Electing a new pope-adventure

I was definetly thinking more along the lines of the Renaissance and the Borgias and others when I asked the question. It was a time so over the top with some very ambitious men, and a lot of things happening.

Too many NPCs make it hard for the players to keep track of who is who. I might limit the 'contenders' to maybe 5 with a few hanger-ons and followers of them to see who the PCs gravitate to.

Maybe not limit the choices to one class or race. Have a non-human be a contender. In D&D terms, maybe a dwarf warlock sage is chosen from the local rulers. Then again in a D&D world, is a leader of the church need to belong to one god or is there some sort of high religious person for each group of gods, or all the gods, or just each god has a chosen like Drizzt.

payn said:

Id definitely suggest watching the pilot of The Borgias (showtime adaption) for inspiration.

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And, of course, the recent Conclave (even though I knew after fifteen minutes who would be elected).

Cordwainer Fish said:

There is already (almost) a board game:

Kremlin

Control the USSR politburo as dying men step into dead men's shoes.

boardgamegeek.com

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Excellent suggestion. We played this game every time during our 90s gaming retreats. Your guy gets promoted to the top, only to learn someone else invested more in him, and gets the win. Great fun!

The 1492 Papal Conclave
As the bells toll for the death of Pope Innocent VIII, the Eternal City braces for a storm. Behind the sealed doors of the Sistine Chapel, twenty-three cardinals gather — not just to choose a shepherd for Christendom, but to shape the future of Europe. Promises are whispered, gold changes hands, and enemies smile across candlelit chambers. With rival factions from France, Milan, and Naples vying for influence, and threats of war simmering outside the Vatican walls, the conclave becomes a crucible of ambition, corruption, and betrayal.

This is not a question of virtue — it is a contest of power.

* The 1492 Papal Conclave was eventually won (elected unanimously) by Rodrigo Borgia - Pope Alexander VI, a very wealthy Spanish cardinal with a silken tongue and a vault of coin.

The candidates were
Rodrigo Borgia - Spanish candidate and very wealthy
Ascanio Sforza - Milan
Giuliano della Rovere - Supported by France

• Naples sided with Borgia due to fear of French domination, many other Cardinals also voted against dela Rovere for the same reason.
• Rodrigo Borgia made a late night deal with Sforza promising to make him Vice Chancellor of the Church
• Letters were smuggled out to families outside the conclave
• Borgia promised land, palaces and gold to other cardinals and the families of key electors
• Some cardinals were mysteriously sick (poisoned?) on the day of key votes
  
  The election of Rodrigo opens the way for the Borgias to dominate European life for the next decade of scandal, corruption and poison (eg in 1503 Cardinal Orsini who had been a critic of the Borgias was arrested and died in prison)

The Dying Earth Roleplaying Game has mechanics for trying to influence and mislead audiences; I used it for a game based on the UK General Election of 2001, with Robin Laws as guest star. It should handle this fine.

I don't think this thread is a good idea. The Pope just died

That was the OP’s inspiration.

Personally, I’m a cradle Catholic and it doesn’t bug me any more than things like the Testament RPG.