Prestige

[Eldargard]

For some reason the Prestige system, as I understand it, seems backwards to me. As it stands, one gains prestige primarily through victories in battle. I am sure there are other ways, but victory in battle seems to be the main way. Prestige is then used to determine ones eligibility for positions. It does not make much sense to me. I get the 'you have to earn it' mentality, but convincing a person in power or group of voters is earning it in my opinion.

It seems to me that holding positions of power should grant prestige, not require it. In my opinion, it really should be solely up to the lord/duke/king/voters to determine who holds what position. If one is put into a position of power it is because they earned that position by winning the election or convincing their betters to make an appoint. This effort should be reflected by giving the character prestige.  Currently holding a position would grand a certain amount of prestige while past positions grant lesser amounts of prestige. So being king results in a higher prestige than having been king. I would love to see players earn prestige for any appointments of vice-marshal and up varying based on the position. Keep letting characters earn prestige via victories in battle, but add in another path.

What do you think?

[Anaris]

For some reason the Prestige system, as I understand it, seems backwards to me. As it stands, one gains prestige primarily through victories in battle. I am sure there are other ways, but victory in battle seems to be the main way. Prestige is then used to determine ones eligibility for positions. It does not make much sense to me. I get the 'you have to earn it' mentality, but convincing a person in power or group of voters is earning it in my opinion.

It seems to me that holding positions of power should grant prestige, not require it. In my opinion, it really should be solely up to the lord/duke/king/voters to determine who holds what position. If one is put into a position of power it is because they earned that position by winning the election or convincing their betters to make an appoint. This effort should be reflected by giving the character prestige.  Currently holding a position would grand a certain amount of prestige while past positions grant lesser amounts of prestige. So being king results in a higher prestige than having been king. I would love to see players earn prestige for any appointments of vice-marshal and up varying based on the position. Keep letting characters earn prestige via victories in battle, but add in another path.

What do you think?

I could see adding a very slow method of accruing prestige through holding a position, but the requirements are important.

For one thing, they do at least slow down people who would otherwise have a Ruler/Duke/Margrave character die, create a new character, and get instantly put back in all three positions.

[Eldargard]

For one thing, they do at least slow down people who would otherwise have a Ruler/Duke/Margrave character die, create a new character, and get instantly put back in all three positions.

That is a good point. Though I do wish there were an alternate method of preventing such situations. It really sucks that the progression of new characters has to be artificially slowed down just to keep something like this from happening. I honestly would never support such a thing unless my character genuinely believed that this new character was the best person for the position(s). A nagging part of my brain keeps saying "Why try to stop them? If a realm goes along with such a thing, what do I care?" I am sure there is good reason to think otherwise but the whisperings are still there, in the back of my mind.

[Kai]

Even in modern day one of the important criteria for military promotion, even to desk and management jobs, is combat experience.

[Eldargard]

Yes and no. It all depends on the country, culture, sector (civilian or military) and more. If your kingdom only want's war veterans for Dukes, then do not appoint any Dukes who lack that experience. I see no reason, aside fro the potential abuse mentioned by Anaris, to have the game force it on everyone. In fact, my proposal does not remove prestige gained in war, it only suggests an alternative route in addition to the traditional one. Let the characters decide who is qualified for what positions. Heck, it would be fun to have a Duke manipulate a new character into power while gaining that players graces. A puppet king. I am just not a big fan of how much the game restricts characters with H/P with the nearly the only way of gaining either is fighting. I just wish I could think of a solution for the abuse Anaris presented that does not involve such seemingly arbitrary restrictions.

[vonGenf]

Even in modern day one of the important criteria for military promotion, even to desk and management jobs, is combat experience.

The feudal hierarchy is not a military hierarchy. In ancient times, age was not a criteria for titles: the only criteria was for your father to be dead.

[anoobowner]

I don't think it's a major impediment, except for a hardcore player with a new character.

I was appointed lord on two of my characters, one with 2 prestige through election and the other 3 with appointment. You can pretty much get that by fighting monsters once or twice; sometimes even the same monsters in two if the group is big enough.

When it comes to rulership positions, general spots, and more important roles I think it's good to have a barrier; it protects long-established characters from active younglings seizing their positions out of waiting or turn--at least for a little while.

[Shizzle]

I do think holding a position should yield some prestige, though perhaps a more seamless way to integrate this is to follow the set path of offering a chance at H/P for certain actions you can take. Just add a 30% H/P gain chance for diplomacy change, treaty signing and Duke appointments for the Ruler, and similar stuff for the other positions.

These actions clearly show the actual influence of the position, and thus grant prestige, and as an in-game benefit it incites to be more active.