The Will of the Senate PBM - out of character thread IV

http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/r.../mod/9000.html
Turns out I don't need to upload the big one after all.
Download and install this (just click the usa mirror under download locations, I missed it the first time too, it's not very obvious) over a clear Rome patched to 1.5. After you do that, let me know, and I'll upload the Platinum1.5 patch, the mn mod, the 4tpy mod, and then you'll be good to go!

You'll be given Appius Barbetus, and your first task will be to reinforce Numerious Aureolus in the east, I'll be sending you there with Roman reinforcements.

Welcome, Tamur. :bow:

As you might have picked up, with this mod there are special Roman Leadership traits based on military experience. So if you have a young general, the best thing is to be out in the field picking up experience so you get the 10 years required to be a Legate (+3 stars). I suggested to Lucjan that your character be the tribune to my (Numerius Aureolus's) Legio V. I will be away on business from 20th October to 6th November and you could take over the Legion in my absence.

However, when you get the mod installed, you can load up a savegame and if you find a better opening, you can always PM Lucjan to suggest it. For example, if the Iberians declare war, we are going to want Lower House generals in the west.

Another idea - there are quite a lot of rebels in Illyria and Greece - perhaps Lucjan could use you and the reinforcements you are bringing to mop them up? It would be a bit slow, but Legio V can wait.

PS: Mount - I've turned the page on the First Consul reports. Apparently 30 posts => new page. So we should keep posts to screenshot heavy threads short. Maybe even split up battle reports into several posts.

Welcome Tamur, our motto is the more the merrier (and rowdier :laugh4:).

I am sorry the files at rapidshare at causing people trouble, I am unsure what the problem is. If desired, I can reupload them once again.

Lillacor was just hilarious. Gods, Baldur's gate II is absolutely the greatest game ever. And Throne of Baal ruled as well. Ah, I well remember when my superduperparty arrived at this monk's palace and I tought, piece of cake, and this guy goes, tiger kick or whatever and my guys are being ripped apart. Get them, Boo ! Those were the days...ahem...anyway...

I also apologize for the long load times for the consular report. I had the annoying habit of endlessly adding on to an existing post (as it was a lot easier to copy and paste that way). I hadn't expected the forum software to ignore the length of these posts.

*Flexes hands in anticipation of savegame*

*shadow boxes against monitor*

Oh, you guys still here ? Err...just stretching, just stretching...

*tosses ddw the save game* :2thumbsup:

Another easy one..but I can't help it. Thrace isn't putting out like it used to. :shame:

Ah-ha! Thanks again Lucjan, it's downloading currently, and only 2 hrs till I've got the whole thing. Very nice. And thank you econ for the info on experience and the move to Legate. I had seen that referred to in the reports but didn't know what it meant in this context.

Two quick questions:

1) I'm unsure exactly what my role in discussion of military strategy is. Sit down and shaddup? Limited input while following precise directions from the Consul? Full control of troops (while marching east) with the main goal of joining up with Numerius?

2) I'm also unsure whether Appius has an in-character "voice" on the forums anywhere for discussion and haggling with others in the lower house?

And thanks for the warm welcome all, it's a pleasure to be working with you!

Well, the first consul is in charge of the strategy, within the limits placed on him by the senate. Which he can ignore, at the peril of impeachment. You can always offer him advice or criticism in the senate.

In the in-character thread you are supposed to be Appius, and in the out-of-character thread you can be yourself.

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Originally Posted by Tamur

1) I'm unsure exactly what my role in discussion of military strategy is. Sit down and shaddup? Limited input while following precise directions from the Consul? Full control of troops (while marching east) with the main goal of joining up with Numerius?

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Basically, the Consul does all the moves on the strategy map. Your only job as an individual general is to win any battles thrown your way. Once or twice, I've been tempted to do something on the strategy map with my general in a savegame but if that was not authorised by the Consul, I would be in serious trouble with the Senate (we've put a general on trial before and then exiled him.) However, smart consuls will always be open to constructive suggestions and ideas.

Collectively, the Senate can constrain the Consul by motions every 10 turns. But you have to write the motions that are cast iron because the Consuls will wiggle out of them if you let them (we have some real lawyers playing too!).

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2) I'm also unsure whether Appius has an in-character "voice" on the forums anywhere for discussion and haggling with others in the lower house?

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In-character in the Senate deliberations; out of character here. You can PM people in or out of character - I often put a disclaimer in the title to make it clear in which capacity I am communicating.

Phew, with the absence of TinCow I feel I have to write for two. I hope he comes back soon :laugh4:

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Originally Posted by Braden

Anyway, NOW it seems to have gone quiet, there’s usually someone debating something IC but so far….nothing. How odd.

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Sorry to resurrect this old quote, but it shows that some of us were starting to get worried about the Senate going deathly quiet at the beginning of Lucjan's reign. No worries now, I guess. :laugh4:

We love controversy. :laugh4:

And welcome to the PBM, Tamur. You certainly picked a good time to join the deliberations. :wink:

Ha, this is positively hilarious! In a very serious way, of course. Yes, I don't see dull times ahead in the near future :party2:

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Originally Posted by econ21

Sorry to resurrect this old quote, but it shows that some of us were starting to get worried about the Senate going deathly quiet at the beginning of Lucjan's reign. No worries now, I guess. :laugh4:

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I've said it before and I'll say it again, if only Publius Pansa were still alive...he'd have you tarred and feathered Simon :laugh4:

Oh, and thanks for getting us off page 1...I was beginning to think it would never happen ~:)

I was getting worried. I had to aggrivate the senate somehow. With it being so quiet I was getting upset that the only people who actually didn't approve of what I was doing was those who were having nightmares of their character's deaths and mistaking them for actual in game occurences. *Cough*Glaucus*Cough*

lol..kidding. ~;)

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Originally Posted by Lucjan

...who were having nightmares of their character's deaths and mistaking them for actual in game occurences. *Cough*Glaucus*Cough*

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:eeeek:

Can someone give the location of my avatar? So that I can role play better? It is a weird feeling for a mind not to know where his body is... :P

I think he's in Asia Minor scouting for Seleucid forces in the area.

All these forts Lucjan is planning bother me. I don't think the AI can cope with forts very well. Just place a fort in a pass with 1 guy in it and a 2000 strong enemy army will travel along the mountain range instead of attacking the fort.
This is the reason I never build them at river crossing and mountain passes.

:inquisitive:
You think so?
:inquisitive:

I've never had any problems with the ai and forts before. Let's wait and see...if the situation gives us problems, they'll likely be removed by whoever comes after me.

EDIT - Consul report coming in a little while. (I.e. later today, maybe an hour or two.)

EDIT #2 - CONSULAR REPORT UP! ~:)

Before 1.5/1.6 forts were definitely a problem, but since coming back to 1.5, I've had forts consistently seiged, and seiged seriously (by one full stack which was joined by two other full stacks over the next two turns, goodbye to my five-star general).

Forgot to note that I'm finally ready to go with all the module parts up and running. Interesting set of mods, I'll have to take it all for a spin on my own while waiting for the deliberations to die down :)

Ok then Appius! You'll be on your way with Numerious's reinforcements in the beginning of next season, which is actually coming up rather quickly. There isn't very much left to do this summer. Tieing up loose ends, it's been a fairly uneventful season everywhere but the east, but that can be good, moves the campaign along a bit faster.

From a first consul's report :

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I would also like to extend my personal congratulations to Flavius Pacuvius, whose family has been graced by a son, Luca Pacuvius. Actually, come to think of it, this is the second child he has decided to name Luca Pacuvius. Ever the humorous man I guess. May your two Luca's bring you much pride when they come of age enough to serve Rome.

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Is that a bug, or just a coincidence ?

Either way, it's handled well in the report, I can live with it heh.

:balloon2:

Hi all, a cheerful question for a Monday:

How are assassinations handled? Does the Senate all need to agree on such a thing, or is it the Consul's prerogative to launch subversive attacks?

So far:

As “avatars” such as Diplomats, Assassins and Spies are controlled on the Campaign map they have been almost exclusively controlled by whomever the current Consul is.

Non-Consul players do not take any actions on the Campaign maps at all (except if asked to do so by the Consul) – they just fight the battles and debate/make motions in the Senate.

However, there are still some opportunities:

Diplomats: The Senate often dictates who they will approach and what offers they are giving out (fat lot of good that does seeing as the game Ai is so pants with Diplomacy).

Spies: Again, the Senate “can” request a spy to move to a certain place so they can see something on a screen shot OR if that spy Avatar is held by a player then they can petition the Consul to move them somewhere to advance the character further with skills.

Assassins: Similar to spies but the Senate has yet to make any request for an assassin to strike at any particular enemy Avatar.

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Originally Posted by Braden

Assassins: Similar to spies but the Senate has yet to make any request for an assassin to strike at any particular enemy Avatar.

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Or at a ''friendly'' avatar for that matter...

...not that the thought ever crossed my mind though ~;)

:balloon2:

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Originally Posted by Dutch_guy

Or at a ''friendly'' avatar for that matter...

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Can you kill your own characters? I'd heard of people putting terrible generals on boats in pirate infested waters or sending them out on suicide missions. I'ver never heard of assassinating friendly characters (although I confess I've never tried).

For some reason I was sure this was possible, but apparently not. This must have been possible in MTW or STW, because I remember knocking off a couple of really lousy generals!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tamur

For some reason I was sure this was possible, but apparently not. This must have been possible in MTW or STW, because I remember knocking off a couple of really lousy generals!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by econ21

Can you kill your own characters? I'd heard of people putting terrible generals on boats in pirate infested waters or sending them out on suicide missions. I'ver never heard of assassinating friendly characters (although I confess I've never tried).

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I do believe this is possible in Rome, although after reading the quoted I'm not so sure anymore...

On a side note, It was definitely possible in Medieval...

:balloon2:

I think it is only possible to knock off your own spies in enemy's cities. I tried, in order to keep the bloodlines of my family clean, ended up having to send them to suicide missions...

Uhoh..

We've got a big problem as far as Rhodes goes... It's worthless.

I noticed something as I was moving things around, when you double click the mausoleum at halicarnassus, or the temple of zeus in Elis, you get a description of the wonder and it's attributes. When you double click on the colossus at Rhodes, you get nothing. So just to see if maybe it was a glitch, I played ahead and took Rhodes and Halicarnassus. When you take Halicarnassus you get the "captured wonder" message.

When you take Rhodes, you don't, and there's no significant change to the income of surrounding provinces, only the typical couple of denarii from taking a new town.

I'm thinking that the Port Monument building added by the m&n mod erases the wonder effects of the Colossus of Rhodes.

Looks like we didn't do our homework with this one...