Here are my thoughts on stuff as both a mod and a player.
As a mod, I've seen a lot of ebb and flow to the game over the years. Believe it or not, there were times it was slower and deader than this, especially during the first year, where even the mods were dead sure it was dead in the water, but we managed to kick it into gear again with the players kind of working together to give the game some CPR. And while I've seen some people that lack enthusiasm (understandably after all the problems) I've also seen people plotting furiously, so I do think it has enough kick left to make it to endgame. Also as a mod, I promise we'll keep approval times down to a minimum or find other people to mod who can. We are very serious about keeping mod activity up however we can so that the structure works and people can do whatever they want to have some fun.
As a player, I think some things could change to make things better.
1. I think Mala is right about the AC. Some options for a new AC others have made on plurk are:
- one open post per player - one open post per character - one open post per player or tagging two threads with IDK ten comments or something - one open post per character or tagging two threads, etc etc
Then figuring out if it'd be monthly, bimonthly, or trimonthly. If anyone has any other suggestions, here's a good place to list them so maybe we can discuss them or have a vote or both.
/modhat back on. Going back to a mod standpoint, I think the mods need to make a call to definitively make it more stringent with some emphasis on open posts, but leave HOW stringent up to the player vote, but that's just my individual opinion. /modhat off.
Also maybe someone putting up a mingly post thing can count as an open? If if they're not tagging around all over, facilitating people mingling is still helpful.
2. Like I said to Mala, I think we need to push up friending/CR meme/watercooler whatever to monthly, maybe? We can add that to the mod schedule/tasks if people think it's a good idea.
3. Not as a mod, but as a player, I have always felt a little bit overwhelmed by running things or setting up posts. When I was in big casts, I tended to play major or main characters like Aang for the Avacast. This isn't even about knowing the setting well, either, because I've played at other games I was less familiar with and started getting the same burnout just because I'm good at figuring out scenes and plotting. With plots and things, a lot of times I wind up organizing plotty things but these things can be a bit more of a team effort with players helping the plotrunner set up posts and all.
This isn't really a criticism of anyone in particular, but I do think we have a slight problem of certain people being good at running things for other players but because people rely on them to do it a lot and sometimes are nervous about giving it a try, it can lead to burnout to the people who do it a lot. The nervousness is understandable, but I think another thing that might help is people working a little outside of their comfort zones to not just tag things or new people but also to run things. Not everything has to be a giant plot, either, so it's not really that hard to do a tiny one here and there. People can run little minimissions or milk runs that are just 3-4 characters or even a random pair off of 2 and choose the other people by RNG. With the milk runs, the one Amit, anna, Kaylin, and I has been really easy and lowkey so far, with us all helping push IC actions along, so I can tell you that it's actually pretty laid back and easy.
Even if there's a main plotrunner for things, it'd possibly provide people more opportunities for stuff to do if we tried to treat things like player plots as a more cooperative effort so players don't get burnt out.
And uuuum, that's all I can think of for now, sorry for my wordiness but I'm too tired from work to really cut it down.
no subject
As a mod, I've seen a lot of ebb and flow to the game over the years. Believe it or not, there were times it was slower and deader than this, especially during the first year, where even the mods were dead sure it was dead in the water, but we managed to kick it into gear again with the players kind of working together to give the game some CPR. And while I've seen some people that lack enthusiasm (understandably after all the problems) I've also seen people plotting furiously, so I do think it has enough kick left to make it to endgame. Also as a mod, I promise we'll keep approval times down to a minimum or find other people to mod who can. We are very serious about keeping mod activity up however we can so that the structure works and people can do whatever they want to have some fun.
As a player, I think some things could change to make things better.
1. I think Mala is right about the AC. Some options for a new AC others have made on plurk are:
- one open post per player
- one open post per character
- one open post per player or tagging two threads with IDK ten comments or something
- one open post per character or tagging two threads, etc etc
Then figuring out if it'd be monthly, bimonthly, or trimonthly. If anyone has any other suggestions, here's a good place to list them so maybe we can discuss them or have a vote or both.
/modhat back on. Going back to a mod standpoint, I think the mods need to make a call to definitively make it more stringent with some emphasis on open posts, but leave HOW stringent up to the player vote, but that's just my individual opinion. /modhat off.
Also maybe someone putting up a mingly post thing can count as an open? If if they're not tagging around all over, facilitating people mingling is still helpful.
2. Like I said to Mala, I think we need to push up friending/CR meme/watercooler whatever to monthly, maybe? We can add that to the mod schedule/tasks if people think it's a good idea.
3. Not as a mod, but as a player, I have always felt a little bit overwhelmed by running things or setting up posts. When I was in big casts, I tended to play major or main characters like Aang for the Avacast. This isn't even about knowing the setting well, either, because I've played at other games I was less familiar with and started getting the same burnout just because I'm good at figuring out scenes and plotting. With plots and things, a lot of times I wind up organizing plotty things but these things can be a bit more of a team effort with players helping the plotrunner set up posts and all.
This isn't really a criticism of anyone in particular, but I do think we have a slight problem of certain people being good at running things for other players but because people rely on them to do it a lot and sometimes are nervous about giving it a try, it can lead to burnout to the people who do it a lot. The nervousness is understandable, but I think another thing that might help is people working a little outside of their comfort zones to not just tag things or new people but also to run things. Not everything has to be a giant plot, either, so it's not really that hard to do a tiny one here and there. People can run little minimissions or milk runs that are just 3-4 characters or even a random pair off of 2 and choose the other people by RNG. With the milk runs, the one Amit, anna, Kaylin, and I has been really easy and lowkey so far, with us all helping push IC actions along, so I can tell you that it's actually pretty laid back and easy.
Even if there's a main plotrunner for things, it'd possibly provide people more opportunities for stuff to do if we tried to treat things like player plots as a more cooperative effort so players don't get burnt out.
And uuuum, that's all I can think of for now, sorry for my wordiness but I'm too tired from work to really cut it down.