The game I want?

[Styx]

The one where powers are of tertiary concern, and stats on a sheet are an afterthought.

The one where a character's motivations, his personality, where he came from and what he decides to do with his abilities are more important than *what* he can do.

The one where a character's decision about how far to push his rival in an open political debate is more crucial to his own well being than how far away he can "touch of death" someone, or how many agg successes he can pile into a kill box.

The one where people can remember it's a game and can restrain themselves from screaming at staff, or riding ooc drama llamas in a stampede all over other players, or forgetting that the people they're talking to are people that have as much right to being spoken to with respect and kindness as they do.

The one where people come to game to experience IC conflicts, combats, rivalries, victories, losses, and deaths, and then can leave that game and not hate anyone or smear anyone's name around like it was cheap lipstick.

I want THAT game. And when I look around, I'm sad to see that this game isn't it.

[Katie Hester]

*sadface*

[Ikon]

The most accurate and profound thing I have heard on any of these discussions is this...

Dec 31, 2013 10:29:01 GMT -8 Styx said:

The one where people can remember it's a game and can restrain themselves from screaming at staff, or riding ooc drama llamas in a stampede all over other players, or forgetting that the people they're talking to are people that have as much right to being spoken to with respect and kindness as they do.

[Shah-Khohr of Ventrue]

I'm eating all this up with a spoon.

You know what's the most awesome thing about this community? Everyone seems to have a different idea on what 'awesome' really means. Everyone kinda treats game like porn: they don't know if they can clearly define it, but they know it when they see it.

I LOVE EC. I love it. I love when its all ramped up and people are preaching at each other (like they are now) for very little reason (like they are now). I love when people are cowering cus there's just too much __________ (insert: character death, lack of character death, powerful PCs, lack of powerful PCs, NPC involvement, lack of NPC involvement, Staff that listens, staff that listens too much, etc, etc). There is, quite literally, no pleasing anyone. People want what they want. They can't always describe what they want, but they want it. And when they don't get it, everyone feels entitled to spout off about it.

And ya know what? That's liberating.

Isn't it awesome to be a part of a community where everyone's voice is heard and weighted? Isn't it cool to be able to feel validated and wanted? Isn't this community just tits all around?

Not sure what's sparking all this talk about too much ST time being spent here, or too many super powers there. From what I've seen, the game is running well. People seem to be happy with their characters and stories. And with precious few exceptions, the rules haven't allowed character death to happen at an unreasonable rate. Gravity still works. Sure there are weird stuff, but ya know what? I have a feeling that if characters stopped looking for weird stuff it'd stop cropping up.

Anyway. Much love. I'm glad that 98% of you are a part of my life, cus its more awesome for your passing.

Cheers!
-Rob.

[Styx]

LOL!! Ahhh, Rob. What would we do without you cackling in the corner, eating your popcorn?

[Ikon]

Very well said Rob.

[Ascanio Giovanni]

I agree with this wholeheartedly, to both David and Rob.

Cackle away Rob, I hope we all give you a good show.

[Barnaby Cuthbert]

Thank you for sharing your core values for a good game. I too am glad that everyone can be heard. I too wish that we could have a discussion withOUT the intimation of smearing people's names around from any party. I attempted to keep it classy like that, but managed to (By Alaina's somewhat tipsy estimation on NYE) do that about 75% correctly.

About 25% of what I said failed in tone and style and apparently hurt people's feelings, and for that, I'm sorry.

[Ascanio Giovanni]

Thank you for the apology Chris. It is taken at face value and accepted. I am well aware of the dangers of posting something and not realizing how offensive I am being until well after the vitriol has started, so I'd have to call myself a hypocrite if I held a grudge after the apology was given.

[Ast Jen]

So um, yea I am an emotional person and I allow stress to control me, I can admit that openly. However, the amount of relief I personally felt reading David's post was so palpable to me that I actually cried a little.

It's been a hectic few months and I've been trying not to leak on all of you, but damn. Double damn. I have been purposefully avoiding the boards due to the vitriol and hostility I have been reading here as of late. Perhaps I'm reading too much into what people are saying, but as a staff member I do feel as though we are in a "lose/lose" situation, and the fun is gone.

Bah. Sorry, like I said, I'm emo.

[Styx]

I'm not going to call anyone out, and frankly I don't remember everyone who did, but a few months ago (or more) a pledge was made by a bunch of people from this game to be better players and better people. It's easy to say that, but it's hard to do, and sometimes well-meant promises get lost in the dust of the past. I'd like to remind everyone that that promise shouldn't be a new year's resolution, and it shouldn't be left to drift in the wind, it should be an every day action. If anyone who pledged it meant what they said, they shouldn't SAY it anymore, they should DO it.

Thank you all for reading (shut up Rob I hear you, you know!)

[Shah-Khohr of Ventrue]

[Kevin K]

Believe it or not, I think that's still the game we have, or at least the game that I play for the most part. I don't throw a lot of chops, and the scenes and roleplay that I do is professional and fun. That's why I keep coming, despite the toll it takes. I think we've inadvertently threatened it, but I'm not Mr. Doom and Gloom here. Maybe Mr. Cautionary Tale or Mr. Lets Fix the Dike It Is Leaking.

I just love it, and want to avoid its loss.