This has already been officially announced in The PS Times. For those of you who have not read it there, this is the official PS announcement and discussion thread. Helpful input is welcome.
The election will be ran by Arnigus Faymore, and a few others who choose to accompany him to his doom...er...I mean shining, triumphant success.
If you are a Hopeful, sign up
here .
*This is a test of the PS Community System.*
This is only a test. If this were an actual election, you would be asked to go to your nearest Circle Palace and pledge sovereign to the new Octarch.
To make myself perfectly clear, we are not trying to appoint a permanent Octarch. At this time, we are only role-playing the election itself. Once the election is over, any RPing that is done is out of my hands. Perhaps a future election will have further rules for a ruling system, but not this one.
Note: This plan may change at any point before the actual election takes place. Also, as of yet, there is no set timescale for cycles.
*This has been a test of the PS Community System.* Ok, now that that is cleared up, this is what I propose:
~Pre-election cycle - organizing/planning (aka now)
This is where anyone who wishes to help signs up. Keep in mind that signers may or may not be able to participate in the election. That has yet to be decided.
Who is needed:
Helpful critics, needed now- to find the potential problems/improvements to this plan. Please use this thread. Nay-sayers are not welcome. Organizers/planners/recruiters, needed now- to help figure out how the he?er? heck I?m going to pull this off. And help find and organize the manpower to do it. A good knowledge of game mechanics would help. Apply here or in a PM. This is for the few people in it for the long haul.
Town Criers, needed NOW- to get the word out. These people will have to be somewhat unbiased (or at least RP that they aren?t). They will be given basic scripts (official announcement scrolls) that they may adlib as they see fit. Bards and writers are encouraged to apply. Occasional /shouting will be needed. But not to extremes. This should be the easy job.
Rumormongers, needed NOW- also to get the word out, though through unofficial channels. This is for everyone to RP as they see fit. You have no need to apply here. Simply go in-game and start talking over an ale or two. Look through this post, the PS Times, and
The Hydlaa Octarch has died! thread for relevant material to use. Or, make up your own rumors.
In-game RP vote takers, needed sixth cycle- for taking in-game RP votes (duh). This will likely be a tedious job. Volunteers will have to be trustworthy and patient. It may be necessary to have just a forum poll instead if there aren?t enough volunteers. This will be a one time thing for the final vote only. If my lag is not too bad, I, myself will take one of these positions. (If Arnigus can waddle back to the Plaza in time >.< )
Fall guy/scapegoat- to take the blame when everything goes to the Death Realm?er?wait, that would be me.
Other jobs that I have yet to think of- impending.
~First and Second cycle- nominations, and IC speeches. Ends May 14th. Campaigning will continue until the end of the Third Cycle.
GOING ON NOW. This is to get the ball rolling. My first impression was to let the guilds nominate from their own ranks, but this would be unfair to those many people who choose to have no guild. Also, I would have liked to ensure a future for the new Octarch and his/her/kran council by asking any participating guild to swear allegiance to the elected officials. But that is asking to much at this point.
So, until further notice, nominees must follow these requirements:
1. Be able to go in-game with an established character.
2. Be a respected RPer (not respectable, as I don?t wish to put off evil characters)
3. Must put their name and character information in this
?Hopefuls? thread . And give a short speech. Rules are listed in that thread.
4. Must not be Xordan (just kidding, sort of)
5. Must read my stories (again, just kidding, but it would be a nice gesture
)
Here is where the fun starts. Nominees will also be encouraged to go in-game to RP as they see fit. But remember, to be seen it to be heard. Players will also be encouraged to go in-game to support their favorite nominee(s) or
nicely undercut the ones they don?t. RP is highly encouraged here. I expect to hear of a few friendly bar fights over political views. However, killing is off limits. Try to use the ?yield? button before anybody gets hurt too bad. This is a civilized election.
Please keep your logs, as we may wish to put excerpts in the PS Times (if the pretty editor will let us)
~Third cycle - first vote. Note, this cycle may be unnecessary if we do not receive enough nominees.
This is where a council will be chosen out of the nominees. To simplify things, it will be a silent forum poll in the form of PMs to me and/or a control group. People can vote for as many nominees as they wish, but only one vote per candidate. Once the voting is complete, I will ask the Mods to delete the thread (if they?re still talking to me) Note, I do not take bribes. However, players may do as they wish, as long as it is IC.
The new council will then be announced on the forum, and in-game by Town Criers. In-game IC, RP bragging is strongly encouraged.
~Fourth cycle - debate/council vote
This part is out of my hands. A RP thread will be created for the new council to debate on which
two of their members they wish to put forth for a final vote. In-game debates are encouraged, but unenforceable, due to time zone differences.
~Fifth cycle - longer campaign
Also out of my hands. The two candidates will be asked to create their own threads in the RP forum, where they will answer any reasonable RP questions. I will ask that any spam be deleted immediately. You are warned. In-game campaigning, townhouse, and Q&A sessions are greatly encouraged.
Candidates may be able to have the use of the Town Criers to announce gatherings, or they may find their own.
~Sixth cycle - community vote
This will be the big one where everything can fall apart. In-game voting will take place at polls, and also on an open poll on the forums. We will be going on the trust system here. I ask that you only vote once on the forums. However, two and only two votes will be allowed in-game per player for multiple characters. I discourage this, though, but can?t stop it. I also ask that if you vote in-game, you do not vote on the forums, or visa-versa. I expect there will be cheating, but strongly advise against it. You may use good RP in-game to coerce, threaten, or bribe other players into voting your way, but OOC and greeving IS NOT ALOWED.
~Seventh cycle - New Octarch/celebration
After the mess of the sixth cycle is sorted out (as I?m sure there will be one) the new Octarch will be announced first in-game by much /shouting by the Town Criers, then on the forums. If at all possible, I will try to have a celebration arranged, though that part would be largely up to others. I have offers of help for the celebration already. Thanks.
Then, we wash our hands of the whole thing (except for the players who wish to continue the RP), and try to figure out what went wrong, and how to do it better next time (assuming I?m not banned
)
---
OK, anyone who wishes to help now or later, please say so now?or later. Also, please post your helpful criticisms/ideas/suggestions here. Please, ideas for the election only.
Once the plan is complete, and a timescale is set, then an announcement and ?Hopefuls? thread will be made.
