Genesis of Empire

[The Stig]

Here's the game Shankbot, M, and I have been working on for the past while. Special thanks to Gandalf for his help with the proposal.

Genesis of Empire

Ere an age ago, there was a war which wiped raged this world. It was fuelled by the greed of the druids of the old lands. This war wrecked havoc everywhere. Many evils were awaken, fires raged, and all suffered, forced either to choose sides or face pain and destruction. It seemed that there would be no end to it, for the greed and might of the druids was too great.
And just when the world was at the brink of destruction, deliverence arrived. The free races of men suffered but endured, willing it to end. The spirits of the world then descended upon the world to put an end to this rampage. These spirits were Valkryies, immortals made of the elements, having the power of the elements and were invincible. One after one, they struck down the druids, and all who tried to take their place. The race of men were freed from the enchantments of the druids, but their minds were scarred. The rampage was put down, but not all evil gone.
The Valkyries then put to sleep the races of men they delivered, to heal them. The evils they hid in the world, to slumber until men woke them up, and thence it would be their fate, and the world given time to heal its scars, so the men can dwell there again. And they departed far away, with mind that they done enough.
Now, after an age since the great war, the races of men awoke. Healed in body and spirit, with no memory of the past. Now they have the vast expanse of the world around them. Treasures to be gained, victories to be won, and empires to be forged, and perhaps evils to be awoken. The path lies for warriors, and warlords to lead their tribes to complete domination.

Mod Team
Head Moderator: The Stig
Moderator: Shankbot de Bodemloze
Moderator: M_1512


Forum Structure
WIP

[m_1512]

The Game
As the synopsis suggests, the game involves a fictional word setting which is not medieval themed, but as a change, an antiquity theme. As the synopsis says, the world has just started out after the chaotic events, so everyone starts on equal footing. In the game, players take a characters as the head of a tribe. From here, they go on about quests, to find treasures and mystical objects, conquests for glory and for strength of their, and all this with the ultimate objective of domination of the known world. In this world, the world is divided into primarily two peoples, the settled peoples and the barbarians. Each is gifted with their own strengths and bonuses against the others, and have their own weaknesses in face of their nemesis.

The Tribes
As previously stated, there are two primary peoples based on their nature. The settled people are basically city states. The city states are all cities and regions ruled by their own tribes. They all have have one strength that is their civilization and the ability to built walled cities and field disciplined armies. But are unable field lots of them nor they fight fiercely. As about the barbarians, they are further divided into two types divided into two types based on their regional identities - Northmen, and Men of Far-lands.

The Northmen are the dwellers of the Great North Isle. Their one strength is their ferocity and their ability to endure extreme climate and hardships. They also fight on foot, sprinting and fighting without showing signs of exhaustion. The down side for the tribal leaders is that the north tribes are harder to control and do not abide by rule of weaklings. The other barbarians are the tribes of the far lands to the north and east. These peoples consists of tribes that either fight completely on foot or horse, and some who use both combination. Their strength lies in their ferocity and the ability to move fast and adapt to the challenges. However, they still rely on numbers to beat superior and disciplined soldiery, which is not always the best advantage.

Also, I got a suggestion from a player that it would be fun to play only barbarians. But I'll let you all decide, see the other thread.

Starting the game
It's very simple. Every player starts with a tribe, playing as the leader of the tribe. This tribe can be of any of the available main and regional identities. Post in the registration thread about your character (you can start with two) and the tribe. You'll begin the game with a tribe of set numbers, your characters with considerable traits. Creativity is encouraged in this provided it does not get silly. Moderators can also use discretion to award some bonuses for exceptionally written character and tribe descriptions and history. Also, we request you to find your own symbols for the tribes. The tribe names can be inspired from historical tribes too, and can have even actual names (e.g. Roxolanii). It's all up to you.

Next step is to decide which place your tribe will be stationed initially. For both types of tribes, you'll be positioned in small villages. However, your main thread will be your own tribe thread. Then you can start your roleplay. Also, the first step will be to decide on your troop composition. Once assigned you cannot change your composition again. You can again set composition when your tribe numbers increase and you have fresh warriors to fight for you. Another way of adding variety is by absorbing the troops of defeated tribes.

Economy and Growing
The money and economy system is at best simple. The unit for wealth is Tribute. Each type of tribe has a way of getting those. City-States generate tribute from their city, and their surrounding villages and towns under their rule. But this is different for barbarian factions. Barbarian factions, especially Northmen, need more tribute to grow. This is not sufficient from their home region villages and settlements. Here they have to supplement it from Raids. Barbarian factions even have a penalty for not raiding for a long time. The only way to remove this penalty is by settling the tribe. However, this will not be easy as stubborn and wild warriors don't like to throw their axe and start tilling the land. But the other barbarians will be able to live on a suitable lands by controlling the villages on it.

Also, to explain how tribute feeds the tribes, it is a simple explanation. The tribute ensures that tribes can simply buy the necessities from the merchants of the civilized states for some time. Also, while raiding, tribes will even pick up stuff other that tribute.

The Tribe populations
The following are the numbers of each tribes. These numbers do not include the peoples absorbed from another tribe or conquered from a region.

Civilized tribes - 1000 peoples
Northmen - 1,500 peoples
The Barbarian tribes - 1,800 peoples

It is also important to understand that not all people in a tribe are to fight in battles. There are other roles the people can serve within a tribe. Hence, the actual amount of available warriors in the tribes at any given point of time are as following.

Civilized tribes - 30%
Northmen - 40%
The Barbarian tribes - 50%

In times of desperation, like in face of imminent destruction of the tribe itself, the tribes will be able to bolster their strength by adding to their ranks anyone who can wield arms rather than the usual able bodied men. The percentage here are as below.

Civilized tribes - 60%
Northmen - 65%
The Barbarian tribes - 70%

Increasing the Tribe
The next important part is how to increase the tribe. That is, how to increase well-being in your tribe and hence increase numbers and might. There are basically two ways to get the might of numbers into a tribe - increase the numbers or get them from outside. The latter part will come later. But now, I'll explain how to increase the numbers from within the tribes.

Historically, tribes functioned on the simple concept of fulfilling their basic needs. It is also the same here, but more simple. Every tribe has a happiness rating, or in other words how satisfied they are in your rule. Keep them satisfied and they will develop properly. Dissatisfied tribesmen might mean people moving off seeking other tribes for better prospects. More worrisome means that the deserters includes your warriors too.

The following are some of the modifiers for your tribe satisfaction rating.

Tributes - Distributing gained tribute (from sources other than your own tribe) amongst your peoples is a sure way to boost satisfaction. Repeatedly failing to do so will only make you seem greedy.
Authority - For wild people, successfully leading your people into humiliating situations is a sure way to hurt pride and lower satisfaction. For civilized people, this is failing to protect them from barbaric attacks. For both, this also means that the leader's control over his people is slipping.

Absorbing other Tribes
Your character as a tribal leader need not wait to grow strong. You can also absorb other tribes, player or NPC into your own. The rules are very simple regarding this. First of all, it's about playing the character and doing the necessary roleplay.

However, for balancing reasons, the conquered people will be a part of your tribe, but not exactly your tribe. What is basically means is that, if you playing as Northmen absorb a Barbarian tribe of horsemen, the horsemen do not become Northmen but are simply ruled by them. Here, you will get an opportunity to use their bonuses, like the troops and levy percentage. But these units cannot get your tribe's strengths. The conquered tribes also retains some of their identity despite being conquered. There will be a thread for listing all this, but it will be taken care by moderators. And also, more about troops and advantages below.

Cultural Advantages and Armies Tentative - to be finalized by the mods
The tribes are not only divided by regions, but also by culture, i.e. their nature. The distinctions provide the much needed core strengths and advantages. But more importantly, it also determines what their compositions of their hosts are.

As mentioned above, every tribe culture has a set percentage of troop levies. However, the troop composition has to be decided at the start and remains constant until new soldiers are received. The reason for restricting is the balancing issues, and not letting the game be chaotic by constant changing troop compositions.

The following are the advantages and units culture-wise.

City States
Advantages:
- Good civilization rating from the start
- Build well fortified cities (whether by single player or collectively by two or more)
- Disciplined troops (less likely to exceed orders or flee)
- Build mighty warships
- Bonus on researching new techs
- Form governments (various bonus based on the type) like Monarchy, Oligarchy, Republic, Theocracy
- Colonize other regions and people (gain servitude of other tribes)

Northmen
Advantages:
- Medium civilization rating from the start
- Fierce troops (less likely to be intimidated or flee)
- Ability to survive extreme climates
- Strong heavy troops
- Build longboats (fast transport boats which can traverse narrowest rivers, but no match for warships)
- Adopt to city state cultures when occupied

Barbarians
Advantages:
- Numbers advantage
- Ability to adopt to challenges quickly
- Higher mobility than other all tribes
- Fierce light troops able to fight attrition battles and wars
- Best raiding troops
- Ability to have a way of life - Pastoral (all infantry troops) or Nomadic (all cavalry troops)

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

This looks promising.

[Gandalfus]

Playing

[Pinkerton]

Interesting setting

[Lord Dread]

I agree, will possibly join it.

[Xion]

Does look interesting, will wait to see rules and the like before deciding to join.

[m_1512]

Rules will be done in another day or so. The only thing impeding me is my work schedule. But since my week-offs are coming, I can finish it up.

[Zeus Almighty]

Interesting, I'm intrigued

[Honors Bastion]

It is an interesting concept. I want more about the rules and other related stuff before I commit to joining though.

[m_1512]

I am updating this as I type, so you guys may want to check in now and then. Also, I would like your thoughts, opinion, and feedback on your stuff as and when you see it. I've subscribed the thread and will answer at the earliest.

[m_1512]

Another update in.

[Zeus Almighty]

Gotcha, I think in my mind the number for tribes and Northmen is a little high. It may be that I'm thinking too archaic or narrow minded, but when I think tribal society I don't think tens of thousands. Same for the Northmen, I think smaller society bad man on the block is in charge, closer to the numbers you gave for the "small tribe" grouping. When you start talking 50,000 people I think more along the lines of a begining civilization already.

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

No the numbers do match up. Think any of the invading barbarian tribes that attacked Rome Maygars or Huns and so on could get up to 50,000 men. Armies all the way up to 80,000 or 90,000. They move with their entire population so everyone who can bear arms is armed.

[Lord Dread]

No the numbers do match up. Think any of the invading barbarian tribes that attacked Rome Maygars or Huns and so on could get up to 50,000 men. Armies all the way up to 80,000 or 90,000. They move with their entire population so everyone who can bear arms is armed.

These armies, however, were formed by several tribes who decided to join these movements as far as I know. And this happened not all too often.
Zeus is definitly right, when he says that the numbers are very huge. And personally it may be better if we go with smaller numbers of people and warriors with a maximum in 10k-20k area at population and 5k-10k at warriors.

I hope that these numbers are also based on the conquered cities and the agricultural sector, because a barbarian tribe of such size without any infrastructure would starve during days when there aren't any more cities and villages to raid and when there are no supplies. Doesn't work.

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

Some were but this is a fictional world no? The term you're looking for is a horde. It is perfectly possible for a tribe to be or grow that large by conquest.


They don't need infrastructure when they're that large of a horde. Just invade enemy lands.

[Lord Dread]

Some were but this is a fictional world no? The term you're looking for is a horde. It is perfectly possible for a tribe to be or grow that large by conquest.


They don't need infrastructure when they're that large of a horde. Just invade enemy lands.

Only if you can definitly persuade a large ammount of tribes with similiar thoughts, I admit that, but people don't join that easily a tribe, even if you conquer their village. Tribal structures indicate also family relationships and other persons in this world surely have a tribe with whom they identify themselves. And I doubt that a small tribe grows really that easily into a tribe with 40k members some day, especially when it is a nomad tribe without any infrastructure.

And no, invading your enemies isn't really helpful. This may work one or two times, but there are reasons, why enemies throw salt on their fields and burn down their supplies when a large army approaches. And also, it's not very logical that you can keep up an entire army without agricultural possibilities when you invade for example just a small village. Most of your people would starve after days because they suffer from getting no food, this weakens the rest of the nomads during time etc. etc.
It doesn't make sense, even in a fictional scenario!

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

Its not always done willingly. Look at the Mongols or other Asian steppe tribes. Upwards of over 200,000 warriors. Gathered simply within a few years. Tribes don't always have villages defeat there troops and leader and they troops and families join you. Small tribe that grows into a large tribe? Try the mongols. Temujin went from him and his immediate family to millions. It is perfectly possible.


I fear all tribes routinely raided. That rarely happened. Throw salt on their own fields? I'm thinking that never happened.
Then explain how hundreds of tribes managed it? Historically? They attack a number of villages and raid the fields and farms. You don't seem to understand how tribes work.

[Zeus Almighty]

He meant throw salt on fields so opposing armies can't utilize the soil etc. though I do agree with LD in large part and you in a very small way, seeing as the Mongols as a whole can hardly be considered "tribal" but more of a simple civilization. I was merely saying that to start perhaps the numbers should be smaller and various player and NPC tribes spread out making conquest possible if that's what you want. Either way I think both arguements were stated rather completely and we should wait for the Creators to decide what they wanna do

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

I know exactly what he meant. Can you give any example of any village doing this to themselves? Conquering enemies MIGHT have done done this to their absolute WORST enemies. Possibly.




I agree with the starting out as perhaps smaller tribes.