State of the Game

[ten_fwd_mods]

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:

1. Removal of AC, but keeping a monthly roll call to ensure the players’ continued involvement.


2. 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.


3. 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.


4. 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.

Poll #17389

This poll is closed.
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.

Comments

[not_the_question]

This is a difficult post to write, mostly because of my love for this game. But, I've always been a person to consider the reality of a situation from all angles. Having been a mod who decided to shut a game down and a player who has been through various game closings/transitions, there was a lot to sift through.

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!

[magneticxman]

I really like how you said this, and I think I agree with you on a majority of points. I know that a lot of players are hell-bent on maintaining the game, which was why I advocated for a sandbox. It's been clear, even to a person who has only a little modding experience that ten forward has numerous problems that a simplified app won't fix.

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.

[not_the_question]

Thanks for commenting. I wasn't sure if I had worded my comment well enough or clear enough for anyone else to understand what I was saying.

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.