Well-Known Member
I got this idea after reading/participating in a conversation on Discord regarding planetary annihilation/genocide/catastrophe on SWRP, To start off, I haven’t been on this board for long, but to me it seems like that the most significant planetary narratives that happen on Chaos happen during invasions. For example, the invasions of Atrisia deeply affected how the planet is viewed today, because of the fact that these actions transpired in invasion threads, rather than dominion threads. I believe that the reason why people respect the planetary narratives of devastated worlds like Atrisia, Kaeshana, and Eshan after so long is because these stories were written cooperatively, rather than by a group of writers with a singular purpose. In other words, when these planets underwent their legendary cataclysmic events, writers on the board from groups besides the conquering faction had the chance to write/create their own narratives as well.
Fundamentally, this is what good roleplay is about. If we want the stories that we write to have meaning and longevity, they have to be written collaboratively.
The logic behind Dominions flies in the face of the principles of good roleplay, because a single “I win” narrative is represented in these kinds of threads. If the events that transpired on Atrisia, Kaeshana, and Eshan had occurred during a dominion, rather than an invasion, rebellion, or some other collaborative PvP event, their memory would not have lasted past the expiration dates of the factions that were involved in the narratives. Major factions, especially dark-aligned ones commit some form of genocide in virtually every dominion thread that they write. However, the OOC memory of these events only last as long as the thread is active. Once that thread is done, the world that was conquered becomes just another planet living under the subjugation of a dark side empire. Anyone else who goes to write on the once-subjugated/brutally genocided planet simply disregards the narratives written during that dominion because in all likelihood, they weren’t there when those stories were written and they had no say in whether or not those events happened.
Eventually, these narratives go the way of the dodo and become irrelevant.
Now, I understand that implementing a suggestion like this would require a radical restructuring of the rules regarding the map game, factions, and SSDs. However, I would like to briefly explain how I envision this being implemented. Firstly, dominions would no longer be a surefire success for the conquering faction. Instead, PCs would be able to sign up to assist the defending NPCs and the outcome of the thread would be determined the same way invasions are now. No longer would Jedi sit idly by while dark side empires swallow up planets because of OOC rules which actively discourage opposing writers from posting in another faction’s dominion threads. This would also give us the opportunity to grant minor factions more power. Perhaps if a faction that attempts to invade/dominate a planet that is occupied by an active minor faction, that minor would be given some ability to fight on their terms.
I also believe that an idea like this would make for more diverse invasions other than massive fleet battles and ground PvP. We could have political invasions that involve IC debate, political maneuvering, propaganda campaigns, diplomacy, and more. The act of taking a planet would mean a lot more than just gaining a tiny hex on a map. In addition, this would also make the creation of large and powerful empires more meaningful. As it stands now, basically every 3 or 4 years ICly, galactic superpowers rise extremely fast and take up over half of the galaxy before crumbling in an instant. In all honesty, this makes very little sense and doesn’t do proper justice to the idea of galactic conquest.
Anyways, I think this is all I can bear to type in a single sitting for the time being. I’m happy to answer questions and discuss the pros/cons of this idea in this thread.
Thanks!
Edit: I've described in more detail how I envision this system working in post #14
Fundamentally, this is what good roleplay is about. If we want the stories that we write to have meaning and longevity, they have to be written collaboratively.
The logic behind Dominions flies in the face of the principles of good roleplay, because a single “I win” narrative is represented in these kinds of threads. If the events that transpired on Atrisia, Kaeshana, and Eshan had occurred during a dominion, rather than an invasion, rebellion, or some other collaborative PvP event, their memory would not have lasted past the expiration dates of the factions that were involved in the narratives. Major factions, especially dark-aligned ones commit some form of genocide in virtually every dominion thread that they write. However, the OOC memory of these events only last as long as the thread is active. Once that thread is done, the world that was conquered becomes just another planet living under the subjugation of a dark side empire. Anyone else who goes to write on the once-subjugated/brutally genocided planet simply disregards the narratives written during that dominion because in all likelihood, they weren’t there when those stories were written and they had no say in whether or not those events happened.
Eventually, these narratives go the way of the dodo and become irrelevant.
Now, I understand that implementing a suggestion like this would require a radical restructuring of the rules regarding the map game, factions, and SSDs. However, I would like to briefly explain how I envision this being implemented. Firstly, dominions would no longer be a surefire success for the conquering faction. Instead, PCs would be able to sign up to assist the defending NPCs and the outcome of the thread would be determined the same way invasions are now. No longer would Jedi sit idly by while dark side empires swallow up planets because of OOC rules which actively discourage opposing writers from posting in another faction’s dominion threads. This would also give us the opportunity to grant minor factions more power. Perhaps if a faction that attempts to invade/dominate a planet that is occupied by an active minor faction, that minor would be given some ability to fight on their terms.
I also believe that an idea like this would make for more diverse invasions other than massive fleet battles and ground PvP. We could have political invasions that involve IC debate, political maneuvering, propaganda campaigns, diplomacy, and more. The act of taking a planet would mean a lot more than just gaining a tiny hex on a map. In addition, this would also make the creation of large and powerful empires more meaningful. As it stands now, basically every 3 or 4 years ICly, galactic superpowers rise extremely fast and take up over half of the galaxy before crumbling in an instant. In all honesty, this makes very little sense and doesn’t do proper justice to the idea of galactic conquest.
Anyways, I think this is all I can bear to type in a single sitting for the time being. I’m happy to answer questions and discuss the pros/cons of this idea in this thread.
Thanks!
Edit: I've described in more detail how I envision this system working in post #14
