STATE OF THE GAME - APRIL

[alogos]

STATE OF THE GAME

Welcome to our first State of the Game! We'll attempt to make a habit of doing these at least every other month, particularly after an app round/during a non-TDM month. Since this is our first month of being officially open, we'll probably have a lot of little points to cover, but don't hesitate to offer some points of your own if it's something we haven't considered.

Let's go ahead and get to some bullet points.

• TDMs vs EVENTS: We plan on rotating monthly between TDM logs and Monthly Event logs. TDMs will offer some of the standard Welcome prompts, showcase some developments particularly with Patho-Gen, and will often reflect the current state of the setting's feelings on Augmented Ones. TDMs can be used by new players and current players alike, though you're free to move the prompts to your own logs in enochlesis.

  On the other hand, Monthly Events will dig deeper into some of the more horror of the setting. These logs will be more intensive, investigative, and generally more horrifying.

• APPLICATION: Y'all were our guinea pigs, and we've made some modifications to our application for future rounds. Check it out! Changes include:

  • We have emphasized the desire to see personality answers that dive into a character's inner workings. To facilitate this, we have expanded our word limit slightly (though we emphasize that we're totally okay with seeing it go over a little bit; we'd rather you go over a bit than not provide enough).
  • We have placed a word limit on Powers/Abilities. Powers/Abilities should not exceed the total of the personality section.
  • We have clarified that character histories can be up to 1,000 words if the character doesn't have a dedicated wiki page.
  • Clarification: we require two separate threads of 4 comments each from your character, for a total of 8 comments minimum.
  • We have titled the Goals section to "Player Goals."

• APP ROUNDS: For our first three months we will open apps at the end of each month! Thus, we have a reserve/app period coming up.

  Reserves will open on April 20^th at midnight UTC.
  Apps will open on April 23^rd at midnight UTC. They'll close again on May 1^st.

  After April, we will have another TDM and app round in May. Thereafter, we will rotate to app rounds every other month. Our next app round after May will be in July. So: April, May, July, September... you get the picture.

• APRIL'S APP ROUND: For prospective players who wish to get some samples, please use March's TDM. In a few days, we'll make sure to boost some top-levels for new characters, both on Dreamwidth and on Plurk.

• CALENDAR is updated! Please check it out.

• FAQ/SETTINGS PAGE UPDATES: Based on some questions we've received, we've added a few noteworthy setting tidbits to the FAQ or any other settings-based pages for easy reference. Here is a summary of the changes:

  • Under "Karteria, a Summary" on FAQ: "Planet: Tamariah. Current Year: 931."
  • Under "Karteria, a Summary" on FAQ: "Numis are a rough, straight-across equivalent to the Norwegian Kroner. For example, 500 Numis = 500 NOK = 50 USD = 5000 JPY."

• ACTIVITY CHECK: None of you need to do AC this month! Our first AC month will be in May. However, please make sure you follow the instructions in your respective acceptance comments. Post to the Taken page and the AC page. Failure to do this will result in your character being swept by the end of the month.

• REPUTATION SELF-REPORTING: Don't forget to self-report what your character's been up to, if they've caused a scene and impacted the setting in Karteria. Did they scream in public? Break a window? Defend a citizen from said breaking window? Your chance to let us know will be up by the end of April. We'll need to update Reputation in the first days of May to reflect what Augmented Ones have gotten their bad selves up to.

• IC INBOX CODE: Did you see this cute code for the IC Inbox that one of our players, Kain, edited to work for the Syntrofos specifically? If you're looking for a way to spruce up your inbox, look no further.

FEEDBACK

Those are things set in stone. However, we also want to float some changes to get some feedback.

• MIDNIGHT UTC: The two mods live in drastically different timezones and thought hey, midnight UTC is a static reference point that is conveniently between the two of us, right? The problem we've faced: now that we've both sprung forward as DST started, midnight UTC is 2AM for one of us, and 5PM for the other (who is often at work at that time). We are proposing that all important dates occur at 19:00 UTC/7PM UTC starting May 1^st. The day will remain the same, but instead of occurring at the stroke of midnight things will happen at 7PM UTC.

  For example... Reserves open on May 19^th in May. Instead of opening at midnight, we would be doing 7PM UTC.

• APP MODS: We're thinking it might be wise to have more eyes on apps. We did a lot of research for this latest app round for canons we were more unfamiliar with, but it might be a good idea to have some more hands on deck to help the process go a little more smoothly. (It was... a lot. WHEW.) If we did this, we'd open up app mod applications to current players in May, for May's app round.

  App mods would solely assist us with reviewing apps, and would only need to be particularly available at the end of the month every other month. We use Discord's poll and thread features to discuss apps, and issue any need for Revisions as soon as we can, so the soonest they can be reviewed the better. More details will come in May if we decide we need the help. We're thinking that if app mods wish to remain anonymous, they can do so.

• APP SAMPLES: We read a number of amazing apps last round that we were thinking about reaching out to a number of players to request permission to use them as examples for prospective players. We'll contact a few players via PM soon to request that we use their apps as examples, but please note that you do not need to accept if you don't wish to.

Finally, we want to ask: How are we doing? We're not even a full month into our first month being officially open, but we hope to always encourage feedback from fellow players. Let us know if you have any thoughts, feedback, or ideas. You are always free to shoot us a PM, or otherwise visit the mod contact post if you'd prefer more privacy.

Network • Logs • OOC

Basics

Premise • Rules • FAQ • Reserve • Apply • Taken • Hiatus/Update/Drop • Activity Check • Calendar • Mod Contact

World Information

Locations • Businesses • Housing • Natural Souls • Patho-Gen • Culture • Technology • Reputation

Comments

[feistro]

Hey mods! I'm having a great time in the game so far - I especially appreciate all the fun details you give in the reputation reports and questions we've asked. Thanks for all the hard work! I don't really have any feedback for the app timing, though I do think if it'll save you a headache to get some app mods, then that's a good idea.

All I wanted say feedback-wise was a thanks for expanding the limit on the personality answers! I definitely struggled to cram all I wanted to express into 200 words, especially when some answers needed context not provided by the history, and felt that somewhere between 250-300 would be the sweet spot of "concise, but detailed."

That's all! Keep doing what you're doing - the game has been lovely so far!

[honkai]

ack HSBDNSLDHFG... i can't believe you guys shared the silly little frankenstein inbox code i made on the sotg post... i was too shy to even post it myself but i'm happy that people think it's cute 🥺❤️

the game has been lots of fun already! i hope you're all enjoying yourselves as well, and especially with how much you guys do to make things fun and cute for us - i absolutely love the personalized replies for all the reputation stuff! -, i do hope you guys aren't overwhelming yourselves with work. even a little help with apps at the end of the month might be good for the heavy mod workload, but remember to respect your time as people as well!

and as someone who's ahead north america but behind europe, asia and oceania, utc actually works really well for me so i particularly have no objections, but seems like the time chosen lands in the middle of the workday for most americans i think, so their feedback is certainly more valuable. hopefully a good consensus can be reached!

thanks for everything so far, modlings! keep up the amazing work ❤️

[hanikamu]

Hi mods! It's my first time in a public game in years and I'm having a blast. I really like the reputation report system and I'm excited how it'll affect the game in the coming months.

The time change to 7PM UTC is less than ideal for me since I live in Asia, but timezones shouldn't be an issue as long as events themselves aren't time-sensitive. (e.g. something requires the player's attention ASAP like a dying NPC, or a puzzle that can be solved right away)

Thanks for all the hard work! Keep it up!

[wondrously]

Hiya! I think you guys are doing great, thank you for all the little details added and questions answered! I really appreciate the added flavor for getting my character more integrated into the setting (the way y'all answered my initial q's about tech and handling NPCs to facilitate our goals in threads rly pushed me to app!), and I think the Reputation system is neat - very curious to see the results of all the chaos 8') I also appreciated Celia Orne as a kind of sympathetic Patho-Gen NPC versus the whole shadiness of the rest of the company, I think it's helpful for those of us who OOCly might want to pursue our characters possibly working with Patho-Gen to help investigate things but ICly our characters are side-eyeing them in general.

Timezone stuff - I'm mostly unaffected and good with whatever works best for you guys. I saw someone else point out that this could become an issue for events with any time sensitive sign-ups/puzzles/etc where they hit a cap or get solved before players at different timezones wake up/get out of work, which is a fair concern.

Thank you again! The Self-reporting thread and all the customized responses are hilarious, it seems like a lot of work though so echoing the hope that you guys aren't stretching yourselves too thin!

[takasugi]

Hi!! I want to reiterate a couple things that've already been said: that I love what you're doing with the game so far, as far as reputation and information and the amount of love that's been put into every nook and cranny of your setting! I'm super hyped to see how the people of the island gradually shift their views for the better or for the worse when it comes to the Augmented, and look forward to us learning more lore about the world via future events! WHERE ARE THOSE ROCKS GOIN' ...

As for changing the time zone, I agree with what's already been said: that as long as events don't hinge on anything time-sensitive, it shouldn't be a problem. As a player, I want what's most comfortable for you guys, of course, but I also worry about my fellow players that aren't in Western-hemisphere time zones!! I want everyone to have fun and feel included...

I guess the tl;dr of my feedback is I'm really enjoying myself, and I hope you guys are taking adequate breaks because the mod response has been insane ( positive ⭐ ) in this game. App mods, or even extra list mods in the future, sounds like a great idea to help divvy up the work! Thanks again for all your hard work and the game, and I hope we as players are making it fun for you too!!!

[gravitys]

Finally getting into this!! In terms of the feedback things you're asking for:

1) Timezones! I personally think you guys should pick whatever time is best for you to post things without struggle. I know some people are worried about time-sensitive sign-ups, but I think that's not as big a concern as it could be with the how the game isn't really built so far to have super time-sensitive plot sign-ups? Even if that does become a thing, I would think that leaving a window of a full day for any sign-up should give everyone in game time to consider and put their name in with RNG to choose from them? So, in my opinion the times for when things go up in games should always cater to the mods more than the players. I'm someone who's perfectly happy to be a little "late" to things though, so grain of salt!

2) App mods! I support any kind of mod help mods feel they need always. App mods are helpful and free up the head moderators for other tasks, or assist their load, so there's no reason not to have them! I'm sure people would sign up.

3) I think app samples would be useful, so that's cool!

For feedback, I only really have positive notes but figured I'd drop in to give it anyway! I really like the reputation system, and the investigation option on the event log was really neat! I'm also really happy about the flexibility of the mod team re: time/other things, since that makes things feel a bit more welcoming I think? I think my only "feedback" request which isn't...a big deal? Would be that it would be helpful to have the main navigation post in the mod journal as a stickied entry so it's the first thing you see when you click inside the mod journal?

[stoplickingthedamnthing]

You guys are doing amazing! The amount of detail you've put into everything is a delight. Like others have said, please don't burn yourself out, though. If app mods will help, then I think that's a great idea!

When it comes to timezones, I'll be really honest - I can't do timezone math to save my life. Whenever anything goes up, I am just a happy surprised pikachu. So whatever works for you best is okay with me!

[historicallyloaded]

Thanks for all you do mods! The app changes seem like a great idea, I hope it streamlines things for you in addition to getting an app mod. I also really love the reputation stuff, it's been fun to build (and see what things other characters are investigating/what trouble they're getting into). It might be fun if any of that is ever publicly broadcast in something like a news article or tv/radio show? All here for public shaming.

re: timezones, using UTC was already a conversion effort so any change in times makes no mechanical difference to me. Go with what works for you guys!

[pursuitspecial]

i don't have anything really useful to add, other than to echo the suggestion of having the main nav for the game as a sticky entry in the mod journal or otherwise let it be at the top of recent entries. also, love the idea of a sample app so folks know what to shoot for.

what i really wanted to say was just: thank you. i loved everything about this game as it was advertised even before we got things started - everything from all the world details to the clean nav/graphics to the funny placeholder natural souls photos - but i never could have imagined what it would become in reality. i love the depth, the feedback, the interplay between players and setting. i absolutely love the reputation system, the TDM and event prompts, and the chance to write against npcs — all of it is so interactive, immersive, and makes everything feel purposeful and meaningful. also, researching unfamiliar canons?! y'all really go above and beyond! i hope you guys will be able to find someone to help regularly with duties; you deserve to rest!

so thank you for creating and running a fantastic game, i'm having a ball so far 🖤

[bloodypath]

Late feedback comment go

Midnight UTC: I'm of the opinion that the deadline times be set to whatever is easiest for the mods, since y'all are doing all the work! 7pm UTC is neatly in the middle of my workday so I'll be hosed if I forget AC or something lol, but that's on me if I forget.

Other: The broad strokes self-reporting is a cool idea, and I like the reputation thing going on. I admit I was a little worried when I saw NPC threading. I feel like that could lead to mod burnout pretty quickly if a bunch of people pile in for time sensitive stuff.

I've been having a blast so far, though I hope the next event stirs things up. We've got a gentle first event as the game finds its stride followed by a TDM month, so it feels like characters can settle into comfort zones pretty quickly aside from corruption effects and voluntary forest explorations. The premise that drew me in suggested drama/post-apoc survival/horror themes and I really hope those pick up in the future.

Thank you guys for opening the monster game I needed in my life. The soul categories are broad and varied, and I love them. The art placeholder images are amazing.