Sins of a Solar Spymaster #23: Senates in Space

[Sardu]

In EVE Online (http://www.tentonhammer.com/eve), one of the most poorly understood aspects of nullsec warfare is the underlying political structures which create and define an alliance. Structured well, an alliance can survive incredible stress and bounce back from defeat; structured poorly, an alliance will implode in drama at the first sign of adversity. For the latest edition of Sins of a Solar Spymaster (http://www.tentonhammer.com/features/mittani), the Mittani takes a look at the four broad categories alliance structures tend to fall into:

I don't know what it says about humanity or even if a broader comment can be made from what occurs in a spaceship game, but democratic alliances in EVE tend to be flaming disasters. They are rare, because most CEOs are brought up with absolute dictatorial power and the idea of voting is an alien idea to them.

To read Sins of a Solar Spymaster #23: Senates in Space, click here (http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/72504)!

[DarthBlazit]

Another great read Mittani. Your articles should be required reading for every EVE noob.

[Korzald]

And it makes you wonder how on earth the largest and longest lasting government was senate based IRL. ( Rome ).

I see the problem being game wise with these is they fail to use what rome did which is even though they had a senate they also always had two semi dictators (the consuls) in place which could then raise the troops and handle any external pressures as needed.

I think the dictatorships work best so long as the dictator doesn't go afg for any length of time, when that happens all things go to crap.

Unlike in RL this is a game and when a corp or even an alliance fails to take that into account then the lack of organization at the top spells disaster should external pressure develop.

Many of the success of all the alliances have usually been lead by one dynamic leader that pushes the alliance to complete a take over (of space). Then after that is done the leader might fade into the back ground or just take a break after burning out with the conquest. But by then the alliance has its space and is fine till the next alliance comes along to apply pressure and try and take the space. Then either a leader emerges to wage the defense or the alliance fails and the space trades hands.

Any alliance/corp in the game needs to really look at it's organization and make it solid (regardless of the government type). Without a solid organizational structure your primed for failure. Even with a dictatorship. What happens when the dictator doesn't show up? With no organization the alliance/corp fails. Trace back all the weak/failed alliances/corps and it will almost always come down to the above.

As always great article have been reading them for some time. Really enjoy your writing style. Keep up the good work.

[Mohenna]

I think there is at least one alliance with a roman style of government, democratic in peace and with a dictator in times of war, in Eve.

This article is promising but it lacks the rest... It seems to be an introduction only...