Curmudgeon's DMA platform and question thread

[Curmudgeon]

First, I want to thank those who have served as DMA recently for all they have done for ALFA. I hope that if I am elected I can do as well.

Here are a few of the things that I'd like to address as DM Admin:

#1: DM Recruitment I doubt ALFA will ever have too many DMs. As I have found from my tenure as HDM of The Silver Marches, there is a high turnover rate in the DM ranks - this funny thing called Life keeps distracting them, and stealing their time away. As a consequence, we need to continually attract and train up new DMs to keep our players happy. While I've been moderately successful in getting new DMs for TSM, we need more DMs for BG, and hopefully we will be needing some for WH shortly as well.

#2: DM Training The current system of DM Training needs to be refined a bit in my opinion. We have good documentation for guiding DMs towards the levels of XP and GP rewards we are looking for, but scarce little on how to use the many tools at our disposal to create interesting and challenging experiences for the players. I would draw heavily on the experience of our current DMs to help our new DM trainees get up to speed quickly.

#3: Standards The current ALFA NWN2 Pricing Standards have not yet been formalized, and at present we rely on NWN1 pricing documentation and a NWN2-specific spreadsheet tool, both of which date back to the days prior to TSM going Live. I'd like to see these brought up to date to accommodate the deeper capabilities of the NWN2 game engine and Toolset, and the expanded ALFA Core Rules set.

I believe I have good working relations with the current members of Admin, as well as BRM, and hope to be given the chance to work with them more closely in the future.

Please ask questions if you have them.

[Rotku]

Curm, Curm, Curm. I have but one question. What of TSM? Are you planning to HDM and DMA at the same time?

[oldgrayrogue]

Curm:

Very glad to see you running for this position. I have a question. There have been several forum threads on what is perceived to be a less than equitable risk/reward system for static spawn XP and gold. In other words, the risk and cost (in potions etc)of combat tends to outweigh the tangible rewards in terms of XP and gold from a combat encounter. Do you consider this an issue that DMA should investigate and remedy? Do you think there is any problem with the current system? I know that Riotnrrd is working on a system of rewards approximating PnP. Would you consider allocating more resources to develop such a system and implement it if and when developed?

[HEEGZ]

First, I want to thank those who have served as DMA recently for all they have done for ALFA. I hope that if I am elected I can do as well.

Much appreciated. I got quite a bit done in my first two months and haven't done much in the last half of my term other than keep things running smoothly. Going to make a few quick comments on your three points.

#1: DM Recruitment I doubt ALFA will ever have too many DMs. As I have found from my tenure as HDM of The Silver Marches, there is a high turnover rate in the DM ranks - this funny thing called Life keeps distracting them, and stealing their time away. As a consequence, we need to continually attract and train up new DMs to keep our players happy. While I've been moderately successful in getting new DMs for TSM, we need more DMs for BG, and hopefully we will be needing some for WH shortly as well.

This is definitely one of my weak areas. I had no ideas for recruiting DMs, and this is definitely one of the major needs of the community at present.

#2: DM Training The current system of DM Training needs to be refined a bit in my opinion. We have good documentation for guiding DMs towards the levels of XP and GP rewards we are looking for, but scarce little on how to use the many tools at our disposal to create interesting and challenging experiences for the players. I would draw heavily on the experience of our current DMs to help our new DM trainees get up to speed quickly.

I am pretty comfortable with the existing documentation for new DMs, as well as the guidelines. Again, most of the problem here is lack of manpower.

#3: Standards The current ALFA NWN2 Pricing Standards have not yet been formalized, and at present we rely on NWN1 pricing documentation and a NWN2-specific spreadsheet tool, both of which date back to the days prior to TSM going Live. I'd like to see these brought up to date to accommodate the deeper capabilities of the NWN2 game engine and Toolset, and the expanded ALFA Core Rules set.

This is the only item from my platform that remains unfinished. Veilan and I had hoped to get this done over the summer, and time got away from us. Good luck.

I think the three things identified above are probably the most important things that would need to be addressed by our next DMA. I am sure you will do a great job as DMA, and as Rotku mentioned already, my only concern is if you plan to DMA and HDM both. I did this for a few months during my first term as DMA with our NWN1 BG server. It was quite tiring, and hopefully another DM (such as Wynna) will take over the HDM-ship of TSM for you.

As I feel that ALFA would be better served by a more active member in the DM Admin position I will not be running for re-election. I was only going to run again if a suitable candidate did not step forward. However, Curm would make a great DMA and so I will not be running for another term at this time. Best wishes.

[Veilan]

#3: Standards The current ALFA NWN2 Pricing Standards have not yet been formalized, and at present we rely on NWN1 pricing documentation and a NWN2-specific spreadsheet tool, both of which date back to the days prior to TSM going Live. I'd like to see these brought up to date to accommodate the deeper capabilities of the NWN2 game engine and Toolset, and the expanded ALFA Core Rules set.

This is the only item from my platform that remains unfinished. Veilan and I had hoped to get this done over the summer, and time got away from us. Good luck.

Finalising our NWN 2 standards remains a mammoth task - as I started trying to get some open calls to be finalised, it became apparent that there were always so many more new loose threads that came unravelled, and new, good ideas how to increase the choice we have on offer, or how to make some things still better to understand. This then all needs new thinking, discussing and auditing to make sure we didn't overlook something. And if we should ever be done with all that, the task of compiling everything into an accessible document remains.

Our standards are, I dare say, our most convoluted legacy, daunting to the outsider yet at their heart impressively streamlined while still maintaining embedded genius from different eras and many extraordinarily bright people of ALFA. They are a proud and at times equally messy testament to our will to be governed by rules, equality and fairness, to maintain and uphold the very high ideals we spelled out for this PW in the beginning.

[Curmudgeon]

Curm, Curm, Curm. I have but one question. What of TSM? Are you planning to HDM and DMA at the same time?

Yes, I am.

[Rotku]

Just dont:
(a) pull an ayergo on us;
(b) burn yourself out.

Oh, and thanks for stepping up. Think you'll make a great DMA

[Curmudgeon]

I am sure you will do a great job as DMA, and as Rotku mentioned already, my only concern is if you plan to DMA and HDM both. I did this for a few months during my first term as DMA with our NWN1 BG server. It was quite tiring, and hopefully another DM (such as Wynna) will take over the HDM-ship of TSM for you.

The matter of whether I'd be able to devote enough time to both DMA and HDM duties was foremost on my mind when I was considering whether to stand for the Admin post or not. I have been extremely fortunate in my tenure to have Wynna as my right hand, #1 Builder, teacher, and advisor. I also have a fine team of DMs who have been working well together to keep TSM's players entertained. I am confident that I have the resources available to keep things running smoothly.

[Curmudgeon]

Just dont:
(a) pull an ayergo on us;
(b) burn yourself out.

Oh, and thanks for stepping up. Think you'll make a great DMA

Thank you for your endorsement. As to your don'ts;

(a) I hope I can avoid that

and

(b) I have no intention of doing so. If maturity has taught me anything, it's been the importance of pacing myself, delegating responsibilities to those best qualified to handle them, and the ability to relax and have fun. Life is too short to do things one doesn't enjoy.

[Curmudgeon]

Veilan:

I am in agreement with you here. I doubt that we may ever be able to present a final, complete version of ALFA NWN2 Standards until we're ready to move on to the next platform - what I hope for is that we can begin to codify what we have thus far, to clarify matters so that those parts we have reached consensus on can be found in one place and used by those in the front lines of maintaining them.

As the game keeps changing and we keep adding new things to it, we need to keep a fine eye on maintaining the balance of things.

[AsteroidX]

1. coffee or hot chocolate ?

2. If you serve as DMA would your style be one that is more or less transparent to the community when appropriate or do you prefer to work from behind the DM screen ?

[Curmudgeon]

1. coffee or hot chocolate ?

2. If you serve as DMA would your style be one that is more or less transparent to the community when appropriate or do you prefer to work from behind the DM screen ?

1. Mocha, with a shot of espresso.

2. Backstage, at the sound board, or in the lighting booth.

[Runestaff]

How significant a role do you feel past DMA decisions should play in the ALFA of the present? For example, HEEGZ (in my view) was reluctant to overturn previous decisions absent strong opposition from the DMs or players (e.g., the desire of some to return the Toughness feat to its ALFA1 general availability). How much of a limiting factor do you consider the precedents set by previous admins to be?

As a corollary, what things within the purview of the DMA do you consider most in need of change, and how do you plan to do so?

Thanks, and good luck with your candidacy.

[Vendrin]

Will DMs and players notice any changes that affect them significantly should you become DMA?

[Burt_Reynoldz_Mustache]

Curm you have my support. Heegz did a great job, just had too much going on in RL. Luckily...you have no life.