Yep, me too
It'll also make it more interesting for my next character, since he may or may not try to befriend the rival of his rival...
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
It'll also make it more interesting for my next character, since he may or may not try to befriend the rival of his rival...
I see that there is a desire to reform to make the senate more radicalized than it currently is. My thoughts are that without something at stake no one will try to push too hard for something because isn't worth it. So to increase the hope of some competition you should ought to hand out more titles. Also what could be done is to add two positions into the faction. A secondus, essentially a successor in case of... improper behavior, and a faction opposition character. One suggestion for the name of this character could be the bannerman. The duties of the secondus will be to encourage faction members to follow the faction leader in exchange they receive the ability to distribute 1/2 of the titles save the odd titles which will stay with the leader. The leader will pick which titles he wants first and he is the one to pick the secondus at will and can fire him any time after the first session he is chosen. The opposition character is chosen by the other two faction leaders with the senate president presiding over the tie breaker with comparison of relative activity and good behavior. This character leads the dissent and can formulate a different vote or he can go with the faction leader and be given at least one title.
Pro's of this idea are: Less confusion, more factional strength, a reason to stay within a decaying faction, and internal discussion of who is going to be top dog being more dynamic.
Con's of this idea are: More work, increased possibility of too much complexity, and the need for a spreadsheet to keep things straight.
So all I'll ask is some consideration.
Pro's of this idea are: Less confusion, more factional strength, a reason to stay within a decaying faction, and internal discussion of who is going to be top dog being more dynamic.
Con's of this idea are: More work, increased possibility of too much complexity, and the need for a spreadsheet to keep things straight.
So all I'll ask is some consideration.
I disagree. Why should my senator vote the same than yours if I disagree? Other thing is if we have a caucus or faction meeting and we all decide by majority that we should vote whatever, but to follow what you say as sheeps with the shepherd? No way!!!
The idea of a faction meeting before every session where a faction decides what to vote for seems good.
We'll need to know what are we voting on through.
We'll need to know what are we voting on through.
Some new senators shall join the Senate soon; I didn't have time today but I should post a new Diarium Senatorum tomorrow/day after that. So if you sent me your application, I already read it but didn't have time to send you my comments.
It could also be that senaors who displease there faction leader might have shorter life expactancys.Coug cough
If the factions would decide before the senate session in a meeting, than the actual session would be more about swinging the unaffiliated to a factions opinion, giving them a more important roll in the Senate.
Yes, but now that you mention it, it does make it sound like votings will be less exciting.
We need to find a way to allow factions to change their vote, because without that there will be no way to make deals or convince other factions.
How would the proposed system work with switching factions? I could see the instance of a senator disagreeing with his faction's proposed voting plan and deciding to vote as unaligned or as part of another faction, but would this weaken the faction system too much?
[size=+2]FACTION MEETING - OPENING[/size]
Illustrious protospatharios Michael Komnenos, President of the Imperial Senate and vestarches of the Sacred Palace hereby announces that
[size=+2]THE SECOND MEETING OF THE BLUE DEMES HAS BEGUN[/size]
Illustrious protospatharios Michael Komnenos, President of the Imperial Senate and vestarches of the Sacred Palace hereby announces that
[size=+2]THE SECOND MEETING OF THE BLUE DEMES HAS BEGUN[/size]
[size=+1]EXCERPT FROM THE RULES[/size]
May the blessing of Saint Markos be upon all of us.
Signed,
Michael Komnenos
President of the Imperial Senate
Signed,
Michael Komnenos
President of the Imperial Senate
[size=+1]***[/size]
Illustration by Antoine Helbert : http://www.antoine-helbert.com/shop/articles/91518/zoom/3_boukoleon.jpg
[size=+1]2nd January 1480Boukoleon, Sacred Palace, Konstantinoupolis[/size]
The Neptune's Balcony, called so because of an ancient fresco depicting Poseidon commanding the waves of a furious sea during storm, is almost completely filled with pillowed couches surrounding huge mahogany table. Against the marble walls of the room stand several smaller tables bending under the weight of various dishes on a silver tableware. The whole room is decorated with blue draperies and despite an early hour, the light shining through the windows covered with silk curtains is dim. Although there are at least dozens of burning aromatic incenses within the Neptune's Balcony, the seaside scent – salty, fishy, slightly sulfury with a pinch of rotting algae – is still perceptible. As the leader of the Blue Demes enters the room, he's greeted by an eunuch accompanied by four members of the Imperial Senate Guard, all of them armed.
EUNUCH ZENON: Most honorable senator Hadrianos of the House Raoul. *bows* The Neptune's Balcony has been prepared for your arrival. The guardsmen shall stay in the corridor for the safety of all noble Senators who are gathering here. I hope you will find the arrangements made by me satisfying. *bows deeply* I'm obliged to remind your honor that after this meeting it's expected of your Demes to provide His Excellency Illustrious President of the Imperial Senate protospatharios Michael Komnenos with statement concerning matters you deem most important for the Imperium in the following years. *bows deeply* My lord. *eunuch turns around and leaves*
[size=+1]***[/size]
During this meeting Blue Demes has to decide which permanent modifiers this Faction will be providing the Imperium with.
Right now the Blue Demes gives the following modifiers when its dominant in the Imperial Senate:
Code:
[color=green]-5% idea cost
+1 diplomatic relation[/color]
[color=red]-5% land morale
-2% missionary strength[/color]
[color=yellow]+10% global ship cost[/color]Blue Demes has to choose 1 (one) new modifier among the following ones:
Code:
[color=green]+1 naval leader maneuver [/color]
Code:
[color=green]+5% galley combat ability[/color]
Code:
[color=green]+1 merchant[/color]You have to reach consensus as a Demes to chose a new modifier. If you fail to do so, I'll choose for you.
When all Factions choose their new bonuses, I'll assign new maluses to each Faction to keep the balance between them.
[size=+1]***[/size]
In other news, I'm still very busy and I didn't have any free time to speak of during last several days. So if you are waiting for some news on your submissions to the Senate or „Imperium Sine Fine” saves, well, you've got to be patient.
{{Am I allowed to post in character? None of the other Blue Demes are posting...}}
Senator Gaius Arrius
*Gaius enters the Neptune's Balcony, surprised to see he is the first to arrive. He pauses, looking over the room. Years of debating, making plans, and trying to save his home come to the front of his mind. His lips stretch into a bitter smile.*
Heh... Did any of it do any good? Can the Imperium be helped? Have the Senators doomed themselves by refusing to work together? ...Have I doomed my family?
*Gaius enters the Neptune's Balcony, surprised to see he is the first to arrive. He pauses, looking over the room. Years of debating, making plans, and trying to save his home come to the front of his mind. His lips stretch into a bitter smile.*
Heh... Did any of it do any good? Can the Imperium be helped? Have the Senators doomed themselves by refusing to work together? ...Have I doomed my family?
{{ Excuse me everyone, I thought that would be a good date but I don't have much time to dedicate to this session :sad:
I'll post what my character thinks and so on before leaving this afternoon but I can't promise I'll post after.
I think we also have to choose the next leader since Hadrianos is very old and I don't think he'll be there for the next Session }}
I'll post what my character thinks and so on before leaving this afternoon but I can't promise I'll post after.
I think we also have to choose the next leader since Hadrianos is very old and I don't think he'll be there for the next Session }}
[SIZE=+1]Senator Anastasios Salamis VI:[/SIZE]
*Anastasios enters the room, and it is almost empty. Accompanying him are his son and chosen heir, 35 years old Antiochos Salamis, and his 41 years old cousin and bitter rival, Georgios Salamis, which became so influentional in the house that the house elders pressured Anastasios to bring him along.
In the last decade, Anastasios was working very hard to increase his and his house's influence. He tried to negotiate a deal between the leaders of the factions, and althrough he failed- the failure of the Senate to reach a majority and decide on anything, which Anastasios quickly used to show just how his deal was necessary, gave him support from many influentional people in the Imperium and in the day after the Senate session it already seemed like it will give him much power. Anastasios also continued to develop castle Salamis- showing that he won't give this land away for a manor in Conastantinopolis. The castle and its surrounding city, which Anastasios already developed to the point of becoming the second biggest city in thema Athens after the city of Athens itself, became an important naval city in the Agaean sea- and a base of operations for the Raoul-Salamis allience in the Agean.
A succession crisis was brewing in house Salamis- Anastasios neglected in-house politics during this decade, and Georgios, a great rival of Anastasios and his sons just like his father Pontius 'the snake', became a threat for the choosing of Antiochos as the next representative in the Senate. The succession system in house Salamis was that a group of house elders (which weren't always elders and included influentional people in the house including the house head), acted like an in-house Senate and consulted the head of the house on many matters. When a head of the house died, he got to choose his successor- however, the elders, with an almost unanimous majority, could change it. This, however, almost never happened. When the Senate of the Imperium was introduced and House Salamis was invited, it was decided that the house elders will choose a representative and he will not nessecarily be the new head of the house.
Thus, Georgios was gaining more and more ground in the race for the Senate representation. He used vicious romours in his campaign- as Antiochos was very hard-to-educate in his childhood (but lated became a very capable man), Georgios claimed that Antiochos was dumb and his father's puppet- that alone, he will be worth nothing. It was unknown who will win the race- Antiochos, a blue supporter and his father's son, or Georgios the white supporter?
Anastasios sat down, thinking about his problems, and waited for the rest of the Senators to come.*
*Anastasios enters the room, and it is almost empty. Accompanying him are his son and chosen heir, 35 years old Antiochos Salamis, and his 41 years old cousin and bitter rival, Georgios Salamis, which became so influentional in the house that the house elders pressured Anastasios to bring him along.
In the last decade, Anastasios was working very hard to increase his and his house's influence. He tried to negotiate a deal between the leaders of the factions, and althrough he failed- the failure of the Senate to reach a majority and decide on anything, which Anastasios quickly used to show just how his deal was necessary, gave him support from many influentional people in the Imperium and in the day after the Senate session it already seemed like it will give him much power. Anastasios also continued to develop castle Salamis- showing that he won't give this land away for a manor in Conastantinopolis. The castle and its surrounding city, which Anastasios already developed to the point of becoming the second biggest city in thema Athens after the city of Athens itself, became an important naval city in the Agaean sea- and a base of operations for the Raoul-Salamis allience in the Agean.
A succession crisis was brewing in house Salamis- Anastasios neglected in-house politics during this decade, and Georgios, a great rival of Anastasios and his sons just like his father Pontius 'the snake', became a threat for the choosing of Antiochos as the next representative in the Senate. The succession system in house Salamis was that a group of house elders (which weren't always elders and included influentional people in the house including the house head), acted like an in-house Senate and consulted the head of the house on many matters. When a head of the house died, he got to choose his successor- however, the elders, with an almost unanimous majority, could change it. This, however, almost never happened. When the Senate of the Imperium was introduced and House Salamis was invited, it was decided that the house elders will choose a representative and he will not nessecarily be the new head of the house.
Thus, Georgios was gaining more and more ground in the race for the Senate representation. He used vicious romours in his campaign- as Antiochos was very hard-to-educate in his childhood (but lated became a very capable man), Georgios claimed that Antiochos was dumb and his father's puppet- that alone, he will be worth nothing. It was unknown who will win the race- Antiochos, a blue supporter and his father's son, or Georgios the white supporter?
Anastasios sat down, thinking about his problems, and waited for the rest of the Senators to come.*
Frederik V Hvide
Frederik walk into the balcony, his metallic prosthesis heralding his arrival. The ancient Norseman walking past the guards and over to the balcony overlooking the harbor.
"I wished that i could get one last triumph on the senate... Before the end." He waves Gaius over. "Gaius, did we do the right thing? By wanting to seek new lands, instead of gaining strength from what we already possess? One vote, that was all we needed, one more vote and we could have had the ear of Augustus." He sighs heavily and grabs a goblet of wine from a nearby servant. "Gaius i fear that our time is at an end, my strength dwindles by the day, we must make sure that the next generation of senators are prepared to continue our plans."
"Have you chosen your successor? We must also choose the successor of Hadrianos, he, like me, will likely not live to see the next senate session."
Frederik walk into the balcony, his metallic prosthesis heralding his arrival. The ancient Norseman walking past the guards and over to the balcony overlooking the harbor.
"I wished that i could get one last triumph on the senate... Before the end." He waves Gaius over. "Gaius, did we do the right thing? By wanting to seek new lands, instead of gaining strength from what we already possess? One vote, that was all we needed, one more vote and we could have had the ear of Augustus." He sighs heavily and grabs a goblet of wine from a nearby servant. "Gaius i fear that our time is at an end, my strength dwindles by the day, we must make sure that the next generation of senators are prepared to continue our plans."
"Have you chosen your successor? We must also choose the successor of Hadrianos, he, like me, will likely not live to see the next senate session."
Senator Hadrianos Raoul
*Hadrianos enters the Balcony alone. After the Senate Session that was held yesterday, he had another argument with his son Maximos, who wanted his father to designate him to be a candidate in the coming election for the Blue Demes. They had had many arguments in the past but this one was too much for the old Hadrianos who suffocated in the middle of it, nearly making an apoplexy attack. He arrives here tired and with a pale face. He sees on the faces of many Blues that they are wondering how he could come here. Nonetheless he stands in the middle of the room and begins his speech*
My dear friends, we are here to ... discuss how our relations can serve the Empire, shall my successor obtain a position of influence beside our glorious emperor. You shall excuse myself for I'm not in good health today. I will surely restrain from talking much during this session and I will let you speak and choose what you think is best. I think we can benefit the empire in three ways.
Firstly, we know many droungarios in the Imperial Navy, some really talented and I think we could help in choosing the Best Officers available for the post of Droungarios.
Secondly, our connections with merchants can help provide the Empire with many Slaves for the Galleys and thus reduce the cost of such ships.
Lastly, these same connections could provide the Imperium with a Better Trade Network to direct trade toward our ports.
My advice is that we provide the Best Officers. The other options would make us look like the clichés of the greedy merchants the other Senator accuse us of being. Moreover, the Navy is the key to the success of the Imperium, securing the Straits of Hercules being the best defense we can provide.
There is also the matter of my successor. I'm a mere man and as you can see, death is slowly taking me away ... I will designate no one. My son is not worthy of this task and since I don't want to influence your debates I shall Abstain from choosing a successor.
That will be all.
*Hadrianos lie on his couch, breathing heavily and awaiting for the advices of the other Blues*
{{ Like that in the case I can't take part in the Session, you can still act }}
*Hadrianos enters the Balcony alone. After the Senate Session that was held yesterday, he had another argument with his son Maximos, who wanted his father to designate him to be a candidate in the coming election for the Blue Demes. They had had many arguments in the past but this one was too much for the old Hadrianos who suffocated in the middle of it, nearly making an apoplexy attack. He arrives here tired and with a pale face. He sees on the faces of many Blues that they are wondering how he could come here. Nonetheless he stands in the middle of the room and begins his speech*
My dear friends, we are here to ... discuss how our relations can serve the Empire, shall my successor obtain a position of influence beside our glorious emperor. You shall excuse myself for I'm not in good health today. I will surely restrain from talking much during this session and I will let you speak and choose what you think is best. I think we can benefit the empire in three ways.
Firstly, we know many droungarios in the Imperial Navy, some really talented and I think we could help in choosing the Best Officers available for the post of Droungarios.
Secondly, our connections with merchants can help provide the Empire with many Slaves for the Galleys and thus reduce the cost of such ships.
Lastly, these same connections could provide the Imperium with a Better Trade Network to direct trade toward our ports.
My advice is that we provide the Best Officers. The other options would make us look like the clichés of the greedy merchants the other Senator accuse us of being. Moreover, the Navy is the key to the success of the Imperium, securing the Straits of Hercules being the best defense we can provide.
There is also the matter of my successor. I'm a mere man and as you can see, death is slowly taking me away ... I will designate no one. My son is not worthy of this task and since I don't want to influence your debates I shall Abstain from choosing a successor.
That will be all.
*Hadrianos lie on his couch, breathing heavily and awaiting for the advices of the other Blues*
{{ Like that in the case I can't take part in the Session, you can still act
}}Senator Zubilus Jailus
*An old sitting in corner slowly rises up to speak his heir has fallen ill and will be crippled if he lives at all and his second son has traitorously joined the whites
Fellow senators
Imperium is straddled with debts and close minded bureaucrats dominate it .
We must stop with our alliance and talks with other demes either they are with us or against us
There can be no compromise or inter deme splitting.
The emperor has asked for our advice and here is it.
Imperium must make rapid expansion of it's trade network along with creating an fleet to secure our trade in the Erythraean Sea .
Our army must also adopt a more defensive posture as the constant wars have strained our finances.
The church may also need some reform as it may be hiding taxes and heresy benheets it's surface
*An old sitting in corner slowly rises up to speak his heir has fallen ill and will be crippled if he lives at all and his second son has traitorously joined the whites
Fellow senators
Imperium is straddled with debts and close minded bureaucrats dominate it .
We must stop with our alliance and talks with other demes either they are with us or against us
There can be no compromise or inter deme splitting.
The emperor has asked for our advice and here is it.
Imperium must make rapid expansion of it's trade network along with creating an fleet to secure our trade in the Erythraean Sea .
Our army must also adopt a more defensive posture as the constant wars have strained our finances.
The church may also need some reform as it may be hiding taxes and heresy benheets it's surface
[SIZE=+1]Senator Lazaros Melissenos[/SIZE]
*Again Lazaros is led in the room by a servant who escorts him to his place, before leaving. An again, the blind old man has brought no successor to accompany him. Who is to know his thoughts on this? Does he envy the other senators? Is he bitter about the lack of interest of his son? His thoughts are hidden behind a mask, trained by a long political live. Instead he chooses to concentrate on the matter at hand and listens to Hadrianos. As he begins to speak, hist voice is strong and clear as always and does not show the sorrows in his mind.*
Dear friends. I think there is no doubt, that the senate session yesterday was a small success at most – for at least a small expedition will start – and a catastrophe at most, since we could not reach a majority and the emperor – blessed may he be – will surly take another course than we would have advised. This might have been a lesson for us all. Well, except for our dear Anastasios who can instead say with full right: “I told you so.”
*Lazaros smiles a moment.*
Therefore we – and our successors as well – need to show more unity. Be ready for compromises, mostly in our ranks but also with the huge number of unaffiliated men. Today is perhaps the first test of this unity.
I shall add my opinion on this matter. I for one would prefer the establishment of new trade routes, a tighter web of merchants, maybe even beyond the borders of the empire – not in the lands of Xenoi and Pisans of course. A Better Trade Network will enhance the wealth of our cities and the empire and if the years past have shown one thing, than it is the fact, that money is necessary. Wars are expensive and the amount of subsidies that will go out of our lands in the next years will drain the imperial treasury further.
Nonetheless, I spoke of compromises and so I'm also willing to support a policy, that will put only the Best Officers on the helm of our ships. Many many years ago I spoke out against a policy that tries to bury the enemy under a pile of bodies of roman citizens, so this is a chance to convince the people that an elite military is better than a mass military. But also many years ago I made my opinion on slavery clear, so it would take a lot of good arguments to let me support to put more of them on our galleys.
*Having spoken, his fingers feel their way over a nearby table to grab a goblet, from which he drinks a few sips of Water.*
*Again Lazaros is led in the room by a servant who escorts him to his place, before leaving. An again, the blind old man has brought no successor to accompany him. Who is to know his thoughts on this? Does he envy the other senators? Is he bitter about the lack of interest of his son? His thoughts are hidden behind a mask, trained by a long political live. Instead he chooses to concentrate on the matter at hand and listens to Hadrianos. As he begins to speak, hist voice is strong and clear as always and does not show the sorrows in his mind.*
Dear friends. I think there is no doubt, that the senate session yesterday was a small success at most – for at least a small expedition will start – and a catastrophe at most, since we could not reach a majority and the emperor – blessed may he be – will surly take another course than we would have advised. This might have been a lesson for us all. Well, except for our dear Anastasios who can instead say with full right: “I told you so.”
*Lazaros smiles a moment.*
Therefore we – and our successors as well – need to show more unity. Be ready for compromises, mostly in our ranks but also with the huge number of unaffiliated men. Today is perhaps the first test of this unity.
I shall add my opinion on this matter. I for one would prefer the establishment of new trade routes, a tighter web of merchants, maybe even beyond the borders of the empire – not in the lands of Xenoi and Pisans of course. A Better Trade Network will enhance the wealth of our cities and the empire and if the years past have shown one thing, than it is the fact, that money is necessary. Wars are expensive and the amount of subsidies that will go out of our lands in the next years will drain the imperial treasury further.
Nonetheless, I spoke of compromises and so I'm also willing to support a policy, that will put only the Best Officers on the helm of our ships. Many many years ago I spoke out against a policy that tries to bury the enemy under a pile of bodies of roman citizens, so this is a chance to convince the people that an elite military is better than a mass military. But also many years ago I made my opinion on slavery clear, so it would take a lot of good arguments to let me support to put more of them on our galleys.
*Having spoken, his fingers feel their way over a nearby table to grab a goblet, from which he drinks a few sips of Water.*