A Final Post from DM_Creo

[Akroma666]

Bloodlust, Lobo, and Creo.. disappointed with the direction this is going.

We lost a king among men today. I hope they HDMs consider how destructive this direction is and how unhappy this decision make the community. This is why us vs them mentality pops up.. because we consider Creo as an us... Lobo as a friend.. and bloodlust as.. that cruel mistress you can't help but love. Best rethink your direction guys.

Sorry to see you go Creo. You were absolutely amazing at everything you did DM side. Thank you for your service.

[Necrotic Shadows]

Where to begin when I feel like I'm writing a eulogy.


Creo, I've met a lot of good members of the DM staff in my nearly six years playing here. I have been invited in on others rp. But I've never had a dm that involved me to the level you did, till you came along. I have a short list of DMs I'd give props to. You were far and away one of the greatest DMs I've ever had the pleasure of being invited to witness at their craft.

A memorable moment for those who were there, a wagon full of meat pies for sale roadside. My very first event with Creo, His merchant roadside outside the FAI. With a wagon full of meat pies that she was selling to the common folk and adventurers alike. All made from humans/elves/dwarfs. Aidan being very afraid to trust it, watched as others gorged themselves with these "delectable" treats. Oh the joy of this player to find out his character was right to fear them... and the reaction to the first finger with a ring found in one of those pies. A priceless and wonderful event that made me think "This DM is AWESOME!"

You never disappointed, never made those in your events feel left out, made people feel like they could imagine, invent, plan and work through a campaign of ideas. You took time out to hear your players, heard their concerns, worked with them to further their stories. If this were a mythical kingdom ran by a perfect king, you'd be my Arthur. Thank you for everything you provided for this community.

Of the numerous events I was involved in of yours, none touched me in the way that the Dragon girl "Elizabeth" (Samara), had. It caused me to reach inside myself and take to her like a favorite character in a novel series. My character would have risked looking like Bane himself for her, and for a man who's reputation is held most dear, that's saying everything. She was full of life, flawed, but insanely well thought out, and poetic in eccesence. This player and his character will miss her -Terribly-
*Aidan would lay a rose at the memory of Elizabeth*


Thank you again Creo. Your DMing will be sorely missed. Look me up if you ever need a knight for your round table.

[MadSeer]

I haven't had DM interactions so far, but it seems you were valued by the community. It sucks that I never got to see it for myself. It feels like this has been clean up time on the DM team. Always a blow to the community, sometimes for the best in the long run, sometimes for the worst.

[TraderJane]

It's been many years since I last played on this server.

I came back a few months ago, and I've never found a DM event to participate in (I was not actively searching anyway, and I am online for only brief spurts usually...)

That is until this last week, I was able to get involved in 2 different events with DM Creo, and it was a great time, even for a lowbie like me! That is to say he seemed to reach out to and accommodate people who are often left on the sidelines, and tailor content appropriate to all involved (to be fair, this opinion is just based on my only 2 DM event participations so far since I came back)

Thank you again and sorry to see you go...

[Maecius]

Thank you for your service, Creo.

Your popularity as a DM, and the love you've received from the community in your departing the DM team, speaks highly of your time on the client.

As Creo said, we can not go into details.

Just to clarify this, for you guys as much as for everyone else: You're welcome to discuss the reasons for your own departures. The staff just doesn't discuss them with uninvolved parties without your consent and involvement.

This is a long-standing tradition on BG:TSCC, and it's designed to allow former staff members to return to the player side of things without unnecessary embarrassment or stigmatization. We value all of our volunteers and community members, even those removed or resigned from staff positions, and we generally always want to retain you guys as players and members of the community -- with very limited exceptions.

[ShineDown]

I'm really sad to hear you have been let go, Creo. You were the most involved DM I've seen and I joked about how you were on doing things so much that I thought you only rested during resets. You were the most interactive DM with posts, pms, taking over npcs to get players more immersed and involved not to mention running events. BG felt much more 'alive' when you were on the forums or in game. You were an amazing and fun DM. It's perplexing you were let go. Really gets the almonds twisting.

[artemitavik]

Creo,

Man, I'm so sorry to see you go. You had some of the best events, you were really attentive, and I found you fair and balanced in your decisions.

I loved the couple one-offs I got with you along with the two HUGE storylines that ran months. It was fantastic how you managed to bring everyone in from opposite sides of the server with those, the Seige at FAI and the Samara thing...

I hope you have the best where ever you go. I'll miss you a great deal.

[grymhild]

DM Creo!!! Nau, naut dos!!! : ' (

Thank-you for everything.

We're going to miss you.



~grymhild

[Planehopper]

Sucks to see you go, man. I've only been online sporadically over the last couple years, but over multiple characters, logins, and time zones you are the only DM that I've actually had interact with my character.

So, for me, the loss is felt.

I don't pretend to know the circumstances, but I can empathize with the situation, and I will tell you the same thing I said in Hera's post. Take a break if you need it. Come back as a player. The server needs players that can drive RP, create stories, and collaborate with the masses now more than it has in a very long time. Based on what I've witnessed from you as a DM, I think you could do wonders to shift the player perception from mechanical power and cliques to collaboration and RP power.

If you do, hopefully we'll bump into each other.

[DM Creo]

DM Lobo:

As Creo said, we can not go into details.

Maecius:

Just to clarify this, for you guys as much as for everyone else: You're welcome to discuss the reasons for your own departures. The staff just doesn't discuss them with uninvolved parties without your consent and involvement.

Given that is the fact and I was yet again unaware of official policy, and since you guys have been asking here you go.

Creo,


This PM is to inform you that you have been removed from the DM team.

First, I will start by saying that issues aside, you have been one of the more active and involved DMs. Your emphasis on player satisfaction has been refreshing and, honestly, admirable. You have done your best to support all players, even the ones who aren't popular with the team. I can respect that.

You may be asking at this point why you are removed right now. The reason is that over the months we have received a number of complaints about you. Some of them touch upon potentially-subjective matters such as leniency and being generous with item rewards, but others were more serious, such as allegations of favoritism and disclosing DM-only information towards players.

To make it clear, you are not removed due to your philosophy of supporting players - in fact, I would consider it a commendable quality. You were removed because the complaints indicated that you extended the philosophy to the point where you were willing to toe, and sometimes break, the Code of Conduct to give players what they want, and became a security liability to the DM Team in the process.

If you wish to appeal this decision, the administrators and I are willing to hear you out and provide a more thorough list of the allegations leveled against you.

The below is mostly a rant. It felt good though.

Hidden: show

I don't know the source, cause or validity of any of these complaints as I was never told about them nor allowed to defend myself. I was not contacted or warned that I may be in violation of policy. I will say though this was not a big surprise to me and the below is true.

You were removed because the complaints indicated that you extended the philosophy to the point where you were willing to toe, and sometimes break, the Code of Conduct to give players what they want, and became a security liability to the DM Team in the process.

You are Damn right I did! To me the players came first, Always. They came before the farce that is called a "DM code of conduct". They came before my fellow staff members. They came before my own enjoyment. They came before the lore of the server and they damn sure came before the rules of the game. I promised when I started.

DM_Creo:

I will...

PRIORITIZE THE GAMING EXPERIENCE OVER THE GAME’S RULES.

I did just that and will not apologize for it.

[SBlack]

I'm all for transparency and for the record I do trust Creo and Maceius both implicitly. I guess it didn't work out and that happens sadly. Creo is a cool dude. Look forward to rping with ya as a player again!

[Solaris]

I'm sorry to see you guys go.... Like so many others before you recently...

Attachments:

"We moderate on perception"

...

"Complaints"

leading to removal from the team...

Games are for fun.

[V'rass]

....

[mrm3ntalist]

This is (#2), Creo is the best dm on the server...

Whoever is leading this server is a moron for removing Creo, i may simply leave because of this outrage.

Someone considers the Code of conduct of a team a farce and still applies to the said team. Yet the ones leading the server are the morons...

#MakesTotalSenseMan

[DM Lobo]

The problem is not the DM Code, it is how the DM Code can be understood -- there are many ways it can be interrupted. The removal process is a whole different system -- and is just as vague and full of potential abuse and holes. That is what I am making a fuss about. Threads like this do damage, and you have to ask why?

The current system for removing DMs (though I understand why it is as it is) is a complete mess and only serves to damage the community, as this has shown -- as it was shown last year, and as it will continue to show. That is the problem.

It leaves plots with said DM unfinished, resulting in upset players -- plots are rearely taken over (they know this) and the DMs currently on the team working with said DM are left in the dark, and forced to reajust. The whole thing is a shambles.