players could not normally do themselves. Opportunities are seeded into the game by our plot team. An opportunity often brings with it the ability to do something

direct game benefit while still allowing players to make things "real" in the setting. All edifices are added to the wiki, and whether they have game benefits

fundamental game design of the Senate to ensure the game remains enjoyable for as many players for as long as possible. While we strive to keep the game focussed

is to setting Tests of Mettle, Ardour and Resolve. We have created a game design page especially to provide guidance on setting a test. An earl who possesses

military game takes place primarily within the Military council - the game is designed to ensure that the senators can't directly move the military game into

Money is a frequent challenge in Dawn, especially for the noble houses. There is no glory in making money; an obsession with money is seen as tawdry, something

review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. This process of continuous review allows us to keep the game fresh and ensures we remain

most crucial elements of the game design. Opportunities, particularly Synod plot opportunities are specifically designed to present the player base with

is anything that reflects the philosophy of the tradition and improves the game for those involved. Traditions Astronomancy Blood Magic Dramaturgy Rune Magic

mechanism for players to keep things more secure. We have switched the off-game rune for a ribbon due to the problems inherent in marking what is an in-character

well as having their resource enchanted. This was always the design intention for the game, but there was a mistake in the way the rules were written down

Every year we carry out a review of some part of the game looking to see what we improve. This year our focus has been on updating some parts of the rules

Skirmishes and battles are a crucial part of the game, however. The intention of Empire's game design is that all the different parts are interrelated

perform it or if the target clearly fails to take the effect. The original game design deliberately set out to make warriors more powerful than wizards on the

all the plenipotentiary Winds of Fortune Talking to eternals - a chatty game design article with some advice about getting the most out of plenipotentiary

reasons of out-of-character game design criteria - it is an out-of-character decision taken by the Empire game team to improve the game. We consulted extensively

difficult for anyone to formally address the council. The new design carries the Empire game design ethos through to the logical conclusion for the Military

fifteen years ago. In that time the expectations of what a game should offer and what a game organiser could try to deliver have changed, and our rules

a considerable amount of time into the design of the legal system in Empire - along with the design of the game rules - to try and make it as effective

suit our game style that a character can create very powerful game effects without interacting with one of the major political bodies of the game to get