Novgorod in Mare Nostrum: How is it supposed to be played?

[The-Doc]

The Merchant Republic was definitely added in as a flavor style for Venice/Genoa and Lubeck to a lesser extent. Really you could've fit them easily as oligarchic republics with trade and naval NIs. It's just something extra to play around with.

Especially given that the Aristocrat faction grants sailors now, it really doesn't fit Novgorod and it never really did. Trade was certainly important to Novgorod, but it wasn't the central feature. The government wasn't even entirely electoral. The possadnik and veche were powerful, but that is true of any important medieval city. The Kniaz (usually selected from a Russian principality) and the boyars were important and in some sources it appears the Archbishop is the actual political authority.

Nothing in Novgorod's poorly recorded and tumultuous history however indicates similarity to maritime city-state republics of Europe.

 

[CoconutJones]

I read in another thread i think the one about merchant republics not being able to expand into Asia/Africa/new-world that it was bugged and not working right, the 20 provinces are supposed to be only ones directly owned by your country, so its not counting any states that would allow you to expand and grow larger, it will still limit Novgorod's growth by having to insure u get good admin techs and upgraded empire so u can have as many states as possible to get to the Asian trade nodes

 

[PaleoTurtle]

I actually do not dislike Novgorod's MR Status. Trade was the lifeline of the republic-- it was trade that brought in the wealth to make a nation strong enough to hold its own even though most of its land is undeveloped taiga and tundra. In a way, Novgorod was a city state, especially towards the end of it's life time: the city of Novgorod and the regions around it dominated the nation in fields of trade, government and population. And, while Novgorods administrative situation historically may not be suitably described by the government type I think Merchant Republic comes pretty close. If Novgorod were any government type, it probaly was more like an Oligarchy-Republic. But so too were to Venice and Genoa. If you are to take away Novgorods MR government type the same could be said for the other MRs. Once again, trade was the source of the nation's power and prosperity, and not acknowledging that would be an offense to the history. I personally, do not see the trouble with having to build tall with Novgorod. It is awkward at times yes, but not impossible- my Novgorod campign right now is fun and unique. However, I do like and support the suggestions floating around about a potential special government type-- perhaps a compromise. A government type that allows a decent degree wide expansion, recongnizes the importance of trade and acknowlodges Novgorods unique administrative quirks. That however, is quite an order to ask for.