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ten_fwd_ooc2016-03-31 11:25 pm
ten_fwd_mods) wrote in ten_fwd_ooc2016-03-31 11:25 pm
Entry tags:
State of the Game
Edited 4/02/16: please see the end of the post for an update.
State of the Game:
We have heard you, players, and the overwhelming response so far has encouraged us to regroup and take your suggestions into discussion. It’s true that this game still has so much to offer and its players still have many stories to tell. Manpower is the ultimate issue we’re facing, but after some consideration we’ve thought of ways to combat it.
Rest assured that you still have a dedicated mod team who is motivated to keep Ten Forward alive. We love this game just as much as you do.
However, as we’ve decided that changes need to be made, we now need to hear from you. After looking at the suggestions from Plurk and the closing announcement post, the mods have come up with a series of suggestions for the future of the game.
It’s always been more relaxed than most games, but we’d like to move a bit more towards a sandbox structure by simplifying the overall mechanics. We would like to implement the following changes:
We would also like to put out a request for anyone to step forward who would like to dedicate themselves to being in a part-time, creative position. Expanding the plot and story of the game is something we’re very interested in doing and we’d love for more players to be involved in that.
Other ideas and suggestions are welcome and we might come up with more of our own as time goes on, but mostly our interests now lie in hearing your ultimate thoughts about the fate of the game.
We’d be grateful if you would take the time to answer our poll and also make comments below if you have them. We would love to hear from all of you.
The Poll will close Monday Evening.
ETA 4/02/16: In addition to the comments received below we have received a number of messages from players who are confused regarding conflicting information, as well as how the above proposed edits will take into consideration suggestions made from our last State of the Game all the way up through present concerns and suggestions. To that end we've realized that the brevity of this post might be misleading, and we would like to clarify by posting another State of the Game that addresses more of your suggestions, answers some of the FAQs, and specifically responds to those of you who have volunteered to help. Since the poll closes on Monday we thought we might post this FAQ on Monday, unless there are those of you who feel they cannot vote without this additional information because the options provided don't address your viewpoint. Please let us know if you are one of the players who would like this FAQ sooner than Monday.
However, two things should briefly be addressed now. The first is that the above proposed game changes are for the eventuality that the game IS turned into a sandbox. The four points above do not cover the reasons the mod team decided the game could no longer be managed. In fact, those four above game elements are some of the easiest elements of the game to manage. That leads into the second thing, which is that we incorrectly stated that if the game was turned into a sandbox the current plot schedule would continue as it has been. This is incorrect in that the inability to manage game plots is one of the reasons the team decided to close the doors, which means that if the game does go to a sandbox comm there would be NO mod organized game plots. As with most sandbox comms, plots would be up to the individual player.
We recognize that these two inconsistencies were hugely misleading in the way you may have voted on the poll, and for that we can only apologize. In the interests of full disclosure, this post was written by only two of the mods, while the other three did not know about it until after it was posted, and several key points were left out. We don't want to cause any undue frustration, but the positive response you players gave us was so bolstering that in our excitement we jumped the shark a little bit and did not fully express things out loud that we've been talking about so many times now as a team.
Please continue hitting us with your thoughts and questions either below, or for those of you who feel uncomfortable making a public comment you can continue reaching us on AIM, Plurk, by e-mail, or our Suggestion Box, where the comments are screened. Thanks! – The Mods
ETA the second, 4/02/16: If you need to change the way you voted, J has provided a step-by-step on how to do so. We have added further clarification in a reply there regarding this update, as it was still confusing to some people. Please let us know if you are still confused, we know discussion is happening in a lot of different places and we are trying to pull it all together in this comm so that everyone has a chance to see everything in an effort to clear that confusion up. Your patience and your love is deeply appreciated by all of us.
State of the Game:
We have heard you, players, and the overwhelming response so far has encouraged us to regroup and take your suggestions into discussion. It’s true that this game still has so much to offer and its players still have many stories to tell. Manpower is the ultimate issue we’re facing, but after some consideration we’ve thought of ways to combat it.
Rest assured that you still have a dedicated mod team who is motivated to keep Ten Forward alive. We love this game just as much as you do.
However, as we’ve decided that changes need to be made, we now need to hear from you. After looking at the suggestions from Plurk and the closing announcement post, the mods have come up with a series of suggestions for the future of the game.
It’s always been more relaxed than most games, but we’d like to move a bit more towards a sandbox structure by simplifying the overall mechanics. We would like to implement the following changes:
- Removal of AC, but keeping a monthly roll call to ensure the players’ continued involvement.
- Simplifying apps and removing the application period. You would be able to app a character at any time you’d like. However reserves would also be removed so it would become a first come first serve basis.
- Removing roommate assignments and the monthly sickbay posts. Simplified alternatives might be put in place, such as player-run rooming assignments and one combined monthly welcome post.
- A number of small plot opportunities added to the current plot schedule, as well as encouraged player-run plots.
We would also like to put out a request for anyone to step forward who would like to dedicate themselves to being in a part-time, creative position. Expanding the plot and story of the game is something we’re very interested in doing and we’d love for more players to be involved in that.
Other ideas and suggestions are welcome and we might come up with more of our own as time goes on, but mostly our interests now lie in hearing your ultimate thoughts about the fate of the game.
We’d be grateful if you would take the time to answer our poll and also make comments below if you have them. We would love to hear from all of you.
The Poll will close Monday Evening.
This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 39
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 39
How do you feel about the future of Ten Forward?
Keep the game open and implement the new semi-sandbox structure with the stated changes
26 (66.7%)
Close the game as it is
8 (20.5%)
I have no preference/whatever everyone else wants
2 (5.1%)
Other (explain in a comment)
3 (7.7%)
ETA 4/02/16: In addition to the comments received below we have received a number of messages from players who are confused regarding conflicting information, as well as how the above proposed edits will take into consideration suggestions made from our last State of the Game all the way up through present concerns and suggestions. To that end we've realized that the brevity of this post might be misleading, and we would like to clarify by posting another State of the Game that addresses more of your suggestions, answers some of the FAQs, and specifically responds to those of you who have volunteered to help. Since the poll closes on Monday we thought we might post this FAQ on Monday, unless there are those of you who feel they cannot vote without this additional information because the options provided don't address your viewpoint. Please let us know if you are one of the players who would like this FAQ sooner than Monday.
However, two things should briefly be addressed now. The first is that the above proposed game changes are for the eventuality that the game IS turned into a sandbox. The four points above do not cover the reasons the mod team decided the game could no longer be managed. In fact, those four above game elements are some of the easiest elements of the game to manage. That leads into the second thing, which is that we incorrectly stated that if the game was turned into a sandbox the current plot schedule would continue as it has been. This is incorrect in that the inability to manage game plots is one of the reasons the team decided to close the doors, which means that if the game does go to a sandbox comm there would be NO mod organized game plots. As with most sandbox comms, plots would be up to the individual player.
We recognize that these two inconsistencies were hugely misleading in the way you may have voted on the poll, and for that we can only apologize. In the interests of full disclosure, this post was written by only two of the mods, while the other three did not know about it until after it was posted, and several key points were left out. We don't want to cause any undue frustration, but the positive response you players gave us was so bolstering that in our excitement we jumped the shark a little bit and did not fully express things out loud that we've been talking about so many times now as a team.
Please continue hitting us with your thoughts and questions either below, or for those of you who feel uncomfortable making a public comment you can continue reaching us on AIM, Plurk, by e-mail, or our Suggestion Box, where the comments are screened. Thanks! – The Mods
ETA the second, 4/02/16: If you need to change the way you voted, J has provided a step-by-step on how to do so. We have added further clarification in a reply there regarding this update, as it was still confusing to some people. Please let us know if you are still confused, we know discussion is happening in a lot of different places and we are trying to pull it all together in this comm so that everyone has a chance to see everything in an effort to clear that confusion up. Your patience and your love is deeply appreciated by all of us.
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I would also love to help in a part time creative way.
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As far as I can tell, what sandbox means is that everything in the game continues the same (except perhaps for the four changes above) but there are no longer any more mod-run plots. So how do we make sure that players aren't running their plots all at the same time? Or all the plots aren't pretty much the same with subtle differences? If there won't be any mod plots, then what do you need part-time creative people for? And, relatedly, I don't understand point 4 any more.
And I might be being overly pessimistic here, but I think even with the best intentions of the players, I think the game will die a slow death. I'm not sure how many people not already in the game will have any interest in joining it. It seems like a sandbox is more for letting current players continue with the their CR/character arcs. Not everyone will continue and it'll get smaller and smaller pretty quickly. I'd rather the game went out with a bang than a whimper.
If the four options are not the things that take up the most mod time, then is there a need to make those changes? And conversely, is there any point in having a sandbox game that doesn't make those changes? I think points 1 & 2 are a good idea, anyway, regardless of the answers to those questions.
If there was no longer an application period, then monthly sickbay and room assignments wouldn't make sense. Other people have had good ideas about sickbay, but room assignments could be done as part of app acceptance - you go and comment to the room post and you get the next available room, unless you specify otherwise. I don't think there would be so many applications that it would be a lot of work.
None of what I've said, or the mods will say, have any bearing on my vote, so I am happy to wait for the FAQ to go up.
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In case I've ever failed to be clear, please take this as my OFFERING TO STEP UP AND HELP.
That said, I'm wondering if maybe there isn't some middle ground between what we have now, with its crushing workload, and what was suggested above? (I voted other, because I wanted to comment here, but if other were off the table the vote would fall in with keeping it open. Just so you are aware.)
Removal of AC, but keeping a monthly roll call to ensure the players’ continued involvement.
I like the idea of a check in, instead of AC. But one of the things that works so well, for so many of the people here, is not having to stress it every month like you do in so many other games. What if the check-ins were like... once every three or four months? Maybe with the changing of the seasons as "landmarks" to help people recall when there is likely to be a check in?
Not only am I worried that once a month, even if it is just a check in, might stress some of our busier (IRL) players, but it might be too much more work for whatever team is in place in a given month. But that is just my personal thought. I would be fine with the monthly, if that is what it comes down to.
Simplifying apps and removing the application period. You would be able to app a character at any time you’d like.
I LOVE THIS. LOVE LOVE LOVE. And this spaces out time for the mods as well, in theory, since it isn't a flood of incoming all at once. I know one game I am in generally checks apps every Saturday, but I like the idea of free and rolling.
However reserves would also be removed so it would become a first come first serve basis.
Also love this.
Removing roommate assignments and the monthly sickbay posts. Simplified alternatives might be put in place, such as player-run rooming assignments and one combined monthly welcome post.
I think that the sickbay thread and the roommate assignments are kind of culturally core to what we have become, and a good way to ease new players into the game, especially if they are shy about making top levels/open posts to begin. If we could keep the Roommate mixer and Sickbay log in some way shape or form, I think that would be a very good idea, all around.
A number of small plot opportunities added to the current plot schedule, as well as encouraged player-run plots.
Love it.
Okay, so yeah. I may have more thoughts later, but I have had less than 2 hours of sleep in the last... um..... 30 or so. Probably more. Too tired to do the math, at the moment.
Anyway. I am willing to help, and work to keep this game going. I love this game, and this community. Especially this community. I have made some friends here that I don't even want to imagine losing contact with. This RP feels like a home, and it is filled with a family we have chosen for ourselves. If that home needs repairs and maintenance, I'm willing to grab a tool belt.
So yeah. Chicklet gets sappy and weird(er) when tired.
Hope that helps.
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First things first: I love this group. So. Much. It is the first time in years that I have found a game that feels like the games of old before all the crazy DW rp and journal culture. How RP used to be - relaxing and fun. This place is a home surrounded by amazing people. Family. It's been literally years since I found a place like this and it would seriously break my heart to see it go. I know nothing lasts forever but it feels too soon!
I love how this game is wank free and without the added stress of that dreaded monthly AC (which most games have and is a huge factor in preventing me in fully relaxing in a game). I also love how this game is so welcoming to all different sorts of characters. Even OC's, Fandom OC's and obscure characters that deserve some love. Many games don't like those character types (and is another reason why it's hard for me to find games to play in). It's also the first time in years where I've been able to safely play multiple characters without (again) fearing that dreaded monthly AC. Finally, RP feels like a hobby and not a job! There is so many reasons why I love this place, and what I said so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
Yes! I want to help in any way I can!
I work full time as management in a bakery - so my sched is pretty full. However - I am more than willing to offer myself as a part time extra hand. Whether it's looking at apps, editing pages or even helping out with the monthly logs that come up (like the school for example, I would love Fujin to be a teacher so I can help from a player and character perspective!). I'm also an artist, so if there's any creative input that's needed from a visual medium perspective, I'm your gal. I'm not sure what I can do plot wise but I'm more than happy to bash brains with others to come up with stuff.
Here is what I think of the suggestions:
1. Yes. I've seen this before in games and it works. :) A roll call once a month is completely reasonable (and is not as involved as an AC from a mod perspective. Less stress on the mods yay!).
2. Yes. I've also seen this in games before and it also works. In fact - most of the places I've played were like this. It wasn't until games on DW started feeling like applying for and keeping jobs (even from a player perspective) - that I've seen all this craziness about app's, app revisions if it's not up to snuff, reserves and AC. I've been RPing online since 2001 and did table top before that. I've played in places ranging from various forums to yahoogroups to AIM. I've never seen RP get so stressful and complicated from a player or mod perspective, until the journal culture took off on DW after the great Exodus from Live Journal.
Simplified app's are still a great idea - so that players can read up on info about the characters in play. I personally, love writing them - as well as additional info and permissions (since in some cases that comes in handy). I also love reading about the characters mine are playing with. I'm detail oriented and LOVE info.
3. I actually really enjoy the monthly logs like the welcome/room assignment posts, the sick bay logs and the school logs. As I've seen someone mention on here, it's a wonderful way for new players to get comfortable into the game setting and provides awesome ways to get some great CR without the stress of trying to figure out a top level post (this is especially true for the shy folks. I can relate!). Again, if you guys need help with these, I want to at least lend a hand.
4. Yes to all of thiiiis! I love the game plot and setting...and I also love the idea of smaller player run plot opportunities (specifically what caught my eye was Thea's idea that we could bring in plots inspired from other fandoms. Like people, creatures or baddies to stir the pot a little from various universes). I know there's always been opportunities for players to come up with and do plots in the games - but bringing in fun things from other fandoms now and again could be fun.
Anyhoos I have rambled on long enough! I could still go on - but I at least got the main points down. My vote? HELLS YES LETS KEEP THIS PLACE ALIVE! <3
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The points above are wonderful ideas and I would like to volunteer to help on a part time basis in order to keep the community alive. I will give more detail on each below.
1. Wonderful. Check ins to show people's interest but not having to worry about thread length etc. The best part of TF is how slow you can be. Having tags from January you don't get to until March is all part of what makes this community great. So having no AC would go a long way towards that. But you do need check ins so that people aren't character squatting.
2. Again, another wonderful idea to reduce the stress to the mods. But I do like the TF app more than most. It makes you think about your character before you've even entered the game. Rather than just a link to a History section and then some personality + samples like most games. That's just me but I think the app is great as it is.
On the time scale point, it's hard to find a balance that helps both the mod and the player. If you have a fixed time, then the mod feels stress while the player knows when their app will be looked at. But if you have it relaxed, the player feels more stress because they have no idea how long they have to wait for their app to be approved or rejected. Suggesting a weekly process where apps are checked Saturdays/Sundays might be a good idea but it would be up for discussion between the people who are ultimately checking the apps.
3. Just as I've seen on this post already, I do think the rooming assignments and sickbay checks are a very good starter for newbies. It's automatically new CR for 99% of characters and that's important. From my own experience, Henry would never have thought to speak to Daredevil but now he's rooming with him and that gives me some extra CR for him right off the bat. Which has then expanded. So while they might be slightly harder for the mods, I think the rewards outweigh the benefits of removing them altogether.
4. And lastly, I agree with plots. I don't have as much to say on this one except yes please.
TL;DR I like all the suggestions and I want to help.
I hope I haven't just repeated what others have said too or this was a block of text for nothing. But I first joined TF about a month after it opened so I feel deeply connected to the game, it's mods and it's other players. So if there is anything I can do to keep it alive, just give me that chance.
<333
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Also, if people still want sickbay/roommate assignment threads they can still write them up singularly and have a doc/interested character respond.
I think getting rid of AC is a great idea. It seems to stress people out and it must be very time consuming going through everything needed to complete it on the mods end.
I'm totally behind you guys. If you need me, I'm here.
Edit: more thoughts: Why not expand the mod team beyond the part time creative bit? It seems like you have lots of people here willing to help. We'd like to help. Don't try and do this alone. We love you all.
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On that note: 1, 2, and 4 I don't really care about either way. I know some of those mean extra work for the mods, so whatever means less work and less stress I'm fine with.
3 is the one I'm torn on. As the player of the CMO, I try to be around for every sickbay post, at least for questions, etc. While it would be easier for me personally not to have to worry about those each month, I can understand where others are coming from in that it might help early CR for new players. I originally said that I wouldn't be good at putting up a post every month myself; however, if we agree on a specific day of the month -- for instance, if the sickbay log were to go up on the first of every month -- and I have an exact template to c/p, I think I could manage that. If you guys think that would help take pressure off you, I'd be happy to give it a whirl.
Two other options in place of that:
1) We have a "Request a Doctor/healer/nurse" page on the OOC comm, which I would be happy to keep up with. Basically, I keep a running list of the PC medical staff we have so everyone has an easily accessible list and if anyone needs someone, they reply with a link and the name of the requested medical staff member (or "anyone" if they have no preference). This could get linked in the app acceptance comments so everyone knows it exists and is there to be used. The only trick to this is if the medical staff all tracks the post so I don't have to go track everyone down every time someone makes a request. The downsides are that it might still be nerve-wracking for newbies. I know it would be for me.
2) The mods or I could put up a kind of permanent sickbay post that could also get linked with app acceptances. This would be like the monthly sickbay posts, but rather than posted every month, we have one place to go and never have to wait for the monthly post to go up. If I do the post, I would do my best to keep an eye on how many medical people we have so I can have the staff listed at the top of the post for easy reference. Then we just ask that players tag in with the DATE as well as which medical professional they want, so that we have something of a timeline to keep things separate. If the comment count hits ~4000, I would make a new post, so that the old one can still be used for on-going threads before the captcha hits. This would mean less to remember all around, and hopefully less stress.
Anyway, I know it's a lot to read, but tl;dr I would be happy to help with one of those three options, if you guys think it would help and one of them would be a better idea. Or we could do a combination. I am open. Whatever makes things easier.
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If you're looking for someone to do more of the counseling side of things, I wholeheartedly toss Minoru forward. I've been meaning to get him a 'job' on the Enterprise, and teaching really didn't work out too well.
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Now onto your suggestions:
1. I think this is a really good idea. AC can be a pain in the butt but a monthly roll call is a good idea just to make sure that people are still interested in their characters being in the game.
2. I think simplifying apps is a really good idea. Maybe cut out the personality section and just have stuff like: Character name, canon, canon point, a link to a wiki page for history or something and a sample section. AND maybe a section that asks about how the character would fit into the game.
Open apping cycles is a good idea too since the apps will more than likely be more spaced out and wouldn't have you all cramming app reading into one week a month.
3. I don't know about removing the monthly sickbay posts but I'll paste what I suggested to another comment. Another idea for the medical log is to maybe to have the doctor characters players take turns tossing one up each month, that way it's still up and Beverly's player won't be so overwhelmed with it.
As for the roommate stuff. I like the idea of player run rooming assignments. :)
4. For this one I'd suggest maybe a monthly event that people have the opportunity to tag into should they wish to. I think that maybe alternating between mod run and player run events would probably be the best way to go. One the players would be more involved and two, you guys get a break from all the plotting events.
Anywho, I think simplifying the game is the best course of action. Running a busy game can be difficult and hopefully this will calm stuff down for you guys!
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I think removing AC is a good idea, but instead of check-in posts, use the 'what is your character up to this month' post. That will be a good indication of activity and help us come up with more plots and shenanigans at the same time. Two benefits for one post!
I like the application form itself the way it is. The questions helped me fully develop two characters before throwing them in. But yes, remove the specified periods. If there's a way for players to edit a 'Taken Character' list, that could help, or to avoid one completely, make it a free-for-all with multiple versions of characters. I did that in one of the games I used to mod, and the characters just started getting used to having their 'other selves' around.
I vote for player-run monthly posts if necessary. And would volunteer Minoru as a counselor to bring that particular one back. Have one player or two players per monthly item, give us an approx time of the month it needs to go out, and bam - let there be plot!
Perhaps there could be a sticky post on the OOC comm for plot suggestions, a Q-Bin if you will, and mods could go to one easy source for ideas.
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What matters to me is that my story lines continue to go forward and that I don't lose contact with the people I've been playing with. For me a sandbox is a happy way to accomplish this. I understand how much effort it takes to mod a huge game like this, and I would never ask anyone to keep grinding themselves down for the sake of my pretendy fun times. Thank you for all you've done, mods, regardless of the outcome of all this.
I like the idea of counselors and medical staff on call instead of a required post every month. I feel like that gives the medical staff/counselors a chance to spread out their threads a little more so they're not swamped for a couple weeks then have nothing to do.
This game has always been striving to be gentle on those who have real lives. I think a sandbox is a perfect way to accomplish that.
REGARDING POLL VOTING
1) sign in with the account you used to vote
2) look for the "Change your vote" link
3) this will take you back to the poll options
4) select the new option
5) click "answer"
Your new vote will then be recorded.
Re: REGARDING POLL VOTING
The confusion seems to boil down mainly to this: is this post including the people who have volunteered or is it implying that the game will definitely be turned into a sandbox under the purview of the current mod team? A number of players expressed that they felt their opinions weren't being taken into account and their offers ignored in favor of most definitely changing the game to a sandbox as the poll implies.
So in an effort to hopefully assuage everyone's conflicting impressions, this is what we mean: Players have suggested a lot of things, and some have said the poll does not give them enough options, pigeon-holing them into one of two choices only. If the game stays open as a sandbox in its current state, and we emphasize if, the current team will be leaving it to players to choose their own plots. However, we are offering to do a new post on Monday with answers to all the suggestions and offers received so that the many different opinions and concerns will all be addressed so nobody feels like they were pigeon-holed or ignored. It is our only desire to show the game that we are listening to everyone, not just first come first served.
We are not saying that if the game has new mods it can't be both a sandbox and a mod-plot driven game, we are just answering the players who have said that the messages in these two mod posts are conflicting in that in one we said we couldn't do something that in the second we said we could. It was a miscommunication, and rightly confusing to many people, and that's why we want players to continue leaving their ideas and opinions and not feel like our minds are already made up, so that on Monday we can take everyone's thoughts into account as a whole game to decide what the end result will be. Therefore if players' opinions are one of the two options listed in the poll, they can feel free to answer that way, but if they like neither option they can still be heard and taken into account on Monday, not being obligated to pick one of the two above options only.
We have heard and understand that choosing "Other (explain in a comment)" is not ideal for some players, and that the omission of a "I don't like either proposed option" ticky box caused most of the confusion in the first place, but if you can let us know of your preferences in a comment it will help us. If you can't, you can always still contact us privately, and we will take those comments into just as serious consideration as the ones in the poll. However, we encourage anyone who doesn't like either proposed option to chose the "Other" ticky box anyway, even if you can't leave a comment, so that we can get an unbiased idea of how the game feels as a whole on the subject.
We hope that helps clear some things up, and of course invite everyone to continue letting us know if there is still confusion.
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I personally have many thoughts and ideas surrounding this whole situation, but when THIS post went up went up only four hours after the original post (I saw them both the same morning), it did read as if a decision had been made in that short time, so I was one of those who thought 'why should I comment if they've decided'.
Now that I understand where things stand, I'll think about how to phrase all the many thoughts running through my head. I've been a mod who's had to shut down a game and in several games where various methods for shutting down/converting to sandboxes has happened. Basically, I've been on several sides of this coin, but it means my thoughts are a bit jumbled and mixed in with my emotions over this specific game. I hope to post something this weekend, but might not be until Sunday night.
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My intention in presenting this is to not be a Debbie Downer, but to add a dose of reality. I would like to offer a viewpoint that is completely different from any posted so far... (Which is why I debated so long over posting anything.)
As was posted in the first ETA, the four points listed in this post are the least of the problems that encouraged the mod team to consider closing the game. Having been in a similar position in the past, I can guess (and point to) a lot of the bigger game-wide problems. Some of them I have talked with Gabby about in PMs over the months. I had the hope that the change in the mod team, as well as the offers of help that were received would have led to some of the problems being corrected. That hasn't worked out as successfully as I had hoped for a lot of different reasons. (To be frank, the shark-jumping of this post even being made kind of points to one of those bigger problems.) But, many of the reasons are completely out of anyone's control, because no matter how much this is 'pretendy-times', real life still goes on around us and does/should take priority.
To be completely fair and honest, the four points listed are the easiest aspects for any game or sandbox to fix. And while seeing the enthusiasm and love for the game presented by players, it must be noted that love and excitement isn't enough to keep a game active and alive. It's like when there's a big event and everyone says "Oh yeah, totally, let's do it!" Because they're thinking about all the ways they'll have fun at the event. But then they realise that it actually takes work and effort to make that event happen, and they suddenly understand that they won't be able to have as much fun themselves because they'll be doing the work so others can have fun. (I've seen that happen IRL more times than I care to count and about events far more important than RP.)
I have seen this happen with several games as well. What happened was they limped along for another month or two before the whole thing crashed and burned. Those were very painful experiences for me as a player and I love this game too much to have that kind of negativity attached to it.
"Oh, but that won't happen HERE, we're awesome and we'll come together."
I've heard that too many times to count, too. Of all the games I've seen that have tried to turn into a sandbox either mid-game or post-endgame scenario, exactly zero of them succeeded past two months. Of all the small/medium sized games (Like 10FWD) that I've seen who have tried to soldier on after the founding mod(s) left (for whatever reason), I think the longest lasted six months. And that was a painful six months as the playerbase themselves tried to help the new mods limp the game along. (That was pretty painful as well for different reasons.)
I'm not saying it's impossible for either of these transitions to happen and be successful. I'm saying I haven't seen it happen online. (I HAVE seen it happen with Table-top RPG groups, different kettle of fish, but it shows it's possible.) If 10Fwd decides to try for such a transition and they are successful, I will be very proud of everyone who contributes to it.
Personally, I like to think about what's best for all the players currently involved. And the reality is: Some WON'T stay if it turns into a sandbox. Some people want the structure and excitement of a game. So what's best for the current playerbase when considering that?
My suggestion is to offer a sense of closure for the cast. I realise this means some sort of endgame needs to happen and that does put an expectation on the mods. But it doesn't have to be overly complex. It can be like the Father's Day Event (a locked post, then everyone else reacts in their own posts). This way, CRs get the necessary closure and the transition to a sandbox could still be possible.
The other suggestion I would make, if transitioning into a sandbox... go ahead and close the game as offered above. Then wait about a month. Allow time for any of the new leaders of the sandbox to regroup and think about how much (if any) structure the sandbox will have, get those details and decisions made, and then reopen as a sandbox.
Not only will this give everyone an emotional break (Because, let's face it, we're all emotional in different ways right now), it will give some of those who are facing IRL situations a chance to see if being involved in a game is the best thing for them right now, and it will give the wider DWRP community a chance to recognise that the game has changed. (Who knows, maybe MORE people will be interested in it as a sandbox!)
Basically: I've loved being in this game and I don't want to look on its final days in this format (either for closure or transitioning to a sandbox), the way I look at so many others - too painful to think about. I want to look back on this and think: Wow, I am so glad I was a part of that game!
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I hate to lose this place. I've reconnected with some people I've missed, and found numerous new friends. But the confusion about this doesn't bode well for the game ongoing, even with a new mod team. Sometimes losing something is better than watching it wither and drag along.
I'm actually not sure what this post was meant to accomplish.
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Sometimes losing something is better than watching it wither and drag along.
That sums up my long-windedness quite nicely, so thanks for saying it that way.