Staff Proposal: New Direction of the Curia

[Mímirswell]

New Direction

Introduction

Members of TWC,

Events both past and present have convinced senior staff that the Curia and Civitate rank is suffering because we (staff) do not trust it's ability to advise us on matters. The initial solution to our problems were a series of staff organized proposals that created councils (CdC, CoW, CoP) to help advise us. While they solved the basic problem (and they have functioned well); we have essentially created an elite class of civitates and created an entirely new set of problems. Some believe that destroying the councils would resolve this problems and others are sure that the councils are the only solution availible.

However, after much discussion (within the various threads in the Curia, within staff and via PMs and MSN); staff has come to believe the problem is more pervasive. We believe the problem results with giving members the right to have input into the site by sheer quality of their posts instead of being measured by the efforts they have put forth in helping improve the site. Thus, we seek to initiate a series of reforms as detailed below that will create a voting class that Staff will trust as well as enact greater standards to uphold the standards of the Curia and Civitate class.

We are taking the following steps:

1. All current debate threads in the Curia, Prothalmus and Suggesus (and anywhere else) are closed and new topics should not be opened.
2. We propose to post a new syntama (see below) and implement it in 2 weeks time. Before then we would like all input from all members of the site.
3. Please respond with comments/queries in here, this is not a foregone conclusion and is open for change (The final version will be alterations to the actual syntagma to reflect the changes below and the feedback given).

Civitates

• All Patrician can nominate another Civitate in accordance with the Patronization Act.
• If a Civitates' client fails the CdeC vote, the Patrician cannot patronise for two months.
• Civitates can access the Symposium but not the Curia (though Curia is still open to viewing for everyone)
• There are two types of civitate, ones elevated for their contributions to the TW community and ones elevated for their contribution to the Common Community (Artifex & Civitate), both are identical in status. Both groups get access to the Symposium and new forum dedicated for advanced discussion of Total War.
• Both ranks are voted into their rank by the CdeC on a three-fourth majority vote.
• The CdC can also revoke a Civitate status back to normal member on a three-fourth majority vote.
• In effect Civitate remains what it currently is, a rank which is given for continual good posting & behaviour.

Patricians

• Patricians are the only ones who can post in Curia & Prothalmus, and therefore the only ones who can vote on legislation.
• Patricianship is no longer automatic, it is awarded for contribution to TWC (eg. being a librarian, local moderator, contributing articles, mod tutorials, etc etc). None of these contributions provide automatic patricianship however, but they do allow you to be nominated.
• Patricians are nominated to the CdeC by an existing HEX member.
• Patricians are voted into their rank by the CdeC on a 75% vote
• Finally the Senior Staff can revoke a Patrician's status back to Civitate on a 75% majority vote (eg. someone lowers their standard)
• Patricians are therefore people who have proved they good posters (as conferred by the rank of Civitate), are interested in TWC and have made a good contribution to it, and who therefore deserve the right to have some say in the running of TWC.

Councils

• CoW & CoP are being moved to being specific sub-forums in the suggestus where TW/CC specific suggestions can be made by anyone Civitate or above
• CdeC becomes the place in the Curia where Patricians and Civitates are voted on. Only Patricians can be a member and membership would be Senior staff + 8 elected Patricians with elections happening every 3 months.
• CdeC votes on Civitate & Patrician status and loss of status, 75% majority required.

Discipline

• If a Patrician or Civitate receives a warning that is upheld by the Tribunal, they are automatically put before their peers (ie. Patrician to the Curia, Civitate to the Symposium) where a vote is held (yes/no, no discussion) as to whether they lose their rank. A caution = suspension of rank for 1 month, 1 warning = suspension of rank for 2 months, 2nd or more warning = loss of rank to peregrinus. Simple majority vote passes.
• CdeC also has the power to remove a rank based on a 75% vote
• Any member can request the CdeC to review any other member for the 75% vote

Staff Elections

• When new Tribunos are required a thread is opened in the Curia
• Patricians may then either volunteer themselves or suggest others to the list of candidates. Only Patricians may become moderators.
• Hex then select from the list of candidates
• Basileos has final veto

Plan of Action

In 2 weeks time the following process will be carried out assuming that the above proposals are not radically changed:

1. All current Patricians are set back to Civitate level
2. Curia and its sub-forums are set to be accessble only by Patricians
3. The curator will then propose a list of Patricians to Hex, each hex member may add up to 3 additional members to the list (subject to the requirements of the rank).
4. Hex will then vote on which members of that list should become patricians
5. Those voted in will then, in turn, vote on the membership of the new CdeC
6. The new CdeC will then start voting on any nominations for new Civitates.
7. The Curia will be reopened to Patricians.

[HorseArcher]

bump.

[bdh]

I'm against this, I prefer the status quo.

[Kscott]

This has Kscott written all over it


Anyways, I like it, but I would like it better if it adressed the honorary titles.

[Mímirswell]

Honorary titles will be several things to be addressed after what the staff believe are the crucial elements are in place. We (staff) have no official stance (though individual opinion varies) on the matters of honorary titles, houses, etc.

[Belisarius]

I said the same thing Kscott, and rest assured I intend it to be Amendment 1!

[Kscott]

I said the same thing Kscott, and rest assured I intend it to be Amendment 1!

Just because you said that I will do everything in my power to make sure something else is

plus it cuts throught bureaucratic mire of the current syntagma.

It adds considerable bureaucracy..

[Aristocrat]

It adds considerable bureaucracy..

Let me rephrase, it makes the bureaucracy clearer and more structured. At least to me.
Not to mention, in my opinion, more efficient (oh wait I just did mention it )

@Gaius Baltar..Staff are staff, demoting them wouldn't make much sense.

[Maron]

By 'proposal' do you mean that it is negotiable...or is this definately going to happen?

If negotiable, then dont you think you should wait to start closing all of these threads?

[bdh]

If negotiable, then dont you think you should wait to start closing all of these threads?

That is particularly frustrating as, in a way, they are already implementing the plan by inhibiting other civitate discussion.

[Maron]

That is particularly frustrating as, in a way, they are already implementing the plan by inhibiting other civitate discussion.

My thoughts exactly...Ive only been a civitate for a week and a half and they have already implemented "Marshall Law"

[Mímirswell]

That is particularly frustrating as, in a way, they are already implementing the plan by inhibiting other civitate discussion.

All discussion should take place within this thread.

[bdh]

All discussion should take place within this thread.

I think the previous system was more logical. Each plan had a thread. How can we talk about multiple plans at once? Better to dissect them individually. All ready, everyone is focused on this idea. Everything else has been sidelined.

[RZZZA]

Hmmm...I'll be back to being a civitate?


I'm not quite sure how I feel about this just yet, I'll have to sleep on it.

[Aristocrat]

Yes, yes and yes.
This way civitates can still keep their badges (and thus be recognised as contributing, good posting, etc members) but it is the patricians who are the ones who have really contributed to the site.

In short, I like it, it addresses what I view as the problems with the current system (and I have already stated my thoughts...) plus it cuts throught bureaucratic mire of the current syntagma.

Edit: Though yes the honourary titles do need clarification. :hmmm:

[Gaius Baltar]

Does the demotion from Patrician status also apply to staff members? For example, a Tribonius, Strategoes, etc.?

[Mímirswell]

Does the demotion from Patrician status also apply to staff members? For example, a Tribonius, Strategoes, etc.?

In theory, but as one of the requirements for the Patrician class is service (and staff being one of those forms); it is unlikely they would be denied the rank.

[Belisarius]

Does the demotion from Patrician status also apply to staff members? For example, a Tribonius, Strategoes, etc.?

I think, to be staff you have to be Patrician, and thus we will all be Patricians. I think.

*looks at mim and reloads his (Close thread) rifle*

[Gaius Baltar]

I think, to be staff you have to be Patrician, and thus we will all be Patricians. I think.

*looks at mim and reloads his (Close thread) rifle*

In theory then, being a Civitate, you could be brought up on charges by the Civitate body. Right?

[Belisarius]

In theory then, being a Civitate, you could be brought up on charges by the Civitate body. Right?

Subject to staff veto yes, I should think so.