Stronghold Prison

[Freshock]

I've always wanted a prison to control, and since a Stronghold is in the making I would just like to throw this idea out there.

 

Picture having your own, scary prison and decide for yourself who is going to end up in that prison. Maybe there are people in this world that strongly disagree with your religious views? Maybe your just an evil soul that finds pleasure in having power? Or maybe you're a good person with good intentions - throwing thiefs, murderers and pillagers behind bars, never to see sunlight again?

 

Maybe in addition there could be mercenaries/guards that you can hire for your Stronghold to haunt the people you want behind bars down. They could have a chance of not being able to take the prisoner as he/she have people watching their backs - which would mean you need to hire new guards (money sink right there).

 

Or maybe force prisoners with other religions to convert to your own faith? Granting the player's character either the illusion or the fact of getting closer to a "god".

 

Prisoners could also have the ability to escape. Or maybe some of your own guards aren't that loyal to you as a leader? There could be sort of a moral system involved with your people - with low moral they could have a bigger chance of taking money from pisoners and help them escape instead of keeping them inside.

 

Of course I wouldn't want these guards to have an impact on the players journey outside the Stronghold.

Some of these guards might be mercenaries that you could hire for your own expeditions - but I wouldn't want them to have the same impact as followers have.

 

It's just an idea. I think it would fit with the "mature" theme. I wouldn't be suprised if you guys/gals think this wouldn't fit a cRPG, but I'd still like to see this in a game.

[Gahir]

Mwah if you ask me this sounds abit too much like Tropico and apart from it my fear is that such a feature which doesnt really add anything to the game itself will cost far too much budget and developing resources which could be better spend in the general design of the overall stronghold.

[KenThomas]

A prison is an interesting idea. Do you have ideas for how you'd capture people to go in it or what kinds of npcs would be capturable? Practically it might have to be scripted, ie some npc betrays you and if you own the stronghold you can lock them up and interrogate them but without it you miss out on some key info.

[Freshock]

A prison is an interesting idea. Do you have ideas for how you'd capture people to go in it or what kinds of npcs would be capturable? Practically it might have to be scripted, ie some npc betrays you and if you own the stronghold you can lock them up and interrogate them but without it you miss out on some key info.

 

I haven't thought about those things yet, besides the capturing part which could be cool if happend in real time. For example; after ordering an arrest on someone you can see your guards walking out of the castle and towards nearest city or village where they can obtain more information about the target and his/her whereabouts. And when they find this person they could drag the prisoner back to the Stronghold. Of course it's just an idea. And you're right about the scripted part - that might be kinda hard to fix.

[rjshae]

Yes, an old gaol in the cellar would be colorful; perhaps something left over from a previous owner where he held his disfavored slaves and enemies? Maybe there are rumors of it being haunted by the spirits of those who died there from torment?

Edited October 20, 2012 by rjshae

[Calmar]

Thinking about it, why should every opponent fight to the death? Some enemies might surrender to you and be thrown into the dungeon to be ransomed (or to rot).

[Trap]

the option of having a prison is awesome lol..

[septembervirgin]

I like the idea but I'm not sure it would serve outside a potential story hook. Remember the prison in Dragon Age Awakening? How often was that used? We're not likely to get capturing foes as a standard game-play feature now. I tried pitching the idea earlier... but I think this game is kinda outside the concept of ransoming foes. AD&D subdual damage was useful against dragons and developed into non-lethal damage that could be used against any opponent. This was almost never used to tie up a foe and drag them back to the local lord for ransoming. *sigh*

[HangedMan]

Might I recommend anybody interested in this sort of game visit: http://www.introversion.co.uk/prisonarchitect/ ?

[mokona]

A simple prison where, once your stronghold has it, you could choose to capture defeated enemies (or at least key characters) instead of murder them and then visit them later for future conversation in your dungeon!

[Daulmakan]

A simple prison where, once your stronghold has it, you could choose to capture defeated enemies (or at least key characters) instead of murder them and then visit them later for future conversation in your dungeon!

Something like this is present in Cyanide's Game of Thrones, where after a while you can offer some of the prisoners to be released if they agree to take on the black. Not much comes out of it, but the interaction is somewhat nice and is there. I wouldn't mind a similar thing being included in P:E's stronghold.

[Farbautisonn]

Id want a torture chamber in that prison. And then a script where you can hire a profecient torturerer and have him interrorgate select prisoners. Spies, captured henchmen, foes in general. And ofcourse the odd peasant for good measure.

 

I wouldnt mind that building a torture chamber ment a hit to karma or reputation. That usin it excessively made you take serious penalties to loyalty of your surroundings. But I think it could be scripted to be a rather interesting addition... if for no other reason then to teach us that inside a very short time, everyone will spill everything and make up more just to be rid of the pain.

[rjshae]

^^^^

I wouldn't, but to each their own I guess.

[Farbautisonn]

^^^^

I wouldn't, but to each their own I guess.

 

Well... even the most benevolent princes had torture chambers and had their foes drawn and quartered in the Europe pre modern times. Hell The most benevolent nations today still employ torture chambers. We just outsource the torrure to third world nations or freelance specialists... if we dont have black ops or prison camps where torture is an official secret .

 

Call it a lust for "realism" in a fantasy game.

[Fimbul]

Sound's like a trophy room to me. I'd like trophies to be added to the stronghold as I progress through the game, prisoners would make decent trophies I guess, given that I didn't decide to kill them when I had the chance. I wouldn't spend too much effort on a more elaborate prison concept, though!

 

Maybe I should take some time reading through the other stronghold thread to check if that trophy idea got called out yet...

[Nonek]

As a DM such a prison or oubliette immediately gets my player punishing nerve twitching, so easy to infiltrate such a place with a master thief or cipher set on sabotage or even more malevolent purposes. I do like the idea of a stronghold coming with a large dollop of responsibility however, you have a duty to the crown who granted you the land, must maintain law and order on the estate and carry out the duties associated with your high office.

[rjshae]

^^^^

I wouldn't, but to each their own I guess.

 

Well... even the most benevolent princes had torture chambers and had their foes drawn and quartered in the Europe pre modern times. Hell The most benevolent nations today still employ torture chambers. We just outsource the torrure to third world nations or freelance specialists... if we dont have black ops or prison camps where torture is an official secret .

 

Call it a lust for "realism" in a fantasy game.

Yes it's realistic, but I'm not sure it's beneficial or really necessary for most types of stories. Even if it's added then it's still not essential to actually go through the motions. Sure, you could build a torture chamber and hire a torture master. When you decide to send a prisoner there for torment, do a fade out/fade in and read the results of the interrogation. Anything else would be tasteless.

[Farbautisonn]

 

Yes it's realistic, but I'm not sure it's beneficial or really necessary for most types of stories. Even if it's added then it's still not essential to actually go through the motions. Sure, you could build a torture chamber and hire a torture master. When you decide to send a prisoner there for torment, do a fade out/fade in and read the results of the interrogation. Anything else would be tasteless.

 

Its in the realm of "nice to have". Not "need to have". There are basically a gazillion things Id want before a torture chamber

[turboprop]

Very good and historically reasoned idea. Known in european medieval history common practice of ransom over nobility prisoners. Imagine fight where sometimes your rivals consider further resistance futile and try to surrender. You may continue and fight them or you can take them into captivity and hold them in prison while negotiating over ransom with their representatives. It would demand additional resources spared to development of related game mechanics in order to make AI that able to take such decisions, and may require development of mechanics for feodalic society with NPC strongholds (btw good targets to loot) all over the game (or at least scenario for such negotiations). Of course it may be fine without all ransoms; just old good tortures, for better mood.

Edited October 21, 2012 by turboprop

[.Leif.]

When I play Crusader Kings 2, I typically end up with a dungeon full to the brim with traitors. Being able to decide what happens to X rebel leader/ Religious Fanatic/ Do-Gooder could create interesting gameplay. I just hope that a prison isn't prioritized before a mage's quarters, training room, prayer room. Perhaps we will have the chance to select what sort of room occupies a space or expansion.

[rjshae]

When I play Crusader Kings 2, I typically end up with a dungeon full to the brim with traitors. Being able to decide what happens to X rebel leader/ Religious Fanatic/ Do-Gooder could create interesting gameplay. I just hope that a prison isn't prioritized before a mage's quarters, training room, prayer room. Perhaps we will have the chance to select what sort of room occupies a space or expansion.

I suspect we won't gain a stronghold until we're at a pretty high level. But, until then, perhaps we might be able to turn over prisoners to the local lord.

[Jojobobo]

Sounds like fun, I'd like to see a prison. It'd be cool to interrogate info out of your prisoners

[TrashMan]

Yes, an old gaol in the cellar would be colorful; perhaps something left over from a previous owner where he held his disfavored slaves and enemies? Maybe there are rumors of it being haunted by the spirits of those who died there from torment?

 

 

You know, the first time I read that sentance I understood it as "deflowered slaves" and it immediately raised an eyebrow.

 

Having your own harem?

[Freshock]

I think the prison would fit well with the Orlan Cipher detective companion .

[rjshae]

Yes, an old gaol in the cellar would be colorful; perhaps something left over from a previous owner where he held his disfavored slaves and enemies? Maybe there are rumors of it being haunted by the spirits of those who died there from torment?

 

 

You know, the first time I read that sentance I understood it as "deflowered slaves" and it immediately raised an eyebrow.

 

Having your own harem?

 

Kind of gross, but I could see something like a "Sam and Son's Used Slaves" business.

 

Not that I really want to know.

Edited October 22, 2012 by rjshae