A NEW RULE APPEARS

[these_balls]

Hey, Route!

Yes, more new stuff. Everything chaaanges, chaaaanges, it's evolutionary~

Comments

[profpuzzle]

Just throwing my own two cents into this! It will probably be similar to others, but might as well throw mine in

[these_balls]

Hey, Ichi!

Yep, we're definitely going to work on making the task system (if we implement, nothing's set in stone, here) more FAQ- and Rules- related, like a quiz. And we'll also absolutely consider exempting veteran players if we do, as many of you have asked.

As for the apps--without repeating what I said to Aly up there, it's the app-stealing I'd like to address. I don't understand how linking deters app thieves...isn't the app public for the few days it's awaiting a verdict, anyway? If what worries you is the app staying up after acceptance, then of course, you can always PM the mods and ask us to screen it! We've done it in the past and we'll be happy to do it again in the future with any posted apps we receive, and we feel that would be safest and most convenient for everyone. We have the apps organized and on-file, other applicants can see what we look for, and applicants who don't want their app public can request to have it hidden from prying eyes

[profpuzzle]

Sup, Ara!

Glad to hear about the FAQs/Rules thing and concerning about the linking deterring app thieves, I think it's more on how some people screen their apps in their journal/musebox after. I personally don't feel this way when it comes to app stealing since I'm not very concerned about it, but I do know a few that are and they normally just feel better in knowing it's only in their journals/museboxes. They post it right on the day that apps get checked then quickly private it to themselves after acceptance. I guess they just feel best with that way and like I've said, I don't do this personally, but if I know at least two people that do, then I'm sure that there are more that do so.

However, hearing that comments can be screened does make it more reassuring and ease up my mind on this! My opinion is still preferring links due to looking neater and taking up less comment space, but seeing that the mods are understanding about it is a good sign.

So, thanks for replying and clearing a few things up!

[springoflife]

I hope you don't mind if I add my own (somehow unpopular, from what I see) opinion to this! Well, to be honest, I... prefer comments to linking! It's just me, but I find them neater that way. I can see how coding fail or typos can make life difficult in those, but I don't think it's that much of an issue, so personally, I don't see a problem here.

However, as already mentioned by some, the spoilers policy seems double-standard. I mean: have you honestly seen an app without spoilers? The answer is no; every app in history had, has and will have spoilers within itself -- bigger or smaller, but spoilers nonetheless. Some that are not considered major may still ruin a canon for someone (an example here, and since it's, well, a spoiler (for SMT:P3), I'll white it out: Chidori's death perhaps wasn't the most shocking spoiler in the entire game, but for someone who's just started playing it, it is a big thing). Now the question is, who is to decide what is a major spoiler and what isn't? Personally, I think that by reading an app, you fully

[springoflife]

sazkldfjsdklgdlkh I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING

It's re: apps still. Like I mentioned, I don't see a problem with having to put them in comments instead of linking. I understand how it makes your lives much easier, and a happy mod is a happy game, huh? Still, I find the "link --> not proceeding this week" rule a little... too strict. I see how it's a rule to be obeyed, but still. I'd say clearly stating "PLEASE PUT YOUR APPLICATION IN COMMENTS. DO NOT LINK, IT WILL MAKE OUR JOB EASIER!" should be enough? Perhaps it's me being naïve, but I do believe people who want to be accepted would do as asked to. In C&C, for example, the mods clearly ask for the app to be linked if exceeding three comments, and to my knowledge, there's few incidents of applying players not following that.

OKAY NOW I'M DONE FOR REAL.

[these_balls]

It's okay!

Just to clarify: we have every intention of making the new rule as visible as possible. You might have noticed the rules page was updated, and the apps page now has it in BIG FONT as well! That said, we made sure to specify that the new rule only went into effect on the 11th--there's an app up right now that's linked and was put up on the 10th, so that app would be exempt, for instance. We are absolutely not going to straight-up ignore linked apps that aren't marked for spoilers! Instead they'll get a small note politely informing them of the new rule and asking them to re-post it in comment form before the week is out, like we currently do with people who have the wrong passwords.

The reason we're being more hardcore than usual with this is because this is attempt #2 at making this a rule, and during attempt #1 there were a lot of people who continued to link non-spoiler apps. So we're trying something different, at least until people get used to it.

On spoilers: being that I used to play Junpei, I feel you. That is a

[usedhat]

Honestly, I'm siding in with the "do away with the password system entirely" group. I don't like it, I've never liked it, and honestly, usually? If a game has a system like that, I don't join, because I hate having to go back to an FAQ and look for it when I've already read it, it feels weighted down and condescending. People that don't want to read the rules/FAQ are generally quickly obvious, and it's an easy system to cheat; people that DO obey the rules tend to be the ones that get in trouble, and I admit to pre-writing my apps on occasion and having to go back and doublecheck that the words haven't changed is a pain in the rear. So-- yeah, I do not like them

[these_balls]

On passwords: like I outlined to Yosuke-mun above, Route is simply too big, with way too much information to take in, to expect all our new players will have read the FAQ without prompting. That's why we'd rather change the password system instead of doing away with it entirely; we're aware how flawed it is. I hope that clarifies our reasoning on the issue a bit better? Would something like a 'FAQ quiz', as others have suggested--quizzing applicants on parts of the FAQ, such that a veteran player would know and a new player would have to look up--be acceptable to you? Do you think veteran players should be exempt?

You're making plenty of sense, no worries.

[stowsaway]

YEAH OFFERING OPINIONS TIME.

- Apps/linking: I don't see a problem with this change in policy. I mean, yeah, there's the potential for errors while posting, but I think the pros basically outweigh the cons? As in, no sneaky editing, easier for the mods to process them, etc. Personally, I also like apps in the comments just because you can go back and read them later- a friend of mine, a great friend of mine!, she tends to delete her apps after she gets accepted somewhere, and I'm always like nooooooooo I wanted to reread it!! Besides that, hell, you guys are mods and if it makes it easier for you to do your job? GO FOR IT.

-But that said, I agree with a few of the comments that retroactively applying it to this week's apps is a little harsh. Could you possibly just leave apps a comment like, "hey! could you please post this on the page?" along with updating the post with the new rule? It seems unfair that someone who might not have seen the announcement would be held accountable for it, especially given the lack of notice

[these_balls]

TL;DR IS FINE o9

- Regarding apps: goodness, we must come off as some crazy hardasses...all of these things you outlined--leaving a note, along with a reminder--was our intention all along! We would never outright ignore an app, that would be terrible modding, and just plain rude besides. For instance, if an applicant posts an app with the wrong password, we leave them a note asking them to please post the correct passwords, and process the app only once that's been done. We'd be doing something similar with the new app rule, which is in BIG BOLD FONT on the app page itself. As for lack of notice--applicants who post their app before the 14th (a three-day window) will get a PM'd reminder from us about the new app rule. We definitely wouldn't want anyone to get penalized

[nasa_dreams]

There is no option for "Fine either way" and that is what I am. :)

[these_balls]

Noted! :3b