InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "MOO GOO GAI PAN!"

Poseidon Academy Moderator Account (poseidonmods) wrote in poseidon_ooc,
@ 2020-06-29 18:58:00

Entry tags:

mod post

Anonymous Suggestions and Criticisms
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Criticisms?
Post them here.

This thread IS:
-- A place for productive suggestions or criticisms
-- A place for concerns of the Poseidon Academy Community
-- ANONYMOUS ONLY

This thread is NOT:
-- Characterization crit
-- Player Activity crit
-- Anonymous attack post (IC or OOC)
-- Name calling, posturing, wank, general asshatery

(Post a new comment)

	(Anonymous) 2008-06-30 05:20 am UTC (link)
	I think more plots could be used. Of course, nothing over bearing or excessive. The party in celebration of the music building is pretty cool. There could be characters performing for it. There could be a huge shindig of sorts in celebrating: free food, etc. Other types of summer activities would be cool, too. Clubs? Concerts? Karaoke nights? Video game tournaments? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2008-06-30 06:34 am UTC (link)
	It could even be something as simple as the water isn't working on campus or something. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	poseidonmods 2008-07-01 07:22 am UTC (link)
	More small, generally harmless plots can and will be implemented. Thank you for your input. :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2008-06-30 05:51 am UTC (link)

I think talking more to people the mods are having problems with would be nicer. If it's something that involves the game at wide (like the posting minimum/activity checks), then it's something else entirely, but I think that approaching players on a one on one basis would be better than addressing them through a game wide post and hoping they realize that they're being addressed.

Maybe an updated note about how group logs are handled? (Mainly in regards to time- just something like "This group log is happening on [Date] at [Time]in/or at [Location] regardless of when the players are able or willing to have their characters enter or reply to an existing thread.") That way nobody feels pressured to post by a specific day or time. Also, indicating that a group log is voluntary, not mandatory. It's not as fun when someone feels like they absolutely have to write a post/thread with a specific character(s)- game wide plot important logs are another can of worms, but for social group logs, it'd be nice if that point were emphasized.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

poseidonmods
2008-07-01 07:26 am UTC (link)

This issue has been discussed and taken care of. (Pertaining to the first statement.) In the future, please bring this sort of thing up to the moderators. Any single targeting, while tempting to the moderators is not usually meant.

When a topic that a player is currently involved in is discussed in public -- as recently -- it is usually done in a general blanket manner when they are topics that need to be reinforced to everyone.

Group logs are never, and will never be mandatory. This is the sort of problem that needs to be discussed in person as well. We already date and time our events. Events such as dances do not have a participation end date, because there is no reason for it. People can respond at their leisure and not feel pressured to post at all.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2008-06-30 05:57 am UTC (link)

I'm not meaning to chat about activity but I mean as an "in general" thing.

Why not have plots that encourage people to get active? Whether they are serious in nature or just plain fun it should try and encourage people to play. I enjoy hearing about ideas but some majour plots only seem to create more existing character relationships between a certain set of characters. There needs to be game wide plots that can get everyone involved and not just a select few.

You don't need to have some super-crack idea for getting people to branch out, but there needs to be something so people can get to know each other.

Do all the teachers know each other? Is there some sort of orientation for students? I don't know, I'm not too good at coming up with plot ideas.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

poseidonmods
2008-07-01 07:30 am UTC (link)

How players choose to interact their characters is up to their discretion, however the idea about having more perfectly open opportunities for group play is a good one. Perhaps, at the very least, season dances or celebrations? Someone else suggested faculty meetings. If you are talking about more substantial plots that are aimed at everyone, we are always willing to hear suggestions, and have seen such things very successfully implemented in the past

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	(Anonymous) 2008-06-30 07:35 am UTC (link)
	How about throwing some bones to characters from obscure fandoms? More events with a wider time limit range? More group chats so that players can all talk together OOC and start the wheels of plottage moving? Interaction, interaction, interaction - more random replies to posts, mix up those fandoms? (Reply to this) (Thread)

poseidonmods
2008-07-01 07:41 am UTC (link)

Moderators cannot dictate how players choose to play their character, nor who those characters choose to interact with. We of course encourage interaction. Really, the best way to get interaction is to go out and interact. Leave comments, throw your characters into the fray -- that way you are not waiting for others to come to you if you are dissatisfied with your characters' interactions. Someone has to break the ice.

Can you elaborate on wider time limits? We typically don't put time limits on how long threads are open for large group scenes. IC, these events last as long as one would expect them to (dances last a night, festivals a day or two, etc).

Chats happen regularly, though there is usually more smut and less plotting. If there is a demand for more, however, they can happen. It is advisable however, not to expect one every night.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	(Anonymous) 2008-06-30 11:20 am UTC (link)
	One week minimum posting can be taxing, I think. Once every two weeks won't get people burned out? That's still pretty generous, I would imagine. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2008-06-30 09:23 pm UTC (link)
	I'd like to second this suggestion. (Reply to this) (Parent)

poseidonmods
2008-07-01 07:07 am UTC (link)

This will not be changed. Throughout it's incarnations, this minimum posting has been in play. If one post per week per character is too taxing, then you have too many characters, and need to drop some.

We do not have a character limit, the only limit is what you can handle.

For example, a player who has 4 characters only has to make 4 posts per week, one per each character. The player with 25 characters has to post 25 times a week. This is the only test and limitation to how many characters can be apped.

If we were to make this once per two weeks, a situation of people squatting on characters they only post once every month (ie, missing the once per two week minimum once). This is ridiculous, and makes the community inactive.

The answer to this suggestion in the end, will be No.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2008-06-30 09:37 pm UTC (link)

Logging seems to be an issue, what if someone absolutely cannot set up a log once per month per character? You can't force someone to play with your characters or to interact. If you're trying your darnest to set up social connections, make your weekly posts and comment to others and still can't get a log out of any one, I don't think you should be booted from the game because you are trying. What can you do if no one has time or wants to log?

More reasons to interact? Do teachers ever have faculty meetings? Orientation for students? The younger kids could go on field trips together? I think what's lacking is a mod/storyteller presence to guide things like that. The mods should be running NPCs in some cases. Putting everyone in a room and going "HERE PLAY!" just isn't working out.

Another thing I have noticed, if the mods want us to come to them about things - it would help if they were available. An away tag makes a player a lot less likely to talk. RL > RP issues and if you're away, it's assumed it's for a good reason and we shouldn't pester with silly game things.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	poseidonmods 2008-07-01 05:29 am UTC (link)
	Please make sure you're reading the rules correctly. It's one log per player, not per character. The per character is for journal entries. (Reply to this) (Parent)

poseidonmods
2008-07-01 07:21 am UTC (link)

To expand on the log problem. If no one wants to log, no one wants to log. Most of the interaction in this game is done through journals, and we will more closely police this activity. However one log per player per month is not hard to do. It does not need to be long.

In addition, we have made no allusions to this being mod run heavy. We keep things organized, and we keep things running. This has always been a mainly player driven game. If players really want faculty meetings, and the like, we will do this. These are the sort of suggestions we are looking for, when we ask in mod posts about what you would like to do.

However, we do from time to time step in and play up on plots. But we will not spoon feed players plots. What sort of NPCs would we run in this sort of game? It is, at it's core, a university game. I can understand games that have more of a overall plot needing NPCs, but we do not. In cases that they are needed all the player needs to do is ask.

Katie is nearly always around at night, without an away message. Dawn and Megan both have had legitimate issues that makes them unavailable for talking on AIM recently. This is why we have three moderators. Even if an away message is up, a message can be left. "This is so and so, please drop me a line when you can" We will answer these.

In the case that all of us are absent, and you do not feel comfortable IMing, all of our emails are provided to contact in addition to our AIM, that you can use instead.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2008-07-01 10:38 am UTC (link)

There are quite a few things that have come to mind recently that I believe that need to be addressed.

First of all the "backstabbing" needs to stop in chat. It seems we all get along on some relative level however when a certain person leaves chat or if a certain person is brought up by name it turns into a bad-mouthing session. It's grating and it makes people feel unwelcome when they are told about this.

Or witness it themselves.

Second the game feels more like a clique rather than an open group of players. Being guilty of this as well (I understand I need to work on this), new players often times go ignored by the "veteran" roleplayers of the game. It's unfair, and if that's the image we're projecting to some extent it's driving off potential players. It also makes it uncomfortable for other people who are already established in game.

Also I think the rules about posting limits need either revising or changing completely. I notice two other people think that there needs to be changes. Whether or not you agree with that is perfectly up to you, however if you are not going to change the rules then one must assume that there will be no exceptions to this rule.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2008-07-02 08:42 am UTC (link)

I have to agree with the mods. If once a week for each character is too much for you, then you have too many characters. Most RPs only let you take on two for that very reason. I'm hoping they'll only be exceptions for those on hiatus because everyone needs to be more active and play the characters they have.

The backstabbing can stop too, at least in the public chats and I agree on the clique thing as well. It's really hard for me to worm in anywhere right now and that's frustrating.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	poseidonmods 2008-07-02 08:47 am UTC (link)
	Moderators are willing to bend over backwards to help new players get into the game with their own characters. In your case, please contact one of the mods. They will do what they can personally to make you feel more at home here. :) (Reply to this) (Parent)

poseidonmods
2008-07-02 08:43 am UTC (link)

Unfortunately, 'bad mouthing' and vindictiveness has been a problem lately and quite a number of us have been guilty of it. It's something that we could all work on as a whole and there have already been some attempts to address this situation. On that note, comments made by players in chat, especially if the person the comment is being made is about is present at the time, that come off as vindictive or cruel in any way, are usually meant in jest and not meant to be taken seriously. Chats have always been presented as a gathering of friends rather than a player-moderator event that is heavily enforced and policed by the mods. Also please keep in mind that the chats are voluntary and are always 'ooc' when it comes down to it.

As far as ignoring new players goes, we don't think that this is a problem that is because they are new to the game, rather that they are being ignored by a number of people whom aren't currently all that active to begin with, which is also something that we are addressing, as per the mention of an activity check and with attempts to bring in more plots for everyone to join in with.

Also, there are some groups of friends who role play together more often than with others but it's not necessarily them being 'cliques'. That is to say, they don't exclude everyone else if they are given chances (or create them) to role play with others. Although we do understand your reason for thinking such we are also addressing this situation with plots that could bring new and old players alike together with their muses whom, as of yet, have not met. In short, we don't think anyone is being unfair to new players.

The posting limit has already been addressed in another comment, however as it has been implied, there are no exceptions to those rules for anyone; player and mod alike.

It's good that you're thinking along the lines of making the role play more inclusive in general, though. There's nothing wrong with wanting it to be more inclusive.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	(Anonymous) 2008-07-03 09:19 pm UTC (link)
	When was the characters per series limit changed from three to four? A player might have stayed in game had I known this sooner and apped a character for them to interact with. Was it changed to unlimited per series? This is very troubling, I thought the limit was to prevent one player from running an entire series. (Reply to this) (Thread)

poseidonmods
2008-07-04 12:24 am UTC (link)

Recently, within the past week or two. We have been working on waking up the community, and were going to announce all of the adjustments (and make them official) soon. 4 was introduced, quite simply because it's an even number. (IE. it looked better. :( )

Please, this is not a post for questions like this. In the future please direct this sort of question to a moderator.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Anonymous)
2008-07-05 02:23 pm UTC (link)

(Excuse me if my grasp of the English language is weak at the moment. I'm slightly sleep-deprived currently.)

So, I was thinking--some of the time when people don't post to character journals, it has less to do with not having motivation and time and more to do with the fact that they're not really sure what to post about. I know in another game I'm in, 'activity' can be defined as either a journal post or starting/posting to an open thread in the IC community. Considering there's been a lot of discussion about trying to mix things up and have different characters interact, which this would additionally help deal with, could something similar be implemented here? The same time frame would apply--once per week--but it would give players options if they're not sure what to have a character write about.

(Reply to this)