Josh for HST: Candidacy and Platform
Jul 9, 2015 15:25:24 GMT -8
Blake Sterling Jr. and RomulusGloriosus like this
Post by Josh on Jul 9, 2015 15:25:24 GMT -8
Thank you for taking the time to review the following. 
My name is Josh and I am currently an AST of your Camarilla game, you may know me by Starscream from time to time. I have been with the game since May 2007. I have played almost the entire time in the Vampire sphere with a small exception where I was an AST for out Werewolf game for a year.
When the push for a reset began to swell last year I felt that the game, the story, and the Community were on the edge of something truly amazing. I am pleased to say that though Rob came out in the lead a year ago I was both humble and grateful that he reached out and asked me to be on his staff despite me running against him. It the time I have spent working with the game and helping sculpt many of the key systems and stories that many of you have raved about, both public and private, I am pleased to see so many people still enjoying the game (Thanks for filling out those surveys they were very insightful and full of useful information).
Games like ours which are long running continuity often face challenges when it comes time to pass on the torch of leadership. Many of you who played before the reset for a few years can likely recall at least a few times where a new Staff would result in a dramatic shift of powers, story, and priorities that both players and characters faced. Such times of transition often had swelling game populations as previous players returned to try out the new staff and current players left due to conflicts with the said new staff.
I would like to see that our game continues to build in momentum while maintaining the same ideals behind our transition to this reset. I would like to see the game's Cannon, rules, and balance remain as congruent as possible. Once people get used to doing things a certain way it becomes habitual and a part of their mental foundation. My Staff and I would like to solidify this foundation that we as a Community have helped to build together this past year and set the new standard for excellence with this game of ours. We once could boast nightly attendance that pushed beyond 100 players.
Please help me in building what could once again be the dominant troupe game in the Greater Seattle Area.
---
Platform:
Into the fire and brimstone!
Well it is not that dramatic actually. My platform is largely and structurally similar to what many have you have been playing under for the past year. The primary goals of my term will be to maintain and reinforce Cannon, to streamline various logistical shortcomings, and to grow game population (Recruitment).
The game, per the surveys, has communicated that it is pleased with a good 80% of the game. You have all been specific and constructive with concerns you have brought to Staff both privately and publicly and as such that communication and professionalism helps us build a better game for you.
The Cannon of the game remains driven and tied to the books. We take cues as to what is written in both flavor and system text in determining how often and reasonably most characters would interact with various component items presented in the source materials. My Staff and I will continue to utilize printed material and will attempt to forward review any new content so that we can implement it as close to release as we can. That being said as the game grows the population (see Recruitment below would give way to an acceptable percentage of the game representing those odd things out there (it is still a low percentage, but I know that many of you look to the horizon when someone can jump on a snowflake).
The biggest aspect of our surveys and most common concern for both current and new players is the operation of the papertable. In all honesty it was an oversight on the part of Staff and we just kept stacking hats on Brad (it is almost a fun game because Brad never complains). Due this the sheer number of responsibilities that we had our papertable govern it lead to lower satisfaction for everyone involved. As such we will be transitioning the papertable role to more of an administrative and customer service role rather than a sheets and dots role. Our Character Sheet management, experience usage, and downtimes will be conducted via email as much as possible. Please do not panic and think this means we will be abandoning people and have no table at game, there will be someone from Staff ready to take questions, help new players, and handle concerns as their focused role.
RECRUITMENT! It's big because I like it. This might sound redundant but one of the biggest difference between a table-top and a LARP is the game size. Regardless of how seemingly forward that is we often overlook it as a critical component. Many of us become complacent with the number or the people who are currently attend game. I have heard from time to time "...it doesn't matter if 'person X' leaves because it won't hurt the game." I can not honestly agree with that statement from a general standpoint. We are better as a game as we grow and welcome new players. The game has had trouble over the past year in new player retention. For every 5 new players that come and try the game we have maybe 1 stick around. I feel that we as a Community are better than 20%. I know that if we take a moment in the time we set aside for game to greet or welcome a new player, to ask them about their character or invite a character tie, or in general to engage them in some way we can continue to build a loyal and strengthen community. We have a long history with many roots, some of those are tangle but that does not make them bad or unwelcome. I look to help foster an environment where newer players, to our game not just Vampire: the Masquerade, hunger to come back for both in AND out of character reasons. We are the architects of our own future and I believe we can attract and keep the better part of attendees.
---
Finally a point I have been asked about. I considered back and forth if I should disclose my Staff. There were pros and cons on either side but ultimately I have nothing to hide from you. I believe that by choosing me you will either trust my choices in whom I have selected to assist me or you will be willing to ask me about my choices to better understand why they join me in this endeavor.
New Staff:
Denise Brown
Cory Sober
Kyle Broekers
Nicole Porter
Returning Staff
Chris Schetzle
Brad Lewis
---
Again thank you for your time.
If you have any questions feel free to find me at game, respond to this post, or email (loshypoo@gmail.com) me and I will be happy to converse with you about the topics of your choice.
My name is Josh and I am currently an AST of your Camarilla game, you may know me by Starscream from time to time. I have been with the game since May 2007. I have played almost the entire time in the Vampire sphere with a small exception where I was an AST for out Werewolf game for a year.
When the push for a reset began to swell last year I felt that the game, the story, and the Community were on the edge of something truly amazing. I am pleased to say that though Rob came out in the lead a year ago I was both humble and grateful that he reached out and asked me to be on his staff despite me running against him. It the time I have spent working with the game and helping sculpt many of the key systems and stories that many of you have raved about, both public and private, I am pleased to see so many people still enjoying the game (Thanks for filling out those surveys they were very insightful and full of useful information).
Games like ours which are long running continuity often face challenges when it comes time to pass on the torch of leadership. Many of you who played before the reset for a few years can likely recall at least a few times where a new Staff would result in a dramatic shift of powers, story, and priorities that both players and characters faced. Such times of transition often had swelling game populations as previous players returned to try out the new staff and current players left due to conflicts with the said new staff.
I would like to see that our game continues to build in momentum while maintaining the same ideals behind our transition to this reset. I would like to see the game's Cannon, rules, and balance remain as congruent as possible. Once people get used to doing things a certain way it becomes habitual and a part of their mental foundation. My Staff and I would like to solidify this foundation that we as a Community have helped to build together this past year and set the new standard for excellence with this game of ours. We once could boast nightly attendance that pushed beyond 100 players.
Please help me in building what could once again be the dominant troupe game in the Greater Seattle Area.
---
Platform:
Into the fire and brimstone!
Well it is not that dramatic actually. My platform is largely and structurally similar to what many have you have been playing under for the past year. The primary goals of my term will be to maintain and reinforce Cannon, to streamline various logistical shortcomings, and to grow game population (Recruitment).
The game, per the surveys, has communicated that it is pleased with a good 80% of the game. You have all been specific and constructive with concerns you have brought to Staff both privately and publicly and as such that communication and professionalism helps us build a better game for you.
The Cannon of the game remains driven and tied to the books. We take cues as to what is written in both flavor and system text in determining how often and reasonably most characters would interact with various component items presented in the source materials. My Staff and I will continue to utilize printed material and will attempt to forward review any new content so that we can implement it as close to release as we can. That being said as the game grows the population (see Recruitment below would give way to an acceptable percentage of the game representing those odd things out there (it is still a low percentage, but I know that many of you look to the horizon when someone can jump on a snowflake).
The biggest aspect of our surveys and most common concern for both current and new players is the operation of the papertable. In all honesty it was an oversight on the part of Staff and we just kept stacking hats on Brad (it is almost a fun game because Brad never complains). Due this the sheer number of responsibilities that we had our papertable govern it lead to lower satisfaction for everyone involved. As such we will be transitioning the papertable role to more of an administrative and customer service role rather than a sheets and dots role. Our Character Sheet management, experience usage, and downtimes will be conducted via email as much as possible. Please do not panic and think this means we will be abandoning people and have no table at game, there will be someone from Staff ready to take questions, help new players, and handle concerns as their focused role.
RECRUITMENT! It's big because I like it
. This might sound redundant but one of the biggest difference between a table-top and a LARP is the game size. Regardless of how seemingly forward that is we often overlook it as a critical component. Many of us become complacent with the number or the people who are currently attend game. I have heard from time to time "...it doesn't matter if 'person X' leaves because it won't hurt the game." I can not honestly agree with that statement from a general standpoint. We are better as a game as we grow and welcome new players. The game has had trouble over the past year in new player retention. For every 5 new players that come and try the game we have maybe 1 stick around. I feel that we as a Community are better than 20%. I know that if we take a moment in the time we set aside for game to greet or welcome a new player, to ask them about their character or invite a character tie, or in general to engage them in some way we can continue to build a loyal and strengthen community. We have a long history with many roots, some of those are tangle but that does not make them bad or unwelcome. I look to help foster an environment where newer players, to our game not just Vampire: the Masquerade, hunger to come back for both in AND out of character reasons. We are the architects of our own future and I believe we can attract and keep the better part of attendees. ---
Finally a point I have been asked about. I considered back and forth if I should disclose my Staff. There were pros and cons on either side but ultimately I have nothing to hide from you. I believe that by choosing me you will either trust my choices in whom I have selected to assist me or you will be willing to ask me about my choices to better understand why they join me in this endeavor.
New Staff:
Denise Brown
Cory Sober
Kyle Broekers
Nicole Porter
Returning Staff
Chris Schetzle
Brad Lewis
---
Again thank you for your time.
If you have any questions feel free to find me at game, respond to this post, or email (loshypoo@gmail.com) me and I will be happy to converse with you about the topics of your choice.
