Platform-Danielmn DMA

[danielmn]

What is your view on the 2 PC stuff as is?

The two PC proposal and initiation seems to have transferred well. I think there were a few hiccups in the very beginning as far as the 30 day stipulation was concerned, but from all evidence I have been given those have been handled by the PA, and I think all members are aware of the stipulation now. I think there were some common misconceptions at the beginning (ie. this server will let you transfer pc's after a week ect) that have also been ironed out. At the present time I see no need nor reason to change anything on the initiated proposal as it seems to be working well. I am sure some players want the 30 day time limit to be reduced, but it was not placed arbitrarily or without any thought, it exsists for a reason, namely to cut off instances of meta between pc's, cut off the "My A pc is useless, hold on and let me swap PC's because my pc B will be more useful (complete meta)" and to cut down on the likelyhood of other abuses occuring within the system, such as item dropping or muling.

[Ithildur]

Thanks for going into some specifics about training DMs Dan. I've always understood one of the DMA's most important jobs is doing what it takes to help facilitate ALFA having a solid crop of competent, inspired, and motivated DMs, so this was important for me to see touched on.

If you don't mind I'd like to see your thoughts on this laid out even more, with perhaps ideas on recruiting new DMs along with their training, feeding, grooming, and care. I personally have some concerns that there's been a dropoff of DMing standards in ALFA, some of which is inevitable when you have guys like Ronan or OGR no longer actively DMing and the ranks being shored up by people who are completely unfamiliar with ALFA/NWN/DnD being inadequately trained and thrown to the sharks. On top of that even the best can get discouraged, frustrated or uninspired whether it's due to the client/other mechanical/technical reasons or problem players, etc; to me this is an area that needs to be the highest priority.

For what it's worth, in contrast to Darkymystic apparently - if evaluation is based on what I know/have been told about Dan's term as a PA there's no reason to question his dedication or taking the job seriously. I have no idea where some people are getting this idea that Dan 'quit'.

[danielmn]

Do you know the issues affecting the active player base?

Do you have a working relationship with the tech team?

Do you have the technical abilities to manage the technical side of being the DMA such as coding, scripting, and working with the greater upgrades to Alfa?

Do you have the ability to develop a vision for Alfa that encompasses the needs of the current player based versus your own personal vision?

Will you be there when people need you, for six months entirely, with no burn-outs or disappearing entirely?

I would like to think I have fairly good contact with the playerbase, as I've tended to bounce between different players when I play. I've never limited myself to just one set of players over the expanse of my playing (though I have limited contact with actual PC's, but I tend to play with all new people once my pc dies) so I've had the fortune to play with a lot of different players. Nevermind being an active player myself these past years. That being said, guaging the playerbase as to their wants is largely in the domain of the PA, and I would expect him or her to apprise me of any wants or needs of the playerbase that would cross into DMA territory.

I have a very limited working relationship with the tech team currently. I am slowly helping to expand the creatures for the campaign folders at the moment, as well as having to building projects lined up (which is more server than tech oriented). I've worked well with the tech dept. in the past as PA, and don't forsee any complications with working with the tech team in the future for ALFA's needs.

Unfortuneatly, no. I have no abilities in scripting or coding, which may need be taken into account when voting. However, I was/am not aware of too many technical jobs applied to the dma in which the position would need to code or script. What is necesary for the role I am sure can be imparted by the previous DMA to any of the candidates upon assuming the role. If one candidate is versed in such, so much the better for them, as it will take them less time to become aquainted with the necessary proceedures that the DMA needs to enact for things like technical rollouts. I would think that this would largely be covered by the TA department, which as mentioned I will be checking in with weekly.

The needs of the Playerbase is primarily the PA's concern. I will be consulting with the PA when our domains cross to ensure that the needs of the DM staff are being met alongside the needs of the playerbase, and any input he may require from my own point of veiw. I have no problem seperating what I want of alfa, from what the majority want, though I will be doing my utmost to ensure that the minority are not driven away from the project by the majorities wants. Though not participating in the 2 pc procedure of alfa and maintaining my one pc, I certainly voted for two pc's to give others the option. So in that sense, yes, I can seperate the alfa I'd like to see from the alfa the majority want. An interesting thought to consider...can they?

Lastly, I was about for the whole of my PA tenure without issue, and handled all business placed upon the table. It may not have been as timely as some people would have liked, but I looked into every single thing brought to my attention, whilst handling what the previous PA had left to be handled, whilst trying to handle also what I had aimed to handle in the first place. I think I left the position in better order than when I arrived, certainly. The only unfinished business brought to my attention came up only a day or two before I left office, and I didn't feel last minute decisions should be made in haste at the expense of a well-thought out decision. So yes, I will be available for the 6 months baring anything drastic in RL happening, and if something like that should occur, I will notify the other admin immediately so that I can be replaced, and maintain the role until I am replaced.

[Ithildur]

If you don't mind I'd like to see your thoughts on this laid out even more, with perhaps ideas on recruiting new DMs along with their training, feeding, grooming, and care. I personally have some concerns that there's been a dropoff of DMing standards in ALFA, some of which is inevitable when you have guys like Ronan or OGR no longer actively DMing and the ranks being shored up by people who are completely unfamiliar with ALFA/NWN/DnD being inadequately trained and thrown to the sharks. On top of that even the best can get discouraged, frustrated or uninspired whether it's due to the client/other mechanical/technical reasons or problem players, etc; to me this is an area that needs to be the highest priority.

Come on Dan, let's hear it. Heard from Castano a bit, really would like to hear your thoughts on this.

[danielmn]

For brand new dm's, I think it extremely beneficial to make them aware of their own limititations as far as dming. It should not be standard practice for any new DM to immediately jump into a campaign style of dming without even knowing the basic background of what DnD is. PADM's should be running smaller quests in my opinion, usually one-offs, to get their feet wet before jumping into a full mode of dming. In essence, prevention of a new DM biting off way more than they can chew. They should expand their expertise, and not try to manage something so full blown to start with with limited knowledge of the canonical background in the first place. Obviously there is a coorelation with having a good complement of dm's and having a good player experience. Perhaps we've been too leniant on the ill effects of letting some have the reigns as far as dms.

As far as recruiting in and of itself, we've a limited pool to draw from as far as the playerpool. And all the recruiting in the world isn't going to help much if we have high turn over rates, or if good dm's are simply going away from the project. THe foremost focus should be maintaining the dm corps that has already been trained, and is already familiar with the client, as well as the playerbase. When new additions come in, we should already have the depth in the dm corps to watch over them and make sure they are getting the help they need (as is being done on MS). So I believe bolstering of the current dms should come first. Feet on the ground will be more effective than any 2-3 hour coarse on styles of dming.

As far as the second part of the coarse itself, to expand on the curriculum in detail, I would like to go over creatures, and what makes a good combat scenario. This includes adjusting creatures if a dm has to in order to make the combat scenario more effective as far as appropriate challanges, but will certainly not all be inside the box. I will be stressing the KNOWLEDGE of creatures used. All creatures have strengths and weaknesses that exsists outside the platform of the game engine. For instance, Kobolds love traps and love to ambush. I can recall a good placement, when playing, of a rock slide that was pushed downhill onto one of my pc's once, near killing him. Outside the box thinking for creatures, and an intimate knowledge of what they are in order to better use them within the limited platform itself to make the engine seem more pnp and more real, instead of a hack and slash fest.

Stress on standards as far as wealth and items is concerned. Self-explainitory.

Construction of timelines as far as narrative plots (what I label Viigas style dming). Not sure I need to really go into detail here on the essentials of how to give pc's choices, not railroad them into something they wouldn't do IC, ect.


Also to the end question, the teaching of boundaries. The trouble players, and dm's getting worn out, is I think due in part to dm's not setting up personal boundaries beforehand. Most dms have a DM Style manifesto for the players to read over, and it's important for dms to list there the bondaries under which they will be DMing. For an example.. http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpBB3/view ... 54&t=48893

I clearly list my do's and do nots. Those are my lines that should not be crossed. I know we all want to make players feel welcome and accomadate them, but we are the final arbiters. We are called Dungeon Masters, not Dungeon Servants.

Hopefully that answers some of your concerns.

[Curmudgeon]

First, let me thank the candidates for stepping up to take a turn in the barrel. You'll not learn what that entails until after you're elected. I'm a bit slow in posting these questions, but please bear with me as I've had a nasty cold since last Sunday.

1. ALFA can always use more DMs. As DMA, how do you plan to find us more qualified DMs? How would you allocate them?

2. We currently have four Live servers: Silver Marches, Baldur's Gate, Moonshaes, and Western Heartlands. Do we need any more servers? Fewer?

3. ALFA Pillar #1 states: "ALFA uses Dungeons & Dragons ("D&D")." Many members take this to mean that our rule system must be as close to the D&D (3.5 Edition) rules as is technically feasible. However, D&D is a game designed around the concept of a single Dungeon Master running sessions with a small group of players on an episodic basis. ALFA servers are online 24/7. Our players can log in at any time, and more often than not, without a DM.

A. How does this fundamental difference between ALFA and D&D change the game? What adjustments to the rules do we need to adopt in order to keep the game interesting, fun, challenging, and yet fair?

B. There are dozens of D&D sourcebooks published. Every DM chooses which books they will use to run their game sessions, and a good DM makes his or her selection clear to the players. ALFA has the further restriction that our servers are a part of the Forgotten Realms setting. Which books should we base our rules and systems on? How do we assure continuity and fairness for all ALFA players on all ALFA servers? How do we ensure DMs are all using the same rules?

C. What changes would you like to see in the ALFA Core Rules?

4. In ALFA we use at least two different systems of timekeeping: Narrative Time, in which we assume that time passes in ALFA's part of the Realms at the same rate as in our everyday lives; and Game Time, in which time spent in-game passes much faster. How do we reconcile this disparity, yet maintain a fair and enjoyable experience for all our players?


I look forward to your answers.

I will also pledge my support to the winning candidate. May the gods smile on you all.

[kid]

And when you're done with that...
I've a question, might seem trollish, or too plain, but im actualy curious.
With life and all its hassles, why the hell do you even want this job?

[Rumple C]

Voting has begun

http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpBB3/view ... 74&t=49383