New Kind of Game? Holy Roman Empire!

[Phystarstk]

I've been thinking about trying a new kind of multiplayer game. Instead of picking majors and semi-majors and fighting over all of Europe or whatever, what if there was a game where everyone picked countries within the HRE and elected each other Holy Roman Emperor. I'm sure there are ways to get around the Engine restrictions and making this possible - for example, utilizing election events to create the elections and allow for Imperial privileges.

In these games, nobody can be Austria - only German minors and semi-minors. I see giant battles, diplomatic and otherwise, between countries and factions for the HRE seat, and I think there's a lot of potential here. In fact, if it succeeds, there could also be games where some players are non-German Majors (Such as France and Russia). Then the countries within the HRE would have to react to outside pressures.

I see the games taking place in 40 year chunks, with elections happening at the end of these chunks. By the end of the game, players would vote on the 1.Most Powerful and 2.Most Influential countries, and each would receive an award. In addition, the country with the most time as Holy Roman Emperor would receive a third award. A player "wins" if he or she gets a majority of these awards, otherwise all three players tie for victory.

What does everyone think? Is there interest in this? Is there a way to create a new HRE set up just for multiplayer games? At this point, its just for discussion. However, I think there is a lot of potential here.

 

[unmerged(36826)]

This has been discussed before, but with Kasperus's map it is realistic now. There are enough provinces in Germany for a few decent powers to live, and you can boost the tax and mp if needed.

So it should be doable if you can get enough interest

 

[Phystarstk]

Well, I'd argue that the intelligence of human players would make them more than a match for the AI. I think the current setup is even reasonable. The powers within the HRE can expand both within and outside of the HRE, with the help of (or in spite of the interference of) each other. If anything, I think the game might be more fun if the countries remained weak at starting point: It'd make progress all that more honorable, and it would make the do-or-die diplomacy all that much more intense.

Still, if others want to adopt a new map, that'd be fine for me. I still think the most important thing here is finding a way to make the HRE workable. I think a lot of the diplomacy and such should revolve around who gets the Imperial Crown and who doesn't. I'd also like to see it possibility to have two HRE's, if two are tied for the throne. Then we can even have HRE Schisms and civil warfare! Here we go Thirty Years' War!

 

[unmerged(36826)]

The Papacy might be a good antion for this sort of game as well. Maybe FAL would want to start another RP with a HRE theme?

 

[fraese]

It'd work great if it was a custom map scenario... not sure if it'd work even on Kasp's map though.

 

[unmerged(7276)]

Im not convinced game would be fun longterm though there is possiblilty there. Id rather just see a few more HRE nations played.

 

[Phystarstk]

I think it'd be fun because of the sheer amount of interesting diplomatic situations created as a result of the setup. A split HRE, factions among the HRE, full out anarchy, full out group action, etc. I'd love to see what kind of players emerge supreme.

 

[Chaingun]

You'd have to even out for expansion capabilities somehow. A minor bordering the HRE will be able to expand into AI domains while someone starting centrally will be surrounded by humans. Geopolitically it isn't a very good situation since we all know AI sucks and wants to be conquered.

 

[Lurken]

I am interrested in such a game. Sige me up.

 

[fraese]

One way of evening out expansion opportunities could involve dividing the HRE such that each human country has at least one port.

 

[Lurken]

Or enforcing rules that one can only colonize or expand within the HRE.

 

[Phystarstk]

Personally, I'd rather see things just balance themselves out. As long as each player is playing for his or her own advantage, a natural equilibrium of power should result - also assuming each country has at least a similar (i.e. same order of magnitude) degree of power at gamestart. Other than that big precondition, that each country be about the same in relative power, I think diplomacy, politics, and war will solve every other problem. Besides, if its an issue in the first run, we can always change things.

P.S. - Does anyone have any event coding experience? It'd be nice to be able to code some HRE events.