Alliance Types

[Lord of Puns]

While alliances are usually the most meta one can get in this game, it would be interesting to see if we could give alliances different types to better allow them to roleplay or mandate order.

 

One idea that was thrown around in the radio show today was to give alliances a choice to choose a type and regulate their order. While a term like "autocracy" wouldn't apply well to an alliance typically, it serves as a placeholder to help delegate certain powers to certain people.

 

An autocracy has the choice for the leader of the alliance to implement "policies" which could range from a mandated embargo of a person or alliance that would force all members to embargo said entity, to changing all members' currencies... etc. Heirs and officers could theoretically have this choice as well, similar to giving heirs and officers access to the alliance bank or posting announcements).

A democratic alliance could do the same, as the leader could place a vote to implement said policies at a similar rate.

 

Naturally, this could create problems as embargoing could become an actual weapon if not controlled. To prevent that, a time limit could be put in place for the policies. As an autocratic leader, all my policies have a 5 day (60 turn) implementation period in which they may be canceled but the effects will not take place until the end of the period. As a democratic leader, the vote would last 4-5 days and have a 1-0 implementation day period. 

An alliance should also be able to pick a "custom" alliance type, which would merely mean the type would have no mechanical impact on them.

 

I certainly would change aspects of the game and add a roleplaying element to it. The only issue I can forsee is if it applies to other strategic mechanics like war policy, which could give the alliance an artificial coordination in being able to control that many members. But it would also make embargoing less of a single faceted mechanic. 

 

This is just the foundations of something that could easily be taken to greater heights.

[Edward I]

A system in which democratic leaders and officers were either elected or actively endorsed in-game would be an interesting extension of this. It would, for example, make coups more feasible.