unforum

[jamesi]

 Email Guidelines Discussion Thread

[vpisteve]

My two cents. Frankly, I think we're thinking too deeply about all of this. I really don't think it's crucial at this point to get a consensus or united strategy on every email. There are too many sites and in-game characters to do that, anyway.

I'm of the "fling it all and see what sticks" mindset, I guess. I mean, from a PM's point of view, they can simply ignore emails that can't be used to progress the story. That has been part of the fun in past ARGs. Who was going to get a response?

Part of the fun of this is putting yourself in the situation and suspending disbelief. Okay, we all got an initial email from Dale asking our help. Okay, why don't we all look at it strictly from that perspective, were it a real situation. We're individuals, dammit! Not the Borg!

I say fire at will! We're not gonna break anything! C'mon!

Oh, and by the way, I'll say it again: POST MORE STUFF ON THE FORUMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO CAN'T BE IN CHAT!!!

Thank you. I'll be in my trailer.......

[Varin]

on the fence

[RPGgame]

As I have posted to a different thread I will post here as well. At wishchasers we have a listing of all emails that we can determine from different people. It is all organized in different categories and than it becomes organized by email address. Here is the link to the site

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

thank you,

-RPG

[dashcat]

I agree with vpisteve. Completely.


The PMs have the power to ignore and steer. If any sites are shut down to us because of so many suspicious emails it is because there's no information to be gotten from that site or we need to get it another way. If the PMs are deluged...well that's the job they signed up for.

[vpisteve]

[ND3rdEYE]

I would also have to vote on the side of a laissez-faire approach and let people do what they want. There are a couple of reason for this.

The first is that I think a big deal is being made over what I think was a blip. Of course with the game just getting started, everyone wants to get involved with all of the excitement. But as the game progresses, I think people will see what is successful and what isn't. They (include myself) learn that maybe what they sent really wasn't a good idea and will be more cautious and practical as the rhythem of the game developes.

The second and biggest reason for not limiting it is that this was how the PM's marketed the game. Come along and play and participate in all of this interaction. If at that point, they can't handle the deluge they have only themselves to blame. I would also doubt that they would ever shut off a site that is meant to provide crucial information.

[idaswears]

Interaction

[kt]

I am also for the laissez faire approach. I think that people should definitely post up what interaction they actually end up having, and I think it's also a good idea that if one or two people get a steady correspondance with a character, for the rest of us to back off a bit. (For example, I don't try to correspond with Bruce Abbott because I know Konamouse already has a great dialogue going with him). However, I for one do not have a lot of extra time and I play the game at my own pace. If I had to get feedback before I could try to interact I would never get to the point where I could actually send my e-mail, because I would have to post my thoughts, then check responses the next day and then maybe write my email the day after that.

I prefer an approach where we let everyone try whatever interactions they want to. The PMs and game characters will choose who they want to respond to and how. I also think that the PMs want the players to share information. I am guessing they monitor the interaction boards and if they found they were having a lot of communication with someone who wasn't sharing that info with others, they would probably not give out anything meaningful through that conduit.

I am definitely willing to share any interaction that I have in the game, but I don't really want to feel like I have to get other players approval to play the game whatever way I want to. After all, the PMs are running the game, not anyone on these boards or on chat so it's up to them to decide what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong. And it's up to them to decide who they want to communicate with.

I sometimes feel left out because I will sign on to find a new puzzle has been revealed and solved before I even knew it was there. But at least e-mailing and interacting with different characters is something that is not a race. I can do that on my own pace, so I feel like that's a part of the game I want to keep free. Esepcially because I see the whole game turning into something that is "controlled" by a few, maybe more experienced players with the rest as their "helpers." I don't think it would be on purpose, but I think many people might feel that way if they were required to get feedback for their actions in the game. I think it's better to just let the players play and the puppetmasters twitch our strings as they see fit.

--kt

[tartanwolf]

I agree with kt. I too have very little free time to get "permission" to e-mail a character. I am new to the gaming genre and I want to learn by doing, not watching. So far my e-mails have been few and the responses have the same as others. Nothing new to contribute so I stay quiet, lurking in the background until there will be a time for me to hopefully contribute. Until then I'll be the shadow.

[Stevoid]