[CamRI] Brian's Answers

[Herbert Hicks]

Your friendly neighborhood DST, Herbie
US2002106772


--- On Thu, 2/4/10, Brian Misamore <brian.misamore at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Brian Misamore <brian.misamore at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: NE RST Q&A Period
> To: ne-rst-election at googlegroups.com
> Date: Thursday, February 4, 2010, 9:02 AM
> 1) How do you feel in regards to the
> region's
> > adherence to cannon?  What are your views on cannon,
> and how it relates to
> > the global chronicle, and what steps (if any) do you
> feel are necessary to
> > return the region to a more-cannon appropriate game?
> I feel like our region is perhaps one of the more
> canon-appropriate
> regions in the game, to be honest.  Now, I know that
> anyone could sit
> there and point out our differences, but it only takes a
> little travel
> outside the region to see that it only gets more weird once
> you step
> outside the North East.
> 
> That said, we're not perfect, and we don't do a good job
> of
> communicating this to the players. On the Global Level,
> work is being
> finished up on starter guides for the covenants/etc to
> highlight some
> of the many differences from "canon" that the Camarilla
> has
> incorporated in order to facilitate our different
> game.  I think this
> is a great idea, and as RST I would give this effort my
> full support.
> 
> Beyond that, as RST I would talk to the various groups
> within the
> region itself, discuss their differentiations from canon,
> and attempt
> to put together a regional version of the above on our
> wiki, helping
> new players adjust to the region itself, its leadership,
> what they
> should expect, etc - the alternative is our current
> frustrating system
> whereby new players think they know what to expect and are
> surprised
> to find that certain things are not the case.  More
> information is key
> here - and solves most of the problem.
> 
> Approvals are an entirely different issue.  While I'm
> willing to
> accept slight deviation from canon on setting material, or
> PC
> organizations, etc - things that can be explained - I do
> not really
> accept deviation when it comes to approvals.  I expect
> that your
> unique snowflake will conform to the guidelines presented
> within canon
> - I will absolutely not be approving any Icarians not
> directly
> descended from Icarius, or any Sangiovanni who are not
> members of the
> mortal Sangiovanni family (this is a personal issue for me
> as well,
> since I play a Sangiovanni who constantly has to deal with
> canon-breaking characters).
> 
> Local STs would be encouraged to coordinate plot with me if
> they think
> it will lead to an approval, so I can help guide them into
> ways of
> making that approval more likely.  The last thing
> anyone wants is to
> run a plot, and then have the RST deny the player the
> fruits of his
> labor - communication solves this 9 times out of 10.
> 
> 
> > 2.  What type of things will you do to promote new
> ideas,
> > recruitment within the region and ST Communication? 
> RST is as much an
> > advisory position as it is creative, in my mind, and
> an appropriate RST
> > should be able to help players OOCly as well as ICly.
> Difficulties getting a chapter/venue up and running are
> simply
> unacceptable.  90% of the time, the issue is simply
> that the RST has
> not bothered to set up the information.  The rest of
> the time, there
> may be database problems, but in this case, the RST should
> be
> constantly sending emails to the database administrators
> until the
> matter is resolved - the bottom line is that the average
> member does
> not have the access ability that the RST has, so it falls
> to him to
> see to it that his players are able to play the game for
> which they
> pay an annual fee.  In this matter, especially, it is
> critically
> important that the RST remember that his first
> reponsibility is not to
> anybody except the membership, and that early frustrations
> can doom
> even the most motivated new chapter.
> 
> Recruitment is a key concern - the RSTs office should be
> developing
> modules and stock characters/games that can be run at
> conventions
> throughout the region, and should be making sure the
> Camarilla has a
> presence at each of these.  There are a thousand
> things that can be
> done to help recruitment.  One idea I've seen before
> that has worked
> especially well is the concept of "newbie plot modules," in
> which
> toolbox plots can be created that focus on new players and
> their
> characters, run from regional.  This can be for a few
> individual
> players or a new chapter, and can be relatively generic, so
> we don't
> have to reinvent the wheel every time - but the thrill of
> having the
> regional office take notice of a player during his first
> few months
> can be electrically exciting (and will encourage new
> players to
> recruit their friends).
> 
> I am a big believer that recruitment is one of the most
> important
> tools in our arsenal when it comes to making the game
> better.  Without
> new blood, we will continue to watch the same players do
> the same
> things over and over, with our average age increasing
> constantly - and
> as people grow older, RL tends to take more and more of
> their ability
> to volunteer, until we have difficulty running the
> club.  New members
> and excitement is the life blood of our organization!
> Expect me to be
> extremely motivated about recruitment as RST.
> 
> > 3.  What are your strengths over the other
> candidates?  I've read each
> > vision statement, some sound similar (in some regards)
> while others seem to
> > focus strongly in different areas.  This is not a
> "diss other candidates"
> > question, but more analogous to: If RST was a Council
> of Elders, each
> > specializing and being great in one area, which area
> would you be designated
> > to?
> I bring a great deal of excitement and energy to the
> position - I both
> love and believe in this game we play, and I think that it
> can be a
> completely amazing experience for the players.  I
> often think that we
> sell ourselves short, and tell ourselves what sorts of
> things *can't*
> be done, when there is so much more than could be done that
> we are
> just afraid to do!  I think in your "Council of
> Elders" type scenario,
> I would be the one coming up with new ideas, trying
> different things,
> never accepting second best.  I want our region to be
> the best in the
> country - in numbers, in excitement, in storylines, and in
> player
> quality, and I know we can make this happen.  I don't
> want to be the
> RST who grumbles about his administrative burden, or who
> tells players
> about the things he can't make happen - I want to dream big
> and
> provide more.  While certainly I have many other
> skills -
> administration, storytelling, and rules knowledge probably
> foremost
> among these - I think that it is my energy and my
> dedication to
> raising the bar constantly that sets me apart.  I
> intend to hold
> myself and my staff to a high standard that continues to
> rise.  We can
> and must do more for our players, or we will continue to
> see the slow
> loss of excitement and motivation that infects our club.
> 
> Thanks for your questions,
> Brian Misamore
> US2002022359
>