What goes around...

After a day of research I have some very clear ideas about where this game is going now.

The name of the game will be: "What goes around..."

I'll be using the theme: intrigue and the ingredients: Fleur-de-lis, Dividers and Star.

I'm definitely hoping to attain the 'Royal Academy of Flatland Award' special distinction for use of board game mechanics. I'm also hoping I may be able to keep the rules below 4 pages and be entitled to the Brevity Award.

The game is about the Roman Inquisition and specifically the year running from August 1632 to July 1633 (which starts with the publication of Galileo's work 'Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems' and ends with Galileo's trial for Heresy). The key theme of the game is opposition of two mutually irreconcilable philosophies: 'Heliocentrism' which placed the sun at the centre of the Universe and 'Geocentrism', which placed the Earth at the centre.

The game key political influences within the game are the Catholic Church (lead by Pope Clement VIII) and the House of Medici (lead by Ferdinando II). The House of Medici were patrons of Galileo, who tutored multiple generations of Medici children, and was an important figurehead for his patron's quest for power. By this time the Medici family arms are the version Galileo redesigned for them in 1610, in which the crown in the middle shows a fleur-de-lis; uppermost of the six individual spheres arranged below likewise show the petals of the lily. In the game the church will of course be represented by the cross.

The game will run against a timeline, controlled through the use of a game board, depicting a star revolving around a fixed earth (the geocentric view). Specific game rules for each season, along with events which occur will be written on the board.

The players play mathematicians, astronomers and astrologer, clergymen and the academics, with a vested interest in the outcome of the trial. Each player will be given a secret 'agenda' card which states a) their belief with regards the nature of the universe, and b) their victory condition. They will then answer a set of additional questions to help them flesh out a character

The game will be GMless and Diceless. I am hoping to emulate the diceless resolution seen in games like Diplomacy where the outcome comes down to majority decision with tied results falling in favour of the defenders. Specific events from history will give particular advantages to one side of the debate or the other during particular seasons. Although the specific scenes which will occur are to a large extent dictated by the board rules, the players take turns to frame them and have a lot of leeway in how they describe them.

With the very real threat of being accused of Heresy players with victory conditions calling for the victory of Heliocentrism will have to be very careful how they play their hands. Historically Galileo's patronage was eventually abandoned by Ferdinando II, when it was clear that continued association with him would bring the family into direct and open opposition with the church.

I'm hoping the game will be something you can pick up, learn the rules to very quickly, and play in an afternoon. I'd also like it to serve as an easy stepping stone from board games to roleplaying.

And since its shaping up so well I've also found a place to get it published: The Game Crafter. It looks like it will cost about $12-15 to make - which means I'm unlikely to be able to sell them at a profit, but if I'm doing this I want a personal copy so I'll get at least one made.