FORKNI-L
Digest - 2 Feb 2015 to 4 Feb 2015 (#2015-16)
Wed, 4 Feb 2015
There are 3 messages totaling 160 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. War: Here's how it would be (3)
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Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 20:26:41 -0800
From: NytDreams <igatatsuwa@g.......>
Subject: Re: War: Here's how it would be
>
> >However, there are others who feel strongly attached to their
> >factions: in the last few wars, Libratsie has been the only
> >Rat-Packer, and Alex the only Ravenette. I guess those names mean
> >something to them.
>
> As Cousins means something to me. But real life has an annoying
> habit of getting in the way. To be honest, I don't know if I can
> work up the enthusiasm for going through it again. But for those who
> can, more power to them.
Yes, being a part of a faction is very important to some of us, as has
been pointed out. Being a Vaquera means a lot to everyone who is one.
The Vaqs would be up for a war at some point but many of us cannot do
one right now, not even a quick one.
One thing should be taken into consideration when talking about
cutting back to such a short time as a 'weekend war.' When a War
lasted a couple of weeks, those who could not play every night during
a full War had a chance to poke their noses in at least a handful of
days. Scaling back to just one or two nights will severely limit what
is already a dwindling number of writers because many people don't
have weekends off; we work all manner of shifts other than the
standard 8-5 Mon-Fri. Weekends are also a chance to do a horrendous
number of errands and chores that couldn't get done during the
weekdays, keeping people busy much of the time and away from their
computers.
One change that had unforeseen problems, at least for the Vaqs, was
the return of the lack of rules and free-for-all type of play. While
some people have enjoyed the change, the Vaqs as a whole have found it
quite frustrating, to put it mildly. The biggest stumbling block was
the lack of permission needed in order to attack a faction, their HQ
or their people. The last couple of wars in particular were incredibly
difficult for the Vaqs to actively play in, or even leave our HQ at
all because we never knew if it'd literally be standing or a pile of
rubble when we returned. We'd really enjoy returning to just a modicum
of rules for fair play and to give both factions in an attack a chance
to agree, deny or plan alterations before an attack happens. Too
often it has felt like our Wars have been written for us before we
even got to write our first post, and our only option was to adopt a
defensive position, fall back and parry for our lives.
The Vaqueras
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Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 06:38:24 -0500
From: Greer Watson <gwatson2@r.......>
Subject: Re: War: Here's how it would be
On Sun, 1 Feb 2015, Cousin Tok wrote:
> It seems to me that the number of active writers has steadily
> decreased. [...] If you define "active" as someone who writes other
> than arrival/departure posts, you don't see a lot of us.
There's a sad lot of truth in this. I've looked up a few statistics, though
only from the past two wars because those are the ones where I've kept
track.
In the last couple of wars, the following factions have played: Cousins,
Mercenaries, Nick & Nat Pack, Die-Hards, Knighties, Vaqueras, Ravenettes,
Perks, and RatPackers. Plus independents, especially in War 15. The total
number of people signing up to play: 40 in War 14, 43 in War 15. The total
number of posts: 161 in War 14, 177 in War 15.
Yeah, believe it or not, it actually went *up* slightly in the last war!
Even so, those who played in the big wars of yesteryear will immediately
point out that that's a *lot* fewer players than in the heyday of the
fandom, when there were literally hundreds who signed up, and--in the very
biggest wars--over 900 posts. (On the other hand, posts can be a lot longer
now.)
On the face of it, it looks as if "modern" wars simply scale down: fewer
players, fewer factions. The real problem, though, comes when you scale
down the number of *writers*. Because you're absolutely right: one needs
to consider "active" players in terms of writers.
A lot of players sign up in the expectation that they'll mostly be written
by someone else. They may write one or two posts, i.e. their own
arrival/departure. (In fact, if one were simply counting the number of
people who write *anything*, it would be more than half.) Still, as you
say, that's not the same as writing the attacks, the counterattacks, the
crossovers, the parties, the chit-chat at faction HQ, or any of the other
things that go to make up the bulk of war posts. That has always been done
by a handful of scribes in each faction, or the few independents who are
writing their own story arcs.
In War 14, the bulk of the writing was done by 14 people, including the War
Mistress. In War 15, there were 9 active writers. That's a big drop right
there.
You're right: most factions nowadays have only one really active writer.
(The exception is the Vaqueras, who seem to have a fair amount of behind the
scenes collaboration and at least two people who wrote actively in each of
the last two wars.) In other factions, things are even more occasional. No
doubt people intended to be more active when they signed up, but then found
that things happened in RL that made it impossible: work, family, illness,
or the like.
Once upon a time, if someone suddenly had to drop out, there's be someone
else in their faction who could pick up in their place. That simply isn't
true now.
I've thought for a while that, in some ways, what we need is a sort of
"Guide to War in the 21st Century". Because "War 101", fascinating though
it is, doesn't really fit the current situation.
Greer
gwatson2@r.......
http://www.foreverknight.org/FK4/
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Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2015 13:37:35 -0800
From: Liz the Lucky <lizthelucky@c.......>
Subject: Re: War: Here's how it would be
It occurred to me last night that I have the perfect reason for everyone
to gather in Toronto in May.
This Memorial Day marks the twenty-five anniversary of when I first when
into the hospital with what it was eventually decided was Granulomatosis
with Polyangyitis. At the time, 99% of the diagnoses came during autopsy.
I say that is something that deserves celebrating, and what better way
than to head to To for a big ol' party with all my listsibs?
Sucks that it can't be for real, but still.
Can anyone think of a better excuse?
Hugs and Kisses,
Liz the Lucky
lizthelucky@c.......
https://twitter.com/lizthelucky
Merc House Mom
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End of FORKNI-L Digest - 2 Feb 2015 to 4 Feb 2015 (#2015-16)
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