[Discuss] Changing focus from Realm to Duchy

[Kerry Seifert]

On Jan 13, 2008 6:34 PM, Timothy Collett <danaris at mac.com> wrote:

> Kerry Seifert made an excellent point: the realm-centric attitude is
> instilled in new players from *before they even join their realm*!
>
> Now, what's the obvious way to change this?
>
> Don't make new players choose a realm to start in.  Make them choose
> a *Duchy* to start in.  Obviously, it should be indicated to them
> what realm the duchy is in, and something about the atmosphere there,
> but if they're choosing a Duchy, not only will they have more say in
> where they begin, they'll be thinking in terms of Duchies rather than
> Realms right from the start.
>
> Timothy Collett
> Anaris Family
>
> --
>
> To be great is to be misunderstood.
>  -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I agree.  I think a realm should be run like a company.  When you start a
new job, you're not applying at headquarters (probably), you're applying at
the local branch.   BM should be run like that.  You create a character in a
"branch" of the realm.  The potential is there to move up, but not
necessarily immediately present, and might not be desirable at all.  When
you're the employee at a large company, you probably know the name of the
guy on the top, and you think you saw him once, but who can be sure.  It
should be the same with a ruler.  There shouldn't really be a reason to talk
to the guys up top except in very special circumstances, and there should be
'penalties' for attempting it, such as time delays and some cost.

Loyalty to your "realm" should also play out the same way.  The blue collars
on the bottom (Nobles) are loyal mostly to their local branch, but have
little care about the company as a whole, provided it doesn't shut down
entirely.  As you work your way up through distinguished service, you become
more in touch with the bigger picture, and your loyalty shifts to a higher
branch (A Noble becomes a Knight is like a graduation from 'new guy' to the
person everyone in the branch knows.  From there, you can become a local
manager, like a Lord, regional manager, like a Duke, and if you're really
good, you wind up in upper management, in BM, inner council.)

That will also balance out big realms and smaller ones better than they are
now.  In  a small realm now, you can move up easily, but in a big realm it's
often hard to get noticed.  By breaking large realms into ducal and regional
units, it is easier to get noticed because you are constantly around your
peers and being watched by someone the next step up.
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