A link to our public EM listing topic: Public EM Listing
Some time ago, I started a topic on our EM forums to ask about their experiences regarding the public EM listing topic. I would now like to ask about your experiences as players using the public EM listing. Please consider answering the following questions:
1) Have you used the public EM listing at all? Did you know about it before reading this topic? If so, how did you hear about it or find it?
2) If you have used the public EM listing, how did it work for you? Were you able to reach an EM? Did it lead to an event?
3) What can we do to bring players and EMs together? Are there alternatives you have thought of?
4) Could the listing itself be improved in some way?
As a DM, I have been directing people with event requests towards the public EM listing. Somehow, I have gotten the impression that at least a few people have chosen to give up at that point, although I also know cases of people finding an EM. It is my hope that this topic can lead to constructive feedback that can be used to improve the listing or to come up with alternatives.
Experiences With The Public Em Listing
-
*Mr_Otyugh
- Posts: 2242
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
I started it at the suggestion of some EMs, of course as a user I've never really saw the need of it as I tend to already know the people to contact if need be. :P
Though if I'd have to make one argument about it really: when an EM goes inactive, they're almost never going to say that they go inactive and may appear for a prolonged time as "active" until it is updated in their place. There are times that I've guided people toward the topic, but most frequently I end up just giving my own suggestions based on who I know to be active.
Of course it's difficult to make static lists better represent the activity of EMs without having some actual "activity list" on it and then players can better make an informed decision. Say... a non-standardized approximately weekly addition of previous activity or some form of updating like "active since ___" and it's indicative whom to contact still. I'll admit, that's additional administrative work, but it'll give better indication as to who is active.
I'd also just clear out everyone who are inactive, send them a PM with their draft and if they become active again, they can re-post it. *shrugs*
Though if I'd have to make one argument about it really: when an EM goes inactive, they're almost never going to say that they go inactive and may appear for a prolonged time as "active" until it is updated in their place. There are times that I've guided people toward the topic, but most frequently I end up just giving my own suggestions based on who I know to be active.
Of course it's difficult to make static lists better represent the activity of EMs without having some actual "activity list" on it and then players can better make an informed decision. Say... a non-standardized approximately weekly addition of previous activity or some form of updating like "active since ___" and it's indicative whom to contact still. I'll admit, that's additional administrative work, but it'll give better indication as to who is active.
I'd also just clear out everyone who are inactive, send them a PM with their draft and if they become active again, they can re-post it. *shrugs*
-
*Sinlinara
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Hello, I would like to directly answer Ms. Miraie's questions from my own experiences.
1) Have you used the public EM listing at all? Did you know about it before reading this topic? If so, how did you hear about it or find it?
Yes, I knew about the Public EM Listing before I ever made my first character on the server due to my waiting an entire week to do so while I reviewed all of the server's information. This included browsing through A LOT of forum threads and reading every thread I could find that even so much as mentioned anything about Eberron. This way I got a feel for where the server was at and whether or not there was room for a Dragonmarked Heir of House Cannith on the server (even if it's only the Least Mark of Making). I think my experience may be a little outside of the ordinary in this regard, though.
The fact that it was made a week before I actually made an account on the forums and was still active and being updated by the various EMs at the time probably also contributed to my finding out of the thread.
2) If you have used the public EM listing, how did it work for you? Were you able to reach an EM? Did it lead to an event?
I actually don't think I've ever poked an EM or a DM with the request for an event that wasn't directly related to one of their stories that they were running. I think the closest that I ever came to this was asking Ms. Miraie questions about language learning and mentioning that Aleis was learning to speak to animals, only for her to later surprise me by having Ex-Factol Karan teach her himself. By this point I was already very familiar with multiple DMs and EMs on the server and there wasn't really a need to use the EM listings, although if Ms. Miraie had not surprised me I can see myself having made use of it.
3) What can we do to bring players and EMs together? Are there alternatives you have thought of?
Add a page to the Wiki and keep it updated with the 'cards' of various EMs and DMs. You can organize it by order of: 1. Dungeon Masters; 2. Event Masters; 3. Inactive. Quick Links can be provided in the contents to specific DMs and EMs (I.E.: 1.2 DM Miraie)
The information can be sourced from the Public EM Listing thread and it can be added to the list of Quick Links on the front page.
4) Could the listing itself be improved in some way?
I think universally everyone would say that it could stand to use some pruning and updating. For example, it lists both EM Miraie and EM Ariella despite both of them being upgraded to DMs (and in Ariella's case, later switching to one of the server's builders). The individuals who are inactive could stand to be removed from the thread so that the thread looks less like a graveyard of past EMs. (No offense; the server has been around for A LONG time so it's bound to happen.)
1) Have you used the public EM listing at all? Did you know about it before reading this topic? If so, how did you hear about it or find it?
Yes, I knew about the Public EM Listing before I ever made my first character on the server due to my waiting an entire week to do so while I reviewed all of the server's information. This included browsing through A LOT of forum threads and reading every thread I could find that even so much as mentioned anything about Eberron. This way I got a feel for where the server was at and whether or not there was room for a Dragonmarked Heir of House Cannith on the server (even if it's only the Least Mark of Making). I think my experience may be a little outside of the ordinary in this regard, though.
The fact that it was made a week before I actually made an account on the forums and was still active and being updated by the various EMs at the time probably also contributed to my finding out of the thread.
2) If you have used the public EM listing, how did it work for you? Were you able to reach an EM? Did it lead to an event?
I actually don't think I've ever poked an EM or a DM with the request for an event that wasn't directly related to one of their stories that they were running. I think the closest that I ever came to this was asking Ms. Miraie questions about language learning and mentioning that Aleis was learning to speak to animals, only for her to later surprise me by having Ex-Factol Karan teach her himself. By this point I was already very familiar with multiple DMs and EMs on the server and there wasn't really a need to use the EM listings, although if Ms. Miraie had not surprised me I can see myself having made use of it.
3) What can we do to bring players and EMs together? Are there alternatives you have thought of?
Add a page to the Wiki and keep it updated with the 'cards' of various EMs and DMs. You can organize it by order of: 1. Dungeon Masters; 2. Event Masters; 3. Inactive. Quick Links can be provided in the contents to specific DMs and EMs (I.E.: 1.2 DM Miraie)
The information can be sourced from the Public EM Listing thread and it can be added to the list of Quick Links on the front page.
4) Could the listing itself be improved in some way?
I think universally everyone would say that it could stand to use some pruning and updating. For example, it lists both EM Miraie and EM Ariella despite both of them being upgraded to DMs (and in Ariella's case, later switching to one of the server's builders). The individuals who are inactive could stand to be removed from the thread so that the thread looks less like a graveyard of past EMs. (No offense; the server has been around for A LONG time so it's bound to happen.)