GM Discussion Thread

[DownWithTheLeft]

Well Assistant GM can be an approved senate positions as well, but I don't think that the SoEA should be the assistant GM because they have other involvement in the game and the GM shouldn't.  Dual-office thingy

Aren't you the one mocking the power of the SoEA? Or was that SPC? Either way, the Cabinet needs to have more influence on the game. Right now the SoEA doesn't do very much of consequence and I would like for that to change. I also don't want to increase the number of positions in the game. That would reduce competition and increase the likelihood of inactivity.

Yeah I mocked the SoEA because it is a do-nothing job.  It doesn't mean that the position of GM should be unneutral

[Purple State]

Well Assistant GM can be an approved senate positions as well, but I don't think that the SoEA should be the assistant GM because they have other involvement in the game and the GM shouldn't.  Dual-office thingy

Aren't you the one mocking the power of the SoEA? Or was that SPC? Either way, the Cabinet needs to have more influence on the game. Right now the SoEA doesn't do very much of consequence and I would like for that to change. I also don't want to increase the number of positions in the game. That would reduce competition and increase the likelihood of inactivity.

Yeah I mocked the SoEA because it is a do-nothing job.  It doesn't mean that the position of GM should be unneutral

Making the SoEA deputy GM for international matters (with approval of the GM necessary) doesn't make the post not neutral. This is just giving the SoEA more to do, as well as lightening the load on the GM and making it more likely to get timely news.

[HappyWarrior]

Scary thing is I actually agree with DWTL on the SOEA as assistant GM.  I think that we need someone who can function independent of the administration.

[Purple State]

Scary thing is I actually agree with DWTL on the SOEA as assistant GM.  I think that we need someone who can function independent of the administration.

The GM isn't even "independent" of the administration. And even so, the GM has final say on the news provided by the SoEA. The amending bill I am introducing gives the GM the power of approval.

[HappyWarrior]

Scary thing is I actually agree with DWTL on the SOEA as assistant GM.  I think that we need someone who can function independent of the administration.

The GM isn't even "independent" of the administration. And even so, the GM has final say on the news provided by the SoEA. The amending bill I am introducing gives the GM the power of approval.

I just feel the SOEA's role should be responding to the news, no creating it.

[Purple State]

Scary thing is I actually agree with DWTL on the SOEA as assistant GM.  I think that we need someone who can function independent of the administration.

The GM isn't even "independent" of the administration. And even so, the GM has final say on the news provided by the SoEA. The amending bill I am introducing gives the GM the power of approval.

I just feel the SOEA's role should be responding to the news, no creating it.

Except the SoEA doesn't really do very much of that and posting reactions to news is pretty "do nothing" on its own. The idea is that the SoEA should report what is going on in the world to the Senate and President and allow the Senate and Presdient to react to the news with legislation and statements/executive actions, after which the SoEA can update us on how the situation has changed.

[Brandon H]

We can always have a war break out some place and that will give the SoEA something to respond to. However, it would probably end up being a bit unrealistic.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I agree with HappyWarrior.

Scary thing is I actually agree with DWTL on the SOEA as assistant GM.  I think that we need someone who can function independent of the administration.

The GM isn't even "independent" of the administration. And even so, the GM has final say on the news provided by the SoEA. The amending bill I am introducing gives the GM the power of approval.

I just feel the SOEA's role should be responding to the news, no creating it.

Except the SoEA doesn't really do very much of that and posting reactions to news is pretty "do nothing" on its own. The idea is that the SoEA should report what is going on in the world to the Senate and President and allow the Senate and Presdient to react to the news with legislation and statements/executive actions, after which the SoEA can update us on how the situation has changed.

Not really especially if he responded to news that was slightly different then RL especially since some of the things different from RL in Atlasia would cause differences in RL events. If an Assistant GM were created for Foriegn events it should be separate from the SoEA that way the SoEA is still responding to events as his job entails but they would be more dynamic and there would be more content. There would then need to be constant interaction between the SoEA, the assistant GM, and of course the Senate should it involve treaties and also the President if it involves legislation. So we would still get the increased Gov't interaction and involvement.

[afleitch]

The SOEA in days of old (I even think I held it at one point :/ ) used to report on world events; some even prompted the Senate to act upon them - it's something that should seriously be considered again.

[Purple State]

I won't support adding an entirely separate office. If we can't keep the GM position active, how are we to keep a deputy GM active? You are just increasing the likelihood of a dead office, spreading the government too thin.

The President should be able to respond adequately to foreign news, and actually should be responding, himself. The SoEA, right now, doesn't do much of anything substantive aside from telling the Senate what the President could easily have told us anyway. My proposal would give the SoEA a little bit more influence over events (still requiring GM approval in the end), make the office more active and consequential, and alleviate the pressure on the GM.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I don't see why a Deputy GM would be any different the currently allowed positions of Deputy SoFA.  The position isn't used often, but if the head of the department is not going to be very active for a time, then they can relegate some duties.

[Purple State]

I don't see why a Deputy GM would be any different the currently allowed positions of Deputy SoFA.  The position isn't used often, but if the head of the department is not going to be very active for a time, then they can relegate some duties.

I just don't want another office to fill. If we had lots of activity I wouldn't object to that.

[Purple State]

*sigh*

[ilikeverin]

*sigh*

You see?  I was in your shoes, once, a firm believer that an active GM would make Atlasia much stronger.  Perhaps it would.  But finding a person who's up to all of that

The requests just keep building, endlessly piling up, and as the stack becomes larger there's less of an incentive to start at all, because you'll just be doing Item #1 of 90,000, and what difference will that make?  There's nothing condemnable about BrandonH's actions; they're just what anyone else would do in his shoes.

[Brandon H]

*sigh*

You see?  I was in your shoes, once, a firm believer that an active GM would make Atlasia much stronger.  Perhaps it would.  But finding a person who's up to all of that

The requests just keep building, endlessly piling up, and as the stack becomes larger there's less of an incentive to start at all, because you'll just be doing Item #1 of 90,000, and what difference will that make?  There's nothing condemnable about BrandonH's actions; they're just what anyone else would do in his shoes.

Combine that 90,000 with 900,000 real life things going on.

Lief has mentioned that he has found someone who would like the job. So either I'll resign upon their confirmation or I'll resign now if that is what's necessary for the confirmation to get started.

Again I apologize to everyone. I felt when I first took over in June I was doing a good job, but once July got here, my life got pretty hectic. It could be October before things slow down for me. Atlasia can't go that long without an active GM so I'm glad that there is someone else willing to step up. I'm thankful to bgwah and Lief for giving this opportunity and I wish the best of luck to whomever takes my place. I'll pass along my notes to the next person whenever they're ready.

[HappyWarrior]

You did the best you could Brandon and I don't think anyone really faults you for it.

[Vepres]

[cry]WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA[/cry]

[Alexander Hamilton]

It's good to see a GM step down when they are unable to perform duties at expected levels. Brandon H, thank you for your service, and thank you for doing the right thing. perhaps you will get another chance at a better time for you.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Pity the poor schmuck that gets landed with this awful job next...

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

You did the best you could Brandon and I don't think anyone really faults you for it.

No its definately not his fault. The time when this position would have been the most fun would have been last fall reporting on the beggining of the recession. If things get worse now it would either be expected or blamed on the GM's partisanship.