girl, but I'm still going to need a few credits to cover the administration fees.
 

Mohrgan

Mohrgan
You know.... That didn't really look like her. I think Space Fonzi grabbed the wrong woman. It's like he grabbed the 'actress' who played the princess in a parody pron about her.

I bet they start off hating each other, and then while going through an epic adventure, they come to find out they are intra-galactic soul mates.
 

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
Princess been kidnapped?

When did this game turn in to Mario....? :D

Also, does it matter?
Apart from a picture, which could just be a catfish to make us like "her" more, and a few galnet statements, I've not had any other interaction with any of the PowerPlay leaders. Lol

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead
 

Zeeman

Zeeman
Zarek Null said:
But to be practical, we shouldn't include outlier iconoclastic positions in a general analysis like this. Healthy minded people of good character would never want an innocent princess to be senslessly slaughtered. We have to assume that people in their right mind wouldn't want the princess harmed. So that really just takes us back to absolute obedience to the Overlord, doesn't it?
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Point taken.

As you were, future Overlord Null.

Z...
 

Riverside

Riverside
Zarek Null said:
The Princess *can* die; she is mortal just like everyone else. Now naturally, if that *does* happen, the Empire is going to do everything they can to deny it, since admitting the truth would amount to conceding that I had more power than they. I have no doubt that they will try to find a way to deceive the masses into believing that it never happened.
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You've got it the wrong way round, you are talking plot arcs & conspiracy.

buck fizzle said:
Are you sure you have actually captured the princess and not just her stunt double?
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Ultimately we only have a painting, not an actual photo, so the one captured was the pretty slave the idealised picture was based on, the cigar toting short 'bloke' in a frock is the actual princess ;)
 

Zeeman

Zeeman
StarfireIX said:
I'd prefer the Win/Win scenario, since the Princess needs some guidance anyway and my Overlord has all the skills to teach her properly. Plus the overlord would get the girl. :p
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Hang on a cotton pickin' minute... The whole thing is a stunt! Aisling wasn't kidnapped, she went willingly - think about it! Who else would she consider to be her best match? Denton? Massive LULZBUNNIES there...

She wants to be wedded to Null. She went willingly - it's a show! She's playing along because she knows Overlord Null is he brightest possible future, and she wants to be the First Lady, after all...

Z...
 

Artie

Artie
Zarek Null said:
I put together a game theory analysis of the current Aisling Duval kidnapping situation, illustrated in the following matrix:

....

Given all the smart people we have in this community, I'm interested to learn your opinions...
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Opinion: It has almost nothing to do with the game theory analysis as it is a purely fabricated matter serving to a different purpose than the game and it has a lot to do with a self-promotion. ;)
 

Daniel Cloudsifter

Daniel Cloudsifter
Zarek Null said:
Proof of her kidnapping can be found here: https://youtu.be/sfhDIPBswqw
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LOL. A Kylo-Ren knockoff claims to have kidnapped Princess Aisling Duval and insists we make him overlord in order to save her?!

My reaction to this is twice what Danny Devito's character's was to his wife being kidnapped in Ruthless People:

[video=youtube_share;5QJoV6_o5mU]https://youtu.be/5QJoV6_o5mU[/video]

The Win/Win here is if you actually kill her AND you don't get your way.

Or, to put it as Danny Devito would:

Sam Stone: "You got no nuts! What do I have to do? Put a gun in your hand, aim and pull your finger down you spineless wimp! I dare you to kill her!"
[Sam hangs up]
Sam Stone: "Now that oughta do it!"

Thanks for the humor. [haha][haha][haha] And if the devs actually let you eliminate from the game, kudos!
 
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Daniel Cloudsifter

Daniel Cloudsifter
Seriously, props for the comedy.

Btw, I just looked you up on Inara. Why should we put anyone in charge of the Pilot's Federation who hasn't even hit Elite in a single category?!

I will, however, vote for you to be in a "Stephen Colbert/Colbert Report" type position in the Pilot's Federation, provided you actually carry out your threat.:D

P.S. I'm only pledged to Aisling for the Prismatic Shields. Plan to go back to Arissa as soon as I've bought/stored all I need again.
 
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Iskariot

Iskariot
Zarek Null said:
But to be practical, we shouldn't include outlier iconoclastic positions in a general analysis like this. Healthy minded people of good character would never want an innocent princess to be senslessly slaughtered. We have to assume that people in their right mind wouldn't want the princess harmed. So that really just takes us back to absolute obedience to the Overlord, doesn't it?
Click to expand...

Extensive research has revealed that the last person who was in his right mind died last year on a rainy day in august.
There are however a few people left of good character, but both are said to hate overlords, which is why they are called people of good character in the first place.
 
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