AC Results / HMD

[lucetimods]

The results for the Activity Check are in. Please note that the following characters were either inactive, didn't post to the activity check, or failed to speak to a moderator about their activity. Also added were characters who have dropped recently, for your convenience.

Copy-paste the following here:

manage_circle del_read inozpicious manage_circle del_read selfdoubt manage_circle del_read soracles manage_circle del_read stopbuggingme manage_circle del_read toujoursfluer manage_circle del_read upontheplains manage_circle del_read vanityunbecoming manage_circle del_read wishedmiracle manage_circle del_read jacqli manage_circle del_read fairly manage_circle del_read bemyused manage_circle del_read cutefiancee manage_circle del_read lastoftheredwings manage_circle del_read little_amber_angel manage_circle del_read sardines4power manage_circle del_read great_summoner_eiko manage_circle del_read flaring manage_circle del_read slaythemoon manage_circle del_read wario manage_circle del_read albioreiii manage_circle del_read monstrosities manage_circle del_read limits manage_circle del_read pyrotechnics manage_circle del_read coldsnaps manage_circle del_read blackmagicelady manage_circle del_read fujoshiqueen manage_circle del_read kicks_eggplant manage_circle del_read transitioned manage_circle del_read aintnoconvict manage_circle del_read loyalotter manage_circle del_read metalbends manage_circle del_read vervainsheriff manage_circle del_read soulboundhunter manage_circle del_read awakenedchaos manage_circle del_read mush_monarch manage_circle del_read loves_a_samurai manage_circle del_read gentleidealist manage_circle del_read dragmire manage_circle del_read rideslink manage_circle del_read andatoilet manage_circle del_read phantasmgap manage_circle del_read heronpecked manage_circle del_read keepsthelight manage_circle del_read aynnnn manage_circle del_read shinydeadaliens manage_circle del_read cry_camellia manage_circle del_read no_ice_please manage_circle del_read untrustworthy manage_circle del_read ozwell manage_circle del_read alexandrite manage_circle del_read pinned_ya manage_circle del_read pridefulfists manage_circle del_read fateofafencer manage_circle del_read ahardwiredheart manage_circle del_read evokings manage_circle del_read couragefighter manage_circle del_read patchworkallegiance manage_circle del_read straightatem manage_circle del_read reactions manage_circle del_read deadlydebutante manage_circle del_read consult_my_books manage_circle del_read lookinforlight manage_circle add_read bubblywishes manage_circle add_read liberatedliberator

A number of you passed the activity check, but barely. (You know who you are.) Try to pick things up, as it's no fun to character-squat.

If there are any mistakes here, please let us know! Additionally, if your character was removed and you're still active, feel free to appeal to one of us about keeping your character. However, please remember next time to stay active and post to the Activity Check. Thank you!

And as always:

HMD

How's My Driving?

This is a crit post for both the community and game and for your characters. If you have something you'd like to see us improve upon with the game, PLEASE TELL US HERE! Anon commenting is on, but if anything gets really nasty there will be warnings and thread-freezing. This isn't required but everyone is encouraged to take advantage of the advice of your fellow players!

Just some pointers: no taking cheap shots, no dragging personal issues into things and for the love of all that is wise and great, please double check your replies and comments before posting them. Sometimes a change in phrasing can make all the difference between a helpful tone and a condescending one.

ALSO ALSO: We'd like to clarify that HMD means HMD- which means it's okay to have both good and bad crit. Some people have expressed concerns about posting good/bad crit when a character already has bad/good crit posted. We'd like to encourage you guys to do it anyway! You can drive well or badly, and even good drivers make mistakes. So give it a try \o

Comments

[semper_cogitans]

Seconding this too. I'd love more... interactivity in this regard, and a feeling that we can truly influence the game - that our characters can get in there, tossing the proverbial spanner into the works - would be great.

And it's not like characters haven't thought of ways to do this, before... it just needs to be carried out.

[goldenglasses]

XD LOL! ANd that would just make Vash even more happy.

[awhitecrow]

/newspaper whapping, but lightly and with love

Tag more. (Yes, yes, Miss Kettle, Miss Pot is aware of her colour.)

That is my only crit.

Other than that? You are lovely, and I love you.

Re: Luceti / Luceti Mods

[(Anonymous)]

I'm also going to comment anonymously because I'm a little shy and not very good at this sort of thing, and I'm not at home right now so I don't trust logging in. Hello there!

I don't really like the direction Luceti has headed towards. Uhm... I'm not sure how to explain. Luceti used to have this aura of mystery and danger? If you go over to the "plot" page on the links directory you can see how Luceti used to be (as it hasn't been updated for a few years now, it's as the same as when I joined. Unless someone changed it lately?). And I feel genuinely sad, because that is quite a solid premise that could have been built up wonderfully. Instead, the route Luceti has taken has become more "destructive" to it's purpose than it has beneficial. Anyone who's read books that help with writing fiction would know that the most simple premise is the best route. Most of creative construction is about subtraction: You write out all the possible things and then constantly narrow it down into a refined plot. Think of it like a diamond, it's a rough rock that gets cut into something beautiful! Luceti has a beautiful playerbase that's amazing and understanding of each other, they're like little diamonds themselves.

I'll use the Battle Dome as an example for this next bit because another user brought up an interesting point about it a while back, and I think it's worth mentioning. The Battle Dome, whilst nice in theory is one of the destructive elements I mentioned. This is why:
"This means if both Link from the Legend of Zelda series and Master Chief from the Halo series are both present, that means our spartan can go to Hyrule and run around bombing dodongos."
It practically removes one of the major psychological factors of AU roleplay, the homesickness. People are forced to analyze their characters mentality in order to apply in the first place, and getting inside their head and playing out these psychological issues is one of the main appeals of roleplay for some people (myself included :D!) I did see this issue come up in a post back when we were on LJ. A character (now dropped sadly) mentioned they were homesick and another one suggested that they go with them to the battle dome where they could simulate their own world. I know it says that they have to simulate monsters, but that's part of the draft negativity which forces everyone to learn some self defence or be left out.

semper_cogitans brings up another brilliant point which is destructive to Luceti. "Intelligent characters" who are not focused on physical actions are actually becoming less and less playable here. For all the reasons they've said, it's same the reason I dropped my "clever char". I couldn't put it better then they have, I could try, but I don't think I could.

vulcanblazer mentions that we've been getting less and less experiments in Luceti. This is very true for the past year! I even went back and checked, sorry I have bad OCD, to see how many experiments we'd had and it had dropped. I was under the impression that the Malnosso were experimenting with shifts, that's why our characters were brought here and that's why these events occurred in the first place.

There was a Malnosso post back in June 2010 I believe, and it feels like everything said in that has just gone to waste and become completely irrelevant. It's as if this whole plot line (the shifts causing damage to their own worlds etc) was dropped without any notice or reason, or at least pushed out of the way. And that's a little sad too, because I thought that was a really interesting twist and it could even have been an amazing point of blackmail if put into the right hands (especially for drafts!). Which I think is the sort of plot related events that fortunefail was referring too. (Do correct me if I'm wrong!)

awhitecrow mentions something about the drafts that bothers me as well. There's no actual sense of danger, there's nothing on the line. The drafts were fun at first, but now they just seems completely repetitive and losing to the Third Party doesn't seem to have any real repercussions other than a few characters might die. There needs to be a more concrete and serious reason for the drafts, there should be real danger to it. And that's what Luceti lacks in, because it wasn't originally a war game, it's only become that over recent years and that means that your premise, plot etc. are incredibly misleading to newer members. I didn't join Luceti for a war game (mind you I joined before the drafts), and I think that speaks for everyone who joined before they were implemented.

Oh my gosh I'm sorry! I didn't realize how much I'd written! Eek. Uhm, but please read all of the comments above this. It's important to work with your playerbase, and lately it feels to me as thought you're working against them instead. I didn't read this through before I posted it, sorry I'm on my phone right now and not at home so there could be lots of typos and mistakes! I can't scroll back up without it lagging XD I think that means I might have wrote a little too much.

[spiritbruising]

I basically agree with your points except the one about the Battle Dome. I really see the Dome as more like having a holodeck on the USS Voyager; just because they have it doesn't mean they're not still stuck impossibly far from home. Being able to see the place doesn't mean you're there (or that the simulated 'people' are your family and friends, if you can manage to program that.) It might even make things worse.

[novelties]

agreeing with this point! personally, i have absolutely done mini-plots with the battledome that have served to deepen my character's homesickness. enrich it, even.

[(Anonymous)]

I've only used the Battle Dome to spar with myself! So it's nice to hear that it is being used right, because that thread made me worried that it had become a scape goat. But that's great to hear :D thank you!

[chainedraven]

Baw thank you. ;_; That really means a lot to hear. ♥

Lexiperson

[traitortoheaven]

Kratos Aurion | shiningbinds | Tales of Symphonia
John Edward Brunett "Jeb" Parmalee | sketchingideals | Original Character

this is kratos and jeb's player btw

[traitortoheaven]

First, I want to say that I'm sorry to hear about your loss--that sort of thing is never easy.

I feel horrible because I can't think of anything you can improve on... but I do want to mention that I hear every tag you post in Buffy's voice. You have her quirks and mannerisms down and it shows. I enjoy tagging her with Jeb, even if my tags are always slow.

[dogboy]

Just this boy, though he's got a personal HMD with all the usual courtesies as well! Including screening.

Luceti / Luceti Mods

[(Anonymous)]

You guys are doing fantastically. I don't want to TLDR at you, just want to throw out a possible suggestion to lighten your considerable load: what about one day opening auditions for NPCs to current players?

These NPCs could be limited to events/drafts/missions, because it would be too much to maintain regular NPCs on top of apped characters in the normal run of the game. Mods could give the NPC volunteers the basic info/parameters needed to play that character, and it would give players a more direct investment in plot development.

I know there are probably a million reasons why this isn't a good idea, but I can't be the only player who's ever been like "Man, it would be cool to throw a Third Party warrior at XYZ characters," etc.

[purestpurifier]

Seconding what's being said here. You can program stuff into the Battle Dome, like foes and allies, but you can't effectively give them true sentience or souls. Like for Adell, I couldn't have him program in his family or Rozalin and expect it to cure the homesickness.

In fact, as suggested, it'd only make things worse because those are nothing but hollow shells of the genuine article.

[eyesofstrength]

Agreed with this as well. Like Leonhardt has made one of his home, but it actually makes it worse because his home was burnt to the ground about 11 years ago. It just hits home to him how much he's lost and that he has no real home any longer and that Luceti is the closest thing to a normal life and home he's had. If anything it all is helping development, but then his life sucks and he's one of those better off in Luceti.

And honestly, without the Battle Dome to spar in, he'd have gone insane by now. He just can't live without a decent battle very well and he's a bit too powerful to be sparring with people unless they are like Adell.

[(Anonymous)]

As another player, personally, I would have a problem with characters suddenly developing strange effects just from being in Luceti. Especially considering some effects of kidnappings aren't just "wacky" things like a change in personality or a reduction in age, but things such as physical injury as a result of being experimented on. Yes, characters living in fear of being kidnapped at any time is awful, but living in fear that any time they get sick they might end up mutilated or changed in some way seems much worse.

One of my favorite things about Luceti has always the fact that characters get kidnapped on top of already being kidnapped, and kidnappings allow for characters to essentially have "mini-plots" anytime they want without having to wait for a game-wide event. With all the ways Luceti has been changing since I joined, seeing that taken away would be a real disappointment.

[quip]

I REALLY LIKE YOUR ARTHUR. when i saw we had an arthur i was secretly russian emote! he's so him it's perfect. thank you for putting up with my slowness ;; and i hope to gather more cr from you. ♥

[quip]

i was reading oz's post when it first went up and oh my god ;; IT IS OZ. he's funny in that way of his and you really don't go overboard with the very short responses (like "huh"). and i look forward to tagging him in the future if given the chance! i'm so glad we have an excellent oz. ♥

[quip]

lmao you suck

you have jack's neuroticness so down. he's so much fun to thread with because he's crazy, but he's also caring and super freaking lovely. i think it's really easy to just go with the eccentric route and just amplify it by a thousand, but you really play him with layers. he's so much fun to read and thread with and i look forward to losing the spark with him more often! he was surprising cr for me and i am so glad he and cordelia mesh well. ;; ♥

[rollypolyclover]

OKAY, ALL THE CR! /reaaaches too

Glad to hear I'm doing a good job and that my two girls are being fun and cute! I see you there on the fruit log, so imma just throw little Yotsu over there right now.

[quip]

♥♥ i'm really sorry for your loss and take all the time you need.

your buffy. i am not a big fan of her character, but oh my god, you make me really enjoy her. you've got her voice down and i feel like you play her in a way that highlights her flaws but also makes her very likeable. i just really like your portrayal very, very much. and thanks for putting up with my slow tagging. you're always so impressive with your lightning tags! it's been a joy to thread with buffy so far and to play out the potential friendship we never saw develop on the show. ♥

crit: stop tagging so fast! you make me look bad. :p

[quip]

I REALLY ENJOY YOUR SPIKE. he's funny and so him. his and cordelia's cr is surprising for me because i've never really played against a spike long enough for anything to develop, and the fact that it's a friendship that wasn't established in canon but in luceti is so interesting considering they're canonmates. it's one of my favourite cr! so, i think it's safe to say i am enjoying their development and cannot wait for more husband and wife things! and thanks for putting up with my slow! ♥

[saltprince]

I disagree entirely.

Kidnappings reinforce powerlessness against a tangible (because the Malnosso and Rogue elements and even Third Party are indeed very tangible now between drafts, missions, and everything else thrown in the fact of the people in the barrier) enemy. The droids are somehow too weak to be fighting the TPs, but people here can effortlessly defeat the TPs, only to be utterly defeated every time a droid so much as begins to step in. Even allowing for nuance like saying the droids are Shifted stronger in the barrier or have anti-powers things or are specifically designed to bring people in, it just is silly that this is the case and it created an artificially damning hopelessness which I feel and have felt since before missions were introduced do not suit the mood of this game anymore at all.

People don't need to come back mutilated. If they must, use a mission. If they must, maybe include something in this sickness like sometimes people get taken (Shifted out, not via unstoppable droids, so it's less frequent) to a doctor's office in the Organization's facilities and they may or may not be ethical and include injury there.

I am of the mind - and know people who agree - that any of the other changes which are being discussed in this larger thread border on feeling pointless if there still exists the fact that people can be effortlessly taken with impunity within this barrier. If nothing else,the sickness then (or any alternative, I am so not picky) makes it more a fact of the world than a fact of "oh you're too weak (despite the fact we rely on your strength)"

[(Anonymous)]

I want to second this and bring up this plurk: http://www.plurk.com/p/fku4er which is really rude and uncalled for, especially for a moderator.

Sometimes as mods, you guys really push the line and come across in an incredibly negative light. I think you should step back and realize that your jokes aren't funny to everyone. Yes, internet butthurt etc. But it's common sense guys.

[crisisrain]

Raven | Tales of Vesperia PS3 | crisisrain

I know that my activity has been awful, I was on hiatus for 3 weeks and I came back to a load of health and home problems. I'll be getting onto all the threads I have tracked tomorrow. I'm genuinely sorry ;-;

[arturius]

Thank you! Tagging with Cordelia is a lot of fun. I don't mind the wait!

Actually seeing as I have you here, I was thinking about that whole mountain crossing thing, did you want to play it out? Because Arthur is gonna go out to sea at some point with Jack, Elizabeth, Buffy, and Norrington. If you wanted to handwave the mountain bit, we could work on Cordelia joining in on that little voyage.