Demipharaoh Debates/2012 08 08

Bryce: Since Dreasimy is away, you all are stuck with me moderating the debates this month.

Bryce: but in her honor, we'll start out w/ the same question she starts out with.....

For those who have never had the opportunity to interact with you before can you share a little about yourself, what you enjoy about ATITD as well as how long you have been playing?

Avanya: Hi folks! I first found Egypt during Tale 4, and joined the Bastet shard. When the population dropped to less than 10 active accounts, I finally made the shard switch. By then, Tale 5 was halfway over. I've been playing ever since. I have been playing online games for well over ten years, but had never found a player base so cooperative, helpful, and smart! Egypt is fun, but I fell in love with the community here, and that's what keeps me here.

Avanya: In real life, I'm a chemist by training, and I'm a handweaver and spinner. In Egypt, I love glassblowing, pyrotechnics, flowers, research and just helping folks in our great community.

Mariamom: I have been playing ATITD since Tale 3. I really enjoy this game because of the people who play it. They have always made me welcome and helped me in the early stages. I now do the same for newer players. The game for me is relaxation. There is no pressure to go up the levels if you don't want to. So I enjoy running around Egypt, finding new places and people and herbing to my heart's content.

Mariamom: II live in the UK and so find it difficult to do some tests which involves working with others due to the time zone. I work in a Jobcentre and so I have constant face-to face interaction with people which I feelmwill help me as a DP

Feyth: I have been playing since t2 i have changed my name a few times i enjoy beetles running around egypt checking uot other players camp deco and genraly just doing research, I have tried my best to be available to people when they need help and to help people even when they dont know it

Feyth: In real life i am a computer networking guru and spend most of my time in a book or with my head in someones computer. I am currently working on an idea for an app for ATITD to notify players of calander changes.

Q:If you win this election you will pass the test of the Demi-Pharaoh and be our 8th DP of this tale. There are a variety of points of view on what the role of DP should and shouldn't be, what is yours?

Avanya: I know that DP's official role is to wield the scary ban stick. However, I have always felt that it should be considered to be Ambassador of Egypt, if you will. Our DPs should be people that are active role models in our community. Whether its pushing research, mentoring new people, organizing events, or just being helpful, I think they should go above and beyond to make Egypt an even better place.

Mariamom: I feel a DP is there to help settle disputes which the people involved feel, or whatever reason, that they cannot do themselves. Therefore the DP should be invited in to help mediate. It is not all about banning people. In the 3 tales I have played so fare only a handful of people have been banned and so this is a very small part of the DP role.

Feyth: Honestly a DP is there to rally the communty when projects need to be done as well as there to help mediate disputes. As a very public figure DP should use that "fame" to get people informed of what egypt needs

Q:How would you handle it, as DP, if you were involved in an interpersonal conflict with another player? How would you handle it if a close personal friend or guildmate made a complaint, or had a complaint made against, seeking your intervention as DP and possibly a ban?

Feyth: I would not take that myself i would defer to another DP because if i am involved no choice i make would be unbiased and any DP involved should be free from personal involvement in the matter

Avanya: If I were involved in a conflict, I'd do everything that I could to settle it maturely. If it needed, though, I would seek out the mediation skills of one of our other DPs. If I had a friend that needed mediation, I would most inquire first as to the nature of the conflict. If I felt that I could not be completely objective and fair to both parties, I would excuse myself and refer them to another DP for help. A mediator needs to be neutral, and I would (and do) take that stance very seriously.

Mariamom: I have to be honest and say I have been very luck in my time playing this game. I have only been involved with one dispute between neighbours over territory. I first had to stop them calling each other unpleasant names and once that was achieved discussed was that they could agree on the split of the territory. Eventually, they did reach an agreement. It is very difficult to do in writing as people cannot see expressions etc. I would everything I could to prevent banning anyone. There should always be some form of solution

followup question: kuupid: what if you were the only DP Feyth, how would you handle that situation

Feyth: Then i would ask some trusted members of the community to meet with me to discuss a course of action that would be a fair and unbiased choice. Even as the 8th DP you do run the risk that no other DP would be available however there are many players that are willing to help difuse situations

Q: Zhukuram: There are many game issues that affect the player base: which game mechanic (how things work inside the game; scoring, interface, etc) do you think is the worst? Which is the best? Which ones would you remove and/or change and why.

Feyth: Scoring based on a new player coming and becoming paid to play is the worst feature of the game. Having a test pass depending on the game having a new player when you need them or forcing players to create a one month toon to pass. I enjoy how what we do affects everything in the world on some level. The biggest change i would make would be to remove DP as a test but leave it as an elected office so that no one but people who truely wish to be DP would be trying to get elected

Avanya: I think many of the mechanics are a struggle for us now, especially the ones that are sensitive to population. Some of the Art test criteria for me are far too cumbersome for the number of players we have now. Pyrotechnics and beetles especially need to be re-evaluated so that test passes are actually possible for more people. I'd like to see the "points" requirement for passing lvl 2 and 3 beetle rounds lowered, and have a big revamp of Pyro done. (I could chat all day about that...).

Avanya: I also think Banquet needs help, since our random yeasts and hard to catch fish make most menus un-doable. Maybe more coarses on a menu, and let a player pick which to serve...or just take OUT the impossible beer combos. I'm also passionate about mutagenics, and reserach requirements (think Test of FEstivals) that are too high for our current population.

Avanya: I'd also like to see the Mentorship get a HUGE revamp, or else just remove it.

Mariamom: Wow, good question! Some tests I won't attempt because I think they are too costly i.e. Phoenix and cartouche. The level system gets some people going. I think it is fine, you don't have to do the levels if you do not want to. I miss not being able to swim this tale. I think the tests are challenging and there if you want them. I ejoy Ritual Tattoo and Darkest night for me, but the lack of appropriate shrooms is very frustrating

Q: Which of you would win the evening gown competition and why?

Avanya: Definately Feyth or Mariamom. I"m usually covered with charcoal and bits of glass...hard to pretty that up :)

Mariamom: Probably one of the others as I haveno creative flair at all:)

Feyth: Well I would have to say Avanya her name just flows off your tongue and all that salts of metal from pyrotechnics sparkle on her skin and hair permanently now and if you get to clse with a flame your in for another pyro show ;)

Q: Does anyone have access to login to your account? (ie, would any person other than yourself ever have access to your ban powers)? Note: spouselog does not allow access to ban powers.

Avanya: At this moment, yes, one very trusted friend and GM does have my password. However, should I be elected, I will change it and not share it with anyone. (I feel *very* strongly that only people elected to hold the ban stick should have access to it).

Mariamom: No, no-one else has access to my passwords - not even my in-game husband. I consider them sacred

Feyth: Yes my RL husband Jaxum has my login credentials. However is i was elected we have already discussed the fact he can not login on my account other than log as spouse

Q: Zhukuram: As a DP do you think there is any responsiblity or ability to help attract new players to the game? How far do you think you can go personally to get new players to come and try? Do you think that only Teppy has the ability to fix the population issue?

Feyth: I think Teppy is the farthest from getting new players anymore he is too far seperated from the game now. The best way to get new players is word of mouth, talking in game forums especialy forums discussing crafting and grabbing people that miss community feel of mmo's now

Avanya: I think Teppy has the power to attract more people, through advertising. I think everyone that plays, though, has the power to help *retain* more players. Frankly, most of us do that already, by being helpful and patient, and reaching out to new players. I do think that the critical issue for our population issue is in Teppy's hands, however--we need him to more actively support the needs of our players. More fixes, more attention to updating mechanics, more events. We can force our friends to try it (goodness knows I have!!) but without his commitment renewal, I don't forsee population increases. :(

Mariamom: The best way to spread the nes of the game is personal recommendation. I have mentioned it to the family> Both my son and sister tried it but it wasn't for them. I think anyone can "advertise" the game to friends and family, but big timeshouldbe down to eppy. He needs to get it mentioned in magazines etc to attract others. Though having said that, it will probably only appeal to certain people anyway.

Q: GHawkins: A lot of focus is put on the Departed Persons Act in it's role of clearing Egypt of the effects of griefers, but what are your opinions on the use of the law beyond that? Have you personally used the DPA to claim abandoned structures, and what have you done with those?

Mariamom: I think the DPA is a good way of clearing Egypt of all abandoned and unused equipment. Yes I have used it to claim cp, wh etc. Some I maintain for local use, others, if small I recover materials and pull down the cp. I mainly use it to dismantle all the abandoned flax cobms, brick racks and distaffs littering Egypt - my biggest bug bear!

Avanya: I feel torn on it. I have used it on occassion, mostly when I've been named heir by a friend that has left. When I inherited a large camp this tale, I tore many things down, and took what I could to donate to research. Then I found a new player and gave the remaining cp's and buildings to him to help him get started. And I have, in past tales, DPA'ed abandoned compounds as well.

Avanya: I'm torn about it because, while I try to recycle materials that would otherwise be wasted for the good of the community, I have seen players return after 60 days unpaid, and find all their hard work torn down. Granted, that doesn't happen often, but when it does its frustrating. Usually in that case, though, people pool their resources to help that player get re-established.

Feyth: I have used DPPRA in previous tales however I have not this tale. When I do dppra i take everything i possible can and donate it to research, public facilties and helping new players in that order. I understand the intent of the law is to keep egypt clean but I see alot of vulture activity. For instance you come across a guild camp everything in that camp is guilded but the player forgot to guild his compound do you dppra it or do you contact the guild ? Personally i would claim the building and contact the guild to return the stuctures and all items wit

Feyth: within it becuase it is obviously a mistake

Q: How many hours a week on average would you say you play ATITD?

Avanya: 40 hours or more. probably much more, but I am too afraid to count!

Feyth: i hate to say it but i have no life outside of egypt and its probably 60 or 70 hours a week

Mariamom: I usually play up 2-3 hours a day during the week. Longer at weekends 5 -8 hours perday possibly.

Q: Do you have any thoughts on how relevant it is 'how' people get to the final ballot? Is it fair game to have alts in early rounds voting for themselves as another character or blocking opponents? Do you *want* to be DP? Why?

Feyth: Egypt is at a point in the actively playing population that alts truely could influence that outcome of the final rounds of voting. I dont feel lats should be used to achieve an upperhand in the dp rounds. Yes i do want to be DP that primary reason is I really do like to help people and I am trying for oracle for leadership

Avanya: I think it reflects on people's character how they get to the end. I've only voted for myself once, and it ended up being a tie and no one advanced. I'm still regretting that decision. Personally, though I have seen others use alts to have more sway, I would not do that. It doesn't feel fair, but thats how the game mechanics work, so of course we see it. But in the end, I think great candidates are chosen by their peers.

Avanya: I do want to be DP, and have actively wanted it this whole tale, though I am usually willing to vote for others that also want it. I try to involve myself inthe community, and I also try to help settle disputes when I find them. I think I am a very fair and level headed person, and I think I make a good mediator. To be elected DP to me means that Egypt has faith in my abilities to do that, and its a sense of legitimacy for me trying to help settle disputes.

Mariamom: I do feel that some people may notbe totally serious about being a DP, and so it can make a farce of the whole thing at times. The role itself is quite a serious one, and so putting yforward any character who is not serious is not helping Egypt or the populace.But it is hard to discourage this type of behaviour. I have only decided seriouly this tale that I would like to be DP> I feel I have grown and more capable and able to help in resolving disputes.

Q: GHawkins: Quick clarification from Mariamom and Feyth, when you way local use or public works, do you mean that you set the compounds you've claimed to be usable by the public, donate salvaged materials to a local established public works, or in the case of "local use" simply claim the compounds for your personal use when you're in the area?

Feyth: No when i say public facilities i mean that i or a guildy take the mats to the main public works guilds near the CS's to expand their public works

Mariamom: If it is a large complex and there are no local public facilities nearby, I have put the cp's to public use. Any otheres, that are in the sticks for instance I would tear down. I help with HHOFW vigils and so donate a lot of materials to that, or to local research and/or projects.

Feyth: usually there is a main public works in each region and i try to give evenly to each

Q: What have you done, or what do you plan to do, to benefit Egypt as a whole

Avanya: I try to help organize pyrotechnic shows and help people with that test, since its so user-unfriendly. I contribute actively to technology research, and plan to work hard with the other genetics gurus to open the Test of Festivals. I always try to answer every question I feel confident enough to, whether its from a new player in local chat or someone in public. I want to help keep the voice of our community friendly and helpful. I also enjoy adding to the wiki (I had great fun putting toether a chimes guide this tale, complete with sound samples for all the chimes, to help people plan their windsong tests). But my biggest goal this tale is still in progress.

Avanya: I'm working on a very detailed (maybe TOO detailed) glassblowing guide, with step-by-step instructions and vidoes for each piece. I want to see this otherwise frustrating to learn skill more accessible for players.

Mariamom: I regularly help out with monthly vigils in River Plains, and so by donating my time I have helped many people in Egypt to pass the test. I also contribute towards research in both my local regions and other larger regions.

Feyth: I try to support research and get tests open. Even for tests i dont like to do i still go play the thought tests or help with others doing architecture. I do small things as i see them come up to try to help motivate others so that they might stay and become one of our "core" players and in return watch them do the same with new players. My biggest thing is still a owrk in progress but I want to get an app created for the calander so no one ever misses an uplanned event again.

Q: Anon: Teppy is on atm, any words of wisdom for him?

Avanya: Remember your promises, and follow through. We love this game, and we need you to love it again, too.

Feyth: Love the game like you used to just like we do

Feyth: Oh and Egypt needs pigs and ponies

Mariamom: Wen I first started playing Teppy was around quite a lot and even helped me when I putin a DM call. Now he does not make himself so available. It would be more encouraging to know he is taking an interest like he used to!

Q: On to the swimsuit competition.....who wins and why?

Feyth: I would win the Swimsuit competition, because... im sexy and i know it

Avanya: We all get disqualified...no swimming, so we haven't bought suits yet!

Mariamom: If I had afigure like my avatar I might be in with a chance. As it is........I think Avanya and Feyth stand a better chance

Q: Under what circumstances would you consider utilizing the tools created by the Anti-Griefer's Act (AGA) law (what some of you called the Geodude Law)? In other words, what do you consider 'griefing'? Do you feel it has been used well so far?

Mariamom: I belive that "griefers", if they will not desist their actions or enter into negotions to temper their actions, should be removed from the game. Griefing to me is a form of harrassment and this should not be tolorated either in game or rl. As far as I know, the law was used initially at the beginning of the tale and not since. Therefore I think the law has been used well to date.

Avanya: I do feel its been used well this tale. I consider griefing to be when a player acts purposefully to ruin the enjoying of another/many other players. The intent to ruin other's fun is important...conflicts born out of self-interests or ignorance to me do not qualify. I only envision myself using the Geodude law in two circumstances: 1. if I felt i was justified in banning someone but could not pin them down to do so (as happened to Kuupid this tale, and thus the law was born). 2. If enough players were calling for a vote on someone and I felt there was grounds (but did not want to ban them myself). This latter case is hard to describe, but I feel the law allows the players to decide on bans *in addition to* the ban stick, and so I would try to honor that. Mostly, though, I feel that if I were involved trying to diffuse a situation that led to me to want to ban someone, I would use the ban stick, if entrusted to do so. Rest assured, as a very last resort.

Feyth: I dont think i could use the AGA if i wasnt willing to spend the ban myself. Personally if i cant stand behind the ban 100% i cant use egypt to ban them for me. I am not saying the AGA is bad just i wouldnt use it. I think there needs to be definitive guildelines and laws passed to set the benchmark for what constitutes greifing. Is it placing mpre than 3 structures outside someones cp ? if so then does that mean the person owns the land around their cp? these are things people talk about every tale maybe its time to write a law for it

Q: I would like each of you to wrap up now and tell Egypt what they will get in a DP by voting for you.

Avanya: Well, I guess you'll get a more confident Avanya, because I will feel justified when I stick my nose in everyone's business... But seriously, I think you'll get a DP that will promise to be around until the end of the tale, will try to be as helpful and courteous as she can be, and who will strive to continue to help our community prosper and have FUN. I'll also do my best to find fair solutions to conflicts that arise, and try to help diffuse the drama of conflicts that do occur.

Feyth: I would be a fair DP i would never use a ban lightly (unless my husband uses my tuition mushies to cook with again). Seriously though being DP is a serious job and should be seen as that its a job not just a test . That is how i feel and will not quit helping people whether or not i am elected as DP this round.

Mariamom: By voting for me you woulld have a DP who is willing to work hard to keep the harmony in Egypt. I am approachable be it for acro or help with a problem. I am a regular pkayer with no plans to quit at this time. I feel that the DP is not just a test, it have a serious role and I feel I am up to the challenges it may give me. I would not change my role or way of playing however this election goes:)

Q: Pirates or Ninjas? GO!

Avanya: Ninjas!! They share their tea...ever see a pirate that shares his rum?

Feyth: Ninja Pirates duh

Mariamom: Pirates! I love sailing and that tot of rum is mighty tasty!

Bryce: Thanks everyone for participating in the Debate and for those who submitted questions ahead of time.

Bryce: good luck everyone, and don't forget the Chicago creed; vote early, vote often.

Feyth: Thank you Bryce for hosting

Avanya: Thanks for hosting Bryce!!

Mariamom: Thank you Bryce for hosting. Thank you everyone for your wauestions, and good luck to Avanya and Fryth :)

Avanya: Best of luck to Mariamom and Feyth! No matter the outcome, Egypt wins :)