[Proposal] You Are The Senate 2.0 (YATS) [Sign-up in progress]

[m_1512]

Hello all.

I am sure many wouldn't know me since I was in the RPG forums than here since 2 years. I got an idea for a game and wanted to post it here to see if you guys would be interested.


The game
There was an age old forum game that was played here around the time of Rome 1 called YATS or You Are The Senate. This is a proposal for the same idea on Rome 2 called YATS 2.0.

The game then was pretty much straight forward. Players would be senators and would administer the Rome faction in the game from here. For the exact and detailed information about the game then, we'll need an old player to answer. However, what is important to note now that with Rome 2, the possibilities of making such interesting game are many. I'll flesh out the idea everyday, and you can provide your opinions or feedback.

Basics
Players here will be part of the Rome faction in the game. The faction will be administered from here and will issue missions, designate commander positions to other players etc. All decisions that will be taken in the game are decided here. Players can individually control the agent and general types or decide to be a part of the Senate in the forums.

A moderator will post the starting conditions of the game here, such as starting treasury, number of active agents, and disposition of the armed forces. The players then play as the senate here and debate and vote, and issue directives from here. Once the orders are issued, the save game will be passed to the players given roles of general or agents and play the actions. The save file will be then passed around till every player controlling a character has completed their actions for the turn.

After everyone has completed their turn, the file will be passed to a moderator to end the turn. After the turn is complete, the moderator will post the conditions for the turn and let the player take the game from there. The game in essense is a flow from Rome 2 to the forums.

Players have the option to join as belonging to the patrician (senatorial and equestrian) or plebian class. Patricians participate in the Senate and apply for positions, but the plebians can only apply for positions and not participate in the Senate unless adopted by another patrician character.

It is also not important to own the Rome 2 game. The game is needed only for those serving any character such as spy, or general, or governor. The rest of the players can easily play the part as the Senate or more forum based roles. But the game does not stop there. While Rome 2 is used as a base, all the things happen here. In the forums, you can participate in the Senate, play political games, plan intrigues, lobby wars and glory, and many more. You creativity is the only limitations.

Every player starts as a Roman family. Put in starting characters, and bit of background plots to give flavor to them. Then make the domus thread where your characters can be visited by others. Also, there is no necessity that your characters must be named as in the game. In the Rome 2 game can be nameless avatars that you control on behalf of your characters. I will find a way if it is possible to disable the civil wars thing. If not, we can consider the rebels as public enemy armies.

The in-game objectives can simply be thought of like people's popular wishes. You, as Senate, can draw up your own plans. I will also learn more of startpos so I can add money to the save games to emulate the spoils of victory in a war.

General Rules
- All decisions such as construction of buildings, edicts, diplomacy, raising armies, issuing missions will be played and decided here.
- Construction of buildings in city of Rome will be debated and voted by Senate here. For buildings in other cities and provinces, the player designated as governor will decide what to build there.
- Positions are conferred upon other players by the Senate.
- Players who are given any in-game positions are honor bound not to touch others' characters in the game. Any action they want to take should be for their army or character. Example if a player is given command of an army Legio I, that player is to control that army only and leave the other stuff alone.

Rules of the Game

Constituion of Rome Article I - Offices of Rome (Magistracies and Governorships) Censor 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 powers: Censure (formally condemn) anyone not observing proper behavior. Issue a Nota Censora (permanent note of condemnation) to anyone found unbecoming of their expected class. The Nota Censora may be removed at any time by any Censor. Issue an Ejactus e Senatu (ban from the Senate), to ban any Senator found unobserving of the decorum of the Senate. A Censor is expected to perform his duties with utmost dedication and honor. Failing to do so, the Censor shall be stripped of his rank and conveyed a ban for 2 terms for standing in this office. A Censor serves a term of one year. Consuls Rome shall be governed by two consuls elected by the Senate. The Consuls are officials elected by the Senate for term of two years. The powers and responsibilities of the Consuls are listed below: 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 shall govern and manage all settlements in Italia on behalf of the Senate. The Consuls have the power to issue an edict in any province held by Rome. The Consuls may overrule the decisions of the proconsuls, and may not be tried for a crime while sitting in office. - No consul may embark on an extended campaign unless the Senate is unanimous. - 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. Pontifex Maximus 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 two years. A senator is eligible to be Pontifex Maximus only after he has participated three full terms in the Senate. The following are the duties and privileges of the Pontifex Maximus: 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. 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 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. The Pontifex Maximus cannot set foot outside of Rome during his reign. Praetors The Praetors are elected for a term of one year and shall oversee the courts of Rome. Praetors will 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 if any threat is not deemed worthy of consular action. Quaestor The Quaestor is an official elected for two years and is responsible for the treasury of the Res Publica. The Quaestor shall stand in for the praetor in the event that both consuls are outside Italia and the praetor has assumed responsibility of the city. Other roles and responsibilities are: The Quaestor shall create a report of the available public funds each new year, and shall gather any financial information the Senate may require at the request of the Senate. The Quaestor may also advise the Senate regarding the appropriation of the available funds and in planning of the budget. The Quaestor shall also investigate any member of the senate suspected for corruption. If a senator is exposed by the Quaestor, the senator shall be barred from running for office for one full term. The Quaestor cannot set foot outside of Italy. Tribunes The Tribunes are elected officials having the responsibility to protect the people’s interests in the Curia. No more than two Tribunes shall serve simultaneously for a term of one year, and only plebians may serve as Tribune. The life of a tribune is inviolate, and any acts of violence brought against the Tribune will result in the automatic death penalty of the offending senator. The tribune has the following important power: The Tribune may invoke Ivs Intercessio (the right to veto) against any motion, official action, or proposal before the Senate. This does not apply if a motion has already been passed or if the motion is one of recall on said tribune. This right applies to only Tribunes not having traveled outside Italia. Proconsuls Proconsuls are officials elected by the Senate to govern in the place of Consuls, any provinces beyond Italia. They are elected for a term of two years. Following are the duties and responisbilities of the office: A Proconsul 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 govern the province 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. 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. Propraetors 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: Powers of the Senate, and responsibilities of a Senator The Senate has the power to declare war, lay tax, raise legions, and create budgets. The Senate may pass declarations in the form of Senatus Consulta enforceable by the Senate. The Senate has sole direct control over Italia, and over 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: Elections of Magistrates Elections will be held once a year or two years depending on the office. Voting shall be held for 1 day (in real life) after the nominations and following debate are concluded. 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. The Censorial candidate must have participated in two full sessions of the Senate before being eligible to run. A senator must have participated in one full senate session before being eligible to run for Consul. 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 time in a row. This is so that senator may use his second term to finish off work from his first term. Article IV: Workings of the Senate Each term shall begin in the following order: Official statement from the Consuls. In it, the Consuls shall lay out the pressing matters of the state, including infrastructure and military needs. Annual report by the Quaestor. The Pontifex Maximus shall next be given a turn to give any advisement he deems appropriate to the Senate should he be present. Senate must pass an official budget for the term, as well as appointing any necessary suffecti. This is followed by the other business of the Senate. 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: 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. Following are the punishments a Praetor may sentence the guilty with: 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 - Imprisonment for a period of time. All rights of that person are suspended till lapse of the sentence. 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.

More coming soon.

[m_1512]

Game alignments
This explains how the game aligns with Rome 2 campaign - who controls what, and decides what.

• Turns - The game turns will be done by a moderator. After the turn for the year end has been performed, the moderator will post all new turn conditions and updates in the game and the player take it from there. If using any mod, the moderator will still post all changes that happened in that turn.
• Province of Italia - Controlled by the Consuls on behalf of the Senate. This includes all building decisions, and the command of defending garrison.
• Other Provinces - Controlled by the Proconsuls on behalf of the Senate. This includes all building decisions, and the command of defending garrison.
• Economy, finance, and taxes - Done by the Quaestor. The Quaestor will take the treasury amount updated by the moderator in each year turn and post a report and proposed budget with appropriation of funds.
• Armies - Commanded by Consuls, and by Praetors when necessary. If the armies are more than two, the Praetors appointed for the army will control. However, Praetors cannot take command of any garrison unless specified by Senate.
• Edicts - Decided by the Senate, and enforced by the Consuls or Proconsuls.
• Diplomacy - Senate only. The Consul on behalf of the Senate initiates diplomacy with other factions. But since the AI initiates diplomacy during end turn, the moderator can accept or reject based on the Senate policy on the known nations. The policy will simply aid the moderators while ending the turn to accept or reject proposals. The parameters are as follows:
  War ------ Hostile ------ Neutral ------ Friendly ------ Alliance
• Religion - The Pontifex Maximus advises the Senate, Consuls, and Proconsuls on which temples to build in the cities.

Save Trades
Concerning the operating of the game and the save files.

• 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.

Positions and Rome 2 requirements
These positions does not require Rome 2:

• Senator
• Censor
• Quaestor
• Pontifex Maximus
• Tribunes

These positions require Rome 2:

• Consul
• Proconsul
• Praetor
• Propraetor
• Legatus

[ImperialAquila]

It's back now? I remember this back when they used RS2. So, is it finally given space in the RPG section? Because last I heard, they wanted to have it there but their request was denied.

[Nota']

It's back now? I remember this back when they used RS2. So, is it finally given space in the RPG section? Because last I heard, they wanted to have it there but their request was denied.

I believer it had a shortcut from the RPG forums for a while.

@m_1512 Are you proposing any changes from the past/current system other than additions to account for R2 game mechanics?
Edit: Do save trades work in R2?

[m_1512]

Not yet, This is a proposal. I am in the process of putting and developing the idea.

[ImperialAquila]

I see. I'm very interested to see this one come back. You can count me in.

[Hetman Khmelnytsky]

Very interesting, I would like to play please.

[Lord of Shadows]

I'm interested in it even if I don't quite understand it. I will see if I will join.

How many players are needed for this to start?

[♞Rogue General♞]

Haven't played a game like this before... it sounds interesting.

Sign me up for the Equestrian Class. I would like to be a General, if possible.

[ImperialAquila]

It's an RPG like an Interactive AAR where players get to decide what happens. From building construction in settlements to commanding legions. YATS was a big hit back then especially after the release of RS2.

AFAIK and if memory serves, there's no limit to the players that can join the game.

[m_1512]

There is also no binding restriction to owning Rome 2 to play. I am currently balancing and thinking aspects how to make this interesting and active for both sets of people. As far as playerbase is concerned, you can start spreading out the word to both the old players and the new folks.

[ImperialAquila]

That's right. Maybe owning Rome II can fall under the generals/legates category? It would be impossible for them to be given command of a legion if they don't own the game.

[War lord]

There's no such thing as a "General" position in Ancient Rome. Praetors, Consuls and Pro-Consuls command Legions. These could be either Plebeians or Patricians, I don't know why you mention Equites and not Plebeians. Anyone rich enough to hold a seat in the Senate meets the property requirements of the Ordo equester, thus you don't need to distinguish Equites from anyone else.

Also, you've included a bunch of agent jobs that have nothing to do with the Senate, and you've made no mention of the Senate positions.

Two Consuls

One Praetor, later two

The Tribune of the Plebs

Censor

Four Aediles

Long story short, you seem to have forgotten that the game is an aid to YATS, YATS isn't an aid to the game.

[m_1512]

General there denotes the Rome 2 guy as leader of the army. That is to give a clear picture to everyone. I am currently typing out the exact rules for the Senate positions and all. And if you wish to play as a pleb from the start, I have no issues and will remove it. As for equestrians and senators, there was a distinction between the threshold property required to be one. I have not forgotten anything, but will keep fleshing this out.

[ImperialAquila]

Oh. That's right. We had Patricians and Plebs back then.

[Lord of Shadows]

I have decided. I will join.

[Merula]

Will sign up, if it gets enough support to get off the ground again Really do need that "rule book" though, don't want any more of these upstart equestrians thinking they can lead the armies of the glorious Res Publica!!

@m_1512
Are you collating the rules based off the original YATS forum rules? Or making completely new ones based on your own wishes?

[m_1512]

@m_1512 Are you proposing any changes from the past/current system other than additions to account for R2 game mechanics?
Edit: Do save trades work in R2?

@m_1512
Are you collating the rules based off the original YATS forum rules? Or making completely new ones based on your own wishes?

Yes, my focus is on slight tweaking the game to what Rome 2 can offer to it. So in essence, Rome 2 will be aiding the game.

And no, I am not making them on my wishes and would never dream of doing this with YATS. I am collating the rules from the old game, tweaking to balance in that everyone including people owning and not owning the game both have considerable stuff to do in the game. And I post the rule set in some time now.

[m_1512]

Added the game rules here. Just one article done for now, more is in WIP.

[General Maximus]

Eh, so this is a game based on Rome II. Although I would've loved to play this, I am simply unable to play Rome II due to heavy disappointment.