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Rome / General talk/analysis about Rome
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 05:55:58 pm »General talk/analysis about Rome.
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52
About the game. / Introduction,rules and mechanics.
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 04:17:38 pm »This is a GM role playing game were the players of this forum participate as members of Massaliotes League federal council, in an Alternative TimeLine scenario. Contribute to the development and geopolitics of this world by joining political parties and expanding your influence in the federal council.
Boule
What is the federal council/Boule mechanically? It is all the citizens of the city who can vote.
when you vote on a decision in the thread you are actually representing the whole of the enfranchised civilian body. That obviously has implications. For important decisions, the boule generally operates on the concept of a majority rule. What this means is that if a vote for a major decision is not a clear-cut victory by a majority of citizens but a plurality, then that will anger the citizens. As anger rises, there is a higher chance of civil disorder. To decrease disorder, players can pass motions with a 2/3rds majority. Civil disorder can also be reduced by constructing certain buildings that help represent the institutionalisation of democracy and relax tensions. When civil disorder reaches 100, there will be an explosion of rioting and a high likelihood that will trigger a civil war.
User Motions
In addition to the regular decisions produced for the Boule, individual readers can introduce user motions. There are two types of user motions. The first is one that is simply a modification of an existing proposal. In that case, as long as the GM approves the motion, you can just propose it, and those who support it can copy and paste it like any write-in.
The second type are user motions unrelated to the current proposals. For example, in a vote about going to war, a participant suggests that they form a new war party. This proposal may be motivated by the circumstances, but is a completely new proposal. To be considered by the Boule, the user motion needs to gain three supporters who will second it. Once it has been supported by the three, it will be voted upon by the whole ekklesia and, if successful, will be treated as any other law.
Although the GM has the right to refuse any motion on the basis of it being pointless or anachronistic, in general you will have a great deal of freedom with motions. Use them wisely, as they are the most potent decision-makers you have.
Battles
Players will have the opportunity to choose decisions for major battles. Before the war begins you will be able to appoint a strategos to take the charge. if he fails, you can persecute and exile/execute the strategos for incompetence, which helps to reduce civil disorder. The strategos will wage war on your behalf, you will not have control of the battle, but can you can choose the strategies of the strategos when they are suggested in Boule. The decisions to pick a strategos is thus one of the most important decisions your state can make. Choose wisely.
Less important battles will still be mentioned and casualties will be listed, but they will not be in detail for reasons of expediency.
Economy
we have a system of income based around gold talents. Your primary income will be from tax of the citizens(which you can raise at the cost of anger from the population) from trade,mines and slaves. You will find that gold will be required for everything that you do and that you may be able to build great buildings or none at all. Gold can also buy you mercenaries and fund longer campaigns.
Factions and Diplomacy
3rd century BC Hellenistic world is a complex place. When the game starts you'll not have direct contact with many factions, but eventually you will be able to interact with more and more.
Diplomacy is based around different interactions. The first is a faction wide opinion of you. This is, for example, how Greeks or Gauls feel about you. This is changed by doing actions that might benefit a whole faction, for example, coming to the aid of a greek city against Carthaginians is a sure way to boost your opinion in the eyes of all Greeks. Looting and pillaging the cities of other factions (and your own), however, will result in serious consequences, and if you anger an entire faction enough, it's very possible that they'll form an alliance and unite against you, something you really don't want.
Trade
There is a complex trading system in the game, you will be able to trade with cities/states that are connected with you via trade routes. Either directly connected to you via a road, or ones which are on the coast. You will be able to make trading arrangements paying talents (the currency). Trading will eventually form an essential part of your city's income and can help you make a significant profit.
Time
Time is calculated by yearly turns starting at 300 BC. Every turn will last from 1 to 3 days.
Boule
What is the federal council/Boule mechanically? It is all the citizens of the city who can vote.
when you vote on a decision in the thread you are actually representing the whole of the enfranchised civilian body. That obviously has implications. For important decisions, the boule generally operates on the concept of a majority rule. What this means is that if a vote for a major decision is not a clear-cut victory by a majority of citizens but a plurality, then that will anger the citizens. As anger rises, there is a higher chance of civil disorder. To decrease disorder, players can pass motions with a 2/3rds majority. Civil disorder can also be reduced by constructing certain buildings that help represent the institutionalisation of democracy and relax tensions. When civil disorder reaches 100, there will be an explosion of rioting and a high likelihood that will trigger a civil war.
User Motions
In addition to the regular decisions produced for the Boule, individual readers can introduce user motions. There are two types of user motions. The first is one that is simply a modification of an existing proposal. In that case, as long as the GM approves the motion, you can just propose it, and those who support it can copy and paste it like any write-in.
The second type are user motions unrelated to the current proposals. For example, in a vote about going to war, a participant suggests that they form a new war party. This proposal may be motivated by the circumstances, but is a completely new proposal. To be considered by the Boule, the user motion needs to gain three supporters who will second it. Once it has been supported by the three, it will be voted upon by the whole ekklesia and, if successful, will be treated as any other law.
Although the GM has the right to refuse any motion on the basis of it being pointless or anachronistic, in general you will have a great deal of freedom with motions. Use them wisely, as they are the most potent decision-makers you have.
Battles
Players will have the opportunity to choose decisions for major battles. Before the war begins you will be able to appoint a strategos to take the charge. if he fails, you can persecute and exile/execute the strategos for incompetence, which helps to reduce civil disorder. The strategos will wage war on your behalf, you will not have control of the battle, but can you can choose the strategies of the strategos when they are suggested in Boule. The decisions to pick a strategos is thus one of the most important decisions your state can make. Choose wisely.
Less important battles will still be mentioned and casualties will be listed, but they will not be in detail for reasons of expediency.
Economy
we have a system of income based around gold talents. Your primary income will be from tax of the citizens(which you can raise at the cost of anger from the population) from trade,mines and slaves. You will find that gold will be required for everything that you do and that you may be able to build great buildings or none at all. Gold can also buy you mercenaries and fund longer campaigns.
Factions and Diplomacy
3rd century BC Hellenistic world is a complex place. When the game starts you'll not have direct contact with many factions, but eventually you will be able to interact with more and more.
Diplomacy is based around different interactions. The first is a faction wide opinion of you. This is, for example, how Greeks or Gauls feel about you. This is changed by doing actions that might benefit a whole faction, for example, coming to the aid of a greek city against Carthaginians is a sure way to boost your opinion in the eyes of all Greeks. Looting and pillaging the cities of other factions (and your own), however, will result in serious consequences, and if you anger an entire faction enough, it's very possible that they'll form an alliance and unite against you, something you really don't want.
Trade
There is a complex trading system in the game, you will be able to trade with cities/states that are connected with you via trade routes. Either directly connected to you via a road, or ones which are on the coast. You will be able to make trading arrangements paying talents (the currency). Trading will eventually form an essential part of your city's income and can help you make a significant profit.
Time
Time is calculated by yearly turns starting at 300 BC. Every turn will last from 1 to 3 days.
53
Game thread timeline / The story so far.
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 04:08:16 pm »The Massaliotes league.
The year is 300 bc
All the known world is changed due to Alexander the great conquests.
In the west the prosperous city state of Massalia is in awe of Pytheas astonishing travels. The city state has grown to size and wealth due to her skilled traders, making her one of the biggest trade cities in west mediterranean sea .
The big growth of Carthage the last century pushed the Massaliotes out of Iberia. Although still strong in naval the Massaliotes started to focus more and more in expanding their trade with the Gauls.
The pressure of Carthage had a big impact in the Massaliotes politics. Massalia is now a big city of more than thirty thousands inhabitants with several city state colonies that all of them have a lot of new “noble” people from rich trade families that started to lose money from the rivals of Carthage. So finaly after years of Carthage’s pressure and political tension the new and old nobility came to the solution to open the assembly and citizenship to all adult male Greeks born in Massalia and her colonies!
This happened because both the new and old nobility wanted to take the people of the assembly by their side and also unite all the colonies close together against common threats based to the model of delian league.
The assembly of all free citizens, from now on will gather annually to discuss the major issues of this new Massaliotes league and elect a federal council with proportional representation of 300 senators who then elect 2 stratigos/episcopos to run the league as diarchy.In time of peace all towns of the league had to give tribute to the common treasury. In time of war all members must send their troops and ships.The 10 founding members of the Massaliotes league is Massalia,Emporion,Agathe,Rhoda,Olbia,Tauroeis,Athinopolis,Antipolis,Nikaia,Monoicos
The Massaliotes league has now more than seventy thousands population.
The rivalry of the new and old noble families of the Massaliotes League took an interesting turn. The new nobility (dynatoi) to gain more influence founded a symposium company* for the purpose of sponsor(liturgy)studies,theatre,expeditions and military actions. The old nobility of Massalia(Palaioi) responded to Dynatoi by founding their own symposium company.
* In classical Athens, the institution of liturgies provided many ways for the wealthy citizens to bestow their wealth and time upon the community. The rich Athenians where kind of “sponsors” of the Academy also. In my time line, they grouped in 'soft-drink' companies/factions/political parties to gain more influence.for example in Athens OTL: In the speech Against Androtion Demosthenes describes a group of some four to ten councillors who, in collusion with Androtion, were capable of controlling the Council of Five Hundred. So the Massaliotes League "symposium" companies are informal political parties that nobles with same interests meet in private meetings drinking watered wine and organise their agenda.
By place:
Greece
• Pilgrims travel to the healing temples of Asclepieion to be cured of their ills. After a ritual purification the followers bring offerings or sacrifices.
Egypt
• Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus, is taken as a hostage to Egypt after the Battle of Ipsus and makes a diplomatic marriage with the princess Antigone, daughter of Ptolemy and Berenice.
• Ptolemy concludes an alliance with King Lysimachus of Thrace and gives him his daughter Arsinoe II in marriage.
Seleucid Empire
• Seleucus founds the city of Antioch, some 20 miles up the Orontes River, naming it after his father.
• After the death of his wife Apama, Seleucus marries Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes.
The year is 300 bc
All the known world is changed due to Alexander the great conquests.
In the west the prosperous city state of Massalia is in awe of Pytheas astonishing travels. The city state has grown to size and wealth due to her skilled traders, making her one of the biggest trade cities in west mediterranean sea .
The big growth of Carthage the last century pushed the Massaliotes out of Iberia. Although still strong in naval the Massaliotes started to focus more and more in expanding their trade with the Gauls.
The pressure of Carthage had a big impact in the Massaliotes politics. Massalia is now a big city of more than thirty thousands inhabitants with several city state colonies that all of them have a lot of new “noble” people from rich trade families that started to lose money from the rivals of Carthage. So finaly after years of Carthage’s pressure and political tension the new and old nobility came to the solution to open the assembly and citizenship to all adult male Greeks born in Massalia and her colonies!
This happened because both the new and old nobility wanted to take the people of the assembly by their side and also unite all the colonies close together against common threats based to the model of delian league.
The assembly of all free citizens, from now on will gather annually to discuss the major issues of this new Massaliotes league and elect a federal council with proportional representation of 300 senators who then elect 2 stratigos/episcopos to run the league as diarchy.In time of peace all towns of the league had to give tribute to the common treasury. In time of war all members must send their troops and ships.The 10 founding members of the Massaliotes league is Massalia,Emporion,Agathe,Rhoda,Olbia,Tauroeis,Athinopolis,Antipolis,Nikaia,Monoicos
The Massaliotes league has now more than seventy thousands population.
The rivalry of the new and old noble families of the Massaliotes League took an interesting turn. The new nobility (dynatoi) to gain more influence founded a symposium company* for the purpose of sponsor(liturgy)studies,theatre,expeditions and military actions. The old nobility of Massalia(Palaioi) responded to Dynatoi by founding their own symposium company.
* In classical Athens, the institution of liturgies provided many ways for the wealthy citizens to bestow their wealth and time upon the community. The rich Athenians where kind of “sponsors” of the Academy also. In my time line, they grouped in 'soft-drink' companies/factions/political parties to gain more influence.for example in Athens OTL: In the speech Against Androtion Demosthenes describes a group of some four to ten councillors who, in collusion with Androtion, were capable of controlling the Council of Five Hundred. So the Massaliotes League "symposium" companies are informal political parties that nobles with same interests meet in private meetings drinking watered wine and organise their agenda.
By place:
Greece
• Pilgrims travel to the healing temples of Asclepieion to be cured of their ills. After a ritual purification the followers bring offerings or sacrifices.
Egypt
• Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus, is taken as a hostage to Egypt after the Battle of Ipsus and makes a diplomatic marriage with the princess Antigone, daughter of Ptolemy and Berenice.
• Ptolemy concludes an alliance with King Lysimachus of Thrace and gives him his daughter Arsinoe II in marriage.
Seleucid Empire
• Seleucus founds the city of Antioch, some 20 miles up the Orontes River, naming it after his father.
• After the death of his wife Apama, Seleucus marries Stratonice, daughter of Demetrius Poliorcetes.
54
Game thread timeline / Game current timeline/decisions topic
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:33:13 pm »300 BC federal council decisions:
The Hellenised Celto-Ligurian towns of Arelate,Cabelio,Avenio old allies and trade partners of Massalia under the pressure of Vocontii tribe raids pledged to be part of the Massaliotes League.
Option 1)
Accept: Due to the fact that they are not of Greek origin, the Massaliotes League will have to make a new branch of the league for new allies that want to join, the Heteroi. Heteroi will be granted a second tier citizenship and will have to contribute troops in time of war and tribute and from now on their foreign policy will be dictated by Massaliotes League.
Option 2)
Barbarians part of the league? No way!
Voting closes: December 15, 2016, 02:20:10 pm
The Hellenised Celto-Ligurian towns of Arelate,Cabelio,Avenio old allies and trade partners of Massalia under the pressure of Vocontii tribe raids pledged to be part of the Massaliotes League.
Option 1)
Accept: Due to the fact that they are not of Greek origin, the Massaliotes League will have to make a new branch of the league for new allies that want to join, the Heteroi. Heteroi will be granted a second tier citizenship and will have to contribute troops in time of war and tribute and from now on their foreign policy will be dictated by Massaliotes League.
Option 2)
Barbarians part of the league? No way!
Voting closes: December 15, 2016, 02:20:10 pm
55
Gauls / Venetii tribe
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:19:57 pm »Venetii tribe current status
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
56
Gauls / Namnetes tribe.
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:19:21 pm »Namnetes tribe current status.
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
57
Gauls / Pictones tribe
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:18:44 pm »Pictones tribe current status.
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
58
Gauls / Santones tribe.
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:17:52 pm »Santones tribe current status.
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
59
Gauls / Carnutes tribe.
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:17:04 pm »Carnutes tribe current status.
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
60
Gauls / Bituriges tribe.
« Last post by sersor on August 24, 2016, 03:14:28 pm »Bituriges tribe current status.
Overall Faction relation:
Capital:
Overall Faction relation:
Capital: