Office of Silly Thoughts

[vikingruler]

I agree that we should have elections, but maybe we should first determine who is active. if anyone other than the current officers are active they should be allowed to run for a position. if no one wants to run and everyone is happy with the current officers, elections may not be necessary.

 

[CommandoBob]

I agree that we should have elections, but maybe we should first determine who is active. if anyone other than the current officers are active they should be allowed to run for a position. if no one wants to run and everyone is happy with the current officers, elections may not be necessary.

I sorta agree and I sorta don't.

Let me try to summarize my thoughts on this.

I think any election, even if only one person votes, is better than no election at all.

• We did agree to be a democracy, so we need to hold elections. We can always vote to be something other than a democracy.
• We need to legitimatize our leaders. Kuningas is Turn Player because our elected Turn Player could not be. I'm Foreign Minister because our elected FM is not active. Plus, Kuningas asked if I could reply to The Council, so I claimed the title of Acting Foreign Minister.
• By the book, we don't have any 'official' positions filled at this time. First Term ended at Turn 40.

We need more active people, or at least some vocal lurkers.

• While the early turns as so very critical, they are also so very boring. No sense in being active if there is nothing to be active about.
• We need to get the inactives interested/aware again. Announcing new elections (and maybe a brief update of our status) will bring them back here to see what is going on.
• If we announce new elections and the inactives do not show up, that is their choice and their responsiblity, not ours. They can't complain about the leadership if they don't even vote.
• If we have elections and do not inform the inactive, the inactives will view the actives in a negative light. The inactives will stay away and not participate. After all, why should they?

An election now sets the pace for the rest of the game.

• We need to get into the pattern of having regular elections.
• I think we can get more people involved if they know they have a chance to be a leader. I enjoyed being with Team KISS, but the power structure and division of responsibilty was somewhat fuzzy and hard to pick up as a newcomer. And it never gave a new person a chance to shine.

Theory vs. Reality
Yes, this all may sound good, but what will really happen?

I think that by having elections we gain offical, elected leaders and that by informing our inactives of what has taken place so far we will get them interested the game and vocal about that interest.

We would need two PMs to all the team. One would be an update message and announce that elections will held soon, nominations are now open, etc.. The second PM would be to announce that the time of the elections. A third PM, to announce the elected officials, might be considered spammy, so let's not do that one.

Anyway, these are my thoughts on the matter, for what they are worth.

 

[azzaman333]

Kuningas is Turn Player because our elected Turn Player could not be.

Kuningas was able to play the save faster than me consistently, so he kindof took over the role while I still had time.

And FWIW, and role I would take would have to be relatively small, such as negotiating diplomacy with a single team, since the semester is reaching the more work-heavy end.

 

[CommandoBob]

Kuningas was able to play the save faster than me consistently, so he kindof took over the role while I still had time.

That's good to know. Thanks.

And FWIW, and role I would take would have to be relatively small, such as negotiating diplomacy with a single team, since the semester is reaching the more work-heavy end.

But you will be involved, right?

And this gets me thinking... ( )

Ambassadors vs. Foreign Minister

Are you suggesting (for later) that we have Ambassadors to each team? (The Ambassador(s) would replace the Foreign Minister. The FM would go away.)

Are you suggesting (after this next term) that we have an Ambassador to The Council and a Foreign Minister to meet the newbies (when they show up)?

Are you suggesting (for this term) that we have an Ambassador to The Council and a Foreign Minister to meet the newbies (when they show up)?

For sure that is something to think about and discuss.

 

[Empiremaker]

I would go with seperate ambassadors, with a FM who would be in charge of genral foregin manegment. The ambassadors would be responsible for the wording of proposals a specific negotiations.

 

[CommandoBob]

OK, separate Ambassadors to each team with a Foreign Minister overseeing their work.

OK, but when?

Once we have met everyone?

Or on our upcoming election (with only the Ambassador to The Council and Foreign Minister being available)?

I'm not sure which method or combination of methods is best (Ambassdors, Foreign Ministers or both).

I tend to favor having only the Foreign Minister for this next turnset and then discussing the Ambassador issue and how we would implement it and when. By the following turnset we should have completed our discussion, perhaps even voted on the issue, and have a plan in place on how we want to roll out any changes.

This would also give any newbies a chance to join in on the discussion, too.

 

[azzaman333]

When we meet another team or 2, it'll be harder for the 1 person to completely keep track of all diplomacy. So when we meet another new civ I think that depending on activity levels of our team we should get someone to do most of the diplomacy with them.

 

[aluka]

I'd be happy with the foreign minister appointing ambassadors as needed.

 

[vikingruler]

Ambassadors could help increase participation. it might appeal to some people getting them involved because being an ambassador requires you to be active.

 

[CommandoBob]

Is it time to announce to the world some of the great events that have befallen the FREE people? (A spoof newspage or news magazine comes to mind.)

Something lighthearted to think about as we get ready for our future.

 

[CommandoBob]

Is this timetable acceptable?

• On Turn 71 or 72 (in other words, today or tomorrow) PMs to all about elections on Turn 74.
• After we play our Turn 74, the polls are created, opened (24/48 hours; until we finish Turn 76; some other length of time) and PMs sent to announce that the polls are open and for how long.
• After the polls close, the winners are announced.
• New leaders take office after our Turn 79 is done and are in place for Turn 80.

Are these offices acceptable?

• President / Turn Player
• Foreign Minister / UN Rep
• Ambassador to The Council
• Military Advisor
• Domestic Advisor

 

[aluka]

They are indeed acceptable.

 

[Empiremaker]

Since we are having elections, we may want to nominate an ambassador to SABER since we will likely meet them soon.

 

[Kuningas]

It certainly looks like each team has an own island. I guess, there is no preastronomy galley route from an island to other. All that means it will be awhile until we make further contacts.

 

[CommandoBob]

It certainly looks like each team has an own island. I guess, there is no preastronomy galley route from an island to other. All that means it will be awhile until we make further contacts.

So you think that The Council got lucky with a suicide galley? (er, curragh.)


EDIT:
Hmm.

Five large islands, rather isolated, would lead to a very balanced game, where diplomacy would be key since everyone would be equal. Invasions would be hard and costly and risky, since everyone would have a good defensive force (or could get a good defensive rather quickly).

I'm guessing, but I think there is a large, unihabited land mass, which everyone will find and everyone will fight over.

 

[CommandoBob]

The idea of a spoof newspaper/magazine/something just won't go away, but I haven't had time to write anything.

All that I have so far is a possible name: A FREE Press. Yeah, it's a mildy bad pun, but it could work.

 

[Empiremaker]

Should we have an election for turn 100 or continue as is? In the previous elections, there wasn't much interest in becoming an elected officer. Turn 100 will be in about twoish weeks

 

[Kuningas]

Skip the elections. Game turns are changing in fast pace.

 

[aluka]

I think we should only have elections if someone wishes to contest a position.

 

[vikingruler]

sorry about not posting, i have been lurking and reading the threads but haven't found enough time to post. however I want to say i am back and will become much more active again.

@aluka- i agree, if no one wants to run for a position holding non-opposed elections is just a waste of time.