Aya

I agree entirely with what Verad said. I refer to it as stream-of-consciousness because it feels that the narration is literally Gogonji's stream of thought. I didn't mean to suggest that it was obfuscating, hard to follow, or disorganized. There is a coherent and easily understandable flow to the whole thing [This probably comes down to one of us actually being man of literature and the other being a simple RPer ]

The paranoia is more than reasonable, Gogon is a paranoid based on what I have read. He looks at the world as a web of plots and suspicion, and that's what comes through in the piece. Its essentially a stream of consciousness, a look in Gogon's mind, and if that's the insight its trying to provide it does a good job of it, but to me it doesn't really hold attention because it lacks a real hook, and contains no description, action, dialogue, or anything like that... its just a stream of thoughts, perception, and attitude. Well written, but it really doesn't seem to go anywhere (although it does go to Revenant's Toll!) I feel a little more aware of Gogon's psychology (but I already had some insight into that from a previous story of yours that I read), but I don't feel enriched. Does that make sense? Edit: I'll also just add.. I haven't read the full story in part because I don't find Gogon very interesting (I generally dislike dark-out-for-revenge characters, they just have nothing to offer that pulls me in). I like him as a foil to Chachan, and if the story were Chachan's with Gogon as an antagonist I probably would read it. The bits and pieces of it that I have read have definitely been well and smoothly done That's not a suggestion (we all write stories because they're what we want to write, and they're not really meant to be something that everyone would like to read), but it is an observation.

Zhavi, Zhavi, Zhavi! I've given her one compliment already (not enough!) but I'll try not to repeat myself too much :-] A terrific and inspiring writer. Someone who has greatly contributed to my sense of immersion in the realm of Eorzea. Who shares terrific and sharp observation with a straightforward style that gets the point across that she's trying to make. She seemed to be gone for a while not long ago, and I know I am not alone in having really missed her!

BLASPHEMY!!! Sorry, Morrowind was still immersive to me, but everything to come sense stopped feeling like an actual world like Daggerfall did, and instead feels like a playground. Oblivion is the worst Was not a fan of Skyrim? From what I've seen of it I might enjoy it, but I just am not interested any more :-]

BLASPHEMY!!! Sorry, Morrowind was still immersive to me, but everything to come since stopped feeling like an actual world like Daggerfall did, and instead feels like a playground. Oblivion is the worst

Dasair, I think you're entirely correct. What people are mis-attributing to popularity is actually just recognizability on the forum. The idea that there's some division, some difference between how those who are recognized from the forum find and conduct RP, and those who are new or less recognized, is just plain wrong. There's an entire portfolio of myth and projection that gets repeated over and over again about this very topic: my suggestion is just realizing that everyone you interact with in this community is just like you, faces many of the same struggles and has many of the same concerns and desires in terms of finding and enjoying RP.

Daggerfall! The game's been dated ever since I first played it, but it seems to me to demonstrate everything that's gone wrong with Elder Scrolls since then Most of the games I play I honestly enjoy in their dated form. You just can't improve on Metroid (though I know they tried!)

Aya and Clio could be Wrench Wench friends! We'll call ourselves the Two Much Blonde! Val's able to play a combination of intriguing, endearing, and menacing in a single character like I've never seen before And Leanne often makes me smile, brightening my day bit-by-bit with her amazing hat and good humor!

Haha those are cuuute!

It means I'm out painting the town red!

Everyone knows everyone else, really? That I have to question. Same with the assumption that everyone's friends here. I think most of the regular users know who the other regular uses are and recognize a new person without any reference to a post count, yes :-X

Really? Our community is so small that everyone knows everyone else, who is hiding those post counts supposed to fool? Ultimately I really feel that this is an overall positive and mature community that has provided a generally phenomenal atmosphere since I first joined it. We don't require a heavy hand to do so, and certainly don't need the scissors taken away from us so that we don't hurt ourselves. A little reminder of the ancient wisdom of Wyld Stallyns is, I suspect, all that is really needed most of the time: "Be excellent to each other." I think moderator input to posters perceived as causing problems is all that would be helpful in most cases (we do not have any real trolls here, its part of why I love this community). This input should perhaps be more quick to respond than it is at the moment (and the usual process of closing threads and whatnot is always an unfortunate necessity). But heavy-handed attempts to shape the community from the top are both unnecessary, and likely to cause more harm than good to this environment.

Ooooooooooooooooh!!

Exactly, its one of the most effective means we have of conducting positivity. Many people don't want to make posts praising someone, some will send PMs, many more happily hit that +1 rep button, and often leave a nice comment too. I feel like we've circled the wagons with the guns facing the wrong direction: toward each other. This thread is full of high criticism and as much aggression and animosity as any thread on the forum lately. While what we have been dealing with are a handful of controversial topics which have become testy and the occasional heavy-handed criticism of concepts and ideas these things are (sometimes) unfortunate, but are not a reason to demand vast overwhelming changes to a community that has been well run and well conducted for such a long time. I know we all have our own prescriptions, but in the end it boils down to: don't be a jerk. Express your opinion respectfully, and don't hammer away at someone (or something) with the intent to obliterate it. Understand and accept that this is a large community with a variety of opinion and interest, and what what we all consider good RP and good use of time will vary widely. These sorts of things cannot be moderated from on high. Board moderators can only do their best to work within a framework to keep the edge cases in check, overall the tone will be our responsibility as users to set. I find it especially upsetting that those very threads most intent upon boosting the tone of the board also come in for harsh criticism. What exactly are we supposed to do? Cannot be too positive to each other, cannot be too negative. Only post when other people think its appropriate? How about we just accept all of the good that the community has to offer, and do our best to mitigate the bad. I can't help but feel like all of these suggestions for any major changes are overreaction. Things are not bad, worthy of a moment of reflection, perhaps, but not (apropos a particular thread), of revolution. This has been one of my very favorite web communities, and I've enjoyed it for over a year to the point that I tend to check it almost constantly to see whats going on. The idea that we cannot handle or manage ourselves had never occurred to me. But, if we're to be a community where we really have to trust the moderators to make things right, and we have to remove such dangerous tools as a reputation system from the hands of users lest new forum goers be intimidated, or undesirable habits be spread, then all I can say is that is not a community that will garner my interest, let alone my love.

First of all, is the RPC really that hostile? Secondly, do you think that the overall tone matters more? Or that some theoretical person with a high rep count acting like a jerk in a thread really has that much impact? All I can think of is that this is way overreacting, and getting lost in navel gazing.

Haha that's so good! I really wish I'd put together that dyable set, you two look terrific

If people really feel that the RPC is in need of removal of reputations in order to be a friendly, fun place then I honestly have no idea what's going on any more.

I really like the ability to give people rep boosts, its one of my favorite RPC activities to know that I can slightly brighten someone's day for having brightened mine. I think getting rid of this in an effort to make the forum less hostile would really miss the mark...

Why is this even being discussed here? Its not what the thread is about. I think people taking any opportunity they can to turn a particular thread toward their own passionate hobbyhorse is part of the issue here.

SM Nick, that's not a compliment! But you've made so many in the thread, maybe we can let it slide? Nataru rockin' those 3D glasses like a rockstar!

Things can't always be positive.. and I say this as someone who doesn't like negativity. I hope the people who have looked away don't stay away. Its easier just to avoid controversial topics, I think, there's so much good stuff and discussion on the RPC that isn't controversial or heated, and its a shame to miss out on that!

But what if we just ignore you? Then where will you be! *foot tap* Hmmm?

Things have been a little bit testy! (Too testy I think too). Our fun threads that run to amazing length though are like the compliments thread and stuff! Community building fun, I think... that's not bad at all

Has Toymaker listed as his character's occupation, which is amazing

I like my swords in many shapes and sizes, but 'okay' just won't cut it!