Regarding Applications in November

[moustre]

Regarding Applications Hey guys. First of all, we wanted to apologize for the delay in putting this up. We had to discuss things in more depth as a team after seeing everyone's feedback regarding the applications situation. I think it's obvious that the size of the game is a little overwhelming at times - we have 180+ characters after this last round, and with the holidays approaching and December being a slow month for nearly everyone in DWRP, our initial thought was that closing applications over the holidays would be the best route to take. This decision was made pretty hastily, and should have been announced sooner. This was our mistake, and we apologize for that. Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20 and we see how this could be upsetting to many of our players and potential players. In the interest of fair compromise, we want to put forth two options for a player vote. We cannot manage a full application round in November if it's anywhere as large as this round was. However, it's on us that we didn't announce closing apps before this round began. • Option One is that we keep applications closed in November. The January round would proceed as normal, with no caps. This would give us some breathing room during those four months to get on top of things. • Option Two is that we do open applications in November, but we put a cap on the total number of applications that will be accepted - 40. While we do realize this could create a feeling of competition or scarcity, this is what we'll be able to handle during that time. Applications in January would be capped at 40 as well, to allow us some breathing room. For rounds after January, we would discuss and determine whether to keep the cap going forward, or to do away with it then, depending on the size of the game and how things are going. For this option as well, we may consider making the first day applications are open for new players only - would this be fair, considering the cap? Additionally: should Option Two win, this round would take place in the middle of November as a sort of special event, in order to work with our schedules. The dates would be announced on November's calendar at the first of the month. January's round will be at the end of January as usual. EDIT; ADDENDUM: If we proceed with a mid-November app round, there will be No Reservations. It will be a first come, first serve priority, with new players taking precedent if the vote passes. This is to ease the workload that applications cause over the coming holidays. January reserves would proceed as normal. Please reply under the top level for the option you'd prefer we take, once per player, before October 6th. We will tally up the votes then and determine what the application schedule will be going forward. We appreciate all of you and how willing you are to give us feedback, and how involved you all are with the game - it really means a lot to us. We have a fantastic playerbase and ultimately we want to do what's best for everyone. Discussion is welcome on this post, but please keep it civil. If you'd like to take something to a more private venue, you can either PM us or comment here.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[moustre]

[whattaprick]

Have the mods considered/are considering a game cap? Either of total players or total characters.

I know feelings about game caps can go either way, and I don't know what's necessarily best for Aefenglom here, but 180+ characters does feel like a lot for a game as heavily involved as Aefenglom can be. At the end of the day I feel strongly like it's in the mods' hands to decide things like this since they're in the best position to know what capacity they have to keep running a game at a consistent level (and I don't believe solutions like 'add more mods' necessarily works for that), so I would support a cap if it was proposed, but this would obviously also be a much bigger change than limiting the number of apps.

[gehennawind]

if apps re-open, would it be helpful to volunteer to process some for just that round? Me and Nammah talked about it and we'd both be down, though obv we both voted for temporary closure.

OPTION ONE

[moustre]

Apps closed in November. January app round as normal with no caps.

+1

[gehennawind]

+1

[loadme]

+1

[atouts]

+1

[lonewanderer]

while my work schedule doesn't change around the holidays, it is going to be a lot more work and stress on the mod side with some of the modteam out of commission (due to work or travel) for the holidays

i know people are excited about the game and that is awesome! but all of us on the mod team work and have responsibilities outside of the game, and often more so in the holiday season; apps are an added pressure on top of that. and i think i just repeated myself but that's because i have a concussion (which means i am negative help to the modteam until i heal, sorry guys ;; )

want to edit to clarify that i absolutely think doing a poll is the right thing instead of the late minute drop, i just also want to express my opinion on why i support no apps in November so that it's... out there? i guess? idk

+1

[tryhard]

+1

[newtralize]

+1

[whattaprick]

+1

[actuallyadork]

+1

[escardos]

+1

[futhark]

+1

[boneofsword]

 

+1

[niespodzianka]

+1

[battlebound]

Just my two cents, as someone who is (already) tossing about the idea of a second character in future: I think closing apps over the holiday is the most sensible decision for the mods, but also beneficial from a player perspective. DWRP's playerbase has aged and slowed and nothing feels that more acutely than the holidays. I don't know for sure how it'll affect Aef's activity, but in my experience over the last couple of years, the end of the year is filled with people hiatusing or restricting their activity because they're busy. Obviously, it's disappointing if you're planning on apping in November and you can't, but it's also disappointing if you app in and can't get as much traction establishing your character as you want because people are too busy to prioritise RP. Or if you app someone new and immediately have to hiatus because the holidays have you busy.

It's worth waiting. The game will still be here. The characters people want to app will still be available. The app you've written will still be valid. The mods will have their sanity and, let's be honest, January will be here in the blink of an eye anyway.

+1

[selfishwish]

+1

[trouvaille]

+1

[whomthebelltolls]

+1

[mirshikar]

+1; mod comments inside, would love player feedback.

[galrad]

Working in Liquor retail over the holidays is just. Insane. And while I could and absolutely am willing to juggle that with a small capped app round, I would also personally like to address the subject of capped reserves vs. no reserves at all, particularly because reserves are so involved. It's a lot of coding work on the back end, it's a lot to keep track of. I understand and respect peoples' feelings about capped apps being a bloodbath otherwise, but capped reserves are just as bad, if not worse.

I am also more than willing to consider a potential idea for rolling app opens/closes for a November app round. IE; first 10 slots go up at 9am PST, second 10 slots go up at 3pm PST, third ten slots go up at 9pm PST, last ten slots go up at 3am PST. That would cover all time zones and I don't sleep so it would be no problem. But that's something we can consider depending on the following vote. This is wholly something that's just my idea that I'm floating around for now, and would obviously be announced well in advance in October, so that people could plan accordingly. We could also stagger/prioritize apps for newbies, etc. I'm just spitballing here.

Obviously given my vote under no apps at all, my preference is obvious for the workload but I love this game and this playerbase and I want to do everything I can to make this work, and at least I'm always guaranteed two days off midweek so a cap of 40 is wholly doable for me to read.

+1

[showsnopiety]

The holidays can be pretty crazy, let's all enjoy them and get together on this :>

OPTION TWO

[moustre]

Apps open in the middle of November, capped at 40 characters accepted. January round will also be capped at 40 acceptances.

+1

[proficience]

Voting for this option!

IF OPTION TWO WINS - 1 DAY NEW PLAYERS ONLY, Y/N?

[moustre]

If option two wins, should the first day of applications be open to new players only?

+1

[rollfordiplomacy]