Hmm, well I was just thinking how annoying the Adamantine Kings were... and then it got me thinking, what if we didn't have to have kings? I'm thinking that after your fortress meets certain requirements (possibly the same requirements to get a Baron now) we could revolt from the Mountainhome and set up our own government. It could either be another monarchy (just one under your control) a democratic republic (Mayor takes over the role of King), communist utopia(No nobles, ever!), whatever. Then at least the pesky nobles would be appointed / elected from your dwarves, and like the Dungeon Master, would do something useful in addition to their noble duties of making mandates.
I quite like the idea indeed.
Looking at another game which completely revolved around starting a revolution like the old colonization, for those that have little knowledge of this game “rebel” sentiment was gained by”
1. By placing any immigrant (but Elder Statesmen were more efficient) in a City Hall type building. Building separate buildings like a Printing Press and a Newspaper would increase the amount of liberty bells produced by 50% and 100%.
2. By opposing a king’s tax increase and dumping a random trade good in the harbor water (also causing a ban on selling that random trade good).
My idea for how I would like this in DF would be:
For point 1 to allow for a new noble position to appear at the moment that the economy starts maybe even called “rebel”.
If you don’t assign this position you shall remain with your current mountainhome, the choice should however remain until the king has arrived.
If you however assign this position:
1. You will eventually move towards a rebellion against mountainhome starting at the moment you want to start.
2. Liaisons from the other Mountainhomes may arrive at random times to see if you are interested in “switching sides” and join their Mountainhome.
3. The dwarf assigned at the end of all the sieges will become the new “king”.
For point 2 I would probably count the stealing of the caravan’s cargo, insulting the traders to the point of leaving, killing the Liaison or simply killing the entire caravan and letting the Liaison live to tell the tale to mountainhome.
The choices I had in mind to stay a little in line with current DF governmental system
1. Peaceful – Stay with mountainhome and eventually become mountainhome when the king arrives. (No wars and sieges, just like the game is right now)
2. Switch Sides - Cause a revolution with aid from the other mountainhomes (if present) and become Mountainhome when one of those kings eventually arrives. (War and siege from your own mountainhome)
3. City state - Cause a revolution by yourself and let the dwarf who is at that time mayor become “king” for life and become your own mountainhome. (War and sieges from all mountainhomes)
As final comment in case of a rebellion I would choose for a never ending siege starting with multiple ambushes and more dwarfs arriving after the ambush troops have been discovered, maybe even the use of suddenly appeared siege engines, with freedom only attained after killing all the attackers (200+?? With high skill and top of the line equipment) or dying with a whole lot of FUN…