Let’s begin by acknowledging all representatives, administrators and moderators work for or otherwise serve Evony, LLC. Even the so-called “community liaisons” represent the Evony vision of a community. This is, of course, without regard for those who comprise the community: the game players. This disregard has led to issues between players and the Evony Team innumerable times and will continue to do so without some kind of amicable intervention.
I will try my best to avoid being negative, but we have to deal with reality here. The Evony community has been and will continue to be stifled as long as the players, many of who pay to play the game, have no discernable voice in the community. Personally, I have read comments from Evony Team members which tout how wonderful the Evony Community is. Yes, the players and posters are, for the most part, a good group of people. However, I fail to see where having one representative and two liaisons governing over 8 million established accounts has any hope or expressed expectation of ever truly being able to handle community-related issues.
Sure, we have a moderating crew who do an excellent job of maintaining the community; however, even they get frustrated at times. They are expected to carry and tend to a burden which has been termed (paraphrasing multiple comments) an unprecedented growth with unforeseeable complications.
Moderators are being asked to act as Evony representatives and community advocates at the same time. There is a natural conflict which arises when legitimate disputes come up. One person cannot represent “the company” and the community at the same time; they must revert to being Evony Team members at these times. This, of course, only serves to exacerbate legitimate disputes.
I suggest Evony, LLC continue in its precedent-setting ways and allow for the creation of Player Advocates. Player Advocates are as the name suggests: they would defend legitimate player concerns and players alike. They would not be “company players” or take the company’s side. In fact, Player Advocates would not get involved in matters which are not deemed legitimate by counselling with the Evony Team. For example, ranting posters on the forums would not be defended by Player Advocates. Those instances would be left to the moderating crew to deal with appropriately.
The functions of Player Advocates would fall into one of two categories: Promoting a healthy community and defending player interests. These categories seem to be and are intended to be adversarial in nature toward the company. Aggressive defense of player interests must be adversarial as the company wishes to maintain its vision while the playerbase actually exists within that vision – which oftentimes makes for incompatible situations. Likewise, and as with any growing community, the status quo must be challenged in order for change to be enacted... change which benefits all.
Players with legitimate complaints, suggestions and/or community-oriented innovations have been stifled. We all understand the defensive nature of the company comes from excessive complaints and irresponsible attacks made against the company. However, Player Advocates could assist in quelling and reducing the amount of animosity which drives attacks against the company by setting players straight on facts and details which are often overlooked in the heat of frustration, and by acting as a buffer while keeping the lines of communication open.
Which leads us to Player Advocates would work to establish and maintain an open line of communication between the Evony Team and the playerbase. Too many times it has been stated the Team is working on this issue only for communication to completely breakdown. I know for a fact communication among Evony Team members is sadly lacking as well. Communication is critical to the success of any community.
Where the Player Advocates go from there will be left to both the community and the company. Hopefully, the company will allow for the creation of this position and the players will accept Player Advocates as their own. There is a choice to be made here: Act to intervene on the state of affairs in our community or simply let it ride. The decisions made will say a lot about the parties involved - for better or for worse.
This is not my application to become a Player Advocate. This is merely my proposal.

