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[Jamini]

Well, I can think of one minor change to nobles that would make killing them riskier and keeping them around more beneficial to your fortress: have them make friends *very* quickly, but not get happy thoughts from doing so.

Thematically, Nobility should have enough free time (as it is) to get really bored, and thus they have a need for companionship/advice/camaraderie from the people who work under them. For the noble this socializing would be commonplace and expected, but for the people who they befriend they would consider themselves the "favorites" of the head honcho, or even just be happier that someone is listening to their needs and desires.

Gameplay-wise, it makes having nobility die (and consequently, not having a tomb in the case that they get ambushed by goblins) a potential trigger for the downfall of your fortress. Most forts are often have at least one or two citizens on the brink of tantruming (even if the player is unaware) and one or two large fortress-wide unhappy thoughts have the potential to send everything into a major spiral of despair, madness, and death. Contrawise, keeping your nobility happy would provide a natural boost to happyness as making and talking to friends both produce happy thoughts of their own accord.

My $0.02

[Hectonkhyres]

Am I the only one who thought of the Holocaust when I read "Final Solution" in the topic text?
Then again, killing every noble you can find isn't much different from what many players do now.

I thought the whole final solution thing was intentional. Of course I am an (admittedly secular) jew an such things stand out like neon signs.

Also: magma chambers > gas chambers.

[Pilsu]

Fix the mandates before you break the game with this crap

[Jude]

I agree that killing nobles should piss off the mountainhomes, but that wouldn't make sense either unless nobles really do serve some kind of purpose. Why haven't the dwarves of the mountainhomes risen up in revolt, unless nobles are there for a good reason? I think nobles should (for the most part) serve some useful purpose, but by all means keep the ridiculous mandates and demands and hammerings in to create a challenge.

[Neonivek]

I agree that killing nobles should piss off the mountainhomes, but that wouldn't make sense either unless nobles really do serve some kind of purpose. Why haven't the dwarves of the mountainhomes risen up in revolt, unless nobles are there for a good reason? I think nobles should (for the most part) serve some useful purpose, but by all means keep the ridiculous mandates and demands and hammerings in to create a challenge.

They rule the land, supply you with protection, and you are taught to love and respect royalty

That is what they do.

You the player are doing a lot of what the Nobility are doing... Being the invisable hand. Did you build that Carpenter workstation? No the Noble did.

You want police? That is the Noble's job to ensure it exists

I personally don't know what you guys believe Nobility did, but beyond a few treats here and there they were much more distant from the peasantry then the Dwarf Fortress Nobility.

[LegacyCWAL]

It depends on which kind of nobility we're talking about, but pretty much, yeah.

[Dakira]

A few thoughts,
Apologies if these have been mentioned before in other threads or whatever.

• Nobles mostly mandate tasks that your fortress is prepared to handle.
• Nobles still make mandates that you are unprepared for, but give more time to complete so that you can import the required materials.
• Nobles do not simply "Arrive" at the fortress. A diplomat from the mountainhome arrives to designate a noble from your existing lot. From there, other noble positions are filled from your populace by this designated official.

There was also a post by Hectonkhyres which is spoiler'd below. I agree with the first three, but all five are below.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

1) Each additional noble provides your fortress with a little bit of political clout. Effects should include attracting a better class of immigrants (skilled craftsmen and warriors instead of peasants and soap makers) and better exchange rates with the caravans. Your home nation might send troops to help end a lengthy siege on a fortress bearing many important nobles.

2) Nobles should throw better parties than everybody else, though these might have limited guest lists. Really nice positive thoughts and better training in social skills.

3) Your nobles should occasionally get visitors from other lands and these might might bring information and gifts. The king might receive precious gems or metals as tribute and the dungeon master might receive a caged werewolf from abroad. You get the idea here.

4) Nobles might occasionally hire themselves an adventurer to suit their whims. They might bring back trophies to deck your walls (dragon's head anyone?) or mystical artifacts or fresh minions.

5) Lesser nobles should be more like valiant knights. They may have to lead their troops into battle in their brilliantly blinged-out armor. When there isn't a battle, they conduct duels (not necessarily to the death) and go on hunts for worthy game (possibly off map). This should be at least partially based on the noble's personality and type. I have trouble seeing the tax collector charging the goblin's demon... though that would indeed be hillarious.