We have a massive list of DMs but nearly none of them ever play, a few script though!! Why not remove the old ones who don't play and bring in a new DM team. Give some new players a try, the server could use a nice active and solid DM presence in-game.
I don't care who but I do know that a few players would make excellent DMs. I know it's nice having a massive list of DMs that don't do anything but perhaps it's time to clean up? If an old DM wishes to return then they could always speak to the new DM team/Howland, I doubt it would be an issue.
You active DMs and scripting masters, great job, lets keep what you built going with an active server with players who play.
This really does have some merit, if you ask me.
At the moment, the only real active DM that I can see if Talir.
There's always the SoI forum.
There's no set number though so no removal is required!
DMing takes a unique sort of person but it is something that can be greatly rewarding if you have patience and the proper type of personality for it. While there are always aspects you may dislike you find the things you do enjoy and do your best to stick to them.
I fully recommend tossing in an SoI to anyone wanting to give back more to the server in a capacity beyond PC.
SoI's are not like applications for a PC or Faction. You're not going to get an "Approved" or "Not approved". You may not hear for some time as there's a lot of thought, discussion, and process that goes into them.
If you're interested though in moving up from "Actor" to "Director" in the sense of EFU as a movie then by all means send one!
Just know that some folks make better PCs than DMs though! Just because someone is a good PC does not mean they will make a good DM. Takes a very special kind of person to handle the reigns, so to speak.
I dislike the implication that I need to get permission to occasionally come back so that I can (try to) help out for a day before disappearing again.
That said, returning DMs usually make their presence known to the team before they do anything, already.
More DMs are nice.
Old DMs are cool.
Howland is awesome.
You're not going to see new DMs just 'cuz. It's an old boys club. They're looking for very specific people to join their oil tycoonery. I would say, however, that they ought to stop humming and hawing and recruit -somebody-.
It would be really nice to see some new DMs, but that'll come in its own time. I'm sure a few people have SoIs up.
Some DMs that are -willing- to stick around and deal with us scum would be nice. It directly effects the server quite obviously and having them around helps.
I think the general idea wasn't "replacement" of old DMs, but recruitment of people that are actually capable and willing to do things beneficial to the server.
More players making apps than having a thousand DMS. However I like this Idea
DM Morva for 2011
Keeping the DM team fully staffed and non-burned out is so hard.
It's being worked on but believe it or not hiring new DMs is incredibly difficult.
Quote from: Thomas_Not_very_wise;191950More DMs are nice.
Old DMs are cool.
Howland is awesome.
If my memory serves. The burn out efU DMs is disturbingly quick because they get worked that damn hard. There's no point kneejerk adding DMs that are going to give up 2 months later.
Keep in mind that most things can be done without a Dm. This is why areas with little npc presence were added to the colony - so that you can ambush your rivals without needing a dm. When you need an npc possessed for something non-urgent you can instead send them a letter on the correspondance forum and they will get around to it when they can.
People seem to like having dm presence for every little thing but efua is set up so that that really isn't a requirement.
Quote from: Nihm;192021People seem to like having dm presence for every little thing but efua is set up so that that really isn't a requirement.
It's really important to learn how to do certain things without a DM. Things flow a lot smoother when you can just wing it.
EFU isn't about PvP and playing forum RPG style games. Sorry, it's just not. When I am in-game I would like to be able to have DM aid for things or be able to run/do other stuff than quest.
At the current time it is no where near that way.
DMing is a tough business, and you'll feel surprisingly isolated when you're at the helm. If EfU was a ship, think of becoming a DM as a bit like suddenly being taken from being a passenger and going to all these fancy balls/drinking beer with all your buddies, to suddenly being on the bridge, being given the wheel by Captain Howland, and told "yeah, this is how you steer, this is how you navigate, and you're in charge of all those crazed psycho's in the engine room who would think nothing of sinking the ship for shits and giggles. Have fun!" before he slinks off to the wardroom and spins dits with all his fellow officers, while drinking a smooth perfectini with its oversalted and acrid taste.
I look forward to coming back in mid August. I am nearly done drinking, pillaging and loving my way through North America. Keep getting us fresh players from outside of the NwN scene, and take a load off ;)
The thing that gets DMs wanting to DM more than anything else is seeing players actively RPing, and creating their own plots. That's a simple fact, and it's up to the players to add their own part of this equation. Just sitting and waiting for DMs isn't going to help matters.
Amen to Plum's point.
Seeing as someone mentioned two month knee jerk DMing (<_<), thought I'd throw out some more knowledge on the "HEY GET MORE DMS" issue.
At all times there's discussion and otherwise, from what I saw, of people's SoI's and potential recruits. That said though it's a process like any other. Yet it's a process unlike any other. It's hard to appraise who will be a DM and who will not, as Howland said it is a lengthy progress. There's only one way I can think of referencing it:
Being the President of a nation.
You can campaign, you can practice in smaller forms of government, you can figure out ways that you would be great at it, you can convince people, you can make plans... But until you know the state secrets, meet with the ambassadors, get your aides trained, and figure out what is going on with the country on the behind the scenes level you have no idea what's going on.
You can RP, you can quest, you can build factions, you can work DM factions. You can even get to the point of "Man I bet I could be a pretty cool DM". That's the time when you throw your SoI.
The fact of the matter is you still have no idea what's incoming. In a lot of ways its an adventure and a thrill.
The first night I was told, I was up until 3 AM reading the plot-forums and zooming around the module like a coked up weasel trying to take in as much as I could of the new world.
It's a magical job if you have the patience, the creativity, and the desire to contribute to the serve in a great number of ways.
There will be times where it does feel like a job indeed, which is why there's the "Burnout issue". There is also times where it's just as fun as playing if not moreso watching the world grow at your fingertips.
So yes. Throw in an SoI. Worst thing that happens is they find someone else willing or better suited to take the job, and you get to spend time rocking as a player still :D
Quote from: putrid_plum;192026When I am in-game I would like to be able to have DM aid for things or be able to run/do other stuff than quest.
There are things you can do besides quest/PvP without a DM.
Other than faction inductions and the letters forum I don't think any of my EFUA characters made a single DM request; and no, at the time I didn't have any DM powers or access to fulfill my own interests. I was on my own as a player, pushing my own plots with other players.
It's nice to have a DM's help, but some of my favorite DMing has been for people who were all set to go without me, and I wanted to make their day a little better. Auctions, competitions, festivals, sermons, expeditions, plays,
interesting research, and that's just getting started. I thought of a few other things that I'd like to pursue myself if I have the time, so I'm keeping that to myself. And there's probably lots I haven't thought of. Surprise us! Engage us.
Of course Nuke would use a nautical analogy.
I'm posting a lengthy guide of "How to show initiative in EFU and rock out hard with or without a DM". Stay tuned to the forums and keep your eyes peeled!
ok ok, i shall step up and dm 4 u guiz
vote griff 4 black dm
p.s. i r not as smart as rwg who was dm and need dmz 2 help think and push me toward epic stuff which is what happened back in the old efu days the fact is though even if dms do disappear but also reappear on a regular basis there is such a massive lack of dm presence. i mean seriously the last time i did a dm quest it turned out it was the new AI talking script on quests >_>
its also unbelievably annoying when a new dm comes then disappears soon after cuz then the old dms are like we just hired a new dm, do we wait for them to come back or hire new dmz? and then there is massive nofingz again
p.t.o
though that being said nwn is dying, maybe we should give into the struggle >_>
Quote from: Random_White_Guy;192034Being the President of a nation.
This. This kinda of high drama situation is why we don't have enough DMs. Being President is a very significant task that people work to achieve their entire lives and most of the time still fail. DMing is playing monsters for a bunch of neckbeards who are more likely than not to judge you harshly simply because you're not a player,
which you are but try telling them that and see how far you get. Okay, there are similarities with being President but a big issue is that one is a game and the other is NWN. Mind you,
this is the most significant RPing experience I've ever come across, but it's still just a game. I'd like to know if the DMs are concerned that by making hasty DMing choices they're somehow making Jesus sad?
Well, I mean, they might be...
Quote from: Random_White_Guy;192039I'm posting a lengthy guide of "How to show initiative in EFU and rock out hard with or without a DM". Stay tuned to the forums and keep your eyes peeled!
That's not really the point. People want DM quests, spice, meta-plots, special events, NPC involvement, and other things that make the world seem more interesting. All of that to go along with loitering behind an RWG character.
VP gets it.
Yes VP, everyone does want that.
Everyone also knows that numerous players are avoiding the server because they feel it is boring without a DM. Regular complaints of "No DM on, did quests, bored, logging" are commonplace.
The DMs that are active are doing their thing and moving things along, but PCs have some responsibility to the server too and should be putting in the same effort they expect of the DMs. "Make stuff interesting, spice up questing, have special events, interesting plots", etc.
There's people like the Ladderman, the Urdlenites, The Dock folk, the Moanderfolk even seem to be coming back strong. If more PCs do like the above groups and take some responsibility and get things moving, more people will join at those times without a DM.
Then after the grooming process and new DMs do get around, or old DMs return from break things will be that much better.
Both in IRC and IC tells with folks I've heard a lot of things along the lines of "Server is dead, get more DMs to entertain us so we will log in" and that's simply just unfair to pretty much everyone on the server.
My only complain about the server is that there are no people online, and if they are, god knows where on the sever! nor the docks, not the zig, not the exile's camp. I make a sending for a quest, and there isn't enough people, i want to go explorting and people won't because they get no gold/potions from it, it leaves me with challening a random PC to PvP, wich ends shortlya and then, i just wait... and wait, and wait.
Untill i get bored and log off. More people = more fun. Quests, exploring, a brawl at the wastrel or the city ruins if there is no DM. Muggings, a tournament to see who can hunt the rarest animal or the most orcs... whatver!
It's the people's fault the server is so boring!
Well, its been pointed out before. When a DM is on, the server population doubles. When more than a couple are on, its even busier. When strange sendings start being made by "Suspicious Man dressed in black" or whatever, it's even more still.
Maybe the DMs should just log on and idle...
Quote from: prestonhunt;192083Well, its been pointed out before. When a DM is on, the server population doubles. When more than a couple are on, its even busier. When strange sendings start being made by "Suspicious Man dressed in black" or whatever, it's even more still.
This is part of the problem. 9 times out of 10 the DM isn't even doing something for you. So those people logging on are doing it with the small hope that a DM -might- engage them. When they don't they're forced to *gasp* find their own roleplay.
If people just logged on and played then things could actually happen. Relying on the DMs to entertain you is really not the way anyone's ever had fun playing this game, because the DMs can't be around all the time to hold your hand.
The whole point is, the DMs are also entertained by the players, it's not a one-way street. So before DMs want to DM the players need to be rocking out without them. When they do that the DMs then want to DM for those players. If you're not logging on, roleplaying, and creating plots without the DMs then when the DMs are online I really hope people don't think they can log on and grab the plots then.
If you want EfUA to be a great place to play players should realize that it starts with them. If you can't hold up your own end, then you really can't expect someone else to do it for you.
The moments I remember best on EFU, this is before EFU:A, were DM created situations/quests/spice. So I do not agree with you Cap at all there.
Many people go off and find their own roleplay all the time but there is only so much you can do without a DM presence on the server. There gets a point you need or having a DM around would be extremely helpful.
There are indeed tons of things you can do beside quest/pvp here, ScottyB. Yet, as I said above, there still gets a point where you need a DM.
The point is, the current DM team is to bored with the server why not allow some new people to try their hand. If there are people who don't find it a choire to DM let them try I say. I'm almost posative there is a person or two who would like to run things to let others enjoy the glory that is EFU:A.
I want to say this for everybody,
EFU:A IS KNOWN FOR MYSTERY, EXPLORING, AND AWESOMENESS
When you are a DM, you see the mysterious stuff for players as a, "Oh look its that thing again". When your a player you have action and suspense.
Quote from: Thomas_Not_very_wise;192084Maybe the DMs should just log on and idle...
+1
It's pretty obvious that DM activity is lacking at the moment and we are well aware. And we definitely do like DM activity and know that the server suffers without it. It's a good server even without DM presence, many will agree, but it is one thousand times better with some persistent DM presence. It goes without saying we're currently going over the options.
Quote from: Random_White_Guy;191946Just know that some folks make better PCs than DMs though! Just because someone is a good PC does not mean they will make a good DM. Takes a very special kind of person to handle the reigns, so to speak.
Two way street... Some people may make better DM's than they do players, only we'll never know because poor players wouldn't be given the chance...
I probably shouldn't say poor players, should probably say that those that don't fit into the L/E dictatorship that is the DM's world wouldn't be given the chance.
Yeah, I find that I enjoy building and DMing more than I enjoy playing. It's part of the reason why I have been scarce in game recently. As a player, I'm marginal at best.
Whilst lots of active DM's in game all the time would be awesome it's not actually necessary to make epic moments and have fun. People seem to get into the mindset of as said before "No DM on, boring" which leads to others going "Not many players on, boring" and soon you end up with 5 people online all the time. By simply going on and talking with people, questing, starting conflicts or exploring more people will likely log on. Also if I were a DM and I saw 3 people online would I feel inclined to log on and run stuff? Not so likely.