Applying for Closed Races / Role Player of the Month

[Leaving Hope]

Recently there have been a number of requests by players for closed races. We commend your desire to try something new and experiment with these races, but we also want to be mindful of server population, approve requests indiscriminately, and use these races as a reward for strong role playing. As a result, we will be moving forward with a new policy for players to apply for closed races.

We will hold a contest where players, DMs, and staff members vote on two characters they think have been best role played that month. At the end of the month the votes will be tallied and a winner and runner up will be announced. Note that players are voting for a character, such as "Norian Rift," and not the player name, "Leaving Hope."

• Winners will receive 500 XP per level OR 1 custom appearance for an existing item.
• Runners Up will receive 250XP per level OR 1 custom appearance for an existing item.

Both the winner and runner up will then be eligible to apply for a closed race that has an open slot. Regular players who have not won the role player of the month award will not be eligible to apply for a closed race.

Players are able to vote for their own characters, but this is frowned upon. Reasons for voting for someone could include:

• Character was unique and/or memorable
• Strong IC forum performance
• Character abstained from OOC comments
• Character helped others

Race availability is currently as follows:

• Duergar: 3
• Drow: 1
• Svirfneblin: 5
• Aasimar: CLOSED
• Tiefling: 3
• Air Genasi: 2
• Water Genasi: 2
• Fire Genasi: CLOSED
• Half Drow: 2

Ultimately, this process will encourage role playing, reward players who perform well, and promote a fair way for players to use closed races. Stay tuned for more news on how to vote, and when the first poll is open.

[Mot Dab]

where do we vote?

[joker]

This sounds like a good reward for the serious role players. I can't wait to vote.

[Drider-man]

An interesting idea, although perhaps inherently flawed. Certainly not equal opportunity, but that's probably not what you're aiming for anyway.
I'm thinking most of the votes will go to veteran players since people tend to stick with the people they know, but it'll be interesting to see how this pans out regardless

[sharringtonm]

Can staff be voted for as well?

[Jaeram]

I'm thinking most of the votes will go to veteran players

And as they should, in my opinion. I've been here for a few months now, but personally, compared to some of the other role player's I've seen I don't think I would deserve to play a closed race. I figure if you've been on the server for awhile and the DM's see the dedication you put into your characters then those are the people that the DM's should be giving special characters to.

I think this is a pretty good idea for handling the closed classes, and it might improve the quality of role playing on the server (not that it's bad, it's great) for some people who might want to shoot for one of these races.

[sparkeh]

I think that this is a great idea! I love it.

So..er it this a good time to bring up how Peppington recently saved Sundren by closing the portal to the lower planes and stopping all the Demons coming through

[Kangleton]

Wow, I didn't think a Drow would be open and a Genasi closed. But since I'm everyone's favourite role player, obviously, I'll get first dibs on whatever I want.

[ThePaganKing]

Don't forget Elric Gallows!

"If the glove don't fit, you must acquit!"

[Chiangtao]

Errr I think this recent list of self-promotion begs the next question LH--is there a good way for players to nominate other players for these contests?

[Gairun]

Role-playing should not be rewarded, in my opinion, Role-playing in itself is the reward. I certainly don't role-play just so I can rate myself against other players.

Allthough this idea has only noble and positive reasons for being thought up, you can allready see the problems a popularity contest can have on a community. And make no mistake about it, it will degenerate into a popularity contest with friends voting for friends, people thinking they deserved it becoming upset, and the people who really did deserve it going unnoticed.

Nothing can harm a community more then when something as subjective as role-playing is quantified, then voted on by people vying for a reward. I role-play my characters for the pure joy I recieve in interacting with those around me on a very well thought-out and crafted server such as Sundren.

I hope this post is taken the right way and I don't upset you LH, as I think your motives are to be commended, I have just seen this exact thing happen before on a few other servers and it did not end well for the community.

[Leaving Hope]

where do we vote?

A URL will be provided in the next few weeks. You will pick two characters from a list, and explain your reasons for voting for them. You will vote one time per month.

I'm thinking most of the votes will go to veteran players since people tend to stick with the people they know, but it'll be interesting to see how this pans out regardless

New, memorable characters who make a splash will have a very real shot. Characters involved in a major plot that month will be likely winners. Etc.

Plus, a character can not win more than one time per year.

Can staff be voted for as well?

Yes. Any playable character is eligible.

...it might improve the quality of role playing on the server (not that it's bad, it's great) for some people who might want to shoot for one of these races.

Yes, a side effect of this is that it promotes role playing.

Errr I think this recent list of self-promotion begs the next question LH--is there a good way for players to nominate other players for these contests?

If the community would prefer, we can say players cannot vote for themselves. I would hope they wouldn't any way. Every month I will create a thread that indicates the voting is open, and you can use that thread to discuss potential winners. If you have other suggestions, by all means share them.

[Leaving Hope]

Role-playing should not be rewarded, in my opinion, Role-playing in itself is the reward. I certainly don't role-play just so I can rate myself against other players.

I do believe we should reward strong role playing. That's why we award role playing XP, and why you get cookies. We want to reinforce strong RP. While you may already be a strong RPer, not everyone is; some people need this encouragement; some people appreciate this encouragement for a job well done.

Allthough this idea has only noble and positive reasons for being thought up, you can allready see the problems a popularity contest can have on a community. And make no mistake about it, it will degenerate into a popularity contest with friends voting for friends, people thinking they deserved it becoming upset, and the people who really did deserve it going unnoticed.

Yes, this will be a popularity contest in some ways. That's inevitable. But it can also be for infamous characters--not just the famous ones. It will be about characters that get involved, help others role play, and are atypical.

And rest assured, if friends are voting for friends, we will scrutinize the reasons for why they voted for that character. "Bob is my friend," is not a good reason.

Nothing can harm a community more then when something as subjective as role-playing is quantified, then voted on by people vying for a reward. I role-play my characters for the pure joy I recieve in interacting with those around me on a very well thought-out and crafted server such as Sundren.

I understand your concerns, and I appreciate you for bringing them up. I share them. I've weighed the pros and cons of this many times. I do not want this to become the reason for why people RP. I want this to be a reward because they do. I want this to raise us to another level.

I hope this post is taken the right way and I don't upset you LH, as I think your motives are to be commended, I have just seen this exact thing happen before on a few other servers and it did not end well for the community.

Thank you for speaking up. Constructive feedback like this is always appreciated.

We're going to try this, and I'm hopeful it will work out very well. However, rest assured that if it doesn't we'll reevaluate the situation and make changes. We're all about making things better and better.

[Gairun]

After reading your response I do feel a bit better, the points you brought up show alot of thought.

I suppose those of us with out doubts should try to make it work for what it's worth. If it turns out bad, allright things happen it will be re-evaluated. If it turns out good, I would rather have been a positive influence then a negative.

[Landaren]

I think this is a grand idea!

I have a good idea who I will be voting for already

actually I don't there are really a lot of people I enjoy playing with and have well developed stories for their character... ugh.