I have been resisting looking at this thread for a long time now. I tell myself that I really, really, really don't need another time sink. But...
Ive only played 2 game days so far in about 4 sittings but here is my view from what I see/figured out so far:
If you wanted to use all your turns up you get +25/hr so 600/day, 700/day if you count the voting thing(+100extra, also potential for more from items). The cap is 1000, so you would need to play everyday to be "maxing out power gaming" without losing
potential turns so, a big time sink like all online competitive games. I guess everyone is different but even a very fast player probably still take an hr or 2 to burn through those turns mean-fully each day?
BUT Theres no reason you have to play like that and cant just play once a week if you only have a little time - The game mechanics has max 8 size party, and (from what i read) max lv25 characters? So everyone could build at least one strong party in a reasonable time to help out the yet built B12 Kingdom or whoever else, or just explore or whatever. The Kingdom mechanics basically seems a system were heavy players/small time players can pool together.
Already at 2 game days, my Lv5 party with mostly steel/longswords/crossbows can stomp around the wild slaughtering and most mobs only get a few hits on me. Anyone interested could make this and if thats all the time they have, stop there and then go head over to Girlinhat and stomp around her town for 30mins a day if they wanted to help her out and add a bit of weight to the pile, spend the cash in her shop etc.
That said, I think some people need to be a bit more realistic with what they expect though, people calling out is it war yet, taking over the map etc. I can hear the DECON meter ticking up in Staberinde every time I see it... its more like a game of Crusader Kings it seems no? One province minor isnt being a kingdom without a few hundred years of work and making enemies with the big blob next door is certain death. "History repeats" comes to mind... or maybe my elven blood is getting the better of me.
All IMO.