Methos for Chieftain

[Methos]

Qualifications: I have been a continuously active Succession Game player since my first SG started on May 5^th, 2005. I have grown to really enjoy SG's due to the team work that is required IMO for that style of game. I believe that this same teamwork that is found in SG's is also required to play a successful Demogame. One of biggest lessons I learned early in my SG experience to listen to all opinions and arguments of my fellow teammates, as it takes everyone's abilities to successfully win the game, not just those of a select few.

The spoilers below are questions that have been asked by my fellow citizens and my answers.

Spoiler Ravensfire: The First Week :

The position of Chieftain is that of a leader. What will you do in your first week in office to lead this nation?

I believe the first week will be a very important week and possibly a little slow to move. There will be many exciting and very importants decisions we as citizens must make: choosing where to settle, what to research, what to place in the queue, whether to push for growth/research/production. I believe the first week of the term will be primarily the discussion on the above. I don't wish to spend too much time on this discussion, but I honestly believe the early turns are the most important turns of the game, and therefore should not be rushed due to our eagerness to play.

Spoiler Ravensfire: Organization of the DP Pool :

One of the duties of the Chieftain is the organization of the Designated Player pool. What will you do to keep the process going smoothly? How often would you like to see game sessions happening, and for how many turns per session?

The order of the DP would follow the number of votes each member received from greatest to least. In other words, the DP candidate with the most votes plays first, the next most votes second, and so on. I would like to have at least two turnsets a week and would prefer, if possible, for them to be played online. The first turnset I believe should be twenty turns, the second turnset should be fifteen turns, and all turns after that should be ten.

Spoiler Dave Shack: Fostering Citizen Involvement and Fun :

Do you think the Chieftain should have a role in fostering citizen involvement? Do you have any plans for the citizens role?
Do you have any ideas for ways to make the game fun for the most people possible?

I believe its everyone's role to help foster citizen involvement, including the Chieftain. One aspect that both Ice and I seem to fully agree upon, is keeping subjects in their own thread. This is one of the reasons I really like Locke's citizen group idea. Everyone of us has our own reasons for why we enjoy playing the Demogame. Some like the RP'ing, others the legal side, and so on. By keeping threads focused on their own subject we'll tend to keep citizens involved in the aspects of the game that they like. Letting a thread stray to several differing topics causes players to skip over the thread. With any luck from our now resident moderator, hopefully we can keep the involvement and excitement of each and every citizen alive and well.

Spoiler dutchfire: Normal Level and Settings :

On which level and settings do you normally play ? (If at all )

That's a tough one. All of my solo games are submissions to help increase my Quattromaster rank, so I don't really have a normal level I play. I've played nothing but Deity level games for several days and than Settler level, so picking any single level is tough. If I had to pick one, I'd guess Monarch.

Spoiler dutchfire: Usual Strategy :

How would you describe your usual strategy?

Again, I'm primarily a HoF player, so my strategies coincide with the victory condition I'm aiming for. Since the Demogame won't have any specific VC we're going for, I'd say my primary strategy for the Demogame would be:

• Worker first, but only if the worker completes just as a worker tech is researched.
• Building a strong research base and boosting research as much as possible (i.e. Pottery and cottages if the terrain is available).
• Expanding while keeping our economy stable. Fast research isn't any good if our economy can't support itself enough to keep the slider high.
• Well placed cities. Making sure any new cities are placed in the best locations and setup for specialization.

Spoiler erikthecelt: Fixed Turn Limits :

Why do you propose a fixed turn limit of turn counts? Are you willing to let the DP choose to engage in war without consultation from the community other than by way of the chat session if it happens during the specified turn count?

Let me clarify myself, as my intention was not to state fixed turn amounts, but guidelines. I would prefer to help keep the game moving if we play using the "guidelines" as I stated above. I also believe that the DP should stop his turnset if his instructions state to do so, or if something out of the ordinary happens that requires citizen discussion. Any major decisions, such as war, the DP does not have the power to commit to without citizen involvement.

Spoiler Ordinaryguy: Keeping the Interest :

Question: How would you do to sustain interest in the game? Some people would drop out after some time.

To be honest, this will be rather difficult, as all of us have different interests and reasons on why we play the Demogame. I honestly believe Locke's committees would be one of the best ways to keep peoples interest, as it allows everyone to find a committee they are interested in. If there isn't one, there's nothing stopping them from creating their own.

One of the problems with keeping someones interest is knowing what it is that interests them. Without knowing what part of the Demogame that they are drawn too, its hard to persuade them to stay. Unfortunately for the shyer members, we cannot know their interests if they don't express it. I believe that if someone's interest is beginning to wane they should create a thread that includes something they are interested in to see if others of a like mind would join in. As an example, Ice is working on setting up a RP side of the game.

Spoiler chessplayer: How I differ from the other candidates :

What would make you different from the other chieftain nominees?

Unfortunately I cannot answer this one. I don't really know Ice very well, so I do not know what our differences are, or even what we have similar (other than civving). My apologies for my lack of an answer, but I don't see how I can honestly do so.

Spoiler Shattered: Level of involvement with other officers :

To what level will your involvement be with the other offices? Will you try and make the decisions of the other offices co-incide with your own? Or do you follow your own agenda?

From my understanding of the duties of Chieftain, I would be the similar to a supervisor at work. My job would be to make sure progress is going as planned and that my fellow officers are working together. In other words, I'd leave the other officers to their job and typically only step in if I was needed.

As to my own agenda, that would be based off of what the citizens prefer. I would not force my own agenda if the majority of my fellow citizens and officers disagree with it. I will instead seek out the best way to implement what my fellow officers and citizens have decided on. That doesn't mean I won't attempt to persuade my own opinion or ideas, but I will not use my powers as Chieftain to force them on the empire.

Again I must state, I prefer teamwork to individuals who run everything. I believe that respectful disagreements and debates help the learning process of the game and don't want everyone to agree with each other. In SGOTM8 we had two excellent players who disagreed and debated strategies throughout the whole game and did so respectfully and in a friendly manner. Be it known that we took the Gold Laurel that game.

Please feel free to ask any and questions you have.

 

[erikthecelt]

The first turnset I believe should be twenty turns, the second turnset should be fifteen turns, and all turns after that should be ten.

Why do you propose a fixed turn limit of turn counts? Are you willing to let the DP choose to engage in war without consultation from the community other than by way of the chat session if it happens during the specified turn count?

 

[Methos]

Why do you propose a fixed turn limit of turn counts? Are you willing to let the DP choose to engage in war without consultation from the community other than by way of the chat session if it happens during the specified turn count?

Let me clarify myself, as my intention was not to state fixed turn amounts, but guidelines. I would prefer to help keep the game moving if we play using the "guidelines" as I stated above. I also believe that the DP should stop his turnset if his instructions state to do so, or if something out of the ordinary happens that requires citizen discussion. Any major decisions, such as war, the DP does not have the power to commit to without citizen involvement.

Also, each time a question is asked of me I'll post a spoiler with that question and my answer in the OP of this thread. This way, no one has to skim through every post on several threads to find my statements. That includes questions/answers from this thread. Thanks.

 

[ordinaryguy]

This is going to be interesting. A competitor running for Chieftain.

Question: How would you do to sustain interest in the game? Some people would drop out after some time.

Thank you

 

[Methos]

Question: How would you do to sustain interest in the game? Some people would drop out after some time.

To be honest, this will be rather difficult, as all of us have different interests and reasons on why we play the Demogame. I honestly believe Locke's committees would be one of the best ways to keep peoples interest, as it allows everyone to find a committee they are interested in. If there isn't one, there's nothing stopping them from creating their own.

One of the problems with keeping someones interest is knowing what it is that interests them. Without knowing what part of the Demogame that they are drawn too, its hard to persuade them to stay. Unfortunately for the shyer members, we cannot know their interests if they don't express it. I believe that if someone's interest is beginning to wane they should create a thread that includes something they are interested in to see if others of a like mind would join in. As an example, Ice is working on setting up a RP side of the game.

Note to all: My wife and I are going away for the weekend to see the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit in Kansas City this weekend, so as of late tomorrow afternoon I will not have access to this site to answer any questions. For those of you who have more questions, please ask them within the next 24 hours. After that, I will not have access until sometime late Saturday night, after the polls go up. Thank you.

Edit: First post updated.

 

[Methos]

Remember, all questions that have been asked of me have been placed with their answers in the first post of this thread for easy reference. Thank you for your consideration.

 

[chessplayer]

What would make you different from the other chieftain nominees?

 

[Methos]

What would make you different from the other chieftain nominees?

Unfortunately I cannot answer this one. I don't really know Ice very well, so I do not know what our differences are, or even what we have similar (other than civving). My apologies for my lack of an answer, but I don't see how I can honestly do so.

 

[Furius]

How do you plan to interact with whoever is elected to the office of elder? What potential conflicts between the offices do you see, and how do you plan to deal with them?

I realise you've already answered a similar question, but I'm interested in the possible conflicts part....

 

[Methos]

My apologies for not answering the past several questions, but my wife and I were out of town this weekend seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. I strongly suggest that anyone who is fairly close to Kansas City, Missouri take the time to check out the exhibit, whether your are religious or not. We really enjoyed it! BTW, the exhibit actually makes three stops in the US, but I'm unsure where else it has, or will stop.

Well, it appears the polls are up! Good luck everyone!