I Have a Question
 

Okay mates, I have a question. I am not trying to rain on your parade, but I really need some clarification on this whole Brethren Court thing.

It seems to me that the meetings are existing for the sake of meetings. They are long, and deal with how to run the Brethren Court.

I see the Brethren Court meeting to determine how to run the Brethren Court. The alternate definition of this is Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone.

The guild members themselves are not allowed to attend.

After the meeting is over THEN you have an event.

But you have no scheduled time for the event.

So it seems that most of the people who attend the events are the people who attend the meetings.

I do not understand what we are trying to accomplish. What is the purpose of the Brethren Court, and are we doing things that are actually moving us in that direction?

BBK is just about done with this. I'm not planning on having my Officers spend 2-1/2 hours standing around talking about things in-game. We could be doing a lot more with that Officer during that time.

So, unless I just nailed it right on the head, please explain what's going on. If there's nothing better than 2-1/2 hour meetings and non-scheduled post-meeting events then we're out.

Quick Summary of the passed 6 Weeks.
 

Ahoy thar Captain Foulsteel!

Allow me if I may the chance to answer your question to the best of my ability. You have brought up many valid points, and I am sure, are not the only one in the Court with such concerns.

This project stands for, what it has stood for since the weeks leading up to the conception of TBC. The idea to bring pirates together in a forum of participation and interaction and use those efforts to create and hold player run events.

The meetings up to this point have served mainly as a means to establish The Code of conduct that govern such a vast majority of pirates. They also serve as a way for Guild Masters and Senior Officers to stay informed as to the goings on of the Court, so that they in turn may keep their Guild Mates updated and informed.

The Meetings also give the chance for new guild prospects to introduce themselves to the other members of the court and contribute what they have to offer.

The meetings also offer an In Game forum for members of the court to submit their ideas on events, or ways to help run those events.

Let's face it, Rome was not built in a day, and for a group of Sea Fairing Cutthroats, in the short time we have managed to establish The Code and agree upon 5 Articles of Conduct, so that everybody involved may feel they have had a fair say in the process of creating such an entity.

It was determined that a Steering Committee should be established to help organized the events, that they may be run in a matter deemed fair by all the participants involved. This Committee is one of volunteers, and in its efforts to communicate through forum and in game, the events have been easier to get going once all the other guild mates have gathered.

The meetings are held for the benefit of the Guild Master and their Head Officers. The recent interest TBC has recently attracted has seen an influx of new guilds wanting to participate. We have since implemented a measure to enlist new guild applicants in a manor fair to all, via the Application Forms.

Through the hard work of all those involved, we have been able to secure our own Sub Forum for TBC in only a months time. This has allowed us to expand what was once everything in one post, into a more organized manner of communication of the news, updates, ideas and stories that we so readily encourage.

The momentum has been astounding! In 6 weeks time we have held weekly meetings, and events ( save for one day when the meeting ran 2 & 1/2 hours over a matter concerning The Code and Guilds Behavior related to The Code, thus canceling the event).

A meeting agenda is posted every week in the Court Event section. This Agenda explains the topics before the court , time , location , as well as that days event, and the events TIME.

We have since voted on motions that would expedite court proceedings so that we may stick to the schedule and start the event on time as planned.

These include, limiting the time given for a motion to be discussed. And was implemented for the first time on week 6. It did managed to keep the discussions on the floor to a limit, and the meeting ran an hour 1/2 instead of the planned hour.

All of this activity and the hard work of all the mates of the Court has been paying off in more ways than one.

We are the new kids on the block here people. There are others out there with similar ideas as ours, in gathering pirates and holding group events.

Our actions have gained their attention! Groups such as "The League" have noticed our blip on the radar, and I have since been in contact with the leader/spokesman (my counterpart) for the passed few weeks. A bond of friendship with The League (a year old project btw) will offer us resources and ideas that can help our Court become as great as it can be. Some Day, with a lot of effort and co-operation, it is possible that a co-mingling of ideas and events will be possible.

Achilles of "The Founders Association of The Brethren Court" has also noticed and praised the efforts of this Court for trying to bring pirates together under a united cause of Fun and meeting new people.

Even the Good Captain Walter of the Marceline Guild has taken interest in our efforts, because it is a worthy cause.

Our List of Events grows weekly as more and more ideas are submitted and discussed.

The Events we have accomplished thus far have been with the help and participation of nearly 50 + pirates per event, and in recent events, taxing a server to lag / freeze conditions for some of the players.

Events that have had massive success shall be repeated, events that need help, will get the work required to make it worth while.

Just to name a few recent events, where great screen shots have been taken i might add, are events such as : The Gauntlet, Brethren Court Portrait Day, The Warship Blockade From Tortuga to Cuba and Rumrunner's Rally I .

Our purpose is to get this project to the point where these events can be held at whim or on a nightly routine.

When each mate of each guild knows and understands the rules to each event, more time will be saved, because we wont have to explain what is going on.

Recently, a new event idea was suggested, and discussed in The Court for a Tuesday night SVS Tournament.

The League holds meetings on Monday Nights, Events on Friday and Saturday Nights.

That leaves Thursday and Sunday mates! We are nearing the point where activity and involvement can reach a sustainable level of Game Play every day of the week!

All we need is the support staff to run those events and the mates to play them!

The waters we have sailed thus far have not been easy, but then nothing in life is. Our hard work is giving ground to great possibilities, and through patience and preservierence we can achieve our goals and whatever we put our effort towards.

Far is the day that we give in to defeat, and what with the sweat off our backs and the wind in our sails, the horizon always promising greater plunders!

Then catch the wind , says I! Hoist your colours and hoist them true! For the adventure we have all signed up to embark upon shall be a journey filled with song, plunder, and the right to claim to any that ask...."Aye, i was there when that happened, I was part of History". Stay proud mateys, and keep yer wits about you.

Things will only get better as time goes on, so long as we sail our course and keep it true.

And that is a quick summary of the passed 6 weeks!

Stay Savvy me mateys!

:SkullBullet1:

I have a question also, but first I want to commend you on your creativity. This is an excellent idea for a player-generated involvement in the game for many who have little to do at this point in time. Kudos!

Now my question regards your Warship Blockades. I find them impressive, truly. However I wonder if they impede the gameplay of non-The Brethren Court players? You've posted that they may occur at any time, on any server and have referenced a previous blockade of 50 Warships from Tortuga to Port Royal. I would think that would make it difficult for any unsuspecting pirate sailing from, say, Devil's Anvil to Padres, to reach their destination without sailing far out of their way.

Would you mind addressing this please? Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,

Ahoy thar Ukebec!

More than happy to oblige ye matey.

Concerning the Warship Blockades...
Yes you are correct in the fact that it states any time, any server...
This was written this way for the purpose of allowing players to do events on their own when not participating in a TBC hosted function.

TBC Hosted functions are held every wednesday on the Kokoago server.
We do it on the Kokoago server for the exact reason you mention above about impeding other players or lagging down a popular server.

Kokoago was chosen because it is typically a quiet server.

Due to the size of our events a quiet server is needed to reduce lag.

I hope this has addressed your concerns, please feel free to ask away matey!

Thank you very much Roxy for your quick answer.

I respect the answer you gave. I'll know to be on the lookout on Wednesday nights on that server. It's ironic that I chose that particular server earlier today for the same reason - it's usually quiet. :)

And best of luck with this worthy endeavor. I commend you for your work in making this game more enjoyable for all. Fair winds to you mate!

*ETA* If an unsuspecting pirate who's not aware of this forum were to stumble across this blockade, would your members yield to said pirate? Just curious. I know there are many in-game who haven't discovered this great forum.

Thank you again.

Aye matey,

A hole would be made for said pirate needing to get where they be going.

The blockades be to stop the Navy and EITC shipping lanes and halt the delivery of goods to their Forts, not for hindering the pursuits of other swashbucklers.

Anything to sock it to old King George!

Excellent - thank you so much. Much success to you all. :D

Roxi,

Some valid points were raised about exactly what is being accomplished in meetings that could or could not accomplished through the forums. Lately, when I have been able to be on for meetings, I've told officers that they are excused from attending, unless going in my stead, since having two reps for each guild just adds more potential stress.

At the very least - timing points and counterpoints has been helpful. And you're right - once the foundation's been laid, meeting will be quicker and done.

Capping admission and looking to clear dead weight was also talked about last night and I think a very positive step.

For events... we should look to another thought. Don't schedule them to be AFTER a meeting - since no one know when that will be and many of guild just leave the event areas and go back to doing something else.

The EVENT should have a concrete start time. This means a meeting before hand may have to wrap or perhaps events should be scheduled for another day.

Thank you!