Question for Rick

[Rick7475]

I wouldn't be running if I didn't

[psycho_leo]

But there are other issues, and a big one for me is the DM App process for DM's that have already DM'ed in ALFA before. I think this is a waste of time and several DM's have mentioned to me that they don't want to jump all those hurdles again when they've already proven themselves.

Do you think there's is an issue with our current DM app process or it's just a matter of not wanting to do it again? If you think there's a problem could you give us some more detail on that and what you'd propose to optimize it aside from exempting former DMs?

[Rick7475]

It is a little more complicated than that. I was informed by the DMA at the time that I going to take over from Donrath on TSM who was MIA and still is that I could choose my DM / builder team and that would be made DM's, myself HDM. I'd show you the PM's but then I'd get an infra strike I chose a dedicated group who had either DM'ed for me before or were known to be exceptional DM's in the passed for ALFA. I made one my EADM and PM'ed several others. Then, it turns out, they all need to fill a DM App, despite some of them being ALFA HDM's, EADM's, and excellent former DM's on live servers. So, quite a number said no, they will not fill out a DM App or what until a change in DMA.

Now, think about a potential NWN2 DM who has already DM'ed for 2+ years on ALFA having to fill this out:

Why do you want to DM in ALFA?

How would you characterize ALFA in as far as the type of "world" it is and the DMing style?

Please give us an example of the sort of story that you'd like to run here.

How do you feel about working closely with a Team and sharing all the stories and keeping good shared documentation?

Will you be able to commit to learning the mod as it exists now and working to maintain continuity?

What experience do you have as a Dungeon Master? If you do not have any experience as a Dungeon Master, how would you characterise your approach to story-telling as a roleplayer?

How do you view the relationship between players and Dungeon Masters? How do you view their respective place in story-telling?

Do you have any questions for us? If so, what are they?

Do you commit yourself to maintaining the standards expected of ALFA Dungeon Masters, including both the Code of Conduct and our Standards?


I am sorry, but this is pretty downright insulting to someone who has DM'ed for years on ALFA and already proven all of the above. The DM's and former DM's I PM'ed and asked to become part of the team already had concerns for ALFA because of the administrative red tape. Trained former DM's who still have good standing with ALFA need not endure this process, especially if they already filled out an APP when they became original DM's. 3 potential DM's told me that their App were already in 3 years ago and to recycle it.



Now, the same thing occured with the server selection team, top heavy with beautifully written documentation, great ideals, but no substance and a massive exodus of builders.

Back then we stuck it to the experienced builders and treated them like shit because they didn't produce dazzling documents and web sites for their proposals. Only a few stuck around, much to their integrety and credit. Now we are sticking it to the DM's, experienced veterans of ALFA, with the same top heavy administration and treating them like newbies when they were part of what made ALFA special.

[Brokenbone]

Germane to the Q&A directly above, Rick, do you have any awareness of anyone denied a DM role (on reasonable or unreasonable grounds) within the last year or so?

If not, is the problem that the questions are too long or somehow insulting? Would you boil it all down to anything simpler like "Can you get familiar with and follow our rules and their ongoing evolution?"

Even "proven" former ALFA DMs need to brush up on current expectations of their new school peer DMs, players, Admin, etc. Agree or disagree?

[Rick7475]

To further clarify the above. I would keep the standard DM App process for new DM's. But for DM's that have proved themselves in ALFA in good standing, to repeat the whole process again is the reason why ALFA is accused of being top heavy with beauracracy.

I would like to keep a list of current DM's and former DM's as a qualified pool, even if they are not assigned an HDM. A list with their experience (say 18 months on Sembia under HDM BillyBob).

If DM's request training, or perhaps an HDM request a certain DM but on the condition he/she receive training on the NWN2 client or a review of standards, those courses and documents wil be provided.

There would only be one condition for a former ALFA DM to go through the process, that is if they claim to have DM'ed for a period of time oon an ALFA server, yet nobody knows the DM. I think this would be rare, but perhaps possible if the person DM'ed back in 2003 for a few months and all the players and other DM's who knew him are gone.

Also, the time limit for a rfomer DM to DM in ALFA would be set at 30 days. That is, if you have DM'ed for 30 days in ALFA, and are in good standing, you do not have to resubmitt an App.




HDM's also will have a say who they recruit, naturally. All DM's must be subject to the approval of the DMA but like I said above, returning DM's would not have to go through the hassle of re-aplying with an App, manadatory courses and other red tape.

[Brokenbone]

OK, basically a "would rehire" flag to be kept... well, somewhere or other. Thanks for your answer.

I've asked pretty much the same of Jaydemoon (I don't need to ask Rusty since I coordinated a lot of rubber stamping, including on joke replies, over the last 11 months), I guess that since past DMs mightn't necessarily know if their record of DMing had a "would rehire" or "never again" notation.

Maybe a "please answer this mandatory question, here's 3 optionals if you want to do them" would work for both old & new. Old hands unlikely to fill in the optionals, new hands, much more likely? Anyhow, since the web based app can't tell if a visitor is well respected, a nitwit, or new and unproven, it at least provides a common collection point to do all the fancy posting and usergroup updating which it currently does.

Anyhow, again, thanks for your answer, and if I'm describing something way off from your vision, say something? Thanks.

[paazin]

I don't see why we can't work together as a team. We all have a common goal and I think all the current HDM's:
HDM Chamu
HDM Legionnaire
HDM Castano
HDM Valdimir
are all fine DM's and I have no issues with any of them and in fact have DM'ed or worked with a couple and had good times.

The HDM of TSM, though, will probably be a pain in the ass, but I know his weak spots.



The DMA should be there as a mentor and an advisor. They should be there to help the HDM's carry on with their role of steward of a mod. If there are issues, all the facts should gathered and anyone "innocent" until proven guilty by as much evidence as can be gathered.


I also want to point out that I am a team player and I try and work together with people.

Thanks Rick for the responses. Forgive me if I'm restating a little what I said before, but I'd like to point-point my follow-up;

In the past there were problems with HDMs doing things "their own way", banning without due process, giving unequal attention, not following standards guidelines, etc, sometimes to the determent of ALFA as a whole.

Do you think this still can be an issue in the ALFA these days, perhaps once we begin to get many more NWN2 servers up? If so, how do you think you'd approach a HDM who sees his or her server as his own person fiefdom, and not so much part of a greater whole.

[Rick7475]

"Do you think this still can be an issue in the ALFA these days, perhaps once we begin to get many more NWN2 servers up? If so, how do you think you'd approach a HDM who sees his or her server as his own person fiefdom, and not so much part of a greater whole."

Well, coming from my own experience of building a server from scratch and ensuring that it was 'ALFA's" I can both empathize and by my own example show that ALFA is not a collection of fiefdoms.

I would hope that the HDM in question follows through on his/her committment to have backups on the ftp, but it's not unheard of for an HDM to take their server with them if they quit in a huff. An ALFA has generally respected the wishes of the HDM in not running their server.

Naturally one would try and reason with the HDM, but I would not force an HDM's personally built server to run in ALFA after the HDM has quit and demanded that their server not be part of ALFA, even a copy. It is too damaging for ALFA's reputation in the NWN2 community.

Having said that, I would hope that an HDM would abide by his 'contract' to be an HDM. Now, if the HDM is taking over a server built by someone else, or a collection of builders as WD was or TSM is now, and if they walked away demanding us not to run the server, then I would refuse, because the server was an ALFA effort.

[JaydeMoon]

Rick,

Does it bother you that Danubus, a person who has claimed no desire to be a contributing member of ALFA ever again, yet still lurks these forums, has a higher post count than ANY of the DMA candidates?

What action do you think should be taken to remedy this?

thank you

[Rick7475]

He needs a dragon to play with.

[Lusipher]

Rick,

Does it bother you that Danubus, a person who has claimed no desire to be a contributing member of ALFA ever again, yet still lurks these forums, has a higher post count than ANY of the DMA candidates?

What action do you think should be taken to remedy this?

thank you

Reinstate me as DM and Id come back. I had my Dmship taken away for a very stupid reason that had nothing to do with me Dming. I was a very good DM and the only reason Spider did what he did was out of spite. You give me a reason to want to Dm here and Ill do it. Those are the type of things that made me not want to have nothing to do with ALFA. It was a hatchet job and nothing more.

[Rick7475]

I barely recall the details, nevertheless it raises a good question: should DM's be allowed to re-apply after a certain period if they had their status removed. It has been, 2 years I think.

[paazin]

Thanks, Rick! I guess as a suggestion to you if you're elected, maybe we should make backups of the DM ftp once in a while as a just in case thing (would have probably helped us in the past)

[Spider Jones]

I had my Dmship taken away for a very stupid reason that had nothing to do with me Dming. I was a very good DM and the only reason Spider did what he did was out of spite.

DM Code of Conduct:

DMs are to be held to a higher standard, as they are community leaders by virtue of the position of authority that they hold. DMs will strive to be polite to other members on the forums or IRC channel. In-game infractions by those with DM status will not be tolerated whether DMing or playing a PC. Sanction is entirely at the judgement of the DM Admin, who may choose anything from counselling for isolated indiscretions to immediate and permanent removal from DM status for substantive or repeated misbehaviour.

'nuff said.

[Hialmar]

Thanks, Rick! I guess as a suggestion to you if you're elected, maybe we should make backups of the DM ftp once in a while as a just in case thing (would have probably helped us in the past)

We do have DM FTP backups as part of the whole website backups in fact.