When the game is over I want to know things that the game can't tell me while it's going on. I want a "Secret History" file detailing who tried to kill me, who did kill me, who was in on it, etc. I've had heirs killed and the announcement was that the death was suspicious and the next son in line was subject to immediate arrest (damned fine police work!). Was it a plot? Who else was in on it? I've had selfs who were cut down in the prime of life with the message "seems suspicious" but nobody got caught. I have the same questions (I died in combat and my Marshal revolted shortly afterward). I've had many wives plotting my death, and one memorable wife (lustful, lesbian, mastermind theologian imbecile) who might have committed an apparent natural death on me (she plotted to kill others later).
So when the final Kings List rolls at the end of the game, why not have each ruler clickable with specifics as to who plotted to kill him, who killed his children/heirs, how he eventually died, who was in on the plots and maybe a few more choice bits (who slept with his wife). I think it would be a great addition to the storyline and feel of the game if you found out later that your grieving widow did you in because she'd been sleeping with your brother, or who exactly caused that suspicious death message. Yes, of course, it's exploitable mid game, but really, I don't see that as a reason to reject something which is otherwise doable and worthwhile. If I'm a cheater, I can be resuscitated with a simple restore, why not encourage me to accept death with dignity by making it more interesting?
Only the program can tell us the information I'm asking for, and only if it's stored somewhere. A little extra data only for the player's character doesn't seem out of line in terms of resources. AAR writers would appreciate this especially, as would anyone with a lusty lesbian mastermind theologian imbecile wife. More could be added, wars fought, provinces gained lost, but it's "how did I really die" that I want answered.
"YOU'RE NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT."
"Yes, I am, I am a user, I payed $40 for this universe and I want to know how I died in it!"
"YOU WON'T LIKE IT."
"Then I'll stop looking."
"NO YOU WON'T. YOU'LL MEAN TO STOP, BUT YOU WON'T."
"Why are you even here? I'm just a Duke, not a King or a Wizard."
"OH, BUGGER."
So when the final Kings List rolls at the end of the game, why not have each ruler clickable with specifics as to who plotted to kill him, who killed his children/heirs, how he eventually died, who was in on the plots and maybe a few more choice bits (who slept with his wife). I think it would be a great addition to the storyline and feel of the game if you found out later that your grieving widow did you in because she'd been sleeping with your brother, or who exactly caused that suspicious death message. Yes, of course, it's exploitable mid game, but really, I don't see that as a reason to reject something which is otherwise doable and worthwhile. If I'm a cheater, I can be resuscitated with a simple restore, why not encourage me to accept death with dignity by making it more interesting?
Only the program can tell us the information I'm asking for, and only if it's stored somewhere. A little extra data only for the player's character doesn't seem out of line in terms of resources. AAR writers would appreciate this especially, as would anyone with a lusty lesbian mastermind theologian imbecile wife. More could be added, wars fought, provinces gained lost, but it's "how did I really die" that I want answered.
"YOU'RE NOT REALLY SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT."
"Yes, I am, I am a user, I payed $40 for this universe and I want to know how I died in it!"
"YOU WON'T LIKE IT."
"Then I'll stop looking."
"NO YOU WON'T. YOU'LL MEAN TO STOP, BUT YOU WON'T."
"Why are you even here? I'm just a Duke, not a King or a Wizard."
"OH, BUGGER."