[Gossamer's Scrapbook] The Ethereal Canyon I

[Gossamer]

. More Information On The Next Level A Little Insight Teases - Doesn't It? One of the reasons Dreamcatcher and I get along well is because we are the same (roughly) age and have the same philosophy about gaming. We don't do 'boring' well at all. If we wanted boring, we could go wander to the coffee shop with our real persons and hang out with our friends and do the same things over and over we've always done. We get enough of that in real life. Dream came from a large site, one that sadly closed due to lack of activity and interest by those that Founded it. Mizahar isn't going to fall prey to that same issue. We'll always have Founders who get busy, but between six of us, they'll always be someone around picking up where others need to let some slack out. But the problem is, in order to stay open and wildly successful, we have to think big. We have to be on the next level. We have to tell the type of stories that keep people standing in line for best sellers on the day they are released just to get the 'next chapter' and the next. Everyone knows their PCs are special, but sometimes it takes a storyteller to 'adopt' one and help their plotline along, because frankly there's only so much fantastical you can come up with as a PC and not feel 'godmodish' or like your taking too many liberties. Besides, its boring when you are the one writing the lines and in control. You want more. You want to not know what's coming next and what will be the best and the worst of times. You might have some vague idea of where you want your PC to go, but beyond that without wind the kite that is your PC can't get any lift. That's where the storyteller's come in. Dream has long advocated 'teaching' storytellers how to be epic writers. Each and every one of our staff members is a talented writer, but even as a storyteller your afraid of where your boundaries are. You might not be able to think of neat quests all the time because your real life is a drain, or you're seasonally depressed, or you work too much. That's where Dream has been working on me. On his old site, before anyone could ever be a storyteller they had to go through 'classes' on all sorts of things. Now, I certainly don't want to burden our storyteller's with this sort of thing, nor do I have the time. But I am going to lead them through a mandatory storyteller assignment (the second they've had - the first was wildly successful as well) that is going to generate an epic quest from each and every storyteller we have here. That's where you come in. They've been asked to pick one or two people each. My rules were simple. No one whom you consider a' friend' - only someone you don't know well who is in your local domain. Make it someone who writes in a way you enjoy and admire. Someone who has a lovely CS that has enough 'fodder' for a story meaning a written out history, family, events in the past, etc. Make it someone you like the character concept for. Pick only one or two. That's probably the hardest part. Then, of course, they are going to PM you and ask if you would be willing to play. Please say yes. This is important to them. They might be going to drag you through the coals, mess with your history, mess with your future, but I promise each and every quest will be 'epic'. And another thing - don't ask one to include you. It's hard enough they get to only pick one, and someone they don't know well. Bothering them or harrassing them to make that someone be you will just make it harder on them and put more stress on our staff. This also means staff alts are out as well. The reason will be obvious in a few minutes. And the fun part about participation is that every storyteller is going to know about your plot. These overarching plotlines can spill over domains, with storyteller's feeding off one another's plots quite nicely. Why? How? Because we are going to develop these overarching plotlines as an exercise together with everyone adding their input and cheering each other on. This means you might have gods, champions, epic pivotal world history in the making in these threads. This is teambuilding at its finest, folks. Get ready to be wow'd. I've already sent my PM out asking a player if they want to be my guinea pig. Expect more to go out in the next few days. Please say yes. Please play. By doing so you are going to be making Mizahar a better place. Each 'yes' will help us take it to the next level. And trust me, that's where we want to be. We aren't calling ourselves 'the writer's rpg' for nothing. We're going to put our best threads forward and show not tell how this is true. .

[Aidara]

-applauds- this is going to be fabulous.

[Kalasshmalah]

Sadly I fear my CS isn't up to par for this, but I'm eager to see how this turns out

[Gossamer]

When I say a lovely CS, it doesn't mean 'visually beautiful'. It means that you have a well fleshed out backstory, lots of info on your PC, etc.

[Gossamer]

. Pride In A Job Well Done This is morally alright, I promise, since pride is only misplaced if its false. Truthfully, and this might be a bit hard to admit, the first day of the month is one of my favorite ever. I love passing out goodies on Mizahar like the Featured Character, Featured Thread, and now the Featured Contributor awards. I also love it when such announcements are coupled with new AS's being announced and all sorts of good things going on site-wide like 'Taking It To The Next Level.' I wish I could show you guys how hard at work your storyteller's are in their group exercises working to be better storytellers and bring Mizahar to the next level. All those guinea pig PC's out there don't know how lucky they are to help pave the way. Many many of our invited players have said yes, and for that I am thankful. All this pride and thankfulness is one of the reasons I started The Random Thank You Thread. If you feel some, please don't hesitate to throw out a few thanks to those people here that impact your lives as well. Sometimes this 'gushy' feeling just needs a release and that thread is a great place to purge. I'm also thankful my boss has revised his position on the forced six day work week and we're all back to five days a week now. This gives me so much more time and energy for Mizahar and the things I love in my life - my horses, greenhouse, etc. I also take a great deal of pride in knowing that we went from a startup site in 2009, a site many said would never make it, to a full fledged truly amazing populated very active site in 2011. Our success was almost immediate, and for that I have long decided that we filled a niche folks could not find elsewhere - originality and approachability. We are active and very welcoming to newbies. I think that stems from our playerbase and community as a whole. They are amazing folks who bend over backwards to do what they can to help launch new folks. That's incredibly hard to find. This success also stems from the Founders and their inability to settle for anything less than the best. Tarot is amazingly competitive and stubborn. If he can't do what he wants with the site, he simply writes code that bends it to his will. He's done this so often that I doubt you will find another site more user friendly and catering to the needs of the players. I don't think you'll find a site that allows your creativity to run wild both in text and visually. I'm very proud of that. Once upon a time I remember being on another site that didn't even allow images to be posted in their posts. I thought this was a crime. I begged a lovely man named Grim (known as The Mad Professor to some on other sites) to start allowing this and he did. Grim was a forward thinker, open to new ideas and always willing to try new things. I remember his PC being an alchemist who attempted amazing feats - actions I admired. He eventually left that old worn out mutual site we were both on and created his own. It lasted several years before it too closed down this year. I mourned its departure from the web, though he probably never knew this. We enjoy several of Adylheim's players now and I'm glad they are here enriching us and adding to our plotlines. I have to laugh at that old worn out site though. I get reports periodically about things they are doing. They implemented Godmarks after they saw how much everyone loved Gnosis over here. They are now posting Featured Characters, Cities, and Staff Members - a 'new' thing on their site that's been going on for a few months. It's a turn about when you see something you once loved but now amusingly loathe scrambling to copy and keep up with us because they have no ability to head outside their own self-imposed box. Poor things. Their site will always be a patchwork quilt of ripped off ideas from stories, books, and authors great and small. I guess I can say one thing firmly about them in regards to us. We'll never be that. Ever. This is also one of the reasons I'm always transparent about what we are doing here. I've come to understand if its successful, it will get duplicated and adapted elsewhere. But, the knowing and conception will always be apparent by dates posted, announcements made, and lore written. This is not to say we're perfect and that we do everything right. We're still learning in leaps and bounds. We have dispelled several myths though. We don't need to spend a fortune to run huge databases and be accessible and playable for large numbers of people. Money doesn't equal professionalism. Professionalism equals professionalism. We don't have to charge players to be good at what we do. We don't have to bully storylines or harass our staffers. We don't have to null storylines or stifle creativity if we don't like what we see. We don't need to use copy-pasted D&D lore and fill our world with fae and unicorns and dragons to have people like us. We can thrive on originality and not be bound to Tolkien, as wondrous as he was. We'll solider forward. We'll innovate. We'll keep building a world people can roleplay in and spread their creative wings. I hope you all will help. And that's why I've posted a new survey called "Going Forward" to request what you'd like to see in the future from the site. Please participate. .

[Phoenix]

[mushy gushy lovey stuff] I know I've made this same comment before else where in your scrapbook: But I am so glad to be a part of this. Honestly.

I tried other rping sites, including the icky one you mentioned, and Mizahar really just doesn't compare to any of them. Sure, people come and go. Sure, some people don't like others, but when it comes down to it, it's about the experience as a whole. And that experience makes up for any little dislike you may have for this character or that place, y'know?


As for going forward...
I'm MORE than willing to help continue development. I have a little folder on my desktop of partially created things for the Unforgiving that I just haven't had time to continue since WR exploded. I LOVE writing descriptions and creating places. I'm not the best at it and it REALLY challenges me, but I like how Miz and you personally, Jen, challenge me. But because I've allowed myself to be challenged, I think I have gotten a lot better in that department and I'm willing to take on more.

[/mushy gushy lovey stuff]

[Gossamer]

. Never Alone May the angels protect you Trouble neglect you And heaven accept you when its time to go home May you always have plenty The glass never empty Know in your belly You're never alone May your tears come from laughing You find friends worth having With every year passing They mean more than gold May you win but stay humble Smile more than grumble And know when you stumble You're never alone Chorus: Never alone Never alone I'll be in every beat of your heart When you face the unknown Wherever you fly This isn't goodbye My love will follow you stay with you Baby you're never alone well I have to be honest As much as I want it I'm not gonna promise that the cold winds won't blow So when hard times have found you And your fears surround you Wrap my love around you You're never alone Chorus May the angels protect you Trouble neglect you And heaven accept you when its time to go home And when hard times have found you And your fears surround you Wrap my love around you You're never alone Chorus My love will follow you stay with you Baby you're never alone ... for Pao . .

[Kelpie]

I LOVE IT! Thank you thank you! <3 *mwuah*

[Gossamer]

. The Show Must Go On! I have never been the great communicator. I'm more like the 'great communicating what shes thinking when shes thinking it' girl. That means I let the occasional 'douchbag' and 'asswipe' out when its probably not necessary which has a tendency to mortify my husband whenever this happens in public. It's not often but it does happen. Today's word of joy was 'shitstorm' uttered in a movie theater line waiting to buy tickets and popcorn and on the phone. *waves at Stitch* I believe in telling someone if their dress makes them look fat to take it off and burn it immediately. I won't tell them in public in front of others, but I would tell them if we were together getting ready to go out somewhere or I would tell them afterwards where they can't be embarrassed. I'm not completely unfeeling. I also enjoy when people reveal these sad little truths to me. Quite recently someone told me my car was a total disaster inside and to please clean it - it was offending their sensibilities. I totally understand that. I'll get around, too, to cleaning it soon for them as well. It doesn't have garbage in it, just books and magazines and some equipment for work, spare shoes, and a ton of neon craft paper, art supplies, a hot glue gun, and paperwork from work. Being like this, outspoken and strong, has never won me a big following of friends and admirers. It has however netted me some really good friends that don't mind this tendency because they are of a like mind. People are creatures of habit. I've ran games for a long time. Some of you might or might not know I ran a mud for years and years - a game that was wildly successful and won numerous awards for its time. I remember back in the days we were moving it from server to server because it was pirate software and then finding mudmagic and getting a dedicated spot. I remember a stint with wolfpaw, which turned out to be the crappiest service ever because they couldn't defend against DOS attacks whereas mudmagic offered us shelter and did defend against them well. Lesson learned host on a site that is ran by a military computer intelligence officer. Once long ago, in that mud's early stages most of the original group split leaving me to run it. I ran it for five more years solo. When they came back, some of the things I had done they didn't like. This was too bad, but it happened because they were absent and not around to help out or make group decisions. The theme was dragonlance and while we were playing in the world of Krynn, the mud had also developed its own unique groups as well. It happens. People want to be different. It retained players. When I was running it we had upwards of a hundred people on all the time. When they came back, it seriously began to decline. I did a lot of caving into things that I felt weren't 'for the best' but since they were who they were I decided it was best to go back to the group style. When I finally shut down, all of us had been fighting like crazy and we had like 8-10 dedicated players left. After we closed the doors, one of the coders jacked the entire code, reopened it, and its still running today. I periodically check the who list though. There's only ever one or two people, mostly a sad little 'zero online' printed in terms of who's on. I found the courage to close the doors to the mud because I found play by post sites by then and had something to move on too. I was playing one in particular and joined around 2006. By 2008 I was on the directorate and helping to run the game. The creator of the site was frustrating to say the least. He'd vanish for long periods of time, come back make grandiose changes, then vanish again when it seemed his changes weren't wildly successful. It happened so frequently and so frustratingly (including him negating storylines we were running because he didn't like them) that by 2009 I'd resigned and quit the game altogether. In that short period of time I wrote a lot of lore, GM'd a city, met a lot of great people, and kinda got a first hand idea of what not to do. I wasn't alone either. Liminal and Tarot were on the Directorate too and left at the same time for the same reasons. We were all frustrated. But I've been through this before. That's why Mizahar was created and most of you know the rest of the story. But regardless, I'm telling you the above to give you my track record with game admin's and their staying power. It's been pretty poor to be honest in my experience. If I'm involved with something, I stick like glue and tend to buck this tradition. I might have a bit of an obsessive compulsive tendency or maybe I'm just pretty tenacious about my doings. I follow through with things I say I'm going too, and expect meetings to be attended etc if someone else says they'll be there etc. I set up times (or agree to come to times other people set up) and expect them to be honored. In the 2000's I believe in someone's word being a binding contract. I don't even mind it if people do vanish. Sometimes they let me know. Players especially. But mostly I hear nothing, just see no logins for a long time, and think 'wow, gone again... hope things are fine'. Meanwhile the show must go on. Games like Mizahar need leadership and guidance. They need dynamic rules that change with the dynamic scenarios they are facing. If they didn't have leadership or strong rules, we'd have freeform roleplay sites and probably would all be on Mushes or places like Gaionline. Not to knock these types of games, but they aren't what Mizahar is. The difference between them is night and day. We recently had an AS application from someone I really enjoy having around who talked about her old website being 'beginner forum' then 'middleground forum' then 'advanced forum' . They had trouble with the advanced roleplayers teasing the beginners so they renamed the beginner forum 'freeform'. In her application she told us she felt she was better than most of the advanced rpers and I had no doubts she was. I didn't think her statement was arrogant, but instead honest. Games like that serve a purpose, but generally it isn't writing for the love of writing or for fantasy realism like we try for here. I run like hell if I see something that says 'freeform'. Instead they are for something else entirely. I'd be hard pressed to actually tell you what for, truth be told. What I'm trying to say is that I know how important it is for some sort of leadership to be around and mingling with everyone on the game showing everyone on the game we are all just people. It was like that with the mud, it was like that with the old site and it is definitely like that here. Without people about you wonder how long it will be before a site closes, how your character can advance without getting threads graded by storytellers, and how can we have new storytellers if no one is there to appoint them. New blood is the lifeblood of a game. And right now we have so many new folks - good writers - that I want to make sure the lifeblood stays flowing. If that means we have to loose a few along the way because they feel the game is too restricting or the rules too strong, well, I feel sad but I won't waiver from the course we've set until the entirety of the situation (rather than one or two people's opinions) change. What we are doing, with the rules and the traditions and even some of the new Liaison positions is making the game better. We reached an all time high last month in posts and threads, surpassing even the mega sites out there. We were proud of this fact and want to keep this going. Do you know how much this means to us? It means what we are doing is working. It means getting your help desk tickets answered promptly, staff in place quickly, and questions answered when they are asked. Its important that the folks who help manage the place are well informed and knowledgeable - in terms of the storytellers and liaisons. It also means that we all need to work together to make sure things do get done in a timely manner and the new folks that need help get the help they need. It also means I need to be a hardass about some things. And I apologize ahead of time to some of you about this. But someone needs to do it. I want too badly for Mizahar to not only survive but thrive as well. We have a killer beautiful stable site that was coded with enormous talent and attention to detail by our beloved Tarot. in fact, code that is still being worked on and new stuff is coming out (see above!) . We have incredibly talented writers, gamers, dreamers and just plain nice folks in general. Bottom line... we have it all and with having it all we have the same problems all online communities have. But we deal with them and move on, getting a little better as we go each and every day. I want this trend to continue. I want people to be able to come here and say 'Man, Mizahar is MY SITE!' That's because everyone that tells stories here makes it their site by just being around and playing. You understand that don't you? It's yours because you breathe life into it. It's yours because you love it. It's yours because you find a way to infuse parts of yourself into it. That makes it very special. Unique. And worthy of survival. So the show must go on. Someone has to step up and run things and keep them going as people pop in and pop out growing busy with IRL and having to turn their attention elsewhere. Whether its GP, Colombina, Liminal, Gillar, Cayenne, or myself - one of us will always be around to make sure things go forward and get attended too. That's the beautiful thing about not just having one site owner or one creator. It's a collective, even though its not always ran by the collective. As long as we stay true to the traditions we've already built here, we'll do great. .

[Gossamer]

. I'm Giving In I hate going to the doctor. I always have. I usually only go when there's something majorly wrong and I cannot do anything about it. Well, somethings wrong and its the stupidest wrong ever. I'm just entirely stiff! Isn't that stupid? I can't hardly walk because everything is creaking and groaning and my bones don't work correctly or something. I attribute it to all the kick butt good exercise I've been getting lately and the weight I've dropped. But still, its ridiculous. I even thought I had bad shoes because I'd often come home limping after a busy night of yard hostling. But its seriously bad right now. I mean if I sit down on the couch for more than five minutes, I worry I cant get up. When I sleep I get so stiff I limp badly just after I get up and seem to walk around going 'ouchy ouchy ouchy' but I can't really tell you what hurts? Its the stupidest thing. So last night I was yammering on to my new partner whom I thought I would absolutely hate (with a capital H underscored highlighted) but within two days of working with I decided he was absolutely amazing. (We share recipies and hes even been teaching me about mixing songs on computers with new software and about music because hes big into electric guitar and all forms of that sort of thing). He watched me with a shrewed eye all day and finally asked me what the hell was wrong because I looked like I could barely walk. I told him what was going on with me, this limping, gimping, groaning, moaning, and whatnot... and he started laughing. He asked me what I'd been doing lately: Gardening, Horses, Mowing Lawns, Building, Painting.... and then laughed harder. He then said 'Girl, your so out of adjustment its not even funny... probably one or both hips, your back, and unless I miss my 'people unable to move' radar, your left shoulder... maybe even your atlas and axis vertebrae in your neck. I stared at him. He continued talking, going on about this chiropractor hes going to, how wonderful they are etc, and how he'd fix me up probably the first session. Then he demanded I go immediately. So I'm going. Wednesday at 10am. For my first ever chiropractic visit. I have no idea what to expect, but according to my partner its a wonderful thing. I also talked to my friend/high priestess Winn and she told me to absolutely tell her how he was because she needed a good one up here in Chehalis. She said I'd love it and agreed that was probably what was wrong with me. I'm not even sure what 'out of adjustment' means, truth be told, but these people seem adamant. Should I be scared? This guys got a license and been in business 24 years. His wife is a massage therapist, and between the two of them I've been promised miracles. But I'm still scared to death. But I'm going... going going going. .