Letter to the Shed team.

[Mors Vigilia]

Here is a draft letter for us as the GSTK players to express our displeasure at our recent treatment from the Shed team. If you currently have a registered and active player within this game please state if you wish your username added to the signatures below and if there is anything you wish added or removed from this letter before it's sent officially. If you do not currently have a player within the game but are interested in joining in the future, please state as much and I shall affix your usernames to the interested parties section.

If you are not currently a member of GSTK (that includes Shed members) please respect us as a community and our wishes and do not post in this thread unless expressing your desire to be added as an interested party. Thank you.

Draft letter

We, the undersigned, wish to indicate our disapproval of the Shed’s recent announcement concerning the closure of GSTK (among others). GSTK is an active and much loved RPG that has been running for many years – often as the only TWC RPG - and without which there may not even still be an RPG forum. It was where many current RPG players first cut their teeth and what introduced them to this site in the first place. It still garners much interest and as such we are baffled by the apparent desire to close it. We are dissatisfied with the reasoning that has been given by the Shed team and believe this to be a result of either short-sightedness or laziness due to their inability to discern the correct amount of active players within the game. GSTK prides itself as a meritocracy and so a majority of RP takes place amongst freemen as they strive to attain rank within the game. Perhaps the Shed team picked and chose from who they thought were important within the game? For us, all are important. The game has been slow as of late due to may mitigating circumstances such as the forum changeover, multiple server crashes and general RL issues amongst the player base but this is mainly due to abandonment by the previous mod team (for varying reasons), one of whom held an important position within the game and left it in the lurch. Now the game is picking up again – all games have such spells, GOT has been restarted at least twice in its short life, by my recollection – though I (Mors Vigilia – Gainsey) have been handed the helm and despite an initial reluctance I am more than willing to continue in this position thanks to the support shown in me by the GSTK player base. Initially I require reinstatement into the GSTK moderation team – the place is looking rather scruffy from lack of maintenance – and then we wish to receive constant interaction with the Shed team when appropriate. The fact that none of the player base was contacted by anyone from the Shed team seeking to gain further insight as to the game is a huge disappointment and a major let down by the entirety of the Shed team. Raglan does not count as a member of the player base as he is no longer affiliated with GSTK. Secondly, we are more than willing to reduce the size of the GSTK fora - as mentioned here - to help out with the concerns of the Hex if only the Shed would break their vow of secrecy and actually include the members of the RPG forum into their plans before blindly rushing in with assumptions. GSTK has an active community and a constant turnover of new and old players who often return to revisit the nostalgia of past RP. We already have both the forum and the players whereas the success rate of new proposals lasting for any decent length of time is 1:many (GOT). We appeal to you as members of the RPG community to rethink this decision and allow an actively growing RPG to continue. Signed Mors Vigila (Gainsey) Rene Artois Ace_General Lord William Pyrrhus the Molossian warheadsteel7 Interested Parties

[René Artois]

I'm okay for my name to be added - anything to save my beloved game

But this should also be noted too. As well as maybe adding to the letter how some have had general internet problems, as well as problems with the forum upgrade (Sun couldn't get on because of that, and I often have trouble), and also general real life stuff - I've had lots of essays to do, you've got work etc.

Finally, it should also be noted that Raglan could not have had much influence on the Shed's decision, as he has had so many internet problems - the reason he quit the game and hasn't been active as a mod much. It would be helpful for him perhaps to say what he told me via rep in public.

[Mors Vigilia]

3 is too much currently. I'd certainly welcome a 2nd, though it'd need to be someone who's familiar with the game and wishes to partake within it. Especially given the current RP heavy ruleset - which I'm in favour of keeping - it needs to be someone who's willing to RP all the NPCs that are required.

I'm okay for my name to be added - anything to save my beloved game

But this should also be noted too. As well as maybe adding to the letter how some have had general internet problems, as well as problems with the forum upgrade (Sun couldn't get on because of that, and I often have trouble), and also general real life stuff - I've had lots of essays to do, you've got work etc.

Finally, it should also be noted that Raglan could not have had much influence on the Shed's decision, as he has had so many internet problems - the reason he quit the game and hasn't been active as a mod much. It would be helpful for him perhaps to say what he told me via rep in public.

Your points shall be added. If Raglan would actually defend himself and attempt to justify his actions then it'd be good to hear what he has to say.

[Ace_General]

Ace_General

[Lord William]

Lord William


we need a complete makeover for the mod team, I think for now all we need is three names and if need be later the team can decide to add more mods. I would nominate myself but there have been uproars in the past and I would like to avoid conflict. My suggestion is that we host nominations for the 3 positions and than vote after that they can begin to regulate themselves

[René Artois]

I don't think we even need 3 people, given the size of the game. Perhaps just Gainsey and maybe a non-player (possibly someone from the Shed) in reserve for when we need an impartial mod.

[Lord William]

3 is always better, just because the third will always break ties and also it accounts for various problems which could arise like holiday for one and loss of Internet for the other. We have had 4 out of 5 man mod team disappear for various reasons. Two will just increase the likeliness that could not have a mod. Also the mods should be one of us, someone who plays and has a keen understanding of the inner workings of the game. A person who doesn't play isn't going to be interested in moderating GSTK they would leave within a few weeks

[René Artois]

Keep in mind that having 3 mods originates from when we had 20-30 players, it wouldn't be great to have almost half the players as mods, and it wouldn't be 2 mods, just 1, with a back up for emergencies to do a dice roll.

[Raglan]

defend and justify my actions? a bit harsh i think gainsey. I'm the first to admit i've barely been able to get on the site. My own internet problems combined with the forums have made it more or less impossible. I can't remember exactly what i said to rene. But my own stand on this is that i would prefer gstk to remain. Something which i have said in the shed.

[René Artois]

defend and justify my actions? a bit harsh i think gainsey. I'm the first to admit i've barely been able to get on the site. My own internet problems combined with the forums have made it more or less impossible. I can't remember exactly what i said to rene. But my own stand on this is that i would prefer gstk to remain. Something which i have said in the shed.

Mate, he means defend yourself against what others have reported you to have said, such as

Raglan agreed to terminate it

and

When the Shed was first formed and status reports were made, Raglan fervently wanted GSTK to be closed for similar reasons that we are deciding to close it now. However, he decided to give the rpg one more chance with the recent revival and it was granted.

that last one implies heavily that you were part of a unanimous decision to close us down.

And if you don't mind me saying so, what you said to me was just that you weren't really involved with the decision to close down GSTK.

But you know, apparently fighting to keep our game open is being "pissy" and entitled.

It's a good thing insults like that originate from child-like people who know they don't really have a decent argument.

[Mors Vigilia]

defend and justify my actions? a bit harsh i think gainsey. I'm the first to admit i've barely been able to get on the site. My own internet problems combined with the forums have made it more or less impossible. I can't remember exactly what i said to rene. But my own stand on this is that i would prefer gstk to remain. Something which i have said in the shed.

Mate, he means defend yourself against what others have reported you to have said, such as

and

that last one implies heavily that you were part of a unanimous decision to close us down.

And if you don't mind me saying so, what you said to me was just that you weren't really involved with the decision to close down GSTK.

But you know, apparently fighting to keep our game open is being "pissy" and entitled.

It's a good thing insults like that originate from child-like people who know they don't really have a decent argument.

And the fact that the name "Raglan" was affixed to the list of those who gave their somewhat suspect reasons for the closure. This either suggests that you agreed with it or that your name was added fraudulently...

[Pyrrhus the Molossian]

Add my name.

[Warhead7]

warheadsteel7

[Mors Vigilia]

Well it's about time to send this off. Anyone have a last thing to add?

[Mors Vigilia]

sent

[René Artois]

Good luck but it appears the announcement to kill the game off has done more than anything to discourage people from putting the effort it. I reckon their mind's made up.

sigh

[Poach]

GSTK players,

The Shed has considered your letter and has agreed to postpone the process of closing this game. There are three games, including this one, slated for closure. This game will be the last of the three to be looked at for replacement.

The primary concern is that this game takes up a great deal of space, with its many subforums, most of which lie dormant. Only a few of them see posts any more. An additional concern is that the number of IC posts being made here is low: the game may still be seeing IC posts, but their number is but a trickle.

Therefore the game will not be immediately closed, but will not be ringfenced. When the time comes to compare GSTK with a new game wanting its place, the consideration will be made objectively: if this game is struggling with activity and a new game is receiving much pre-game anticipation, we will be giving the new game a chance at the expense of this one.

Thus, the ball is in your court.

Regards,

Poach

[René Artois]

GSTK players,

The Shed has considered your letter and has agreed to postpone the process of closing this game. There are three games, including this one, slated for closure. This game will be the last of the three to be looked at for replacement.

The primary concern is that this game takes up a great deal of space, with its many subforums, most of which lie dormant. Only a few of them see posts any more. An additional concern is that the number of IC posts being made here is low: the game may still be seeing IC posts, but their number is but a trickle.

Therefore the game will not be immediately closed, but will not be ringfenced. When the time comes to compare GSTK with a new game wanting its place, the consideration will be made objectively: if this game is struggling with activity and a new game is receiving much pre-game anticipation, we will be giving the new game a chance at the expense of this one.

Thus, the ball is in your court.

Regards,

Poach

No, the ball is in your court. I have asked if a proposal to make GSTK smaller would be considered, and I have been ignored. We all (us and members of shed) discussed making GSTK smaller by removing sub forums before, and nothing came of it. Just bloody do it. There are several that have no posts in and could be deleted immediately.

[Lord William]

The little men win...... Lol

thanx m8