Rodwen wrote:
Fix factions, go ahead. I foresee less people joining a wider variety of factions because they know they won't get leadership. I wouldn't be surprised if less people joined factions altogether, which would lead to more characters not in a faction.
Fairly stated, but non-joiners could also be motivated by the current policy. The only solution that occurs to me as a potential player, is to create a character with zero interest in cabal and tribunal politics. There's no tension between being IC, and dealing with a bizarre gameworld, if the character doesn't have to notice. But not only would he not join a faction, he would also have no interest in what any faction does. I don't think that's what SK would prefer in a character.
Is there really a problem with putting some OOC obligations on leaders? Once upon a time, faction leaders helped the game by demanding member roleplay that was not only strong, but also coherent with their faction. Things got too exclusive, and CRS did some good by opening things up. That doesn't mean SK will never need a corrective in the opposite direction.
It's one thing to say that leader alignment restrictions will not help at all, or that other solutions are more worthwhile. Both are perfectly fair arguments. But there is no zero-pain solution. Any meaningful enforcement of standards means "unique snowflake" characters will enjoy less success.