Why no Save game Feature

[HoneyBadger]

Newthought, now that I've got you using your head instead of your mouth (or finger, since we're typing...and isn't that appropriate?) you're really on a roll. I like the idea of good/evil scales. Unfortunately, from what I've read, the Devs are against dividing the game into good and evil. But...perhaps if we shift the terminology a little.

I have one suggestion for the terms to use, Orthodox/Heretical (Please note that I'm using these words for effect more than for purposes of precise meaning.)

In Orthodox dominions, populations are devout, strong in the Pretender's faith as it was originally spoken and interpreted, and fanatical in their commitment to the word of their God. Witches and heretics are burned at the stake, and sinners are often stoned to death for even-from the perspective of outsiders-minor infractions. There is no separation of church and state. Prayer-calls are heard throughout the cities, laws and rulers derive their power from sacred teachings, and the most powerful position in all the land under God is that of High Priest or Priestess.

Orth 1: temples are 25% less expensive to build due to tithings and missionaries (300g for most nations, 150 for Pan and Man), Bless grants an additional +1 to Morale, +0.1 to Growth due to large families of believers being held in high esteem. Income 3% less (-3%) Resources 5% less (-5%) due to more land being held by the Church, more resources going to support the priesthood (none of whom have day-jobs), and more money going to support monasteries.

Orth 2: as Orth 1 but +0.2 to Growth and +3% chance event is good, as prayers to the Pretender for good fortune are granted (that and they burn those old hags that keep cursing my troops). Income -6%. Resources -10%

Orth 3: as Orth 1, 2, except temples are 50% less expensive to build, Bless now grants +2 to Morale (for a total of +4), +0.3 to Growth and 6% chance event is good.
Income -12% Resources -15%.

Heretical: In Heretical Dominions, the people still worship the Pretender, and many are extremely devout, but the population is divided into many different schools of thought, each convinced that their way is the "right" way to worship. All are welcome into these lands, and all are welcome to leave. The laws and power in these lands are upheld by secular authorities. Their is not one Church, but many, and the Churches pay taxes just like everybody else. They are also fully responsible to the law, just as any civilian body or business. The Churches takes advantage of this as well, requiring priests to not only spread the Word but to serve the church in productive, even menial, ways. Although direct violence by the Church against so-called "unbelievers" is much more rare-or even unheard-of, still this is a volatile, violent place where all manner of sects compete against each other, both with their words and in bloody street-brawls.

Heret 1: Temples are 25% more expensive to build due to followers expecting to be paid for their labor (500g for most nations, 250g for Pangaea and Man). -1 Bless effect to Morale due to soldiers being less willing to give up their lives in the name of their Faith. Growth is unaffected but Research is -1 due to conflicting views about the nature and appropriateness of magic, and the lack of organized religious schools. +5% chance for a random event due to increased religious turmoil (chance it's good or bad is unaffected). Income +3% Resources +5% due to harder currency (the church doesn't hoard all the silver and gold in the form of religious icons), banking (usurage), and the ready disposal of goods and lands.

Heret +2: as Heret +1 but 10% chance for a random event, Income +6% Resources +10%.

Heret +3: as Heret +2 but Temples are 50% more expensive to build, -2 Bless effect to Morale (Bless grants no Morale bonus under Heret +3) Research -2, 15% chance of random event, Income +12%, Resources +15%.

I think such a scale would be very appropriate for Dom3, especially with the impending introduction of Gath-which should be dealing with the Nephilim, according to my information.

[Teraswaerto]

It would seem to me that heresy would give a bonus to research, not a penalty. Organized religion clings to whatever idea has been been established, it is anathema to progress and discovery.

[HoneyBadger]

In our modern times, maybe, when schools are government-funded, but not in midieval times when the Church was the major protector and provider of knowledge. Look through a few history books-many of the greatest thinkers of all time came out of or were connected to, the Church.

[HoneyBadger]

The Church was also a great patron of the arts, and even the sciences, and not just Christianity either-science and art flourished under Muslim rule for a very long time, and Iraq-believe it or not-was at one time the book-capital of the world. The Jews also have a long history of scolasticism and certainly were and are proponents of religious schools, as are Catholics-there's a Catholic school in my home town, for instance.

[Teraswaerto]

Islam was relatively tolerant of the sciences in medieval times, much more so than Christianity. Galileo was threatened with torture, Bruno Giordano was burned at the stake, etc.

There is also no count of how many people were condemned as witches and such.

[HoneyBadger]

So you've got both sides of the same coin. On one hand Orthodox dominions are burning people at the stake, while on the other hand, they're promoting education-alongside religious indoctrination, ofcourse.

The Heretics on the other hand have so many different philosophies and are so disorganized and fueled by misinformation (look at the history of alchemy, for instance) that yes, they have a better economy that will eventually-in a few hundred or thousand years-turn out a fine public education system like we had in the 19th century, but right now is just confusing and deluding people.

[Gandalf Parker]

Interestingly Im not sure which side of the coin you are calling heretics.
(and Id advise not clarifying it for the sake of the thread)
Lets keep the tone light, and the subject gaming please.