Town Meeting 2/23/99

[Zami Wahye <wahye@yahoo.com>]

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Announcement: Broncalo shouts, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the OOC Players meeting will begin in a few minutes. If you're interested in attending, please make your way to the Auditorium on the lower level of the OOC Area."

Auditorium -- Lower Level (OOC)(#78Rt)

Players:
 Arn                                   Fredhrick                             
 Azzo                                  Sarina                                
 Broncalo (lectern)                    Sha'ara'diin                          
 Cesare                                Steffan                               
 Filarion                              Zami                                 
Objects:
 README FIRST                         
Exits:
 Double Doors <S> leads to Lower Lobby -- Lower Level (OOC)

Broncalo waves.

Zami cheats... :P

Siegfried walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Siegfried has arrived.

Steffan waves

Sha'ara'diin hugs Zams

Filarion grins and wavers to the new arrivals.

Sauron walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Sauron has arrived.

Channing walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Channing has arrived.

Iason walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Iason has arrived.

Siegfried says, "hi everybody!"

Filarion mutters to Sha'ara'diin, "... was that with the... Ambassador,..."

Broncalo clears his throat and places both hand upon the lecturn. "Oyez, oyez! 
  The OOC Players Meeting is now in session. If you have a topic, you'd like to 
  discuss or would like to speak, please page Zami. She will be keeping a queue."

Broncalo notes that this meeting is primarily a chance for players to voice their 
  concerns regarding the MUSH.

Broncalo starts the meeting off by talking a moment about our three newest factions
  on the MUSH: Bene Gesserit, Guild, and Fremen.

Harun walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Harun has arrived.

Broncalo says, "Both the BG and Guild are open at this very moment for recruiting, 
  while the Fremen are still in the building stages."

Broncalo says, "Perhaps Harun would care to make a brief statement about the 
  Fremen?"

Harun says, "If I may. :)"

Broncalo says, "Please."

Ivanova walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Ivanova has arrived.

Sha'ara'diin hugs Iva

Cesare mutters to Ivanova, "... have... soft..."

Harun nods. "Ok...as Broncalo said, the Fremen are still in the process of having
  their area built (and the faction handbook is still being critiqued and looked
  over - I apologize to any waiting for its release). However, I am open to any
  @mails/pages/etc. from interested players. I would like to note that I am being
  slightly picky on the Fremen - I am trying to keep it down to people with good
  Dune theme knowledge, RP ability/experience (though not necessarily required)
  and the ability to hold a Fremen and an Imperium character.

Broncalo ammends: "Imperium/Landsraad"

Harun says, "And that's about it. :) Yes, Imperium/Landsraad. Apologies."

Broncalo oks. "Thanks, Harun. Does anyone have any questions or comments?"

Broncalo says, "Ivanova?"

Ivanova says, "When do you see the Fremen coming online?"

Broncalo says, "Harun? Care to field that one?"

Harun says, "Hopefully soon. I've had about half a dozen so far page me with ideas
  and possibilities, and most have been pretty workable. I'd like to say that RP
  can begin, if enough gets finished, by this weekend. Though it won't be complete,
  it should hopefully be enough."

Broncalo qualifies that. "The Fremen structures need to pass through inspection and
  the handbook requires final approval before RP can begin. Perhaps by this weekend,
  but that may be a bit tight of a timeline."

Broncalo says, "Ivanova? You have another question/comment?"

Harun nods. I like to be somewhat idealistic. :)

Ivanova blinks, "I do... but I thought you wanted to intro the new groups. Mine's
  more of a general RP question."

Zami points to Shar for a question to Harun.

Broncalo nods. "The Bene Gesserit, headed by Yadir, are now integrated into
  gameplay. If you have need of a BG in your faction or for a TP, contact Yadir.
  Similarly, if you wish to play a BG, contact Yadir. The BG handbook is available
  on the web site."

Broncalo says, "Shar?"

Sha'ara'diin says, "I have one question, would Fremen RM's be recruited by the
  Fremen, or by the BG?"

Broncalo says, "Fremen. Fremen RMs may have BG roots, but they are certainly not
  of the BG. It would likely behoove any candidate for such a role, though, to
  consult with the BG."

Sha'ara'diin noddles, and was just curious who to pitch ideas too :)

Praxton walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Praxton has arrived.

Harun says, "Ok...I would like to believe, as Bronc said, that the Fremen get to
  choose our RM. However, I've spoken to Yadir a few times on the subject...and
  she"

Harun says, "Erk."

Broncalo awaits Harun's complete response. :)

Harun says, "She's offered to help, somewhat, in making sure the Fremen RMs stay
  both within our theme and the consistency of how the BG should be played. So
  there will be some inter-development, at least as far as those characters will
  come about."

Broncalo nods. "And finally, the Guild. They are now online and their handbook is
  available on the web site (although a new version is near-complete). Contact
  Tillip if you would like to join the Guild or would like to include the Guild in
  any of your TPs."

Broncalo says, "And back to Ivanova. Your general RP question?"

Ivanova nods, "well... I had a lot of fun the other night during all those weather
  problems RP'ing out in the street... but I wanted to know... are we allowed to
  just be out in the street like that? I mean would it be IC for say a Siridar to
  be walking the streets of Kaitain so open and exposed?"

Broncalo hmms. "On average, I would say that is not thematic for a Siridar to be
  wandering the streets. Each royal should consider for him/herself if it is proper
  for that character to be in such a position."

Broncalo says, "The streets are built, though, not just as means to get from here
  to there, but also as potential places for RP. There are classes of people within
  the faufreluches who would ordinarily be found in the streets."

Zami would also recommend checking some of the +info on the rooms... as they will
  tell you how "safe" the places is.

You say, "there were some parts of town built to be safer than others."

Broncalo nods to Zami. "Excellent point."

Broncalo inquires, "Are there any other questions/comments?"

Broncalo says, "Zami? You have one?""

You say, "it doesn't have to just be questions... we'd also like to know where we
  can be better. we're just players like you and we really want to know what we can
  do to make this place more fun for you... so we'll even take suggestion on
  changes, things people would like to see happen... anything... and I promise,
  Prax, I won't comment but the admin team as a whole will work to see things
  happen."

Zami nods to Steffan.

Praxton blinks and looks around, "Who, me? Um, okay." ;)

Steffan says, "well some time ago Bronc and some of the others and I were
  discussing the thematics of the Ginaz school and where it should be built...well
  it was decided that it wouldn't be appropriate for Kaitain but an Alumni Club
  could be built instead...if there is enough interest Mush wide...and with the
  Admins approval our house could see that it gets built....."

Broncalo would be for it.
Broncalo says, "Forgive me, but I have to go unexpectedly."
Broncalo has disconnected.

Praxton quirks an eyebrow.

Steffan hrms, "well what do the rest of you think?"

Zami has no problems with it...

You say, "anyone else have an opinion one way or the other with the Alumni Club?"

Fredhrick likes the idea.

Ivanova didn't go to the Ginaz school... so I guess it doesn't affect her one way
  or the other.

Fredhrick is in favour of any new place where people can bow to him and wish him
  false hopes of a long and healthy life:)

Azzo wonders. "Maybe Houses would not appreciate contact between their
  retainers/employees...?

Filarion thought you hated being bowed at all the time... :)

Praxton says, "I would suggest that the club is angled to appeal to a wider range
  of characters. Not just those privileged enough to go to the Ginaz school, but
  everyone who is interested in the art of fencing."

Ivanova says, "so kinda like a sports club for fencing... ??"

Praxton nods, "One which happens to be sponsored by the Ginaz School."

Steffan nods, "yes that was what I was afraid off.....too few would actually be
  alummi....something perhaps that would include more people...yes a fencing club
  of some kind...."

Zami nods, "excellent suggestions Steffan... thank you."

You say, "Filarion?"

Filarion hms, "Okay, that is a bit of a difficult topic. I know that a house's
  playerbase rises and falls over the months, nothing to fear. /But/ I noticed that
  recently the House I am in, House Harkonnen more than stagnated. We have 2 and a
  half active players right now, with in-house RP at a near (well, rather complete)
  Zero. I think that the Recruiting system should also pay heed to how strong
  house's PBs are at the moment. Harkonnen at the moment is pretty much out of
  everything and I have to admit that I would like to devote more time to RP here,
  but ICly just do not have the opportunities. So maybe apart from general
  recruiting there should be a system that ranks what houses need players, any
  players..And that FHs of playerwise more prosperous houses just ask players to
  apply for another house that is in more of a need for 'fresh meat'. I would hate
  to see espefcially House Harkonnen slowly stagnating, leaving the IC podium, only
  remaining a shadow of itself. Dune 3 /is/ gaining players, but they should be
  asked to apply with respect to the Houses' and factions' needs.

Zami shakes her head lightly, "The recruiting board then isn't satisfying that
  need?"

Filarion shrugs, "It does not appear to, no. Though I do not know how excessevly
  Boris uses it..."

Sha'ara'diin says, "I know he has a message up there last I saw Fil."

Fredhrick nods in agreement. "The Previous Fredh posted a couple openings for
  Corrino on the Recruiting bboard. To my knowledge, I've had one applicant for one
  of the opsitions, and I just recently filled the other."

Siegfried says, "personnaly, I think, as a new player, that you must let the new
  player choose freely...It was tough for me just to start in the mush system
  because I was really new to it and I think that i was obligated to play in a
  House i'm not confortable with, my interest wouldn't have been as high as it is
  now and i would have probably left the game."

Steffan nods, "I am afraid that the stagnation is not do to poor players...."

Siegfried says, "if i was...sorry..."

Praxton clears his throat.

Tirus has arrived.

Praxton opines, "I think the answer to the problem Filarion points out is not to
  limit player choice of factions, but rather to find a broader base from which to
  draw players. It's a fact that the newbie well occasionally runs dry, and the
  factions to feel the pinch hardest are the ones who are currently at a low,
  activity-wise. I think we should, as players, take it upon ourselves to
  advertise, nay, shamelessly plug, Dune3 at every oportunity. I've coasted around
  a number of MUSH and Dune related websites, with nary a mention of Dune3."

Sauron has connected.

Praxton says, "Nixing this problem, by alerting webmasters and players on elseMUSH
  as to the great RP to be had here would nix the player base problem, and ensure a
  healthier newbie supply, which would alleviate the woes that House Harkonnen is
  going through, which are the very same House Atreides went through from late
  Nov- to early this year."

Filarion bobs his head in agreement, "Though unfortunately I am the only one on
  when interested ask questions about the house and all I can tell them is that
  Boris will review their application and try to get in touch with them -
  something, that due to Boris limited RL schedule (which by no means should
  disqualify him as a FH) can be difficult."

Zami believes there is more you can do to help...

Channing says, "@grouping is directly related to the problem. I was hired days ago
  and I am just waiting to be grouped."

You say, "as a player in the house, you understand what the needs are as you
  interact and see them in your rp... you also know what sort of backgrounds can
  make sense... you can help a new player in developing these things and that might
  help Boris and make it easier."

Steffan agrees with Prax, "However there are other problems.....the Ginaz also have
  been feeling the pinch but its not the players really.....Morgen has failed to
  connect enough to direct the house....and many relied on Morgen for RP direction.
  I have struggled to fit in and be there to help but its just not the same....the
  faction head has the last word on so many things...it can bring the house down if
  he/she is not there...."

Iohannes walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Iohannes has arrived.

Zami nods, "it can... we must also remember though that these players are just
  that... people... and we realize that it can be hard when the FH is not
  available, which is one of the reasons we try to work with them as much as
  possible as admin."

Filarion nods, "The IC helplessness to be the only represantative of my House,
  without any real topics to adress, due to lack of developed RP and IC and OOC
  preparation was quite frustrating for me as a player at the LHC for example.."

Raven walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Raven has arrived.

Filarion sighs and is just now being paged by an interested newbie.

Tirus queues this up, cold fingers and all. "Well, the issue, to me, shouldn't be
  'is there someone around to tell it like it is?', but rather 'are newbies able to
  find the information they need to feel included?'. This doesn't have to be a
  one-on-one to schedule, IMHO. In the past, we had orientation rooms, with a lot
  of text, and well-indexed so as not to swamp. So once -everyone- knows how it is,
  you have a greater pool of helpers. If you're waiting around for the one key
  person, that's a bad dependency to have.

Tirus says, "And I don't mean Handbooks."

Raven looks at Filarion.

Raven says, "So what'r we talking 'bout?"

Harun says, "Ah! The newbie rooms!"

Filarion shrugs at Tirus, "I cannot approve people for IC, even if I wanted to, so
  even the most well-informed newbie at some point or other gives up when not being
  able to match the FHs online times, be it because he is European, Australian or
  only online at 3 am EST."

Tirus says, "So maybe the model is flawed if there's a bottleneck."

Raven has disconnected.

Sauron puts a small, newbie flag on his head

Fredhrick says, "So maybe a resolution would be to allow a second person within the
  faction the ability to hire? Or a prolific use of @- or e-mail in the process of
  hiring and approving new players?"

Tirus says, "Or allow at-ay-time grouping."

Steffan says, "you can always get an admin to group people....if your FH is not on
  line...provided of course the FH wants him grouped...exchanging mail may be the
  only way to accomplish this.."

Filarion has to add that he thinks the RP interview system Boris uses /indeed/ is
  a very good thing, else I would not be defending the system in the first place...
 
Tirus says, "Which is more important? Speed or accuracy?"

Sauron thinks Applications are based to much on backgrounds.. and how can a new
  player even know what to write :/

Filarion raises an eyebrow, "What use is the accuracy if the target moves on in the
  meantime?"

Tirus smiles at Filarion.

Harun isn't sure that's defending the system you stated before, Fil. ;)

Steffan nods to Tirus, "both are necessary.......and possible...."

Filarion sighs and nods, I just wanted to illustrate the vicious circle, Harun ;)

Praxton pitches in, "Maybe you can suggest to Boris that he delegate some of the
  recruitment process to the Harkonnens who are online more. Like the RP try-out,
  for instance, or the initial contact/screening.

Tirus entones, "Delegate."

Siegfried says, "as I new player, I think the background was a must. I mean, I had
  to learn Mush and learn the dynamics of the game. At least, when I began, I had a
  character, well-defined, to help me to do it. Otherwise, I would have been M.
  Nobody trying to do a story telling everybody whoio asked me who I am "I don't
  know""

Steffan nods, "ooc duties should not be confined soley to the FH....otherwise it
  will take forever..."

Praxton found that out -early- ;)

Fredhrick says, "OOC duties should not be confined to the FH ... Otherwise you'll
  go Insane!:)"

Tirus nods!

Iason notes that you have to be a bit insane to do FH. ;) *duck*

Filarion grins.

Praxton peers at Iason, "Someday, grasshoppa.... someday."

Tirus still asserts that being a FH shouldn't feel like work, or you'll find them
  logging on less and less, or getting unstable and crusty around the edges.

Steffan grins at Prax, "indeed.....it gives players something to do when the RP is
  suspended for some reason....and it keeps players from getting too bored as
  well....when they get bored they don't come back..."

Harun straps on his straitjacket.

Iason's been a faction head before, Prax. There's a reason I'

Iason says, "I'm not one even."

Tirus says, "So is the problem clear yet?"

Filarion shrugs, "As far as it concerns me, I'd think so, yep :)"

Arn adds, "Perhaps the question is not only how to get new players but how to keep
  them active. Being a fairly recent comer to the game I've found it a bit hard to
  grasp what's REALLY going on at times, and even when I've gotten into it I've
  been more decorative than actually useful in particular scenes. How about
  appointing one of the more experienced players as an inhouse 
  RP/TP/getting-things-going guy?"

Tirus says, "It sort of spawns the same problem on a smaller scale. Reliance on
  single persons, but it might help."

Ivanova tried to link up a new player with an old one in her house to get people
  going... it seems to help for some time.

Praxton points to Iason, the Official Newbie Hand Shaker for House Atreides. ;)

Arn says, "Spreading responsibilities is seldom bad, as has been pointed out.
  Ivanova's idea seems good. Kick start'em and they'll keep going."

Filarion hehs and shakes Iason's head.

Harun says, "Actually, shared responsibilities can be quite promoting for
  activity."

Fredhrick whispers to Arn, "Don't feel bad, I'm mostly decorative too. Show up,
  smile a bit, say kind things to the Siridars, be seen in public, go home, have
  a brandy.:)"

Harun says, "Beyond pure RP, it gives people more motivation to stay connected,
  even in such inactive spurts as have been seen here."

Steffan says, "Arn is at the heart of the matter, not only is it important to
  hire...but to keep people active...a roster of inactive players is
  useless...that is Fil's problem....it seems the Harks have players....just not
  active ones...""

Harun says, "And, it removes that hub of activity which is otherwise dependent upon
  the sole source of RP/TPs/etc."

Iason shifts position and flips Filarion. "Back to the meeting. =)

You say, "are there any other comments/questions/etc that people would like to
  make?"

Zami nods, "okay... a quick comment from me and if there is nothing else, i'll let
  you all go for the night...."

You say, "some of you may have noticed that the +contract listing of who owns what
  has been recently updated... this was related to the code bug we were fighting
  when we "push the button" on changing over the year... it is fixed and all houses 
  should have what they are suppose to..."

You say, "the thing we'd like folks to know about is that there is an effort going 
  on to relook at the GC and "flesh-out" other parts that we might need... if you
  have interest in helping this effort out, please @mail or contact Tirus or any
  of the other admin..."

You say, "are there any other comments anyone would like to add in?"

Fendron walks in from Lower Lobby through the Double Doors.
Fendron has arrived.

You say, "okay... then with nothing else... Thank you all for coming tonight. If
  there's anything you think of after this meeting, please feel free to email any
  of us. And RP on and have fun!"