Focus on the Problem, not your Solution
A suggestion is pretty useless if we don't know what the root problem you're trying to solve is. On top of that, sitting down and figuring out exactly what the problem is, and why it is a problem, really helps to define what the proper solution is.
I'm also personally much more likely to respond to someone giving a concrete example of a situation which was just outright no fun. I can identify with it, think of how I'd feel the in the situation, and get annoyed by proxy enough to act.
Granted, some of the coolest ideas are just that, cool ideas. No concrete problem that needs solving, just a fun new mechanic that adds interesting decisions to the game. So there are exceptions to this rule.
Avoid Definitive Statements
Words like "never" and "always" turn me away from suggestions almost instantly. If someone is exaggerating to make their point; I don't take them seriously.
Be Nice
I have delayed work on things before because of the way suggestions were worded, even when I agree with them. I've got lots of things to work on, and I'm going to work on the things that make nice, but frustrated, people happy.
Be Persistent, but not Annoying
There is a fine line between persistence and annoyance.
Multiple reports in a single update. Not useful, it can't have possibly been fixed by then.
Bringing the same thing up over and over again in off topic posts. Not useful, makes me ignore the issue.
*Just* bumping a thread every month? Questionable.
Posting to a thread with another (unique) report of the same general issue every month, and a re-iteration of why it is unfun? Useful!
Bug every update if a perceived issue still exists? Useful!
Realize Your Needs Are Personal
They don't apply to everyone. You don't speak for everyone. You can only speak for you. Embrace this, I'm more likely to respond to a personal appeal anyway. You aren't fooling me pretending to speak for the community.
Addendum:
I don't give a crap what the poll says.
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Since GMs have said they rarely visit the Sentinel these days, someone has asked me to share this thread with you. Please take it into consideration.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vagilemind.com/clanlord/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8084&p=166753
Slarty, I <3 U.
ReplyDelete...they igor problems if people want them fixed more?
ReplyDeleteand they wonder why when some one ask about reporting a bug they tell them to spam the crap out of it.
Going along with what you've said here, the three most pertinent healer issues are the following:
ReplyDelete1. It's hard being a new healer
Newbie healers are left out of most higher level hunts because they cannot tag and therefore cannot act as engines of exp gain. Newbie fighters, on the other hand, do get taken on these hunts because they can tag. This means that level-appropriate fighters often aren't around to hunt with so newbie healers wind up resigning to the library for exp.
2. Being surrounded sucks (see this thread for more info: http://vagilemind.com/clanlord/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8199)
Healers cannot escape from junk until they get a purg pendant, and that's not until after years of play. The feeling of being powerless in these situations is one of the reasons many healers cite for not wanting to play their healers.
3. Healers have nothing the can do solo and therefore won't want to wait around for hunts to start
A lot of missed connections no doubt happen as a result of this. Fighters can always go coining, but healers can do nothing on their own and ergo waiting for a hunt to begin takes too long and they instead return to the library. Most healers will sit in TC for a few minutes before giving up and returning to the library if nothing pops up.
I've also started a thread on the subject of players offering money to DT to pay for additional development costs (found here: http://vagilemind.com/clanlord/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8660).
Thanks for any time you might be able to spare on the matter. :)
-Destian