On Sun, 14 Apr 2019 at 15:52, Nicole Susans <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

I do like these changes. The Second Luriani War isn't needed, the Luriani won't want to be fighting there, committing everything to facing the K'kree. Not sure what to do about Lucan's faction. Perhaps his Admiral see which way it's going to go during Dulinor's advance and off Lucan putting his infant daughter on the throne. Then pull back behind Capitol al la Napoleon.

I think that, even if you try to look at "Lucan" (the faction) through the most rose-coloured glasses you can find, you still have a faction that is motivated by extreme cynicism and selfishness.  Whether Lucan (the individual) is a moral monster or not, all of powers-behind-the-throne in his faction seem to repeatedly make decisions and follow policies that only make sense if they are giving that power-broker some sort of payoff, even if that payoff is coming at the expense of the Imperium - or even the faction - as a whole.

Hence my thought that the likely outcome in Core beyond 1130 is going to be one (or a combination) of the following:

a)  Most of Core (especially defectors from "Lucan") acknowledging Dulinor as the Emperor, but with Dulinor being sensible enough to only attempt nominal authority over the sector;

b)  A series of "city-states" based around 1-2 HiPop worlds, perhaps trading successfully, but with none willing to recognise any overarching authority ; and/or

c)  A single main "Lucanic" successor state, perhaps nominally recognising La Infanta, but with practical control invested in a council of HiPop world leaders, naval commanders, and any surviving long-term local nobility.

Cheers,

KenB