Alright, so I have noticed a few things on here about how different families work.  We all start out as lowly street thieves and work our ways up to a Wise Guy.  This is given with regards to an allotted time.  However, in order to obtain the position of "Made Man/Woman" we all must be picked by our boss.  Now, there's one flaw that I have seen during my time here.  Each family has demanded absolute loyalty to everyone from a wise guy down to a thief and a thug.  When in reality, the Made Men are given the oaths to take.  Additionally, you have a limit on how many people are accepted into your organizations...I believe the number is 50 at this point?  That is a solid size, by all means.  However, wouldn't that "limit" be better granted strictly to Made Members?  From that level and up, those are actual MEMBERS of the Mafia.  Everyone below that really hasn't taken an allegience.  They are simply "with someone" or a "friend of his/her" they are not a "friend of ours."

As this forum is for suggestions, it would be neat if you would allow the "limited space" be allotted to made members.  In fact, Cosa Nostra has a limit on how many spots they have.  Once all spots in a family are filled up, they cannot "open" the books. 

During the 1960s-1970s, there was a period where little to no members were made unless out of a great exception.  All families forbade any new members from joining, because the sizes of each family were getting too big.  They wanted to prevent one family from over powering the other.  As the sizes eventually leveled out, the books were opened and allowed new membership.  This would be unique here, because it seems to be a number of active people but also a lot of others getting killed off.  Mind you, I know there is a limited time to be part of a crew, but as long as you are "with" someone that should be enough.  However, killing them would not need permission from a boss, like a made member would need.

Each new candidate would be introduced to the heads of the families and approved for membership.  From there, you can open your books and allow new blood into your organization.  That would be the TRUE membership.  If you notice, the Five Families of New York (Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno, Colombo and Lucchese) all range from 200-250 members down to 80-100 members depending on each.  Genovese/Gambino are closer to the higher end and Colombo/Bonanno/Lucchese to the lower end.  However, each family has hundreds of associates that report to them.  The FBI cannot get a gasp on exact numbers, because these criminals are often free to travel between each family as they please.  You have your low level street thugs scraping by and other gangsters trying to get noticed by made members for induction.  However, once the books are opened and formal members are granted, these members are given the official membership.  I feel this would provide a higher meaning of becoming a formally made member.

Please feel free to send me a pm if you have any questions, I'd be glad to clarify this if it's confusing.  Thanks!

I think the member limit is in place more because of limited numbers of people playing and not wanting any one family to get too strong?

We do have a 'similar' concept working now though with the Sponsorship system of lower ranks so I'm not sure if this is needed? Nice idea in theory but I think it wouldn't be practical to have in game

Understood, Chuck.  Thank you for your quick response.

I dont know... this could work and actually i kind of like the idea nice one..

KingTito, let me know if you have any questions.  I'll be glad to answer them.