Conjecture regarding governance

[Tylan]

Greetings fellow Salemites,

Current drama with the MM Tribe vs their supposedly united GH opponents aside, I've been trying to wrap my head around the idea of a governing body in a game like this. You have a large amount of hermits, all scattered throughout the world. Then you have your clusters of neighbor-friends/towns. Then you have the upstart metropolises or centers of actual power based on force, numbers, and collective advancement. The game itself features permanent death and a scent tracking system should any crimes be committed (even crimes of vengeance on ones own homestead or a homestead on which they are allowed).

In an ideal world, there would be as many Rangers as Raiders willing to uphold justice and righteousness, even at cost, to ensure peace. Unfortunately that's a stretch, and in a game where tracking down a bad guy who trashed a noob's base could lead you to getting tracked as well is not an attractive option (unless the price is right, I suppose). Statistically, a Ranger who continues to Range will inevitably find himself a target.

That's the normal expected system, and while it could work, that doesn't mean it's the only one.

What if there was a ranging force that was either so feared or powerful that no one could strike out at it - that no collective group of Raiders would hit? Why, if that force existed, would it not be appropriate for them to take the helm as the leading governing body of a server? Especially if that force promised protection from other raiders? And to make sure they don't become a target, they request funding to make global protection a possibility.

Personally, I pay the treaty price. But if the MM Tribe were overthrown and chased to Jamestown and the Necromancer Guild grew in power and required a tax to provide protection AND could prove they were competent, organized, and good to their word, I'd pay. As an MMORPG in a sandbox game, elements are up to the definition of the players, especially the players with the most power.

At present, the MM Tribe has established a governing body on the Plymouth Server. I pay the treaty for the same reason I pay for health insurance, car insurance, and taxes. But it's more than that. I pay the treaty for order. Salem is a world of chaos, and with the added perma-death element, is all the more dangerous to be out on your own. Yeah, paying the treaty will hopefully protect me from some raider (or the MM Tribe itself as it raids non-treaty paying individuals to further their hold on the server), but it will also fund the ONLY unified faction in the game that has the balls to promise order and the teeth to back it up.

This doesn't mean I agree with the tribe's methods. I'm not a member. I've never experienced a vision quest. But I don't see why it's such a big deal and why people buck the system without trying to change it. It may not be democracy, but it's not cruel. And if you don't like it, then make something better that will rally the hermits to your side.

I'm not advocating the treaty any more than I'm advocating rebellion. I advocate order in a game otherwise left without. And I propose anyone to suggest a better system, one that could reasonably work given the variety of people who play, to ensure that we don't all kill one another.

[Procne]

There is only system in Salem and HnH - strength. Whoever has the power dictates the rules. There is not much you can do. People who have the power are the ones who crave it the most. And they usually don't want it for justice and peace.

[staxjax]

And what if Mushi or other people that have nice bases attack you...MM tribe failed 2 raids already since defense update so how do you think that they will be able to uphold their end of the agreement going forward?

[Dshaded]

And what if Mushi or other people that have nice bases attack you...MM tribe failed 2 raids already since defense update so how do you think that they will be able to uphold their end of the agreement going forward?

Lets cross that bridge when we get to it? i didnt see you guys attack anyone yet, and we also hope you leave your base if u catch my drift...

[Mushibag]

We don't attack anyone who is not an *****.

[Tylan]

Edit (forgot to quote :\) :

And what if Mushi or other people that have nice bases attack you...MM tribe failed 2 raids already since defense update so how do you think that they will be able to uphold their end of the agreement going forward?

Eh, I'm hearing a lot of the same stuff. Are you saying that the Chief's recent inability to bring delinquent citizens to justice has hindered his ability to rule? Are you proposing that this shows his design is flawed?

And most importantly, can you recommend a better system?

[jwhitehorn]

We don't attack anyone who is not an *****.

Then I guess the Server still doesn't have anything to worry about if their Treaty payment is made.

And yes Dshaded is right. Mushibag may not be killed yet but he is claim locked and walled into his base. He is a threat to nobody but those forced to live with him in such close quarters for the months to follow.

Chief PeePooKaKa
MM Tribe

[Procne]

A better system? Similar to chief's but with differences:
- MM doesn't raid people unwilling to pay
- MM doesn't spawn sock puppets on forum and doesn't try to turn their griefing into acts of "justice"
- MM doesn't try to force monopoly on stalls but allows free market
- MM doesn't kill newbies for giggles

But hey, that's what they were fighting for!

[Tylan]

A better system? Similar to chief's but with differences:
- MM doesn't raid people unwilling to pay
- MM doesn't spawn sock puppets on forum and doesn't try to turn their griefing into acts of "justice"
- MM doesn't try to force monopoly on stalls but allows free market
- MM doesn't kill newbies for giggles

But hey, that's what they were fighting for!

- Who would be willing to pay if not paying didn't have consequences? And what if too little paid to appropriately fund the force?
- Like I said, their methods...
- Just another way of control - also pinpoints a flaw in the stall system in how overpowered it is.
- They don't kill for giggles. They kill because they won't pay the treaty.

[darnokpl]

A better system? Similar to chief's but with differences:
- MM doesn't raid people unwilling to pay
- MM doesn't spawn sock puppets on forum and doesn't try to turn their griefing into acts of "justice"
- MM doesn't try to force monopoly on stalls but allows free market
- MM doesn't kill newbies for giggles

But hey, that's what they were fighting for!

Nice, but without those things MM (or any other dictator faction) would lose monopoly and without it they would lose silver, so I guess it won't happen