Architect Archive
Thread: Whats Everyone's Opinion on Making Player Cities Private
Ok as player cities come closer and closer a lot people are becoming very concerned about the new griefing matters that will wind up coming with the patch. One of the biggest concerns I see is how right now anyone can place a house in a player city, meaning a large group of people can come to an already built city, put up their houses, elect their own Mayor and tax, grief, /warn, or /ban all the orginally citizens out. I mean that's something that concerns a lot of people because it would mean losing alltheir hard work that they put into the city. A lot of people have talked about how the cities should be private in the fact that they Mayor has to give permission to people to build structures in a city. So its like giving a player city a city boundary that grows when the city does and herewould beanadmin list for people that can place structures in the city.
Now the reason why I'm bringing this up here is because most of us will actuallybe the ones helping building our own cities and wouldn't like to fall victim to some kind of griefing act such as those mentioned. In addition, the architect communityhas Arch Angel who has a direct connection to the Devs through correspondent forum where this could be brought up and discussed because there the Devs can actually see what major concerns the community haveand couldactually take a look into this matter and maybe actually implentsomething like thisor create someway to ensure these kind of griefing tactics can't happen.
So how do you feel on the matter?
Maller Malice
Master Architect
My thoughts...
1) All pre-existing structures should be 'gandfathered' on their lots and have the option to remain where they are and not be considered part of the city.
2) The cities should have the ability to make certain areas private (this may be a little off-topic, but it is related). For example, as the Urban Planner I should be able to designate areas where only citizens of my city are allowed for things like semi-public crafting stations, city-only bazzar terminals, etc.;however, the creation of these areas would (per the above comment) need to be limitted to areas that do not include any non-citizen buildings.
3) The Empire should lift the ban on building on Yavin, Endor, and Lok when the Urban Planners decend on the galaxy. Sorry, just couldn't resist 
I think it is a very valid concern. Without a way to control citizenship, this exact scenario can and will happen. The trick is how to avoid it without allowing the founding mayor becoming a despot.
The best possibilty I see is to make the city a no-build zone, with zoning exemptions provided by the mayor or a citizen vote as was suggested. The tricky part will be when the city expands, though it would require a lot of forethought on the part of a group of griefers to take advantage of it.
I would kinda would like a private town...but what fun is KNOWING that you rule all you survey?
Free for all cities brings an element of adventure. Besides, as long as youkeep a close watch on the new people moving in, they will not be able to stage a takeover of the Political leadership.
Also teh Devs already said no.
Well when the masses cry out nerf it usually happens, so it could happen with player cities. Also since the Devs still haven't finished figuring out everything with player cities and if the community feels that player cities should be private then our corespondents can make it known on their forums and the Devs could possibly start dicussing the matter and could actually change their minds about it. Hey we can dream can't we, oh and I also feel that current houses should be grandfathered also.
Maller Malice
Master Architect
Making cities private would be the worse kind of griefing of all. I am not saying that what is going to be in place will not have problems, but private citites will be all you have for a select few people if you do that.
I would never agree.
Im with Dayln on this one.
While there MAY be the oportunity to greif by taking over a city, I dont think it will be a serious issue.
If a guild moves in and takes over the mayoral position, WHY would they make life hell for you?
If everyone else leaves, their city will reduce in level, so that it isnt worth being there.
Also, any taxes they levy will apply to thier own members... and since there are more of them they are actualy hurt more.
Im not saying it can't happen, but I would think the downside of greifing with it will outweigh the childish enthusiasm some might have to do it.
Private cities are absolutely MORE likely to be used anti-socialy. You couold use the city mechanism to annex important resources, or areas that everyone moves through. There would be no downside.. so it would be more commonplace. Hate the idea... cities arent meant to be places to avoid other people.
Hope so 
NOONE should ever be able to force someone to move. I mean I have my house about 800m from Coronet and there are TONS of houses near me. If they become a city, I don't think it would be right if they were able to kick me out because I didn't join. Even if I joined, they can only make me not part of the city if something happened but, I would still not be forced to move.
What they should do is. Have someone plant the foundation of the city. Something like a city marker. Now, there can be no housing say within 800m of the marker, at that point, the marker creates a zone around it that is now a no build zone. Then as people are added to the stone, they become part of the city and can now build there houses there.
SOmething to that effect. In other words, start clean and build the cities from scratch, not from pre-existing homes. Let people move into the city instead of the city move into them.
Since the people move intothe city, if they don't like the city or the way things are going, they can then pack up there house, remove their name from the marker and go somewhere else.
Since there is no way that the devs would allow you to build a player city within 800m of a static city, you're worrying about nothing. If you start looking more at the player city rules, 3k-5k away from other static cities, you will find that there is very little existing housing that you would have to worry about conflicting with.
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