The Bureaucracy

[BigJ]

First!

Picking up from the 'Future of the UD' thread, "The Bureaucracy" was created by DM's for the 1352 campaign in the UD re the Ooze threat. Here is the original posting back in march'16:

The Bureaucracy Convenes

Rumor spreads in Sshamath that the city's Bureaucracy political body is looking to fill vacant seats with resident representatives of factions in good favor with the Conclave. The Bureaucracy it is said will help the Conclave to administrate the City Guard, the Charnag Maelthra intelligence organization, and the City Militia against threats to the Conclave and the city by the Bureaucracy providing policy recommendations to each of these organizations, but these recommendations could always be overruled by the Magistrature or the Conclave. The Bureaucracy will be set to meet upon obtaining new membership within a few tenday it is said.

There is an official posting in various public areas of Sshamath that factional applicants interested in membership on the Bureaucracy should submit an application to the Conclave saying their applying faction name, their applying single speaking and single silent representatives, and their proof and pledge of loyalty to the Conclave. Each faction member of the Bureaucracy will be allowed one speaking member and one silent member the postings read.

The Bureaucracy is open to ALL UD FACTIONS, not just the 13 power factions on the conclave. During the campaign it members included players from: Bregan D'aerthe, School of Necromancy, School of Evocation, House Zau'afin (good to see you back), even a Ghaunadaur cult for a while.

As a small council type deal its members have to co-operate, but that doesn't mean they have to get along

I think it could be a great mechanic for the players outside of the campaign but the problem was most of the posts / info was in the campaign forum (have to be logged in to view) or the closed guild forum. IG players a lot of players weren't even aware of it, hence this maiden post in the OOC forum.

This is the perfect place to push it forward and create discussion as its up to the players now to make something off it, not DM's (although I'm sure they'll chip in).

Let the back-stabbing co-operation begin!

BigJ

(PS. I hereby renounce all previous attempts to get the name changed, it was just Bureaucracy is one of those damn words I spell differently every time I type it )

[Blackman D]

should also be noted that while your toon has to be in a faction to be represented on the bureaucracy, non affiliated toons are allowed to go but can only watch what goes on

[freekender]

Well, something must be definitely done to open up a bit the Bureacracy. I would say the main reason is that not all the people who actually play UDers know what it is (checked this several times IG), or even know exactly what it is. Another reason would be that, theoretically, their members are not unknown, the charges are public to the city. In my opinion the Bureacracy members list should be put somewhere on the forums, so everybody can see it.

I think some of the forum RP that implies the Bureacracy can be held public, so all players can RP there. This will help the cooperation/backstabbing BigJ was talking about, and to increase the Bureacracy presence.

[BigJ]

"Well, something must be definitely done to open up a bit the Bureacracy. I would say the main reason is that not all the people who actually play UDers know what it is (checked this several times IG), or even know exactly what it is."

How about if a new noticeboard gets added IG next to Sshamath Laws board?

It can be titled "The Bureaucracy", have an IG desc and also an OOC note to players to check the forums, but the kicker is it can also be a noticeboard like the one in BG. We can create new notes regarding meetings, members, edicts etc. Players can also use the board for their own purposes, like in BG.

This will help the cooperation/backstabbing BigJ was talking about

On this note, should we think about electing a chairperson? Voted for IC by the speaking members, 6 month term of office, can be removed from office by a unanimous vote of speaking members, taking up responsibility for leading the Bureaucracy both IG and out?

BigJ

[Blackman D]

On this note, should we think about electing a chairperson?

no because having one person with more power than the next defeats the purpose of a council style setup

as it stands the bureaucracy can be viewed in a way like the US senate (tho this would actually be the conclave itself) if one person were to have more power than the senate they would be like the president, but the senate can still remove them

while the check and balance would be there i just think its probably unnecessary

[BigJ]

On this note, should we think about electing a chairperson?

no because having one person with more power than the next defeats the purpose of a council style setup

as it stands the bureaucracy can be viewed in a way like the US senate (tho this would actually be the conclave itself) if one person were to have more power than the senate they would be like the president, but the senate can still remove them

while the check and balance would be there i just think its probably unnecessary

Hmm, I thought we were supposed to be Drow not cordial surfacers sharing equality, but I do get you point from a OOC point of view. Btw, just to be clear Barbaccas wouldn't be interested in the job, it would IC bore him, but he would vote for Uelaereene . Then again he is not a speaking representative so wouldn't get a vote anyhow.

What about the Bureaucracy (so glad we have a spell-checker in our forum software) / Bulletin / Notice / Board? Like that idea?

BigJ

[freekender]

Hmm, I thought we were supposed to be Drow not cordial surfacers sharing equality, but I do get you point from a OOC point of view. Btw, just to be clear Barbaccas wouldn't be interested in the job, it would IC bore him, but he would vote for Uelaereene . Then again he is not a speaking representative so wouldn't get a vote anyhow.

What about the Bureaucracy (so glad we have a spell-checker in our forum software) / Bulletin / Notice / Board? Like that idea?

BigJ

Uelaereene looks to Barbaccas with the "you-are-joking-aren't-you" type of glance when she hears his propposal of ruling the Bureacracy. ;P

I agree with Blackman that the Bureacracy is more a councli-type organization. In fact, Sshamath is more this style, opposed to other drow cities like, for example, Menzoberranzan, with a clear top ruler; in this case the highest priestess of Lloth.

About the other point of making an IG bulletin boeard it could be a beginning to spread the lore among the players. I like it.

[Blackman D]

the board is fine yea

[BigJ]

Hey Blackman B, would you like to make a post in the GW forum about the Bureaucracy, what it is, current members, open RP thread etc? We can also use it to announce when the next meeting is.

I would do it but as I was off-line the last few months I don't really feel I have the authority.

I will make a suggestion post though about getting that bulletin board IG.

BigJ

[Blackman D]

yea ill make one soon ish

[DM Hera]

Question.

We recently opened the surface court of Baldurs Gate and put in some new ways for players to interact with them. You all can see it in the dirty stinky surface forums.

Would you like similar?

Its a way for your characters to contact the conclave, theres a form to fill out and a dm can host a 30 minute meeting.

would this be interest?


Keep in mind this would be in the future.. i hope near future, but not a tomorrow thing for sure.

[Blackman D]

the bureaucracy and the conclave are suppose to be interacting with each other on matters related to the city so yea that would be a good thing i think

[7threalm]

yes that would be great

[BigJ]

Sounds good to me.

BigJ

[freekender]

Sounds great for me too.