This is the second part to my squad system suggestion. While these ideas are disjoint, they were conceived together. A Squad Council requires someway to hold squad leaders accountable for activity and attendance to keep the power in the hands of the people who deserve it (hence Squad System Part 1)
Currently the War Council is made up of both armies high commands, a handful of war directors, an collection of other veterans and neutral parties. The War Council is responsible for leading the community, maintaining the integrity of the community, and optimizing the experience in the community.
I would like to see the formation of a Squad Council made up of the leaders of the "active" squads. This council will be responsible for the community experience specifically all issues pertaining to the battle night experience. The War Council would continue to motivate changes that impact the community in its entirety and will most definitely influence the squad council, but all decisions made regarding what the players will experience on battle nights should rest with the people closest to those players, the squad leaders.
I define an active squad as a squad capable of fielding a full team on battle nights. If a "squad" cannot field a full team on battle nights, especially since the largest team size we have is 6 people, I don't think that "squad" deserves to have the same rights as the squads that consistently field teams. In addition, squads that field more than a full team on battle night should not have undue power to monopolize the experience. Those squad leaders are representing more people, but they are representing the same interest group. Each squad should have one equal vote.
Examples of Responsibilities:
Issues pertaining to infractions -> War Council
Infractions do not impact the experience players have on battle nights except for the specific player(s) involved. These issues belong in the power of the people who are keepers of the community.
Issues pertaining to gametypes during the war -> Squad Council
Gametypes are clearly related to the battle night experience.
Issues pertaining to community standards -> War Council
The community standards should be the responsibility to the veterans in the community.
Issues pertaining to game/map selection -> Squad Council
Clearly the games and maps the players play are related to the battle night experience.
Issues pertaining to player/squad transfers -> Squad Council
Player and squad transfers are done for the expressed purpose of making battle nights more balanced. Battle Night balance directly impacts the players so these decisions should belong to the Squad Council.
Issues pertaining to game transitions -> Squad Council
Switching to a new game directly impacts the players experience, the squad leaders should be responsible for these decisions.
Issues pertaining to community conflict (drama) -> War Council
When the community is involved, the War Council should be the responsible party.
Issues of squad vs. squad conflict -> War Council
Squads are frequently unable to mediate between themselves, especially during the heat of battle nights. The non-participates (i.e. War Council) should be the mediators between squads and resolve disagreements that arise between squads. This has the added benefit of keeping relations between squads cordial, instead of creating tensions between squads the animosity caused by contentious decisions can be directed at the War Council.
Issues pertaining to boot camps -> War Council (Army Leadership)
Boot camps have a minimal effect of battle night experience and thus belong to the War Council or Army Leadership.
Issues pertaining to the accords -> War Council
The accords are the law and the power to rule on them should belong with the War Council.
Issues pertaining to battle night rotations (e.g. forfeits, tie breakers) -> War Council (Army Leadership)
Squads should not be making decisions about who should be playing who. An impartial party (the War Council) should make these decisions in order to prevent conflict between squads.
Issues pertaining to community prestige/reputation -> War Council
Squad leaders should be no more responsible for the reputation of the community than any other member. The guiding forces for the communities reputation should be the ones that hold the power to change it.
All jurisdictions not specifically granted to the Squad Council should default to the War Council.
Why?
FMs are not allowed to play and War Directors frequently do not play. The remaining neutral parties are mostly inactive for battle nights. That leaves 2 of the 5 voting bodies in War Council as possible active participants in the war and frequently the Generals also are too busy to participate in Battle Nights. That leaves the remainder of the non-voting high command members as the closest thing to active players in the community. That is the cost of responsibility when it comes to leading the community, you do more leading than you do playing.
The power to control the players experience should rest with the closest thing to the players, the squad leaders. They experience the problems on battle nights first hand, not via proxy. They are the ones the members complain to when they aren't having a good experience. They are the ones who should be given the authority to make the changes necessary to create the optimal experience for the players.
Final Notes:
I neglect to discuss issues related to dual memberships in the Squad Council and War Council because I think there are very few people who are capable of leading an active squad while also distancing themselves from their squads personal interests to make impartial decisions for their army.
Disclaimer: I've stepped down from leadership within Vague Memories and am a non-voting member of the War Council.
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