As I started mapping this article out in my head it occurred to me that it seemed very familiar. Like I had written it before. So I went back through my old campaign articles and I found that yes I had written
an article very similar to the one I was outlining. I wrote that article a little more than a year ago while campaigning for my third CP term. The message was one of not giving into fatalism, continuing to take pride in our community, and implementing a dynamic domestic program.
Upon realizing this I took a moment to think. I wondered to myself if I should alter the message of this current campaign or roll out the mirror image of yesteryear. The issues plaguing our game and our community are not new ones. Sadly without help in the form of meaningful reforms from Plato there really is no permanent solution to what ails us. That is not to say we are helpless to alter the course we are on or to loosen the dual grip of apathy and despair. We can push back the darkness and illuminate our dusky community through effort, inclusion/opportunity, competence, and relentless attention to detail.
Therein lies the problem. The apparatus needed to support the effort needed to keep our community thriving is not easy to maintain. The natural turnover in this game from the changing of CP administrations, burn out, and swapping players in and out make it impossible to affect consistent, smooth running of the day to day business of the eUSA. Really that also applies to any good sized group. Anyone who has ever been a Party or MU leader likely recognizes what I am referencing and agrees with me. That is why I feel my aforementioned previous article is still very relevant.
Once upon a time Fingerguns discussed the need for a balance of technicians and propagandists. Technicians do the bulk of the dirty work. They do the messaging, supply drops, updating, etc. Whilst the propagandists shine a light on programs, Parties, MUs, etc. They get people excited to take part in the activity/group they are touting. Both are very necessary to the health of the group they are working within. It is my intention to build a cabinet that will be a strong balance of technicians and propagandists. The work of the Executive will go on like always, but it will be highlighted in such a way to inform and enthuse the citizens of the eUSA.
It’s no secret this game can and does break your heart. Our cherished Parties and
MUs wither and die despite our best efforts to save them. Dear friends we have known for years depart from this game. Alliances disintegrate, Brother nations turn on each other, etc. All of these events take a toll. Yet in that lies hope. We still care about this game and our community or it would not hurt when things go wrong. We still love our Parties, MUs, and nation or we would not continue to invest our time and emotion into them. Plato seems determined at times to run this game and our communities into the ground, but we press on.
Between what Parties, MUs, and the government programs offer a new player can be up to their digital hips in free food, weapons, cc, and gold with very little effort on their part. This has long been the case. Yet retention of our new players has long been less than desireable. Why is that? I’ll be honest it is in part because the game is not very compelling. Often a player will log in and within a day or so never return. We have a tiny window of time to reach these players and give them an opportunity to make friends and get involved with the community. These new players also need to feel that someone cares and is invested in their growth. However, new players like all of us need to feel inspired, they need to have a reason to continue logging in, a reason to feel inclined to invest themselves and their talents into their Parties/MU/Nation, they need something to look forward to.
We have that in part with the still upcoming changes Plato has hovering over our heads. Only time will tell if it is the Sword of Damocles hanging over our heads or actual positive changes that will make this game a bit more compelling. One thing we do know for certain is that we cannot simply sit and hope Plato will save us from himself. We can and must act for ourselves. As a new player I would log in looking for articles published by the CP, the WHPR, and/or war reports. My administration this upcoming month will do our utmost to provide that same consistently entertaining and informative media that kept me logging in month after month once upon a time.
Lastly I would like to discuss opportunity and inclusion. I have often discussed my views on getting everyone to buy in and take ownership. I have compared it to renting a home versus buying a home. Renters usually do not take the care of the house they live in as seriously as a homeowner. For a renter it is just the house they live in for now. Whereas with a homeowner it is their present and usually long term home. I believe if all major groups in the eUSA have a stake in its governance then we will see all groups buy in.
That is why I attempt to build as diverse a cabinet in terms of Party as possible. It has often been dismissed and scoffed at as pandering. Yet I believe my history of treating all groups fairly and selecting players from their midst for Cabinet level posts whether they support me or not shows otherwise. I believe that in order for a candidate for CP to be taken seriously they must have two of the three “prime” posts to their resume. Those posts are Chief of Staff, Secretary of State, and NSC Chair.
This month with the goal of deepening our pool of viable CP candidates I will have a person new to their post in all three of the “prime” spots. I feel confident in doing this because unlike a first time CP who is learning the ropes and experiencing the deluge of pings, PMs, and forum messages for the first time I know what will be waiting for me. I will not need to lean on an experienced Cabinet. So I will be rotating and bringing in as many fresh players as possible this term. Our community needs more proven leaders, and it is impossible to prove yourself without an opportunity.
Yes I know that I am hardly a fresh face, but I will be doing everything in my power to position multiple players for first time runs at CP of their own. One thing that truly brings me satisfaction in this game is helping an up and comer avoid the pitfalls and setbacks that slowed and derailed me so often during my own climb of the mountain. Anyone who has ever worked for me in a Cabinet knows I will do everything I can to help them accomplish their goals. I will do no different for the group I will have during the month of August. I will be releasing my Cabinet in the next article I publish. Until then I thank you for reading and ask that you Vote Tyler Bubblar on August 5th 2016!
