Mod Announcement

[rubycitymods]

Hi there folks!

We'd like to come to you with a proposal to make a change in the activity check guidelines. Don't panic! This is by no means something that will happen, only what might happen if it's met with general approval by the game's players.

Up until now, the activity checks have required either a thread of fifteen comments total, or a log/post with fifteen comments total within it.

Double activity has either been one thread of thirty comments, two threads with fifteen comments, a log/post with thirty comments, or two logs/posts with fifteen comments.

What we are proposing is as follows:

1. Two posts/logs with at least one comment
2. One post/log with at least one comment plus a thread of ten (10) comments total
3. Two threads with fifteen (15) comments overall [To clarify, this is fifteen comments total, we're not going to suddenly ask for thirty!]

Double activity would then be:

1. Three posts/logs with at least one comment
2. Two posts/logs with at least one comment plus a thread of ten (10) comments total OR one post/log with two threads of at least fifteen (15) comments overall.
3. Twenty five (25) comments total spread over two to four threads.

As stated previously, this is not a certain change, and we're bringing this to you before we consider implementing it so that we can answer your questions, hear your concerns, and if it's shown that this isn't going to work, the proposal won't go any further and the activity check guidelines will remain as they are! If there's a good amount of discussion both ways, the decision may be put to a poll, which will be posted using one of the moderator's paid accounts.

Please keep all discussion in this post polite, and if you have a question which you think we may not see, please indicate in the subject line of your comment! Anon is enabled so that everyone feels free to say what's on their mind, but be aware that if this is abused we will withdraw anon commenting.

Thank you for your attention!
The RC Mods.

Comments

[herzlos]

As was said before, it's a two-way-situation - I think lifewithoutrest voiced basically the same concerns as I would have with this.

To me, it sounds a little like it would do very little to prevent thread-dropping - I don't have to finish the threads on my post, I don't have to finish a thread once I reach the minimum amount of tags, which is not the way things ought to be in RP. And I say that as someone who is very guilty of thread-dropping.

In the same vein, the game has a couple very dedicated backtaggers, who also do not benefit in the slightest from the changes, as finished threads from the previous month don't count, either.

TL;DR: the changes are all the same to me, I could do nicely with the old version, I'd do just as nicely with the new one. There might be issues, but issues will be there either way, because there are always issues with AC.

HOWEVER, what I'd be proposing is a sort of... reward system for doing your activity, finishing threads (both current and backtagged ones), logging/posting, building CR, tagging new people, etc. Some games, like KoL, already have such a thing. Threads/posts get a point-value, and a certain number of points gets you stuff. Now, we're not a plot heavy game, so plot-participation would probably not be on our list, but hear me out.

What we do have are characters that open their own shops, miss things from home, need certain things to fully use their powers - why not tie receiving some of these to activity? One of the great things about RC is the ease with which you can add new locations/options to the setting, but why not tie some of it to activity? This could motivate people to tag out more, finish their threads, post more... All while AC stays as low as it is, so for those who don't have the time/drive to put up with all of this tag-work, nothing changes, while those who always do a lot more than required actually get more out of it.

The big problem with that one would be that... we have like 150 characters and I wouldn't want a mod to have to keep track of all that. I wouldn't want to be the one to do it, either. My suggestion would be that players keep track of their points in their character's journal. THAT would be entirely optional, though - so those who are like "no, my character doesn't need stuff from home/new things/a horse" can opt out, while those who have characters that would kill to get their apple tree back /shot could ... you know... keep track. Of their activity and stuff. That sentence got away from me.

There could still be 'trinket from home giveaway events' like on Christmas and the likes, but... idk, I think this could make people do more quality things instead of just realizing they're one thread short to make AC and just tagging someone until the bare minimum is hit.

There'd need to be a set list of point-values for things (and some might have to be negotiated with the mods, due to special cases), but... yeah. THOUGHTS?

[gracefulpaige]

PERSONALLY. I think this is an interesting concept. It's something I'll definitely be sure to bring up to with the other mods next time we have one of our fancy-pants meetings.

[herzlos]

Aww yes, GREAT!

[gracefulpaige]

Still thinking on this- but considering RC is on a barter system, this could help supplement the lack of proper currency. There's definitely up/down sides to this, but dude, I love incentives.

WE'LL SEE. Will get back to you on this eventually.

[herzlos]

Take all the time you need! I thought it'd be something to consider, and it wouldn't be all that hard to work the NPCs into it. Like, you oocly cash in points for, say, a flying monkey because you feel like your character could use one. They could just find it in-game, or they could be approached by an NPC who gives it to them (maybe even anonymously or in exchange for something).

... Thinking on it, there could also be certain 'events' were there's a limited number of rare items 'on sale'. Additional powers (temporary or not), potions that have a certain effect, stuff like that.

... I am thinking way too much about this for no apparent reason, sorry for spamming you.

[gracefulpaige]

Hey, we're always open to new ideas for events and stuff. KEEP RAMBLING ON FOREVER.

Regina why do you need a flying monkey.

That could be really cool, and it would definitely make for some interesting CR if we did something like that.

[herzlos]

I AM TOTALLY NOT WRITING UP AN EVENT SUGGESTION RIGHT NOW OR ANYTHING

idk i thought this could be hilarious

mostly she ought to have a horse and an apple tree

:3 I am glad you think so.

[gracefulpaige]

GIVE US ALL THE EVENT SUGGESTIONS.
MAKE IT HAPPEN.

...oh now I'm just thinking about her putting someone under a sleeping curse. ABBY, THIS IS NOT RELEVANT TO AC.

But yeah. You have gr8 ideas I approve.

[herzlos]

IT'S SENT. I am not sure how much sense it makes, but.

... Abby.
Give me a victim and she'll give you the curse.

ffff i♥u

[gracefulpaige]

We'll look at it and stuff. <3

What if Grace though.

Yes I am horrible.


♥♥♥♥

[herzlos]

and thus continues Regina's journey of "let us nearly kill innocent children

you are perfect.

[gracefulpaige]

If it works out that Regina can use the curse, let's make it happen.

[herzlos]

LACK OF love will find a way.

[gracefulpaige]

YES

+1

[threesecondslate]

This really is an excellent idea! The problem as you said would really be tracking points, but if there's a page dedicated to it I don't see why it wouldn't be in people's best interest to submit their point gain to it whenever it was relevant!

[herzlos]

u.u yes this! And hey, it's optional - people who don't want to keep track don't have to; they can still dig their stuff up and convert it to points when it suddenly becomes convenient.

Or, as is now, there'll be events to gain things from.

/blarghs forever

[lifewithoutrest]

I love incentives. I am in an IJ memory loss game where everything runs on a point system from regaining memories to items from home to canon updates, pb changes, and mass plots. And once character count had gotten way too obnoxious, they set up a system for players to track points themselves at their own pace. You fill out the handy little form, drop it on the proper post and they put it in the chart with the last date points were counted, so you know where to start your new tally.

That way, the mods have less hassle, and players who don't need points for certain characters don't need to bother with it on a set time frame, or even at all if they choose.

It's a system I kind of like, now that I've gotten used to it.

EDIT: because I thought of more to say..

This is not so much related to AC requirements as it is activity in general. But should the mods decide giving incentives for activity is a good idea, something else that game does to encourage activity is randomly assigned partner threads. Basically, anyone who chooses can sign up, they are then randomly paired and can pick two of their pups to log together within a set time (say 1 AC period) for double points. Not that it would necessarily have to be points, but an extra reward of sorts. It can be an interesting way of getting fresh cr/meeting other players, particularly if you tend to isolate yourself like I do. Sometimes it works out, other times it doesn't, but it can open up new doors to explore.

[herzlos]

It sounded a bit complicated at first, but the longer I think about it, the simpler it seems.

Personally, I wouldn't want to tie plots to it, as this often seems a bit off-putting to new players, but that largely depends on the game in question, anyway.

AND OH, the partner-thing sounds pretty awesome, actually. As you said, extra points or not, it could come really in-handy for getting fresh CR (especially if your character isn't normally the outgoing sort...). Now I want this.

[lifewithoutrest]

It does largely depend on the game and its setup. And to be honest, I'm not even in favor of purchasing plots over there, for a number of reasons, but that isn't my decision.

The point system itself, though, is useful. And because it gives us access to things we want, it's great incentive to be more active.

When it works out, it's definitely a great way to generate new cr and keep things from getting stale.

[herzlos]

I know that, in KoL, you can buy 'in-character secrets', which, in a plot-driven game, is awesome. I don't like it when it would require you to not be able to participate in a plot with a character you just joined with, simply based on the fact that it can take a while to get the points you need and... idk, it might make some people feel excluded.

Yep, this. And it could cause in-game things, too. Like, 'why does x character get this?', that kind of stuff. Which could lead to interesting CR.

And hey, even when the one thread doesn't work out - it's just one thread, not an entire plot.

(Also, YAY for someone who plays on IJ. I only played there for a short while, but it was fun and the people were nice.)

[lifewithoutrest]

This is more if you have so many points you can buy a game-wide plot, typically something from your character's canon. And while it's a nice option, I dislike that people who know more people tend to control most of what's happening in game because they have the cr to get the activity to get the points...If that makes sense. It can make things very frustrating, too, because it's technically a real-world setting and there are never total opt-out options for things like that. I mean, one week everything became a twisted version of Wonderland, and this week there is a parade of elves going through. There are some things you can't assume your character just didn't see without also assuming your character is completely ignorant of everything around her. So I'm just...bad plan.

Yes, I like it.

And yeah, as you said, when it doesn't work out, it's just one bad thread. Often one which isn't especially significant to character development.

I've been playing at IJ for just over a year now, I think. I play at valar. The first (and one of only two) game I had more than one person in.

IJRP like an entirely different culture from DWRP. I was so confused the first couple of months.

[herzlos]

Uuuugh, yes, I absolutely see the problem there. I don't like plots without opt-outs in general, because it's not always in my character's nature to... deal... well. Or at all. But I also don't want to take the plot over with my character's stuff, because that a) isn't the point of the plot, and b) it's another pet peeve of mine. xD

Ah, my best friend plays exclusively on IJ, but mostly on the OC-side of it.
And yes, I was so confused when I played there for a bit. I'm not sure whether it's as odd with canon characters (though the lingo is probably still confusing), but... the entirely different way of OOC interaction and everything plot related was so weird at first.

[lifewithoutrest]

Exactly!

It's harder to find canon-friendly games over there. And yes! So weird. Sometimes I'm still, "What is this business? Why is this okay??" Just a very different dynamic.

[desertedchateau]

+1 to these ideas!

[herzlos]

♥♥♥

[triskeles]

I like the sound of this, and could. Maybe suggest something?

Everyone on my timeline talks about how they need to code threadtrackers, or hate taking care of threadtracking posts, yatta ya. But here's the thing.

Dreamwidth already provides you with a threadtracker that requires minimum maintenance: memories. If you really wanted to code a tracking post, kudos, but using the memories function would make your work easier regardless of whether you do or not. All you have to do is create a category for Ruby City (or more, depending on how you want to organize them) and then heart the post. Keeps everything nice and in order of when it was posted/when you tagged it, instead of having to remember specific dates or dig through your character tags.

It'd make point keeping a lot easier, on top of having a handy-dandy go-to for when you need to find activity for your activity checks.

[herzlos]

... I actually never thought about using the memory function in that way. (If I'm being entirely honest, I keep forgetting it exists to begin with.)

IN OTHER WORDS, you absolutely have a point there, because this would be a real timesaver. It looks neat, it doesn't require coding skills (and doesn't need to be altered to begin with), and as you said, it'd even be handy for normal AC.

So basically, you win this thread.