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SECOND Project Status Update HERE.
Project Status Update HERE.
The new Event Moderators are bringing something back into the game that has long been missing. Dynamic events. But the responsibility is not theirs alone in this matter, and as efforts like the Trinsic Invasion currently being planned on LS attest, there IS something we can do about this. However, planning events and quests is very difficult work, and it is common to see a high degree of burn out in event coordinators as they attempt to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together. I have experienced this first hand, and instead of burying my fellow community leaders in small bit parts for my quests, I took to recruiting players from others shard using the irc.stratics.com network. For me, this worked wonderfully, as I could pull together a good group of players, outfit them with whatever gear and background information they needed, and concentrate on actually running the main characters. With their help, I was able to populate entire towns with “player” townsfolk, field rival orc bands for pvp events, and more. But as I read of some of the player’s from other shards who are making characters to participate in the LS Trinsic Invasion, my mind questions… why couldn’t we make this a tactic that everyone could use? So here is my idea to do exactly that…
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:: Introduction ::
The goal is to create a loose organization of players from EVERY shard who are willing to help play bit characters, townsfolk, quest characters, fortune tellers, pirates, orcs, savages, whatever is needed. Our main purpose is not to be a Seer like organization, actually running events on all the shards, but rather an enabler for existing organizations to field large groups of players for their own events. In short, I see it as a RolePlaying/Event Temp Service. You need bodies? We have bodies.
:: How it Works ::
Members in the Alternates generally do not provide backup for their own shards. Instead, they use their open character slots on OTHER shards to create characters as needed for specific events and quests. If a member has open slots on their own shard, then they are welcome to use them as well, but out goal is to make full use of our empty character slots by solidifying a group of players cross shard to work together for everyone’s benefit. Members of the Alternates can certainly make use of the resources for their own shard as well, and in fact we expect that MOST potential members will make use of the program from both sides. They will provide support for other’s quests just as they are running their own.
Nobody is on a schedule, but if you RSVP to participate in an event we would certainly appreciate if you showed up to do so. We will be building specific tools to send reminders of events you have signed up for, so most of this should be relatively simple.
Almost any type of player could be useful in something like this, from Rpers, PvMers, PvPers, even Crafters. There is no telling what type of events or quests we might get called for, so having a rich and diverse background would be very helpful. I would expect that we will likely see most of our calls seperate into two categories:
1. RPing characters.
2. Bad/Good Guy Canon Fodder.
Since all of these characters are basically newbies, it isn't like we would give much of a fight. For some of you dedicated PvPers, you might look at it as an interesting challenge. Can my newbie Warrior kill someone else? *chuckles*
:: Joining the Alternates ::
Joining, for now, is just a concept. If the idea is favorably received and we get about 50 people who are willing to sign on (which we will gauge by replies to this thread), then I will make a set of forums specially for the Alternates on their own web site. To join, you would simply register an account on the forums and fill in your contact information. ICQ, Yahoo, AIM, MSN, email, etc. With that information, we will be able to send out reminder notices for upcoming events, as well as having an internal calendar for staff use to show what we are doing, where, and who is needed. All in all, it is a relatively simplistic production.
Each shard will have an Alternates stone, for use in Trammel/Malas oriented PvP conflicts. Wars will be declared on this stone ONLY for the night of the event, so as to prevent misunderstandings. I am not really certain how much threat a guild of newbie characters would be to anyone anyways, but better safe then sorry! *chuckles*
:: Using the Alternates ::
To use the alternates, all you would need is an idea, equipment for our people, and means to provide transportation to the event. Bringing us home afterwards is not needed unless you plan to run multiple events with the same bit characters. You would write up a post on our forums with the necessary information, provide your contact info, and we’d get back to you with what we can help with. It would be that simple.
When a player on shard ____ has a need for some actors from our group, they post on our forum requesting them. They are responsible for providing us with armor, clothing, weaponry, transportation, and scripts (if there are any). If they need people to play specific roles, then they request those as well. For example:
<blockquote><hr>
Sample Alternate Request Post:
We are hosting a guild event on Pacific, Monday, September 08, 2003, at 9pm PST. We need help with a number of roles.
1. Orc Chieftan with lines.
2. Two Orc Lords, with lines.
3. About 10 Orc warriors.
4. One Royal Guard for Lord British (with lines).
PvP is part of the quest, and we plan to kill everyone. We will meet with the Alternates at the Haven Bank and provide gates to our staging area at 8 to 8:30pm PST, where we will equip you and provide you with specific details. For the speaking roles, we can provide your lines ahead of time, if you need them. Email me at [email protected].
Please make all names Orc like, for example “Kaug’ub” and such. If you have any other questions, contact me at [email protected].
<hr></blockquote> From there, members of the Alternates would reply with RSVP’s for the event, show up at the appropriate time, and have some fun doing it!
:: Expanding the Concept ::
This sort of program could easily be extended to HOSTING events and quests on other shards, as well as facilitating them. For now, I am focusing on the enabling aspect, as I feel it would be an easier “Stage 1” operation, but it is entirely likely that we might push the extent of our focus to actively running our own quest & story lines. We’ll see what the future holds.
:: Conclusion ::
And that’s the idea. If you like it, and are willing to dedicate some of your open slots on other shards, please reply to the thread so we can see exactly how much interest there really is. If you have quests or events that could use this sort of aid, feel free to reply with that as well. That is just as important to us.
One last thing, this is still a relatively new concept, and I do not pretend to think it is completely polished. There are bound to be issues that need to be addressed, and as we find them, we will. But it is a good starting point… so let’s get started!
Project Status Update HERE.
The new Event Moderators are bringing something back into the game that has long been missing. Dynamic events. But the responsibility is not theirs alone in this matter, and as efforts like the Trinsic Invasion currently being planned on LS attest, there IS something we can do about this. However, planning events and quests is very difficult work, and it is common to see a high degree of burn out in event coordinators as they attempt to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together. I have experienced this first hand, and instead of burying my fellow community leaders in small bit parts for my quests, I took to recruiting players from others shard using the irc.stratics.com network. For me, this worked wonderfully, as I could pull together a good group of players, outfit them with whatever gear and background information they needed, and concentrate on actually running the main characters. With their help, I was able to populate entire towns with “player” townsfolk, field rival orc bands for pvp events, and more. But as I read of some of the player’s from other shards who are making characters to participate in the LS Trinsic Invasion, my mind questions… why couldn’t we make this a tactic that everyone could use? So here is my idea to do exactly that…
<center>
:: Introduction ::
The goal is to create a loose organization of players from EVERY shard who are willing to help play bit characters, townsfolk, quest characters, fortune tellers, pirates, orcs, savages, whatever is needed. Our main purpose is not to be a Seer like organization, actually running events on all the shards, but rather an enabler for existing organizations to field large groups of players for their own events. In short, I see it as a RolePlaying/Event Temp Service. You need bodies? We have bodies.
:: How it Works ::
Members in the Alternates generally do not provide backup for their own shards. Instead, they use their open character slots on OTHER shards to create characters as needed for specific events and quests. If a member has open slots on their own shard, then they are welcome to use them as well, but out goal is to make full use of our empty character slots by solidifying a group of players cross shard to work together for everyone’s benefit. Members of the Alternates can certainly make use of the resources for their own shard as well, and in fact we expect that MOST potential members will make use of the program from both sides. They will provide support for other’s quests just as they are running their own.
Nobody is on a schedule, but if you RSVP to participate in an event we would certainly appreciate if you showed up to do so. We will be building specific tools to send reminders of events you have signed up for, so most of this should be relatively simple.
Almost any type of player could be useful in something like this, from Rpers, PvMers, PvPers, even Crafters. There is no telling what type of events or quests we might get called for, so having a rich and diverse background would be very helpful. I would expect that we will likely see most of our calls seperate into two categories:
1. RPing characters.
2. Bad/Good Guy Canon Fodder.
Since all of these characters are basically newbies, it isn't like we would give much of a fight. For some of you dedicated PvPers, you might look at it as an interesting challenge. Can my newbie Warrior kill someone else? *chuckles*
:: Joining the Alternates ::
Joining, for now, is just a concept. If the idea is favorably received and we get about 50 people who are willing to sign on (which we will gauge by replies to this thread), then I will make a set of forums specially for the Alternates on their own web site. To join, you would simply register an account on the forums and fill in your contact information. ICQ, Yahoo, AIM, MSN, email, etc. With that information, we will be able to send out reminder notices for upcoming events, as well as having an internal calendar for staff use to show what we are doing, where, and who is needed. All in all, it is a relatively simplistic production.
Each shard will have an Alternates stone, for use in Trammel/Malas oriented PvP conflicts. Wars will be declared on this stone ONLY for the night of the event, so as to prevent misunderstandings. I am not really certain how much threat a guild of newbie characters would be to anyone anyways, but better safe then sorry! *chuckles*
:: Using the Alternates ::
To use the alternates, all you would need is an idea, equipment for our people, and means to provide transportation to the event. Bringing us home afterwards is not needed unless you plan to run multiple events with the same bit characters. You would write up a post on our forums with the necessary information, provide your contact info, and we’d get back to you with what we can help with. It would be that simple.
When a player on shard ____ has a need for some actors from our group, they post on our forum requesting them. They are responsible for providing us with armor, clothing, weaponry, transportation, and scripts (if there are any). If they need people to play specific roles, then they request those as well. For example:
<blockquote><hr>
Sample Alternate Request Post:
We are hosting a guild event on Pacific, Monday, September 08, 2003, at 9pm PST. We need help with a number of roles.
1. Orc Chieftan with lines.
2. Two Orc Lords, with lines.
3. About 10 Orc warriors.
4. One Royal Guard for Lord British (with lines).
PvP is part of the quest, and we plan to kill everyone. We will meet with the Alternates at the Haven Bank and provide gates to our staging area at 8 to 8:30pm PST, where we will equip you and provide you with specific details. For the speaking roles, we can provide your lines ahead of time, if you need them. Email me at [email protected].
Please make all names Orc like, for example “Kaug’ub” and such. If you have any other questions, contact me at [email protected].
<hr></blockquote> From there, members of the Alternates would reply with RSVP’s for the event, show up at the appropriate time, and have some fun doing it!
:: Expanding the Concept ::
This sort of program could easily be extended to HOSTING events and quests on other shards, as well as facilitating them. For now, I am focusing on the enabling aspect, as I feel it would be an easier “Stage 1” operation, but it is entirely likely that we might push the extent of our focus to actively running our own quest & story lines. We’ll see what the future holds.
:: Conclusion ::
And that’s the idea. If you like it, and are willing to dedicate some of your open slots on other shards, please reply to the thread so we can see exactly how much interest there really is. If you have quests or events that could use this sort of aid, feel free to reply with that as well. That is just as important to us.
One last thing, this is still a relatively new concept, and I do not pretend to think it is completely polished. There are bound to be issues that need to be addressed, and as we find them, we will. But it is a good starting point… so let’s get started!