So, it’s the halfway point until the end of the month and the time when Estarra will make a decision about Glomdoring. I wanted to open a forum to discuss how things are going.

Does Glomdoring have more consistent players? Have true novices stayed?

Does Glom still have a toxic atmosphere? How has this changed or not?

Do the member of Glomdoring have trans-guild unity?

Has Estarra’s suggestion of temporarily removing Shayle/Xenthos/Daganev/Yeralih/Xavius from office been implemented? If so, have new people to stepped up to leadership positions and ultimately has this led to better policy?

Does OOC harassment still happen?

Based on things right now, does Glomdoring have an improved trajectory that will ultimately lead to enough of a population to introduce the Emofist guild?

Edit:
Also, if not what resources are required for success?

1. Yes, average of 20 players when I log in. More than the 10 it used to be. And the Ebonguard have an average of 5 when I log in, which is more than the usual 3.

2. There is more public conversation, don't know about toxicisty though.

3. Don't know.

4. Yeralih has office, everybody else does not. No idea if this has changed anything.

5. No Clue.

6. I don't think it has the population, but it might be a chicken and egg issue.

7. A collegium

1. Peak times seem to have more, off times sometimes have more, or are about the same. Since people can lie about being true novices if they feel like it, the only people who can confirm if we're retaining more truly new people are the administration. I think we've getting more long standing people converting right now instead.

2. Probably depends on the guild, and what people are around when. Having never had to deal with anyone treating me in a particularly toxic manner, I can't really say.

3. There are ideas floating around, but not quite so much action yet.

4. As far as people care to, I believe. New people have moved into office, but I've heard murmurs that they aren't around often enough. It's hard trying to pick a person you think can work on something like this conscientiously, and at the same time maintain a strong enough presence in the game to carry through. It's the start of the school year for many, so I don't think this is terribly surprising. Just have to try to make the most of what time is available.

5. Once again, I think only the administration can answer this, as in the past those being harassed generally haven't felt comfortable bringing it up with others, or even bringing it to the forums.

6. Once again, I think only the administration can answer this. We have no idea exactly what mark the administration expects us to hit, if any, but given that we've recently had a bone tossed to us by Brennan, I think they want us to try harder.

7. I think at this rate, we need more people doing things. Even little things. Discussion and planning is nice, but all these people standing around, talking on OOC clans about what to do, and not appearing to be doing anything otherwise can't be making novices who are outside of those clans feel like much of anything goes on in the forest.

I'll just say that I just recently made a novice in Glomdoring, and it was an incredibly pleasant experience. So, yeah. Not much more to add, really. Just that Glomdoring really does seem like it would be an enjoyable place to play.

The only jarring thing, actually, is all the change. Like that new post from Viravain.. was kinda disorienting. And what exactly is the new image of Glomdoring? I'm kinda confused. Are we basically a super-dark Gloriana now? All the sinister vibes seem to have been sucked out of the commune and replaced with something else that I can't quite describe.

It'd be nice to have HELP GLOMDORING and HELP VIRAVAIN and whatever else is lingering from before updated to reflect the new image, so that there aren't so many conflicting sources of information. I think that might help solidify the new attempt into something real rather than having it remain just an attempt.

Edit: Also, release Emofist. Cause that's the guild i'm waiting for to spend money on.

Isnt Yeralih being in office a giant boulder that would be hindering the chances of Glom being put back in the good favour of the administration?


I remember reading that Shayle/Xenthos/Dag/Xavius/Yeralih all needed to be replaced for the time being? I didn't think there was an exception for just one person.


And if that ends up being a point that Estarra brings up (Such as you all decided not to replace Yeralih, you have failed.) What will you all (as glomdoring) do about it?

Estarra never said "You have to replace these people." At the point this was brought up, Xavius hadn't been anywhere in months, and I wasn't a leader any more myself either.

Nor was I.

Estarra mentioned that it was an idea presented by other people at the meeting.

There's a possibility that the population's just rising from even more alts that would rather not see Glomdoring go, mind.

I haven't actually checked it out, myself, after my last Glomdoring fiasco.

There are definitely a lot of newly active alts at the moment. Conflict/drama brings people, especially conflict/drama of the OOC variety.

Edit: And no, I didn't have Shayle step down because Estarra mandated it. I did make a forums post as to why if anyone is curious.

I think at this point it's unreasonable to expect too many established players to come to Glomdoring since the future is unclear and they may be sacrificing lessons in exchange for an org that may or may not be cut off from admin support. While many have no problem buying credits to fund a move and do so quite easily, I think the majority of players are more likely to buy credits in game or buy them OOC less frequently. That being the case, why would anyone even consider moving to Glom with such an unclear future?

Oh, we have gotten some really, really, really wonderful players (Thoros, Athine, Marina come to mind) but we have already seen established players in Glomdoring dwindle away as well. I think it's terribly easy to point at some players and say "Glomdoring has sucked because of you!" but in dealing with something that has been so problematic even from the start as Glomdoring has been, this is just unfair and childish.

Now we're supposed to somehow draw new life into Glom while hobbled under the threat of withdrawal of support, no monks, no newbies from the portals. Considering the IC and OOC pressure of this I think we've done rather towards that goal. If it is enough or not at this point, I've no idea since I don't think the majority of Glom players have heard anything about it from the top, and likely the Court hasn't heard anything either. If Glom's saved, yay! If not, Urazial has gotten a nice little violin and will be ready to do his best Nero impersonation before when Glom dies.

The point of it really isn't "shape up or else." There are two aspects to what's been going on.

First, there have been some behaviors (OOC harassment) which have been highlighted, and I hope that the increased awareness of these activities will put a stop to them. There are times at which we all are frustrated and want to take our aggressions out on others, but an OOC medium isn't a great response for IC actions. It diminishes the game, and your experience directly, by making these players not want to return to Lusternia. While I know that each of us (myself included) has a few players that we vow the game would be "better off without," the truth is that when we drive away players, we diminish our potential for interaction (both creatively and competitively), and as we are a largely social, multiplayer game, the world is less vibrant and interesting for it.

Second, the players in Glomdoring, either directly or indirectly (through apathy, support of the status quo, etc), had created and sustained an elitist atmosphere that was not enjoyable or engaging for the overwhelming majority of potential players. We tried to fight this in the past, but this time it's just a choice - not a judgment - of whether this is how you, the players, want Glomdoring to be. For those who see this as a threat, let me say that it isn't. Glomdoring can continue as a small, tightly-knit, RP intensive community if that is the overall desire - and make no mistake that there are players who would enjoy and thrive in this atmosphere. If that is the case, Estarra's not going to leap out from behind the Ravenwood and say "you chose poorly" ala the Last Crusade. However, there are trade-offs to any meaningful choice, and part of that trade-off is that our limited administrative resources are more effectively spent elsewhere than that kind of small, insular community. It's a difficult decision and not everyone is going to agree, and so I certainly don't envy you that.

I would work as an unpaid builder to finish our collegium.

Awww, but that would be so funny!

I thought you loved me

Why in the world would you think that?

He loves nothing but himself and FSM.

Duuuuuuuh.

Constructive criticism - the unenemying/joining process could really be a lot more achievable.

I'm thinking a lot of the issues are just due to the disorganization that always comes with new leadership, which is fair, and there are lots of people that I've dealt with that have been amazingly helpful and really good representatives of the commune - Veyda, Xavius, Kundu and Jayden to name just a few. So it's not a big problem, but if I wasn't absolutely obsessed and dedicated to getting there and didn't have the resources that I do - I would have given up a fortnight ago.

In all fairness (and let me preface that I personally can't wait to get you in!) Elryn has had opportunities in the past to rectify his enemy status with Glomdoring and has failed to achieve that goal by raids, attacks, etc. Can't really unenemy someone if they keep putting barriers before themselves.

Well, as much as I would love to argue about the past (and I would -love- to argue about that ) it's neither here nor there. I meant more the current situation. The process is almost about to end for me, which is wonderful (wonderful!), its just an area for improvement that could really be looked at. I know it seems small, but every little tweak that encourages growth is a good thing!

Edit: Ugh, disgusting tongue smiley removed.