Underfoot Spells

[Glaven]

We need a CC who posts here and can relay information on what the devs are thinking and doing, and to pass on our wants and desires as a community instead of being in a vacuum. That is no longer the case as of now. We need a CC who will communicate not only with the devs but with the only active mage message board in use. This one.

Calebe

You know, I was about to post something on this very topic. I wasn't sure if the CC program was still in effect, and if so, if Koz was still our CC. Assuming both of those remain the case, Kozvar hear this:

1. The SoE boards are garbage. I check them out very occasionally and leave in disgust quickly every time after scrolling through a couple pages of primarily troll posts. The mage boards are largely unused.
2. The old tower is gone, and I don't think anyone believes it's ever coming back at this point.
3. Someone was nice enough to found a new home for us, and this is it. This is the mage board of record now.
4. You are our class correspondant. I would like to think you are still fighting the good fight for us, but I wouldn't know, because you aren't corresponding with US, your fellow mages, at the one location you should be first and foremost, which is here (see #3). I don't want to hear about the cross-server mage channel either, because not everyone is inclined to use it, and there is no public record.
5. We are on the brink of a new expansion, and there are obviously issues to be addressed based on this post alone. I don't need an overpowered spell, but if 2 of our 4 spells will never be used and the other two are weak at best for an expansion that is supposed to last a year, I think there is work to be done yet. Maybe it is being done, but again, I wouldn't know. Wire and the other active betamages who have posted here is my only source of info at the moment.

My intention is not to start a flamefest here, but I'm starting to get frustrated. I just don't understand our CC's reticence to join us here. I was very happy with Koz' communication on the old boards, even when I didn't agree with his stance, but at least I knew what it was and that there was an active dialogue with both A) the dev's and B) the class at large. A may be happening, but B definitely is not as far as I am concerned.

[Tweelis]

Although I have no idea if Koz visits this board or not if there are issues with mage stuff and you really want to get a hold of him head here: http://www.evilgamer.net/forums/member.php?u=1270" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes that is Kozvar from the old mage boards. He may or may not still be playing (Brael; one of Koz's former guildmates and also a former CC for shadowknights no longer plays) but that way is the only way I know to get a hold of him.

[Voragath]

Koz was somewhat present on the boards but was largely absent close to Thanksgiving. I haven't seen him (talking, I don't /list mage channel) in the mage channel in at least a month. He is starting to fade out imo and maybe it's time for someone to step up. I did notice his guild leader, Mendrix, joined the CC program this year and was active on beta boards (not much more than Koz) and is on this site and active. I suspect maybe he's training to replace Koz or is at least filling Koz in. I still would like to see someone step up to replace Koz or for Koz to become as active as he used to be. PM's are a way to communicate but I'd like open communication where everyone can see and weigh in. Community discussion is better rather than private one on one's. The more feedback, the better. We didn't have that this time around.

[Redius]

If y'all are talking about trying to get a more vocal, informed CC for mages, i'd say Wire did more this beta than anyone (just an opinion). He's number savvy, and presents logical, compelling arguments. If he's willing to do it, I strongly believe he'd be the man for the job.

[Calebe]

From what I saw Wire did a great job, he knows his stuff. I would say as he does seem to have the dev's ear and reads this board, he is a far better choice then Koz who has said he reads this board but won't make an account or post here. The serverwide channel to gain information helps but a lot including myself don't use it. It is many voices and a lot can be lost in the discourse, log in late or leave early and miss a lot. On a board you have a hard copy and information can be tracked.

If it wasn't for the old board the revisionist history on pet hold may have gone unchallenged. Once the whole discussion was in the open I emailed Sklug and he made the changes to pet hold to give back almost the old functionality. I pointed out to him how it always worked and it seemed he was unaware of it. So discussion is a good thing here to help anyone contact a dev to set the record straight and not use one voice with one agenda. Open communication is the only way to get changes made to help us all as a class.

Calebe

[Voragath]

Wire would be a good choice if he were willing to take it on. As of right now, he can't be a CC as they only take apps once a year (I haven't heard of someone becoming a cc not during that time frame). The good news is, I'm sure he communicates to the devs and would be a good choice to filter ideas through. He could then send them to Koz, Mendrix, or the devs directly. He did do an awesome job for the Underfoot Beta and he is more than eager to back up his point. When I asked him about gear on the beta boards and asked for more evidence, he cranked that smurf out like a machine. Even if someone didn't agree with him, I sometimes didn't, he still stands firm while keeping an open mind. Too bad we can't open up the beta boards to the public, but a good idea to see how he performed: look at the data he's provided here, triple that, add some deeper description, and imagine every 3rd post is Wire. I still think he's a little too raid-centric but he does maintain a very good handle on the group game which seems superior to groupers lol Again, though, it's up to Wire if he wants to do it or not. He definitely outperformed Koz and that's just not good.

BTW, they are "community correspondents" and not class related. Jyve can hold discourse with the mage community and forward our thoughts and ideas just effectively as Koz but that's it. A dev can't come to Jyve and ask what the community might think of a new spell, aa, or change to an existing one. It does seem Sony tries to maintain a cc from each class at a minimum but when you don't have a cc from your class, you end up like rogues. They got Rasper this year and a vast improvement was made concerning their class and it seems the rogue morale has increased.

[Baramos]

Wire is the only choice for this.

He is:

- Scientific
- Considered
- Relevant
- Intelligent
- Persuasive
- Thoughtful

SCRIPT? Funny how that worked out.

He knows code, sometimes seemingly better than the green-ness that is the spell developer, is not bombastic or rude. Or "snarky" as Kozvar likes to call himself.

He is emotionally removed from drama. He is always on, always posting, always has time to test.

If he took the "job" then he would just be doing what he already does. But he would have an "official" sanction and ear of developers. Which he probably already does, but we would know about it.

Kozvar's head inflated and he got to the point where he would just wave his hands in the air and say "The Mage Community Wants .." even when it was a pet project, it was obvious.

Kozvar is untruthful, and didn't bother becoming part of a community Mage board which has been a linchpin since Ronaldor ran it back in 1999, instead harummphing that he was "working on getting the other boards back." Uh-huh.

Kozvar admittedly asked for nerfs. "For our own good." He ignored repeated good ideas and alternatives to pertinent spell creation at critical moments, then just did what he wanted to do.

Wire gets in there with his sleeves rolled up, does real work, asks no accolade, and gets results. Is even now getting results. Is being listened to. Is listening.

It is time for a change.

Me, I'm not emotionally removed from drama. Take a hike, Kozvar.

Bara

[wire]

To be fair, I have no special methods of communicating with devs whatsoever. All I can do is post. That doesn't make them listen. When I post, I do try to make a compelling case, but that doesn't mean I'm always right.

If CL positions were available, I probably would sign up at this point, but I don't think that the difference in communication would be much different.

Keep in mind that there are several Magician CL's. CL != CC and the CC program has been more or less discontinued. I seem to recall the devs saying that they couldn't care less about who a CL was or what they thought, as long as they could compile lists from each class' community and deliver them. It doesn't sound like an open dialog situation - but if it could be, that's something I would be very interested in.

As far as Koz goes, we have pretty much been polar opposites on a lot of Mage issues over the years. I'm all about efficiency and maximization, and he clearly isn't. That doesn't mean that he has been wrong on everything. He was present in several beta discussions, particularly concerning AA. Our biggest roadblock in beta was communicating with the devs. They offered us almost nothing most of the time. If they aren't going to talk to the CL's we have, there's no reason to think they'd talk to me.

[Voragath]

That's the thing, Wire. We don't even know if the devs are listening to us because no CL is communicating with us about it. They could have been furiously doing back and forth PM's with Koz and we would never know. It isn't about being right or wrong; it's about communicating. You are, Koz isn't. Nor is Mendrix. We are asking for an active mage CL who will talk to the devs and us. Most of us probably won't even care if we disagree with you 50% of the time as many did with Koz.

[Baramos]

To be fair, I have no special methods of communicating with devs whatsoever. All I can do is post. That doesn't make them listen. When I post, I do try to make a compelling case, but that doesn't mean I'm always right.

"But that doesn't mean I'm always right." Your recognition and admission of that is the valuable part.

And you are obviously being listened to, even if via no special method other than the beta board. Good job.

If you want more personal communication, PM the dev. I know from personal experience that many devs listen, respond, often. And once in awhile they'll act.

I don't know about this new guy. New to me, I should say. I haven't seen that handle until this year.

Anyway, it's my view that if you just keep doing what you're doing you will become The Source of the Nile for Mage information, in the main, for Devs.

I would be willing to bet that a PM from you to (whatever spell dev) would be put at the top of the pile and read carefully.

It doesn't sound like an open dialog situation - but if it could be, that's something I would be very interested in.

That is something you could make happen. Just work at it. Slowly. Get your foot in the door with a PM. Normally I would say "once you get one action taken you are in like flint" but you are already beyond that.

Ramp up slowly and after awhile you will be a de facto consultant.

I can't think of a better situation, given what I have seen. Specifically, that is a Mage who plays at the high end, but also often in solo and group situations. It has been awhile since I was popping Robots with you in Beza, Wire, while you were after your clickies, but you were always there, solo or grouping.

This community needs someone who understands and is vested in the spectrum of play, not just one aspect.

Bara