I understand frustrations, I've had my own with @Ruby but still, love her.

But perhaps some of these more personal issues should be directed in a PM, screenshot if you want and leave this thread for people bringing up different points rather than the same argumentative points.

Oh you can DEFINITELY tell the people here acting on good faith and those acting in bad faith.

<Snipped quote by Skullwombat>

Cool. Nice version of reality.

This thread is about asking you questions and giving us feedback. I am trying to be reasonable about this, even if I take an antagonistic stance towards you. I don't want to use internet points as proof, but the amount of "likes" my posts are getting should indicate that my opinion is not a one-off instance.

Please engage me in a constructive manner, because I fear that you are only proving the point I am making about you being unfit for this position.

<Snipped quote by Celsius>

The thread...people asked and they got an answer. In the status bar. If they want to rip into me for that decision that shouldn't happen in the status bar. But to ask a question and get an answer? That happened.

I can't argue with us getting an answer in the status bar. I won't even contest whatever reasons there were for deleting it instead of just locking the thread, since it's been made clear that the mods never intended on it staying up for very long anyway. But imo that strikes at the heart of the problem, which is how a PW is supposed to thrive when the site's users don't even get a place to assess what might have turned them off and what they'd prefer to see in the future. If they can't do that in a thread in the PW forum, where are they supposed to turn?

I know I for one was interested in the last PW, but like Lmpkio said, I was one of the people who was just kind of turned off by the setting. I'm all for the idea of having a PW on the guild - hell, even a Star Wars one, although it still wouldn't be my setting of choice - but it seems like the people who might be more likely to flock to the next one still aren't really getting a fair chance at discussion regarding the next one. If the PW mod team has to have their own discussions first, then that's fine - and it's been made apparent a number of times. But that also puts any average roleplayer's feedback on the backburner until we see what's already been presented, kind of like a beta test that comes out a week and a half before a video game's launch, and leaves them with few avenues to discuss anything but their own statuses.

At least some timetable on when we can be involved in those discussions would be appreciated by a lot of people, and would probably go a long way towards fixing some of these complaints.

If you want to discuss bans do it in PMs.

If you want to talk specific bans feel free to PM me. More than happy to discuss them there.

There's a reason you don't want these discussions to be held in a public space. Will we receive an explanation of these reason(s) or will we be left to conjecture?

Cool. Nice version of reality.

Oh, okay. Makes sense, thanks.

<Snipped quote by Ruby>

I can't argue with us getting an answer in the status bar. I won't even contest whatever reasons there were for deleting it instead of just locking the thread, since it's been made clear that the mods never intended on it staying up for very long anyway. But imo that strikes at the heart of the problem, which is how a PW is supposed to thrive when the site's users don't even get a place to assess what might have turned them off and what they'd prefer to see in the future. If they can't do that in a thread in the PW forum, where are they supposed to turn?

I know I for one was interested in the last PW, but like Lmpkio said, I was one of the people who was just kind of turned off by the setting. I'm all for the idea of having a PW on the guild - hell, even a Star Wars one, although it still wouldn't be my setting of choice - but it seems like the people who might be more likely to flock to the next one still aren't really getting a fair chance at discussion regarding the next one. If the PW mod team has to have their own discussions first, then that's fine - and it's been made apparent a number of times. But that also puts any average roleplayer's feedback on the backburner until we see what's already been presented, kind of like a beta test that comes out a week and a half before a video game's launch, and leaves them with few avenues to discuss anything but their own statuses.

At least some timetable on when we can be involved in those discussions would be appreciated by a lot of people, and would probably go a long way towards fixing some of these complaints.

As I said in that thread before we did the PW we held a lot of "give us your opinion!" threads and Discord session. It's super inaccurate to say staff didn't want opinions or listen to them.

But let us decide if the current one will continue in any way or not. If it doesn't and there's to be another PW we will start soliciting the opinions on PWs again.

Just as we did last time.

I know a lot of people want to talk about the way Ruby's behavior as Co-Admin, but I want to ask something about the state of the site. It has been seven months since Mahz lasted posted about updating the site. I am worried that the site will just break one day or become outdated and nobody will be able to fix/upgrade it. So my question is: Have the staff been in contact with Mahz? And if so, does he care about this site anymore?

<Snipped quote by somnolence>

They got a warning.

I meant speak personally.

I talked to them and they said they got the warning after their status went up and actually wanted to reply to it, but got banned before they could. I'm inclined to believe them as they never had a problem before this with moderators while you have a history of sniping.

I don't want it to come off as if im cyberbullying or harassing. I'm simply trying to get my point across and say what a good chunk of people on RPG are thinking. I don't believe this is harassment or cyberbullying because it is your duty as an admin to address our concerns. If you have a problem with that, or are taking this personally, maybe your personality isn't the right type to be a moderator.

<Snipped quote by Ruby>

I talked to them and they said they got the warning after their status went up and actually wanted to reply to it, but got banned before they could. I'm inclined to believe them as they never had a problem before this with moderators while you have a history of sniping.

This is true. I did wish to reply to the PM, and made the second status before I saw that I got it.

While we're here, maybe you could finally give me the real super double-secret official reason why I was banned from the Discord. Is it still because I posted a Simpsons meme? Or is it because I defended comedians being able to make rape jokes? Or was it because I said mean things off-site four months after my original ban? It's just that, well, it's awfully difficult to "bury the hatchet" when you don't even know what the hatchet even looks like! Ha ha ha HA!

I know a lot of people want to talk about the way Ruby's behavior as Co-Admin, but I want to ask something about the state of the site. It has been seven months since Mahz lasted posted about updating the site. I am worried that the site will just break one day or become outdated and nobody will be able to fix/upgrade it. So my question is: Have the staff been in contact with Mahz? And if so, does he care about this site anymore?

Me personally over a week.

I can't answer what is or is not in his heart.

<Snipped quote by Plank Sinatra>

As I said in that thread before we did the PW we held a lot of "give us your opinion!" threads and Discord session. It's super inaccurate to say staff didn't want opinions or listen to them.

But let us decide if the current one will continue in any way or not. If it doesn't and there's to be another PW we will start soliciting the opinions on PWs again.

Just as we did last time.

I agree. Which is why I didn't say that the staff didn't solicit any opinions regarding setting up the last PW. I was in the Discord until the Old Republic setting was decided on, and then I quietly bowed out when I realized it wasn't going in a direction I was personally interested in. I'm not getting it twisted and saying that the staff didn't ask for any advice or player feedback.

I'm only referring to this thread that was just deleted, which I wasn't posting in but was following semi-closely. I thought it was an interesting post-mortem, and a lot of people had some good ideas about what they might like to see in the future. I just feel like players should be able to still have those kinds of discussions, even while staff are having their own discussions parallel to ours. There's no harm in us talking.

I'm not trying to fight you on this, and I'm not accusing you guys of being tone-deaf the last go around. I just think players should be able to speak out about what might personally move the needle one side or the other for them, because in the end, they're a big part of what will make it thrive.

<Snipped quote by Ruby>

I agree. Which is why I didn't say that the staff didn't solicit any opinions regarding setting up the last PW. I was in the Discord until the Old Republic setting was decided on, and then I quietly bowed out when I realized it wasn't going in a direction I was personally interested in. I'm not getting it twisted and saying that the staff didn't ask for any advice or player feedback.

I'm only referring to this thread that was just deleted, which I wasn't posting in but was following semi-closely. I thought it was an interesting post-mortem, and a lot of people had some good ideas about what they might like to see in the future. I just feel like players should be able to still have those kinds of discussions, even while staff are having their own discussions parallel to ours. There's no harm in us talking.

I'm not trying to fight you on this, and I'm not accusing you guys of being tone-deaf the last go around. I just think players should be able to speak out about what might personally move the needle one side or the other for them, because in the end, they're a big part of what will make it thrive.

A post mortem is a fine idea.

Could we wait until we know it's dead is all I'm saying?

The fact that something as arbitrary as voicing opinions that aren't even that controversial can result in a ban is kinda scary. Keeping tabs and maintaining the peace in the forum is definitely something that moderators need to do. But there should definitely be checks and balances to make sure that the reasons people are literally removed from their hobby via bans is done for a reasonable offense. I've seen people talk about some very poor taste stuff in the status bar and they don't get banned, and that's just how it be sometimes. But if there's going to be a gray area, the people in power should have that gray area defined and viewable by everyone. I'm sure the general number of users know that the moderators are doing a service for the forum and have appreciation of that, but when you are doing things without explanation? And furthermore, standing behind that lack of communication? I'm a third party on this whole thing and I pop in and out of RPG throughout the years, but I distinctly recall periods of time where the mod team are praised for their efforts. So I definitely think being criticized shouldn't be glanced over so halfheartedly. It makes me sad to see all of this, because the fact that the community has shrunk should mean that a lot of these anonymous people who share the same passion should have become tighter over these years.

<Snipped quote by Ruby>

I agree. Which is why I didn't say that the staff didn't solicit any opinions regarding setting up the last PW. I was in the Discord until the Old Republic setting was decided on, and then I quietly bowed out when I realized it wasn't going in a direction I was personally interested in. I'm not getting it twisted and saying that the staff didn't ask for any advice or player feedback.

I'm only referring to this thread that was just deleted, which I wasn't posting in but was following semi-closely. I thought it was an interesting post-mortem, and a lot of people had some good ideas about what they might like to see in the future. I just feel like players should be able to still have those kinds of discussions, even while staff are having their own discussions parallel to ours. There's no harm in us talking.

I'm not trying to fight you on this, and I'm not accusing you guys of being tone-deaf the last go around. I just think players should be able to speak out about what might personally move the needle one side or the other for them, because in the end, they're a big part of what will make it thrive.

This.

This exactly

Yeah, I'm kind of confused why the original thread wasn't locked instead of deleted. @TicklestheClown made some solid points.
Not that I agreed with everything, but I would've liked talk it out more.

Sometimes it's not obvious what works and what doesn't until you actually try something.

Regardless of whether or not the PW continues, its worth doing some introspection.

<Snipped quote by Mao Mao>

Me personally over a week.

I can't answer what is or is not in his heart.

oof. That doesn't sound good. Are you and the staff ready if Mahz decides to retire? Can you guys really do anything on this site (besides making PWs)? Or will you just make a new one?

<Snipped quote by Ruby>
oof. That doesn't sound good. Are you and the staff ready if Mahz decides to retire? Can you guys really do anything on this site (besides making PWs)? Or will you just make a new one?

There are contingencies in place for that...but ultimately up to him

<Snipped quote by Mao Mao>

There are contingencies in place for that...but ultimately up to him

...Are you going to explain some of them? Give us an idea? Surely, we at least deserve to know something.

<Snipped quote by Ruby>
...Are you going to explain some of them? Give us an idea? Surely, we at least deserve to know something.

Some offered to take on the running costs and hire programmers to update some of it while leaving the Guild the Guild.

There are other programmers on site who could do it and adding a bottom screen ad might just about cover most costs iirc.