— HMD: MAY—All right guys, time fora nother gamewide HMD. Exact same as last time, so here are a few things you should know as well as the rules and guidelines to how to participate in this HMD.
- Optional. This is not a mandatory HMD. You do not have to participate, however we highly encourage those who have questions or want tips to comment.
- Public + Optional Anon + IP Logging On. This is open to the public, so those outside of the game can give critique. There is no requirement to join the community. Anonymous commenting is turned on however IP logging remains on and players can say whether they want anonymous comments or not. If a player has requested only logged-in critique, please respect their wishes. Not everyone is comfortable with anonymous.
- Those giving crit: be polite and constructive. This HMD is to help players improve their playing and thereby improve the experience of everyone. It is also to help players point out things that might be questionable. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for it, and sometimes it's a misinterpretation or clear mistake. Regardless, your crit should be helping the other player see their mistake and/or offer ways to help improve. You can be frank, you can be blunt, but you should not be disrespectful. Crit can be a hard pill to swallow, and while you shouldn't have to sugarcoat it, you can try to make it more palatable. In addition, try to provide actual examples of what you're talking about. It will help facilitate the discussion and give a better idea of your point.
- Those receiving crit: be open-minded and receptive. Receiving critique can be very difficult, but if you're participating in this HMD, then that must mean you are prepared for that possibility. If you receive critique that doesn't make sense, do not be defensive. Instead ask questions and try to clear up misunderstandings. In addition, be open to what people have to say. Sometimes we have blinders on when playing our characters and may not see problems that others do. Be willing to compromise as well. Maybe you don't agree with everything that is said, but there could be helpful nuggets in there. If there are things you are specifically worried about, you should include it in your comment. This could help others help you.
- Going Anon. If a player has opted for anonymous critique, it should be written no different than if you were giving it while logged in. All of the above rules apply. Basically think of it this way: if you wouldn't say it while logged in, then don't say it anon. The only real reason to allow anonymous here is to help those who want to give meaningful crit, but are shy or afraid for whatever reason. It is not to be abused.
- Monitoring. We will be monitoring this post, and if any harassment is found, it will be immediately screened and frozen. Any repeat offenders will be banned. Any anonymous abuse will result in anonymous turned off. If there is anything to report, contact us.
If you understand how this HMD works, fill out the appropriate form and comment to this post. The questions should help players have some structure and formulate how and what to write what they want.
RECEIVING CRIT:Player:Character(s):Personal HMD? If you have a personal HMD, you can link to that as well.
Anon allowed? Yes or No
Concerns: Any concerns you have that you'd like others to try and help you with. Is there something about your characterization that you feel off? Do you wish to improve your writing? Do you need tips how to be more engaging?
Anything else: Anything else you'd like to mention, such as any notes about the character or canon material that you feel others should be aware of. For example, if your character is from one version and not another and how that might affect characterization.
The mod/game critique thread can be found
here.