Symphony D.
Deity
This is an opinion poll. There is no right or wrong answer, this is simply an effort to gauge public opinion. Which of the above poll options do you feel best summarizes your understanding of the common relationship between a player and their player-character nation in the average nation-state/civilization/empire oriented NES? An expansion on these options is given below:
- Disembodied Noncorporeal Zeitgeist of the Nation: You, the player, act as the sum manifestation of the nation, as traditionally embodied in characters such as Uncle Sam/Columbia, John Bull/Britannia, and other national personifications, and so in some very real sense you play as the sum totality of the nation; your wishes are its wishes in aggregate, and there is no real distinction between you and any part of it.
- Gestalt Government Apparatus: You, the player, represent the sum total of the national government, whatever its composition and construction, and accordingly all the varying factions and political parties within it, as well as all its branches (traditionally: Executive, Legislative, Judicial), possibly (but not necessarily) including government down to its smallest levels. This is akin to the above, but reduced in scope.
- Ruling Party/Faction: You, the player, represent whatever political party, faction, dynasty, et alia, is in charge of the nation.
- Executive Government: You, the player, represent the bit of government which has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state. (There may or may not be a separation from the other responsibilities of state.)
- Executive Ruler: You, the player, represent only whomever is at the highest position of executive authority of the state, i.e., its head of government/state (whichever is actually in charge, or both if they reside in the same position/person).
- Immortal Being/Beings Guiding Civilization Directly/Indirectly: You, the player, are actually manifested in some fashion in the narrative, possibly behind the scenes or under an assumed name, steering events as if you yourself were a character in the narrative of the story, albeit one never directly recognized. This is akin to how Civilization presents its leaders, and similar to the concept of Highlander, or the implied historical presence of Kane in Command & Conquer's universe. Essentially, events that unfold are a direct result of your machinations.
- Other/Please Explain: Perhaps none of these is how you see the relation. Please articulate your view of the relationship as best you can.
- The United States of America.
- The (Federal) Government of the United States of America.
- The Democratic Party.
- The Executive Branch of the Federal Government of the United States of America.
- President Barack Obama.
- Lord Xenu. HAIL XENU!
- The Illuminati/Majestic 12/New World Order/etc.