Post by Hellbender on Nov 14, 2011 11:58:47 GMT -5
I have reconsidered the idea of a "How's My Driving?" (HMD) feature for DeadZone in light of recent conflicts. Previously, I agreed with the expressed opinion that we did not need one, people could send other players feedback anytime they wanted to, and that they just created unnecessary drama. Thanks to some recent issues and some long-standing ones, I no longer agree.
I believe Deadzone would benefit from a regular, mandatory HMD feature. I have seen it work very well in other RPGs, and I believe that we need one here because:
I believe that HMD posts/requests need to be regular because:
I believe that HMD posts/requests need to be mandatory. By this, I mean both HMD requests by players, and HMD posts to other players. Another RPG I participated in, "The Wake", had a monthly HMD, where you posted a thread for each of your own characters for other people to commend on, and you were supposed to post at least 3 feedback posts to other people's characters. Here's why I think mandatory requests and posts are better than voluntary ones:
I do not have an opinion one way or another whether feedback should be anonymous or named. There are pros and cons either way. I do not have a good opinion on what mechanism to use for HMD posts: a sub-forum with character threads on DZ, a regular post with threads in the DZ LJ comm, or what.
I believe Deadzone would benefit from a regular, mandatory HMD feature. I have seen it work very well in other RPGs, and I believe that we need one here because:
- Most players are very polite, and don't like to bother other players about what seem to be minor issues. Since players are not mind readers, said minor issues never get corrected, and fester until someone can't stand it anymore and either rebukes the offending player sharply, or brings it to the mods, who bring it up with the offending player. The offending player, who has had no idea that their play style/character interpretation/grammar/kumquat addiction was annoying someone else, is broadsided with a surprise complaint, goes 'WTF?', and may well get very defensive. Drama ensues.
- When a mod, or mod/player brings up an issue with a player, they carry the inescapable baggage of 'I am a MOD, and my actions determine your RP future here'. That baggage can turn minor crit into a major rebuke from the receiving player's point of view. Repeated minor crit or objections from a mod can lead to the fear that the player is an undesirable and their participation is not really wanted by those running the game.
- Some players do not believe 'no news is good news'; they may assume if they don't get any feedback that their roleplaying skills suck and that people are just barely tolerating them and that they aren't wanted.
- Players may be reluctant to actively solicit feedback, because they may feel that it looks like they are begging for praise. This is not an unrealistic fear, because it is a common motivation on fanfiction sites when authors ask for 'reviews', and most players know that.
I believe that HMD posts/requests need to be regular because:
- Belated, irregular feedback allows issues to fester.
- HMDs only on request look like one is soliciting praise (as noted above)
I believe that HMD posts/requests need to be mandatory. By this, I mean both HMD requests by players, and HMD posts to other players. Another RPG I participated in, "The Wake", had a monthly HMD, where you posted a thread for each of your own characters for other people to commend on, and you were supposed to post at least 3 feedback posts to other people's characters. Here's why I think mandatory requests and posts are better than voluntary ones:
- If everyone posts HMD requests, and it's mandatory, a player no longer looks like they are 'begging for praise' when they ask for feedback.
- Mandatory HMD feedback means that players are more likely to get feedback on minor issues before they fester, or at least some acknowledgment that the character exists.
I do not have an opinion one way or another whether feedback should be anonymous or named. There are pros and cons either way. I do not have a good opinion on what mechanism to use for HMD posts: a sub-forum with character threads on DZ, a regular post with threads in the DZ LJ comm, or what.
