YATS Rules

[dragoon47]

Censor*
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Consul (Two, Junior and Senior)
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Praetor (1, perhaps even 2)
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Tribune of the Plebs (1, perhaps even 2.)
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Quaestor (1)

Praetor

• 2 Terms as a regular Senator.
• 1 Term as Quaestor or Tribune of the Plebs.

Junior Consul

• 3 Terms as a regular Senator.
• 1 Term as Quaestor.
• 2 Terms as Praetor or Tribune of the Plebs.

Senior Consul

• 4 Terms as a regular Senator.
• 2 Terms as Quaestor.
• 3 Terms as Praetor or Tribune of the Plebs.

The Twelve Tables of Role Playing in YATS

I – Don’t break the Rules
This is the most crucial of all the commandments. YATS has several written and unwritten rules to guide daily procedure and to make sure this does not turn into a Wild West scenario. The written rules are in the constitution and in the various stickied posts in the main YATS board and the Forum Romanum. The unwritten rules are the traditions of YATS and will be called upon when the situation calls for them. The experienced players and the Mods of YATS can fill you in, in case of doubt.

II – Respect other players, and accept them as thy equals.
This is second most important commandment, it really is. This will be touched in several other commandments, but it is important enough to get its own. We are all players of YATS, we are all trying to have fun, and Out Of Character (OOC) rivalries would only detract from that fun. Even though your character may be a consul, and someone else's merely a lowly inexperienced senator, that does not make you better than that player. His posts are worth just as much as yours, and any rank differences are only between our characters.

III – Know thy character…
Any post you make In Character is a post In Character, it is representative of what your character says or does. So in order to reply accurately to a given debate or Role Play (RP, it is important to think of how your character would reply to the situation. Note that this does not have to be how you react to the same situation, nor do your character’s opinions have to reflect your own. This is a Roman RPG, and Roman opinions on a lot of subjects were markedly different from our own. We may write a more extensive guide about this subject later.

IV – …and know his ignorance
As any soap opera writer can tell you, a lot of the intricate dealings between people become interesting to the reader/watcher/listener, because this observant knows something the character does not. Your character is not almighty, nor is he omniscient. What happens when your character is not present is unknown to him unless he is specifically told of this event. Note: There is an important exception to this rule, namely provincial governors and the curia. We may safely assume that the governor receives word of debates in the curia through messengers and dispatches. However, this does not work both ways and knowledge of the province must be explicitly brought to the curia before it can be known by them.

V – Read other people's posts
This is a commandment that is always important. This is a community Role Playing Game and this means you are playing with other people. Failing to read other people’s posts often results in your own posts being out of date, irrelevant or even breaking other people’s RPs. If done systematically, this may have as a result that other players will have less respect for your posts. During some debates the situation can occasionally get so frantic that your post is outdated the moment you post it. This is no problem, you can edit your posts quickly to make them up to date, but at least make an effort.

VI – Plan ahead
This is a commandment for the larger RPs. When thinking up a large RP, you will often have a rough idea about what the RP will be about, but you may just have thought: ‘Wow, that’s an awesome idea, I gotta do that with my character!’, but an awesome idea does not make an awesome RP. If you plan ahead to what you intend to have happen in two or three posts time (or perhaps even the entire RP in the case of some control freaks), you can give subtle hints about events to come and you can flesh out relationships.

VII – It is a bad plan that can not be altered
This commandment is closely connected with ‘Plan ahead’. You may have a grand master plan that reaches all the way to a masterful conclusion where you reach result A, but remember, you are playing a community RPG, and therefore a single post can ruin your master plan in its infancy. This comes with the territory, read and accept the other’s post and change your plan. You are not writing a single player AAR, you are playing through this along with others. If you really want to, you can ask other players to have respect for your RP and refrain from interfering until a certain event, but this is up to the discretion of other players. Most players will respect this, of course, but it offers no guarantees.

VIII – Being defeated does not mean losing
You cannot win You are the Senate. It is not a game that has a beginning and an end. No-one is keeping score, nor are we moving toward a goal (apart from Roman republican world domination, MUHUHAHAHAHAHAHHhhh… sorry, got carried away there). Not every character needs to be a Caesar and conquer Rome, nor does everyone have to survive. There have been many examples of players who chose to kill off their characters in a beautiful RP, and whose reputation (both their forum reputation and their real reputation) was enhanced significantly for it.

IX – You are not the people.
While it may be tempting to have the people chant your name after a riveting speech on the Rostra, it is simply unrealistic to assume that the mob simply cheered on everyone who uttered a syllable in the right place. In the same vein, you cannot use the mob to discredit or disadvantage another player, nor can you use them to break the fabric of YATS. This is done for realism’s sake, to win the crowd, a Roman needed to have done really great things and even then he needed to truly convince the mob to join his cause.

X – Work together
This is really a friendly word of advice. If you want to do a large RP with someone else, it is wise to contact that person beforehand to make sure you are on the same page and that your plans are at least somewhat synchronized. Preferably this will happen in private, using PM, MSN or what have you. Please note that your characters do not necessarily know what you know, and that your knowledge of what will happen is not necessarily your character’s knowledge of what will happen. For further information regarding knowledge see IV.

XI – Experience is the teacher of all things.
For the inexperienced players we have some additional advice: Let the more experienced players lead the larger role-plays. They have the experience, they know the traditions, and they will often have developed characters, and is advised that you join them. However: do not try to make big turns in these RP's if you don't know what you are doing. If you have a good idea in such a large RP, discuss it in private first on PM, MSN or what have you. Over time you’ll learn what is and is not accepted in RPs.

XII – Use your imagination, but keep it real
This is somewhat ambiguous, but we can give you clear guidelines about what kind of far-fetched imaginatory things are and are not allowed. Basically, you can let anything happen, as long as it remains possible in reality. You can have thunderstorms (watch other people’s posts though, if they say it is a clear day, then obviously that goes), you can have your back yard struck by lightning, you can be hit by lightning and survive, etc. In addition, you (or your character) may ascribe it to divine activity, e.g. a thunderstorm from Jupiter, but things like aliens from the planet Mars are out of the realm of possibility and as such unacceptable.

Article I

These are the Magistracies of the Republic of Rome

• The CENSOR shall be in charge of the Census, and shall be required to complete a Census of Roman senators every time the Censor or the Senate shall deem appropriate. The Censor shall also be in charge of public morals, and shall have the power to Censure (formal condemnation) and the Nota Censora, a permanent note next to the citizen in question’s name in the Census.The Nota Censora may be removed at any time by any Censor.

• The Nota Censura can be issued only after two warnings from the Censor. The recipient of the Nota Censura is prohibited from the Curia for a month (1 day in real time)

• If a Senator continues to be unobserving of the decorum of the Senate, the Censor may issue an Ejactus e Senatu, which bans the senator from the curia until the start of the next term.

• The Censor shall have the power to bestow the honorary title of Princeps Senatus upon a deserving and honorable member of the Senate that he feels truly upholds Roman morals. The Princeps Senatus shall have no powers and the title shall be limited to one year.

• Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  The Censor must have participated in two full sessions of the Senate before being eligible to run (two Curia Hostilia threads)

• Any senator who receives an Ejactus e Senatu shall be stripped of offices and brought before the Praetor for trial.

• If the Censor does not collect a census when he is duty bound to do so (every 2 terms), he shall be stripped of power and a suffectus shall be elected in his stead

• The Censor shall serve a term of one year.

• The CONSULS shall preside over the senate. They shall have the sole power to put up motions for vote, and shall decide what topic is up for debate.

• The Consuls shall lead armies at the discretion of the Senate, and may veto each others' military decisions.

• The Consuls may overrule the decisions of the proconsuls, and may not be tried for a crime while sitting in office. They shall serve a term of one year.

• A consul's imperium can last only as long as the Senate dictates.

• No consul may embark on an extended campaign unless the Senate is unanimous (i.e. a consul can't be sent to "capture all of Sicily")

• A consul must report within two months (2 days in real time) of any battle after gaining imperium. If he does not do so, he shall be immediately recalled to Rome on the suspicion of plotting treason.

• If a consul does not make contact with the enemy in six months (4 days in real time, typically 1 turn in game, but that's more flexible due to sieges), then he is to immediately return to Rome.

• A consul must send periodic reports of within six months back to the Senate. If he does not do so, he shall be immediately recalled to Rome on suspicion of plotting treason.

• Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  A senator must have participated in one full senate session before being eligible to run for Consul

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

THIS OFFICE IS NOT IN OUR CURRENT VERSION OF THE RPG

• The PONTIFEX MAXIMUS shall rule over the college of pontiffs. He oversees all religious law in the city

• The Pontifex shall be publicly elected and serves a term of one year. He shall be required to bless all marriages and all adoptions/disownals.

• The Pontifex is permitted to provide spiritual guidance to any magistrate, and may consult the auguries for the Senate should they so request. He may also bless or denounce any venture of the Senate on behalf of the Gods.

• A senator is eligible to be Pontifex Maximus only after he has participated three full terms in the Senate

• The Pontifex Maximus cannot set foot outside of Rome during his reign

• A suffectus magistrate MUST be approved by the Pontifex Maximus before he is eligible for election.

• In the extraordinary event that a dictator is needed and the Senate cannot come to a decision on who shall be dictator, the Pontifex Maximus can appoint anyone as dictator.

• The Pontifex Maximus can strip any appointed official (not elected) of their title, including but not limited to, Princeps Senatus.

• The Pontifex Maximus can issue a Damnatio Infelixium upon any member of the Senate who has expressed severe blasphemy against the gods after having warned said senator three times. The senator receiving the Damnatio Infelixium shall be barred from running in Public office for one term and is also INELIGIBLE to be suffectus for said term

• The PRAETORS shall oversee the courts of Rome. They shall preside over trials and set punishments according to law and their own judgement.

• The Praetors shall also have the responsibility to command armies at the behest of the Senate, though this role should be limited to when the force in question is not deemed by the Senate to be worthy of Consular action.

• Praetors shall serve one year.

• The PLEBEIAN TRIBUNE shall have the responsibility to protect the people’s interests in the Curia.

• The Tribune shall have the right of IVS INTERCESSIO, or the right to veto any motion, official action, or proposal before the Senate. The only exceptions to this are when a motion has already been passed or if the motion is one of recall on said tribune. The Tribune’s right no longer applies should he journey ventures outside of the city.

• No more than two Tribunes shall serve simultaneously. Tribunes shall serve a term of one year.

• Only Plebeians may serve as Tribune

• The Tribune is inviolate. Any acts of violence brought against the Tribune will result in the automatic death of the offending senator (must start with new character)

• The QUAESTOR shall keep records of the treasury of the Res Publica.

• The Quaestor shall create a report of the public funds each new year, and shall gather any financial information the Senate may require at the request of the Senate. The Senate shall not be required to make a formal request for information, but the Quaestor shall not be obliged to respond to every non-official request.

• The quaestor cannot set foot outside of Italy

• The quaestor shall stand in for the praetor in the event that both consuls are outside of city limits and the praetor has assumed responsibility of the city

• The quaestor can investigate any member of the senate for corruption. If a senator is exposed by the quaestor, the senator shall be barred from running for office for one full term but is still eligible to be suffectus for said term

• The Quaestor shall serve a one year term.

GOVERNORSHIPS

• The PROCONSULS shall govern one province of their choosing, and shall act in the place of a Consul

• The Proconsuls shall receive an annual budget from Rome, and may not exceed it. They may, however, apply for an extension to the Senate.

• The Proconsul is given Imperium upon taking up office. This Imperium allows him to levy troops and build infrastructure as he sees fit, and to govern the people in such a way so that they are kept complacent.

• The Proconsul is not allowed to begin a war or begin hostilities with an opposing nation unless the Senate allows it. However, he is allowed to fight a defensive war against an already declared enemy.

• In the event of being engaged in battle, and having defeated the enemy, the Proconsul is allowed to march into the territory of the origin of the army he faced and capture the main city in the territory, to ensure no further arrival of reinforcements or troops. However, he is to proceed no further unless attacked once more, or ordered by the Senate.

• If any action of the Proconsul is deemed unsatisfactory or against the Senate's wishes, he can be stripped of his rank by a 2/3s majority vote.

• Proconsuls serve a term of two year.

• PROPRAETORS serve in the stead of a proconsul, and their provinces are divided among them after the Proconsuls choose their provinces.

• Propraetors are given the same responsibilities and privileges as Proconsuls.

Article II

This Article shall define the POWERS of THE SENATE OF ROME, and the responsibilities of the SENATOR.

The Senate has the power to declare war, lay tax, raise legions, create budgets, and may pass declarations in the form of Senatus Consulta. These declarations shall be enforceable by the Senate.

The Senate has sole control over Italia, and the governors of the Provinces.

The Senate may Censure any individual member or group of members that it feels have broken the codes of Roman morals in the absence of or in addition to a Censoral judgement.

Article III

This Article shall define the ELECTIONS OF MAGISTRATES.

• Elections shall be held once per year (one week in real life), and shall be open to all Senators.

• There shall be no restriction on the offices open to senators, with a few exceptions; The offices of Proconsul and Censor may only be held by those who have held the office of Consul for a full term.

• Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  The Censorial candidate must have participated in two full sessions of the Senate before being eligible to run (two Curia Hostilia threads)

• Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  A senator must have participated in one full senate session before being eligible to run for Consul

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

THIS OFFICE IS NOT USED FOR OUR CURRENT VERSION

• A senator is eligible to be Pontifex Maximus only after he has participated three full terms in the Senate

• Any ties must be sent into a re-vote, or runoff election.

• Any offices with no candidates shall be filled by an official senate measure appointing a suffectus. The suffectus shall hold all the powers of the original office.

• ANY magistrate may be removed with a 70% non abstaining vote. Any senator may bring up a motion for ejection from office.

• Any senator may only take up the same political post for a maximum of TWO YEARS IN A ROW - this is so that senator may use his second term to finish off work from his first term, yet prevent him from constantly having the powers of that magistracy.

Article IV

This Article shall define the workings of the SENATE of ROME.

Each term shall begin with the official statement from the Consuls. In it, the Consuls shall lay out the pressing matters of the state, including infrastructure and military needs.

Next, the Quaestor shall make his annual report before the Senate.

The Pontifex Maximus shall next be given a turn to give any advisement he deems appropriate to the Senate should he be present.

At this point, the Senate MUST pass an official budget for the term, as well as appointing any necessary suffecti.

During the term, any senator or magistrate may speak at any time, excepting those banned by the Censor or other judicial restrictions.

Any senator or magistrate may propose a motion to the presiding Consul or Senior magistrate, who must then open it for debate. When the debate has been concluded, according to the magistrate’s discretion, the voting may be opened by the presiding Consul or Magistrate.

Votes shall last for a maximum of one season (three days), and shall not be closed until a reasonable amount of active senators have voiced their opinion.

Votes shall be considered passed should they achieve more that 60% of the non abstaining vote in their favor. Ties shall be considered failures.

Once a vote is passed, it must be immediately carried out. Failure to carry out a motion shall bring censure by the Censor upon the presiding magistrates.

Article V

Concerning crime and punishment

The Praetors shall have sole jurisdiction over the legal system. For a crime to be tried in their court, a petitioner must first seek out a praetor and lay out an accusation. The Praetor shall then call a jury of five citizens to witness the trial and provide judgement on innocence or guilt.

The trial shall proceed with the prosecution and defense’s arguments, the jury’s decision, and the judgement.

The Praetor, after receiving a guilty verdict, may make use of any punishment he sees fit, among these being –

Death – by strangulation, arena fight, or Tarpiean Rock (reserved for high crimes)

Flagellation – Public beating and torture

Exile – Banishment from Roman lands or certain Roman lands for a set time.

Imprisonment

Confiscation – the confiscation of lands or monies for the public treasury, or for reparations

The Republic shall hold certain crimes to be especially heinous and deserving of death or other strict sentence, including but not limited to:

Ambitus – Canvassing, or illegal influence on voters, buying votes.

Majestas – Treason

Falsum – False witness

Sicariis et Veneficis – professional assassins and collaborators.

Parracidis – Patricide, or the murder of other relatives for property.

Article VI

Concerning the operating of the AAR.

The save game shall be advanced according to need and immediacy of issue. In this way, the needs of a Consul on campaign to use the save will be seen to first before a governor or Quaestor.

The save will be advanced in turn four times a term, in an alternating schedule of every three to four days. The Administrator shall keep the schedule.

A senator who has not posted for 2 days in someone else's domus will be considered to have left and cannot hear what has happened since those 2 days

Use of the People as a tool of violence to alter gameplay of the RPG WITHOUT THE EXPRESS CONSENT OF TWO MODERATORS will result in an instant ban from the forum as well as your posts being deleted. NO EXCEPTIONS.