Possible New Federation Mechanics (discussion)

[Platypus]

Already a Mantis ticket about this: http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=14554

I just think that a broad discussion about different possibilities could, if nothing else, be kind of interesting. My own two cents, it would be kind of fun to play with different systems of representation within the Federation. Some examples.

- One Race, One Vote: Every member race gets a single vote when making decisions. I imagine this would be pretty much the default when the Federation first forms and would be basically ok with all member races.
- Vote by Population: Very popular with races with a proportionately higher population, less popular and less likely to be approved by the less populous races. Thoraxians would probably despise this one. (Why even allow the pretense of letting the drones decide?)
- Vote by Planet: Every planet within the Federation gets a vote, races with multiple planets tend to like this. I imagine the Boarines and Thoraxians would like this one by default due to their sort of regional magnate thing.

In practice it might make it so if you have Vote by population a populous race might suddenly view joining a lot more favorably. The reverse the Burlusts take a new planet by force and suddenly they just find this whole One Race, One Vote thing to just be incredibly unfair.

Every 5 or so years the option to overturn the current system legally by vote might become available. Perhaps more militant races might try to force the issue illegally if they have the power and allies within the Federation backing them? Essentially the Federation would be able to vote on Resolutions brought forward by any of the member races, for the player you could get a Resolution brought forward by convincing a Race that either likes you or find the Resolution in their best interest to bring it forward for you.

Anyway, that's my example. I'm really interested in hearing what other ideas you guys all have.

[Gudamor]

If implemented in non-Federation alliances, too, the outcome of these "What sort of alliance are we?" votes could be one method of breaking up those alliances.

[SuperCactus]

There could be less democratic federations depending on the federation founding. Example:

-strong federation (burlusts, thoraxians and arcutians): those guys being not really fond of democracy, it would be more dictatorial, maybe the strongest one rules the alliance (problem is the strongest one might always be the arcutians).

-Skylaxians + X: senat style federation as you describe it.

-Evucks + X: life time council members, maybe one member for each race having a voting capacity related to its months' service in the federation.

-federation for safety (peltians + andors + skylaxians): equal number of representatives per race with total equity in voting capacities.

-Andors + X: parliamentary system, similar to the senatorial federation but only able to act according to the current majority's alignement.

-Arcutians + X: company board system, with a chairman being the more wealthy member, voting capacity of each member corresponding to its overall economy rating.

[Platypus]

One point of confusion for me has definitely been that somehow a system ruled by one race is a loss in game terms if they call themselves a Fear Empire but it counts as a win if they call themselves The Federation even though the method of forming either of these is pretty much identical. Heck, in some way the method of forming a one race fed is worse because it inherently requires either throwing an ally under the bus or murdering said ally by goading the Acutians to lob a moon or the Evucks to blow up a planet.

Setting some kind of in game standard as to why the Federation is different/better than the other alliances would help clear up some confusion as apparently your Hydral dude doesn't really care what methods are used to unite the system but he does care what they call themselves after uniting. As it is now I don't personally feel bad at all calling a game in which a Union of Independent States or Solar Axis whipe out my fledgling Federation a victory.