concerning the senate

[prof786]

if tilited mill gets it right, then the senate could possibly be the most interesting structure in c4. here's what i suggest:

make the senate a large and tall building (constructed of course)
let it be a simple building initially--or just a wide open space
as you gather resources, the upgrades and expansion of the senate can begin
marble steps, tall columns (any style), well not much choice since there's lots of marble!!!
oh, large gate-like doors made of carved wood and decorated w/ paints and metals
concrete walls and roof, which explains the tall thick columns
upgrades should be gradual and tied w/ popular sentiment
i don't know if this occurred but senate, being a government building, should have guards
oh so much can happen on the steps
senators could walk up and down sometimes stopping to chat w/ someone
vagrants and beggars and homeless and unemployed can sometimes go and "sit" on the steps--where the governor can see them
occasionally a person would come out of the senate and make an announcement or tell some news (about a decree or law)
if there is a festival, the ceremonies can commence from the senate--w/ people gathering and celebrating on the steps
this is a good one--if someone comes and harrassess a senator or the governor, the guards could come down and take care of the person. "i told him so. beware the ides of march. they never listen."
and...

that's all i could think of for now concerning the senate. what yall think?

[Keith]

Provided that they do include degrees or edicts in the game, have it a function of clicking on the Senate building, i.e., it brings up a menu of choices. It would make the game a little more interactive for the player.
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[Zen]

one more:

the speed the senate approves of your plans depends on how many legions you have circling the building. :p

[prof786]

also have rallies and protests and assemblies of the plebs held on the steps of the senate.

[prof786]

or incase of a riot, have the senators running up and down the steps getting all scared and not knowing what to do.

[Keith]

The only problem I see with all the above ideas is that we are probably not going to be building Rome itself. We'll be building cities out in the provinces for the most part. There was only one Senate and it was in Rome. However, if there is a city of Rome scenario, then there's not problem.

[prof786]

but they had senates in c3. if there are none in c4, would the forum then be the seat of govt. if it is, then my post was useless.

[Keith]

Yeah, they did, but I'm hoping for something a little more realistic this time around.

[prof786]

but nobody knows has a good idea of how a typical forum looked liked beisdes the ruins at rome. or how how about do it like the greeks and have assemblies in the open amphitheatre.

[Keith]

I doubt if provincial governors had any local body they had to answer to, especially since, as I believe, most of them were also the general of the local legion. The governors probably held the sole power in their provinces and were only answerable to the Senate and the emperor in Rome.

[Thucydides]

I doubt if provincial governors had any local body they had to answer to, especially since, as I believe, most of them were also the general of the local legion. The governors probably held the sole power in their provinces and were only answerable to the Senate and the emperor in Rome.

Yes, you are right that most provinces would have been governed in a less democratic form that Rome itself. There was only one Senate afterall...

However that said any Governor would have had his advisers and, if they had with any political nounce, the Governor would have also had to balance up the interests of different groups within his "mini empire" as it were. Merchant groups, religious factions and the military would have all had policies they would have liked the Governor to pursue...

and they the Governor may have been also the type to consult with a soothsayer :D

[prof786]

you just love the soothsayer don't ya.
well besides that, perhaps c4 can have the governor's residence (constructed) as the venue for politics besides the forum.

[Keith]

perhaps c4 can have the governor's residence (constructed) as the venue for politics besides the forum.

I could go along with that idea. ;)

[ZeroX000]

i also like the idea of a more involved senate, as well as senate house. there should deffinately be some building that is more directly connected to the city's government.

[Thucydides]

perhaps c4 can have the governor's residence (constructed) as the venue for politics besides the forum.

Yes, thats the best way to go...

[Geminus Portitor]

OK - I am prepared to admit that I can get a bit pedantic about history, but one of the averred aims of the project is to be realistic - so can we not get a little historically accurate.

1) The Senate was a collection of people, not a building. Rome never had a "Senate Building" and the Senate met regularly in different buildings throughout the year. Tall capitals and lots of marble looks pretty but it was not real.

2) The Senate set policy but could not make laws

3) The forum was, in essence, a shopping centre and not a governmental activity at all, although it was common for the courts to be nearby.

4) Depending on the rank of the province and that of the governor sent to it, there were official government buildings for the business of running the province, their name varied.

[prof786]

cool
what's your suggestion for the roman administrative center?

[vic_4]

OK - I am prepared to admit that I can get a bit pedantic about history, but one of the averred aims of the project is to be realistic - so can we not get a little historically accurate.

1) The Senate was a collection of people, not a building. Rome never had a "Senate Building" and the Senate met regularly in different buildings throughout the year. Tall capitals and lots of marble looks pretty but it was not real.

2) The Senate set policy but could not make laws

3) The forum was, in essence, a shopping centre and not a governmental activity at all, although it was common for the courts to be nearby.

4) Depending on the rank of the province and that of the governor sent to it, there were official government buildings for the business of running the province, their name varied.
To be realistic there should be reunions of the tribes and voting of legislation by "comitia".

[prof786]

the patricians in their provinces were very influential in politics i heard
is that true?
and if it, maybe we can work around thaT

[Thucydides]

OK - I am prepared to admit that I can get a bit pedantic about history, but one of the averred aims of the project is to be realistic - so can we not get a little historically accurate.

1) The Senate was a collection of people, not a building. Rome never had a "Senate Building" and the Senate met regularly in different buildings throughout the year. Tall capitals and lots of marble looks pretty but it was not real.

2) The Senate set policy but could not make laws

3) The forum was, in essence, a shopping centre and not a governmental activity at all, although it was common for the courts to be nearby.

4) Depending on the rank of the province and that of the governor sent to it, there were official government buildings for the business of running the province, their name varied.

Very informative points! I don't find them pedantic at all but interesting knowledge. Thank you for posting them Geminus Portitor. :)

[wodinoneeye]

the patricians in their provinces were very influential in politics i heard
is that true?
and if it, maybe we can work around thaT


Patricians didnt 'own' provinces. They(and other classes) could be assigned a post (Proconsul) to run it for a limited term. They could also be assigned a military command to subdue a new province (and steal everything in sight and get rich) . Rich men could also be very influential politically without an official post....

[Geminus Portitor]

cool
what's your suggestion for the roman administrative center?

It depends a little on when the game is situated. The whole idea of the Republic was NOT to have an administrative centre but split authority among the various magistracies so power could not be gathered in one set of hands as during the tyranny of the kings.

More likely though (after all it IS called Caesar) is it will be set in the Imperial era - so the Imperial Palace is the logical alternative.