I've been meaning to do an article
on games that have a tendency to
lead people to monarchism (which
will end up being a list of Paradox
Studio games) but in the meantime
I wanted to write a bit about a game
I have played to absolute death;
Emperor of the Fading Suns.
I came across this game almost completely by accident. In the
90s my brother's friend gave me a bunch of demo disks that
came along with issues of the PC Gamer magazine. This game
(and Heroes of Might and Magic II) were included and would
provide countless hours of entertainment. It helps that
Emperor of the Fading Suns is a turn-based game and the
demo gave the player 50 turns to play it which was more than
enough to beat the game.
At the time I mostly appreciated that it was very different
from other games that I'd played (I hadn't found the
Civilization series yet) but as I've gotten older I've grown to
appreciate the historical inspiration behind the game. The
game wears its Dune and Warhammer 40K inspiration on its
sleeve but its much more grounded in European Medieval
history than either of those two settings.
on games that have a tendency to
lead people to monarchism (which
will end up being a list of Paradox
Studio games) but in the meantime
I wanted to write a bit about a game
I have played to absolute death;
Emperor of the Fading Suns.
I came across this game almost completely by accident. In the
90s my brother's friend gave me a bunch of demo disks that
came along with issues of the PC Gamer magazine. This game
(and Heroes of Might and Magic II) were included and would
provide countless hours of entertainment. It helps that
Emperor of the Fading Suns is a turn-based game and the
demo gave the player 50 turns to play it which was more than
enough to beat the game.
At the time I mostly appreciated that it was very different
from other games that I'd played (I hadn't found the
Civilization series yet) but as I've gotten older I've grown to
appreciate the historical inspiration behind the game. The
game wears its Dune and Warhammer 40K inspiration on its
sleeve but its much more grounded in European Medieval
history than either of those two settings.
Setting
The game is set in the far future. Humanity has spread across
the galaxy by means of an alien gateway network. While a
united republican government was created and humanity
enjoyed a golden age for a time, it eventually fell into ruin
under the weight of multiple crisises including barbarian
invasion, societal collapse, internal coups, and ecological
breakdown.
The inspiration taken from the Roman Empire is clear.
Although it helps to make the comparison more clear if you
remember that legally Rome called itself a republic to the very
end. The role climate change played in the fall of Rome has
also attracted more attention in recent years and how it made
a bad situation worse. The game's equivalent is the 'Fading
Suns' phenomena where galaxy-wide all stars are dimming at
a considerable rate.
In the midst of a general breakdown a man named Vladimir
managed to stabilize the situation and was proclaimed
Emperor by the Patriarch of the Universal Church (space
Pope of the space Catholic Church). Vladimir is sort of a
Charlemagne figure but not really because Emperor Vladimir
dies at his coronation which has no historical equivalent. The
lack of agreement on who should succeed him results in war
until it was agreed a temporary successor would be elected
from the ranks of the nobility. And when the game starts they
are still electing 'temporary' successors termed regents.
If you squint a little it does look like the historical situation.
After Charlemagne's death there were several wars and the
title bounced around a bit until the East Frankians, not
wanted to reunite with West Frankia made their throne
elective. However, Otto the Great, an early King of the East
Frankia, conquered Italy and was crowned Emperor of what we now call the Holy Roman Empire. In a way the game kind
of merges a long stretch of history, and several people, into a
compact narrative.
the galaxy by means of an alien gateway network. While a
united republican government was created and humanity
enjoyed a golden age for a time, it eventually fell into ruin
under the weight of multiple crisises including barbarian
invasion, societal collapse, internal coups, and ecological
breakdown.
The inspiration taken from the Roman Empire is clear.
Although it helps to make the comparison more clear if you
remember that legally Rome called itself a republic to the very
end. The role climate change played in the fall of Rome has
also attracted more attention in recent years and how it made
a bad situation worse. The game's equivalent is the 'Fading
Suns' phenomena where galaxy-wide all stars are dimming at
a considerable rate.
In the midst of a general breakdown a man named Vladimir
managed to stabilize the situation and was proclaimed
Emperor by the Patriarch of the Universal Church (space
Pope of the space Catholic Church). Vladimir is sort of a
Charlemagne figure but not really because Emperor Vladimir
dies at his coronation which has no historical equivalent. The
lack of agreement on who should succeed him results in war
until it was agreed a temporary successor would be elected
from the ranks of the nobility. And when the game starts they
are still electing 'temporary' successors termed regents.
If you squint a little it does look like the historical situation.
After Charlemagne's death there were several wars and the
title bounced around a bit until the East Frankians, not
wanted to reunite with West Frankia made their throne
elective. However, Otto the Great, an early King of the East
Frankia, conquered Italy and was crowned Emperor of what we now call the Holy Roman Empire. In a way the game kind
of merges a long stretch of history, and several people, into a
compact narrative.
Gameplay
Emperor of the Fading Suns plays much like Civilization
except the large number of maps give it a bigger scope. Some
games and spin-offs in that series would make use of a 'world
congress' or 'United Nations' mechanic. Emperor of the
Fading Suns did it first. Every ten years all factions cast votes
for who will be regent in the coming years. The regent
meanwhile can assign various ministries of government to
their supporters.
The fact that the easiest way to get elected is by bribing the
various electors to vote for you is an issue the Holy Roman
Emperors knew well. The 1519 imperial election had the kings
of Spain and France out-bidding each other for the throne.
But even in more normal times it was not always easy for a
dynasty to keep the throne. Having to give government offices
to supporters in exchange for their support was an issue
across Europe.
Even the relative powerlessness of the regent mirrors the Holy
Roman Empire where the Emperor could really only rely on
their own lands for money and soldiers. This became
especially true after the Peace of Westphalia which
guaranteed non-interference in each state's internal affairs.
except the large number of maps give it a bigger scope. Some
games and spin-offs in that series would make use of a 'world
congress' or 'United Nations' mechanic. Emperor of the
Fading Suns did it first. Every ten years all factions cast votes
for who will be regent in the coming years. The regent
meanwhile can assign various ministries of government to
their supporters.
The fact that the easiest way to get elected is by bribing the
various electors to vote for you is an issue the Holy Roman
Emperors knew well. The 1519 imperial election had the kings
of Spain and France out-bidding each other for the throne.
But even in more normal times it was not always easy for a
dynasty to keep the throne. Having to give government offices
to supporters in exchange for their support was an issue
across Europe.
Even the relative powerlessness of the regent mirrors the Holy
Roman Empire where the Emperor could really only rely on
their own lands for money and soldiers. This became
especially true after the Peace of Westphalia which
guaranteed non-interference in each state's internal affairs.
The League & The Church
In the game the Merchant League is a union of guilds that
primarily sell things to players and give out loans. In medieval
Europe this is the role the various Italian republics played in
the Empire. They didn't really have any great love of being a
part of the Empire and were eventually able to leave it as a
bloc. Likewise, the Merchant League will declare was on all
other factions once it amasses enough money (although their
aim is to restore the republic).
The Church is heavily modelled on the Catholic Church. It
even has an Inquisition it sends out if some noble decides to
research technology that goes against Church doctrine. The
Church is divided into several sects in a manner not to
dissimilar to how the Catholic Church has different orders.
primarily sell things to players and give out loans. In medieval
Europe this is the role the various Italian republics played in
the Empire. They didn't really have any great love of being a
part of the Empire and were eventually able to leave it as a
bloc. Likewise, the Merchant League will declare was on all
other factions once it amasses enough money (although their
aim is to restore the republic).
The Church is heavily modelled on the Catholic Church. It
even has an Inquisition it sends out if some noble decides to
research technology that goes against Church doctrine. The
Church is divided into several sects in a manner not to
dissimilar to how the Catholic Church has different orders.
Its Been A Long Road
Emperor of the Fading Suns has had a troubled history.
Rushed to release and saddled with the worst advertising
campaign I've ever seen, it seemed set to become a footnote in
the history of gaming. However, the game has heart and it
earned a loyal fan base. Through years (and no small amount
of piracy) the game kept being played until earlier this year
the game got its first patch in over a decade and a Steam
release. And there in the credits...
Rushed to release and saddled with the worst advertising
campaign I've ever seen, it seemed set to become a footnote in
the history of gaming. However, the game has heart and it
earned a loyal fan base. Through years (and no small amount
of piracy) the game kept being played until earlier this year
the game got its first patch in over a decade and a Steam
release. And there in the credits...
...you'll find a Maple Monarchist.
Loyally Yours
A Kisaragi Colour
Loyally Yours
A Kisaragi Colour
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