Your View: Applying To The Server

[Rhia 936]

Hello LoTC!

 

As we gear up for 4.0 the entire staff is taking this time to evaluate player feedback and make changes based off that and what the team thinks is best for the server. The AT of course is not exempt from that. A while back Danny, our scottish overlord, made a few changes to the server app. The AT became more lax with accepting applicants. So far this hasn't changed much in LoTC but I think an evaluation of the server app could be helpful for 4.0.

 

So some things I'd like to make plain about my opinion on how the app should be:

 

I want anyone to be able to apply and get accepted, Maybe not right away but I think we need to be patient and teach new players how to RP. I know some of vets on LoTC won't agree with this, but you have grown into better rpers over time... Why not give new players the same chance to grow?

 

I don't really want open response questions, We all know thats not how RP is on the server... why would we make them jump through hoops that don't even matter? But I do want to challenge the applicant in some way.

 

I'd also like it to not be long and intimidating, I remember when I applied to the server... It was daunting.

 

Below is the current app, how do you think we could improve it?

 

Out-Of-Character Information

 

The simplest section of the application! Simply answer these questions so we can get to know you a bit better.

 

What’s your Minecraft Account Name?: - 

How old are you?: - 

What time-zone do you live in?: - 

 

 

Have you ever roleplayed before - if you have, how?: - 

Have you been on any other roleplaying servers?: - 

Have you applied to this server before?(Please link past applications): - 

 

 

How did you hear about us?: -

What do you think the server will be like? - 

Have you read and agreed to the rules?: - 

What’s your favourite rule / the rule you agree with the most?: - 

 

 

Definitions

 

This is simply so that we can get an understanding of how much you know about roleplaying. Feel free to Google the answers, but make sure that you write the reply in your own words, not another website / person's!

 

What is roleplaying?: - 

 

What’s metagaming?: - 

 

What’s powergaming?: - 

 

In-Character Information

 

Now you actually make your character - be creative but stay reasonable! Make sure they make sense and that they follow lore. Try to come up with a character that you actually want to play.

 

What’s your character called?: - 

 

What race are they (and sub-race)?: - 

 

What sex are they?: - 

 

How old are they?: - 

 

Give us a brief description of their life - their story, childhood, family (Include server lore when writing): - 

 

What are they like (personality)?: - 

 

What are their ambitions?: - 

 

Do they have any special skills?: - 

 

What are their weaknesses?: - 

 

Give us a description of how they look (not a screenshot yet!)?: - 

 

Anything else you want to say about them?: - 

 

 

 

Please give us a screenshot of your character’s skin: - 

 

[Angel~ 34]

Well, -says in old voice- back in my day you would have to make a extremely in depth and long bio/app and hoped you were accepted-I agree that the App Team looks a bit laxed with the app accepting...Welp That app does look good but I still hope the Bio thing can be sorted out so like you would really have to write more in detail and longer bios..That sort of stuff..

[Nug 2011]

I think it's fine right now but only thing I would remove is the word 'brief' in the story part, applicants think brief means one sentence story about how his parents died... >:I

[Bat Druid 140]

#IfYouMakeAnRPServerAndRemoveTheApplicationYoureGonnaHaveABadTime

 

But, seriously, I think the application is fine. It stops the people who just want to grief, because they do not have the patience to apply for a server when all they want to do is ruin stuff and get banned shortly thereafter...well, unless they are truly deidcated to being a griefer. I am fairly certain, however, there is going to be a form of tutorial island for 4.0 (I might be wrong) and we could add an area where people who are new to RP could have lessons by people who are more experienced, maybe. But, I digress. The application, in my eyes, is fine as it is, could maybe receive a few tweaks here and there, make some parts optional and some parts slightly easier or harder, but overall it is pretty good.

[cruzazul 2815]

If I still had access to the application team forum I would pull out some of the ideas I put in there though sadly I do not so I'll have to wing it and try to remember everything.

 

One thing I would like to see with server applications is effort over length. I'd rather see an application where an applicant works hard to correlate a base character and a small amount of server lore that isn't just fluff. I don't want applicants to have to write college length essays to get on the server. That is something that has improved drastically over these last few months.

 

When I was a part of the application team something I really didn't agree with was having applicants have to post their application on the minecraft forums as well as our forums. Even if this does bump our thread I hardly see anyone join the server because of viewing the thread on their forums. In my opinion it's actually quite complicated and pointless. If anything I would like to see that portion of the application removed.

 

Another addition I would like to make doesn't directly connect to the application itself but it is in the area of helping new players. I'd like to see a more noob friendly lore page. The wiki is fine and great in its own right but something that could help extensively is a thread on the application submissions forum that has all the base information about everything pertaining to lord of the craft. (Races, Cities, Notable structures, etc.)

 

The last suggestion I would like to make involves denials. Going through the denial page I see a few alarming patterns. Most members of the AT don't really give all that much information for the applicant to improve their next app with. I was guilty of that as well when I was on the team and I understand it's hard to get that much information out there for every applicant when applications sometimes overload the members. Perhaps that could be solved with the addition of more team members? Yay, Nay? To be quite honest if I was a new member I would be stumped with all this information. It's not all that easy to come across and very important in its own regard. The easier we make it for the noobs the better their experience and application will be.

 

(tldr: try to make an application based on effort and knowledge over length, remove mc forums crap, thread with info for noobs, better denial post with more info.)

 

Hopefully this helps you guys out somewhat. I'd really be happy to discuss it with any staff member if they're interested.

[MamaBearJade 2090]

Rhia, I rather PM you what I think as it might help some with the applications #hasbeenhelpingapplicants

[Rissing 199]

I will say this in a short and clear manner.

There are NO VAs anymore..

What does this mean in theory ?

 -> Everyone accepted can instantly be evil..

Aslong as you keep that into account, feel free.
I do not mind having newer people or so..

Just be cautious of that, because if our Applications will become even easier..
Then we might get trully horrid Villains.. and this might result in 100 bandits on every road, once again.

Just my oppinion.

[Priceflash 832]

-lolsnip don't believe my statement was quality enough-

The current application is good enough.

Also, I support Rissing's statement.

[gam 386]

I personally think the biography section could be longer, but hey, that's just me.

[Chikachu 402]

I think something along the lines of a "Current Situation" Or something thread for new applicants would be perfect! Something that covers what the situation is and what they would know about when they joined the server. It would have made it easier for me, I know, and I'm sure a lot of other players would think that's a good idea. 

[Major Dom 1297]

Out-Of-Character Information
 
The simplest section of the application! Simply answer these questions so we can get to know you a bit better.
 
What’s your Minecraft Account Name?: - 
How old are you?: - 
What time-zone do you live in?: - 
 
 
Have you ever roleplayed before - if you have, how?: - 
Have you been on any other roleplaying servers?: - 
Have you applied to this server before?(Please link past applications): - 
 
 
How did you hear about us?: -
What do you think the server will be like? - 
Have you read and agreed to the rules?: - 
What’s your favourite rule / the rule you agree with the most?: - 
 
 
Definitions
 
This is simply so that we can get an understanding of how much you know about roleplaying. Feel free to Google the answers, but make sure that you write the reply in your own words, not another website / person's!
 
What is roleplaying?: - 
 
What’s metagaming?: - 
 
What’s powergaming?: - 
 
In-Character Information
 
Now you actually make your character - be creative but stay reasonable! Make sure they make sense and that they follow lore. Try to come up with a character that you actually want to play.
 
What’s your character called?: - 
 
What race are they (and sub-race)?: - 
 
What sex are they?: - 
 
How old are they?: - 
 
Give us a brief description of their life - their story, childhood, family (Include server lore when writing): - 

 

((make longer))

 
What are they like (personality)?: - 
 
What are their ambitions?: - 

 

((add the 2 above into bio))
 
Do they have any special skills?: - 
 
What are their weaknesses?: - 

 

change to list 3 strengths list 3 weaknesses
 
Give us a description of how they look (not a screenshot yet!)?: - 
 
Anything else you want to say about them?: - 
 
 
 
Please give us a screenshot of your character’s skin: -

 

 

((get rid of/change red add green))

[Rhia 936]

If I still had access to the application team forum I would pull out some of the ideas I put in there though sadly I do not so I'll have to wing it and try to remember everything.

 

One thing I would like to see with server applications is effort over length. I'd rather see an application where an applicant works hard to correlate a base character and a small amount of server lore that isn't just fluff. I don't want applicants to have to write college length essays to get on the server. That is something that has improved drastically over these last few months.

 

When I was a part of the application team something I really didn't agree with was having applicants have to post their application on the minecraft forums as well as our forums. Even if this does bump our thread I hardly see anyone join the server because of viewing the thread on their forums. In my opinion it's actually quite complicated and pointless. If anything I would like to see that portion of the application removed.

 

Another addition I would like to make doesn't directly connect to the application itself but it is in the area of helping new players. I'd like to see a more noob friendly lore page. The wiki is fine and great in its own right but something that could help extensively is a thread on the application submissions forum that has all the base information about everything pertaining to lord of the craft. (Races, Cities, Notable structures, etc.)

 

The last suggestion I would like to make involves denials. Going through the denial page I see a few alarming patterns. Most members of the AT don't really give all that much information for the applicant to improve their next app with. I was guilty of that as well when I was on the team and I understand it's hard to get that much information out there for every applicant when applications sometimes overload the members. Perhaps that could be solved with the addition of more team members? Yay, Nay? To be quite honest if I was a new member I would be stumped with all this information. It's not all that easy to come across and very important in its own regard. The easier we make it for the noobs the better their experience and application will be.

 

(tldr: try to make an application based on effort and knowledge over length, remove mc forums crap, thread with info for noobs, better denial post with more info.)

 

Hopefully this helps you guys out somewhat. I'd really be happy to discuss it with any staff member if they're interested.

 

I completely agree with all of this!

 

Rhia, I rather PM you what I think as it might help some with the applications #hasbeenhelpingapplicants

 

You are more then welcome to!

[Kaiser 2347]

I personally think the biography section could be longer, but hey, that's just me.

 

I agree with Deckolo, and that's a rare thing for me to do

[Aedan The Bard 350]

The key is that the AT member reviewing their application makes them feel welcomed, needed. That way, they have a motivation to keep trying.

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

I think its okay. I would like to see consistency in reason for denials, or acceptance. I've seen applicants in the past who were denied over a lore misconception the app team member had, or broke some kind of racial lore but was allowed through.