@Lotherio said in New MUSH 'Game' Mechanics:
I’ll use an example to maybe help a little. Lets say its Vampire Politics setting, nearly the same concept as WoD. Clan 1 and Clan 2 want a certain parcel of land for their private use. New zoning laws have increased herd potentials here, or some misty artifact lures in gnomes who have the bestest blood ever, has happened. Both Clans intend to compete for it. So there is a big faction conflict here, some time limit is chosen (4 weeks), at the end of that time, the side with the most points spent on the goal wins. Each side now has to figure out: 1) How to get the most points to their clan from other players so each member can contribute; 2) How to convince other allies and groups to contribute as well if possible; 3) How to harangue the opposition to get them to not have points to contribute; or 4) Just give up cause too much work and they don’t want to play.
I'm going to focus here for just a second.
In real life, yes, you would worry about the location of territory. This is important. But we're in a virtual world when we MU*, so we can think outside of that. Further, territory is kind of ephemeral: even if the administrative staff at a school doesn't have physical boundaries for it, there is no doubt that their "territory" is the school office, where they reign supreme. But their authority only extends as there is a need for what they provide.
Similarly, politics is only necessary because of resource scarcity -- or need. If everyone had the ability to take care of everything they wanted to with their resources, there would be no logical need for conflict (even if there might be some sort of metaphysical or emotional need for conflict). So, everything, systemically boils down to resources.
The same goes for vampire politics. In oWoD, the Nosferatu have power despite having few territorial holdings because they have secrets and information. In the politics of truth, they reign supreme. But they may not have the sort of territory that we commonly associated with turf wars; in those situations, the Nosferatu may be at a disadvantage, but they have a resource everyone wants.
Enough preamble. Your questions.
(1) How do you get make it so each member can contribute?
Easy: allow everyone to have territory. Feasibly, a vampire cannot hold anything but a single block or two alone, but they could do that, and, maybe, there's something on that block that everyone needs. Example, a city that relies on a single power plant sitting in Mary Malkavian's block; don't get on her bad side, or she'll drop your entire power grid long enough to ruin your annual fundraiser at your art museum, Tilly Toreador.
(2) How to convince other allies and groups to contribute as well if possible?
Because sometimes holding your little territory isn't good enough. Maybe Mikey Malkavian decides to join Mary, and help her patrol her block or expand it. By contributing time and effort towards it, maybe he can improve its defenses, its amenities, etc. Or maybe Mary needs Gary Gangrel to tend to the mortal population in her area, so that they have enough resources to live and expand, thus keeping the "herd" together for Mary and her minions to feed on.
There are roles in every territory to be delegated.
(3) How to harangue the opposition?
If you want to encourage PvP conflict, then this should be a simple process that isn't so deleterious so as to make someone lose a massive amount of investment. For example, let's say that Tilly Toreador's art museum throws off a point of Art Influence every week, but she pisses off Victor Ventrue. Victor might take an action to "tap" the art museum, and cut off that flow for a week. Tilly doesn't lose the art museum, which she probably took a long time to build up, but it is useless as long as Victor taking actions to keep it under thumb.
(4) Just give up cause too much work and they don’t want to play.
It's impossible to force people to play when they are stressed. But maybe people don't want to play the political game, or maybe they just want to be like Mikey Malkavian, supporting others. Make sure your "Action Points" can be devoted to other things.
Just some thoughts here, really. Yeah, I've been thinking about this.