Awesome to hear! Looking forward to it.

Originally posted by BGMaxi:

Also, since sometimes people ask me what they could do for the mod. One could create new dialogues and backstories for the various new Roman companions. Currently, they have all more or less the same backstories and dialogues as you probably noticed. I also appreciate any other form of creative writing.

Could you help facilitate this by providing a couple of existing samples that would show what kind of thing and what format it you are looking for?

For "backstory", are you just looking for several paragraphs of plain text and a location, where they will pop up and tell you their life story? Or is it the recruiting dialogs, with multiple options on each dialog that branch to other dialogs? If it's the latter, what's the format to represent it? I'm assuming it would include some kind of a graph of dialogs and choices leading from one to another, and it's not obvious how to represent it conveniently for you.

Also, are you just looking for details on the same existing type of Roman companion (i.e. retired Roman military officer), or would you like new types of Roman characters, e.g. merchant guard, ship's captain, marine, criminal, slaver, gladiator school owner, etc.

Finally, would you be open to discussing implementing some minor mechanical things if someone contributes the writing necessary dialogs for an idea? For example, if a companion is a freelance logistics expert, who grows rich on following successful armies, he can help, for a large sum of gold, to arrange a supply shipment of grain for an army in the field. This could be a special dialog option, similar to what camp follower units have, and I'd like to write it, but the actual mechanics of subtracting gold and adding grain to your inventory a few days later would need to be coded and that's best done by you.

The other one I always wanted was the ability to arrange caravans to India through their ambassador. I'd like to do the dialogs for that, but the actual mechanical subtracting of gold when sending it, the rolling of success/fail chances, and the adding of profits in case of a good outcome a couple of weeks later would need some coding.

I'll take a shot at one backstory for a Roman companion:

Trigger city: Carthago

Dominus, this sun-scorched land has been my family's home for generations. Back when Carthago was taken, two hundred years ago, my ancestors were in Scipio's army. Some say they salted the earth so deep, nothing would grow and no man could live here, but that's a lie.

Maybe they did a number on the city, but the country was always fertile. Heh, you should see the size of the dates they grow here. Like melons!

Times were good for us when more Romans came with Gaius Gracchus and built Colonia Iunonia here, but it didn't last. The Senate didn't like Gaius Gracchus and revoked the colony.

Only the great Julius Caesar managed to rebuild it properly. And now, it's the biggest city West of Rome! Some say we are half a million people here. Only Rome has more. We have great temples, amphitheaters, grain, elephants and lions, and did I mention the dates?! It's hard to believe this land was once Rome's greatest enemy.

And one more for Taurica:

Trigger location: Taurica

Welcome to Taurica. My father served here, a diplomat with the Bosporan court. Well, us Romans were more like overseers than negotiators, to be honest. The Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus was a Roman client state. They can't stand against Imperial might!

Still, they are not the kind of people to simply bow down to Empire's force. The court was full of plots and intriguing power struggles. Just as you thought you had an upper hand, it turned out you did what they wanted all along. Maybe that's why they stayed a client kingdom and not part of the Empire for so long. Until Nero folded them in, that is.

Whatever happened to deposed King Cotys, nobody knows. Maybe he's out there on the steppes, gathering forces to make his play, challenge the Empire.

This state of affairs here, it's not for long, mark my words. There will be a king here again someday, and there's not a damn thing we can do to stop it. And maybe we don't want to.

Bosphorus was been a good vassal state. They kept good order here, controlled trade, sent riches back to Rome. Most of the time, they kept the Scythians up North in check and that's no easy feat, let me tell you that!

Those barbarians are born in the saddle. They have horses for all, man, woman and child. They don't stand and fight like civilized armies.

If they see your force is big, they dissolve in their endless steppes, and if they think they can take you, well... Then you better be ready to stand and fight, even to the death. They will be all around you, raining fire from the sides, from the back, and if you break, you are as good as dead.

Holding this place is worth it, though. The two rivers on either side of Taurica go far, far inland. Lots of trade flowing down these rivers. And the horse barbarians are no match for our heavy infantry on top of city walls.

(Source: wiki on Bosphorus Kingdom)

PS: After researching for this story, it also raises the question why in the game Taurica starts off Scythian, when in reality it was a client kingdom, and got absorbed into the Empire in 62?

And one for lovely Lusitania. :)

Trigger city: Augusta Emerita

Let me tell you about this city, Dominus. Until Augustus, there was not a damn thing here, but goats. After the Cantabrian campaigns up north, there was a lot of veterans like my ancestor, who earned their retirement: emeriti. Legio V Alaudae, X Gemina, and XX Valeria Victrix all came here. Augustus had them build this city to retire in.

Most families here can trace their lineage to those hardy soldiers, and many have generations of fighters since then. In my family, every generation had at least one man who served in Caesar's Legions.

So you can imagine the kind of folk who live here. Heh, I'd take the cowardliest fishmonger from Emerita to hold the line next to me before I'd take any of those soft rich boys from Rome. Present company excluded, of course.

We know how to party here, too. See that amphitheater? The whole town can fit in the stands. And you haven't seen a four-horse chariot race until you've seen one in Emerita, that's for sure!

(Source: wiki on Augusta Emerita)

And one about disturbing ancient mines:

Trigger city: Augusta

Tell me we aren't planning to stay here long.

Oh, I know Augusta. Some will tell you about its history, the beautiful mountains. I'll tell you something else.

This silver coin here? It comes from mines around Iberia.

Cramped, dark holes in the ground, where malnourished slaves crawl to claw at hard rock day after day, getting weaker and sicker each time until they die. The lucky ones get crushed in cave-ins or suffocate by poisoned gases. The unlucky ones live to suffer another day. To bring their masters that damn silver.

Every last denarius with Nero's damn fat mug on it is a shiny bit of suffering and despair. It's a sick man's life slowly suffocating after he's given up.

Gods, I hate silver! You promise me, Dominus. If I ever fall in battle and all is lost, you drive this gladius straight through my heart. I will not die a slave.

(Source: mostly made up for dramatic effect, Iberia being a major source of silver for the Empire is true according to Wiki on Roman mining)

And one more on Garum and fishing. When you get a chance to review them, let me know if this is the kind of thing you were looking for. So far I'm trying to make them more location-based, so that they can fit almost any character from there.

Trigger city: Neapolis

I have a treat for you here in Neapolis. See, these waters are rich with fish, and even the poor here can afford it fresh.

Fish is big business here, and one of my clients runs a Garum sauce export. He operates a small fleet, ferments the catch into paste, and sells it in Rome. It's what saves the good citizens from execution by bland food, hehe!

It's not his Garum I want you to try, though. This man makes the best gourmet dishes from his finest catch, too. Just picture it: prime giant red mullet, the kind you can pay thousands of sesterces for, freshly grilled and sizzling, with charred onions, pine nuts, topped with fresh herbs. Mmm, that's a meal fit for an Emperor!

(Source: cool paper on Roman fishing: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11457-018-9195-1)

Thank you very much.
About historical accuracy: Yeah, the mod is not really accurate. Sometimes I make changes to make it more accurate. Recently I added this 'tributary mechanic'. Maybe, if it works well, I will make some map changes and add in some Roman protectorates. But I am not sure.

And about companios: I meant all: dialogues, backstories, everything. Here is an example:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OZ79AGtLlEDPYKPS3ULyqtHkpANg4EvZ/view?usp=sharing
But it must not necessarily be a Roman companion. You can also recreate them completely.
With new enemies, friends etc, morality etc.

And about your ideas for new features: First of all, I am always open for new (small) features.

It is funny, but the idea for companion mission to bring you grain is something I had too but I never created it.
Anyway, in principle one could make companions more special. There are already a plethora of different companion missions. One could now make it so that the companions can only do such missions if they have a certain 'background', like you said: supply master can bring you grain, bandits can beat up your enemies or spy on your spouse, etc. But I am not sure about that. I think: You have hired the companion, so its your soldier and you pay for him. So if you order him to spy on your spouse (or buy supplies) he should do it, not matter about his background. But the change of success should depend on the skill of the companion, which is in the already implemented missions the case.

The caravan for india is also a nice idea. It would be enough to simply write the dialogue in the form:

Player: Hey I want to arrange a caravan

NpcXY: Yea sure, why not? Where should it go to?
Player: [can choose from a list of towns]
Player: Nevermind.

NpcXY: Okay, it shall go to [townname]. It will be risky and costs you [a] but could make you a prift [c].
Player: Sure do it
Player: Nevermind.

NpcXY: Very good.
....
Or something like that. If necesseray you should also add possible consequences in brackets if player chooses in the dialogue a certain dialogue option.
And also to answere questions like: how should the player be informed about success of the caravan, and what should be the possible outcomes?

To make it clear. I would add both ideas, if you write the dialogues + explenations of what should happen
And a lost note: If you have an idea, ask me before you start actually doing something, to avoid such situations where I have to say either: feature not possible or I don't like that feature and all your work would be wasted...

Great, hopefully those descriptions can come in handy for some of the currently generic Roman companions. Even if they are all "retired soldiers in search of work", at least they can be from different towns and tell you these stores instead of the same one about Rome.

I'll see what I can do on making a full companion character from scratch. I had no idea they had so many different dialogs, since most of them only happen in rare cases. Maybe there are some generic ones I can use for rare things like meeting him on the battlefield after you make him a lord and he subsequently defects. Start with the common and important dialogs to establish the character and then fill in the rest form there over time. We'll see.

For now, I wanted to focus on the India trade, following the format you said above, and making up my own for conditionals and effects. Hopefully it's understandable and doesn't rely on something that the game engine doesn't let you do easily.

It also ended up a lot bigger than I originally thought. Feel free to just take from it what you like, but I hope you will enjoy the two step-process and the different choices with different risks and rewards, in addition to different lore.

High-Level Design:
Kushan Empire ambassador dialog is the sole interaction point for the emperor player to develop trade capacity with their empire by sea and/or land, for sending trade caravans, learning about their outcome and disposing of the luxury goods brought on success.

A series of dialogs requires an initial investment to build a sea and/or land route. After this is built, dialog options are available to spend gold to send a caravan by sea and/or land. Sea caravans are more expensive, but bring corresponding rewards. The failure rate of sea caravans is constant 10%. Land caravans are cheaper. Their failure rate depends solely on your relationship with Parthia. If at war, the land caravan in progress will be lost.

To avoid timers, process caravans at the same time as weekly budget. Show the message to the player saying the caravan has been processed, but let the outcome be delivered in a dialog at the palace. This creates suspense, and sets up a choice of what to do with the goods.

If the caravan failed, the initial investment to set up the route AND the cost to send it are lost. If it succeeds, the player can chose to distribute the goods as presents, upping relations with people and lords, or to sell it for profit. If selling for profit, the income is 1.1-2.0 the initial investment, with an expected value of 1.55, so the expected income of a sea route is 550000d, while expected weekly loss is 300000d, for a total expected gain of 250000d. The land route completely depends on your relations with Parthia. If the latter is eliminated or allied, expected profit is 110000d. If not, it depends on how the diplomacy plays out. If there are frequent wars, land route can be a net loser.

Variables (I assume that's some form of this concept used for scripting?):
india_routes_intro_started=0 //boolean
india_sea_route_improved=0 //boolean
india_land_route_improved=0 //boolean
india_sea_mission_in_progress=0 //0=no,1=yes,2=finished
india_land_mission_in_progress=0 //0=no,1=yes,2=finished
india_land_caravan_cost=200000
india_sea_caravan_cost=1000000

(existing_kanishka_starting_dialog)
Kanishka: Ave, <playername>, what brings you to me, oh divine.

Player: (choice 1) I want to improve trade with the Kushan Empire. [visible if india_sea_route_improved=0 or
india_land_route_improved=0; action: if india_routes_intro_started=0 then go to india_routes_intro1 else go to india_routes_intro2]
Player: (choice 2) Nothing. Send your king my regards. [exit conversation]
Player: (choice 3) I want to send a trade caravan to the Kushan Empire. [visible if india_sea_route_improved=1 or
india_land_route_improved=1; action: go to india_send_caravan]
Player: (choice 4) What news of my land caravan? [visible if india_land_mission_in_progress=2; action: set india_land_mission_in_progress=0 go to india_land_mission_outcome]
Player: (choice 5) What news of my great merchant fleet? [visible if india_sea_mission_in_progress=2; action: set india_sea_mission_in_progress=0 go to india_sea_mission_outcome]


(india_land_mission_outcome)
If at war with Parthia then:
Kanishka: Great Emperor, the vile Parthian snakes have gathered an army and attacked your caravan. Your merchants and escorts have been slaughtered to a man, and all goods are lost. On behalf of my people and my king, I express deepest condolences, oh divine...
[set india_land_route_improved=0, go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]
else
[go to india_land_mission_outcome_success]
end

(india_land_mission_outcome_success)
Kanishka: Success, oh divine! Your great caravan is back, bearing riches from the East. What will you do with all these luxuries?
Player: (choice 1) Sell it in the markets. [gold += (india_land_caravan_cost + india_land_caravan_cost * random(10,100)/100), go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]
Player: (choice 2) Give it away as gifts. Let all my people know their divine emperor's generousity. [relationship with all Roman lords +=2, Rome reputation += 10, renown += 40, go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]

(india_sea_mission_outcome)
If random(1,100)<=10 then:
Kanishka: Disaster, oh divine! A massive storm has struck your fleet. A few ships survived, but even they are badly damaged. The great merchant fleet is no more. On behalf of my people and my king, I express deepest condolences, oh divine...
[set india_sea_route_improved=0, go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]
else
[go to india_sea_mission_outcome_success]
end

(india_sea_mission_outcome_success)
Kanishka: Success, oh divine! Your great fleet is back, bearing riches beyond belief from the East. What will you do with all these luxuries?
Player: (choice 1) Sell it in the markets. [gold += (india_sea_caravan_cost + india_sea_caravan_cost * random(10,100)/100), go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]
Player: (choice 2) Give it away as gifts. Let all my people know their divine emperor's generousity. [relationship with all Roman lords +=10, Rome reputation += 25, renown += 250, go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]


(india_routes_intro1)
set india_routes_intro_started=1
Kanishka: Divine Emperor, you possess great wisdom. My homeland is blessed with wonderful spices and teas. We have indigo dyes that turn any cloth into a thing of beauty. The seas produce big, beautiful pearls. We make soft cotton fabrics, and trade for the finest silks from lands even more remote. Your metals, glasswork and wines are in high demand there, too. But, these truths are well-known to Roman merchants, and trade is already prospering between us. Why does the Divine Emperor want to get involved in it?

Player: (choice 1) I want to personally shower Romans in exotic luxuries, and I have gold to spare! [go to india_routes_intro2]
Player: (choice 2) I want to organize the trade efficiently and profit from it, such a flow of wealth is too big to leave to merchants. [go to india_routes_intro2]
Player: (choice 3) You are right. Trade is good enough between us. [go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]

(india_routes_intro2)
Kanishka: Excellent! With your involvement, Divine Emperor, the commerce can become safer and more efficient. More volume can pass between us, then. And, if you like, you can personally benefit from lower prices too.
Kanishka: I will confer with my king, but I am sure he will look favorably onto the prospect of more Roman gold.
Kanishka: But my king's goodwill alone will not be enough, oh divine. Between our empires are mountains, seas, and other peoples. We will need to decide how to cross them.

Player: (choice 1) Tell me about the land route. [go to india_land_route_1]
Player: (choice 2) Tell me about the sea route. [go to india_sea_route_1]

(india_land_route_1)
Kanishka: An overland route passes through the lands of the Parthians. It will be the most direct, cheapest to organize, and not subject to precarious sea travel, but your people's relationship with Parthia has not always been amicable, oh divine, and the Parthian king would be in a position to cut this route whenever he wishes. In the remote mountain passages, caravans often get lost to brigand attacks, but if you were to organize trade in volume, great big caravans can travel together, well-protected against anyone, but the Parthian king's armies.
Kanishka: If you want to improve this route, you should acquire most of the small merchants that travel it today.

Player: (choice 1) I will confiscate these businesses by force. [set india_land_route_improved=1, honor-=25, reputation -=30 for Rome, Antiochia, Nisbis, Ctesiphon, give Parthia casus belli on Roman Empire, go to (india_land_route_2)]
Player: (choice 2) I will buy out the small merchants. [visible if gold >= 250000, action: set gold -= 250000, india_land_route_improved=1, go to (india_land_route_2)]
Player: (choice 3) Maybe later. [go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]

(india_land_route_2)
Kanishka: Your great army of traders is formidable, and your legions are more formidable yet. With professional soldiers guarding them, a great caravan can safely make it across Parthia.
[go to india_send_caravan]

(india_sea_route_1)
Kanishka: The sea route is the most common. From Red Sea ports of Aegyptus, ships travel to Aden. From there, very skilled local seamen make the precarious journey to my king's lands across the great sea. This sea is not like your sea here. They sail without seeing land for weeks, through huge waves and great storms. Many ships and men are lost on this crossing. They make great profits from this dangerous passage, which makes the goods expensive.
Kanishka: If you want to improve this route, more sailors will need to be trained to make this journey, and more big ships built, fit to travel the great sea. Roman sailors must learn from the best seafarers, but if this can be done, then the sea route will go directly from Aegyptus to our shores, and the gold Aden used to take will be all yours. This will not be cheap. Building a proper trade fleet from nothing would take at least a couple million denarii.

Player: (choice 1) I shall build the great ships! [visible if gold >=2000000; set gold -=2000000, india_sea_route_improved=1, go to (india_sea_route_2)]
Player: (choice 2) Maybe later. [go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]

(india_sea_route_2)
Kanishka: You are truly rich, oh divine! With all this gold, I have no doubt you can build the best blue sea ships and train the best crews! While your men are taking care of this, we can start planning the first voyage.
[go to india_send_caravan]


(india_send_caravan)
[if india_land_mission_in_progress=1] Kanishka: A land caravan is making the voyage through Parthia.
[if india_sea_mission_in_progress=1] Kanishka: Your great fleet is sailing to Kushan, Divine Emperor.
Kanishka: You bless our empire with your wealth and attention, oh divine. Do you will another trade mission to travel to my lands?

Player (choice 1) Send a land caravan through Parthia. [visible if: not war with Parthia, gold >=india_land_caravan_cost, india_land_mission_in_progress=0; action: india_land_mission_in_progress=1, gold -=india_land_caravan_cost, go to india_send_caravan]
Player (choice 2) Send your great merchant fleet through the high seas. [visible if: gold >=india_sea_caravan_cost, india_sea_mission_in_progress=0; action: india_sea_mission_in_progress=1, gold -=india_sea_caravan_cost, go to india_send_caravan]
Player (choice 3) Nothing further right now. [go to existing_kanishka_starting_dialog]




After calculating the weekly budget report, conclude outstanding caravans:
if india_sea_mission_in_progress=1 then india_sea_mission_in_progress=2, show notification "There is news of your merchant fleet sent to Kushan. Speak to the ambassador at Domus Augusti."
if india_land_mission_in_progress=1 then india_land_mission_in_progress=2, show notification "There is news of your land caravan sent to Kushan. Speak to the ambassador at Domus Augusti."

@BanDHMO, Yeah, I will definitely add your backstories in.
And I didn't expected that you deliver it so quickly, lol. Thank you very much!

(PS: fear not, from your ideas so far everything is doable)

Just to inform you who recieved the new backstories:
npc25 (Sollius Modestus): Carthage backstory
npc26 (Albinus Basilius): Taurica backstory
npc27 (Faustus): Augusta Emerita backstory
npc28 (Anicius): Augusta backstory
npc29 (Fabianus): Neapolis backstory

Edit:
I now also found the time to add in your feature. Was very easy to add since the way you did it was very clear to understand! Thanks again.

Originally posted by BGMaxi:

I now also found the time to add in your feature. Was very easy to add since the way you did it was very clear to understand! Thanks again.

Wow! And you were surprised that *I* delivered quickly, lol. Thank you for implementing everything, and so fast.

Since it was easy, maybe you will also be interested in the two random events I wrote up related to the India trade. One just informs the player that India trade is a thing and encourages talking to the ambassador, and the other deals with pirate attacks on your ships.

Also, I put together a pirate companion npc for you to consider, following your guide. The only thing I couldn't figure out is what kind of king support mission he would object to, because I don't know which ones exist. If it's possible to object to nothing, do that, and if not, maybe you can take a look in the code and find something appropriate to use?

Finally, while writing these, I realized that Kanishka probably shouldn't be allowing you to start talking about trade until you win the civil war. Otherwise, your enemies might be holding Syria or Egypt and organizing trade through them wouldn't make sense. May be a good idea to add this condition for "I want to improve trade with the Kushan Empire." action?


TRADE EVENT1:
Name: Introduction to Trade
Trigger: random, player is Emperor, not civil war, gold > 200000, india_routes_intro_started=0 (i.e. you haven't considered it yet, but could)

One day you come across a small caravan. The men of the group are clearly a long way from home. Their animals are tired and gear weathered in their long travels. They look exotic and speak only broken Latin.

You question the travelers and learn that they are traders from the Kushan Empire in the East. Elated to have the attention of the emperor, they show you their wares, boasting beautiful fabrics and dyes. You share food, expertly flavoured with their exotic spices. The men are happy to leave you some of their goods as gifts, and top it off with an amber and black striped gem, shaped like a large egg. They call it the Tiger's Eye, and it looks remarkably like one.

Seems like trade with Kushan brings very interesting luxury goods to your empire. Perhaps this is something to discuss with their ambassador at Domus Augusti in Rome.

Player: Interesting. [+1000 denarii]


TRADE EVENT2:
Name: Naval Competition
Trigger: random, gold > 50000, india_sea_mission_in_progress=1 (e.g. you've built the trading navy and have a mission out)

There have been increasing pirate attacks on your sea trade around the horn of Africa. Rumor has it, that your great trade fleet has displaced traditional sea merchants from Aden. Without a livelihood, some are now turning to crime.

Player: (choice 1) Do nothing. Some losses are inevitable and the situation will stabilize on its own.
[-50000 gold; "The pirates continue plundering your trade. Losses are mounting."]
Player: (choice 2) Double marines on board, arrange shipping into larger convoys.
[-25000 gold, +2 renown; "Strong security measures prevent losses and stories of naval victories are well-received at home. Money well spent."]
Player: (choice 3) Import vast quantities of salted fish from Aden, to create jobs for their unemployed mariners.
[-50000 gold, -3 renown; "The attacks stop, but it costs you, while Romans quietly question whether your approach is humane or cowardly."]
Player: (choice 4) Secretly arrange to pay protection money to the biggest pirate gangs.
[-15000 gold; "The attacks stop, for no apparent reason. The Roman public quickly loses interest in the matter."]






PIRATE COMPANION NPC:

npc1 (Anicetus). Home town: Trapezus. Archetype: pirate. Based on: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anicetus_(pirate)

Npc says:
("npc1_intro", "Ahoy there, commander. I see you can handle yourself on the field of battle, but are you any good at sea?
What you need is a seasoned skipper in your crew, or you are just asking to get sunk!"),
Player:
("npc1_intro_response_1", "Why? Are you a sailor?"),
("npc1_intro_response_2", "Rome has conquered all with our marching armies. Begone, you miserable fisherman!"),
Npc:
("npc1_backstory_a", "Pfft! Am I a sailor?! You go to Pontus, Dominus, and you ask anyone who Anicetus is! Go, right now, ask the dumbest swabbie you can find!"),
Npc:
("npc1_backstory_b", "And they will all tell you, Anicetus was King Polemon II's top admiral, commander of the Royal Fleet, the biggest shark of the Black Sea, and a real swell guy on top of that!"),
(Remark: {s20} will display the name of the town)
Npc:
("npc1_backstory_c", "Now, let's not dwell on how I got stuck here in {s20}. Let's just say if someone with his loyal mates were to, um, borrow... a couple of the king's ships for a fun, long cruise, and they were to grab weakling merchants everywhere between Lusitania to Taurica, and sell them to slavers and take their wares... Well, that would be a grave offence and would get the entire crew crucified in a place like {s20}, wouldn't it? Of course, I'd never do such a thing, you know. I just happen to be here now, without ships or crew, which is great luck for someone like you, in need of a good admiral."),
Player:
("npc1_backstory_response_1", "Very well. You'd better be able to keep up on dry land, too."),
("npc1_backstory_response_2", "I have no need for a sea thug. Now you get rowing out of here before I drag you off to prison."),
Npc:
("npc1_signup", "Don't you worry about that, Dominus. I can hold my place in the line just as well. Once you can fight on a rocking deck, doing the same on land is child's play."),
Npc:
("npc1_signup_2", "I can ride pretty well, too, believe it or not. A man of my station is expected to, you know, even if I'm a bit out of practice. So what do you say?"),
Player:
("npc1_signup_response_1", "Good. You can be useful to us."),
("npc1_signup_response_2", "I'd prefer not to take the risk. Good bye."),

("npc1_payment", "{!}."),
("npc1_payment_response", "{!}."),

If you have meet the npc and now find him again in the tavern, he will say this:
("npc1_backstory_later", "Ho, there! It's you again. How's the sea been treating you? If you need a good skipper, I'm still available."),


Morality speech in case of high casulaties (I'm assuming it's possible that's the only thing he dislikes):
("npc1_morality_speech", "What a bloodbath, and not the good kind either. I'll be honest, Dominus, the point of a battle is not
for all of us to die a heroic death, it's to make the other guys die. What good is loot if you are dead?"),

(One can now choose whether a companion likes or dislikes certain actions, i.e. a bandit companion should
like fleeing from battle, while he may dislikes having high causalities.
The first morality speech is usually used for complains, while he second can either be a complain or a
praise.)



Personality clashes: none

If Companion retires:
("npc1_retirement_speech", "Well, Dominus, it's been a great cruise. I've enjoyed traveling the world with you,
striking down your enemies and taking prizes. The time has come for me to leave, though. I have enough loot now to
outfit my own ship, and events are now unfolding in Pontus that I am eager to be a part of. I will always remember
our campaigns together. Perhaps our paths will cross again."),

If the player rehires the companion:
("npc1_rehire_speech", "Dominus - come to visit this old sea dog again? You know, I've taken care of my plans in Pontus now,
had some good sea action, I did. Unfortunately I find myself without a ship again. So if you have a place for this old admiral again,
I'm interested."),



When companion talks about his/her home:
Npc: ("npc1_home_intro", "Dominus, this is Trapezus -- the greatest port on the Black Sea."),
Npc: ("npc1_home_description", "I used to serve here as the commander of King Polemon II's Royal Fleet.
That was before my journeys all over the seas."),
Npc: ("npc1_home_description_2", "This place is home to the best sailors, I tell you, but watch out for the merchants
or they will negotiate the last shirt off your back!
Trapezus is a trading town. On one side we have the sea, and on the other mountain passes connecting to rich inland
kingdoms in the East. Armenia is a wealthy land, and we are the most convenient port to trade through. We are a reliable
partner for them, always taking good care of the shipments all the way to the sea. Once at sea, of course, anything can happen,
if you know what I mean. Hehehe."),

("npc1_home_recap", "I'm from {s21}(Trapezus), the greatest port on the Black Sea."),

This is how the npc calls the player:
("npc1_honorific", "Dominus"),
The argument to support the player, i.e. to increase right to rule:
Npc:("npc1_kingsupport_1", "Ah, playing with the big fish now, Dominus. Good, good! Yes, I may have some contacts we can use."),
Npc:("npc1_kingsupport_2", "Suppose, Dominus, that the pirates of the Black Sea were to suddenly get very active, especially on routes from Alexandria, choking trade to Rome.
Why, then, wouldn't it be tragic if the people of Rome didn't get all their usual grain shipments and had to go hungry? And wouldn't
the people and senate of Rome be ever so grateful to a great man, who can make the pirates flee and restore commerce?"),
Player:
("npc1_kingsupport_2a", "Please go on..."),
("npc1_kingsupport_2b", "I prefer not to use the pirates right now."),
Npc:
("npc1_kingsupport_3", "It's simple, really. Give me a few weeks, and the pirates may get more active. Get yourself appointed to deal with
the problem, and the attacks will miraculously slow down. Clearly, because you are blessed by Neptune himself, hehehe. Should I set sail, Dominus?"),

Every companion has another companion to which king support argument he strongly disagrees.:
TODO: is this mandatory? I'm not sure who he'd object to, without knowing what everyone's thing is. ("npc1_kingsupport_objection", "Master -- you've given leave to Aturius Spurus to go tell the nobles that
they will have rights over pasture, market, and forest? I can't say I like that. Give him his way, and he'll
set up gibbets in every village in the land, where there will dangle some poor sod like me who thought he
might pick up a bow, head to the woods and put a bit of meat on his table."),

If player ask the companion for support:
("npc1_intel_mission", "Of course, Dominus. I've been to ports the world over, and {s18} is no exception. I will see what I can find out about {s17}."),
(Remark: {s17} string for the location name, {s18} name of the kingdom to which {s17} belongs)

If companion accepts a fief offered by the player:
("npc1_fief_acceptance", "A harbor of my own, Dominus?! I can't thank you enough! Wait, {s17} is a harbor, right? You wouldn't stick me governing a village in the middle of some damn steppe, right? Ah, no matter. I'll make them shipshape whoever they are. You can count on me!"),
(Remark: {s17} is name of the fief)
If companion is a woman and player too there are also special dialogues. Npc1 is male so its empty:
Npc: ("npc1_woman_to_woman", "{!}."),
If the npc turns against the player, i.e. you gave the npc a fief but then he switches to another kingdom
and now you are at war with them:
("npc1_turn_against", "Sorry it came to this, mate. We've had some good cruising and looting together. You know what they say, though, about honor among thieves. There is none! Hehehe."),

Also, @Maxi, I want to get your opinion on doing more location-based background stories. I actually enjoy that there are so many Roman companions who are all "former soldier, ready to join your legion". It makes my general staff feel like a proper army and not a ragtag band like in vanilla and many mods. So in my mind, it would be good for many of the companions to still be Roman officers, and in addition to that have some more companions that are different and interesting.

If you think the same, then I can keep making location-based backgrounds to help add flavor to those Roman commanders as well as add more character to different cities in the empire. Or if you think that there are enough of those backgrounds for now, let me know.

Originally posted by BanDHMO:

Also, @Maxi, I want to get your opinion on doing more location-based background stories. I actually enjoy that there are so many Roman companions who are all "former soldier, ready to join your legion". It makes my general staff feel like a proper army and not a ragtag band like in vanilla and many mods. So in my mind, it would be good for many of the companions to still be Roman officers, and in addition to that have some more companions that are different and interesting.

If you think the same, then I can keep making location-based backgrounds to help add flavor to those Roman commanders as well as add more character to different cities in the empire. Or if you think that there are enough of those backgrounds for now, let me know.

The companion is fine. Kingsupport is like personality clashes optional (I mean opposing kingsupport), not really necessary. As I created all the Roman companions, I made them per default sexists (as I think Romans wouldnt like to see women fight) because I didnt know that this is all optional.

And I agree, if the majority of Roman companions would be army veterans is the best.
"I can keep making location-based backgrounds to help add flavor to those Roman commanders as well as add more character to different cities in the empire." -- That would be perfect!

The events are also fine. Regarding civil war: I thought the same and already included the condition.

Seven more background stories below. Some are for locations that I don't think exist explicitly in the game. Assuming they have to be attached to a settlement and not just coordinates, it'll hopefully work to attach to the nearest settlement represented.

We should now be at 13 unique Roman backgrounds, counting the one you had for Rome. Not sure how many more you'd want for Roman officers, but I'm starting to feel the locations getting a little repetitive, so maybe I'll switch to something else. Might add more if I think of something I'd really like to write later, but I don't want to do more just for the sake of numbers.

There are two more NPCs I'm thinking about doing. Both would be low-level aristocrats from very famous political families in Rome, but from opposing sides, so we can have a bit of conflict dialog between them. It would also be nice to use their dialogues as an introduction to the political landscape. I'll try to keep it low-key, since they are minor characters; don't really want to write actions for Nero's uncle or something like that, lol. Just along the lines of family Xs hate family Ys, this minor X won a court dispute in court against minor Y's father, minor X suspects minor Y's uncle's client thugs set fire to an X business in retaliation, etc. I don't know what X and Y are, though.

I think I pitched before the idea of explaining the high-level political landscape a little bit to the player. These two companions might be a way to do some of it. Have you given it any thought? Are there two major families who are typically at each other's throats that I can use for this character concept? Is it a even good idea to do this?

Regarding the companion mission to find food, do I understand right that it's something you still want dialogs for? If so, similar format to the India trade stuff? i.e.

Player: Bring me lots of yummies now!
Companion: K, got it, beer and chips. It'll be a few days and I'll need 5000 gold, cool?
Player: cool
[3 days passes]
fetch_food_success_chance = npc_trade * 5 + npc_charisma * 5
if random(1,100) <= 10 OR random(1,100) > fetch_food_success then
Npc: "Sorry, bro, everything's closed tonight."
else
give 5 grain and 5 cheese
gold -= 5000
Npc: "I iz leet cheesegetter!"
end

Obviously, with better text. :)


BACKGROUNDS PART II
=======

Trigger location: Itius Portus (around modern Calais)

Do you feel that crisp, salty sea air? We are not far from Itius Portus -- the gateway to Brittania. I was stationed there for so many years, it feels like home. It wasn't the hardest place the serve, I wager, but we had our times. Even now, a century after great Julius Caesar's campaigns, the links to Britannia are not very stable.

Weather can make a mess of the sea crossing, small groups of Germanic raiders sometimes infiltrate this far to pillage, and when they don't, the local tribes do a fine job of banditry themselves, blaming it on invaders from across the Rhenus river or sea raiders.

This frontier might be colored Roman on paper, but the Empire is not rooted as deep here as in Italia or Graecia. We were always ready for revolts here. When we weren't chasing bandits, that is.

Some would use the bogs to flee from us. And we let them. No shame in that, Dominus. I led a pursuit in there once. The things we saw cannot be unseen. The gods reigning dominion over these bogs are pure evil, and no mortal dare ire them. Even the birds don't fly there, and what more omen does anyone need?

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itius_Portus)


Trigger: Brundisium

Dominus, we should stop by my family's villa here. The wine that comes from these hills is to die for! We keep it cold deep in the cellars, and when a fresh keg is uncorked on a hot summer day, and you sit in the shade, overlooking the azure waters, letting the drink's chill sweetness run down your tongue, it tastes like pure nectar, a blessing of Bachhus.

Brundisium itself is a must visit, too. A true city on the crossroads -- Via Appia and Via Appia Nova meet here and become a sea route to all of Graecia. The wisest philosophers, the best actors and performers pass through here. You can watch them play at the amphitheater, or even bump into one at the forum.

This used to be a Greek colony, you know. The whole area started as Magna Graecia before it was Roman, and you can see the influence. The citizens are loyal Romans now, though some still begrudge the siege endured during Caesar's civil war. Can't blame them. Being in the middle of Pax Romana, they expect peace and prosperity.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brindisi, https://www.ancient.eu/img/c/p/1200x627/269.png?v=1552266023)



Trigger: Tomis (Romania, present-day Constanta)

Of all the backwater holes, Dominus, this one is my favorite, because it's all mine. I come from a family of colonists here in Tomis, settled after Rome took this place from Odrysian Kingdom, almost a century ago.

Jokes aside, it's not that bad. Ovid lived and even wrote some of his poetry here. Of course, he was exiled to Tomis, and he did call it a 'war-striken cultural wasteland on the remotest margins of the empire', but he was an idiot and didn't know what he was talking about.

Sure, we are close to the Danube river, beyond which all manner of threats lurk, but we also have Via Pontica and the sea. Just a short trip south is Byzantium, with wealth beyond measure and all the old Greek culture you can stomach. It's livable here if you are hardy enough.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constan%C8%9Ba)



Trigger: Carthago Nova

Do you want to hear a story of how two cultures royally screwed up the name of this place? Here it is. Carthagineans weren't really from Carthago, or so the story goes. When they settled Carthago, they called it 'New City', that's what Carthago means.

So, then they sail even more west and build this place, and they call it 'Carthago' also. Makes sense, right, why wouldn't you have two cities with the same name? Does't everyone enjoy explaining all the time which Carthago they mean? Geniuses.

Then the great Scipio Africanus kicks their sorry baby-sacrificing asses, conquers the place for Rome and calls it Carthago Nova. That fixes the messup, right -- old Carthago and New Carthago. No confusion.

Except, like I said, Carthago already means New City. So now we are in the New New City. Maybe he did it as a joke, hehe. I swear, if I was Emperor, I would order a couple more Carthagos built: Newest Carthago and New Newest Carthago, just to screw with everyone.

Anyway, this is the best harbor around, and holding it goes a long way to controling Hispania.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartagena,_Spain#Ancient_history)



Trigger: Neapoli

I have fond memories of Neapoli, Dominus. This is where I was starting out as a young freedman. No home, no family, and no silver in my pocket, I decided to fight in the arean. It was do-or-die, and gods must have watched over me, because I survived.

From there, I joined the legion, served faithfully to earn my honorable bronze diploma discharge, and here I am. I'm getting old now, Dominus. Probably would've already settled down here with some pretty girl with big brown eyes if I didn't love adventure so much. Someday I will.

Maybe I'll have enough coin by then to start my own gladiator school. Rome is nearby and always hungry for spectacles. But I'll make sure I treat my men well. You know, that Spartacus mess started not far from here, in Capua. Gotta always treat your fighting men nice, wouldn't you say? Some tail and wine always goes a long way to build loyalty.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartacus)



Trigger: Tarsus

My sweet home Tarsus, how I missed you -- your palaces, marketplaces, bridges and baths, fountains and waterworks, and, of course, my alma mater at the academy.

Many greats graced this city with their presence. Philosopher Athenodorus Cananites, who tutored the great Augustus, was from our academy. Anthony and Cleopatry met here, while he was using our famous shipyards to build his great fleet.

Did you know, Dominus, that before serving in the legion, I have not even stepped foot out of this city for the first twenty six years of my life? I loved studying, debating, writing manuscripts late into the night. I know what you'll say -- he who reads books will not become emperor. You would be wrong. A learned man, who also takes bold, but calculated risks, will do a lot better than a simple, reckless man, who charges his problems head on with his naked chest, like a barbarian. Smart strategy, hard work and meticulous preparation always wins the day.

(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus,_Mersin#Roman_period)



Trigger: Rome

So we're going to Rome, huh? Let Jupiter strike it and burn it to the ground.

Well, don't look at me like that, Dominus. Yes, I'm a Roman citizen, who hates Rome. Don't get me wrong, I'll die for the Empire, but this city is full of snakes in human form, and the laws here... I much prefer being on campaign.

No, Dominus, I'm not a criminal. Well, maybe I am, but I did nothing wrong. I will tell you my story and you be the judge.

When I was a young man, I loved a girl, who lived on the same street, just a few blocks from the forum. She loved me back, but their family was wealthier, so her father forbid us from seeing each other. We were in love. We had to be together anyway, and we were. One night he heard us and caught me in her bed. The damn law says that by being with her I have attacked him, and as head of the family he had the right to kill me in his home. And so he tried.

He missed...

Instead of me, he killed my beautiful Livia -- killed his own daughter! And then he accused me of doing it. I was a burglar, a violator and a murderer, he said -- and I had nothing but my word against the accusation. So I had to run away. I couldn't even say good bye at her funeral pyre. How is any of this just, Dominus?! It's not!

You'd better believe this isn't over, though. Decades may have passed, but I have not forgotten.

(Source: made up, obviously; the law on weird paterfamilias rights is legit, if I remember my Roman History course correctly)