The Will of the Senate - out of character thread

[TinCow]

On the Senate library, I've been wondering about keeping the character mugshots to there. Also it might be good to keep a record of all Senate motions (laws) there, for easy reference. What do you think, TinCow? If you agree, do you want to oversee both or shall I do the mugshots and you the motions? I think we can just keep the mugshots on coming of age - the Consuls should update the Senators about new vices and virtues in their periodic reports.

I was thinking of making a post for each of the avatars which is being played. For each I would post the mugshot and a full shot of the retinue and traits at every point at which a save game is uploaded (assuming they have changed since the last). I'll crop all the photos and compress the .jpgs so that they won't be too big. I think this will help people to see how their avatars are progressing in-game and to allow better roleplaying.

We should definitely keep a record of successful legislation, perhaps with dates enacted and the number of votes on each side, if it doesn't become overwhelming.

[econ21]

Cheers, TinCow! I'll leave the mugshots in your capable hands then.

On the motions, as I've indicated in an in-character post as speaker in the Senate, I'd like to keep motions short and few. It would be good if we can coalesce on some really big issue ("Carthage must be destroyed!"), vote yay or nay, and leave the First Consuls to work out the details.

That's not to say all the detailed discussion of mechanics in the Senate at the moment is off-topic. It's great and a primary function of the Senate (ie to be a talking shop). But I would be sad if we end up having hundreds of votes each session, not least because I have to organise the mechanics of voting!

[TinCow]

I agree, varied debate is fabulous, but let's keep the actual voting options relatively simple. I ran across this thread on the RTR forums this afternoon and thought it was a great example of complex Senatorial debate on a relatively simple vote.

http://forums.rometotalrealism.org/i...howtopic=19710

[Lord Winter]

I would like to join.

[econ21]

I would like to join.

Welcome!

And welcome to everyone else who has recently joined. Tricky_Lady, Zomby_Woof and GeneralHankerchief... apologies if I have missed anyone.

Destroyer of Hope please can you read post #2 in this thread and choose one of options (a), (b) and (c)? Cheers.

[Lord Winter]

Destroyer of Hope please can you read post #2 in this thread and choose one of options (a), (b) and (c)? Cheers.

option b

[econ21]

Major edit: just noticed I made an error in not spotting shifty157 is a candidate for Consul. Apologies to TinCow and Mount but this bumps them down one in the order for avatars. List has been revised to reflect this.

OK, a provisional update on the assignment of avatars. At the moment, everyone has chosen their House except, ironically, the person who started this thread, Xiahou Liao. If he passes by before the Tuesday 6pm UK time deadline, then things may change, as obviously he trumps everyone in seniority (which I am reading from the order in which people first posted in this thread or otherwise expressed interest). But given the Senate deliberations are heating up, I think it might be a good idea to let people know what is likely to happen about avatars. However, it's probably wise not to assume your provisional avatars name and personality until this is finally confirmed.

Recall that we have only 4 adult faction members at the start of the game. We have also have four candidates for First Consul and they will each need an avatar. So at the moment, this plus seniority implies:

Quintus => econ21 (it's not a stitch up, honest )
Publius Laevinius => shifty157
Tiberius Coruncanius => FLYdude
Lucius Amelius => DDW

We have four under-age family members. I am going to assign them to members of the Lower House to allow for role-playing development. Obviously they are too young to be Senators per se, but their votes can represent those of allies of their families. And they can be pretend they are precocious kids - think Octavian in the BBC/HBO series Rome (ok, very precocious in the case of Marcus...)

Amulius Coruncanius => TinCow
Manius Aemilius => Mount Suribachi
Decius Laevinus => Glaucus
Marcus Laevinus => Destroyer of Hope

Note - these kids are young and other faction members (e.g. suitable husbands) may appear as adults earlier. In that case, I will give people the opportunity to ditch their kid and pick the newcomer instead (e.g. if they want to stand for First Consul or fight battles etc).

So at the moment, we have a match of 8 faction members and 8 Lower House Senators. (The Lower House senators should note that all this is on the condition that they have successfully loaded up the mod.)

I have also agreed to the interesting request from Ignoramus that he be assigned Sextus Antio, the diplomat, as his avatar. (TinCow, please can you add Sextus's mugshot to the Senate library?)

Apologies to the other Upper House Senators - you will be assigned avatars as soon as they become available. (As I've said before that gives you an incentive to be as expansionist as Rome was in history - due to the cap on generals, more provinces = more avatars). It was important to prioritise the Lower House, as these people will be expected to fight battles on demand if their avatars get involved in them.

People can always freely switch between houses, although this may lead to some re-assignment of avatars. I'd like to keep reassignments to a minimum, of course, as no one likes to lose a character they have come to identify with. I only really want Lower House members to go to the Upper House if they have a work/travel/other real life crisises. And ideally Upper House to Lower House moves should imply the player wants to stand for Consul in the near future.

Let me know if you think there are any errors in the above provisional assignments. Otherwise, I will not update them until the final confirmation at 6pm UK time today.