CS Liaison Magic

by **Lixue** on February 13th, 2012, 1:42 am

Thank You!

The character sheet liaisons and everyone who has helps them sort through the new players are akin to superheroes. Ghost and Shepherd are the current CS Liaisons. Along with the help of several storytellers (including Lazybones, Archelon, Macabre, the founders, and many more!), the liaisons are slowly working through the backed up character sheets.

They spend nearly half of their free-time on Mizahar (on average) helping new players wade through the confusing, if not challenging, process of meeting Mizahar's standards. By juggling both their own character(s) AND their responsibilities as a CS Liaison (or storyteller), these individuals are practically magicians. They have to tackle the lore for facts to help set confused players straight. It takes an incredible amount of patience to perform these duties.

Gossamer posted a public service announcement today, about the CS Liaisons. In it, she described the responsibilities of one, what it takes, what new players can want, and to say thank you to the CS Liaisons. This thread was created to thank the hard working individuals for taking time out of their day to help a new player. Storytellers, who are often busy with their own cities (or regions), don't always have time to set confused members straight. The character sheet liaisons are amazing.

I asked Shepherd if he would mind taking time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions concerning his duties as a CS Liaison. He had no problem with that. Here are both the questions and the answers:

1) Why did you become a CS Liaison?

For three reasons. The first and most important is to help aspiring players and get them on the right track to greatness. The second is to do several top secret things (coming soon to a forum near you) that will hopefully entertain the many players here. And finally, I wanted to cultivate some trust and gain some experience, for I hope to join the ranks of Storyteller one day.

2) How long do you think you spend a day on average on character sheets?

Hmm, it widely varies, I've spent as little as twenty minutes, or an entire day. Depends on my writing mood.

3) What would you say new players need the most help with?

The most important thing is to not sacrifice accuracy and Loreliness for the sake of uniqueness. Being unique is great, but you don't have to be the most unique thing straight out of the gate. As your PC grows you will become more and more unique with each passing season.

4) What was the strangest thing you have seen a new player want?

Perhaps it was a Kelvic with multiple animal forms.

5) Do your duties as a CS Liaison ever become tiring? If so, why?

Only if I've spent the entire day checking over CSs. Still trying to balance out checking CSs, writing, and some development side jobs.

6) Do you [ever] regret becoming a CS Liaison?

Not in the least bit! While many complaints may be said (sorry Jen, but the job's the job), even more people are kind and thankful for the assistance. It really makes my day when someone makes the necessary changes and thanks me for helping them out.

7) What do you think the biggest benefit of being a character sheet liaison is? Why?

Learning the small intricacies of the lore. I'm constantly reading, rereading, questioning things in the lore. I think in a month or two, my knowledge of the lore will be extremely impressive. In my eyes at least.

8) Have you ever been inspired by a character sheet? If so, how?

Oh most definitely. I've seen some incredibly amazing concepts and ideas, and it makes me want to up my game as a writer. It's actually how Devero was born.

9) How often is it necessary to PM another storyteller in the search of answers?

Not as often as you might think. There's not as many grey areas that would require such knowledge. Most of the things needing fixed are more black and white. Things like housing, skills, lores and such.

10) If you could say one thing to the fumbling new members what would you say? Why?

Don't be intimidated by the lore our the assistance that myself and Ghost, and the Storytellers that are giving us hand, are providing. We aren't here to be mean, or kill dreams, we want to get you writing, and having fun. That is the most important aspect of Mizahar.

Thank you, CS Liaisons and Storytellers!

by **Gossamer** on February 13th, 2012, 5:27 am

Thank you so much CS Liaisons, Storytellers, and PC's that have stepped in and volunteered to help the new folks we have flooding our doors. You are so very much appreciated and even more importantly needed.

by **Lazybones** on February 13th, 2012, 6:12 am

Ghost and Shepherd have been amazing. Shepherd is very active in chat as well and is always helping out newbies. Ghost... man... that guy is something else. Just unbelievably nice and infinite patience. I don't think he's even human. (Derp he's a ghost).

Mad props to Mirage too. She's been personally helping people create their CSes when they have trouble. She's been very active behind the scenes with new players.

A lot of storytellers have stepped up to give these guys a hand, and you are all awesome.

by **Mirage** on February 13th, 2012, 6:24 am

Id Love to say THANK YOU to ghost and Shephard as well! They are amazing, and in all honesty I feel that they have one of the roughest jobs here on the site. They are the first ones to point out problems. They are the ones who get hate PM's and bad attitudes for doing their job, and they are also never thanked for all that they do. So to you both, and to all other future CS Liaisons...

Thank you very much. Your efforts, your time, your energy and your heart... Thank you for giving all of these things to the services that goes without thanks. Thank you for your patients and your understanding. Your kind words and steady hand are a blessing, and I can say that I personally feel that if it were not for you my job as an ST would be far more difficult. You are a pillar of strength, a light of hope and a hand of friendship. From your lips fall order, and to your ears come little thanks.

Forever yours,
Mirage

by **Ghost** on February 13th, 2012, 7:02 am

Sorry to disappoint you, Laz, but I’m just an ordinary human being, and I even got yelled at and called rude recently.

I don’t think being CS Liaison is a rough job at all by the way. I’m not sure if I’ll be doing it forever, but for now it’s fun and keeps me from going insane in this cold, dark winter.

Sure, there are a few people that get mad and send hate PMs if you tell them to fix their CS, but those amazing newbies with perfect CSs and original background stories more than make up for it.

Thank you for this thread by the way. It’s great to know that somebody appreciates what we are doing.

And there’s still room for more Liaisons, in case anybody’s interested!

by **Jarah Sulayman** on February 13th, 2012, 7:30 am

I say tank you to both Gost and Shepherd, especially shepherd who not only helped me with my first PC on here (Aleka) but also eased my fears over the areas of my CSs I wasn't so sure about (Lore section mainy). He is truly living up to his name in that sense

I do have a question not only for well Goss and the other STs but mainly to the current CS Liasions... in your own words what do you think a person should have if they want to be or try out to be a Liasion in the CS area? (other then what I think has been stated as time frame from moment of joining Mizahar to when they wish to start helping and are no longer under the 'newbie' title)

by **Eridanus** on February 13th, 2012, 7:39 am

Thanks plenty Shepherd and Ghost for having such infinite patience to help out our newbies to get acquainted with our unique rules. Keep it up, but do remember we all are here to help yall out so don't get burned out alright?

by **Paragon** on February 13th, 2012, 10:56 am

Thank you Ghost and Shepherd for being absolutely awesome - you have already done sooo much, and cleared one hell of a backlog that had built up. I interacted with Shepherd over some ideas he had, and I have to say, he is imaginative, enthusiastic, and polite. And from what I've seen of Ghost... wow, this liason really knows their stuff.

So thank you guys. You are fantastic and work so hard to get new players up and running - we're all so grateful!

by **Shepherd** on February 13th, 2012, 3:18 pm

Thank you everyone for your kind words, and once again thank you everyone who's helped, Ghost, STs, and others (yea Mneme I'm talking about you). While I may have a thick skin when it comes to people not being real pleased with the assistance I'm providing, I have rice paper skin when it comes to kind words. A simple thank you makes all the work and effort worth it, and really improves my day. Both in real life and here in Miz, my stress disappears when someone is nice, polite, and thankful. So thank you all,the kind people here are what sets Mizahar apart from every other site. (and the totally unique and in depth lore, proper system, *rattles on for several minutes*)

Now for those wishing to become a CS Liaison, the most important thing is an awesome name. Just kidding. I think several things are needed. Extreme patience and thick skin are great, being able to do your duty without worrying over image. Also, a kind and helpful disposition. We may have to be firm, but not mean. In depth knowledge, and a willingness to research even the tiniest detail. I think anyone who wants to be an ST one day should try a stint as CS liaison. I've learned so much doing this, and in all honesty it doesn't feel like a job. It's more like volunteering at an animal shelter. The new arrivals may have the occassional accident or two, but are so cute and cuddly it doesn't matter. You just need to help train them. It's such a fulfilling position to hold.

Tony

by **Avari** on February 13th, 2012, 3:46 pm

Well-deserved kudos to you both, Ghost and Shepherd! Considering how much attention to detail and knowledge of Mizahar's lore that the position of CS Liaison must demand, I've been hugely impressed with how quickly and thoroughly the two of you have reviewed all the character sheets and given helpful hints and suggestions to the ones that needed them. Often, the hardest part of entering a new roleplaying game is the first step of making a character that fits into the world they're joining, and you guys are both helping to make that easier for newbies by making sure they don't forget anything essential before they start playing.