Sparkles claims, "I can scribe."
Karrin claims to Sparkles, "Appreciated."
Scarry says, "I might nod off during the meeting because of my meds."
Temi comforts Scarry.
Sororitas lifts a little migratory duck charm with iridescent teal feathers to her nose and sniffs at it.
Scarry claims, "So I do not trust myself lol."
Karrin wonders to Scarry, "You can't catch a break, can you?"
Scarry says, "No, not really, but hey at least I stayed active this time."
Karrin says, "Alright, we have LOTS to talk about today. So let's get going."
Sororitas says, "One day I will catch staff slacking on the scent... but they never do."
Karrin says, "OOC Chat Rules:
- Approach each topic with the mindset that each person is doing the best they can with the knowledge they have, staff and player alike.
- Please avoid topics around current events. Nothing should be revealed in an OOC meeting that others would prefer to find out in game ICly.
- This is not the correct forum for criticism of a specific player or a topic centered around one player. If there are concerns about a specific player, please address that with staff privately.
- This is not the correct forum for bringing up policy violations. If there are instances of perceived policy violations, please address that with staff privately."
Scarry claims, "They know you are all little olfactory freaks."
Karrin questions, "Ok! So, how has RP been this week?"
KindledFlames says, "I had a really good week of rp "
MaskedHarlequin declaims, "RP was great! I've been having a blast whenever I'm on! "
Karrin says, "I'm so glad to hear that."
Scarry states, "RP has been good, even though I sometimes dropped out due to my gut hating me."
Kalana exclaims, "Good good! I've got a couple people to catch that I'm looking forwards to that timing hasn't matched up on, but the scenes I've had have been great"
Sororitas says, "Solid week. Got to do some important work and some silly stuff."
Karrin claims, "It's good to balance important and silly."
Cadence says, "I'm just getting back to the game, but, so far it has been fun"
Temi nods in agreement with Karrin.
Karrin states to Cadence, "Awesome."
Scarry declares, "I do want to apologise to my guildees for not being super available!! I'm sorry, especially to the new ones ;w;"
Scarry says, "I'll try better."
Ysandre claims, "I'm still struggling, but I assume it's just meshing the differences of this game to my last. I'll figure it out."
Karrin states to Ysandre, "I'm sure you will."
Eeel declaims, "RP has been great! And Scarry don't worry your RL health comes first"
Sororitas claims, "What Eeel said."
Prythe states, "I have had fun, though there are times when I feel like the big RP group is nobles talking about private stuff, and so us freemen aren't involved. But, it's understandable."
Scarry says, "I am the worst GL tbh."
Scarry claims, "If you wanna RP with nobles, there is one easy trick and you will hate it."
Scarry states, "Get involved in politics (do not)"
Prythe says, "Hahaha. No thanks. Not yet, anyway."
Temi finishes abruptly, "Or give them opportunities to spend money - they love that too"
Temi claims, "Charity, buying stuff, all good."
Karrin states to Prythe, "It can feel shitty to feel left out. I do think the nobles involve when they can, but it might not be always. Sometimes they have to do spoopy noble things. But, at the same time, you can do spoopy freeman things to counterbalance that."
Prythe claims, "I'm making a note. 'Pay someone to hurt nobles, so they have to pay to be treated.' Done."
Karrin says, "That the nobles can't be involved in."
Sparkles wonders, "Is there anything particular that folks could do you think might help with that feeling?"
MaskedHarlequin declaims, "Sometimes as freemen sitting in the corner watching the big dogs talk while we hang in join spot tittering and poking fun is a good time!"
Karrin says, "This is actually what this section is for, so yes to Sparkles' question there."
Prythe trails off, "No, it's understandable, really. It's just the way of things that sometimes when I login, and I look for an RP spot, the only spot with three or more people turns out to be a noble meeting. But that's part of their RP and so on, so yeah..."
Karrin claims, "I think you might be surprised - they'll drag you in. Especially if they're in public."
Scarry says, "See it this way. The nobles all cry and yearn when the Blind Horse is popping."
Ysandre states, "For myself personally, I don't love big social scenes and I don't love feeling like a wallflower. I prefer small scenes with deeper things behind them, individual stories to tell that isn't just sitting in taverns. But that seems to be how this game rolls and it seems that plots are 90 percent writing messages, not actively doing things. So it's a big change for my brain."
Scarry says, "Ah. What you are looking for might be more Storyteller Events."
Karrin says to Ysandre, "The plots are actually only supposed to be parts that CAN'T be done on grid. Personal scenes do take time, admittedly. Meet people in public, get dragged into more personal later if you click."
Ysandre claims, "No I just want to have interactions with a few people and tell stories with them. Nothing major and world changing, just like... idk. Doing stuff."
Karrin claims to Ysandre, "Smaller social scenes? Ok."
Karrin questions, "Established - help her out with some ideas?"
ThatBard states, "I have been trying to give out quests and promotions. Hoping my guildees like the rp. Getting more feedback would be good, tbh."
Ysandre claims, "It's fine, I'm not trying to be a pain. That's just the big switch for me. I'm trying to figure out how to make it work for my short playtime spans. It's all good! Not complaining."
Karrin says, "I think it's just a novelty, really. For ages and ages, we had NO big social scenes at all. People all hung out in smaller scenes, and it meant those not there felt left out. So, our players are naturally gravitating toward the larger scenes because for several years, they were so rare."
Ysandre claims, "That makes total sense"
Karrin states to Ysandre, "You aren't a pain at all, haha. The more established players may just have ideas that can help."
Scarry says, "We did simply had not enough people for big scenes, haha."
Karrin nods in agreement with Scarry.
ThatBard says, "Everything usually starts out in taverns. But depending on what you character is like, you can drag people places. My solo scenes are usually sparring with the Knights. XD"
Scarry states, "Good hooks are hobbies, curiosity about homelands and bothering people with, flirting, showing off things and sights, bothering someone literally just with "hey I am bored, you are friend, let's be bored together"."
Eeel states, "This game is FULL of small pivotal scenes, you just need to get to know people first. Taverns are a good place to -start- for that, but they're definitely not the end."
Karrin says, "Don't be afraid to send a messenger - someone can decide whether they want to join you, or stay where they are. You can always invite them to another place."
Karrin nods in agreement with Eeel.
Scarry claims, "How to make friends eludes myself, so I can't help on that front."
Eeel states, "Scarry everyone loves your character"
ThatBard says, "If you are looking to tell stories then the library may be the spot. Or the Hollow Globe, if you want the Bards to gather around you."
Karrin queries, "Ok, keep Ysandre in mind this week - if you see her on and would like some RP, yeah?"
KindledFlames says, "To be honest people are too timid with messengers and I dont know why."
Sororitas says, "I tend drop myself into a bar/cafe and chill there for folks. Though I do think a mild suggestion is take a look at other players help character files and look at their hooks. If you see something you like seek them out and talk about it. They are common knowledge and if you like smaller scenes it will help you click... I think."
Temi claims, "A lot of the pivotal things end up being started by you, nudged along, rather than waiting for someone to give you the rp, necessarily"
Ysandre declares, "They cost money!"
Scarry questions, "Yeah but idk how I do that, dummy. Anyway, a good way to see if people _want_ to be bothered actually?"
Scarry claims, "RP notify"
Karrin says, "Haha, they cost a single silver."
Karrin states, "But yeah, ok, this is actually a good... pivot."
Karrin claims, "I'll do THIS, then I'll jump into staff updates."
Karrin wonders, "How many of you looked at the helpfile in my who title?"
Scarry queries, "Like RP notify (character) will send them a message of "hey, do you want to rp?""
Sororitas exclaims, "I did!"
Scarry claims, "I did not, but now I did."
Ysandre states, "I did."
Ysandre claims, "And thanks. Wasn't aware of notify."
Sparkles states, "If you are looking for a particular type of connection, you could post an ad on the Wanted Concepts board as well."
Temi states, "It's an old system that's been closed down for a while"
Scarry claims, "Mhm! It's good practice to rp notify someone and then send a messenger or just rp notify and then hunt them down like a dog in the streets, however you roll."
Karrin states, "Ok, so. I want people who will prioritize 1) answering new players' questions and/or 2) RPing with them (though I know a few who are EXCELLENT with answering questions but may not be readily available to pop into RP with them for IC reasons, and that's ok, too), and 3) have been here for at least an OOC year. "
Karrin says, "If you are interested, simply... send me a tell. You can pick ONE character to do this on. We'd like 3-5 to start for now."
Karrin claims, "3-5 people."
Karrin claims, "And... ask any questions you have."
Sparkles wonders, "So I do have a quick question. I admit I did ask about this previously and the reactions were ... not positive, one admits with concern from folks about it being problematic. Just to caution the question, have those concerns changed?"
Karrin states to Tatty, "We're talking about help player aides at the moment."
Tatty plops down quietly.
Tatty pontificates, "Ah! Gotcha"
Karrin claims to Sparkles, "Who were the problematic opinions expressed by? I have been wanting to restart this system for about 6 months now."
Karrin states, "So, I have not had bad opinions of it. I know that, a year ago, we didn't have the pbase size to need it. But, I've just been waiting for that."
Temi states, "Kinaed did shut down the system because it had become more of a badge of honor and not something where people were doing anything to actually help new players."
HIEROPHANT states, "Frankly, I'd rather have more staff than a bunch of player moderators? That's just me."
ThatBard states, "I have a question."
Karrin states, "Oh, if I see that, I'll just boot the badge of honor-ers. I want people willing to help, and wanting to help."
Scarry claims, "You know I am not sure if they even need the punish and such stuff, considering the high politeness overall of the server. At least publically. Hehe. But I do think it's a good idea to have a newbie helper role."
Karrin claims to HIEROPHANT, "Eh, staff have more power and trust and... back end insight."
Sororitas questions, "Will this come with an expectation of helping in the Discord newplayer question section too?"
Karrin says to Scarry, "Punish is mostly for if we have a troll."
Karrin says to Sororitas, "No."
Sororitas trails off, "Roger roger. Not that it would bother me..."
Karrin states to ThatBard, "Go ahead with the question."
Scarry claims, "Who the hell trolls MUDs these days."
Karrin says to Scarry, "You'd be surprised."
Spaghetti Demon does not point to himself, not even a little.
HIEROPHANT says to Karrin, "I'd rather have 2 of those than 4 of the other, but, ehh."
ThatBard queries, "Don't we all have a responsibility to rp with new players. Especially as GLs too. How is that different to the player aide?"
Ysandre claims, "Haven always has at least one."
Karrin claims to ThatBard, "Not... really the same. We have a responsibility to show deference to new players, sure, when in a scene with them. The aides, I'd hope would actively go FIND them."
Karrin says, "But, that said, that is no their only role."
Capitalism would never accuse the person in the spaghetti mines of being a troll.
HIEROPHANT states, "I'm always wary of moderators in small communities like this. It's a rather overwhelmingly negative duty to undertake without the positive upsides of being staff proper. All burden, no fun, yeah? Good recipe for burnout, and burnout's how you get the badge-of-honor sorts. "
Karrin states, "Considering how infrequently I have to use anythingn like 'ban', I'd not see people using punish frequently, either."
Karrin states to HIEROPHANT, "Ah, yes. Let me address that."
ThatBard states, "Ah. So we don't hunt down cyans like blood hounds no more. I got it. XD"
Karrin states, "Once you are are an aide (if you are an aide), if you DON'T LIKE IT, all you have to do is ask to not do it anymore. 100 percent volunteer, it doesnt' mean other people CAN'T help - they certainly can."
Tatty wonders, "Haven has one of what? "
Ysandre says, "Trolls."
Tatty claims, "Haven is made of Trolls"
Karrin claims, "And none of us would have any hard feelings for that. You can absolutely still help cyans without BEING an aide, the aides just have some special extra commands to assist staff, and a channel where they can reach us."
Temi claims, "I doubt it would really end up leaning on the moderator side of things much. They have some of those tools, but staff rarely use them as is and we have them"
Karrin claims, "I will still handle all policy things. And if there's something done by an aide that's overreaching, I'll address it with them."
Karrin nods in agreement with Temi.
Karrin claims, "It's more... giving new players someone they know they can reach out to that's less intimidating than staff."
Tatty says, "As someone whose struggled to find RP and has been a pain to the admins here, I've thought that the way things were addresed have been fantastic. Admins here are kind and firm, so I doubt that they'd let anyone into a role who wasn't able to be the same."
Temi finishes abruptly, "It's more about helping new players - I don't know if we even need you to have the moderation tools, but they are already there"
Karrin nods in agreement with Temi.
Tatty says, "Staff here aren't intimidating. You make pretty things."
Karrin claims, "Yeah. You wouldn't really BE moderating."
Tatty hugs her duck.
Capitalism says, "The last time I was on a MU* that had something like aides... It was a player made/run guild that took it upon themselves to help newbies. But it wasn't an RP intensive place."
Karrin claims, "Just like our moderators for the discord channel haven't had to do that, either."
Karrin nods.
HIEROPHANT states, "Aight."
Spaghetti Demon is the prettiest of them all.
Sororitas wonders, "Will aids have some sort of flag on their Who name to let new players know who to reach out to?"
Karrin claims, "Well. If you're interested, let me know. If not, you can STILL help new players. You don't have to be an aide to do that. Aides won't have insight into behind the scenes stuff like staff do. So, it's truly a player role. And, ONLY if they want it."
Temi says, "Yep, they get a who list flag if I remember right"
Karrin says to Sororitas, "I... think so. We haven't used it in so long."
InvestSouthside states, "I was curious about the transparency of it"
InvestSouthside nods
Karrin claims, "Absolutely zero IC information to this role. None. Which is how it differs from staff."
Sparkles asks, "It shows on Who but not like in the room like a Prestige flag, right?"
Temi says, "Right"
Karrin claims to Sparkles, "Correct."
Karrin claims, "And everyone has access to where cyan, so you don't have to necessarily go looking for them on your aide character."
Temi says to Freeman, "We're talking about help player aides"
Karrin says, "They won't know any different, just that they have someone to RP with."
Freeman says, "I figured. Thanks
"Sororitas says, "I would definitely suggest a who flag for that if not but otherwise I think some folks would get use out of this role. New players are often looking for folks to ask and don't always feel comfortable saying they don't know something to the world (even if we all went through that phase)."
Karrin says, "To be clear, no moderation is necessary. You all know how to get ahold of me and Temi on Discord - if somethign comes up you need us to look into, just tell us."
Karrin states, "I am fully 100 percent capable of handling moderation of bad apples."
Karrin states, "And don't expect anyone else to."
Spaghetti Demon readies the slay button but is not mentioned in the staff enforcers.
Karrin claims, "Ok! Let us know if you're interested. Let's move on."
Capitalism will call Lochan specifically.
Karrin asks of Temi, "Your staff update?"
Karrin hugs Spaghetti Demon.
Spaghetti Demon mentions that for his update: https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4GPA7fEjlY will be the theme.
Temi states, "Sorry, just a moment"
Karrin states, "Lochan has huge updates, to be fair. HUGE."
Karrin claims to Temi, "You're fine."
Karrin states, "Ok, I'll go so Temi can have a moment."
Karrin says, "I have some HUGE thanks to give to Lochan, and two other non-staff volunteers, that have helped so much this week to get us moved. We're not QUITE finished yet, but we are absolutely getting there. Both the game and the website are going to be over there, and I've got functionality to add people to the wiki to be able to edit it. once the forums and website are fully moved, I'll have that option."
Karrin states, "I've already set up a few people there, if you'd like access to be able to edit the wiki files, lemme know."
Temi finishes abruptly, "For those questioning - our little duckie is for our migration"
Ysandre wonders, "Moving? Will the login info change?"
Karrin pontificates, "It is!"
Sororitas declares, "Oh nice!"
Karrin states to Ysandre, "Nope! All will stay the same. They're just stabilizing it on the new server."
Ysandre states, "<3"
Karrin claims, "I am eternally grateful for these guys, honestly. I have no idea how to thank them. They've been wonderful."
Karrin claims to Spaghetti Demon, "Shoo, tell them your update."
Spaghetti Demon claims, "This week I toiled among the tangled strands of creation, grappling with wayward bugs and unruly ideas, bending them to purpose beneath the simmering will of progress. I forged new strength in the crucible of performance, that our works may flow swift as molten marinara across the cosmos. And lo and behold the new server rises, a mighty altar of computation, its foundations firm and its spirit eager. Soon it shall awaken beneath the Sauce Eternal."
Spaghetti Demon claims, "I turn my gaze this week toward the vast constellation of ideas, for within that celestial board lies the promise of glorious creation. Though the stubborn bugs still snap at the edges of our progress, I labor on, tempering flaws into function as a smith tempers steel. Yet beyond these trials awaits a feast of inspiration. Many worthy ideas call out for manifestation and I decree that some shall descend into reality, clothed in code and purpose. So it shall be, by the grace of pasta."
HIEROPHANT states, "He's been talking to me too much."
Sparkles states, "Ramen."
Spaghetti Demon says, "TLDR: Bugs, ideas, and performance work last week and this week. With a heavier lean into some of the ideas on the board."
Prythe states, "'by the grace of pasts' made me LOL."
Prythe claims, "'by the grace of pasta' made me LOL, rather."
Freeman claims, "The Pastasiah hath spoken"
Spaghetti Demon says, "I have also been assimilating with the spaghetti we are birthed from, and have become the Flying Spaghetti Monster. "
Karrin chuckles.
Temi states, "I bet they would be excited to hear about the armor thing"
Karrin says, "I bet they would."
Spaghetti Demon states, "Ah yes, armor."
Capitalism queries, "There's an armor thing?"
Spaghetti Demon states, "So"
Sororitas queries, "Armor?"
Scarry questions, "Armour?
"Spaghetti Demon declares, "Once upon a great time before the spaghetti monster, there were calculations for armor penalties on MV. (Armour!) "
Bayard states, "The what"
Spaghetti Demon says, "It was previously based on whatever your heaviest piece was (light, medium, heavy armour). So, if you had ONE piece of plate, it treated it as though you had full plate"
Spaghetti Demon says, "Thus I cast aside the folly of the old design and proclaimed a new order. Armor shall now draw its burden not from crude absolutes but from the weight each soul bears in proportion to their strength. Let it be known that it now scales with your total carry capacity, a true reflection of your might. This change shall bring blessing to nearly all travelers across the realms and it shall grant new power to those who walk the path of strength and choose to don the heaviest armor. So it is written in sauce and truth."
Spaghetti Demon claims, "Translation for non-pastafarians: So I said no more to this, and it is now based on your armor's weight as a percentage of your total carry capacity (STR) This will be a positive change for pretty much everyone, and a buff for STR builds wearing heavier armor."
Sororitas says, "Huh... what a weird way to handle that. Though I do like this update for completely unbiased reasons. "
Karrin states, "That was what he was working on most of yesterday."
BuzzOven exclaims, "Thank you Temi, and nice!"
Sororitas pontificates, "The old way was weird. New way is amazing and I love it!"
Karrin says, "He found it, basically went, "Ew, weird," and fixed."
Sparkles wonders, "Controversial ah, maybe, armor question, but have we ever considered having a 'cloth' equivalent to leather (like gamebsons and such) so tailors as well as leatherworkers could help with armor stuffs?"
Spaghetti Demon declaims, "Idea board! "
Karrin claims, "I would not be opposed to a lighter armor. Throw it up there."
Temi claims, "It's a positive change overall, I think"
Sororitas declares, "Praise be the Spaghetti Demon!"
Sparkles curtseys.
Karrin says, "We can calculate it in with the new balancing stuff."
Spaghetti Demon claims, "Another change that you may all enjoy and then I'll pass to Temi"
Karrin nods.
Freeman states, "So now stronger PCs can more easily walk around in armor. Makes sense <3"
Spaghetti Demon says, "We will (upon my next holds) be able to craft in multiples. "
Karrin chuckles.
Karrin states, "Well, that didn't take long."
Bayard states, "Gambesons would actually be pretty sick"
Spaghetti Demon says, "And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder... One of the four staff saying, come and see, and behold.. Spaghetti."
BuzzOven says, "Oh that's especially awesome news."
Temi grins.
Temi states, "So I think that's Knights and Merchants worshipping Spaghetti Demons now"
Sororitas declaims, "Ramen!"
Rambling claims, "Vavard keeps getting away with it."
InvestSouthside states, "All my good Merchants' should have already been devout pastafarians no worry"
Temi states, "I think that will be very well received, thank you. And nicely appreciated from Temi as well, since we don't need to do more bulk recipes too <3"
Scarry says, "Would've loved this change before making 120 rations hahahuhuhu"
Scarry declaims, "Thank you Temi and Lochan!!"
Karrin claims to Temi, "Haha. The third person nails it. But, yes, not having to worry about more bulk crafts is the best."
ThatBard says, "The changes sound really good. XD"
Temi states, "You'll still only be able to make as many as you can handle at once"
Sparkles states, "That does mean keep snacks on hand so your MV doesn't run out during fun bulk crafting time."
Karrin claims to Sparkles, "Yes, indeed. It can go fast."
Karrin declaims to Temi, "All you!"
Freeman says, "Snack makers are about to be rich"
Hibiscus claims, "Best news ever."
AlleyGirl says, "Will definitely make restocking way easier."
Tatty wonders, "Snacks, for?"
Temi claims, "Continuing to work on plot responses! Please remember to get your plots into queued state if they are ready to be looked at. We're also prepping for a light-hearted winter event which should hopefully be fun for everyone, and I'm diving into some designs for systems we want to adjust, but still some work to go there"
Sparkles says, "You use MV up when you craft, you refill MV by eating."
Tatty exclaims, "Oooh!"
Karrin claims, "Confirmed, visible on the who list."
Temi states, "But that's about it for me at this point"
Karrin states, "I am super stoked for the winter event."
Temi says, "I think assets is the first big one Karrin wanted me to put some adjustment plans together for"
Temi states, "And yeah, we're all excited. Some disappointment that August didn't seem an appropriate time to start it"
Karrin claims, "Yes indeed. Lochan's working on combat, I'm working on guildie cool things, and Temi and Dorothy are working on assets."
Karrin states to Temi, "I'd totally have been open to time portaling."
Temi states, "I think people still want their Magebane first"
Karrin says, "Ok! There isn't a whole lot of time left, but we do have a few moments if there's a quick topic from players? I know we sort of stole the whole meeting."
Sparkles says, "Nothing I can't boop on the Ideas board, likely."
Spaghetti Demon trails off, "I would just like to mention that I am curious as to why no one reported me to the authorities for being Stark Naked... "
Karrin states to Spaghetti Demon, "Well, you are currently in OOC land."
Spaghetti Demon declares, "That doesn't matter!"
Temi says to Spaghetti Demon, "I think they'll forgive you for anything, too"
Freeman says, "We can't look at one another in this room"
Karrin states to Spaghetti Demon, "They do like you. Seems like."
Spaghetti Demon exclaims, "Ahh Freeman with the real reason! "
InvestSouthside claims, "Sorry I dont report my diety"
Karrin declaims, "Ok! I'm going to talk to my new aides and send everyone back to grid. Have a wonderful week!"