[Discuss] Discuss: Implement differences in government types or just have one style?

[Jeremy Stephens]

There has been a great deal of changes recently in moving power away
from the rulers of realms and placing it back in the hands of region
lords etc. However this is, IMHO, leading to all governments basically
being the same vanilla thing, despite their actual form of government.
For instance, I have a character that is a dictator... that implies a
certain absolute power.  As a dictator I should be able to ban someone
without needing a judge to carry out my orders etc. after all I'm the
dictator.  The only difference is that there are not monthly elections
but then again a monarchy doesn't have that either so big deal.  I
cannot appoint and "un"appoint people at my whim and I cannot really
"wield" any form of power at all.  I accomplish a great deal but that is
done through kindness and diplomacy not power.

 

According to the BM wiki this is a Tyranny:

"The ultimate power trip for a ruler, Tyranny ensures that there is one
person with the vote, with true power in the realm.  This person is the
ruler.  Other council positions still exist but are much reduced
compared to other governments.  The destiny of the realm, in the end,
lies on the rulers shoulders. 

As with monarchy, the ruler is elected just once.  Once elected, the
ruler appoints all other positions in the realm. 

The slight benefit for the average noble is that all votes are equal; no
matter rank or prestige.  However, since all power ultimately lies with
the ruler, it is not as much of a blessing as it would seem."

 

I would like to see the dictator have all the options of the bankers and
the judges as well as that of the rulers.  Sure the judge can ban
someone but the dictator should be able to as well, without needing to
grovel and make nice to the judge and "request" someone to be banned.
After all, this is a Tyranny and he has ultimate power, right?  Why
would he need to "ask a favor" of the judge when a real dictator would
have the threat beating from the secret police to ensure people bend to
his will... that is until they can't stand the oppression and call for a
rebellion.  A tyrant should have options to "punish" people if they get
out of line... from keeping food from getting to their people, to
calling for an extra tax in their region as punishment for not following
orders.  And they should certainly have more power over non-titled
nobles as well... perhaps dictators should be able to give good/bad
marks to anyone in the realm as well?

As it is now I don't have any real power within the realm... I spend
more time "keeping up the moral" and "keeping people in the loop" in a
dictatorship then I've seen in any other realm.  Yes, I can set policies
and declare war etc. but I'm certainly not wielding the power implied by
the BM wiki or the definition (http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/tyrant) of
a tyrannical leader.