[Discuss] anti-state-religion

[Lyman Stone]

>> Combine this with another feature: You MUST be part of a  
>> religion.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  This would provide religions  
>> with the kind of power they need, and it's historical.  You might  
>> only give lip service once a week, but you were a member of a  
>> religion.
>
> It's only historical because of the prevalence of the Catholic  
> church -- and that's one thing we want to actively avoid in  
> Battlemaster.
>
> If a realm chooses to submit to a religion so much that becoming a  
> member is required for active participation, that's one thing.  But  
> mandating it through game mechanics is something else entirely.

It's historical only because of Catholocism? Ummm.... not entirely  
true. Note the late Mughal Dynasty, or the Saffavids (though both of  
those are indeed slightly later), or the tax system of the Muslims.  
Or perhaps the late Tang Dynasty in China, or maybe the Roman Empire.

Also, Catholocism had a huge part to play in defining feudalism and  
the medieval period... and Battlemaster is loosely medieval based.  
Thus, the idea of a forced religion which you would probably only pay  
lip service to just goes in naturally with the system. It fits.

And I'm not sure why we would try to avoid a Catholic-style- 
continental-domination. I think it'd be lots of fun. In fact, I'll go  
ahead and say that two of my characters (Onliana and Amekal) either  
are currently or will eventually be pursuing exactly that. Well,  
maybe not exactly, but very nearly. Allow me to assure you that it's  
very fun. Why would we want to actively avoid it in Battlemaster?


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