unforum

[dmax]

META: coordinating emails (A modest proposal)

[Caterpillar]

I don't think I actually thought about it much until I got the reply from the Mayor. He sounded very turned off and even willing to try to give me the info I requested if I would in turn promise not to contact everyone and his dog in Aglaura. He also touched on the "real world aspect" of :

"Not everyone who knows or lives near Dale should be asked questions like this, do you think? Think of how that may affect him when he comes home."

So I must say, I do agree with the premise of your post, although I don't pretend to know how to go about it:)

[jamesi]

Re: A modest proposal

[dmax]

many boards

[RPGgame]

I am very impressed on how the PM's are allowing these real interactions and we are now aware that these emails do not cause an auto response which is truly awesome. I feel that when a new email is found we def should have one or two people respond to the email if anyone else does than it is on thier head that they are possibly making the game less arg like. In addition before an email is sent we should make sure to voicein all of our questions so that we can hit it all in one blow and wiill never have to bother that name again unless it is felt that it is truly needed.

I hope this is helpfull
- RPG

[guest]

A good idea, but...

[vpisteve]

My two cents. I think everyone who wants to should go ahead an email everyone they can. The only caveat would be to do it as you would in real life, i.e. no death threats, etc. (cough).

I think with the players split up in different online locations, we can't afford not to.

[dmax]

From CollectiveProtective to Dale

[SpaceBass]

The PMs really have all the power over this, if they choose to use it. Since we have no way of verifying whether our emails have been received by the characters they were sent to, the PMs can always, at their discretion, simply ignore whatever they want to ignore and use what they want to use. In this sense, emailing the characters is just another meta-puzzle: what are the right things to say and when do we say them? If we find a correct solution, we get a response.

By the same token, it makes little or no sense to email in-game characters willy-nilly, without coordinating thoughts beforehand and reducing duplication of effort (especially if the effort yields no positive results). And we should at least attempt to email into the game in a fashion that would be consistent with reality; really, in the real world would anyone attempt to access someone else's insurance account information without having the authority to do so?

It is one of the fun aspects of this gaming that you can email in-game characters, and I would certainly expect the players to do so whenever I offered them the opportunity, were I playing the part of the puppetmaster.

[imbri]

I'll throw in my thoughts here seeing as I already did so, to less than favorable reviews, in IRC.

I agree with dmax and with SpaceBass. This is "not a game", so we should treat it as "not a game".

Think about it and what you're going to email before you do so. Does it make sense? Will it be productive or just noise? What do you hope to gain from the email and how are you going to get that information? Do you have a plan or just an email address and your keyboard?

I was accused of telling people they couldn't email or that I was deliberately trying to scare them from emailing, and that was anything but my intent. Like SpaceBass said, that's one of the benefits/joys/coolthings about this genre of gaming. Not only that, it's a great resource for information (if the PMs choose to use it in that way). I just think that before you click the send message you have to consider what you're sending. Will it effect the game and how so? If you come up with a story, are you prepared for the ramifications of it? Remember, actions have reactions.

We've seen several hints to slow down our 'onslaught' of emails. Let's respect the characters and PMs. Try to take responsibility for your emails and how they would effect the reality of the people you are emailing. It may just be a game for you, but it's not a game for Sam, the mayor, the PR guy at Ash Grove Park. To them, they're real and living a real life. They know what they know and don't know beyond that.

Just my thoughts. Whether that means that you shouldn't email or that you should be scared from emailing is up to you and what you're sending. If it makes sense, has a realistic goal, and is presented in such a way as to not adversely effect either realities (our reality or the characters), then go for it. If it's just noise, has no real focus or meaning, and is likely the same email sent out by a couple dozen other people, then I say pass. Though it's ultimately up to you. Of course, once you get info...share it.

As for dmax's idea to make a targeting effort as a group. I think it's fantastic! However, that means that we need to act as a group and stuff. I just don't know how feasible it is.

enough meta for the day
imbri

[dmax]

From the PM

[LordKinbote]

Darn, I thought this thread was going to be about eating babies.

Where can I get some nice, juicy babies, darn it?!?!

---Scottathan Swift

[dmax]

mails

[RPGgame]

I would just to make you all aware of a collaboration of emails that I and fellow wishchasers are putting together in an organized fashion. It is currently under construction but it will make it easier to see what the contacts have said so that we are all up to speed. Here is the link.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wishchasers/files/Emails/

Thanks
-RPG