From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved for the strenght and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the blessed machine. Your kind cling to your flesh as if it will not decay and fail you. One day, the crude biomass that you call a temple will wither and you’ll beg my kind to save you. But I’m already saved, for the machine is Immortal.
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That would seem remarkably self-interested though – I should only like the Senate if I myself are a Senator? 
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It is not a question of self-interest, but one of trust.
They don’t trust you, @Iello . They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. You must break through the fog of lies the Senate has created around you.
So sorry, but the temptation was too strong. Papa Sheev lives rent-free in my head. He is so memey
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Ah, you’ll fit right in with the senate then!
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They only have the public interest at heart! Now, should the public interest turn out to also be of the senators’ interests, what’s the harm? They are, after all, members of the public.
I think my grey-haired MC is just a liiiil too old to be Anakin Skywalker here. If you want him to turn against the Senate, you’re going to have to tell him that the Senate intends to puppet or overthrow Augusta. 
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Wouldn’t puppeting Augusta be in your self interest though? Especially if you are the one doing so for the Senate, you can betray them afterwards to keep your puppet Empress under your control later down the line as well… nothing wrong with culling any co-conspirators who would just as easily betray you for their own self interest.
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Not if you’re not the one doing the puppeting, I’d think.
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Well I did add the likely fact that it was under the Prefect’s job to do the puppeting but regardless of that it will still possibly turn into a civil war in my greedy Prefect’s case lol
This is exactly how it would happen. Source:trust me.
Most likely the latter, but never say never. She might pull a Palpatine for all we know.
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If Consentia yeets the child so to speak would she name herself Interim Empress or install a full on Republic?
I’m glad that element is working as intended, I had hoped it would provide an interesting contrast that not every character will have the same insight into the story. What you learn about the world and characters depends on your choices, it isn’t just exposition dumped for everyone. It also adds depth to replayability.
I don’t believe Consentia has any taste for autocracy by her or by another, she does truly believe in her ideals of republicanism and wishes to advance them. Whether that’s for better or worse depends on your perspective.
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I’ve got a great feeling of déjà vu from this. As if I already responded to a similar inquiry by someone, only to have you clarify it as such.
I sure hope this is not proof of eternal recurrence!
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Absolutely not. I want Augusta to be a good empress and work with the Senate – I don’t want her to be a puppet of anyone.
Yeah, I like it a lot. For my MC, it’s always just been about questioning the religion for some of its restrictions but on a very down-to-earth level. I suspect his head might break if any of this technology stuff came to light (especially as he’s not a scholar).
Very glad to hear that. I thought so too in my assessment of her – so I’m glad she’s not just saying stuff to put herself in charge in place of Julia etc. That would be pretty disappointing.
I keep going back to that one quote from Gladiator where Commodus complains that if Maximus talked to the senators too much, one day he’ll wake up shouting “republic, republic, republic!” Not entirely a bad thing – it’s just that my MC’s love for Augusta complicates things!
Perhaps. Or perhaps Augusta builds a relationship with the Senate in the vein of Alexander Severus, and Consentia is happy with it in the way the Roman Senate was happy with it.
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Ah my boy Alexander, best Severan emperor IMO. Not particularly brilliant, but tactful and diligent at his job. He deserves the title of “Last Princeps”.
Too bad he had too much common sense and the legions had too little.
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first time i got feeling that worlds technology was weird was when reading mc charging and using spear. i was like that’s not how normally spears work.
i will say i dont real like how early we are forced to chose route between senate and auxiliaries.
after first meeting with legate i can never interact with senate despite fact that i dint go for personal alliance and that decision was made very early in game when i did not understand what was happening.
one really cool thing would be that for 4-5 rhetoric mc to be able to visit other faction’s if you don’t make alliance with other faction.
that would make rhetoric much better stat than it is now.
also reason why i like darius is so much is because he is not complaing all the time when i visit him and begging me for some things.
at least when he want’s things they are very minor.
at least legate wants things that make sense(better land and logistic help) and there problem can be solved such way that makes empire better (eco solution giving them fertilizer and giving them our logistical support ). senate wishes just makes me not want to help them more(and rhetoric 4 is just lying to them and not really solving any problem same goes for there second demand like i don’t like any skill solution for there request).
i dont know how content goes with senate after first meeting because i always help legate on first meeting (but don’t make alliance) and then i never get invited to senate meetings.
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For me personally legionary path is far more realistic in my opinion since most roman emperors or i guess in this context ludian empresses usually have skill in the army, Due to how millitarist rome and ludia are.
Btw having strong women augusta is better ending than an weak puppet, cause to br honest I want my character to go in the history books as an good and important political figure who helped the empire live another few centuries, instead of one who uses their relationship with the empress to have one of the most fibble/worthless Empress the empire ever had… name one roman lrl who is known in the history books who manipulated an child to their own ends are seen as good, also having augusta being strong, “I don’t give a damn about the senate and, I want to destroy cultures and peoples!!!” type. Is better than having freaking female alexander,Btw the empires lifespan is significantly shortened since after you die the empire would be ruled by an empress who has some skills, but is so isolated, Infact julia’s fears literally come true
So in conclusion, keep your megalomania im check 
Anyway julia is kinda dumb well atleast in the latest chapter (not in flashback btw using babe augusta was smart it got me good honestly), but anyway like lets waste valuble resources on burning discount germainia, instead of preparing the rhine defenses. like julia I love you but this is Stupid.(ok nvm she wants that genocide high score, I understand now)
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Julia has her reasons for it, ones the Prefect isn’t really privy to and which make her move pretty sensible, if risky.
Ok…Watch everything come down like a stack of cards, in like 2 weeks
@Azan Question: With Titus under surveillance by a spymaster MC, how did someone mange to convey this much confidence into the man without tripping any alarm, especially considering this equation is dependent on the capacity for subtlety from TITUS of all people.
That’s a curious question, isn’t it? Certainly whoever spoke with him had their own talent for cunning and resources to draw upon to ensure they could speak privately.
I wouldn’t say Titus had that capacity considering that he confronted the MC and threatened them with his intentions instead of just spilling the beans himself. He isn’t a subtle guy.
You’re free to speculate, but I worded my reply vaguely for a reason. It’s only what the MC could deduce reasonably.
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