Since we're all standing around in ash and rubble figuring out where to go and how to rebuild, I and a few others are choosing to take this opportunity to plant a new flag in this (hopefully) new landscape. Please consider this a very simple POV and statement of intent from a smaller but integral part of the larger MR community.

I'm starting this in the OOC forum because the heart of this matter really begins, for us, in our out-of-character intentions. It is my hope that, by stating our hopes in a way that is transparent and unveiled by in-character actions and assumed alliances, our intentions will be seen as they truly are and given an opportunity to bear fruit.

The mission is rebuilding the writing community on MR by establishing a place for writers to create, interact, and encourage others interested in in-character interaction to join in. Why is this necessary, you may wonder. Simply put, not everyone is here for power-grabbing and murder. There is a healthy amount of interest in concentrating on the "RP" part of this MMORPG; though it is not what it used to be. While one may argue that "no one cares about writing anymore," our experience is that MR has excellent support, options, and incentives for those who wish to write in-character. The problem seems to be that a majority of the player base is much more focused on the aforementioned power-grabbing and murder, and those of us who just wish to run our businesses and write our stories are far too often forced into wars and conflicts that get us killed and stunt our stories and businesses. In a similar vein, very few, if any, crews of late have given much encouragement to writing as part of the game. You can get trained to gamble, shoot, and run an entire war from just about any crew; but getting help for and finding a community of writers is next to impossible because we're too busy trying to stay alive in wars we don't really want to be in.

Where is the place for writers? Where is our community base in a scattered landscape of different crews and loyalty expectations? Why do the procedural crews get a place but the creatives can barely stay alive to create one of our own? This is the problem we face, and we have a new approach that we are bringing forth now. We propose to establish a crew for those who want to chiefly write while they earn their money. We envision an RP crew that is, effectively and politically, Switzerland. We want to write, not come after your lives or your city; so leave us be and we leave everyone else alone to do their business their way. We don't take sides, and we don't start shit unless we're being directly threatened or actively attacked.

All this boils down to one idea: give us a chance to rebuild the writing community here to something vibrant and active again. All we ask is that you give us a space and a chance. Here's how we do it:

-We are asking for auth in one city to begin: independent of any family affiliations or factions. 
-We provide transparency about our actions and our leadership as an act of good faith and to avoid suspicion and accusation.
-We do not enter conflict unless provoked, and act only in defense of what we're building. Additionally, our assistance in wars cannot be "bought" by any crew,  which gives assurances that we are no threat or secretly aligned with anyone. 
-Members are free to come and go as they please, as we understand RP isn't for everyone, even after trying it. However, we will have strict rules for members to abide by in the way of gun training and use; any threatening actions from our members brought to our attention will result in swift and decisive action out of preservation of our establishment. Should we accomplish our goal, we have to be twice as dutiful as normal crews to maintain our operation securely and maintain trust among the other crews. 

This isn't an unreasonable request. We are simply asking for a fair opportunity, and we are offering more transparency and communication than is conventionally expected of any other crew. We're putting away our past conflicts with anyone in an honest attempt to establish our little writers corner of MR. Maybe it's not everyone's thing; but the dedicated writers of the site deserve representation. I want to add here that I'm not delusional enough to believe this would be a permanent thing and we won't get popped by someone who wants to get their kicks by killing non-combative players; but I truly believe it's reasonable to give us a chance to rebuild a foundation.

Over the next few weeks, I will be reaching out to current CLs to discuss our proposal one-on-one to gage the reception and answer any questions that you may have. Obviously, my inbox is open to anyone. I greatly look forward to the discourse this might bring, and hope with all my little soul that we will be able to introduce The Empire Cities Chamber of Commerce in the very near future. 

Thank you,
Mars (Ilaria Santoro, Amira, Stella DiVasio-Viacelli, Regina Viacelli)

I wholeheartedly support this. We have been lacking consistent RP in the Streets, yet I know a lot of writers who do amazing work. Each crew currently has their differences in level of RP, but generally don't focus too much on it. For the past 6-12 months (before the rogues of course), we consistently saw LA at the top of the leaderboard with a good amount of Detroit (if I remember correctly). There are many more writers out there, but Mars' idea could help revitalize life into the Streets. Imagine being able to go to Streets and being able to enjoy one of the many works. Writers enjoy writing and readers enjoy reading, plain as that.

Dynamite

Asking to be left alone and not shot is not what this place is about at all. If someone decides it's your time to go, then it's up to game mechanics whether you drop.

Write as much as you want and form your stories around your lives in whatever city you choose. There will never be a city that will be considered 'Switzerland.' This game is a representation of the mafia. Nothing here is stopping any writer from joining wherever they wish to tell their tales. 

There have been many 'RP' crews over the years. Asking for your own city is greedy and not in anyone else's interest. 

I would argue that the deaths are just a chance to form another character and freshen up the writing. If you want to be an immortal who lives the same life over and over, like it's Groundhog day that's your prerogative. The beauty of roleplaying is that you get to choose what you write and how you let the story unfold. 

Hi, BrandNew. That's a lot of great insight; and while you're not wrong in theory, I get the feeling you misread it perhaps didn't thoroughly read my post. We're not asking for a city; that's ludicrous. I'm not brand new around here, and so I am well aware of the game mechanics. The game mechanics aren't the problem at all; the problem is how many others choose to play that is making it difficult for the ones who write mote than they click to gain a foothold and even want to come back. I believe I also stated, verbatim, that I'm not dumb enough to think such a crew (singular...crew) could be left alone forever.

As to the questions of "what's stopping you," and "just do x and y and stop complaining," I would point out that we've been doing exactly those things for a long time; and yet, the writing community here languishes. So, we're just supposed to take it and stay quiet? I'd wager my entire credit savings that if another aspect of the game was making it hard for people to build their guns, there would be a massive uproar for change and stop whatever is making that hard for them. But for the writers who really want to make their characters dynamic and have actual stories; look, we just want a chance to build our community back up. With a little structure, support from open minded individuals, and maybe a little less of being dismissed, we could do that. 

I should have mulled this one over longer for a better reply to why this will never work. 

-We are asking for auth in one city to begin: independent of any family affiliations or factions. 
-We provide transparency about our actions and our leadership as an act of good faith and to avoid suspicion and accusation.
-We do not enter conflict unless provoked, and act only in defense of what we're building. Additionally, our assistance in wars cannot be "bought" by any crew,  which gives assurances that we are no threat or secretly aligned with anyone. 
-Members are free to come and go as they please, as we understand RP isn't for everyone, even after trying it. However, we will have strict rules for members to abide by in the way of gun training and use; any threatening actions from our members brought to our attention will result in swift and decisive action out of preservation of our establishment. Should we accomplish our goal, we have to be twice as dutiful as normal crews to maintain our operation securely and maintain trust among the other crews. 
 

This would be a very easy breeding ground for rogues if there were a magical off-limits city. To be completely independent of all other factions is fine in theory, but that means other factions get to decide what they do with you, especially if you can't fight back.

To not enter into conflict is everyone's right as a leader, but it's a certain death sentence. I would argue that you are stifling others from playing the role of the conqueror or tyrant that they wish to play out here in this game. 

This whole post just reeks of entitlement. Let me play and don't kill me cause I have different interests here than you.

The beauty of this place is that it has a huge array of aspects to it. Roleplaying is a very rewarding one if you are the type that enjoys it. I have topped the VIP list many times with legitimate roleplaying over the years, but never did I feel I should have been left out of the fray. I was playing the role of a mobster.

That means death comes for you before you feel your time is done. 

Also, mobsters don't come and go from their crews here for the most part. It's supposed to be for the life of the character. 

I totally get why you believe it would never work; but you're making a hell of a lot of assumptions about intent. You're right, an "off limits" city sure would be a breeding ground for rogues; but we're not asking to be annexed and given special privileges, nor does anyone believe RPers are "entitled" to anything more than a chance to get people who write back into it. Again, I ask readers to try and view this from a different perspective; and if this isn't your "lived experience" that's fine- but others are experiencing things differently than you.

You know why there are a million shooters and gun builders? Because this place is absolutely brimming with people who do all that stuff, so that "community" here is thriving.

Know why the writers are dropping off? Because we keep getting steamrolled by the war and rogue crowd before we even have a chance to get the writers back and established.

A large number have left because of this, and so if anyone has a suggestion that is helpful, I'm very open to hearing it. This is simply an idea that has merit as long as there are people who identify with the problem. I don't believe I stated at any point that we are being stopped from writing, but certain tendencies of the large community can stifle the efforts of others; so is it OK as long as it's just the writers? 

I am fully in support of an RP city - that said we've done it before without any special coddling. If you can RP you can surely prove your worth to the community and form friendships to keep you alive. LG and Keats both did it and LG has the charisma of a moist mold ridden sponge at times. 

Count me in to help, as long as we remove the container crew like requirements. 

There are no "requirements" from our side. I am wondering if I didn't make that clear enough. People could of course come and go as they please, and certainly can build a gun so that we can defend ourselves. The whole neutrality idea was an attempt to give all the other crews assurance that we're not out to build and conquer everyone. That's not a set in stone thing- that's an offer. Certainly doesn't have to be that way, especially if institutional paranoia is going to render it pointless.

To your other point, LG and Keats could do it because they were past of one of the camelot eras for the RP community because the community was much bigger and thriving. That is not the environment we have now, and I still contend that we can't rebuild it without some kind of structure. All I'm asking for is a little cooperation for a little while; which is not the same thing as special treatment. 

I don't see what stops you from writing. I don't think you need a protected space to do so. 

Rebuild the RP community by using the RP Forum, The Streets. You do not need a specific crew or city to do so. Raise the bar, get in there... Do your thing. 

Since posting this, I have gone back and read my post several times, trying to figure out where I said anything about getting any kind of protected or safe space for writers. Ffs, this is supposed to be the Mafia, right? No safe spaces. That's very clear and understood, as well as obvious.

ELI5: Long-time CLs who just keep getting auth over and over get a total pass for making a crew out of all their buddies and work together to train guns and railroad anyone they want; but when the writers ask for a chance at the same thing, suddenly it's a stupid and unneeded proposition? 

Maybe the point is

*looks around*

Who's to stop you?

At the moment, you're right. Who's to stop us (other than being too young for now, lol). My hope was, as I mentioned in the beginning of this whole thing, was for it to be a declaration of intent. There's no asking for permission happening here; we have a goal, we're just approaching it from a different angle in hopes of gaining some good faith with whoever is alive to speak to about Auth when we get there.

I get that we have to go through the same process as everyone else to reach our goal; I'm just starting early by meeting people know what the goal is instead of working for auth and making people wonder what we're up to. 

Before I give my two cents, I will say I read the initial post thoroughly, and as someone who has traveled these shores for over a decade as a role-player, I cannot understand why there is a need for a special place for writers.  The entire game is role-playing as a mobster, whether a person writes stories, delivers speeches, gambles, starts drama or just builds a gun. 

Yeah it sucks dying midst a character storyline, but that is part of the game.  Pick up and restart, reboot, or God forbid carry on a repeated storyline pretending no death occurred, over and over for years.  Restarting can be refreshing as well, gives a writer the chance to go down a different path, choose a different role, open a new business. 

Simply put, death is part of the game, and even the homepage indicates we die.  I do not and have never felt the need to have a safe place to write because I enjoy all the aspects of the Mafia lifestyle, otherwise I would not have bothered writing here ever.  There have been several leaders who led role-play crews and cities successfully for long periods of time.  

Lastly, just to mention and perhaps I have misread things, too, as that seems to be a rebuttal statement, but asking for a protected or safe place was there, not just once. 

The mission is rebuilding the writing community on MR by establishing a place for writers to create, interact, and encourage others interested in in-character interaction to join in.

Where is the place for writers?

Where is our community base in a scattered landscape of different crews and loyalty expectations? Why do the procedural crews get a place but the creatives can barely stay alive to create one of our own?

We propose to establish a crew for those who want to chiefly write while they earn their money.

We envision an RP crew that is, effectively and politically, Switzerland.

All we ask is that you give us a space and a chance.

-We are asking for auth in one city to begin: independent of any family affiliations or factions.

We're putting away our past conflicts with anyone in an honest attempt to establish our little writers corner of MR.

Maybe it's not everyone's thing; but the dedicated writers of the site deserve representation.

 Anyways, I am off to explore other things.  Take care.

I really like the idea, and nobody is asking for a 'safe haven' from what I can gather - purely the opportunity to try to build something without being shot at for no real reason other than boredom. 

The Streets and Business Districts need some momentum. Even the 'good' street stuff recently tends to be more comical rather than stricter Mafia based roleplaying. If we can have a city where everyone in power works towards making The Streets a better place, it can only be good for the game. 

Marv - re: the 'if you die, continue the story, it shouldn't stop you' item. Well, kinda. Firstly, if we shoot the leaders who are trying to build this, then we lose the whole value we can get from having leaders really pushing their city/members to contribute. Secondly, even hardcore RPers will be dissuaded over time if they don't get to build their character. We're all here for the dopamine. 

Not bad, acutally, thanks for asking!

While I've been having to navigate some IRL junk, my good friend Shane Stetson has gotten a good foundtaion under him and we have a great place to start! And, assuming I can get my ducks in a (relative) row, we're just going to keep plugging away and getting our folks active!