A Kinder, Gentler Tone

[Sternhund]

I'm not sure what I'm writing is. It could be a confession, a plea, or a heart-to-heart. Whatever it is, I'm hoping it'll resolve some thoughts and questions about EFUA, while getting this thought I have off my chest.

Lately there's been a lot of complaints about how the DM Staff has been running things, and I understand that some people have a reason to be frustrated. However, I can tell it's starting to wear on some of us. Sometimes I question whether I should continue DMing, and continue dedicating time  advising people's applications, monitoring PVP, and doing other menial tasks to run this gameworld I love.

EFUA is such a massive game, and there's a lot of psychology, sociology, and other -ologies that run behind it. It's a game so big that we simply can't please everyone, no matter how hard we try. Yet, I can tell you an absolute truth.

We are working our hardest.

Lately, I've been limited on time so I haven't been able to do as much as I would like to. In a perfect world, I'd have infinite time and energy to help establish governments, make more factions and ties around them, run amazing DM quests, and expand this world to an intricate story I share with my fellow DMs. Yet, I can't. Within my limitations, however, I've worked damn hard. Every day I find myself writing a small paragraph on how someone can improve their applications, dedicating my time to offer advice to players, occasionally wondering if they'll even get anything out of it. I try to script a little bit every other day, and toolset to keep the gameworld up to date and running. When I log into the forum I update NPC responses, check to see if anything is new with the factions I'm interested in, and reply to many PMs. When I log in to the game, I try to reply to every message sent to the DM channel, I try to run some sort of NPC interaction, and if time permits I run a DM Quest. I try to keep things fun for everyone, especially for those who felt like they lost, because I want people to have fun.

The most amazing thing to me is, I'm not the hardest working DM. I know there is a DM out there that works way harder than I do, logging more hours in the game and on the forum, running plots and DM quests doing his best to have fun, and give fun.

Yet, I'm not sure if I can do this for very long. On the forums and in IRC, I often read about complaints on how a DM ran his quest, or how this player feels neglected, or the philosophy on which we run our gameworld. Sometimes I log into IRC and I simply don't want to read another application, or log in toolset hours, or do anything related to EFUA, knowing full well that the next day I'll read more complaints about things were so unfortunate for one player, and how the DM team failed, and how we're neglecting this person, and so on. This is not something I'm used to, and it does bother me.

EFUA is such a massive game that it is easy to criticize it. I bet I can log in and start making amazing criticisms on EFUA, and end up feeling angry, depressed, furious, neglected, or whatever. We can boil the game down to its fundamental components of PVP, PVE, Questing, NPC Interactions, DM Quests, etc. and criticize every aspect of them. It is easy to pick on how things are run, and spread this dissent to others. Yet it's not desirable for any of us!

The big message I'm trying to convey is that we are working hard. We're trying to give everyone an appropriate amount of attention, and help with their concepts. Yet, some players prefer to be pessimistic about playing here, and I can say it's starting to wear down on me. I DM to have fun, and when I read complaints that don't offer anything truly constructive, I feel bad and I don't want to log in to cater to those people. Some players I will never understand. For instance, I've offered assistance to some players in their efforts, and they declined it. Yet, they would later post on the forum that the DMs were not helping them. Imagine how that makes me feel. Betrayed, and lied to.

We're working hard, and we are putting lots of hours in, and we're trying to have fun and give fun opportunities to you. I know there are power cycles, struggles, and I know it's hard to find DMs who will follow your plots, dreams, goals, and I know it's hard to find DMs to possess NPCs for you. But we're doing our hardest, and some of us are paying money to give you this game to play here. Instead of viewing negatives as bad things, can we instead view them as challenges? Can we view the people in power as a challenge to overcome, and not complain that the DMs are playing favorites, or that the game is unfair, or that powergaming is the answer to winning?

So, in coordination with Howland's post, can we look toward a gentler and kinder tone in our community? Can we just appreciate the game for what it is, and play?

[Dr Dragon]

Sternhound=FTW


Dont feel bad Sternhound think about it this way Sternhound. People critisize the game because they love it so much theyd rather critisize then actually hate it. if people truly didnt appreciate the work Dms did or the plottage they did then they would just quit. Efu is a fun place and I have seen some amazing things from the DMs since EFU and EFUA


for example during jergalites Mort ran an awsome DM spice and we nearly got massacred.


What  I am trying to say Sternhund is dont feel bad over a few complaints. Think of yourself as superior. DO they script quest? Do they deal with complaints/requests in the DM filter? Do they make awsomeness?  I think no one should have the right to complain unless theyve been in the DM's shoes.




-DRD EFU Junkie

[Nightshadow]

DM'ing normal PnP games can be difficult enough with say... 3 players. I can't imagine how difficult it can be DM'ing on EfU, granted, you have the help of other DM's, but still, so many people that all want attention.

Looking back on the two months I've been playing, I don't think there has been one time when I have been dissapointed with this server. You've all answered the questions when I've had them, helped me with minor problems, and have been more polite and welcoming than any other DM's on any other server I have played. Some people out there may think that you're playing favorites or you never do anything constructive, but they are wrong.

I have been playing on this server for two months now (I started back in July, but then quit for a while, so I don't count that time). Yet even though you don't know me and I don't know you, I have recieved a rather lot of DM attention/help when I need it, I have seen the detail and depth of this server increase. As DrD said, they have never been a DM, and I doubt that I could ever bring the level of enjoyment you bring to us here over to my own PnP games.

[lovethesuit]

Hey, Stardog. There's nothing but love. :)

[Ommadawn]

I have nothing but respect for the entire DM team, for what they did with EfU and what they are doing with EfU:A.

The amount of work involved boggles my mind, and the fact you guys are willing to put all the time and effort into making this world for the rest of us to play in makes me all warm and fuzzy.

I know it seems frustrating and that you aren't appreciated, but believe me, you are!

[Meldread]

I really hate that Sternhund and potentially other DM's feel like this. I haven't been around, I don't know what's going on, and I haven't heard the chatter, but I'm going to say this...

I am deeply thankful and appreciative that there is a talented group of individuals who, on their own free time, in exchange for nothing, put up both money and energy to provide everyone here a good, fun and enjoyable experience. I don't think anyone would say that it's perfect.

However, as a player who played on other PW servers before finding EfU, it doesn't even compare. It really doesn't. Since I've found EfU two years ago or so, I haven't even tried another PW simply because for the quality of the staff and community here.

There is a saying, "You don't know what you have until it's gone." I think this applies to EfU. Having played on previous servers that were, to put it mildly, horrific experiences, I deeply and sincerely appreciate everything that the EfU DM's do.

It is difficult sometimes to not get caught up in the moment, to find fault, or to under appreciate something. All you have to do is take a break from EfU, go play on another server for a week, and it becomes easy to realize how trivial all of those things are in comparison.

I truly and honestly hope that there is not a strong feeling among the DM team that they want to give it up. I don't really know what's going on, but I hope that this is not the case, that it is just stress and will pass soon.

That's really all I have to say on the matter.

[Oroborous]

I still think that 99% of the negativity is caused by people just not talking to each other, or when they do, blatantly taking things the wrong way.

I think EfU:A has awesome potential. For stories and mysteries.

I think the DMs are doing wonderful things. I like the banner system.

I think some of the more "dominant" factions are going great, and I don't think they got their by "powergaming".

A kinder, gentler tone will start when people start talking face to face about things upsetting or irking them. This goes for players and DMs both.

There's some real frustrations on both sides, and if people don't try to talk it out--I mean, what's the point? The games only fun because of the community, and if people are stressing each other out and ruining the fun we have two options.

1) Quit.
2) Talk it out.

I'd rather we all just talked it out in a healthy way. People have different expectations and perceptions, and they should be getting a chance to share them openly and honestly. That should come without personal attacks, insults, or feeling slighted because someone told you honestly how they feel.

[Nihm]

You as DMs should keep in mind that even if someone likes 99% of what you do, most likely the 1% they don't like is what you'll hear about.  Complaining is always more prevalent than compliments, is longer remembered, and is more thought about.  For me, I hate to compliment DMs because it sounds patronizing or like asking for attention or favoritism.  In general you guys are excellent.  Don't let the complaints get you down as they are the minority.  It is a big mistake to believe that a few complaints means your DMing isn't liked or appreciated.