"New faction creation process and representation" discussion thread.

[pbrione]

Alright, I'll describe how the Bretonian government currently works. We have the faction leaders of all lawful Bretonian factions; BAF, BPA, BMM, Bowex, Gateway and Planetform (PFI and BMM currently unnofficial, but still representative of the npc factions), + a group of experienced and senior Bretonian players (not exactly indies as they have faction characters, but if there were really experienced and responsible indies they could be included). Together these players are given, by consensus, inRP roles as Government Ministers (with BAF running the Defence Ministry, BPA running the Home Office etc. plus Thacker as Prime Minister and Unselie as Queen). These players therefore have their inRP roles as government members representing the House as a whole, inRP, and can conduct inRP actions as such. Our policy is that if any decision affects any of the other factions in game or in forum RP, then those factions should be consulted about it. If the faction leaders approve then it is assumed, as they are all responsible experienced players, that it is an acceptable decision. For things that affect many Bretonian factions such as changing the laws, all members of the group are consulted, plus other members of the BPA. If things were to affect unlawful groups, we would consult the leaders of the gaians and mollies OORP as well. I point out that Bretonian lawful bodies lack many long-standing indies with the same degree of experience and respect as the faction leaders, but were there to be any they would be included, such as HMS-Rodney which has the title of Chief Marshall of the Reserve Fleet.

This system works well for us; it ensures that relevent groups are consulted in decision making as much as possible (we have occasionally slipped up but we strive to keep people informed), it gives a functioning government that can be RPed in-game (instead of just an OORP council of factions) and is democratic in the sense that the people in the group are faction leaders and other senior players who have representation due to their experience and responsibility. However, it is a deliberative democracy, not a voting democracy. We consult people by discussing things with them and coming to agreement where matters concern them, not bothering to consult everyone for decisions clearly within one person's area of interest, and sometimes consulting people outside the group for major decisions affecting gameplay. What we don't do is sit down and vote on things according to any regulations. Nor do we have strict rules about who or who doesn't have to be included. We simply recognise the fact that faction leaders are generally sensible, reasonable people, and things can be agreed by general consensus of said people. Things decided by the government are then implemented inRP as policy for Bretonia and acted upon in-game. This allows RP to be more dynamic and can create good ideas, whilst making sure nobody tries to do stupid things. Naturally all Bretonian faction players are expected to follow the decisions, as they have been agreed by their faction leaderships and they in turn try to make sure that indies become aware of and learn to follow the decisions as well. Its certainly not a well "designed" system, things just tend to happen rather than follow any official proceedure, but in my experience it has served Bretonia very well for the last few months.

---

Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>