Feudalism

[Ignoramus]

I was thinking I should start up a medieval forum game for the Gameroom, and this is the result.

The game is set in 1035 in France. Players represent nobles from one of eight major families during the 11th century. Alternatively, they can choose to take control of small independent counties, or take service with one of the major families.



England, the Holy Roman Empire, Navarre, Saragossa, and the Papacy will be in play, but they will be controlled by me.

Movement and Military rules will be up sometime soon, but I need to know how many players I'm dealing with.

Rules:

Timeframe:
Each turn will be one week long and represent one month in game terms. The first three days will be spent sending orders(to me), engaging in diplomacy, and governing your realm. The next three days will be reserved for resolving battles and processing all the players' orders. On the last day the events for the next turn will be posted.

Object:
Simply put, your object is to expand your family's power, through warfare and diplomacy. Obviously, gaining the crown of France is the pinnacle of this.

Economy:
Coinage is scarce in Western Europe at this time, so you'll find that land is chief sign of wealth. Your income will come mainly from taxation and feudal dues, although diplomacy and events may bring you additional income. Money must be physically sent to other states, so you will have to take care that

Military:
The bulk of your armies will be composed of your vassals, who owe you military service as part of their feudal duties. One month of the year, your vassals will do so at their own expense; the other eleven you will have to pay the upkeep of the soldiers. Without vassals, you'll stuggle to afford a respectable army. Companies of mercenary will pop up from time to time, however, their services will be expensive and they are not the most reliable of soldiers.

Movement:
Armies may move 100 miles per month. If they come within 50 miles of an enemey army, then a battle ensues, unless the opposing army has specifically stated in his orders to withdraw if attacked.

Religion:
To begin with, the Pope is controlled by me, as well as the ecclesiatical lordships(unless the normal independent coutnies have all been snapped up. The archbishops are independent of the Pope, reflecting the Pope's weak influence at this stage. Nevertheless, having the pontiff on your side is never a bad thing(Just think of the Norman invasion of England). Having a causus belli, or cause for war, whether it's valid or not, is not necessary, but without one you're unlikely to be perceived as anything other than an greedy, power-hungry, despot.

Titles & Fiefs:
For the most, titles are in name hereditry. If the King of France has an heir of age, then succession should proceed smoothly. If there's not, then the nobles of the realm will gather together and choose a successor.

Fiefs are basically hereditry, but when a vassal dies, the fief reverts back to the lord. If the vassal's heir wishes to keep the fief, he has to pay a tax, called a relief, to the lord. Fiefs can be assigned by the lord to a prospective vassal.

From this list you can choose you relevant family. First in best dressed(I.e. The first player to choose the Capetians becomes King of France, the second becomes Duke of Burgundy, the third the French heir etc.)

Capetians - France, Burgundy
Ramnulfids - Aquitaine, Gascony, Auvergne
Normans - Normandy
Rennais - Brittany
Carolignians - Vermandois
Blaisois - Blois, Champagne
Rouergue - Toulouse
Flemings - Flanders

Capetians: Baby Boomer, Gaius Scribonius Curio
Carolignians: Warmaster Horus
Ramnulfids: Draco Leman
Rennais: Zim, kamikhaan
Normans: The Stranger
Flemings: Ichigo

Or you can choose on of these independent counties:

County of Maine - gibsonsg91921
County of Anjou - shlin28
County of Roussillon - pevergreen
County of Bourbon - Caius
County of Velay - Twilightblade
County of Rouergue & Gevaudan
Viscounty of Narbonne(Gothia)

If all these are taken, you can pick a name and offer yourself to one of the families or independent counties as a vassal.