Big Bad Badger

I think that this is a real positive idea that will help the chosen theme gain legitimacy in the region.
I agree that it feels like we are rushing into this when legit discussion is/was still taking place.
I am increasingly unsettled that the only people allowed to vote on the regional theme are Hall of Nations members.
It doesn't seem representative of the region.

I can see absolutely no reason why we cannot present these options, plus others, to the TWP players as a Regional Poll.  It would give a much wider set of opinions and might even come up with some new options. In addition, it would make the players feel much more involved and that they 'own' what is happening. 
It is understood that there might be some attempts at rigging the vote by outside influences, but this issue can be easily sidestepped by clearly stating that we are only allowing nations who have been in the region prior to 1 Feb 2019, or maybe 1 Jan 2019, to vote and to make the poll as an advisory, but meaningful, one to the Delegate.  Sorting out the false 'claims' from the probable few hundred voters might be time consuming but still worth the effort.  Just out of interest, is it possible to delete a vote from the list by the poll originator so this might be another way of cleaning the pollsters out who are not eligible?
Suggest Options: Russia, China, Japan, Pirate, No Change, Other- state on rmb with case argued.  Options randomly placed in the selection list, of course!

I will always respect the Delegate's will, I'm just saying we should not pretend we are being fully open to the options. I'm ok with whatever result

From what I'm seeing, there's three main opinions: those in favor of one of the three presented themes, those in favor of a change, but not one of the themes presented, and those not in favor of a change. 
While it's Halo's perogative and I understand the reasoning, adding either a "Different Theme" and/or a "No Change" option would have soothed people's opinions and made them feel more included and valued. As we've seen here and other places, a community involved process doesn't mean all thousands of nations are involved, this thread alone has less than twenty different posters in it. Just because it may be a little more contentious and complicated doesn't make community involvement in decision making a bad idea.
Regardless of what happens, I have faith that Halo will make it work and we'll have a successful theme, even though the one that wins won't be everyone's first choice.

57 replies during a 5 day discussion between about 9 players is not "a discussion at lenght" nor a "most people"
 
You have the right to do this, lets just not pretend it is a public driven thing when it isn't. I am all for making clear what is clear. 
 
You are merely taking the opinion of a few in something you already decided to go with, but there isn't any real option. Let's not fool ourselves. 
 
I do wonder, if you are so sure "most people" supports this, why didnt you take it to an in game poll, make it official, and add the no change option
 
That would have been the fire test to your supposed massive support. 

No, this was discussed at length here and elsewhere and most were in favor of a theme change, or at the least not opposed. 

If you are going to do this by vote, why not add the option to REMAIN as we ARE? Would that be something you will be willing to do? Seems fair to me...

I must say this echoes what I mostly feel about it. I don't like gimmicks, as they are easy to derail and harder to maintain. We already have a laid back culture which is easy to go and learn, get used to, etc.

Furthermore, the themes proposes seem forced to me... Not natural or native... I'm not a fan.

I also vote for tradition tbh

I really don't think any of the themes speak to me.  I kind of like the laid back beach vision of TWP that I have always had.  Tahiti is how I always imagined TWP.  Not an imperial dynasty or kingdom. 
The idea of changing the flag seems...unTWP like.  The traditional setting sunburst is iconic and has been the TWP banner for....a really long time.  
Furthermore, I haven't seen a compelling reason to change it.
I guess what really seems...odd to me is if it is done through the hall of nations.  Then we will be voting on a theme change for the entire region with like 15 people voting... I understand the concept of Delegate supremacy and all.  But I think that this is going a little far.
I vote for tradition!

I have only recently started to be involved in TWP so I'm not sure I feel as strongly toward the current theme as some, but I don't think there would be harm in exploring new themes using the ideas active and contributing members have come up with. I also kind of feel the theme TWP has now is very reminiscent of previous cabinets and region personalities that have long since changed their roles in this region. I think TWP has changed a lot since such members and think it'd be healthy for our theme to adapt and reflect that, showing newer members that they can be involved with the shaping and changing of this region instead of looking on it and feeling a bit disconnected from the culture of those previous cabinets.
In the past I have worked alongside The West quite a bit and looked in on TWP as other regions have and I do admit I associate the theme with certain members and kind of freeze framed TWP like that. I'm not sure if other regions or players did that as well but only after joining have I seen how much it has changed since then. I think that is a little alarming and a changed theme might help others on the outside looking in see how much it's changed up in here. I do recognize some people not being thrilled about it, but what if there were a trial period for a theme? After the trial period we could reevaluate to see how everyone likes it overall and determine from there if it's a bust or not.

The reason we are not retaining new players and TWPAF is struggling has very little to do with the theme.  It has to do with tangible govt activity, engaging nations, and helping nations find purpose in the region.

In all seriousness, this is why the mere mention of Japanese culture is a bad thing on the internet.  Even if it's done as a joke, things eventually deteriorate into exactly what just happened.

BTW Westwind, I loved the historic graphics that you posted earlier.  The "Illuminati" eye reminded me of @Kawaii

I have avoided publicly commenting on these changes because I wanted to let the process play itself out organically. However...
I understand Halo's reasons for trying a theme and I'm willing to give it a chance. As Westwind has shown, themes and ways of doing things can change over time. The Ele/Badger/Davelands/Neenee era of TWP was theme-less, maybe Halo will begin a themed era. Or not. If it doesn't work out it can easily be changed or removed.
I agree that it is 100% Halo's decision. He could wake up tomorrow and declare that we are now "TWP In Space" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmI77ZBeJrQ ) and go forward with that theme. But it's a better thing that he is asking for all this input. Maybe, like Dark said, we are close to something really good. Maybe some flexibility is in order by all sides.
But, one thing that I am against is the decision to add the Peers based on the whim of the Delegate. This is exactly the type of thing we created the Hall of Nations for. Honestly, if the Delegate proposed a change like this and it was debated and voted on by the Hall, there is almost no chance of it failing, so why not let them do it? It's been almost a year since the Hall did anything of substance besides run elections. If you wanted to spur activity then that would be a great way to start.
And I agree with Badger that Westwind's graphics were an amazing look back into the past.

BTW Westwind, I loved the historic graphics that you posted earlier.  The "Illuminati" eye reminded me of @Kawaii

That would be a good thing, I'd think.
*chuckles* Bunch of rogues......The Syndicate (oh wait, a region already did that), The Western Cartel. The Rogue Gallery of The West Pacific....
I don't know if anyone knew this, but once upon a time I was looking to establish a Rogue Pirate military, sailing across all the Pacifics, unaffiliated with any of them. There were two or three missions these unknown Pirates engaged in across The Pacifics, but never really got fully off the ground.  I smiled when TWPAF went Pirate, I was proud of you all.
Exactly.  Of course, if The Delegate wishes to pursue a process/debate/choice beyond that.......that's The Delegate's choice too. On the other hand, if....
And no pink with purple polka dots WFE. I see a region that does that and I immediate click elsewhere. Have some respect for your viewer/readers and be easy on the eyes. 
Yup. You'll be sorry. You'll be frustrated. NS isn't worth the high blood pressure.
I tend agree with this. I'm still waiting for a presentation of sufficient cause for change, and where that change might apply, how it will be applied......
Although, had the Delegate simply announced "here is our new Theme!" I'd accept the Delegate wanting  a change as reason enough. (That doesn't mean I'd agree with or like the change)
 
I can't fully address this, I'm not on Discord so I don't know what the real activity level is here. Also, the period of the Holidays into February is always slow. The ebb and flow of NS. 
A theme change isn't sufficient to drive activity to combat staleness. Action is what drives change, and that action comes from the region's Leaders, not the theme.  
Partially why Pirates is worth considering.....the military is active, the military is Pirate.  I don't see that theme being promulgated on the RMB or via mass TG, so it feels detached from the region as a whole.  Integrating Pirate into the theme would meld the two together better in player's minds. (Psychology), tying the civilian and the military into a whole.  
Whenever the civilian government is closely tied to the military and military/diplomatic activities, it drives interest and activity. When a civilian government begins to ignore it's military, it will progressively go inactive. Unless is has another strong area (such as RP) to supplant the military activity.
 
There does seem to be less interaction with the region ingame these days. And obviously little interaction on the forum.  I don't do Discord, so I have no idea there. I feel like Non-Discord players have been locked out of activity by the regional Oligarchies.
Never ever EVER EVER allow a higher legislative body. NEVER. 
 
If it has no power, no one will participate - there will be nothing to do.  If it has too much power, I guarantee you will eventually have a conflict with the Delegate.  This is where the balancing act of TWP comes into play.
Let's not go to RL national themes at all. The Rising Sun of the TWP flag used to bother me all by itself as it was too suggestive of WWII Japan. I'm old, grew up with those veterans, knew WWI vets. My grandfathers were both considered National Security assets, my daughter's maternal great grandfather was a  private American citizen, captured as a POW by the Japanese and he died in malnourished captivity, his body never recovered.
(I knew a US Civil War vet - at his 100th birthday he said of his imprisonment as a POW that the prisoners "ate as well as the guards. All we had to eat was grasshoppers.")
Although no NS theme insulted me more than The NPO's Soviet theme. Made me sick to my stomach after growing up at nuclear ground zero for the Cold War. Let's not promote RL murderous regimes (such as Imperial Japan, Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany.....). 
I lived through that time, the 80's sucked.
Don't do 70's Japan, back then Japan was known for flimsy cheap throw away products. (Like China is known for now). *chuckles*
I like your flag design best of the choices, but I don't like it's color scheme.
I'd prefer to keep our flag, or alter it slightly, than a wholesale change.  I won't like it, whatever it is, if the theme design abandons our 15 year flag.
 

I have a crazy idea.  *watches everyone roll their eyes*
Flags:
I love the dragon flag where the dragon is clinging to the back of the sun for the Regional WFE flag.  I have always been partial to dragons and love them in all their literary and film adaptations.  I also really like the stamp-like, trendy flag that was Kawaii's, I think.  I like it because it looks like a stamp.  If we added a relief of words (or a dragon?) in the top part of the sun, it could easily be used as an FA seal for treaties and dispatches.  I dislike the first group of flags because they remind me too much of the Kaiser and WWI sensibilities.   However, I have always wanted to rp-live in Imperial Russia.  Which brings me to ...
Titles:
I dislike all of them and their forms of address.  But not the idea of titles and some designations.  I think we (the region) can do better if we drink some wine and argue about it one evening.   I would like to ask that the Heir apparent designation be removed from the lists for a number of reasons we can argue about another time.
 
 
 

The reason we are not retaining new players and TWPAF is struggling has very little to do with the theme.  It has to do with tangible govt activity, engaging nations, and helping nations find purpose in the region.

I am not afraid of change.  I want the change to be compelled by a good reason. I don't feel like a good reason has been presented.  A theme change alone will not spur lasting activity.  There has been no discussion of how the individual themes will be utilized to do things.  We've had a Guardian say that they won't use the titles.  So what will be used? 
One theme is a flag only.  And while it is better than anything I can make, it doesn't really feel like the flag of a feeder.  It has a frenetic look with an 80's feel.  Not sure that it all goes together.  The russian and chinese themes have different iconology that don't really feel like the region.  
I'm nervous that if we adapt the Chinese or Japanese themes that we will take over the mantle of the Weeb Pacific.  The mess that created in TEP was a massive cleanup.
I truly like the idea of a non-RL country theme.  I can understand if some people don't like or are tired of the pirate thing.  But to adapt a RL culture is going to have a change on TWP.  It would be abhorrent to make it something that wasn't TWP. 
Y'all ministers and guardians did a ton of work.  Perhaps allowing the citizenry to work on ideas and make presentations would be good idea?  Or at least to flesh out some ideas.  Something as important as a theme change shouldn't be taken lightly.
 
 

Let me state for the record that TWP will never  become anything even close to TEP. Let me also say that the idea that if TWP adopts a Japanese theme, that does not and should not ever be seen as a bad thing that will lead to an influx of memers, disrespectful types of any kind, or any kind of individual that we wouldn't normally banject on the reg. I think too many people have let the bad "weeaboo" kids ruin the image and idea of a Japanese theme, but it's important to remember that there's more to Japan than Anime and J-Pop, just as China isn't all about kung fu and Mauism. :^)

I had an idea to adopt a fun and promising environment that reflected Japan's Bubble Economy of the 80's, complete with the aesthetics as you can see by my flag. (And I'm aware that's not exactly "imperial Japan but it's what I was feeling so I went with it lol.) To give some background on the general culture of the Bubble Era, it was a time in Japan when its economy was at its peak and commercial success was high for many people. There are a certain feel and mood that's strongly present in many media depicting 80's Japan, that paints a picture of the good old days. It wasn't too far off from what the 80's was like here in the US.

I wanted to try and take the key aspects that made Bubble Era special and incorporate them into a theme, allowing us to leave a good first impression with those who come to our region. I wouldn't have sold them short either. I would do anything to give them something reminiscent of the high spirits and energy that was everpresent in 80's Japan. This coupled with a nice retro look would pull in many people. Especially as it relates to Japan. A lot more people now than ever are falling in love with Late 20th Century Japanese culture, it's been growing in popularity for over the last decade, and doesn't show any sign of stopping; nostalgia is very easy to market.

Now with all that being said, TWP wouldn't be "80's Japan," it would be TWP but with the characteristics and overall environment present in 80's Japan. I agree with keeping our coastal beach idea, but adding in a more fun, active, and promising vibe to it along with retro imagery.

Anyway, that's my two-cents as it relates to my theme. I know the other two are quite different. But now I've spilled my beans and explained my thought process with my theme a bit, hopefully, it may be to more people's liking.

Done!

Just a note:  What ever you decide, Halo.   ~for the love of all that is holy, I'm begging you; do not go with anime or kpop or any of that weeb stuff.  I can happily adjust to almost anything but that.  I can't bear the discord channels that have been consumed by it.~ 
But in reality, you are the Delegate.  It's your choice.  This sort of seeps into the other area of your changes.  (The desire to add a Senate level to the off-site government structure)
If you are waiting for complete consensus on something, it will never happen.  So, if you think the peanut gallery is being difficult now, just wait until you try to tie legislation to arguments from two separate bodies full of strong, intelligent opinionated players.  I am not passing judgement of right or wrong.  I'm just reminding us all of the difference between expectations and reality.
 

For pirates, I was thinking more of a Pirates of the Caribbean style, nevermind that it's wildly historically inaccurate. The delegate could have the position of Pirate King/Queen/what have you, the guardians being their immediate officers, and the ministers being captains of their respective ministries. I agree that we don't want to go for a militaristic feel, but a more whimsical one. That being said, I do feel like the theme options are a bit too regimented, though well put together, in their current states.

Got it!

Got it!