Moinsen, since a generic addressing failed in the past, I hope a more personal approach gets more attention from you. I've made it as short and precise as possible from the feedback so far, so please, read and respond. Everyone else may also comment, but let's hear _all_ the owners' answers to these questions, this time _before_ answering to sub-threads (only), please! (if you happen to know that one of the listed doesn't read this generally at all, please either forward this or invite them over) If by 2 weeks no response arrives, we need to find a replacement for that resource. I'd like to have facts and preparations done before vacation begins and the momentum is forgotten again. Oh, and read all before you reply, thank you. What I want to know is: - Is this list of resources run for netrek with their owners correct and complete? - www (nexus): Dave, James - meta-server: Carlos - dev-wiki: James - SF project: Dave, Kurt, James, Carlos, Bob - SF Paradise: Dave (+ Bob Glamm, but subscribed here?) - servers: - netrek.hwy.com.au: James - continuum.us.netrek.org: James, Bob - netrek.warped.us: Bill - pickled.netrek.org: Karthik - hockey had no info, practice doesn't count now. - Do you want to act as netrek director per game type? - define standards for that game type. (majority of the type's board, 3-5 total depending on demand, the remaining members will be installed later by choice of existing directors or poll from the community, replacement formalia discusses elsewhere) - technical: code, protocol ... - game: server features, client limits ... levels: league, pickup, teaching (info-borgs) - update wiki page(s) to reflect last standing. - enforce them (maybe delegated): - control compliance by clients. (by observation as well as source when needed) - build blessed binaries of only approved clients. (separate from client writers to make control possible!) - run reference server for game type. (allow only blessed) (Note: server admins may vary features however they want, nobody else _must_ run the same server, but the reference should always be "fair" for all via client standards/ blessing and present at all times, and clearly marked as such on metas and in www, by name and position/ marks. Anything beyond the standards (like banning, censorship, ... of renegade clients/ servers) is likewise beyond the directors' rights or duties). - Will you treat all Netrek variants equally, no censoring or preference in meta-server or other resources of general service? - let the players decide what _they_ want to play, - don't deny them their fun because you want _your_ game. - players develop from "fun" to "sports" types by experience, - so in the end all benefit either way, once a critical mass is reached. (need inter-Netrek standards, also eases client coders' lives to support all types at once) - If you don't want to act as a "director" yourself, will you support the directors even if they decide with a standard against your preferences about the game? - let one director per type have an account on your systems to execute their admin job as director on behalf of the whole board. (not 1 account/director, but 1/type, except for www/ wikis or projects, where no system accounts are needed) As a guideline what I expect from the directors: to take into account that the newbie player type has changed. What in the past has been a sportman- like dedicated social games lover who'd spend the time to finish a (long) game and learn to be improve, now has become a casual short-time/ -attention-span time-killer/ fun seeker. There are still the good guys among the newbies, but it takes more time to find them, because the signal to noise ratio is lower these days, more spoiled kids from other games. Rather to stick with high-standards on entry level, I hope for a differenciated approach as mentioned above: newbie entry level, pickup level to prepare for league level. League play should then be what you veterans want to have ideally. (high-quality pickup may result as by-product, but need not, see below) If players don't want to move on, don't force them or limit them in their fun with the type and level they've chosen. Rather be happy that they've found their way and still stick with netrek in any form. This at least gives us (all netrek types) a chance that they might develop later (after maybe becoming bored of a simple/ single type). Patience please, don't expect too much at once, at least from newbie and pickup levels and all variant types: their primary objective is to provide fun for the newbies and casual gamers in the break to get them hooked, not for the veterans with their advanced gaming which they've carried over from 15+y ago! Pickup of today won't and doesn't need to be the pickup of the past. Your veterans' (sportsmen) place is league play: wait till they get through, don't invade their "fun" space. -- © Rado S. -- You must provide YOUR effort for your goal! EVERY effort counts: at least to show your attitude. You're responsible for ALL you do: you get what you give.