The Tribal Elders of Delphi

The Chief Minister, Kirillos Christides wanted to get advice from his fellow Synedroi.

Leondias advised the Chief Minister the following:

I would advise the Chief Minister that we research Civil Service to improve the output of Delphian farmlands. As for what to build in Delphi Nova a Writer's Guild would be a wise option as to further improve Delphi's culture. Improving our farmlands would also help feed these writers. Since the Delphian economy is in great shape and we can afford gifts to Almaty and supporting new military units, I would advise the Chief Minister to improve relations with them

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The Basileus of the Delphians and the Siamese, Melodas Melodopoulos was normally an affable monarch, but he was in a cantankerous mood for some reason.

"Phrenios!" he bellowed.

The royal secretary entered warily. He knew his friend well enough to avoid cracking any of his usual jokes when he was in a mood such as this.

"Sire?" he cautiously tested the waters.

"Where is the Chief Minister? I have need to put my seal to orders and his advice is overdue!"

"Would you like me to attend the Synedrion?"

"Yes, do it," the Basileus grumped.

Phrenios hastily beat a retreat but as he left the room a final demand flew after him: "I want advice from the Synedrion! If the Chief Minister's not there, any Synedros will do!"


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So, I'm keen to get the next election on, so if I don't receive advice from the Chief Minister [timer=08/09/2015 3:08 AM UTC;before one week from my previous post]TIMER EXPIRED[/timer], I will be taking the proposals already aired in the Synedrion as the Synedrion's advice and proceeding forthwith.

And as Phrenios hurried out he could be heard to grumble to himself "Aye sire, but a save would be helpful."

Civil Service it is, we could use the extra food right now as long as we can offset happiness. And having artists being produced when we want to stop growth seems like a good strategy. Here's a doubt I'd like to bring to the Synedrion, would the capital be a good place to focus our artist growth?

Also, I'd say we can provide a gift to Almaty, we can rely on their help with the war units, so we can focus on culture.

Its not always easy to see where to focus GP production and build the national epic but GP cities need lots of extra food and decent production so you can build wonders and specialist buildings. Delphi has better production but the two fish in Kirrha give it way more food and much better chance of running specialists, and production there isn't bad either. So either city could work but I think the food situation makes Kirrha a slightly better GP city.

Also in two turns we can purchase a missionary. Milan has a quest to convert them to our religion.

Did we make a proposal to the World Congress?

1889 said:

Did we make a proposal to the World Congress?

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Yes.

And here is the save.

For future reference, by default I will be sharing the save at the start of each election. Apart from that I will share the save any other time it's requested.

I will wait another twenty and a half hours until I act upon this advice, while the above discussion about growth, artists, culture and great people is resolved (unless I receive formal advice earlier than that, of course, in which case I'll act sooner).

Also, how much would we be wanting to gift to the County of Almaty?

How much per gift? And how much can we gift?

Also, an aqueduct for our capital seems fine for me, if no one wants to make a case against it.

OOC: I'm just asking because we should decide on what to build on Delphi and Khirra, so that should be the base of our focus. Thing is, what other interesting wonders are coming up in tech? How is Khirra's production vs our capital? It would be good to compare them on this point too.

I am against gifting money to any city state right now. In addition Almaty is a militaristic city state, which I place lowest priority on, a free unity every 20 turns is nice but it usually isn't the one you would have chosen. I would much rather save the gold until one of the others is looking for investors then try to give 1000 gold for max benefit.

Okay, the Chief Minister advised gifting Almaty but didn't specify an amount. As the timer is up, this could potentially be an issue on which to campaign (for or against) in the next Synedrian election so I will leave it be for the time being.

168

Construction commenced in the capital on an aqueduct to provide the growing city's residents with access to clean water. The farmers in the capital's surrounds in particular were happy with this project. It is due for completion one year after the next scheduled Synedrian election.



169

We are no longer friends with the County of Almaty.

Our wise men have formulated a system of thinking they term as Philosophy.



The citizens of Kirrha have proudly completed brand new work boats. I am unsure as to where they are meant to go, so they will scout down the Islandian west coast for now.

Our scholars inform me that our golden age has ended. It was a truly great time to be alive in the Delphian Kingdom, but such times are not to last.

Kirrha commenced work on a new market. This pleased the aristocracy based within that city. It is due for completion three years after the next scheduled Synedrian election.

Our wise thinkers have turned their minds to the concept of a more formal civil service to serve the government of the day and help administer the kingdom. A number of aristocratic neighbourhoods are unhappy that the Chief Minister has, in their view, broken an election commitment to research Guilds. Having said that, radical and farming communities are cautiously optimistic about the choice. It remains to be seen how much, if at all, this decision will affect his popularity among the Delphian Council.



170

The Dutch Protestant Order have completed work on Borobudur.

Our scouts have been forced to tresspass in territory of the County of Brussels, in order to continue their operations. The Count is displeased.

Domestically, a number of cities are ready to grow larger.

In Kirrha, a neighbourhood has converted from Stone Circles to Hellenism.

And with that, the mandated Synedrian election is due, it being now ten years since the 1st Synedrion was sworn in.

Here is where the cities currently stand:










And here is the international scene:

• Delphian Kingdom (Basileus)
• Shoshone Republic (Consuls)
• Despotate of China (Despotess)
• Dutch Protestant Order (Grand Master)
• Polish Catholic Order (Grand Master)
• Quebec Despotate (Despot) --- puppet of the Despotate of China
• County of Brussels (Count)
• Kingdom of Zurich (King)
• County of Milan (Count) --- vassal of Polish Catholic Order
• Republic of Zanzibar (Consuls) --- protectorate of the Shoshone Republic
• Despotate of Almaty (Despot) --- puppet of the Despotate of China

And here is the latest report on the current situation.

The First Synedrion had reached its ten-year age-limit.

Melodas Melodopoulos, Basileus of the Delphians and the Siamese was pleased with the success of the revolutionary experiment with representative government. He gave no public indications as to whether he was happy with the political directions or decisions of his government, merely that he was pleased the elected assembly functioned in the way that it did. It was his hope that from among the kingdom the best and the brightest, the sharpest and keenest minds would be collected and chosen by the wise minds of the Delphian Council. It was a much better alternative, in his opinion, than leaving it all up to one man only until his death. By allowing for a pool of many delegates chosen by the Council, as the Synedrion had demonstrated, there was a much better chance of the Council picking the right person to lead. In his view, Melodas as Basileus was present to reign not rule, and he saw his job as akin to that of a referee in a sporting match, to ensure the constitutional rules were followed by everyone involved. He had utmost confidence in his experiment with representative government, and he couldn't be sure but he hoped that others felt the same way.

It was therefore with pride at the Synedrion's proven success that he summoned Chief Minister Kirillos Christides to his palace and notified him of the dissolution of the chamber in preparation for the upcoming elections to the Second Synedrion. But unlike the previous elections, Melodas would remain in the kingdom to witness first-hand the campaigning that the candidates would undertake to secure a seat in the chamber. He would, like last time, allow his royal secretary Phrenios Phrenopoulos to co-ordinate the proceedings.

He was excited at the prospect. He was looking forward to the campaign for the Synedrian election.

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After the Chief Minister had left His Royal presence, Phrenios returned with interesting news.

"Here are what my sources in the neighbourhoods are saying about the previous candidates."

He handed the Basileus his report.

Melodas read over it as Phrenios continued: "And a lot of neighbourhoods were unhappy that Kirillos broke his promise about Guilds and improving archery, but he is still quite popular despite that, especially in farming communities."

"How very interesting," Melodas observed. "So I suppose the people of Delphi are so happy with his service as Chief Minister they're likely to return him as such."

"Perhaps," Phrenios wasn't so convinced. "If you notice, much of his support is in neighbourhoods without franchise, so their support doesn't translate into actual votes. Also, the campaign hasn't even started yet, so who knows which candidates' promises will win over the electors?"

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Summary of attitude types




Attitudes per neighbourhood

Boldface indicates most favoured candidate (multiple bold mean they have not yet decided between candidates).
*Indicates minority group has franchise.


Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Delphi Nova



Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Kirrha



Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Dostana



Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Apollonia



Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Si Satchanalai



Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Muang Saluang



Neighbourhood attitudes, 170; Sukhothai




So you can see how much support each candidate has with each of the neighbourhoods, even those who don't get to vote. New players aren't listed yet, because it's too soon for their candidacies to have registered with the neighbourhoods (this will change!). Also note that certain neighbourhoods who want voting rights (that includes some radical lower-classed Delphian neighbourhoods --- and all of the Siamese neighbourhoods) will blame whoever was most recently in charge for the lack of change in their circumstances; this is why some neighbourhoods will be more hateful towards Chief Minister Kirillos Christides than would be expected, because he was in the man in charge and he didn't give them franchise.

Something different I'm going to be introducing this time around is a 'home neighbourhood', being a neighbourhood a player will base themselves out of. It will have to be a neighbourhood with voting rights (so: a Delphian aristocratic or priestly neighbourhood) and the upshot will be that while a player resides there they will receive a massive boost to their popularity. This popularity is fleeting, so if you change home neighbourhoods at the next election the boost of popularity you previously received will drop back to normal levels. You could choose to use this 'home neighbourhood' bonus to guarantee yourself a seat in the Synedrion, to win seats you would normally be unlikely to, or to deliberately target a neighbourhood who you know would declare for another player instead. It's up to you. But only one player can be based at a neighbourhood at once, and it's first in best dressed! Also, there is a limit of one change per election. So choose wisely, because you'll be based there for ten turns!

Also, an obvious flaw in my thinking last time was allowing issues beyond the next ten turns to factor into the neighbourhoods' perspectives. This time the only promises the neighbourhoods will take notice of are those which are realistically achievable within the next ten turns (by this token, it means issues of particular importance of the neighbourhoods will only be those which can be achieved within the next ten turns, which was a massive error of judgement of mine last time). So if there are 11 turns until the next social policy being adopted, the neighbourhoods won't pay attention to your social policy promises.

Also, the hints system is going to function differently this time. Last time it was a free insight for each player into two randomly selected neighbourhoods with suffrage, because everyone started on an equal playing field. This time, because we have players ranging from a majority of seats in the Synedrion to none of them the amount of hints you receive will be inversely proportional to the number of seats you held in the previous Synedrion. This will be to encourage a bit of instability in the government, to better reflect the capricious nature of the neighbourhoods. As Kirillos and those Synedroi loyal to him held a majority of seats last time he will receive no hints this time (sorry Bazil!). As Leonidas held a number of seats that, with the increase of seats, would leave he and those Synedrian candidates loyal to him three below a majority in their own right, he will receive only three hints (sorry Gurra!). Aplistios and any new players, not previously holding any seats will receive a random selection of seven hints from enfranchised neighbourhoods to give them a fighting chance (sorry again Bazil and Gurra! ).

The polls will close for this election in exactly one week from now, which means you have [timer=08/16/2015 8:30 AM UTC;no time][/timer] left!

If in doubt, give more detail rather than less detail (if you don't make any promises for a particular city they will not pay any attention to you, apart from your research and foreign policy promises, etc.)

I, Leonidas, am moving from Delphi Nova to help out in our new western frontier Apollonia, making Agos my home neighbourhood.

Duly noted.

Also, before the campaigning gets underway, here is a projection of what the possible election outcome could be (but only assuming none of the candidates pick a home neighbourhood and none of the candidates campaign at all):

If I, Leonidas Siomaios, am elected the next Chief Minister of Delphi I will seek to accomplish the following:

- To honour our god Apollo we should build a temple of temples in Delphi Nova - an Oracle through which the god can speak to those who seek his advice.

- A Writer's Guild should be assembled in Kirrha, where writers from all over the kingdom can gather to make the city a centre of Delphian culture. These writers can then work together to compose a National Epic, inspiring others to accomplish great things.

- The Siamese cities should keep their self-government, but also receive representation in the Synedrion. All cities under the control of Delphi should receive the same voting rights as currently bestowed on certain cities. Voting neighbourhoods in cities with self-government ((puppeted cities)) should cast only half a vote each since they already elect their own council to deal with local matters.

- New farms should be built outside Dostana to increase food output.

- The Avoid Growth policies currently active should be stopped immediately in Kirrha and Dostana, and in Delphi Nova after constructing the Oracle. Growth should be encouraged throughout the kingdom, but no neighbourhoods with voting rights will lose those with said deimplementation of Avoid Growth policies. ((Neighbourhoods with voting rights are locked in place before Avoid Growth is unchecked.))

- Dostana should upon completion of its Colosseum construct Stone Works to improve the production of the nearby Stone quarry aswell as the production and happiness of the city as a whole.

- Royal Libraries should be established all over the kingdom for the advancement of science. Set aside 800 gold to buy the necessary materials for libraries in Dostana and Apollonia, and when Delphi Nova has finished construction on the Oracle the city should start building a National College.

- Our wise thinkers should complete their inquiry into Civil Service, and then move on to theological research to set the stage for new ways to educate the masses. ((Research Civil Service => Theology => Education.))

- Further development is needed in Apollonia to make it a city on equal foot with the rest of Delphi. Mines should be built and worked in the hills around the city to improve production, and when the Lighthouse is done the city should start building a Workshop.

- No offensive wars should be conducted at the moment, and relations with other countries should be maintained and kept as friendly as possible.

- We should at next opportunity adopt a social policy to strengthen the status of the Monarchy, which would increase Delphian revenue and decrease unhappiness.

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Read a little bit of the thread and it looks interesting, just want to scope out my work load for the semester before I join

Sure thing.

If you decide to join, let me know your character's name and what colour you'd like (colours all ready taken are: ██ green, ██ yellow, ██ mustard and ██ dark red).

Good lord Melda, is this complicated enough yet? Please explain the meaning of the "*" again. You say It "Indicates minority group has franchise" but not all the Aristocrats have it. If it is not a typo what am I missing?

For simplicity you can ignore whether it's a majority or minority status.

Because while there's limited suffrage (i.e. upper class only) even if a neighbourhood has more hammers than golds, it will behave like an Aristocratic neighbourhood.

The asterisk is just there to let you know that should the franchise be extended the neighbourhood will become something different (what the majority within it is --- in this example it would become a working-class neighbourhood of labourers . . . the reason there are Aristocratic neighbourhoods without asterisks is because there are an equal number of or greater number of golds than other types).

So for now you can safely treat any of the neighbourhoods with asterisk as if they don't have one.