SSM's LA Q&A Thread

[SwordSaintMusashi]

Ask away, and you shall be answered.

[Xanthea]

Why?

[boombrakh]

Do you have a clear vision of what you want to acheive as Lead Admin? If yes, then what? Why are you running?

[SwordSaintMusashi]

Why?

As explained to me, the position involves being a mediator role: Being the person who makes sure the other administrators get along, and that processes run smoothly. I've been an ALFA Representative for nearly three years, and of the things I've done outside the actual game itself, nothing has been more rewarding than helping to mediate others to a helpful solution that benefits the rest of the community.

[Zelknolf]

I have some familiar questions, because I would like to compare you to the other guys:
Where do you stand on Pen and Paper v. NWN2 v. some other stuff v. whatever source books as sources for ALFA rules?

Where do you stand on two PCs?

Two hypothetical LA decisions that may happen:
-- PA and DMA disagree on the number of PCs that a player should be allowed. They can't get along, and we assume you've put a good-faith effort into reconciling their views. That's kinda the standard answer; that didn't work, what paths are you considering for resolution?
-- Similar, but this time it's TA and DMA disagree about a core rules question. They can't get along and are firm on whatever reasons for not stepping back from current positions.

How will you use your veto powers?

How do you interpret the Lead Admin's domain of "oversight" of the other administrators?

Do you believe this ship is sinking?

Do you have any schemes for PR and/or recuiting?

How do you feel about the Moonshaes as quasi-OAS proposal?

[SwordSaintMusashi]

I have some familiar questions, because I would like to compare you to the other guys:
Where do you stand on Pen and Paper v. NWN2 v. some other stuff v. whatever source books as sources for ALFA rules?

Where do you stand on two PCs?

Two hypothetical LA decisions that may happen:
-- PA and DMA disagree on the number of PCs that a player should be allowed. They can't get along, and we assume you've put a good-faith effort into reconciling their views. That's kinda the standard answer; that didn't work, what paths are you considering for resolution?
-- Similar, but this time it's TA and DMA disagree about a core rules question. They can't get along and are firm on whatever reasons for not stepping back from current positions.

How will you use your veto powers?

How do you interpret the Lead Admin's domain of "oversight" of the other administrators?

Do you believe this ship is sinking?

Do you have any schemes for PR and/or recuiting?

How do you feel about the Moonshaes as quasi-OAS proposal?

Alright, breaking it down for edible answer bites.

Q: Where do you stand on Pen and Paper v. NWN2 v. some other stuff v. whatever source books as sources for ALFA rules?
A: I have always enjoyed elements of pen and paper in ALFA, whether it be rp abilities or changing certain aspects of terribly coded NWN2 classes/feats to more match their paperized versions.

However, over the years I've been in ALFA, I have come to realize a "Perfect" PnP environment isn't going to happen: Nor does it ever, really. Every Dungeon Master "house rules" their campaign to add, take away, or tweak things to best fit the game they are trying to run. ALFA is no different, if looked at as a campaign.

I stick with what I tell anyone who asks me about RP abilities in ALFA: If your current DM allows them, power to you and your DM. If your DM doesn't want to use stuff that isn't WYSIWYG, that is your DM's prerogative.

Q: Where do you stand on two PCs?
A: I truthfully didn't feel one way or the other about it when it came up. Having experienced it, I like the option of being able to play a new concept somewhere else, and it has also led me to become pretty good friends with a half of the community I would never have met otherwise.

So really, I am for it personally. Should the ebb and flow of ALFA opinion change and the community desires it be stripped away, that is a bridge to be crossed when and if such a day happens.

As a note: No one forces someone to have 2 PCs. Quoting that as something you don't enjoy about the community is like saying "this ice cream store offers 32 flavors, but one of them is green tea flavored in its own contained bin over there away from my flavors. I won't shop here anymore."

Q: How will you use your veto powers?
A: There is no good answer to that outside of "with discretion". If an idea or change comes up in ALFA to the point where it involves a Lead Administrator Vetoing it, that idea or change has come a LONG way and needs the proper thought and insight deserving of it.

An easy answer would be "well, I'll veto obviously stupid ideas" - but once again, for an idea to reach this desk, I would have to imagine it wasn't a stupid idea to someone.

Q: How do you interpret the Lead Admin's domain of "oversight" of the other administrators?
A: More or less? "Play nice, children.". The Admin are there for a reason and each have their roles in maintaining and supporting the community. They are also individuals who's ideas won't always mesh together, as they are (hopefully) passionate about how to make ALFA better.

The Lead Administrator's role is to make sure they work together amicably and don't accidentally step into each other's territories while trying to pursue their goal of betterment of the community. At least in my view.

Q: Do you believe this ship is sinking?
A: Also hijacking Daniel's question below this post (way to be impatient, Redlight Admin!).

I absolutely HATE that term being thrown around. Whether or not the community is suffering, phrasing like that is so discouraging to hear it makes people wonder why they bother.

But, as far as whether ALFA is slowing? Yes, I believe it has slowed in the years since launch. Is this due to a variety of reasons such as NWN2 being outdated and truthfully, a headache of a game (as well as changes in administration and ideas of how to make the community better)? In ways, yes. HOWEVER: This community always has an ebb and flow of population. A lowering of population here, a raise here in the next months, but it remains fairly constant.

I do not believe ALFA is ready to be buried.

Q: Do you have any schemes for PR and/or recuiting?
A: Not at the current time, no. I would talk with a lot of our community to see about ways to do this: I know a few of us give word of mouth, but I often see off-hand comments about posting in a certain forum, or in other servers, and so on. I'd like to keep track of these and see if we can find which ways are the most effective, as right now we do get new players, but we also don't record how we're doing it outside of "so and so told me about this somewhere."

Q: How do you feel about the Moonshaes as quasi-OAS proposal?
A: Some of my fondest memories of the process of joining ALFA were from the WHL OAS when NWN2 launched. I have always supported this notion, and if Castano is willing to open up his server with the work it entails to keep track of new players (below level 3) to bring in people and see what we're all about? I'm for it.

Hypthetical: PA and DMA disagree on the number of PCs that a player should be allowed. They can't get along, and we assume you've put a good-faith effort into reconciling their views. That's kinda the standard answer; that didn't work, what paths are you considering for resolution?
A: Well, it has always been my understanding that this particular issue falls under the Player Administrator's purview. However, I liked that all of the Admins voted in the process and that the majority of every group was in favor of it.

If an overwhelming group of people make a rational argument for something they want to see in the community, one person should not be able to just shut it down because they personally do not like it. Player Administrator side or Dungeon Master Administrator side, ALFA is not run by individual opinion: Its run by what will be the most fun for the whole of the community.

Hypothetical: Similar, but this time it's TA and DMA disagree about a core rules question. They can't get along and are firm on whatever reasons for not stepping back from current positions.
A: This is a tougher nut to crack without being able to see exactly how the TA and DMA view the core rule in question. Without that kind of information, I err on the side of the person who's purview it falls under in the Charter: They are our administrators for a reason, and without any information to condemn them otherwise, they get the benefit of the doubt.

[danielmn]

More importantly....do you believe the sink is shipping?

[Ithildur]

I do not believe ALFA is ready to be buried.

*thumbs up*

[SwordSaintMusashi]

More importantly....do you believe the sink is shipping?

I ship your sink any day, Daniel.

[Rumple C]

Q: Do you have any schemes for PR and/or recuiting?
A: Not at the current time, no. I would talk with a lot of our community to see about ways to do this: I know a few of us give word of mouth, but I often see off-hand comments about posting in a certain forum, or in other servers, and so on. I'd like to keep track of these and see if we can find which ways are the most effective, as right now we do get new players, but we also don't record how we're doing it outside of "so and so told me about this somewhere."

This is the one area where ALFA has let itself down in my opinion. To prevent the ship from attrition sinking, we need new (and returning) players. I hope the new LA can make strides in this direction (or at least enable others to do so).

PR, PR, PR!

(back up by documentation and in game content/dm's)

[CloudDancing]

More importantly....do you believe the sink is shipping?

I ship your sink any day, Daniel.

Every time I see this question I refer back to Foam and Paazin's work on creating visual graphs of Alfa's attendance both in the forums and on the live servers.

Ask them to see those graphs before you make any assumptions about the ups and downs of attendance. I was pleasantly surprised.

[danielmn]

Since we are no longer asking questions of SSM, but instead posing our own belief systems into a questioning platform thread:

I asked the question for laughs. If you actually take the time to read up, Zelk asks the serious question. Not myself.

And as for my own thoughts, of coarse it's not sinking. It's evolving. And some of us are vistigials in that evolution. This natural evolution will see new players join alfa, and older players walking away. Which of coarse, isn't a good or bad thing, it is what it is. Make alfa whatever you wish it to be! As Xan has aptly stated in the past, people will find other places to play if alfa doesn't, or no longer, works for them. So enjoy what alfa becomes, and the players you attract!

[Sidhe]

I'd like to see a real platform SSM, similar to what the other candidates have taken the time to put forward, informing the community of who you are, what you stand for, what you would like to see etc.

Are you willing to do this so I, and possibly others, can get a more rounded perspective on who we may be voting for?

[Castano]

Thank you for running!

[Witchdoctor]

I would ask the same as max did SSM. I am interested in reading what your thoughts are and not just hearing your answers to others questions as important as they are.