mod post: activity points and activity bonuses

[riverviewmod]

mod post

Hi everyone! I know this is early, but I wanted to get this up to give everyone some time to think and give feedback before the State of the Game post. This mod post is regarding structural changes to the Activity Points and Activity Bonus system. No cut text, because it's important and I want to make sure everyone sees it.

changes to the activity point system

I have mentioned in a previous mod post that I am looking at a work-related change in my availability relatively soon, and so I have been taking a look at my various mod tasks to see where I can streamline to ensure I don't slow down with the really important stuff like answering questions, posting intro mingles and the TDM, and opening and closing reserves and apps on time. The one place I have noticed is sucking up most of my available modwork time is the Activity Points Submissions - each submission that I process takes 20-40 minutes, so it can get really time consuming!

I have a few ideas for how to streamline the process and make it a little easier on myself:

● 1. Tags that are 150+ words earn 2 points each, tags that are under 150 words earn 1 point each. No bonus rewards for special content, but a flat 50+ Point Bonus for any type of open entry (open log with open prompts or unlocked network entry), not including top-levels in mingles.

● 2. Tags that are 150+ words earn 3 points each, tags that are under 150 words earn 2 points each. No bonus rewards for special content.

● 3. The system as-is, but with any special content submissions done separately with more detail so they are easier to process, including a clearly delineated rubric posted on the Activity Points page to clarify what counts.

● 4. Player Suggestion: Flat rate "1 point per comment" points submission with bonus rewards for special content that is very clearly defined.

In any of these cases, I will be changing how submissions are done - the new submission system will require players to list how many comments have been posted by their character in the linked thread and how many of them are 150+ words.

I'll finalize the new system for the State of the Game post on June 8th. No changes will be made until after the next State of the Game post to give everyone a couple of weeks to give feedback, state preferences, or make suggestions - please discuss as much as you would like on this entry.

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Comments

[spellslots]

Just coming from a personal viewpoint, I've never really bothered about the 150+ tags for the extra few points, when bonus content earns a whole 50 points per 10 comments, and doing word counts seems like a lot of work for little comparative reward. Which isn't me saying the reward for word counts should be increased, just that I'm not really sure it's necessary at all?

I'd much rather keep the bonus points for special content than the word count bonus. A longer tag doesn't really mean it's a better tag, after all.

Making us do more work wrt counting our comments and giving you more information is definitely a good idea, especially since this isn't a necessary part of the game, like actual AC, so if it feels like too much hard work people can just not do it.

[aeturnus]

Agreeing with this. Things that are much easier to track (making open posts, etc.) giving more points rather than tags with nebulous concept things in them would overall work easier even if it removes some "incentive" to be more substantial with CR?

[riverviewmod]

The original point of the special content bonuses was, essentially, to provide incentive for players to participate in the major game themes (exploration, community building through mingles and defending the city, and shipping). I definitely agree that using concepts that are less nebulous would be easier, though, if players are submitting these kinds of things themselves.

[aeturnus]

Yeah! Generally, I think the best option is to make us majorly accountable for most of the process and you perhaps just double-checking the work rather than doing it all yourself.

[riverviewmod]

That was definitely my goal. I'll have to think of easier-to-track things that align to the tagging behaviors I want to incentivize!

[riverviewmod]

So your preference would be closer to the third option, with special content bonuses still in place, but with a flat "1 point per tag" thread count instead of different points for different lengths?

[spellslots]

That about sums it up, yup!

[inlaid]

Definitely on board with this.

[wingedman]

Seconding everything in this comment. I honestly wouldn't bother copying and pasting all my tags into a word counter just to get one bonus point, but I do like the special content bonuses a lot. But I'm completely fine with easing the load on you by counting the comments and putting that in our tag submission!