Senatus News

[p]Hello Senator,[/p][p]In today’s dev diary, I’d like to talk about deck building in Senatus: how you obtain the cards you’ll bring to the Senate to debate your rivals.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]We are developing a system of events that appear randomly depending on the locations in the city of Rome that you visit: the Forum, the Temple of Jupiter, the Suburra district, and more. These events are based on decision-making and probability: the more you risk, the more interesting your reward can be. But be careful, if the goddess Fortuna turns against you and you fail the event, you may lose key character statistics.[/p][p]Below is an example of one of these events so you can better understand what we mean:[/p][p][/p][p]Area: Suburra
Location: Street of the Taverns[/p][p]Event Description:
The street of the taverns is suspiciously quiet today… Something strange is going on. The air smells of wine and refuse; whispers and hushed conversations drift from inside the taverns, yet the street itself is silent… Something must have happened only moments ago. At the entrance of the Taberna Cassii, a bloodstain on the wall and a trail of drops disappearing into the alleyways catches your attention. An old man who notices what you are observing meets your gaze.[/p][p]“Wondering what happened here, are you, Senator?” the old man asks.[/p][p]Options[/p]

• [p]It is my duty and right as a Senator to know what happens in Rome
  \[92% chance to obtain a Bronze Yellow Rumor card][/p]
• [p]Speak, old man, and don’t waste my time \[68% chance to obtain a Silver Yellow Rumor card][/p]
• [p]I am in the middle of an investigation of vital importance to the Republic. Speak now, citizen \[44% chance to obtain a Gold Yellow Rumor card][/p]
• [p]Move aside, drunk
  \[You leave the event without consequences][/p]

[p]Resolution[/p][p]Success “You see, Senator… The son of the distinguished Publius Annius has received quite a beating from a group of thugs… They say it’s because he owed too many denarii to the taverns on this street!” \[You received a card][/p][p]Failure
“I’m sorry I cannot be of service to the Republic, but all I saw were two drunkards beating another… Cowards, if you ask me. Two against one, right?”
\[You lost 5 Prestige for associating with drunkards and ruffians][/p][p][/p][p]This example corresponds to the basic type of event, but it will not be the only kind you encounter:[/p]

• [p]Chain Events – A first event triggers a series of decisions that can lead to unexpected consequences.[/p]
• [p]Random Events – These do not depend on the location you visit; they may surprise you on your way to the Senate, in your private villa, or at any moment.[/p]
• [p]Special Events – Unique events that appear at specific moments during a game and put your Senator under intense pressure.[/p]

[p]Keep in mind that these events are not only used to obtain new cards for debate. They are also the main way to improve your character’s Prestige and Oratory statistics. In short, they are how you prepare your Senator to succeed in debate.[/p][p][/p][p]Are you ready for what Rome has in store for you?
Share in the comments what you think about the system and what kinds of events you would like to encounter.[/p]

[p]In the earliest prototypes of Senatus, every card showed the same senator.[/p]

• [p]Same face.[/p]
• [p]Same tunic.[/p]
• [p]Same beard.[/p]

[p]It was practical. It worked. But it wasn’t Rome.[/p][p]And Senatus is not about abstracting the Roman Senate. It’s about confronting it.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]The Placeholder Problem[/h2][p]When you play a card in a debate, you’re not moving an icon: you’re trying to convince a person.[/p][p]Until now, however, every senator looked like a clone from the same gens. This first iteration has served us to test internally the card game.[/p][p]However, now it's time to give each Senator a proper look.[/p][h2]A Living Senate[/h2][p]From this version onward, every senator is generated procedurally from a pool of combinable elements:[/p]

• [p]Different faces[/p]
• [p]Varied hairstyles[/p]
• [p]Body types[/p]
• [p]Skin tones[/p]
• [p]Hair colors[/p]
• [p]Beards and facial styles[/p]

[p]Each card now represents a distinct individual within the Senate.[/p][p]These are not just cosmetic tweaks. The cumulative effect is what matters: when you look at the board, you no longer see an abstract grid of influence. You see an assembly, a political body: The Senate of Rome.[/p][p][/p][h2]Why This Matters[/h2][p]In a game centered on debate and persuasion, perception is part of the design.[/p][p]This visual variability:[/p]

• [p]Reinforces the feeling that you are negotiating and convencing real individuals.[/p]
• [p]Adds identity and character to the Senate as a whole.[/p]
• [p]Makes each playthrough feel subtly different from the last.[/p]

[p]It may seem like a small change, but it transforms the atmosphere of the game. Politics is not uniform. The Republic was not homogeneous. And now, neither is the Senate.[/p][p][/p][p]That's all for now, see you in the next dev diary, senator![/p][h3]The Senatus Team[/h3]

[p]Salve, Senator.[/p][p]Welcome to the first development diary for Senatus. Today we want to introduce a core pillar of the Senatus experience: the Campaign Map — your political playground between debates.[/p][p]But before going into the topic, remember to wishlist and follow Senatus so you don't miss out on anything![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]While debates in the Senate are where laws are decided, power in Rome is built outside the Curia as well. Influence is earned in temples, forums, streets, and shadows. The Campaign Map is our way of turning the city of Rome itself into a strategic layer.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]🗺️ The Campaign Map — Rome as a Political Battlefield[/h2][p]Between senatorial debates, you will navigate a stylized representation of the city of Rome featuring 16 visitable locations. Each one is more than scenery — it’s a decision-driven event hub tied to politics, influence, and personal advancement.[/p][p]These locations represent the social, religious, economic, and political fabric of the Republic. Power in Senatus does not come only from strong rhetoric, but from where you go, who you meet, and what choices you make.[/p][p]You have limited time before the next debate. Every visit is an opportunity — and a trade-off.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]🏛️ Meaningful Locations, Meaningful Choices[/h2][p]Each location contains unique narrative events built around political dilemmas, favors, risks, and opportunities. These are not passive bonuses — they are decision points.[/p][p]Your choices shape both your deck and your senator.[/p][p]No two visits are guaranteed to play out the same way. Events are designed to create variability and strategic tension across campaigns. We will expand the event concept in future dev diaries.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]⏳ Time Is Your Most Valuable Resource[/h2][p]You cannot visit all 16 locations before every debate.[/p][p]Choosing where to go — and what to ignore — is a core strategic decision. Do you chase a powerful card? Strengthen your personal stats? Take a risky event that could swing your campaign?[/p][p]Rome is vast. Your time is not.[/p][hr][/hr][h2]Strategy Beyond the Senate[/h2][p]With the Campaign Map, Senatus becomes more than a series of card battles. It becomes a political career simulator, where preparation, networking, and calculated risks determine who arrives at the Senate ready to dominate.[/p][p]Debates decide votes.
The city decides who you are when you enter them.[/p][p]The Republic watches, Senator.[/p]