Developer Diary #9 - Factions #1 - Herding Cats for the Good of the Country

2011-09-11

[In bold, references to gameplay elements present in the game]


The sun was setting on the city of Genoa. A bustling city in the Mediterranean, it was the most important Christian Center of Trade to the west of the Italian peninsula. It fed the markets of both the French and the Imperial domains and as such commanded a very important strategic position…




The Doge of Genoa, His Most Exalted Signore Pietro de Campofregoso was arriving at the Palacio Ducale for the monthly general assembly with the important men of the realm or those who better represented their interests.

The firstborn of a family of influent merchants, Pietro’s rise to power was slow but methodical. His family was rich and influential enough to secure a prestigious position among sectors of the Military and the Aristocracy that 20 years earlier went bankrupt in a daring and failed expedition against Tunisian Berber Pirates. In fact, the Doge took pride in knowing that some of the men he would soon meet again had in fact been ransomed from a life of slavery by his family gold. Payback came 15 years earlier, when in his early thirties, he was elected to the highest political appointment one could hope to achieve in the Merchant Republic of Genoa. Dividends were still being paid by the continual support he received from these men.

With a sure pace and a stern countenance, he allowed himself the slightest smile when reading for the umpteenth time the old axiom in the main entrance to the Palace:

“SI NON ADDO NOS AURUM QUOD NON ADDO NOS LAUS, QUARE UTRIUSQUE?”

“How true”, whispered the Doge as his steps were already in the main marble staircase.




Upon entering the meeting room, a lavishly decorated space with exotic furniture from far away places, silk curtains costing two fortunes and several valuable memorabilia from ages past, Pietro took notice that Judge Enio Novelli was already there, waiting and looking as stupid as ever.
Enio was a childhood friend that was never bright enough to rise to a position of true power, but has always been rich enough to be placed in important places and situations ready to be manipulated by others. “Oh well, here is one of my puppets and a stalwart supporter of the Campofregoso family among the Traders of the realm” thought the Doge.

- Enio, glad to see you this early!
- Greetings Pietro. Are we going to plan the meeting together before the others arrive? You can send word to keep them out and when we finish this between ourselves, I’ll disappear by that door and re enter with them…
- Great idea Enio! It’s really good to have someone as cunning as yourself advising me on running the country.

After a brief exchange with his valet to assure no one else would enter the room for some half hour, the Doge returned, his pieces perfectly set, yet again, in the very particular chess table that was dealing with factions. Enio would side with him and on top of that he would not provide some stupid ideas for the other 11 or so people invited to attend…

- So, Enio what do you have there, my friend?
- Oh! It’s one of the best wines I ever tasted. It’s produced in Parma, but is available in our markets here in Liguria…  A Corsican acquaintance of mine is the middleman for that. Give it a try! I’ll join you.
- Hummmmm… Cinnamon added? Delicious… indeed!
- Yes, it’s a very expensive wine for a very special friendship! Ahahaha! The cinnamon came all over the Med, from Kaffa directly to your mouth! Aahahah!
- Speaking of Kaffa… How go our defences there?
- Luca Vivaldi commands there 2000 Feudal Levies, 1000 Light Infantry and 1000 Light Cavalry. Seems a strong enough position to launch an attack on Crimea!
<sure, an attack on Crimea with 4000 idiots lead by the soon to be retired Vivaldi and with you as comic interlude!>




- Yes, that seems a bold plan, but I think it’s better if we improve our standing in the Center of Trade. How many different trade goods is the province of Kaffa negotiating into?
- Hummm… My father has a representative there… I guess some 14 different trade goods…
- I am planning to increase our merchant houses strength there… how many are there competing?
- 19 at present. Some years ago there were about 40, but the share was too small to be worth the investment.
- Very well, lets build up our position and when we have some more merchants operating there, we will flex our muscles and will fight for a monopoly. Our long Tradition as Merchants certainly can net us a control over 20% of that market, if we ever win the monopoly contest.
- That seems a great idea!
<Of course it is a great idea. It is mine. What a stupid guy. Stupid but useful. Let’s now give him a prize…>
- Enio, I know that among the traders, there has been a request about improving out trade infrastructure here in Liguria… I am willing to fund it.





- It was not a request, it was a demand… implications are different...
- Well, I am willing to fund it if… the traders accept Luca Vivaldi as the Doge’s representative in Kaffa, getting 5% of the profits from our trade operations there.
- Why!? He is a General… He knows nothing about trade!
<…tired of him, Enio naivety today even causes me to feel a small nausea. Of course Vivaldi doesn’t know anything about trade. But he knows about the 5% and that is what maters! Let’s explain the game, again, to this limited brain. I wonder how he does not forget to breathe!>
- That’s a great question you are raising. I’ll tell you my plan…
- Please, do…
- In the game of games, we need to take care of many variables at the same time. What I am telling you is that your – OUR! – merchant friends are going to get the investment they need to improve their earning at home, if they provide me a chance to get rid of an high ranked incompetent that barely knows how to move himself, lest alone an army of men!
- Ah! I see…
- Yes, its bribery! Yes, it’s corruption! My idea is to “retire” him and make place for a less expensive and hopefully better General in the future.
- Hummmm… never thought about that. Genoa is lucky to have you as the Doge. Quite clever! But… I don’t know what I can do with the bigger trading houses…

...

- Well, our meeting is coming to a close. But before that, let me show you here the budget. I am willing to increase a bit the control of the economy by the Traders, at the expense of the Nobility… Did you know those crazy types want Genoa to go against Savoy to prove our superiority? As you might guess, this would be inviting disaster with the Holy Roman Empire…
<As your brother was killed by imperial agents, even you can guess that, isn’t it? Damn, I just want to quit this meeting as soon as possible. So tired of this… this "Judge" tires me for real>
- Yes. My brother was killed by Imperial agents. I hope you remember I was the one mentioning the futility of continuing the investigations on the matter…
<No, cretin. I was the one suggesting you that. You just think you suggested it to the assembly. Only if I was crazy, I would want to defy a Powerful Emperor.>





- An unfortunate happenstance… All this power play is an exhilarating but dangerous game, Enio. Remember, if my position becomes untenable one day, I really want you to take my place. You have all the qualities. Just remember to follow the axiom at the entrance: If it doesn’t get us gold or it doesn’t get us fame, why bother?




<It would be worse for Genoa if by pure chance this creature took the reigns of the country than if Mount Etna erupted in the middle of the city! So tired of all this… lets finish it and hurry up the meeting…>
- Ahah!
- So, Enio, take a look at the budget. First, my plan is to fund at maximum the Army and the Navy. No need to bug them further. As you can see, I am relying heavily on the Traders of the country to control the economy, while upping a bit the military, to get them a bit happier…







- Based on last reports, you seem to have a way to win the heart of the common man…
- I was lucky with that. It seems the latest big hunt we organized for our Holy Roman Empire peers caused good effects at many levels to Commoners who are always ready to feed on the small crumbs we leave behind… Anyway, you can also see that I took care to avoid turning any faction that doesn’t like me, powerful enough to… make a statement. Finally, Minting must continue to support our offensive on Kaffa Center of Trade.

The valet entered the room to signal every dignitary was already waiting. With a swift gesture to hide the last vestiges of the meeting, he took both glasses of wine, one almost empty, the other almost full.

Enio rose from the table and started to open the side door, but turned to face the Doge:
- One must be careful about setting the budget as no ruler has the luxury of adjusting it when he sees fit, only when the occasion arise.
- A wise counsel. My fortune in life has been the presence of a brilliant advisor such as yourself.
<You play very well the role of the useful idiot. You’ll continue to star in that role, Enio.>

…


The 12 men were sited while the Doge wrote slowly some new orders for the budget. The men waited for Pietro silently and attentively and then, with a deliberate movement, the Doge lifted his head.

He looked at the audience and for the first time, it occurred to him something was seriously wrong. He tried to speak but only a spasm came from his throat. He tried to signal for help but the smallest move came at an impossible effort. Inspiring a small bit of air was what remained of normal breathing. He looked at the assembly and in those eternal seconds surprise, fear, consternation, pity, even relief, were blossoming on the faces of the attendees. On all, except one. One face remained expressionless. But his eyes kept Pietro’s dying gaze locked for the first time ever into an embrace of cleverness and malice. A hand, surprisingly wearing a silver ring with the Imperial sign rose to the mouth to allow it to be seen just by the Doge. Acting as the corrupt Judge he ever was, from Enio’s lips came the most final of sentences, this time in a whisper:

- Game Over.




Enjoy,


Ubik