I am saying goodbye to ALFA

Rick7475 · Post by **Rick7475** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:42 pm

I am going to resign from whatever ambiquous position I ever held with TSM ALFA.

I just cannot fathom the logic of our DMA, I cannot work with him. I am sorry. Apparantly, according to him, we are not in beta 3, but still in beta 1 5 days from live.

My DM App is still not approved, 5 days from live, even after he had assured me I was a DM long ago. He had told me in several PM's listed below that Indio and I were DM's. Apparently he changed his mind and broke his word to Indio and myself.

The logic astounds me.

I cannot recruit DM's for TSM because many do not want to work with him or those that have DM'ed here for years have go through the same DM APP process they did originally, which is just plain insulting. I have 2 official DM's, that's it. I can't get any more.

Good luck with him. He has broken promises to me and continues to be an obstacle instead of a helping hand. But, what can I do. YOU voted for him. You have him. So, since he has been DMA 3 terms, it is not the DMA who am at odds with, I suppose it is ALFA and the live DM's that I simply can not agree with.

If you feel a DMA who is misleading is your choice, so be it.

From: Rusty
To: Rick7475
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:01 am
Subject: TSF -> TSM
Hi Rick

Would you like me to formally rename TSF to TSM?

Can I just confirm that, as far as I am concerned, you are and will remain head of the TSF team for the forseeable future, i.e. a sudden post from donrath on the forums will not be capable of reversing this, and that when TSF enters Beta 2, I shall formally appoint you as the Head DM of the server.

Also, re. Server Applications, the process used for the initial set of applications is no longer in existence. That process was set up only to deal with a large number of simultaneous, and possibly competing, applications, and after it was complete, approval returned to DMA discretion.

Thanks
Rusty

From: Rusty
To: Rick7475
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:08 am
Subject: Re: TSF DM / Builder list and access to 003 DM forum
Cool.

You have complete control over the 003 DM Usergroup, as far as I am concerned, so add/remove at will. When people start contributing, just let me know and I will add them to the 'NWN2 Team' - and if they are doing a lot then I can make them NWN2 DMs.

From that list, at the moment, AC, Wynn, Dan, and fluff are 'Team' and indio and yourself are DMs.

I'd like to have a meeting with as many of our NWN2 contributors present the weekend after next, i.e. 1-2 September, so we can make sure everyone is on the same page for the push through testnig to Live.

Rusty

and finally:

From: Rusty
To: Rick7475
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:12 am
Subject: Re: DM App
Hi Rick

I copied your PM into the DM Application forum this morning. And, of course, TSM is not in Beta Three, but still in Beta One.

Before approving you as a DM, I want to address a few issues.

Firstly, I'd like you to comment on this definition of the HDM's role from the current draft ALFA DMG.

Quote:
HDMs are the stewards of servers, entrusted by ALFA with the responsibility for their administration. Ultimately, HDM have the ability to shape servers in their own image, while operating within the broader context of ALFA; they have either discretion or influence over their team members and server design and content. This is a demanding and rewarding role, for HDMs will find that a significant amount of their time is spent on matters of management, be it supervising plot developments, overseeing PDM training, or resolving disputes. HDMs are entitled to vote in all Administrator elections. HDMs also have a special responsibility for approving exceptional PCs, for upholding the principles of the ALFA Charter, and scrutinising any proposed changes. The DM Administrator, to whom they are accountable for their server and DM team, appoints HDMs.

Are you comfortable with this definition?

Secondly, it is also clearly necessary to consider the causes of recent tension. I have and will always maintain that simple, standardised procedures are the key to solving a great deal of the problems experienced by ALFA during it's NWN1 incarnation, for players and DMs. And as DMA I have and will always work to put them in place. As I have been elected DMA three consecutive times, it appears to be the case that most of ALFA's DMs agree with me. Now, our NWN2 incarnation is, both due to the technical demands and for philosophical reasons, going to be considerably more centralised than that of NWN1. Servers will be less individual domains subject to a HDM, and more areas of delegated control, operating within an overall framework. I expect all DMs to co-operate with each other, including between server teams, and I expect all HDMs to work with both each other and myself in making sure that, behind the DM screen, ALFA operates as smoothly as possible. I welcome all debate about DM policy - but I will not have DMs engaging in the kind of internecine feuds that characterised much of NWN1.

I am not interested in raking over the past, but we must both understand that, going forwards, our goal has to be co-operation, and not conflict. If you have a particular issue you wish to raise with me, then please do so, as soon as it arises, so that we can discuss how to resolve it. There is no need to engage in forum warfare to solve disputes, and I will not tolerate ALFA DMs doing so.

So - I see no reason why you cannot lead a NWN2 TSM DM team into a bright and successful future, but I think it is essential that we are both aware of each other's feelings and concerns before they develop into full-blown disagreement. ALFA will gain nothing from having a divided DM corps - and I see no reason why we cannot unite, and now.

Regards
Rusty

Effective immediately, please remove all my access to the DM forums, DM builder forums, etc, because apparently I NEVER WAS A DM.

Good bye ALFA. All builders who were working for me, please contact Wynna.

Godpuppet · Post by **Godpuppet** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:05 pm

Eep.

So why is rick not a DM?

Hialmar · Post by **Hialmar** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:16 pm

Damm it

*shakes head*

Veilan · Post by **Veilan** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:19 pm

surrealbx wrote:So why is rick not a DM?

Oof. Easiest answer I can attempt:

Because he left before his application could be processed, that I saw submitted to the DM App boards this morning (Applications are more up BBs alley, though).

Hialmar · Post by **Hialmar** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:21 pm

Well you know when someone is already a DM it seems strange to have to apply for it.

I'm starting to regret all the work I spent on this stupid DM app system.

Post by **paazin** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:22 pm

Munmun · Post by **Munmun** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:24 pm

This seems a little preemptive doesn't it?

Leevoth · Post by **Leevoth** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:46 pm

Why did this happen?

AcadiusLost · Post by **AcadiusLost** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:52 pm

Munmun wrote:This seems a little preemptive doesn't it?

If it does, that's only because Rick has been keeping things positive on the public forums- it's never been his intent to soil the Live transition with the behind the scenes frustrations, and for that he might be commended- he's just wanted to make a place for ALFAns to be able to play. This departure represents a breaking point of a good deal of ongoing frustration and poor treatment in my opinion.

Honestly, for me, this casts doubts over the Live transition- Rick and his team know how to bring a server to life. Daggerford remained one of the most populated and active servers in ALFA through much if it's existence, and it was due in a great deal to the amount of time and personal dedication Rick and a few others put into it. It's a unique dicipline, to be the sort of HDM that goes above and beyond to breathe life into a server, day after day, month after month, year after year- we don't have many left who have passed the test of time like Rick. I'd like to think he'll reconsider, but I certainly can't blame him for leaving, given the details of the situation. I'm also not sure how The Silver Marches (and by extension, ALFA in NWN2) is going to succeed without a solid DM team.

Just because we don't see each other face to face, doesn't mean we don't owe each other the basic decency to treat one another in a respectful fashion. If we can't manage that between Admin and the only NWN2 HDM, what kind of example does that present?

JaydeMoon · Post by **JaydeMoon** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:53 pm

Rather interested in seeing more than just the last part of what was stated in an obviously ongoing conversation.

As it is, it is all very much out of context and doesn't really say anything to me except that there are some disagreements on how things should be working...

Also, not quite sure how saying you're good to go in October, saying you're good to go in November, and then in April, nearly half a year later asking a few questions and discussing how best to address issues is turning around and telling you that you are not able to DM.

The Beta 1 vs Beta 3 thing might be a bit nitpicky, since regardless of what Beta it is, we're going live on the 15th, right?

Anyway, without seeing a crap ton of the stuff that went on between November and today, it's hard to really make a judgement about anything. And it's plain that Rick is looking for a judgement.

*shrugs*

JaydeMoon · Post by **JaydeMoon** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:59 pm

Acadius wrote:but I certainly can't blame him for leaving, given the details of the situation.

Right, without seeing the details, it's hard to know how to actually feel about this.

Xerxes · Post by **Xerxes** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:00 pm

This is a damn shame. Rick, I know litte of what has been going on in alfa of late but you seem to have your reasons and even if is a damn shame to see you leave, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for all that you have done for alfa.

Wynna · Post by **Wynna** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:14 pm

In both my roles, Admin and TSM DM, I'm deeply saddened by this. I'll do whatever is within my powers to heal this rift. I'm as stunned as anybody to find out TSM was in Beta 1 not Beta 3, but I don't actually find that has any impact on the server status. It's a label. What matters is our determination to get it to Live, and the ability to work together. The first is not in question; the second, shockingly, is.

What I get from the above PM is that DMA is--or was--amenable to approving Rick as HDM. I'd certainly like to focus on that, get it out of the way, and get back to the building of a server for ALFA's players. I think Rick has been a proven HDM in NWN1 and his building and work thus far on NWN2 has been nothing short of phenomenal. The thought of suddenly losing him at this juncture is a crushing blow for my hopes for the server, and for ALFA itself. I don't doubt that we'll get there, but this is a debacle we don't need, that imo could have been avoided with a little better communication.

Lasu · Post by **Lasu** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:26 pm

C'mon Rick, don't let the red tape drive you away! Everyone agrees that you're an integral part of the ALFA community.

Hell, I came back from a two year hiatus to remind you of this!

fluffmonster · Post by **fluffmonster** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:35 pm

I don't blame ya. I don't want to work with Rusty either.