The town of Brodgar - just a few seconds walk northwest of the RoB - is open for new players. How many new players? As many as want to move in. Requirements? None. You can be a new player, or an old player. We are seeking to build a city that is something of a metropolis, the current size becoming perhaps just one district among many.
The dominant model of village, in the previous world, and this one, is quite sensible from the perspective of productivity and security. A small group of players who know and trust one another get together, and find a nice location, perhaps off the beaten track. These players may have their own homes, and their own equipment, but they will generally work together, and share the village resources. Allocation of work is very much up to the players concerned.
Brodgar is, in a way, an experiment in the potential of a different kind of settlement, perhaps more like a city than a village. Rather than players sharing all that is within the walls, and watching carefully over those who are outside the walls, we are working towards a model whereby the city is open to all who may wish to enter, and individual citizens have their own walled houses, their own walled shops or workshops or warehouses (with some basic communal sharing). The idea is to promote the existence of a scale such that it makes sense for somebody to open up a 'bakers' or a 'leather store', as whenever they are on there will be enough people around to actually trade with in game. Moreover, rather an an oligarchic power structure, all citizens will be treated equally under a legal code, and will exercise the right to vote on who takes on the positions of power. This is to be a city for all hearthlings, run by all hearthlings, not only for the cool kids.
So, to those of you who seek to become entrepreneurs, traders, artisans, I say to you, come to Brodgar! Set up a store! In this world, into the future, trade will become more and more important. What better opportunity than now to stake out a spot where the action will be? Perhaps your idea is a brewery? Perhaps a bank? Maybe a weavers or a tannery or a baker? Maybe you aspire to a paid civil position? Eventually we will have a court of law, magistrates, a milita, a treasurer. The more people gather together to trade and craft, the more efficient and exciting it will become. A critical mass is the key. Being in the middle of the world should be recognised for what it is, a massive trading potential. We will be the link that ties together the far flung settlements and future kingdoms of the hearthlands.
Come one, come all, roll up, roll up! PM me if you have any questions.