SE4 by Committee

[Arkcon]

Wow, I'm the 5th voter, and now each option has one vote. I wonder what that means. Clearly nothing ... yet.

This is a fun way to play against the AI, turn on all ministers except one, which you play. Are you the mad scientist (you do research), crazed engineer (the AI researches, you design ships with what you get), the psycotic intelligist (you handle intel, the AI handles diplomacy, can you say "What Iran is our friend this week, OK"

If you play this way yourself, you may find S J's idea more appealing.

I especially like how you gave the virtual minister a 25 % vote for what influences him, nice touch. I'd really like to be in on this.

If there's enough interest, maybe there could be two teams and they could play against each other.

[ December 17, 2002, 16:36: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

[Suicide Junkie]

As far as I can tell you mean to play this against the AI. You or some other game host would play what is decided, am I correct?

I suggest that you start a game, select an empire and play through 30-50 turns before starting the committee participation. That way, you can build a few fleets and have some AI interaction from the get go. This way there is something for several people to do at the start than having to wait 25 turns to get a fleet to command.

Yes, one empire VS the AI. And one secretary to pass out the orders to the game.

The initial turns is a good point. The generals will get at most a scout ship during the early game.
However, the generals won't be very active anyways except during a large campaign.
They still have a senate vote, though, so they won't be totally out of the action.

It is an interesting idea but it is definitely not my cup of tea. I also see problems developing between the "Players". Too many cooks tends to spoil things. Also what happens when one of your generals/ministers is unavailable due to "real life" (whatever that is).

If a general is sick or otherwise unavailable to defend the fleet he is in, appointing a proxy would be fair.

SJ, let me see if I have this correct. You are the emporer. At least initially. Various people are appointed ministers for design, research, construction, etc. Others play the parts of generic senators in a ruling body of some sort.

I will be just a secretary, marking down the orders, and punching them into the game.
Forum members will vote on various actions. Inter-system Strategic ship orders will be voted on. Tactical combat may be completely controlled by one General who is available on an instant chat service to relay commands during battle.
The wording of the voted order will determine what level of Intra-System movement may be commanded by the General.

If there are enough players, then a specific planetary governor would be possible. You would have "Minister" status regarding activities in the sector.

Can people play different parts at the same time? And if your character gets killed can you get a new one? This has potential for role play big time.

If we decide to go with mortal characters, then there will be a seniority rule for promotions.
IE: the longest living player would have first dibs on your old Job, and if he declines, the next person down gets it. If nobody else wants it, you can have your new character take over the old job.
(Assuming the old job still exists: minister of a glassed colony wouldn't work )

[ December 17, 2002, 16:30: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Urendi Maleldil]

How about we break up into to teams and play each other instead of the AI. We could get a PW protected forum for each team.

[Suicide Junkie]

That is a possibility, if there are enough players, but I would prefer one "Shrapnel" empire.

For one, the turns will go faster (by committee will slow it down enough already), and two, it will be a community event bringing everyone together.

PS:
Thinking about the Mortal players thing:
If players want to join in after the game has started, that shouldn't be a problem. There should be a delay before they are allowed to start voting, so we can keep the results straight. Having new players begin voting at the end of the turn when their avatars are constructed would be a reasonable point.

Re: Avatars.
Ministers and Senators could be represented by 1KT weapon platforms, while Generals have the option of being represented by a Troop.

The platform markers can be captured and recovered, while the troop markers could be made with Heroic stats and abilities.

Players who are killed would spend a minimum of one turn out of action while their new avatars are constructed, and if there is a lot of death going on, of the players who were killed on the same turn, those that had seniority before they were killed should be given first rebirth.

[ December 17, 2002, 17:20: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Matryx]

I like the idea
I can see myself flying the front line formation of the suicide contact squad
Except I probably will get voted out quickly for my *wonderful* combat skills (or lack of)

[Suicide Junkie]

IRC comments:

Krsqk How much participation are we expecting? One person/planet is quite a few people.
SJ Well many planets wouldn't have any minister, and would fall to the next minister to make a case for them... eg: construction, economic, etc.
Krsqk Would/could it end up more like a system-wide governor?
SJ Whoever gives the best reason that they are the primary minister for the issue at hand, gets the 25% block.
SJ Yeah, system governors would be good too.
Krsqk Oh, so now we're politicking for influence, eh?
SJ Well, if the vote is on building a dreadnought at Geo's Backwater Resort Planet, for example, Geo would have a solid case for getting the Block. Otherwise it would probably fall to the construction minister.
Krsqk But the general of the fleet receiving the dreadnought could push for construction at another planet where he has friends at the shipyard.
SJ Sure... He would try to organize a veto, and support Geo's bid for the block if Geo was going to vote no.
SJ Then a new site would have to be decided on.

Some ideas on Minister jobs:
- Individual planets: small ones seem popular with RPers and those with little time to be in the spotlight. Manages ships in orbit.
- System lords: Rules all planets in a system that have no individual ministers. Manages ships making intra-system journeys.
- Political: One overall, or possibly one Minister for each race as an Ambassador.
- Finance: Watches over the budget and expenditures.
- Defense: Manages the overall inter-system distribution of warships.
- Economic: Manages resource generation, and general facility construction.
- Transportation: Manages the overall non-military shipping and travel arrangements.
- Science: Manages research projects.
- R&D: Designs ships.
- Covert Ops: Manages intel once researched.
- Construction: Decides locations to build at, and negotiates with local ministers.
- Naming Minister: Renames planets, ships, Design Classes.

[ December 17, 2002, 19:32: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

[Dead Meat]

Sweet I like the idea SJ. Sign me up (Minister).