Route 29: ｍｏｄｓ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
these_balls) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
route_292011-10-11 04:15 pm
these_balls) wrote in route_292011-10-11 04:15 pm
Entry tags:
A NEW RULE APPEARS
Hey, Route!
Yes, more new stuff. Everything chaaanges, chaaaanges, it's evolutionary~
1) New apps rule!:
In the interest of clarity and app processing speed, we now ask that potential applicants post their application in comments rather than linking. If the app contains explicit references to 'hard' spoilers (think big reveals, like 'Dumbledore dies', I SEE DEAD PEOPLE, I am your father etc), players should put the application in their own journal or their character's journal and link it, making sure to mention the presence of spoilers within.
We've always gotten linked apps (goodness knows I'm guilty of linking an app or five that was spoiler-free!), but having them all on the page means the mods don't have to open a million tabs while processing, and spoiler links keep fellow players from stumbling onto things that might ruin a canon for them.
This is a rule; as of today (the 11th of October), if your app is linked but not marked for spoilers, it will not be processed that week. We trust all our players will read and abide by the rules list, which has not changed besides this.
2) Polling about the passwords:
RELAX, we're not changing anything concerning passwords...yet. But we're thinking it's about time this thing got an overhaul, don't you think?
Our proposed fix: What we'd like to do is remove the passwords altogether and replace them with something of a task system: on the rules and FAQ pages, tasks such as 'explain in one sentence how your character feels about strawberries in their personality section' or 'include a link to your favorite youtube video in the canon links section'.
The goal here is to make sure people have at least given a cursory visit to both pages. These tasks would change arbitrarily and be located arbitrarily within the FAQ and rules. Yes, these would be more work for you, and for us, but the current password system feels outdated and obvious.
Your turn: How do you feel, Route? Hate this idea? Love passwords? Have a better idea? Let us know!
[Poll #1785767]
If you have grievances, comments, suggestions or ideas concerning either the new app rule or the password system, you can: PM the mod account, PM any of us individually, catch us on AIM, or post (anonymously or not) to our (screened) Suggestions post.
Looking forward to hear from you!
Yes, more new stuff. Everything chaaanges, chaaaanges, it's evolutionary~
1) New apps rule!:
In the interest of clarity and app processing speed, we now ask that potential applicants post their application in comments rather than linking. If the app contains explicit references to 'hard' spoilers (think big reveals, like 'Dumbledore dies', I SEE DEAD PEOPLE, I am your father etc), players should put the application in their own journal or their character's journal and link it, making sure to mention the presence of spoilers within.
We've always gotten linked apps (goodness knows I'm guilty of linking an app or five that was spoiler-free!), but having them all on the page means the mods don't have to open a million tabs while processing, and spoiler links keep fellow players from stumbling onto things that might ruin a canon for them.
This is a rule; as of today (the 11th of October), if your app is linked but not marked for spoilers, it will not be processed that week. We trust all our players will read and abide by the rules list, which has not changed besides this.
2) Polling about the passwords:
RELAX, we're not changing anything concerning passwords...yet. But we're thinking it's about time this thing got an overhaul, don't you think?
Our proposed fix: What we'd like to do is remove the passwords altogether and replace them with something of a task system: on the rules and FAQ pages, tasks such as 'explain in one sentence how your character feels about strawberries in their personality section' or 'include a link to your favorite youtube video in the canon links section'.
The goal here is to make sure people have at least given a cursory visit to both pages. These tasks would change arbitrarily and be located arbitrarily within the FAQ and rules. Yes, these would be more work for you, and for us, but the current password system feels outdated and obvious.
Your turn: How do you feel, Route? Hate this idea? Love passwords? Have a better idea? Let us know!
[Poll #1785767]
If you have grievances, comments, suggestions or ideas concerning either the new app rule or the password system, you can: PM the mod account, PM any of us individually, catch us on AIM, or post (anonymously or not) to our (screened) Suggestions post.
Looking forward to hear from you!
no subject
- Apps/linking: I don't see a problem with this change in policy. I mean, yeah, there's the potential for errors while posting, but I think the pros basically outweigh the cons? As in, no sneaky editing, easier for the mods to process them, etc. Personally, I also like apps in the comments just because you can go back and read them later- a friend of mine, a great friend of mine!, she tends to delete her apps after she gets accepted somewhere, and I'm always like nooooooooo I wanted to reread it!! Besides that, hell, you guys are mods and if it makes it easier for you to do your job? GO FOR IT.
—But that said, I agree with a few of the comments that retroactively applying it to this week's apps is a little harsh. Could you possibly just leave apps a comment like, "hey! could you please post this on the page?" along with updating the post with the new rule? It seems unfair that someone who might not have seen the announcement would be held accountable for it, especially given the lack of notice.
- As for the password system, I basically agree that it is somewhat easy to cheat by reading other applications, and just arbitrarily changing words is a little frustrating. I remember I had to read the FAQ twice to find it, just because it was a random word in a random spot. I like the idea of a question based on the FAQ- for example, in Gargleblasted, they ask "What is the name of the universal translator plug-in, and what are two ways to earn money in the game?" Sure, it can still be cheated, but at least even the cheaters will know how to take jobs? And it gives you some indication on where to look for the answers, as opposed to "random word randomly somewhere."
—Mostly, however, I think changing the password is just an exercise in frustration. The only time it's really relevant to know the password is the first time you app a character and are new to the game- then it's important to read the FAQ. And likewise, the only people affected by the change of password are people already in the game! A new player will read the FAQ to learn everything and find the password, theoretically while doing the former. It makes no difference to them if it's the same one as ever or what (assuming they're naive and not "cheating"). However a returning player will simply be looking for the changed password so they can submit their app, so changing the password really just forces someone who has already been accepted to go treasure hunting!
—-I think personally, a slightly open-ended question would work best. For example, "name two different part-time jobs available in towns," out of however many you have listed in the FAQ. This would let seasoned players answer without having to go hunting (since they're presumably know), and give enough variety in the apps that you can't just copy-paste whatever the app above you said. (Of course, people still would, but that's just a fact of password systems…)
Wow, I'm sorry this got so tl;dr!!! I DIDN'T MEAN TO I SWEAR.
no subject
- Regarding apps: goodness, we must come off as some crazy hardasses...all of these things you outlined--leaving a note, along with a reminder--was our intention all along! We would never outright ignore an app, that would be terrible modding, and just plain rude besides. For instance, if an applicant posts an app with the wrong password, we leave them a note asking them to please post the correct passwords, and process the app only once that's been done. We'd be doing something similar with the new app rule, which is in BIG BOLD FONT on the app page itself. As for lack of notice--applicants who post their app before the 14th (a three-day window) will get a PM'd reminder from us about the new app rule. We definitely wouldn't want anyone to get penalized!
- Concerning passwords; yes, the open-ended question system seems the most likely, if we change the system at all. As has been said, nothing's been decided yet, we're just seeing what all of you think before we do anything. That said, we really do appreciate all the feedback we're getting!
Thanks for posting a reply!