I'd like to see some ideas about the last question on the survey.
What abilities should Vanarchs be able to access?
I was really disappointed with the Vanarchy abilities myself. After the drama is over, there's not really much to it. Vanarch guild gets a temporary mount...wwwooooo.
The taxes are now EXPECTED to be 1% even though the default tax we started with was 5%. Some guilds (reportedly) are barely making enough to cover the registration fee.
So, after all is said and done, the Vanarchs aren't able to do that much in the way of game provided events.
What I would like to see are events that Vanarchs would be able to purchase with policy points. I would also like to see these events on a timer.
Granted, everyone wants something happening all the time, but it would give non-Vanarch players time to attend all events provided by guilds and it would give Vanarch players time do other things than worry about the guild. The policy points were pretty easy to come by, but if all you're worried about is generating points, players are going to get burned.
Bloodmoon Chosen had all of our services completely extended until the end of our term in just 3 days. Here's the sad part: we're NOT a hardcore guild. It only takes ~27 rare BAMs killed by a team of 5 players with the quest to be completely "paid off" (and this includes the questionably-useful noble cleric).
Vanarchs need to be able to spend extra PP to add vendors, trainers and brokers to outlying camps as well. Isn't that the #1 called for convenience in the entire game, not needing to go all the way back to town to train/sell?
Maybe teleporters at outlying camps that could teleport players back to town as well, but I'm sure they don't want to give vanarchs TOO much power (hence why they canned the jailing system, I believe).
It is sad that Emasse promised things for Vanarchy and then didn't deliver them.
Might be a little tangential, but something they should really do, to make vanarchs more responsive to player needs, is develop a mobile app to perform vanarch duties remotely without the need to fully log into the game.
e.g. vanarch/zone chat, set edicts, etc.
I doubt this would be imbalanced at all, since the actual act of earning policy points still falls on people in-game to kill the 27 BAMs needed to run the province for a term.
If vanarchs could be in touch/on-call remotely, it sure would make their jobs easier... not that it's hard to begin with, imho.
I wish I had screenshots of it, but back in beta days there was the mention and advertisement of the ability to jail people, throw parades and even the pvp tourneys (Button is still under the tabs, but it's greyed out) Where's the guild housing? That NPC has been there since OBT3! For a game that has been out for over a year and then brought to us, it feels VERY unfinished. Vanarchy is just one area this has happened. However, with Vanarchy players are looking to Vanarchs to take the blame for game short commings to a degree. I know this sounds like a rant, and it isn't intended as such. Just simply wish that I actually had the game I was promised, and bought. The game is still wonderful, but imo not at all that which they advertised. I will adjust and adapt and continue to have fun!
On a more positive note.. You all have been great and been the ONLY thing worth Vanarch. Even the "trolls" make me smile! Grats to all those who ran and won, and best of luck to those running in the up-comming elections! Take care!
~Dragonmuse