Rules update 2025 - Revision history

Twiggy at 21:30, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T21:30:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:30, 4 March 2026
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	==Overview==		==Overview==
	Every year we carry out a 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 happy that we're running the very best game we can. We don't have many updates this year, but the ones we do have are important for the players who are affected. This page ~~summarizes~~ and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily.		Every year we carry out a 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 happy that we're running the very best game we can. We don't have many updates this year, but the ones we do have are important for the players who are affected. This page summarises and explains the changes so that players can identify and understand the changes easily.

	We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.		We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Civil Service" to "[[Civil Service"

2026-01-15T22:21:45Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Civil Service" to "[[Civil Service"

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:21, 15 January 2026
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	===IC Reasoning===		===IC Reasoning===
	The Sun Chamber was created centuries ago, but most current members died during the reign of [[Empress Britta]] sacrificing their lives to try and save their beloved Empress. Following the recent work to restore the power and status of sodalities, '''Zoria of the Zulgan Tash''' pushed the [[~~Imperial~~ Civil Service\|civil service]] to look into the status of the Sun Chamber. Having identified that the sodality's powers were never abrogated, the Constitutional Court have confirmed that the Chamber is still a viable legal body with a number of important powers that it can now utilise.		The Sun Chamber was created centuries ago, but most current members died during the reign of [[Empress Britta]] sacrificing their lives to try and save their beloved Empress. Following the recent work to restore the power and status of sodalities, '''Zoria of the Zulgan Tash''' pushed the [[Civil Service\|civil service]] to look into the status of the Sun Chamber. Having identified that the sodality's powers were never abrogated, the Constitutional Court have confirmed that the Chamber is still a viable legal body with a number of important powers that it can now utilise.

	==Colleges and Runeforges==		==Colleges and Runeforges==

Twiggy: /* IC Reasoning */

2025-10-10T03:34:57Z

IC Reasoning

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:34, 10 October 2025
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	===IC Reasoning===		===IC Reasoning===
	The Sun Chamber was created centuries ago, but most current members died during the reign of [[Empress Britta]] sacrificing their lives to try and save their beloved Empress. Following the recent work to restore the power and status of sodalities, '''Zoria of the Zulgan Tash''' pushed the [[civil service]] to look into the status of the Sun Chamber. Having identified that the sodality's powers were never abrogated, the Constitutional Court have confirmed that the Chamber is still a viable legal body with a number of important powers that it can now utilise.		The Sun Chamber was created centuries ago, but most current members died during the reign of [[Empress Britta]] sacrificing their lives to try and save their beloved Empress. Following the recent work to restore the power and status of sodalities, '''Zoria of the Zulgan Tash''' pushed the [[Imperial Civil Service\|civil service]] to look into the status of the Sun Chamber. Having identified that the sodality's powers were never abrogated, the Constitutional Court have confirmed that the Chamber is still a viable legal body with a number of important powers that it can now utilise.

	==Colleges and Runeforges==		==Colleges and Runeforges==

Matt at 22:54, 14 July 2025

2025-07-14T22:54:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:54, 14 July 2025
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	We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.		We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.

			==Sun Chamber==
			We have added a new sodality to the game, the [[Sun Chamber]]. This ancient [[Imperial sodality]] was founded during the reign of [[Empress Richilde]] with a manifesto to help young citizens of the Empire gain positions of power and influence in the Empire. Membership of the sodality is restricted to players who are aged 14-18 years old - while other citizens are welcome to petition the Chamber for aid, only members can take part in the sessions or vote.

			===Reasoning===
			We've created the Sun Chamber sodality because we want to directly address the fact that Empire can be a very inaccessible game for players before they turn twenty. We have always tried to provide a range of options to actively engage younger players and we've had some fantastic feedback on the successes of that, but once players past their Test of Citizenship and either take their Test of Arms or choose not to, that framework falls away.

			The hope was always that players in would be able to engage with the political game of Empire, getting involved in Conclave, the Synod and the other parts of the game as they try for Imperial titles. In practice, that assumption was hopelessly naive. While the setting asserts that anyone who has passed their Test of Citizenship has all the rights and responsibilities of an Imperial citizen, in practice, that doesn't always happen. A player who looks young will often have to deal with ageism, with people unconsciously assuming that they're not old enough or not mature enough or not experienced enough simply because of their apparent age.

			We want our game design to support our conduct rules and push back where practical on out-of-character prejudicial assumptions. For example, we will not tolerate someone saying that another player or character shouldn't be in the military council because of their gender or whether or not they take the battlefield. We've had some conversations with younger players about their experiences playing the game. Drawing on their feedback, we've created a powerful sodality with some significant in-character abilities to help address the barriers faced by players in this age group.

			Our goal is three-fold; first of all, we want to create a degree of equity for players who are under twenty. We want to directly bolster their political power to make the PvP game accessible on a more equal footing with other players. The sodality is aimed at players aged fourteen to eighteen, but includes the potential for players a little older and a little younger to interact with it.

			Secondly, we want to create a forum where players in our target group can engage in politics with each other - the sodality is deliberately set up in such a way as to make its inherent operation political. Deciding how and when to deploy its powers will require the same kind of politics and compromise that underpins the rest of the game. Our goal is to give members of the sodality difficult decisions to wrestle with - exactly the same as other players - but in an environment where almost nobody but them has any hard power to determine what happens.

			Finally, we wanted to create reasons that other players might want to interact with the sodality. We hope that senators, grandmasters, cardinals and characters without titles will want to approach the sodality and seek their help and support, just as they might with other political bodies in the game. Likewise, members of the sodality will have to approach these titles to advance their own goals. We really want to avoid interactions where people either give them everything they want because they're perceived as children, or else write them off and ignore them for the same reason. Instead, we hope that players will treat them as significant characters who have powers they can wield that can be employed to their advantage if they can persuade enough of them to go for it - that is to treat them as peers in the player-vs-player and player-with-player political game of Empire.

			We'll watch the development of the sodality carefully - and listen to all feedback as always, but we hope that the Sun Chamber will serve to make the political game of Empire more accessible to more players.

			===IC Reasoning===
			The Sun Chamber was created centuries ago, but most current members died during the reign of [[Empress Britta]] sacrificing their lives to try and save their beloved Empress. Following the recent work to restore the power and status of sodalities, '''Zoria of the Zulgan Tash''' pushed the [[civil service]] to look into the status of the Sun Chamber. Having identified that the sodality's powers were never abrogated, the Constitutional Court have confirmed that the Chamber is still a viable legal body with a number of important powers that it can now utilise.

	==Colleges and Runeforges==		==Colleges and Runeforges==

Rafferty: /* Colleges and Runeforges */

2025-06-04T17:41:35Z

Colleges and Runeforges

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	==Colleges and Runeforges==		==Colleges and Runeforges==
			{{CaptionedImage\|file=NightLight.jpg\|align=right\|width=400}}
	We have updated the rules for the creation and upkeep of a [[college of magic]] or a [[runeforge]]. The standard upkeep of both commissions is now fixed at 12 thrones a season, regardless of how many the Empire builds. The non-standard upkeep of a unique college of magic, like the [[Doyen of the Spires]], is not affected by this change, so it remains at 12 thrones + 5 thrones per territory in Urizen.		We have updated the rules for the creation and upkeep of a [[college of magic]] or a [[runeforge]]. The standard upkeep of both commissions is now fixed at 12 thrones a season, regardless of how many the Empire builds. The non-standard upkeep of a unique college of magic, like the [[Doyen of the Spires]], is not affected by this change, so it remains at 12 thrones + 5 thrones per territory in Urizen.

Hailmur: /* Colleges and Runeforges */

2025-06-04T17:10:10Z

Colleges and Runeforges

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:10, 4 June 2025
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	In addition to the change to upkeep we have introduced limits on the number of colleges and runeforges the Empire can support. Each nation only has so many wizards and artisans who can operate a college. Most nations can only support a single college of magic or runeforge depending on their culture. Each nation has its own unique limits, but as ever, plot may offer an [[opportunity]] to exceed these limits on occasion.		In addition to the change to upkeep we have introduced limits on the number of colleges and runeforges the Empire can support. Each nation only has so many wizards and artisans who can operate a college. Most nations can only support a single college of magic or runeforge depending on their culture. Each nation has its own unique limits, but as ever, plot may offer an [[opportunity]] to exceed these limits on occasion.

			Finally, we have taken the decision to add information on ritual texts and schemas to the page once they are completed. This brings them in line with the Doyen of the Spires.

	* [[Doyen of the Spires]]		* [[Doyen of the Spires]]

Hailmur: /* Colleges and Runeforges */

2025-06-04T16:56:32Z

Colleges and Runeforges

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	* [[Seer of the Spiral Sword]]		* [[Seer of the Spiral Sword]]
	* [[Keeper of the Runegrott]]		* [[Keeper of the Runegrott]]
	* [[Dean of the Lyceum]] ~~- not currently paying upkeep~~		* [[Dean of the Lyceum]]

	===Reasoning===		===Reasoning===

Rafferty: /* IC Reasoning */

2025-06-04T16:53:34Z

IC Reasoning

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 4 June 2025
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	===IC Reasoning===		===IC Reasoning===
	The Imperial civil service have increasingly found it easier to hire magicians (or artisans) living in a country to operate a college of magic or runeforge. Provided the nation can support a new college or ~~runefoge~~, the Empire can now build such a commission and know that the upkeep will be 12 thrones a season.		The Imperial civil service have increasingly found it easier to hire magicians (or artisans) living in a country to operate a college of magic or runeforge. Provided the nation can support a new college or runeforge, the Empire can now build such a commission and know that the upkeep will be 12 thrones a season.

	==Territory Enchantments==		==Territory Enchantments==

Matt at 13:06, 4 June 2025

2025-06-04T13:06:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 4 June 2025
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	* [[Dean of the Lyceum]] - not currently paying upkeep		* [[Dean of the Lyceum]] - not currently paying upkeep

	==Reasoning==		===Reasoning===
	Under the old rules, each college of magic had an ever-increasing upkeep, so the more colleges the Empire built, the greater the cost of each college. These rules were designed to limit the number of colleges (and runeforges) that the Empire built to a level that Profound Decisions could support.		Under the old rules, each college of magic had an ever-increasing upkeep, so the more colleges the Empire built, the greater the cost of each college. These rules were designed to limit the number of colleges (and runeforges) that the Empire built to a level that Profound Decisions could support.

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	The Imperial budgets will be adjusted so that the change in total upkeep of all the Empire's ''existing'' colleges and runeforges does not affect the money available to players at events. These rules will only affect new colleges or runeforges that are built.		The Imperial budgets will be adjusted so that the change in total upkeep of all the Empire's ''existing'' colleges and runeforges does not affect the money available to players at events. These rules will only affect new colleges or runeforges that are built.

	==IC Reasoning==		===IC Reasoning===
	The Imperial civil service have increasingly found it easier to hire magicians (or artisans) living in a country to operate a college of magic or runeforge. Provided the nation can support a new college or runefoge, the Empire can now build such a commission and know that the upkeep will be 12 thrones a season.		The Imperial civil service have increasingly found it easier to hire magicians (or artisans) living in a country to operate a college of magic or runeforge. Provided the nation can support a new college or runefoge, the Empire can now build such a commission and know that the upkeep will be 12 thrones a season.

Matt at 13:06, 4 June 2025

2025-06-04T13:06:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 4 June 2025
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	We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.		We try to include a section after each update to explain the reasoning behind the change, as well as providing an in-character rationale for what has changed where appropriate. As ever, it is important to remember that the rationale is there purely to provide a way for characters to explain any changes, it's not an actual plot development.

			==Colleges and Runeforges==
			We have updated the rules for the creation and upkeep of a [[college of magic]] or a [[runeforge]]. The standard upkeep of both commissions is now fixed at 12 thrones a season, regardless of how many the Empire builds. The non-standard upkeep of a unique college of magic, like the [[Doyen of the Spires]], is not affected by this change, so it remains at 12 thrones + 5 thrones per territory in Urizen.

			In addition to the change to upkeep we have introduced limits on the number of colleges and runeforges the Empire can support. Each nation only has so many wizards and artisans who can operate a college. Most nations can only support a single college of magic or runeforge depending on their culture. Each nation has its own unique limits, but as ever, plot may offer an [[opportunity]] to exceed these limits on occasion.

			* [[Doyen of the Spires]]
			* [[Master of Ice and Darkness]]
			* [[Seer of the Spiral Sword]]
			* [[Keeper of the Runegrott]]
			* [[Dean of the Lyceum]] - not currently paying upkeep

			==Reasoning==
			Under the old rules, each college of magic had an ever-increasing upkeep, so the more colleges the Empire built, the greater the cost of each college. These rules were designed to limit the number of colleges (and runeforges) that the Empire built to a level that Profound Decisions could support.

			Unfortunately the rules made the upkeep of colleges incomprehensible - especially when plot made any changes to the upkeep of any college. At the point where we had no idea what the upkeep of a college should be, it was clear that the rules were too complicated. At the same time, our ability to support more colleges of magic has improved as our systems for processing arcane projections have slowly improved. As a result we have changed the rules to simply the upkeep and make it easier for the Empire to build more colleges and runeforges.

			We've put limits on the number, partly to prevent there being more than we could ever support, partly to reflect the natural strengths of different nations and in part to create the potential for future plot for the Empire to explore ways to increase those limits if they choose to.

			The Imperial budgets will be adjusted so that the change in total upkeep of all the Empire's ''existing'' colleges and runeforges does not affect the money available to players at events. These rules will only affect new colleges or runeforges that are built.

			==IC Reasoning==
			The Imperial civil service have increasingly found it easier to hire magicians (or artisans) living in a country to operate a college of magic or runeforge. Provided the nation can support a new college or runefoge, the Empire can now build such a commission and know that the upkeep will be 12 thrones a season.

	==Territory Enchantments==		==Territory Enchantments==