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Messages - razmirz

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21
News Archives / October Update Part 2
« on: October 04, 2018, 10:01:11 am »
This one isn't so much of an update really but more of a reflection on the past 2 years ish.

Going back even further. 2 years ago my family acquired a new home.
But lets say it wasn't really a ready to move in home....

The first 6 months were spent acquiring building permits, gutting the place and arranging for builders to come in.
(When I say gutting I'm talking everything a couple of the interior walls remain and the exterior wall all plumbing, wiring, ceilings, even the roof came off.)

While this was keeping me busy it wasn't causing me to be so busy that I was losing much time with Feral Heart stuff.

Next, the builders came in. This is where I ceased to be able to work to my own time scale. Certain things had to be done at certain times.
So other work could be completed and I had to find time to do this outside of my job and my other volunteering commitments which consume a few nights of my week.
Basically if it had wires there's a pretty good chance I put it in from the electrics, lighting, network data points, the alarm system, for some reason I ended up wiring in the boiler too?
(Thought that was the plumbers job.. Where's Mario when you need him?)
I'm also a bit of a pyromaniac. I have both a fire pit and a log burning stove so took it upon myself to split and chop all the old timber that came out rather than letting it be ditched.
At one point there has a huge pile of scrap wood in the probably about 4m wide 4m deep and 3m high.

During this 12 month period, I was struggling to keep up with whatever was going on with Feral Heart and the staff.
I dumped Skype off my phone, which was the main method for communication.
Why? Because I was getting home incredibly tired, and the late night calls (all the staff at the time were American) kept waking me up while I was trying to sleep.
I didn't cut all communication ties though. My phone number has resided in the staff room for-pretty-much-ever, even if only on very, very rare occasion the staff have used it.
I also use Telegram (Russian free speech version of whatsapp). Sura had me added on there and was dropping me messages as and when I was needed.

The last 6 months on the back of that was/has been spent moving and settling in. We didn't use a removals service which in hindsight was a massive mistake.
I don't think I have ever moved so much stuff in my life. This continued the tired and need to sleep issue.
On top of that, during the build, we foil insulated the entire house. The upshot of this was upon moving in I discovered that mobile reception was patchy at best.
Basically, if you wanted to call me I need to go outside. You might say "What about the internet?"
I now have probably one of the most unique connections going. I'm bonding (legally I might add) a number of connections from around the neighbourhood.
I actually have a mast of antennas picking up signals from all over the place. While this is great and technically free in the long term (I did have to buy a shed load of equipment to do it).
The upshot of it is that it isn't very good for calls. The call jumps between connections of different latencies, which it seems no calling software is prepared for and you end up with a really choppy call(something else I need to work on).
I very recently installed a mobile booster on the roof so the issues I was having until now have been pretty much solved.

So if you have sat and read though all of this, you're probably thinking this is some huge ass excuse. Honestly this is kinda how life works.
In my position there's really no excuse I can make for disappearing for the best part of 2 years... But at the same time I don't have anyone else I can pass the job to.
Other staff would probably have left. But if I leave who else has the understanding of the server?

So that's the initial issue. Though it doesn't explain what actually went wrong.
Before my activity took a tumble I started a the next patch with the staff. As you all should know we called out for map makers among other things.
LaughingWolf and Lady_Alizarin were selected to produce maps.
They were provided a framework to work within but generally what you will see from these maps is there own work with little bits of staff input here and there.
I certainly saw almost all of Laughing's map go up and was able to make sure Lady's was on the right track before my activity dropped.

So X months down the line, after Christmas really, this patch was pretty much ready.
Sura contacted me so, now this is where I'm a little hazy.. I know from the conversation that I have been back and read in telegram.
Sura did tell me that the patch was ready! I did also mention in the same conversation that I had the flu. So I probably forgot.....
Again I'm not trying to make excuses this is just how it panned out. Following this was a number of contacts about a call.
I was either moving in or moved in roughly when these occurred, so it was either sheer tiredness, or because I wasn't going to stand outside at night in February/March time for calls.
I did, in that period though, answer questions about users and rebooting the server a couple of times on request over messages. Oh, and some broken Boards stuff here.
Months ticked by, other less frequent messages for calls arrived. Again, I didn't arrange anything. Website had an issue.
Other text based discussions about random stuff. But still I hadn't actually got into a chat with all the staff. Or really discussed what was going on with the patch.
Rolling round to start of august august I got a message about object groups here's me thinking "Blimey, they are still working on them maps".
It was a long message so I left it till later to answer properly. Again it was clearly forgotten as at the end of august I must have picked up on it and threw back an apologetic response.

This was also where my first concern about the patch was raised.
"There are a few meshes that need to be "private" and not accessible in Object Maker." I'm immediately thinking; this is what happened with the old markings that went in game.
People wanted to use them as in presets but the creators disapproved.
Since replacing those its been the general consensus that anything that goes into Feral Heart can be used by all of you. Realising there's an issue this is about when I rolled back into Skype.

In a Skype call I had with the staff, by staying back at work late, I discovered the work the staff had been doing went well beyond the original intended patch.
I was now looking at effectively 3 new maps and other changes throughout the Feral Heart world, including complete removal of the grounds.
On top of this the world logic (positioning of maps by maps in 3D space) introduced in the last patch looked like it was going, by the way.
I know a lot of people weren't and aren't happy with the last patch. But I don't see that the good things it brings to Feral Heart should be lost.
To me there's two issues with these maps. They need some additional fun elements and as role players you need more environments than are currently available.
In my mind this this had gone ahead without my consultation, and while I really don't like to see good work go to waste, I would really have to have a deep look at how I could fit these maps into the existing structure that the world provides.
The response I got back from the staff was that of huge disappointment, that they had worked for so long on these maps for them to potentially not end up in game.
Also a distinct sense that I was ignoring the benefits of what they had done, and how they had done it, almost by community request.
Please note at this point, even though I still hadn't been in the maps myself, I knew in the back of my mind that there's been so much work gone in to this that people are going to leave if I can't find a way to make it work in game.
I wasn't and I'm still not really prepared to sacrifice the world logic we have obtained for the old maps.
Its my belief that in doing so is no better than to revert that last patch. And that's going backwards not forwards.

So following this call I made it my mission to at the very least take a quick look around the maps at the weekend.
I was expecting an awkward integration from the call. But seeing the maps it was looking impossible. I couldn't in my head find a way to make them fit with the existing world.
The upshot of this is a 3 week argument with the staff.
I'm saying 100% these maps are not going in game unless we can find a logical place for them (I also made it clear that I was willing to let the staff leave over the issue).
I have the staff claiming that the logic was through out and while it loosely worked it didn't quite fit.
I also took issue with modifying existing maps which were not part of the plan to build these new maps inside them.
Maps which effectively became backdrops for the new maps; increased complication already complex maps, or were simply what I felt to be an improper representation of the original maps they were connected too.

So three weeks of battles roll by staff tensions are at an all time high. By this point I'm convinced that the staff are blind to what they have created just as a parent can be blind to an ugly child.
I'm dropping into late night calls that I was far to tired to really be in. The staff have setup another group chat and are having calls without me.
I have a solution to logical map placement and I've provide it in chat. It's simply been over looked or ignored.
(It's not until after the staff leave that I discover that they didn't understand what I was trying to layout.)
If i wasn't sure before that the staff were going to leave, I've become pretty certain now.

During this time, Shallow was trying to mediate the situation. I fail to answer a message on telegram. I get one back which seemed snappy to me.
At this point I snapped back. In return I get a message stating that she's done mediating and that I'm on my own.
I'm thinking well that's it then. I needed something in place for the staff leaving. So up pops "no moderator October".
On the back of that Nynx releases all the WIP patch stating that I have no intention of allowing it in game.
From my point of view this is simply a political release to side the community with the staff.
I ban Nynx on the basis of lying about my intentions and I kill the maps server side to stop the leak.
I remove Nynx's comment under my no mod October post on the basis that I'm assuming she's gone rogue.

The Staffs response to this was to walk out collectively. Which changes my priorities, even if i make no moderator October work, I still have no forum staff.
Time I was spending on coding is swapped for seeking staff. Hmm was created. And that brings us up to date I believe.

Obviously I made mistakes here. There was clear misinterpretation from both sides. But perhaps now there is an understanding as to why things happened the way they have.

22
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: October 02, 2018, 03:21:36 pm »
Sorry for double posting but would anyone have an issue if I were to make this thread public?

23
News Archives / October Update Part 1
« on: October 02, 2018, 10:40:18 am »
Part 1. - Because if you hadn't all noticed already there's a lot going on and I expect there will be several updates this month.

First thing to note is No mod October is off. Yep, I found some staff to fill the void (with great help from returning moderator Ressy). Hopefully they will all say hi after this post.

Redlinelies has stepped back up into a staff training role. He trained pretty much all the staff even on an indirect basis since shortly after FeralHeart Began.

Secondly I have been talking to around 20 odd members from here. Some of you were aware of a hidden thread called "hmm".
I'm very aware its content has been leaking out to the world. This thread has now been locked and published now in News.
Sometimes it's just easier to talk to a few people than to try and respond to everyone.

Now not only do we have new staff but the way the staff operate is about to change.
As of the next Member of the Seasons selections. A proposal that I made to the staff back in February 2017 called the "MOTS Proposal" is being implemented.
This proposal never passed simply because I could never get all the staff members into a unanimous agreement.
I felt it was unfair to force such a radical change to how we operate upon them.

------------------------------------
MOTS Proposal
------------------------------------

Most of you know Members of The Season(hereby known as MOTS) are selected by you, the community, as examples of the best members you have to offer and for their deeds to be seen by everyone.

Being that these members represent the community, we, the staff would like to invite them to join us in the staff room.
MOTS will be able to see what is happening regarding the game, join in discussions, meetings and have a voice to propose and vote on current affairs.

- MOTS access will not be limitless. MOTS will not have access to MIT(Mod in Training) selections as it's not uncommon for MOTS to be discussed for MIT positions.
- MOTS will not have direct access to reports from users.
- The final thing MOTS will not have access to is the historical archive of the staff room. We believe it's unfair on previous staff who would probably never have anticipated this change to have their posts suddenly under public scrutiny. But all posts from this point unless under the two categories above will be available to them.

Now to make clear the MOTS new status. They are here to create more transparency between the staff and you the community. If a MOTS feels we are not doing our job they can pull us up on it. But if we find a MOTS simply spewing information from the staff for the purposes of popularity or other reasons not beneficial to the community, they will be removed from their post (This will be discussed with the other MOTS at the time). MOTS will not be receiving moderator powers. MOTS are here to bring your ideas and opinions directly to us.

To be eligible for MOTS you cannot have a total ban time longer than two weeks in the last two years. For example if you have had three, five day bans the last eighteen months you cannot be eligible until the first ban elapses over the two year mark. We do check the other accounts you have as well. If we find any MOTS is receiving repeat votes from multiple accounts of the same person they will no longer be eligible for that period. A currently elected MOTS cannot be eligible for a second term in a row. But they can be re-elected every other term without limit.

------------------------------------

Regarding the "patch" certain aspects are ready for release and will be out shortly. I've had a lot to juggle the past month.
I'm hoping to get you a release in the next couple of weeks. Certainly before the end of this month.
Personally I think I'm better for getting it out there than just telling you about it so please be patient.

As for the now ex-staff. I have been in more communication with them in the last week than the last year probably.
I expect in Part 2 we will probably have a joint post explaining what went on. But for the time being my priority is moving forward. Gap filling can happen later.


24
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: October 02, 2018, 10:25:56 am »
Sorry had a very busy weekend

@Wolf Queen
I'll have a public answer out shortly(ish) for you.

@Ame
If I'm honest I personally wouldn't put the old maps back. I believe the only reason people want the old maps back is because they want things to be as they were. However just sticking the old maps back in isn't some magical pill that's just going to change everything. Yes the old maps had things the new maps don't. But maybe that's where we should be looking to implement some of the concepts of the old maps in the new. Not simply copying what was there. Don't copy maps with flaws because at the end of the day that's why were came out in the first place. Instead look at those maps take from them what you need and embed a better map in the world. Of course you can add little mementos to the old map. That way the people that knew them have those little memories. The other issue with dropping old maps straight back in is that even if you make a perfect copy of the map due to the difference in people and world positioning it may not have the draw it once did. It may not populate the same. And as such it may feel like a dead map. I wouldn't want to take the memories of a full map people had and replace those with an empty one.

I do have a concept for connecting the maps together though it took me a long time to explain with diagrams to get the idea across to the staff. So I hope you don't mind but I'm going to skip over that. The bot came up on the basis that I was expecting the staff to leave. Tensions had been high for a long while before. I needed a fallback plan.

As to patches lets say we release one huge patch with loads of maps. People scatter round the FH world looking at all the maps. If on the other hand you release one or two maps at a time. People will come together to those maps. With the same amount of work you can create multiple occasions where the community comes together. It also shows continued development not just here's a patch there you go for the next so many years.

As for the future development you mention not really thinking that far ahead yet. There's still a lot going on. But things like that can be considered.

25
Introduction / The Awesomesauce Staff!
« on: October 01, 2018, 10:31:00 pm »
Raz (Razmirz)



About
I am staff, staff is me.


Seen On These Characters:
Razmirz

Favorite place/places on the forum:
I only post when I have to.

Likes:
Rum & sheep's cheese.

Contact:
Don't contact me.

Origins: always has existed in an eternal loop that never originated but became what is and could be within the pits of living dead abyss. There is and once was but is only now. Soon...
Diet: ranges between crust dairy & meat overgrowth. Primary nutrition obtained by draining soul energy from volunteer servants. Daily harvesting necessary. Never satisfied. Metabolizes pure souls quickly. Notes: Allergic to concision. Can’t be killed or die because demonic energy is too intense. Endures fits of rage during dairy crust shortage periods or trauma inhibiting scenarios.
Scent: ominous cheese like musk and warm vacuum sealed corpse fragrance. 100% free range
Texture: 80% synthetic skin reduction poison vapor latex, 10% death void, 10% sentient flesh
Genetic composition: Avatar na’vi, African lion, lost soul, 2.483% primitive giant sloth DNA.
Likes: cheese, the smell of fear, sorrow, chaos, sound of screaming, silence, compliance, the color blue, Smurfs, biscuits, home improvement, elderly companionship, electronics.
Dislikes: General chat, green, paths, rivers where the water flows backwards, happiness in over abundance

26
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: September 27, 2018, 03:07:51 pm »
Alot to respond to here...
I'll start with Edo

The community is still here. In fact a lot of faces who haven't even been around for a long time are coming out of the woodwork just to see what's going on. Personally I've a been approached by a load of ex staff telling me their inboxes are going crazy. The community historically has had bigger hiccups.

As for no mod October I wasn't actually ready for the staff to leave(I expected them to based on tensions in the staff team). Hell I haven't finished coding the AI. Never mind feeding it test data. I thought I had almost a full week now with everything else going on I'm further stretched.

With the staff gap of course I'm looking but its not the easiest thing to just pickup a team out of nowhere when your not in a community facing role.

When it comes to learning moderation ropes actual moderation doesn't take much lock move delete edit. There is a guidebook made by red and there will be someone more involved than me to train anyone selected.

@Panz
I'm believe most of what you have covered I have somewhat answered either in the response above or previous answers. However you mention the reasons for the staff leaving. I was in conversation with Sura last night. We are still talking. Its been mentioned about a joint smoothing over post considering how everything snowballed very quickly.

I think that covers what I can immediately answer from what you have all said.

27
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: September 26, 2018, 03:33:51 pm »
"What was that option, may I ask?"
To modify old ficho so it was more like a long snake rather than leaving it squashed to give reach to put bonfire in further out from new ficho granting a logical land mass to build upon above and without breaking existing connections between maps.

" How and why exactly wouldn't it work? Except for a bunch of spamming, which is already happening with Movies and Local sometimes."
100% sure on what your asking there. If your referring to the advertising concept it would be a chat you could only post in on an irregular basis. Force a user to wait between adverts etc.

Patches can use the existing install system where you just run the setup file as normal.

Oldies would be ex staff but some of them would be real oldies from when fh came out.

As for new staff I'm open to suggestions.

28
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: September 26, 2018, 03:15:07 pm »
"how will they help you achieve this" Its not about me

"map-making, preset-making, redoing textures, etc" the staff don't need to do these jobs they simply facilitate the community. Obviously skills are a bonus.

Not sure I have the option of a long process... Though history shows bad mods don't last terribly long...

29
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: September 26, 2018, 03:00:25 pm »
I believe in the last post in the news that I have stated I will return peoples characters to them my issue is said rogue patch is still trapping members. I cant keep retiving charaters indefinitely I will do a bulk restore.

As for what the staff team did and didn't do I'm not about to start some tit for tat about who did what. My name was mud long before FH and it can remain that way. So long as it keeps others in the clear.

With regards to the full story I'm the wrong person to ask. And I have no desire to defend everything I've done

30
News Archives / Re: Welcome to hmm
« on: September 26, 2018, 02:42:24 pm »
"We wanted to release this patch for you guys, but Raz was against it and it was his choice to refuse to allow this to come to fruition, despite the fact that the rest of the staff team wanted to share what we've been working on with you guys. "

I wasn't against the patch. There's your first lie. I spent hours days trying to figure out how to incorporate it into the world without breaking what Red had done. I actually provided an option which wasn't even responded to.

"the additions that our community member map makers Lady_Alizarin and LaughingWolf helped create."(created not helped create)

These were actually a part of the original patch that was supposed to be released long before.  A patch made by the community for the community. These will be released Shortly.

This really was nothing more than a political stunt in my eyes. And yes I banned Nynx for it

As for general chat and ohh you all love general chat and I'm not saying that it doesn't work. General chat would probably work just fine now in game. Why you ask then do i not put it back? Because when you have 300+ people in 1 map it doesn't work. So lets say I put it back? The game grows. I'm supposed to remove it again when the game is too big for it? My answer was to look at other uses for the chat function such as an advertising chat or something similar. I must admit it wasn't up on my list of priorities.

I had suggested much more regular smaller patches giving the community time to focus on each peace as its released. And if there's still an army of map makers wanting to have a part they would be welcome.

Registration hasn't changed much over the years we still even now have over 1000 new accounts made every month. The problem is the users don't stick. Reg is open daily if you checked every day for a week at the same time to see if its open there's a pretty good chance you would have an account.

As for staff I have a couple of options
1 I call in some favours end up with a team who aren't quite as in touch with the community but are loyal to a fault and know exactly what they are doing.
2 I pick-up a random group of people out of the forums people I don't know but want the community to thrive and any issues that arise from it I deal with separately.

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