Bring Back The Council?

[MKaros]

The other thing to consider is that the players here, as with the players in many other games, don't participate in forum discussions in large numbers. This is normal, but it means that there aren't exactly dozens of incoming daily suggestions that need to be managed by something more complicated than an excel spreadsheet.

Usually player-run organizations that interact with staff are intended to fulfill a specific function in the community, typically one that staff are unwilling or unable to do themselves, or that they find conveniently suits players and allows them to contribute positively to the game environment.

While certainly in this case it would be neat for the players involved to have a direct link to the management, I'm not sure that the organization would really be filling a necessary or extremely important role between players and staff. In order to have a successful program that bridges the gap between what players can help with and what staff are hired to do, there needs to be a clear gap to bridge - something in that gray zone that could be developed to meaningfully improve the gaming experience of the broader player base.

So, what do you feel is in this gap?

[Larsa]

If the desire of wanting someone to represent the players or alleviate work from +Nyx, +Veritas and all other staff then I suggest to look for a player counselor. He/She is not a staff and doesn't have the power to make decisions... main job is to help new and old players, maintain order and keep a straight line of communication with the staffs and owner(s). But make no mistake that this is not a easy position cause:

1. Your play time will be shortened (pm's, help, suggestions, griefs, ideas, etc from all the players)
2. You will basically be here 24/7 or at least when +staff is not available
3. It becomes a responsibility
4. You might or might not be hated

I wouldn't mind if we chose a 'vet' for this position because he/she has been around too long and he/she will be able to provide you with an answer and/or help if there are not +staffs around. Obviously, the players can vote who they want to represent them. If this is feasible, then we have lessen the work for the +staffs which means more time to come up with new events... so... win/win situation?

[MKaros]

We had something similar in a game I used to play called Gemstone 4, where there was a player volunteer section called Game Hosts that had limited ability to make decisions and assist players, but who were not under an NDA and as a result had no real insight into more sensitive in-game information like the identities of staff members' player characters.

This system worked well because it allowed the GHs to simply respond to and assist with basic to complex player disputes and questions, and there was a referral ability that allowed the GH to elevate player concerns or problems they could not address to a GM (full-time staff) level. So, it allowed the GM staff to focus more on designing auction items, merchant events, and world role playing events as opposed to answering the many player questions that came in on a daily basis.

The Counselor concept in the original UO staff breakdown sounds very similar to this. The players who undertook this role obviously needed not necessarily to be very senior, but they did need to be very knowledgeable in order to successfully answer the many different types of questions that players would come up with. They often were veteran players, though, because there is a demonstrable link between players who play for longer and their knowledge of the game.

[+Nyx]

The trouble with having some players sitting at a permanent counselor rank and handling conflict resolution is that everyone will ask to talk to somebody over their head. In every argument, someone will end up unhappy and demand to speak to a GM. Half the time, *I* get this and they demand to talk to Colibri. So it still wouldn't be taking any work off of us, hehe.

[Ilsanor]

Well, the point would be not handling the quarrels, but rather the questions that do not need a GM to answer. Like a filter for paging, so that GMs take care of only the stuff that actually demands attention from someone higher up. I don't really know what pages are about in general, but if there is a significant number* of typical gameplay questions (How..., Where..., etc.) then perhaps there would be a use for that. A bit like adding another tier to the current system, as GMs sort out all the ailments of the shard that don't require +Colibri's intervention and forward everything that does (item recovery for example) to him.
Still, this idea has some drawbacks - mainly, the access of non-staffers to some sensitive information (which probably gets sent as part of a page sometimes) and the repeated question - is there enough questions to actually warrant such a thing?

Personally, I think that concentrating on getting some organized "Youth Program" would be a better outlet for all this "I wanna help" energy. Though lets not get carried away - it is impossible to keep everyone who comes here playing. UO is a difficult game in itself and there is always real life, which has priority. I always wondered - what percentage of new accounts make it through the first week? Month?

*Like, out of 100 pages a day (not sure if there's that many even) 50% was gameplay.

[Melkor]

I think its clear staff will not be endorsing this idea.

However, if a group of players want to get together and declare themselves the counsel, offer their services and report their findings on the forums for staff to see and others to comment on, then so be it. Perhaps the players will recognize and utilize the counsel, perhaps not. But it seems like the only way your going to get your counsel going. For those interested, I'm sure that it would be fun setting up a counsel chambers, making a charter of some sort, rules of entry to the counsel and so on. I personally wouldn't be interested in joining said counsel, but i've been thinking of this idea and thought i'd share it.

[Scragitty]

i would have to vote no on this keeping staff and players separate is a good idea giving any players any amount of power is not a great idea imo and frankly whats the point i get all my pages answered and i ask in global before i page so i don't see the purpose as far as policing the chat if it bothers you so much just report it if gm is not on take a screen shot let them address it later.well that's my 2 cents.

[lestatzero]

I am not sure if the council it s self should be brought back but i have noticed that there is alot more spamming and other basic misuse of the [c chan. I know it can be difficult to regulate things but I think something needs to be done to maintain a regular presents of managmenet / administration to make sure that people follow rules and don't abuse things. The laque of staff being available on a regular basis can lead to some people becoming displeased with the server. Some of this can stem to keeping new people.

Not sure if there is anything I can do to help but if there is let me know... I don't troll the boards often Message me in game .

Lestat A zero