Rules update 2023 - Revision history

Matt at 13:07, 16 April 2026

2026-04-16T13:07:21Z

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	The ritual was also intended to show how the Empire world has excellent pre- and ante-natal care that is equivalent to that found in the modern United Kingdom, rather than the kind of medical technology that might be expected from a broadly medieval setting. Miscarriage and death in pregnancy are not themes of the game - they exist in the setting so that players who need to refer to them for real world reasons can do so. Players who have not themselves had a miscarriage should be sensitive to the experiences of others and think carefully about playing a character who has experienced any kind of difficulty with childbirth.		The ritual was also intended to show how the Empire world has excellent pre- and ante-natal care that is equivalent to that found in the modern United Kingdom, rather than the kind of medical technology that might be expected from a broadly medieval setting. Miscarriage and death in pregnancy are not themes of the game - they exist in the setting so that players who need to refer to them for real world reasons can do so. Players who have not themselves had a miscarriage should be sensitive to the experiences of others and think carefully about playing a character who has experienced any kind of difficulty with childbirth.

	Because we don't want the medical issues related to childbirth to be a theme of the game, we have removed the ritual. In Empire a [[Surgical skills#Physick\|physick]] will treat any issues during childbirth using herbs and be successful most of the time. In character the expectation is that nobody tells pregnant characters what they should or should not do. We have updated the pages on [[Technology#Medicine\|technology]] and [[healing in Empire#Pregnancy and childbirth\|healing in Empire]] accordingly. Out of character our [[~~Event_safety~~#Battle_Safety\|event safety rules]] make clear that any player who is advised by a medical professional to avoid strenuous physical activity - should not participate in fighting. This means that an OOC decision to participate in any part of Empire is a matter for the player based on the medical advice they have received and is not a matter for other participants to comment on.		Because we don't want the medical issues related to childbirth to be a theme of the game, we have removed the ritual. In Empire a [[Surgical skills#Physick\|physick]] will treat any issues during childbirth using herbs and be successful most of the time. In character the expectation is that nobody tells pregnant characters what they should or should not do. We have updated the pages on [[Technology#Medicine\|technology]] and [[healing in Empire#Pregnancy and childbirth\|healing in Empire]] accordingly. Out of character our [[combat_safety#Battle_Safety\|event safety rules]] make clear that any player who is advised by a medical professional to avoid strenuous physical activity - should not participate in fighting. This means that an OOC decision to participate in any part of Empire is a matter for the player based on the medical advice they have received and is not a matter for other participants to comment on.

	==Conclave Changes==		==Conclave Changes==

Twiggy at 21:33, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T21:33:29Z

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	{{audio\|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hupgkHTOPMU}}		{{audio\|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hupgkHTOPMU}}
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	Every year we carry out a review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. Although that process has been slowed this year, we've still been working on some important updates. This page ~~summarizes~~ and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily. There were no updates in 2021, due to the pandemic.		Every year we carry out a review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. Although that process has been slowed this year, we've still been working on some important updates. This page summarises and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily. There were no updates in 2021, due to the pandemic.

	We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate.		We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate.

Twiggy at 01:33, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T01:33:12Z

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	==Military Rituals==		==Military Rituals==
	We've made changes to some existing rituals that have an impact on the military campaign. We have changed the effects produced by two rituals for [[enchantment\|enchanting]] [[~~Imperial armies~~\|campaign armies]] - [[Knights of Glory]] and [[Bound by Common Cause]]. We have also increased the magnitude of four rituals used for summoning magical [[fortification\|fortifications]] - [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], and [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], and [[The Basalt Citadel]] - as a ritual that enchants fortifications with additional strength - [[Golden Ramparts]].		We've made changes to some existing rituals that have an impact on the military campaign. We have changed the effects produced by two rituals for [[enchantment\|enchanting]] [[Army\|campaign armies]] - [[Knights of Glory]] and [[Bound by Common Cause]]. We have also increased the magnitude of four rituals used for summoning magical [[fortification\|fortifications]] - [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], and [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], and [[The Basalt Citadel]] - as a ritual that enchants fortifications with additional strength - [[Golden Ramparts]].

	We hope that these changes will ensure a good balance of options available to ritualists involved with the Empire's military campaigns going forwards, but we'll continue to monitor the situation carefully.		We hope that these changes will ensure a good balance of options available to ritualists involved with the Empire's military campaigns going forwards, but we'll continue to monitor the situation carefully.

Matt: Text replacement - "Conclave" to "Conclave"

2026-01-16T09:37:01Z

Text replacement - "Conclave" to "Conclave"

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	We also added a few details - a [[roleplaying effect]] and a new option for players to target [[Knights of Glory#Additional Targets\|multiple generals]] in one ritual. We also made it explicit that it might have unpredictable effects on characters whose military units support the army - something we'd done via Winds of War in previous seasons. Finally, we've revealed the [[Knights of Glory#Assurance\|assurance]] bound into the ritual that will cause it to lose power entirely if it is broken.		We also added a few details - a [[roleplaying effect]] and a new option for players to target [[Knights of Glory#Additional Targets\|multiple generals]] in one ritual. We also made it explicit that it might have unpredictable effects on characters whose military units support the army - something we'd done via Winds of War in previous seasons. Finally, we've revealed the [[Knights of Glory#Assurance\|assurance]] bound into the ritual that will cause it to lose power entirely if it is broken.

	We have previously been running a plot regarding the Empire's relationship with [[Eleonaris]], the eternal whose patronage is responsible for Knights of Glory. Last event she said she was going to remove the ability to perform the ritual entirely, and replace it with a new ritual. We knew we needed to change the rituals power to play balance it, and we thought the easiest way to do that would be to replace it with a different ritual. Instead, we've reduced the effects of the ritual, and left it available to players to cast. We took this new direction because the realities of placing a new ritual in [[Imperial lore]] via the [[~~Conclave\|~~Conclave]] felt too punished, especially under the new rules about how a [[declaration]] works.		We have previously been running a plot regarding the Empire's relationship with [[Eleonaris]], the eternal whose patronage is responsible for Knights of Glory. Last event she said she was going to remove the ability to perform the ritual entirely, and replace it with a new ritual. We knew we needed to change the rituals power to play balance it, and we thought the easiest way to do that would be to replace it with a different ritual. Instead, we've reduced the effects of the ritual, and left it available to players to cast. We took this new direction because the realities of placing a new ritual in [[Imperial lore]] via the [[Conclave]] felt too punished, especially under the new rules about how a [[declaration]] works.

	===Reasoning: Bound By Common Cause===		===Reasoning: Bound By Common Cause===

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

2026-01-15T21:28:26Z

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

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	* [[Alignment]] - this declaration combines the old Amity, Enmity, and Neutrality into a single declaration that sets the "status" of an eternal in relation to the Conclave. The effects of amity and enmity have not changed.		* [[Alignment]] - this declaration combines the old Amity, Enmity, and Neutrality into a single declaration that sets the "status" of an eternal in relation to the Conclave. The effects of amity and enmity have not changed.
	* [[Candidacy]] - this has been significantly overhauled and is covered in its own section below		* [[Candidacy]] - this has been significantly overhauled and is covered in its own section below
	* [[Concord]] - the declaration works the same as it did previously, but the potential impact is much greater, comparable to a [[statement of principle]] in the [[~~Imperial~~ Synod]]		* [[Concord]] - the declaration works the same as it did previously, but the potential impact is much greater, comparable to a [[statement of principle]] in the [[Synod]]
	* [[Dissemination]] - unchanged		* [[Dissemination]] - unchanged
	* [[Endorsement]] - this is a new declaration that allows the Conclave to declare an act of magic to be in the interests of the Empire		* [[Endorsement]] - this is a new declaration that allows the Conclave to declare an act of magic to be in the interests of the Empire

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

2026-01-15T16:57:41Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Conclave" to "[[Conclave"

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:57, 15 January 2026
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	We also added a few details - a [[roleplaying effect]] and a new option for players to target [[Knights of Glory#Additional Targets\|multiple generals]] in one ritual. We also made it explicit that it might have unpredictable effects on characters whose military units support the army - something we'd done via Winds of War in previous seasons. Finally, we've revealed the [[Knights of Glory#Assurance\|assurance]] bound into the ritual that will cause it to lose power entirely if it is broken.		We also added a few details - a [[roleplaying effect]] and a new option for players to target [[Knights of Glory#Additional Targets\|multiple generals]] in one ritual. We also made it explicit that it might have unpredictable effects on characters whose military units support the army - something we'd done via Winds of War in previous seasons. Finally, we've revealed the [[Knights of Glory#Assurance\|assurance]] bound into the ritual that will cause it to lose power entirely if it is broken.

	We have previously been running a plot regarding the Empire's relationship with [[Eleonaris]], the eternal whose patronage is responsible for Knights of Glory. Last event she said she was going to remove the ability to perform the ritual entirely, and replace it with a new ritual. We knew we needed to change the rituals power to play balance it, and we thought the easiest way to do that would be to replace it with a different ritual. Instead, we've reduced the effects of the ritual, and left it available to players to cast. We took this new direction because the realities of placing a new ritual in [[Imperial lore]] via the [[~~Imperial~~ Conclave\|Conclave]] felt too punished, especially under the new rules about how a [[declaration]] works.		We have previously been running a plot regarding the Empire's relationship with [[Eleonaris]], the eternal whose patronage is responsible for Knights of Glory. Last event she said she was going to remove the ability to perform the ritual entirely, and replace it with a new ritual. We knew we needed to change the rituals power to play balance it, and we thought the easiest way to do that would be to replace it with a different ritual. Instead, we've reduced the effects of the ritual, and left it available to players to cast. We took this new direction because the realities of placing a new ritual in [[Imperial lore]] via the [[Conclave\|Conclave]] felt too punished, especially under the new rules about how a [[declaration]] works.

	===Reasoning: Bound By Common Cause===		===Reasoning: Bound By Common Cause===

Hailmur at 20:24, 28 March 2024

2024-03-28T20:24:29Z

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 Every year we carry out a review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. Although that process has been slowed this year, we've still been working on some important updates. This page summarizes and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily. There were no updates in 2021, due to the pandemic.
-We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing a in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate.
+We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate.
 ==Inspirational Locations==

Rafferty: Rough Music

2024-03-28T20:03:16Z

Rough Music

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:03, 28 March 2024
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	We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing a in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate.		We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing a in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate.
			==Rough Music==
			* '''Rough music is only for Imperial institutions like the Senate or large national groups like the Brands or the Earls Council'''
			* '''You must get a referee to accompany you before the rough music begins'''
			* '''It starts with a riotous procession that moves through Anvil and ends within a minute or two of arriving at the destination'''
			* '''Leave plenty of room between you and the targets; do not loom over people or physically intimidating them with your size'''
			* '''Do not enter their building or tent'''
			* '''Leave enough room for them to flee if they want to; do not shout at or pursue anyone who is leaving the scene'''
			We have changed [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Rough_music\|rough music]] so that it now consists of a loud procession through Anvil that ''culminates'' at the target's location, rather than the racket beginning there. We have added extra emphasis to the previous in-character rules for rough music that always existed, but were rarely followed in practice. We have added a third rule insisting that the target is allowed to flee the scene if they find the confrontation too overwhelming for any reason. We have also included guidance on when rough music can be used.

			===Reasoning===
			Empire is an avowedly political game, one where the decisions that people make are crucial to what happens because they have profound consequences. It's not possible to have a game in which the decisions players make are important yet have no consequences. However we want those decisions to result in in-character confrontations that are filled with drama and tension, not out-of-character unpleasantness. The point of rough music is to highlight important decisions that have been taken, to draw attention to them and emphasize the drama and impact they have had. Participants must take active steps to avoid their actions becoming so daunting that they make other players feel out-of-character punished or intimidated.

			The existing information already presented clear rules for rough music, like not attacking the targets and not entering their house. There have been a number of occasions at recent events where that IC guidance has been ignored. So we have updated the wiki entry to make it clear in-character why these rules exist but also to state clearly that we require participants to treat these as part of the out-of-character rules of the game. If you engage in rough music you ''must'' follow the three golden rules for everyone's benefit.

			We've changed rough music to emphasize a procession that ends at the target, so that players can maximise the drama of what they are doing. The rough music ''must'' end within a few minutes of arriving at the destination, it achieves very little in-character to prolong the racket at that point, it simply makes it more out-of-character unpleasant. Starting the rough music early and as part of a procession to the destination means that people can still make a hullabaloo and get everyone's attention, but should prevent any single group of players from being on the receiving end of the noise for too long.

			We know that Marcher players enjoy engaging in rough music, but the best way to roleplay at Empire is to make the things you do enjoyable for other players as well as yourself. We don't want the Marchers to have a reputation as bullies, so rough music must be a dramatic, climactic confrontation not a ''punishment''.

			===IC Explanation===
			As the guardians of Marcher culture, the egregores have taken steps to remind all Marchers of the importance of following the rules when engaging in rough music. Having spoken with Marchers throughout the nation, they've collated the wisdom of the Marches to provide some best practices that they expect everyone to follow.

	==Inspirational Locations==		==Inspirational Locations==

Responsible1: /* Military Rituals */

2023-10-05T18:39:01Z

Military Rituals

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 5 October 2023
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	==Military Rituals==		==Military Rituals==
	We've made changes to some existing rituals that have an impact on the military campaign. We have changed the effects produced by two rituals for [[enchantment\|enchanting]] [[Imperial armies\|campaign armies]] - [[Knights of Glory]] and [[Bound by Common Cause]]. We have also increased the magnitude of four rituals used for summoning magical [[fortification\|fortifications]] - [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]],and [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], and [[The Basalt Citadel]] - as a ritual that enchants fortifications with additional strength - [[Golden Ramparts]].		We've made changes to some existing rituals that have an impact on the military campaign. We have changed the effects produced by two rituals for [[enchantment\|enchanting]] [[Imperial armies\|campaign armies]] - [[Knights of Glory]] and [[Bound by Common Cause]]. We have also increased the magnitude of four rituals used for summoning magical [[fortification\|fortifications]] - [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]], [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], and [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], and [[The Basalt Citadel]] - as a ritual that enchants fortifications with additional strength - [[Golden Ramparts]].

	We hope that these changes will ensure a good balance of options available to ritualists involved with the Empire's military campaigns going forwards, but we'll continue to monitor the situation carefully.		We hope that these changes will ensure a good balance of options available to ritualists involved with the Empire's military campaigns going forwards, but we'll continue to monitor the situation carefully.

Graemej at 18:23, 20 August 2023

2023-08-20T18:23:17Z

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	This has been a rule which has caused confusion, and which we felt there was no benefit to allowing participants who were avoiding each other into the other party's group camps in certain rare, specific situations.		This has been a rule which has caused confusion, and which we felt there was no benefit to allowing participants who were avoiding each other into the other party's group camps in certain rare, specific situations.

			==Tents and Flammability==
			Tents are no longer considered to be flammable.

			===Reasoning===
			This is a rule that dates back to before the days of Empire, when camp attacks were a thing we needed rules for, and we felt it was time to remove it. The safety rules still apply, you should still not fight in an area where it will cause an accident, but we've no longer got a rule in place to allow you to force people out of the space, as we felt it was not needed.

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