From Embassy, through Magnificent Court, to Imperial Conclave

[X-Points East]

OoC:

From Embassy, through Magnificent Court, to Imperial Conclave

[X-Points East]

OoC:

An hypothetical version of the Embassy follows. . . .

Embassy [Generic]
     You build a large and suitably ornamental structure for use by your diplomats.  Embassies are most frequently built in the court provinces of other major powers.
     DDC:  8.
     Build Cost:  10 GB.
     Upkeep:  0.25 GB/turn.
     Benefits:  You gain a +2 asset bonus to diplomacy actions taken with domains in whose court province you have an embassy.
     Once per year you may take diplomacy as a court action (subtracting 1 GB from the standard cost) with a domain that has a court/embassy in the province wherein the embassy is located.
     Special:  You automatically gain diplomatic relations with all domains that have courts/embassies in the same province.
     Note:  Conceptually, diplomacy is still a realm action, even when taken as a court action via embassy.

[X-Points East]

OoC:

An hypothetical version of the Magnificent Court follows. . . .

Magnificent Court [Generic]
     Your court is known for its majestic size and grand architecture.  Visiting dignitaries are suitably impressed, and your civil servants are inspired to work even harder.
     DDC:  15.
     Build Cost:  45 GB.
     Upkeep:  1 GB/turn.
     Benefits:  The magnificent court functions as an embassy; but the +2 to diplomacy applies to all of your diplomacy actions, and the yearly diplomacy-via-court-action may be used to host any domain at a court session (or a standard diplomacy event), with an additional court action being required for each attendee beyond the first.
     Furthermore, you receive a +2 bonus to all court actions and one extra court action per season.  And you receive a +4 asset bonus to actions taken to resolve events dealing with matters of court (within your own domain only), such as discontent among the lesser nobility (if a realm) or functionaries (if an organization).
     Special:  It is possible to upgrade from an embassy to a magnificent court.

[X-Points East]

OoC:

An hypothetical version of the Imperial Conclave follows. . . .

Imperial Conclave [Unique]
     In the days of the Empire, the members of the Imperial Temple gathered in the labyrinthine halls of the Imperial Conclave:—a sprawling and ancient structure covering the highest portion of one of the largest islands of the City of Anuire.  It was from here that the Pontiff of Anuire ruled, advised by his Cardinals.
     DDC:  20.
     Build Cost:  100 GB.
     Upkeep:  3 GB/turn.
     Benefits:  This structure functions as a royal palace and a magnificent court.
     Once per year the owner may bestow the blessings of the pontificate, thereby granting the recipient domain a +2 bonus to all domain actions for one turn.
     The owner may host a grand conclave or a conclave special session each turn as a court action (subtracting 1 GB from the standard cost).  The court action enables the owner to host the pontiff's own faction, and an additional court action is required to host each additional faction.  Furthermore, any member temple that has an embassy in the same province may take diplomacy as a court action each turn (instead of each year), although the seasonal upkeep for such conclave embassies is 0.5 GB (instead of 0.25 GB).
     Restrictions:  It is not possible for the owner of the imperial conclave to employ the yearly diplomacy-via-court-action (as per the magnificent court) AND to host a grand conclave or a conclave special session, in the same season.
     Also, in a given year, only one diplomacy action (from a given temple's conclave embassy) may be conducted outside the context of a grand conclave or a conclave special session.
     Note:  The upkeep for the imperial conclave does not cover the upkeep for the conclave embassy (if any) controlled by the pontiff's member temple.

[Talinie & NIT/TD (Linde)]

Magnificent court is something you build in your court province. Embassies are generally not. So why an upgrade  option?

[Torele Anviras/TA (Niels)]

@Brandon, could you post the 2.20 versions of same buildings for reference here?

What is the intended change? - Is it about improving unviable existing buildings, or are you suggesting new inventions?

[Talinie & NIT/TD (Linde)]

Embassy 2.21 changed to hypothetical version:(words change place in first line but meaning stays the same)

 Benefits:  You gain a +2 asset bonus to diplomacy actions taken with domains in whose court province you have an embassy.
     Once per turn year you may take diplomacy as a court action free action (subtracting 1 GB from the standard at no GB cost) with a domains that has a court/embassy in the province wherein the embassy is located.
     Special:  You automatically gain diplomatic relations with all domains that have courts/embassies in the same province.


Magnificent Court 2.21 changed to hypothetical version:

     Benefits:You get a +2 bonus to all Court actions. Once per turn you may conduct Diplomacy as a Court action at no cost (just as if you had an embassy).

  The magnificent court functions as an embassy; but the +2 to diplomacy applies to all of your diplomacy actions, and the yearly free action may be used to host any domain at a court session (or a standard diplomacy event), with a court action being required for each attendee beyond the first.



     In addition, Additionally, you receive a +2 bonus to all court actions and one extra court action per season.  And you receive a +4 asset bonus to actions taken to resolve events dealing with matters of court (within your own domain only), such as discontent among the lesser nobility (if a realm) or functionaries (if an organization).
     Special:  It is possible to upgrade from an embassy to a magnificent court


Imperial conclave 2.21:

Upkeep: 2,5 GB/turn
Benefits: Duplicates the effects of a royal palace and a magnificent court.
Once per year the owner may bestow the blessings of the Pontificate; thereby granting the recipient domain a +2 bonus to all domain actions for one turn.
Any member temple that has an embassy in the same province may take a Free diplomacy action each turn (instead of each year, as given by the embassy)


As you can see changes are made in embassy and are needed in the other two buildings since they duplicate effect of embassy. Imperial conclave suggest that Embassy one action per season is wrong anyway as it should grant one action per year.
Personally I think clarification could be needed about what buildings grant Free actions and what buildings grant you the possibility of taking a normal action at no GB cost.
My take on this is that Brandon is trying to make the buildings effects more clear, not as much change them... Witch is why I don't understand the upgrade addition.

[Dhoesone/FD_(Marco)]

Magnificent court is something you build in your court province. Embassies are generally not. So why an upgrade  option?

I agree with Linde

Then why an Imperial Conclave? I mean: IMO it might be important in a game played in Heartlands or Southern Coast of Anuire, but in a Taelshore game I think none of us will ever build it.

If we want to set a rule for the sake of completeness then ok, but if we want to develop RoE III as campaign settled in Taelshore there's no need of an Imperial Conclave.

[Aeric (DM Matt)]

Yeah, I also am not feeling that upgrade path - for me Embassies and Magnificent Courts fulfill different functions game wise despite both having a diplomatic function.

[Yggdrasil (DM Andy)]

It would be relevant if moving court though, but mainly only after a reverse takeover of an area or if a ruler expropriates the embassy and likes the decor.

In general though I like the idea of upgrading buildings - buildings routinely get expanded, re-used, etc so changing a structure should often be mechanically possible, although I'd expect some wastage.