Please, Balance the Jedi Order, before it's too late...
Nov 5, 2013 13:06:59 GMT -8
Lord Jud'dayus: The Debase, Alpharius, and 9 more like this
Post by Ael Jade on Nov 5, 2013 13:06:59 GMT -8
I am aware that this is a long post, but please bear with me. A lot of time and energy and late night thought has gone into this. I’m not happy about it. I try to avoid JvS politics. But, I can’t just keep ignoring this. I’ve been rping longer than I care to think about really, since 2007 by now, and I cannot just keep smiling and saying “it’s fine.”Also, for the record I would like to note that the Felucian Jedi Academy is largely exempt from this, mainly because I didn’t even know it existed until last night.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and it all comes down to one thing basically: I am frustrated with the Jedi Order and I am not alone. There are lot of writers out there who share the same frustrations. Specifically, I am bothered by the fact that Jedi are not considered worthwhile to rp with. The Jedi have a reputation of being slow, sporadic posters and as a whole an unfriendly, unwelcoming group of writers who do not attract new writers/characters to their Order. Yavin 4 is known as the place “rp/SL goes to die”. This is probably obvious to everyone taking part in the Mandalorian siege of Yavin that has been going on since—last year?—and is now on day two? Or three?
Adi tried very hard to get things moving in terms of Jedi rp with the Jedi Watchmen group on Carida. After initial posting, we were once again stalled because our part of the plot took place about a month into the Yavin siege. I admit, I was very frustrated with this and probably took out more of that upon Adi than he deserved. He got a lot of people together and things were happening. Writing with Jedi was momentarily a very popular thing to do. The ‘Jedi’ didn’t seem to approve of this rather warlike initiative. But you know what? It attracted writers. Things were moving. It was not necessarily a violation of the Jedi ideal. Everyone is going to have different ideas about what being a Jedi entails, just like in the Old Republic the various Jedi had different opinions. This should not preclude our ability to work together toward a common goal: collaborative fiction.
It seems like the Jedi Order is running on fumes and the memory of former glory. Yavin 4 used to be a fun place to go, but it didn’t last long and it was still ridiculously hard to get included or even recognized in rp there. This wasn’t just for new people on the site, or new characters created by established writers. It was hard for me when I was specifically invited to rp there. Jade went to Yavin and Osarian. The only Jedi who took the time to rp with her was Tebana Sor. She’s an awesome woman both in character and out of character. I love her. But she is no longer here for completely good reasons. I took another character to Yavin. Ksandra Mallan and Nathan Malreaux were the only ones who rped with me, with the exception of Jago Pulastra when he had time. Then, I was asked to write Alora Malreaux, a character whose writer had previously left the site. I agreed. And what do you know? I was instantaneously welcomed among the Jedi. Why? Because I was writing a character that they had pre-approved! I was writing a character that wasn’t MINE. I just rolled with it awhile, dealt with my anger and frustration and tried to be mature about it. I tried to adapt. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore.
For three years then, I wrote pretty much alone, a Jedi not affiliated with any of the established academies. I wrote with Sith, Mandos, the occasional Jedi, and I had an ok time. But, the Jedi are so uber-cliqueish that there is no becoming part of the ‘in crowd.’ Things are run by one or two names, and everyone else is practically ignored or tokenly consulted and then politely shot down. Finally, this past February-ish I decided to try again. Serrin Roma is an amazing writer/character and we’ve worked very well together in the past. Things were looking up. I went to Corellia. After five or six posts, Serrin vanished. (Before anyone starts yelling at me about real life obligations, please keep reading, I will get to that.) At this point she had not told me what specifically she wished my character to do within that Academy. So, I ended up chatting with Terra Kiros, Ralph, and a bit with Kay’li Raganella. All of them are awesome. Will Son’tir sent me a ‘welcome’ pm. All well and good-ish. Ever since then, I’ve been a ‘guest’ on Corellia with no role or responsibilities, trying to keep rp going and help out where necessary. But, really, what can I do? “Hi, welcome to Corellia, I’m just chilling here, but I’ll try to help out?”
I left to join Adi’s group on Carida. Why? Because he made me feel like my opinion was valued both OOC and IC. I felt like my character’s involvement mattered. She had something to contribute and that was recognized. (This is something I’ve almost never felt from Yavin 4, with the exception of a couple notable blips that have long since disappeared.) A lot of awesome writing happened very quickly and then, guess what? It died overnight. Why? Because the events we were getting ready to write hinged upon the Mando siege of Yavin 4. Timeline: we were two weeks into the conflict. What’s the problem here? Yavin is on day 1. ONE! This rp began back in January? Come on. One day?! Really? Can anyone see the problem here?
Claiming that the siege of Yavin 4 is a closed timeline that doesn’t affect anyone else---is really a bit too much for realistic believability. I’m sorry, but it is taking place in the universe and as per the wish of the Jedi residing there IS a major part of this rp. Like it or not, it is holding things up. I understand that character development is essential. It is good, etc, etc. However, there is a time and place for it. When character development makes up eighty-five to ninety-five percent of nearly one hundred percent of your posting time, rp DIES. It come to a screeching halt and like it or not, does have an effect on everyone around it. I’d be willing to bet that none of us goes out and buys or enjoys a book that is pretty much only character development. There needs to be narration, plot, and story progression.
Ok. I realize that we all have work and stuff going on. That is to be expected and completely cool. Myself on average, I have 10 to 18 hour workdays, seven days a week. I still check in on JvS, only on a couple days do I not actually post because we all have those days where we really just don’t feel like it. But, the Jedi worship post order. Seriously, don’t believe me? Just try posting ‘out of turn.’ If someone does not reply and doesn’t send a pm regarding their absence, it is completely rude to expect others to wait days, weeks, and months with no knowledge of whether or not you’ll even be coming back. Now, if one’s grandmother dies or has only weeks left to live, or one suddenly has the chance to catch up with long-lost cousin Marcus, that is fine. All well and good, completely reasonable. Just let someone know, that’s all. But, when an rp is stuck and has been for months, and then one suddenly dedicates all one’s time to NaNo?! JvS is not a game. It is collaborative fiction. This means one is involved with others and what we do affects those around us. It is discourteous to just leave people hanging. Sinistra stated this very well the other day. I hadn’t thought of it in quite that simple of a definition, but it makes sense. I would posit that the growing popularity of darksided rp is related to its impetus. They don’t wait for weeks and months for writers to post. They work around it and keep right on trucking.
While I don’t think post order should be completely thrown out the window, I believe there should be some balance here, moderation if you will. When it comes to length of posts, think of a mini-skirt: long enough to cover the subject, short enough to keep it interesting. In fast-paced interactive rp, there are times when a shorter post serves a much better purpose than an epic of Beowulfian proportions. I write Alexis Karidian, padawan of Dav Man’sell, and honestly, when I look at a wall of ‘character development’ there are times when it just kills my brain and sucks away all desire to write. I am truly sorry, but I had to get away from Yavin for awhile. And just in case I missed this: Andi is awesome. That guy is writing all over the place juggling a ton of rp from multiple viewpoints, and he’s doing a brilliant job of it.
Closed rp is fine, but that is what the JotW is for. Shutting down an entire Academy or planet is rude to other writers. If a Jedi wishes to rp on Yavin 4, or Corellia, or any of the other ‘Jedi planets’ they should be able to do so without having to jump through a plethora of hoops and potentially having to wait a week or more to hear back from a ‘ranking Jedi’before they dare to set foot planetside.
The Jedi Code is about service and selflessness, not power-seeking and control. I would love to see the Jedi actually follow this on the site. Maybe it would encourage new Jedi to join us. Why should one character or two have to have totalitarian say on the Jedi Order?
Also, I believe a closer look need to be taken at the organization of the Jedi Order. On Yavin 4, who is there? Dav, Jago, and Zuli Madoon are the big three. Corellia, Will Son’tir and Kel’al Raganella. Ossus, Devlin Dewe? Why are the Jedi spread so thin? One Jedi does not an Academy make. These writers may be great people, some of them are absolutely brilliant to write with. But, they are rarely around. It is like hunting a needle in a haystack to begin an rp with them…and anyone who successfully completes one in less than a year deserves a trophy.
The Jedi High Council needs a new vote. I’m not talking about current council members simply deciding who new members should be. I’m talking about a clean slate. A new vote by all the Jedi on the site. If the current Council members are so obviously the correct choice, then what would they have to lose by submitting to a new election? Aside from this the current High Council members are: Dav Man’sell (Yavin 4)
Jago Pulastra (Yavin 4)
Vesten Kor’taan (Yavin 4)
Serrin Roma (MIA since March)
Raven Alora (left the site)
Will Son’tir (Corellia)
Aerander Calmcacil (Felucia)
Devlin Dewe (Ossus)
Now, at least two of those members, Serrin Roma and Raven Alora, have left the site, both supposedly permanently due to OOC busyness. I love Serrin (don’t really know Raven, but I’ve heard she’s epic) and I wish with all my heart that she was still among us rping, but she isn’t. The High Council members should be active partakers in rp, visible, and definitely checking in on JvS often.
Also, lately it seems that being a Jedi means writing exclusively with Jedi because it is hard to get others to include a Jedi in rp due to our unfortunate reputation. Why does this have to be the case? Jedi are supposed to be out there, outside their ‘comfort zones’ helping people. Are the Jedi truly so insecure that they have to previously approve all rp and know and control every aspect of it?
With that in mind, perhaps it is high time to re-invent the old Council of Knowledge on Naboo: a neutral ground where one can rp with whomever one desires of whatever affiliation. This would fit in well with Sinistra’s lovely cold war idea. No violence upon characters within council grounds, but aside from that, anything goes. This could be a place to welcome new Jedi, or anyone wanting to write a Jedi character. I hope you’re still out there and still willing to give things a shot. I would be saddened if you’ve given up, but I would also understand. And, if there are any of you out there wondering how to start writing a Jedi character or simply needing someone to interact with, let me know. I’m busy, but I’m around, and I’ll bust my tail trying to figure something out for you.
Lastly, I’m sorry if this comes off as being thoughtless and judgmental. After six years or so, a bit of constructive judgment should be understood and allowed and not taken personally. This site is not about one person in particular. It is about writers who have a love of Star Wars in common and a willingness to work together for the common fun of all. Why am I saying this now? Because I feel that the Jedi Order is on the brink of becoming obsolete. And I don’t want to see that happen. Why did I share my story? Because it is a case in point. There are a lot of other writers out there with a similar story of their attempted involvement with the Jedi Order.
May the Force be with you.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and it all comes down to one thing basically: I am frustrated with the Jedi Order and I am not alone. There are lot of writers out there who share the same frustrations. Specifically, I am bothered by the fact that Jedi are not considered worthwhile to rp with. The Jedi have a reputation of being slow, sporadic posters and as a whole an unfriendly, unwelcoming group of writers who do not attract new writers/characters to their Order. Yavin 4 is known as the place “rp/SL goes to die”. This is probably obvious to everyone taking part in the Mandalorian siege of Yavin that has been going on since—last year?—and is now on day two? Or three?
Adi tried very hard to get things moving in terms of Jedi rp with the Jedi Watchmen group on Carida. After initial posting, we were once again stalled because our part of the plot took place about a month into the Yavin siege. I admit, I was very frustrated with this and probably took out more of that upon Adi than he deserved. He got a lot of people together and things were happening. Writing with Jedi was momentarily a very popular thing to do. The ‘Jedi’ didn’t seem to approve of this rather warlike initiative. But you know what? It attracted writers. Things were moving. It was not necessarily a violation of the Jedi ideal. Everyone is going to have different ideas about what being a Jedi entails, just like in the Old Republic the various Jedi had different opinions. This should not preclude our ability to work together toward a common goal: collaborative fiction.
It seems like the Jedi Order is running on fumes and the memory of former glory. Yavin 4 used to be a fun place to go, but it didn’t last long and it was still ridiculously hard to get included or even recognized in rp there. This wasn’t just for new people on the site, or new characters created by established writers. It was hard for me when I was specifically invited to rp there. Jade went to Yavin and Osarian. The only Jedi who took the time to rp with her was Tebana Sor. She’s an awesome woman both in character and out of character. I love her. But she is no longer here for completely good reasons. I took another character to Yavin. Ksandra Mallan and Nathan Malreaux were the only ones who rped with me, with the exception of Jago Pulastra when he had time. Then, I was asked to write Alora Malreaux, a character whose writer had previously left the site. I agreed. And what do you know? I was instantaneously welcomed among the Jedi. Why? Because I was writing a character that they had pre-approved! I was writing a character that wasn’t MINE. I just rolled with it awhile, dealt with my anger and frustration and tried to be mature about it. I tried to adapt. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore.
For three years then, I wrote pretty much alone, a Jedi not affiliated with any of the established academies. I wrote with Sith, Mandos, the occasional Jedi, and I had an ok time. But, the Jedi are so uber-cliqueish that there is no becoming part of the ‘in crowd.’ Things are run by one or two names, and everyone else is practically ignored or tokenly consulted and then politely shot down. Finally, this past February-ish I decided to try again. Serrin Roma is an amazing writer/character and we’ve worked very well together in the past. Things were looking up. I went to Corellia. After five or six posts, Serrin vanished. (Before anyone starts yelling at me about real life obligations, please keep reading, I will get to that.) At this point she had not told me what specifically she wished my character to do within that Academy. So, I ended up chatting with Terra Kiros, Ralph, and a bit with Kay’li Raganella. All of them are awesome. Will Son’tir sent me a ‘welcome’ pm. All well and good-ish. Ever since then, I’ve been a ‘guest’ on Corellia with no role or responsibilities, trying to keep rp going and help out where necessary. But, really, what can I do? “Hi, welcome to Corellia, I’m just chilling here, but I’ll try to help out?”
I left to join Adi’s group on Carida. Why? Because he made me feel like my opinion was valued both OOC and IC. I felt like my character’s involvement mattered. She had something to contribute and that was recognized. (This is something I’ve almost never felt from Yavin 4, with the exception of a couple notable blips that have long since disappeared.) A lot of awesome writing happened very quickly and then, guess what? It died overnight. Why? Because the events we were getting ready to write hinged upon the Mando siege of Yavin 4. Timeline: we were two weeks into the conflict. What’s the problem here? Yavin is on day 1. ONE! This rp began back in January? Come on. One day?! Really? Can anyone see the problem here?
Claiming that the siege of Yavin 4 is a closed timeline that doesn’t affect anyone else---is really a bit too much for realistic believability. I’m sorry, but it is taking place in the universe and as per the wish of the Jedi residing there IS a major part of this rp. Like it or not, it is holding things up. I understand that character development is essential. It is good, etc, etc. However, there is a time and place for it. When character development makes up eighty-five to ninety-five percent of nearly one hundred percent of your posting time, rp DIES. It come to a screeching halt and like it or not, does have an effect on everyone around it. I’d be willing to bet that none of us goes out and buys or enjoys a book that is pretty much only character development. There needs to be narration, plot, and story progression.
Ok. I realize that we all have work and stuff going on. That is to be expected and completely cool. Myself on average, I have 10 to 18 hour workdays, seven days a week. I still check in on JvS, only on a couple days do I not actually post because we all have those days where we really just don’t feel like it. But, the Jedi worship post order. Seriously, don’t believe me? Just try posting ‘out of turn.’ If someone does not reply and doesn’t send a pm regarding their absence, it is completely rude to expect others to wait days, weeks, and months with no knowledge of whether or not you’ll even be coming back. Now, if one’s grandmother dies or has only weeks left to live, or one suddenly has the chance to catch up with long-lost cousin Marcus, that is fine. All well and good, completely reasonable. Just let someone know, that’s all. But, when an rp is stuck and has been for months, and then one suddenly dedicates all one’s time to NaNo?! JvS is not a game. It is collaborative fiction. This means one is involved with others and what we do affects those around us. It is discourteous to just leave people hanging. Sinistra stated this very well the other day. I hadn’t thought of it in quite that simple of a definition, but it makes sense. I would posit that the growing popularity of darksided rp is related to its impetus. They don’t wait for weeks and months for writers to post. They work around it and keep right on trucking.
While I don’t think post order should be completely thrown out the window, I believe there should be some balance here, moderation if you will. When it comes to length of posts, think of a mini-skirt: long enough to cover the subject, short enough to keep it interesting. In fast-paced interactive rp, there are times when a shorter post serves a much better purpose than an epic of Beowulfian proportions. I write Alexis Karidian, padawan of Dav Man’sell, and honestly, when I look at a wall of ‘character development’ there are times when it just kills my brain and sucks away all desire to write. I am truly sorry, but I had to get away from Yavin for awhile. And just in case I missed this: Andi is awesome. That guy is writing all over the place juggling a ton of rp from multiple viewpoints, and he’s doing a brilliant job of it.
Closed rp is fine, but that is what the JotW is for. Shutting down an entire Academy or planet is rude to other writers. If a Jedi wishes to rp on Yavin 4, or Corellia, or any of the other ‘Jedi planets’ they should be able to do so without having to jump through a plethora of hoops and potentially having to wait a week or more to hear back from a ‘ranking Jedi’before they dare to set foot planetside.
The Jedi Code is about service and selflessness, not power-seeking and control. I would love to see the Jedi actually follow this on the site. Maybe it would encourage new Jedi to join us. Why should one character or two have to have totalitarian say on the Jedi Order?
Also, I believe a closer look need to be taken at the organization of the Jedi Order. On Yavin 4, who is there? Dav, Jago, and Zuli Madoon are the big three. Corellia, Will Son’tir and Kel’al Raganella. Ossus, Devlin Dewe? Why are the Jedi spread so thin? One Jedi does not an Academy make. These writers may be great people, some of them are absolutely brilliant to write with. But, they are rarely around. It is like hunting a needle in a haystack to begin an rp with them…and anyone who successfully completes one in less than a year deserves a trophy.
The Jedi High Council needs a new vote. I’m not talking about current council members simply deciding who new members should be. I’m talking about a clean slate. A new vote by all the Jedi on the site. If the current Council members are so obviously the correct choice, then what would they have to lose by submitting to a new election? Aside from this the current High Council members are: Dav Man’sell (Yavin 4)
Jago Pulastra (Yavin 4)
Vesten Kor’taan (Yavin 4)
Serrin Roma (MIA since March)
Raven Alora (left the site)
Will Son’tir (Corellia)
Aerander Calmcacil (Felucia)
Devlin Dewe (Ossus)
Now, at least two of those members, Serrin Roma and Raven Alora, have left the site, both supposedly permanently due to OOC busyness. I love Serrin (don’t really know Raven, but I’ve heard she’s epic) and I wish with all my heart that she was still among us rping, but she isn’t. The High Council members should be active partakers in rp, visible, and definitely checking in on JvS often.
Also, lately it seems that being a Jedi means writing exclusively with Jedi because it is hard to get others to include a Jedi in rp due to our unfortunate reputation. Why does this have to be the case? Jedi are supposed to be out there, outside their ‘comfort zones’ helping people. Are the Jedi truly so insecure that they have to previously approve all rp and know and control every aspect of it?
With that in mind, perhaps it is high time to re-invent the old Council of Knowledge on Naboo: a neutral ground where one can rp with whomever one desires of whatever affiliation. This would fit in well with Sinistra’s lovely cold war idea. No violence upon characters within council grounds, but aside from that, anything goes. This could be a place to welcome new Jedi, or anyone wanting to write a Jedi character. I hope you’re still out there and still willing to give things a shot. I would be saddened if you’ve given up, but I would also understand. And, if there are any of you out there wondering how to start writing a Jedi character or simply needing someone to interact with, let me know. I’m busy, but I’m around, and I’ll bust my tail trying to figure something out for you.
Lastly, I’m sorry if this comes off as being thoughtless and judgmental. After six years or so, a bit of constructive judgment should be understood and allowed and not taken personally. This site is not about one person in particular. It is about writers who have a love of Star Wars in common and a willingness to work together for the common fun of all. Why am I saying this now? Because I feel that the Jedi Order is on the brink of becoming obsolete. And I don’t want to see that happen. Why did I share my story? Because it is a case in point. There are a lot of other writers out there with a similar story of their attempted involvement with the Jedi Order.
May the Force be with you.
