Re-thinking the Idea of Restricting Certain Areas

[Shine]

I would suggest to the Admin/Mods that you might reconsider the idea of restricting parts of the Dojo for players of various levels.

The change last time may have been too limited for beginners, but it is becoming apparent that some folks should have to prove their skill (manners) before they should be allowed to play with the big kids.

AAraargh!! Did I really say that, It goes against all the egalitarian and anti-eliteist impulses that have been central to how I approach so much of life. However when a good thread gets interrupted by bad play and lots of OOC activity to clear things up, it is often the beginning of the end for that thread.

But to be fair, I must admit that when a new player tries to get into a thread with well established characters it can be hard for them to get into the action. I realize that sometimes they sort of get ignored and so they act extreme so as to get taken seriously. A "beginners" section would let them be central actors in threads while they learn how things go in the Dojo.


While you ponder this idea, I would wonder out loud as to if the last set of restrictions scared folks away, so I would suggest that you give us more warning and seek input from players in the process.


Take this all for what its worth,

Its just a suggestion

[Danikat]

Theres a system being worked on right now that should help solve the problem.

Hmm...can members who aren't mods or admins see The Meeting House board? I was under the impression they could, since theres also a private section.

If not then, I'll just say something is being done. But its taking a while to make sure we have all the details worked out.

Edit: Also any new members who feel they need practice, don't understand something, or who would are just uncomfortable working with the more established members are more than welcome to use the Training Dojo. Either by asking for help from one of the people on the trainers list, or just starting an RP.

[3kul]

Regular (ie: non-mod/non-admin) users can actually view the meeting house, though I guess that Shine hasn't .

You can find out about the new system that we've been developing in the New RP Restrictions? thread, then go on to see the fine-tuning of the class definitions over in the Finalization of Belt-Clan Definitions thread.

After you've read those, you should have a good idea of the new system we're working on. To give you a very basic run-down though, under the new system, belts will actually have to be earned, and after a certain belt ranking has been achieved, RPers then work towards belts for a style that suits them, and with the guidance of an individual sensei for that style, they should be able to move up the ranks at an adequate pace (rather than leave everything up to one master sensei ). Requirements for the later belt ranks are designed to be more difficult to fulfil than the earlier rankings, to add a bit more meaning to them. People will be able to post what belt rank they'd prefer to have posting in their RPs as they would any other rules (for example, 'red belts or above only' or something to that accord). This is a pretty basic rundown though, you'll understand things much better if you read the aforementioned threads.

We're currently still sorting out the sensei for each style of RPing at the moment, and whilst regular members can't vote, you can still view the polls over in the Meeting House. Also, if you feel that you know someone or that you yourself would suit the position of sensei for one of the styles, then by all means let a staff member know (though to be perfectly honest, you'd be a little late in doing so, as this entire system's been in the works for little over a month now).

[Shine]

WOW, no I didn't know that the Meeting House could be read, so I hadn't.

I have now read much of it, and it looks complex. I don't see Whiteoak in there except maybe the jack of all trades one (Chameleon?, I don't know japanese and that will be frustrating.) Plus, what about multiple characters? Whiteoak games different from Sanders. I know you have wrestled with these things, but I don't see tham all as solved

Also, are you aware that some of the very people you /we are concerned about as having limited abilities are by now brown belts? Do we/they get to retain the current status or who/how will initial status be determined?

EnDSchultz is a yellow belt, while Trot is a brown belt. hmmm Thats kind of a problem. EnD is an old timer with proven abilities, and Trot is newer and still working out the kinks. I didn't see that addressed, but I fell asleep somewheere around page 12 and woke up several pages later, maybe you figured that out, but if not??????

[3kul]

Since you've gone to the effort of reading through it all Shine, I have no problems answering your questions, as I think we've already resolved some of them, and those that haven't will need to be, so it's important to bring such things up (and yes, it was certainly complex to sort out, though once we get it up and running it shouldn't be too hard to maintain).

For one thing, you can ignore the Japanese if you'd like. That's just me and Shaon being showoffs (not that there is Japanese for the word 'Chameleon', it'd just be 'Kamereon' ).

As for multiple characters, there's nothing wrong with someone of your skill level going for multiple belts, or simply working under the Chameleon style belt. Personally I feel that beginners would be best working towards one belt in particular before trying branching off for another, but you'd probably have no problems working towards several with your different characters. After a while you'll probably get a good feel for each style, and whichever style you think suits you the best can be the one that you display as a belt (the Sensei of each style will of course know what rank everyone is at whether they choose to display that style's rank or not, so you don't have to worry about forgetting what rank you're at or anything ).

Forget about the current belts (something I remember that we definately covered, you must've slept through it ). Once the new system's in place, everyone will drop back to the first belt rank and start again from there. I imagine that to begin with we'll have quite a bit of work on our plates as mods and admins until we sort a few people's rankings out, but once you get up to the first belt ranking of a particular style any issues/problems that you have are addressed to the Sensei of that style. The current belts are awarded based on post count, and show nothing whatsoever about a person's RPing skill.

[Zerrer]

i, personally do not agree with the belt restriction system for non "property deed" areas because i, am an accomplished RPer in albia, whilst here i am a white belt. the reason i am ok with the property deed areas is because it is a privatley owned area where the areas can be noob proof if they want them to be.

[LordPsycho]

Don't worry, with the exception of the Clan Sensei's, everyone will be going down to white belt when the new system is started...and the clan sensei's will be going down to green I believe....

If you have proven yourself before by RP'ing her a long time, It shouldn't be difficult to move back up to where you were, or even beyond based on the Style you choose.

[Danikat]