[MR] Future changes

[Cian Conor MacQuaid]

> May I suggest we look to our cousins in Drachenwald for ideas of how to
> handle expensive travel/kingdom events? The price of fuel has been
> horrendous in Europe for awhile now. Why re-invent the wheel when it may be
> right there in front of us?
> Gerita

It seems to me that there are 2 basic issues in play.
1. The Kingdom is too large to traverse conveniently resulting in "too 
many" events that are "too far".
2. That this geographic distribution results in an "unfair" distribution 
of events, officers, and Power, and cultural differences between the 
regions.

1. There are several aspects to this seemingly simple statement. It is 
primarily subject to rational discussion and factual analysis, even 
though the underlying assumptions about too many and too far need to be 
examined carefully.

If you have many groups, spread out by hours of travel, it is possible 
to have too many good events to be able to attend them all. This is what 
I consider an embarrassment of riches.

If the above is true, then The Crown and Heirs are limited to having to 
choose which events to attend. Some of that will be based on travel 
costs, some on tradition, and some on obligations, real or perceived.

Some people will travel from one end of the Knowne World to the other, 
some between Kingdoms, some within their Kingdom, and some within sight 
radius of their house. Their reasons will be that of the Crown and Heirs.

These challenges can be addressed by first deciding how we want the 
Society to react to these pressures. We can have more local events. We 
can offer more crash space. We can organize ride-share programs. We can 
organize longer events to make it worth the trip. We can organize 
shorter events in  conjunction with interesting mundane activities. This 
is the easy part.

2. It is essentially the same logistical problem as 1, but now we have 
added the concept of fairness. The implication is that _because_ of the 
geographical challenges one region/group/whatever is being unfairly 
excluded from the circles of power. The challenge here is that it is 
rarely openly stated, even if widely believed. I generally believe in 
lancing boils so I would suggest that openly discussing the emotional 
reasons for considering changes.

It is important to use a lancet, however, and not a blowtorch or a 
grinder. The idea is to release the pressure, not build it up. This is 
why I think Andras' statement bear repeating again:

I wish good fortune and happy results to both those who wish to form a
principality of their own, and to those who do not.  You will be my 
friends and welcome at my hearth regardless.
andras salamandra

I have also been through this over a long enough period of time to have 
  seen power-deprived regions become centers of power, and go back to 
the periphery.

Sir Cian
(who got a zero dollar travel fund as Prince of Drachenwald)