Due to rhings I read and heard meanwhile, there seems to be number of people who feel uneasy about requests. Who feel they fight an uphill battle. Who do not know what to write/expect. And even some who may have heard or been told beforehand they do not even try as it will be denied anyways. Or they need to restrict/change their request to get it to pass before even having posted it.

I know some of those people likely then have not much trust in approaching the DM team. I still will offer to approach me and talk with me about it. Be it on skype or in a PM. I can ensure it will also stay between us, if that is desired.

So if you dread making requests or ask for something and wish to talk about it, I will listen and try to find a solution for it.

Thank you
Amarice

_________________

That goes for me as well. I'd enjoy exchanging ideas and providing feedback on possible requests.

My strong point is planar lore so I am quite sure I can assist people best with requests regarding that. Other areas I may know a bit about and if I don't I may be able to point you to someone that does.

I prefer to talk in game or through PM's (I check those about daily.)

Thanks

-Hudson

_________________
Characters played:

Harold Kendry (Illusionist) -> see avatar
Elloanore (Travelling bard)

I have to say that with my requests recently, Quite a few of the team were really helpful on what the general "thoughts" were before I posted it up.

+1 to this topic.

_________________

Xalibossk, Body Tamer & Terror Of The Underdark

Thank you for this!
May I suggest, as Hudson has done, to list what other DM "strong points" are?

_________________

Being fairly new to requests and DM interactions myself, I can say that I -did- have a fear about it. However, that fear is largely unfounded. The team is helpful, courteous and respectful from my perspective. I put in a request, and had feedback nearly instantly, and I've PM'd about questions to Letum, and within a very reasonable timeframe (like a day?), I had answers about some background I wanted for a character. Not scary or intimidating like I'd been told or somehow imagined in my mind. Helpful, positive and wanting to see things move forward, that's what I got from it.

So... if you want something and you're unsure what to do..... ASK a DM. They won't bite your head off for asking. Trust me.

I'm going to be upfront about saying the opposite don't come to me for how to make a request, or what sort of things might get approved, etc. I just don't have the time and you'll get a better response from others on the DM team than you will from me.

Except in the case of requests that take scripting. If you want to know if something is mechanically possible before making a request, then I'm your guy and I have no issues with you PMing me to check first. But non-scripting type requests, you'll get further with someone else on the team than me.

Just something i found while searching old forum posts.



Granted, it was an awful request, but still. Made me laugh ;D

_________________
Isra Médéa - Unaora Quivyre - Xundiira - Dûrvilg

Just going to give this a nudge.

Anyone knowledgeable in Draconic lore mind reading over a request of mine? I know Dusty is our resident dracophile but I don't want to prod Dusty if they're not active :p

_________________

You can PM it to me! I can't promise I'll get you a response in one day, or something like that. Depending on the amount of information in it, though, I'll try to do it quickly.

_________________

What would be nice is some forms of process knowing how private requests work.

I got one at the moment and I feel lost not seeing progress like a public one normally does, (Also bugging the Dm you sent it to feels a bit intrusive)

_________________

Xalibossk, Body Tamer & Terror Of The Underdark

*Gets up in the distance with a raised finger, shining like a beacon of light and hope. Remembers the lack of actual validity in the knowledge. Sits down again to brood a little more*

Oh, of course - half of the planet ninjaed me.
Ah, screw it. If Jes is reading it, I want to read it too!
But I warn you, I'll make a lot of fun at your typos.
Individually.

BUT FIRST. I shall slumber.

_________________
Womans in your town

Not a DM myself but long as you can give me a heads up before sending to my PM Box, I'm always willing to look at requests if you feel comfortable to give my perspective.

I feel like I can never tell what's expected of me. And knowing that expectations range far and wide from person to person I often find my self overwhelmed with where to begin at justifying an idea I may have. In my experiences a lot of the times when I feel that I've put considerable effort in justifying my idea it still gets torn apart based on expectation, based on opinions. And I'm not entirely sure how the best way to approach such a topic is. I'm often told what I should and shouldn't do before hand and even after I've made a requests and a lot of the time these opinion based bits of advice tend to be contradicting. In a sense I suppose when you get your ideas changed or asked to compromise in a way that defeats the original aspect that made an idea likeable it's a bit disheartening and after repetition it feels as if I repeat the same song and dance over and over at times. This all happens only to come up with some new concoction that seems fun individually for it's own purpose because I have my own plans and ideas for what exactly I want to do with the idea... When details are changed it may not seem that big a deal from the out side; it can be world changing to initial plans and can change the entirety of what made the idea appealing. Often times I find responses rather lack luster towards the cause and are often implemented in what the commenters would find fun rather then what I found fun about such character and offer suggestions they personally would find more enjoyable when in all reality there is nothing, lore wise wrong with the request. The want to offer willingness to work with others and not to be viewed as difficult makes me feel that I should try to appease others wants to play a character even though it may be something I strongly dis like I still feel the expectation to just agree. I've tried to simply agree and I've tried to play the character towards what others wanted from it and I just found my self more and more often not liking the idea. It's not what I wanted to play, It's not fun... It felt like I wasted my time and left me disapointed and a little sad... and now I don't even feel like looking at the character because of how I feel. I don't enjoy it at all... sure I can play the character to how 'they' wanted it... it is after all what they wanted... but... It's just not fun to play and it kinda brings down my mood. I don't find it interesting and I don't have any drive for it. I've spoken to a few DM's and when I try to speak my mind and be honest about what I would like I get responses that make me feel judged as a person and that's not really helpful to the situation. I feel at a loss for what to do or what to suggest or how to represent what I would like to do. I feel that if I am strong in my stance and explain why I chose certain things or why I personally like something that some one else disagrees with I feel that it turns in to a battle field of words and feelings. I often feel that my want and desire for a certain idea gets over looked. Time and time again I've been told 'I don't trust you to _____.' At first this kind of hurt my feelings and I felt that I had done something wrong. I've come to understand what this means in a different light however. What this term really translates into to me is, ' I don't think you will play this the way I -feel- this should be played.' In general, It's not fun to be working on a painting meticulously then to have the equivalent of some one coming up behind you and saying something like 'You need more rainbows' and just adds them on with no real consideration to the gestalt of the piece, or the artist's intent. I feel that I am expected to make something others will want to play and I feel that I am expected to play this just as they would play it, when in truth it's nothing like what I would like to play my self. All this comes together and translates in to a communication barrier and I can't help but feel confused about what exactly I should be doing or even who I should talk to. Every thing just seems so different and even when I work hard on making my ideas plausible for the setting I still feel that it's not given a real chance. This said I do appreciate those on the team taking their time out to try and help and I recognize the initial want to help. Just because some one thinks your beautiful painting needs more rainbows doesn't mean they want to destroy it- it just means they have a different creative mind set and may not be getting the message you are trying to convey. Subjectivity is a strange thing. I do thank those who are in the positions they are in for their hard work and desire to help make things awesome. You guys are great and well meaning, Thanks for that. I suppose this really sums up a lot of my feelings when trying to approach the 'Should I make a request?'

_________________

I'll send my request to the two lizard wizards once I'm back from work!

_________________

Passionate:

When weighing fun, the DMs don't just need to weigh your fun when they examine and review a request. They need to weigh in the fun of others around the character , and what that character can bring to the table to make Amia a better server.


When DMing in a PnP campaign, I have a LOT more room to wiggle for balancing backgrounds and special characters as compared to the DMs on Amia, where you have a larger audience to consider balancing for and ensuring fair treatment for all.


Also, there is something to be said for the shaping effects of coming to this island. Tuomas as an example I didn't start out planning on him being an Exalted Magician, or an effing veteran of any wars on Amia. I was simply starting with the plan of being a plush doll maker that'd work towards maybe at some point developing a sentient construct.

His time here has changed that desire but not in a bad way. And, it's (a few things aside) been enjoyable to see him so changed.

As for feelings.. I admit it can hurt to have something you're hardset on being denied and with little likelihood that it'll ever get approved , but at the same time it may open you to something you'll still find interesting but the DMs can accept.

As for the Artist's intent.. that's fine for writing your own stories or drawing your own pictures, but intent will only go so far in an environment that is dynamic and fluid.. (as a hobby level Writer I can empathize to some measure).

I understand this sentiment completely and fully and know just why a certain amount of restriction should be implemented. I've seen some errors in a few of my past ideas and have come to agree with others on why it wouldn't work. But still there seems to be an unspoken residence and feeling that is ever present in the community when it comes to requests- especially around the 'special character' sorts. My post was to offer some insight as to why there seems to be this 'don't wake daddy' mentality through out the player base. And I can't really speak for the others who I know are often times afraid to voice their opinions but I can speak on my own experiences and offer my view point for those who seek an understanding of why some of this mentality exists. Most often people try to 'Compromise' an idea for the better of the community to be-able to interact with the character. Now In my idea of a Compromise means 'an ability to listen to two sides in a dispute, and devise an agreement acceptable to both' Now in some of my experiences it seems that what has transpired does not fit that definition. In a sense I feel as if my opinions weren't taken in to account and due to such or due to my want to please I've ended up with something I don't particularly like. Now I try to stay as open minded as possible and often times drop something and go back to re read posts to see if there's something I'm missing or to see if I can understand what they are saying any better or to see things from their view... and even when I ask others how they interpret it.. and they seem to think the same things as what I'm understanding... it makes it hard to believe some times that both parties interests are being considered. From those that I've spoke to this seems to be the issue no one really wants to come out and state and no one really wants to be up front about it out of fear of miscommunication and appearing confrontational.

Then again I do have a skeleton in the closet that not many are honestly comfortable talking to me about in a civil manner with out insulting undertones. But this is a whole other issue, in and -of- it''s self from a different perspective that also breeds this sort of fear mentality when it comes to making a request. Denial is harsh enough but it seems like there are those out there who feel that their views and opinions aren't being considered or heard on top of that. And honestly in my experiances in some cases... they aren't and I've tried time and time again to try and see things for the better... and I just can't no matter how hard I look.

_________________

I accidentally the whole request.
Is that bad?

_________________
Womans in your town

I've been pretty outspoken, critical and cynical about the entire request process for a long time, so I think Hudson and Amarice volunteering their services like that is a good step toward that.

_________________
Andrew Fryar: Cordor's Folk Hero
Bobrin: Eccentric Avenging Executioner
Lyle Torrowfire: Retired badass
Marigold Cobcruncher: Perceptive Priestess

Agreed- I think this is really awesome of them to be doing and I think it's a great direction and initiative to take.

_________________

I think this is really important to pull out. I have also been told this, word for word, and think it is the major underlying factor of discontent within myself and the community. It is not just in the DM Team, but across player divides as well, so hopefully we all take that into consideration. There is no healing to be done, despite everyone's desire, until this problem is directly approached by us all. I'm trying to encourage it wherever I see it- so thanks, Passionate! I am proud of you for continually voicing yourself in spite of many passive attempts to shut you up. It is a sad day when one feels one's RP is 'less than' and I know the feeling well. I choose to find my fun regardless, and hope you continue to not give up easily!

As for helping revamp the requests forum, I have little in the way of feedback that isn't scrap the whole fucking process as it is and rethink the approach. I fear my opinion on that forum is entirely radical and not what any DM would like to hear, you included, Amarice, and thus I keep my opinions to myself. But I hope someone else is as brave as you, Passionate, and I can add my voice to their (passionate and not inappropriate) reform in support too!