[jamesw for president] Domestics: retaining new players, not water weight
Hell The Great
Before I begin, if you have no idea who I am, or why I am running for president, I refer you to the following article; (here) where I announce my candidacy, introduce who I am, and explain why I'm a p cool
It would be somewhat perplexing for me to begin a tirade about how our domestic ministries require fundamental change. The fact is, I have yet to see a Presidential candidate say anything else. The norm is to appear to be absolutely on the ball. The reality is that every policy change is ultimately a gamble, based on either the candidates experience, or the experience of someone advising the candidate. So, whilst I may not seem overly revolutionary, please do not mistake this for a lack of effort or interest; I am simply stating (as I always have), what I feel is achievable, without undermining the continuing operation of Government. Fundamental change comes at a price; it disrupts how a Ministry can work, and ultimately results in time spent adjusting, when time could and should be spent doing.
Firstly, allow me to talk about what I feel, is the primary purpose of this months' Governments Domestic policy; interaction with "new" players. These are players which will hold memberships, but not use their memberships to take advantage of our community. Parties, Military Units, Government Schemes; all of these offer players rewards, but also, a reason to keep playing.
Thus, I would like to announce the formulation of a new ministry, tasked with ensuring that these new players not only have a centralised venue through which they can apply for existing, and new, generous grants/help from Government (like the very successful NHS - which according to this months Ministers has around a 70% retention rate, of those who apply). This 'Ministry of Retention' will be run in parallel with our existing 'Ministry of Home Affairs'.
Both will have mutually exclusive, but complementing roles; 'MoHA' will continue to be the public face of Government for all; guides, interviews and 'genuine content' will surface from the place we've grown accustomed to.
However, the Ministry of Retention will seek to 'nurture' the youth that quite frankly, this Government has failed to. Reforms are not just about throwing food, weapons or GBP at an issue. Instead, its about introducing food, and weapons, and GBP, as an incentive; or nudge for new players.
Rather than constituting the sum total of policy, these must be introductory gifts towards a policy; an approach, or as I will outline, an attempt to systemically account for the integration of our babies. It may cost us to get players onto the forums, and onto IRC, but ultimately we will reap the rewards for months and months, if we can successfully convince them to stick around.
Successive governments, including my own, have focused this policy to mean one thing; JOIN IRC JOIN FORUMS, OK COOL. This need not be the case; one does not need to idle in chatrooms, talking to Diakunts or playing Trivia to be considered 'engaged'.
So, as opposed to focusing things outside of the eRepublik experience, or tools such as IRC which are somewhat outdated, the main role that the Ministry of Retention will fulfil, is to maximise both the in game, and popular methods of interaction. Articles, PM'ing; they hold their purpose. However tools more commonly used, such as Skype, Facebook, and of course, email are all tools which everyone will use every day.
My government will begin by operating joint Skype, Facebook and Email accounts; these will be standard addresses which will hopefully form continuing opportunities for players to seek assistance, advise, or just a general chat. No longer will people need to begin their eRepublik experience by downloading IRC, creating forum accounts offsite, or generally having to search for help - it will now be available within tools and websites which they already use.
In terms of 'basic' changes - I can be quite blunt. The NHS is working well. However, it can be much more encouraging. I'd like to propose that the current criteria is amended somewhat; instead of one month of free things, I'd like the NHS to be around for two.
Twice the fun: twice the cost? Well, in fact, far from it. Of the current NHS 'help receivers', this would mean an increase of around 20-25% in numbers; and from this, costs.
Far from being unaffordable, I would say this is invaluable - the more help we can give, the more likely people are to be 'saved' from the current setup of the game (ie, disinterested, unable, and thus alienated, and ultimately, no longer here).
Of course, one of the key things which is used to tempt players into our existing, and widely used tools (IRC/Forums) is the use of free things. This will be expanded, so that players have a real incentive to give our community a try. However, we should also reward those who invite players or point them in the right direction. Thus, rewards will not only be for the new player joining, but also, to those who put in the time and effort to get in contact with them.
Contacting the government via email, skype or facebook will see players receive enough money to begin building an economic presence; they will be offered no hassle weapons simply for making contact. This will be tracked, and the cost published, as well as all those assisted, once per week. The reward will be cumulative, and somewhat generous:
- First contact (any tool; email/skype or facebook) will be rewarded with 5 Q6 weapons.
- Second contact will result in a double reward; 10 Q6 weapons.
After their second contact, players will be reminded of our onsite chances for interaction; with links to Ministers, and Ministerial Organisations / Newspapers. As well as this, they will be offered the chance to either join our offsite communities (forums/IRC), or if they have already done so, offered the chance to claim the following rewards;
- Sign up to the eUK Forums and post in the new player section; Rewar
😛10 Q6 Weapons.
Players who do join the forums, or make themselves known on IRC, will be invited to complete a survey on how their experience was, and offer suggestions on how we can further tailor this to be more intuitive, helpful and accessible. Those who do not will be offered the chance to complete a different survey; what else we could have done, or what we should do better/differently/etc to make the experience one which would have resulted in them joining the forums/IRC.
All those who complete these surveys, will be given a further 1500 GBP to build another Iron Mine.
So I have told you what we hope to do. But pray tell, how will we do so? The Ministry of Home Affairs will be responsible for building lists of new players. Anyone who helps the Ministry by messaging lists of 50 users, writing articles, or shouting existing articles, will be rewarded in the following ways;
- Message 50 players (5 Q6 weapons per list)
- Write an article (link to be given to Ministry - reward of between 5 and 50 Q6 weapons based on article's content, presentation and popularity)
- Shout an existing Government Article (1 Q6 for every shout - links must be provided to Ministry of Home Affairs)
Why should a Government reward players for helping? The idea behind this is simple; it is important for everyone to help players find their way; Government alone can only do so much. Together, united, we can create a community whose driving goal is to engage with, aide, and ultimately groom the next generation of players.
I hope that whilst this article appears light in content (although heavy in explanation) it is indicative of my focus domestically; a consistent, inclusive, accessible and most of all, highly lucrative approach. Ultimately, the best way to integrate players is to ensure they have every opportunity, across a variety of tools, to see who we are, what we do, and why we need them to keep playing.
Finally, I would like to announce that all players who assist in any way in 'retention based activity' will be entered into a weekly prize draw. That is, both participants in surveys, ministerial aides, or just good-wishing citizens who volunteer. The Ministry of Home Affairs will randomly select three people people per week. First Place will be awarded 8500 GBP. Second place: 3000 GBP, and third place will receive 10 Q6 weapons.
Thank you for reading, and keep your eyes peeled; the next article in this series will focus much more on the role of the 'other' ministries; Legislative Affairs and Finance. I want to show that these ministries need not act 'alone'; in isolation from the public at large - what they do can be published. Legislative Affairs can constitute an account of 'what it is' to be involved; and will be tasked with ensuring that there is content available which will outline the rewards, tribulations and fun, that comes from being 'involved'.
Finance, will begin the task of outlining public budgets and the availability of statistics, etc. To be blunt, our current setup, with only those 'in the know' being able to know our balance, our income or expenditure, is a joke. Nearly a year ago, I made the Ministry publish these things in public; because it gave congress (individually and collectively) a chance to offer accounts for reform; they knew what we could afford to spend.
Of course, these things will be further outlined tomorrow. So, until then,
Lots of deviant Diakunt love
~jw
PPS: I am still looking for applicants for the following positions;
- Minister of Home Affairs (x2)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (x2)
- Minister of Defence (x1) (1 Position Filled)
- Minister of Retention (x2)
Comments
inb4tl;dr
voting jamesw on the 5th
\o/
BLAME JAMESW 😃
Fantastic
\o/
Go back into hibernation, foul deed.
That guy
Excellent
fundamental change absolutely on the ball a gamble overly revolutionary achievable and should doing primary purpose take advantage of our community rewards a reason to keep playing new ministry throwing food, weapons or GBP nudge introductory gifts we will reap the rewards for months and months JOIN IRC JOIN FORUMS, OK COOL outside of the eRepublik experience outdated Ministry of Retention popular more commonly used everyone having to search for help be much more encouraging instead of one month
of free things for two invaluable free things who invite players or point them in the right direction to those who put in the time and effort to get in contact with them. Contacting the government via email, skype or facebook no hassle onsite. Rewar😛 10 Q6 Weapons what else we could have done, or what we should do better/differently/etc further 1500 GBP what how. Anyone helping? everyone a consistent, inclusive, accessible and most of all, highly lucrative approach Legislative Affairs Finance
public budgets deviant Diakunt love PPS
That's what my attention was drawn to, quite uselessly.
y so upset tho 🙁
Good to see you want to help the new players getting involved fast.
You also want to pay the ones who help our nation.
As I did understand, eUK already has some problems to have enough income to pay for what we invest in new players & MPP's. I think the budget will raise with your plans. How are you going to pay for that?
Other question is some applications are filled already, why is that? Is it not the best to see who are the best on a job?
And you are rather late in asking people to help you. Elections are soon. Who will be the vice president? Do you get enough active and experienced people on the job?
RE: Economics; this will be dealt with in ... the economics manifesto 😉
As for the filled ministries; I've had excellent applications from 3 ministers who are not only new to the role, but also filled with experience/enthusiasm/etc.
I hope to see RBSNA be MoLA 😁
Weapons for shouting government articles? People do that anyway. We've had to raise taxes as it is, with double the food on the NHS, bribes for shouting, contacting you on facebook and skype, messaging and writing articles we'll go bankrupt - assuming the BoE doesn't go missing again. Then again, I doubt anyone will want to reveal their facebook profile to a stranger on some random game, so that should save us some money.
Plus 1500 GBP per survey filled in and 11500 per week in a random draw... anyone would think that ESO were the left wing party, not the TUP.
And if you have neither the inclination or the time to become a 'minister', then what? Your taxes are doubled to pay for it all? Why not just give massive allowances for everything to the ministers. That way everyone will want to get in and milk the system for all its worth, just like the EU.
If it goes wrong, can I blame you for it?
voting jamesw on the 5th
\o/
😁^ What he said 😁^
\o/
BLAME JAMESW
Why create a new ministry tho, the ones we have a hardly staffed and that's the real cause of any work not getting done. I like yer skype ideas
o7
I vote Woldy for skype/podcast/facebook guy - Jimbo too if he's around
jamesw is awESOme \o/
Vote for jamesw on the 5th
Kevin says PLAY TRIVIA OR DIE TRYING.
Invalidation says nice things but I don't know if I've got time to be a minister this month. I will be hanging around in mofa for sure.
Vote chavking on June 5th \o/
o7
Well RBSNA, happily I didn't put a time limit on it, one day I hope to see it then!
I'm sorry in those 5 terms as president, did you ever free the UK? It's funny because Appleby did in half a term what you could not in 5. You have no right to Presidency, it belongs to true players who ACTUALLY make a difference on the map.
v53 s1011
whoever you appoint to the MoD better sort out the false promises
😁 Go back a year on the map and scroll through the 5th's of each month, I don't see the UK is any bad position until the start of this year, therefore I don't see how you can say James couldn't free the UK when he wasn't PP during that time, unless you have access to unbiased information?
Go back to the start of this year and look at ONE as a whole, it didn't matter who was president then.
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/jamesw-stole-the-uk-s-treasury-2052342/1/20
Vote jamesw for higher taxes a bankrupt nation a corrupt government and an empty bank of England.
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/jamesw-stole-the-uk-s-treasury-2052342/1/20