I would like to leave some feedback on the Arehtei committee's AC requirement! Or rather, talk about it? Idk.
As it currently is, I don't really see what good the activity check is, even with the explanation provided in the post, especially when you've had to allow people 2 threads to total 5 comments just to help pass it. I can see it being helpful in pushing people to do things if they may need it, but on the other hand, all that the committee seems to be is a log put up every two months without anything else than what players can contribute to it. Which is fine idea on its own, and even letting this be advertised as a log where people can bring up other game-related subjects (as sorta happened in the last meeting) seems like a good way of using it to me; it reminds me of the Town Meeting log that took place back in 2015, I believe, and I'm totally for people talking about plot.
But when that seems to be the only thing that comes from having the committee, I don't really feel like my character gets anything out of being a committee member. As it is, it feels like I have to make sure I have AC ready just so Red can call himself a committee member, and that's that.
I think my point is, is there plan to add more to the committee at a later point? Any benefits to characters who show themselves as an active committee member? Anything that committee members may have access to, or gain? Because I feel that if the committee meetings are going to continue to just be a log that is pushed by what the players contribute to it than anything the mods add to it or provide to members of the committee, that this could just be something that exists without the AC, especially if the AC is going to be that low.
Just to note, I understand the committee is more than the log, and that it is about players and their characters going out and achieving more, and the log is just a place to share ideas, findings, etc. But just that as it is now, the AC seems more like a bother than anything else. And I do hope that more can be added or worked into how the committee operates and what it can provide for players and being a way to push plot!
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ALSO, just one more thing...! (Sorry I do this a lot but just because I care, I swear!!)
So I say the above but it's more just something I want to discuss related to the Arehtei and dealing with them as a player, or rather- hm, the difficult spot that I feel exists in caring about the Arehtei but also... trying not to actively bug their players every other month while also not losing touch with an Arehtei.
Characters are obviously going to be very human (or very not if they aren't, but anyway) and not always be able to tell things, and the Arehtei themselves are not always going to be able to be honest and know or say if something is wrong with them when something is wrong. But I've felt that there probably isn't always a lot communicated when characters might be able to notice something is up. I think the biggest example of this is with the Elios plot: There were some vague signs with hot weather in winter, and I did notice later on that Elios had a thread with a PC where he acted very childish. But this was also with a PC who I think didn't really know Elios that well, and I don't blame them for not speaking about it to the game.
But Elios's last rep was also a rather active individual, and I'm not speaking on their behalf, but I think that with how involved they tried to be, that she may have noticed something sooner than the Flower Festival, if not for very, very understandable reasons: The fact that Laena wasn't around to play Elios.
I don't blame Laena for being around one bit, but I know that personally, I've not had threads with Arehtei because I know their players are busy, and that other players have done the same. And this is always going to be a thing, where a player of an Arehtei may not be able to commit to threading often! There is also the fact that as a player, you may not want to thread with an NPC every single month about how they're doing.
The reason I bring this up is because I'm wondering if there might be a way that can be brainstormed for the Arehtei not to disappear so much in the background, I guess? Or, again, obviously this may happen (as is Piphron's plan--), but if there's some way to have updates now and then, maybe, on the Arehtei, or for some kind of nudge into taking an interest in an Arehtei that won't always dump threads onto the players? Tidbits like that exist for Aiada in the current committee log would be nice, or even if there's anything worth mentioning in mod posts.
I can understand this can be tricky to figure out though, as this entire comment may be! I just feel that while the Arehtei and their wellbeing is very important still in the game, there hasn't really been much opportunity to care about them, or to want to be engaged with them. Even with concerns about Aiada have been more due to me as a player being aware of the ET and that the Calinede Temple shrines are a thing than anything that's come up ICly.
Obviously this is nothing I expect everyone to have an answer for right away, esp when you're trying to juggle the game as it is now and how much work it is! But just things that I hope might be thought about, if they aren't already.
no subject
As it currently is, I don't really see what good the activity check is, even with the explanation provided in the post, especially when you've had to allow people 2 threads to total 5 comments just to help pass it. I can see it being helpful in pushing people to do things if they may need it, but on the other hand, all that the committee seems to be is a log put up every two months without anything else than what players can contribute to it. Which is fine idea on its own, and even letting this be advertised as a log where people can bring up other game-related subjects (as sorta happened in the last meeting) seems like a good way of using it to me; it reminds me of the Town Meeting log that took place back in 2015, I believe, and I'm totally for people talking about plot.
But when that seems to be the only thing that comes from having the committee, I don't really feel like my character gets anything out of being a committee member. As it is, it feels like I have to make sure I have AC ready just so Red can call himself a committee member, and that's that.
I think my point is, is there plan to add more to the committee at a later point? Any benefits to characters who show themselves as an active committee member? Anything that committee members may have access to, or gain? Because I feel that if the committee meetings are going to continue to just be a log that is pushed by what the players contribute to it than anything the mods add to it or provide to members of the committee, that this could just be something that exists without the AC, especially if the AC is going to be that low.
Just to note, I understand the committee is more than the log, and that it is about players and their characters going out and achieving more, and the log is just a place to share ideas, findings, etc. But just that as it is now, the AC seems more like a bother than anything else. And I do hope that more can be added or worked into how the committee operates and what it can provide for players and being a way to push plot!
---
ALSO, just one more thing...! (Sorry I do this a lot but just because I care, I swear!!)
So I say the above but it's more just something I want to discuss related to the Arehtei and dealing with them as a player, or rather- hm, the difficult spot that I feel exists in caring about the Arehtei but also... trying not to actively bug their players every other month while also not losing touch with an Arehtei.
Characters are obviously going to be very human (or very not if they aren't, but anyway) and not always be able to tell things, and the Arehtei themselves are not always going to be able to be honest and know or say if something is wrong with them when something is wrong. But I've felt that there probably isn't always a lot communicated when characters might be able to notice something is up. I think the biggest example of this is with the Elios plot: There were some vague signs with hot weather in winter, and I did notice later on that Elios had a thread with a PC where he acted very childish. But this was also with a PC who I think didn't really know Elios that well, and I don't blame them for not speaking about it to the game.
But Elios's last rep was also a rather active individual, and I'm not speaking on their behalf, but I think that with how involved they tried to be, that she may have noticed something sooner than the Flower Festival, if not for very, very understandable reasons: The fact that Laena wasn't around to play Elios.
I don't blame Laena for being around one bit, but I know that personally, I've not had threads with Arehtei because I know their players are busy, and that other players have done the same. And this is always going to be a thing, where a player of an Arehtei may not be able to commit to threading often! There is also the fact that as a player, you may not want to thread with an NPC every single month about how they're doing.
The reason I bring this up is because I'm wondering if there might be a way that can be brainstormed for the Arehtei not to disappear so much in the background, I guess? Or, again, obviously this may happen (as is Piphron's plan--), but if there's some way to have updates now and then, maybe, on the Arehtei, or for some kind of nudge into taking an interest in an Arehtei that won't always dump threads onto the players? Tidbits like that exist for Aiada in the current committee log would be nice, or even if there's anything worth mentioning in mod posts.
I can understand this can be tricky to figure out though, as this entire comment may be! I just feel that while the Arehtei and their wellbeing is very important still in the game, there hasn't really been much opportunity to care about them, or to want to be engaged with them. Even with concerns about Aiada have been more due to me as a player being aware of the ET and that the Calinede Temple shrines are a thing than anything that's come up ICly.
Obviously this is nothing I expect everyone to have an answer for right away, esp when you're trying to juggle the game as it is now and how much work it is! But just things that I hope might be thought about, if they aren't already.