POLL: OOC FORMAT CHANGE PROPOSAL

[unhappy]

Hello everyone! It's your friendly neighborhood Taymod!

Today we have a poll regarding how OOC intros are posted after some feedback from multiple players and our own observations. We ultimately couldn't come to a decision on what the most effective method would be, so we are coming to you now to see what our current players would prefer.

Please respond to this poll by 11:59pm PST on March 1st. (This will give us time to announce the results before the app period begins and implement changes if necessary.)

Poll #25326 OOC Intro Procedure

This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 63

Which format do you prefer for players to post OOC intros?

Current method (make your own posts in the OOC community)
5 (7.9%)

An intro post at the start of the app cycle, with a few follow-up reminders on Plurk to encourage participation throughout the app period
34 (54.0%)

An intro post at the end of the app cycle, requesting in acceptance notices that players wait to OOC intro until the post goes up on the 14th
20 (31.7%)

Other (Comment)
4 (6.3%)

Moderator Considerations (Pro/Cons List for each idea)
These were just our thoughts on each method, and we thought it best to share our considerations so you know what we were thinking about each idea as well.

Option 1: Current method
Pros: Freedom of posting, allows for OOC intros to be seen on reading pages easily, there is no misconception of "late" as there can sometimes be when an intro post is made.
Cons: Reading pages are made completely useless during the app period because of the number of incoming players.

Option 2: Intro post at start of app cycle, with follow-up reminders on Plurk
Pros: Will keep intros all in one place each month. Plurk reminders show players that it's not "too late" to respond to the meme, current players are reminded to check the OOC intro even if it's been a few days since posting.
Cons: We try to use plurk for necessary updates, posts, and necessity reminders so reposting regular reminders about the OOC intro may be misconstrued as "spammy" by some people.

Option 3: Intro post at end of app cycle, ask current players to wait
Pros: Will keep intros all in one place each month. Everyone can post at the same time so no one has to feel "late" or pressured to app earlier in the cycle to make sure they can intro early.
Cons: We allow players to IC intro as soon as they're allowed in, so delaying intros may limit plotting opportunities and meeting players for potential CR ahead of IC intro.

Option 4: Other
If we see someone else's idea getting traction in the comments, we're happy to consider and do a re-poll of the top option here and any ideas that got a notable number of +1s in the comments. So if you have a better idea or would like to support someone else's idea, please be sure to comment with at least a "+1" whether you have additional comments or not.

Thanks so much and have a great day!

Comments

[angelolatry]

As far as intros go, I've usually more often seen games figure it all in one post. They don't put out reminders though (I can appreciate the thought to remind, if some might be later in being accepted in getting in later in the app cycle or needing revisions or such though). So honestly, that'd work fine for me. But I'm open to other suggestions people might have too.

[emet_sulk]

Another option would be to wait until the end of the app cycle to mass-post acceptances/rejections etc., and then everyone would be accepted at the same time and free to comment to a mass intro post.

+1

[morns]

This or option 3 seems to be the most common ways of doing things I've seen now.

BUT I also like the nostalgia of everyone using the OOC comm for their own posts. Which I know is not a valid reason to want to go for it but still.

+1

[disasdeer]

This or option 3 seem to be the way to go, imo!

+1

[dragongrrl]

New here, but I think that seems like a good idea too. (Much as I too enjoy the nostalgia of individual intro posts!)

[avalonmods]

Thank you for the suggestion!

I will say the reason we do not currently do this is because both mods work, so it's much easier on our end to do a little bit at a time. Accepting apps all at once doesn't just mean processing all at once, but also doing the taken list all at once and checking comm requests all at once (once in a while a journal tries to sneak in that doesn't belong or before commenting taken so we can't just accept all). Doing 6-7 people each day instead of 50-60 back to back is how we are able to respond to things quickly and avoid backlog despite there only being two of us, while still giving us time to tag and enjoy the game. We also want that time period after apps to make any adjustments or full plan changes to events based on player actions and interactions. (We are working on some new game functions that will give characters more tools to do that too!)

We know it looks cleaner on the player end to do it all at once but in terms of mod workload it's much less stressful to do a little at a time. So just some insight as to why we chose not to do processing all at once!

[standvastig]

I like the idea of a mass intro post because it's cleaner for the reading pane, but the timing of it was definitely difficult to choose.

A possible suggestion: If Option 2 is chosen, maybe include a link the mass intro post on the TDM once it's posted? Just so there's an additional place where people may see the intro post.

+1

[colchismagecraft]

Definitely like the idea of having the mass post linked somewhere easy to spot like the top of the TDM

+1

[zunge]

+1 to including the link in places like the TDM. Not everyone uses plurk.

[concierto]

I think it would be handy to have a link to the OOC post in people's acceptance emails too! If Option 2 is picked. :)

[zunge]

I'm cool with 2 or 3, really. There's no way to vote for more than one, so I thought I'd note this here.

If you go with Option 2, please advertise the intro post on the TDM and also in acceptance emails. Not all players use plurk, so this would help ensure that they also see it.

[cameprepared]

As nostalgic as individual intros is, I definitely prefer the mass post option because it keeps my reading page open.

I think option 2 or 3 works just fine, and echoing others in saying please link it in acceptance information.

[luminatus]

I feel like option 2 would be the cleanest while also still matching the rhythm everyone is currently used to.

Linking the intro post in the TDM/acceptance would help. Could also pin the intro at the top of the OOC comm for the duration of the app cycle.

[angel_of_death]

Option 2 and 3 aren't much different for those who don't use plurk aside from the timing. However, I disagree with the idea that not having an intro up limits plotting opportunities, as we also have a routine plotting/cr meme and we're free to tag around or contact other players.

For that reason, I gravitate a little more to option 2, as I feel like it will mesh with our other memes in that we can all dive in to the full excitement of a broad meet-and-greet, and players accepted later won't feel left out because their application got processed after the freshness of the month's post has worn off.

+1

[bakudan_bambino]