New Academia

[LzPrst]

In centuries past when learners and scholars had great discoveries and knowledge to share they brought it to the Academia where it was discussed and shared.
This fruitful society of wise men created the forward drive that made Spain the most advanced nation in the world. We discovered writing, which led to the establishment of Academia, we developed writing into literature and spread knowledge wide and far.

But no more. This ancient building, the hallowed halls of knowledge lies in ruin. The plague of Madrid began here and since, the wise men of Spain have had no place to gather. The church has graciously established the monastery of Benedictus, but this is a place for study of the holy scriptures and the workings of God's creation is ignored. What little knowledge exists in these fortified walls has been locked away and no discussion exists there as the monks demand silence for the study of their holy scriptures.

Not a single library has yet been built in Spain! Knowledge is locked away or suppressed by those who find it inconvenient. Public debate is non-existant!

Therefore I declare this new place of learning open.
In the city of Vigo I will grant sanctuary to all seekers of knowledge, regardless of religion or political affiliation.
My personal guard will protect New Academia from any who will try to interfere. May Spain once more be known for its wisdom and ingenuity!

[LzPrst]

And I will bring forth the first topic for discussion:
Is the monarchy good for Spain?

Before every cardinal, bishop, priest and zealot start spouting their claims of heresy and treason, hear me out.

We have much land to settle and even more work to do within our lands. Currently we are building soldiers and settlers, steadily building our military strength. For defensive purposes we are told. However, our economy suffers. Many nobles abuse their power and the peasantry are afraid to attempt new enterprises as the Lords demand loyalty and a constant contribution of farm goods.

Let me now further my point. The Monarchy is a good way to rule, but I fear that we do not make use of its full potential. What is the main advantage of the monarchy?

It brings the most stable society, when involved in a military campaign stretching over time. Our peasants have faith in the nobles when led to battle, they know their Lords and will fight for them. Loyalty is unwavering and morale high.

If we are determined to have a monarchy then we must make use of its advantages! Let us attack the nearest, weak republic and demonstrate the strenght of the King! Let them wail and moan as the representatives raise taxes and levy soldiers. Let the enemy be crippled by their own people, while our subjects gladly take arms to their decadent homes. Let us support a revolution in their land and place a worthy monarch on their throne and not this godless "Consul", or better yet, place all their subjects under our rule.

If we are not to play to our strengths, then we might as well join the republics of the world and stay forever peaceful as sheep! As long as God is with our King, whom he has chosen, will he not then let his servant be victorious? Grant us our destiny!
If the king does not want to war then he must fear that God is not with him, and then he has lost his favor! Show all these heathen republicans that Spain is the only nation of God! That you, King Togas is indeed God's sovereign chosen to be above all other men.

Declare war against the republic!

[History Guy]

I'd agree, despite your misrepresentation of the Church.

The Monarchy is our strength. Republic would be a detriment, and it is a detriment to us, even from abroad.

Cardinal Calamari

[Aidun]

The founding of academies is an interesting development. I agree that there is too little discussion and more discussion shall lead to victory, like in the past, when every plan was heavily debated, Spain became the most powerful nation in the world.

The Abbey of St. Benedictus was founded with the purpose to bring the discussion back to life, but it has failed in its task to do so.
I hoped that others would follow the example of the Abbey of St. Benedictus, to establish their own abbeys or monasteries, but it did not happen.
I am glad that Señor de Nuñes has taken the initiative to found this new academy.
This attempt to bring the discussion back to life will not be hindered by the Inquisition as long as this academy remains loyal to the Church. Freedom of speech is allowed, but insulting the church or it's officials will not be tolerated. Insulting the Almighty God, the Lord, the Holy Spirit and the Saint will also not be tolerated. Any person who breaks these rules, in this academy or not, will be judged by the Inquisition for herresy or insult.

So far, however, this academy has my support.

Pope Aidun I

[BigFree]

A Republic....

[OOC]
Here's some info on comparing our currnet situation in Monarchy to what it would be in Republic.

We have 52 units.
We have gone over our support limit under Monarchy by a lot.
The republic does not provide for any free support of units.


Monarchy unit cost= 28gpt
Republic unit cost= 52gpt


We have 39 population points and 12 cities, for a total of 51 extra commerce available to us if we were in republic. We would lose ~9 commerce per turn, out of the 51 due to corruption. So that's a total of 42 extra commerce per turn if we go to The Republic, right now.

The differnce between units costs in the two forms of Government is 24gpt.

So, 42(extra commerce from Republic) - 24 gpt (for unit support cost increase over what Monarchy costs us) = +18 extra commerce per turn to spend.

So, if we went to The Republic right now, we would see an increase of 18 commerce per turn. We currently produce 86. That would mean we would jump to 104.

The commerce(income) per turn would drop by one each time we built a new unit, in Monarchy or in The Republic.

The commerce(income per turn would increase, by the number of commerce arrows generated by each new population point that comes along. A single pop point can produce as little as two or as many four or more commerce per turn, in The Republic, but less than in a Monarchy.

I believe we will be able to keep our pop levels at a point where The Republic pays us more than Monarchy would. The game was designed to be pretty balanced. War Weariness was added to The Republic to keep it from being too much of an advantage over Monarchy. But, we know that in MP games, War Weariness does not exist. Thus the balance is lost and The Republic is a better overall choice than Monarchy.

Monarch does have support costs, so as we continue to build units, even in Monarchy, we will have to pay those support costs. As it stands right now, we are over the minimum for support costs by 28 units. I do not suspect we will ever drop below that threshold.

I think it is in our best interests, in this game, to make the move to The Republic ASAP. I don't care what type of excuses we use, we just need to do it.

EDIT: These numbers are based upon the last save I have access to at this time, 310 BC.

[/OOC]

[jdjdjd]

You all know me, know what I do for a livin'.

For 5000 Pesos I'll find the shark, but it'll cost you 20000 if you want me to kill 'em.

Or something like that

I have emerged from my deep sole searching trip into the wilderness to come back and say that Lz is correct when he says we should stand up and show that Spain needs to show we are the wisest of the world.

For that reason I fully support the change to Republic. The Monarch can still play a role, but the leaders from the various territories must make the decisions for all of us. One man is not omnicient, but all of us together can be.

Viva Espana

see you in many more weeks.

[Nuclear Winter]

[ooc]Interesting information...
but tell me, why deosn´t war weariness exist in MP? I didn´t get this one.[/ooc]
It is indeed very nice to see this place being restored, like in the old days of my father, before the Plague... wich reminds me that you must be the only person infected by it who is still alive! Yes I recall my fatehr telling me of how señor Meneñdez de Nuñez coughed the disease on the old Academia, making it be forcefully closed! Wow, how did you manage to survive it? Tell us! I believe that it was due to some sort of elixir or tonic? My father had some notes on this, but then again, he would not be allowed to thoroughly do his reasearch after the king got on the Throne... ah, anyway, he was old and weak by that time, so I doubt he could have made any advances...
Well well well, There are many sciences still to study and things to think about, and so let us start!
*Nuclearis puts on the cerimonial hat of the old academy, a blue hat with a moon and a star drawn on it*
First, I would like to ask to you: if we are going to go violent against those heathens and republikahns, shouldn´t we develop a code of honour for our warriors? I believe we could this way convince the nobilty to take on arms and form an elite corp of Knights, to bring death to our enemies. This more militaristic aproach could gain us a nice protection against the heathens, and even allow for us to attack, but...
there is choice number two: that we go on a more development-oriented research, and spare our nobilty from the hard effort of war for now and instead invest on technicians and smart engineers to make walls and such... or there is also choice number 3....
by ich we decide to be a ncie friendly nation to all and avoid wars by diplomacy, using our efforts to develop even greater knowledge of arts and sciences...

Tell me what you folks think,
Nuclearis Winterius the III (who is not the Cardinal, but his brother , to those of you who don´t remember )

[LzPrst]

My opinion is that we either release our peasants of their feudal loyalties and encourage nobles and lowmen to spur forth with industry and innovation (change to republic), OR that we immediately declare war on a republic and let their cowardly people drain them of stength as we conquer their lands slowly but surely.

And yes Nuclearis, we should imbue our nobles with holy codes of honor to make sure they always display valor and courage on the field of battle.

AND, it was my great-uncle Juan-Scriblos who died of the plague in La Academia. I have kept his writings and words and it has inspired me to reopen the Academia.

(ooc) We can be peaceful as a republic, if we are to maintain the monarchy then we must play to its strengths (ooc)

[Togas]

Would the Lords ever willingly choose to GIVE UP their land holdings and free their serfs? This seems like a preposterous idea! I see that there are logical benefits to be had from changing our system to one that is more creative and encourages more trade, however, I am extremely skeptical that the Lords of Spain would ever willingly step down from power or their support for our present Monarchy.

It may take a revolution or an act of God before such a thing would happen.

--Togas

[History Guy]

Free the serfs? If we were to free the serfs, to let our workers go, how could Spain manage?

Besides, as we know from study, the average serf in a feudal state has many more powers than he does in a republican utopia, which gradually becomes a totalitarian government that removes all his rights and puts the power firmly in the hand of an ever-changing and unweildy Senate. It may open commerce, but it is too dangerous.

Don Iago Calamari de Toledo

[mrmitchell]

I would willingly do so. Contentment makes a man work better, and the ultimate contentment is freedom. (Whoops, I don't want to start talking about - gasp - REPUBLICANISM!)

[Aidun]

I want to inform every one here that from now on republicanism is outlawed by the Church and thus by the State of Spain. (Law of the Church, General Law, Article VII)

Pope Aidun I

[jdjdjd]

Let the serfs go !!!!

Viva Espana!!!

[History Guy]

Let myyyyyyyyy peeeeeeeeeople gooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Gastronome Neecap

[mrmitchell]

I want to inform every one here that from now on republicanism is outlawed by the Church and thus by the State of Spain. (Law of the Church, General Law, Article VII)

Discussion of it, or just support of it?

Then again if it was just support, discussion would kind of be one-sided don't you think?

ALL HAIL THE ING!