The Campaign Builder's Guild

Yes, that 900gp is all wealth, not just liquid assets.

And the 5sp thing is preposterous, as 99% of the population will have a lower cap of whatever they can make with their +3 profession check (or a fixed income around that value for employed workers). This makes gold actually a fairly fluid thing. There's a LOT of it sloshing about in the economy.

As far as your metropolis, you'll also need to figure that the size of the city will both limit the effectiveness of public works projects, and assist in the bleeding off of that wealth (the adventurers have to be getting it from somewhere). Your city is going to be at least three square miles in size (larger, if you give the middle class more modern land allowances, and the noblemen urban estates). That's a lot of area for a city to police, as well as the farmland that's feeding this monster.

I agree with the above posters; either this society will quickly become a beacon of standard of living for people through magic, or it'll be a crater. The amount of money flowing around and the cost of mass public works through magic are too high and too low, respectively. The only thing that could stop that, I feel, is if the city existed in a permanent state of war. Either against intelligent outsiders, or organized crime, or hordes of beasts. SOMETHING has to be bleeding off enough wealth and resources that the society never quite manages to sock enough away to finish that water system, or the everburning flame streetlamps, or the endless food delivery services.

That is, if you want to maintain the classical D&D feel.

What ending? There was no ending.

And it's a pity thy never made a sequel to the Matrix.

[ic=Bernardo: Speech to the Senate]
Esteemed Senators.

I must say I like our new home. It is perhaps not as bustling as one would like it, but such is the nature of movements of entire seats of government. We sit now on the ancient forum and, as is traditional for my first speech of the new season, I come to talk about money. *pause for laughter* The forum could be used as a marketplace once more. With its central location and open ground, it would make an ideal spot. If we charge a small fee for every market day from the stall owners, it will make a nice addition to our coffers, promote business, and not anger the already annoyed citizenry.

Further, there is room here to expand. I propose we either fund the construction of or repurpose a nearby building for the courthouse, in addition to the Lateran. Further, we end the practice of holding court wherever we please. Since we have no extant copy of the roman law, I will be sending out messengers and couriers to bring back legal systems from across the world, in addition to finding a copy of the Corpus Juris Civilis. Rome will once again be the legal forefront of the world.[/ic]

[ic=Message/Letter to my renters]
Esteemed friend,

Though you have not been paying rent to me for long, I wish for you to know whom it is that owns the land you rent. I am Bernardo DiFontane, and I would be pleased to meet you in person at [time] and [place] to discuss your work. In celebration of the holy season, I will also be continuing your rent holiday throughout the Holy Season. One has much more important things on their mind than paying rent in this time of the year.[/ic]

[ooc=ORDERS]
-Talk to all my renters. For the poorer ones, and peasants, I do this in groups of maybe 20-30 at dinners. I meet with the wealthiest, most prosperous of my renters in person, one on one, and discuss their rent situation and business. Though I got the land shadily, I want to make sure it's run efficiently and cleanly under my administration. Spend nothing large enough to register on the wealth scale for this.
-Survey Gregoriopolis, and talk to the locals, for the areas that seem least hit by Malaria during the summer. Find an unoccupied area near the salt flats that meets these criteria and build and claim a salt farm with the living quarters on that site. Recruit disenfranchised people of Rome to travel and work there.
-Send my men to Bologna, Genoa, Venice, as well as Paris, London, and Constantinople to find and acquire copies of any legal code their courts, libraries, or monasteries may contain. While they're at it, have them feel out the cities for large demands that Rome may be able to fill at some point in the future.
[/ooc]

[ic= Bernardo's Reply to Calafatus]
My only objection to Netunno is the distance. We would need to rebuild the highway, and defend it. I am in favor of Gregoriopolis and Portus, simply from a logistical standpoint. While true, malaria can strike there, we need only to look at the city of Venice to show what sort of power mankind has on the world. Draining the marshes is a distinct, if long-term goal.

And the goods can be transferred to barges and towed up the Tiber from either of those cities.[/ic]

There's a place called Ostia, which was Rome's real-life port city. I can't seem to find it on the map, but that would be the ideal spot.

Quote from: Light DragonRegarding a "standing" army- would it be a good idea to pursue a sort of army that is a labour force for the Senate. That is, they contract out for construction for Equites and Senators in the Winter and Spring, (self supporting) ; and they fight in the Summer and Autumn and are "on call" at other times. That solves some of the problem of supporting them and it makes them "semi-professional".

In historical times, the Legions were also combat engineers. They would lay roads along their marching route, build fortresses, etcetera. If we geared them that way, with a more urban approach (repair, medieval construction), we would have a labor force that also fought.

Quote from: Nomadic
[ic=Speech to the Lesser Senate]
My lot is with the consuls, I will not see Rome shed more blood yet so near to the recent carnage. Let us accept the gracious offer of Tre Fontane, let us look to our friends in Rieti and Gregoriopolis, let us seek out yet more allies, and most importantly let Rome look now to her own affairs. There will be blood spilling soon enough. The city needs the power to stand on its own, the tiber will not survive a day under besiegement and we have little in the way of food stores. Let the aqueduct be repaired, let food be stored against the coming doom. The men must be ready with sword and bow yes but let they be made ready towards the defense of their homes, not pointless battles beyond our walls. We must look to the defense of Rome first! There will be time to expand our influence and to find retribution in those who wronged us, but it must wait for first we must survive the hammer of Frederick!
[/ic]

[ic=Response]
Let not my word be misconstrued; I don't seek warfare, I seek defense. But, in addition to the mobs and the militia who will, no doubt, prove themselves again, why not raise a professional legion - updated, modern, and salaried - to act as their anchor? Provide for defense first and, should the need arise, offense at a later date.

Quote from: Light Dragon
Yes I did. I didn't mean for my statement to seem rude? I am sorry if it did. I just wanted to make sure that you'd see it so you could have the opportunity to adjust if you wished. I was trying to be helpful. So I can improve in the future, what wording would you suggest I make?

Sorry, I was being a bit curt too. Thanks for the heads up, and my suggestion would be to not phrase it as a question, but as a suggestion. Like 'You might want to edit that, Stargate' or something like that. And, as much as I hate their overuse, a :P or a ;) goes a long way in internet speak to convey tone.

Quote from: Light Dragon
Did you notice that Tre Fontaine capitulated to Rome in Llum's post below yours? :o.

Did you notice that I posted BEFORE the capitulation? I've since fixed it.

[ic=Reply to Basile, in front of the Lesser Senate]
This is republic, Basile, not dictatorship. Though you be a consul, our word still carries weight. What good is fresh water if we are once again under the thumb of the Pope? Water will not stop invading armies! Have you forgotten the River Tiber? That will do for now. Let the walls be erected once more!

And you bring my words out of context. I do not propose that we levy the fifteen legions of Rome at her height, but the single, solitary legion that Rome began with. We Italians have the distinction of fielding the first truly professional army in history. I say we do it again. I ask that they devote their lives, not to war, but to ensure that others need not continually abandon their jobs (which fuel our economy) to pick up a cudgel they haven't practiced with![/ic]

[ic= Bernardo: A Speech to the consiliarii]
You are fools.

The entire might of the German is moving against us, and you speak of further warmongering? Cities once part of the Roman Heartland have banded together in fear of us! The ancient Rome thrived on trade and diplomacy, not addle-headed warfare. And, even in war, we had legions. What have we now?

Little more than rabble.

I applaud the Consul's decision to heed my suggestion and begin enforcing law in the city. I further demand that the ancient fines be levied, and that money go directly to the repair of the walls and the training of a proper Roman Legion for use in the coming siege. Securing additional lands will do nothing, as we have no power to hold what we take. Instead, all it will do is exhaust our people, and make us ripe for harvest when the reapers of the Germans come.

Nevertheless, as I am no less of a Roman than you, I will do my part to dissuade the pope from having allies in the vicinity.[/ic]

[ic=Letter to Il Signore]
The time has come to choose a side. Though some of the senate seem hell-bent on throwing us off the cliff to war, I do not wish that. We need allies, and you would do well as one. You, and everyone like you, throwing in with Rome both weakens Frederick and strengthens us.

We need a league of our own. Perhaps with your help, working together, we might be able to forge one in time to save the New Republic.[/ic]

[ooc]
-Volunteer my time as a magistrate, focusing on larger cases, and establishing a name amongst the people as strict but fair.
-Assemble my men, and begin a march for the sea. Following the river, we present every town that supports the Pope with two options; Support Rome openly, or be risked destruction when the battles come. This begins with Tre Fontane, where I will lead the army in PEACEFUL pilgrimage and prayer (obviously, with their capitulation, the choice has already been made). The ideal ending point is Gregoriopolis. The idea is for publicity, not carnage; this should be fast, and we will avoid a battle. Unless the arrests can be done with minimum bloodshed, we'll simply note the town and move on.
-In addition, my men collect any back due rents from absentee, non-negotiating landlords, and replace the overseers of that land with my own loyal men (assuming the current overseers mind a change in ownership). If asked, I am invoking my right as a magistrate to claim the owners missing in their duties, and taking over said ownership of the land in absentia. I will also collect perhaps half the rent they owe, being generous and a good landlord.
-If I have the men and resources at the end of the run, I take ownership of unworked salt flats, and get those running.
-As the lands I'm currently administering have not paid their previous autumn's taxes, they are due to pay more next year. I make this known to them now, so that they won't be surprised come Fall.

-All of the above cost money, and I don't want to spend more than three wealth on the whole endeavor (I am aware this will put me under; I'm taking a loan if need be.
[/ic]

Quote from: Light Dragon
I was waiting for stargate to reply to me, but seeing as how Llum has a placeholder for Tre Fontaine above:

>.<

I completely missed it!


[ic=Reply to Manzinni]
Tre Fontane is more than a monastery, it is my home. That they throw in with the pope is an annoyance, and an insult. If we can negotiate further a declaration from them supporting us, or a condemnation of the pope's misdeeds and failings, then we might be on to something. I have a vested interest in their protection, as they are the centerpiece of my hometown. They need not fear their cardinal as long as I am alive, at least... Militarily.

If we can squeeze that from them as well, the better. However, I do like the proposal. As I am the one proposing the notion, I would like to accompany Fortis into the negotiation chamber.
[/ic]

Quote from: Elemental_Elf
As for our "Good Quality", I think religious tourism is a good call but it will require a lot of effort to a) make the roads leading to Rome safer than they are (Italy is littered with Bandits) and (b) we must be hesitant about monetizing Religion for we expelled the Pope and he has the power to excommunicate all of us, thereby giving a just cause for all the wolves that surround us to lunge. :(

Or perhaps merely the highway to the nearest port city. And regarding the religion bit, we can always throw in with the Eastern Orthodox (who might be... interested... in getting rome back under a proper bishop) or try and kickstart the reformation.

Though both of those would be exceedingly difficult.

Well, going back to the original Roman Empire, Rome didn't do anything except act as a political and cultural hub.

If we brought back the Colosseum, the theaters, the chapels... Managed to disentangle ourselves from the current bit of bad blood... I could also see us becoming the Medieval/Renaissance New York City, cultural hub of the world and de facto arbiter in national disputes.

Quote from: Light Dragon
[ic=Private to DiFontaine]
Although our policies were at loggerheads in regards to taxation, I do look forward to supporting you in the future when a tax is more appropriate. You are a good man for Rome and I look forward to working with you on our areas of common interest. The more dialogue we have in the future I think, the closer we can grow together. I invite you to one of my get-togethers, if you would like to join. There will be wine, song and singing inebriated women.

Also,  I too believe that Rome should expand its influence. There may be another way to enter Tre Fontaine without blood. I think there is much to discuss this possibility, if you would like.
[/ic]

[ic=Reply to Manzinni, from Bernardo]
I admit I am disappointed at your lack of such support when the elections were being held. Still, who am I to overlook the offer of drunken reveling?

As I said in the consul chambers, I would do anything in my power to enter Tre Fontaine as a pilgrim and friend rather than at the head of an army. I will leave that to Fortis for the time being. I believe the key to that lies in the Abbot. Perhaps we should continue this at your home?[/ic]

[ic= Response letter to Fortis Calafatus]
Quite naturally. We are in agreement on the matters of the aqueduct, and the need to secure our own city. However, to do that, one must first establish a solid basis of fund with which to do those things. By supporting me, those things you list will be completed as soon as is possible.[/ic]

[ic=Response to Vittorio, from Bernardo]
You misunderstand this role. I talk not of murders or thefts or assaults. I speak of breach of contract, petty crime, wagon-placing violations, public indecency and littering. A host of crimes which can be solved and handled with judges and a number of small fines.

I believe there are those not of the Senate with the inclination, drive, and right-mindedness to handle this among the citizens of Rome. And, what better time to create new jobs than in the winter, when trade is low and many desire employment?

The senate should use the winter to prepare for the spring, not decide whether to levy a five lira fine on a man for leaving his mule unattended.[/ic]

[ic=Speech to the General Senate]
I come before you a saddened man.

Come the spring, I wish to make my annual, traditional pilgrimage out of our great city, to the place of my birth; Tre Fontane. But, this year, I fear that I will not be able to make the journey, as the site is occupied by the loyals to the papists and those who would seek to put us under their thumb once more.

I am by no means a foreigner, and by no means am I a stranger to Rome. Indeed, Tre Fontane is but a few leagues outside the city. Come spring, I wish to enter Tre Fontane. If it be as a free pilgrim visiting his family and his hometown, then so much the better. If it need be as the head of a conquering army, such as the one so proven at Tivoli, then I will reluctantly do my utmost to make it so.

I can only hope the Senate see fit to back me in such a case.[/ic]
[ooc=Votes for the Election]
5 votes: Bernardo DiFontane
[/ooc]
[ooc=Orders]
-Acquire the rights to charge rent on the land of nobles currently forced from the city. Send letters to them offering to buy said rights (at below value), citing the current climate and the possibility of no gain at all from their land as leverage to get them to sell. Spend no more than two wealth on this endeavor.
-Spend two wealth recruiting, arming, and training a household guard, for personal use.
-Scour the city for abandoned religious sites, 'liberate' their relics, and place them in my townhouse's chapel.
[/ooc]