User blog:Flamefang/Capture the Flag Testing Launch

If you are considering skipping any piece of the following: don't.

As I think all of you know, the prelude to CTF testing was announced about two weeks ago and we began voting for CTF commanders. This was supposed to take a day or two, instead it took a week. Then I went out of my way to select commanders based on the majority as, even after all this time, not everyone had voted. I then announced, about a week ago, that CTF commanders could begin planning and organizing their teams. Nothing of the kind has taken place. In fact, I spoke to several individuals who weren't even aware that there was a commander vote, others who didn't know about the signup, and even others still who had no idea CTF was being developed.

I've been working on CTF for seven months straight, trying to get a system that would work for all of us, trying to make something interactive and fun; trying to make something successful that could even define the way we roleplayed here on the wiki. Others too, members of multiple departments, have worked alongside me towards these seemingly distant goals. Now, as we are on the verge of finally getting somewhere, I find that people simply can't be bothered to cooperate. To put things simply this is not only incredibly frustrating, but also ultimately disappointing. I put in all this work and yet users really just can't be bothered to take a look at updates pages, or even ask me about the progess. Even the informed ones need to be reminded of what to do, to be guided hand in hand every step of the way. Come on people, grow up.

I'm sorry if this just seems like me complaining, but that's what it is. If I don't complain, people won't listen. To be perfectly honest, I have better things I could be doing. Like hanging out with Queen, playing videogames, or doing all the college work I'm bombarded with on a daily basis. Yet, I take my time to come here and make this system. Sometimes people act as if I'm paid; as if I have some kind of binding legal obligation to be here. Well, no I'm not. The primary thing that keeps me here is the thought that I'm helping others and that I'm moving this wiki, as a whole, forward. As many of you also know I don't roleplay that much anymore. Why do you think this is? Because I have things to do, the majority of which are for your benefit. So really, it's the least I can ask: Read this, pay attention, and don't be an arse about it.

So, given the inactivity and the disinterest displayed by people I'm basically going to go right ahead and start from the beginning. I want you to take a look at the CTF Rules page and tell me what you think needs improving and what can be done to help you understand what is written there better on here. I don't care what the criticism is, if you don't understand it or if you find an error, tell me! Explain to me! I'm not designing this for myself, I'm making it for you. Therefore I need to understand how you interpret what I have written and whether you are able to appy this on the actual battlefield. Criticism is essentially important and if you're afraid of upsetting me, go right ahead. If I made a mistake, it's only right that I should know about it.

Once you have done this I want you to go here. This is where you'll find a sort of "Hub" from which you can access all relevant CTF information. Another, easy way to do this is to go to the menu at the top of the wiki where you should see a category clearly named "Capture the Flag". If you then proceed to the Updates page you should be able to see our first update and the space where more will follow. This page is incredibly important and you should check it whenever possible, if you don't then you're liable to face consequences. What consequences exactly? Well, nothing immediate, but chances are that you'll fall behind and miss something essential and if you do then I'll simply see that you're kicked off the team. By being on one of these teams you are receiving a privilege and you are by no means irreplacable. So, make yourself deserving of it.

So, once you are updated the first thing you should do is go ahead and ask your Team Commander what's next. He or she is responsible for ensuring that your team wins, and if this person isn't doing their job they are just as liable as you are to have their privileges taken away. Hopefully Team Commanders will take this as a hint to step things up. Don't sit around waiting for instructions from me. Get your team together!

Now we come to one of the most important parts of this blog: The part where you ensure that everyone else is doing what you're doing. As I explained earlier, if in a bit of a roundabout fashion, we have an information problem. People don't know what's going on and apparently are also unable to take initiative to find this out. Therefore, I'm asking all of you to basically parade around making a big show out of this blog. Everyone needs to know the above, it's non-negotiable. Similarly, I'd ask that you comment, not only to show your support but also to ensure that this blog rises on the "Hot Spot" chart to the right. The more of these, the better. The more who hear the word, the better CTF will be for all of us.

Thanks for your time, consideration, and understanding

Flamefang 07:11, November 9, 2011 (UTC)

P.S. Queen and I have been dating for 1 month as of today!