unforum

[vpisteve]

Everything in Moderation!

[SpaceBass]

I'll name a prime example. Enochpushdialectic from the Push, NV, game was one of the most chaotic communities I've ever witnessed. Why? Because the PMs set it up and then let it run wild. There was only one moderator, the founder Enoch (a PM). And he didn't touch the board again after throwing it up.

Why do PMs insist on throwing up a board and then playing all "hands off?" It's a completely half-assed method of community building. Either go completely hands-off and let the players build their own communities, or finish the job and guide the discussion like a good moderator should.

Let's face it: if the PMs create a discussion forum, the majority of players are going to feel required to join just in case they might miss something important there. At least when the Search4E PMs created the DotConnectors board, they responded to the player uproar about having in-game characters wandering amongst their meta-thoughts by handing the board moderation off to a player and then walking away. The key is, they handed it off.

My first choice will always be to let the players congregate of their own accord. If, as a PM, you absolutely must run your own discussion area, find a few respectable players and give them the reins. It'll be worth it.

[Wolf]

I really don't have much to add here except to restate our appreciation to Steve et al for taking the initiative to start the Yahoo group for Lockjaw. He and the crew did a great job of documenting the game and keeping the community on track.

As one of the LJ PMs I can tell you we were very pleased at the job done for "our game," and the group was a valuable resource for us. Heck, I even have a printed hard copy of the Guide that I referred to regularly so I remembered where we were and what we'd done. In a fairly long game, that kind of documentation comes in handy, and it's almost necessary for players to put it together rather than PMs, as that tells us exactly where the players are with plot and such.

Anyway, I agree that it's best if the players form their own community, do their own guides and trails, and don't just start the group and then be all hands off and such. That's not a good formula.

--Wolf