Rotku´s PA Platform & Questions

[Rotku]

I know the nomination thread has not been opened just yet, but at the request of a few members, I have decided to post up my platform now, to give people another day to consider it. Forgive the spelling - using a spanish computer, and can´t seem to set it to check english.

For the past month, I have been working very closely with Demson in keeping the PA department running smoothly during his busy time in RL. In that time I have almost doubled the number of volunteers on the Admissions Team; helped seen a smooth transfer to a new application system (thanks to our web team); worked at stream lining and updating all admissions documents; begun work on an applicants guide to ALFA; continued to add minor improvements to the APM (which I moved entirely to the website earlier this year); and have begun working closely with Zic to improve the admissions section of the website.

Below I have outlined a few major points that I wish to work on during the next 8 months, should I be elected. I have divided them into three main catagories: documentation, admissions, and retention (argueable in order of easist, or least controversial, to hardest, or msot controversial). Of course, there is a huge amount of overlap between everything in an interdependent community like ALFA, so there may be somethings occuring in one section that heavily effect others.

DOCUMENTATION
Over the last half a year, we´ve seen the documents in ALFA steadily updated and shifted over to the website - first into the wiki, and now (with the new site) into the site itself. However, there´s still more work to be done on it (no rest for the wicked).

ALFA Player Manual
While updating the APM in March, I noticed that there are many areas that were either out of date or lacking information about NWN2. Unforunately due to time restraints then, I was unable to update them all. With the new website it is also possible to make the pages look much nicer on the eye, by adding things such as graphics. An important part of the PAs job is going to be keeping sources such as the APM up to date.

NWN 1 & 2 Portal Map
Always been a little point of mine. I want to get an up-to-date portal/server map on the site asap (or more realistically, as soon as I get home).

Applicants Guide to ALFA
This was one of Demson´s ideas and something that I plan on completing. The applicatants guide will contain three main sections: What is ALFLA; How do I join ALFA; and Advice once you have been accepted. This is already in the works - Demson posted a half finished draft a fortnight ago, and I have also been working on a version via the website. A document like this will be a great help to all prospective and new players, and hopefully will help their transition fron What the hell is ALFA, to experienced member be much smoother.

DOCUMENTATION
Admissions has always beena love of mine. I´ve spent far too much time on it over the years, and I very much doubt that will change.

Before I begin discussing what changes I wish to make, I´m going to give a very very brief history of the resent happenings in admissions (starting maybe a year ago). About a year ago there were some reforms made to the way admissions were handled, in order to really push the OAS as the gateway into ALFA. During NWN peek days, this would have been a great plan, as the OAS is far superior to the written applications when it comes to giving us a good impression of what the applicants are about. Unforunately, due to a number of factors (main one possibly been the lack of DMs - a blight that the entire ALFA is currently facing) this strategy did not go as planned. We are currently getting in about 1 applicant through the OAS for every 20 through the written applications. There have been other changes made to the admissions system which I´m not mentioning here (to save you reading a novel), simply because they were brilliant and worked wonders (thanks to FI and Jayde); but even with that a series of changes are still needed to fix a few mistakes that have been made over the past three years and finish smoothing out what FI and Jayde begun.

(I drafted everything above last night, but now I´m into new territory, so I appologies if it´s a bit disjointed)

General Changes
Another of Demson´s suggestions: it would be nice to have an introduction page in the website for new players, when they click the Join ALFA button. Instead of going straight to the written applications, this will give them a brief gretting and explain a few points about ALFA. It needs to point out to them that we do have TWO means of joining ALFA, and direct them to a means of signing up for an OAS review (see below) and the written application form, as well as pointing out to them the Applicants Guide to ALFA.

I´m also currently (although I have fallen a bit behind here - in a busy few months at the moment (see below...)) working with Zic at fine tuning the response emails that are sent to applicants during different stages in the app process.

Written Applications
Not many changes that need to be made here. Written Applications is a constant, ongoing battle, to keep the number of active reviewers up, as people disappear for what ever reason. We´re also currently reviewing the systems used to review the applications - as there are a few things that no longer function as they did before we got the new website. Mainly cosmetic changes The prehaps biggest change that is needed, and currently been worked on, is to make the "instructions" on how to review the applications nice and easy to follow. They´re currently written very textbook like. Anything that makes it easier for volunteers to step and is a good thing, imo. This, however, is a very minor change as far as most people are concerned, as it only effects what happens "behind the scenes".

Open Application Server
Here is where I start to get into uncharted territory. I believe the OAS is a great tool for us to use to review applicants. However, I also believe that right now the system is broken, and the resources there are wasted. Currently we have that good old problem of DMs sitting around for hours without players, or DMs only logging in when they see players, and players only logging in when they see DMs (go figure...). What I would like to do, is to turn both OASes into Appointment Only servers (the OAS1 currently is). But it doesn´t stop there. To further assist new players, I have asked zicada to somehow work on a system where applicants can request a time for a DM, to save pointless waiting around. As this does invovle work from the webteam, until they get the time this is something that I am planning to just grunt out via emails, using myself as a communication point. A fair bit of work, but hopefully it´ll be worth it in the end.

If it does get to a stage where I do see that one OAS is consistantly not been used, then it may get to a stage where we need to close off an OAS. Not something I would like to do, but it always must be an option to save resources.

Retentions
Welcome to the real controversial part of my platform!

I´m going to put forward a simple idea which I´m basing the following on.

1. Retentions is the process in which we try and keep players in ALFA.
2. Players are more likely to stay if there are more DMs
3. More DMs = More Players
4. We need more DMs

But, you might cry out, what does that have to do with the Player Admin? Shouldn´t you be running for DMA instead. No. No, I shouldn´t. Every admin has means of making life for a DM more attracting, so it takes a group effort to bring up the DM numbers. Below I have listed a number of things which should help - some I want to consider a fair bit more before putting into place, some which I think we need to do, asap.

Admissions
Yes, admissions again. In the end of the day, even DMs must come through the Player Admissions. I want to look at the possibility of asking new applicants if they wish to DM, and if yes, then we can channal them directly into DM training. You get much more volunteers when you ask for them, than by standing back and waiting for them to step forward.

New Player Quiz
Another idea I can´t claim credit for. This one comes from Curmundgeon, with a few changes on my part. One of the concerns raised by some DMs when I contacted them before, was that they are spending a fair amount of their time mentoring new players, who haven´t even read the APM. I want to look at starting up a quiz, available once to every new player, where they are tested on the basics of ALFA life. If they do well (90%?) they are awarded a once off bonus of 100xp, in game. I´m hoping 100xp is enough to encourage new players to do this, while not been enough that it will break the system.

Playing on the same server you DM on
The original move to allow DMs to play was one undertaken by the Player Admin (if my memory is serving right). I wish to push this to the next stage, allowing DMs to play on the same server they DM on, on NWN1 servers. Of course, this will not be done without full discussion with the DMA. The arguments for and against I´m not going to present here, as there has already been much discussion about it. It is my hope that this will make DMing a bit more attractive to players, and hopefully increase our DM numbers.

Regarding NWN2, I have not decided which way I currently wish to go on the issue - simply because I haven´t spoken to enough people about it. At this point, I want to see if it works on NWN1, before pushing it through to NWN2.

Campaign PCs
I want to take another, bit more controlled, look at allowing players (same as above - NWN1 first, maybe following to NWN2) to have a second, minor PC which opperates on a different server and can solely play in a certain campaign. I´m sitting on the fence at the moment with this issue, so do want to hear a few more arguments before jumping across the line

Starting Above Level 1
This is the third argument that was presented earlier this month - and probably my least favourite of the three. Allowing PCs to start above level one, I can understand will be a big help in getting them into campaigns and make it easier for DMs. However, I´ve always been a strong believer in slow level advancement, for a few reasons. But then again, if I can be certain that it will be a big help for both DMs and Players, without having too many negatives involved, I will certainly consider it. Or to put it in fewer words - Maybe.

One Final Point
Before I sign off this post, I have to make a final point - just a small negative which I have to... disclose (or what ever the word is). Until Christmas, I am in Costa Rica doing voluntary work with kids, so have limited internet access. This will mean for the next three weeks, I my internet access is limited to maybe an hour each week day. This will change once I return home for Christmas and 2009, but is a small draw back for the first three weeks that I feel I have to point out.

Anyway, it´s lunch time now, so that will have to do. I think I have covered everything I wish to.

Feel free to ask any questions relating to PA. Will be happy to answer. I will also try and get on chat as much as I can this week to answer any questions (usually around 10am Central american time (maybe 4pm gmt?))

[Swift]

Do you have the time to dedicate to the role?

[JaydeMoon]

Rotku, I think you'd be good for this job, though I can't fathom why you truly want it!

However, your last Admin position was as lead. You were plagued with issues in pushing things forward? How do you think things will be different this time?

[jmecha]

Do you realize that as PA you would have to start playing on NWN2 servers and haveing awesome fun?

[Rotku]

Do you have the time to dedicate to the role?

Yes. Easy. For the next couple of weeks, until Christmas, my time is not pleanty. But following that, I´ve got a very easy year, as far as Study goes - just a matter of taking a couple of papers here and there to finish my degree - leaving me lots of free time.

[Rotku]

Do you realize that as PA you would have to start playing on NWN2 servers and haveing awesome fun?

Bullshit. There´s no such thing as fun. It´s a lie.

[Rotku]

Rotku, I think you'd be good for this job, though I can't fathom why you truly want it!

However, your last Admin position was as lead. You were plagued with issues in pushing things forward? How do you think things will be different this time?

The nature of the roles is completely different and the situation is also very different. As Lead Admin, I was faced with a major division in the Admin ranks - pigs were more likely to sprout wings than Rusty and Mikayla to agree. Lead Admin, in itself, has very little power (other than veto). The point of Lead Admin is to set the agenda, and help the coordinate the admin team towards a common goal. As soon as there is a big division in the Admin team, the LA is more or less left powerless, with the only option left (other than recall or something extreme like that) of trying to fix the division.

The PA has a domain of its own. Even if there were to be arguments within the Admin, it is still perfectly possible to see changes made in certain areas (take Admissions, for example. I´d be impressed if someone were to come up with a good argument of how Admissions could fall under DMA=. And then to add to that, the situation is different, currently. I get on well with all the Admin, to a certain extent. Zic I have worked with a fair bit recently. AL is one of these horrible reasonable people who it´s hard not to get on with, as is ayergo. As for the Lead Admin, I´m not sure, as paazin´s term has expired today, so there´s no telling who it might be.

Live and Learn would be another answer there. Learning from your failings is a vital skill in life

[Nalo Jade]

Campaign PCs
I want to take another, bit more controlled, look at allowing players (same as above - NWN1 first, maybe following to NWN2) to have a second, minor PC which opperates on a different server and can solely play in a certain campaign. I´m sitting on the fence at the moment with this issue, so do want to hear a few more arguments before jumping across the line

Starting Above Level 1
This is the third argument that was presented earlier this month - and probably my least favourite of the three. Allowing PCs to start above level one, I can understand will be a big help in getting them into campaigns and make it easier for DMs. However, I´ve always been a strong believer in slow level advancement, for a few reasons. But then again, if I can be certain that it will be a big help for both DMs and Players, without having too many negatives involved, I will certainly consider it. Or to put it in fewer words - Maybe.

Possible rules for the above...

PCs must be created for the purpose of a campaign only.

When the campaign ends, the PC must retire.

PvP: since the campaign PC is only being used in a campaign, it stands to reason that a DM will be present, before any PvP can occur with a non campaign PC the non-campaign PC must be informed that the PC involved is a campaign PC. Campaign PCs are not allowed to instigate any hostile behavior toward other PCs, they may "defend" their honor so to speak, but it is unethical for an insta-10th level PC to "bully" a traditional 6th level PC.

Anyway which way you decide, glad to have you stepping up. *salutes*

[Rotku]

Forcing characters to retire rubs against my bone the wrong way. But it's a good idea. We'll see. I'm not going to commit myself to stone there, one way or another.

[derekdrygon]

I hate politics, I get enough of them IRL so I try not to get involved too much in the forums, but recent events have spurred me to speak up.

As it stands now in ALFA, the players have very little voice in the direction of the community. I believe the PA's role should not only be an admin and judicator but also as a voice for the player's within the admin forums for suggestions that receive overwhelming community support. Though it does not state this in the charter I feel this should be included in the PA's responsibilities.

Also, not all of the players in ALFA are able and/or willing to play NWN2. Since the introduction of the NWN2 servers, it seems that NWN1 (at least from my perspective) has been left for dead by the majority of the admins. I like the 3 proposed rule changes in the locked thread, and I'm glad that you mentioned them in your proposal. It seemed that the majority of those who posted in that thread supported them as well. Furthermore I feel they are crucial to the survival of ALFA's NWN1 servers, however I am concerned that they will take a back burner despite their popular support due to their controversial nature. (As a side note to this, I would think the advanced PC rule would go hand in hand with the campaign PC rule, where only campaign PC's can be advanced beyond level 1 at start. That's just my 2 copper though.)

With that said I have 2 questions:

Do you feel that as PA you will be able give equal consideration to the concerns of players that still play on the NWN1 servers despite any controversy that may arise from their proposal?

And

As PA will you ask for input from the players of ALFA on important issues and do you feel that you can put your personal opinions aside and cast your vote based on the will of the general populace?





Derek Drygon
PC: Jo'dan

[Rotku]

It may sound horribly cheesey, but thanks for the thoughtful questions, derek. It's nice to know that people still care about NWN1 enough to be bothered. And before someone suggests it, this does not mean that those who don't ask questions don't care...

With that said I have 2 questions:

Do you feel that as PA you will be able give equal consideration to the concerns of players that still play on the NWN1 servers despite any controversy that may arise from their proposal?

I am currently in the same situation as you, and other players, in that due to hardware requirements I can not play NWN2. So I have personal motivations in seeing NWN1 live. I admit at first I was very against the three proposals, but the more and more I hear discussion about them (through PMs, forums, and through talking with people in RL) I am been slowly shifted over. This past day I have recieved a couple of really thoughtful PMs explaining their point of view on this issue, which has nearly won me over on the two remaining points that I have still been humming and harring over.

With these issues, what I have seen is that most of the current NWN1 players and DMs actively support at least a few of these ideas. For me, that is what is important. The players at large have been asked their opinions here. What is left to do (or may have been done behind closed doors) is get the opinions of the NWN1 HDMs and the other Admin. If there is no big reason why not to push this ahead, I can promise you that it is not something that will die because of the controversy. I am hoping that by the end of the month that the first of these rule changes will begin to come into effect (probably the DMing & Playing on the same server).

As PA will you ask for input from the players of ALFA on important issues and do you feel that you can put your personal opinions aside and cast your vote based on the will of the general populace?

Here I'm not going to give the answer your probably expecting: No. Years ago when I ran for Player Admin it was on a platform like you are describing - a voice for the players. The mroe time has passed, the more I have drifted from this view. In the end, it will be my will that dictates my policies.

In saying that, I have very very few views that are not able to be shifted. I want ALFA to succeed as much as anyone else does - and I am well aware that my view is not always the right view. As such, I have no intent on casting any major vote before learning the will of the general populace. In most cases, the majority is correct - and you will find that I will be swayed by the arguements. I'm going to use those three issues as my example here (in risk of repeating myself). You go back a year ago, and there is no chance that I would have been even slightly in favour of either of these three policies - my argument would have probably been along the lines of "This is not what ALFA is about". However, the more and more I have heard the arguments for and against, the more I have been swayed by the strong arguments for. I have seen, despite my personally belief, that this is a change that is certainly needed. It is a case where that I believe the majority is right, and my beliefs are misplaced. It still does rub the wrong way, but in the end of the day here I am going to put aside my beliefs and go with what is needed.

However, there are cases where I believe the majority are wrong. One case, if memory serves, popular opinion held that we should limit the number of servers for NWN2. This is one thing which I was not a big fan of - for me, if someone wishes to put in the work, I would never dream of turning them down. Another case, which has occured very often, is the election of certain admin, who I have felt would have been destructive to ALFA (sometimes I have been, thankfully, proven wrong; other times right).

So after rambling a bit, the short answer is simply that I will always try and keep and open mind, and look equally at all the views. But in the end of the day, if I feel something is NOT for the good of ALFA - if I don't believe that the arguments of the majority are strong - I will not vote for it.

[Rotku]

God that was rambly.

[derekdrygon]

Thank you for your time, and honest answers!



Derek Drygon
PC: Jo'dan

[JaydeMoon]

humming and harring!!!
humming and harring!!!
humming and harring!!!
humming and harring!!!

But in ALFA we're always hemming and hawing!!!

Rotku, if you are voted in as PA, will you promise us popcorn theater by having forum death matches against Ayergo?

Who would win, the Penguin or the Kiwi?

[Rotku]

Penguin, no doubt there. Kiwi = flightless, slightess and bloody useless.

And yes, all the popcorn you want! Let them eat popcorn!