Let's not save the eUK, shall we?
Day 2,990, 07:54
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Published in United Kingdom 
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by
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by Duchess of Sin
I truly understand I'm quite new here, so do read this as what it is: the viewpoint of a new player.
It's that time of the year again: things are looking down, regions are being taken, people are not as active as they could be, etc. etc.
So let me ask you one thing: 'Is this the first time you found yourselves in this situation? Or has the eUK survived previous periods of crisis?' I dare to assume I know the answer, despite being a young eCitizen.
Frankly, you will have highs and you will have lows. The eUK is not different from any other country, I dare say.
So...
How do we turn the current low into a new high?
I read many articles the last few days on how it's all not working and how drastic changes and experiments need to be put to the test or else we perish. And they say I'm a drama queen, really!
All interesting trains-of-thought, I agree, but the game mechanics are the game mechanics and they will not change because we are experiencing a bit of a let-down. They will fail eventually, just because the game still works with elections, congress medals, citizen passes and what-nots.
In my years in advertising, which is my real life job, I have learnt that if a client wails 'the customer isn't buying his product', it is mostly because the customer hasn't got any reason to do so.
If you picture active citizenship of the eUK as a consumer product (or a brand even) for a moment, then ask yourself this simple question:
'What's in it for an eCitizen? Why pick citizenship of the eUK above any other eNation?'
If you're only answer is 'because we're awesome'; or if you can't answer it at all, then you might have found the core of the problem.
Providing interesting answers to that question, is part of the solution.
Question: "Why arn't members of eCongress all that active?"
Answer: "Why would they?"
Again, finding interesting answers, is part of the solution.
Easier said than done? Perhaps, but being defeatist is very middle class.
I'll try to give a quick and possible answer myself.
Why on earth would someone become a new citizen of the eUK? Do you even remember what a pain it is to be a young citizen? Does the eUK help me advance in ways other countries do not offer?
Why not make a 'political' party for the young? Cap the maximum level for members and allow it to be a place where first political steps can be taken? Why not have that 'party' implement a programme that helps these young citizens with their missions (getting 100 friends, obtaining 25 media likes, ...)
Once the level cap has been obtained, the member will not only have completed quite the list of missions and benefited from the rewards, they will also have seen the 'adult' parties in action enough to make a choice and pick their next political party.
From this idea can be built. I'm quite sure more experienced players can indicate flaws or add interesting new ideas concerning economics or battle modules.
Start attract new players and citizens. Nurture and keep them. For once, wealth and experience might not be said to trickle down, but to creep up?
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Have you not joined Ebrit Uni you get rewards for seeking out the dark corners of this game and writing articles in addition hopefully you have joined NHS scheme ; Food for exp points.
Madeline de Melrose runs the Uni system.
Well, let that be an example then: how do new players know there's that? In the welcoming message I got upon entering the game, there was only a vague reference to the home office and from there on, I had to fend for myself.
It's not just about having those schemes and programmes, it's also about making sure new players get to know about them.
NHS can be found here: https://goo.gl/FXthHX
As Tinman noted, get in contact with Madelina for the eBrit Uni. There are also other schemes available at the forums: http://forums.erepublik.co.uk/index.php
The forums are still used?
Besides, the approach to new players is merely an example of the very idea: why arn't people more active in Congress? Why are people moving or dropping out? etc etc etc
Quite agree I was struggling myself untill lvl 28 when I noticed the suggestion for fellow shipmates.
V + s
The question shouldn't be why would they pick the eUK over other nations, it is why should they continue to play this game if they are a part of the eUK. None of us know why every player that has left has done so but you'll see they are leaving the game and not going off to join other countries. If there was some way of measuring the enjoyment you get from being in the eUK and other countries, and plotted a graph over time, you'd see the general negative trend. You can see this trend if you look at populations. None of us know why population is decreasing but a lot of new players always ask similar questions; how do I play this game, how do I get involved, what should I do. The current system we have doesn't actually give players enough chance to get involved so they quit the game.
The eUK political system has never really followed game mechanics. Ministries are not actually part of game mechanics but our country has had them for about 6 years. If we were to follow game mechanics now Congress would have no point as everything would be run by one dictator, but instead we built a system of democracy out of game mechanics. The eBrit University, MU strikes and lots more things aren't actually part of game mechanics. The game developers know this and they encourage us to use creative ways to build a community and get more people involved (well, sometimes they try). If all countries were to strictly follow game mechanics over the past few years the game wouldn't exist right now.
We can build any system we want. Game mechanics wont go away obviously, but doesn't mean we can't use other things too. I think we should try for a new system - even if it is a trial period - as we might get more players, and new people, involved.
In regard to completing the missions, if a new player asks for help they are usually helped. I know in ESO we always help new players complete their missions if they need that help.
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/political-reform-yet-another-view-2579564/1/20
THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS ARTICLE.
The game is pretty much reflecting some RL behaviours. There are the type of people who always trying to explain why this or that is not possible. And there are the ones who see the issue and try to do something, perhaps not a perfect or even not good enough something, but at least they do...