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empatheias_ooc2015-05-18 12:51 pm
simpathis) wrote in empatheias_ooc2015-05-18 12:51 pm
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Mid-Month Announcement: May
Aaah, isn't it nice to have a relaxing month? For those who are neck deep in exams, hang on! You can do it!
Also, a CR Meme was posted recently. Be sure to go through it and see if there are any new entries you might have missed!
Calendar.
The calendar hasn't changed much since the last post, but here is the link as reference: Game Calendar. These are the dates you should know for the rest of the month.
- 5/18: Test Drive.
- ???: PLAYER PLOT see post for details (date not yet set)
- 5/25: Activity Check starts; Reservations open.
- 5/27: HMD
- 5/31: Activity Check ends.
This is what we have so far, but anything could pop up, either from us or from players.
New Helper Mod on Deck!
Say hello to Dragon! He has volunteered to help us out and be part of the helper mod team. We already have a few interesting ideas, and he's already helped us out with the current Test Drive prompts. Of course, we are still looking for another person or two to help us out as more plot gets underway, so if you're interested, feel free to apply! Helper mod applications will remain open until slots are filled.
Application Sample Changes.
This past Thursday we proposed a bit of a sample change for our applications. Basically, we wanted to require all applicants to include some kind of scenario involving the character's emotions. We posted a poll and of those who voted, the majority approved. Thus as stated, the requirement is now in place and can be seen on the Application page.
However, there were legitimate concerns and hopefully we covered them. Most concerning was how apathetic or less emotional characters will fare and how that may add difficulty to the sample. Thus for those types of characters, an exception was created to allow the applicant to just show how the character reacts in general. For example, if a character is set in a scenario that would normally provoke an emotional response, what do they do instead? How is their apathy contrasting against everyone else or what would typically done? Even though no actual effects are in place, these questions still fall in line with the ultimate question of whether a player can handle a character in this game environment.
We've also included direct links to the test drives, intro logs, task board, and even events to help give prompts for those who may opt to write their sample instead. If you still have any concerns about this, please comment!
Poll: Gamewide HMD
So I keep forgetting about posting a Gamewide HMD and after talking with a couple of players, I've decided to throw a poll to see what format you guys prefer. This poll will run until Thursday, May 21.
The HMD would NOT be mandatory. It would be entirely optional.
Here are the options:
- Completely Public. This option means that anyone in and out of game will be able to view and comment to the HMD post. This would include anonymous comments.
- Public view but only registered accounts can comment. In this option, the HMD post will be public so anyone can view, however only registered accounts can comment to it. Thus anyone outside of the game would have to use a journal to comment and leave crit. There is no anonymous option, but players could still link to any personal HMDs if they don't mind receiving it.
- Locked to the community. This option would keep the HMD to game members only. Only game members can view it and comment. There is no anonymous option aside from linking to personal HMDs.
In all cases, we will monitor and make sure comments comply with the HMD rules, which is to be constructive, not an ass. Guidelines will be posted for each HMD.
Now that you understand the options, here is the poll itself:
Poll #16693 HMD Format
This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 31
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 31
How do you prefer the HMD to be formatted?
Completely Public
15 (48.4%)
Public viewing, but only members can comment
13 (41.9%)
Locked only to the game
3 (9.7%)
In terms of when the HMD would occur, it would happen during the last week of the month and would be a bi-monthly occurrence (every other month). Since this is a relatively slow month, we can go ahead and have the first one at the end of this month. This would schedule it to fall on every odd month.
As a side note, CR meme would go on an even month rotation.
Verens Crystal Status + Emotion Tracker.
The Emotion Tracker is a little quiet so far, but it's already starting to take a nosedive into the negatives. The dip isn't big enough in comparison to last month's progress, who while the big, shiny crystal in the sky will continue its previous mostly positive state, it does look just a little duller and a more cloudy gold than the pure, clear white gold from earlier.
The following is a tally of the numbers for the month so far. The formula is TOTAL = RAW + (ALI-I * ALI-C). This includes both the emotions from the festival and the ones listed prior to it.
| AREHTEI | RAW | ALI-I | ALI-C | TOTAL | +/- |
| Aiada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | + |
| Daimonia | 7 | 1 | 1 | 8 | + |
| Elios | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | + |
| Peromei | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 | - |
| Piphron | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - |
| Sosyne | 8 | 4 | 2 | 12 | - |
| Thras | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - |
Statements from last announcement remain standing: Junko, stop messing with Peromei and Thras is wondering where the brave people went. Did seeing the dead, lifeless world scare everyone that bad? Sosyne's just angry as usual.
Two Player Plots: Gossip and Mysterious Illness.
There are two player plot ideas that deserve a special mention.
One is for a gossip rag where every month players submit random things about the characters to be published ICly in a newspaper. Sounds like a good way to get some laughs.
Another is involving a mysterious illness caused by strange plants. Will you be one of the infected, investigators, or exterminators?
Since these involve some actual planning and could be events, we wanted to give them some extra notice.
Moments of Despair and Fear
Now, we're not holding any big events, but that doesn't mean there can't be some "emotional stirrings." For those aligned to Peromei and Thras, they will notice their crystals glowing their respective colors (creamy white and golden yellow) at intermittent intervals and will feel something as well.
Those aligned to Peromei will feel something like an electric shock, especially if they feel anything related to "despair." It could even just be a small bit of sadness. When this happens, they will start seeking anything that could make them feel more hopeful about something.
For Thras, those aligned will actually feel strange bursts of either bravery or fear. It doesn't take much to cause it. Maybe there's a cat in a tree and they have the sudden urge to either climb up there and rescue it or start wailing at how much danger the poor creature is in. How much of a "brave hero" or "hapless weakling" they are is up to you.
Both of these strange "mood swings" are temporary and only last a few minutes. It's also entirely optional.
Prepare Yourself!
From our last mini-survey, crystals should be nearing completion and next month is the month where these occurrences will start happening. As per usual, it won't happen until the latter half of the month so we'll save details for the next mod announcement. But with crystal completions another chain of large events will start. We'll try not to make it too heavy like the Elios arc, but be prepared just in case.
Player Plots & Events.
We'll close this announcement with a few plots and mingling opportunities created by players.
- Surveys. Takasugi has some questions he wants answered. Mainly, things about how everyone arrived and about Japan if anyone is from there.
- Cat help. Hizumi and Ayumu need some kitty help.
- Trapped in a pit. While trying to catch some peeps and save a baby bear, Enoch caught himself in his own pit. Care to either laugh at his plight or offer some friendly assistance?
- Arehtei Invasion? Tony has aliens on the brain, and he's wondering if anyone else has had any aliens invading their world as well as wondering if the Arehtei themselves could go out and attack other worlds.
- Round 'em up! Minako is trying to herd some horses. Wanna lend a hand?
- Basilisk Hunting. Roy is gathering a team to take down the lava basilisk.
- Band Practice. Without any court cases to prosecute, Klavier has gone back to his roots and is trying to start up a band.
- A Helping Hand. Jane is asking for volunteers to help create welcome kits for new arrivals. But no slackers.
We might have missed some and there are quite a few open logs and discussion posts, so be sure to check back yourself! We try to keep up, but if you'd like to be listed let us know. If you'd like to throw your own event or plot, comment here.
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And that's about it. It's a lot of stuff so if you have any questions, concerns, or want things clarified, please comment here.
QUESTIONS
no subject
no subject
locking the post itself to the community, but those who are open to anon linking their HMDs from their own journals? IE; I have one on Takasugi's journal that's anon-enabled I can just link in my comment on the game HMD. I think it's easier to keep everyone happy that way!