Pantheons - an experiment in metagaming.

[Gregstrom]

I think it'll help to make the position of Ruler sufficiently valuable. Then, if you're a 'top 6' nation, you won't necessarily want to be second or third fiddle in a pantheon - it'll be better to be Ruler of your own group of gods and have a fair stab at first place that way. Also, it raises the possibility of assassination attempts within pantheons.

Suggestion: As per normal Dom3 games, there is only one winner. However, the rest of the pantheon get 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. If you want to actually win, you need to be head of your own pantheon. If (as is so often the case by the later parts of the game) you think you aren't of a stature to realistically win, then you can get yourself a good chance at ranking by being a loyal member of a pantheon. With the protection of allies, you might even grow enough to have a chance at rulership later on.

Oh yes - the instant only one pantheon remains in the game, the game ends and rankings are set. If you want to backstab your Ruler, you have to prepare the attempt (and declare it, possibly to a neutral admin) ahead of time. You can't wait until all other enemies are dead, first.

Maybe a rule that one pantheon cannot be a subset of another might be appropriate.

Edit: There aren't many rewards for winning besides pride of place. Giving the winner an appropriate forum title might be an entertaining perk...