> Last night, I had this really complicated idea for a new feature (though I doubt it has any merit whatsoever). Read it and see what you think.
>
> The basic idea is, it would run on timeframes much like the Site Market Game, only would probably take longer. It's called "National Domination."
>
> A player would sit down at the computer (we'll call you "Fred_1"), and register. The first thing they see is a screen with hundreds of American cities on it, and they are asked to pick where they want to put their home base.
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> Then, the fun begins.
>
> Say that Fred_1 is from Pittsburgh. So he puts his base there (any number of bases can be in a city). Now, the object of the game is to get the entire country (e.g. all the players) under your thumb. In your alliance, as I call it. So you click "Random Player", and it turns up Joe_Schmoe in Portland, OR. So you click on Joe_Schmoe, and see that he's just starting out like you are. You send a message to Joe_Schmoe via the National Message System (he'll see it next time he logs on) saying "Join my alliance or I will bomb you."
>
> Joe_Schmoe doesn't like Pittsburgh, so he replies "No". When you get his No, you will see a big button reading "BOMB!" Click it, and a high-powered bomb will hit Joe-Schmoe's headquarters.
> Joe_Schmoe, learning of this, will retaliate, and the first person to be hit 5 times (since he was hit first, Joe_Schmoe) is forced to surrender. Joe_Schmoe becomes part of your alliance.
>
> Now, he's not totally dead. That would be cruel. In fact, he can still do anything he wants. HOWEVER - You can order him to bomb somebody and he MUST do it, and he cannot attack you or any members of your alliance. You can also not attack him.
>

It sounds like an interesting idea; I always prefer a game that requires certain skill or tactics over the simple random roll of dice in order to win. But this part here (the preceding paragraphs) needs a little tweaking. According to your description, Joe_Schmoe has no options whatsoever. He can either agree to become a minion in Fred_1's alliance, or be bombed into submission. He should also have the option of making a first strike. That seems to be a bit more fair. Otherwise, upon receiving the initial email, he'd know that he has no recourse and will be assimilated into Fred_1's alliance. The only way this wouldn't happen would be if Fred_1 suspected Joe_Schmoe of already being in an alliance, a stronger alliance, and chickened out of his bomb threat.
Anywho, I like the premise, but perhaps a few more options as far as how a person can react to a threat or other details could be worked out.

But maybe that's for the sequel.

Tran"splanting alliances all over the nat"io"n"