Rules
Introduction and Game Mechanics
The game is set in an alternate world very similar to ancient Rome. Players play one of the many patrician dynasties in the city-state of Nessos, a recently inaugarated republic with much on its plate. Dynasties not only try to gain an advantage over the other and try to make it rich, but also guide the development of their city-state in the Senate. Players' and dynasties' decisions will make or break the republic.
This game is intended to be a fun one, with lots of intrigue and drama - suitable for an alt universe novel. Ideally, I would love this to be the next generation of Never-Ending Story.
A request to all who join, though: -
- Please commit to this fully
- Read the rules
- Have fun and enjoy yourself
Players
Essentially unlimited. I don't expect there to be so many players that it'd be an illogical number
Stories
That's what spices up the game. Not essential but very much encouraged. For good stories, I'll dish out random bonuses and such.
Orders & Update
These should consist of 2 parts: family orders and state orders if you occupy a government post with some state responsibility. Ideally, they should be precise and easily-understandable, because I'll have to deal with lots of them.
Updates come every Monday, though I would hope to have orders in by Saturday so that I can write things up and make pretty colours on the map. I live in New Zealand which is GMT+12. I expect to have orders in by Saturday midnight, which is Friday 1200 GMT.
For the record, each turn will last one season (or three months).
Dynasties
You play the leader of a patrician dynasty - or family in the city of Nessos. As the leader, you represent your family in the Senate and control their general actions (similar to a nation in a standard NES). The family is probably akin to clans, with extended family as well as lackeys, hangers-on and tenants. These men either work your fields, produce things in your workshops, or generally suck up to your family members proper and do your bidding. Your family will control a share of the city's overall production as listed on the city stats.
A dynastic record will probably look like this: -
Gluteus Maximus, Maximus Dynasty (BananaLee)
Family Members: 150
Wealth: 1,500 libre, bolts of silk (w/ 15 L)
Notes: Holder of the Nessan Order.
Family members denotes the number of people who are attached to your family, be they tenants, workers or lackeys.
Wealth shows the amount of liquid assets the family has. In Nessos, the currency is composed of libre, solidi and denarii (libra, solidus and denarius in singular form). The silver solidus and copper denarius are more commonly used in day-to-day transactions but the gold libra is used in larger scale operations. The conversion between the three coins are as such (this is more for interest than anything else): -
Money in the Nessan world said:
12 denarii = 1 solidus
20 solidi = 1 libra
Approximate Purchasing Power
1 denarius w/ US$0.40
1 solidus w/ US$5
1 libra w/ US$100
*w/ means worth
In addition, notable items stored in your warehouses (ie: luxuries, stuff not used in the daily operations of your industries) will also be listed down here.
Notes shall be where any miscellania which need recording shall be placed.
In your orders, essentially say what you want to spend your money on - be it education for your children, donations to the poor, investments into other industries or even purchasing twenty yards of the finest silks. Players should be able to estimate the price based on approximate purchasing power list above.
Cities
Cities are the nexi of the surrounding farmland, providing both a shelter to the people outside in times of war and a market for people to trade their goods in times of peace. It is where most if not all the action and focus is in this game. Stats will look something like this: -
Peneus
Population: 15,100
Treasury: 12,000 libre, amphorae of wine (w/ 2000 L)
Industries: Wheat w/ 150 L (90% Penean Populace, 7% Nessos City, 3% Maximus Dynasty); Wine w/ 50 L (100% Penean); Salt-mining w/ 300 L (60% Penean, 30% Bolus Dynasty, 10% Cantus Dynasty)
Military Troops: 1st Penean Regiment
Notes: Protectorate of Nessos
Population shows the number of denizens in the city. Unless stated otherwise, it is safe to assume a near 50/50 division between males and females
Treasury of the city is exactly the same as Wealth part in the Family stats
Industries are the forms of economic activity conducted by the denizens of the city. It describes the type of industry, how much profit it makes every season and the percentage interest held by various factions in each particular industry. Every season, the seasonal profit will be divided between the owners of each particular industry. Industries can either be owned by dynasties, cities or the populace of a city (namely plebs and patricians who don't give two craps about the Senate)
Military troops show the amount of troops under the command of the city. They are not neccesarilly garissoning the mother city, though.
Notes shall be where any miscellania which need recording shall be placed.
Nessan Government
The Republic of Nessos has three administrative branches, executive, legislative and judicial. The Senate is in charge of legislative matters, two Censors in charge of judicial and a Consul and Aedile take care of executive matters. This system is of course subject to change based on the evolution of the city state.
Legislative Branch
The Senate is in charge of passing laws in the city-state of Nessos. Comprising of the heads of the patrician dynasties, the Senate nominally represents the people of Nessos domestically and in foreign lands. Any Senator may propose a law although players should obviously remember to keep proposals sensible and in character. Laws are passed in the senate with a simple majority (50% + 1) and can be repealed with a two-third's majority.
Like any legislative branch, there should be some discussion and debate regarding laws prior to actual voting and implementation (if it passes).
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of Nessos is administered by two Censors, who are elected from the Senate on a year-long (4-turn) term. Any player may take up their greviances to the court against anyone but members of the Executive Council (namely the Consul and Aedile).
The accuser (or a representative) will have to bring the case up and present whatever evidence he has and the defendant will have the right to defend himself or select a representative to do so for him. In addition, the defendant has the right to choose which of the two Censors he wants to handle the case.
Once all the evidence has been collated and presented, the Censor's responsibility is to declare a final verdict based on his observations and conscience.
If the defendant is found guilty, both Censors must then come to an agreement on a fitting sentence for the defendant. Court costs will always be borne by the loser of the case.
Executive Branch
This branch is composed of an Aedile and a Consul, both elected from the Senate for year-long (4-turn) terms. The Aedile is responsible for the development and maintenance of public works and general domestic regulation (including city investment, etc). One can say the Aedile is a sort of Mayor. By contrast, the Consul is in charge of maintaining public order, the military and foreign affairs of Nessos. If there is a need for fighting, the Consul is to march out and lead Nessan troops into battle.
The two members of the executive branch are expected to work together and determine what amounts of the budget they intend to spend in order to prevent over-spending.
Religion
Like most other ancient cultures, Nessos is a religious city-state. Nessans worship a whole pantheon of gods but chief amongst them is Bennus, the king of gods (similar to OTL Zeus). To represent this, a Pontifex Maximus, or chief priest is elected from the Senate for a life-time term. The Pontifex Maximus must essentially be the medium between the gods and the mere mortals which inhabit this Earth.
The player for the Pontifex Maximus
must write a proper story every turn regarding religious rites, etc.
Taxes
Don't you just love them? I know I don't. Nessos as a state may own some industries in the city but the plain income from that is likely to be insufficient to provide for the city in times of need. As the Republic has just been formed, the tax situation is still hanging in the balance as Nessans enjoy a short period of a tax-free environment. Back in the days of the Dicchus Dynasty, taxes were 10% on all income. Perhaps it's time to set one now?
Military
The military is composed (obviously) of land troops and naval troops. It costs military equipment and money (you gotta pay recruiting agents and bounties) to raise a number of troops. It also costs money to maintain, and someone should decide what to pay them. Currently, Nessos is lucky in that troops are actually levied from the citizenry (like hoplites in Greece) and won't need pay because it is a citizenship obligation. However, as time goes by, this may not be such a good option. Troop examples are as listed below: -
Penean Provincial Army
Composition: 200 infantrymen; 150 light cavalry
Commander: Gluteus Maximus
Pay: None - promises of riches and glory
Supply Train: Food supplies w/ 700 L (suff. for 2 turns); Cash w/ 1000 L
Notes: Troops are disgruntled with Gluteus
Gaeleonic Battle Fleet
Vessels: 23 biremes; 3 swift rowers
Manpower: 800 rowers
Commander: Testecles Pompeii
Pay: 3600 L per turn (rowers paid 1 solidus a day)
Cargo: Food supplies w/ 800 L (suff. for 1 turn); Wine w/ 400 L; Hides w/ 1500 L
Notes: The men are dying of scurvy!
For the record, when calculating supplies, an average two-meal-a-day system would cost about 3 denarii per person per day. That means each turn on standard rations, one man will eat through 1 Libre worth of rations. Fighting is expensive, live with it.
For simplicity, horses will eat the grass - unless you happen to campaign in barren lands, then each horse will count as a man.
Credits and Other Notes
This NES will be an experiment and the rules may change very frequently until we find something that works well for everyone.
Obviously, one must credit Gelion and erez87 for coming up with the concept. Disenfranchised and MjM were great enough to come up with the Nessos countryside and Nessos city maps respectively.
. Years went by and Gaeleon, whom the Arkadian couple had named Dasius grew up to be a strong, handsome young warrior. At the age of 16, he noticed something wrong with his family - he had blonde hair and blue eyes while both his parents had black hair and brown eyes. He then confronted his adopted parents who told him about how he was found. 
