cityship: (Stacy--Actual Face)
cityship ([personal profile] cityship) wrote in [community profile] trans_pilgrims2011-12-20 07:49 pm

Mod Post

Hello meatlings! As the plot continues to advance forward, we have a few modly things we'd like to discuss with you regarding the future of the game as a whole and where we'd like to take it for the next few years.

ACTIVITY CHECKS
As you may have already noticed last month, we've decided to make activity checks every two months instead of three, as well as send out an e-mail notification during the check to make sure players are aware it's going on.

We will still be using the one log for one of your characters system, as we don't this game to become stressful for anyone. We can understand losing a character's voice for a few months while remaining active with others, and we have always enjoyed the semi-relaxing pace when it comes to activity checks in the game. We also trust you, the players, to know when you have to drop a character when a voice becomes either a burden or simply too hard for you to play.

APPLICATIONS
Due to the discussions we have had, both between ourselves and with the players all making excellent points, we have decided that we will be using a slightly different system for apps. Starting next application round (March, with April Poddrop), we will be alternating between open podpops where people can join with an invitation (as before), and closed, player-only podpops where only the game's players can submit new characters.

January/July - open to everyone
April/October - open to old players only

We will also be limiting the number of invitations each player can give out to two.

We think this system will allow us to both allow new players who wish to join the game to continue to do so while better controlling our numbers so we don't have to shut down applications completely.

We are also considering adding one or two new, non-mandatory questions to the app, something along the lines of, "What role do you see your character playing on the ship," and "What are your goals for this character?" Again, players will not be required to answer it, and it won't damage your chances at being accepted in any way, but we feel it may be beneficial for some players for helping them figure out if their character will fit.

[Poll #1804578]

PLOT STUFF
We are aware of some of the complaints about the plot, and we are working to fix them. We will have more plots in the future that tie into the over-arching plot, and please don't forget that if you would like to include the Ohm, Daligig, Rom, etc. into your plots, all you have to do is email us. We will be happy to work with you and give you some tidbits.

During pop month, we won't run big plots to help characters and newbies get better acclimated to the setting. Smaller plots are still fine, for CR and just for fun.

We've also been tossing around the idea of Newbie Runs during pop months, where a newbie/new character and an older player/character get paired up to do simple missions like retrieve something to help Stacy run or pick up supplies of some sort for the crew. If anybody would like to volunteer to be a Big Sibling of a sort, you can do so in the comments here!

We are also considering allowing a few trusty helper mods in on some of the over-arching plot, to help us run things more smoothly when things get busy. If you are interested, send us an email.

SETTING STUFF
We would like to encourage players to explore more of Stacy. She's the size of a small moon, and there's a lot that the characters still don't know about her and what's in parts of her. Just like with adding in over-arching plot to your plots, shoot us an email and we'll work something out with you.

Once System Shock is done, there will be a City Expansion post in which you can come up with places that could be found in the City, either created from scratch, and/or coming from a series. It could be anything from 'Leftovers of Black Hole Headquarters' to theme parks, houses, anything! Start thinking about what you'd like to see, and remember to make up descriptions and the general decay of the building in question. Then we can really start fleshing out the city with this!

Also, we'd like to include a reminder of what the characters can do regarding keeping supplies like food and clothing more steady between shore leaves. All characters are given currency during shore leaves, the exact amount and the economy in that locale is usually given in some detail. If there are animals like cows, chicken or sheep (or alien equivalents), characters can purchase them and raise them for meat, milk, wool, eggs, etc. in either Hydroponics or in the City. Seeds can also be purchased and grown; in the City, it would be best to grow crops near the river as there is no real irrigation system yet. All of this would be great stuff to get some CR going, too, with players both new and old.

Third, the Constitution can be difficult to understand, so we will be writing it in non-legalese. If anyone would like to help OOCly, or has a character that would suggest/work on it ICly, let us know.

You can also use this post to discuss possible changes to the Department system.

Lastly, this is something that we are leaving up to all of you, in the form of a vote. With there being nine Councilors, it can take a while for decisions to be made, and some have suggested lowering the number to seven, or even five, to help with that. Please note that should you vote to reduce the council's size, the decision of who will be removed will be done OOC between the current council, and this is purely offered to make the council run smoother.

[Poll #1804579]

MOVING?
No, don't worry! This isn't an announcement that we're moving somewhere else, but rather how we want to hear your opinions on Livejournal, the site hosting us. Would you be okay with 1) moving or 2) staying here despite the changes? If we did move, what hosting site would you like best?

Please reply below in the section for it. We'd like to hear all your thoughts on the subject! It can give us some things to think about as well, and remember that if we did ever come to a decision, you'd all be involved in it. Thank you!
iselldrugstothecommunity: (Genuine happy.)

Re: SETTING

[personal profile] iselldrugstothecommunity 2011-12-21 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
Color me interested in helping with the Constitution OOCly, and with Eva helping out with it ICly. LET ME GET MY LAW GEEK ON YEAH YEAH.

Re: PLOT

[identity profile] monster-san.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
I'll volunteer Allenby to be a Big Sister to newbies!

[identity profile] sparklemagpie.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
I am fine with staying on LJ if that is where the game stays for the convenience of everyone but I am personally unhappy enough with Livejournal right now to have withdrawn all five of my paid accounts and moved my personal journal to Dreamwidth with little intention of returning even if the changes they are currently pushing for are reversed.

I would happily move to another hosting site should the game move.

I am playing several other games on Dreamwidth already (and have found it to be really fantastic to work with) so that would be the alternate host I would personally recommend but I'm not picky.

Anything that LJ Login can interface with I will hop on over to in a heartbeat to stay with the game.
fireforger: (Curious 1)

Re: SETTING

[personal profile] fireforger 2011-12-21 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Will the explorations just be limited to the city? I remember in the previous game discussion post there was a lot of discussion on possibly exploring beyond the already known area entirely, to other sections of Stacy, other levels, etc etc.

Also, in that same post there was also a lot of talk about whether or not characters could build a network of teleportation pads, to allow characters to be able to move around the ship more easily. Is that still something that might happen, or has it been decided that it's not feasible?
ext_988045: (Default)

Re: PLOT

[identity profile] zouichi.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Like I mentioned before, I'd be interested in being a newbie helper.

Re: SETTING

[identity profile] sparklemagpie.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Ohmygods can I please please please add Dr. McNinja's office to the city expansion when that goes down? I would LOVE to let him have it back if that's not too much?
fireforger: (Confident 1)

Re: PLOT

[personal profile] fireforger 2011-12-21 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Either Daja or Celestia could be a Big Sibling. Marco not so much I'd only be able to have one of them be a Big Sibling each podpop though, since I'm not sure I'd have the time to Big Sibling for two characters.
aboutthatevac: (Default)

Re: SETTING

[personal profile] aboutthatevac 2011-12-21 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Just noting for the poll that while I voted for seven I would also approve of five. I remember how hard that could get while I played a Council member but of course it's up to the Council players.

I can take a look at the Constitution. I'm not sure if my legalese is up to it but we shall see.
aboutthatevac: (Default)

[personal profile] aboutthatevac 2011-12-21 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
I'm fine with whichever option. If we do move I have a preference for Dreamwidth but no strong opinions.
aboutthatevac: (Default)

[personal profile] aboutthatevac 2011-12-21 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
Newbie Runs/Big Sibling sounds like fun.
iselldrugstothecommunity: (Genuine happy.)

Re: PLOT

[personal profile] iselldrugstothecommunity 2011-12-21 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
I would like to help newbies.

[identity profile] magicgunworks.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
I'd be more than happy to sign both my girls (Fate and Mami) up as Big Sisters!
iselldrugstothecommunity: (I'm going to stand over here.)

Re: LIVEJOURNAL (OPINIONS, ETC)

[personal profile] iselldrugstothecommunity 2011-12-21 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
I'm staying on LJ, guys. Soz.
governorkang: (Having fun)

[personal profile] governorkang 2011-12-21 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
The only real restrictions for places in the City is nothing outrageous, and no actual character homes, unless it is an iconic place (like Cassie's house/barn, a leader's mansion/palace, etc.). An office would be fine.

[identity profile] sparklemagpie.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Damn, see that's where things get sticky because Doc's office IS his home. He lived beneath it in this epic batcave basement thing. :( I suppose JUST the office part would still be cool though - he'd open the secret passage and just be like '....DAMMIT!'
governorkang: (Default)

[personal profile] governorkang 2011-12-21 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Nope, the rest of the ship too!

I dug through the emails, and I can't find the one we'd gotten months before regarding teleportation pads. I'll try to dig more in case I just missed it. It is a possibility, though.

Re: APPLICATIONS

[identity profile] monster-san.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
I think that if we're going to be very restrictive with applications, we need a hard date for when the game is going to end. Like not OCTEMBER THE EIGHTH 2012 but a general idea of Fall 20XX.

I know people want to keep playing in this game for a long time, because it is a wonderful game, but I don't think it can be kept going for two or more years with very few new members coming in--not just characters, but people. Eventually people who have been here for a very long time won't be able to just rejuvenate interest with a new character because they've already done pretty much everything with the ones they've already played, and I would like to see the proper ending for this story. I don't think that'll be able to happen if the game goes on indefinitely with so little new blood.

Honestly, I kind of think that if we're going to have alternating current/outsider-allowed apps, we should have at least one app period in the year when anyone can join, but I don't know how open to change this is so I'll just throw it in as my two cents. We've lost a lot of people and over a dozen characters since the last big discussion about this, so I think getting more people in would be more beneficial than detrimental. (And for another penny I'd prefer three to two invites, but eh.)

Re: LIVEJOURNAL (OPINIONS, ETC)

[identity profile] monster-san.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
If the game moves, I'll move, if it stays then I'll stay. But I'd also prefer going to Dreamwidth than IJ if we move.

Re: SETTING

[identity profile] carrieswar.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
I know at least one person liked the idea when I brought it up, but re: the council, I had mentioned that maybe if the limit bar be lowered to say, 7, that we keep the ones we already had, but through drops or IC happenings, simply not replace any future drops until it eventually reaches that optimal number of whatever everyone voted for and add when it finally dips under it?

[identity profile] shadhahvar.livejournal.com 2011-12-21 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
As a general for my own information note, Shae, post any plotting post, is it best to presume anything there, regardless of stated mod-reading or the like, is off general mod radar unless it is collected and sent in to the mod email? I don't know if it was ever emailed. It was discussed extensively in plot discussion posts, and at that time we'd heard (possibly from Saphie, possibly from Karl) that it was being discussed. However, if it wasn't sent in (and I don't know if anyone did), should we make sure to write everything into an email to make absolutely certain it's on all mod radar?

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