Hello everyone! Welcome to our fifth Elder Kings 0.1.7 Developer Diary! Following the release of Reaper’s Due, we have been focused on getting the mod compatible with the game’s new features. However, we have also been developing new content for various races/cultures and religions. Today we’ll be talking about new features for Imperials, Argonians who follow the Hist, and the Altmer.
The Colovians, Heartlanders and Nibeneans are each unique, but they do have a shared heritage that makes them all decidedly Cyrodilic. One facet that sets them apart from the other peoples of Tamriel but holds them together is their emphasis on an expansive, well-organized government. And how does one make sure that their government accomplishes its various goals and policies? Why, with bureaucracy, of course! Rulers of the three Imperial cultures have a unique Imperial Bureaucratic Policies decision that they may take provided they have some money in their treasury. The ruler’s bureaucrats organize so that they may receive orders (and the necessary funds) from their liege instructing them on which of five policies they should pursue.
Once a policy is chosen, the ruler’s agents disperse in order to carry out their liege’s orders. While the cost of a policy always depends upon the ruler’s yearly income, the effectiveness of the policy instead depends upon the ruler’s rank. Dukes get better policies than Counts, Kings get better policies than Dukes, and Emperors get the best policies.
Due to the sweeping nature of each policy, only one policy may be in effect at a time. A ruler may not stop an ongoing policy, but once a policy runs its course, that ruler can elect to initiate the same policy or choose a different one altogether.
Similarly to the Imperial cultures, Argonians who belong to the Hist religion have a unique decision that they may take: one which allows them to refocus their connection with the Hist itself. Argonians owe their very civilization to the assistance of the Hist, which play a profound role in their life cycle and which maintain lifelong connections with many Argonians. The Hist can alter how these connections function, such as how they strengthened the People of the Root during the Oblivion Crisis. But changes in how the Hist are connected to the Argonians need not be so dramatic. Sometimes, an Argonian can receive the assistance of the Hist in much more mundane circumstances.
When an Argonian chooses to Refocus their Connection with the Hist, they perform a ritual which facilitates communication with the Hist. Afterwards, the Hist will manipulate the Argonian’s abilities according to that Argonian’s wishes, dramatically strengthening one Attribute at the cost of the other four Attributes. As the Argonian becomes more astute in a particular area, that Argonian will gain new comprehension that makes them more effective in tasks related to that Attribute (Learning is the only exception, since Learning directly corresponds with Magicka). Unlike the Imperial Bureaucratic Policies, the cost of the decision is a fixed amount of Piety, and the effects do not scale with rank. However, these effects also last for five years, are limited to one at a time, and cannot be canceled, but an Argonian can once again Refocus their Connection with the Hist as soon as the effects have worn off and they have the requisite Piety.
Lastly, let's talk about the Altmer. There are few things that Altmer society takes more seriously than Purity. Thousands of years of careful breeding have allowed the natives of Summerset to maintain what they believe are the looks and traits of the ancient Aldmeri. But as difficult as Purity has been to maintain, it can very easily be disrupted. Altmer who fraternize with non-Altmer are always at risk of being labeled as Impure, as are Altmer who spend too much time away from their people’s homeland. Court life for Altmer is dominated by the act of preserving Purity, as being named Impure is a stain upon that Altmer’s reputation with all Pure Altmer. In order to maintain one’s Purity, it is necessary to address the alleged source of the problem. This may mean taking a trip through the Summerset countryside…
Or it can mean ending a friendship, or breaking off an affair with a non-Altmer paramour. Some Altmer, however, will not take these precautions...
Being recognized as Impure is an ordeal that few Altmer wish to face. Fortunately, there is a solution, even for Altmer who have been seen as Impure for their whole lives. Alinor is home to scores of Sapiarchs (highly-learned persons) who are willing to test certain Altmer in order to determine whether or not they are truly Pure or Impure. These examinations are arduous, and any Altmer who wishes to be tested will first travel Alinor, taking in the sights and culture of their people in order to prepare for the Sapiarchs’ litany of questions.
The test itself is divided into five phases; one for each of the character’s Attributes. How well the Altmer performs is directly related to their Attribute score. If the corresponding Attribute is sufficient, they will impress the Sapiarchs with their knowledge during that phase.
If not, they may earn the Sapiarchs’ scorn instead.
After the five phases of the test are complete, the Sapiarchs will deliberate and eventually reach a verdict regarding the Altmer’s Purity. For those few Altmer who have the abilities to impress the Sapiarchs in the majority of the phases of the exam, they will be recognized as Pure.
Altmer who can pass every phase of their examination with flying colors will gain additional recognition in the form of additional Piety. Successful pilgrimages have the additional benefit of protecting the pertinent Altmer against any allegations of Impurity, no matter where they go or who they spend their time with.
And that concludes this edition of the Elder Kings 0.1.7 Developer Diary! Thanks for reading!
The Colovians, Heartlanders and Nibeneans are each unique, but they do have a shared heritage that makes them all decidedly Cyrodilic. One facet that sets them apart from the other peoples of Tamriel but holds them together is their emphasis on an expansive, well-organized government. And how does one make sure that their government accomplishes its various goals and policies? Why, with bureaucracy, of course! Rulers of the three Imperial cultures have a unique Imperial Bureaucratic Policies decision that they may take provided they have some money in their treasury. The ruler’s bureaucrats organize so that they may receive orders (and the necessary funds) from their liege instructing them on which of five policies they should pursue.
Once a policy is chosen, the ruler’s agents disperse in order to carry out their liege’s orders. While the cost of a policy always depends upon the ruler’s yearly income, the effectiveness of the policy instead depends upon the ruler’s rank. Dukes get better policies than Counts, Kings get better policies than Dukes, and Emperors get the best policies.
Due to the sweeping nature of each policy, only one policy may be in effect at a time. A ruler may not stop an ongoing policy, but once a policy runs its course, that ruler can elect to initiate the same policy or choose a different one altogether.
Similarly to the Imperial cultures, Argonians who belong to the Hist religion have a unique decision that they may take: one which allows them to refocus their connection with the Hist itself. Argonians owe their very civilization to the assistance of the Hist, which play a profound role in their life cycle and which maintain lifelong connections with many Argonians. The Hist can alter how these connections function, such as how they strengthened the People of the Root during the Oblivion Crisis. But changes in how the Hist are connected to the Argonians need not be so dramatic. Sometimes, an Argonian can receive the assistance of the Hist in much more mundane circumstances.
When an Argonian chooses to Refocus their Connection with the Hist, they perform a ritual which facilitates communication with the Hist. Afterwards, the Hist will manipulate the Argonian’s abilities according to that Argonian’s wishes, dramatically strengthening one Attribute at the cost of the other four Attributes. As the Argonian becomes more astute in a particular area, that Argonian will gain new comprehension that makes them more effective in tasks related to that Attribute (Learning is the only exception, since Learning directly corresponds with Magicka). Unlike the Imperial Bureaucratic Policies, the cost of the decision is a fixed amount of Piety, and the effects do not scale with rank. However, these effects also last for five years, are limited to one at a time, and cannot be canceled, but an Argonian can once again Refocus their Connection with the Hist as soon as the effects have worn off and they have the requisite Piety.
Lastly, let's talk about the Altmer. There are few things that Altmer society takes more seriously than Purity. Thousands of years of careful breeding have allowed the natives of Summerset to maintain what they believe are the looks and traits of the ancient Aldmeri. But as difficult as Purity has been to maintain, it can very easily be disrupted. Altmer who fraternize with non-Altmer are always at risk of being labeled as Impure, as are Altmer who spend too much time away from their people’s homeland. Court life for Altmer is dominated by the act of preserving Purity, as being named Impure is a stain upon that Altmer’s reputation with all Pure Altmer. In order to maintain one’s Purity, it is necessary to address the alleged source of the problem. This may mean taking a trip through the Summerset countryside…
Or it can mean ending a friendship, or breaking off an affair with a non-Altmer paramour. Some Altmer, however, will not take these precautions...
Being recognized as Impure is an ordeal that few Altmer wish to face. Fortunately, there is a solution, even for Altmer who have been seen as Impure for their whole lives. Alinor is home to scores of Sapiarchs (highly-learned persons) who are willing to test certain Altmer in order to determine whether or not they are truly Pure or Impure. These examinations are arduous, and any Altmer who wishes to be tested will first travel Alinor, taking in the sights and culture of their people in order to prepare for the Sapiarchs’ litany of questions.
The test itself is divided into five phases; one for each of the character’s Attributes. How well the Altmer performs is directly related to their Attribute score. If the corresponding Attribute is sufficient, they will impress the Sapiarchs with their knowledge during that phase.
If not, they may earn the Sapiarchs’ scorn instead.
After the five phases of the test are complete, the Sapiarchs will deliberate and eventually reach a verdict regarding the Altmer’s Purity. For those few Altmer who have the abilities to impress the Sapiarchs in the majority of the phases of the exam, they will be recognized as Pure.
Altmer who can pass every phase of their examination with flying colors will gain additional recognition in the form of additional Piety. Successful pilgrimages have the additional benefit of protecting the pertinent Altmer against any allegations of Impurity, no matter where they go or who they spend their time with.
And that concludes this edition of the Elder Kings 0.1.7 Developer Diary! Thanks for reading!
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