[Dedas]

It seems that some of you are trying to construct some kind of artificial certainties (player made laws) within this game besides the natural ones we already have.

Natural laws are the only real certainties we have inside the game. They are not in any way established by the players. It is Gods (Illwinters) law if you wish. If you put your trust in them you will not be deceived (except when cheated - see below). Examples of natural laws would be:

*If you spend gold on recruiting a unit that unit will show up the next turn if you haven't lost the province and if unrest is under 100.

*If a move a unit into enemy territory a conflict will occur.

If we break any of those rules we are cheating and that should and must be punished severely.


Then there are the artificial laws that the players enforce upon themselves or try to enforce upon others.
They are established on the grounds mutual or solitary interests. They are enforced by mutual interest, fear, power, hatred, love etc.
They should not extend into other games or the outside world as they are created on and within a unique and confined world/universe. Examples of artificial laws would be :

*A NAP

*An alliance

*Trading

Breaking artificial laws can and should only be punished by those who want to uphold the laws, and only within the game itself as they are confined within it. The details of the punishment is up to the players and could be anything except breaking the natural laws and extending the punishment beyond the game world where those laws apply.

To summarize
Natural laws are the certainties on which you should build your empire.

Artificial laws are uncertain and changing. Putting all your trust in them would be folly.

Artificial laws could however be great and powerful tools in capable hands, as constructs by the players to enhance their natural power within the game world. Although the creators of such laws must not forget that the laws existence is dependent upon not only her own interests and power, but on every player's own agenda within that universe. And as every player has her own agenda and goals (winning is not everyones goal) that creates the need to know that agenda. Knowledge is the power you have to stabilize such artificial laws

One last thing: if you ever want and feel the need to put your trust in artificial laws, make sure that you have your own natural power to fall back upon when your fortune and friends turn their back on you.