User:Cate/Elder Election

Hyskos Elder Election: Statement

Q1. For those who have never had the opportunity to interact with you before can you share a little about yourself, what you enjoy about ATITD as well as how long you have been playing?

• Hello! My name in real life is Catherine, and I live in a smallish town in the goldfields of central Victoria, Australia. I took early retirement after a longish career in project management and vocational education in Defence and Human Services. Outside ATITD I sing in the Bendigo Chamber Choir, knit and spin and work in my mother's amazing garden. We have a small vocal cat, a Dutch Lop bunny and a nephew who has just turned 12.
• I've been playing ATITD from close to the end of T4 and have kept playing through the uncertain times because I enjoy the friendships, the opportunities to collaborate on creating things and for the problem-solving challenges that are embedded in just about everything. In T5 and T6 I learnt about supporting player interests through the Southern Cross guild and with a lot of help from friends made it to Oracle of Seven in T6 and T7. In T8 I'm an Elder in zFree.

Q2. Factions, which Malard introduced in T8 are quite divisive, we have seen players complaining about them and even quitting. What are your thoughts regarding factions?

• I think the introduction of the factions has significantly changed the dynamic of the game, and that on its own makes the tale feel different. It has taken me some time to work through how I feel about the compartmentalization of the players and competitiveness it introduces. I have reconciled my dismay by telling myself that we can seek to work collaboratively and work on techs and access techs researched by other factions through negotiation and the managed 'transfer' of regions - partially to limit the amount of materials that it consumes but also so people and regions can take pride in specializing in what they want to work on and developing different identities in the process.

Q3. Elder is one of the Leadership Tests, do you want to just past the Test or you are running to help Hyksos faction prosper and grow?

• I am an optimist, and would like to contribute some way to faction identity in ways that aren't competitive. I see collaboration happening under Augir's leadership of the tribute system, where agreements are made for us to not contest some regions to help even out access to technologies. I will be happy to support this effort and learn more about how working with the faction mechanics can support the Hyskos faction as well as the established Egyptian way of life. The new changes Apophis is considering will probably shake that up a bit, but change is good, right?

Q4. One of the Elder's powers is a power to Banish Apostates of Hyksos - people with negative stance/ red bar toward faction. At this time players can get negative stance only by teaching other factions. Would you consider using this power on people that teach other factions and if not, when hypothetically would you consider using Banish?

• I would like to see an open process for banishment that involves us developing a set of criteria to guide the Elders in decision-making, and that lets the affected people know that the decision has a foundation in Hyskos values - which we also probably need to be explicit about. I'd like the player also have the assurance that there has been attention to due process, and have some control over the process through the actions and decisions they make. I'd be happy to lead the development of this if people agree this is the way to go. I feel we have an obligation to Apostates to help them through information and assistance move out of the Apostate status. Maybe people who go on holidays or for other personal reasons leave the game for a period of time and fall into Apostate could let their Elders know that they intend on returning, or give permission to be banished if they have not returned within 60 days or so, unless otherwise agreed.
• Because I believe in open and fair dealing I don't think people should be banished for teaching outside the faction - particularly where there is a clear inequality in skill levels and the lack of the teaching is hurting the other players enjoyment of the game. There can even be benefits for Hyskos through developing trust and relationships which can be the foundation for future strategic agreements about the deployment of resources for mutual gain. What I am more interested in is a players' underlying motivation and intent. Players that are deliberately disruptive to the life and work of any Egyptian and the Hyskos way of life or are active in seeking to undermine the reputation of the game or the faction would be my candidates for possible banishment. I would also expect there to be a discussion amongst elders and a conversation with the player to make clear what behavior is at issue and what is at stake if it doesn't change.
• In game, as at work I seem to work best in 'start up' activities, when something needs to be happen to get something organized and I'm around I'll usually step out and try and make a start for others to improve on. I can be creative and sometimes think outside the square, which can be useful sometimes, and occasionally annoying. I can be persistent when there is something at stake which I believe is important.
• I seem to have reasonable skills in communication and in working through issues with people or on behalf of people, for the common good. I use this skill to work through misunderstandings or address behavior that doesn't fit in with our norms. It was something I was known for being good at, in my public service job.

Q5. Developers hinted that once factions have more Elders we will be able to make a decisions which will apply to whole faction. What is your opinion on: * a. Cross faction teaching: fine, but maybe a requirement to discuss first (a permission point), so Elders can determine if there are trends emerging which might need to be addressed. This can be tracked on wiki or Discord. * b. At which rank Hyksos citizens can build faction buildings like Banners or Chancery: Member - otherwise there will be a proliferation. But I would like there to be Elder led and sponsored Hyskos Public Works with facilities that all ranks of faction can use in convenient locations, presumably near Chariots. * c. Rewarding with faction points citizens which are not donating to Tribute Post or Research but helping us by for example organizing Events like Acro, Dig or Vigil: ...or contributing resources to guilds that are coordinating donations to research. This issue would be being able to track this. In zFree we aim to regularly review our membership so we can appropriately recognize those who have been actively contributing to the guild. It's not perfect as a system but it mostly works. Maybe Hyskos Elders can have a periodic call for nominations for recognition?

Q6. Beside Invite, Banish and Forgive what other powers, in your opinion, Elders should have?

• Events support
• beta testing of new functionality, consolidate and report on feedback on regional priorities to the developers to assist in shaping and promoting the game so it has a robust future beyond T8 and to build the player base
• Be there to support players facing difficult situations or needing assistance with mediation or problem resolution.

Q7. You are running for the Elder of the Hyksos Faction, please tell us what is your current faction rank and how you are helping with Hyksos research and weekly Tribute Post competition.

• Member. I strongly feel that contributions to Tributes are a personal commitment, so have been spending part of my game time on making things, foraging, etc. to help support the faction. Up until fairly recently I have been contributing the results of my labors to a guild pool for research which is moved to the Unis by others, so my ranking is a bit indicative. We all play a part, but it is not the be all and end all of my activities in game, and neither should it be. I would like us all to have time enough to explore enthusiasms, like flowers and wine-making and the more complex tests as well as contributing to the tribute/research activities.

Q8. As Elder you will have powers to banish people, do you share your account with others? No, my husband plays but we have our own accounts. I am married in game to my RL husband, and he has a completely different set of interests and priorities in game. We have been married for 15 years and I trust him:-)

Q9. In other tales elected leaders (DP) at the beginning of the tale leave before the game end. This leaves a vacuum at the end game when they are needed the most. What is your commitment to the game and how will you manage to last the entire tale? I have been a DP in T6 and T7 and played to the end. I have a tale long subscription to this tale and will be committed to seeing the end of this one and the one to come:-)

Q10. Why should we vote for you? What do you bring to the Elder group?

• I hope I can bring a balanced perspective and commitment to communication to the role. I am a team player and will stand up for what is right if there is injustice perceived or perpetrated.
• I have been a Demi Pharaoh in the last two tales and have had some interesting experiences talking down and dealing with griefers. I can do the hard edge people management if needed.
• Maybe contribute to discussions that influence the directions things take, from the perspective of southern hemispherians and European players who sometimes find it hard to participate in events that occur in other more populated time zones.

Q11. What question would you like to be asked, and why?

• An oldie but a goodie - Would you prefer to be thought of as a pirate or a ninja, and why? Today I'd like to be thought of as a pirate, so I can go to sea with a bunch of trusted friends, the ship's cat and a parrot. Tomorrow I might be feeling different, of course.

Q12. Closing statement.

• One of the challenges I'm facing is the pace that we are racing through everything. Exhaustion must be facing a lot of us. I also feel frustrated sometimes that I can't spend more time in game (which I want to do) without keeping a reasonable balance with real life interests. I humbly admit that if it weren't for the ceaseless efforts of the team it would be impossible to achieve what we have this far. I'd like to think that as an Elder I can amplify the voice of the many players who face similar challenges and work with the established team to strengthen good government and support our many interests. I wish the other candidates well, they are both amazing people, so whoever you vote for we will be in safe hands!