Portal:Handbook/Politics/Selected article/2

A flag is a collection of crews who ostensibly work together for mutual benefit or protection, but it is actually a social grouping more than anything else. They are the largest political units in the game. Flags are the only political units that can blockade an island to take control of it, and flags are also the only groupings that may go to war with one another.

Flag Creation
The Captain of a crew may create a flag if the crew has achieved Established or greater fame. On doubloon oceans, there is also a cost of 20 doubloons and the captain must have a Captain badge for the function to be available.

Joining a Flag
A crew may also join a flag rather than create one. A flag may invite any crew with fame of Rumored or greater. A crew with the required fame may also request such an invitation. Any royal of the flag may send such an invitation, and no flag issue is raised when an invitation is sent.

Once invited, the crew must then vote to accept the invitation. Voting follows the applicable voting procedures of the crew's politics.

It is best if one or more royals speak with at least the Captain of a crew before inviting them to join a flag. Sending an unsolicited invitation is an easy way to annoy the invited crew along with potentially souring the inviting flag's reputation.