an OOC explanation to an IC posting...

[G]

I'm not entirely sure I'd want to have the Duel Forum being hosted in the RDI area. I know I'm personally not a fan of the Flash Chat as it is.

And some people are pesonally not fans of the chat feature in AIM... what's the difference?

Look, be it special events or a weekly shift hosted over there, this is not going to do squat unless the players from here step up and take some responsibility.

Just to clarify my statement, it was just a personal opinion of mine, I wasn't trying to speak for the entire forum. To be clear, I'm all for the help the RDI is giving us. I've had more than pleasant chats with one or two people from the RDI whom I would not have met without the cross promotion. (Wyh and Des are cool people. )

My concern about the RDI hosting the DF has been addressed and I'm okay with that.

Other than that, my only thing is with the Flash Chat, which is something I'll have to get used to or deal with.

Beyond that, I thoroughly support the help/crossover, etc. with the RDI and hope nothing I've said caused any frustration in that regards.

Also, I do try to help out in events when I can, usually these things happen when I can't get there, though. I've only made it to two events tho.

Just G.

[Panther]

Just to clarify my statement, it was just a personal opinion of mine, I wasn't trying to speak for the entire forum.

And I didn't mean to ... I suppose single you out. Your comments were just a launching point to address a broader topic.

Also, I do try to help out in events when I can, usually these things happen when I can't get there, though. I've only made it to two events tho.

And your efforts are appreciated. There are a number of people doing what they can to help in a number of different ways. But that number seems to be a vast minority of the participants.

Actually... I think it may be time for me to bow out of further conversations on this topic. For all intents and purposes, I am an outsider here. (and this is due to the actions of nobody but myself.)

Most of the things I've said, in general, are repeats of things I've said here before. I'm not sure what more I can add that would be constructive. I am not trying to tell anyone here how to do things , but more and more this last week, justifiably or not, I am walking away from things feeling that way. And I don't like that feeling.

So... please... feel free to come to me with ideas of what Dragon's Mark/the RDI can do to help... the offers are still there, I think I just need to distance myself from it on a personal level for the time being.

[Gnimish Gnimoi]

On a slight tanget...is there any way in FlashChat to make the players names a different color or bolder than their text when they enter something? If that one thing was possible, I think I'd like it about 100x more.

[Jaleeisa]

Wow! See what happens when I'm away from the boards for a few days? Took me a looooong time to try to get through at least the majority of the posts!

My take on this is as follows:

I have always hosted in both the RDI and the RoH. A few years ago, when I took my hiatus, I was calling all three duels as well as calling for TDL. I had several characters that played in both RDI and RoH.

My main hosting character at that time always brought up things that happened in the RoH while hosting in the Inn and things that happened in the RDI when hosting in the duels. I have always tried my best to stir interest from each side to the other both IC and OOC. Way back when (yep, another of the old fogies here) I caught a lot of flack in the duels for mentioning things that had happened during my little red headed offical/tender's shifts in the Inn. It didn't really matter to me. She was my character, that was part of her life.

Yes, right after the split from the RDI, the RoH did have the feel of a red headed step child. And that wasn't really just a feel, it was pretty much a fact. We had little to no support, utilities, aid, etc. We all worked together to see the duels survive. Then came the time that AOL decided we weren't really a game. So they didn't want us in their games area. Then suddenly they didn't want us anywhere. When the RDI was threatened, and the RDI admins went to work to try to keep it alive, they helped us by bringing us as well as several other RP gaming areas and games to support that we were a high member area. So, things leveled out for a time and we had a new AOL appointed "Supervisor". Frank did work with us. Everything went well for a while, but started the downward slide just before I took my hiatus.

My hiatus had nothing to do with AOL ditching us yet again. It was personal.

I was really concerned that when I got back to being able and wanting to play again that my two favorite areas weren't going to be around. I was really thrilled to find both still alive and kicking. And to be honest, I couldn't find the duels in any of the searches I did. I found the Inn and the links from there. I was pretty emotional about that. Why? Yeah, it's just a game. But I gave a long time and a lot of myself to each of the duels and to DoM in particular.

So.. the point of all this? Recap a little of the history as I knew it as being one of the admins for RoH years ago. Because the RDIF has given a lot to the duels. Any of those who played before the break with AOL that comes back looking for us will find the duels again like I did. The RDIF fought with AOL for the Duels just as they did for the RDI.

Des and I still host both areas. Because we love them and the people that play in them. Because we believe in both areas. And sometimes I think because we both love being buried in projects, tasks and Amal as our wicked step mother ::dutifully dons her Cinderella outfit comeplete with soot smudges, grease stains from scrubbing the floors and those poor water logged hands::

As far as the Flash, it's been a new experience. There are some things I don't care for with it. There are others I enjoy a lot.

Yes, there are some RDI players that couldn't give a hoot about the Duels. Just as there are Duels players that prefer not to be involved with the Inn for long ago problems.

The thing is.. we're all here. The Duels are struggling. The Inn seems to have made it over the hump. And not just with old players. There are lots of new folks I've met that weren't around three years ago. Titles? Well, my characters respect them. All of them. Not just the ones for the Duels. But how they respond to a character is based on how that character presents themselves. When hosting and not, I try to make sure every character in the room is acknowledged in some way. The ones they know and recognise and those they don't. It's not just a part of being a good host on shift or off. It's being a role player. It's remembering when I first found the RP areas and trying to figure out how to get some interaction going. It's remembering how many times I'd wished for someone to give me some kind of small opening. It's remembering that I was a newcomer at one time and came to greatly anticipate and enjoy my times in these areas.

I want to thank the ones that mentioned Jal and I as greeting others and respecting the titles, in the Inn or the Duels, and acknowledging anyone that comes to a room I'm hosting. It's good to know it's noticed and worth mention.

But for me personally, I think it's time to really get past the old problems and all. That's all gone and so far over with it's unreal. It's time to figure out how we can all work together to enhance both areas. Otherwise, when we all start getting too old and crippled by arthritis to type, it's all going to vanish because we didn't work together to make sure what we've all worked so hard to build remains for others to enjoy. I kind of like the idea of eventaully being able to tell my grandchildren about the things we encountered and had to solve to make the area they're playing in and enjoying.

::hops off the soapbox, scribbles her name for posterity and saunters off to unleash the sea wench turned Carpathian on Rhydin::

[Lord Daryl Kyle]

Forgive my ignorance of this subject and the lateness of my post but I have a simple observation. From reading the six pages of posts here we have both RDI and RoH people saying what they want here or there.

I'm know its been tried and failed but what is the reason that both forums can't exist as one Rhydin? I mean it is Free-Form but it is based on one common denominator...which isn't Red Dragon Inn. The commonality that both RDI and RoH share is that we are both in Rhydin. It is one world. The RDI folks don't have to care what happens in the duels, but they should realize that it is a part of Rhydin whether they care for it or not. To put it in certain terms: I don't really care what player plays for what team in the NBA but I realize that the NBA does exist. Its the same principle in a way. Really the only thing it would take that I can see is both sides saying "This is real and a part of the world, but in the spirit of Free-Form it is your choice to participate."

To be honest I don't know much about the DoF or DoM, but I've been around the block in DoS. I haven't dueled in a week due to the fact that when I went into the rooms there was a caller and maybe 1 or 2 people in there. According to my "Buddy List" there were at least 16 advid DoS people online...they just weren't dueling for whatever reason. Which is fine because it is your choice but I have to ask the question:

"What gives you the right to say anything at all about how bad the duels have fallen if you don't care enough to show up for regular shifts?"

I've been in the DoS room every scheduled night almost under one char or the next and most (not all) of the people in this thread that I reconize as DoS people only show up for a Challenge of some sort. To me that says you don't care about anything but the titles.

In regard to the challenges happening and then nothing for awhile...same paragraph as above. I've had roughly 20 duels since coming back and I garentee that less than 1/3 are Peer Win worthy opponants...why? None show up!

Now I just learned of this thread today so I've not had a good chance to check out this flashchat so I'm not going to say anything good or bad about it, but....
1: If we can't ask the RDI people to come to AOL/AIM then there shouldn't be even a debate about making us switch from AOL/AIM to Flashchat. Its a principle thing on that one. It would be like telling me I fail a class because my teacher is making me use a BIC pen when I have a PaperMate pen.
2: Flashchat is free and doesn't cost us anything to use, plus it does allow non AOL/AIM people to play in the community. When a new version of AOL comes out and they change something it takes getting used to and of course being AOL there are problems. Flashchat has some glitches I'm sure but to be honest I don't see a difference in using Flashchat or AIM exept it allows a much bigger populace to join us if they so choose.


THAT being said lets get back to the original reason for this post. There really is no reason for us to keep bickering over this. If RDI and RoH joined together to be ONE Rhydin then it would allow us all to redifine our community. The Duels have always been viewed as a sport as it should be. Every sport has rules. The "matrix" is the rules so to speak. If they don't like it no problem at all."Thank you for coming to RP with us then." ::Smiles:: Plus if it was all the same and we were all together I don't see a reason why some people in the Red Dragon Inn wouldn't at least come and try the Duels. They are looking at a list of rooms and sees 10 or so people in the dueling room so they check it out. As long as we are in there dueling and rping then why wouldn't they stay? Someone said earlier in a post that the more they visit and watch then the more they would want to try it. I believe that. They see us having fun and they might want to join it. I think we should forget this RDI/RoH and become one again. It would be better for everyone involved, I think.

Ranks- This is a tough one for me because as I have said I didn't knwo anything about the RDI stuff until recently but to be honest the ranks are simply of the sport..Overlord is described as the Supreme Duelist of the Duel of Swords. That makes him the man to beat in the ring...doesn't give him power over the city. If that OL wants to try to take over the city..GREAT! I'll rp it in a SL. When we had the rings then yes same thing to them...sports titles...a higher step on the ladder...but since we made them Baronies of Districts it has changed a bit. When that happened we put another scare between RDI/RoH because who said that since he won a few matches he should rule...Anyway my point is that RDI/RoH did this to themselves and instead of saying what you don't like then the Admin and participants of RDI/RoH need to sit down and make some changes on BOTH fronts to get us as a community again...That way everyone can be happy.

I'm sorry fo the longness and rantiness (if that is a word) of this post I had a lot of catching up to do and its currently REALLY early. Thank you for your time and patience and I want you all to know that this is my opinion and suggestions...nothing more.

[Karen Wilder]

Ranks- This is a tough one for me because as I have said I didn't knwo anything about the RDI stuff until recently but to be honest the ranks are simply of the sport..Overlord is described as the Supreme Duelist of the Duel of Swords. That makes him the man to beat in the ring...doesn't give him power over the city. If that OL wants to try to take over the city..GREAT! I'll rp it in a SL. When we had the rings then yes same thing to them...sports titles...a higher step on the ladder...but since we made them Baronies of Districts it has changed a bit. When that happened we put another scare between RDI/RoH because who said that since he won a few matches he should rule...Anyway my point is that RDI/RoH did this to themselves and instead of saying what you don't like then the Admin and participants of RDI/RoH need to sit down and make some changes on BOTH fronts to get us as a community again...That way everyone can be happy.

From a different angle...

Did anyone here complain (really) about the recent "Govenor" election? Of course not. The "Barons", for the most part, are RPed as being only nominally in charge of their districts.

I would say that the tying of the Districts to the Baronial Rings took place while the majority of the people here in the RoH were either entirely unaware of the current RDI forum/setting, or considered it as basically a separate setting entirely.

Of course, this does boil down to the basic "problem" of a Free-Form RP setting.

For example... it's generally accepted here in the RoH forum that there's an official City Watch. It's also generally accepted that there's a group of Knights Templar who patrol various portions of the city.

However, over on the RDI forums, the idea of an official City Watch is not generally accepted... and even fewer people know about (or would care anyway) the Knights Templar in the City.

Cross-posting generally helps... but if, for example, someone were to write an SL here in the RoH forums about being arrested by The Watch. Or an SL about stirring up trouble on the streets. They would expect me to get involved at least a little bit, unless they asked that others not get involved. Now if a similar SL was posted on the RDI forums and I got involved, it would quite possibly provoke a "who are you?" or a "just how long do you think you've been doing this?" type response.

[G]

From a different angle...

Did anyone here complain (really) about the recent "Govenor" election? Of course not.

Actually, a few did. And I saw a bit of blowing it off rather than playing along. Was a little disheartening. But for the majority who did play along and roll with it, it was excellent.

[Vanion Shadowcast]

There are many good things happening now to bring the RDI and ROH closer together. I believe that, in time, there will be a complete transferal to Flashchat. More-over, I believe that we will eventually see the ROH forum itself combined with the RDI forum. When the two forums can compromise and join forces, I think we will begin to bring in a lot of new duelists. It is definitely our cheapest, best option for survival.

[Jake]

The "Barons", for the most part, are RPed as being only nominally in charge of their districts.

When the Baronial Manors were originally developed, there wasn't any assumption they'd have any authority over the respective district.

That's really something that came out of the players of the barons.

[Billy]

The "Barons", for the most part, are RPed as being only nominally in charge of their districts.

When the Baronial Manors were originally developed, there wasn't any assumption they'd have any authority over the respective district.

That's really something that came out of the players of the barons.

And also keep in mind that some players don't RP it out at all that they have any type of jurisidiction over the disctricts.

[Jake]

The "Barons", for the most part, are RPed as being only nominally in charge of their districts.

When the Baronial Manors were originally developed, there wasn't any assumption they'd have any authority over the respective district.

That's really something that came out of the players of the barons.

And also keep in mind that some players don't RP it out at all that they have any type of jurisidiction over the disctricts.

Right. That was one of the reasons the manors didn't explicitly come with any authority over anything. Some players weren't/aren't interested in governing anything.

[Gnimish Gnimoi]

Actually, a few did. And I saw a bit of blowing it off rather than playing along. Was a little disheartening. But for the majority who did play along and roll with it, it was excellent.

On a side note...I think it's important to remember that people cannot be expected to ignore aspects of their character for the sake of playing along with something and we shouldn't try to make anyone feel guilty for "not participating in the community" with such conflicts arise.

To use the current topic and myself as an example: Gnimish couldn't care less who is the Governor of RhyDin, why would the Emperor of Shylasa spend any time worrying over the subject, unless a friend specifically asked for his assistance? Same with the Overlord and Baronies and such, it's all just a game to him, he couldn't care less who has what and is in charge of where unless a friend is involved and asks for his assistance. I'm sure you old timers remember how such a flippant attitude made his reign as Overlord so unpopular.

So while I look at something like the Governor election as being potentially very fun and a good idea, IC none of my characters are going to have any reason whatsoever to be interested and it's not fair to say, "Hey, you're not participating the in community!" (Not that anyone has on this particular topic.) when such a conflict arises for someone.

On the other hand, I have been batting around an idea to give Gnimish an IC reason to have an interest in the city and its happenings. ::evil laugh::