Registered Member #18
Joined: 6:53:36 am GMT 02/25/04
Posts: 2808
Re: breaking staff up into groups
I just wanted to touch on this real quick because I've seen it come up several times in this thread now. Years ago this is actually how the staff was organized, we had DMs and we had builders. This structure was dissolved for a reason and its not one I'd recommend the currently active staff consider returning to. Equality among the staff is important, which is something that a division of roles just doesn't support.
Registered Member #4409
Joined: 11:10:27 am GMT 02/03/13
Posts: 178
Regarding the shout command.
I like the shout command. It tells you when DMs are around and who they are without having to go the vault and look at the now playing list. That, and if I have a question or anything I can click on their portrait in the chat log to talk to them directly.
I really like the shout idea and I'm going to start using it, since anytime I'm on these days I'm just there to help people with issues* and it will save a LOT of time if people don't have to log off/switch screens to PM a staff member because they're stuck in a wall or whatever.
*Except for my attempt the other week to have a guard talk to some people about possible goblin attacks. I had to jump away mid-possession to deal with something and left the guard standing there. I was like, "enh, it's not immersion-breaking, he's well away from that area transition", but when I DM-jumped back the guard was, naturally, right freakin' there because I hadn't walked him away far enough before unpossessing. I hadn't noticed it because Commoner NPC spot is totally suck, but the players could absolutely see the guard. . .standing there. . .doing nothing. . . just frozen in the middle of the landscape for no obvious reason. I was so embarassed I didn't even apologize, just shuffled him out of there rfq and fled in disgrace.
Now, of course, it's funny. In a schadenfreude kind of way. (New word courtesy Iguana-on-a-stick.)
Registered Member #633
Joined: 3:59:33 pm GMT 10/24/05
Posts: 1173
My $0.02:
Having been gone these last five or so years, I've had occasion to play on many other servers, and even join the build teams for some others which are now (some, gratefully) defunct.
* Thain is an INCREDIBLY low-magic server compared to many still around There could still be some tweaks, I'm sure,but I would not presume to say what or how.
* I agree that the reason for coming to Thain in the first place was the quality of RP and the quality of player. I don't know what has happened here, but if it was part of the same trend I saw elsewhere (i.e. a generation brought up on first-person-shooters, system manipulation, and immediate-reward-style games started playing) then it's no wonder we have seen the rise of a less-personable, power-obsessed, mechanically-inclined player.
4th Edition D&D didn't help much in this regard, either, but that's another argument for another day...
* Modern trends in entertainment and popular culture, and here I'm speaking of the younger set (and I'm certain there's exceptions) tend to generate players that elevate personal backstory (and achievement of goals) above RP, that is to say, the players are obsessed with their character's uniqueness and advance this cause (or use it as an excuse to do whatever they wish) to the exclusion of all other considerations. Simply put: The self-absorbed little snotheads don't know how to RP CO-OPERATIVELY -- they know how to play a part, often to ridiculous levels -- but not how to see beyond it in a way that adds to the greater whole.
They don't get it that, sometimes, it's okay to lose...and it could even be fun.
* I've run into scores of Thain "refugees" all over other servers, and they all pretty much had the same gripes. Suffice to say, most of them were not personal arguments/disagreements, but had much to do with what they saw as a declining standard of play, and some heavy-handedness by certain members of Staff. I will not mention names.
* Since I've returned, I've seen some things that wouldn't have flown rp-wise "back-in-the-day", which gives an indication of how far the standard has fallen. I admit this is largely a subjective opinion: one man's "too far!" is another's "not far enough!", I know. I would think this probably is as strong an indication as you could have that what held Thain together in the old days was a dedication to role play well, and an ability to turn poor role players into decent ones by EXAMPLE ALONE by some pretty special players.
Re-establishing that standard, I should think, is critical. Otherwise, everything else is a waste of time and effort.
UPDATE: Oh, one other thing: one the issues of finding more Staff and dividing and delegating responsibilities, and more player interaction:
One solution to this problem that I've found useful in other settings is an old business practice of creating a team for a specific project, and letting them do what they need to, how they wish to, with someone above holding the reins to ensure they don't stray too far in any one direction or another.
For example: a team of DM's consisting of a story writer/teller, a builder, and an "active" DM to do the IG stuff is generally what you need to handle any particular event. In this way, you take the pressure off a single DM, who may not have time or inclination to do it all by his/herself. Get two teams working together (running events/plots serially, not necessarily concurrently) and you can achieve an awful lot without stressing anyone out too badly.
Registered Member #2049
Joined: 12:00:00 am GMT 01/01/70
Posts: 0
AtanatarAlcarin wrote ...
They don't get it that, sometimes, it's okay to lose...and it could even be fun.
This.
To me, the key is to forget you're playing a game (a term that implies winning being a goal) and think of it as a story you partake. Hell, even think of yourself as the main character if that helps. Ever read a good book where the main characters achieve everything by themselves without really even trying and never fail at anything?
Registered Member #1549
Joined: 8:48:13 am GMT 03/05/10
Posts: 219
Do what you have fun doing. If you try to put rules, regulations, labels, work teams, and Vulcan mind melds into drawing blueprints to have fun, you're going to have a bad day.
Let me make a comparison. I work at a prison. Each one of us officers aren't a special snowflake. We have talents, beliefs, things that make us different. Though, we all wear blue. One person calls off sick and is gone for the day, someone steps into his place. We look out for each other. The goal for the end of our shift is that everyone goes home safe.
We need to start thinking and acting as a community. A community that focuses on eachother's fun. When a staff member/builder/lore writer steps out, or has a lack of inspiration, someone can step in and help. The end goal of the day should be creating fun for eachother, and creating stimulating RP. When everyone is having fun, I am having more fun. Otherwise I'd be making powerbuilds offline instead of online.
The forum sections aren't set in stone are they? How about we make a forum for building. Anyone that has a good idea sends it in. Whether it be an item, NPC, whatever.
What problems could we forsee? Some people might submit things they themselves wish to overuse? We can pick it apart, look at it, and decide if it's worth being added. Anyone can add information to wikipedia, and anyone can correct it and or delete it.
Maybe let it be known if you've an idea to donate to the lore of the island, send it to the staff to be thought upon. Keep it short, succinct, and able to be molded by the staff that would enjoy doing so. Things can come in already written, already built. All the staff has to do is put it in the mod if they like it.
Set some standards of course, and let people who want to add something add something. Take it a day at a time. It takes the burden off of the backs of individuals. Especially when those individuals have real life, or a lack of inspiration.
Moo Registered Member #1327
Joined: 2:14:55 am GMT 07/27/08
Posts: 1718
We do accept build submissions from the players, and try to make that known from time to time. We even have a subforum for builder "helpers." Hardly anyone actually submits anything though. Not sure if they are not serious or the toolset is too intimidating (likely!) or what.
We do accept build submissions from the players, and try to make that known from time to time. We even have a subforum for builder "helpers." Hardly anyone actually submits anything though. Not sure if they are not serious or the toolset is too intimidating (likely!) or what.
I actually did not understand that forum to be a place to just submit content. If it is, good news. What I've understood it as is a place where builders ask for help with projects. I guess people are bad at helping out generally because they either don't have the skill or aren't excited about the tasks.
[ The Island of Thain ]
My unpopular opinion.
