soul_mods: (Default)
Soul Campaign Moderation Journal ([personal profile] soul_mods) wrote in [community profile] soul_ooc2011-10-22 08:12 pm
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MODPOST 1/2

Attention, Soul Campaign!

We’re opening reservations in a little over a week, and the mods would like to make some announcements regarding changes being made to the application and reservation process. These changes have been in planning for a long time, and is one of the reasons why we went for the break.

Reserves Page and Application Cut Off
The reserves page will open on November 1, 2011 as planned. The application cycle will be from December 16 - 23, 2011. Cut-off for next cycle will be December 15, 2011, 11:59pm EST.

Changes to the application form
We made some changes to the application form, which you can see here. The sections remain the same, but the text explaining these changes have been revised to make them clearer and more streamlined. We’ve included a secondary reference page linked in the application, which includes guidelines that will hopefully make the application easier for players to fill and the application cycle/process much faster than what we’ve been doing before.

We changed the weapon section so that weapons will only have one general ability. There will be a separate post to detail how this will affect current weapons (but don’t panic, we’re not going to make you change yours if you don’t want to).

Last, a summary of the events in the game since its beginning up til the Europe event has been posted in this page.

New revision process for the applications
Starting the next cycle, we will no longer entertain revisions for the Character Information section of the application. This section includes the character’s history, personality, abilities, and weaknesses. We feel that players who know their characters well should be able to write their applications in a manner that makes this section understandable to the application team. Any application whose character information section the application team finds lacking will immediately be rejected.

The other sections (SC-only section, meister, weapon, soul description, samples) will go through the usual revision process if necessary, since they are all sections unique to Soul Campaign.

Beta-reading system
However, since we will no longer be allowing revisions for the character information during the application cycle, we will be offsetting this with a beta-reading system to help players make sure that their applications pass the standards of the game.

How will this work? In the reserves page, the applicants commenting on it will have the option of asking for a beta-reader from SC’s pool of current players. You can volunteer to beta-read theirs and help them with their applications by replying to their reserve comment.

We’d also like to minimize the risk of applicants asking for a beta-reader and not getting any -- to do this, the mods will be collecting names of people willing to be included in a pool of beta-readers every cycle, and we will assign them to a lonely applicant.

If you’d like to volunteer, please reply here, and indicate any preferences (or non-preferences, for that matter!) on series or canon that you have. We appreciate it! App team members may also volunteer, but this doesn’t guarantee that the app will pass.

Test drive meme
We will also test something for next cycle. We will put up a Test Drive Meme in Soul Skirmish, to be linked to the reserves page. This will give the prospective applicants and the current players space to tag each other before the application cycle, to give the applicants a taste of the game before they come in.

The meme will include several scenarios that the characters can play out, depending on their choice. Some will be serious, while some will be more light-hearted. Soul Campaign is a plot-heavy game that depends on consistent relations and interactions between characters, as well as emphasis on world news and events; we’d like the applicants to be more aware of this as they app into the game.

Please note that threads in this meme will not be accepted for Activity Check. Sorry. :c

Whew!
So that’s it for changes! Please note that the new revision process, beta-reading system, and test drive meme are all still under testing for now, and we may adjust them depending on how December pans out. We appreciate your patience!

The second mod post will be up soon after this, so make sure to check it out, especially if you have weapon characters.

For questions about this post (and its links), you can ask here or email us at soulcampaign@gmail.com. (Don't worry if some questions take a while to answer, a couple of the mods are going on a short vacation for a couple of days. Thank you for your patience!)
suchselfishness: (Default)

[personal profile] suchselfishness 2011-10-27 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, I'm sorry. I wasn't going to reply again. But even the use of the term hazing for something like an online application is not acceptable.

I have personally had to attend candlelight memorials for the victims of real hazing. I've had to write the condolence cards to chapters in Greek communities who have lost members to hazing. I was, in fact, hazed by an organization that I ended up declining to join because of said hazing before finding my place in a sorority that outlaws any and all hazing activities.

There is no comparison to be drawn between the application process for an online game and activities that cause deaths and serious injuries every year. I find it extremely offensive that you would even draw a line between the two, because it not only attempts to minimize the severity of real hazing, but makes this entire thing way more serious and dramatic than it needs to be.

If you haven't has personal experience with hazing, I can understand why you might think the two are even remotely similar, but please stop trying to put these two situations in the same context. It's extremely offensive and hurtful to me, personally and as a member of a national community that is stereotyped as participating in hazing activities.
shiromadoushi: (Default)

[personal profile] shiromadoushi 2011-10-27 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
And again. I NEVER SAID THE APP WAS HAZING.

Kindly read what I wrote.
suchselfishness: (Default)

[personal profile] suchselfishness 2011-10-27 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
Please do not treat me like an idiot. You said 'pass this hazing' implying that the application process is hazing. You said that it was a hazing mentality. Either way, it doesn't matter, because it's offensive to me. Please have some consideration, and don't just brush me off because you think using the term is okay if you're just using it to describe a state of mind instead of an action.

[identity profile] lionborn.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the reply.

I still don't think that I can see the implementation of official betas (most of us already have one or three for our apps anyway) as a real way to help alleviate the load on the app team (the betas' can't sort out apps, only offer assistance) and predict a lot of potential issues ('picking castmates', personal grudges from or against the betas, having betas not come through for their charges or two betas giving different advise, and so on... ) with it based on my previous experiences with official betas which will have to be at least considered in time. However, I think the idea is good if you can manage to get it to work! (holding hands for worried app writers and rookies = good; having it sound as if they are meant as first filter for the stressed app team = not so good)

If I may also say so... I was more than a bit confused when the app team suddenly started to answer our questions and concerns when we thought that they were meant for the mods. It's easy to see why and how deeply they are involved but it was still strange for me to have who I considered fellow players suddenly address me with what one might call the authority of a mod without giving an explanation why. Sorry if I got rude about it, but I really didn't know what to think about that since I kept those positions clearly separated in my head. (app team: people who take care of apps, get little sleep - mods: people who run the game, do apps and a lot other of stuff, get even less sleep)

but you taste so good~

[identity profile] lionborn.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Gotcha! I think we managed to sort out all questions and misunderstandings over Plurk, sorry if I came off as too rude. This was not my day at all. Please feel free to contact me about it if there's still any issue left, I'd hate to end this with hurt feelings on any side!

I'd also like to second what Adeline said above, adding in my two cents a day by saying that having an essay on Weapons and only one line on Meisters would look a bit one-sided. :) Maybe adding info about resonantion and all the flavors it comes with next to the info about the Meister abilities and how to come up with new ones for their section might be a nice idea?
shiromadoushi: (Default)

Pardon my cutting in/hijacking here

[personal profile] shiromadoushi 2011-10-27 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
It was mentioned a few times in various replies that it was believed that the betas would make the mods/app teams job easier, so I think it's a common misconception, or one that was just adopted when seen because it made sense.

And I think part of the confusion of who was replying in what capacity, because I felt a bit similar, is that as a newer player, I at first had no idea that the mod and app teams were separate teams and also had [and still have!] no idea who is on the app team. So answers seemed to be coming from fellow players rather than the mods, since there's nothing to indicate who's an app-team member the way the mod account labels the reply as an "official" type reply hence a lot of at least my confusion.
shiromadoushi: (Default)

[personal profile] shiromadoushi 2011-10-27 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd have to tally it up to be sure but I did notice it being mentioned a few times in different responses to this entry and in various discussions about it. Sorry I don't have anything more specific.

And I think it's more that you don't know if someone IS coming from a position of knowledge or is just putting forth what they believe is true. There was a lot of misconceptions, different reading of things and a lot of differing opinions, and without any knowledge that the person who was speaking was actually involved or in the know, it came out as just another voice in the crowd, if that makes sense? Having something be clearly marked as coming from someone who DOES know what's going on I think goes a long way to clearing up confusion.

Sorry for the off topic.

[identity profile] gunsmokeangel.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, okies. I was just wondering.

[identity profile] wiredgod.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Personally, though I'm wary on the idea, I trust you guys to be able to work it out and make it work and okay and all.

I do think, though, that implementing it after such a long app hiatus is a terrible idea. Some people have been waiting a long time to get in, and if someone gets rejected because everyone's still working out the kinks in this new system, they'd have to wait yet another couple of months in order to get in. And that to me just seems a little...cruel?

Like I said, while I initially don't like this idea at all, I trust you guys to make it work somehow and I'll reserve any actual judgement until then, but. Yeah.

Also, I put up the test-driving meme in Soul Skirmish and it worked out pretty awesomely, so I'm behind a recurring Test Drive 100%.

[identity profile] lionborn.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, thanks for clarifying this since it IS confusing to think about. My problem with it was that I saw it repeatedly come up as an argument for how the new beta-readers would be good and make things easier for the mods, app team and players as well and that people shouldn't make a fuss, but nobody expanded on how it ought to help the mods and app teams since it indicates more work for them rather than less. Repeated often enough and with enough conviction yet no explanation given it was no far jump to make you want to wonder if there actually is some way that having beta-reads could make the load of those checking the apps less heavy to a considerable amount and then run with what seems the next logical conclusion - no matter how unlikely it'd be considered on its own - as an option for a worst case. Being worried, the lack of exact information and having enough time to come up with worst case scenarios is no good breeding ground for calm logic, I fear. Thanks for explaining this for once and all.

As for the betas, I already said that I think that it is a good idea although it may still have some details to consider like what to do if somebody really blames and lashes out at their beta if their application gets rejected after all (this is the internet, it CAN happen). Other people brought those things up as well and you replied to them in a positive manner, so I think we can consider this point settled, I hope you agree.

sorry for jumping in, this should be my last comment

[identity profile] lionborn.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
...but I also don't understand why it matters if a fellow player who happens to know what's going on behind the app scene, has the agreement of the mods to answer things for them when they can't, and is willing to help out, can answer the same thing and in faster time.

has the agreement of the mods to answer things for them when they can't


But if nobody ever says this important part, how are we supposed to know that they have your agreement to speak for you? :( It was never mentioned or brought up anywhere as far as I know which made it look as if the app team members were suddenly trying to do the mods' job without any reason or justification to do it to me. Hence my confusion and question about it. Sorry if I'm missing something really obvious.
Edited 2011-10-27 19:38 (UTC)

[identity profile] r-a-m-1982.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
The guide will be really helpful, thanks for working so hard on it.

Clarifications are not revisions; we are not rejecting people just because we wanted to ask questions.

That's a relief, really. I think the reason people was panicking so much over this post it's because certain things like this one weren't clarified. We just care a lot for the game because we really enjoy playing here ^^'

[identity profile] cuzamybestbud.livejournal.com 2011-10-28 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
I feel the need to reply to this, and I am more than willing to admit I did mention the idea of seeing how the numbers compare from before this change to after. My thinking here is, as a player who has a number of concerns regarding this new app system, that without actual numbers that I can see and understand I will not know if the new system is allowing for the same percentage of applicants to get in verses before.

Firstly I am not talking in terms of hard numbers (x# got in out of/y# total applicants) simply a firm, actual percentage. It has been said that with the old system 90-95% of applicants were accepted, but I feel that having an actual number to see, one that is set, will allow for those who are feeling unsure about this system to see what the changes are really doing to the success rate, if anything. I see no point in hiding a percentage like that from the players and in fact feel that in someways not being willing to share that kind of information to your players, who trust you do be fair and objective about situations in this game, comes across as untrustworthy.

Secondly, the last game I was in had public apps and everyone who wanted to look could go and see that the first time I applied for Luke there my app was rejected, in fact I saw proof of this later when I altered the app which got me in. My point her is, many people in other games can see who, exactly, did or didn't get in and in some cases exactly why. While I do like the fact that the apps and correspondence with the app team is kept private I do feel that the idea of trying to 'protect' those that didn't get accepted is a bit outlandish in this case. If those that didn't get accepted choose to air the fact or even if they are told why what reason that is that is their choice, but that is for them and who ever has any concern as to the status of their application and so forth.

In all, what I am hoping to convey is that by not being willing to share information, such as the percentage of people who were accepted out of the total who applied for not only the last app rounds but also another round or two to help support the claim that this new process should have no affect on that number is rather disheartening and feels, at least to me, like there is something to hide.

[identity profile] verdant-lotus.livejournal.com 2011-10-28 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Sign me up.

For canons, Naruto, Hunter X Hunter (anime verse), White Collar, BBC's Sherlock, Suits, Supernatural, most Piers Anthony books, Dragon Age 2, Dresden Files (BOOK VERSE ONLY) and a scattering of webcomics (Khaos, Better Days, QC, LFG).

Those are the ones that come to mind, but there's more.

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