Ferromancer
07-30-2009, 05:02
I've taken a look at implementing religion in EB for BI, but there are several insurmountable hurdles that affect realism. The first being that most religions (except for maybe Judaism vs. Roman Paganism) got along, and in fact, there were lots of syncretic religions popping up. Another problem is that religions spread too fast (20% in one year) to be realistic.
Instead I'm thinking of setting up a clash of politics. Since only the top three "religions" matter, I can think of three broad categories of government:
1) Res Publica
Typically what makes these governments unique is the idea of the "public" sphere, that government is established by a fixed body of law, and limitations to prevent one person or faction from taking power. Offices and responsibilities are clearly defined, with voting and term limits.
This would cover factions such as Rome, Koinon Hellenion, and Carthage which are known to have democracies or republics of some form.
2) The Clan
Similar to Res Publica that there is no single seat of authority. However, it is different in that there is no legal concept of the "state" or "nation"--though people may feel tied to a larger body of shared culture. Power is divided between chiefs, druids/priests/shamans, and wealthy families. Nobody runs for public office: power is gained through shows of wealth, wit, wisdom, or military prowess. Natural Law as opposed to Statutory Law rules the day.
This would cover Celtic, Germanic, and Steppe factions.
3) Imperium
Power is concentrated into the hands of a single person or family, with an extensive bureaucracy to administer rule. There is no divided government; the ruler legislates, executes the law, and administers justice. The only limit to authority is the assassin's knife.
This would cover just about every other faction.
4) Anarchy
This would apply to independent cities and those recently taken over through conquest.
The spread of different "religions"/polity would be through government types, I'm thinking Type I and Type II governments. Type III and Type IV governments would have no effect, and a total lack of government would spread the "anarchy" government.
I'm not sure what to do about the endgame when historically Rome goes from being a republic to an empire. Perhaps make it so that to replace Res Publica with Imperium, the imperial reform "building" will counteract the effect of the government building, and a family member would be needed in a city to tip the scales towards one or the other? This would simulate the strife and chaos in the Roman Empire due to civil wars between supports of the empire and of the republic.
Instead I'm thinking of setting up a clash of politics. Since only the top three "religions" matter, I can think of three broad categories of government:
1) Res Publica
Typically what makes these governments unique is the idea of the "public" sphere, that government is established by a fixed body of law, and limitations to prevent one person or faction from taking power. Offices and responsibilities are clearly defined, with voting and term limits.
This would cover factions such as Rome, Koinon Hellenion, and Carthage which are known to have democracies or republics of some form.
2) The Clan
Similar to Res Publica that there is no single seat of authority. However, it is different in that there is no legal concept of the "state" or "nation"--though people may feel tied to a larger body of shared culture. Power is divided between chiefs, druids/priests/shamans, and wealthy families. Nobody runs for public office: power is gained through shows of wealth, wit, wisdom, or military prowess. Natural Law as opposed to Statutory Law rules the day.
This would cover Celtic, Germanic, and Steppe factions.
3) Imperium
Power is concentrated into the hands of a single person or family, with an extensive bureaucracy to administer rule. There is no divided government; the ruler legislates, executes the law, and administers justice. The only limit to authority is the assassin's knife.
This would cover just about every other faction.
4) Anarchy
This would apply to independent cities and those recently taken over through conquest.
The spread of different "religions"/polity would be through government types, I'm thinking Type I and Type II governments. Type III and Type IV governments would have no effect, and a total lack of government would spread the "anarchy" government.
I'm not sure what to do about the endgame when historically Rome goes from being a republic to an empire. Perhaps make it so that to replace Res Publica with Imperium, the imperial reform "building" will counteract the effect of the government building, and a family member would be needed in a city to tip the scales towards one or the other? This would simulate the strife and chaos in the Roman Empire due to civil wars between supports of the empire and of the republic.