FROM THE GAMEMASTER

Thanks to Kendall for bringing the NPR piece on rhetoric to our attention; it talks about the dangers of rhetoric and the antidote (a liberal education-- the cure for many ails).

Updated rules on assassination:

Assassination

Caesar was not the first in Roman history to be killed for political ends, nor would he be the last. Some supporters of the assassins of Julius Caesar have expressed the opinion (at least privately) that the assassins should have struck down others, as well; and some of the bereaved Caesarians may seek to assuage their grief through private vengeance. Still other Senators may seek to advance their own interests, political or personal, by removing their opponents.

If you believe you can advance the interests of your faction or your own interests by removing an opponent from the Senate, you may wish to attempt an assassination (permitted at any point in the course of this game). To do so, you must follow these steps.

1. Inform the Gamemaster of the identity of your intended victim, in writing.

2. Deposit with the Gamemaster a pledge for the sum of 10,000 sestertii (to pay the assassin).

3. Deposit with the Gamemaster pledges, in writing, from any individual (up to three) who supports you in the assassination attempt.

You can improve your odds of success by finding up to three Senators who will support your attempt and pledge their support in writing. But be careful: those co-conspirators might reveal this information to others for their own purposes.

Your odds of success decrease if your intended victim has hired bodyguards. Any Senator who chooses to hire a bodyguard must do so before the Gamemaster announces the assassination target and must pay a fee of 10,000 sestertii to the Gamemaster, as a penalty for personal cowardice.

The Gamemaster will determine the success or failure of the attempt with a die roll. Each pledge of support, in writing, earns you one additional point (up to three points). If your intended victim has hired a bodyguard, you lose two points. If your intended victim is tribune of the plebs, you lose two points, because tribunes have sacrosanctitas (personal inviolability). Whatever happens, you should be prepared to justify your actions to the Senate and to history.

-1 Attempt fails, identity of the assassin(s) is known.
0 Attempt fails, identity of the assassin(s) is known.
+1 Attempt fails, identity of the assassin(s) is known.
2 Attempt fails, identity of the assassin(s) is unknown.
3 Attempt fails, identity of the assassin(s) is unknown.
4 Attempt fails, identity of the assassin(s) is unknown.
5 Attempt succeeds, identity of the assassin(s) is known.
6 Attempt succeeds, identity of the assassin(s) is known.
7 Attempt succeeds, identity of the assassin(s) is known.
8 Attempt succeeds, identity of the assassin(s) is unknown.
9 Attempt succeeds, identity of the assassin(s) is unknown.