Government Rework Poll

[Charlotte Graywood]

As previously mentioned in our community newsletter, one of the larger ongoing discussions lately has been the possible return of player government and what that could look like moving forward. We'd like to hear what players would most like to see from political roleplay.​

Governor System
One option is the return of a traditional governor role similar to previous iterations of player government. Under this structure, a player-elected governor would serve as a political figure for story purposes. While intended to support roleplay and community interaction, the role would not function as an administrative position or possess control over server systems, departments, or rules.

Local Mayors
Another option is local mayor positions tied to individual towns. Under this concept, towns would not permanently or automatically possess government positions. Instead, mayorships could emerge through player petitions and local activity. Elections could then be held for towns interested in pursuing political roleplay. Mayors would primarily act as roleplay anchors for their communities, helping organize events, encourage local storytelling, and represent the interests and identity of their towns.

Both, Neither, or Something Else
Talks have also included the possibility of implementing both systems together, allowing local mayors to operate beneath a broader governor structure. There is also the question of whether formal player government is currently necessary at all.

To weigh in, please cast your vote using the poll above.​

Additionally, you can provide your constructive input via commenting.​

 

[Robert Barlow]

In my opinion there isn't a need for a player government if the elected persons are not granted some form of executive power. The previous government ended up as little more than a figurehead because the powers granted to the governor (and state reps), especially executive appointments and the governors role in law enforcement, were taken away bit by bit and moved under "federal jurisdiction." Criminal laws got harder and harder to pass because of a concern on how the criminal RP'ers would react and if they aren't happy then that can affect LEO's RP interactions and so on and so on. This left the government with more or less nothing to do in political roleplay. I understand why those changes were made and it's unfortunate that the RP got where it was, but unless Admin+ is willing to grant some actual authority to the role, there's really nothing more to it than just rp'ing as a community organizer.

A cornerstone of American politics and thus political roleplay is the system of checks and balances and by the end, the executive role had no authority to do anything like that. The judiciary was a no-touching zone (not a gripe at the judiciary, they work hard as fuck but the player government lost any political rp opportunities with them) and LEO was basically functioning as its own branch of the government without any government oversight. The governor was also a bit limited on economic RP because things like government grants require management approval and in the interest of balancing server economy it was an arduous process.

All of this is to say there just isn't anything for a player government to do other than shake hands and kiss babies and you can do that without having to navigate the limitations of the roll, and I know folks get frustrated when they get in the role and then get told all the things they can't do.

 

[Elodie Maximoff]

" Criminal laws got harder and harder to pass because of a concern on how the criminal RP'ers would react and if they aren't happy then that can affect LEO's RP interactions and so on and so on."

This is one of the things that honestly drives me away from LEO RP personally, specifically with court cases which are slowly becoming more and more something of the past given now the only reasons criminals will go to court if they commit murder or agree to CC. Which the latter of which barely happens anymore. And as playing a crim as well there's just no drive because honestly there's just 0 risk with crim RP anymore as the only real consequence of committing crime anymore is just that you're in Sisika for x amount of time.

And from an LEO perspective, seeing crims who have had nothing but a history of murder, torture and countless attempted murders walk away from trials with X amount of years with a majority of such already considered served is very disheartening as it basically meant that all the work put into it on an IC perspective has essentially been for nothing. Although now with HHO being scrapped this is basically gone.

And even then, a criminal can go on a rampage for months, shooting people, robbing people / stores / banks. Torturing people and then if / once they get caught there's just nothing besides being sent to Sisika, which most don't really treat as a thing that changes them as pretty much as soon as they get out it's only a matter of time before that cycle of rampage continues.

This is a personal opinion but I think there needs to be harsher punishments put in place for criminal characters, and this is something that can be done if people who seek political RP can put in place if Admin+ would allow such. As I firmly believe that Crim RP would be a whole lot better if there was actual risk to it rather than just benching the character for X amount of time.

Although a point I'd like to bring up is that if we're bringing back the Gov. back in server, I think either the Marshal's Office or the Attorney General's office should be opened up again too, however I believe this is unlikely but I also like to think I'm not alone in the thought that these offices should be brought back. Also by no means am I meaning this in any malicious way, just simply adding my observations to this and I am welcoming any discussion further from this.

 

[Kuyana Safi]

I understand why those changes were made and it's unfortunate that the RP got where it was, but unless Admin+ is willing to grant some actual authority to the role, there's really nothing more to it than just rp'ing as a community organizer.

Very well said. This post hits the nail on the head in terms of my thoughts on the governor position.