{ mini state of the game: february 2022 }

[dreamkeepers]

MINI STATE OF THE GAME

As mentioned last month, we are posting a mini "State of the Game" to just go over some observations, talk about what's in store, and ask for feedback and suggestions! It's been six months and we're chugging along pretty well, so we hope this is a good opportunity to ensure we keep moving in a way that helps everyone.

✵ ACTIVITY CHECK: SQUATTING ✵

First some serious discussion regarding the Activity Check.

Over the past six months we've been able to see the kind of activity levels of the game, and we're going to take this opportunity to reiterate our rules regarding Activity Check: "As a capped game there is very little tolerance for squatters." We have a minimum requirement, but that doesn't mean players should only be doing that bare minimum all the time. That doesn't make it fun for players trying to create and develop CR when threads are dropped early or after the AC period. However, sometimes life comes at us or we slip up and are less active than expected, so we have a bad month where the bare minimum is all we can manage.

So to be transparent, this is what will make us determine that a player is not meeting our standard for activity and will be removed:

• Bare minimum. Seeing threads that stop right at 5 comments and then never or barely touched again does not give us a great impression. This is only applicable to threads where it's the player's turn but did not reply.
  
  
• Last minute. When the majority of tags only occur or start during the last few days of the month, it makes us wonder what's happening during the rest of the time and if that really counts as being part of the game when you're missing 95% of it.
  
  
• Dropping the thread after AC is over. Dropping the thread right after the AC period when it could still continue into the next month makes it obvious that it's just to meet the requirement. This is especially so when it's a last minute thread even if it goes beyond the bare minimum. That's not threading for CR, that's just threading for a proof. We do go back to check previously submitted proofs to ensure this is happening.
  
  
• Consistent pattern. The final and most important point is when this is a repeated, consecutive pattern over a period of several months. Once in a while is not an issue and it would need to be more than two, but we can tell when it's month after month after month without any valid reason. Communicated circumstances are excluded and not considered as part of a pattern unless it goes beyond a reasonable timeframe.

If we can check all four points, then we have the right to remove the player for poor show of activity.

To be clear, the game is not meant to be fast paced so we do not expect players to be completely immersed and be extremely active, but we do expect to at least be able to look at a character and remember who they are. If a player can only tag once or twice a day in a month, or can only do most of their tagging on certain days of the week, that's still perfectly acceptable for us. A character could have a large CR pool, or they could have a very small one. Players could be more active with ten or more threads, or they are managing their time and have three or four threads to focus on. That's fine, that's still playing in the game. As long as the player is clearly engaged and trying to do things, then we don't mind smaller proofs of activity.

It's only when it's clear that a player is consistently only threading to meet the AC requirement to stay in the game and nothing more that we cannot accept because by our standards, that's not playing in the game setting. Just because we have a minimum does not mean players should only be playing the minimum.

For those wondering if we will give out warnings, no, we will only send a message at the time of removal. We will also not make any other future announcements regarding this unless it becomes a problem. We already state in the rules that we do not tolerate squatting and we shouldn't need to point out if at the time of AC a player is constantly finding themselves needing last minute proofs and essentially ignoring the game otherwise. That's not our responsibility. Players need to be aware of their own activity levels and keep up with the game.

If it's any reassurance, overall the activity we've seen across the board is healthy to us and what we expect. Of course, we're not bringing this issue up unprompted. If reading all of this concerns you, please remember the key points we outlined and that we apply it as narrowly as possible. Most importantly, all four points must be met, not just one or two, and a consistent pattern is weighted the most. This is not to punish slower players, only players who are clearly non-existent in the game.

If you are still worried and want to know if you're doing enough, you are welcome to message us. We are aware that some players have their reasons for being on the slower side lately and that's fine, there's at least communication and we appreciate it. At the very least if you're doing more than the 5 comment minimum and not dropping them right away then you're in the clear. However, take this as an opportunity to evaluate your interest in the game compared to the time you actually have to play in it. Songerein is meant to be a place for fun, so the last thing we want is to be a source of stress.

This may not have been a pleasant read, especially since we are supposed to be a little more relaxed and we don't want to appear overly strict. But this is part of our job to maintain the game's health and especially because we have limited slots, full or not. We appreciate everyone who has been with us so far and for their understanding.

✵ HIATUSES ✵

To help things a little, we are implementing a clearer guideline for partial hiatus proofs. Currently our system only accounts for full exemption, but in the past few months we've worked with players to allow them to submit half AC or however much they can manage as a compromise for oddly timed hiatuses. Doing so has helped players ease any guilt they felt, so we're making it more official. It still follows the same rule that it cannot be used consecutively and we will still consider it as part of any ongoing pattern should we notice.

We would like to note that we have not seen any abuse in the system and instead noticed that many players would have benefitted from taking one in recent months. We do encourage taking a hiatus, even precautionary ones, if needed and would like to express that you are still allowed to tag in the game and submit AC should you find yourselves making it. Doing so will cancel out the hiatus and will give you a clean pass.

Of course we do not want players to suddenly put precautionary hiatuses every month and will notice if there is a pattern, but it at least gives us a heads up and context for any sudden drop of activity. It will also help benefit the player as it will reduce a source of stress and need to do last minute scramble, which gives a much poorer outlook. Receiving last minute messages also does not give a good look as we have to question if it's legitimate or an attempt to make an excuse. We don't like being in that position so we again ask players to be responsible with their time.

As always, if you have any questions regarding your circumstances, you're welcome to message us. For the most part we are more relaxed and will be happy to work with what's happening. At worst we may consider whether a player will need to lessen their load until things settle, but that's something we can discuss in private.

✵ PLOT?? ✵

Sooooo I know I billed Songerein as more of a relaxing game without much of a plot. Yet somehow—and I really shouldn't be surprised—we managed to come up with an overarching plot with the Story Eater that will last until the first anniversary. Ha ha ha, yeah the original forecast of us just dumping the Story Eater by the end of last year was way off.

That said, Songerein is still not a plot driven game. Rather it's more like we have a plot backdrop that serves as a vehicle to help us give context and a stage for the various events we have planned out for the rest of the year. The Story Eater helps facilitate conflict and problems and gives characters who are interested something to focus on. But the game is not about the Story Eater—it's about dreams and world building. The Story Eater is just a convenient plot device that helps us spice things up.

We have it set that the Story Eater arc will end on the game's first anniversary, so around October. Unless some wild crazy development occurs, that shouldn't change as we've already plotted the roadmap for it (and it's going to be wild fun, we're excited). After that…we don't have anything planned, but who knows. Maybe we'll start another arc… Or maybe the game will become what it was originally advertised to be. We're a rather dynamic group so we'll see how things turn out over time, especially if players actually like having a bit of a plot backdrop. We also have no set end date for the game, so we'll just keep chugging along for as long as people have interest.

As for plot involvement, although it is technically easier to just construct a story and have everyone ride through it, it's not as fun. Thus as much as we are able, characters will be able to help shape things and there will be objectives that can help those who are more task oriented to focus on. Because we do have a timeline, it may not be possible to allow massive plot shifts, however we do want to encourage anything that could help players feel like they helped shape and affect the story in some way.

✵EVENTS & CONTENT ✵

We've had two major events (Halloween, Christmas), and one mini event (Owls). This is still on point for what we've originally conceived for the game and looking at the future, we may have a similar cadence of having a mini event in-between the larger events should we have the content for it. Okay, granted, my original goal was to be much lazier, but honestly the team is having a blast coming up with ideas and it feels like that meme where we have too much and can't hold all of it.

Of course, there is concern on whether the amount we're putting out is enough, too much, or too little. I'm always concerned I put out too much as my many years of modding larger games has trained me to put out as much as possible to cover the larger groups of player interest. But Songerein is smaller and I don't want to overwhelm players, especially since our pacing is more on the medium side. At the same time I worry about not putting out enough to occupy players, so any feedback and opinions on this matter will be greatly appreciated. This also includes the Dreamboard though we're less concerned about it.

The next feedback request is for the event content. I would like to hear what parts of the events you liked and what parts you didn't. I expect there will be some differing in opinion—and that's okay because it just means we have variety that appeals to different groups, so it's okay if you liked something that someone else did not. But if there's something that just fell flat all around, I'd like to know so we don't have it again! On the flip side, if something was a hit we'd like to know so we could try and repeat it. This includes prompt content, how certain mechanics are executed, objectives, rewards, etc.

The next question I have is regarding the pacing. Is the current cadence reasonable? Are the events held long enough for the amount of content and the player pacing? Do we need to slow down or put out a little more? Tell us your thoughts!

✵PLAYER CAP ✵

After the recent Activity Check, we've dropped down from 77 in November to 52. Considering we skipped an app cycle, that's still a healthy player population for us, especially as we likely have our core base established. After seeing how we do at over max cap, I believe sticking with the 75 maximum is best and we will not increase it. While we are still in awe at how well received the game was on opening, we are not pushing to be the most popular or try to hit max. We just want the game filled with players who are interested in the setting and in the CR opportunities and have fun.

So we are looking forward to the upcoming March cycle and unless we somehow hit max again, the application cycles should continue on the normal bimonthly schedules (March > May > July > September > November > January etc.)

✵GENERAL FEEDBACK ✵

Those are the main highlights for this Mini State of the Game. Overall I think we're moving pretty well and everyone seems to be having fun with their own plots and CR, which is what we want. But there's always room for improvement! Feel free to comment with anything you'd like to say, and you are also welcome to use the Mod Contact for any private concerns you may have.