Hi all, some updates on the latest patch: it’s getting close to release and should be out in the next couple of days. The patch ended up growing quite a bit from what was planned: originally it was just meant to be a refresh of the event models, but it grew to include a new population system that separates cultures and religions, new UI features like a history of your faction’s rulers, custom interactions for power blocs, data changes to make modding easier and a ton of bug fixes and balance changes.
This week I’m going to talk about a feature that's been one of the most requested since the game was first announced: the ability to play as other factions, not just the Empire itself.
The Empire is made up of over twenty provinces, each with its own culture, its own governor, and its own ambitions. It's time to let you play from the other side of the imperial hierarchy.
When you start a new game, you'll be able to pick any faction belonging to the Rephsian culture group. In the future you will be able to play as barbarian factions, but since their gameplay is so different to Rephsian it won’t be out for a while until I come up with a version that is properly playable.
These factions split into two very different experiences depending on their relationship with the Empire. There is one additional independent Rephsian faction at the start of the game: the Western Rebels under Aulus Tiberian. Playing as an independent faction works much like the existing game: you control your armies, manage your settlements, conduct diplomacy, and pursue your own goals. The difference is scale: you begin at war with the Empire, outnumbered and outspent, but with a compact and defensible position in Oretania. If you conquer the rest of the Empire you will be recognised as the rightful ruler and the game will continue as usual.
Things get a bit more novel with the ability to play as a province. Most Rephsian factions are provinces of the Empire: Sarmachia, Allobroscia, Lupara, Rasenia, Montania, etc. Unlike in the tutorial, which is quite simplified to help teach the game’s mechanics, the full game’s province system will be quite a bit more in-depth.
When playing as one of these provinces, you’ll be focused more on your subterfuge and social connections: legions aren’t controlled directly by a provincial governor, you’ll be reliant on your small personal retinue when dealing with other provinces, but a full legion will absolutely outclass you.
As emperor, the patronage system is something you manage from above: you watch your courtiers form networks and occasionally intervene. As the ultimate ruler you cannot be a client of anyone else - but as a provincial governor you could be the Emperor’s client, to ingratiate yourself into his inner circle.
When you make your bid for the throne, the armies that fight for you must come from commanders you've already turned to your side. This means identifying vulnerable commanders through espionage: ones with low loyalty, ones the emperor has mistreated - who you will be able to make your patrons and convince to join your power bloc.
When you're ready to make your move, there are three ways to seize the throne:
Adoption and succession. Build such trust with the emperor that he adopts you as his heir. On his death you will take over control.
Bloc rebellion. Rise to leadership of your power bloc, escalate its demands, and trigger a rebellion with yourself as the rebel emperor.
Acclamation. During a major crisis, if your fame far exceeds the emperor's and you have military backing, the army or the senate can acclaim you emperor. This is the organic way: you're so important that it happens naturally.
Recall is the biggest threat for a governor. Based on the Emperor’s opinion of you and your performance as a provincial governor, your standing with him will be shown in the UI.
If you've performed poorly, you'll see your standing shift from Favoured to Neutral to Under Scrutiny to Recall Imminent, at which point you’ll need to call in your favours to get back in the good books. Otherwise, you can always rebel when the emperor comes to recall you - but this is naturally fraught if you don’t have enough power to defend yourself.
This is a big addition and it's still in development. I think that it will take at least a couple more weeks after the next update before it’s finished and ready to go.
Thank you,
Joe