Acropolis 1.0 - Rules, Comments, and Q&A

[Menolly]

I am slightly confused regarding the show you rather than tell you comment for our submissions. How do we show you, without resorting to stories, which I understand you do not want?

[I'm Murrin]

So if I'm understanding right, those three numbers will increase as we gain in those categories, and when any of them individually reaches a full number, we gain a DRP?

[[Syl]]

I didn't quite say that I don't want stories. What I said was:

Stories are encouraged in the game thread, but only if they're related to something you actually submit in your turn. Stories for the sake of stories aren't permitted.

Turn [submissions] should be as short as they can be. If you feel you need to add some detail to get the point across correctly, please do so. Just be sure to provide a summary in that case.

I could say that what I'm looking for is a minimalist approach. Use as many words as you need, but try not to use more than that. Be as clear and concise as you can. A short paragraph of descriptive text followed by a one line summary is great.

I'm not faulting anyone for 'proselytizing.' Just stating a preference and making sure the distinction between converting and convincing is apparent. For the record, your use was fine.

Some examples:

Bad:
"I spend 1 DRP to get more sacrifices"

Good:
"I (the God of Sharp, Pointy Objects) focus my strength on honing the blades of my priests so their sacrifices yield more meat. [1 DRP]"

Great:
"Knowing I am too weak to fully manifest in the Acropolis, I enter the dreams of my high priest, soothing his soul with my calming influence. Closer to the realm of mortals, I reach out with my power and send a call to various wild animals, beckoning them to make their way to my temple and offer themselves as sacrifices to needy petitioners.

1 DRP to partial manifestation to get more sacrifices"

[Menolly]

If I am understanding right, I think the word "save" isn't quite appropriate. The comments and rules say that DRP can rise and fall much more often than in Aesir or Pantheon, depending on the three influences. I don't think unspent DRP, even fractions of DRP, carry over from turn to turn, right?

The Autarch said if we can sell it to him, there are no limitations on non-DRP actions. If a deity could come up with a turn comprising of all non-DRP actions, I'm pretty positive that turn's DRP is lost, you won't have "banked" it for the next turn. The same should then hold true for the partial DRP, right?

[[Syl]]

So if I'm understanding right, those three numbers will increase as we gain in those categories, and when any of them individually reaches a full number, we gain a DRP?

Ah, no. Yes, I see I could've been more clear there. A partial DRP is a partial DRP. The category doesn't matter.

If your PSR is 1.5/1.5/1.2, you'd have 4 DRP to spend the next turn and two partial DRP to 'bank,' adding to whatever partial DRP you may have already had.

[I'm Murrin]

I'm not quite understanding then why the answer to my first question was no.

Edit: For example, Allod right now has 0.3/0.4/0.4 = 1.1 total. Does that not mean that there is 1 DRP from P/S/R that can be added?

Perhaps it was the fact you listed DRP: 1, then P/S/R originally, which I see you've changed.

[Goatkiller666]

I don't think unspent DRP, even fractions of DRP, carry over from turn to turn, right? ... [unspent] DRP is lost, you won't have "banked" it for the next turn. The same should then hold true for the partial DRP, right?

If your PSR is 1.5/1.5/1.2, you'd have 4 DRP to spend the next turn and two partial DRP to 'bank,' adding to whatever partial DRP you may have already had.

So, while we MUST bank partial DRP, we MUST spend any full DRP that turn. I assume when the DRP in the bank adds up to >1, we MUST spend it that round as well?

Over time, that seems complicated. Reminds me of compound interest math, actually. Given how fast we're growing, what'll really be happening is that we'll functionally 1s for a while, and then every few turns we'll get an extra DRP to spend.

Imagine this scenario. I'm a rank 2.4. I have .6 in the bank. I do really well this turn, and bump myself up to a 3.0 instead. That gives me 3 fresh DRP to spend, plus .6 in the bank. If I do only okay, I'm a 2.5. That gives me 2 fresh DRP, plus adds .5 to my bank of .6. In effect, I still get 3 DRP to spend this turn, I just have less in the bank.

I'm not saying that's bad... having an extra DRP every few rounds is never a bad thing. But there's going to be some extra math going on.

Autarch, will you keep track of our banked amounts? (I'm fine with it being posted in the game thread with the rest of the stats, though I can see how some might want to keep that information hidden.)

[[Syl]]

Version 1.4 of the rules are now up. Several changes, some of them major (there are now major and minor artifacts, something called investment, an alternative to deicide, and more), so please read.

Probably the biggest change, while entirely cosmetic, is a change of terminology and acronyms.

There is no longer any Divine Rank. Instead, such a thing (if ever used) is now called Divine Strength. Divine Rank Points are now Divine Strength Points, or DSP.

Priesthood Strength = PS
Sacrifice Strength = SS
Reputation Strength = RS
Fractional (Partial) Strength = FS

PS + SS + RS=PSR
PSR + FS=DSP (whole number. remaining decimals become next turn's FS)

Hmm, then I must have misinterpreted your question, Murrin. But yeah, I decided the Divine Rank listing was superfluous, since it was really just repeating the total score without the tenths.

It's really not as complicated as it sounds. Anybody here play spades? The fractional amounts are almost like bags. It was that or just round you guys down, and I thought that was unfair.

[I'm Murrin]

Yeah, it was confusion with you giving us components and total. I saw 1 DRP, 1.x P/S/R, and thought, shouldn't that give us a total of 2 DRP spendable this turn?

[[Syl]]

And of course I got the letters wrong on the first try.

[Orlando]

The rules say it takes 1 DSP to ordain a priest. Does that mean a regular priest? So we cannot build our priesthood unless we use a DSP?

[I'm Murrin]

Hmm. I've just worked out the milestone I want to reach with my deity. Now to work out how to get there...

You know it kills me sometimes not being able to talk about it, hehe.

[[Syl]]

Yep, a regular priest. That isn't to say there are other ways, but nobody said this would be easy.

[Fist and Faith]

So is deadline the 30th? Last day of each month?

[[Syl]]

Yep

[Krinn]

To get to maximum points for the PS:

2500 DSPs on priests
12 DSPs on Temples after your first (which is free)
12 DSPs on High Priests after your first (which is free)

All of that would get you 5DSP, all by itself.

Oncsider also, it is possible to survive without sacrivices at all. If one's followers were attracted by this lack of tithing, and there were many of these followers, it seems that the Reputation Score would grow.

So... what can a priest do? The High Priest (or at least our prophet) gets to hear from us directly. Likewise, the High Priest gets some measure of grace from having been invested with 3DSP. Does a just-priest get any benefits like that?

For things that cost more than we make in a turn, can we pay towards it across successive turns? (i.e. - costs 3 DSP to make a High Priest. Could I invest in that across three turns)

If we've already spend 1DSP to ordain a priest, can we then spend 2DSP to create a High Priest later?

You hint that priests can be ordained without spending DSP, using methods that are mysterious. So... will those just happen randomly over time (as rewards for things we do)? Are we allowed to experiment? Do things to recruit for priests, etc. and see if they mysteriously POP into priesthood?

[Fist and Faith]

Here's a mechanics question. With 20% of the deities using candles for sacrifices, I think we can expect to see candle prices rise. So is the important thing the number of candles sacrificed? Or is it the price paid for candles that counts?

[[Syl]]

Good question. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it too much. To say the price of something has risen is only to say that there's trade in that commodity. I'd use it more for game play than game mechanics. I will let you all know if availability really becomes threatened.

For the sake of argument, though, I will say no, the sacrifice value for any object is fixed. Quality and quantity.

[Fist and Faith]

Cool. Thanks. Not as devious an answer as I'd feared.

[Krinn]

At some point, it might be cheaper to pay me to kill off Nyx's priests than to pay the extra price for candles.

Not that I'm suggesting anything, just... you know... keep that in mind.