Most of us know that despite the enjoyability and sheer addictiveness of Particracy, there are all sorts of long-term, niggling gameplay issues which can cause frustration. Most of you will know what I mean. Like when you feel a moment has been reached where the gameplay in your nation would really benefit from an early election, but you can't get one. Or when, in a lively nation with really active players, there is one party with the most seats that keeps missing important bill votes. All sorts of things like that.
I personally experienced much of this as a player myself, and since becoming a Moderator, many of you have approached me, reporting the same old frustrations.
Coding work on the game ceased a long while ago now. There is nothing we can do about that. We have to make the best of what we have - and I am determined to do everything I possibly can to help you do that.
Of course, there are newer and more sophisticated-looking games on the web than Particracy. To continue to attract and retain players, we need to be the best we can be.
Bold action is needed.
But it is difficult. Every situation in Particracy is different. Every player has different ideas. Every community of players in a nation develops its own preferences, its own way of doing things.
And lets be frank: Moderators, through no fault of their own, can be out-of-touch. The gameplay in a nation can be very involved, and a Moderator overseeing 58 nations and well over 100 players won't necessarily "get" everything that is going on.
A one-size-fits-all policy is not too likely to work. The answer, I believe, lies in devolving more autonomy to players via the Nationmasters scheme, which is tailored to allow nations with larger numbers of players to elect a person to help lead and organise their gameplay.
Effective immediately, under the terms set out in the newly-updated section 18 of the Game Rules, the authority of Nationmasters is extended to enable them to make special requests for early inactivations, early elections, early bill clearouts and the imposition of an 8 party limit.
Even more than before, the position of Nationmaster carries clout. This is one of the reasons players will have the option to elect a Nationmaster who is "neutral" in the sense of not being a player in the nation. Inappropriate candidates will be vetoed by Moderation, and any Nationmasters who misuse their position will be removed.
There will be checks and balances. Moderation will retain the discretion to query or decline special requests. And as was the case before, the process for players to remove a Nationmaster will be much easier than the process for appointing one.
These changes may be considered a little radical. There may be bumps along the way. But I do sincerely believe this is in the long-term interests of the game and I encourage players to carefully examine the new opportunities which have become available.
The full details of the updated Nationmasters scheme can be read below:
18. Nationmasters
Nationmasters have a special role in consulting with and helping players in the nations they serve.
18.1 Their roles within the nation(s) they are attached to are:
- to be an active presence in the nation.
- to promote awareness of and adherence to the Game Rules.
- to help to resolve player disputes within the nation, liaising with Moderation where appropriate.
- where appropriate, to liaise with the Global Role-Play Team on role-play issues. Team members should generally defer to Nationmasters on issues directly affecting a nation the Nationmaster is attached to.
- where they judge it to be appropriate, to assist in the initiation, development and co-ordination of role-play.
- where they judge it to be appropriate, to role-play the Speaker or chairperson in legislature debates. As a default position, the Nationmaster may be presumed to control the Speaker, although the legislature may vote to appoint a character controlled by another player to this position.
- where they judge it to be appropriate, to make recommendations to Moderation with regards to the nation's entry in the Nation Renaming Guide.
- where they judge it to be appropriate, to make recommendations to Moderation with regards to the nation's description in the Cultural Protocols Index.
18.2 In addition, Nationmasters have the authority to make special requests to Moderation for early inactivations, early elections, early bill clearouts and the imposition of an 8 party limit. It is advised, although not required, that Nationmasters should establish an "OOC: Nationmaster guidance" bill to provide information about how, if at all, they intend to exercise these privileges.
In contentious circumstances, this may have a bearing on whether Moderation accedes to a special request. For example, if a Nationmaster requests a party's inactivation after 3 days of inactivity and it can be clearly seen the Nationmaster has stated a 3 day policy and consistently enforced one, then Moderation will probably always comply with the request. However, if it is noticed the Nationmaster has issued no policy guidance to players and is requesting early inactivations in a clearly imbalanced or self-serving way, then those requests will be denied.
Similarly, if a Nationmaster sets a policy of calling early elections if more than 20% of the legislature is empty and enforces that policy consistently, then Moderation will probably always comply with the requests. However, if it is noticed the Nationmaster is requesting early elections in a clearly imbalanced or self-serving way, then those requests will be denied.
When communicating special requests to Moderation, the Nationmaster should make clear they are making a Nationmaster request. Moderation reserves the discretion to query or decline the request if there appears to be a strong reason for doing so.
The special privileges of Nationmasters are:
18.2.1 To request the inactivation of parties after a minimum of 2 days (48 hours) of inactivity when they judge this to be in the best interests of gameplay.
18.2.1.2 To request the inactivation of parties, as a matter of last resort, when they are not contributing to the role-play of the nation to the extent that is expected by the majority of players in the nation. Respectful dialogue should always be attempted before this point is reached, and Moderation should be consulted during this process.
These situations should be dealt with discreetly and sensitively. For example, there should never be an open vote over whether a player should be asked to leave.
18.2.2 To request early elections when they judge this to be in the best interests of gameplay.
18.2.3 To request the clearout of bills over 5 game years old when they judge this to be in the best interests of gameplay.
18.2.4 To request Moderation, for the time being, not to reactivate inactive parties in the nation in circumstances where doing this would allow the number of active parties to exceed 8.
18.3 The process concerning the appointment and removal of Nationmasters is as follows:
18.3.1 There is no requirement for the nominee to be a player in the nation. The nominee may be a player in another nation. It is also possible for a Nationmaster to serve as Nationmaster in more than 1 nation. However, no nation may have more than 1 Nationmaster.
18.3.2 In order to nominate a candidate, the nominee must be nominated in a bill passed by a 2/3rds majority of all players with seats (not just those with seats who vote); at least 4 players with seats must support the motion, at least one of whom must have been currently continuously active in the nation (ie. no inactivations) for at least 1 month; and no players with seats must vote against. Additionally, the nominee must agree to be willing to serve as Nationmaster.
18.3.3 The nomination bill must then be presented to Moderation for approval on the Nationmasters thread. Moderation reserves the discretion to decline the nomination if the nominee is judged to be unsuitable. However, if the nomination is accepted, then the nominee's details will be added to the Register of Global Role-Players & Nationmasters.
18.3.4 Nationmasters may resign from their positions by simply informing Moderation.
18.3.5 The players in a nation may remove a Nationmaster through passing an appropriate motion with a simple majority of players with seats (ie. more players with seats vote for it than against it). Moderation should then be informed, so the records can be updated.
18.3.6 Moderation reserves the discretion to remove Nationmasters from their position if they are judged to be unsuitable or their relationship with players appears to have irretrievably broken down. Nationmasters will also be removed if it is noticed they have been absent from the nation's gameplay for more than 3 months or if 3 months have passed without the nation having a minimum of 4 parties with seats.
