Change of Governing Style

This has been plaguing my mind for a while and I wonder if anyone can enlighten me with thoughts suggestions or even just a slap in the face telling me not to be so stupid.

Has anyone tried to change there nations style of government say from an autocratic state to one of a constitutional monarchy as an example.

I know the potential ramifications of such an act but would like to know if others have tried it and what happened to them.

I dont think I have seen this occur in game, but I have seen a nation change its lead religion (actually both times England going from Protestant to Catholic under a Jacobite restoration). I would imagine that would be a harder task to complete ?

Thinking about it quickly, I would guess going from an autocratic state to a constitutional monarchy would be easier because you are effectively giving more control to your nobles which they would love. Going from a consitutuional monarchy to an autocratic/despot monarchy would almost certainly lead to a civil war of sorts. So have the majority of the army and navy on your side !

Wasn't there a France in one game that had the revolution 75 years early? So despotic monarchy to despotic despots Don't think it lasted that long...

I think in period you have to realize that most of the absolute monarchies if they moved to constitutional monarchies would be just ceding power from themselves to the nobles. It would be hard, and probably not work to try to make a more true democratic society.

Other than perhaps interest in how Richard would make your life hell, I'm not sure why you'd want to!

Jason wrote:Wasn't there a France in one game that had the revolution 75 years early? So despotic monarchy to despotic despots Don't think it lasted that long...

yes game 2 did but they overthrew that and replaced it with the king again and the position was split between 2 players who ended up going to war with each other France v its colony's. I supported the Colony player (I was Russia) as the France player was rude to me.......

Kingmaker wrote:

Jason wrote:Wasn't there a France in one game that had the revolution 75 years early? So despotic monarchy to despotic despots Don't think it lasted that long...

yes game 2 did but they overthrew that and replaced it with the king again and the position was split between 2 players who ended up going to war with each other France v its colony's. I supported the Colony player (I was Russia) as the France player was rude to me.......

Ahh, thanks Couldn't remember the details.

I suspect that at the end of the day, going back to Mark's original question, unless the change is forced on you for some reason, or you feel there is a real need for the change, it's not worth it!

the player who did it made the monarchy look bad with the express intention of removing the King and making him self president etc.

I wonder if a character, playing within Swashbuckler, could become the leader of such a revolution?

You might be able to start that way, but I think you'd end up needing a full position. I didn't get to play many turns of swashbuckler, but the actions were very limited as you might imagine.

Must admit Deacon, not really thought too much about the limits on what can and can't be done in Swashbuckler...but as I've said elsewhere, as a game version, I doubt it's one for me...I'd end up being an accountant

Thanks guys for the input, honestly I am not sure whether I was going to do this or not and honestly am undecided, I do a lot of things for fun.

Jason wrote:Must admit Deacon, not really thought too much about the limits on what can and can't be done in Swashbuckler...but as I've said elsewhere, as a game version, I doubt it's one for me...I'd end up being an accountant

Pirate ships, slavers and merc companies all need good accountants so hope for you yet!

Mind you is it safer for our hero to face Richards traditional three thugs or get the blame for a lot of missing triad cash?

Going back to original post I have seen lots of Germans try to amend the constition of the Holy Roman Empire with mixed success and one French Revolution which was just crazy.

But the real nightmare constitution which badly needs to be changed if the player(s) is to get the best out of the position and be able to rival Russia, Sweden, Austria, The Ottomans etc in Eastern Europe is the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Since the Pacta Conventa and the Nobles right of veto is a nightmare to deal with........even worse than dealing with the Janissary Corp or getting the French Nobles to pay tax!

I suspect to get change you would either need various Polish/Cossack players working in co-operation or a major disaster. Has anyone had a go?

The polish thing is a mess. The only thing I can think that would work is either you're strong enough, or have enough agents that every time a pole exercises his veto, he dies. You'd probably have to go through a number before the rest agreed to amend the rules on vetoes...

If you're looking for an interesting government change challenge, that would be it. Fixing that would be a major accomplishment.

With the French Revolution in G2 it may well have failed because the player simply tried to impliment Napoleonic tactics- Skirmish screens columns of attack etc, without actually having a revolution to evoke the spirit of the revolution. Yes the King was dead, but the people were not the cause. Maybe if the support had been there then it would have turned out differently. Instead it was more an attempt to apply out of period tactics wiht the army in being not being retrained or drilled in the new way, I seem to remember the newspaper article in game as saying the skirmishers wandered aimlessly towards there objective unsure of what was expected of them. which may be a reflection of that.

I expect as with most things in the game a change of Government form is possiable, but the way & how may remain a mystery. Get it right & you can tell the world how great & good you are, Get it wrong well I guess it could be time to look for the back exit as the mob armed with pitchforks & flaming torches are knocking on the front door.