Yo.

I've had a little idea, with a view to allowing it to be easier for people to contact MCs for RP. I've heard lots of people mentioning how hard it is to get in contact with MCs (and, even important OCs), given that a lot of people don't want to give out their mail addresses in their +finger info, or anywhere else (I know, I'm one of them ^^). This can be a little annoying when some poeple don't know who plays MCs, what their OCs are. In some cases, the OC is more active than the MC, and even people who log on every day as OCs might quietly have an MC, and not everyone knows about it. (I'm one of these, too).

What is ultimately possible, is to have a webpage, where people can register their MCs, with a mail address (which is kept secret), so people can go to the webpage, request the attention of an MC or OC for RP, or suchlike. If an OC or MC wants to not be contacted for a time, they can disable these alerts, or such.

I know there is MUCKmail for a lot of this, but it saves people having to log in their characters just to check MUCKmail. This seems a little discouraging of people logging in MCs, but hell, it's a useful service, I think.

What do people think? I think it can stimulate RP in less active areas, if new people, or people who don't know MCs OOC they might have IC reasons to RP with. Just hit reply, and tell me what you think. ^^.

By Domi on Sunday, November 25, 2001 - 10:58 pm:

I personally like the idea of an MC webpage. ^_^ That way people can maintain the secrecy of their alts if they want to, and don't have to if they don't want to. ^_^

It'd also be a quick and easy way to get in touch with everyone.

That's my opinion, at least.

By Bart on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 01:45 am:

What of page #mail? Doesen't anyone use this anymore O_o?

page #mail =

We've got page #mail, we've got this board, etc. Page #mail may require that the MC sign on to recieve it, but an MC should really be signing on in the first place...

My two cents, anyway.

By Xeero on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 05:28 am:

Actually most places /require/ that an MC is on for at least a couple hours a week, personally I can't see why nobody can do that here. Afterall they are taking on pivitol roles when they play MCs, so it is somewhat their responsibility to be present to make sure things don't stagnate too much. Of course that doesn't exempt everyone else from doing the same

By Brin on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 01:03 pm:

Sometimes IRL problems, and other things contribute toward not being able to log on MCs. I know I don't see the point of logging on an MC just to be online, not necessarily doing anything. But, I see your point. I try to make a point of logging on my characters, but don't always remember. Perhaps this system might encourage people to ask for RP with MCs that might not be on constantly, or that they might not know OOC.

By Dominia on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 06:31 pm:

Hm, as far as I'm aware, though, the major -major- MCs are on actively. The XenoMUCK requires that either you be on once every two weeks (And preferably -RP- during this time) and be active, at least enough, to be accessible for plots involving your character. I'm lenient on this, I know. But there's a reason for this that I'll explain.

I really don't know of anyone really glaringly in error of this--Even if they're not on their MC 24/7, all majorly important and relevant MCs are on enough, or at least have an excuse.

Several people, for example, have told me they'll be only somewhat about due to illness, business IRL or so on. These people are forgiven, since these are temporary issues. Some people, like Krelian, have specifically noted that they have incredibly busy IRL in general, and can be found for RP -only- through e-mailing him and scheduling a scene.

Since this all falls under the 'Available for RP if needed' issue, I really don't see the problem with that.

There -is- a problem if someone can't be found for RP when they're needed. But realize that not all people can sign on casually for hours and hours at a time, and just because they're not always on the WHO list doesn't mean that they're slacking.

The reason I don't enforce the 2 Week limit strictly is because I get really, -really- pissed when someone takes a role, then signs on/off once every other day to not idle out on the 'Laston' command. That's why I really generally determine if people should keep an MC or not based on the principal of: 'If someone needed to RP with you, could they find you...?'

The last time I heard someone complaining about they were citing Primera and Yui. (X_X) Okay.. Yes. They're minor MCs, and not terribly active. But, really, people: Do you NEED them on for something? For one thing, -I- RP Primera, and our lacking of a Billy and a Bishop Stone RPer in such IRL-induced idleness that, yes, I'd be willing to open the role if anyone really wanted him, has kept me from really signing on her(No Point.. if someone signed on and went 'I need to RP with Prim!' I'd be glad to sign on. (X_X)) It's pretty common knowledge who RPs Yui, and she's really, really easy to get ahold of and, when asked, said she has reasons that she's not been on, but would be glad to sign on if needed.

Yes, the problem is that a lot of people sign on their alts more than their MCs if they don't see a plot-related need to sign on them and hang out. I can understand this--If you're going to be sitting on a game, bored and waiting for something to RP to show up, do you want to be on a glaringly important character or someone you can hang out on and be unharrassed on...?

And I can't say 'Sign on once every X days' lest people go back to saying 'Oh, I sign on once every week! I don't RP, but I sign on a lot!'

So, right. I can't be everywhere at once, nor can I see everything at once. But if you know MCs that are taking up the roles, can't be reached through e-mail or other forms and are inaccessible to the point of RP being damaged... Please, e-mail me with your concerns. ^_^ I can bring it up with the RPers or see if the role needs to be opened.

But all things considered, we can't have them all on 24/7, either. If you really need an MC, take the intiative to e-mail them and plan RP or at least throw out ideas. This is why I like the MC page idea--It's a one-stop place to get ahold of the MCs you need, since not all of them list contact info in their +finger information.

But if people don't take that initative, I really can't take a stance, since it means no one's really even -trying- to see what's going on, nor are they testing if the MC is reachable or not.

So, right. ^_^ Sorry about the rant. This just comes up a lot, so here's my opinion on it. I think it's fair enough, all things considered--It's based more on if the game can function normally in RP rather than 'Is someone on a certain number of hours or days per week?' Because honestly, once you start requiring that, people start exploiting it and idling out in honest. As long as someone's RPing or available for RP or can be reached for RP, then the game can function smoothly. So, that's what I think. ^_^

By Xeero on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 07:43 am:

Personally I'm not against the idea of a page for contacting MCs, but due to it being late and my having a headache I'm gonna be blunt and rude.
There shouldn't be a need for this, as I stated before people who play MCs should be on and active, for at least a couple hours per week during 'prime time'. Now yes we all have RL probs and some leniency can/should be awarded, but sometimes it seems less like leniency and more like laziness. Now should an MC be a 'by appoinemtnet only' they should be curteous enough to have the e-mail they check on a regular basis in their +finger info and should respond within at least a week. Whether that measn the RP will take place int hat timeframe would depend on what they setup. And if worst comes to worst players can always use this board to ask MCs to contact them.
I guess my point is this: We can make an MC page, but will it really work? Even if MUCK mail, E-mail Message Boards, contacting them personally when they're online has all failed? The problem is not nessicarily in we need a new way of getting a hold of MCs, but perhaps in encouraging them to be a bit more active? MCs are supposed to be the ones setting examples for the rest of us. Afterall their apps have to be the best, they have to go through rigorous RP tests, etc. to ear their characters, and in some cases there are many more, portentially just as able players, foaming at the mouth to get a chance at the same char. Simply put, it's unfair for everyone else to have to go through all these tedious and unreliable channels to try and squeeze out one measly RP. If you want to play an MC, log on as your MC. Besides, as mentioned some MCs get harassed for RP, well last I checked that is kindof a good thing since it means stuff is happening. We all can't be on for all hours of the day, but one or two hours active a week, even if it's just the char connected and checking back from time to time, at least it shows 'Yes I'm here and I can RP for at least a little bit, or set something up'. That's not a very huge responsibility if you think about it, seeing how the majority of the active player base does many times that over the weekend. And just because RP isn't coming to an MC doesn't mean the MC can't actively seek it out and start something. Afterall, spontaneous RP can lead to alot of fun. So yeah, the MC page is an alright idea and I'm not really opposed to it. I'm just saying it will most likely be a waste of time. Anyways, that's all I have to say on the matter, I'm off to get drugged up and pass out.

By Brin on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 03:45 pm:

Xeero, you are correct. I've started on the page, so will probably finish it, but what you say is also very much the case.

By Bart on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 05:33 pm:

I still say that an MC page isn't really needed, and it's a lot of trouble to go through for something we already have...

Brin and Domi, you both missed one point- it does not take a relatively long time (ESPECIALLY not hours) to check page-mail...and requires being on 10 minutes at the most, if there is a lot of page-mail to check.

Domi's +finger command (whether it's filled or not) could have a little message saying how many unread page-mails are waiting to be read. This way people don't have to be on their MC alts to see that they have page-mail waiting for them if that's a problem.

I hate to be pessimistic, but I can't help thinking this thing's gonna go the way of the Cactus Diaries on Fa'Diel.

By Carthan/Asher on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 08:45 pm:

Y'know, somehow I knew this topic was trouble when we brought it up. Most topics like this one...MCs aren't on enough, RP gets sluggish, the simple mention of the words powergame or elitist...they tend to get people off ranting. I get bloody well sick of it after a while. Even when I'm involved in it. All this is is bickering and pessimism, and with each one of these things I see there's more and more times I think that this MUCK isn't doing as well as we'd like to think.

Domi, I know you're a nice person and a dern good RPer. I know nearly all of you are, no matter what you all may think about each other to the contrary. I know you all get fed up with this bull time and time again, and as I said, I do too. There's a great many times I've considered just saying 'hell with it all' and leaving, moreso as of late. When I watched Ryu wait for a month and then some for -ONE- RP with Gazel, it got me mad. When I watched TPs stagnate down to almost one rp every two or three weeks, it got me mad.

Part of the reason why people are here in the first place was to interact with the MCs. Well, quite frankly we can't bloody do that if there's none of them around. And don't tell me that it's possible to muck mail, or that their alts are common knowledge. If it were common knowledge, then everyone would know it. I doubt we'd be having these problems if that were the case. MUCK mail only works if you know who to send it to. When I checked on November 16th, Yui hadn't signed on for 47 days straight. That ain't even RP, that's just SIGNED ON. And if someone -didn't- know, and -wanted- to RP, they probably would doubt that someone who's been gone for 47 days straight is gonna check their muck mail all of a sudden. On the MUSH I'm on, M3, if you know you're going to be gone for a long time, you set yourself on vacation, and, perhaps most importantly, you LET AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN KNOW WHY. If you idle out, you idle out. Cut, print, that's a wrap. I lost one of my favorite main characters I played there that way.

When you take a MC, you are accepting responsibility. Like Xeero said, the MCs are supposed to be the examples around here. I understand that people have problems and issues IRL, and that they are all important. All the same, if you take a hugely important MC, and are only reachable 'by appointment' then you shouldn't have a MC. I know those MCs in question tend to keep their appointments, but if that's all you're using the character for, necessary RP, then you're not a player. You're an understudy. You fill the role of the character when people absolutely need to talk with you.

And as much as I love my character, Carthan Russhe, as much as I loved his development as Asher Thancrus, and as much as I love being around each and every one of you guys when we're RPing and having fun, I can't stand this crap anymore. I'm officially leaving the MUCK as of now. I sincerely hope that once this is all over with, you can get this bull out of your collective systems and have everything work again so that people can have fun and RP here without guilty consciences, hidden anger, or exploding every time someone says they're wrong. Goodbye, and, sincerely, good luck getting everything working. As much as I see these arguments, you'll need it.

Morgan

By Kale on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 09:18 pm:

Perhaps there are a few problems with the way MCs work here, but...I really don't think there's as much problem as you've said, Asher. And the rest of the list just seems to be like a flood o' crud to me...but...if you're going to go, I suppose there's nothing I can do.

By Bart on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 09:35 pm:

Okay...where the hell did that come from?

This topic was never 'trouble'. It was Brin trying genuinely to improve the MUCK. He made suggestions, we pointed out stuff, he modified them...I don't know what made you think this topic was trouble. You're overreacting over problems that either don't exist or are nowhere near the extent you believe them to be.

I'm not trying to be insulting, but I can't help it, there's no nice way to say these things. Your post itself was very unfair in a lot of ways. Unfair to Brin for messing up his topic, and unfair to the MCs for yelling at them for something that (for all you know) they likely have no control over.

Whelp, I guess everything I say now means nothing since you're leaving. Calm yourself down, Asher. Think this over. If you choose to leave anyway, I guess I wish you the best, man.

By Brin on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 11:23 pm:

Carthan, You don't need to apologise or anything silly like that. Your viewpoint is perfectly valid.

Hm, i probably should have pointed out that the MC page idea was utterly unrealted to the OOC board thread. That I posted about it after that thread was an unfortunate coincidence, it just struck me as a good idea in general, being inspired from comments from people, including for the most part a conversation with you. Perhaps this is the wrong idea, but I thought it was right.

Please don't leave on my account. I mean that. You would be sorely missed as one of the best and most active RPers on here. If there is anything you want straightened out in your head, feel free to mail me, or just talk to me online. If you feel you need some time away, that's alright, too. It's up to you.

I didnt mean for this to be in any way related to my outburst on the OOC board. Please don't construe it as such.

By Sirus on Wednesday, November 28, 2001 - 11:54 pm:

Gah, I really don't see how a simple post about an MC page could muster up all this crap. At any rate, a lot of you people who complain seem to be missing out on a rather important fact. In case you haven't noticed, it takes an incredibly long amount of time for the XenoMUCK to acquire MCs. Hell, it's been over a year since our Elly RPer dropped the role and we haven't had a single application for her as far as I know. I'll be the first to agree that idle MCs are a pain in the ass, but i'd rather have idle ones than none at all. If we received applications for 'taken' MCs who'd been idle for quite some time it would be another story, but we don't. Now, maybe once an MC idles for a certain amount of time, we could make it aware on the page that their character is available, and should we receive an adequate app we could boot the idle MC and get a new one, but the fact remains that we don't come across MC apps too often, so we're pretty much forced to live with what we've got. Asher, it's unfortunate that you decided you could no longer stand this place, and i'll certainly miss you. I wish you luck wherever you should go. And to anyone else who's tired of the situation we have with MCs, then DO something about it. If you're so tired of no MCs being around, then just app for one yourself. Well, i'm done. Peace out.

By Luka on Thursday, November 29, 2001 - 02:27 pm:

This isn't as really related, but just in case people wanted to know, since I've had at least one email about it.

Senchei/Ramsus has been absent and will continue to be due to the death of her player's father, the near-loss of her job, the loss of her fiancee, and from being briefly on suicide watch and continuing stress that's landing her all over the place. Ramsus is up for people since I don't think she has any real capacity to log on and deal with this sort of stuff.

Har/Yasha has still lost his job for the past three months and is trying to get a new one as well as deal with his own life issues and back bills.

Miriam/Kelvena has managed to get a better job and also change locales, but half her company was just downsized and narrowly missed her. She's working, on average, 10-12 hours a day. I'm not going to ask her to log on.

Erine... well, people know about Erine who know about her.

Amaliel/Sigurd is trying to get a job irly after moving back and forth across the country in as many times as many months, and is also dealing with trying to get back on his feet financially since he has very little to his name. To put it bluntly, he was overjoyed at a loaf of bread.

As for myself/Citan, I also work 9-10 hours a day and was just dodging SWatch myself, and still am trying to avoid it off and on. If anyone really, really wants to get a Hyuga and to go out and do things, go ahead. I'm trying to keep out of doing stupid things to myself as well as pay off my doctor's bills.

All of us, including me, are wary players by now. The Delta crew has had RL intrude and are, frankly, hesitant about logging back on after recent MU events came down on them. I have a responsibility to my friends and to myself to not have any of us end up in serious poverty and/or depression. Unfortunately, this means that XMuck has had to take a back burner. I think people can understand this. If you need or want any of those people on the list, email me. Thanks.

By Preacher on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 02:58 am:

Hey, if you need Maria for something all you got to do is throw a brick at me. I'm always around, and I like to pride my-self in that fact. Not that anyone ever really needs Maria for anything, but if you do and you don't feel like waiting for me to sign on, just send my a message at Anoldpreacherman@hotmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.