@WulfyK I have 7 maces only weapons in a rebel group? With tons of grain and food to waste.
I mean how hell i could defend even the camp no thinking in attack with 7 rusty maces!!! Sure i would win a war with 7 maces lol 
Beez: that’s fine, I’m cool with being someone’s second or third favorite. 
@WulfyK, the nomadic band can’t store much grain–just what households can carry and keep on one of the band’s mules, with the risky possibility of a few caches to return to later in winter. The way the story’s written now, raiding barns or begging from helots isn’t actually something you finish in the first week or two – it ties up a party for the rest of the winter. That’s in significant part because you can’t carry a lot with you, nor store food very well.
Theurgy will definitely require more than 1 INT. 2 is the threshold for doing it badly. (The original intent was that it would require INT3 to figure it out, or INT2 with diligent tutoring).
Mara, the text should make clear in a couple places that your band has staves and clubs – just relatively few iron and steel weapons, which are mainly held by imperials (and which the “Arms” stat tracks). Steel is expensive in Shayard due to high Hegemonic tariffs. But wrought iron isn’t impossibly expensive–and I should still offer the choice to blow your wealth on a handful of arms.
Possibly a weird question here. Could there be problems down the line with unexpected pregnancies, or is there plenty of mullow to go around?
For that matter, is birth control a religious no-no or is it just the empire that doesn’t like it?
Also I found a typo.
“In any noble pygmachia bout, they’re hedged in by a strict code of conduct,” you explained as you squared off against Elery. “The fight should not result in visible bruises or bleeding. So nothing to the face or lower arms.” You jabbed one leather-wrapped fist toward her nose, and she barely ducked away in time. “Needless to say, that’s >>[i[not<< what I’ll be showing you.”
@Havenstone Some children are converted to ‘fighters’ as time goes on, right?
@Sneaks
It seems that birth control use amongst helots is a big no no. Those who reproduce often are rewarded with being less likely to be harrowed, and those who use mullow likely stole it. Being caught stealing and having few children is begging to be a target.
I know that much. The empire ‘discourages’ the use of contraceptives in order to keep helots breeding. What I wanted to know is if there was also some kind of religious guilt attached to it, the kind that wasn’t introduced by the Karagonds.
And since our peeps are a merry band of rebels living in a forest, getting caught chewing mullow is the least of their problems.
I like @MaraJade’s idea for fat rebels. This could become something of a selling point for the rebellion (“join us, and we’ll feed you so well you’ll need to wash yourself with a tag on a stick!”)
As an alternative, those who prefer a darker path could drizzle them with barbeque sauce and sell them to the abhumans.
Sneaks, thanks for the typo catch! Wild mullow is fairly plentiful in Shayard, rather less so in higher or drier provinces; many yeomen families do well gathering and selling it to traders. When it comes to religion, the Canon only forbids mullow for helots and the unwed. Politically, the empire’s quite happy to have the underclass breed faster than nobles–indeed, that’s the only way the system really functions.
Drbg, yes, every year you’ll have some kids grow into fighters and some new babies born–we’re just not there yet.
Rebel fattening is a… novel livelihood option. Mmm. Barbeque.
@Protagonist I just could make a barbecue with them with revolution ending. I probably did with helots the same old Mongols tribes did kill everyone in the cities that are taller 1’20 helots of course. My revolution would be theoretically bloodless, until me and my nobles take control. Then I would start a final solution and kill practically 70% of helots population and starting a massive brain washing population in a big brother regime. The kids would be in great part of a military complete regime since six years if they survive until 35 they would be free also if reach 65 they would be killed. Maybe start a religion with me as a poison queen using my infinite charisma.
Sadly, I don’t think this game would be so dark >:-) But using impalate men in tree sticks could be so awesome!!
This statement of gives me one more idea for stat selection in chapter 1 (I’ve already thought abouth this as I promised): 1. a. what if you make “not talented at theurgy” as a disadvantage selectable for those who have INT 2? they could have 1 on both others but won’t be able to learn theurgy until they reach INT 3.
my other ideas for the stats are:
b. The option “no particular talent” allowing 1/1/1 stats or even 0/1/1 for those who like to play on the very hard difficulty level.
c. Allowing a 3/0/0 stat. Such an MC would be a prodigy in one skill and copletely suck at both others.
d. What about letting the nobles have 1 more stat point then helots? This would emphasize their better life standard and allow more combinations, besides having a 2/1/1, they could also have a 2/2/0 with two strong sides and one weakness or even 2/2/1 if they gain no weakness, either by an IAP or by my “suck at theurgy”
Now to the demographics (as you wanted, all these are things the MC should know):
2.a.How and how long does mullow work and who has to consume it, the man, the woman or both?
b. What are the breeding rates for the helots, the yeomen and merchants and the aristos (at least in Rim Square)?
c. How many helot/noble/yeoman/merchant children are born every year in average and how many survive until aduthood?
d. How many helots are harrowed/killed/die otherwise per year?
e. population in general: How many people do live in Rim Square (individuals and families) by class: nobles, yeomen, merchants, alastors & other offcials, helots (and how many are owned by each of the noble families)
3.What is the general attitude towards cannibalism in the Hegemony? If the MC proposes the fellow rebels to eat the corpses of fallen/starved comrades or killed enemies, how would they react?
@WulfyK, the stat ideas are all interesting–but they’d make the game much harder to balance. In particular, adding things for, say, INT 3 before Game 2 or COM 4 before Game 3 would be both a lot of work and a balance killer. I’m going to stick with the stats as they are. LIM.
Theurges say that the herb mullow sedates the homunculi in both male and female seed. As both homunculi are needed to unite into a new human being, either a man or a woman can chew mullow and prevent conception. The effects of chewing a few dried leaves lasts about a week.
As for the rest, I’ll answer the demographic questions at the next update, when I’m confident that it all hangs together.
Cannibalism is as taboo in the Hegemony as in the vast majority of human cultures.
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@Havenstone But only proposal c. involves stats above what’s already possible. I hope I didn’t get something wrong from the previous post but I think only one stat is checked any time, not a combination of them, right?
Therefore, proposals a, b and d won’t require any recoding beyond the original stats selection scenes. In my opinion, b. is particluary balanced because a 1/1/1 MC would be able to perform all missions more or less OK without performing outstandingly in some and failing at some other and a. is actually the same as an already existing possibility with the IAP purchase and choosing not to learn theurgy.
Are there any visible evidence of mullow consumption or are users only at risk being caught when thay’re eating it? And do women get period if they eat mullow?
OK, I’m waitig for this update.
@poison_mara in the last comment you said your revolution is bloodless until now, but before you mentioned having only 43 rebels, if it’s the same playthrough, then it’s not bloodless and Elery and the others were harrowed because your MC didn’t intervene.
@WulfiK my character didn’t believe at all Helots are people. Imagine Hitler or Stalin opinion of jews. Or more accurately with the setting Platon and Aristotles slave concept. There are soulless apes sex hungry that have to be controlled by the ones wiser stronger and with an eternal soul. She could fake being a charismatic leader like a robin Hood, but she hates all. In fact, she never saves them due Elery could be an annoyance for my charismatic control ofthe peasants
Hey Wulfy, the 1-1-1 would currently be a pretty unbalanced play. You couldn’t beat Chirex (that takes a 2 stat whether or not you use Theurgy) and you’d lose more outlaws than you can probably afford to in raids/starvation. INT 2 is and will continue to be more than just Theurgy.
The balance of the game as written involves having a strength and a weakness. I’m just about willing to sell an unbalanced “easy mode” to people who know that’s what they’re buying, but not to integrate it into the real game. On your specific suggestions, the jury’s still out on how long an INT 2 character will be able to forgo Theurgy and survive; and a noble MC is definitely not going to get a stat bump.
No, there’s no visible evidence of mullow consumption and it doesn’t affect menstruation.
Mara, I don’t think Plato and Aristotle thought slaves were soulless or could be slaughtered without moral consequence. They weren’t quite as close to Hitler, Stalin, or kuria Mara de Jade as all that. Small-souled and needing to be controlled by those wiser/stronger? Definitely.
@Havenstone
I just read your game and I have got to say that it is fantastic, the attention detail is excellent. I was wondering where you got the inspiration to write this game and how do you keep everything balanced?
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Thanks @Darkner! The game was inspired by a D&D campaign I ran in college with players including Adam Morse (CoG partner, co-author of Dragon, Broadsides & AotC), his future wife, and the brilliant @ladybird. Its setting was “oriental” rather than Hellenistic/English, but it dealt with similar themes: rebellion against a murderously oppressive empire, and the balance between what you want to tear down and preserve.
More recently I also worked on poverty relief in Afghanistan for 3.5 years, and have been influenced by what I saw as the dynamics of insurgency there, as well as books on insurgency like Violent Politics and The Accidental Guerrilla.
And of course George RR Martin casts a long shadow over all of us writing politically minded, less heroic fantasy. I’ll do different things with my Wards than he did with his Wall, but the dynamic of a struggling “civilization” which has walled off its external threats was doubtless inspired by him on some level.
Do I keep everything balanced? My plan is to go back at the end and see whether one path through the game is significantly unbalanced. Until then I just try to make sure I’ve got something for all stats and major char types, and am ready to adjust the impact as I go.
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@Havenstone 
Afghanistan, Nepal… and you write such an amazing game…Your life sounds so exciting! My life sucks by comparison. :(( :(( :((
Thanks for explaining the stats. It’s somehow confusing that at the beginning 1/1/1 is displayed, giving the impression that one stat is reduced. You better should leave the initial stats empty, or set them all 0 just as you do with gender, name and class.
will it be possible to choose which stat the MC increases, possibly raising the original 0 to the strongest side by the end or will the strengths and weaknesses remain the same for the rest of the game?
Shouldn’t it be quite easy for helots to use mullow and go unpunished?
Well, I’m not an a philosophy major at all but my university professor explains that the Platonic version of triple will and control didn’t apply for him to slaves and certain barbaric tribes. Slaves don’t have the cerebral control of impulses tthat’swhy the citizens have to be totally on control over them .
Aristotle.s was quite adamant anti barbarian tribes and slaves, for his slaves haven’t human soul , and human,have the right and obligation of control them like a shepherd dominate his herds . Thankfully. Alexander never though like his old tutor and it was Greater to accept other cultures in his empire.
When I choose to end the story, it brings me to chapter 4 and there’s an error.
Bcs the path that you are doing is not completed yet, and probably wont be for a few months.
Xt, it shouldn’t bring you to Ch 4 now, it should just end the game. Let me know, everyone, if you see any kind of error at the end.
Wulfy, good point that the initial 1/1/1 is needlessly confusing. I’ve now set it so those stats won’t display until after you reach the choice in Ch 1. Yes, in subsequent games you’ll have the choice to raise any stat. By game 5, you’ll have accrued a total of 7 stat points, so you could have 6-1-0 or 3-2-2 or any combination in between. Keeping the gameplay balanced as the range of options increases will be a challenge that increases with each game – and I’m not eager to take it on before I have to.
Yes, it’s very rare for a helot to be caught using mullow, or even possessing it (as Poric is). Really, the relevant punishment is that a helot who hasn’t recently borne or sired children is significantly more likely to be Harrowed. The prohibition of mullow just makes this dynamic explicit; it doesn’t do a lot to enforce it.
Mara, I dipped into Aristotle’s Politics, Physics, and Ethics when designing the gameworld – indeed, Platon Leilatou may be delivering some near-quotes shortly – and while I’m also no philosopher, my reading is that Aristotle thought slaves and barbarians were naturally weak-souled, not soulless. By nature they needed to be ruled by the higher-natured free Greeks… but while he draws analogies with animals, I don’t think he actually believed slaves were a kind of animal – they’re a lower order of being than full humans, but still obviously possessing capacities higher than merely animal.
That said, I don’t want to spend too much time defending the Aristotelian view. I do think it falls short of Stalin, in that Aristotle would consider mass slaughter of slaves as a sign of vice… but there’s no question that it’s a dehumanizing view, justifying racism and the abuse of slaves in a way that would linger for centuries.