ANNOUNCEMENT: Search Request Poll + Mod HMD

[glencolans]

Hi everyone! This post contains a very important poll that I would like all current players to weigh in on, so please make sure you at least read that part below and respond to this post, when able. I'll tally up responses and come to a final decision by Wednesday, 6/21. Implementation depends on what the decision is.

POLL: Search Request Changes

After a month of running this game, I think it's about time for me to admit that I'm having trouble keeping up with the volume of search requests on my plate, to the point where basically all characters are lagging several IC days behind in spite of the OOC/IC time dilation mechanic. Something definitely needs to be done about this. I've received a few ideas from the players and I have an idea or two of my own for possible solutions:

• Double the OOC/IC time difference. Instead of 1 IC day equaling 3 OOC days, simply increase the ratio to 1:6. Implementation would involve changing the calendars. Possible drawbacks would involve some plot elements that are time-based taking longer to resolve/occur from an OOC perspective.
• Simplify the search request mechanic. I've been playing around with ways to make the search requests faster/easier for me to write (the "general search results" one being I think the most successful), and I could roll that out on a wider scale to try and speed up this process as a whole. Implementation has already more or less been developed, unless anyone has suggestions for how to streamline them even further. Possible drawbacks would involve hiding the movement math, as well as...well, not making it any less complicated when it comes to actually filling out the map tiles, because that would still be done behind the scenes regardless of if I write it out.
• Get some helper mods. I see two immediately useful helper mod positions that I could open up:
  • General mod - To do things like AC, app processing, announcements, FAQ. I'd offer this to anyone in or out of the game, and it would take a lot of standard mod busywork off of my hands while I focus on plot.
  • Plot mod - To do things like search requests, NPC threads, map updates, event posts and story consolidation. This would be the most helpful for catching up on search requests, but I would also prefer it to be filled by someone who doesn't currently have a character in the game, to avoid the possibility of IC/OOC plot bleed. Exceptions can be made for someone that has modded a game before, that can make a strong case for keeping that separation.
  Implementation would involve opening up suggestions/nominations and possibly trawling outside the game for helpers; not sure how long it would take for the latter, but if I did internal mod applications, I estimate the process to take at least a month to choose the helper(s) and get them up-to-speed on my terrible coding and disorganized pile of plot documents everything their position entails.
• Everything is fine. There's an argument to be made that, as the map is explored further and characters settle into specific locations, search requests will become easier for me to do and for players to work out. We could keep the system as-is with the expectation that everything will work itself out in a few months.
• Player suggestions. Do you have an idea I haven't already listed? Please tell me about it, and +1 anything that sounds promising! Some combination of the above is also doable.

Please respond to this comment with your vote and any other input you have about this situation.

MOD/GAME HMD

Hey - it's been a whole month since the game opened!! This is the first DWRP game I have ever run and I am absolutely floored at the amount of enthusiasm and activity y'all have shown for it. I can't thank you enough for being a part of telling this story with me, and I hope it continues for a while yet!

I think now is probably a good time, then, to formally open the floor for any feedback/suggestions about how I'm doing things (keeping in mind the above search request poll - yes I know it's a problem, and yes I very much want to do something about it) and about how the game feels in general. If you have anything that you'd rather keep private, please PM the mod account directly; this is always available to existing and prospective players that have concerns, but I figure this is a good place to put a reminder. For anything else, please respond to this comment.

Thanks again everyone, and I look forward to reading your feedback!

Comments

5

[sharktrash]

I think all of the proposed suggestions are good and it's ultimately up to you how you want to have things run here, so I'll just throw in some commentary;

1) double the time difference - While this could make some plots drag out, I think it's probably the best and quickest solution at the moment.

2) this also sounds like a good idea, although I'm not entirely sure what it entails -- if I understand correctly, you wouldn't write out the squares that characters pass through, but it would still be reflected in the map? It does sound like you need to do the math anyway, but if it would be helpful for you, I'm all for it! Of course, things like structures/landmarks should probably still have their exact square mentioned.

3) this one is straightforward -- having help is always good! Especially general help shouldn't be too tricky to find, I think.

4) like I mentioned above, while I believe that IC:OOC ratio increase right now might be a necessary option, I do also think that once the map fog is cleared and players start moving to places with more purpose rather than just exploring every tile, it will probably get quicker and need less details (not to mention if you get mod help). (Just talking for myself here, but I would probably start writing more exact routes myself once the map is visible enough I know it doesn't go across a crocodile infested river haha.)

Which is to say, even if we go to 1 IC day: 6 OOC days now, it doesn't have to stay that way indefinitely -- if in the future the searches go quicker and we see things starting to lag plotwise, we can always do a vote for returning to the original 1:3 schedule or something else/new (time speeding up for particular events, etc).