About this ROTM thing..

[Kaldaris]

Revert to ecl character submissions via the character request forum, this allows the task of approving chrs to be split between the entire dm team, rather than 1 dm who has to slave away counting votes.

I'll edit this later for a real post, but for now.

[greypawn]

The reason threads like this get derailed so easily is that a lot of us have heard and/or have had this conversation before, perhaps several times till it feels like we are banging our heads against a brick wall. The flaws of the role player of the month award have also been pointed out several times before with the staff concluding that it is better to have this award than not. But if it is not actively being supported then I suppose we can just say it fails to exists for the moment. Which, honestly, is fine with me as we have had a surplus of unique characters in the past before.

If we are looking to reform RpotM then I'd personally would like to see it become more of a writing competition where each player aiming to win writes a short story under x amount of words in a thread and the public can openly vote on it. Sort of like what Uri and Doubt did a few months back but open voting among the players. I believe this would encourage forum activity, story writing, and creatively developed characters among our community. And I know what you are thinking (maybe?) 'But my character is going to be super secret and nobody should know what they are up to so why make it public?' My answer to that? Fuck that. As stated before, this community (hell, the NWN2 community) is now a small one. We should be supporting each other characters in a mature manner such as to hold back on OOC information and metagaming. Which I know is easier said than done but, honestly, I'd trade a popularity contest for some metagaming. Plus, who says your short story needs to be on your character? Anyways, those are my thoughts on the matter at the moment.

Word to your mother,
gp

[[DM] Grinning Death]

The reason threads like this get derailed so easily is that a lot of us have heard and/or have had this conversation before, perhaps several times till it feels like we are banging our heads against a brick wall. The flaws of the role player of the month award have also been pointed out several times before with the staff concluding that it is better to have this award than not. But if it is not actively being supported then I suppose we can just say it fails to exists for the moment. Which, honestly, is fine with me as we have had a surplus of unique characters in the past before.

If we are looking to reform RpotM then I'd personally would like to see it become more of a writing competition where each player aiming to win writes a short story under x amount of words in a thread and the public can openly vote on it. Sort of like what Uri and Doubt did a few months back but open voting among the players. I believe this would encourage forum activity, story writing, and creatively developed characters among our community. And I know what you are thinking (maybe?) 'But my character is going to be super secret and nobody should know what they are up to so why make it public?' My answer to that? Fuck that. As stated before, this community (hell, the NWN2 community) is now a small one. We should be supporting each other characters in a mature manner such as to hold back on OOC information and metagaming. Which I know is easier said than done but, honestly, I'd trade a popularity contest for some metagaming. Plus, who says your short story needs to be on your character? Anyways, those are my thoughts on the matter at the moment.

Word to your mother,
gp

[DM] Grinning Death Likes this.

[ManUtd4Ever]

I have commented on RPoTM before, so instead of repeating myself I will simply say IMO there have been characters who really deserved the prize and others who have not. We can debate this point until our ears fall off. It is all based on perception and in game interaction, which is largely based on when you play the game.

When I first started playing on this server in April 2009, I was amazed by the dialog some of the players came up with. It appeared effortless - although we all know it is not. I liked the process of writing up my submissions for RPoTM with the reason why my selectees stood above the masses... but, keep in mind these were folks who impressed me. This meant folks who were on line about the same time I was. I live in Europe. I now realize this was a lot of work for the DM staff to read each submission and tally the votes.

I like the idea of writing an essay and applauded the recent efforts by Urithand and Doubt. My only issue with the contest was that no one's submissions were published. I mean, I was able to experience the outstanding role play of some of the winners in the past. An essay shared only with the staff just doesn't have the same impact. So... IMO, run an essay contest again and publish the papers that were selected by the DM staff. Only those that really stood out need be public. No need showing my dribble or those of us who cannot write well.

Cheers!

[Torgar]

I like the cut of your gib, Delexos. I completely agree with your entire post, 100%.

[Root]

Judge-by-Merit > Popularity Contest.

I approve.

Agreed entirely, but I think the problem comes when you actually have to read the application, get back to a player and say 'No. It's not good enough'.

Some people take that and use it as motivation, better themselves, and try once more.

Some break down into whiney nutcases that start making Hitler comparisons.

Sadly there is more of the latter than the former in my (detailed) experience, and it's no fun for an already stressed DM-team to deal with.

[Doubtful]

OK. Definitive statements first: We will not be returning to a DM reviewed character submission system.

One method that people might find acceptable is a combination of a peer-reviewed system, combined with the former RPoTM system.

Each player may vote for two characters per month, they can be used in one of two ways - to vote for a character whose RP in-game has impressed or to vote for a character bio submitted to the Roleplay Forums.

Bio's submitted to the forum would need to be tagged as RPoTM applications, and would still be subject to DM approval as per the existing RPoTM system.

Awards as previous RPoTM system, awarded to those with the most nominations.

[Mournas]

In the end who cares, as the staff have stated they wish to keep the ECL + Races extremely rare. Even if they aren't that much more powerful, it makes interaction with one that much more meaningful. I am down with that decision.

[Torgar]

As long as a staff member is actually going to stick with running what you're suggesting Doubt, that's fine. But for now, we've gone about three months now with no RPotM, and will probably go another few if someone on staff isn't willing to take up the reigns and run it again. There's few of us playing nowadays that I don't think it's going to take long to tally votes. Less then half of the server used to vote anyways, so if only half the current server numbers voted, we're looking at maybe six to eight votes. I'm not saying this to be rude or mean, I really meant for this to be a short reason why it wouldn't be difficult for a member of the staff to start running RPotM now.

[Dragor]

Can I use Tammany Hall electoral practices if someone does?

[Root]

OK. Definitive statements first: We will not be returning to a DM reviewed character submission system.

One method that people might find acceptable is a combination of a peer-reviewed system, combined with the former RPoTM system.

Each player may vote for two characters per month, they can be used in one of two ways - to vote for a character whose RP in-game has impressed or to vote for a character bio submitted to the Roleplay Forums.

Bio's submitted to the forum would need to be tagged as RPoTM applications, and would still be subject to DM approval as per the existing RPoTM system.

Awards as previous RPoTM system, awarded to those with the most nominations.

Sounds awesome, I just hope (and I have pretty solid trust that Sundrens DM's have the integrity and non-care-bear attitude) that we do get enough people turned down to keep the 'rare' races rare.

[Thief Of Navarre]

Yep, sounds good. If it works im for it!


p.s. I just want to play a chaotic good drow ranger with a panther companion :0

[Mournas]

Yep, sounds good. If it works im for it!


p.s. I just want to play a chaotic good drow ranger with a panther companion :0

*Face palms*

I say its definately gotta be Roguethree, Kasso, or Brendig as they been doing a whole lot of RP up in the Schild Mountains. lol