#i think theres a lot of roman society that could be adopted into tf lore

[blurrprime]

I know family dynamics are an odd one to try and work within tf lore but I'm kinda surprised there isn't more playing with the idea of families? Not based on kinship; perhaps closer to a guild or even syndicate. Because I think that can work well especially if we add in a Roman flair to the idea of adoption.

As a quick reference to what I mean: Adoption (this is specifically for the Empire, it varied a bit in the Republic and prior) was a common thing among the elite but wasn't unseen within lower classes. It wasn't typically done as a child-rearing thing but was a way for families to strengthen their political hold and move up lower-class family members. It was common for family friends, uncles, cousins, etc to adopt a family member so they could get a better political, military, etc position. Ex. your uncle adopts you and trains you to be a senator so he can promote you as a "successor" of sorts. That sort of thing

So in a Cybertronian context, its common in higher classes, and maybe your amica endura is raising a sparkling and you need to secure your line of succession in the Senate? Bada-bing bada-boom you take in that cybertronian as your own later in their life. It keeps everything tight-knit and in a species that doesn't reproduce on their own it makes sense to have to build this web. It means senatorial power can stay within one "family" and would ensure they have better military standing. You see a gladiator that is doing a hell of a good job? Formally adopt him into your family group so you now have ensured a formidable member and it pulls the gladiator out of the ring. So on and so forth.

It works best within a class system rather than a caste, as social positions have some more leeway in terms of mobility (up or down) that way. It's harder to feasibly adopt a lower caste than someone of a lower class.