The Tudors and strategy games

[darthkiwi]

This week I've been reading this:



(Proofreading, technically, since I'm being paid, but it's still fun.)

It's reminded me of just how personal the Tudor court could be. The book begins a few months before the death of Henry VIII, and whether the characters are talking about old times, carefully avoiding dangerous topics (GOD'S BLOOD DON'T TALK ABOUT ANNE BOLEYN!!!) or scheming for the future, you cannot EVER escape the factions, plots and schemes that ensure the court is a kind of lethal wheel of fortune.

Cardinal Wolsey, the Boleyns, Archbishop Cranmer, the Seymours, the Howards - they all cluster into deadly little factions, they're all trying to climb to the top of the pile, and they'd all gut each other without a second thought if it meant falling into the King's graces or seizing power when his son comes to the throne.

I'm pretty sure this historical period inspired Game of Thrones.

So, anyway, that got me thinking about this:



and this:



The first game is Europa Universalis 3. It's a grand strategy game that spans the late middle ages to the beginning of the Napoleonic era. The idea is the simulate politics and statecraft in early modern Europe. You have ministers and advisors, and can have vassal states, but all of your power is very centralised. Your ministers are just people you bring in to give you certain bonuses; there's no sense that you have a court.

That second game is Crusader Kings. Also a grand strategy game, but it's set from 1066 to 1453 (ie. Battle of Hastings to fall of Constantinople, so the sweep of the Middle Ages). You have ministers, a court, many many vassals. You only have direct authority over a few provinces, perhaps as little as 15% of your actual kingdom. So you have to delegate power to your nobles, and employ courtiers in an advisory role. Marriages and dynasties seem pretty important.

See, what I like about CK is that it has a human level: there's a big map and stuff but, from what I can gather, you have to manage people and families as well as armies.

The Tudor court was post-middle ages: there was gunpowder on the battlefield, for a start, and that slowly changed everything. So I can see why EU3 (centralised, non-factional, renaissance/Englightenment-focused) would be the game that deals with the Tudors. But the spirit of the middle ages was still very much present: Le Morte D'Arthur, the first ever Arthur legend written in English, was only printed in Henry VII's reign. Henry VIII's court was a glistening fantasy, tournaments were common, there was tilting (ie. jousting), I mean think of the Field of the Cloth of Gold.

What interests me is that nowhere would CK's interpersonal dynamics work better than at the Tudor court, yet because it falls outside the middle ages, it doesn't count. And yes, a lance-wielding knight would be of little use for Henry VIII in his European campaigns, but they were still very much around at court. What fascinates me is that the middle ages were coming to an end, but the Tudors weren't willing to admit that into their beautiful courts and their romance-and-song-dominated culture.

Not sure I have a question for you all, but just want to think about the role of culture, legends, stories and role-models (eg. King Arthur) and above all of people influenced by all those things in the making of war, politics and history.

TLDR: the Tudors were awesome!

[Bludshot]

You should get Crusader Kings 2, I've been investing an unhealthy amount of time into it.  I just finished murdering my way to the top of the Byzantine Empire.

[darthkiwi]

You should get Crusader Kings 2, I've been investing an unhealthy amount of time into it.  I just finished murdering my way to the top of the Byzantine Empire.

Oooh, want! Want very much!

[stika]

I know there's  game based on the tudors but I heard it's not very good

[Bludshot]

Just get Crusader Kings 2.  While not about the Tudors, the entire game is about managing a medieval dynasty, and all of the hazards therein.  Once you get past a bit of a learning curve I guarantee you won't drop it if your inner royal schemer/horrible person has anything to say about it.

[darthkiwi]

I want to very badly, but I'm kind of poor right now