[OOC] Mass Effect: Borealis

[Hellis]

It would be wise to look at who has posted and not, and take them into consideration. Especially when several charachters are in the same location and two people do back and forth. You easily shut another player out of the interaction if you do not offer them a proper window to get their character in. Just a little reminder for our eager players. It's a problem I've seen in other RP's.

[Dervish]

It's like the game is starting to develop sapience without my guiding hand. :'D

Yes, please chill a bit on the posting pace, because as I and some of the others have pointed out, there's quite a few people who are getting buried under a mountain of IC posts scary fast, which was part of my fear of having such a big honking game. Enthusiasm is awesome, but always remember quality > quantity. Take a bit of extra time to work in your posts, there's no rush to get your stuff out the door. If you're doing conversations, set up collabs, like Hank suggested. If you have loyalty missions planned, flesh them out and work on the plot, or try your hand at Shadow Broker posts.

Like I said, love the enthusiasm, and you guys are great, just remember that not everyone has the free time others have and I really think it's important they don't feel like they're being left behind. Mucho gracias, merci, danke, tanks.

[Sundered Echo]

There is also the matter of timezones. I live in New Zealand, while I know a number of you are from America, meaning that in the first few hours of your peak time, I am asleep. I also cannot join in any quickly done collabs that happen during those hours, so as eager as you may be, do please remember that if I don't respond to a post directed at me quickly, I may actually be asleep...

I regularly wake up to multiple pages of new ooc stuff, which is fine, just so long as people remember why I'm not responding quickly, and don't assume that because I haven't responded right away, I'm not interested in any prospective collab offers or such.

[Fallenreaper]

Hmm.

So what's the squad gonna be like for the mission? Who's going with who?

@DJAtomika

We got 2 missions, we can divide into teams on one or try to do both. With this crowd, and our skill sets varied enough as it is, it's very possible we can do several jobs other than currently established missions really in the future.

Perhaps we should settle this in the ooc so we can smoothen the posting in IC?

@DJAtomika

That would be a good idea. We did rather well with the shopping aspect and if there's any ideas that say someone's PC wouldn't come up, yet another could and is a good one, then it will get in the IC some how. Besides OoC might make easier for everyone to address everything from concerns and such.

Yeah, I have to agree that the breakneck pace that's been set is a little overwhelming. I suppose it's unavoidable with a group this big that's so eager, but I've noticed that I can't manage to get real quality posts out because it's about all I can do to keep up with everything and respond appropriately.

@Hank

This isn't anything compared to Blood Act to it's earlier years when I joined, before guildfall, there was literally a battle scene and while it was casual, players could crank out about 3-4 paragraphs within a hour at a time or sooner if motivated and had time. Try handling a massive battle scene of full chaos with medium posts of decent quality being pumped out in minutes. I was amazed and barely kept up so I'm not having too much of an issue, however I don't want to leave people behind or trade quality for speed. Which is why I'm trying not to turn into a speedy, posting rabbit. >_>

And we're also getting ahead of our GM, as we just saw when our plans were forcibly changed because we were messing with the plot. I'd like to advocate for a... well, not really a posting order, but a cooldown between posts.

@Hank

Indeed. I did mention I try to wait 2-3 days between my own posts (which if needed, I can increase to about 4-5 days and try better to keep more strictly to it) which I find work much than posting order and it makes sure there would be a post per every business week. This also enables me to post sooner should I be able and people are waiting for me while going back to my waiting period, giving everyone a chance to reply to my post without feeling pressed for time.

Of course, that creates the conundrum of stifling natural conversation. Another RP I'm a part of uses collaborations for short exchanges between 2-5 posters so that conversations that don't involve the whole crew don't clog up the thread. Hit up the people that control the characters you want to chat with and make a Titanpad or something similar and try to fit the whole thing into a single post.

Thoughts?

@Hank

5 posters for a conversation can get rather much and difficult to do, namely as it might force people to keep their replies short (something I might have an issue doing I admit, I need counseling for it JK...). It also isolate the scene really preventing others from becoming involved or their influences ignored, since the ship is so small. On a missions it's possible and no issue really. I might suggest if someone does that, instead of having the collab happen all in one go, separate and post in segments of say a couple replies each. This would allow players to include mentions of others who might say be eavesdropping or interacting in the background, allow them to be interrupted like in real life, and even add people more readily without forcing the outside to act 'casual' even when they wouldn't.

Perhaps we should have, like, a consensus to move a little slower for the sake of those that need to catch up?

@DJAtomika

The worry I have if we slow down too much, hard to determine without an established cool down, then we're in essence playing the waiting game. This can just as easily kill a rp interest and fun if the group is waiting on each other, the slower posters feeling like they are killing others' interest or holding everyone back (when they aren't at all because good posts are worth waiting for imo). I made a suggestion of waiting like 4-5 days between your own posts which should give the slower posters much more time to get their replies without feeling rush and make sure there's about a post every week from everyone at least preventing the RP from dying out due to he/her/it waiting on everyone to post once.

[Fallenreaper]

It would be wise to look at who has posted and not, and take them into consideration. Especially when several charachters are in the same location and two people do back and forth. You easily shut another player out of the interaction if you do not offer them a proper window to get their character in. Just a little reminder for our eager players. It's a problem I've seen in other RP's.

@Hellis

It's like the game is starting to develop sapience without my guiding hand. :'D

Yes, please chill a bit on the posting pace, because as I and some of the others have pointed out, there's quite a few people who are getting buried under a mountain of IC posts scary fast, which was part of my fear of having such a big honking game. Enthusiasm is awesome, but always remember quality > quantity. Take a bit of extra time to work in your posts, there's no rush to get your stuff out the door. If you're doing conversations, set up collabs, like Hank suggested. If you have loyalty missions planned, flesh them out and work on the plot, or try your hand at Shadow Broker posts.

Like I said, love the enthusiasm, and you guys are great, just remember that not everyone has the free time others have and I really think it's important they don't feel like they're being left behind. Mucho gracias, merci, danke, tanks.

@Dervish

There is also the matter of timezones. I live in New Zealand, while I know a number of you are from America, meaning that in the first few hours of your peak time, I am asleep. I also cannot join in any quickly done collabs that happen during those hours, so as eager as you may be, do please remember that if I don't respond to a post directed at me quickly, I may actually be asleep...

I regularly wake up to multiple pages of new ooc stuff, which is fine, just so long as people remember why I'm not responding quickly, and don't assume that because I haven't responded right away, I'm not interested in any prospective collab offers or such.

@Sundered Echo

*points to her last reply* Thoughts on what I suggested would help and maybe something to build on?

<Snipped quote by Fallenreaper>

She's staying put in her cabin, unless the others decide to hire her. Then she'll communicate over comms if advice is needed on jobs and vendors, but the only way she will leave the ship is if it is on the verge of being destroyed.

@Thundercrash

Noted and rather good considering you're going to be away. XD

[DJAtomika]

”I hope one of you can come up with some way of restraining this man for the delivery, otherwise he’s going to have to die.”

@Sundered Echo

"Let Tonka sit on 'im. Couple hundred pounds of krogan on someone makes for a pretty good restraint, and hey: if he tries anything, all Tonka has to do is lie down. Problem solved."

[DJAtomika]

Also I have to point out that I'm also in Echo's position of the timezone things. I live in Singapore, so your evening free time is my early morning, and your morning is my late night for the Americans.

[Fallenreaper]

<Snipped quote by Sundered Echo>

"Let Tonka sit on 'im. Couple hundred pounds of krogan on someone makes for a pretty good restraint, and hey: if he tries anything, all Tonka has to do is lie down. Problem solved."

@DJAtomika

We want him alive, not Batarian jelly... Vellios might suggest a drug coma, though it would likely dip into his stash for sleep which he will need to replenish unless no one on the Ship likes to sleep at a decent hour...

[Hellis]

I gotcha covered with restraining him :D

[Rtron]

Worse comes to worse we could always just borrow a cage they doubtlessly have. :p

[Hellis]

Shhhh. I got it covered

[Hank]

@Hellis and I are Europeans. I guess we're sort of in the wrong place for everybody.

[Hellis]

Yes. Filthy, filthy Central to Nordic europeans.

[Dervish]

I think OOC plotting is the order of the day, because it doesn't draw the IC out unnecessarily and gives people a lot more leeway to ballpark ideas. If it wasn't suggested already, I would have gotten up on it.

For the time being, we'll keep everyone on the same mission and see how it goes with the numbers of characters. There is a second Omega mission on deck that's optional, but for now, a short and straightforward operation should be a good litmus test to find out what works and what doesn't. Honestly, we're running twice the number of players I usually take in a game so this is more experimental for me than a stereotypical college experience. If everything goes smooth, great! If not, we'll try doing two separate missions in the same location/ a greatly expanded scope moving forward.

In regards to posting rates, I think 2-4 days is a fair length of time to wait, although we can be flexible. If someone says they're working on a post, let's give them a chance to get it out, although in that case having a time frame by that player would be appreciated.

That said, Hellis and I are going to try and keep missions varied enough that we can split up, and the posting rates will be dictated by individual groups, so don't worry about characters that yours isn't involved with as much as those you're with.

Going onto mission discussion, Tanya's going to want to be in the middle of everything because her tech skills are a lot more useful on site than just holding down a checkpoint. Tonka, being a marksman and scout, is best off keeping a watch on complex from the outside and keeping the team informed if anything pops up when they slip inside the buildings. When the outer compound's secure and if they decide to go check out the mine, he'll want to take point since he's very experienced in that sort of environment.

[Hellis]

I was going to say 5-6 days. As i work 5 days of the week and have other RP's as well. I kinda put them on "One rp post a day". That said, seeing how many of the others are a little more slow moving, this one get top priority. Drono is gonna point out that slavers have shock collars, and task the groups to locate some some for our targets sake.

He himself is going for the more open space where his infiltrator skills will be of better use.

[Fallenreaper]

I was going to say 5-6 days. As i work 5 days of the week and have other RP's as well. I kinda put them on "One rp post a day". That said, seeing how many of the others are a little more slow moving, this one get top priority.

@Hellis

Well, you're also a GM, and sadly my friend those posts tend to usually happen more often. :p *teases*

[Dervish]

Well, let's do it the democratic way. What posting rate do you guys want to see? We'll hit the happy medium if we can.

[Hellis]

I am not sure I can honestly hit every 3 days. I KNOW I can hit an average of every fifth day. xD.

[Fallenreaper]

I think OOC plotting is the order of the day, because it doesn't draw the IC out unnecessarily and gives people a lot more leeway to ballpark ideas. If it wasn't suggested already, I would have gotten up on it.

@Dervish

I like OOC banter and it's fun with this group.

For the time being, we'll keep everyone on the same mission and see how it goes with the numbers of characters. There is a second Omega mission on deck that's optional, but for now, a short and straightforward operation should be a good litmus test to find out what works and what doesn't. Honestly, we're running twice the number of players I usually take in a game so this is more experimental for me than a stereotypical college experience. If everything goes smooth, great! If not, we'll try doing two separate missions in the same location/ a greatly expanded scope moving forward.

@Dervish

WE could divide the mission into key sections which will allow us to divide up the tasks and fall into groups really. Example:

Infiltration Group
Escape Group
Tech Support Group

Though anyone willing to make suggestions for others, feel free. The GMs could create smaller threats or spread out what they have, affecting these groups' ability to complete and lower the chaos a bit. I personally, from experience, know a big group in one mission can be a pain to keep track of without title tags at the post tops.

In regards to posting rates, I think 2-4 days is a fair length of time to wait, although we can be flexible. If someone says they're working on a post, let's give them a chance to get it out, although in that case having a time frame by that player would be appreciated.

@Dervish

The suggestion was merely a provided base, if you all want to put your thoughts, other ideas, or adapt it to better suit what you think will work then PLEASE do it. I think we can all agree comments and feed back helps because it gives everyone an idea of what is plausible and best for each of us so we can find a happy medium so don't be scared to speak up and state what is on your mind.

That said, Hellis and I are going to try and keep missions varied enough that we can split up, and the posting rates will be dictated by individual groups, so don't worry about characters that yours isn't involved with as much as those you're with.

@Dervish

Nice, if you need ideas I'm sure we all can toss some out.

@The Grey Warden: Actually got a vague and joke (though it might be fun never the less) loyalty mission for Marco- what about a mission about obtaining a rare fruit for a Dextro or Levo based meal? Something so sweet, juicy and delicious that is worth...dying for! *braces to be smacked around* It could start off serious as hell with a search for 'mystery name' and nearly gets those on the loyalty mission killed only to learn, when it's all over, the prize was nothing but a prime piece of food. XD

Well, let's do it the democratic way. What posting rate do you guys want to see? We'll hit the happy medium if we can.

@Dervish

As Hellis pointed out and you know Dervish, I'm flexible either way. Though I think, for the sake of the slower posters, I will lean toward 5-6 because it basically ensures a post a week about. Granted, those posts might happen all at once again like usual, but at least we get them in during a set time. I would say anything beyond that would draw out the rp's fun and risk interest dimming. While 3-4 days can be rather speedy for some people who work and have RL (WHAT IS THIS DAMN THING AND HOW DO WE KILL IT?).

[Bright_Ops]

Duuka will be going with the tunnel team. He is used to moving around and fighting in the tunnels of Omega so this is him literally fighting on his home turf. Front lines needs another gun, right?