Darkesia

*mails a bribe of fine, addictive chocolates to Democratica*

TWP was fueled by a very active and well organized recruitment program for a time under the multiple personalities of LoA. While I would not like to see a return of that level of subterfuge (or maybe I would just a little) I think it's a good idea to go back to look at the structure and methods used to bring new nations into the fold. It was a very successful system. No. I do not have time to run it or even compose the new TG's used. But I see no reason why the old one's couldn't be used as a base.

Welcome to TWP!

How many people will be needed to actively support this system? At this point we don't have enough people to staff a single government, let alone set up 2, 3 , 4 or 5 alternates which all have documents written etc. Even in "the golden years" TWP had trouble staffing all of it's ministries with active nations. It's a nice idea, PD. I just don't see it as very realistic for TWP.

The Grand Feux Pas?

Having a gov't simply to have activity is not enough.

What you need is a reason to have your government. Even if it's an invented reason that has more to do with culture and propaganda than any real reason. Previously the forum governments flourished because they were the point of organizing for self defense and diplomatic relations. For a variety of reasons we don't have time to get into, this is no longer the case. So your first challenge in building the government is to decide why you need one. What will be the culture of TWP? The style/form of government will follow easily once you decide why it exists.

Welcome to TWP!

Minister of Lurking?

Absolutely! I flirt with everyone who hands me all his chocolate. Can I get you anything? A Ministry appointment? A plaza named after you?

Hi there! Welcome to TWP. The fastest road to power here is to give me all your chocolate. ... Well... It's the road to something. Something that makes me happy.

I declare this embassy for Gatesville open. The bar is fully stocked. The chocolate fountain is fully operational. As requested, the closet full of Chippendale dancers is filled to bursting for Nevadar.

Yay!

If you want democracy, you must be prepared to first fight to have it. Then, after the conflict has drawn people, you must build a sustainable system with enough internal conflict to keep interest without shattering TWP again. Both worthy goals. Both difficult goals. What you need to understand is that YOU must do this. Talking about it while doing nothing is easy. And don't expect the old timers to do the work. We did that before, when our RL left us time for it. It's someone else's turn.

8 people voted. Not a very representative sample. Also, I need to point out that 8 people, two of whom are largely inactive in the wider NSverse, is not a large enough group to staff a decent government.

The trouble with an uninvolved delegate in a feeder is that they will get bored or frustrated. Bored or frustrated feeder delegates only have two modes: inactive or rogue. Tarting in a feeder is sooooo boring and tedious. There has to be some pay off. Interestingly, we have a delegate now that 100% allows the people on the forum to run the off site the way they want (not that he really has any say in it. ) He is content with in-game concerns. Unfortunately freedom of choice in the forum has lead to inactivity. I'm not sure how one goes about removing the option of inactivity from the list of choices. Believe me, its something we have wrestled with since before the Neutral Territory conference.

Welcome to NationStates. That is the nature of politics. I see no problem with involving democracy (even though I think it's completely a sham in game). What I suggest you be careful about is trying to use the offsite to impose something on the delegate who gains power ond influence solely in-game. Likewise it is not wise, in my opinion to give the delegate control of the off site government.

I would just like to interrupt this little pissing contest to remind the hologram that not everything happens on the surface. Now back to your regularly scheduled bickering about the unintended consequences of Alliances in NS.

They won't reinstate tweedy. The NS Mods are assholes about this subject. And like influence, the ban is here to stay. With respect to your desire to see activity on the offsite. I look forward to seeing what you come up with to draw in people. It would be good to have something to do again. I mean something besides busy work. With fresh faces around, there is hope that you can figure something out to peak interest.

It's not like he's asking for 20 bucks. His next book, Lexicon comes out in a couple weeks. And Syrup was recently turned into a movie. Max is doing ok. I have read a few of his books. He has a knack for building well rounded, believable characters despite their often insane surroundings. The stuff reads a bit like a screenplay at times. But I've come to accept that many contemporary creative people think in terms of TV shows .

I already miss Flemingovia.

Max can't stand the commercialization of games that you can buy your way to the top 10 lists. This much I know.

Personal opinion with absolutely no supporting evidence: Max has finally hired someone to take care of some aspects of NS. That salary has to come from somewhere. What I don't think he (or any of the staff) realizes is that this system is indeed immediately exploitable for gameplay purposes and a paid account will give one an advantage. It's the opposite of what he wanted.

This. This makes me smile.

Welcome to TWP