Nicola, wearing a short red silk dress, leans casually against the windows of her favourite cafe, one which usually buzzes with activity from Mafiosi of every shape and size. Today, it is curiously empty. Nicola can see that most of it’s usual punters can be seen listening to the speeches on the latest twist to the tale of Las Vegas, and paying their respects at the funerals of the fallen. Since learning of the latest inter-city war in Vegas, she has pondered careful the project, started on November 14^th 2011, and still not having reached a conclusion. After having spent most of the morning attempting to research all the history of the project, the twists and turns, the families fallen and the leaders removed, she feels confident in bringing her findings to the streets, and asking the community of mobsters, both those inside Vegas and those who have only been able to observe from outside; Do you believe that the project has been as success?

Clearing her throat and straightening her glasses, she lights a cigarette, inhales deeply, and begins to speak.

Friends, I have decided to come to the streets today in reaction to Romeo’s death. Not because I knew him, although I do wish him, as I do any fallen mobster, a peaceful rest, and certainly not because I wish to question the reasoning behind his death. No, what I come to ask, is whether you regard the Las Vegas Project a success or a failure. Having spent the morning trawling through records of past speeches, I have found that since the November 14^th Godfather Council announcement regarding the future of Las Vegas, ten (if my count is as accurate as I believe) leaders have perished in the city. It is important to say that not all of these deaths have been caused by inter-city wars, a few were gun malfunctions. Let us say, for the sake of argument, that six or seven leaders have been removed since the start of the project. I have, obviously, not counted the number of mobsters who have died with a family, nor those who have been displaced by deaths in the city, but from the number of leaders, one can hazard a guess that this must be a fairly high number. Now, when the announcement was made, I’m sure none of us could doubt that, during the course of this experiment, blood would be shed. I personally didn’t actually realise just how much blood had been shed until I looked at the number of leaders lost earlier. Something else I noticed was that leaders sometimes seem to be taken down extremely quickly after their arrival, without seeming to be given much time to settle in. I mean no disrespect from anyone who is either in Las Vegas now, or who’s bloodlines have been part of the action there in pointing this out, I just found it somewhat noteworthy. How the leaders in Las Vegas run Las Vegas is not something I came here to question.

What I came here to question was how people perceive the events that have taken place in Las Vegas since the announcement of the start of the opening of the city. Do you regard the experiment as a success or a failure? Would you like to see another city opened up in a similar fashion, or is this something that you feel is a success, but in isolation? Have you or your bloodline joined or set something up in Las Vegas? How did you find the experience, would you repeat it? Has the right to lead over there become exclusive to a certain group, or do you feel that it is still the open city it was started out to be?

One thing I have observed is that on a number of occasions, people have called for the experiment to be ended, to allow the leaders of those days to settle down with no new auths from those wishing to just try their luck. They argued that the city had become stable and deserved to be treated as the rest of the cities from that point in, rather than as a land of opportunity for the enterprising. These speeches were often followed by further bloodshed in the city, and this is a question I wish to direct to those in Las Vegas; is it time to end the experiment and close off the city to new leaders who have not been authed by the city itself, or should the city continue the way it is, as intended, until such time a Godfather takes charge?

Once again, before I ask for your responses, I wish to reiterate that I mean no disrespect to anyone in coming here and asking these questions, and I hope that those who are and who have been involved in Las Vegas will, as well as those, like myself, who have observed from afar, will enter into the spirit of a friendly debate.

Throwing her cigarette on the floor, Nicola presses it into the ground with the toe of one of her stiletto heels, extinguishing it. She then takes a step back, leaning against the window once more, and waits to see how her fellow Mafiosi respond.

When you allow for so many individuals the ability to establish and organization in a place which has no structured organization as of yet, you invite the possibility of those with ambitions higher than their dedication and commitment require for such a position. Although I was not around for the beginning of the Vegas experiment, I joined this life of ours in mid-February, and found Vegas to be a very lucrative, growing city.

This experiment had invited those who may not have been qualified to lead, positions of leading. Those who were qualified to lead did what their job is -- To protect the city and its members. When starting an organization from scratch, a lot of maintenance will be required to make sure that all of the gears are flowing harmoniously. One single gear can halt and delay the production. This gear must be repaired immediately to allow for the growth.

     I agree with Phil. If you put different people from different backgrounds in one place with one goal then there will obviously be blood shed. Some of the people who were established in Las Vegas were not capable of leading, and some were. Those people who were incapable of leading, and starting problems for the city were desposed of. I am not saying that anyone deserves to die, or that no one should, but the godfather's set these people up in Las Vegas to run the city as one whole family, not different sects. Some of the people that were established wanted to control the entire city and to reach the rank of Godfather themselves, but they did or planned to do something that would have been bad for Las Vegas, or bitter rivalries were created from the families over power. I think that the Las Vegas project was interms a success mostly because it showed those who were reckless and incapable of leading a city from those who were.

The city of LV is fun. I respect everybody in LV But, i think it should still be an open city. It gave people chances to try something new and be a Cl for the first time.Some didnt last very long But at least they can say they was  a Cl. It should stay the same way now 4 crews. an a Godfather is on his way. Lv is very stable now. LV is now like any other city 4 crews with godfather. I think every city with no Gofather should be open. rules says there can be as many crew intill  a Gf comes.When that Gf comes  some crew will have to step down.The Gf would have to pick which crews he want out intilll there is 4 (including his crew).Lv project has  passed 4 crews and a Gf is on its way. Congrats to Lv for there plans working out!

I have to say or actually my inner voice has said that Las Vegas as an experiment is over. There are established leaders in the city, I know from my time there, they work together for the betterment of the city and not the self. There isn't a leader in the city that is out for themselves. There is collusion in the city, as has been witnessed from the actions that where taken against Romeo it was one taken by the entire city. That the leaders of Las Vegas are working together to create a prosperous and vital city.

     Grim I agree with what you are saying but if the Godfather were to choose those crews too keep in the city and then send a crew to another city, wouldn't that be seen a disrespectful too the crew leader that was sent, and may have a negative response.

Grim,
The recent GF Council announcment from a week or so ago allows for 5 crews in a city. 1 Godfather crew with 4 regular crews.

Grim, you're contradicting yourself. You say it should still be an open city, and then right after say it should stay the same way now? It is very stable now, and Dante, I agree with you too in a way, in saying that the experiment is over, but the previous occasions where people have taken to the streets to say that the experiment is over has been followed quickly by more bloodshed. I have to say, I honestly don't think the Vegas experiment is over until it's over and there is a Godfather in the city - and even then, I wouldn't be entirely sure that we've heard the last of things. Stability is relative. At the moment, the city has no interference from the outside world; they have faced no attacks from another city, nothing. Assumably, when the experiment is over, they are as open to challenge as any other city, could this, potentially, be the point at which we see major internal conflict? Grim, I can kind of see the logic to what you say. It's nice to give people who may not normally get the opportunity to be a crew leader the opportunity to do so, BUT, would it really be a wise idea to transfer this principle to other cities? People in Las Vegas might disagree with me, but since there doesn't seem to have been a major external threat to one family or to all of the families, we don't know how they will cope and work together when they may be asked to defend against a personal friend attacking a different family of the city, for example. We saw in the case of the Chicago internal war a number of weeks ago, one of the two Detroit families at the time (If I am correct, I don't believe LargeHamster was involved in this? Just Tehchnical?) became involved, but not the other. Do we see a city split in half there? If one of the other families has fears about the Godfather, do we see a similar situation to the one that occured in Philadelphia with the removal of Sinfest? Is there a whole can of worms still not open for Vegas? Now that the city appears to be stable, are there more problems around the corner? With this in mind, Grim, can we really say at this point the principle should be applied to other cities?

I will be perfectly honest in saying that when the experiment was announced, my thought was "how is anybody ever going to pull this off", but it has been clear since that with leaders with the mindset of making this work, it would reach a point of stability. Those still standing in Vegas have undoubtedly done a terrific job in ensuring that they are still standing. I will admit, in the future, I'd love to see something similar happen again (maybe with some different variables, to see how that affects the outcome, maybe to speed the process up; we are four and a half months on from the start of the project now and there is no definite result still), but I do think to apply the prinicple to other cities with entirely different variables, cities who would be vulnerable to attack as well as having to deal with semi-frequent internal struggles, would be quite a big strain on maintaining our way of life.

With that said, the internal struggles of every city are private to that city; mobsters on the streets do not strictly NEED to know every single happening in the world, but with Vegas, we really have been able to observe the city right from the very start, and have been treated to leaders who have tried to keep the main happenings in the city quite transparent to the rest of us. I'm not here to judge them on their decisions; I have huge respect for the people who have taken on this challenge and made the most of the opprtunity, and understand that whatever needs to happen to, as Phil said, keep the gears flowing in a city, needs to happen, but, as with any good experiment, I believe there is no harm in respectfully looking at the process and outcomes and sharing our thoughts and views on them, perhaps with a mind for the future.

Lv does look stable right now. The gf is on its way.4 crews. The boat looks like its moving nicely.Lv project may or may not be done we havent seen the truth yet.Is every city with 1 or 2 crews under a project to get going?. There are still city not filled with crews yet.I know Lv is not the only one with a "project" or plan goiong on right now. let's look at philly or chicago . I wonder what kinda blood will be shed on there rebulidng process..We should look at the city with No gf to see what kinda work they will be doing.They are all working to move up and thats good. lets see how it works out.

Kurts listened to everyone attentively before responding.

I think it is quite an act of bravery for anyone to enter that experiment. Knowing the rules and parameters, risking their life for the sake of participating. It takes some balls! Qualifications or none, the courage of the participate warrants applause.

As an observer I'd have to say that as it stands, Vegas becoming more and more like any other established city. To the considerable credit of the families now controlling the city they have taken care of their own issues, not asked for external help and acted with dignified respect toward the external community as a whole. As they have bought themselves time to cement their positions within their own city, they have established a very effective working relationship. To do this in the melting pot of last-man-standing politics is really credit to all involved. It could be argued that the city of Las Vegas will be better bonded than many others, having worked so hard for civility and order in an environment that was, by definition, chaotic. Time will tell.

Soon enough one of them will take the position of Godfather and the city will be granted it's status as an established city along with the others. In my opinion this will stand out as a great success and the end of a highly entertaining period. Think what you like about the experiment, it has been bloody good entertainment for all involved and watching. Those that died in it can't complain too much as they knew what it involved. Survival of the fittest. All being willing participants no one can have any tears. Well done to all who took part, winners and losers, you all made life entertaining for everyone and I'm sure the whole community is grateful for that.

Once its over? I think another city should be opened up under the same rules. Willing participants, survival of the fittest. No pressure on anyone to join in. An open format for anyone who fancies it.

Once again, I tip my hat to every single person who has taken part in the experiment. You have given so many people so much entertainment.

Applauding the efforts of all involved, Kurtz takes a seat nearby.

Kalliope nervously steps up to speak.

I am new to this game and still learning the ins and outs of how it all works. But generally speaking, if there are too many chef's in the kitchen it's only natural that someone is going to get burnt. Although a RP game, it is still a game, and what I see before me is healthy competition. My opinion would be to perhaps open up another city to make room for those that wish to challenge, lets see if they can run a city, that doesnt already have leaders. Rest in peace to those who's attempt was foiled.

Kalliope quietly steps back.

Fozzie takes a deep breath as he attempts to touch on a number of things people have mentioned

Firstly, thank you Nicola for taking the time to bring this subject to our streets. As you'll know from the personal correspondence I sent to you, there is nothing disrespectful in your speech and I welcome the honest comments from our community on how they view Vegas and the Experiment it has been in for some time now.

I have found that since the November 14th Godfather Council announcement regarding the future of Las Vegas, ten (if my count is as accurate as I believe) leaders have perished in the city.

I don't have the figures at hand either, but i'm certain that there have been many many more leaders perish than 10; Off the top of my head right away you have Betsy_Poke, Spookz, Animal, Faceman, BudBellomo, -Tyga-, ChampagneSupernova, Hawk, Creep and Romeo himself of course. There are others who's names are on the tip of my tongue but can't quite find in the back of my mind.. though as I say there are many more than 10 itself, i'd even hazard there having been double that.

I'm sure none of us could doubt that, during the course of this experiment, blood would be shed

This was actually one of the main reasons the experiment was created. At the time our cities were experiencing constant attacks from people often referred to as "BG Killers", these people hid in the shadows and stalked the hire help of others and attacked without any real reasoning nor fear of being caught. It was expected with the Vegas contest being opened that people like this might instead see a reason to try and seize some power and step up as a leader in Vegas, instead of wasting their time killing the bodyguards of others. From the records i've checked I feel this did have a bit of an impact in lowering the amount of attacks that took place, though I know people are still plagued by these attacks today i'm certain its to a far lesser extent.

The other main reason of the contest was of course to allow people the opportunity to become a leader, mainly those who otherwise were overlooked for the position in the past and wished to see if they could handle it. Its fair to say many have shown why they were never given that chance, others have shown they would cope very well with it. In fact, lets not forget the current city head in Chicago had an ancestor making his first step into leadership in Vegas I believe, although that ended badly for his ancestor, it clearly showed others that he would merit the chance should they opt to give him one, which Godfather Stamina afforded to his kin.

What I came here to question was how people perceive the events that have taken place in Las Vegas since the announcement of the start of the opening of the city. Do you regard the experiment as a success or a failure? Would you like to see another city opened up in a similar fashion, or is this something that you feel is a success, but in isolation? Have you or your bloodline joined or set something up in Las Vegas? How did you find the experience, would you repeat it? Has the right to lead over there become exclusive to a certain group, or do you feel that it is still the open city it was started out to be?

Some very pertinent questions there. I shall leave others to debate these ones as I clearly have been too involved in Vegas to give an opinion that isn't full of biased. My Grandmother was part of the GFC when the Experiment was created and my father was a hand and then leader in the city, and obviously now I too am a hand. - I merely state these facts for the sake of those unaware of my history with Vegas.

One thing I have observed is that on a number of occasions, people have called for the experiment to be ended, to allow the leaders of those days to settle down with no new auths from those wishing to just try their luck. They argued that the city had become stable and deserved to be treated as the rest of the cities from that point in, rather than as a land of opportunity for the enterprising. These speeches were often followed by further bloodshed in the city, and this is a question I wish to direct to those in Las Vegas; is it time to end the experiment and close off the city to new leaders who have not been authed by the city itself, or should the city continue the way it is, as intended, until such time a Godfather takes charge?

I don't think you'll find a single person in Vegas that wants the GFC to end the Experiment. Vegas has always maintained it wants the experiment to end by someone claiming the title of Godfather, as that was the prize offered to those taking part in the contest.

You mention how bloodshed followed comments regarding stability, I've said before in another discussion, bloodshed doesn't make a city unstable, provided the bloodshed is done for a reason and wasn't some random squabble between the leaders causing an unplanned war, then I would regard the bloodshed just like any from any city you see it happen in. Philly for instance had an inner city power move, that didn't make Philly an unstable city, simply that the leadership there wished to make changes to help further their city. The same can be said of Las Vegas, since Vegas was stabilized (I regard this period around the time Animal was told to move to St Louis as his reward for his part in stabilizing the city) the deaths of the CLs that have taken place has only been when the leaders have agreed together to remove certain CLs they didn't feel fit into our future plans. No acts of War have been done on a whim, and certainly none have been the sole actions of any others, they have always been as a group. This is what brings me to regard Vegas as a stable city still to this day.

At the moment, the city has no interference from the outside world; they have faced no attacks from another city, nothing.

This isn't strictly true. Vegas has had interference from the outside world on many occasions in fact. In fact as other cities went to war with each other and Vegas sat there neutral due to the constraints on it from the GFC, it was attacked by St Louis. Then again later as my father Animal began building the foundations of his home here in Vegas he came under attack from EveValon, the right hand of Chicago Godfather JesseJames. Luckily for my father Eve's aim wasn't skillful enough to sneak past his hired help and he survived and subsequently got to the bottom of the reasons for the attack and was able to prevent any further attacks. Then later in his life Animal was told he was to be moved out of Vegas to help bring stability to other cities, like he had helped do with Vegas. He was due to move to St Louis which was then empty, but instead died from a gun malfunction before finishing his move.

There have been other instances where attacks from others have came in the direction of Vegas, indeed its not always bullets that should be considered attacks, rumours are just as damaging to the people of Vegas as the bullets from guns can be. Recently some crazy individual has started a rumour that Vegas is going to attack another city.. The rumour itself is laughable for many reasons that I won't bother to list, but the fact remains starting such a rumour could easily place Vegas in a precarious position once someone does reach Godfather, as the seed has been sewn into peoples minds that Vegas MIGHT attack. - thats all it often takes for a war to begin these days, people can become easily paranoid and will do all they can to protect their family and city.

we are four and a half months on from the start of the project now and there is no definite result still)

It was always going to take a long time for this experiment to end, with the goal being the title of Godfather and the fact someone must be on our streets for 120 days before they can be awarded this title, it meant that it was going to be a very long process. I agree with you that should any further experiments be done, it might be beneficial to have some other stipulations in place instead of the rank of Godfather to ensure its a less drawn out affair. Though that said, I have enjoyed the experience and I think the fact its so drawn out has also helped to allow people within Vegas to grow before they are subject to potential attacks from the outside world, so in that sense the lengthy process has obviously helped. Guess there are always pro's and con's to these things.

Well, thats all I have to say on the matter for now (thank fuck I hear people saying), once again thank you Nicola for the speech and I hope others take the time to put some thought into the entirety of the experiment and offer their honest thoughts on it.

Skorpeon stood in the back of the crowd and listened in detail about the things being talked about. There were some very valid points being made and it was nice to watch what would happen with a city where everything could be tested. A city with a bind on it, isn't something easy to overcome. The only way to learn, is to watch it happen or live through it happening. To witness is the best teaching method there is. There is so many answers that could be swayed one way or another. Skorpeon stepped forward and began to speak.

"Knowing the city was going to be for experiment purposes we really can't expect anything less. It is like using lab rats in a way of thinking.. Putting them all in one cage and watching them for months on in. Studying them and seeing what worked well then what hasn't. I don't think anything that has come from Las Vegas can be considered a failure, but more of as a learning experience. We have watched many try to set up and many fall during the allotted time period. When you restrict people in a city like so, then you have many reasons that they could fight. The most important is the race to be GodFather of the city. You will have people taking sides and trying to get their friends in the city because it has certain previsions on it. When you mix all these personalities into one place then of course there is going to be fighting. It has been nice to watch people come in and out of the city trying to do the best with it, with what they limited on them. "

Skorpeon ran his foot on the ground and watched it. He looked back up and removed his hat, placing it on his chest.

"The men that have overcome everything thrown their way deserve credit for doing so in the city. Sometimes the most drastic decisions that had to be made, were for the best of their family. Most respectable reason for holding your position in your city. It has to be fun for all of those involved in Las Vegas, as they were the ones who kept returning for the opportunity. I will not be judging the decisions they all have made, as they have not been easy for any of them.

But anything were something ins't totally destroyed can't be considered a failure in my opinion. It has had its up and downs just like every city has from time to time but it has been fun to watch. I hope it has been enjoyable for those that are a apart of it. It will continue to be interesting with what will progress from here on out. I am not saying anyone has been wrong or anyone has been right. It is nice to have a test city to watch and try some things with, as it helps us better see how to plan for the future ahead. "

The GFC have already told us that the experiment is alive until there is a GF, stable or not. But I am among those that wish LV was upgraded as a city of their own.

As for the experiment itslef, it was a HUGE success! It achieved everything it was supposed to. A chance for those who thought that could lead a crew or even a city to test their mettle.

Or course you can say it was a big failure for those who perished there and I wouldn't argue, but this is my overall opinion.

I actually wish they open another city like LV right now. I'm having lots of fun watching everything that has been happening in LV since November.

btw, after only 4 and a half months of an experiment where the minimum time to reach GF is 4 months, I don't think the experiment as such is dragging out for too long.

Having been on the outside watching Vegas go from the wild west show to what it is now as showen that Vegas has moved in the right direction, As to should the experiment be ended, If you ask one of my relatives at the time they would have said yes, Though at the time my relative thought that Vegas was a meat grinder and a hot bed that could have easy spiraled outta control.

Though gladly my relative was proven wrong and Vegas has stabilised through the hard work of dedicated leaders that have worked hard to turn Vegas into a thriving city.

If the experiment was ended Vegas would still thrive as a city so i honestly believe the experiment was a success

I'd have to agree with Alistair. My family line hasn't been back here in years, but upon returning I found the Vegas project to have added an exciting and unpredictable new element of excitement making life here much more interesting and potentially worthwhile than the time that my father, grandfather etc. had experienced. I'd also agree with the notion that since achieving Godfather status takes 4 months, the projects seems to be running on time. I don't think the goal was ever to have tons of happy crews in one city, like any mafia-town there would be conflicts but that doesn't mean it is a failure in my opinion.

Thank you all for taking the time to read what I said and respond; it's great to have this kind of discussion!

Nicola smiles around

I have to agree that it entering the Las Vegas Experiment, as a leader or a player, would have to take a LOT of balls. Joining the city in any form would not have been for me whe the experiment was first played out. I don't think the experiment, or anything similar, should be carried out particularly soon; it's been great to see, but we have a lot of cities building at the moment and I can't help but wonder if something like the experiment is better started when there is already an air of rebuilding; we'd lost several godfathers and cities in the weeks before the announcement, Chade, Jade, Roman, Premier for instance, which left a lot of people ready to take on a new challenge. It's true that the project isn't overrunning because it does take time to reach Godfather, but the city has looked close once or twice and not quite made it; is it possible that could happen again, for instance? I honestly hope it does happen this time because Vegas seems like it's in great shape under its current leadership, but when the experiment has thrown up so much action, who knows?