The Mods of LifeAftr (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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aftr_ooc2019-03-06 10:31 pm
lifeaftr_mods) wrote in aftr_ooc2019-03-06 10:31 pm
Entry tags:
State of the Game: February to March
STATE OF THE GAME
State of the Game
Hello adventurers, new and old! We hope the new year has been kind to all of you thus far. As we charge ahead into 2019, we have a collection of updates to look over as LifeAftr freshens up in preparation for our second anniversary.
We do ask that you read the first three points of the update, as they are all very important. For the second, we have a very kind anonymous donor to thank for providing the mod team with some points to create a poll for you all to partake in, so keep an eye on that in addition to some clarifications going forward.
In this edition of the State of the Game, you'll find the following topics:
[ ♆ ] Reserve Timeframes
[ ♆ ] POLL: Scheduling of Events and New Islands
[ ♆ ] A Reminder
[ ♆ ] Patch Notes
In order to allow for other interested parties to apply for characters when Reserves fall through, the mod team has decided to trial a slight change of the timeframe that Reserves cover during the application period. Those looking to app an additional character will notice our response to reserves this month will be amended to advise that Reserves will apply up until 48 hours prior to applications closing, at which point, all applications will be first come, first served.
Due to the current size of LifeAftr and our application periods, the likelihood of this change causing significant issue is currently rather minimal. However, this is only a test, and these changes may be reverted if we find that this trial run does not provide the desired outcome. We'll be sure to keep you in the loop as to the outcome, and if you can expect Reserves to remain as they were or not.
For the past year and a half, LifeAftr has settled into a routine in regards to when, relatively, new events and exploration logs take place. There have been ongoing discussions in the mod team regarding this, with the general consensus being that this current schedule is likely affecting everyone in regards to participation and AC. Events in particular appear to be taking place a little too late in the month for those of us who approach the game at a slower pace, for example.
Of course, our opinion on this schedule doesn't hold the same weight as yours, our players! The poll below is to determine if such a change is truly required or desired - and if so, what schedule you guys would prefer we trial in the coming months.
As a note, keep in mind that these changes do not affect the monthly Storytelling or Application timeframes, though one does involve shifting the date that our TDM would go up very slightly.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 14
How do you feel LifeAftr should schedule its monthly events going forward?
View Answers
Events should occur early to mid-month (10th - 15th), with explorations at the end of the month (new islands introduced on or after the 22nd)
0 (0.0%)
Events should occur early to mid-month (10th - 15th), with explorations at the end of the month (new islands introduced on or after the 22nd). Additionally, the TDM goes up on the 17th to align with Reserves.
14 (100.0%)
Events should occur as early in the month as possible - earlier than the 10th!
0 (0.0%)
I don’t feel any changes are necessary.
0 (0.0%)
I have an alternate suggestion (please comment below and tell us about it)!
0 (0.0%)
Overall, we have been blessed to run a game that contains such an active, enthusiastic, and intuitive playerbase. Your flexibility and patience with our ever-fluxing time schedules, in addition to your welcoming attitudes towards one another, are some of the central cornerstones that have made modding LifeAftr a continuous delight for the team!
With that said, one issue that has been raised multiple times since opening is the confusion and unintentional insensitivity regarding certain characters and NPCs. Multiple player characters in game, in addition to the majority of our NPCs, make use of they/them pronouns.
It has been brought to our attention that a not insignificant amount of players and characters both unintentionally and intentionally misgender such characters. This month, we have updated our Rules page to clarify our stance on this. The mod team would like to reiterate that misgendering is not behavior we will tolerate, as this is a very present element in daily life for many of our nonbinary and trans players who may not want it to bleed over into a hobby for enjoyment. As our priority is a safe and comfortable environment for our players, we will not be welcoming this style of interaction within LifeAftr, regardless of how IC such behavior may be.
It's understandable that, OOCly, slipping up may still occur. To be clear, we don't intend to punish anyone for making simple errors in reading comprehension. If you do OOCly misstep, the simplest course of action is to correct yourself and move on. It is dismissive or outright callous attitudes towards characters and players of any gender that will be followed up on and, in certain instances, will be subject to our strike policy for player conduct.
Should you find yourself with any questions regarding gameplay due to the above, we encourage you to pose them on our FAQ page or on OOC event posts for the benefit of other players where you feel comfortable to do so. Otherwise, we are always happy to receive private communications via our Mod Contact page.
Of course, there is plenty going on in the background as well!
[ ♆ ] Upcoming Codes: Christmas not only saw the mod team receiving a generous amount of DW points anonymously (thank you again!), but Echo, player of our resident Muffet (
[ ♆ ] Housing Page: We've been doing our best to update our Housing Page to reflect any changes made. Our last few Nuidan rewards have been added, and we've done our best to label them in a way that is conducive to ease of player perusal. Please let us know if we missed anything, or if you want things to be retroactively relocated elsewhere!
[ ♆ ] Mapping: We have been gradually updating the most relevant maps with more interactive images and layouts. The islands of Ensō, Monsun, and Nuidan have all received updates to this effect. Ensō in particular has been greatly updated to reflect its changing landscape, and we have done our best to note any significant landmarks that have developed. If there are any broken links, or you would like anything added to these maps, please let us know!
[ ♆ ] Application Reformatting: As we continue into the new year, those applying for new characters may notice some changes to the wording of our application forms. The overall structure will remain the same, but we are seeking to clarify some of our requirements, particularly when it comes to abilities, for ease of nerfing.
Of course, we'd like to extend a thank you to our lovely playerbase for their consistent engagement and feedback in regards the game! We're always looking for ways to streamline the game's function, and are exceptionally grateful when anyone steps forward with suggestions.
As always, there's a top-level below for any questions, concerns, or feedback! If you feel something could be done better, or you'd like to comment on something that's working well for you, please feel free to utilize this. You can also contact the mods directly!
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