Revamp to the application system

[Box]

Sup.

I don't know if this has happened to anyone else, but I have had more than a few occasions where when asking for feedback about a rejected or approved application, the DMs would respond with something that made me say "Wait, What? My app totally wasn't about that."

I have had occasions where I am confronted IG by DMs who have read and approved such apps, and had similar reactions causing me to ask them if they even read the app at all.

I've come to the conclusion that the current system is flawed, and only breeds misunderstanding and misconceptions, causing massive cases of miscommunication which can really bite you later on.  The problem with 'keeping it brief' as they constantly ask to avoid TL-DR, is in my experience this leaves room for assumptions about a concept which can lead to false concerns or expectations about/from  a character that wouldn't exist if the concept was discussed with the player.


It is my understanding that most apps are discussed (When they are discussed) in the IRC backchannel for EFUDMs. Most apps Don't normally get feedback posts at all and some never even get a reply before they are moved to the results forum and stamped approved or rejected. The player is usually left with no idea why it was approved/rejected, and is then forced to spam one or more DMs to try to get that question answered. The whole system is sloppy and inefficient IMO.

It may take a bit more time, but I think it would be better on a general scale if while the DM staff is discussing an App, they actually discuss it with the player being present, so they can both give a better grasp of the PC they are trying to create, and so they can immediately see and correct any misconception someone might of had from the app. In the long run it is more efficient, since such a discussion might even prove fruitful in making points the app couldn't cover due to 'keeping it breif', thus convincing the DM team the PC will be good, even if the app itself was a steaming pile.

 Something like this would have the potential to prevent a lot of resubmissions where only a few changes are made, and would be a much less annoying system for players and DMs alike, as we don't need to individually harass a DM for feedback or discussion, and in turn they don't need to put up with it.  Everyone wins.

[Caddies]

The system is fine. You're completely blowing it out of proportion. Its the player's job to illustrate to us his character, if he can't articulate it in a simple app he won't be able to do it IG so therefore he will not be approved.

[Box]

I have had occasions where I am confronted IG by DMs who have read and approved such apps, and had similar reactions causing me to ask them if they even read the app at all.

I think you're getting ahead of yourself caddies. I've had multiple approved apps where DM inspired situations would crop up revolving around the app char in question, where the DMs running said events clearly had the wrong impression about the PC's concept, leading to circumstances where all either of us could say was 'Oh.'

The system really isn't so fine, so I'd appreciate you getting off your high-horse and trying to see the issue for what it is. When we do try to articulate something in detail, we get "TL-DR" or examples of the above, where the app is only skimmed so the DM staff only has a vague idea of what the PC is about. When we don't go into detail, Shit gets missed and can also lead to the above.

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

http://www.escapefromunderdark.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=166

[Caddies]

We read dozens of apps each week. Some of us will forget the details of one. The system is the best it can be, but not perfect (what is?). Talk it over with the players would just be massively time consuming and annoying, because every player will attempt to argue why their app should be approved and how 'deep' their PC will be.

Its not happening.

[ExileStrife]

In a perfect world where time was unlimited, I'd tend to agree with you...more discussion on apps would probably be a good thing.  However, there is no way we could possibly devote that much time and attention to every single app that flows through.  Just getting the active members of the DM team together for a simple 10 minute discussion is hard enough.

[derfo]

i don't see how you couldn't imagine the turmoil influenced by dms chatting up every app with every player