ash88
Hail to the King Baby -DN
UPDATE: Since the proof of concept was wildly successful I have created the Official Team MERLOT thread HERE. It includes more details derived from the discussion in this thread, funky graphics, and more Kingly goodness. I suggest that you go there instead of here, but I'm not the King, so you can do whatever you want.
After reviewing the current "democracy"/Poll-Based teams for the upcoming game an idea struck me. (Queue Monty Python's Theme / Stars and Stripes Forever) ... And now for something completely different...
Team Merlot
Mission Statement
We all know democracy doesn't work online. Everyone becomes a selfish grade-schoolers on the internet. So let’s try something different - let's re-embrace Monarchy. (I want to farm some wine anyways). Crushing some serfs under your oppressive heel sound appealing to you? Of course it does. You play Civ4.
What will this team be like?
You are part of an elite ruling family - so are the rest of us on the team. Every 15 or so turns (we can decide at the outset) we will run a poll to see who will take over as our Royal Sovereign. As a family member we can then respectfully advise, discuss, and suggest all things to our liege who ultimately makes all good decisions on our behalf.
His Majesty can play the turns or appoint someone to play the turns on his behalf. He can choose to grant titles of Governor and allow individuals to have more dominion over certain cities - even renaming them in their honour. He can choose diplomats. Etc. Etc. When a new King takes the throne he can inherit his predecessors structure or wipe the slate clean (and inevitably tick off a lot of people!)
Election of a Monarch?
The check-and-balance of the Monarch was that they often needed the support of their wider royal family to attain a throne. Although there was nothing as formal as a vote we will use the polling system on the forum. This way the people who are brightest, most diplomatic, and (more realistically) most popular will be put on the target. Remember, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
So is this a democracy?
Not at all. Instead of micro-voting on every single annoying issue that crops up in the game we vote on someone’s vision, direction, and past indiscretions. If they tick enough people off by not following advice and going it alone they get the boot (or the guillotine?). If they carefully balance all ideas and build consent on the forums for good ideas - well - what a successful game we will have! And that person deserves a long and prosperous rule as an absolute Monarch!
Role-playing?
I'm not a huge role-playing-on-a-forum fan, but I admit that Team-Merlot is a good role-playing opportunity. So the only "Role-playing" that is required is this: in order for our little Monarchy to work we all have to surrender our hard-won freedom of self expression for the purposes of this game. I know, it's a hard pill to swallow.
The current King has absolute power. If he calls a discussion closed it is closed. He is the moderator, the Administrator, and essentially all things to all people. The only thing he cannot change is the 15-odd turn vote (everyone dies). In the mean time whatever he asks we do.
And by "whatever he asks" I really do mean it. He can single you out, just you, and say that you are no longer permitted to speak on the forums. Kind of rubs our Democratic minds the wrong way doesn't it? During his reign he has absolute power. Suck it up and learn what to do about it.
What if I hate the King?
You do have some options. As a member of the Royal Family you need to find a replacement and then privately (through private messages) build support for that member. When the post comes up in 15 turns that says, "Who will have their name on the ballet" make certain that the person puts there name forward and that they have enough people committed to vote for them to win.
Overthrowing a King should come as a complete surprise to the King. After all, there is no forum to discuss things you are unhappy about. There is no place to give "constructive criticism" (whether it is constructive or not). No, the incite-full, passive aggressive posts thinly veiled behind a coating of "just trying to help" strategy will not work in a Monarchy. Well, if the King has any sense it won't.
King's Limitations
There may be a couple more to discuss, but this will be a very short list. The spirit of the team is that the King has absolute control within the mechanics of the game and within the posting rules of the forum. He can't delay a 15-odd turn vote. He can't eject people from the team. He may only be King for 15 turns after all. The worst he can do to someone is demand they stop posting in public areas. At which time they can still send private messages and build support for other Kingly candidates.
A king that does this too often and to posters who are popular is not going to remain king for very long.
Our Mission
Our mission is to have a lot of grape-stained fun. We want to discuss Civ 4 stuff. We want to do it inside of a governmental system that works better on the internet. We don't want to have to debate about whether to settle the NE square or the NW square for 2 days. We want to place someone in power who has excellent vision and listens to us, and boot them when they stop. We want to farm some wine. But most of all...
Long live the King!
After reviewing the current "democracy"/Poll-Based teams for the upcoming game an idea struck me. (Queue Monty Python's Theme / Stars and Stripes Forever) ... And now for something completely different...
Team Merlot
Mission Statement
We all know democracy doesn't work online. Everyone becomes a selfish grade-schoolers on the internet. So let’s try something different - let's re-embrace Monarchy. (I want to farm some wine anyways). Crushing some serfs under your oppressive heel sound appealing to you? Of course it does. You play Civ4.
What will this team be like?
You are part of an elite ruling family - so are the rest of us on the team. Every 15 or so turns (we can decide at the outset) we will run a poll to see who will take over as our Royal Sovereign. As a family member we can then respectfully advise, discuss, and suggest all things to our liege who ultimately makes all good decisions on our behalf.
His Majesty can play the turns or appoint someone to play the turns on his behalf. He can choose to grant titles of Governor and allow individuals to have more dominion over certain cities - even renaming them in their honour. He can choose diplomats. Etc. Etc. When a new King takes the throne he can inherit his predecessors structure or wipe the slate clean (and inevitably tick off a lot of people!)
Election of a Monarch?
The check-and-balance of the Monarch was that they often needed the support of their wider royal family to attain a throne. Although there was nothing as formal as a vote we will use the polling system on the forum. This way the people who are brightest, most diplomatic, and (more realistically) most popular will be put on the target. Remember, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
So is this a democracy?
Not at all. Instead of micro-voting on every single annoying issue that crops up in the game we vote on someone’s vision, direction, and past indiscretions. If they tick enough people off by not following advice and going it alone they get the boot (or the guillotine?). If they carefully balance all ideas and build consent on the forums for good ideas - well - what a successful game we will have! And that person deserves a long and prosperous rule as an absolute Monarch!
Role-playing?
I'm not a huge role-playing-on-a-forum fan, but I admit that Team-Merlot is a good role-playing opportunity. So the only "Role-playing" that is required is this: in order for our little Monarchy to work we all have to surrender our hard-won freedom of self expression for the purposes of this game. I know, it's a hard pill to swallow.
The current King has absolute power. If he calls a discussion closed it is closed. He is the moderator, the Administrator, and essentially all things to all people. The only thing he cannot change is the 15-odd turn vote (everyone dies). In the mean time whatever he asks we do.
And by "whatever he asks" I really do mean it. He can single you out, just you, and say that you are no longer permitted to speak on the forums. Kind of rubs our Democratic minds the wrong way doesn't it? During his reign he has absolute power. Suck it up and learn what to do about it.
What if I hate the King?
You do have some options. As a member of the Royal Family you need to find a replacement and then privately (through private messages) build support for that member. When the post comes up in 15 turns that says, "Who will have their name on the ballet" make certain that the person puts there name forward and that they have enough people committed to vote for them to win.
Overthrowing a King should come as a complete surprise to the King. After all, there is no forum to discuss things you are unhappy about. There is no place to give "constructive criticism" (whether it is constructive or not). No, the incite-full, passive aggressive posts thinly veiled behind a coating of "just trying to help" strategy will not work in a Monarchy. Well, if the King has any sense it won't.
King's Limitations
There may be a couple more to discuss, but this will be a very short list. The spirit of the team is that the King has absolute control within the mechanics of the game and within the posting rules of the forum. He can't delay a 15-odd turn vote. He can't eject people from the team. He may only be King for 15 turns after all. The worst he can do to someone is demand they stop posting in public areas. At which time they can still send private messages and build support for other Kingly candidates.
A king that does this too often and to posters who are popular is not going to remain king for very long.
Our Mission
Our mission is to have a lot of grape-stained fun. We want to discuss Civ 4 stuff. We want to do it inside of a governmental system that works better on the internet. We don't want to have to debate about whether to settle the NE square or the NW square for 2 days. We want to place someone in power who has excellent vision and listens to us, and boot them when they stop. We want to farm some wine. But most of all...
Long live the King!