Rules update 2018 - Revision history

Twiggy at 21:34, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T21:34:02Z

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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	Over winter of 2017/2018 we carried out a review of the rules from the third year of Empire. As a result of that review we implemented some changes to the published rules. This page ~~summarizes~~ and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily.		Over winter of 2017/2018 we carried out a review of the rules from the third year of Empire. As a result of that review we implemented some changes to the published rules. This page summarises and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily.

	We try to include a section after each rules update to explain the reasoning behind the change.		We try to include a section after each rules update to explain the reasoning behind the change.

Matt: Text replacement - "Senate" to "Senate"

2026-01-15T22:27:41Z

Text replacement - "Senate" to "Senate"

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	The civil service are NPCs whose job is to help run the game for the benefit of the PCs. They provide the players with rulings on what the law says, what a [[commission]] will cost, how long it will take to build and so on. In effect they are something akin to in-character [[referee\|referees]] - they are characters providing information on the rules and laws of the Empire world, but the information they are giving out is ultimately a ruling on how the game works.		The civil service are NPCs whose job is to help run the game for the benefit of the PCs. They provide the players with rulings on what the law says, what a [[commission]] will cost, how long it will take to build and so on. In effect they are something akin to in-character [[referee\|referees]] - they are characters providing information on the rules and laws of the Empire world, but the information they are giving out is ultimately a ruling on how the game works.

	Having them present in the [[~~Senate\|~~Senate]] and able to speak to correct mistakes reduces the chances that the players present will act on bad information about the game world. In theory that possibility ought to be present - in reality people act on bad information all the time. In practice it always falls on Profound Decisions to correct that bad information at some point - and more often than not that is using information published on the wiki at the point where players are no longer in-character and roleplaying at an event. Finding out afterwards that the facts that you voted on were simply not true has a very negative impact on the game, as it undermines players confidence in the game and the information provided by us.		Having them present in the [[Senate]] and able to speak to correct mistakes reduces the chances that the players present will act on bad information about the game world. In theory that possibility ought to be present - in reality people act on bad information all the time. In practice it always falls on Profound Decisions to correct that bad information at some point - and more often than not that is using information published on the wiki at the point where players are no longer in-character and roleplaying at an event. Finding out afterwards that the facts that you voted on were simply not true has a very negative impact on the game, as it undermines players confidence in the game and the information provided by us.

	Previously we have been somewhat inconsistent in our approach - with some civil servants correcting mistakes by players - but others not. The updated page makes clear when the civil service will speak up (when they are certain that facts known to the civil service are presented incorrectly in the session) and when they will not (if they are not certain or the information is not known to the civil service). In practice this is most likely to be either Gerard La Salle (Graeme Jamieson) who is present in most sessions or Magistrate Abraham (Matt Pennington) who is often present for the last session.		Previously we have been somewhat inconsistent in our approach - with some civil servants correcting mistakes by players - but others not. The updated page makes clear when the civil service will speak up (when they are certain that facts known to the civil service are presented incorrectly in the session) and when they will not (if they are not certain or the information is not known to the civil service). In practice this is most likely to be either Gerard La Salle (Graeme Jamieson) who is present in most sessions or Magistrate Abraham (Matt Pennington) who is often present for the last session.

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Synod" to "[[Synod"

2026-01-15T21:28:04Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Synod" to "[[Synod"

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	The current wiki says that a title serves for a year after appointment by the Senate. This was being inconsistently applied in practice, with some titles coming up for re-appointment at a set event - even if that meant it served for less than a year.		The current wiki says that a title serves for a year after appointment by the Senate. This was being inconsistently applied in practice, with some titles coming up for re-appointment at a set event - even if that meant it served for less than a year.

	We have clarified the wiki to confirm that any time an Imperial position is appointed by a [[Senate motion]], the citizen may serve for a year from the summit where they were appointed (unless the title has tenure and serves for life). If the title is revoked by the [[~~Imperial~~ Synod]] then the position becomes vacant and is eligible for reappointment immediately. If the Senate chooses to reappoint the incumbent then this is still considered to be a new appointment - this means that they serve for a year from the point where the new motion passes, and are subject to [[revocation]] by the Synod.		We have clarified the wiki to confirm that any time an Imperial position is appointed by a [[Senate motion]], the citizen may serve for a year from the summit where they were appointed (unless the title has tenure and serves for life). If the title is revoked by the [[Synod]] then the position becomes vacant and is eligible for reappointment immediately. If the Senate chooses to reappoint the incumbent then this is still considered to be a new appointment - this means that they serve for a year from the point where the new motion passes, and are subject to [[revocation]] by the Synod.

	An Imperial position appointed by Senate motion becomes eligible for reappointment at the equivalent summit one year later. We have modified this process so that the Senate may pass a motion of appointment at any time during that summit. The incumbent remains in position until they are replaced or the end of the event - whichever comes sooner. Because of this change it is no longer possible to raise a motion of appointment at a summit before the title falls due for reappointment.		An Imperial position appointed by Senate motion becomes eligible for reappointment at the equivalent summit one year later. We have modified this process so that the Senate may pass a motion of appointment at any time during that summit. The incumbent remains in position until they are replaced or the end of the event - whichever comes sooner. Because of this change it is no longer possible to raise a motion of appointment at a summit before the title falls due for reappointment.

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Senate" to "[[Senate"

2026-01-15T14:59:44Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Senate" to "[[Senate"

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	The civil service are NPCs whose job is to help run the game for the benefit of the PCs. They provide the players with rulings on what the law says, what a [[commission]] will cost, how long it will take to build and so on. In effect they are something akin to in-character [[referee\|referees]] - they are characters providing information on the rules and laws of the Empire world, but the information they are giving out is ultimately a ruling on how the game works.		The civil service are NPCs whose job is to help run the game for the benefit of the PCs. They provide the players with rulings on what the law says, what a [[commission]] will cost, how long it will take to build and so on. In effect they are something akin to in-character [[referee\|referees]] - they are characters providing information on the rules and laws of the Empire world, but the information they are giving out is ultimately a ruling on how the game works.

	Having them present in the [[~~Imperial~~ Senate\|Senate]] and able to speak to correct mistakes reduces the chances that the players present will act on bad information about the game world. In theory that possibility ought to be present - in reality people act on bad information all the time. In practice it always falls on Profound Decisions to correct that bad information at some point - and more often than not that is using information published on the wiki at the point where players are no longer in-character and roleplaying at an event. Finding out afterwards that the facts that you voted on were simply not true has a very negative impact on the game, as it undermines players confidence in the game and the information provided by us.		Having them present in the [[Senate\|Senate]] and able to speak to correct mistakes reduces the chances that the players present will act on bad information about the game world. In theory that possibility ought to be present - in reality people act on bad information all the time. In practice it always falls on Profound Decisions to correct that bad information at some point - and more often than not that is using information published on the wiki at the point where players are no longer in-character and roleplaying at an event. Finding out afterwards that the facts that you voted on were simply not true has a very negative impact on the game, as it undermines players confidence in the game and the information provided by us.

	Previously we have been somewhat inconsistent in our approach - with some civil servants correcting mistakes by players - but others not. The updated page makes clear when the civil service will speak up (when they are certain that facts known to the civil service are presented incorrectly in the session) and when they will not (if they are not certain or the information is not known to the civil service). In practice this is most likely to be either Gerard La Salle (Graeme Jamieson) who is present in most sessions or Magistrate Abraham (Matt Pennington) who is often present for the last session.		Previously we have been somewhat inconsistent in our approach - with some civil servants correcting mistakes by players - but others not. The updated page makes clear when the civil service will speak up (when they are certain that facts known to the civil service are presented incorrectly in the session) and when they will not (if they are not certain or the information is not known to the civil service). In practice this is most likely to be either Gerard La Salle (Graeme Jamieson) who is present in most sessions or Magistrate Abraham (Matt Pennington) who is often present for the last session.

Twiggy at 14:00, 24 October 2025

2025-10-24T14:00:33Z

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	Instead, the majority of players who made frequent use of spontaneous rituals were looking to investigate the metaphysics of the Empire world, to better understand the limits of magic in the game. Unfortunately any arcane projection of this kind still has to be play-balanced against every other ritual in the system, a job that is particularly laborious the more conceptual and novel the ritual is. Although it was probably obvious in hindsight - we hadn't expected so many spontaneous magic rituals to be trying to achieve something completely new and we struggled to cope with the ensuring workload.		Instead, the majority of players who made frequent use of spontaneous rituals were looking to investigate the metaphysics of the Empire world, to better understand the limits of magic in the game. Unfortunately any arcane projection of this kind still has to be play-balanced against every other ritual in the system, a job that is particularly laborious the more conceptual and novel the ritual is. Although it was probably obvious in hindsight - we hadn't expected so many spontaneous magic rituals to be trying to achieve something completely new and we struggled to cope with the ensuring workload.

	As a result of that challenge, three years ago we switched to the current system where players submit requests for arcane projections and then receive the response the next day in most cases. This approach worked, ''just'', for the number of players that we had then - and so we have continued to operate that system ever since. It was still challenging, taking many hours to complete the requests each night, but for the most part we were able to ~~meed~~ the demand.		As a result of that challenge, three years ago we switched to the current system where players submit requests for arcane projections and then receive the response the next day in most cases. This approach worked, ''just'', for the number of players that we had then - and so we have continued to operate that system ever since. It was still challenging, taking many hours to complete the requests each night, but for the most part we were able to meet the demand.

	We were really pleased that the game grew in size rather dramatically last year - with the average number of players rising from over thirteen hundred at the start of the year to well over sixteen hundred by the end of the year. This growth is great for the game - new players are full of enthusiasm and it gives us more money to invest to improve Empire. The huge rise in player numbers was the reason we were able to buy the spectacular land sharks used in the final battle in 2017.		We were really pleased that the game grew in size rather dramatically last year - with the average number of players rising from over thirteen hundred at the start of the year to well over sixteen hundred by the end of the year. This growth is great for the game - new players are full of enthusiasm and it gives us more money to invest to improve Empire. The huge rise in player numbers was the reason we were able to buy the spectacular land sharks used in the final battle in 2017.

Matt at 21:48, 30 July 2020

2020-07-30T21:48:17Z

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	Example, Earl Marguerite D'Alicer is appointed by Senate motion to the Imperial position of [[Minister of Historical Research]] at the Spring Equinox 378YE. They will serve for a year from this point, the title becomes eligible for reappointment at the Spring Equinox 379YE unless the Earl dies, steps down, or is revoked before that date. The Imperial Senate may pass a motion to reappoint the title at any point from the start of the Spring Equinox 379YE summit onwards. The Earl serves as Minister until the end of that summit or until replaced by the Senate during the summit.		Example, Earl Marguerite D'Alicer is appointed by Senate motion to the Imperial position of [[Minister of Historical Research]] at the Spring Equinox 378YE. They will serve for a year from this point, the title becomes eligible for reappointment at the Spring Equinox 379YE unless the Earl dies, steps down, or is revoked before that date. The Imperial Senate may pass a motion to reappoint the title at any point from the start of the Spring Equinox 379YE summit onwards. The Earl serves as Minister until the end of that summit or until replaced by the Senate during the summit.

	This process only implies to Imperial positions appointed by Senate motion. National positions, such as the [[Advisor on ~~orc affairs~~]] or [[General]], are always appointed at a specific event each year. This remains true even if the appointment is made by a Senate motion.		This process only implies to Imperial positions appointed by Senate motion. National positions, such as the [[Advisor on Orc Affairs]] or [[General]], are always appointed at a specific event each year. This remains true even if the appointment is made by a Senate motion.

	===Reasoning===		===Reasoning===

Matt: /* Bourse Voting */

2019-07-27T09:20:30Z

Bourse Voting

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	At present a number of Bourse voting mechanisms are based on the size of your resource - or on actions taken by your resource in downtime. Enchantments have been included in some of these calculations of votes - and not others. From event one 2019 onwards we will calculate the number of votes that a character has based purely on the total ranks of an eligible resource over the last four events.		At present a number of Bourse voting mechanisms are based on the size of your resource - or on actions taken by your resource in downtime. Enchantments have been included in some of these calculations of votes - and not others. From event one 2019 onwards we will calculate the number of votes that a character has based purely on the total ranks of an eligible resource over the last four events.

	Only the actual rank of the resource counts in this calculation. [[Enchantment\|~~enchantments~~]], [[curse\|curses]], penalties or bonuses for downtime effects, such as foreign ownership or conquered territories will not count. If a character misses one or more events, they will receive votes equal to the average of the events they attended. A new character will receive votes as if they had attended the previous four events.		Only the actual rank of the resource counts in this calculation. [[Enchantment\|Enchantments]], [[curse\|curses]], penalties or bonuses for downtime effects, such as foreign ownership or conquered territories will not count. If a character misses one or more events, they will receive votes equal to the average of the events they attended. A new character will receive votes as if they had attended the previous four events.

	Rituals that allow mana sites to function as military units such as [[Conclave of Trees and Shadow]] have no effect on voting in Dawn, Urizen, or Wintermark, but will affect voting in the Imperial Orcs if the mana site supported an Imperial army.		Rituals that allow mana sites to function as military units such as [[Conclave of Trees and Shadow]] have no effect on voting in Dawn, Urizen, or Wintermark, but will affect voting in the Imperial Orcs if the mana site supported an Imperial army.

Hastur: /* Mines and Forests */

2019-06-10T10:54:11Z

Mines and Forests

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	==Mines and Forests==		==Mines and Forests==
	We have increased the production of each [[mine]] and [[forest]] [[Resource#Personal_Resource\|resource]] from ten to twelve units of production each downtime. This change applies only to mine and forest production - all other sources of ingots or measures (such as from a [[military unit]] taking the [[Military_unit#~~Production~~\|paid work]] action) remain unchanged at ten units.		We have increased the production of each [[mine]] and [[forest]] [[Resource#Personal_Resource\|resource]] from ten to twelve units of production each downtime. This change applies only to mine and forest production - all other sources of ingots or measures (such as from a [[military unit]] taking the [[Military_unit#Take_Independent_Action\|paid work]] action) remain unchanged at ten units.
	===Reasoning===		===Reasoning===
	We've been concerned about mines and forests for some times. They consistently under perform compared to other resources, and are the only personal resource where the number of players owning one has gone ''down'' as the game has grown in size. By making this small boost, we hope to make them more competitive by ensuring they are the single best resource to take if what you want is large amounts of raw materials for making [[magic items]].		We've been concerned about mines and forests for some times. They consistently under perform compared to other resources, and are the only personal resource where the number of players owning one has gone ''down'' as the game has grown in size. By making this small boost, we hope to make them more competitive by ensuring they are the single best resource to take if what you want is large amounts of raw materials for making [[magic items]].

Matt: /* Highguard Senate Voting */

2019-04-24T16:49:04Z

Highguard Senate Voting

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	The [[Highguard_leadership#Leading_a_territory\|Highborn Senate votes]] were based on the number of your Synod votes - but without including those accrued from sinecures. It wasn't clear if great works had an effect but it implied that the ritual [[Mantle of the Golden Orator]] did have an effect. As a result every Highborn player with a congregation had potentially three different numbers of votes - their voting strength in the Synod, their voting strength in Senatorial elections, and their votes in Bourse elections.		The [[Highguard_leadership#Leading_a_territory\|Highborn Senate votes]] were based on the number of your Synod votes - but without including those accrued from sinecures. It wasn't clear if great works had an effect but it implied that the ritual [[Mantle of the Golden Orator]] did have an effect. As a result every Highborn player with a congregation had potentially three different numbers of votes - their voting strength in the Synod, their voting strength in Senatorial elections, and their votes in Bourse elections.

	We are changing this system, so that the Highborn Senatorial elections will use the same voting strengths that the Bourse elections use. This means that it will follow the same formulae published above - so enchantments, curses, and other game effects will not change the votes gained - they will be based only on the rank of the congregation that your character owns.		We are changing this system, so that the Highborn Senatorial elections will use the same voting strengths that the Bourse elections use. This means that it will follow the same formulae published above - so enchantments, curses, and other game effects will not change the votes gained - they will be based only on the rank of the congregation that your character owns over the last four seasons.

	===Reasoning===		===Reasoning===

Dre at 13:35, 13 November 2018

2018-11-13T13:35:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:35, 13 November 2018
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	===Sauce for the Goose===		===Sauce for the Goose===
	In discussion with players about sorcery, it is clear that a common frustration for some players is that the system does not allow them to have more fine-grained control over ''who'' can do things. Players can interdict rituals or items, remove them from Imperial lore, they can declare ~~emnity~~ on eternals or war on foreigners. But generally the legal system of the Empire does not allow the players to create special exceptions. You cannot interdict a ritual - but then let some people use it. You can't carve out exemptions from the laws for specific groups, nor can archmages, grandmasters, cardinals, or senators be given special powers to exempt individuals from the law.		In discussion with players about sorcery, it is clear that a common frustration for some players is that the system does not allow them to have more fine-grained control over ''who'' can do things. Players can interdict rituals or items, remove them from Imperial lore, they can declare enmity on eternals or war on foreigners. But generally the legal system of the Empire does not allow the players to create special exceptions. You cannot interdict a ritual - but then let some people use it. You can't carve out exemptions from the laws for specific groups, nor can archmages, grandmasters, cardinals, or senators be given special powers to exempt individuals from the law.

	It is important to stress that this is very much by design. In Empire [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/what%27s_sauce_for_the_goose_is_sauce_for_the_gander what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander]. A key part of this is about preserving a degree of OOC fairness to the game - to ensure that individual players don't end up finding themselves locked out of parts of the game while all around them others players are having fun. It's also about ensuring that important decisions are meaningful and important - it's vastly easier for the Empire to decide to stop a handful of players from doing something - it's a much more consequential decision for the players to decide that nobody should be allowed to do that thing.		It is important to stress that this is very much by design. In Empire [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/what%27s_sauce_for_the_goose_is_sauce_for_the_gander what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander]. A key part of this is about preserving a degree of OOC fairness to the game - to ensure that individual players don't end up finding themselves locked out of parts of the game while all around them others players are having fun. It's also about ensuring that important decisions are meaningful and important - it's vastly easier for the Empire to decide to stop a handful of players from doing something - it's a much more consequential decision for the players to decide that nobody should be allowed to do that thing.
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	The core reason for the change is the one explained above - to move the balance of intrigue and play to the roleplaying between the characters involved in choosing a senator and away from the manipulation of the rules of the contest. The change will also help to support the role of the [[hakima]] as the nation's conscience in effect.		The core reason for the change is the one explained above - to move the balance of intrigue and play to the roleplaying between the characters involved in choosing a senator and away from the manipulation of the rules of the contest. The change will also help to support the role of the [[hakima]] as the nation's conscience in effect.

	We have ~~aded~~ a wiki page that explains the Brass Coast [[plutocracy]] in more detail. It explains the in-character and out-of-character reasoning behind the current version of the Freeborn auctions in detail.		We have added a wiki page that explains the Brass Coast [[plutocracy]] in more detail. It explains the in-character and out-of-character reasoning behind the current version of the Freeborn auctions in detail.

	===IC Explanation===		===IC Explanation===
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	===IC Explanation===		===IC Explanation===
	The last few years have seen a number of new techniques employed in the mines and forests of the Empire. The rebuilding of the [[Great Pits of Ennerlund]] and the renewed freedom of the University of [[Holberg]] to focus on matters other than fighting the [[Druj]]; the excavation of the [[Pride of Ikka's Tears]]; the presence of the ''koboldi'' servants of the [[eternal]] [[Adamant]]; the liberation of the miners of [[Karsk#Moresvah\|Moresvah]] and the [[Mournwold]]; even the insights of the ex-Jarmish mine-slaves graduating from the [[College of the Liberated]] have all helped to contribute to a Renaissance in mining techniques. At the same time, events such as the recent use of [[Forests_of_the_night\|powerful Empire-wide]] [[Night magic]]; the creation of the [[Gloaming Sentinel]]; and the influence of certain [[eternals]] especially on the production of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]] have revealed new techniques that have been employed to increase the production of the Empire's forests. Individual characters are free to roleplay the influence of any of these factors on their own mine or forest resource, or to create their own explanation as to their increased prosperity.		The last few years have seen a number of new techniques employed in the mines and forests of the Empire. The rebuilding of the [[Great Pits of Ennerlund]] and the renewed freedom of the University of [[Holberg]] to focus on matters other than fighting the [[Druj]]; the excavation of the [[Pride of Ikka's Tears]]; the presence of the ''koboldi'' servants of the [[eternal]] [[Adamant]]; the liberation of the miners of [[Karsk#Moresvah\|Moresvah]] and the [[Mournwold]]; even the insights of the ex-Jarmish mine-slaves graduating from the [[College of the Liberated]] have all helped to contribute to a Renaissance in mining techniques. At the same time, events such as the recent use of [[Forests_of_the_night\|powerful Empire-wide]] [[Night magic]]; the creation of the [[Gloaming Sentinel]]; and the influence of certain [[eternal\|eternals]] especially on the production of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]] have revealed new techniques that have been employed to increase the production of the Empire's forests. Individual characters are free to roleplay the influence of any of these factors on their own mine or forest resource, or to create their own explanation as to their increased prosperity.

	{{Rules Updates}}		{{Rules Updates}}