In my world every server would run a simulation based on initial paramters about the world environment (just like in civ). Smaller worlds would have access to less resources, tech branches and run 1-2 years. Large worlds have all available resources, full tech branches and run 5-6 years. PvE-RvR-PvP settings would be more of a rating of how willing nations would be to rely on warfare to win friends and influence people. Extreme pacifism would never use violence and extreme violence would be result to violence whenever possible.
Nations can include fantasy races and would have a predefined set of preferences that influence how the nation tends to develop: focus on scientific studies, magical arts, combat, trade. Quests can be generated that impact various aspects of the nation, such as resources/trade/research/warfare/espionage. Quests change as the environment changes. Not all resources are available to all nations everywhere at the same time thus trade may be required to get resources, or taking over someone else's territory. People and especially guilds can have a big impact on a nation's climate through quests and "influencing" leadership of the nation.
If you're lame enough that you're still running around in a chariot when someone else has nukes, you deserve it :)
But what keeps your Civ from being completely runover while you sleep? You are talking about taking say the standard Civ-4 multiplayer and extending it to a persistent world that operates 24/7, right? Does your Civ continue to operate while you arent online? Do you have to configure parameters / instructions for your Civ to survive while you are gone?
Or am I just over-analyzing a 'what if' scenario and should shut my mouth?
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Ttor - 80 Berserker - "Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry"
Ah, but it's not YOUR civ, you're a person who just happens to be immortal so you tend to have a greater impact on the world. The civs are run by ai, but of course "donations" and other forms of influence can affect how the govt. operates. You wouldn't want a stinking filthy hippy civ playing in an extreme violence campaign, that might be tough. The civ would recruit workers for harvesting, merchants for trade, and soldiers for killin' based on player activities (questing). It'd also be cool for guilds and players to be able to hire people to work for them. /order worker mine the mithril veins in moria. *Worker Bob says, you're crazy! I heard there is ancient evil awaken in the mines. So you can have bob work elsewhere, hire guards to protect your workers, or go take care of ancient evil.
Most things should happen relatively slowly given the timeframe. As for invasion, just like in Civ, you shouldn't get overrun overnight if the civ has been building barracks, supporting units, and such. I would suggest that an invasion requires advancing your civ's npc troops, maintaining supply lines, and holding terrain/building fortifications etc. A couple of high levels zerging into an opposing nations city while server pop is low may be a nice raid, but by no means a takeover.
As for over-analyzing and what ifs, it'd be nice to see some real thoughtful play in an MMO besides encounter techniques.
