Here\'s a quick write up about the list I just put up. I\'ll probably edit it a lot.
First, my idea of a government for Planeshift would be that it does NOT control every part of Yliakum. The Death Realm in particular would remain free from the government, as this would be where most of the evil players/guilds make their home more then likely. Then, player-built cities would have the option of joining the main government, remaining a free city, or maybe even setting up their own smaller government. Also smaller cities that would be of no particular use to the government or just want to be isolated would not be included either.
Of course, there would be advantages to joining the main body of government, certain trade lanes would be opened to the cities and they would receive items for a cheaper price and other hard to find items, things such as that. There would also be disadvantages, as there would be more rules for government-run cities to follow and maybe taxes or entrance fees to the bigger ones, nothing that restricts too much of course or no one would go there. Along with these disadvantges would come other things, such as better protection from theives (more guards thanks to the taxes)...so people would feel more secure to set up their homes/shops here. Also, this would decrease the amount of people running around in these cities pestering others for money.
Following the current settings of Planeshift and how the government would be set up, no individual would have complete control over anything, thus eliminating the problem of too much power/corruption.
Bribery is another issue some people may have, but I don\'t really see the problem here, it increases the ability to RP...if someone wanted someone else thrown out of office because they were causing problems for them, set up a plant and try to get them to accept a bribe. Provide proof of this and boom...this person is thrown out of office and unable to join any other government system as well as any other punishments that is felt as necessary (or FUN). There are endless complications with this of course, but that is what makes politics so interesting.
As for government members missing, I hardly think that will be much of a problem. There will of course be some NPC\'s to handle the small aspects of the government (collecting fines, etc.) so the day-to-day will not be hurt...as well as the number of government officials that would be there so that a few people missing wouldn\'t hurt at all. Then, if someone is missing for so long, someone else would take their place. For the more important positions, there will be more then enough applicants standing by wanting to fill this position right away.
As buddha said, all this does is increase the RP aspect of the game, yes there will be a lot of fighting, yes there will be a lot of problems with it...and yeah, a lot of people won\'t like it. Conflict is created, and wars will be fought. It is a game, after all.
This is just a basic outline of what I think should happen, other aspects like as setting up your own government are of course limited to what will actually be put into the game and could go in to a lot more detal...and as I\'m not a dev there\'s not really a way to get them for sure put in there.
How players are put into position? That is a tougher question I think...because as I\'ve said sheer popularity does not mean you can help run a government. It could be like applying for a position to the developing team, you have to write up your ideas, accomplishments, etc. It is reviewed by a team of people who are not part of the government (so as to be neutral, of course though no one is completely neutral), and then finally a vote is put up...something of that sort.
EDIT:
Favoritism is something else, of course some people will lean more way then the other...that is usually how they win votes and what makes them different from every other person. Again though, the fact that they are not in complete control of everything stops them from leaning too far one way or the other, as they won\'t win votes and the other government officials will not be likely to listen to them.
Duties may include, setting up taxes, adding on to a city, setting up trade lanes, hiring guards for the cities, trying to decrease crime rate, etc. Again, a lot of this is dependent as what actually is put into the game.
Originally posted by Phinehas
I don\'t have a concern, but I really must reiterate the point that almost all the present GM\'s would be totally incompetent to hold political power.
Good to know I\'m not the only person who thought that.
