Special Applications, and streamlining it

[mansa]

I was thinking of a better way to streamline special applications, and one way is to sort the special applications into different categories.

Namely:

Special Application:
- Starting skills boost
- Up to 2 Karma Levels above
- Up to 5 Karma Levels above
- Up to 8 Karma Levels above
- Up to 4 additional skills
- Mixture of Guilds
- Special

What do you think?

[Dakurus]

Why is there a need to streamline special apps?

[Eloran]

Why is there a need to streamline special apps?

To lessen drag, duh.

[NoteworthyFellow]

The last couple of special apps I've sent in have received a response within 48 hours. I'd say that's pretty damned impressive, so it must be streamlined pretty well already. Either that or Dakurus is superhuman. Or both. I'm cool with either.

To lessen drag, duh.

What drag?

[Dakurus]

Why is there a need to streamline special apps?

To lessen drag, duh.

Drag?

[Eloran]

>.>

I was being silly.

On topic: I don't think any changes are necessary. That being said, I don't see what goes on behind the scenes.

[mansa]

I figured that if someone is asking for a race / class that is 1 to 2 karma levels above their own, it will be an easier / quicker application than one that needs to have skills added to a character, and easier than someone requesting to be a flying angel that shoots arrows from it's magickal bow and quiver of unlimited arrows, and is also naked all the time.

Perhaps then, you can even split up the job.  Have one person take a look at all the applications that wish to have their starting skills boosted and less than 2 karma levels above their level, and have another person take a look at all the harder stuff.

[Dakurus]

Some applications do get resolved quicker then others.
It's certainly not first come, first served.
So in that way it is streamlined as you suggest.

[mansa]

I was just thinking of automating it from the players point of view, to categorize it all to make it easier for the staff.

[SMuz]

I think they're handling it fine as it is. Categorizing things can actually complicate things sometimes

[Marc]

Each app is a case by case basis, ie unique.  How do you sort the unique in any meaningful way?

[mansa]

...How do you sort the unique in any meaningful way?

There's many different ways.  The a good way is to organize something by how much time required to complete each task.  There's other ways.

I figure if you or someone else organize something enough, it makes things faster.

I think they're handling it fine as it is. Categorizing things can actually complicate things sometimes

True, if you're the one that has to organize it.   Let other people sort it out and you get the end result.  Make it a requirement of the application.

[SMuz]

Well, no, I mean like, they might as well put it in Magick/Non-Magick instead of karma. Psionicist seems to be more on the player's reliability on not OOC commmunicating. Sorceror, nilazi or mul is more on the player's reliability not to gank other chars without adding to the game. And I think what Dakurus means is that like if someone requests an assassin with slashing weapons or a half-elf with better allundean, they could resolve it at a glance, while the other staff members would have to look and comment when SMuz requests a mul.

So, in a way, actually finding proper categories is going to make it tougher. Since there's one guy doing it with a lot of experience, I'd suppose they've already taken the most efficient approach

[mansa]

I'm suggesting that -we- organize our special applications into the subcategories, rather than the immortals.

[Delstro]

I think it is a good idea.

[Kryos]

Don't see a need for this.  Why its a special application is part of the special application template already.  It's already tool submitted. 

From what I understand from observed and inferred information is that the majority of special application delay time is a matter of researching if the player who submitted the application is, in fact, trustworthy enough to run what they've requested.  Nothing on the player side is going to improve that process.   

[RogueGunslinger]

Each app is a case by case basis, ie unique.  How do you sort the unique in any meaningful way?

Namely:

Special Application:
- Starting skills boost
- Up to 2 Karma Levels above
- Up to 5 Karma Levels above
- Up to 8 Karma Levels above
- Up to 4 additional skills
- Mixture of Guilds
- Special

[SMuz]

I'm suggesting that -we- organize our special applications into the subcategories, rather than the immortals.

Exactly what I meant. We'd have even less of an idea what categories to sort them out into. Maybe would be ok if the imms gave us a list, but they seem to be fine with it as it is. Too many categories, and what happens when they go in more than one, like a half-giant (4 karma) who speaks mirukkim (skill). If you put it in a > 2 karma list, what if they look at it and see the skill boost? Or what if someone puts it in the skill list, hoping that putting it in a lower category gets it approved faster?

I'm not fond of categorization because you lose information. Keep it simple. If there's few enough special apps that they need only one person in charge of it, I don't think that you need to split them up into categories.

[Jenred]

Didn't read anything in this thread, but by the title alone I disagree. I'd actually like to see the special application process removed. Too much bad has happened because of special applications and there is really no need for any of them.

[Synthesis]

Didn't read anything in this thread, but by the title alone I disagree. I'd actually like to see the special application process removed. Too much bad has happened because of special applications and there is really no need for any of them.

[jcljules]

Meh. Coming from someone who's never even sent in a special app, or considered it, I love the fact that they exist. I hate thinking "Ooh, when did they roll up that PC? An RL day ago? Ah, that other guy is a Sergeant, they must be pretty buff!" I love the idea of special apps because it mixes it up -- you can't always make OOC assumptions. Same reason I love not knowing if a character is an NPC or a PC.

[RogueGunslinger]

Didn't read anything in this thread, but by the title alone I disagree. I'd actually like to see the special application process removed. Too much bad has happened because of special applications and there is really no need for any of them.

You know if you provided some information as to why, people might not think you're talking because you enjoy the sound of your voice.

And posting in a thread without reading it, or debasing someone ideas without reading them, is stupid.