Public Committee 2.0

[Kontrolz]

This thread is NOT about suggesting changes for public arenas or whining about settings. It's about whether or not another public committee could be set up, or even if it should be set up. If so, how.

It goes without saying that the public arenas could use some attention, both basers and non-basers agree. There also seems to be enough player interest to justify another public committee. All we need is someone on staff with the power to implement changes (or at least test them) to run this thing or at least be willing/able to try changes when they are suggested by the committee.

So, first of all lets get some opinions on how this new committee could/should be run, or if it even should be made in the first place. If we get enough support I'm hoping that someone on staff with the necessary powers will step up and get this going. Or, if someone with the necessary powers doesn't want to get it going, at least let the people who want it get it going and be willing to try changes that the committee comes up with (as long as they are practical). This is all assuming that another public committee should even be set up in the first place though.

[Liquid Blue]

waiting for staff to post here

[CaptainPoopface]

The pub committee should be made.

The most important first step is to find the easiest and most reliable way of assessing whether the changes are approved by enough players, such that they should become an ongoing part of at least one of the pubs. Without that, any adjustments are like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded while a roomful of people shouts what to do.

"Turn the top part left once! No, the top part!
"The other way!"
"Left!"
"No, turn it sideways and then rotate the part on the right twice!"
"It's totally screwed up now. Go back to the way it was 2 minutes ago!"

I really hope this point sinks in.............

To me, the answer is a polling bot that runs for some limited time (a week or two) and checks aliases, maybe IPs, maybe an undisclosed usage amount, so that each unique player can only vote once on a particular issue or setting. There may be alternate or additional ways of quantifying the viability of a proposed change. Yes, a new pub committee should be started, but this is the Zeroth Order of Business. Without it, we are blindly twisting the Rubik's Cube.

As for the structure of the committee: Keep it small (i.e., between 3 and 8 people). Make sure the different pub contingents are represented (spawners, basers, LTs, any others). Strive for a baseline maturity level among the members. Immaturity seems to be a longstanding part of the TW / SS culture, but we may be able to transcend it... The role of the committee would be to:

1. Gather ideas and suggestions to test
2. Decide what will be tested, in what order, and how
3. Make the actual change(s) for a specified duration (e.g., two weeks)
4. Get player feedback about whether the tested setting should be kept in at least one pub, or further modified, or tossed completely
5. Repeat from step 1 or 2

So the committee's job would be to sift and implement the suggested changes for testing, and it would ultimately be up to the active player base to decide what changes to keep.

[dads revenge]

waiting for staff to post here

there happy now?

[Liquid Blue]

if that's all you're going to contribute, no not really

[H.M.S. Stargazer]

Mootland Farmer needs to speak. The audience is waiting...

[Mootland Farmer]

There has been lots of interest about Publics over the last few months and it would be a shame to see all that effort and ideas go to waste. Unfortunately I am very busy with current life and personal issues that I do not have the time or capacity to put the effort I once did.

As a fellow Smod (not sure why I am still one) it's rather sad to see the response you gave Dads. I'm not sure what it is, but in threads regarding Publics and in this thread you've completely missed the topic at hand. And since you do alot of work on Publics, it's somewhat worrying.

At the moment Qan is doing alot of work on the RoboBots which everyone should appreciate. It may be best to contact him in regards to a new Public Committee.

[TagMor]

At the moment Qan is doing alot of work on the RoboBots which everyone should appreciate. It may be best to contact him in regards to a new Public Committee.

If you mean the module he put in to alternate the timer from pure and open pubs.. It is a stupid idea that does nothing but infuriate both pubs, and was obviously concieved by someone who has no idea of the needs of pubbers.

http://forums.trenchwars.org/showthr...744#post695744

[H.M.S. Stargazer]

I have started to play pub again lately. For what reason... I have no idea.. But I have noticed that what we have just isnt what I remember it being.

There is no real drive to do better. I do like the challenge system I have seen people use it (I however would rather keep my flawless 0 losses that way).

It seems like everyday I see calls about the pub being stupid or something wrong.

If we are to have a 'new' public comittee needs to have more people than just staff, vet players and vet pubbers. We need to have some new players input as well. For the most part we are going to keep our players, but we always come back to the same question 'What do we do you keep new players?'.

Well maybe letting them have an opportunity to do some good for the zone will help. I noticed that back in the day everything was new and unrefined and generally everyone got listened to if they had some ideas on how to help. Now it seems that we dismiss anything that changes our perception of what the zone 'should be'. EG) Distension.

I am not qualified to help here. I'm the events guy, not the pub guy. But something needs to be done. And soon.

[dads revenge]

if that's all you're going to contribute, no not really

A public committee should be run by PUBBERS as they are the ones who are directly affected by changes. A staff spokes person could be nominated if one is needed. What I see when I play pub is players more just playing not trying to be a staffer or trying to learn to host and so on. Be you a LT, spawn dueler, baser, roofer or whatever do you want someone who spends about 15% of their playing time deciding what you should enjoy?

[Liquid Blue]

Multiple pubbers have suggested creating the committee, because they are the ones that will be affected by the changes. The committee can come up with all the ideas in the world, but they need someone on staff in the committee to get the changes across to staff, in order to get the changes put in effect. You're on staff, Moot can't do it. I asked you if you can't/don't want to be on the committee, to please let me know who could help us out.

How is this difficult to understand?

[dads revenge]

Well then you need to organize those pubbers into your committee and elect a spokes person who can contact staff or is staff. Blue, Poop and Tag could be the heads of different time zones and you could collaborate with each other on the ideas that people bring to you. Then you could decide (as pubbers yourselves) which ideas would actually benefit the game and which are just going to piss people off. Between the three of you I am sure you know a staffer who plays pub alot or all the time that could be your spokes person and they could bring the ideas to upper staff. Any ideas that can be done given the abilities of the game can be implemented on a time basis say for a week to see how they work in the zone. After that time if you three get positive feedback from the pubbers you represent then the changes will stay.

The reason I would like to see the pub players do this is because they are the ones affected by it. The reason I would like to see you three do this is because the three of you seem to speak the most about the pubs.

[Raver420]

Hopefully this actually takes place again and ideas will be used.

[Kontrolz]

Well then you need to organize those pubbers into your committee and elect a spokes person who can contact staff or is staff. Blue, Poop and Tag could be the heads of different time zones and you could collaborate with each other on the ideas that people bring to you. Then you could decide (as pubbers yourselves) which ideas would actually benefit the game and which are just going to piss people off. Between the three of you I am sure you know a staffer who plays pub alot or all the time that could be your spokes person and they could bring the ideas to upper staff. Any ideas that can be done given the abilities of the game can be implemented on a time basis say for a week to see how they work in the zone. After that time if you three get positive feedback from the pubbers you represent then the changes will stay.

The reason I would like to see the pub players do this is because they are the ones affected by it. The reason I would like to see you three do this is because the three of you seem to speak the most about the pubs.

I think you're missing the point. There is no need for a staff spokes person. In the end the public committee would need someone who has the access needed to change and test the settings. The problem is, nobody who has the necessary access has said they would be willing to try this if they receive suggestions. A spokes person would be completely pointless and probably end up just getting in the way.

I think this thread pretty much proves that this public committee shouldn't happen. The people who have the powers necessary to try/make changes are either unable or unwilling to do so.

It's been the same story for a very long time, ridiculous delegation of power and complacent upper staff. I know it's a free game and all and that I should be glad people help run it but for fuck's sake. Whoever has the job of recruiting/promoting people to smod+ is doing a TERRIBLE JOB. At least promote people who are active, willing, and able to do their duties. Perhaps the person in charge of this should be replaced.

There has been lots of interest about Publics over the last few months and it would be a shame to see all that effort and ideas go to waste. Unfortunately I am very busy with current life and personal issues that I do not have the time or capacity to put the effort I once did.

As a fellow Smod (not sure why I am still one) it's rather sad to see the response you gave Dads. I'm not sure what it is, but in threads regarding Publics and in this thread you've completely missed the topic at hand. And since you do alot of work on Publics, it's somewhat worrying.

At the moment Qan is doing alot of work on the RoboBots which everyone should appreciate. It may be best to contact him in regards to a new Public Committee.

[dads revenge]

Kont I don't know where you get your info the idea that upperstaff wont help the problem is 1)some of us have lives (OMG NOOOO) 2) the public committee has never brought forth anything but complaining that staff doesn't help. Well if you want me to make changes in pub I would be glad to but they will be based on how I think it could be played better. The changes are EZ to do we never get solid feedback of doable ideas. As you may remember soe of the wild weekends that were done there are countless settings that never get used at all. If you think staff doesn't care about the pubs your a total idiot. Just because some moron makes some dumb comment doesn't mean he doesn't love the game. Get a clue if you want the committee get pubbers organized don't dump it in staffs lap. When you get your shit together send it to staff and if its good it will get done.