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Time is currently paused, things will resume when the GMs decide to resume them.
FAQ
Index: (Note: * marks items that are particularly important for all new Romans)
-* "Requirements"
-* "No-no's" - What you should not do!
--Introduction--
1*. Roman Legion
2. The State of Rome
3*. Joining Rome/Career Choice (And How to Earn Honor)
4. Army Career
5. Political Career
--Role Playing--
6*. In Character vs Out of Character, Player Characters vs Non Player Characters
7*. Forums
8*. ICQ and mIRC
9. Scenarios
--Website Features--
10. Earning Money - Varran Marketplace
11. The Gods and the Temple
12. Circus Maximus
13. Palatine Baths, Rumors, News and Assassins
14. Gladiators
--Other Features--
15. Ramblings
16. Plaza
--Extra Help---An Active email account is essential. Email is used to get your password and it is used for scenarios, as well as other information updates. (See -9- Scenarios).
-ICQ is the main source of communication throughout Rome, and almost every really active member has it. It is much faster than email, but can not contain large documents. ICQ is very helpful for succeeding in Rome. mIRC is not required; it is a social chat room where you get to know other romans quickly. Anyone who wants to be a leading Roman should have mIRC and stop in to chat whenever possible. (See -8- ICQ and mIRC)
-You must be at least 13 years old to sign up for ICQ. Therefore, you must be at least 13 years old to join the Roman Legion.
-Some basic knowledge of Rome is expected. You don't have to be an expert, but you should know at least some information. (If you are not very familiar with historical Rome and/or the Roman Legion, please read -2- The State of Rome.)
Before we even get started, I would like to go over some things that are very important. They are the "no-no's" or "do-not-do's".
- If you have any questinos that cannot be answered by the FAQs or if you just don't understand something, contact an experienced Roman via ICQ email or IRC. Do NOT post your questions on the Palatine forum!
- Do NOT create multiple characters.
- Do NOT make major political statements on the Palatine forum before you are familiar with the Roman Legion. Some newbies post dozens on statements on the Palatine without having any idea what they are talking about. Please do not do this.
-Do NOT campaign for any political office or military promotion. Also, do NOT campaign in favor of anyone else in an election. The exact rules of campaigning are defined in the rules.
Q) What is the Roman Legion?
A) You really should read this to understand what the RL is about: About Rome
Q) Would I have fun as an active member of the Roman Legion?
A) You might expect to have me answer "Yes of course", but actually this is not always the case. Some people have come into the Roman Legion expecting a high-tech quick action game with new developments daily and plenty of action for all people of all ranks. Other people have joined the Roman Legion expecting a "free form" role playing society in which members can do whatever they want, expressing actions via forum posts (like many ezboard RPG sites). Both of these assumptions are false! The Roman Legion is a structured form role playing game. In the RL you cannot expect everyone to "play nice". If you are a low ranking official and the emperor doesn't like you, he can kill you! And most importantly, the RL requires patience. It takes months to move up in rank, and many people will never reach the upper levels. Low ranking officers and officials really don't have many official tasks. (More discussed in -3- Career Choice) But if you are someone who enjoys realistic role playing, you will have a lot of long term fun in the Roman Legion.
Q) How does the time system work in the Roman Legion?
A) One year RL time is the same as 12 days in real life. Therefore, three Roman Legion years pass in 12 days real time. Elections occur every 2 years, they start in September of the final year of the 2 year term. Elections always occur in even numbered years.
Q) If I am never going to advance beyond Civis Privatus, what are the basics even I must follow?
A) Everyone is expected to participate in the game's features and vote when elections come around once every three "years". (See above for years). In reality there are many inactives who ignore these rules, but if you want to be a real member then you should follow them.
Q) Do I have to know a lot about Roman History to be a member of the RL?
A) No, but being familiar with Roman history certainly helps. Remember that the first century BC was a very different world from our society today. Of course the RL reflects the fact that we are all living in the 21st century, but we try to be moderately realistic. If you know absolutely nothing about history you might have some trouble getting adjusted to the role play. Who knows... maybe you'll learn some Roman history outside of World Civ class! (If you are not very familiar with historical Rome and/or the Roman Legion, it is useful to read -2- The State of Rome.)
Q) What is the situation in Rome? What is the background?
A) The Roman Legion is a quasi-historical gaming society. It is based on ancient Rome. It is always good for Roman Legion members to have some knowledge of Roman history. However, if you read the "Roman Histories" you will see that the histories of 'this' Rome and the real Rome diverge at the end of the 2nd Century BC. Hence, Romulus and Remus and Cincinatus are historical figures in 'this' Rome while Julius Caesar is not. (Caesar lived in the 1st Century BC). The 'current' Rome is similar to the Roman empire in the early Imperial era, but the political situation and geography are somewhat different. (For example, historically Rome had control over parts of Asia Minor by the year 100 BC. But in 'this' Rome, Greece is still ruled by Macedon through most of the 1st Century BC). A brief political outline will be described below. If you want to know more about the recent history of 'this' Rome, go to the "Roman Histories" page and read the history of the current Rome and the scenarios archive.
Q) What do the various ranks mean?
A) The rank system used is of course based on historical Roman society. There are some minor differences in titles that might be noticed. If you want a full description of the ranks please read the rules section.
Q) What does the Emperor do?
A) He is the leader of the Roman state and military. The Emperor, combining a number of previous Republican magistracies and several extraordinary powers in his person, is the de facto master of the Empire. He sets military policy and oversees the treasury. His Tribunician powers allow him to veto the actions of lesser officials and the Senate. Of course, the emperor must depend on loyal deputies to execute his commands throughout the empire. An Emperor should generally respect the Consuls and Senate. In theory, the Roman state is still under the power of the Senatus Populus-Que Romanus- the Senate and People of Rome. Despite these restraints, it is important to remember that the emperor is very powerful. It is risky for even a high ranking official to challenge him, while it is very foolish and completely unrealistic for a 20 year old newcomer to even consider publically challenging him. Remember to roleplay your rank!
Q) Why is there a Senate if there is an emperor? Doesn't the Senate mean that Rome is a Republic? Don't they contradict?
A) If you know Roman history then you will know that the Senate's existence was not limited to the Republican era. In fact, the Senate continued to meet throughout the entire history of the Roman empire. This is reflected in the Roman Legion. The introduction of the "Principate" (the period of Rome under the Emperors) decreased the power of the Senate. However, the Senate retained a great deal of theoretical and pratical power. The Senate's authority is the strongest in affairs relating to the city of Rome, Italia and the Senatorial provinces.
Q) If the emperor is the leader of Rome then how can people go against him?
A) The emperor can be challenged by powerful and high ranking officers and politicians... sometimes leading to a civil war. The current Rome has gone through several civil wars... the first civil war led to the overthrow of a dictator and the coronation of the first emperor Antoninus Maxus. The second civil war was an attempt by the powerful Praetor Marius Aelius to overthrow Emperor Antoninus. This civil war eventually ended with a victory for Antoninus and the death of Marius. (You can read about these civil wars and others in the scenario achieves). These civil wars are of course important parts of the RL, but they are very rare. Only the highest ranking military leaders or politicians could ever aspire to lead a rebellion. Some inexperienced new Romans have tried to launch one-man revolutions. DON'T! This is unrealistic and will only result in your execution. Also you must always respect your superiors, including but not limited to the emperor. Speaking out against the Legatus Imperatoris, for example, will usually lead to your execution.
Q) So can I as a low ranking Roman speak to the emperor? Or do I have to go through some "chain of command"?
A) In Rome there is a chain of command - make sure you follow it! The chain of command is a resourceful and respectful way to talk to your superiors. You don't simply approach the emperor and ask him something. Youll have to take it to your superior and they'll take it to their superiors, etc. The chain of command is mostly used in the military but should still be used everywhere. When the message arrives to the emperor, wait until he contacts you, do not contact him. You can talk to him OOC: but IC is disrespectful, unless you are an official with imperium (see below) or a leading Senator. The chain of command should be followed at all times. If you do not have a general or a higher ranking officer commanding you you may go one rank higher. For example, if a Tribune in a legion does not have a PC ("player character) then he may go to the Proconsular Legate.
Q) Doesn't this chain of command ruin all the fun?
A) Not at all! You can chat with anyone ooc. In the mIRC ooc chat room, for example, we all gather to discuss literally anything. We've talked about the Roman Legion, history, sports, TV shows, funny websites etc. The chain of command is designed to make IC Rome more realistic. (For more information on IC and OOC, see -6- In Character vs Out of Character)
Q) What is imperium?
A) Imperium, in the government context, refers to the authority of a magistrate to act with the full executive authority of the state. In historical Rome, an official with imperium generally had the authority to command armies, order executions, and conduct diplomacy with foreign powers. Officials with imperium could also delegate this authority under certain conditions. The Consuls and Proconsuls have the powers of imperium; their offices have held these powers long before the era of the Emperors. Now, during the Principate, the Emperor, as "Supreme Proconsul", holds imperium over almost every legion and many of the provinces. The Emperor delegates his imperium to the Praetorian Prefect, the Magister Militum, and the Proconsular Legates. Therefore, the Emperor, Consuls, Proconsuls, Praetorian Prefect, Magister Militum, and Proconsular Legates are all officials with some degree of imperium.
3. JOINING ROME/CAREER CHOICE (Plus Honor information)
Q) How do I promote myself?
A) Log in, go to the Avatine Hill Page, and click on "Promotions". You will then be able to accept any available promotions. Anyone can be promoted to Adiuvator or Civis Privatus. Further promotions require that you meet certain criteria.
Q) What are my choices?
A) If you want to go into politics or simply live as a private citizen, promote yourself to Civis Privatus. If you decide to seek political office, this will begin your career. If you want to go into the army, promote yourself to Adiuvator. Finally, if you want to become a priest, you must first advance to Civis Privatus.
Q) The exciting army must be so much more fun than dull politics, right?
A) WRONG! In fact the opposite is often true. If you want to go into the army then you must have patience, patience, and more patience. (Check out -4- Army Career and -5- Political Career for more specific information on what each career requires.) Briefly I will describe why the army requires more patience than politics (although both require patience.) If you are in the army there is very little you can do until you reach the rank of Legate. And even then, you are under the authority of your Proconsular Legate. There is no guarantee that you will ever be promoted beyond Tribune! The emperor promotes Tribunes to Legate as he sees fit. You could spend years as an active Tribune and never be promoted! In politics you must also wait to advance through the ranks, but most active politicians can almost always be elected to the Senate within a few *years* of joining. (Roman Legion year is the same as 10 days in real life.) So the army can be a great career but it is rarely very *exciting*, if that is what you're after.
Q) What do the priests/Oracles do?
A) The Oracles communicate with the gods and relay their wishes to the Senate and emperor. The priests have little real authority but an active priest can always help write religious-based proposals for the Senate, and he/she can speak on the Palatine and participate in the other features. This feature is subject to change in the near future.
Q) Why will I need honor?
A) A full profile of various honor-earning methods can be found on the popup. As a new Roman you will not need to worry about honor/prestige until you are ready to promote yourself to Quaestor (in politics) or Tribune (in the army). In order to make these promotions you must earn two honor points. Fortunately there is one simple way to do this: wait until the elections. Elections occur about once every two RL years (once every 24 days real time). If you vote for the Senators and Aediles you will earn the two honor required. This will be enough to start your character on the road to success.
Q) What are the other ways of earning honor?
A) Read more in this guide and the rules. The operatunities for earning honor are limited in the early years of your career. A good scenario can earn some honor. You may also want to seek out an older and more experienced Roman as a "patron". He can give you valuable advice and help you on the start of your career.
Q) I start as a Adiuvator. What do I do?
A) You are always welcome to use the various site features and participate in the forum discussions. Also you should be active on IRC and ICQ.
Q) What? No military jobs? Don't I get to command troops or something?
A) Sorry, but no. As Adiuvator, you represent a young patrician without any official military appointment. You should immediately contact the legate of your legion or an active tribune and ask if you can be of service. Do not post on the Palatine forum asking for a job.
Q) So as an Tribune what do I do?
A) As an Tribune you can play a role in your legion but you must stay within the Roman command structure. Contact your Legate. He might be willing to take advise from you, or he might assign you certain tasks. Also an officer can contribute through scenarios. (See -9- Scenarios) But it is always important to remember that your rank is still low. Don't post a complex battle plan on the Palatine and expect the Emperor or Proconsular Legates to pay attention to it. (See question "So can I as a..." in -2- The State of Rome for more information on the chain of command.)
Q) I am not being promoted to Legate. Why not?
A) Sorry but this is the way that Rome works. You must be very patient. If you want the emperor to take notice, you should be active in as many ways as possible. But most importantly, you should not "campaign" for a a rank in any way. Do not post on the Palatine asking the emperor to promote you, and do not send the emperor an email begging for a promotion. Doing either of these things will probably ruin your chances for a generalship.
Q) Once I am a Legate what do I do?
A) By the time you have been promoted to legate of a legion you should be familiar enough with Rome to know what to do. A legate is able to actually "command his troops" in battle by sending in scenarios. (See -9- Scenarios) But remember, you are still completely under the command of the Proconsular Legate and emperor. As time goes on you might become a senior general and have a greater degree of power and influence over your troops.
Q) If more people join the army wouldn't that make Rome stronger?
A) Remember, the PC Romans in the army comprise only a tiny fraction of the army's total strength. One extra centurion in an army of 100,000+ is not going to make any difference. It is always important to remember this. (See -6- IC vs OOC, PC vs NPCs for more information).
Q) I am a Civis Privatus. Now what do I do?
A) An civis privatus is simply a private citizen. You have no real duties. However, you should follow the same advise that I offered to adiuvators. Take advantage of the Roman Legion's many features (the Varran Market, the forums etc.) Also you should begin paying attention to the political situation in Rome. Read the Senate forum from time to time and if you have a proposal or idea for the Senate notify a Aedile. When elections come around you should vote. At this point you will have enough honor to advance to Quaestor.
Q) Now I am a Quaestor. What do I do?
A) A Quaestor is a junior patrician official in the Roman government. Once you feel that you are ready to hold an elected office, you can enter a ballot. (It is a good idea to run for Aedile if you have not had any previous experience in the Senate). Also a Quaestor can sometimes be assigned special tasks by an Aedile, Senator or Consul. (For example, a mission to a province). You can contact an Aedile for more information.
Q) I am running for the rank of Aedile and want to increase my chances for election. What can I do?
A) As stated in the "No-no's" section, you should NOT campaign for a position. You can increase your chances for election by being active on the Palatine forum, IQC and mIRC.
Q) I am a Aedile. Now what do I do?
A) Congratulations on your election! At this point you are able to post in the Senate forum. You can propose bills and participate in debates. For more information, contact a Senator or a Consul.
6. IN CHARACTER VS OUT OF CHARACTER, PLAYER CHARACTERS VS NON PLAYER CHARACTERS
Q) What is the difference between "In Character" and "Out of Character"?
A) "In Character" (refered to as IC) is when you are actually roleplaying your character. Speaking on the Palatine forum is usually IC, unless you mark your post as OOC. Everything in scenarios is IC. Chatting in the IC chatroom of mIRC (See -8- ICQ and mIRC) is of course In Character. And IQC discussion can be IC if you want. "Out of Character" (refered to as OOC) is when you are discussing the game but are not speaking as your character. For example, asking a question about the system is OOC.
Q) Will I be executed for anything I say OOC?
A) No. The emperor can only execute you for something you say In Character. However it is important to note that you can be banned or otherwise punished for being extremely rude or otherwise breaking rules even if you were speaking OOC. Banning is an OOC punishment while execution is only IC.
Q) What is the difference between Player Characters and Non Player Characters?
A) Player Characters (known as PCs) are characters who are controlled by other humans. Everyone listed on the Avatine Hill is a PC. PCs represent the wealthiest and most powerful members of the patrician families in ancient Rome. It is important to remember that PCs only make up a tiny fraction of the total Roman population. Non Player Characters (NPCs) are people who exist in Rome and the world but are not directly controlled by anyone. NPCs include in some cases your wife and children. They sometimes include NPC Legates and Governors. They include the thousands of civil servants and common soldiers who run the empire. They include the millions of common citizens and subjects of the Roman Empire. They include the leaders and people of foreign nations and tribes.
Q) So who does control NPCs?
A) The Game Master usually controls NPCs. You can also control NPCs to a limited degree depending on your rank. For example, a General can interact with his troops or a patrician can give orders to his slaves in scenarios. A Proconsular Legate can command entire armies of NPC troops.
Q) What is the Palatine Forum?
A) The Palatine forum is a very important part of the Roman Legion. It is the place where any person of any rank can discuss OOC or IC matters.
Q) So can I speak out against the Emperor or Legatus Imperatoris on the Palatine?
A) If you speak out against any high ranking official IC on the Palatine you will probably be executed or punished in some way. The Palatine is a place for all Romans but you must still follow the social structure.
Q) Can I say anything I want OOC?
A) Not anything... you should not ask questions about the game system. Otherwise you should use common sense when deciding if something OOC is appropriate for the Palatine.
Q) Why should I bother reading the posts on the Palatine forum?
A) If you want to be active in the RL, one of the best ways to stay updated is by reading the Palatine forum.
Q) I can't post on the Senate forum. Why not?
A) Only Aediles, Senators, Consuls, Proconsuls, Proconsular Legates, the Magister Militum, the Legatus Imperatoris, and the Emperor can post on the Palatine forum.
Q) So if I am not of one of those ranks, I shouldn't bother reading the Senate forum?
A) That is not true. You should read the Senate forum posts if you want to become active in politics.
Q) How can I get ICQ?
A) You can download ICQ from the ICQ site.
Q) What is ICQ? How do I use it?
A) ICQ is the prime communication throughout Rome, almost every really active member has it. It is much faster than email, but can not contain large documents. ICQ is very helpful for succeeding in Rome. On ICQ you must also change your name to your Roman Name; for example the First Name Box should be your first name, and your last name should be [RL]Last Name, and your Nick name should be your full Roman Name or an abbreviation of your fathers name. For Example Nick Name should be T. Augustus Servo or Tomidius Augustus Servo. Your first name and last name should be: Augustus [RL]Servo.
Q) Can I speak OOC or IC in IQC?
A) Either is possible. But remember, you should not speak directly IC to a Roman who far outranks your character.
Q) How do I get mIRC?
A) You can download mIRC from the mIRC site
Q) What are the servers/channels?
A) The server is "irc.shadowfire.org" and the Roman Legion In Character channel is "#romanlegion-ic", and the OOC channel is "#romanlegion".
Q) What rules apply to mIRC?
A) mIRC goes by the same rules as the Palatine forums. In this case, OOC and IC are divided by channels.
Q) What are scenarios?
A) Scenarios are the roots of Roman Legion Role Play. All major events (battles, riots, purges, rebellions and Imperial coronations) are recorded in scenarios. Also some elements in everyday life can be found in scenarios.
Q) Can I submit scenarios?
A) Yes. Any Roman can submit scenarios, and all Romans are encouraged to do so. Your scenarios will not always be accepted and made "official", but don't allow this to discourage you.
Q) How do I submit a scenario?
A) Email it to SecretScenarios@yahoo.com
Q) How do I write scenarios?
A) There is no one way to write a scenario. You can ask an older member for advise on this issue. Before writing a scenario, you should read some old scenarios (which can be found in the Roman Histories Scenarios Archive) to get some hints. Also, the GMs will soon provide a guide for writing scenarios.
10. EARNING MONEY - VARRAN MARKETPLACE
Q) How do I earn money?
A) There are multiple ways to earn money. You can earn money from official wages, profits from marketplace holdings, winnings from the chariot races or profits from a gladiator. But the most reliable method of earning money is by purchasing marketplace industries, farms etc.
Q) I want to buy a domus and fine cloths and a gladiator. Isn't that a good idea?
A) I would advise very strongly against doing this! Too many new Romans spend all of their money on luxury items and gladiators and end up with no money. Remember that you must pay extra taxes for all luxury items. You should not buy more things than you can support. I would advise that every new Roman buy at least one money-making investment (fruit farm, wheat farm, bakery etc) before buying anything else. Wait until you are fairly wealthy before making major investments in luxury items.
Q) What role do the gods play in Rome? What does their "favor" mean?
A) The Roman Legion uses seven major Roman gods: Jove (aka Jupiter) - the King, Mars - God of War, Neptune - God of the Sea, Venus - Goddess of Love, Ceres - Goddess of Agriculture, Mercury - God of Commerce and Travel. There are two types of favor that concern you. The first is the gods' personal favors towards you. The second concerns the gods' favor towards Rome in general.
Q) How do I increase the gods' favors towards me?
A) You can pray to increase the gods' favors, costing absolutely nothing. Or you can donate sums of money to each god. Both prayer and donation takes place in the Temple of Jove.
Q) How can I help increase the gods' favors towards Rome?
A) Sponser a chariot to one or more of the gods in the Circus Maximus.
Q) Why good does the "gods' favor" do?
A) The benefits of being favored by the gods are often not noticable. However, it is important. Benefits are mysterious.
Q) Why should I bother sponsering a chariot in the Circus Maximus?
A) Sponsering a chariot to a specific god helps increase the gods' favor of Rome. Also, there is a decent chance that you could win a fine profit.
13. PALATINE BATHS, RUMORS, NEWS AND ASSASSINS
Q) What are the "bathing" function of the Palatine Baths?
A) You can "bathe" or "get a message" for a small fee... this improves your health.
Q) Where do the rumors come from? Are they accurate or unreliable? What about the news?
A) Rumors are rumors. They are not always true, but sometimes they can provide interesting views into the dark corners of Rome. The News menu is the same as the Rumors, but items in the News are likely more accurate. At any rate, it is always more "official". Anyway can submit a rumor or news. (Email it to SecretScenarios@yahoo.com)
Q) There is an assassins menu. Does this mean that I can kill anyone I want just by paying a few thousand c?
A) The assassin menu can be used to attempt to kill people you don't like. The more you pay, the better your chances of success. But be warned! High ranking Romans are never killed by a simple "Baths" assassin, even if you pay 10,000c. And trying to send an assassin against the Emperor will almost end in a failure. Finally, there is a small chance that you will be caught (especially if your assassin is aimed at someone of a very high rank). A scenario is the best method for attempting to kill a senior Roman.
Q) Why do I need a gladiator?
A) This is a common question that many new Romans ask. The answer is... You Don't! There is no need to buy a gladiator. (Q Marcus Agrippa for example has never owned a gladiator). If you have extra cash and you want to employ a unique way to earn money, a gladiator might be worth buying.
Q) So how much money can I earn with a gladiator?
A) It depends on how well he performs in the arena.
Q) I'm trying to buy a gladiator but there aren't any new gladiators available to buy! Help me!
A) The admin creates new gladiators periodically. You can wait. Please do NOT post "I need a gladiator" on the Palatine forum. Just have some patience.
Q) Does the Ramblings forum have anything to do with the Roman Legion roleplaying?
A) No. Ramblings is a forum exclusively for ooc chat. Unlike the Palatine, you are welcome to post issues on Ramblings that have nothing to do with Rome.
Q) Can the emperor execute me for something I say on Ramblings?
A) Of course not. It is 100% ooc.
Q) What is the purpose of the Plaza?
A) It is a place for anyone in the Roman Legion to post links to personal websites.
