A message to the Player Community

[DM Lobo]

Being a DM is no joke, it is hard work -- something I quickly learned when I was promoted to an ADM. It would be no lie to admit I had a bit of resentment to the DM team for ignoring me in game / ignoring my PMs and asking to myself, do they even care?

I can tell you guys now that DMing is hard work, rewarding -- but also draining. I do not want to point any fingers or call out any names here but want to point this out to everyone. Some of you have been getting upset / fustrated with us regarding player requests, ignored in the DM chat and generally feel "not welcome" I want to say here and now that is not the case, at all. We treat everyone fairly and equally, the rules are there for just that -- so if it comes across as us being mean or nasty, it is how we treat everyone. The rules are there to keep things fun for everyone.

Most of the day only one of us is online as a DM which puts all the pressure onto one guy. If Pun Pun, myself, Creo etc....is the only DM online we have to cater to everyone online at once, as you can imagine the DM team have to filter through a lot of emails on a daily basis so things will get missed or lost -- this also includes tells in game or messages on the DM chat.

Some of you, recently have been getting bitter in game feeling ignored and logging out in a rage -- please understand that we are not ignoring you, it just makes it difficult for us to cater to everyone. No one is being 'picked on' no one is 'bullied' we treat everyone fairly and equally. I just think it is easy to forget what the DM team are doing behind the scenes, it can -- if you let it, be a full time 9 till 5 job, and I think the players can sometimes forget that we are also human.

With that said, I hope you guys are enjoying the BG at the moment -- I know a lot of you have been getting very involved with the weekly UD event and my metaplot. The other ADMs are running many wild plots for you guys, Pun Pun is busy with his awesome plots and the other DMs are all working out the offical storyline ffor the server -- and best of all BGTSCC (the community) is stronger than ever caping at 75 several times last week. Good things are coming this way, I just want you guys to know the sheer hard work (which I have seen first hand as an ADM) the team do.

If your PM is ignored in game or in the forums don't get disheartend please, just poke us -- keep poking us, that is what we are here for! But don't get disheartend or feel ignored because that is not our the DM team works.

I also want to do a shout out to the QC and admin team as well - their job is 10 times harder than ours believe me! I know the recent updates have been glitchy, but if you see the good things these guys do your jaws would drop. They are the sole reason this server is still going -- with that said my main point here is to remember the person behind the screen is not getting paid, we are all human and I kindly request you understand what is going on if you don't get a reply from us.

[Xanfyrst]

Just wanted feedback, that's all.

[mrm3ntalist]

Thats a good message Lobo and i am sure most players will appreciate that. Unfortunately, no matter what you say there will always be some few that will act like children - they will complain to you, accuse you insult you. You need to tune those out. In a way you need to grow some thick skin to ignore such behavior and maybe last long as a dm.

Most importantly, you need to focus on the good of this community and what makes you have fun.

The rest can go to hell

Xanfyrst is not bad... he is just evil... You can see he only plays evil characters so he must be an evil person.

[Passiflora]

The DM says that while eating grapes while resting his feet on the back of a poor bullied player forced to do everything he asks or there'll be no events!

( )

[Kiran]

All I can say is that I really appreciate all the work you guys put in, the server feels alive, big plot going on, things happening daily, if you are gone for 2 days you need to catch up in game on lots of things to ensure your character atleast knows whats up.

Can understand it can get burdensome, especially with us players demanding your attention left right and center. The fact you are still polite and nice when we get hold of you is a miracle in itself.

Now help me mule my character and I bugged out, can you refund my xp?! Lobo? LOBO?! LOOOBOOO!"?!?!! *Quits*

[AlwaysSummer Day]

DM Lobo, you are the most active DM in a long while. So active that I felt compelled to read that wall of text. Sadly I am without internet for the time being. I will have to poke you another time.

[Akroma666]

Thanks for all your hard work Lobo.

[Calodan]

^^^^^You're......................

[chad878262]

^^^^^You're......................

[Asmodea]

Maybe he gave him the welcome? So it is now his welcome? Can you do that?.... like... "Thank you; now it is your welcome."

[Young Werther]

I just want to remind "both sides" that being an internet troll or being trolled by someone over a video game is -far- from the worst fate a man or woman can suffer.

DM Lobo, I like how you framed your message and I'm not critiquing anything. You deserve applause.

[Kauaiian]

DM Lobo,

Very well said and thank you, as at times I personally feel the playerbase could use the reminder. Including me! I've never been in any of your events as Im recently just returning but from what I've heard from OOC tells IG, you're doing a phenomanal job. So thank you again!

[Shad]

As far as I can see, current new ADMs doing great job!

For example, to start a multiple-faction UD-surface months-long metaplot right from the start.. Not many could do it! And in the same time they are most responsive (I poke them almost every week last months, some weeks twice, and having 5/7 hits so far )

So keep up a great work, and let positive reaction and feedback give you strength and goodwill.

There are several ways of development next.

One of these would be DM concentrated on several player groups he has fun with. Its not bad, DMs are playing this game almost the same way we do.

Other, like, not giving out names, were DM last year: I know several players which considered him "their" DM in one and the same time - so much attention and response he gave every player development or idea, intertwined it into global plot. This created greatest, grim and dark, and also full of hope and heroism and involvement metaplot I've ever seen in online NWN, and I'm playing since 2005. He would need few years of rest now, I believe, though.

There are other variants as well.

And although choice is their, there is one old story, I know you all heard it I would just remind.
"In every man, two wolves always fight. One - of pure kindness, other - of pure malice. Which one would win?"

[freekender]

Well written and reasoned post Lobo. Well said.

Take things easy, you are doing a great job. Your last events have bring a lot of fun (the latest UD events have been marvelous). Keep on and thanks for the hard work!

[LISA100595]

Being a DM on a full server is not an easy job and I want to thank all the active DM's for sure. But Don't kid yourself Lobo, you are handling the Lion's share of the work and it shows! I can sign on any time of day and see you on and actively doing events... so much so, I can't even keep up with in game happenings and toolset too, which I guess in one way is good as I'm more interested in the RP now but bad because my time in the toolset suffers LOL *grumbles*

One thing though... now I'm worried you're going to get burnt out. Please take some time for yourself and go playerside every now and then. It will keep you sane!!