[CotH-aluation] The Community

[Holynexus]

What is the state of the community currently, in your opinion? How would you describe it?

I believe it is a little quiet, really.

Are there any issues within the community that you've noticed? Which?


RP is either closed small groups that have a storyline going, or major events. I think more small-scale RP is needed. It's what this server is direly wanting.

What causes these issues, according to you?

Certainly the fact it may be a little frustrating to actually find RP other than the aforementioned events. Even though it is our duty, for all of us, to actually go and generate this RP.

How would you address the issues in the community, if you could?

Generate more small-scale RP. It must be a collective effort. No GM incentive will ever help. Also get people to join? I know I'm doing my duty for Queen and Country :P

If there was one thing you could change about the community, what would that be? How, if you can answer that?

I don't know

[Avitz]

Spoiler:

Disclaimer - I've noticed my post happens to be a bit...aggressive, grumpy sounding and what not. I am not singling any one person or group out, be it in an offensive manner or otherwise. You're all nice people...most of the time anyway!

Well, seeing as the dust has mostly settled now and there's been a bumping to try and get more opinions out there, I've decided to toss my hat into the ring, the one filled with opinions that is.

What is the state of the community currently, in your opinion? How would you describe it?

To be blunt; friendly but inward facing.

Imagine a village, where everyone gives each other polite nods and nothing bad happens, yet each resident really only knows (and wants to talk to) one or two other households. When someone new comes in to town, everyone will open their doors and say howdy for a little while, but eventually the doors close and its business as usual...Except for the Summer-Faire that goes on in the village green...that's usually got one or two special guests that were kidnapped to be there. Even then, the friends stick to their table when they're munching on the baked cakes someone down the street made.

Are there any issues within the community that you've noticed? Which?

The glaring issue is rather simple really, everyone prefers to RP with their friends and stick to those circles in a rather tight-nit manner, only going out of the norms when their usual RP partners are elsewhere or something of interest is happening, be it new members or some sort of event.

This also unsurprisingly applies to more oocly things too. For instance, I actually only found out recently there was a CotH Skype group, amongst other things. Its alienating, for all of the circles in the community someone may need to be in or push through to get some long-lasting rp - And I say that as someone who's been around here for four years. Would someone new want to push through that? Not without a truly motivating reason I believe.

What causes these issues, according to you?

Roleplay - Good Roleplay to be exact. You rp with people, like their style or something the characters got up to and so you want to keep playing with them instead of anyone else on the server. I'm not saying this is bad or wrong, it just leaves the community in its smaller communities.

How would you address the issues in the community, if you could?

By taking a giant hammer to both the server any every CotHer's head, resetting it and everyone's memory of the server every six months or so to keep everything fresh. Sadly, that's rather impossible.

If there was one thing you could change about the community, what would that be? How, if you can answer that?

A simple 'I don't know' lurks here.

[Aisha]

• What is the state of the community currently, in your opinion? How would you describe it?

Now that I myself stick my head out of the cave I've been hiding in, I think it's pretty safe to assume that the reasons that made me go into hiding have been dealt with. So yeah, that means it's going in the right direction. Though things seem to be still slightly closed to small RP circles, but at least it's not as worrying to go out of your circle and try something new. Though, that could only be me...

• Are there any issues within the community that you've noticed? Which?

The only thing left now is the closed RP circles which are mostly nothing more than a leftover solution that people themselves took when they saw no alternative to preserve quality RP when the server was going downhill. Yes, I am part of this problem, but I actually go out of my way more actively as I see no reason to hide in a circle anymore. And others should too whatever their initial reasons were!

• What causes these issues, according to you?

Status quo. Well, at least that's why I do it. The server had problems, no effective measures were taken by the staff so people took their own measures and it boiled down into this rather bad status quo. I am left with a circle where I know people are awesome and their RP is great and for me this status quo was great seeing the alternatives for a time seemed most unpleasant.

• How would you address the issues in the community, if you could?

Be part of the solution. Some things just can not be undone and unseen, but I think that as long as we stay positive now time will fix the issues. We can and should go out RPing with others more actively and I do see that going on more often and it will speed up the process. Everyone should take part. It is a community problem and should be tackled as a community - together.

• If there was one thing you could change about the community, what would that be? How, if you can answer that?

Release the hounds! So that people start leaving their circles faster or get bitten in their cushions. =3

[KomodoTheCashew]

Hmmm, Green's a pretty color. I shall make mine Green.

What is the state of the community currently, in your opinion? How would you describe it?

I think (for the most part) everyone gets along and if people have a problem they do a good job (for the most part) of either forgiving and forgetting or working it out. As others have said, the community is a little small but it's not really bothered me. Since I haven't been around for too long I can't really say I've noticed any "changes" in the community. Everyone does a pretty good job of sticking to the rules we have set up for RPs and making characters.

Are there any issues within the community that you've noticed? Which?
What causes these issues, according to you?
How would you address the issues in the community, if you could?


I have noticed 2 problems with the community but I don't like to blame everything on everyone else, I will throw in how I am guilty of these and how I'm working on it.

1. It has been mentioned a couple of times (and I'm starting to become a bit guilty of :x ) but people tend to find their little cliques and really hang out with those people and only will only go outside that circle if it's for an event. I suppose it might do a bit with people having similar RP styles and preferences or wanting to continue storylines and character relationships or even just wanting to hangout with your best buddies but it kind of hurts newer people who want to join in the fun.

Personally, I'm a bit stubborn when it comes to going outside my favorite WoW races (Worgen, Tauren) so If I can't play Tykeral, Sarvi or Takoda then I decide against joining. I decided that I need to adopt a better attitude. A lot of people seem to like Blood Elves whom are completely foreign to me but I am researching them so I can eventually join in on the antics.

I guess what I am saying is that in order to fix this, we need to learn to go outside our comfort zones. I've moved homes 9 times in my 17 years of living and quickly learned that if I wanted to make friends and be happy in my new home, I would have to open myself up to new things and people. Next time someone who you've never really RPed with asks in general chat if anyone wants to join in their RP, go ahead and ask for an invite. If you go and don't enjoy yourself then oh well, at least you tried. If you go and enjoy yourself, well then awesome! More friends for you!

2. Going along with cliques, CotH has a couple of popular kids who can start a guild and immediately gain 10 members simply because of their reputation. Is this a problem though? People who can get loads of other people to join in RPs in the blink of an eye? No. The problem is the people who are being ignored. I have listened about and seen a lot of cool ideas for events and guilds that kind of just disappear because no one recognized the idea, usually because the player with the idea isn't too popular or a new player.

I do understand why though (I talked about it in the 1st problem) I see certain people come online and associate good RP with them and get a bit disappointed when they don't want to do anything. I have ended up ignoring other awesome players simply because that first person was my original plan. I'm starting to break out of this shell a -bit- more and I'm now experiencing the problem I first mentioned as I've tried starting a couple of RPs where no one has joined and I'm planning on starting a guild but I'm a little anxious to do so.

How to fix? Same as before, leave your comfort zone and try to make some new friends with the other players.


If there was one thing you could change about the community, what would that be? How, if you can answer that?

Be friendly ^^ Not everyone is a super lore pro (definitely not this dude) and some people are still learning (*ahem*), recognize this and help out the noobs. Go out of your comfort zone and make the community more of a community and less of a hub just for you and your friends.

Overall, I do enjoy the community. There is a reason that I haven't left yet and haven't really thought about it.