Something that fascinates me..

[beaut666]

So, here's what I can't stop thinking about. Granted, I have not kept up with all the news and have not been playing since this game broke my heart. (no one's fault, it just did.)
And do not take this as a gripe or something, it's not...it's just fascinating.
So, what do I know, or at least what do I speculate?

The game starts to go south, they decide to let it go, to declare bankruptcy. Alright, so they say "all accounts are free that exist" and then they basically say "bye bye guys..hope someone buys it." Which is fine..I know business and that's how it goes.
But HERE we are, still able to log in. I was chatting it up in universe the other day and was so close to just cursing up a storm. I don't know why, I don't like to ruin other players fun, but just cuz I was curious: what would happen? I would get yelled at? The "CSR's" that still "have power" would ban me? How do they have the power? Is it cuz their accounts, like mine, were put into some kind of frozen state, a form of stasis...me with my regular account, and their's with all the powers they had before, still there.
We are playing in a no man's land right? It's a ghost town! It's so strangely beautiful...players still go about their business, quatering and digging, leveling, selling to vendors..and the CSR's still hold some sort of power given to them by a dead god? How odd and wonderful!
CSR's, why don't you come out and tell us? Come speak to us! I asked 5 or so of you a few times for interviews DURING my podcast days and no one would do it..since then, I have had a few offers for that interview. I mean, I would LOVE that. But that also means that the CSR's are nothing like they used to be. I wonder, if we voted and told them all to stuff it, would they? Would they abide by our voices and stop using their power? Just because they have an account hat gave them power at one time, does it mean they should still USE that power? I mean, on a desert island would anyone CARE who the president USED to be?
NOW, having said all that, understand that this is coming from a guy who hasn't played barely SINCE it all went down. Someone that doesn't come to these forums anymore. (Or, well, not nearly as much as he used to)..So I don't know and need to ask: what is the role of the powers that used-to-be? DO they wield it in game anymore?
Also understand that I don't WANT them to go away, and I appreciate all of them, what a great bunch! But I'm fascinated with stuff like the abuse of power, and roles we all fill even when there is no order.
Now to any ex- CSR's...how bout that interview?
To all of the Atys ghosts:
Beau Turkey

[bf649ztp]

I don't think CSR's ever had any actual 'power', they were/are just the eyes and ears of the GM's and SGM's. Anything happens untoward and the CSR's report it to the GM's who use their power to deal with it. I'd imagine though that CSR's are covered by some sort of agreement that disclosing information they shouldn't would result in a ban of their account(s) hence maybe their reluctance to do interviews with you.
I'm not sure about the Game Masters status in all this. Are there any still around? because I haven't been here to see any tbh. If there are then someone somewhere must be paying their wages..all very interesting though

Kodel

[acridiel]

*just shales his head about it all*
What a great way to stirr up even more trouble Beau... -.-

Thank you...

CU
Acridiel

[whiterider]

Not a CSR here, sorry to dissapoint

Several of the CSRs are GMs, the rest are guides. Androbia was the last active GM on Aris, I believe Deastny is GM also; and Leanon and Aniro still have GMs. So far as I know, Thurmar and Thicor are Guides rather than GMs. And (EtA) Avenna is a fantastic UberGuide. And (another EtA) Aapeli is a purple monkey dishwasher guide, which makes him exceedingly cool, obviously.
And as far as I understand it, the CSRs are "part of the package". When a new owner takes possesion of the game, they'll get our excellent staff of CSRs with it. They may choose to fire them all and rehire (in which case there will be much outcry and several unsolved cases of fatal stabbing to follow), but they'll likely choose to keep a the well liked and experienced staff we already have. (Can you tell this is contingency in the hope that the prospective buyers are reading the forums?)

Anyway, hope I answered a few questions, and I hope a CSR will come along and correct me if I'm wrong

[durenity]

Oh Wow!
Just wondering,
What do you have agian the CSR's?

[boroshi]

*wonders why he didn't get a mention in Nysha's list *

Anyways, in the hopes of preventing anything being "stirred up", I'll try and answer a couple of things...

On the question on CSR ranks/organisation/powers, there are 5 ranks of CSR, which in ascending order of seniority are:

• Guide
• Senior Guide ('SG')
• Veteran Guide ('VG')
• GameMaster ('GM')
• Senior GameMaster ('SGM')

All of the ranks have a different level of responsibility, and therefore have different abilities to help them do their job. What these abilities or responsibilities entail, I can't tell you for legal reasons Events and Community management are different "chains of command" as it were, and have their own ranks that exist alongside the CSR chain - your rank in one has no effect on your rank in the other, and the chains are infact completely seperate and independent, with the vast majority of people only holding one position.


Now to the main question:

As Nysha correctly surmised, the CSRs come "part and parcel" with the game; we're still around and still have both the responsibility and ability to do our jobs. Having said that, we're all volunteers with RLs and everything that comes with that, so its understandable that you might not see so many around, especially over the holiday period. And as always, interviews are sadly out of the question for the same legal reasons mentioned above

[whiterider]

That'd be because my skill for knowing things with absolutely no obvious way I could have learned them doesn't extend to knowing what rank you are on Aris, Boro

[beaut666]

Well, to make my point clearer, I never thought that the CSR's or GM's were abusing their powers. I SUGGESTED that they might. How do I know? It's something that I am fascinated by.
When you have a game that people love as much as the players love Ryzom, and the game continues to go around on shaky ground, isn't it natural to expect the community to ask certain questions?
This might be going way to far, but I am reminded of the media storm about the IRaq war, and the constant arguing over what questions should be asked, and what should not. A lot of people seemed to think that questioning your government at the time of war was unpatriotic. That even asking questions was somehow doing away with all the years of loyalty you placed in that government.
I am asking these questions strictly from an artistic point of view more than anything. Kind of from a roleplay point of view. Can you imagine if a popular game, let's say EQ2, suddenly sent out messages to all their players saying "monsters have taken over the game...fight for your lives..that is all.."? Some players would love the chaos, would love the chance to fight for thier virtual lives...and some would threaten law suits because the game wasn't giving them what theyare paying for. Either side has a point. I, for one, kind of like the strange surrealistic state the game is in now.
So, is it ok for me to suggest that some of the CSR's might be simply using powers for the sake of using them? Of course it's not. It's hard to ask, I like all of our staff, they do a great job. But at this point who knows?
I wasjust bringing up a fascinating point. I will say no more about it, because I never wanted to do more than just ask a few questions. Maybe it's too hard to explain, so I wont try.
Beau

[xtarsia]

I don't quite know whats rattled your cage beau, but i cant really see any reason for you to say what you are saying.

[kaetemi]

"monsters have taken over the game...fight for your lives..that is all.."

Evil Flying Yubodragons!!! Run for your lives!!!
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