Noble System Rearing Out Of Spring Break With Changes

[MonMarty]

Changes in the Noble System

Regarding the Iron Peace Law
We are still finishing up the Archipelago map which is pertinent to the noble struggles. Our prognosis for the Iron Peace Law ending is set for the end of this week on Sunday, with the first orders being processed the Sunday after.

Regarding Noble Applications
We are reopening Noble Applications but in a specifically new way. We are allowing the Creation of families of either: Marquis, March, Baron, Baronet, Count, Lord Protector, Margrave, Burgrave or Under-Cro. These applications however work differently than they ever had in the past

• People who apply for a family of this rank must apply for one as a vassal of the 10 existing major families or Kade or Howlester. There is no growth potential for these families, and they will forever be trapped as vassal of these great families (unless these families die, in which case they can take over).
• These families should not be perceived as "independent units" but rather "extensions of families, without being actual family members". They will obviously need the approval of the family they are applying under, and act as non-name bearing family members in that they are supporters and allies of their overlord. Their overlord is responsible for their poor court behavior, and enforcing discipline on them.
• These families are not subject to court intrigue and as such will not face most of the stresses of noble infighting or competition, it's a far more laid-back noble life experience. That being said, it is practically a requirement that they participate in the struggles of their overlords in an IC capacity, even if their existence does not grant system benefits to their overlords, and obviously, lower vassal families are not as important as major family members in the eyes of the court.
• These families will still be approved by system Managers, so require both the approval of the family they are applying under, and a QA assessment by the Noble Managers. These families may come and go, but at the beginning, we are putting the maximum at two families per major family.
• We will not be opening up applications for any of the major families. We want to stick to the nice round 10 "major families" + Kade + Howlester as a format for future use. If one of the 10 major families dips, one of their vassals can take over their slot.

Regarding the Ministry
Billy and I examined the ministerial positions and decided to do a complete re-shuffle. We're still of the opinion that the Ministry is a great format, but it showed serious flaws on the under-Constanze-era, which we hope to rectify with a new format. Under the new format, every Minister has an "action that can be done IC on the server", an "action that can be done IC on Progressions", and "an action that can be done to fuck over other families", with the only exception not falling under this being the Commons Minister. We did decide to throw out some Ministers and apply new ones to new positions, while keeping some vacant due to large scale changes, so new applications are welcome for Vacant positions. All applications will be served within 48 hours of this post, so better apply fast! Here are all the changes:

The Chancellor of the Empire appointed Amelina Peirgarten @seoulmate

• Has the ability to change State Laws (but cannot apply them retroactively)
• Has the ability to create Charters
• Has the ability to declare war on foreign states and force the Marshalry to focus on a specific front.
• Has the ability to Summon foreign dignitaries to court for an event (think Iron Duke, Ithanian Prince Sovereign, King of Nordskag etc.)
• Chancellor is appointed by the Emperor first (just happened). After that, Chancellor can be evicted by a clear Secretary majority vote. That currently stands on 8 ministers, so 5 vs 3 is an eviction. If the vote is 4-4, the deadlock causes an Imperial diet at the palace where both sides have to argue why the Chancellor should stay, or be thrown out to the Emperor during an event.

Secretary for the Whip is a new vacant position

• The Whip can perform an Imperial summons, a 1 on 1 accusation inquest by the Whip in front of the Emperor where the Whip singles out a Minister they believe should be fired or disciplined, and try to convince the Emperor by doing an accusation in front of him at the palace.
• The Whip can issue search warrants on Noble Estates, which are normally protected from such by anyone's order except the Emperor. They don't need Imperial Pemrission to issue a warrant for an estate to the Violet Order.
• They have the right to initiate Princely Visitations at the palace to /anyone/, including commoners and non-citizens, to meet with the Prince of Anglia and Gallovia for political talk.
• The Whip is sort of expected to work "for the Chancellor", but has complete independence in terms of operating on their own. The Chancellor cannot fire or eject Ministers in any way.

Secretary for the Army for Garth Viduggla @BeashSlap

• We are moving forum sign-ups for retinues to live events. The Secretary for the Army will be responsible for recording names during sign up events
• They have the ability to force conscription on a noble family in progressions, thus forcibly lowering their manpower available for private wars.
• They have the ability to give army reinforcements from Nordskag and Ithania to the Marshal Cabinet's specific generals.

Secretary for the Southmark for Cro-Zzhin @Carlit0o

• We axed the City Minister but made the Southmark minister instead with more tangible functions. The first function, is that they have legal judicial rights over Allar, Maraya and Slizzar. This means that while these races get arrested by the Violet Order under State Law, the Secretary for the Southmark has complete judging control over what punishment they receive, effectively becoming judge jury and executioner on these races.
• The Southmark minister can use the Soor-Rassa-Allar for positive deployments in the archipelago and the world to counteract WIS progression actions to do with alchemy and disease.
• The Southmark minister can use the Soor-Rassa-Allar for negative deployments in the archipelago and progressions for alchemical warfare.

Secretary for the Faith for Jared Kade @LumosJared

• Flexible judgement of worship location, legality and workarounds for faiths, much in the same way it worked in the past.
• Additionally has the means to send missionaries to locations to counteract WIS group activity with regards to converting population to other faiths.
• Has the ability to initiate Faith Riots in lands of anachronistic and sinful behavior of Nobles.

Secretary for Finances we have decided to make vacant

• The secretary Minister can dispense state funding for private progression orders (for example adventures and ventures of either WIS or nobles) to increase their chances.
• They manage the state finances as is required on the state finance sheet.
• They can impose tarrifs and embargoes on specific goods, which works with the goods map being produced by Arendan, not quite done yet, but allows essentially for the Minister to screw over various lords by cutting their production.

Secretary for the Westmark being a vacant new position

• Legal authority over all Ithanian characters only (not necessarily just Ailor, all Ithanian born citizens), but besides the judicial principle, they also have the means to alter the Ithanian Law book (which acts in tandem to State Law). Essentially, Ithanians aren't beholden to state law, but a law book of their own, which the Secretary of the Westmark manages.
• The Secretary can divert Ithanian investments to counteract the Secretary of FInances's tariffs and embargoes.
• The Secretary can use underworld contacts from Hallonq and Daenshore to spy and dig up dirt on other noble families.

Secretary for the Magi being a vacant new position

• Make up policies and standings on magical principles. (is Avanthar Casting magic or fine? Is Cielothar Ritualism Magic or fine? The legal status of Parlor Magic? Giving White Mage documents to mages to become legal?)
• Magical scholar research crew that they can send around in progressions to research magical phenomena across the world.
• Allowed to give special dispensation to Mages to be allowed to enter the Imperial palace under scrutinized conditions.

Secretary of the Commons for Kaya Viduggla @AlphaInsomnia

• Stays the way it is.

Secretary for Heritage and Realm have been eliminated. Secretary for Feudal Affairs is absorbed into the Imperial Court, and the Secretary for the City is commuted to Southmark, while the Secretary for Trade merged with Secretary for Finances. All these changes have gone into IC effect now.