Ok guys, let me make this quick. I will have internet some time and wanted to say it makes me smile to see people still hanging about here in my absence.
I know the place is quiet but swore last time I rebuilt that I would keep the site up for as long as it's being used. The system was built with that in mind as well, it's not a huge problem should a boat load of staff not be here to run things as it's much more about the writing and the updates aren't so important.
However, I would like to get your input in terms of keeping the place thriving when I am not about. I was going to approach Alex in regards to taking on the site as he has the desire and enthusiasm to keep the place healthy, but I think it would be best if we all discuss what we'd like to see happen with the site, how we think we can keep it healthy and even improve upon it.
I am sincerely interested in suggestions for how to keep us busy without suffering the Menagerie complex ie: ever expanding until we don't know what's up and what's down. You guys have my sincere thanks for being here so truly, I would love to hear your input on the matter.
I will be back. But I cannot guarantee I can always be healthy, or have the time to be here. So let's consider the long term and whatever contingency plan fits. I'm not hanging up my hat and looking for someone to take over, but I do think that looking at having a team that can help keep the site busy regardless of what happens and to whom.
I agree. We do need staff hereabouts that has the energy and time to spend. The site does not take a lot of work, unless we are doing crazy updates to art or rules or items. It does, however, require someone to sign in every other day or so to keep it updated.
I would like to be able to do that, but unfortunately I cannot currently. I want to write. I want to read what has been written. I miss it. But, life must come first. I would also recommend Alex for the position of staff. He is always welcoming, upbeat and had a thousand ideas pouring out of his head.
The rest of you that have stuck around, thank you. I know the Wolf is always happy to see the new stories. As for suggestions - we all know it is people that infuse this site with energy. New and old. Many of us can write without help, but we come here to share ideas and stories because it is a lot more enjoyable. You get immediate feedback. And I, for one, always find that inspirational. So, the obvious conclusion for me is promotion. How or what variety I leave up to people more knowledgeable than I.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
I agree with Kiko. We need to figure out a good way to get our name out there (the best way to do that, I don't know but I'm sure we can come up with something) We also need to be sure we have at least a story or two going to show we are active and to show what we do here. Shouldn't be a problem.
As for me taking on the role of staff. I am not the best when it comes to the techy aspects so will need assistance there, but I am more than willing to help out in anyway that i am able on whatever level you will have me.
So what areas, if any, do you guys think may need another look/tweaking/whatever?
My first thought would be to add some kind of benefit to those that join a faction. Perhaps a bonus Talent point in a certain ability that pertains to the Faction (Possibly chosing one from a group of related abilities. Example: Sellwords and Sentinels could pick from the weapons and armor abilites. Noctis might get one in Lore, Vanguard in Survival, etc... Such bonus points could NOT take you above the maximum of 5) And/or possibly give them access to certain items for sale available only to that faction or buy certain items at a discount. (Thieves guild type might be able to pick things up on the "black market", Sentinels might have access to different items in the armory, Vanguard already have the Hood, etc...)
And as far as the techy stuff goes, I'm sure I can learn in time...
I am not concerned with the system unless there is a flaw in it. I think it's working fine and doesn't need anything. It's been all too easy in the past to allow my own enthusiasm to overrun my common sense and end up with a game packed full of things that really just confused matters and were neglected. Fishing, hidden things in posts, pets and mounts, furniture and all manner of yeesh....
I like that we focus on story and have just a sensible amount of process addiction. It might be hard for me to guage that, being site creator and fiendishly active as I end up with quite the amount of whatever-points-we're-using under my belt.
I am keen to not only see the site active, but to have someone on hand whenever possible to help run things. The technical side of things can be a monster pain but the site requires little maintenance and it seems most everything is working without a hitch code wise. The behind the scenes things are the more laborious, less rewarding things. I have done plenty of it and can tell you how much promotion in which methods through which sites will see how many new members and how long those members will stick about. I've done this long enough to know retention rates and the like and I can impart all of that knowledge - but it's not something people get excited about.
We've had some really helpful, truly dedicated staff in the many years we've been doing this and at no point have I expected any one staff member to be able to do it all. I am not entirely sure what 'it all' is. But anyone wanting to help out and can stick about just for the love of the game is appreciated.
Alex, I need to get my net on and will try to talk to you about becoming admin. Normally it's not a big thing, but without us all here to help your along, you might be taking on a lot. Perhaps not, there's not an overhwleming amount of work to do.
Ok Alex, I have bumped you up to admin. I don't have the time to cover everything, but Kiko is around to help as well. She's likely more up to speed than I am presently. You should have access to the admin lounge now and I ask that you ask anything you like of us so we can help you out with whatever doesn't come to mind immediately.
Everyone else - if you have any questions or suggestions now you have a new admin to implement them, please do so
Also, I like the idea of there being incentives for joining up with a faction. We just need to make sure that the implementation isn't unbalanced in that you kinda have to join a group (the one free talent point and maybe some discounts on certain items seems okay thus far), or that people don't join up purely for the free stuff without ever actually caring about the faction itself.
Congratulations Alex, and welcome to the Admin team. I will be around for any questions you might have and will try to answer them to the best of my abilities.
I like the idea of a talent point incentive for those that join a faction. That does not seem too over-powered and wouldn't hurt game play or cause characters to join certain factions to get the benefits and ignore the roleplay itself - which is what the factions were created to promote.
I suggest a (set) of talents for each group. Which we could all discuss. For instance the Vanguard could get you an extra point in: Survival, Kinship, Liaison, Medicine, or said character could take their point in a magic talent of their choice. This would bypass people maxed out in certain areas and not over balance any one faction.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Vanguard: Survival - 1 handed melee - Kinship - Liaison - Agility The Sentinels: Martial Prowess - Brawn - 2 handed ranged - Liaison - Medicine SellSwords: Brawn - Endurance - Martial Prowess - 2 handed melee - Ingenuity Noctis Venator: Lore - Arts - Physical Appeal - Medicine - 1 handed ranged The House of Galena: Endurance - Kinship - Medicine - Polearm weaponry - Ingenuity The Ebon Tryst: Agility - Arts - Liaison - Martial Prowess - Physical Appeal*
*I did not offer a weapon talent for the thief based on the idea that they are often better off sneaking than fighting their way out. Physical Appeal could help that.
While I don't know the factions quite well enough to comment further on their talent choices (though I like them), I'm honestly surprised that Thieving isn't in The Ebon Tryst's list, seeing as they're pretty much the local "Thieves Guild" around here anyway. You'd think they'd teach their members how to pick locks or mix poisons better, no?
I assume, as I did for the Sellswords, that one's major talent would already have been maxed out. It's why I gave the Sellswords 2 handed melee instead of 1, and neglected thieving for Ebon, and any specific magic class for Noctis.
However. All is open for discussion. Those were just my thoughts.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Wolf you might check the different single page story links. Yesterday as I was going through the site several single entries were taking me straight to the home page instead of the specific area targeted. I thought it might just be me, but I checked several and all of them sent me to our home page instead. Those with more than one page in their entry worked fine.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
On the faction thing for clarification. They would pick one of those to get a point in not all of them correct? And if they don't want one of those they can pick a magick skill instead??
As for gaming... Not much i can think of at the moment. I always liked how the first site had a sense of a living world where some things affected each other. Not site wide plots but more of a connection. To that end I had started a thing in the GM Lounge about putting together a list of recurring NPCs and other factions that could be used by anyone as a way to kind of tie things together. (Example: Its not just random guard you run into it's "Bob" who you've run into in another story and had x kind of interaction with.) Nothing major, just some added flavor IF wanted.