That's more of a cap issue, isn't it? The 2x2 tree, as long as it
is unfilled, will never prevent someone from joining as long as
reorganizations are possible. Here's the REAL issue...if I reorg the tree
so that Golden is in it, (this is the current plan) some people will be
pissed off, because some people are going to get dropped a tier and others
won't have a patron they know.

>
> Now where do we put them? Right now he is under Sister C because I did not
> want to make a decision that appeared to benefit me. (having him pledge to
> me)

I don't think you should worry about things like that. If people on
the list inexplicably have a problem with you making decisions that "appear
to benefit yourself" (and believe you are doing so explicitly for that
reason) then I'll set them straight. I personally would get kind of upset
if people started giving you the business for trivialities like that.

> Now he has to be fit into the tree somewhere. He is level 38.
>
> Does he now become a tier two and natalie stays a tier five?

We can fit him under Drake, that's about it. Otherwise, yes, he is
a tier 3 (I think you meant 3, you and C are tier 2). This is a limitiation
placed upon us by his level.

>
> Dhali might be leaving us for EQ, and is rarely on any more. Where does he
> go? Reorganize the tree again? What if he decides to come back? Reorganize
> again?

Actually if he's not coming back, I want to know, because as I said
a long time ago, you're not allowed to be in this monarchy and spend most of
your time playing another game. What will happen then is that he will get
removed from the tree, opening a new tier 3 slot.

>
> Chinook and Dhali both level slow, but were both one of the first ones
here
> and the most dedicated, and yet, they keep getting pushed further and
> further down in the ranks. In the next tree reorg, do they get shunted
again
> because they a wife and kids?

"Most dedicated" can mean many things. Both Dave and John are a
great list presence, but as far as playing hours, they are in last place,
especially Dave, who is out having his fun (and, as always, I am a great
proponent of "fun") playing EQ. I'm pretty sure Natalie-Portman's character
is probably older than Chinook, since Nat plays about 8 hours a day. The
picture I'm trying to paint here is this:

-people do not deserve to get shunted down because they have a wife and kids
-by the same token, people who have made a tremendous effort to level and
should not be denied their place

Unfortunately, though both sides of this philophical coin richly
deserve high ranking monarchy spots... what is the ONLY limitation placed on
tree organization? You guessed it. Level.

> I am still convinced that 2x2 is the way to go. But more and more I am
> seeing that unless you start with 30 people, arrange them from day one to
be
> 2x2 and never change, and never add anyone, that it might not be possible
to
> keep it that way.

Actually, once we hit the cap and get our 30 people organized, there
should theoretically never be another reorganization.
>
> Sorry to bring up a sore subject, but what WILL we do with Golden?

I didn't know he was LV 38 when I did my tentative reorg post. In
any case, to fit him in we're going to have to make some sacrifices.

I'm thinking that we might have to do a major restructuring of high
LV vassals, something to this effect. Here is the tree done by flat level:

[Ed: I removed this rather than try to format it for HTML -- similar tables were posted in the News area for September]

The best thing that this tree has going for it is that it is
DONE. It never has to be brought up again, there will be no new members of
the Source because the cap has been hit, we can get on with our lives.

On the downside, I see personality conflicts, playtime issues, a
couple people who might not even be part of the monarchy anymore, etc
etc...but you have to realize we have almost NO other options here if Golden
Pestilence is going to be in the tree. His two vassals are going to have to
bite the "I don't know my patron" bullet and get on with their lives.

Is anyone willing to accept this sort of tree? I would, but I
sincerely doubt that this (or any version close to it) will get even close
to a majority vote.

So time to knuckle up.

Here is THE question:

Is it time to nuke the tree and go freestyle? Same cap, but
vassals go anywhere they want?

And if we do nuke it, what changes should be made?

TSS

>Just something to ponder
>
> Jamie C. Wakefield
> Druss