Monte Ozarka
TNPer
Lesson 2: Bureaucratic Management "Because issues are boring"
So we see that forums foster a sense of community that allows organized action. We also see why we need that sense of community.
However, this is a role-playing game, after all, and although hanging around and chilling is pretty fun, people want more to do. Many players desire a greater immersion into politics and to achieve a sense of accomplishment from their efforts. Therefore, we need to expand beyond answering issues and electing delegates. We need collective, concerted action; we need a government; we need bureaucracy.
Expansion into regional governance
Now, please don't think of "bureaucracy" as a negative term. People need stuff to keep them occupied and avenues by which they may distinguish themselves. As far as the game proper goes, the only ways by which a nation may stand out and compete with others is on the daily regional and world rankings. To be frank, this is pretty boring and non-interactive. Fortunately for us, the game has provided us with "regions", a level of management beyond that of an individual nation. And since the game gives the founder and/or UN Delegate a practical monopoly on regional power, a hierarchy of sorts naturally occurs. From this, we may derive the basic structure of power within a region.
This then leads to a natural conclusion--If the region backs the current power structure, whether that be a representative government of equals or a benevolent tyranny on the part of the Delegate, it can be assumed that they will want to help the region grow and advance. (Of course, if the region is largely uninterested in the goings-on of the region, the region by and large lacks a sense of regional community, and all this is moot.) A common outlet for this desire for expansion is to either form or maintain a working government. Although the game grants a monopoly on power to two individuals, at most, with their consent, such power can be distributed amongst the region. This allows far more individuals to participate meaningfully in regional affairs and to compete amongst themselves for the most desired positions. In short, competition breeds activity.
Forums and bureuacracy
Of course, hardly any of this can be accomplished without forums. As mentioned before, the RMB is laughable as a record-keeping device. Can you imagine trying to write a constitution or some form of governing document on the RMB? Can you imagine any number of people being able to have a meaningful discussion on it? Can you imagine how many times it would have to be reposted? It is almost literally impossible. And never mind setting up the government--how are you supposed to efficiently organize any sort of action via telegrams or on the RMB? You simply can't. The forums provide far more flexibility to a region as far as organization, archival, and privacy.
Let's use TNP as an example and see what the forums bring to its functioning.
Legislative action
The forums provide a place for our RA to gather together and discuss new legislaton and issues pertinent to the region. Most discussions last for several pages of posts, which would have long been bumped off on the RMB. Furthermore, sensitive issues require private environments, and forums can be set to allow limited access for increased security. Also, laws are meant to be pretty much permanent, and forums allow them to be recorded and referred to in the future.
Easy status differentiation
When you look at a nation in-game, you do not have any clue about its larger role in the region. What do they do? Are they in charge of something? However, the customizability of forums allow the creation of such things as member groups and special member icons. Moreover, players can differentiate themselves individually and add such distinguishing bits like avatars and signatures. Basically, forums allow the display of a lot of relevant information with very little effort expended on the part of the reader.
Media production
This is actually one of the things that not having forums doesn't hinder all that much. One can type up a news story and post it on the RMB, and so long as it doesn't get bumped off, one can still read and comment on it decently well. However, forums allow it to never be bumped off, as well as the inclusion of types of media other than text. Pictures, sound, flash videos, and more advanced formatting tools all help to make publications look more professional and interesting.
Justice system
One cannot really pretend to have an impartial judicial process if evidence cannot be stored, maintained, and submitted. By providing a limitless amount of history, forums allow evidence to be immortalized and untampered with (sorta).
Personal history
Along the same lines, as our in-game actions are in the form of the typed word, forums carry a player's personal history. One cannot dodge accusations or claim unfair attacks if record of their actions exist. Reputations don't simply disappear after a few bumps of the RMB.
Diplomacy
As far as diplomatic affairs go, it requires both some degree of privacy and space. Privacy for confidential discussions and space for regions to inform their friends and allies of their affairs and needs. Forums provide both.
Military matters
This is definitely something that requires secrecy. Many an invader's plans have been foiled because they planned out in public out on the RMB.
This very University
Lessons on the RMB? *shudder*
Since TNP has all of these, add them together and imagine trying to do all those simultaneously on the RMB. Not. Going. To. Happen.
This doesn't even take into account the fact that forums are the ONLY way to bring together in a group nations from different regions. Large multiregional alliances, organizations, or military pacts should be discussed in a private setting by its members in one location. That location simply does not exist in-game, unless one specially creates a region for that purpose. Therefore, the creation and maitenance of such a group absolutely depends upon offsite forums.
From bureaucracy to personal achievement
What we notice from the above is that they all have avenues of advancement. From the RA, you can join the various ministries. From within each ministry, you can rise in rank and responsibility and make yourself known to the voters. The best example of this is in the Ministry of Defense, where players go on missions and are promoted as their actions warrant. There is potential for a player to start out as a lowly private and (with some hard work and dedication) get promoted to a command rank. From there on, you can run for higher political office--becoming a Minister, or even Prime Minister or Delegate.
This potential for advancement keeps players in the game. So long as there is something that is just beyond their current station that interests them, they will likely make a move to achieve it. Out of this, you get players with dedication and drive, and out of that dedication, you get players with loyalty and the desire to make the region better.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, this means that the bureaucracy that forums facilitate makes players more active and increases retention. It binds them to the regional community further and spurs organized growth and an unchaotic avenue for change and new ideas. In this way, a region can fight the forces that are responsible for a region's demise--inactivity and disinterested members.
-------------------------------------------
So...that was about a week late. Oopsie. This week's lecture might also be a few days late, but the July 4th holiday should help a bit.
You mentioned that Hethrum has its own forums. Can you discuss a bit about (in your opinion) the most popular, most productive, and most ignored (but important) sections of your forum? How have you tried to increase interest?
Questions, flames, and free money are always appreciated.
So we see that forums foster a sense of community that allows organized action. We also see why we need that sense of community.
However, this is a role-playing game, after all, and although hanging around and chilling is pretty fun, people want more to do. Many players desire a greater immersion into politics and to achieve a sense of accomplishment from their efforts. Therefore, we need to expand beyond answering issues and electing delegates. We need collective, concerted action; we need a government; we need bureaucracy.
Expansion into regional governance
Now, please don't think of "bureaucracy" as a negative term. People need stuff to keep them occupied and avenues by which they may distinguish themselves. As far as the game proper goes, the only ways by which a nation may stand out and compete with others is on the daily regional and world rankings. To be frank, this is pretty boring and non-interactive. Fortunately for us, the game has provided us with "regions", a level of management beyond that of an individual nation. And since the game gives the founder and/or UN Delegate a practical monopoly on regional power, a hierarchy of sorts naturally occurs. From this, we may derive the basic structure of power within a region.
This then leads to a natural conclusion--If the region backs the current power structure, whether that be a representative government of equals or a benevolent tyranny on the part of the Delegate, it can be assumed that they will want to help the region grow and advance. (Of course, if the region is largely uninterested in the goings-on of the region, the region by and large lacks a sense of regional community, and all this is moot.) A common outlet for this desire for expansion is to either form or maintain a working government. Although the game grants a monopoly on power to two individuals, at most, with their consent, such power can be distributed amongst the region. This allows far more individuals to participate meaningfully in regional affairs and to compete amongst themselves for the most desired positions. In short, competition breeds activity.
Forums and bureuacracy
Of course, hardly any of this can be accomplished without forums. As mentioned before, the RMB is laughable as a record-keeping device. Can you imagine trying to write a constitution or some form of governing document on the RMB? Can you imagine any number of people being able to have a meaningful discussion on it? Can you imagine how many times it would have to be reposted? It is almost literally impossible. And never mind setting up the government--how are you supposed to efficiently organize any sort of action via telegrams or on the RMB? You simply can't. The forums provide far more flexibility to a region as far as organization, archival, and privacy.
Let's use TNP as an example and see what the forums bring to its functioning.
Legislative action
The forums provide a place for our RA to gather together and discuss new legislaton and issues pertinent to the region. Most discussions last for several pages of posts, which would have long been bumped off on the RMB. Furthermore, sensitive issues require private environments, and forums can be set to allow limited access for increased security. Also, laws are meant to be pretty much permanent, and forums allow them to be recorded and referred to in the future.
Easy status differentiation
When you look at a nation in-game, you do not have any clue about its larger role in the region. What do they do? Are they in charge of something? However, the customizability of forums allow the creation of such things as member groups and special member icons. Moreover, players can differentiate themselves individually and add such distinguishing bits like avatars and signatures. Basically, forums allow the display of a lot of relevant information with very little effort expended on the part of the reader.
Media production
This is actually one of the things that not having forums doesn't hinder all that much. One can type up a news story and post it on the RMB, and so long as it doesn't get bumped off, one can still read and comment on it decently well. However, forums allow it to never be bumped off, as well as the inclusion of types of media other than text. Pictures, sound, flash videos, and more advanced formatting tools all help to make publications look more professional and interesting.
Justice system
One cannot really pretend to have an impartial judicial process if evidence cannot be stored, maintained, and submitted. By providing a limitless amount of history, forums allow evidence to be immortalized and untampered with (sorta).
Personal history
Along the same lines, as our in-game actions are in the form of the typed word, forums carry a player's personal history. One cannot dodge accusations or claim unfair attacks if record of their actions exist. Reputations don't simply disappear after a few bumps of the RMB.
Diplomacy
As far as diplomatic affairs go, it requires both some degree of privacy and space. Privacy for confidential discussions and space for regions to inform their friends and allies of their affairs and needs. Forums provide both.
Military matters
This is definitely something that requires secrecy. Many an invader's plans have been foiled because they planned out in public out on the RMB.
This very University
Lessons on the RMB? *shudder*
Since TNP has all of these, add them together and imagine trying to do all those simultaneously on the RMB. Not. Going. To. Happen.
This doesn't even take into account the fact that forums are the ONLY way to bring together in a group nations from different regions. Large multiregional alliances, organizations, or military pacts should be discussed in a private setting by its members in one location. That location simply does not exist in-game, unless one specially creates a region for that purpose. Therefore, the creation and maitenance of such a group absolutely depends upon offsite forums.
From bureaucracy to personal achievement
What we notice from the above is that they all have avenues of advancement. From the RA, you can join the various ministries. From within each ministry, you can rise in rank and responsibility and make yourself known to the voters. The best example of this is in the Ministry of Defense, where players go on missions and are promoted as their actions warrant. There is potential for a player to start out as a lowly private and (with some hard work and dedication) get promoted to a command rank. From there on, you can run for higher political office--becoming a Minister, or even Prime Minister or Delegate.
This potential for advancement keeps players in the game. So long as there is something that is just beyond their current station that interests them, they will likely make a move to achieve it. Out of this, you get players with dedication and drive, and out of that dedication, you get players with loyalty and the desire to make the region better.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, this means that the bureaucracy that forums facilitate makes players more active and increases retention. It binds them to the regional community further and spurs organized growth and an unchaotic avenue for change and new ideas. In this way, a region can fight the forces that are responsible for a region's demise--inactivity and disinterested members.
-------------------------------------------
So...that was about a week late. Oopsie. This week's lecture might also be a few days late, but the July 4th holiday should help a bit.
You mentioned that Hethrum has its own forums. Can you discuss a bit about (in your opinion) the most popular, most productive, and most ignored (but important) sections of your forum? How have you tried to increase interest?
Questions, flames, and free money are always appreciated.
