Well, since the majority seem to be aiming at "balance" (based on the votes done in the boards and IG, and yes this post is a rewrite of what I wrote in that last influencing thread) let's see how we can supply it.

I believe a good way to that it would be to have the villagers notice a group being peaceful/violent and responding. HOW they respond depends on the village. Say, a village into one of four types:

Diplomatic (for lack of a better term: I didn't want to say 'average' or 'typical'): Villagers dislike blood shed in their village but know that fighting must happen at times. If a fight happens, the village will see or hear it and will be repulsed by the hostility, thus being slightly influenced against the aggressor. If the defender kills the aggressor the village will trust in the defender's ability to protect their village lean heavily towards the defender. If the aggressor kills the defender, the villager will greatly fear the aggressor and heavily lean against them.

(attempt: the 'default' as I see it. It should be less combative than right now but still fighting is a viable option IF it's well controled)

Peaceloving: Violence is hated.. period! Every..single.. attack done in the village will anger the community and draw them away from the agressor. The aggressor takes the heaviest beating in this regard.

(attempt: make fighting a very, VERY bad idea. Best just to stick to Debates)

Aggressive: What's the point of following a nation if they shun violence? Aggression is ignored (any novice can start a fight) but killing though, and especialy if the enemy is stronger (killing someone with more might than you brings extra respect and influence). (optional: A demense killing someone adds minimum influence no matter the kill: slaughtering an army with it helps but it's better for the mage or another to get the final blow).

(attempt: I can see this turning into a bloodbath here, with influencing done mostly when there's no one to kill. In fact, the way I see it, a well organized underdog should be able to claim the city without normal Influencing at all here, though high might groups would still need to talk to the villagers)

Commercial: They will listen to nations, and accept displays of combat because such is life. However, they care mostly for their resources. The fastest way to claim them is through bulking up their commerse. Meanwhile, hurting their commerse (or the denizens that aid it) is an unforgiveable sin.

(attempt: rules similar to how the villages are now, but any quests that add commodities give a major boost to influencing. You CAN sit and Influence the jeweler but your better off giving them rockeaters (or doing both). Killing a denizen, while it always hurts you in any village type, can easily ruin any chance you have of claiming the village here. Same goes for hurting their commers: taking Dairuchi spiders for example)

Each village would be of one of these types with, perhaps, the rare possiblity to change a village's type in a player-started RP event. It will bring variety to the villages, allow everyone to know what type of play is expected when a village is in game (right now we don't know whether villages should be peaceful, violent, or what) and does it all in a way that makes more RP sence than just 'a magical barrier that stops all attacks'.

Love it? Hate it?

sounds interesting

On boards:
I like it how it is. Just fix bugs.
I hate violence, make it all peaceful.
I want a middle ground, make it peaceful sometimes.
Change demesnes, they really are the root cause.

In game:
1. (60) I want a middle ground, make it peaceful sometimes.
2. (36) I like it how it is. Just fix bugs.
3. (25) Change demesnes, they really are the root cause.
4. (18) I hate violence, make it all peaceful.

Since the "fix bugs" and "change demesne" crowd are basically the same when it comes to influencing, you have to merge them... they like the influencing itself the way it is, just want minor tweaks on some things, so it becomes:

On boards:
51 for the way it is with minor changes.
37 for middle ground.
11 for peace.

In game:
61 for the way it is with minor changes.
60 for middle ground.
18 for peace.

The idea may work, but pointing out there really isn't a "majority" either way.

I like this idea! One more thing to add, though: I think the village should change its standpoint every once in a while based on the actions of players. All villages would start out diplomatic, but as players do quests/raid/defend, they turn more towards another type. For instance, the more comm quests are done, the more a village prospers, so the more commercial they'll become.

Interesting idea, I just have to pity the coders if its done.