Even if this kinda of thing isn't that much of a secret (the general overview at least), it is nice to see how some gods work in regards to what they all do and how they interact with players and their order. And I think most of those in orders will like to think that when their (active) god goes quiet for a while, that they are plotting something awesome for the order (*cough* @Jadice *cough* ), rather than help other gods with things.
Sorry if I offended you with my request, it's so infrequent that we have an active patron... and without an active patron, it's really hard to get anything really substantial done, so once a god shows activity, everyone jumps on them for patronship!
I wish that an organization (either city/commune, guild, or family) could select their patron based only on roleplay functions, without there being any OOC/backstage work implications, like having Auseklis as patron, but having whoever has the time or interest do the latest expansion or what have you. It'd be nice to be able to do large scale cooperative/planned RP like historical family without having to burden already stretched volunteers.
Sorry if I offended you with my request, it's so infrequent that we have an active patron... and without an active patron, it's really hard to get anything really substantial done, so once a god shows activity, everyone jumps on them for patronship!
I wish that an organization (either city/commune, guild, or family) could select their patron based only on roleplay functions, without there being any OOC/backstage work implications, like having Auseklis as patron, but having whoever has the time or interest do the latest expansion or what have you. It'd be nice to be able to do large scale cooperative/planned RP like historical family without having to burden already stretched volunteers.
There was no offense at all! I was planning on writing something like this for a few days. It was actually inspired by a conversation I had with the other gods right around the time I got my wings, so to speak. I also didn't intend at all to make it sound accusatory or in any way like we're drowning in work all the time. It was meant purely to inform. Patroning is a really cool gig, but every now and then, we need to establish parameters.
Most of the players I've talked to/interacted with have always considered Patron to be almost entirely OOC, like how Envoys are for guilds. You sort of have vague prestige as Envoy, but there usually isn't any real RP consideration for the post, as it's primarily a mechanical thing. Like I said, having some way to pick an absent god (for the RP) but flag that you'd still like checking in on/having a good way to submit writing for new expansions and org-based plotlines would be great, if such a thing could be in the cards. Then Patron could be a much more roleplay based selection!
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EveriineWise Old Swordsbird / BrontaurIndianapolis, IN, USA
Unfortunately, activity is the primary factor in choosing a Patron. It was really hard seeing Eventru interacting with and lavishing New Celest with all these neat things and RP experiences while we had two inactive gods who didn't communicate with anyone very much. If I had to choose between the awesomeness of Lisaera's activities with the Serenwilde right now or picking, say, Auseklis as Patron for RP reasons, I would go with the active one every single time, hands down. There is too much missing when the Patron is inactive.
Everiine is a man, and is very manly. This MAN before you is so manly you might as well just gender bend right now, cause he's the manliest man that you ever did see. His manly shape has spurned many women and girlyer men to boughs of fainting. He stands before you in a manly manerific typical man-like outfit which is covered in his manly motto: "I am a man!"
Daraius said: You gotta risk it for the biscuit.
Pony power all the way, yo. The more Brontaurs the better.
Even if this kinda of thing isn't that much of a secret (the general overview at least), it is nice to see how some gods work in regards to what they all do and how they interact with players and their order. And I think most of those in orders will like to think that when their (active) god goes quiet for a while, that they are plotting something awesome for the order (*cough* @Jadice *cough* ), rather than help other gods with things.
Players have the general idea and I've been meaning to write a "A day in the life of" style blog on the topic to clarify some of the admin-side details but then I realised the daily struggle against bugs, typos, issues, and everything else would be a rather dull affair to read. @Lisaera's take is much more interesting so the epic poem regaling my 4 hour battle with Shanthmark's village quest bugs will remain in my heart.
I would read an epic poem detailing the fight against Shanthmark bugs. Especially if you actually put it in verse. Is bug fixing type stuff what takes the most of your time?
Any sufficiently advanced pun is indistinguishable from comedy.
It varies from person to person. Not every admin fixes bugs, some are devoted to issues, others to the design queue, monthly promos, training ephs, etc, on top of their daily OOC/IC errands. Those are time-devouring all on their own, hours can go by on simple interactions and then it's time to call it a day and you haven't really "done" anything that day.
I'd say bug fixing is definitely in the top of most time-consuming and maddening things. Specifically quest/mob bugs since those are the ones we do, anything skill/combat/mechanics related goes to Ieptix/Roark/Estarra. Generally, we are responsible for the areas/additions we create so when bugs arise with those, their designers fix them because they know their own progs and design best. Plenty of issues with that though: lack of time, other responsibilities to handle first, not being able to figure it out (we're not all code whizzes), or the admin in question has since left. The latter is the biggest issue because to fix anything in someone else's area, you first have to know that area thoroughly and the older the area, the sparser the documentation. Joy!
I do try very hard to document as much as I can (or if I can't figure out why, to apologize for not being able to give more details). I absolutely loathe getting bug reports at work that basically go, "the colour is wrong, please fix it." Um. What colour? Where? What screen? Is it related to a patient? To an order? Please give me something to go on!
It's also awful when you're bug-fixing something you wrote years ago, when you were young and naive and wrote horrifically inefficient quests that are a nightmare to decipher and de-bug two years in the future. It can take hours just to figure out what the various lines you wrote are supposed to...well, do. It might as well be a stranger's design.
Personally, daily OOC/IC errands tend to be my biggest time-eaters. You can log in and handle your respective Oneiroi/Camenae/Charites/EphManager/ArtBard work, and then have patron work, order work, and personal bug fixes on the back burner! It's truly amazing how quickly projects add up. Being a Patron is certainly more OOC than IC in the nature of its responsibilities, but of course that's exactly what it is: a set of more responsibilities. Being patient with your resident Divine is always appreciated, as you often can't see just how much they're plodding away at behind the scenes. It's a blessing to have another admin to work with in your org for that reason--it halves the workload! (PS: @Jadice, I love you, plz don't ever leave me. I will always paint you penguins and snowflakes. )
Being Quality Control at my job, I have people all the time dropping work in my area and leaving it without an explanation as to why it's there, or what to do with it, or even what's wrong with if.
Everiine said: The reason population is low isn't because there are too many orgs. It's because so many facets of the game are outright broken and protected by those who benefit from it being that way. An overabundance of gimmicks (including game-breaking ones), artifacts that destroy any concept of balance, blatant pay-to-win features, and an obsession with convenience that makes few things actually worthwhile all contribute to the game's sad decline.
Even if this kinda of thing isn't that much of a secret (the general overview at least), it is nice to see how some gods work in regards to what they all do and how they interact with players and their order. And I think most of those in orders will like to think that when their (active) god goes quiet for a while, that they are plotting something awesome for the order (*cough* @Jadice *cough* ), rather than help other gods with things.
Perhaps at a future point I will write a god blog expanding upon this sentiment, but for now just let me say: there is SO much more to do behind the scenes than I imagined when applying to be an admin! I'm glad I never feel superfluous, but Isune and Lis are right when they say that the projects build up quickly.
@Ayisdra, I will make two not-unconnected statements. 1. Those who follow a Meditator should expect periodic and not-infrequent silences. 2. I can tentatively confirm that I am plotting what I believe to be awesome things.
Whatever you do, just don't take on so much that you get burned out.
Everiine said: The reason population is low isn't because there are too many orgs. It's because so many facets of the game are outright broken and protected by those who benefit from it being that way. An overabundance of gimmicks (including game-breaking ones), artifacts that destroy any concept of balance, blatant pay-to-win features, and an obsession with convenience that makes few things actually worthwhile all contribute to the game's sad decline.
It's also awful when you're bug-fixing something you wrote years ago, when you were young and naive and wrote horrifically inefficient quests that are a nightmare to decipher and de-bug two years in the future. It can take hours just to figure out what the various lines you wrote are supposed to...well, do. It might as well be a stranger's design.
Personally, daily OOC/IC errands tend to be my biggest time-eaters. You can log in and handle your respective Oneiroi/Camenae/Charites/EphManager/ArtBard work, and then have patron work, order work, and personal bug fixes on the back burner! It's truly amazing how quickly projects add up. Being a Patron is certainly more OOC than IC in the nature of its responsibilities, but of course that's exactly what it is: a set of more responsibilities. Being patient with your resident Divine is always appreciated, as you often can't see just how much they're plodding away at behind the scenes. It's a blessing to have another admin to work with in your org for that reason--it halves the workload! (PS: @Jadice, I love you, plz don't ever leave me. I will always paint you penguins and snowflakes. )
Absolutely. At the end of the day, for all of the reasons we've highlighted, the promise of a little give and take can go a long way for the god to agree to patron something extra. A whispered prayer at the end of a meal or a few extra bashing trips, perhaps. Maybe even a contest or two where the deity's tenets are written in prose. Some kind of demonstration of thanks for all the hard work. I suppose that's what we mean when we say that although a patron is mostly behind-the-scenes assistance, the moments when they get to interact with that org directly are so much sweeter when they happen.
Even after all these divine chores, @Viravain still finds time to sharpen Her scythe. That's my bosslady! ^:)^
Viravain, Lady of the Thorns shouts, "And You would seize Me? Fool! I am the Glomdoring! I am the Wyrd, and beneath the cloak of Night, the shadows of the Silent stir!"
Even if this kinda of thing isn't that much of a secret (the general overview at least), it is nice to see how some gods work in regards to what they all do and how they interact with players and their order. And I think most of those in orders will like to think that when their (active) god goes quiet for a while, that they are plotting something awesome for the order (*cough* @Jadice *cough* ), rather than help other gods with things.
Perhaps at a future point I will write a god blog expanding upon this sentiment, but for now just let me say: there is SO much more to do behind the scenes than I imagined when applying to be an admin! I'm glad I never feel superfluous, but Isune and Lis are right when they say that the projects build up quickly.
@Ayisdra, I will make two not-unconnected statements. 1. Those who follow a Meditator should expect periodic and not-infrequent silences. 2. I can tentatively confirm that I am plotting what I believe to be awesome things.
I'm aware of that fact and enjoy any interactions, even if it can only be a hello on order channels. I'm just an impatient person and don't like having to wait to see awesome things.
I will make two not-unconnected statements. 1. Those who follow a Meditator should expect periodic and not-infrequent silences. 2. I can tentatively confirm that I am plotting what I believe to be awesome things.
I will make two not-unconnected statements. 1. Those who follow a Meditator should expect periodic and not-infrequent silences. 2. I can tentatively confirm that I am plotting what I believe to be awesome things.
Are you making Hallimonks?
That depends! Are you recruiting new monkish players? :0
The creation of a new guild must be okay'd by Estarra, and Her biggest concern with releasing Gaudimonks and Hallimonks has always been population. I suspect that the Overhaul is also a deterring factor right now.
I wouldn't mind hearing how the respective Divine feel about the current status and direction of their organizations. IC and OOC. I know that back in the early days, the opinions of @Fain and @Raezon were always listened to and either they would appear themselves or send an Order Rep in their place to organizational meetings.
I will make two not-unconnected statements. 1. Those who follow a Meditator should expect periodic and not-infrequent silences. 2. I can tentatively confirm that I am plotting what I believe to be awesome things.
Are you making Hallimonks?
That depends! Are you recruiting new monkish players? :0
The creation of a new guild must be okay'd by Estarra, and Her biggest concern with releasing Gaudimonks and Hallimonks has always been population. I suspect that the Overhaul is also a deterring factor right now.
No rush, seriously. I would be a little worried if Hallimonks were actually in the works right now.
Even if this kinda of thing isn't that much of a secret (the general overview at least), it is nice to see how some gods work in regards to what they all do and how they interact with players and their order. And I think most of those in orders will like to think that when their (active) god goes quiet for a while, that they are plotting something awesome for the order (*cough* @Jadice *cough* ), rather than help other gods with things.
Players have the general idea and I've been meaning to write a "A day in the life of" style blog on the topic to clarify some of the admin-side details but then I realised the daily struggle against bugs, typos, issues, and everything else would be a rather dull affair to read. @Lisaera's take is much more interesting so the epic poem regaling my 4 hour battle with Shanthmark's village quest bugs will remain in my heart.
I strongly disagree Drocilla. A day in the life of/slice of life Divine would make very interesting reading.
As evidence, I submit that the thread has gathered more player readership and posts as the divine began writing about behind the scenes mechanics of their jobs.
Comments
Even if this kinda of thing isn't that much of a secret (the general overview at least), it is nice to see how some gods work in regards to what they all do and how they interact with players and their order. And I think most of those in orders will like to think that when their (active) god goes quiet for a while, that they are plotting something awesome for the order (*cough* @Jadice *cough* ), rather than help other gods with things.
The divine voice of Avechna, the Avenger reverberates powerfully, "Congratulations, Morkarion, you are the Bringer of Death indeed."
You see Estarra the Eternal shout, "Morkarion is no more! Mourn the mortal! But welcome True Ascendant Karlach, of the Realm of Death!
I'm aware of that fact and enjoy any interactions, even if it can only be a hello on order channels. I'm just an impatient person and don't like having to wait to see awesome things.
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
That depends! Are you recruiting new monkish players? :0
The creation of a new guild must be okay'd by Estarra, and Her biggest concern with releasing Gaudimonks and Hallimonks has always been population. I suspect that the Overhaul is also a deterring factor right now.
Estarra the Eternal says, "Give Shevat the floor please."
I strongly disagree Drocilla. A day in the life of/slice of life Divine would make very interesting reading. As evidence, I submit that the thread has gathered more player readership and posts as the divine began writing about behind the scenes mechanics of their jobs.