With 1.07 the game’s plot system has been increased drastically. No longer do we have to stop plotting to fulfill an ambition and it’s now possible to be in two separate classes of “plots” (I mean plots and factions) at the same time.
As I was playing dukes of Saxony, I noticed one big thing still missing from the plot system: the ability to negatively influence relations between other characters. Sure there’s that one chancellor action, an odd event here and there and the excommunication, but it’s really very generic and limited. To sum it up for those “A Song of Ice and Fire” fans out there: there’s no way to play Petyr Baelish.
And so I introduce you to a new class of plots: framing.
Make X seem dishonourable
The goal of this plot is to lower relations between a subject and their liege. For common vassals and courtiers that’s about it. However, there an extra layer for this plot if used against a council member: it can be used to make it seem like they abuse their power. A chancellor may be taking bribes to not act on his mission, a marshal may be organizing local banditry, a treasurer may be stealing money, a spymaster may be feeding you false information, a court chaplain may be running a brothel. If successful this plot can lower the relations or even get the target fired from the council.
Of course the events associated with this plot would need to have a chance to fire on their own (i.e. without any plot) to make it hard for the player to tell if it’s real or not.
Make people believe X is a bastard
The goal of this plot is to make a legitimate child gain the bastard trait and be removed from the line of succession. For obvious reasons (to avoid abuse) it should be very hard to pull off as the father of the target, and the plot should be difficult anyway. If successful the target may be framed into being a bastard of a specific character (less likely) or a random servant.
Make X become branded as heretic
The goal of this plot is to make people believe that the target is a heretic, lowering his/her relations with most characters of the same faith, especially men of the cloth. If the target is already a member of a heresy, the plot would mark them as not really being a heretic.
Now for the big ones:
Frame X for murder
Exactly what it say, but there’s more to it. If you’re a member of a murder plot you may make it seem like the target is the culprit. If you manage to frame them for a murder of their relative, they may even get the “Kinslayer” trait. If you’re not in any murder plot the target would be framed for a murder of an unnamed knight/lady.
Cause X to start a Civil War
Really big one: make the leader of a faction start a war in the faction’s name. Very difficult, could be used to create the necessary circumstances to get the plot leader into dungeon or even executed/banished, could be used to create favourable circumstances for your own faction.
And a special one:
Seduce X
Not a usual type of plot (perhaps it could be an ambition instead). You cannot invite other members and you cannot be discovered. You can, however fail, which can have various results (e.g. liege throwing you into prison for trying to seduce his wife) and can succeed to well (may result in bastards). The goal is to make the target your lover.
The first three could result in the plot’s failure, which could at worst put you in jail. The latter two could even get you branded a traitor.
In order to facilitate a bigger array of plots, I also suggest a change to the number of plots going on. A character should be able to start a number of plots dependant upon the strength of their intrigue ability: 0-10 – 1 plot, 11-20 – 2 plots >20 – 3 plots.
The game will never be complete until we can play from random count all the way to emperor without ever starting a war.
Stay tuned for BHM suggestions 2: mercenaries, holy orders and heir control
As I was playing dukes of Saxony, I noticed one big thing still missing from the plot system: the ability to negatively influence relations between other characters. Sure there’s that one chancellor action, an odd event here and there and the excommunication, but it’s really very generic and limited. To sum it up for those “A Song of Ice and Fire” fans out there: there’s no way to play Petyr Baelish.
And so I introduce you to a new class of plots: framing.
Make X seem dishonourable
The goal of this plot is to lower relations between a subject and their liege. For common vassals and courtiers that’s about it. However, there an extra layer for this plot if used against a council member: it can be used to make it seem like they abuse their power. A chancellor may be taking bribes to not act on his mission, a marshal may be organizing local banditry, a treasurer may be stealing money, a spymaster may be feeding you false information, a court chaplain may be running a brothel. If successful this plot can lower the relations or even get the target fired from the council.
Of course the events associated with this plot would need to have a chance to fire on their own (i.e. without any plot) to make it hard for the player to tell if it’s real or not.
Make people believe X is a bastard
The goal of this plot is to make a legitimate child gain the bastard trait and be removed from the line of succession. For obvious reasons (to avoid abuse) it should be very hard to pull off as the father of the target, and the plot should be difficult anyway. If successful the target may be framed into being a bastard of a specific character (less likely) or a random servant.
Make X become branded as heretic
The goal of this plot is to make people believe that the target is a heretic, lowering his/her relations with most characters of the same faith, especially men of the cloth. If the target is already a member of a heresy, the plot would mark them as not really being a heretic.
Now for the big ones:
Frame X for murder
Exactly what it say, but there’s more to it. If you’re a member of a murder plot you may make it seem like the target is the culprit. If you manage to frame them for a murder of their relative, they may even get the “Kinslayer” trait. If you’re not in any murder plot the target would be framed for a murder of an unnamed knight/lady.
Cause X to start a Civil War
Really big one: make the leader of a faction start a war in the faction’s name. Very difficult, could be used to create the necessary circumstances to get the plot leader into dungeon or even executed/banished, could be used to create favourable circumstances for your own faction.
And a special one:
Seduce X
Not a usual type of plot (perhaps it could be an ambition instead). You cannot invite other members and you cannot be discovered. You can, however fail, which can have various results (e.g. liege throwing you into prison for trying to seduce his wife) and can succeed to well (may result in bastards). The goal is to make the target your lover.
The first three could result in the plot’s failure, which could at worst put you in jail. The latter two could even get you branded a traitor.
In order to facilitate a bigger array of plots, I also suggest a change to the number of plots going on. A character should be able to start a number of plots dependant upon the strength of their intrigue ability: 0-10 – 1 plot, 11-20 – 2 plots >20 – 3 plots.
The game will never be complete until we can play from random count all the way to emperor without ever starting a war.
Stay tuned for BHM suggestions 2: mercenaries, holy orders and heir control
