We can see where you're coming from regarding additional structure being helpful to some players. This has come up in the past and we've discussed it on the mod level a number of times. That said, we have always erred on the side of caution regarding the risk of information overload or burnout either on the writing-up or the reading-of. Currently, we only have plans to offer the overview map of Tu Vishan, with the subsequent descriptions already provided. This is, again, to promote the creativity of the membership and prevent players from being afraid to contribute mentions of buildings, small scale scenarios, etc that fleshes out a world with a variety of influences.
Providing too many additional details, such as a defined map, can create a scenario where there's a structure, but little room for growth and a lack of confidence in the membership to contribute to said growth. That can further generate fear of contradicting easily referenced data, leading to constant referencing of information pages rather than immersion and enjoyment of the RP experience. Your suggestion about a player-contributed map has merit in theory, but the execution of such a project, given that the Keeliai area is the size of Vancouver BC, raises a number of logistical issues, from how to coordinate 60+ members into providing their contributions and how to avoid, again, information burnout and fear of contradictions in said contributions. Given these logistical difficulties, it is not a project that we will be launching at this time.
We do acknowledge that this may not appeal to all players and we're sorry if it doesn't appeal to you. Tu Shanshu is meant to be more of a sandbox setting with directed plot for both creativity, but also for time commitments . Which leads to your suggestion about a weekly update as to the status of the turtle. This has come up in some other suggestions and, as noted, we are not against members providing such a thing (on the stipulation that it is not mod-reviewed for accuracy), but neither Roy nor myself have the time to monitor everything that's happening in game -- and then to summarise it for a weekly update.
When there's a large change in the nature of the turtle, we will definitely be posting about it (see: the current "spa days" event). With regards to the rest of the efforts, we've been reviewing them on a case-by-case basis and have given players some freedoms with regards to success or failure. As with the previous paragraph, we do not have plans to summarise all efforts within a weekly update due to time constraints -- additionally due to some handwaved involvement or ongoing threads that we may not be aware of and which would be inadvertently left out in such an update.
Touching on your suggestion about random events, we'd like to point out that you (or any player, for that matter) are more than welcome to submit a player-run event that covers it. Player-run events do not necessarily have to be instigated by a specific character; if you'd like to run something more generic than, say, Amelia amassing a crime-fighting army, then you can definitely outline and submit something to that effect. A Sector-specific gang war, random pipe issues, etc are all things that could fall under the scope of a player-run event. We rarely run such events on the mod level as Tu Shanshu's focus is the metaplot and we are constantly working towards the next goal. Smaller events with localised impacts are more slice-of-life and take away the focus that we need to keep on the metaplot for the sake of keeping it going. We are happy to encourage smaller, slice-of-life mini-plots to be taken on by players through the previously linked event page. All approved player events end up included on our calendar and we ensure to adapt the other planned events to ensure there is adequate time and the correct setting to facilitate the event.
Finally, you made a comment on the nature of focused events and we'd like to reassure you that we have offered a number of focused events in the past (the September gang wars, the shell damages) and will be offering them in the future. The landfall at Atam is one example of a more passive event in that we provided the setting and allowed members to plot on their own. In these cases, our suggestion is mainly to keep reviewing the OOC comments in the announcement posts for plotting details to see what comes up. This is how most of our players get involved with others and come up with craziness such as the stockade mini-revolution that occurred.
I think that covers off most of the concerns that you elaborated on. In short, we appreciate the suggestions and will keep them in mind. We hope you'll consider some of these counterpoints in the future and, please, have fun here! If you want Amelia to have more effect in and around the turtle, then feel free to float a different plan of attack, as it were, than her simply offering to help the kedan (on the grounds that they will reject it). We don't mind going over revised ideas when one angle may not work; very few things in life work out on the first try and that's a reality that we've been reflecting into situation on the turtle.
no subject
Providing too many additional details, such as a defined map, can create a scenario where there's a structure, but little room for growth and a lack of confidence in the membership to contribute to said growth. That can further generate fear of contradicting easily referenced data, leading to constant referencing of information pages rather than immersion and enjoyment of the RP experience. Your suggestion about a player-contributed map has merit in theory, but the execution of such a project, given that the Keeliai area is the size of Vancouver BC, raises a number of logistical issues, from how to coordinate 60+ members into providing their contributions and how to avoid, again, information burnout and fear of contradictions in said contributions. Given these logistical difficulties, it is not a project that we will be launching at this time.
We do acknowledge that this may not appeal to all players and we're sorry if it doesn't appeal to you. Tu Shanshu is meant to be more of a sandbox setting with directed plot for both creativity, but also for time commitments . Which leads to your suggestion about a weekly update as to the status of the turtle. This has come up in some other suggestions and, as noted, we are not against members providing such a thing (on the stipulation that it is not mod-reviewed for accuracy), but neither Roy nor myself have the time to monitor everything that's happening in game -- and then to summarise it for a weekly update.
When there's a large change in the nature of the turtle, we will definitely be posting about it (see: the current "spa days" event). With regards to the rest of the efforts, we've been reviewing them on a case-by-case basis and have given players some freedoms with regards to success or failure. As with the previous paragraph, we do not have plans to summarise all efforts within a weekly update due to time constraints -- additionally due to some handwaved involvement or ongoing threads that we may not be aware of and which would be inadvertently left out in such an update.
Touching on your suggestion about random events, we'd like to point out that you (or any player, for that matter) are more than welcome to submit a player-run event that covers it. Player-run events do not necessarily have to be instigated by a specific character; if you'd like to run something more generic than, say, Amelia amassing a crime-fighting army, then you can definitely outline and submit something to that effect. A Sector-specific gang war, random pipe issues, etc are all things that could fall under the scope of a player-run event. We rarely run such events on the mod level as Tu Shanshu's focus is the metaplot and we are constantly working towards the next goal. Smaller events with localised impacts are more slice-of-life and take away the focus that we need to keep on the metaplot for the sake of keeping it going. We are happy to encourage smaller, slice-of-life mini-plots to be taken on by players through the previously linked event page. All approved player events end up included on our calendar and we ensure to adapt the other planned events to ensure there is adequate time and the correct setting to facilitate the event.
Finally, you made a comment on the nature of focused events and we'd like to reassure you that we have offered a number of focused events in the past (the September gang wars, the shell damages) and will be offering them in the future. The landfall at Atam is one example of a more passive event in that we provided the setting and allowed members to plot on their own. In these cases, our suggestion is mainly to keep reviewing the OOC comments in the announcement posts for plotting details to see what comes up. This is how most of our players get involved with others and come up with craziness such as the stockade mini-revolution that occurred.
I think that covers off most of the concerns that you elaborated on. In short, we appreciate the suggestions and will keep them in mind. We hope you'll consider some of these counterpoints in the future and, please, have fun here! If you want Amelia to have more effect in and around the turtle, then feel free to float a different plan of attack, as it were, than her simply offering to help the kedan (on the grounds that they will reject it). We don't mind going over revised ideas when one angle may not work; very few things in life work out on the first try and that's a reality that we've been reflecting into situation on the turtle.