Hello !
II thought that the implementation of the Sibylline Books could be a cool feature in game ! (I rely on the study of E.M. Orlin in Temples, Religion and Politics in Republican Rome)
What are those books ?
The roman tradition says that they were books, more precisely 3 scrolls, sold by an old woman to Tarquinius Superbus. These scrolls were taken in the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. These scrolls were a collection of oracles from the Sibyl of Cumae.
What were they used for?
Why implement them in game and how ?
The Books could add some cool event chain and some mechanic to the religious aspect of the game.
Prodigies, like pestilence, shower of stone, birth of a hermaphrodite, volcanic eruption, when they occur, could lead to a consultation of these Books, and to an event chain :
Do the player want to use the books ? how to interpretate the oracle from the decemviri ? how to act after or not to act ?
Note that the prodigies I quote led in Republican Rome to the consultation of the Sibylline Books.
For the interpretation part, because we didnt have actual text of the Books, except of a Fragment, there could be a bank of oracles and the decemviri could choose a random one to give to the player to interprete. Depending on the choice of interpretation, the player will have to pay more or less for money, political power, stability, or other resources. The more demanding the choice, the greater the chances that the prodigies will subside.
Here's a fragment of the fragment we have of the Books (I don't read ancient greek :'P) to give an exemple.
As Orlin says, the Senate had the choice to follow the opinion of the decemviri or not. So do the player. But if he does not follow, an another event chain could fire, like other prodigies, or a strike to the stab because the people is disappointed.
Don't hesitate to tell me what you think about this idea, big credits to Orlin for the informations !
II thought that the implementation of the Sibylline Books could be a cool feature in game ! (I rely on the study of E.M. Orlin in Temples, Religion and Politics in Republican Rome)
What are those books ?
The roman tradition says that they were books, more precisely 3 scrolls, sold by an old woman to Tarquinius Superbus. These scrolls were taken in the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. These scrolls were a collection of oracles from the Sibyl of Cumae.
What were they used for?
That's how Orlin summarize the using and the consultation of the Books.
Why implement them in game and how ?
The Books could add some cool event chain and some mechanic to the religious aspect of the game.
Prodigies, like pestilence, shower of stone, birth of a hermaphrodite, volcanic eruption, when they occur, could lead to a consultation of these Books, and to an event chain :
Do the player want to use the books ? how to interpretate the oracle from the decemviri ? how to act after or not to act ?
Note that the prodigies I quote led in Republican Rome to the consultation of the Sibylline Books.
For the interpretation part, because we didnt have actual text of the Books, except of a Fragment, there could be a bank of oracles and the decemviri could choose a random one to give to the player to interprete. Depending on the choice of interpretation, the player will have to pay more or less for money, political power, stability, or other resources. The more demanding the choice, the greater the chances that the prodigies will subside.
Here's a fragment of the fragment we have of the Books (I don't read ancient greek :'P) to give an exemple.
As Orlin says, the Senate had the choice to follow the opinion of the decemviri or not. So do the player. But if he does not follow, an another event chain could fire, like other prodigies, or a strike to the stab because the people is disappointed.
Don't hesitate to tell me what you think about this idea, big credits to Orlin for the informations !
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