Up the game factor, please?

[Ramulus]

First, I'd like to point out that there is no intention to offend anyone. No-one. So be advised: this isn't personal.

However, from a gameplay pov, I find the CoC to be leaving resources unexploited. 'Human' resources, that is. Chain of Command just doesn't call in on assets they have around in the form of their units.
Knowing that this is in-between plots. But still...

It is notable how many times the same bots are in a thread. How many times such a thread is called semi-private. How many times people have to ask if they may play. Why is there a loop?
What about asking other bots to build a thread with you? Because they have someone who is like that, or has that function.

To just look at your persona/plot, and see if its an advantage or benefit to interact with someone with shared characteristics, or let randomness take a factor in, or even invite chaos.

Is this a plea for invite? Definitely not! I can very happily start my own threads for months to come, don't worry about me. Even if we can all guess that they'll be pointless because I'm not gonna instigate anything important. 'New guys' aren't knowing enough to start epicness.

This is just asking players to perhaps look a bit more to the bots that are in the game, and actively get some different flavours together.

If this ticks someone off, I'm sorry. Really not my intention. But a repeating pattern is not instantly a game, and all players should look out for quality/interaction control to a certain level, correct?
Personally speaking, this player is not here because she has nothing better to do in her time (would love a few extra hours in a day, actually).... she's here because she wants to participate in fun roleplaying. And is able to take responsibility to do so. Is willing to do so! Surely I'm not the only one feeling this way.

I hope folks understand where this viewpoint is coming from and how it can contribute to the game. If not, I'm happy to clear up any confusion.
- CC

[Rodimus Prime]

Now, as the most recent person to have posted a semi-private thread, I do tend to feel this is directed at least in part at me, so I'm going to go ahead and reply.

There are a number of reasons for a thread to get marked semi-private. Some of them have specific goals that need to be accomplished. Some are held in areas that are inaccessible to other players. Some times characters need to discuss things that they would not ICly discuss in front of a wider audience. Other times, yes, they are threads that the particular players have been looking forward to RPing out with specific other characters, and that's all there is to it, and... there's nothing wrong with that sometimes.

And, I hate to bring this reason up, but there are some players that just can't be trusted to post in a timely manner, and those who post a bit more frequently become, in time, inclined to make threads that exclude them to keep the threads they're involved in from being stalled out. It's unfortunate, but it's a reason as well.

However, I will point out that I do frequently try to make open threads to balance this out, and to be frank, many of these 'open invitations' tend to get more or less ignored, anyway. Let me point to Storytime, the thread currently involving Kup, Grimlock, and Optimus. It took me two days to get any other characters into that thread (and then it was Slingshot, who has since timed out), and more time than that to get enough people to make the interaction worthwhile.

The Hanging Gardens has been an open thread from the beginning, and the only people in it are those that the player who started the thread has gone out of her way to talk to, despite the fact that, at any time, anyone else could have joined.

On A Wing And A Prayer is an example of an open thread that did get other joinees... and one that's stalled, possibly as a result.

I don't think there's anything wrong with having closed threads, I don't think there's anything wrong with sometimes wanting to restrict RP to certain people. As far as the characters you see appearing over and over, though, you might want to ask yourself: is it always because the thread is closed, or could it be because those are the people who actually keep posting once they are actually in a thread? We do have quite a few unlocked open threads on the board. And you know what? A good many of them are stalled out. End result: the people who actually do their posting start playing with the other people who they know are doing the posting.

That said, I do try to do a mix of open and closed threads when I create threads. If you feel I haven't been making enough open threads, or you have the idea of one you'd like to see, please let me know and I can work with you.

[Victoria Raines]

Rodimus said things fairly succinctly, but I feel that a player whose characters are constantly in rotation, and who does post both open and closed threads I would add a couple of points. This is intended strictly from a player's point of view, and not as an opinion of the mods or staff.

Firstly, yes, you are seeing the same group of characters interacting. This is because it is those characters's players who have been driving the role play for the other members on this board for the past year plus. And yes, I have some characters that I prefer to thread with over others, sometimes because of side plots involving my characters, and sometimes because quite frankly some people drive me batty because they disappear off the face of the boards for weeks and leave me hanging in a thread. Or our posting styles differ to the point of teeth-grating annoyance. Such things happen when you have such a diverse group.

Secondly, I do not think it is a case of CoC under-utilizing resources. When DZ-3 ended, they made a point of creating an entire sub-forum for discussion of Small Plots. There is a thread there specifically for posting what we, as players, would like to see happen during the OOCly four months (yes it's been extended)- IC'ly, several months- between DZ-3 and the next major plot arc. If you compare those who posted there to the people who are constantly posting on the board, you'll see the same people.

Thirdly, you have been in game with two characters now for several months. If you want to create side threads that tie into major plots, or that accomplish goals for your characters instead of "pointless threads" then you are free to do so. The mods don't bite (unless you ask nicely) so as long as you double check that you aren't going against meta-plot/upsetting the apple cart then you should be fine. If those plans mean you need to talk with a player who seems highly active elsewhere, then PM them.

Personally, I've been happy to see that there is someone else out there that actually starts threads without being poked to do so. You seem to be saying that we don't have enough open threads for things to just "happen." Well, like Rodimus, I'll argue that point. We do start open threads. The problem is as Rodimus pointed out: open threads tend to stall or go nowhere. Also, we have a very reactionary player base who has a tendency to wait on its rp to come to them rather than to initiate rp on their own. This is highly, highly frustrating, but I have learned to deal with that by playing with those players who do post often and are participatory rather than reactionary.

I would love to rp with your characters more. Botanica and Shockwave are highly tied up in meta-plot. Mirage and Misfire are mostly open to be harrassed/played with at any time. Like you, I don't have several extra hours a day to rp for the heck of it, so I have to space out how many threads I'm involved in at once. But if someone contacts me about threading, or a plot idea, I will almost always go out of my way to accommodate them.

I strongly encourage you to go to the Settings and Starting Goals thread under the Small Plots OOC Discussion sub-forum and look at some of the ideas posted there. Then see if you have some to add. What do you want to see? Where would you like your characters to go? Random interaction can only go so far, after all, and to reiterate most of the players here will not enter an open thread unless personally asked to do so!

For example, there's the fact that Skid-Z has esssentially the same alt mode as Mirage will some day have. >_> This could be amusing to have pointed out, as Mirage in my head is immediately snarking about not being caught dead in that paint scheme!


Cyn

[Ramulus]

The reasons stated are pretty understandable laid out like this; I didn't think of them immediately. Of course, certain things can only be played out in closed threads to ensure they play out well. There is no objection whatsoever.

The other reason is very sound too, and that one I certainly hadn't thought off. I didn't know, and it basically explains everything. It means that what what was envisioned cannot stand and it's to the point. Consider this solved.

It's very reassuring that my attempts to create threads independently is appreciated though, to be frankly honest; I'm not always sure-footed. Heh, not joining the hanging gardens thread would indeed be an example of this; I got the feeling it was med/sci/eng, and none of my boys are in that section. So they didn't wander in.

I will take a good look at the subplot section, and get better communication and interaction on ideas. A good contribution would be to take part more actively and reinforce the rotation. Right?

[Victoria Raines]

I will take a good look at the subplot section, and get better communication and interaction on ideas. A good contribution would be to take part more actively and reinforce the rotation. Right?

Exactly! I look forward to seeing what you start up!