[Discuss] Re: Barbarians

[Joar Berntsen]

> On 12/18/2006 03:29 PM, Joar Berntsen wrote:
>> BM is pretty boring without wars,
>>   

> So start one.

I have tried several times.

Main problem is that I dont have a ruler char.
Because common knights are generally ignored by those in charge.

> There are more than enough reasons now. Gaining regions, 
> improving food supply, and now religions and unique items ("give us back 
> the Crown of Isadril, or we will attack!").

Ah, but do you know how things work in bm?
(what a silly question... or is it?...)

Here is how I see the situation in BM:
(most of you already know this)

-Peace is safety:
-----------------
Many rulers are generally peacefull.
The player behind has a ruler char, which also gains you fame.
Why would they want to risk losing it
by starting wars for fun,
when they can just have fun with their other characters
and be really carefull with their ruler char.
This is also the case for dukes and other important positions.
You wont see any warmongering amongst these characters.

-Being hostile is REALLY DANGEROUS:
-----------------------------------
If however the ruler is not a pantsy, and tries to start a war for fun,
he will go up against a wall of alliances and politics and relations,
and what not, making it rather impossible to wage war on a single realm,
because you are guaranteed to upset 1 to 5 other realms
who will join forces against your realm.
What could have been a fun 1 on 1 war,
turns into a powergame, where the 'victims'
try to take as much advantage of the 'aggressors' as possible
through relations with other realms.

-Patience is key:
-----------------
Most realms are waiting for others to attack them first,
exactly because of the benefits of being the victim (above).
Making the first move is considered a taboo
and frowned upon.
 
-FEAR of consequences halts hostilities:
----------------------------------------
The stake, if you dare to start a war,
is the complete erradication of your realm
(because of powergaming)
so I completely understand why everyone is so carefull.


There are probably lots of other reasons
why peace times are long, and wars are scarce.
I dont really want to start an argument about this.
Just pointing out why an idea like Barbarians
is not a bad idea when you take into consideration
the above things.


> If you can't find a reason to start a war, you lack in imagination.

Ok. You have any suggestions for a common knight char?

How should he go about in his realm without:
-Being ignored.
-Banned for warmongering.
-Killed by infiltrators.

You see, this game is still mainly a game for those in charge.
Anyone seen doing things they dont like
are immediately banned from the realm or killed.

The knights are just pawns to them.

Not that I dislike this or anything.
It is just how it is, and would become again
when some have powers and most others dont.

So after reading this,
do you still think that Barbarians is an unneccessary idea
because starting wars is easy if you want to?



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