News: We have a chat!

This post was originally made by Arcane as a comment, replying to the 3C1T review. I felt that it was important enough to warrant its own post, so I copied Arcane's writing here.

First, some quick links for you.

1. The chat, Party Plateau
2. The plugin: http://mshs.syte9.net/nppgwrap.zip

And here's Arcane's post. Enjooooy...

Semi-Staff Update: A New Dawn With An Old Twist

Ladies and gentlemen, we've had a good run over the course of months in which this site has been run. Knux and Slash have brought us a truly unique world based on concepts veteran players are familiar with enough twisits to keep it fresh and alive, with a game system that is among the best I've seen in my career. We've told awesome stories, had awesome moments, and even though we're a small community, I think it's safe to say we do things big.

That said, we have some issues. The biggest problem has been, so far, that we are confined to the instant messenger. This limits our crowd sizes and makes it all that more likely for us to freeze up and mess with what is often a very time sensitive game. We've long desired for a chatroom. Multiple options have been explored, but nothing satisfactory has been found.

One option has always been the Sparkpea Chatrooms, which are essentiall the old MSN Groups chats. The problem has been a failure in finding the right plugin to make it work.

Well, that (plugin) problem has been sort of solved. We experimented with Knux tonight ( ) with a patch I received from the Help Desk(special thanks to Sysop_Rancher, if you see him) and while it only worked on Internet Explorer, the fact is that it worked. We now have a chat made permanent on Sparkpea, Party Plateau, found here: http://www.sparkpea.net/chatroom.php?rhx=252370617274795C62706C6174656175

If you are in need of the patch to run Sparkpea, it can be downloaded here: http://mshs.syte9.net/nppgwrap.zip

Now, I admit that Knux and I found several weaknesses already in this old friend. At the time of this posting, we have a three line post limit(nice long lines, but limits nonetheless), a probable failure to have custom emotes, and a probable failure to run a dice program. I'm checking into that tonight, but in the meantime, dice can be remedied by still using the messenger as a tool, and of course various continuation signs to account for our size problems(signs like -> or ).

The plus side is that we have a much increased chat capacity and the ability to kick or ban people to help exercise authority(Just like in the game!).

So, come on in and relax. Your Destiny Is Waiting.

My thoughts on the 3C1T Arc (3 crescents 1 team)

First of all, 3C1T is sexy sounding, so win.

This post is is basically my thoughts not only about how the storyline thus far is looking, but also how it's affected the community in other ways. First off, I think it's made joining in slightly difficult for newer members. This is a a mistake I don't want to repeat in future arcs, and wish to start correcting immediately. I'm not sure how exactly to go about this though, I will confess. Each member needs to really be welcomed into the wonderful, magical, wae-past cool place known as Chaos Island. Yes, the war makes CI slightly unwelcoming, but then again does it? Most of our members like to fight; they loooove the fighting aspect of the game. A war is...is uh....it's just friggin' ripe for fightin', ya know?

Perhaps if I made some sort of "textual flyer?" A brief textual synopsis of the war, but specifically the two sides, you know? THE FUCHIN (description) vs THE FATALS (description). And I could have the textual flyer circulating through the community, and every member could just copy and paste it whenever a new member had questions.

Or maybe making it an actual image, and members could just link newbies to the image.

It seems that it's too late in the game to employ such a device, but then again, it really isn't. This arc is long, and I don't know how much longer it's going to last.

When I think "Let's welcome newbies to Chaos Island," I think... Scorn and Lanix.

That's one dynamic that hasn't changed. Neither of them's been kidnapped, I mean yes Lanix was hospitalized for a few days but after that he was goodie. This aside...

Scorn and Lanix give you your gear. They show you their jewel radar tracking system. They know everything that's going on in the island and can bring you up to speed.

This hasn't really been done for any of the players, which really sucks. I blame schedules and time. As of now, the only day I'm guaranteed for operating is Sunday, and then I feel compelled to like... do group rp's so multiple people can participate. Then, if people want to do solo rp's throughout the week, they're personal and side rp's, which new members I don't really think are willing to do.

One, new members aren't really that enveloped in the world like veterans, and therefore aren't going to be as willing to donate the two bucks or whatever to do the personal rp, and two, they can't do aside rp's, because aside rp's are important to the plot...and new members haven't dived into plot yet.

A solution that comes to mind is...making this introductory rp kind of-

Hm...

Actually, it looks like I need to design an "awakening" rp. A loose one, but an awakening all the same. (Once again, that's a reference only vets will get, fail).

Eves and I were discussing how we need to get more members, and can only do this if we get a new chat. But if we can't get the newcomers we already have to stay, then fail. I suppose if we got a chat and just started recruiting like batshit, newbies would be all like, "popularity? o.o" and that would be that, but that is a very reckless road. I think it can be somewhat solidified with an awakening rp. It would cost nothing to run, and I would allow lots of vets to op it. Slash, Eves, and Darc come to mind, but I don't see why Waeeaae, Ultra, Nytloc or Thrash couldn't do it either with some discussion beforehand.

I don't think the war has to be all that uninviting; it can actually be used for its fight opportunities.

Ugh, I also need to design all the new types of jewel hunts, and soon. In fact I'll pr obably do that before I go to bed, at least on a rough level.

Creating the new Character Creation system would also be a boon. I mean it's very necessary? But I don't see it making newcomers more enveloped in the game, honestly.

As far as the story goes, I think the story for 3C1T is pretty sexy. The war fights have been epic. The mine fights have been crazy. The flood mini-saga showed great CI teamwork. Thunder is epic. Slash is badass. Darc is badass. Goose is on fucking fire. Waeeaae needs to stop being so busy.

Marku is slowly going crazy.

Laze is silent, uuuugh.

Roth has stripes.

Gauntlet, who came alive in the previous DNA arc in his fight against Scorn, is really starting to shine in this arc, which I like.

Aurora is doing more, go Rei *thumbs up*

Julie is getting sexy, Thrasher has had a huge turn around with not knowing his own strength, Slash is performing beautifully, we're seing Nytloc despite his busy schedule, Ultra breathes lazers on people, Arcane is back with two amazing fucking characters, Darc has really handled this war like a boss - everyone should really compliment the shit out of Darc; I'm really impressed at the decisions Darc has made. We don't give Darc enough credit; he is a fantastic roleplayer.

May is one of my all-time favorites, but scheduling has made it difficult to see her around. Slash is going to start "Slash 'Em Up" Thursdays, which will give us a second day in the week for RP's. I'm really excited to see how having a different official RP'er on a seperate day will take us. It's like Raw and and Smackdown, but with words =P

Also, it hasn't been all war. Jewel hunts still need to happen, otherwise we're gonna see another JHS. The huge Blue Rogues expedition is over finally, and it weaved into the arc pretty nicely. It brought Kiwi Corporation into the picture, which lead to Marku dealing with island troubles, and then of course we see how he handles those.

One thing I don't like about this arc...there have been so many deaths. War, mines, floods, Ethra jewel hunt, Thrasher, KL hunt, uh....so many deaths. It's so not supposed to be the CI wae =P

We also had a very huge moment... for years, we've been known as AoC, and now we're...searching for a name =P. This kinda makes me think of how in the LCO, people name themselves as opposed to receiving a name. Honestly, think of how hard that must be, to find your own name. Nieves's character, Nieves the 4th, named himself after his dad because his dad did it, etc. But he's now deciding that he wants to be his own person and name himself "Nice," which I think is so, ...so Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Honestly, I think we should have a day of celebration and mourning of the loss of the name AoC. It was an idea Laura (my girlfriend) gave to me. It is kinda like losing a loved one, and lots of that has happened in the community, both IC and OOC. Yes it's good for the community that we can get our own name, copyright it and advance in the world, but for the vets, I understand that this is no easy loss, and we shouldn't pretend it is. Not saying we need to cry and have a boogery tear orgy, but it should be acknowledged.

Anywae, I feel like we're learning a lot from our mistakes, and this arc is helping us grow in many different waes. I know I'm learning a lot.

Alright, well thanks for listening.

Hustle hard,

Stay Chipper,

Keep it Up,

||

Ramses

Day 14, and News

Spice and all of Chaos Island's seekers have yet to find Laze. Rumors have spread all over the crescents of how Marku is eternally banning people left and right. Some of Thrasher's clan tried to deliver some letters to people before he left. Fights broke out, and Marku banned over twenty Genesis band members.

Also, people are talking about lots of ship sightings around the island...

OOC

So I've redesigned Ramses, not that it matters all that much :P He was armless, with a huge afro and two extremely large rabbit ears that act as arms. His upper torso was wrapped up with bandages, exposing only his highly-toned abs. When he was a kid, he had arms, a mini-fro and smaller ears.

This map is representational; items may or may not be exactly to scale.

This is it, Chaos Island in detailed, map form. This is a result of the time you've spent enjoying the game, and the power of your donations, big or small. Thank you all, even if only for the time and happiness you've invested.

>_> Click here for a larger image

Three Crescents, One Team - Day 12 & 13

Is the Fuchin - Fatal war over?

People keep saying that the Dojo has been destroyed, and that Thunder and all his people are dead. Thrasher, Chaos Island's champion, went on an evil rampage, using his mighty stampede powers to cause cave-ins in the mines, killing hundreds. People keep coming up missing. Many say that Marku is back, bannishing breakers of the Golden Rule left and right. Roth has rabbies, and nearly killed everyone battling at the mines with a bomb strapped to his chest. Luckily, Marku sent him to the void right before the bomb went off.

With Roth dead, how will we ever find Laze?