Tweet
Originally posted by Shaddowknight
View Post
Thankfully that's been letting up a bit as of late, and with LF rehired to event staff, we are seeing a return to the old ways, when a host could have a good time, be a little weird, inappropriate, encourage a relaxed and enjoyable environment, not just host what's requested but try to challenge people with new events ... It's being part of a unique experience, something you basically can get NOWHERE else, and often playing with people you've known for years, people you can interact with, have a good time with.
I had a damn good time in LF's hosting spree recently, probably the best time I've had playing events in a long time. One of the reasons I often don't want to play events these days (after joining staff to host and create them) is because usually a host does focus too intently on the game mechanics, as if the event should stand for itself. Nah... pub, events, etc. all rely on a relaxed atmosphere where winning is a nice bonus, but the goal should really be having a good time. *arena Welcome to (arenaname)! I'll be your host! -Host <ER>%2 *arena We are playing elim to 10! -Host <ER> :robobot:!spec 10 *arena GOGOGO%104 *arena Thanks for playing! -Host <ER>%2 ... doesn't really count as an event so much as a ritual, a burnt offering to the old dead gods.
We are imitating ourselves, like an author who had a great first novel and got caught up in its success so much that he's unable to produce anything as good ever again.
If we were to change one thing in training to mitigate a bit of the damage, it might be to emphasize how important it is to continue to enjoy yourself as a host. Don't be afraid to say something a bit off-color, so long as you aren't mean-spirited. Don't be afraid to try something odd, something that's never been tried before. Make up your own game and watch it flop hard or succeed, and be unapologetic regardless of the outcome. (You can easily make one up manually using a combination of zone and bot commands, or you could see how powerful TWScript can be.)
And don't be afraid to bend what you think are the rules of hosting, if it will help people have a good time. Often those rules are more just conceptions about what a host should be -- professional? Courteous? Helpful? OK, a host should help out as needed, but being professional for an event host honestly means acting like a bit of a jackass sometimes. The goal is entertainment. If you think you're going to get in trouble for it (and you might, with the number of rules for staff being several hundred times larger than they were back in the day), take a chance anyway, with the hope that context will explain your actions: you were trying to keep things lively for your players. Let the ban staff maintain the grim complexion. Your goal is to goof off and give a damn about people having fun more than anything else. You'll have a good time, they'll have a good time, and you'll have a subtle but radical effect on the culture of staff and TW as a whole.
Comment