Event Review: The Reign of Winter

[MM/NPL Dustin]

A fun but chilly event that left me hungry for more. Can't wait for the next event to see everyone again!

Pros:
- Thanks Lucas for sparing my toes some frostbite!
- Silver weapons are always nice to get!
- Liked the ambiguous travel system, good way to represent the confusion of a snow storm.
- All the combat mods were good fun.
- Being undead, although was bittersweet, was also freakin' fun!
- Interacting with Fae that weren't just straight-up douchebags was nice.
- Vali constantly bantering with the fae.
- Weather wasn't actually a complaint for me, the snowfall made RPing the blizzard easier and more immersive for me.

Cons:
- My loot sucked, but that can be attributed to my bad luck and lack of ranks in looting, but it's a little frustrating to drop something in combat and get garbage tags or nothing at all.
- Deep snow made my usual footwork hard but again, that can't be helped.
- Lot of death effects thrown around for a day mod.

Overall, a fun event, but I can't wait for weekend events again.

[Gideon McKraken]

Pro: +New season NPCs are experienced and hard working

Cons:
I'm going to drop some harsh criticism here. Other guilds I wouldn't say anything but I actually have some faith in Morgaine to work to keep her game up to a good quality.

1. Angela needs to not feed plot information to her close friends. I saw a PC complain this event because someone close to her knew one of his secrets he had no way of knowing, and personally saw her run off to tell her information concerning my npc before the last mod. This is unacceptable behaviour and the parties involved are experienced enough to know it.

2. Gennaro committed two of the greatest shaper sins on his first event. First he spent far too much time on the front lines of battle throwing deadly magic and using ritual defenses. I had to call him out on it during the last fight to prevent him from solo'ing one of the bosses. Second shapers have a responsibility to be neutral, especially around their OOG relationships. Gennaro following around his girlfriend's PC and casting buffs on her is directly opposite to that. Only a complete idiot would think that is okay, and I do not think Gennaro is one.

3. NPC camp had a distinct lack of strong leadership. Morgaine appeared complacent in comparison to her great organisation in our day mod and early season last year. If she does not wish to step up (and that is understandable with a young one) she should elect someone to perform the head of plot role in her stead. Solid leadership, organization, and someone overseeing other shapers could prevent the bullshit that occurred in my firs two points.

[Branya]

Ouch. Harsh review, but props for your honesty. Shoot me an email so we can talk a more about this one on one.

[Gennaro M]

I won't speak for anyone save myself, but in the future, feel free to ask me the reasons behind anything I've done that you have issue with, before calling me out on any of it. Save us both some embarrassment, especially if the information you didn't have that made you feel this way turned your criticism on its head. I am happy to receive criticism, and I'm always looking to grow as a Shaper to entertain the player base, but I feel the level you took this to was in bad taste, and premature.

[Andrei Katrares]

I won't speak for anyone save myself, but in the future, feel free to ask me the reasons behind anything I've done that you have issue with, before calling me out on any of it.  Save us both some embarrassment, especially if the information you didn't have that made you feel this way turned your criticism on its head.  I am happy to receive criticism, and I'm always looking to grow as a Shaper to entertain the player base, but I feel the level you took this to was in bad taste, and premature.

Caveat: I wasn't there, and have no idea what happened. I also fimrly believe you catch more flies with honey, so issues with phrasing from Matt.

If there is anything I have learned in 3 years in Jericho's shaper camp (especially my first year), it is this: image is everything. Your intentions will never matter, and you will be tried by the court of public opinion, without so much as a word out of your mouth.

Is it fair? No.

Does anyone care that it isn't fair? No.

I will never run a plot for Jessica, even if she isn't the intended target and gets wrapped up in it by accident. If she gets involved in a plot I am running, I immediately pass it on to another shaper. Am I easily capable of distinguishing right from wrong and being neutral despite her involvement? Debatably, yes. Should I take the risk anyways? No.

Unless you have no choice (out as an NPC, SO gets involved, literally cannot find a way to not heavily interact or benefit them without breaking immersion or going OOG), always pass it off or minimize interaction.

That is my (hopefully) helpful advice.

Edit to add - That exception that I described in the parentheses? That is why I give major roles that aren't just hooks to season NPCs and either marshal or play crunchies in mods I run.

[Sierra Katrian]

Constantine is wise.

As a Shaper, I too find that avoidance is best when it comes to significant others, or even close friends. This is in regards to running plot and even talking about the plots that are being run. Avoid avoid avoid.

That said, everyone is learning and mistakes can be made (even with your best intentions at heart). It happens, but these are the instances we grow from.

Thanks for all of the feedback people. We really love to read them, even the not-so-good-stuff. Please keep posting your reviews, and remember that you are allowed and encouraged to email contact@underworldralinwood.ca with any comments of concerns that you feel you need to say privately.

[Gennaro M]

Constantine is very wise, yes. I appreciate that input.

It's a little bit harder to make that divide in the smaller guild of Ralinwood, but it is a good edict to keep in mind, and after last event I understand a little better why many Shapers play crunchies instead of their own hooks.

For everyone reading this, I do encourage the negative feedback as much as the positive, because that's how we grow as a game. I do also encourage respect toward those you are mentioning, whether or not they are named, and if you feel the only way to show respect in what you have to say is take it to contact@underworldralinwood.ca so it can be resolved privately, that is fine, also.

There's a good year planned ahead of us, and with your feedback we can make it the best it can be.