players could not normally do themselves. Opportunities are seeded into the game by our plot team. An opportunity often brings with it the ability to do something

benefits. A folly is the general term for any commission that is explicitly designed not to provide any apparent benefits. Most follies are straightforward

fundamental game design of the Senate to ensure the game remains enjoyable for as many players for as long as possible. While we strive to keep the game focussed

Money is a frequent challenge in Dawn, especially for the noble houses. There is no glory in making money; an obsession with money is seen as tawdry, something

is anything that reflects the philosophy of the tradition and improves the game for those involved. Traditions Astronomancy Blood Magic Dramaturgy Rune Magic

a considerable amount of time into the design of the legal system in Empire - along with the design of the game rules - to try and make it as effective

feedback that many people didn't appreciate the design of the criminal system, what role it has in the game and what that implied for any outcomes from any

most crucial elements of the game design. Opportunities, particularly Synod plot opportunities are specifically designed to present the player base with

integrate the new material. When you design a setting for a roleplaying game, many elements are included with an explicit design ethic for what they are trying

all the plenipotentiary Winds of Fortune Talking to eternals - a chatty game design article with some advice about getting the most out of plenipotentiary

have a profound impact on the game world. But the design goal was to ensure that Empire remained a live roleplaying game 100% - that all the important

who joins a noble house must first pass a Test of Mettle. There is a game design page especially to provide guidance on setting a test which may also be

mechanism for players to keep things more secure. We have switched the off-game rune for a ribbon due to the problems inherent in marking what is an in-character

well as having their resource enchanted. This was always the design intention for the game, but there was a mistake in the way the rules were written down

round a camp would serve to protect against. This set-up is part of the game design, intended to make Anvil as open as possible to encourage interaction and

is not to circumvent the game but rather to identify the problems for our participants which are not part of the game design. The more of these problems

creating a challenge for another player you have a massive impact on their game - if PD created that challenge for that player we'd call it "plot". Creating

effective than it would otherwise have been. This directly flows from core game design elements that decisions are expensive and difficult to reverse. The Assembly

claim that they can roleplay that they are helping is not justifiable in a game that places such a strong emphasis on reflecting players' actions in the

Every year we carry out a review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. This year our focus has been on updating some parts of the rules