Faeryl's LA Q&A

[Faeryl]

I've posted my platform in the Self-nomination thread. I'll answer any question you might have here.

[Rotku]

More to come, but the important two for now, that is most concerning me:

What is your motivation behind running?

You wouldn´t be interested in running NWN2 Skullport instead, would you? I think ALFA would benefit so much more by having another strong server headed towards Live (esp. a nice and compact one like SP) than a good LA.

[Faeryl]

More to come, but the important two for now, that is most concerning me:

What is your motivation behind running?

You wouldn´t be interested in running NWN2 Skullport instead, would you? I think ALFA would benefit so much more by having another strong server headed towards Live (esp. a nice and compact one like SP) than a good LA.

My motivation is very simple and basic. To give back to a community that has been a part of my life for many years and with the hope that I might improve it in some small way.

As for Skullport - It was my intention to run the server. As I had explained previously, I could not do that until my husband returned from a long term job that has him living at quite a distance from home. He has the gaming rig with him and I am left with a laptop that cannot run NWN2. The job was just extended from 6 month to 9 months, so there are further delays in my availability to HDM the server. Plus, I'm still saving the cash needed to run and host the server on a separate system. If the server is still open in 6 months, I'll probably step in.

[Rotku]

Excellent. Round two

(1) About a month ago now, there was a proposal submitted, with the goals of making DMing on NWN1 mroe attractive. This proposal had three main points to it :

• Allow DMs to play on the same server they DM on
• Allow players to have a second (and maybe more) PCs, solely for the use in campaigns
• Allow DMs, when running campaigns, to boost new PCs up to an appropriate level

Have you followed the arguments? What are your thoughts on such a proposal?

(2) Public Relations is one of the LA departments. This has always been something that has onlz been tackled when someone willing to put a hard mile in has stepped up as PR Head, and has generally been ignored by the LAs. What are your plans with regards to PR?

(3) LA has the power of Veto over all Admin calls. How do you view the use of this power? Is it something that should be used if you strongly disagree with a point, or simply when you feel something has been done wrong, or will do a great wrong to ALFA?

(4) A while ago there was a descussion in the Admin forums about rewarding contributers with In Game rewards. What are your thoughts here?

[Faeryl]

Excellent. Round two

(1) About a month ago now, there was a proposal submitted, with the goals of making DMing on NWN1 mroe attractive. This proposal had three main points to it :

• Allow DMs to play on the same server they DM on
• Allow players to have a second (and maybe more) PCs, solely for the use in campaigns
• Allow DMs, when running campaigns, to boost new PCs up to an appropriate level

Have you followed the arguments? What are your thoughts on such a proposal?

I have not followed it. Would you please point me to the discussion so that I can read up on it before answering?

(2) Public Relations is one of the LA departments. This has always been something that has onlz been tackled when someone willing to put a hard mile in has stepped up as PR Head, and has generally been ignored by the LAs. What are your plans with regards to PR?

I believe one of LA's main purposes is PR. I plan to put myself out into the greater NWN community as a representative of ALFA. I would like to have a PR staff willing to work with me on tracking down where we need to show ourselves off, but I intend to be the public face of ALFA.

(3) LA has the power of Veto over all Admin calls. How do you view the use of this power? Is it something that should be used if you strongly disagree with a point, or simply when you feel something has been done wrong, or will do a great wrong to ALFA?

I do not view the power of veto a a means to my own ends. Just because I disagree doesn't mean that I am right. What I decide will always be done from the basis of what is best for ALFA and that decision will take into account all of the varying views presented. I feel each Admin has the right to make decisions in their own venue. I will always be available to bounce ideas off of, but would never interfere unless the situation demanded.

(4) A while ago there was a descussion in the Admin forums about rewarding contributers with In Game rewards. What are your thoughts here?

Personally, my rewards for building came from seeing others enjoy what I had built. I am not opposed to the idea of ingame rewards, but would want to explore first why the joy has gone from contributing for the sake of contributing in the first place. While I can see that very few contribute at the moment and enticing them with cookies might solve things temporarily, it is not a long term solution. It is one of the things I see as a finger in the leak. We've got to figure out why the problem exists before jumping to a stop gap solution.

[Rotku]

Excellent. Round two

(1) About a month ago now, there was a proposal submitted, with the goals of making DMing on NWN1 mroe attractive. This proposal had three main points to it :

• Allow DMs to play on the same server they DM on
• Allow players to have a second (and maybe more) PCs, solely for the use in campaigns
• Allow DMs, when running campaigns, to boost new PCs up to an appropriate level

Have you followed the arguments? What are your thoughts on such a proposal?

I have not followed it. Would you please point me to the discussion so that I can read up on it before answering?

http://www.alandfaraway.org/forums/view ... 77&start=0
Enjoy
I´ve also recieved a well thought out PM from someone with all the pros explained - I´ve sent him a PM asking for permission to forward it to you.

[Wynna]

Hello, Faeryl. A welcome addition to the field. Thank you for stepping up.

There have been quite a few times over the years when two strong and intelligent factions both convinced of their right oppose one another. There will without a doubt be more. These are more for your personal thought, although replies would be welcome. Taking into account my own experiences of failure and success, my questions will be on the leadership and people management aspects rather than the public policy aspects. Although I'm very interested in the latter, Rotku seems to have those questions under control.

1) When diplomacy fails, are you prepared to make a decision and live by its consequences?
2) The greater good or the rule of law?
3) What potential for testing your resolve on the above do you see brewing on the horizon or already steeping in the pot?
4) Have you considered for yourself in what situations you would apply veto?

Thank you. I will say I am very, very impressed with your platform and with your willingness to serve.

[Faeryl]

Excellent. Round two

(1) About a month ago now, there was a proposal submitted, with the goals of making DMing on NWN1 mroe attractive. This proposal had three main points to it :

• Allow DMs to play on the same server they DM on
• Allow players to have a second (and maybe more) PCs, solely for the use in campaigns
• Allow DMs, when running campaigns, to boost new PCs up to an appropriate level

Have you followed the arguments? What are your thoughts on such a proposal?

I have not followed it. Would you please point me to the discussion so that I can read up on it before answering?

http://www.alandfaraway.org/forums/view ... 77&start=0
Enjoy
I´ve also recieved a well thought out PM from someone with all the pros explained - I´ve sent him a PM asking for permission to forward it to you.

Thanks for the link Rotku. I have not read the entire 9 page thread yet , but I get the general idea of what is being considered. Here are my overall thoughts.

I feel that what is good for NWN1 is also good for NWN2. ALFA servers have always been campaign oriented and will always be. Our purpose is to play D&D online, no matter which platform we play it on so having two separate sets of guidelines doesn’t make sense. I state this so that my views on the points are understood as applying to all of ALFA, not just NWN1.

1. Allow DMs to play on the same server they DM on.
In the beginning, DMs were not allowed to play. This was to prevent any conflicts of interest or favoritism. But DMs got tired of just Dming. To avoid burnout they were given permission to play, but not on their own server, to avoid conflicts of interest and favoritism. So the question is, would allowing DMs to play on the servers they DM on cause a conflict of interest or favoritism? At this point, most of the DMs have known each other for a long time. Favoritism isn’t any more likely on one server than the other. It’s the conflict of interest that is concerning. Would it be fair if someone both played and DMed the same campaign? No. That is definitely a conflict of interest. But if they DMed and played in two totally separate campaigns? I see no problem in that. So I would support this as long as there was a stipulation that one could never DM and play in the same campaign plotline. This seems a natural progression in the development of the community.

2. Allow players to have a second (and maybe more) PCs, solely for the use in campaigns
(Note the emphasis on solely.) I’ve never understood the reason for not allowing this. Probably because in my PnP group we each take a turn DMing our own campaigns and have a different character for each. It has always seemed silly to me that ALFA wouldn’t do the same. The only stipulation that I think should be placed on this is that when/if the campaign ended that the characters should be retired unless another DM is willing to allow them in as is. New DM should be able to make modifications to the character to balance them with the other players currently in the campaign.

3. Allow DMs, when running campaigns, to boost new PCs up to an appropriate level
I don’t see why not. If it suits the campaign the DM is running, and makes it an overall more enjoyable experience for everyone, why not? I would much rather give the DMs discretion on this than say, start everyone at a higher level just ‘cause. I've done it for years in my PnP campaign and have never, ever had it cause problems.

We are going to have to be flexible in order to grow again. I think this allows us to flex without destabilizing the whole.

[Nalo Jade]

I am impressed with your platform too, and not just because I happen to agree with you, it is simple and seems filled with logic and common sense.

What do you think the major differences would be between you and I as LA?

(I'll answer first so it doesn't look like a set-up)

1. I haven't heard any sighs of disdain at your nomination so presumably you would be able to make progress with less resistance. Thats a good thing.

2. Your PR proposal is a bit vague compared to what I had proposed. A request for a PR head was sent out a few months back and a couple people to include myself volunteered to work as the PR head, there was no response...if you plan on having the PR movement largely motivated by a PR head, then maybe it would be best to have the potential PR head you intend on hiring explain how PR would be handled under your administration? If you kicked my butt in the election ... /if/ ... would you consider hiring me on as PR head?

3. I am a boy and you are a girl, you have claimed a woman's touch is needed...well I am not gender blind so yeah ima not a girl and you are not a boy.

4. How would you go about implementing changes, you made them seem very easy... we just add more gold and 1000exp for the entrance script...? A difference I see here between us is that though I am 95.5% on board with you about 95% of what you have said, I don't see it as the LA's job to "make" those decisions, am I right in assuming you see it differently?

Good luck and may the best man win...

[Vendrin]

Huzzah Faeryl. Take no prisoners and best of luck! ( not that you need it)

[FanaticusIncendi]

Hi Faeryl,

You've addressed the issue of multiple PCs, playing where you DM, and starting at greater than level one in a manner that I, for one, completely agree with.

The question, then, is how are you going to make this happen?

The thread in which the topic was discussed ended on October 30 with Demson supposedly sifting through the discussion and "working it all out". Time passed. Then, on November 18, I and several other people to whom this topic was of interest received a letter from Demson requesting our thoughts on a number of ways he had in mind to satisfy desires on the matter. Time passed. Then Demson resigned.

Nothing was ever posted stating that this issue was closed, or resolved. I could only assume discussions were dragging on behind closed doors somewhere. I wondered what ever came of Demson's ideas.

Yesterday, in chat, I discussed the matter with Zicada. He seemed to think that the matter had been closed and that we should all know it was closed, and further indicated that the admin knew nothing whatsoever of Demson's recent efforts. I am not quite sure what to make of that last, but the end result of the matter, according to Zic:

[14:38] zicada: from an admin pov the matter is closed for now
[14:38] zicada: we dont want to change things that radically
[14:38] zicada: a better approach would be to fork of branch out

So again, my question for Faeryl is how do you intend to make the changes you propose when the rest of the admin body has already deemed the matter closed? Even if the new PA agrees with the changes that still is not a majority vote.

Thanks

[Rotku]

Thanks for the answers so far


One thing that caught my attention, which I want to ask another quick question about, is this line:

We are going to have to be flexible in order to grow again. I think this allows us to flex without destabilizing the whole.

These are pretty big changes that have been proposed here, with at least one of them altering the Pillars - which have almost come to have a mystical status in ALFA, rightfully or not. However, your platform seemed to be slanted very much against any radical change.

Keeping in mind that you have taken this idea to the next level - to apply it to NWN2 as well - in what circumstances would big changes like these be acceptable? When you feel that the arguments are well reasoned? When there is a simple majority of players/admin/HDMs/whatever supporting the idea?

[Faeryl]

Hello, Faeryl. A welcome addition to the field. Thank you for stepping up.

There have been quite a few times over the years when two strong and intelligent factions both convinced of their right oppose one another. There will without a doubt be more. These are more for your personal thought, although replies would be welcome. Taking into account my own experiences of failure and success, my questions will be on the leadership and people management aspects rather than the public policy aspects. Although I'm very interested in the latter, Rotku seems to have those questions under control.

1) When diplomacy fails, are you prepared to make a decision and live by its consequences?
2) The greater good or the rule of law?
3) What potential for testing your resolve on the above do you see brewing on the horizon or already steeping in the pot?
4) Have you considered for yourself in what situations you would apply veto?

Thank you. I will say I am very, very impressed with your platform and with your willingness to serve.

These are indeed thought provoking questions Wynna. Thank you.

1) When diplomacy fails, are you prepared to make a decision and live by its consequences?
Yes. I’ve made many tough calls in my time, some of them having life altering consequences on family members. I have no problems making and living with my decisions. However, I will also be the first to step up and admit it when my decision was the wrong one and do anything within my ability to correct it. I am as human and fallible as the next person. I am not always right. But I believe in standing by what I do, even if that means redoing it.

2) The greater good or the rule of law?
The Law was created to serve the greater good. If it no longer does that, then it should be reexamined. In that light I would say: the greater good.


3) What potential for testing your resolve on the above do you see brewing on the horizon or already steeping in the pot?
As I said in my platform, I haven’t been involved much lately other than to do a bit of casual reading. I’m not aware at this moment what issues are sitting on the back burner that may need addressed or which are especially problematic. I wish I had a better answer to this, but anything I said would be mere surface thoughts and not very productive. Sorry.

4) Have you considered for yourself in what situations you would apply veto?
The only one I’ve considered at this point is something that might drive away large numbers of members. I have no specifics in mind. But if a majority of both staff and players are opposed to something, I would feel the need to intervene on their behalf. Again, I wish I could be more specific, but sometimes issues cannot be planned for and are better dealt with as they come up.

[Faeryl]

I am impressed with your platform too, and not just because I happen to agree with you, it is simple and seems filled with logic and common sense.

What do you think the major differences would be between you and I as LA?

(I'll answer first so it doesn't look like a set-up)

1. I haven't heard any sighs of disdain at your nomination so presumably you would be able to make progress with less resistance. Thats a good thing.

Hi NJ, and good luck on your run. I think the major difference would be the intensity of our responses. You are very energetic and persistent. I am more the, ummm, pondering type. I prefer weighing my thoughts well before speaking. I believe you would charge in to attempt making changes and while I'm not opposed to change, I would give deep consideration before pushing towards implementing any change.

2. Your PR proposal is a bit vague compared to what I had proposed. A request for a PR head was sent out a few months back and a couple people to include myself volunteered to work as the PR head, there was no response...if you plan on having the PR movement largely motivated by a PR head, then maybe it would be best to have the potential PR head you intend on hiring explain how PR would be handled under your administration? If you kicked my butt in the election ... /if/ ... would you consider hiring me on as PR head?

I would want to look at how it has been handled in the past, examine what has worked and what has not, then determine why, before making any commitments to plans. I won't make plans until I get a clear view of what is needed and I do not have a clear view of this at the moment. That is why my answer was vague.

If not as PR head, I would certainly consider you for a member of the staff.

3. I am a boy and you are a girl, you have claimed a woman's touch is needed...well I am not gender blind so yeah ima not a girl and you are not a boy.

Heh. Men are doers, who react from their heads before their hearts. Women are nurturers who react from their hearts then their heads. I think ALFA needs a bit of nurturing and love.

4. How would you go about implementing changes, you made them seem very easy... we just add more gold and 1000exp for the entrance script...? A difference I see here between us is that though I am 95.5% on board with you about 95% of what you have said, I don't see it as the LA's job to "make" those decisions, am I right in assuming you see it differently?

No, as I said in my platform, I see LA as a figurehead and diplomat whose main purpose is to represent the community and to resolve conflict. It is the job of the other Admin to work towards change when needed. I will simply do what is in my power to assist them when needed.

[Faeryl]

Huzzah Faeryl. Take no prisoners and best of luck! ( not that you need it)

Thanks Ven!