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synodiporia_ooc2015-12-01 08:24 pm
powersthatbe) wrote in synodiporia_ooc2015-12-01 08:24 pm
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December State of the Game Roundup!
INFILTRATOR IDEAS
So, there was all kinds of vigorous discussion on this, too much to sum up every idea proposed in our available space here, but some ideas that had a lot of support or that we feel deserve special consideration are as follows.
Dramatis Personae
Almost universally, the idea of specific plot infiltrator profile forms was rejected. Also almost universally, people liked the idea of having a post or top-level which listed every infiltrator, what name they were using this Jaunt, if it’s changed, who was playing them, and a sentence of basic information about them. In a disorganized way, this has happened before, but it sounds like a great idea, and starting with our next plot we will be instituting an easy-access Infiltrator Directory.
Plot Infiltrators
Plot-important roles should receive information more in advance, and be cast quickly so that they have time to plot. The information given to them should include at least some details about the shape of the jaunt and its goals, and how much participation will be expected from their role (that one, we may need to list before casting them…)
These are good ideas, some of which we’ve been trying to phase in already, but we’ll be sure to pay attention to them in upcoming Jaunts.
Other Infiltrator Roles
A list of what roles would be particular assets to the plot was suggested. Again, this has happened informally before, but we can make it regular and systematic in the future.
Certain types of infiltrator role being limited was also proposed. While it’s surprisingly difficult to know in advance what will have the potential to break a Jaunt, and thus any sort of hard limit might be impractical, this is a concern we understand. We don’t want to limit our players’ invention and creativity, but we do want roles not to overshadow one another. For the moment, we’re simply going to encourage players to bring concerns to the mods the moment they see a plotting comment that seems to over-extend, and the mods will work on a compromise that satisfies all players involved. If there are other suggestions, we’re open to them, but this is a tricky thing to find a straightforward solution for.
Plotting Posts
It’s been suggested that because of how overwhelmingly big Jaunt info posts can get, we separate the world and jaunt information post from the player plotting post. We’ll try that next Jaunt and see what happens.
It’s also been strongly encouraged that we go back to the old once-a-week plotting posts on the OOC comm we made for our first few Jaunts. This might be as simple as plotting on the summary posts (if summary posts go up before or simultaneously with mingles), or there might need to be a new post for this. having discussed it with our summary mods, we think it’s worth a try to post summary/plotting posts simultaneously with mingles next Jaunt, but if that turns out to be putting too much pressure on our summary helpers, we’ll post them separately.
METAPLOT & TRUMP IDEAS
Trump Information
Over the next two months, with the help of interested players and helper mods, we’ll be compiling a timeline of metaplot events, complete with links to threads and notes about which Trumps appeared where and when. There will be a table of Trumps, their aliases, their appearances, and who they’re known to have marked (and who else they marked). We’ll also try compiling a database of which characters know what, so that new players getting involved in the metaplot know where to look. While logistically challenging, it’s better than the current system of hearsay and plurk chatter, and we can streamline it over time to work out the kinks. There will be either a separate post, or a toplevel on this post, for tracking rumor and speculation about Trumps, as well as hard facts.
If you’re interested in getting involved in organizing this database, comment under the toplevel below and let us know.
Metaplot Involvement
There’s a lot of contention about this subject, and with that in mind, we’re going to try to take a holistic, something-of-everything approach, and continue discussion regularly about what works and what does not. The balance between organic development and accessible structure is not simple, and we don’t expect to get it right every time, but we’ll keep listening to feedback and tweaking our approach.
Later this evening, we’re going to post a metaplot opportunity for December. Involvement in it will be RNG-based, to give that approach a try, and because of the nature of the event, there’s no particular reason any characters would be privileged over others in their chances of encountering metaplot here. We’re not switching to RNG as a default, and we will continue to find ways to reward players who dig into the metaplot on their own. This is simply a test-run for a minor event to see how incorporating RNG would work.
Discussion of how this is or isn’t what players had in mind when they suggested these approaches is absolutely welcome.
HMD, MEMES, & SOTG
There was barely any discussion on whether we want SotG posts, CR Memes, & HMD memes to be scheduled on specific, regular dates, or to continue being arranged as they are now, in a more free-form fashion. Five players expressed five variations on different opinions. So, we’ll bring this up again next HMD, or you can weigh in below right now. Let us know what you think!
With that said, an (optional) HMD Meme will go up around the end of this Jaunt, and a CR Meme in early January, just before the next Jaunt starts.
NEW DISCUSSION
If anything new we should be taking over has come up in the last couple weeks, or you have questions or concerns to air, please do so under the appropriate toplevel below!
Thank you as always for helping us shape the game to better suit your needs!
So, there was all kinds of vigorous discussion on this, too much to sum up every idea proposed in our available space here, but some ideas that had a lot of support or that we feel deserve special consideration are as follows.
Dramatis Personae
Almost universally, the idea of specific plot infiltrator profile forms was rejected. Also almost universally, people liked the idea of having a post or top-level which listed every infiltrator, what name they were using this Jaunt, if it’s changed, who was playing them, and a sentence of basic information about them. In a disorganized way, this has happened before, but it sounds like a great idea, and starting with our next plot we will be instituting an easy-access Infiltrator Directory.
Plot Infiltrators
Plot-important roles should receive information more in advance, and be cast quickly so that they have time to plot. The information given to them should include at least some details about the shape of the jaunt and its goals, and how much participation will be expected from their role (that one, we may need to list before casting them…)
These are good ideas, some of which we’ve been trying to phase in already, but we’ll be sure to pay attention to them in upcoming Jaunts.
Other Infiltrator Roles
A list of what roles would be particular assets to the plot was suggested. Again, this has happened informally before, but we can make it regular and systematic in the future.
Certain types of infiltrator role being limited was also proposed. While it’s surprisingly difficult to know in advance what will have the potential to break a Jaunt, and thus any sort of hard limit might be impractical, this is a concern we understand. We don’t want to limit our players’ invention and creativity, but we do want roles not to overshadow one another. For the moment, we’re simply going to encourage players to bring concerns to the mods the moment they see a plotting comment that seems to over-extend, and the mods will work on a compromise that satisfies all players involved. If there are other suggestions, we’re open to them, but this is a tricky thing to find a straightforward solution for.
Plotting Posts
It’s been suggested that because of how overwhelmingly big Jaunt info posts can get, we separate the world and jaunt information post from the player plotting post. We’ll try that next Jaunt and see what happens.
It’s also been strongly encouraged that we go back to the old once-a-week plotting posts on the OOC comm we made for our first few Jaunts. This might be as simple as plotting on the summary posts (if summary posts go up before or simultaneously with mingles), or there might need to be a new post for this. having discussed it with our summary mods, we think it’s worth a try to post summary/plotting posts simultaneously with mingles next Jaunt, but if that turns out to be putting too much pressure on our summary helpers, we’ll post them separately.
METAPLOT & TRUMP IDEAS
Trump Information
Over the next two months, with the help of interested players and helper mods, we’ll be compiling a timeline of metaplot events, complete with links to threads and notes about which Trumps appeared where and when. There will be a table of Trumps, their aliases, their appearances, and who they’re known to have marked (and who else they marked). We’ll also try compiling a database of which characters know what, so that new players getting involved in the metaplot know where to look. While logistically challenging, it’s better than the current system of hearsay and plurk chatter, and we can streamline it over time to work out the kinks. There will be either a separate post, or a toplevel on this post, for tracking rumor and speculation about Trumps, as well as hard facts.
If you’re interested in getting involved in organizing this database, comment under the toplevel below and let us know.
Metaplot Involvement
There’s a lot of contention about this subject, and with that in mind, we’re going to try to take a holistic, something-of-everything approach, and continue discussion regularly about what works and what does not. The balance between organic development and accessible structure is not simple, and we don’t expect to get it right every time, but we’ll keep listening to feedback and tweaking our approach.
Later this evening, we’re going to post a metaplot opportunity for December. Involvement in it will be RNG-based, to give that approach a try, and because of the nature of the event, there’s no particular reason any characters would be privileged over others in their chances of encountering metaplot here. We’re not switching to RNG as a default, and we will continue to find ways to reward players who dig into the metaplot on their own. This is simply a test-run for a minor event to see how incorporating RNG would work.
Discussion of how this is or isn’t what players had in mind when they suggested these approaches is absolutely welcome.
HMD, MEMES, & SOTG
There was barely any discussion on whether we want SotG posts, CR Memes, & HMD memes to be scheduled on specific, regular dates, or to continue being arranged as they are now, in a more free-form fashion. Five players expressed five variations on different opinions. So, we’ll bring this up again next HMD, or you can weigh in below right now. Let us know what you think!
With that said, an (optional) HMD Meme will go up around the end of this Jaunt, and a CR Meme in early January, just before the next Jaunt starts.
NEW DISCUSSION
If anything new we should be taking over has come up in the last couple weeks, or you have questions or concerns to air, please do so under the appropriate toplevel below!
Thank you as always for helping us shape the game to better suit your needs!
INFILTRATOR DISCUSSION
no subject
METAPLOT DISCUSSION
no subject
no subject
That's really going to depend on how long the threads take. If we finish most of them fairly early in December, we'll open things up, but right now it's RNG only.
no subject
TRUMP DATABASE VOLUNTEERS
Re: TRUMP DATABASE VOLUNTEERS
matt
HMD, MEMES, & SOTG DISCUSSION. COME ON GUYS!!
no subject
no subject
(my proposed date had been right after apps were done processing for CR meme)
no subject
no subject
NEW DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, & CONCERNS