FORTUNA^: Out-Takes

Virtù, as defined by  Cicero , does not go unrewarded in the streets of virtual Florence , nor in its palaces. It is as if an omniscient God took note of every transaction, every gift of alms to a mendicant, every confession of sins, every rejection of temptation, every prayer for forgiveness, and conferred proportional rewards. Thus the lower ranks improve their lot, slowly but steadily. 

Every outcome in Fortuna is influenced by the weighted chance algorithms. At one level, these favor the values of Renaissance Florence, which include looking good. The investment in a velvet doublet may lead to a chance encounter at a reception, which leads to private information on the fate of a ship, which leads to a hugely profitable investment. 

Ruthless defense of family honor is another such value.  

From one point of view, Fortuna is nothing more than an elaborate casino, albeit one where a certain measure of cheating is permitted. The stories of casual players who have invested a few florins and gained millions are not urban legends. 

The Fortuna Game Algorithms are such that “good” – Virtù – is rewarded on a small scale. But at the highest levels, Evil always prevails. 

Fortuna is a game. It has no purpose, or at least, no purpose we can understand. But the players have many purposes.