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Demipharaoh Debates/2015 01 2015
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Results: TBA
WikiDebate between Mattphat and TreekaSu from January 2015
GHawkins Hello Egypt, and welcome to the DemiPharaoh WikiDebate between Mattphat and TreekaSu. The candidates schedules and time zones necessitated a wiki debate instead of live, and I'm more than happy to deliver.
GHawkins If you have any questions that you would like to submit during the week, feel free to edit the wiki yourself and notify the candidates, or /chat GHawkins and I will add the question to the wiki and notify the candidates myself. As ever, questions can be made anonymous though comments, discussion, personal attacks, and redundant questions will be tables or asked to be rephrased.
Mattphat I played in T1 and T2 before taking a break due to University, but I used to pop in every so often to see how things were progressing as I always used to miss the game after a while. What I love about ATITD is it's combination of my two favourite things in games; a vibrant community and building things. I have yet to find another game like it even after all these years and I'd be surprised if I ever do. In-game I'm often found pottering around my vineyards and barrels whilst trying to make that perfect wine (and usually failing), or trying to find the resources for a new construction.
TreekaSu I have played in all 6 tales although I didn't finish Tale 1 and was absent a good portion of Tale 5 due to medical problems. I love ATITD for the sense of community it fosters and the ability to work on whatever I feel interested in at the time. Flowers and vines were my focus for most of the tales but this tale I have become interested in regional research and developing a good flax seed. Friendships I have made here have carried over into my real life and if not for ATITD I wouldn't have 2 of what I consider to be my best friends. I love helping newcomers and have created 2 public works areas in CCR and OE. I can't imagine not having this *game* as part of my everyday life.
SECOND QUESTION: If you win this election you will pass the test of the Demi-Pharaoh and be our 40th 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, especially now that we're in an unprecedented free to play era.
Mattphat Free-to-play is interesting because it has attracted a different type of player to ATTID, ones who perhaps only wanted to play a couple of times a week and was maybe put off by the monthly fee before. Having said that I don't think that the role of DP has really changed much. I have always seen it as a mediator, a neutral party in times of dispute, and in times where required being able to issue a ban. With the AGA some would argue that DPs shouldn't need to have ban power anymore and that people should vote on whether individuals get banned or not. This is however something that I disagree with as I would rather have DPs willing to use banning powers themselves than wanting to pass responsibility onto others.
TreekaSu I have not seen much difference with the people starting the game now that it is free to play. I have always felt that the role of DP should be a mediator and someone who has a good general knowledge of the game. Helping newcomers and veterans as well navigate the many layers of the game is something I believe a DP should be able to do. DP's with their ban power are a needed part of the game and that power should not be given lightly.
THIRD QUESTION: Do you think there is a role in ATITD for disruptive players? How should DPs interact with players that intentionally buck community norms?
Mattphat I think there is a role, ATITD is a not meant to be a utopia but rather an actual community which has both good and bad elements. Player driven events by 'bad' characters in T1 were interesting and helped drive a society forwards, although at the same time negatively affected some. I liked how people helped those effected which helped prove one of this games main draws, its community. For such player driven 'bad' characters a ban is the usual response, and that is something that DPs should take care of if required. Players who are simply rude or odd are likely to get shunned rather than help and so will either learn to adapt or lose interest quickly, in such cases DPs should talk to the players before it gets too late and try remedy the situation if possible.
TreekaSu ATITD has always had players who have played against the grain. I think this has added to the uniqueness of this game and I find it brings people together to try and either change that persons behavior or run that person or persons off the game. People here generally self police most problems that arise and only in the very worst situations is a DP needed to step in and either ban or negotiate a truce. People who are here just to grief or cause problems generally just give up in time , those who don't should be dealt with before they ruin the playing experience for others.
Mattphat I can't imagine myself ever being in conflict with another player but I would first try to talk it out with the other player, and if that failed I would ask another DP to try and mediate the situation. Because I think one of the cornerstones of being a DP is impartiality I would remove myself from any discussions regarding any complaints from or against close friends.
TreekaSu I would ask another DP to step in if I was ever in conflict with another player. As far as a close personal friend or guildmate, I consider myself to be a fair and impartial judge and would only ask another DP to step in if I couldn't resolve the conflict to the satisfaction of both parties involved.
FIFTH QUESTION: Under what circumstances would you consider utilizing the tools created by the Anti-Griefer's Act (AGA) law? What do you consider 'griefing'? Do you feel the AGA has been used well so far?
Mattphat Because the game is currently free-to-play simply having a DP ban a player causes a problem from a cleanup point of view if for example they have been spamming people's camps with wood planes (such as if a new geodude were to appear). In such a scenario the AGA would be used to remove all trace of the player's griefing, however it could perhaps also be necessary for a DP to ban a player to instantly stop further damage because there is a couple of days lag before the AGA kicks in. Overall I feel that the AGA has been used well, except perhaps when it was used to try and ban Teppy. I consider griefing to be situations where sexist/racist/homophobic etc. language is used or where actions are repeatedly taken where the sole aim is to cause pain to players rather than trying to be part of the ATITD storyline (such the magnesium incident in T1).
TreekaSu I think the AGA is actually a better way in most circumstances to handle an overly disruptive player who is either spamming with items or spamming in Regional Chats. The DP ban comes in when a person is doing such things as constantly harassing an individual or group of people. Common sense tells us what is considered griefing or just being annoying. We know it when we see it, at least most rational individuals do. DP ban would be preferable when there is a need to get a person out of Egypt without waiting for the AGA ballot to be done.
SIXTH QUESTION: The AGA is one power that the DPs have in their toolkit, what other powers would you like to see DPs hold, in the interests of improving game play and making you more effective in meeting your stated goals?
Mattphat I'd like to see DPs having the power to remove the items of banned players themselves rather than having to resort to the AGA to do it. It would also be interesting to explore the idea of softer powers for DPs to deal with troublesome players who don't quite deserve a ban, such as sending them to Egyptian jail for a day to cool off. Overall though since a DP is perhaps seen as a mediator I'm not sure they need more powers, but making them more accessible through a "Call a DP" function similar to a GM could be good.
TreekaSu I would like the DP's to be able to warp to a player that is causing trouble. Maybe if we had a DP call button as Mattphat has put forward.
SEVENTH QUESTION: Does anyone have access to login to your account? (i.e., would any person other than yourself ever have access to your ban powers)? Note: spouselog does not allow access to ban powers.
Mattphat No one has access to my account except for me.
TreekaSu My account is secure and on one has access.
EIGHTH QUESTION: Have you played ATITD under other names in this tale or past ones, and if so, what were the names you played under?
TreekaSu I have always played as TreekaSu in Tales 1-6, I played as KaiaTik on Bastet for the short time it existed and have KaiaTik as an alt this tale.
Mattphat I've kept the same name throughout my time in Egypt, and in this tale I also occasionally run around in my mule, Holfa.
NINTH QUESTION: If the general consensus of the rest of the DPs were that a person should not be banned, but you felt strongly that they should, what would you do?
TreekaSuI would try and argue my point with the DP's but I would defer to the majority.
MattphatI'd try and persuade others with logic and reason, but if this failed then I would hopefully realise that I was on the wrong side of the argument and relent.
TENTH QUESTION: Select a question that you wish had been asked during this debate and answer it for yourself. Also, answer the question from the other candidate.
[Both candidates have declined to ask a question, the greatest possible compliment to my efficacy and thoroughness as host]
CANDIDATE STATEMENT: Please wrap up now and tell Egypt what they will get in a DP by voting for you. And if you do indeed want them to vote for you, please include why you would like them to.
Mattphat If you were to elect me a DP you would get someone who is reasonable, helpful, and above-all friendly. I have enjoyed this game for a long time and it is because of the strong community that I keep playing. Win or lose I will do everything I can to maintain a good atmosphere so that old and new players alike can continue playing this game I enjoy so much. As a side note I would also like to say thanks to the people who voted for me in the previous rounds, and to the people who messaged me in support when they saw that I was a candidate.
TreekaSu Electing me as a DP would give Egypt a very fair, caring, helpful individual who will go out of her way to try and make this game fun and enjoyable for both newcomers and veteran players. I care very strongly for this game and will do everything I can to foster a fun and helpful atmosphere. I think the Snowstorm Event this year showed just how willing most people are to help others and I would hope I can bring a bit of that camaraderie back to Egypt. I know being DP won't change my desire to help Egypt only enhance it.
GHawkins Thank you to both candidates for your participation, and to our readers for their attention. Go forth and vote!
