Rusty : DMA Q&A

[Rotku]

Can't just put Jayde in the spotlight!

Question 1 - Platform:
When are we going to see a platform?

Question 2 - Past Term:
Looking back at your past term:
(a) What do you see as your biggest success?

(b) What things would you have done differently?

(c) Do you feel you fulfilled the promises made in your previous elections?

(d) Last elections, the biggest question raised in regards to your campaign was interactions with other community members. There was concern that in your previous roles in the community you often treated other people with great amounts of rudeness and arrogance. You said that you felt the DMA was a completely different monster than your past roles and the DMA Rusty would be more professional in his interactions with others. Do you think you have achieved this?

(e) Do you feel you have been appropriately transparent in your workings?

Question 3 - NWN2 DMs:
One of the big problems recently with NWN2 is the lack of active builders, with perhaps the major given reason being the perceived difficulty of the toolset . There have been a number of things done to solve this problem, all meeting various degrees of success (or failure) - possibly one of the more successful been Aelred's work in the NWN2 Toolset Forum.

(a) Do you have any plans on doing anything to attract more of our current player base to building?

(b) Also with so much weight resting on the shoulders of so few (so to speak), do you think the Admin and/or DMA Team could be doing anything more to lower the likelihood of burnouts?

(c) We have had a few different outside groups approach us over the last half a year about joining our project and working on a server - yet as far as I know, all have been turned away for one reason or another. Do you think we should be welcoming to such groups? And if yes, what do you think we should be doing extra to get these groups through the next hurdle, from inquiring about joining to actually joining?

Question 4 - Admin Team Workings
The charter clearly states that Admin "shall be specifically elected to, and have responsibility for, a particular domain." Throughout my times in ALFA I have seen two different interpretations of the workings of the Admin. One been that Admin have complete responsibility over their domains, independent from other Admin. Other been that Admin should have responsibility over the day-to-day runnings of their domain but should seek the opinions of other Admin members over major issues, merely acting as the 'specialist' in that area.

What are your thoughts about this? To give an extreme spectrum, 1 been complete independence, no discussion amongst Admin; 10 been complete interdependence in all matters, full team work amongst Admin.

Question 5 - General DMing
(a) What are your thoughts about the 30 Day Rule, where players must be a member for 30 days before applying to DM?

(b) What are your thoughts about the current working on the DM Application system?

(c) EADM position was originally created purely as a Voting position, to represent the server staff. As time has past, this position became a 'Right hand man" to the HDM. However, more recently, voting has been expanded to include nearly include ADMs in every election, lessening the technical reason for an EADM. Do you still feel the position has a use? Do you see keeping it as a formal position?

(d) On a scale of 1 to 10: Server autonomy (1) vs Global consistency (10)?

[AcadiusLost]

I'll repost my question I asked Jayde in his thread re: the shift to NWN2.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on how best to find a workable play balance in the early stages. Originally we had planned/hoped to have an active and vibrant multiserver beta testing period, with statics, adhoc play, planned DM times and random interactions: in short, an actual model for ALFA's NWN2-based future. The information gleaned from this test period would then hopefully allow us to fine-tune the play balance (gp/xp rewards, combat/spawn challenge level, rest cycle length, spell durations, etc) to find a happy medium before making the jump to Live.

Thus far, it seems few players are motivated to play ALFA-NWN2 until it goes live. Only one of the planned servers is within striking distance of Beta2. This leaves us with something of a conundrum- some other PWs have pushed quickly to live and adopted a "work it out as we go" approach, which has clear advantages as well as major drawbacks.

How do you believe this may best be handled? Should we forge ahead and gamble on our ability to trim out the sails as we go, or try to spark greater interest in Beta testing? In either case, how might it be accomplished?

Barring terrible and unforseen setbacks, the DMA elected next week will likely be the one to see us through the transition, so I'd call such decisions pretty central.

[indio]

Here's my question to both candidates:

What will you do to assist teams getting Live?

We should only really interested in hearing practical measures, because I'm right in the middle of getting a server live, and us knowing you actually know what you're talking about is critical. Obviously there are multiple dimensions to the role, but this seems to me to be the one around which all others revolve.

[Veilan]

The Valdimir proposal. Will you back it?

Also, is it true you call your staff heads goddamn bears ?

Furthermore, why didn't you rig the HoF election to make the haste bear best NPC? Are you bearist?

[AcadiusLost]

The Valdimir proposal. Will you back it?

And if so (or not?), then can you explain what it is? First I've heard of it, but certainly sounds important.

[Veilan]

And if so (or not?), then can you explain what it is? First I've heard of it, but certainly sounds important.

Oh, I made it sound important because I love putting some heat on candidates. I've been getting a substantive feedback by DMs who didn't like having to deal with enforcement of former DMs mistakes, mispricings, etc., and feel it may reflect badly on their current relationship with players (of course, I think this may tell more about some players stances than the DMs).

Valdimir came up with suggesting that DMA make ressources available where a server team could turn to and say "could you guys deal with this", taking some workload off the live DMing team and outsourcing these issues ot a not as involved level. Basically, you could say, some volunteer fall guys.

While it is already policy to assist server teams on these issues wherever possible and requested - see helpdesk or WTF - this would take it a step further and require some procedural considerations. There are definetely advantages and disadvantages either way, but who said Jayde had an exclusive privilege to tough questions ?

[Rusty]

Thank you for my personal spotlight (and associated questions), Rot. My apologies for the delay in getting a platform posted (and stepping into the spotlight); RL has limited my ALFA time this week, and what little I have had has been spent dealing with other matters. I have now posted a platform, in the nomination thread.

Past Term

I'm not sure there is a single stand-out moment. I am pleased with the NWN2 development work, although the hard yards there have been made by our scripters and builders. I am pleased to be the first DMA in living memory to offer training to our DMs. I am pleased with our success in making our standards and procedures more accessible.

If anything, I would have liked to have started DM training earlier. I could have afforded to spend more time, initially, on NWN1 development than I did.

Promises? Hmm...
I promised not to neglect NWN1, to manage NWN2 progress, to provide DM training, and to develop our standards and ruleset. I think I have done - and am still doing - all of these.

I am generally satisfied with my relationship with the DM corps, particularly our NWN2 builders and scripters. In having to prioritise what I have time and appetite for in a volunteer community, I inevitably react better to those with a cooperative, constructive attitude, than to those determined to pursue a personal or obstructive agenda.

Given the extensive use I make of forums and IRC, I believe I have been appropriately transparent. I have also regularly published new stories and meeting minutes. I am always happy to answer (sensible) questions about policy matters.

NWN2 DMs

I believe that the majority of active ALFAns remain focussed on NWN1: this is why they are still here, after all. When we have a Live OAS2 and full server, I expect both an increase in interest from current ALFAns and from new members, who will inevitably be more NWN2 focussed. I regularly receive enquiries from non-members asking about our schedule for NWN2 Live. We are already seeing a steady increase in the number of ALFANs taking up building (Wynna, fluffmonster, MorbidKate, etc), benefiting both from a patched NWN2 toolset and the experience of those leading our building effort.

I believe I have done everything within my power to assist NWN2 teams (short of actually building for them). I have taken a lead in encouraging co-operation between teams, a policy that is now beginning to bring some significant rewards. I have no particular desire to comment on the activity, or otherwise, of other Admin, although Cipher and Hialmar are, as far as I am concerned, unquestionably fulfilling their duty towards our NWN2 teams.

Of the three specific building-related contacts I have had from outside groups or individuals, the one concerning NWN1 faced what proved to be a technically insurmountable barrier (haks), while one of the NWN2 contacts got no further than reading through our Pillars. The third, made by Kaosodin, is bearing fruit, as Kaos has offered to assist the TSF team. It is no secret that I have, for some time, believed we need a more effective PR and outreach strategy to take full advantage of our brand in the community.

Admin Team

Admin should work together whenever necessary.

DMing

I have no intention of allowing brand-new members to DM on Live servers. I believe a period of exposure to our idiom is essential to be able to DM in ALFA.

The DM Application system is currently undergoing an overhaul. We have developed (rather, Hialmar has coded) a website based process, similar to the Player Application. This new system will be integrated into the training programme we are also developing.

I value EADMs highly. Having a defined 2IC on a server is invaluable, as a go-to guy in emergencies, as a temporary HDM, and as an assistant for the HDM, amongst other things. I have extended the access rights of EADMs to reflect the importance I place on the role.

Autonomy within a global framework. No idea what numeric value that has.

[Rusty]

Hi Acadius, thanks for the questions.

I think, probably, the one factor that mitigates a lack of the described beta period is the rate of our server development. As we will likely go Live with but a single server (plus an OAS), it will be considerably easier to make post-Live adjustments than would have been the case if we went Live with three or four servers. I designed the required Standards Review with the goal of making that review process as quick as possible; teams will provide sufficient information for any problems to be quickly identified.

At the NWN2 Team meeting I have called for MotB +1 week, it is my intention to establish a clear 'Path to Live'. One of my next tasks is to begin the process of selecting and training NWN2 DMs, something that dergon has already begun for the OAS2 (a subject we discussed). I want to see as many people as possible trying their hand at DMing, on either the OAS2 or TSF. As I have stated before, I believe that the serious increase in NWN2 activity is unlikely to come before we have servers at a playable, DMd Beta 3 stage. I remain confident that this will provide sufficient attraction - to current and new ALFAns - to establish a viable player and DM base.

[Rusty]

Hi indio, thanks for your question.

I will make sure they have all the information and facilities they need to operate efficiently. For instance, the rather lengthy Standards Review document I have entrusted to them will make the actual process of reviewing servers extremely fast. Given that I have both built and taken a NWN1 server Live myself, and been intimately involved in all our recent planning, I am confident that I am able to anticipate the needs of our build teams and provide them with the structure and support that they need.

[Rusty]

Hi Alara.

Centralised Enforcement

I do not believe a permanent centralised enforcement regime is necessary. After the completion of the current wealth training programme, not only will all DMs have a proper understanding of our rules on awarding, but many of the extreme outlying cases will have been identified, along with a course of action to resolve them. From that point on, the natural balancing of our award rules should reduce the number of instances needing intervention to the point that centralised enforcement is unnecessary. Moreover, most intervention can only be properly done by DMs who both know the player in question, and have the regular contact with them necessary to appropriately adjust awards. I do appreciate the frustration felt by DMs at having to correct the mistakes of their peers, particularly when significant numbers of errors originate from a limited number of sources, but I believe that the best solution to this is to train all our DMs.

Where my Staff and Teams can assist is in advising server teams, both on fact and policy. The current training programme is a good example of the kind of situation where my staff can co-operate with server teams in analysing and discussing wealth-related problems. It is not necessary for this process to be done entirely by either local or central authority. I should note that NWN2 will be much easier to manage in this respect, not only due to going live with effective and clear procedures, in which all DMs will be trained, but because NWNx4 will provide the ability to swiftly recognised problems. Finally, given DMA's appellate oversight of DM decisions, there are advantages to having limited personal involvement in any cases of intervention.

Bears

Routinely.

The bribe wasn't big enough.

[Zelknolf]

You've said that you do not plan to neglect NWN1 servers on your platform, but the described actions taken in support of NWN1 are not really NWN1 specific. If I am reading the statement correctly, it seems that the claim is that...
- Wealth and experience standards training are part of protection of NWN1.
- Teaching DMs to handle soft skills and RP spells are part of protection of NWN1.
- The future development of a wiki page for DM training related information.

My question is simple: how is any of this a NWN1 endevour? Such activies are clearly there to lay the groundwork for a NWN2 community, and happen to be applicable to NWN1 DMing in the mean time.

Further, your past track record with NWN1 has been one of largely ignoring its development, except when wishing to block something. (movement scripts, two-handed bastard swords and one-side-use double weapons come to mind) and such calls have even included completely false and unresearched statements (Lances gaining benefits from bastard sword feats, for example). It also seems that the general exodus from Luskan is attributed to the lack of DMing and the poor quality of DMing once it is gained, a team that I believe you are still on. Such activity paints a picture of someone who doesn't particularly care - certainly not enough to perform a five minute test before naysaying a project - about what happens to NWN1 and is content to allow ALFA NWN1 to stagnate and die. Are there any specific, citable instances that would move to counter this?[/url]

[Rusty]

Hi Zelknolf, and thank you for your questions.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with your contention that a policy that benefits both NWN1 and NWN2 cannot be regarded as supporting NWN1. That we are able to pursue policies that are to the benefit of both platforms is simply an advantage.

Similarly, I'm afraid that I cannot agree with your analysis of my 'past track record with NWN1'. The examples you cite are, unfortunately, somewhat misleading. I have welcomed movement scripts into ALFA, but on the condition that they have a default disabled state. This is to reduce the burden placed on our DMs and Builders. Given that the remaining 'evidence' adduced for my lack of interest is something to do with weapon models, I don't really consider it a sustained (or indeed sustainable) proposition. I would suggest that my long-standing involvement with Standards, and the fact that I have appointed a Staff Head with the specific goal of helping support NWN1, amongst other things, tend to indicate that my support for the platform is very real. If there is more that you would like to see done to support NWN1, I am sure that Brokenbone will be more than happy to discuss it with you.

When I previously stood for DMA, I said that I would withdraw from building the NWN2 server I am a member of in anticipation of the increased workload. I hoped to be able to continue both DMing on Luskan and, occasionally, playing. Unfortunately, the sheer amount of work that accompanies this particular position has made that impossible, even with the efforts of my excellent Staff. Consequently, I have been unable to DM anywhere near as often as I liked or, indeed, I would myself expect of other DMs. As a result of this, Marklos and I have already discussed the future of Luskan and we have decided that we will withdraw the server from Live status at the end of the current month.

[Rotku]

Thanks for the answers, Rusty.

Over the past six months I have been very impressed with the progress that you and your staff have made. We have seen things happen which I honestly never thought we would, given how many others have attempted it - mainly the wealth training. I really do feel that you have been a very successful DMA.

However, there are a number of concerns I have - and unfortunately these concerns are fairly big.

First of all, your relationship with Mikayla. At the best of times it feels like there is a reluctant tolerance for working with each other, yet at other times I get the feeling that it would only take a small step forward for the ice to crack. Admittedly, I can't see what's happening via PMs, but this public appearance isn't health.

Second, which I think is a major part of the reason for the above problem, on quite a few occasions it has seemed like you are completely unwilling to negotiate - it's been Rusty's way or the high way, so to speak. I'm going to refrain from naming specific occasions, as my concern here is about the attitude, not the decisions that was made, but I really do feel that this is a big problem and not a trait that gives a good light on ALFA.

Your thoughts on this would be appreciated

[Mikayla]

I have to echo Rotku's sentiments. While there are many aspects of your tenure as DMA I am impressed with Rusty, your "my way or the highway" attitude towards the other Admin and ALFA in general concerns me. Over the last months, I have seen an alarming trend: you seem to be making or trying to make broad, far-reaching unilateral policy decisions without consultation or regard to your fellow Admin, prior decisions of Admin, or ALFA's history. While I applaud the energy you bring to the DMA's office, your tendency to work over or around your peers rather than working with us, disturbs me greatly. While the DMA is responsible for oversight of the DMs in ALFA, the DMA is not the sole arbiter of all ALFA wide policies - that is for the Admin as a whole.

[indio]

Thanks Rusty.

I'm in favour of continuity at this juncture and think you'd be better for NWN2 teams, obviously there are other things for voters to consider.

I don't get a vote, but we present a much stronger case for getting strong NWN2 servers live under Rusty's tenure, in my opinion. I hope Rusty can assure both admin and DMs that he is wise enough to demonstrate greater flexibility in future in his role as DMA. From my perspective, he's doing ALFA a great service.