The Senate Floor

[McMeadows]

Thanks for the praises, but did everybody leave to celebrate in the Three Weeds? It's been awfully empty in here the last week.

Or is everyone planning a coup? A revolution seems to be at hand...

[Modo44]

Nah, I don't think so. It's just waiting for PPP, and the looming holidays (read: project due dates ), I guess...

The important decisions are made, as far as I can see. I guess we can await action reports from our Emperor any time, right?

[Paddy]

indeed

he seems to have it all under control

[snoopy369]

Well, now that the reigns of the Anarchy, er, Empire is in the hands of the Viking ... perhaps some naval raids will be in order, in honor of his name? Or some razed cities?

[Aqualung71]

Senators, now we have had 5 Emperors and 25 turns I suggest it is time for a formal review of Rome's global strategy.

The war with Carthage continues to drag, and we have still to secure the strategic coup of gaining control over Sardinia and Corsica. Yet look to the east, good Senators, and you will be astonished at the growing power of Persia and the solid expansion of Macedonia. It is here that we must now concentrate our efforts - eastern expansion along the coast of Macedonia, where we can settle or capture towns that will benefit from their closeness to our capital, by being easier to control, garrison and have reasonably low levels of corruption.

The Celts have also expanded somewhat, but their land still remains too far north to be of much benefit within the empire of Rome.

Thoughts, ex-Emperors, Senators and countrymen?

[Modo44]

* reading reports from Roman lands *

* reading some more *

* grubble grubble *


Sorry, this was the wrong place. I have moved my short-term strategy talk to the aprorpiate thread.


Emperor Aqualung, I don't think our overall strategy should change much. The war with Carthage lasts long, yes, but we are winning it. I see no reason to stop now. If we leave them alone now, we will have a thorn in our side. A thorn that can be removed, if we keep strong!

[Paddy]

Originally posted by Aqualung71
Senators, now we have had 5 Emperors and 25 turns I suggest it is time for a formal review of Rome's global strategy.

well said Senator

and a great idea

[snoopy369]

I started several polls - please read them. I'll play the turn Thursday, possibly Friday depending on my work schedule. Allowed 3 days for the polls anyhow.

About other strategies to the east - We need to consolidate our victories against Carthage first, in my opinion. Previous emperors have a decent fighting force, but have been very conservative with it. You will not find this emperor being so: there are cities both in Carthago Nova and Sardinia/Corsica that would benefit from a thorough razing and/or capturing, and I intend to accomplish that.

What we need is consistent play... perhaps 5 turns isn't enough for an emperor, for I think we may find that different emperors end up moving crossways a bit with the individual units... maybe next time 10 turns would be better.

[McMeadows]

I disagree over the 10 turn proposal.

1. Less people are to participate in becoming an emperor
2. Consistency is where the senate discussions are for. Moreover the empire requires quite a bit of work if en emperor really tries to get the most out of it. Even if it's just for 5 turns. It's not just the fighting what this game is about, as you do know, no question about it.

Carthago is no more, not because previous emperors were being conservative. The war with the Celts was ended by judgement of emperor Aquavarius. The senate has decided that no actions against the Celts will be taken untill peace has been established with Carthage.
Does the new emperor wish to oppose the whole senate?

[snoopy369]

The new emperor sees a lot of legions that are in odd places, presumably because they have been going back and forth. We have literally a dozen or more legions that could be brought to bear on various Carthaginian targets, but seem to be far from the front in transit to who knows where - even their legion commanders are confused as to that matter.

The Senate is here to provide general counsel towards the direction of our troops as a whole - but not micromanaging the individual troop locations, and that is where more frequent changes between emperors is harmful, as each new emperor might have a different idea for where to move various individual legions. A longer rule by one emperor would allow those legions to get to where they are wanted by one emperor, and the following emperor can more easily take advantage of their location rather than having to imagine the thoughts of their predecessor.

[Modo44]

Emperor Snoopy!

There was a case of a previous Emperor, who was directly ordered to move a Legion to a specific city. If we, as the Senate, want to give such orders, we will. And, except for very good reasons, you are to follow them.

[Daddy-O]

This Emperor Snoopy, the Imperial Banana that he is, seeks too much control over Rome. He looks to double his term even before he begins. This Senate should watch our new Emperor closely.

Long live Rome!

[ormuzd]

I think snoopy is right - we should make more general decisions and every next emperor will have some guidance. Because someone may think the garrisoned troops are few, someone may find it better to increase the luxury, etc.

[Modo44]

Of course, a single Senator is not enough to make such decisions. But if many speak of the same idea, the Emperor must execute it. This is what happened with the Legion that is currently on it's way to our city in Celtic territory.

[snoopy369]

If the Senate wishes to micromanage the game, then the Senate should do so - and the Emperor will leave them to it, retiring to his bedchambers with his wife and concubines and whatnot. The Emperor would wish the Senate all the luck in the world - and when the Senate returned to him, begging him to return and make the individual decisions such that the Senate would not be reduced to spending weeks debating the move of a single Citizen to one square or its neighbor, he would gladly step back, smile, and nod - and then return to the control that was granted him, for a reason.

Gentlemen, Rome at no point in its history has allowed a group of many to make small individual decisions. We have had Emperors, we have had Consuls, we have had Dictators. In each stage in our development, we have appointed one man or a small number (2) to make day-to-day decisions, such that the Senate is not forced to debate mundane details. The Senate is here to ensure the will of the People is carried out in the big picture; the Emperor is here to see that will carried out in the details.

The Senate's power is in fact greatly misused to direct individual details; they trust the Emperor to do such things, and instead discuss the grand issues that concern the Empire, which is where the need for their wisdom and grace is found. Every hour the Senate spends debating the precise movement of a Century, the less time they have to discuss whether Carthage has suffered enough, or whether the people should be granted relief from their taxes during the famine, or whether Jupiter has been adequately appeased this month; people could literally die because of such matters.

[ooc] Besides - there's no way 2 of you/us, not to mention half, are going to agree on that specific of details. Seriously, this game should be about the Senate managing the big details and the Emperor the small. You *could* debate the movements on the map - but that would take forever, and the three or four loudest people would inevitably win, which takes out the fun for the rest of us.

Each of us have a chance to be the Emperor - but LET UP A LITTLE once you're not emperor any more. This is not the game for the control freaks (including me, sometimes). It's for fun ... and it's not fun to sit here and be told every little thing I should do, especially when it's with the tone of "Do this, little slave boy", which some of you take from time to time. Seriously - please - lighten the tone a little, or you're going to have a lot less people next time around, and that's not a good thing for any of us. [/ooc]