Some questions on the Calabim

The vampire Spartiotai and Shieldwalls are a really good idea. I'll try that.

I'm not sure I like the idea of Moroi and Bloodpets upgrading at all. I know it was discussed in a thread before the release of 0.16 ("The fate of Moroi" or something), but it just doesn't seem to fit. I more imagine that vampires are Gifted from the human nobility in the city (remembering that the Calabim originally usurped authority from a human government in the first place). Also, the Moroi are a "unit," representing a numbered force of men, while a vampire is a single being. What happened to the Moroi who weren't turned if you upgrade? Why do you still have several if you just Gift? So, it might be more fitting from a setting perspective, and more streamlined from a design perspective, to remove the ability to upgrade into a vampire and keep the ability for Moroi to be Gifted.

On Vampiric Governors, I think the name is fine, or it could be a specific noble title. "Nobleman" encompasses everything from king to squire, and it wouldn't seem to fit to just have a few per city. Even with the unlimited nobleman building, those unhappiness bonuses would stack up fast. Maybe the Governor's Mansion could provide a free Vampiric Governor, keep the +1 hammer (representing a degree of mind control/majestic aura/fear to keep the populace working), the +2 culture (the governors' attempts to increase their influence and lands), but give a -1 commerce (marking a degree of extravagance on the governor's part). As for the Calabim palace, perhaps it could provide a Vampiric Baron/Duke/Count/Marquis/Whathaveyou rather than a governor, giving its own bonuses (+1 hammer, +2 culture, and -1 unhappiness, maybe? Discuss! ). Of course, that would give the Calabim two unique specialists while no other faction has any. Still, who knows what we'll see in the next three phases.


Edit: Well, with the changes being made in "Fire", it looks like I'll have to pick a new religion besides AV for my Calabim. Any suggestions?

 

Sacrificing a vampire to get a governor's mansion seems kind of out of character for the typically selfish vampires, though if they remained as a governor it makes sense, which, unfortunately, might make the option too powerful. Here's an idea: what if the Mansion wasn't buildable at all, but had to be created by having a vampire move into the city and create a mansion, staying as the governor for that city. The Calabim Palace would, of course, function as a Mansion for that system.

As for the bloodpets and Moroi units being upgraded single vampires, you could say the the trainers force the unit into a fight to the death and grant the Gift to the last man standing.

 

Octopus or Fellowship, but I don't think that those changes should influence your choices on religion.

 

I'm currently playing as the Calabim and maybe I will write the game like it was the history of that world. I love the books of the Necroscope (Brian Lumley) so I roleplay my calabim games as his vampires...

I'm giving the gift to moroi or warriors but not upgrading them to full vampires... they are like the necroscope lieutenants and won't upgrade to vampires but other careers, like shield wall.

 

If you play Flauros, Kilmorph is an amazing religon to have. On emperor I frequently am in the lead with 1st place for food, production, and money.