So here we are, within the final drive. A few last bits and pieces in theme and making sure all the stuff is ready on the MUSH itself, from news and help files to grid and descs.
The Vindicti system has come out lovely and serves its purpose. Enough to be useful but more as an aid to RP. This and the House system are the heart of Valorous. The central focus is on house/dynasty building with two coins at play; reputation and commodities. The later helps to build up the house to grant individuals in said house bonuses in day to day play and interactions, the former is a sign of prestige as much as it is used to influence the world in general. Reputation can be used for commodities, an exchange with NPC contacts through influence in the world, representing that influence; as well as gaining access to certain plot/adventure/info/etc. Inversely commodities can be used to gain reputation, they could be used to hold social events as the price to host a noteworthy event to gain reputation, to host local tournies if wanted and reputation again gained for the house. Either reputation or commodities can be used to help Matora; with public works, increase defenses, whatever comes to mind. We’re not setting entirely hard limits, but it can be used to influence changes on Valorous on a larger scale.
Vindicti is at the heart of play here. This is not meant as a PK tool or to foster a PvP environment on a level that results in PK. Death is frowned upon with consequences to be had. It is, however, the easiest way to gain reputation for houses, by actively engaging in the squabbles of these families with rival families in their city. Even if one focuses on house building to gain benefits for themselves and their members through commodity and trade, participating in Vindicti will help by gaining reputation that can be used to build the house. Bad blood when losing is fine, fuel for the fire of more Vindicti.
In finishing up some code this week, we turned to house succession. Sure plots against other houses are fine, but what about that stagnant leader? Well, we’re accounting for this with some guidelines. Much like starting a new house will take 3 active players showing interest in a new house (and one of the few ways to start a lesser house to plot up to becoming a Conte), 3 players in a house may plot a succession/coop and initiate Vindicti against the current head. This will take a staff request to verify and establish, and help set the terms. We will include a time limit so there isn’t a coop every month, we’ll start with 1 per 6 months per house, and see how this goes. This is a little more involved and other houses will be welcome to spend reputation in such a conflict in favor of which ever side they may support. There should well be room to start as a landless knight (cavalieri) and work one's way up. The highest position of the city-state is the duca/duchessa and its by nomination for a set period, while an NPC start's here, we expect this to transition to a PC position, gaining reputation is beneficial but so is actual politicking; ie RP'ing with others to gain and earn support politically.
Either way, participating in family squabbles is one of the keys to building up the houses. No avoiding making rivals as actively participating in these is beneficial to both sides (winner or loser). We like Pendragon, but our main focus here has been on houses in the setting based on similar rivalries in the real world from the time period that influenced Valorous from Romeo and Juliette in fair Verona to the familial squabbles of House Visconti of Milan. The house tracking sheet and vindicti sheets are more indicators of progression and vehicles to drive RP. We’ll see how it goes. Next week we will try to do lots of clean up, maybe next Friday will be some good news for actually coming soon for Valorous.
