groundrules: (Default)
let's set d o w n some ([personal profile] groundrules) wrote in [community profile] lostcompass2021-09-01 06:41 pm
Entry tags:

activity + state of the game



Hi everyone! Welcome, officially, to………… autumn. Monthly wrap of admin trinkets below!

SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY CHECK


Hi guys! The activity check (AC) is handled in-house, and you do not need to do anything unless your character is listed below. Please remember to use character tags for posts and logs you tag into — there’s been a bit of a decline in that, and it makes it difficult to hunt down your activity. If you’re uncomfortable tagging all the time, just doing so for posts/threads where you’ve met activity requirements is a-okay!

Regular activity requirements are one of the following during the AC month:

■ a network post
OR 10 text/network-style comments across at most two threads
OR five log comments across at most two threads

Activity can be carried out on either the game communities or character inboxes.

In August, I couldn’t find sufficient activity for...

Lee Chang | [personal profile] jeoha | RECLAIMED
Winnifred Prismall | [personal profile] soulsrob | RECLAIMED
Catra | [personal profile] plentystrong
Vanya Hargreeves | [personal profile] remugient | RECLAIMED
Jiang Cheng | [personal profile] consignation | RECLAIMED


Comment here or PM @ [personal profile] groundrules until 5 September if you’d like to reclaim your character, or if they have August activity that was missed!

■ Our resident Sith Lord Archeval ( [personal profile] darkeststars ) will be out of Taravast in September on a plot-linked assignment that will span a mod-agreed hiatus. But! He remains reachable for light threading at his inbox.


OTHER ADMIN


■ The Story So Far page has been updated with a summary of the Taravast plot covered so far, if you need to catch up!

■ As characters are still working in the background to chase a poisoning cure, the next event write-up will go up on 4 September. The calendar page will be updated at that time. You can do last-minute prop/plotting for the very real poison antidote hunt here.

■ An informal discord server has been set up for Eastbound — you should have been PMed a link by now, but please drop a line if that hasn’t been the case, and you’re interested in participating.

■ For a refresher on who's on #TeamVannozza or #TeamMacaluso, the list lies here.


STATE OF THE GAME


GAME VIBES | [community profile] eastbound has been alive and somehow still kicking since late March, and now’s a good time to check in on how people are still feeling about the game momentum. If we’re all at the end of our rope, we can plan for a wind-down after Arc II. This is not an endgame announcement — just asking how everyone is enjoying the game! If you don’t mind just dropping some thoughts here, that would be helpful!

BLOOOOOOD | The game was set up as invite-only while I befriended the modding ropes, and I’m humbled it’s more than tripled in size since. There are player-felt advantages to a larger playerbase (variety in characters/speed/ideas), but speaking from the mod point of view — a larger number of players makes it substantially easier to drive the plot forward, mod-side.

With that in mind, I wanted to ask how everyone would feel about making the game public / removing the invite-only status, provided we kept [community profile] eastbound capped, with app sessions absorbing new players in small increments. If you can all leave some feedback here, that would be great! This is likely to be a more sensitive topic for some players than others, so please only respond to the main comment.

A COUPLE OF PLOT ROLLS...


Minor organic follow-ups or wrenches thrown in, based on recent plot developments or character actions. If you want a character roll, comment here. But please act on designer plot rolls! No handwaving.

■ Over the course of September, the grumpy ghost residents of the haunted house "inherited" by Lily and Wei Wuxian will mention that several necromancers and other magic users keep barging in and ruining their peace and quiet. They never stay long.

Wrath obtains two more disciples, also paying their learning fees. In mid-September, they will mention that donna Vannozza has sent out word in the necromantic districts asking for practitioners to carry out a special summon/exorcism rites. They will ask if their master is participating.

Diego Hargreeves' suit with Macaluso continues, now with Vannozza's approval and with less competition*. He will receive multiple invitations to various higher-level functions. He and his wolves are accommodated in a separate part of Macaluso's wing of the Spina palace.

■ *following Alina's anonymous reveal to the Piazza, negative sentiment bolsters against Lady Odile, who ultimately abandons her suit and Taravast. Knowing she was likely betrayed by one of the very people she sought to warn, she repays their 'kindness' by inciting all her local acquaintances against them. Throughout September, Fox, Mingyu, Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Xie Lian and Alina will be subjected to repeat instances of court bullying (rumours, fewer event invitations, their rooms raided), also finding they enjoy a frostier reception from sorcery schools.

rumorate: (29)

[personal profile] rumorate 2021-09-02 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
I've really been enjoying my time here thus far. The game feels really cozy in the best way, and I especially love how I've been able to hit the ground running with regards to engagement with the plot. I am definitely down to stick things out as we keep moving forward.
rumorate: (6)

[personal profile] rumorate 2021-09-02 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
I do like the cozy, invite only vibe of the game, but if it would make app processing easier, I would also be down for implementing app rounds or something similar. I'm down for whatever option makes mod life easier.
valeas: (☾ s t e l l a t a)

[personal profile] valeas 2021-09-02 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
I'm still too new to feel confident in choosing one way or the other, but I will say what drew me to Eastbound was its intimate/cozy vibe, and it being invite-only did not at all affect how incredibly welcoming and lovely the experience was.

Like Sheep, I'd worry a little about keeping up if it grows past a certain size/pace, but that's a me thing, and ultimately I'd strongly support whatever makes mod life/mod load easier and, of course, majority's preference.
rumorate: (7)

[personal profile] rumorate 2021-09-02 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
Not so much plotting but a slightly-adjacent general question: Are the crystals off limits to the higher ups in Taravast or would Allison have to specifically close a post to keep like Macaluso and Vannozza from seeing it?
valeas: (☾ c o n v e r s a r e)

[personal profile] valeas 2021-09-02 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
I app'd recently so my momentum is still a+ as is my engagement with the game and its plots, shy turtle that I am. Not to sound too mushy but I really do love everything about it and have no complaints/observations which is maybe unhelpful.

Legit me as I try to untangle this Taravast web and what happened the night of the poisoning.
rumorate: (14)

[personal profile] rumorate 2021-09-02 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
Excellent! Thank you!
jeoha: (Default)

[personal profile] jeoha 2021-09-02 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Ty and sorry about this!
jeoha: (Default)

[personal profile] jeoha 2021-09-02 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
I always worry but I will try to worry less XD
jeoha: (Default)

[personal profile] jeoha 2021-09-02 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
<3 <3 <3
binghua: (34)

[personal profile] binghua 2021-09-02 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so very chill with the game momentum right now and I really like that there is generally always something to do, but it's not overwhelming. Even if I'm the person who's always like "what is happening," but that's a me problem and not the game. But yeah! I love the whole concept and then vibes we've got going, so I'm down to clown for more, as long as everyone else, mod and player alike, has the energy!
binghua: (53)

[personal profile] binghua 2021-09-02 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Again, I'm super chill so both options would be fine by me. I'm used to playing in public games, but on the other hand, I do like the familiarity of this little community we have. And then it seems like a lot of the playerbase prefers that, too, so that's totally fine by me.

And especially since there's only one mod, I would worry that making the game public would put more stress on you, but then I'm not you (and I've never modded) so I could be way off. If you're comfortable with it (or even want to!) there's the option to ask for helper mods if things get too heavy, as well.
weifinder: (smile | run so far away)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-09-03 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
I wanted to second liking the concept of public TDMs as the lieu to a referral, even if that means cursing you with TDMs...!

I feel going public to allow for new blood to flow into our eager maws makes sense, when I'm not an avid pressurer of "come play with me in this space" and we do need enough of an ongoing core continually and actively engaging to keep things rolling. Spread over more people, it sustains itself better, and the plot keeps momentum better, and I'm not sure how aggressively anyone is or isn't reccing this game to friends to bring in folks to otherwise offset the lack of flow you get when it depends on invitations.
weifinder: (smile | oh i'm shaking the dirt)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-09-03 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
I know you've got the calendar in constant thoughtful hum, but it feels like we might even need be less ambitious there with the ebb and flow for numbers engaging with plot--and it does seem to some degree network engagement flows easily for many, where logs have been a touch trickier, to whatever extent (and can be my bias speaking from lack of seeing the whole).

I'm enjoying what I have going on, though I want to up presence again in the latter half of September (I've got things to juggle the front half), and appreciate all the thought and effort that goes into the game as a whole. There are always things to engage with, or question and find ways forward on, or complete curveballs to toss or catch and run with. I love that, and how it does come down to what player characters are deciding.
weifinder: (ask | the endless of darkness)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-09-03 07:24 am (UTC)(link)
With the Plot Rolls that those of us have already, in following up on them, do you want that in a specific format? Do you want to be old grumpy ghosts that Wei Wuxian tries chatting up. (I laugh, but yeah.)
weifinder: (erkang | it's clearing the haze)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-09-03 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
Free note to anyone not taking Lord M up on his offer, and who isn't dealing with the Necromancers for their supremely dodgy offerings, let me know! I've left it nebulous (along with ruxi, but ruxi please correct me if I'm being way off base here) how many Wei Wuxian ended up with feather wise, that he's handed off to Wen Qing to decoct into the proper antidote.
paperbutterflies: (Hope)

[personal profile] paperbutterflies 2021-09-04 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
I am absolutely having a great time, and my momentum here is the best I'm having anywhere, and thank you so much for lighting this up for us!
paperbutterflies: (Default)

[personal profile] paperbutterflies 2021-09-04 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
+1 on invite with TDM referrals sounding great.
inferus: (🗡️ 1 6 3)

[personal profile] inferus 2021-09-05 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
I am absolutely loving the game so far. There's so much to engage with with the plot and the setting, and it's so much fun to see how the characters can influence what is happening and how it changes plots/the world around them. I'm very impressed with watching things unfold and participating and seeing how my character's actions/other characters actions result in consequences.

I'm also ridiculously excited about this plot roll that I have been so wonderfully given, and Wrath will definitely be looking into seeing if he can participate/finding out what information he can about what is going on!! Yay more disciples :D
fated_dance: (Default)

[personal profile] fated_dance 2021-09-05 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
I feel the pace is a little faster than I was expecting, and a bit more than I can keep up with - I'm on the fence on if I should try and stick around with this character, as much as I love what I have done.

That said, I love the custom intros and touches you give to each new applicant!
fated_dance: (Default)

[personal profile] fated_dance 2021-09-05 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
I like the invite only, or invite with involvement with TDMs as a secondary option! I think the way the last TDM went, where there were options for both potential applicants and for existing characters in game have things they can tag into.
inferus: (🗡️ 1 3 7)

[personal profile] inferus 2021-09-05 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm down to keep it invite-only or to do the TDM referral option. I enjoy the cozy, small feel of the game, but it's really about what will make things easier on the mod-side of things so I'd be okay with whatever is chosen. :)
wooden_one: (Default)

[personal profile] wooden_one 2021-09-05 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Having more people does make moving things along a little easier and a cap is good compromise to make sure numbers stays at the sweet spot of being not too crazy to manage while also allowing things to be easier.

Though one thing I do like about the invite only aspect is that reserves/applications doesn't require me to sit there waiting for the exact moment things open to throw in my stuff like I did at my last capped game that also had public apps. And that was nice.

You can also have certain periods of open apps. Like when the TDM is up apps are open to the public but other times it's invite only? I do like the idea suggested to use TDMs in place of invites, as well.

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