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[TeleDwarf]

Stay a while and listen, and I will tell you a story. A story of Dungeons & Dragons, of Kobolds and Goblins, of Ghouls and Ghosts, of Kings and Quests, but most importantly — of Dwarves and Vamp — Well, a story of Dwarves.

Spoiler: "A little theory to warm you up" (click to show/hide)

Preamble

We all know that DF is a single-player strategy/management game. We all love it for endless posibilities of it's relatively simple engine, for it's endless bugs and errors, for it's awesome modding potential, for the awesome narratives it facilitates.

But how about multiplayer? Every game nowadays is released with some for of MP experience in mind. I have read about the attempts to achieve MP experience in DF in two ways: a shared VNC server and succession games. First is cumbersome and is not well-suited for DF interface(it may change once community develops some memory-injection software to use several DF processes with a single save file); second is perfectly fine, but it only allows one person at a time to play the game.

A third way to get MP in an SP game

So I(with some help from senators) came up with an idea to have a multiplayer RPG, powered and serviced by DF engine.
Everyone is playing at the same time. Everyone makes decisions, everyone have a freedom of will.
How is it achieved?
Simple: through a forum RPG. A delegated interface, where you describe what you want to do and then receive a feedback about results of your actions. Pretty much like you would play D'n'D, but instead of rulebook and dice you use rulebook, dice and DF.

Spoiler: "The Rules" (click to show/hide)

1. How to start: To enter the game you need to make a request in this thread. You will get a dwarf, animal, creature, god(or whatever) named after you. That will be your avatar, your character. You will make all decisions he is to make. Of course if you have a body - you will not always do what you decided to do: If your body is tired - it will go to sleep no matter what you planned to do.

2. Available Options: After you have been dwarfed (or catted, or whatever...) you have a total free will within the boundaries of your roleplay. You can coop with others or go hermit somewhere or even split the settlement in two, dragging some npc dwarves along with rhetoric. Just let your imagination drive you. Your options are only vaguely limited by DF mechanics: You cannot ride demons or go out adventuring, but if something can be done or modded somehow - we will try our best to make it happen. The most fun, I expect, is to be had in creating and servicing political systems, guilds, governments, religious cults, warrior groups, etc...

3. Limiting Factors: Of course having an option to do something is not the same as actually doing it. Your idea may be unrealistic, impossible, ugly, stupid, dangerous or whatever. WE surely do not want to have everyone's game foiled because someone decided to start loyalty cascade...
Several limiting tiers exist to somehow curb the overzealous:
a) first of all player himself must justify his idea in his head. It should be consistent with his character, his position in society, with the traditions and conventions and have some sense to it. Your consciousness is the first line of defense.
b) other dwarves may lash out against your plans. You may be coerced to withdraw your intentions, your character may be imprisoned, or you can even be officially declared insane (with the appropriate status change in the DF), or even executed. There of course could be reactions of lesser scales, like duels with individual opponents and whatnot.
c) GM(From now on - Overseer) is the last line of defense. He represents NPC dwarves and is responsible for gameplay for everyone.
GM has really awesome and limitless powers, but is strongly limited in the legal ways to exercise them. Formally Overseer is an employee of local polity(A council, hermit, lord, whatever...). He is to advance game time, to do the calculations and to roll the dice, to mod the game when necessary and to create nice visual reports in the form of snapshots.
With great power comes great responsibility. As a top-level authority in all game matters Overseer is to exercise a great deal of caution in the matters of state. His work should not be intrusive or oppressive in any way.

4. Death and Taxes: As we know - dwarves die. And not only that, that alone would be tolerable, but they tend to die much more often then actual player, who plays that dwaf. So what do we do? We introduce dwarven succession. While you are still alive - you can get an heir. Either a real son/doughter, or an adopted child. Natural children have preference, but if none is alive at the moment of your death - you will continue to play as an adopted child of yours. Adopting is a powerful diplomatic tool(wip, will be updated in the politics section once it is decided upon).
Having an heir allows you to get a head start in your new life: pass on some of the goodies you own, prepare and train him, introduce him to the politics, develop his character, etc...
Not having an heir is also not the end of the world - you will be able to start over as a lowly peasant. No one will actually recognize you and you can roleplay a totally different character. From the very bottom.

Spoiler: "Political Influence Rules" (click to show/hide)

Influence represents how much dwarves of the settlement will listen to you and be inclined to follow your ideas.  you may gain, lose and use it in various ways.
You may give any amount of your influence to another citizen if you wish (by agreeing to be their sycophant).  You may not reduce your influence below 0 in this manner.
If you are appointed to the council you gain 10 influence.
If you are dismissed from the council you lose 10 influence. 
You gain influence for each kill deemed significant by the council.*
You gain 2 influence (at least)* for each artifact you make.
If you are a full time soldier you gain 2 influence.  If you retire after at least 1 season you retain 1 influence, 2 if you retire for medical reasons.
If you are a family member of a current council member you gain 2 influence.
If your influence is over 50 you gain half as much (rounded down) and lose twice as much (rounded up) as you normally would.
If you have less than 0 you gain twice as much as you normally would (rounded down). 
For every 10 influence starting at 20 (i.e. at 20,30,40 etc) a family member of yours has you gain 1 influence (cumulative across all family members)
When you make an action, make a post with the name of the action and the target (if relevant) along with an IC explanation/argument.
The votes on all actions are counted 24 hours afterwards, or 48 hours if the matter requires a council vote (or involves the council heavily otherwise)
If you wish to perform an action in close cooperation with others, the total influence = the influence of the most influential participant + half the influence of other participants.

If you are a peasant or better:

• you may acclaim another citizen for their achievements or services.  Make a post explaining what they did and why they are worthy of recognition. You may not acclaim individuals with 0 or more influence if you have less than 0.
  each citizen who agrees (including yourself) adds 1 influence to the target
  If more citizens agree than disagree (if someone other than yourself agreed) you gain 1 influence
  if more citizens disagree than agree you lose 2 influence, the target loses 1
  
  
• You may defame an individual publically, make a post explaining why they are untrustworthy or otherwise unsuitable to lead others.
  Each citizen who agrees subtracts 1 influence from the target
  Each citizen who disagrees subtracts 1 influence from yourself
  If more citizens disagree than agree the target loses no influence
  you may not defame someone with less influence than yourself.
  
• You may propose a building/project or other use of labour/resources.  Make a post with building plans or a general outline of what you propose
  All citizens with 0 or more influence vote, council member influence counts double.
  If the combined influence of all who vote yes exceeds the influence of those who vote no, the plan is approved and you gain 2 influence
  If the combined influence of all who vote no exceeds the influence of those who vote yes the plan is not approved, you lose 2 influence
  
• You may petition the council for a government position, if you either seek to occupy or create an empty one, or you have more influence than the current official.  Make a post explaining why you are better for the job.  You must have at least 4 influence.
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the overall vote is yes you gain the position, and 3 influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 6 influence
  
• You may accuse a fellow citizen of a crime.  Make a post presenting the nature of the crime, if it not an existing law why it IS a crime, and your evidence, and a suggested punishment if you wish for less than maximum harshness.  You may only accuse council members or government officials if you have at least half their influence or are a council member.  You may only accuse citizens if you have 0 or more influence.
  Council members vote yea or nay, and put forth their preferred punishment for accused or accuser (if there is one)
  If the overall vote is yes, council members decide on a punishment and the accused loses HALF of their influence.  you gain 1 influence
  If the overall vote is no, you lose 10 influence, and you may be punished if the council decides your accusation was severe enough.
  
• if you have more influence than a council member you may petition the council to take their place. Make a post explaining why they are unfit for the council and you are.
  Council members other than the target vote yea or nay.  Any council member who has less influence than yourself may only vote yes or abstain
  If the overall vote is yes you gain the council position (and 10 influence)
  If the vote is tied the incumbent keeps their council position
  If the overall vote is no you lose 10 influence
  

If you are a full time soldier

• You may decry someone who has never been in the military, or was discharged for non medical reasons as a coward.  Make a post detailing your insults.
  If more soldiers agree than disagree, or no soldiers disagree at all, the target loses 5 influence, you gain 1 influence.
  If more soldiers disagree you lose 3 influence, the target gains 1 influence.
  
• You may petition the council to become captain of your squad, if either you have more influence than the current captain, or you have more influence than any council member.  Make a post detailing why you deserve to lead.
  Council members vote yea or nay.  If council members have ever been decried as a coward in their life they can not vote.
  If the overall vote is yes, you replace the captain, he loses 2 influence you gain 3 influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 4 influence.
  

If you are a Council Member:

• You may stake a claim on any item if the current owner has less influence than yourself, or there is none.  Make a post explaining what you need it for/why you should have it
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the item is masterwork (and the creator is remembered) or artifact the creator gains 2 influence for each attempt to stake a claim
  If the overall vote is nay, you lose 2 influence
  
• You may propose a law.  Make a post detailing what citizens (of a specific level if applicable) must or must not do, and the punishments for breaking the law, and why such a law is necessary.
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the overall vote is yes, the law is enacted and you gain 2 influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 3 influence
   
• You may repeal a law. Make a post describing why the law is bad or unnecessary.
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the overall vote is yes the law is repealed and you gain one influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 2 influence
  
• If you have more influence than a council member you may initiate a vote to kick them off the council.  Make a post explaining why they don't belong here.
  Council members vote yea or nay, excluding the target
  If you have a replacement in mind with more influence than the current council member you get +1 vote for yes
  If the overall vote is yes, the council member is removed, you gain 5 influence, everyone who voted yes gains 1 influence  For purposes of citizens attempting to gain council position an empty spot counts as having 5 influence
  If the overall vote is no or tied, you lose 10 influence, and everyone who voted yes loses 1 influence
  

If you have 75 or more influence:
you are the beloved hero of the people.

• You may declare a law or conviction null.  You are above the law.  Make a post decrying those who abuse their power.
  If your influence plus half the influence of everyone who agrees with you is greater than the combined influence of all who disagree with you the law/conviction is overturned and you gain 8 influence.  All those who opposed you lose 3 influence
  If the combined influence of those who oppose you is greater than your influence plus half of those who agree with you, you are unsuccessful and lose 15 influence
• You may declare the council corrupt or otherwise compromised and dissolve it!  The royal liason of course is incorruptible, he can stay.  Make a post detailing the crimes against dwarf kind perpetrated by those so called nobles.
  The influence of full time soldiers (excluding yourself) counts double for this action.
  If your influence plus the influence of all who support you is greater than the influence of all council members and soldiers who oppose you combined, all council members are dismissed, you can choose their punishment, if any.  you gain 20 influence and a seat on the council.  You may choose new councillors or change the form of government entirely.  Dismissed council members lose 25 influence
  If your influence plus those who support you is less than or equal to the influence of all council members and soldiers who oppose you, you fail and you and your supporters may be sentenced to whatever punishment the council agrees upon for treason.  You lose 50 influence, your supporters lose 10 influence, all council members gain 10 influence.
  

If you have -10 or less influence:
You are a total pariah

• You may declare you are friends with someone.
  They lose 5 influence.
  

If you are a Royal Liason:

You may overturn any council or citizen decision/action and repeal any law or conviction.  You may also dismiss or appoint any council member or government position.

If you are a cat

• You may show affection to a citizen.
  You may only recieve approval from each citizen once
  If they Accept your affection you gain 1 influence
  If they reject you you lose 1 influence and gain 1 sadness
  
• You may hiss at a citizen in view of others
  You may only hiss at a citizen once
  They lose 1 influence
  
• If you have more influence than a citizen, and they accept your affection, you may overcome them with cuteness and perform 1 action as if you were them, except your influence equals both your influences combined.
  You may only overcome a citizen once

to be continued...

Old OP:
Preliminary Thoughts

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I will not turn invaders off or wall-off/bridge-off the map.

The only area that is acceptable to be walled off is the keep - noble manor/palace, elite squad or two as a royal guard and ducal/baron/count guard, a selected few craftsdwarves, who earned a house inside the keep by their devotion and skill (royal mason, royal armorer, etc...).

Housing considerations: dormitories are for poor human students and sodomitical elves. Dwarves sleep in own bed or in the mud. house on the other hand is not guaranteed. The poor dwarves may live in a sleeping stockpiles: a large houses with lots of beds. each assigned as a bedroom for some poor fellow.

Wealthy(skillful, honored, etc...) dwarves will get their own home and if they desire so - a workshop. a workshop on the first floor, a bedroom and a dining room on the second. Children of the wealthy dwarves will live in the parent's house in the child-room(s) - either a "children sleeping stockpile" or individual tiny rooms for wealthiest.

Unskilled peasantry will work in the town (outside of the keep) in communal factories - houses with lot's of workshops.

I'll try to preserve a piece of natural beauty - a "central park" - an area in the center of the city (outside the keep though) which will not be developed/chopped out/harvested and designated as forbidden pathing area to preserve saplings. Perhaps intersecting footpaths will be assigned as highways for more "central park" experience.

Roads in the town will eventually be paved. important roads in the wealthy districts will then be re-paved with gold, platinum and such.

I will not constrain myself by not making any digging or tunelling - I will have a quarry, mine shafts going into various directions, wine cellars, plumbing, perhaps a shelter (after I will consider the city big and important enough). also I intend to connect some buildings with underground tunnels. In a nutshell - the closer to medieval city - the better.

I will try to keep my initial 7 alive as long as possible. I will also try to merry them to each other to form (in an ideal situation) a baron and three noble houses, eventually enclosing noble titles succession inside their families.

I will burrow nobles inside the keep and commoners outside the keep. Chosen craftsdwarves and elite guards who have proven their right to live inside the keep will be allowed to go wherever they like. a group of royal servants will b allowed inside the keep, but only to supply things needed by residents. they will not be allowed to private chambers and leisure areas, only to the stockpiles and service corridors.
Nobles will not do a thing after they will take up residence inside the palace. all maintenance jobs (building of new installations, furniture, cleaning, etc...) will be taken by chosen craftsdwarves.

Engineering and architecture: All buildings (except original few) will be constructed from blocks of consistent colours and on a foundation. I will try to create a few landmarks in the city, like a fountain, aqueduct, raising bridge, public bath with hot water, etc. (I take proposals here.).

Military: security of such insecure place will be provided by a hierarchy of military organization.
The lowest rank of this organization will be the public martial arts dojos - each dwarf will be a member of some squad. Each squad on this level will be assigned to some barracks, but will never have a training schedule. Only individual initiative is present here. No weapon of course, as it is a spirit martial art we train here.
The next level would be hunters - dwarves with hunting animals and junk crossbows to protect the city from wild beasts and hopefully decimate some attackers.
The third tier would be town guards. They will have barracs in the center of the city (but outside the keep) and will patrol the city perimeter on schedule. they will not work and will have a weapon and armor.
The highest-quality soldiers will be allowed into the keep to guard the best of the dwarfkind. They will be allowed to use the weapon they have a skill for, as they will be levied from town guards who already had some experience. They will train, socialize and have ceremonial duties like a honor guard at the gates of the keep, palace, noble rooms, etc. and are supposed to fight only in the direst situations.
The special tasks will be given to the police of the fortress - the guards. they will be given war dogs and light  crossbows and ordered to patrol craft districts and central market square to fend of thieves.

Updates will be posted in OP, questions answered in posts below. You can also have a dwarf named after you.

The Pre-Begining:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

In the wake of the year 126 an elderly king Tosid Cloisterbrushed, son of  Ingish Inkhoods, had a vision. Dwarves had mountain homes, Elves had forest retreats, Humans had towns and castles, Goblins had great towers. What if all of these design decisions could be merged together? He envisioned a great city with wide streats and beautiful gardens. He envisioned glimmering rooftops of great temples. He envisioned a great trading hub, open to all winds, like the one humans had, but with a natural beauty elves preserve so fiercely, protected by a cruel hierarchical society like the one of goblins, but populated by the short sturdy creatures fond of drink and industry.
This promised to be awesome, so he summoned his only living child and heir Kel Ringcloak. He tasked her with a duty to find a few suitable individuals to start implementing this dream. After short consideration the crown-princess Kel Ringcloak decided to send the most troublesome and good-for-nothing nobles to their certain deaths.

The Lustrous Trades is a civilization of dwarves

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Kings
1  1 the dwarf Ingish Inkhoods
2  92 the dwarf Tosid Cloisterbrushed

Worships

the dwarf deity Datan (jewels, wealth, trade)
the dwarf deity Avuz Coalirons (minerals)
the dwarf deity Kidet Blazedsquash (fortresses, war)
the dwarf deity Dasel (thunder, lightning, storms, rain)
the dwarf deity Othud Worthmoral the Peaceful-trust of Bravery (charity)
the dwarf deity Govos the Waxy Wings (animals, plants)
the dwarf deity Gedor (night, nightmares, dreams)
Site History [Load]
1  The Portal of Theaters founded Flagpines 1
2  The Sweltering Mine of Lords founded Salveabbey 1
3  The Autumnal Theater founded Minedpraise 2
4  The Ardent Pick founded Webbedboard 11
5  The Bejeweled Arena founded Racktemples 23

Populations

2402 Dwarves
470 Dogs
397 Chickens
87 Geeses
48 Cows
42 Water Buffalos
29 Alpacas
27 Turkeys
26 Blue Peafowls
21 Donkeys
20 Mules
20 Cats
16 Cavies
13 Llamas
5 Horses
4 Pigs
2 Rabbits
2 Yaks
2 Sheeps

Tosid Cloisterbrushed is a male dwarf born in 2.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Caste: Male
Type: Farmer

Positions

King of The Lustrous Trades  (92 - Present)
Related Historical Figures

the dwarf Ingish Inkhoods, Mother
the dwarf Nomal Castleright, Father
the dwarf deity Kidet Blazedsquash, Deity (100%)
the dwarf deity Ogik Eggdonkey, Deity (71%)
the dwarf Thob Paddlesears, Spouse
the dwarf Ushat Furnacepracticed, Child
the dwarf Endok Granitehoisted, Child
the dwarf Kib Wheelracks, Child
the dwarf Kel Ringcloak, Child
Related Entities

The Lustrous Trades  (Member)
The Denomination of Roars (Member)
The Ardent Pick of The Lustrous Trades  (Former Member 86%)
The Portal of Theaters of The Lustrous Trades  (Member)
The Lustrous Trades  (Position 3, 92-Present)
Skills

Crossbow - Competent (1800)
Dodging - Novice (500)
Shield - Novice (500)
Armor - Novice (500)
Milk - Novice (500)
Brewing - Novice (500)
Plant - Novice (500)
Tracking - Great (12500)
Console - Skilled (2600)
Comedy - Competent (2300)
Conversation - Competent (2500)
Negotiation - Adequate (1600)
Pacify - Skilled (2600)
Judging Intent - Adequate (1700)
Flattery - Competent (1800)
Persuasion - Adequate (1400)

Kel Ringcloak is a female dwarf born in 19.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Caste: Female
Type: Crossbowman

Related Historical Figures

the dwarf Thob Paddlesears, Mother
the dwarf Tosid Cloisterbrushed, Father
the dwarf Led Orbgleamed, Spouse
the dwarf Rovod Rubmanor, Child
the dwarf Monom Sealbirds, Child
the dwarf Erith Trenchtomb, Child
the dwarf Solon Workfurnace, Child
the dwarf Asmel Goldentongs, Child
the dwarf Eral Paddledsplatter, Child
the dwarf Sodel Inkedtick, Child
the dwarf Athel Boltedgood, Child
the dwarf deity Dasel, Deity (100%)
Related Entities

The Lustrous Trades  (Member)
The Ardent Pick of The Lustrous Trades  (Former Member 1%)
The Bejeweled Arena of The Lustrous Trades  (Member)
The Coven of Moistness (Member)
Skills

Animaltrain - Novice (500)
Animalcare - Novice (500)
Dissect Vermin - Novice (500)
Crossbow - Competent (1800)
Dodging - Novice (1000)
Shield - Novice (500)
Armor - Novice (500)
Tracking - Great (12500)

Embark location:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Actors:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Me, The expedition leader and a visionary, Degel "Telegraph" Amostod:


Noble Meng "Kerod" Tekkudlisat, landmark commissioner:


Noble Zugar "neblime" Lokotmatul, political adviser, historian:


Noble Shorast "FireCrazy" Enamadil


Migrant of the 1st wave Nish "Derpislava" Lilarkubuk, mechanic, weapons designer.


Migrant of the 2nd wave Sodel "cyberTripping" Tileshavuz, brewer.


Migrant of the 2nd wave Oddom "Dwarf4Explosive" Konosamith, crossbowdwarf.


Fair lady Urist Mc Dwarf Idedtul:


Migrant of 2nd wave, Ast "Cain" Olinasteb, mason-lumberjack


Migrant of 3rd wave, Lord_lemonpie Konoslecad, Ranger


A cat Erlis


Migrant of 2nd wave,ColdBones Migrurmuthkat, A Legendary Miner

Year 126.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

We have arrived at a great marsh soaking with water. Land is extremely fertile here, Kerod claims that he has seen tree growing from small sapling to a great oak in mere hours. We are not sure how often saplings in this land do this trick, but there is a lot of saplings here. At any rate this can pose a major threat to transportation.
Seeing how unpleasant snowstorms and rain can be in this wet are we decided to start our first building. Some may call it a "Barn", but we prefer to call it a "Longhall", as a reference to prehistoric human architecture. Such a pity I did not bribe some master carpenter on the way here. My hands are full of splinters and I am cold and hungry. I want to go home...

In the summer we noticed some broken brunches in the forest undergrowth. We were sure none of us went that particular way yet, so we proceeded to investigate despite neblime's protests(He claimed that it might be a wild badger or something, but we all know that if it was a badger we would all be dead by now). In a small and dirty cave we found three individuals who claimed to been lost here while traveling with some "adventuring vagabond". We convinced them to join our cause, and so we met Derpislava, her husband and "uncle Litast"(I am not sure what weird kind of family they have, but he is definitely not her uncle...).

In the autumn we had another strange encounter: out of nowhere a group of 8 dwarves emerged and started shouting "unkle", "niece", "darling" and other words usually found on family albums. I start to worry if Derpislava is not from hill dwarves, one of those tribes where everyone is a relative...
So we met Cain, Dwarf4Explosive,  cyberTripping and other members of their family I do not recall.

A dwaven caravan has come and outpost liaison was deeply shocked at our situation. Apparently he was expecting a marble castle with gold plating and a military parade in full steel armor instead of a group of dirty dwarves slowly building a barn.

neblime drafted a "-PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNANCE REDRESS OF THE SLICK MURK OF THE LUSTROUS TRADES-".
He must be a skilled bureaucrat, as the document is quite convoluted. Even the title is hard to grasp without a pint of strong river spirits. As we do not have nearly enough alcohol to support me thinking this document through I decided to sign it now and deal with the consequences later. That is when I will be able to swim in booze.

Year 127.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

We have finally built a basement of the Longhall and counted our supplies. It looks that our supplies are quite inadequate to the appetite of Derpislava and her relatives. We decided to use that little hole of a cave nearby as a plot to grow mushrooms. Derpislava lived there for quite some time, so the soil there must be very fertilized.

No migrants came this year at all. Outpost liaison must have described our situation in great deal of detail back home.
On a brighter side we have managed to breach through the aquifer and gain access to stone and ores.

Spoiler: "Year 128" (click to show/hide)

In the spring we were attacked by a raiding goblin party.
Nobles of Village Eribnebel gathered in the Longhall, and decided on the strategy.
Battle went relatively well.

The rest of the year we were clearing up the mess after the battle and slowly going forward with our goals:
Summer

After we have discharged all patients we decided to move healthcare to a new facility, build of limestone blocks:

Not all the doors are ready yet, but we will get there soon.

A migrant got possessed and constructed a futuristic glass box:


We have finally completed a house for Urist Mc Dwarf:


A Legendary Miner will be from now on known as ColdBones Migrurmuthkat:


He was so glad, that decided to breach an aquifer in our mine:


We do not have a prison yet, so we cannot put him in jail for this misdeed, but since our attempts to plug the stream failed we will have to either drain the water in the year 129 or build another mine some place else.

And here is the map of our great effort: Gorgeadmired

[neblime]

All dorfed players please review the roleplaying rules for this thread!
Influence Rules

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Influence represents how much dwarves of the settlement will listen to you and be inclined to follow your ideas.  you may gain, lose and use it in various ways.
You may give any amount of your influence to another citizen if you wish (by agreeing to be their sycophant).  You may not reduce your influence below 0 in this manner.
Lovers count as relatives.  Friends do not.
If your parent(s) die you recieve half of their influence when they died up to +10 
If your influence is over 50 you gain half as much (rounded down) and lose twice as much (rounded up) as you normally would.
If you have less than 0 you gain twice as much as you normally would (rounded down). 
For every 10 influence starting at 20 (i.e. at 20,30,40 etc) a family member of yours has you gain 1 influence (cumulative across all family members)
When you make an action, make a post with the name of the action and the target (if relevant) along with an IC explanation/argument.
The votes on all actions are counted 12 hours afterwards if a majority of all possible votes is reached in that time, or 24 hours if rhetoric occurs or the number of votes is insufficient to outweigh all possible votes)
If you wish to perform an action in close cooperation with others, the total influence = the influence of the most influential participant + half the influence of other participants.

If you are a peasant or better:
You gain 2 influence (at least)* for each artifact you make.
If you are a family member of a current council member you gain 2 influence.
You gain influence for each kill deemed significant by the council.*

• you may acclaim another citizen for their achievements or services.  Make a post explaining what they did and why they are worthy of recognition. You may not acclaim individuals with 0 or more influence if you have less than 0.
  each citizen who agrees (including yourself) adds 1 influence to the target
  If more citizens agree than disagree (if someone other than yourself agreed) you gain 1 influence
  if more citizens disagree than agree you lose 2 influence, the target loses 1
  
  
• You may defame an individual publically, make a post explaining why they are untrustworthy or otherwise unsuitable to lead others.
  Each citizen who agrees subtracts 1 influence from the target
  Each citizen who disagrees subtracts 1 influence from yourself
  If more citizens disagree than agree the target loses no influence
  you may not defame someone with less influence than yourself.
  
• You may propose a building/project or other use of labour/resources.  Make a post with building plans or a general outline of what you propose
  All citizens with 0 or more influence vote
  If more vote yes than no, the plan is approved and you gain 2 influence
  If more vote no than yes, the plan is not approved, you lose 2 influence
  
• You may petition the council for a government position, if you either seek to occupy or create an empty one, or you have more influence than the current official.  Make a post explaining why you are better for the job.  You must have at least 4 influence.
  Council members (other than yourself, if you are one) vote yea or nay
  If the overall vote is yes you gain the position, and 3 influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 6 influence
  
• You may accuse a fellow citizen of a crime.  Make a post presenting the nature of the crime, if it not an existing law why it IS a crime, and your evidence, and a suggested punishment if you wish for less than maximum harshness.  You may only accuse council members or government officials if you have at least half their influence or are a council member.  You may only accuse citizens if you have 0 or more influence.
  Council members vote yea or nay, and put forth their preferred punishment for accused or accuser (if there is one)
  If the overall vote is yes, council members decide on a punishment and the accused loses HALF of their influence.  you gain 1 influence
  If the overall vote is no, you lose 10 influence, and you may be punished if the council decides your accusation was severe enough.
  
• if you have more influence than a council member you may petition the council to take their place. Make a post explaining why they are unfit for the council and you are.
  Council members other than the target vote yea or nay.  Any council member who has less influence than yourself may only vote yes or abstain
  If the overall vote is yes you gain the council position (and 10 influence)
  If the vote is tied the incumbent keeps their council position
  If the overall vote is no you lose 10 influence
  
• You may try to make an adoption contract:
  If you die childless - you will play as an adopted dwarf. Both adopted dwarf and family of the adopted dwarf immediately gets a portion of player influence.*(ex: If I wanted to adopt Udil Lilarkubuk, Deprislava would get +2 influence and Libash Lilarkubuk would get +2 inluence(shared family bonus), Udil Lilarkubuk would get +4 influence(heir bonus))
  An adopter loses influence based on the percentage of the difference between his family (individual+partner) influence and the natural family(parents combined) of the adoptee.
  (ex: If I wanted to adopt Udil Lilarkubuk, I would lose (10(mine) + 10(lover's) - 10(Derpislava)-2(Bomrek Konoslecad))*0.4=4 influence.)
  
• If you have 3 or more influence you may petition the council to start a group/guild.  Make a post detailing what it will do, the responsibilities and privileges you will have as leader, and why it should exist
  Council members vote yes or no
  if the majority vote yes, the guild is created and you gain 2 influence
  If the majority vote no you lose 3 influence
  

If you are a full time soldier
If you are a full time soldier you gain 2 influence.  If you retire after at least 1 season you retain 1 influence, 2 if you retire for medical reasons.

• You may decry someone who has never been in the military, or was discharged for non medical reasons as a coward.  Make a post detailing your insults.
  If more soldiers agree than disagree, or no soldiers disagree at all, the target loses 5 influence, you gain 1 influence.
  If more soldiers disagree you lose 3 influence, the target gains 1 influence.
  
• You may petition the council to become captain of your squad, if either you have more influence than the current captain, or you have more influence than any council member.  Make a post detailing why you deserve to lead.
  Council members vote yea or nay.  If council members have ever been decried as a coward in their life they can not vote.
  If the overall vote is yes, you replace the captain, he loses 2 influence you gain 3 influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 4 influence.
  

If you are a Council Member:
If you are appointed to the council you gain 10 influence.
If you are dismissed from the council you lose 10 influence.

• You may stake a claim on any item if the current owner has less influence than yourself, or there is none.  Make a post explaining what you need it for/why you should have it
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the item is masterwork (and the creator is remembered) or artifact the creator gains 2 influence for each attempt to stake a claim
  If the overall vote is nay, you lose 2 influence
  
• You may propose a law.  Make a post detailing what citizens (of a specific level if applicable) must or must not do, and the punishments for breaking the law, and why such a law is necessary.
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the overall vote is yes, the law is enacted and you gain 2 influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 3 influence
   
• You may repeal a law, or propose to amend it. Make a post describing why the law is bad or unnecessary.
  Council members vote yea or nay
  If the overall vote is yes the law is repealed and you gain one influence
  If the overall vote is no you lose 2 influence
  
• If you have more influence than a council member you may initiate a vote to kick them off the council.  Make a post explaining why they don't belong here.
  Council members vote yea or nay, excluding the target
  If you have a replacement in mind with more influence than the current council member you get +1 vote for yes
  If the overall vote is yes, the council member is removed, you gain 5 influence, everyone who voted yes gains 1 influence  For purposes of citizens attempting to gain council position an empty spot counts as having 5 influence
  If the overall vote is no or tied, you lose 10 influence, and everyone who voted yes loses 1 influence
  

If you have 75 or more influence:
you are the beloved hero of the people.

• You may declare a law or conviction null.  You are above the law.  Make a post decrying those who abuse their power.
  If your influence plus half the influence of everyone who agrees with you is greater than the combined influence of all who disagree with you the law/conviction is overturned and you gain 8 influence.  All those who opposed you lose 3 influence
  If the combined influence of those who oppose you is greater than your influence plus half of those who agree with you, you are unsuccessful and lose 15 influence
• You may declare the council corrupt or otherwise compromised and dissolve it!  The royal liason of course is incorruptible, he can stay.  Make a post detailing the crimes against dwarf kind perpetrated by those so called nobles.
  The influence of full time soldiers (excluding yourself) counts double for this action.
  If your influence plus the influence of all who support you is greater than the influence of all council members and soldiers who oppose you combined, all council members are dismissed, you can choose their punishment, if any.  you gain 20 influence and a seat on the council.  You may choose new councillors or change the form of government entirely.  Dismissed council members lose 25 influence
  If your influence plus those who support you is less than or equal to the influence of all council members and soldiers who oppose you, you fail and you and your supporters may be sentenced to whatever punishment the council agrees upon for treason.  You lose 50 influence, your supporters lose 10 influence, all council members gain 10 influence.
  

If you have -10 or less influence:
You are a total pariah

• You may declare you are friends with someone.
  They lose 5 influence.
  

If you are a Royal Liason:
If your influence drops below 5 you lose the position of royal liason

You may overturn any council or citizen decision/action and repeal any law or conviction.  You may also dismiss or appoint any council member or government position.
You lose 5 influence.

If you are a cat

• You may show affection to a citizen.
  You may only recieve approval from each citizen once
  If they Accept your affection you gain 1 influence
  If they reject you you lose 1 influence and gain 1 sadness
  
• You may hiss at a citizen in view of others
  You may only hiss at a citizen once
  They lose 1 influence
  
• If you have more influence than a citizen, and they accept your affection, you may overcome them with cuteness and perform 1 action as if you were them, except your influence equals both your influences combined.
  You may only overcome a citizen once

If you are dead:

You may chose to reincarnate as a divine of any free god.
Divines have Divine influence instead of normal influence.  No normal influence actions may be undertaken.
You may not make any IC posts from your divine. All IC PMs you send must also be send to GM (currently Teledwarf)

• You may choose one citizen as your prophet.  If they are a PC they must accept.  If they are an NPC they must not accept as long as they have no PC relatives: Send them a PM detailing why they should devote their lives to you (if they are a PC)
  You may send this prophet IC PMs for free.  If they are an NPC you may control them as if they were your PC
  
• Any citizen may choose to worship you.  Your prophet must worship you.
  Every year each worshipper gives 1 Divine influence
  
  • You may send a citizen an IC PM, with whatever message you like.  If you have enough influence you may send:
    At the cost of 1 influence if they are a devout worshipper
    At the cost of 2 influence if they are a casual worshipper
    At the cost of 6 influence if they are not a worshipper
    at the cost of 10 influence if they worship a god with an opposing sphere
    
  • You may make an IC post for all citizens to hear.
    At the cost of 15 influence, so make sure it earns you some worshippers!
    
  You may construct a temple/monument, convince mere mortals to do so with PMs.
  Upon completion You gain influence per year depending on how prestigious the monument is*
  If it is destroyed or damage you lose influence depending on how prestigious the monument is*
  

Guilds/Groups
A group has influence and may be targeted for acclaim or defamation in the same manner as a player.  Groups may also be given influence like a player (but not give it), when a PC gives influence to a group the group gains an unmentionable NPC per every 2 influence given, or an npc who WANTS to join the group if there are conditions to entry.
The owner of a group is the player who proposed it.  Leadership may be transferred under whatever conditions the leader desires.
The leader of a group can decide group laws/rules by whatever system he desires.  While inside group property both group and council laws apply (and their full punishments)
Groups gain 1 influence for every 5 members they have
if a group member commits a crime the group loses 2 influence

• Groups may petition the council for property, labour or resources if they have 2 or more influence.  Make a post detailing why your group needs such.
  council members vote yes or no.  Council members with less influence than the group may only vote yes or abstain.
  if the vote is yes, the group gains the resource to do with it what they please.  If it is an artifact the group gains 2 influence.  If it is labour or property the group gains a variable amount of influence depending on the amount of labour/property in question*
  if the vote is no the group loses 2 influence
  The council may vote to abolish a group. Only council members with more influence than the group may initiate such a vote.  Make a post detailing why the group is harmful to the settlement.
  council members vote yes or no.  Council members with less influence than the group may only vote yes or abstain.
  If the overall vote is yes the group is abolished, the owner loses 5 influence, and the player who initiated the vote gains 1 influence for every 5 the group had
  If the overall vote is no, the group gains 4 influence, and the council member who initiated the vote loses 2 influence.
  

*Subject to council/royal discretion

Player+Law Summary

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

LAWS:
The Dignified Burial act
Exhumation ban
The Work-place/Living-space Integration Act
The Guilds and Socities Act
CITIZENS:
* denotes an NPC.  for all intents and purposes they are under control of their highest influence PC relative.
Council Members:
+16 Royal Liason Teledwarf Towntunnel (royal authority/overseer,Soldier)
  *+4 Sakzul Astekel - Lover (soldier)
+14 Landmark Comissioner Kerod Picknotch - profile
+27 Council Secretary Neblime Inkydance - Soldier - profile
   +0 Firecrazy - lover
+10 Councillor cyberTripping Trussmine
+18 Citizen Liason Cain Tongstell -profile
    *+9 Oline BlockadeWire - Adopted Daughter
     +3 Zargoth Snarlclasps - uncle (PC)
  * +0 Domas Satdeduk - uncle
Others:
+0 FireCrazy Purewalled - profile
   +25 Neblime Inkydance - lover
+0 Derpislava Patternedlance
  *+0 Libash Lilarkubuk - Husband
  *+0 Udil Lilarkubuk - son
-1 Dwarf4explosive Brassdelights (soldier) - profile
  *+0Meng Workflax - Eldest Daughter
  *+0Dastot Lashed - Youngest Daughter
+0 Lord Lemonpie
  *+0 Bomrek Konoslecad - Wife
  *+0   Logem Ilunzugar -Sister
+4 Mining Guild Founder ColdBones Oceanmansion - profile
+0 DashedSilver Etestdodўk
Soldiers:
+3 Zargoth Snarlclasps (soldier)-  profile
  *+0 Domas Satdeduk - Brother
    +18 Cain Tongstell - Nephew (PC)
+0Khanaris Rutodral "Dashedsilver" - profile
  *+0 Ducim Swampbusts - Eldest Sons
  *+0 Reg Oil - Daughter
+2 Elorf Moltenrag - profile
+2 Mr. Mountain - Soldier - profile
Pets:
-5 Erlis (no one listens to a cat!)
Deceased:
+4 Fortifications Comissioner Urist McDwarf
Gods:
+0 Datan (jewels, wealth, trade)
+0 Avuz Coalirons (minerals)
+0 Kidet Blazedsquash (fortresses, war)
+0 Dasel (thunder, lightning, storms, rain)
+0 Othud Worthmoral the Peaceful-trust of Bravery (charity)
+0 Govos the Waxy Wings (animals, plants)
+0 Gedor (night, nightmares, dreams)
Guilds
The Miner's Guild  +0
Owner: Coldbones oceanmansion
Members:1
Property: none

[kero42]

Sound like it will be interesting, good luck, PTW. Also:

Updates will be posted in OP, questions answered in posts below. You can also have a dwarf named after you.

If it would be allright, I will have one named Kerod, Male, no specific appearance or personality (though I would prefer he worship one, maybe two gods), and any profession you need/want him to be.

[neblime]

oh right, dwarf me too!
edit- oh hey the first 7 people to get themselves dorfed will be the nobles right?
we should be able to decide what political intrigues or actions we undertake to try and become mayor or something...
just an idea, I probably should avoid derailing the main theme too much.

[Ethultheaxelord]

Wish i had the skill and patience to pull something like this off. Also PTW

[☼!!Troll Fur Sock!!☼]

Any chance of it becoming succesion game after several years? Even if not, good luck. You will need it. What I fear the most is tantruming - nobles should be totally sealed from peasants or they will go ax crazy from the amount of "lost a friend to tragedy"...

Oh, and Dorf me too. Not one from starting 7, but from the first migrant wave. Derpislava, female, mechanic. Preferably a lone and withdrawed from society personality.

[thegoatgod_pan]

I love doing this kind of thing! My advice: Let it develop organically. Design the keep and get to work on it. Throw up a tavern and a bunkhouse for the laborers, and build structures as the need comes up. Hell, I like adding living spaces to the work buildings and setting the right migrant family there. When the keep and infrastructure are finished, then get to making mud huts for the peasants.

Let it flow organically and it will surprise you with its weirdness. I still remember when the slum spontaneously formed, and stabbings started to happen because I started two militias in the poor quarter, equipped everyone with kobold daggers, and the new recruits started a gang war.

[Grey Goo]

I want be that dwarf named after me who goes berserk, kills every other named dwarves and is pincushioned after that by group of dabbling markdwarves. If that dwarf was already claimed by someone, well, it was me after all in disguise! Yes, even if it is female dwarf. No one said I can't be in drags, right?..

[Dwarf4Explosives]

Dwarf me as the weakest of your military (i.e. the one you deem "most likely to die painfully and slowly to stray ducks, ducts or kobolds").

[TeleDwarf]

Quite appropriately I have messed up my embark build. As a result I have started with six skill-less dwarves and one proficient negotiator. I am lucky to have a ton of booze, a little food, a pick, a training axe and a ton of nest boxes.
I am claiming my only "skilled dwarf to be my avatar. Meet Degel Teledwarf Amostod, the expedition leader:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

If it would be allright, I will have one named Kerod, Male, no specific appearance or personality (though I would prefer he worship one, maybe two gods), and any profession you need/want him to be.

Among the first 7 there is a notable Meng Kerod Tekkudlisat:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

oh right, dwarf me too!
edit- oh hey the first 7 people to get themselves dorfed will be the nobles right?
we should be able to decide what political intrigues or actions we undertake to try and become mayor or something...
just an idea, I probably should avoid derailing the main theme too much.

There also was a noble Zugar neblime Lokotmatul:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

If you guys find some way how to add RPG intrigue into the DF mechanics - it would be awesome.
I am not sure about succession game. Maybe later. It is important to have some layout and traditions established before giving the fortress away to public destruction.
I will start organically - by excavating a small cave for crops and building a wooden longhall for my first 7 dwarves. After all they are alone in the woods and they have no skills, no weapon, no hope, no training...

[kero42]

we should be able to decide what political intrigues or actions we undertake to try and become mayor or something...
just an idea, I probably should avoid derailing the main theme too much.

Well taking form this idea, and what I have read of his personality, Kerod would very much like to get married and have a son (Kerod II, and so on. Though I imagine Kerod would accept a his most mannish daughter an heir, through some ridiculous challenge or by physical appearance alone), and will be quite acommodting to the Teledwarf's commands, what with being relaxed, unassertive and having no willpower.

I will try to create a few landmarks in the city, like a fountain, aqueduct, raising bridge, public bath with hot water, etc. (I take proposals here.).

Is the architectural aesthetic meant to be themed after any particular country/civilization? I think you mentioned medieval castles earlier, so I could probably find something that fits. I imagine we wont be seeing any pyramids, right?

Also, not really a landmark, but maybe when the mansions are done, small (maybe 3x3 *at most*) personal shrines for the nobles gods? Just a tiny room for personal use, in/next to the bedrooms. I suppose we should leave most of the planning to you, so as to not get too ahead of ourselves.

And regarding the (very unfortunate) event of our deaths, what do you lot propose we do with the corpses? If we get a family line established, then we could store the bodies/slabs in a sort of ancestral tomb under the keep ("And here, my son, lie the remains of 14 generations of our family, and when the day comes, so will we."), or maybe a public memorial slab/fountain/bench ("Donated posthumously on behalf of Urist, Beloved Count and husband."). Really, there are so many ways to go about these things,  .

P.S: It's really foreboding how spell check keeps trying to turn Kerod into Herod. Gosh, while I'm not adverse to few child murders, I'm not that evil (and ineffective), am I? (though I suppose it's rude to call Herod ineffective, after all, all the babies he did catch were quite successfully murdered, and the one who got away had a head start and God on his side.)

[TeleDwarf]

that longhall is taking ages. Building constructions is slow. Building blocks without any menial skills is slow. Building on a map of that size(check the OP) is slow. All things considered it will take me about half a year to build a first building...

Well taking form this idea, and what I have read of his personality, Kerod would very much like to get married and have a son (Kerod II, and so on. Though I imagine Kerod would accept a his most mannish daughter an heir), and will be quite acommodting to the Teledwarf's commands, what with being relaxed, unassertive and having no willpower.

I'll try to fix him some chick once we are done with some basics. The rest is up to him

Is the architectural aesthetic meant to be themed after any particular country/civilization? I think you mentioned medieval castles earlier, so I could probably find something that fits. I imagine we wont be seeing any pyramids, right?

No pyramids, no giant statues with magma breath, no computers, no minecart-powered rubik's cubes.
General theme is dark ages. During the fall of Roman Empire. We will have hot baths and sewers(maybe with some fauna?). Multistory buildings for castle and inner city.
In castle:
 barracks, palace, small garden, shrines, several years worth food stockpile. Statues everywhere, maybe some engravings (I think dfhack has some tool to convert constructed to natural). Vault for extremely valuable stuff.
In city: Taverns, workshops, housing, temples, markets(trade depots), stockpiles of valuable goods, barracks, central park(no idea how that can be linked to overall theme...).
In the surrounding area: raw goods production, farms, woodcutters, hunting grounds, stone quarries(unless they will be in catacombs under the city), fishermen, training grounds...

 
And regarding the (very unfortunate) event of our deaths, what do you lot propose we do with the corpses? If we get a family line established, then we could store the bodies/slabs in a sort of ancestral tomb under the keep ("And here, my son, lie the remains of 14 generations of our family, and when the day comes, so will we."), or maybe a public memorial slab/fountain/bench ("Donated posthumously on behalf of Urist, Beloved Count and husband."). Really, there are so many ways to go about these things,  .

Villagers will generally be burried at the place of death within a simple grave featuring both a coffin(or casket?)underground and a slab for headstone right above the body.
Citizens will have a cemetery outside of the city walls.
Not given much thought to the noble burials. Under the keep sounds fine. Maybe as an extension to the catacombs. With a separate branch for each noble house.

[kero42]

Regarding Gardens and Monuments inspiration, I have a few articles that could be of use:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_garden
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Garden, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Letniy_Sad.jpg (bit too statue garden-y, but nice none the less)
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_forest
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folly#What_follies_are_not (essentially, a folly is a structure that looks like it has a purpose, but is in fact purely decorative, eg:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunmore_Pineapple (funny looking),
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_Tower (built just to see if it could be seen from someone's house,  ),
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon%27s_Temple,_Buxton,
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_John (looks like a mug),
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grange_Arch (certainly rather useless),
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Harmony,
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Beacon_Staunton_Country_Park.JPG)
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotto (or more specifically, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeum)

I honestly didn't mean to accumulate so many, but oh well, It's not like you need to look at all of them, or any if none pique your interest. I imagine we are a long way away from building large garden structures anyway, so we have plenty of time to think up ideas while the dwarves try to survive the next few years. I look forward to seeing that long hall finished.

[TeleDwarf]

ok, now you convinced me that norman gentry are dwarves worshiping Armok.

Longhall progress:
It is now 10th Malachite, 126, Mid-Summer. The basement is ready, and 25% of floor is in place.
Increadible how time consuming it is. On the other hand - it is pretty realistic(unlike excavating). 7 useless nobles would really need a long time to build anything.

[blue sam3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_John (looks like a mug),

Well, I've been there more times than I can count, but I literally never noticed that it looks like a mug. That's embarrassing.