AN IMPORTANT UPDATE! PLEASE NOTE

[fairyfoes]

Hey there, fairybros! Some potentially bad news-

It's the holidays and the app team has measured their cumulative time! In past app rounds it has taken weeks to crank through the veritable flood of applications... and unfortunately the app team simply doesn't have enough room on their plates presently to handle the scope of apps generally received in prior sessions. Couple that with the fact that this has been the most-active reserve period the game has yet experienced, and you get a recipe for trouble. While we are aware that reserves are not ironclad commitments to applying, we, nevertheless feel this measure is necessary.

As a result, the decision has been made to enact an application cap of 60.

We regret that this is a necessity, and are deeply apologetic for the short notice and any inconvenience this may cause, but we would rather be dutiful and thorough with less apps than rushed and haphazard with more, especially moving forward. Though the number of the cap may change, after exhaustive discussion, the moderating team is of the opinion that until such a time as the team can be expanded, limiting the amount of applications received will help us manage the game to the quality its current players have come to expect.

Eachdraidh has become a game lush with not just a host of beautifully diverse and extraordinarily executed characters, but the cumulative worldbuilding of its players, the depth and breadth of their experiences. We have worked very diligently to facilitate that, and have tried to place (what we hope is) a strong emphasis on cultivating the manner of player interface with the game to meet player needs and wants. This has resulted in an extraordinary amount of moderator participation in the game, and both the quantity and quality of this participation necessarily wanes the larger the game gets.

Plans are in place for new mechanisms to be released which will help to reduce pressures on the moderating team (and add to their number), and the number of the cap is likely to change in the future in relation to various factors. Getting a reserve in swiftly will not be a confirmation that your app will be counted among the 50 regardless of when it is sent; but that applications will be cut off at the receipt of the 51st. Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

EDIT: In light of things, we're adding an addendum:

New applicants may app up to TWO characters
Players already in the game may app ONE character

Both sets of applicants are being limited, however we believe some priority must be given to potentials. In the event applicants submit more applications than allowed, the app team will ask them to please choose which character(s) they'd like to submit for processing.

ED MODS

Comments

[gloinul]

It's an idea, but honestly I'm not sure there's a way to do what you guys want to do--make applications less of a hell for your team, and really no one can blame you for wanting to do that--while keeping the applications screened. Doing this will just add more work for you guys to do. I thought about suggesting this myself, but that's a lot of stuff to worry over and I eventually just went with the only idea I could think of that would add the least to your workload since commenting to the screened apps could also eliminate the need to keep a list of received applications (I mean unless people really want to see who all exactly is in waiting).

I really think that if you want to cap applications, you can't screen them. It is the simplest way to make the process transparent and completely eliminates the need for the list of received and processing applications, which is less work for you guys. Yes, there's a chance that people are going to throw a fit over X being considered and not them but there's that chance with any game that has an application cap. There's no way to avoid it, sad as is it.

[(Anonymous)]

I think in lieu of this suggestion and given this statement, yes, that the comments cannot be screened. If a player is concerned about their application being seen, that they can lock it to the moderator accounts only and anything but. It's only fair and that at least gives us players a gauge of how many applications are in.

Furthermore, there's going to be upset people regardless of what comes out of this. It's not going to be easy. But it's important for people to remember you cannot please every anonymous commenter and that do what you can to avoid things that make you upset.

I say let the comments be unscreened as well, lock it to the moderator account if needed for just this one time. But mods, you do a great job with what you've got already and I think Gimli and Ganondorf-mun make excellent points!

[dragmire]

I absolutely agree. And if we're all afraid that someone on wankgate is going to be mad, then... so what?

[fairyfoes]

We apologise, we've read your points and really appreciate the concern, but we have no intention of making applications public and have no plans to reconsider this stance.

We already maintain a processing list so assigning numbers and time stamps wouldn't be much work. We've also discussed leaving unscreened replies along the following when applications are received.

Your application has been received, as of 00:00 GMT! You are the ## applicant for this round.

We believe this provides ample transparency, as applicants will be able to corroborate the time, or contest it should there be an error. If there are mistakes or disputes, we will deal with them accordingly. We wouldn't dream of it, but we wouldn't be able to skip over an applicant who made the cutoff, anyway.

1. Joseph 00:16 GMT
2. Lisa 00:32 GMT
3. Susan 00:48 GMT

For example, Joseph, Lisa, and Susan apply, but only Joseph and Susan receive comments. Lisa can confirm from the list if she believes she has been missed, and bring the matter to our attention.

[scinlae]

i like the sound of that.