Clarifying Previous Post

White Warlock · Post by **White Warlock** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:39 pm

Additional thoughts:

I think it is imperative, if the OASs are going to be done once again, a 'sincere' effort be made to document the success/failure of this effort, as well as document the success/failure of the written application process. I, and others, have repeatedly watched the OASs do this rinse repeat process of high expectations followed shortly thereafter with crashing hopes. Just this last January, Danielmn made the announcement they will have 12 dms to manage the OAS, only to be followed by a hosting limitation due to lack of dm participation and candidate logins.

As well, there is one thing i find odd. This argument presented regarding new DMs for the OAS. I find it either disingenuous or simply "not up-to-date" considering the discussions and agreement made within the administration regarding how DMs can play in TSM, with the HDM's permission. In other words, the DMs volunteering to assist in the OAS could very well DM in the TSM, without relinquishing their player status.

Part of the problem with the OAS2, as i've examined it, is a complete failure to indicate 'where' the OAS2 download can be obtained. If it is, in fact, only one file, then a direct link should be provided in the server description. Indeed, the OAS2 server name should indicate to view the server's description. At present, the OAS2 server description is completely useless. I think it is also a good idea to indicate just how 'small' the hak is. When i tried to get on the OAS2, and found out it required haks, i immediately blew it off, thinking it required a mass of haks that would take me hours to download and install.

Another thing, is the written applications. Many have indicated they are not receiving a reply to the apps they send in. These written apps need to have a reasonably prompt response, and it seems to me they need to be managed as single email sendings, rather than group sendings, so as to decrease the amount of instances where the emails are blocked or thrust into the junk folders. Considering the low content of emails needing to be sent out, i just don't understand why alfa needs to rely on a mass sender.

Also, AL, in your examination of one point i made, regarding the staff needs of the OAS servers as opposed to the staff needs of the written apps, i think you might have missed my argument regarding the "here and now" facet of the OAS servers. I.e., if we have a flood of new written apps come in, it is no hassle to get reviewers to manage it. In contrast, when a flood hits the OAS servers, we have to 'throw' people into the servers 'immediately,' and if we don't have the staffing readily available, we lose candidates. I.e., the OAS servers are very dynamic, or at least have the potential to be. This is something we simply cannot prepare for, nor react to, in any means remotely efficiently.

As to any polls regarding preferences (which i not seen), this is very much irrelevant. What matters most are performance, efficiency, and resource management, not popularity polls.

Anyway, as stated earlier, "cart before the horse." There are plenty of other things needing immediate attention and staff energies to address. This notion of "staff doesn't want to do this or that" really doesn't hold when "this or that" isn't even being put on the table to be addressed. You can't volunteer to do things if said things aren't on the agenda. At present (and historically), priorities in this community are bassackwards.

Nonetheless, i wish you guys luck in your efforts to reverse this longstanding trend. But, it would go a long way to actually doing so by putting aside these intentions with the OAS until other more urgent issues are resolved.

Respectfully,
Roy

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:54 pm

I'm in full agreement WW...

The last 2 1/2 years I've spent volunteering for Admissions has been a complete and total waist of my time. That's why I don't volunteer there, or anywhere else, in this community anymore...fear of having something I labor so hard at be stepped on and thrown in the damn trash.

Respectfully,
Daniel

HATEFACE · Post by **HATEFACE** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:08 pm

Back in the day the OAS was a huge success. . . The numbers of newbies and eventually ALFA players started to dwindle.

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:13 pm

Quiet PD, you know that is not the case at all. OAS1 has never been anything but a burden to the community, nothing successful has ever come from the effort whatsoever, in fact, I would say that no members have ever come through the oas1 after being rejected through written application let only accepted without an app at all, and that oas1 and oas2 has not benefitted us in any way shape or form whatsoever as regaurds to new membership, in fact it has probably only driven people away from alfa.
Period.

psycho_leo · Post by **psycho_leo** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:15 pm

Hush Dan. The fact that PD played in the OAS should be enough to prove it has to go.

HATEFACE · Post by **HATEFACE** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:17 pm

psycho_leo wrote:Hush Dan. The fact that PD played in the OAS should be enough to prove it has to go.

He just said nothing successful came of it.

That includes me.

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:17 pm

It would include me as well, since I also came through the oas1 and was rejected through my application....and gods knows I've never been any sort of help to this community whatsoever. Nope, not me.

HATEFACE · Post by **HATEFACE** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:31 pm

It could very well be that the feeling of the community is "Hay ALFA doesn't give a shit about the OAS why should we?" I would suggest that ALFA players stop by there every so often. Sign up for the Adopt-a-n00b program. Maybe if a newbie was thinking about joining the OAS and saw some players on there already. . . he might be enticed. Just a thought. OAS 2 was semi-procutive at one point.

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:41 pm

....then I left.

Wynna · Post by **Wynna** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:53 pm

I believe OAS has been moderately successful in terms of quantity and quite successful in terms of quality. Like WW, I've done both written and OAS admissions and I believe both have merits. For OAS, those include 'showing' rather than 'telling' your RP and the fact that it's just more fun.

OAS1 may work better by appointment while OAS2 seems to have a willing persistent host, but in either case, why dissuade the pursuit of applications in any method if the logistics seem to be in hand or at least on offer? Even if OAS2 went to appointment only DMing in periodic lulls between PR pushes, I see that as a net positive rather than any sort of negative. PA's department has added DMs for coverage. If people wish to DM either sporadically or consistently, why discourage? It can only be a net gain or at worst a time-neutral situation, as those people can retain their playership on Live servers. Either they manage the amount of time they have available between playing and DMing without impacting the overall total time devoted to ALFA or they increase a little bit to compensate for losing time to the playing. In either case, it does not take away from the Live DM membership. IMO, it is a long term gain for Live DM membership, as it offers a way for those who want to DM while playing to 'keep their hand in' and keep up with advances in the client until such a time as they may decide to devote their ALFA time to Live DMing.

In any of the above cases (appointment/fully hosted/few DMs/new DMs) communication in the OAS forums is the only requisite for making it work. DMs post their times; applicants post their desires; hosts make the server available. Sweeping reductions or cancellations of a service rarely serve as well as simple communication and active attention to needs.

Thanks for reading.

HATEFACE · Post by **HATEFACE** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:55 pm

You know me dan I love seeing servers with zero players on it. It makes me WANT to play there. It gives me the ability roleplay by myself. This is especially true when participating in an online "community." There is a buch of fun things you can do by yourself and roleplaying alone is leik mah second fav! on that list.

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:29 pm

Werd, there is nothing better than rping with yourself...other than being really low level and having to rp with really high uber look down your nose PC's, that's even more uberfun! Specially when death is rampant!

HATEFACE · Post by **HATEFACE** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:41 pm

Oh yeah, there's nothing better than having a highbie make you feel like the dirt they scraped off their heel when you express insights of your hard fought kobold battle of near-death and they match yours with the hilarious reply of "LOL laff wut?! I've fought elder evils so old and evil that they don't even die." comments. If I could, I would make a lowbie who preyed upon high level characters.

danielmn · Post by **danielmn** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:56 pm

Yush...give me three levels and I will kill everay last highbie there is!!!

VAULT WIPE INITIATED!!!!

Boba Fett FTW!!!

On the plus side, I just beat Dungeon Seige for the first time eva...mmm, what else I got round here collectin dust? Ahhh! Sacred!

Wynna · Post by **Wynna** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:02 pm

*raps Dan and Helios's heads together.

You both have made good points underneath the back and forth banter/snarling. Points taken. Please chew on each other, however, by PM. Thank you!