genessia_ooc | Updates! And Feedback Wanted! (Reply)

Happy Friday, Genessians!

We hope you’re all doing well!

Thank you so much for hanging in there with us. We wouldn’t have a game without you, and it means a lot to us that you’ve stuck around and remained patient and positive. We know there’s been a lot of burnout going on in the playerbase. Honestly, we’ve been feeling it too. If the players don’t have fun, the mods don’t have fun, and vice versa. We’ve been talking about some different options regarding how to handle the game, possible changes we can make, and how to gather constructive feedback from the players to come up with a solution that will work best for everyone involved, but first we have some announcements to make.

The first is that the newspaper is going to be moved to an “extra edition only” status, meaning that although IC the paper will still be going around, and players are free to use the newspaper and/or paperboy system as starters for posts or to be mentioned in tags as desired, we’re going to be publishing it only when necessary to push along comm-wide events. The newspaper posts are very time-consuming (they usually take at least 2 to 3 hours to write) and IC game news has been fairly slow, so the newspaper doesn’t serve much purpose for the time being. It works best when there are a lot of player contributions or if there’s a huge playerbase, but right now that’s not the case. The two purposes the newspaper primarily serves is to provide weather (which is nice for flavor, but not necessary and seems to be rarely used) and to offer up bounty requests (which can be done via the bounty board instead). The benefits of the newspaper posts would be better handled by actual characters making announcements, such as from the City Guardians or Mayors. In this fashion, you not only get updates and news, you get it in a way that’s much easier for characters to engage with and react to as well. The newspaper may be reinstated in the future, of course, should the needs of the comm shift and allow it to be better utilized once again.

The second announcement is that Judge will be stepping up as a volunteer mod and helping us roll out plots, events, and NPC tags. We’re thrilled to have him! Judge has been one of the longest-playing people in Genessia and an active participant practically from day one. He knows and remembers a great deal about the game, and was instrumental in seeing the Pokemon event through to the end. If you enjoyed the responses you got while hunting for Pokemon, you likely have him to thank! Judge will bring a lot of creativity and energy to the team. Additionally, we’d love it if we could find one more person willing to help with NPC tagging and event planning/execution. The person for this role would likely be let in on the metaplot secrets and grand overarching mystery of the game, but even if they’d prefer not to be spoiled, having someone willing to help with events or be on hand to provide alternative options during big events that don’t suit everyone’s tastes (like July’s Pokemon hunt) would be wonderful. Anyone who is interested, please contact Mags or Faetan directly. We can be found on plurk (

magharabi and

Faetan) or Discord (magharabi#2761 and Faetan#9932).

Moving forward, we have some big plans for the metaplot of the comm, but we want your input as players before we break out the sledgehammers. We know that a lot of people are content with things as they are, and there are also a lot of people who would like for things to change somehow. Honestly, we cannot accommodate both of those desires without stepping on some toes, so the best we can do is to try and step on as few toes as possible. In order to do that, though, we need to hear from you. We’re going to give a bit of information on some of the potential gameplay changes we may implement as the metaplot moves into what we’re calling Phase II, then list several different proposals for moving forward from here on out. We want to hear your opinion on each proposal. If you have any questions, we’ll have a thread below for clarifying questions and comments aimed towards the mods specifically, but we’re hoping to get several comment threads from you as well, discussing the pros and cons and alternative ideas that we may not have considered. As always, please communicate with one another with respect and civility.

The Scoop

Genessia’s metaplot is currently in Phase I. The game as it is now is primarily a slice of life jamjar, with no power nerfs beyond the ones necessary to make a character playable in a DWRP setting. There have been several different themes including adventure/exploration, horror, memory loss, transfiguration, politics, “crack”, mystery, and everything in between. This is honestly fantastic, and it’s been a blast having such a wide variety of options to play with. But we’re concerned that some of the excitement is leaching out and inspiration has run dry. We have seen several of the historically more active players mention feeling burnt out on the game, or complaining that the pace is too slow. A transition into Phase II could present players with new in-game challenges to overcome IC, and draw in new players as the game mechanics shift. But shift they would- Phase II at full implementation would function more as a survival/ hunt for resources/heroic quest game extending beyond the barriers of the city and into the land that lies without, which will be hazardous and fraught with danger. It will require a lot of character initiative and ingenuity, as the threats will be far more serious and frequent. Once Phase II kicks into action, mod-run slice-of-life events, elections, and other features of Genessia that are typically mundane will either be run solely by players or completely nixed. We’ve been considering some optional game mechanics that could be implemented as well, such as a job/class system that’s gradually unlocked/enhanced the further the characters explore the outside world, and make progress toward fixing what’s wrong at the heart of Genessia. Outside of the city there will likely be power nerfing, an increase in horror elements, and sci-fi-esque moral dilemmas that have a significant impact on your characters and the fate of the planet’s people. Phase II was meant to come forth more naturally (and a lot sooner!) with character investigation and metaplot-centered events, but implementation has always been clunky, and as a result Genessia has become regarded as primarily a slice-of-life game with occasional adventure hooks. If that’s what players signed up for, then we realize the shift to Phase II may be an unhappy shock, and we really want to do our best to match up player desire and mod capability in the best and most harmonious way. And so we’ve come up with the following Proposals:

Proposal 1 - Zero Metaplot, No Changes
Phase II isn’t my cup of tea. The comm is great as it is. Don’t change anything.
This is totally understandable, and it’s the way the game’s been run for years, so if that’s what the majority of players enjoy, the mods will stop offering up new ideas to shake things up and take things in a different direction. But to be completely honest, none of the current mods want to keep the game entirely as it is, and aren’t interested in running the same events that have become so familiar to the playerbase. We crave change and action! If this is the most popular proposal, an integral part of it would require finding new mods whose mindset is more in tune with the current setting. We would take applications and administer an OOC vote, with new mods taking over in a month or so. Those new mods will have no obligation to continue the metaplot as it’s been set up, and would be free to change the story (or ignore it outright) to suit their fancy. In the event no new mods could be found, we would immediately turn the game into an open sandbox where characters may post and hold their own events, but there would be only very basic moderation done by Mags.
Pros:
The familiar setting remains

Everything is already set up, there would be little that needs tweaked

Mods would be personally selected by players.

Cons:
Current metaplot may be reduced or scrapped entirely by new mods (this could be considered a pro by some)

It will be necessary to find new mods (failure to do so may immediately kill the game)

High potential of encroaching apathy

Proposal 2- Gradual Shift to Phase II
Phase II could be interesting somewhere down the line, but we aren’t ready for a big change like that yet. Let’s adjust the game to fit a smaller player base first. Most of the game’s features work best with a larger playerbase, but as it stands, a majority of the setting and details aren’t being utilized or explored. Potential changes include closing all of the currently open subarches, doing away with some metaplot elements, doing away with the current employment system, closing down some of the cities, adding a lenient monthly AC, reducing the character cap, and/or adding some sort of app requirement. It essentially streamlines the game to eliminate unnecessary or unused features, making it easier to focus on character interaction The merits or demerits of each of these changes would be discussed piece-meal with the player base before implementation. Phase II may eventually happen somewhere down the line, but not until more of the Phase I metaplot has been better explored IC. The biggest change will be to the setting and rules, rather than to story focus and game mechanics.
Pros:
Heavy player input in choosing what stays and what goes

Story and focus stay mostly the same

Eliminates setting bloat

Metaplot able to develop more naturally over the course of time

Cons:
Metaplot depends heavily on active player/characters who take a great deal of initiative

Frustrating for players who have been waiting for something big to happen

May require some retcons where metaplot elements were present

Characters will most likely lose some IC comforts and setting options

Proposal 3 - Metaplot NOW!
I’ve been starved for something big to happen, how soon can we get it?
To implement the metaplot as early as possible, we would have it take place at the conclusion of this year’s Halloween event, where one of the spirits will make itself publicly accessible over the network. This spirit will state a sort of minimal explanation of why characters are here, and express interest in unveiling the truth (as well as offering to answer questions) and, if it surmises that characters have the mental strength and maturity to handle the truth, will explain the planet’s history and what steps need to be taken as a result. Should there be enough characters willing to act on this information, the barrier around Windgate Creek would be dropped, and exploration beyond Genessia City would become possible with new goals, missions, and quests becoming available as the game progresses. Genessia City itself will remain as a sort of resting spot with nearly everything intact (though we can’t guarantee it’ll always be safe). This option begins the shift to Phase II immediately, rather than sometime later.
Pros:
Plenty of action and character-driven plots

More mod-run heavy events

More possibilities for hurt/comfort threads

Player input regarding possible introduction of game mechanics (i.e. job/class system, short applications to join -- we’ll implement the ones that people like and discard the ones that aren’t up to snuff)

Cons:
Very few or zero mod-run slice-of-life or Genessia (city)-based events (elections, bounty hunts)

Power-Nerfing beyond the barriers (canon natural/science-based powers would still work, such as gills for water-breathing, wings for flying, or chemicals that stimulate bioluminescence; but canon magic/supernatural powers would not)

Requires player/character initiative to make the plot progress (increase in mod-player and player-player communication as well)

IC risk, and harm for characters

Proposal 4- Half and Half
I’m curious about the metaplot, but not sure if I want to shift my RP focus entirely. How do we accommodate metaplot-chasers and SOL-chasers both? This proposal would create a second comm (name pending) solely dedicated to Phase II, while the Genessia comm remains functioning as the slice-of-life game it is currently (but as a half-moderated sandbox where we only update lists and allow/decline new characters). Characters may easily participate in both games or stick fully to the comm they like best. Characters who choose to pursue the metaplot can go back and visit their CR that chooses to stay, and characters who prefer to remain behind can change their minds and join the others simply by apping into the second game.
Pros:
Ability for each player to choose their level of participation in the metaplot without sacrificing their character’s current situation, regardless of what other players choose

More freedom and flexibility, and the ability to change game selection with minimal fuss

Slower and more digestible game changes and implementation

Acts as a sort of ‘safety net’ to keep RP rolling should one comm fail while the other thrives

Cons:
Will further split an already dwindling player base

Minimal modding for slice-of-life and Genessia-centric events

May be too confusing for new players

Multiple comms to monitor

Proposal 5- The Sequel
The proposed changes in Phase II sound like they’d turn it into a new game entirely, let’s wrap up the old game and start up a new one. If this proposal is the most popular, Genessia itself would shift into endgame plot during the Halloween event, and the game would close entirely. Then a brand new game hosted on a new comm would open, essentially giving Phase II its own game and leaving the old setting behind. This new game would have its roots in Genessia’s lore, and feature many of the same setting elements, but with new game mechanics, a new game type, and a new focus. In simpler terms, this proposal will end Book 1 of the world of Genessia, and promises that Book 2 will be forthcoming once the new comm is set up.
Pros:
Allows closure to muns/characters

Allows those uninterested in Phase II mechanics a chance to bow out after endgame

Keeps playerbase together, working toward a common finale

Cons:
The Genessia game closes by the end of the year

Complete loss of the setting as it stands including businesses, residences, etc.

May be difficult for new players to find footing in getting their characters involved (dumped straight into metaplot, no time to settle/establish their characters socially)

Proposal 6 - Hard Reboot
The game is bloated with history and confusing metaplot hooks, I want to start fresh!
This option would put all of the characters to sleep, and close Genessia at the end of the Halloween event, with a new comm opening up soon thereafter. The new game would start Genessia Phase I over entirely, but could include the option of being a sequel (with some "vets" being considered enough of a success by the spirits to merit being brought back for a second attempt), or even a prequel (one where it's doomed to end in failure, adding an ominous feel to the setting). Uncovering metaplot would have to start completely from scratch, but it would put everyone on the same starting page, so to speak. If this option is chosen, it’s likely the mods will need a break to construct a new story, setting, and event schedule.
Pros:
New characters, new setting, new story

Players can contribute to the game setting before it even opens and have a bigger hand in its construction

Mods and players both have a chance to step back and mentally recharge

Cons:
A break that lasts too long could completely kill interest

Extra work for players and mods (making new pages, new characters, etc.)

Loss of ICly gained items, knowledge, buildings, settings, etc

We understand that at a quick glance, many of these options seem very similar, so please read them over carefully. Some specific details are still vague and are in various stages of being planned out, awaiting feedback from the players and a better idea of which areas to focus our planning on. Please let us know which proposals you like the best, as well as which ones you dislike the most, so we can get a clearer understanding of where you stand. We look forward to reading your responses! Thank you!

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