GF's platform

[Grand Fromage]

1) What changes will you make if you become PA in regards to the OAS1 and 2. Do you think we need the OAS1? What can we do as OAS Dms and app reviewers to make getting in new players an easier task, but still using the degree of checks and balances we currently use.

The problem with the OAS seems to be that lots of newbs log on, don't find a DM, and don't follow up. I think maybe having the OAS only up at scheduled times, clearly marked on the website, and guaranteeing DMs during those times might be a good idea. As for the web app, last time I made sure no app was ever sitting in the system for more than 24 hours and it seemed to work fine. We can experiment beyond that.

2) PR and PA should work closely in hand. Since we are both trying to bring in new players and keep them here. Tell us some of your ideas in regards to the Application process. What changes need to be made to the Acceptance email and rejection email? What kind of things can we do to allow new players more access to information to get them started? What can we do to keep player retention?

I haven't seen the acceptance or rejection emails for years so I can't really speak to them, but if they've been a problem I'll look at them. Information seems pretty easily accessed to me, but I know the system--I think there I'll need to talk to some new players and see what bothered them about the process. Best to go to the source rather than make a poorly informed judgement out of hand.

Player retention is tricky because of all the variables involved. To hammer on my platform, changing the moderation will be part of it since no one likes to participate in a community where they can't express themselves freely. Some players simply aren't going to like ALFA and will leave, there's nothing we can do about them. I think the biggest thing in retention is simply giving people fun stuff to do on the servers, but that's largely up to the DM teams and the players, not me throwing lightning bolts from up here.

3)Any changes you want to make to the player disipline system? Do you think it currently works well? Just curious about your thoughts here.

Well, as I mentioned before, having secret police enforcing vague (at best) rules with no oversight and no discussion permitted is the worst possible way to handle discipline, so that has to go. As far as in-game stuff, I always believed in simplicity. Cheaters get banned as soon as they're discovered, everyone else gets a chance to shape up. New people get more leniency than old.

4) will you get planetouched in ALFA? A lot of folks want to play those type of characters but arent allowed to yet. What are your views and will you push for it to be allowed?

Based on my experiences on servers where planetouched were allowed, I'm inclined to leave them out. I'm not opposed to some sort of quota system though, it's just when the entire population consists of tieflings that something is wrong.

5) *borrowed from Paazin* If elected, what will be your main goal of the office - to see through a personal project, to be an effective administrator or fair adjudicator?

I don't see how those are mutually exclusive. But, as should be pretty clear, the only reason I broke my personal rule about never running for admin again was the sickening feeling I got reading the post on the new moderation system. Changing/removing that is my primary goal. No community, and certainly not one based around playing D&D on the internet, should be using fear as a weapon against its membership. Whoever came up with that should be ashamed. After that, doing things that make sense is pretty much my MO.

6)What can you do to show voters you can handle this positon? You speak your mind pretty bluntly (as do I) and we can rub folks the wrong way even when we mean well. What can you do to show voters your going to be a fair and approachable PA?

Well, I was before so all the oldies know it. I speak to everyone as if we're all adults and can handle ourselves as such. If you start crying any time someone disagrees with you or uses language more colorful than poopie or fiddlesticks, that's your problem and I'm not going to coddle you. Learn how to deal with others.

I've always been fair whenever I was in charge of something around here. I take each situation independently, and even if we're disagreeing on one thing, if you're right on another then you're right. They don't influence one another. As far as approachable, I think I'm always approachable. I don't pretend to like people if I don't, that's dishonest, but if it's official business I'll be fair. I don't have my nose in the air about anything around here. And, it's a fake position in a group that plays online Dungeons and Dragons. It's not that serious. Just say hi.

[MShady]

In the spirit of the "My sword, my axe and my bow" posts, which will probably be moderated, GF has my vote.

For quite awhile, the joke has been that GF should run for PA again. Everytime the PA election comes up, people want him to run.

It's not a running joke, either. Alot of us really want him to run again because he demonstrated he has the right temperment, perspective, knowledge and common sense. I'm seriously glad to see him running. He's a really good guy and while he may not post an extensive platform, he doesn't need one so much. Alot the position is about exercising common sense and he has it.

In terms of the moderation policy, it is a legitimate campaign issue as he is one of five Admins who can vote on it. I strongly suspect he'll be able to influence them to moderate the moderators or go back to a more sane system. I've been in ALFA since Live. There are not many of around who truly were, let alone before. We NEVER needed a system like this back than and we do not now. It has a very chilling effect and frankly, I don't even WANT to post and run afoul of things.

It's an over reaction and I feel that perhaps it was instituted as an over reaction to Mikayla's posts about Jayde. I know it bent noses and hurt peoples feeling and many of us wanted to cover our ears and ignore it. I ended up support Jayde in the end. It probably cost him the race. I would not have touched the issue or used it against him. It was a legit issue, if painful issue. If that is difficult to see, I think actually being involved in that might change perspectives.

Moderation is something we come up with occasionally here after we go on a community bender after some difficulty or another. We always end up without it and that should happen again. We might need to lower the temperature here. You know what happens when you boil water hot enough in a sealed pot though? No matter how boss that pot is, it will explode. Same deal here. THIS community needs a place to vent. It's healthy, neccesary and vital for holding people accountable. There have been numerous issues of difficult things only getting resolved once it became a board issue and frankly, I think all that would be moderated because it's not "nice". Well, forums are tough but life is tougher. So wear a cup.

I also feel like the over reaction may be borne of some people threatening to leave unless things are changed to suit them. I don't know who, how or why but we've went half a decade without the MOST drastic moderation policy I've seen in a gaming community. Seriously, wtf?

So GF... thank you so much for running and could you elaborate and respond about how you feel about the above statements, the moderation policy and how you could influence its change/end? Any other Admins potentially with you on changing this?

[Grand Fromage]

I've just found out some people's posts in this thread have been deleted--thank you to the mods for making my point more convincingly than I ever could alone.

[Thangorn]

moderation aside GF, although I know how huge an issue that is to alot of people..

I support you and I want to know, do you really have time to do this job properly right now?

Reason I want to know is I don't want to build shit for a munchkin free-for-all and I know you know what sort of hours you have to put in so you get what I am trying to say.

[Grand Fromage]

moderation aside GF, although I know how huge an issue that is to alot of people..

I support you and I want to know, do you really have time to do this job properly right now?

Reason I want to know is I don't want to build sh*t for a munchkin free-for-all and I know you know what sort of hours you have to put in so you get what I am trying to say.

Well, I'll lay it out clearly. This is not priority one for me and never will be. I have lots of stuff on my plate, like trying to publish a novel, graduating university, getting laid, finding a job, Fallout 3, et cetera. However I always have time to ban people. Anyone who played on TSM can testify to the likelihood of a munchkin free-for-all under my despotic rule. You'll get a rusty spoon if you're lucky, and you'll like it. No XP for you. No taxation without representation. People should not fear their governments; governments should fear their people. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Cannon to the right of them,
Cannon to the left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell,
Rode the six hundred.


Anyway. It shouldn't be a problem. If it is I'll step down and let someone else take over, I'm not going to hold white-knuckled onto the reins of fake power to the detriment of the community.

[Grand Fromage]

It's not a running joke, either. Alot of us really want him to run again because he demonstrated he has the right temperment, perspective, knowledge and common sense. I'm seriously glad to see him running. He's a really good guy and while he may not post an extensive platform, he doesn't need one so much. Alot the position is about exercising common sense and he has it.

I find the extensive platforms disturbing. Actually just posting as much as I have in this thread is. It's online Dungeons and Dragons. I will do things as best as I can, but I'm not going to act with feigned seriousness about the whole thing. It's a game, on the internet. It only deserves so much energy devoted to it.

So GF... thank you so much for running and could you elaborate and respond about how you feel about the above statements, the moderation policy and how you could influence its change/end? Any other Admins potentially with you on changing this?

I'll shock you all by saying I'm not against moderation as a concept. It can work well if it's done intelligently, the problem is ALFA has, historically, chosen terrible method after terrible method. ALFA moderation is all based on punitive retribution born of some particular drama incident and four or five loud, immature people desperate to control the way others behave, not any sort of desire for community standards or a friendly environment. Secret police do not make a friendly environment. Banning people for disagreeing with the secret police does not make a friendly environment. Treating your fellow members with disrespect, telling them that they can't be trusted to speak their minds, does not make a friendly environment.

There's always been a small contingent of people who think adults are people who say darn and never have disagreements with one another. People who don't have strong opinions, and who always like and get along with everyone they encounter. This contingent has, presumably, never been outside. Any moderation needs to be based on basic human psychology and an understanding of interpersonal relationships, which those who have created our various moderation policies have all seemed to lack. The idea that faceless bureaucrats with carte blanche to do whatever they want to people will encourage more respect than rationally relating to people we've known for years is ludicrous.

Not everything needs to be edited/deleted/banned over. You can actually talk to people about stuff. I know it's a crazy concept, but sometimes people resolve disagreements through discussion, rather than simply being smacked by those who are power tripping over internet Dungeons and Dragons.

As for other admins being with me, I dunno. I'm still on Euro time so I haven't seen anybody. I would assume they are since I know the ones I'd be admining with to be decent and smart people, and have been friends with them for years, but maybe everyone went crazy while I was gone.

[Dorn]

*considers people offering GF their swords, axes and bows*

*brow wrinkles in conentration*

*dark frown*

Are you a hobbit!?

Think you'll stick at it for the duration after (maybe) paazin doesn't permit the moderator policy to be relealed?

What cheese is your favourite?

What would you advise the DMA and LA about server rollout and server build style to make the game as good as possible for your constituents (ie we the jolly players)?

KOS drow/tief/ in 'mainstream' TSM/BG/WH/WD?

Do you think giving exp for good IC stories posted on the boards and so on that contribute to the life of a server is a good idea?

[MShady]

GF - Would you publically request that you do not want your election thread moderated? Would the moderators actually listen?

[Grand Fromage]

GF - Would you publically request that you do not want your election thread moderated? Would the moderators actually listen?

I already did, on the last page in reply to Paazin. As for if they'll listen, I'm assuming no but we'll see. Frankly I'm half expecting to get a week ban just for running on this platform, but that'll give me more time to go outside. With girls. So no big loss.

[Grand Fromage]

Are you a hobbit!?

My feet are large and hairy, but I'm far too tall.

Think you'll stick at it for the duration after (maybe) paazin doesn't permit the moderator policy to be relealed?

If I can't effect any changes to it, then I'll probably resign. As I said to ayergo, I'm not going to put in effort for a community which treats its members so poorly. Changing it for the better would be something if the entire system can't simply be thrown out. If absolutely nothing can be done, I'll start a forum on my own webspace where anyone who wishes to can socialize freely without fear of retribution, and just use the ALFA forums for game related stuff. Which I'd rather not do, but it's better than not talking to anyone for fear of being banned.

What cheese is your favourite?

This is an unfair and impossible question sir. Cheese is dependent on context. I eat a lot of bleu, swiss (the stinkier the better), and parmesan though.

What would you advise the DMA and LA about server rollout and server build style to make the game as good as possible for your constituents (ie we the jolly players)?

Servers should be added when they're done, let people build what they want. As for build style, you can't really dictate terms to builders if you want any results, but logical organization is good. Standard X/Y coordinates in the area titles with 0,0 as the lower left area of the server, keeping areas a standard size, clearly marking (in-character) where walkmeshes are, that sort of thing. Map notes are good, as is putting a server map in the server forum.

KOS drow/tief/ in 'mainstream' TSM/BG/WH/WD?

Drow yes. Tieflings are more complex since they may or may not look like Hellboy, so I wouldn't trust that to a script. Life should be trouble for them though.

Do you think giving exp for good IC stories posted on the boards and so on that contribute to the life of a server is a good idea?

Sure. RP is RP, reward it.

[Kest]

My path is set.

[Rusty]

Do you have an alternative moderation proposal; what is it?

[Nyarlathotep]

I triple guarantee you, there is no GF in ALFA.

[Grand Fromage]

Do you have an alternative moderation proposal; what is it?

I'm not really going to waste the time on it unless elected. I can guarantee no secret police, no rules against disagreement with the mods, and having your posts edited or being banned will be pretty difficult. You'll have to be trying hard to get to that point. The Something Awful forums are the best managed I've ever seen so I'd probably take inspiration from there, though with a much more personal touch since we don't have 110,000 members to deal with here. Something appropriate to a community of adults playing D&D, not a prison.

[ThinkTank]

Opinion

Moderation: the clues in the title

A) moderating everything for the sake of peace and quiet; incourages public alienation.

B) not moderating blatant personal attacks, vendetta's, and baseless whining about 'imperfect' content someone has spent hours on; incourages personal alienation.

Solution?