Why do so many people want ALFA to fail?

Rotku · Post by **Rotku** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:02 am

Rusty wrote:So you are volunteering to collate and publish this information on a weekly basis?

Sure. If the Admin cooperate, I'll happily publish a fortnightly article. Use to years ago, so no reason why it can't be done again. However, I'm only around for another couple of months. Feel free to get in contact if you want to take up the offer.

On a slight side note, in defence of admin transperency attempts, it was suggested at the end of last year that Admin take it in turn to post up monthly updates.

Mulu · Post by **Mulu** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:06 am

The last time we had this discussion the proposed solution was to fasttrack OAS 2 both for recruitment and for getting the membership in game again. Get a lot of DM coverage on one server, even with little to no static content, and I think you'll start getting players, even if not on a "live" server. Of course, that's not the same as beta testing, but it may be what's needed to keep folks from drifting away.

Wynna · Post by **Wynna** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:16 am

Hmmm? What? Oh, sorry. I was busy getting SLV Uni READY TO DELIVER. *Does a happy dance.* Is this what it feels like to finish a huge chunk of a server? I could move mountains! Matter of fact, I think I'll make that my next build project.

Seriously, we're so almost there. Also, now that I've gotten that first draft of SLV Uni all but off my plate (testing tonight/delivery tomorrow), I'll take back the news wrangling sheriff's badge, Rotku, although your offer is appreciated. Getting you the info to post fortnightly would be just the same as doing it ourselves. (-: It's nice to hear that posting progress reports would assuage the rumbling naysayers, cuz we're entering a stage when good progress is going to become easier to post.

jmecha · Post by **jmecha** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:24 am

I'll start Beta Testing now that I have a machine that can handle the awesomeness of NWN2....actually I already took a peak at the Silver Marshes last night and earlier today, just haven't found any bugs yet.

Mord · Post by **Mord** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:14 pm

I liken this question to "Why don't you support our troops?"

Lusipher · Post by **Lusipher** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:21 pm

Nobody wants ALFA to fail we want ALFA to wake up. How many years has this project gone with the same ideas? Most businesses evolve and so should this project. I personally dont believe in the way things are handled here, but Im a minority. I believe there are a lot of things that could be run differently and that you dont need so many people calling the shots. I think the ones who do call the shots arent necesarily the best to do it (although some admin are). I think if ALFA opened itself up to allowing more voices being heard instead of having a minor few squelching them maybe some real change could happen here.

Jayde brought up a lot of good points and I agree with him on many. I think ALFA just needs to realize that things arent going to be like they were and they need to adjust. You guys screw around forever on the most minimal decisions and its all a waste of time. I personally think some folks are just afraid to give up their power positions, but maybe thats not the case. I just think it can be done better. The problem is most here dont and wont even try to do something different. Stubborn in your ways.

I still think ALFA should have one person or company host all the servers on a good setup. Fast boxes and fast connection. Your central vault and all of it with one person/company.

I think if people want to be DMs then be DMs but you dont play. You see too many people become DMs only to get into secret forums or to see whats on a server, but they show up to DM maybe once a week which to me isnt worth them being a DM and I know others will disagree, but if your not going to bother putting in the effort then your one day a week to me isnt really accomplishing anything. I'd rather find someone who can DM on many nights a week and has the time to build or whatever. Make DMs stay DMs and not both players and Dms.

Start putting some effort into being a part of the NWN2 community. I know that we have seen some effort this time around with ALFA trying to work with others in the community. Its a good thing and will help our name and get others interested in ALFA. We should release content on the Vault more often than we do and we should try and join any sites working together for the betterment of the NWN2 game.

Is the OAS even Live yet? I ask because I dont know. If it isnt why isnt it? That server should have been up months ago just to have people have a place to see our work and for our players to roleplay in. If its up then excuse me because Im not 100% up on whats going on here these days. I hope it is because ALFA needs a positive face and that is your jumping off point. Start hitting it hardcore with plots and campaigns and publish them at sites that promote them. Get people involved.

I know a lot of folks are doing a lot of work here and thats awesome that they are. No one is begrudging you for any effort your giving. I think ALFA needs to recognize those folks and also ask for others to give back to the community. Avlis has a thread that the community leader updates every so many weeks telling all of the new things added to their game and also what their working on. They ask for input on what people want to see and they talk about it. They dont belittle people either for asking like some will do here. I still think doing some minor things to get people involved and promote ALFA can help. Use the Myspace page and do contests to just keep interest up and get new people here. People will want to help if they see an active community.

Again, No one wants to see ALFA fail. Id love to see servers up and people playing and having a good time. I think for a lot of people its the fact that there is so much work going on but nothing is being shown for effort. Its taking too long. Even if you can throw a few bones at people its better than not doing anything at all till your really ready to show off your new toys.

JaydeMoon · Post by **JaydeMoon** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:59 pm

Danubus wrote:How many years has this project gone with the same ideas? Most businesses evolve and so should this project.

To be fair, it HAS evolved. Core aspects have remained the same, just like a business that sells donutz doesn't stop selling donutz or else it isn't in the business of selling donutz. But so much has improved and it is continuing to do so. What is the stultifying issue? That we aren't allowing plane-touched into the community? That's one issue of many.

We have changed it so that DMs can play, which is an evolution from: "We can't trust our DMs to also be players" to "We should have the utmost trust in our DMs and assume they won't break our rules". We have gone from an amorphous sort of 'kinda don't give out so many magic items and bioware prices them wrong but there's no centralized manner to figure out what you're handing out' to a comprehensive, easy to understand set of wealth standards meant to bring all PCs to a median level of wealth and even the playing field. Admissions is being looked at to determine what ALFA wants of its membership and how best to deal with written apps vs OAS apps. These are just some changes over the years that jump out at me immediately.

I personally dont believe in the way things are handled here, but Im a minority. I believe there are a lot of things that could be run differently and that you dont need so many people calling the shots. I think the ones who do call the shots arent necesarily the best to do it (although some admin are). I think if ALFA opened itself up to allowing more voices being heard instead of having a minor few squelching them maybe some real change could happen here.

I wonder how you justify having less people to call the shots with opening itself up to more voices being heard. This is not a criticism, it's an actual query.

Jayde brought up a lot of good points and I agree with him on many.

OH NOES!!!

I think ALFA just needs to realize that things arent going to be like they were and they need to adjust. You guys screw around forever on the most minimal decisions and its all a waste of time. I personally think some folks are just afraid to give up their power positions, but maybe thats not the case. I just think it can be done better. The problem is most here don't and wont even try to do something different. Stubborn in your ways.

It has been this way for a long time, decisions not being put forth and made in a timely manner. I think though that Wynna's first act as lead this go round was to institute a streamlined decision making process that spelled out how Admin would make decisions. I think this is a very important action on her part and will go towards changing this issue.

I still think ALFA should have one person or company host all the servers on a good setup. Fast boxes and fast connection. Your central vault and all of it with one person/company.

Agree, incorporate, take the money ALFA donates for dedicated boxes in a centralized location with wide open tubes. Admin become board of directors. Not using ALFA's boxes for ALFA would be illegal, etc.

I think if people want to be DMs then be DMs but you dont play. You see too many people become DMs only to get into secret forums or to see whats on a server, but they show up to DM maybe once a week which to me isnt worth them being a DM and I know others will disagree, but if your not going to bother putting in the effort then your one day a week to me isnt really accomplishing anything. I'd rather find someone who can DM on many nights a week and has the time to build or whatever. Make DMs stay DMs and not both players and Dms.

I wholly disagree. Having someone DM one night a week is better than them not DMing at all. Thankfully no one is DMing strictly for you. FI DMs one day a week, ask her players if they think she's not accomplishing anything? And the implication that a large portion of part time DMs join the corp 'simply' to look behind the scenes is insulting.

This is a hobby. Some of us don't have the ability to sit behind a computer every night to play our video games. Three DMs running one night a week is three nights of fun and RP. No DMs running no nights a week because you won't let those three play AND DM so they opted to play instead = no nights a week of fun and RP.

I know which one I would choose.

Also, I DM at least 4 nights a week for 2-4 hours a session, because right now, I have no other life, really. Remove my right to play and DM and I'll start DMing no nights a week.

The rest of what you said

Some good points.

ç i p h é r · Post by **ç i p h é r** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:14 pm

I agree on the centralization of our systems. It's the best configuration, especially for a multi server game world with shared resources (vault and database). The improved performance should result in a better overall gaming experience for players. There are some hurdles though, the major one being cost. Since ALFA has no money of its own - and cannot w/o incorporating - it's up to individuals to foot the bill. Obviously, help from the community in the way of donations (via the paypal link below the navigation) would be welcome. Hialmar has stated that if there are enough donations, he will apply the money towards centralization.

I would like to have seen the OAS get up and running much sooner than it has. It has taken a long time to get to there, but to the credit of those who've put in the hours, it's on the brink. We can't turn back the clock now on what we could have done to be up sooner, we just need to keep moving forward. There are some DM events starting up on the OAS and TSM which I hope you and others will participate in. This would actually be a great place to start with announcements.

With regard to public relations, sadly we've just never been able to fill Blackwill's shoes. He continues to set the standard for getting the word out about ALFA throughout the NWN community two years since his resignation.

Thanks for the feedback and for keeping it constructive.

ThinkTank · Post by **ThinkTank** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:26 pm

Leevoth · Post by **Leevoth** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:03 am

I'm new to ALFA, but I have a notion that periods of calm are not uncommon on all kinds of servers.

It seems that these things come and go in waves, just likes peoples' interests. I don't know for sure, but I doubt any real changes need to be made.

I think it's just a matter of the hard working people continuing to do what they are doing, and let the naysayers yak and yak until they are blue in the face.

People will always come and go. Once they get sick of all the other poor quality servers out there and once ALFA has even one kickass Live server going, they will come in droves. Just a matter of time.

Leevoth · Post by **Leevoth** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:09 am

If anyone is saying progress is not being made they are clearly wrong. If someone has a problem with the amount of progress being made they should either put up or shut up, IMO.

I for one plan on doing more testing. (ie. walking around till i hopefully find some bugs).

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:13 am

Right on Leevoth. Keep testing, your input is invaluable.

Vendrin · Post by **Vendrin** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:37 am

Why do you hate freedom Rick?

The reason their are so many doomsayers, and why I'm one of them is simply because what ALFA once was, I just don't see returning. We've lost critical mass, we've pushed away a lot of great talent and contributors over what is honestly minor issues, and we don't really have anything to show for it now. We used to, but not any more.

Duck One · Post by **Duck One** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:36 pm

People have different ideas on what this or any project like this should be. They invest effort and passion into trying to bring that vision to ALFA, and some are frustrated that their ideas are not adopted. There are two kinds of responses to this:

Having the humility to recognize that said vision is one perons's opinion, and recognizing that other's opinions may be equally valid, and hoping that all turns out well for the sake of all concerned.

or

Viewing the rejection of said vision as an idictment of the person offering it, and lashing out from resentment. The magnitude of this resentment is likely amplified when it comes from one who has invested so much in effort, as we all should know this project is nothing if not labor intensive.

I have come to accept that ALFA is what it is, and my life does not have the time to support it as it is. However, I see many who do and can, and to them, I wish them all the success they can find. I gain nothing by wishing others ill, and can not understand those who chose operate from such a selfish position. Here's hoping ALFA thrives, and many find great fun here. Here's hoping that the others who lash out from bitterness find the humility to recognize that theirs is not an enlightned position.