Player Survey

[Christopher Margraves US2007039649]

World of Sepia Player Survey
Player Name:
Sepia ID #:
Genres Played (Circle all that apply):
Masquerade: Camarilla
Ascension: Tradition
Apocalypse: Garou Nation
Characters Played:
Hello all you Dapper Dans and Flapper Dianes. You are receiving this
survey because you’re one of the hep cats that have helped keep this
crazy game going for over 8 months. With the end of the world a strong
possibility in the following 4 weeks of gaming we wanted to get some
player feedback about the game and its possible future.
At the end of January we will be making some announcements of changes
to the game. These will be based off of both the PC actions over the
next four to five weeks, and the feedback from the player surveys.
Changes are coming, and they will be hopefully for the best and the
clearer and more honest your feedback is the better they will be.
Genres:
1. Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

Masquerade: Camarilla
Ascension: Tradition
Apocalypse: Garou Nation

2. Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

a. Masquerade: Camarilla
b. Masquerade: Sabbat
c. Ascension: Technocracy
d. Ascension: Tradition
e. Apocalpyse: Garou Nation
f. Apocalpyse: Other Fera
g. Changeling: The Dreaming
h. Hunters: (Not Reckoning)
i. Wraith: Oblivion
j. Other? (Write In and Rank)

3. For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a. Masquerade: Camarilla

b. Ascension: Tradition

c. Apocalypse: Garou Nation

4. For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not
a.

b.

c.

5. What is missing from the setting of the game?

Play-style
1. Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

a. Horror
b. Mystery
c. Action
d. Pulp
e. Political
f. Exploration
g. Other

2. Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

3. Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla

Ascension: Tradition

Apocalypse: Garou Nation

4. What is missing from the game for you?

Other
1. Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share
with us?

[Eric Zelasko]

Responses interspersed Below

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Christopher Margraves US2007039649 <captainm...@gmail.com> wrote:

World of Sepia Player Survey

Player Name:  Eric Zelasko
Sepia ID #:  33?

Genres Played (Circle all that apply):

       Masquerade: Camarilla - CHECK
       Ascension: Tradition - CHECK
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation - CHECK
Characters Played:

Vassily Demidoff
Chester Smith
Dr. William Dempsey

       Hello all you Dapper Dans and Flapper Dianes. You are receiving this
survey because you’re one of the hep cats that have helped keep this
crazy game going for over 8 months. With the end of the world a strong
possibility in the following 4 weeks of gaming we wanted to get some
player feedback about the game and its possible future.
       At the end of January we will be making some announcements of changes
to the game. These will be based off of both the PC actions over the
next four to five weeks, and the feedback from the player surveys.
Changes are coming, and they will be hopefully for the best and the
clearer and more honest your feedback is the better they will be.
Genres:
1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

MAGE
VAMPIRE
WEREWOLF

Masquerade: Camarilla
Ascension: Tradition
Apocalypse: Garou Nation

2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

From most Preferred to least.

 D, C, A, H, G, B, E, I, F

a.      Masquerade: Camarilla
b.      Masquerade: Sabbat
c.      Ascension: Technocracy
d.      Ascension: Tradition
e.      Apocalpyse: Garou Nation
f.      Apocalpyse: Other Fera
g.      Changeling: The Dreaming
h.      Hunters: (Not Reckoning)
i.      Wraith: Oblivion
j.      Other? (Write In and Rank)

3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

This game has great potential, assuming we can get about six or so new players.  It's a little light on the personal politicing, but at the same time has been RIDICULOUSLY low in PvP combat and death, which is a GOOD thing.  If we can get some more players, and get the game to split into roughly three "coteries," with a smattering of individuals unaffiliated with the main groups, this game could become AWESOME.
 
 b.      Ascension: Tradition

I love Mage.  I love the overall game, and it's been highly enjoyable.  The PC's are too trusting, though, and there's too much "Oh, HI new PC!  Of course you can come in and be comfortable!  No, we don't need to worrry about security and such!"  Mind you, much of this is PC driven.

Big, World Ending Plots are normally pretty cool.  But, with only six months of gameplay, it seems rather sudden.  It also seems that there was a whole lot of, "HURRY UP AND WAIT FOR THE PLOT."

I'm sad that Dempsey did not get his scene with Jasper, but that's primarily a case of Real Life vs. Game, and Real Life should ALWAYS win in these situations. 

 

c.      Apocalypse: Garou Nation

I play this game because I had the free time, and it was there.  It's charming me somewhat on its own merits, and keeps me coming back when I have time.

Some of the plots in Werewolf feel... spontaneous.  And sometimes, it feels like there's no follow-through.  (What WAS the deal with those Hunters on my first game there, anyway?  Where did they go, and why did they never follow up on their assault?  What did they hope to gain, or what DID they gain?)  Granted, I'm a Kinfolk, and I'm kept somewhat sequestered, and I'm the exact OPPOSITE of a mover and shaker, which is fine - it's what I signed up for.  This isolated PC position probably keeps me out of the loop for knowing what the deal is, and so there's a good chance that this perception of mine is incorrect, and I know it.
I have enjoyed assisting Sean in his massive plots of DOOM.  I regret that I lack sufficient Werewolf lore to employ his designs to adequate casualty levels as he has requested.

4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not

 

a.  The Technocracy is Cool.  We Are Control.  Strict secrecy broken by hushed conspiracy is awesome.  High Technology is awesome.  HIT Marks are Awesome when they work for me.  Men in Black are awesome.  I would beg to run it, if I had the time, and we could work out some kind of Double Blind about Dempsey, 'cause I ain't giving that guy up.

b.  The Sabbat, done well, could be interesting.  If done poorly, it would represent the worst tropes that the World of Darkness has to offer.  The reward potential is there, but I'm not confident that the potential outweighs the risks.

c.

5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?

The introduction of Cross-venue interaction will shake things up so much that I really can't say.  I'm curious to see how everything will play out.
 

Play-style
1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

F (Personal), F (Environmental), G (WONDER), B, E, D/C (in unison), A
 

a.      Horror
b.      Mystery
c.      Action
d.      Pulp
e.      Political
f.      Exploration
g.      Other

2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

In a small game, PvE is necessary.  In a large game, PvP is inevitable.  The World should always react to the PC's, and so PvE should ALWAYS be present.  PvP should be channeled into a "feud" mentality rather than a "bloodbath" mentality, but unfortunately, sometimes PvP can only be expressed by sudden and immediate violence.  (Look at Dempsey and Benjamin.  If Dempsey EVER finds out what Benjamin did to the orphanage, DEMPSEY WILL KILL BENJAMIN SO FAST (or be killed in the attempt) that I may slip out of the timestream.  The litmus test is this:  PvWHATEVER should be balanced between the demands of story and the demands of game stability.
(And Dempsey started out the game as such a nice man.  Mr. Mister should be proud at how little its taken him to drive Dempsey to the bosom of the Euthanatos beliefs that Dempsey for so long was horrified by.  Believe you me, it scares the crap out of me.)
 

3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla

I hope that, as the game grows, one of two things will happen.  Either there will be the eventual opportunity for a PC prince, or a better and more structured political scheme to influence the Prince's court.

I... dislike Camarilla Justicars with Vicissitude, and blatant, MASQUERADE BREACHING Vicissitude at that.  But hey, it's not my game.  That's why I play in yours - to try out new things.
 

Ascension: Tradition

I have heard the same "The Traditions are inferior and insignificant to (other Sect of the Day) from Christopher three times within four consecutive Mage games, and it has gotten stale in my ears.  (Order of Reason Librarian NPC (1), Mr. Mister (2), and Jason Milton (3)).  How about some good Tradition vs. Tradition intrigue, eh?  Just... please leave the speech at home.  I've heard it enough.
 

Apocalypse: Garou Nation

 
Dunno enough about Werewolf to adequately comment.
 

4.      What is missing from the game for you?

Right now?  Me.  And this makes me very sad.  That aside, what I'm missing isn't so much as from the staff as it is from the games and the playerbase as a whole.  I'm not sure if these perceptions will answer the question in the sense that you mean it to be asked, but at 2 AM, this is the best I can do right now.

Dempsey needs a friend - badly.  He feels (note that this is the Character's perceptions - Eric R. Zelasko is not ready to endorse these statements wholeheartedly) that he is a lone voice of reason in the Chantry, and he feels that no one understands him.  Of course, this could just be the Jhor talking... but then again, he GETS THE JOB DONE - and gets nothing but grief for his trouble, typically from people who haven't really contributed anything to the crisis at question.  This is an issue with the current PC's more than anything else, and makes the game more interesting for me.  He is by far the most interesting Euthanatos I've every played, and is growing into one of my Favorite characters.  I wrote him up as a lonely, tragic widower, and I'm getting exactly what I expected out of him.  This is a rare treat.

Chester needs a job.  Mind you, I signed up to be a Kinfolk - but I've been begging, borrowing, and stealing something to do every game.  So far, I've been able to contribute something every game by making my own opportunities.  So long as I can keep finding these opportunities, I'll be happy.  When I can't, Chester's situation might become boring.  I'd like to avoid that, if possible.

Vassily needs power, and he needs allies.  Time will provide him with both.  He is slow, and not as subtle as he wishes he was, but he is learning.  I am content with his progress.

Other
1.      Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share
with us?

The Site decoration efforts at last game REALLY shook things up - It made the site adequate for the evening.  I appreciate the effort, and I recognize the effort that is making the best of what we have.  Well Done!
 

--

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[Tory Sights]

I guess I'll post this for the g-group too instead of just sending it to Christopher.  ^_^

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Christopher Margraves US2007039649 <captainm...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

World of Sepia Player Survey

Player Name:  Tory Sights
Sepia ID #:  12

Genres Played (Circle all that apply):
       Masquerade: Camarilla
       Ascension: Tradition
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation
Characters Played:

Masquerade:
Elyza Wellington
Scarlett Kensington
Ascension:
Dr. Helen Soddy
Miss Georgia Brown
Apocalypse:
Tricks the Spiral
 

       Hello all you Dapper Dans and Flapper Dianes. You are receiving this
survey because you’re one of the hep cats that have helped keep this
crazy game going for over 8 months. With the end of the world a strong
possibility in the following 4 weeks of gaming we wanted to get some
player feedback about the game and its possible future.
       At the end of January we will be making some announcements of changes
to the game. These will be based off of both the PC actions over the
next four to five weeks, and the feedback from the player surveys.
Changes are coming, and they will be hopefully for the best and the
clearer and more honest your feedback is the better they will be.

 

Genres:
1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

In my brain 1 is best/highest not worst/lowest, so deal with it.
1) Apocalypse: Garou Nation
2) Ascension: Tradition
3) Masquerade: Camarilla

2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

I barely know the OWoD games not currently in Sepia, so these rankings are mostly just gut impressions of the games based off of my limited knowledge.

Also, 1 is highest.  Deal.

1) Apocalypse: Garou Nation
2) Changeling: The Dreaming
3) Ascension: Tradition
4) Ascension: Technocracy
5) Masquerade: Camarilla
6) Wraith: Oblivion
7) Masquerade: Sabbat
8) Apocalypse: Other Fera
9) Hunters (Not Reckoning)

3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

The idea of a struggle to maintain humanity in an inhumane society.  The curiosity as to what is possible when the trivialities of day to day life are changed, taken away, or surpassed.  The question of whether we can overcome our nature & transcend our condition & how such is attempted & interpreted.

b.      Ascension: Tradition
Honestly, I started playing it because it was there.  I didn't know barely anything about it, but it was part of Sepia, so I figured I'd give it a try.  I've kept playing it mostly because of the depth of paradigm.  The layers of how so many different people see & interpret the same thing in varying ways & how that weaves a beautiful & complex community.  I've come to really like it.

c.      Apocalypse: Garou Nation
Such a strong sense of community, family, togetherness... overlapped with the real-ness of an animistic belief system with such depth & folklore.  It's beautiful, rich.  It's simultaneously complex & simple.  I couldn't want more out of a rpg.

4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not

a.  Never played OWoD Changeling, but NWoD Changeling is one of my favorite games of all time, so by default I want to play OWoD.

b.  No real interest in Hunters because it sounds like it would be a glorified PvP game, which really doesn't appeal to me that much.  I played Hunter: The Reckoning in table-top once, but I don't even know what Hunters is.

5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?

It might just be me, but one thing that's always a great help to me getting into character & remembering the world that the game is set in is news stories/current events, etc.  I really liked the rumours for that, but I understand that it was quite wastefull as far as paper goes.  I wanted to order something like http://www.oldnewspublishing.com/ to have for the game, but haven't had the spare spending money quite yet.

Play-style
1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

1 is highest!

1) Exploration (both introspective & extrospective)
2) Mystery
3) Pulp
4) Horror (Darkness)
5) Action
6) Political
7) ...Other

2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

As a general rule I much prefer PvE play.  PvP is going to happen in any game where people are being true to their characters.  I realize & am okay with that, but I have always been a player who prefers conflict with the world & NPCs rather than other PCs.

3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla

A seemingly necessary amount of NPCs.  However, they seem to be an easy way for the STs favorites to get or solve "plot", which obviously isn't their intended influence or function.

Ascension: Tradition
There seem to be a bajillion NPCs, but it may just seem that way because Christopher is constantly running in & out as different NPCs to the point that every time he enters a room people have to ask him which character he's playing.  Not sure how to fix that at this juncture, though.

Apocalypse: Garou Nation
In my opinion, good interaction with NPCs.  Not sure about responsibility in the genre.  Honestly, I love Gutter Tongue.  Really great NPC.

4.      What is missing from the game for you?

I'm relatively new to OWoD, so sometimes I feel lost, but that's an individual thing, not something about the game.  I wish I had more access to the books, though.  I don't know.
Mentioned news stories/current events above.  I really think it would help people maintain the mood for a 1920's set game.  Would also help remind people that they need to be conscious of their slang in character... one of my pet peeves as a linguistics nerd.  >.<

Other
1.      Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share
with us? 

I love the IBC cream soda... it's just too bad that none of my current characters would ever carry them in game... but more stuff like this.
That's pretty much everything from me that is of import at this time.

[Jim Moreland]

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Christopher Margraves US2007039649 <captainm...@gmail.com> wrote:

World of Sepia Player Survey

Player Name: Jim Moreland
Sepia ID #: 18

Genres Played (Circle all that apply):

       Masquerade: Camarilla - ST
       Ascension: Tradition - No
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation - YES!!!!!
Characters Played:  Gore Maw

       Hello all you Dapper Dans and Flapper Dianes. You are receiving this
survey because you’re one of the hep cats that have helped keep this
crazy game going for over 8 months. With the end of the world a strong
possibility in the following 4 weeks of gaming we wanted to get some
player feedback about the game and its possible future.
       At the end of January we will be making some announcements of changes
to the game. These will be based off of both the PC actions over the
next four to five weeks, and the feedback from the player surveys.
Changes are coming, and they will be hopefully for the best and the
clearer and more honest your feedback is the better they will be.
Genres:
1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

Masquerade: Camarilla - 2
Ascension: Tradition   - 1
Apocalypse: Garou Nation - 3

2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

a.      Masquerade: Camarilla - 6
b.      Masquerade: Sabbat - 7
c.      Ascension: Technocracy - 3
d.      Ascension: Tradition - 2
e.      Apocalpyse: Garou Nation - 9
f.      Apocalpyse: Other Fera - 8
g.      Changeling: The Dreaming - 1
h.      Hunters: (Not Reckoning) - 4
i.      Wraith: Oblivion - 5

j.      Other? (Write In and Rank)

3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

Best game for pur politics and scheming.  Stopped playing to ST.


b.      Ascension: Tradition

Do not enjoy the game.  The theme and rules do not fit with a game I like to play.


c.      Apocalypse: Garou Nation

Favorite game of all the WW products.  The mix between pack/sept politics and combat works out great.

4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not

a. Changling old world is confusing and dumb, in my opinion.  Not a fan of fluffy bunny games.


b. Mage, again theme and rules not my bally wick


c. Garou and Fera are most definitely my favorite due to the themes and nature of the game.  The mix of politics and combat is most fun.

5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?


Play-style
1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

a.      Horror - 6
b.      Mystery - 7
c.      Action - 1
d.      Pulp - 2
e.      Political - 5
f.      Exploration - 4
g.      Other - 3

2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why? Balance, while the PvE is necessary to advance the game PvP is an essential part of the game and needs to be allowed.

3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla

I think that there are plenty of NPCs and they are interacting just fine providing the right amount focus for the game.

Ascension: Tradition

N/A


Apocalypse: Garou Nation

What little I have interacted with the NPCs they have been appropriate and not to many or to few.  They provide an essential part of the game and the foes in which to fight and interact with.

4.      What is missing from the game for you?



Other
1.      Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share
with us?

N/A

--
Mischief Managed

Jim Moreland

[Jenny Parsons]

All right, all right, getting in on this.

On Jan 2, 5:14 pm, Christopher Margraves US2007039649

<captainmargra...@gmail.com> wrote:
> World of Sepia Player Survey

> Player Name: Jenny Parsons
> Sepia ID #: If I have one, I've never been informed of it.

> Genres Played (Circle all that apply):
>         Masquerade: Camarilla

>         Ascension: Tradition <-- See this? This would be the only one.
>         Apocalypse: Garou Nation
> Characters Played: Lucy Vogel

> Genres:
> 1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
> take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
> interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
> of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
> included in game, then take that into consideration)

3.Ascension: Tradition
2.Apocalypse: Garou Nation
1. Masquerade: Camarilla

Please keep in mind that I only attend one chronicle, and so that this
is based upon what I'm actually interested in playing, not my (non)
experience of anything.

> 2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
> the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
> up they fall.

10. Changeling: The Dreaming
8 (tie). Ascension: Traditions/Ascension: Technocracy
7. Apocalpyse: Garou Nation
6. Masquerade: Sabbat
5. Hunters: (Not Reckoning)
4. Masquerade: Camarilla
3. Wraith: Oblivion    
2.  Apocalpyse: Other Fera (Gods know I love playing Corax, but...no.)
1. Other

> 3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
> a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

> c. Apocalypse: Garou Nation

I don't play these simply because I don't have the time to devote to
all three genres. I admit to being slightly burned out on Camarilla
(I was a Vampire ST for two years), so while the concept of it sounds
like fun, I'm more interested in a Werewolf LARP because I've never
done one before.

> b.      Ascension: Tradition

I tried this to satisfy curiosity-- I played tabletop Mage for years
and loved the genre, though I'd never tried it live-action. Turns out
that I enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would.

> 4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
> or why not

a. Apocalpyse: Other Fera
Gods know I love playing Corax and Nagah, but...NO. Some creatures
are rare for a reason. Now, if someone wants to run a War of the Rage
or Impergium chronicle, that would be fantastic and make a Hell of a
lot more sense.

> b.(tie). Ascension: Traditions/Ascension: Technocracy
You almost can't have one without the other, at least not in a large
game like this one. It helps that they play nicely off of each other,
and the game is structured so that it's much easier to create
interesting plotlines and villains. More heavily structured
cosmologies like the ones present in Werewolf and Wraith can be very
satisfying, but they can get predictable.

> c.Wraith: the Oblivion
In my tabletop experience, Wraiths don't crossover very well except as
NPCs.

> 5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?

Player-driven plot. Of course, this may be something just endemic to
the Mage game-- unlike Vampire or even Werewolf, it lacks a basic
political structure that sets the stage for player interaction. And
gods know I'm guilty of neglecting this myself.

> Play-style
> 1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

7. Exploration
6. Mystery
5. Horror
3. (tie) Pulp/Action
2. Political
1. Other

> 2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

A balance: PvP is tremendous fun, but it's hard to regulate, and can
really take huge chunks out of the staff's time if it's not managed
properly or if there aren't enough narrators to go around. Most of
the time a mass combat happens, it happens because there aren't an
adequate number of staff/narrators to properly explain what's going
on, so everyone grativates towards the action, and inevitably becomes
involved.

> 3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
> there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
> their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
> any thoughts or opinions here.

> Ascension: Tradition

Given my complaint on lack of player-run plot, I have to say that NPC
interaction is well done. Not too many deus ex machinae are dropped
on us; I've found NPCs used to create mood and drop metaplot points to
good effect ("I made a deal with a Nephandus?! Why did I do
that?!?"). Eric's complained about the lack of Tradition-Tradition
conflict is unwarranted, in my opinion-- at the moment, we're in the
middle of an END OF THE WORLD metaplot that literally is funnelling
all the staff-run plots to a single event.

> 4.      What is missing from the game for you?

Please, be more timely with announcements and the like. I'd like to
be able to attend events, but if nothing's been announced or I have to
sift through three different sources (because they all say different
things), it can be a pain.

> 1.      Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share
> with us?

That should do it. For now.

[Christopher Margraves]

Well if we're doing it this way then I guess I should throw in mine as well. Answers, also interspersed below.

Christopher

World of Sepia Player Survey

Player Name: Christopher
Sepia ID #: 0001

Genres Played (Circle all that apply):
       Masquerade: Camarilla

       Ascension: Tradition
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation

Characters Played:

Vampire: Edward Milliner, William Roberts
Mage: Lord Merriweather, Jason Milton, Hep
Werewolf: Magni Stanjos

Genres:
1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

Masquerade: Camarilla 1
Ascension: Tradition 3
Apocalypse: Garou Nation 2

2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

a.      Masquerade: Camarilla  6
b.      Masquerade: Sabbat 3
c.      Ascension: Technocracy 8
d.      Ascension: Tradition 10
e.      Apocalpyse: Garou Nation 9
f.      Apocalpyse: Other Fera 7
g.      Changeling: The Dreaming 5
h.     Hunters: (Not Reckoning) 2
i.      Wraith: Oblivion 4
j.      Other? (Write In and Rank) 1

3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

I enjoy the politicking and backstabbing inherent in a Masquerade game. There hasn't, ironically, been as much of the style of gameplay that I like in our version of it, but I love the setting.



b.      Ascension: Tradition

Mage makes your brain explode, but in a good way. The idea of consensual  reality, paradigm, and actually having to think about how magic works rather than taking it for granted make it my baby.


c.      Apocalypse: Garou Nation

Politics + episodic gameplay + werewolfs = win

4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not

a. I worry about Sabbat and hunters because of their incredibly ability to be a pain in my ass.


b. Wraith is a gangster hard game to run, and as much as it's beautiful it takes a HUGE commitment from its players to be great.


c. Come on man...it's the Technocracy.

5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?

Inter player, behind the scenes conflict, and a genuine buy in to the setting.

Play-style
1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

a.      Horror 7
b.      Mystery  3
c.      Action  4
d.      Pulp 6
e.      Political 5
f.      Exploration 2
g.      Other 1

2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

PvE, just a personal thing, I love playing the world, not a huge fan of fucking over other players. I hear a lot of the time that PvP is a normal part of the world, and that's a valid concept, but I think that 80% of the time, PvP conflict has very little to do with the characters and a shit ton to do with the players.

3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla

Too many. Kill them all.


Ascension: Tradition
Too many. Kill them all.



Apocalypse: Garou Nation
Good

[Amanda Murrell]

World of Sepia Player Survey

Player Name: Amanda Murrell
Sepia ID #: 0002

Genres Played (Circle all that apply):

       Masquerade: Camarilla - Yes
       Ascension: Tradition - Yes
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation - Yes

Characters Played:

       Masquerade: Camarilla - Arachne Larocque
       Ascension: Tradition - Lillian Germain
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation - Bethany "Bright-Eyes" Edwards

      
Genres:
1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

3 - Masquerade: Camarilla
2 - Ascension: Tradition
1 - Apocalypse: Garou Nation

2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

a.      Masquerade: Camarilla (10)
b.      Masquerade: Sabbat (5)
c.      Ascension: Technocracy (7)
d.      Ascension: Tradition (8.5)
e.      Apocalpyse: Garou Nation (8.5)
f.      Apocalpyse: Other Fera (6)
g.      Changeling: The Dreaming (4)
h.      Hunters: (Not Reckoning) (3)
i.      Wraith: Oblivion (2)
j.      Other? (Write In and Rank) (1)

3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

         - I love vampires, and always have. I think the genre has a lot of potential for both personal and gandios, world effecting plots. Of course, this potential is not always realized for various reasons, but I have a masochistic undying optimism for it anyway. Plus, its a game of behind the scenes back-stabbiness that satisfies an inner demon of mine.

b.      Ascension: Tradition
         - Ask anyone, I hate magic. Ok, well, not magic, but the rules required to make magic a viable thing in a role-playing game.  Too complicated, and I hate that. BUT, for some reason, I do have a strange love of Mage. Blame Christopher. The whole ultimate theoretical power thing combined with the "can I?" verses the "should I?" makes me happy.

c.      Apocalypse: Garou Nation
         - Werewolf is an odd bird for me. There's a nice feeling of being a part of something larger than yourself when you really get into character and play it. And its also nice to have an actual REASON to go out and eat somethings face. =D However, it can be hard sometimes to get a group of gamers all into the right mood for it to really work the way its supposed to. Anyway, I enjoy it, so... yeah.

4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not

  I'm not really strongly for or against any of the genres. I think every genre has merit, but there are certainly some that would only work under the right circumstances, so rather than suffer through the wrong ones, I'd rather play something different. But I'm one of those sad people who gaming si really their only form of recreation, and when I get the chance, I don't so much care what I'm playing. I'll try to get into the game and enjoy myself. The things I rated low on my list I rated do because either 1) I like other genres better. 2) They don't translate well into a LARP setting in my mind, or 3) No offense, but I don't think the majority of Sepia's players could really do it, for various reasons. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't try it out.

5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?

          - Hmm... that's tough to explain. I think a lot of whats missing (in my opinion of course) is... a certain buy-in to the world we play in. The world is bigger than Columbia, and there are bigger things than the characters in that world. There is a certain lack of ambition..? No thats not completely right... A lack of fear. We have a problem (which is common among LARPs, and table top games, I've noticed) where players think they're immune to concequences because they're player characters... or something. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but many of the genres have ranking systems and such that are sorta of ignored, which I think takes away from the game. I'm not sure I explained that very well, but... yeah...

Play-style
1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

a.      Horror (6)
b.      Mystery (5)
c.      Action (4)
d.      Pulp (7)
e.      Political (1)
f.      Exploration (3)
g.      Other (2)

2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

         - A balance. I think its silly to expect either the other characters or the world they live in to just be expected to be safe. Everyone and everything shodul be able to be out to get you! Now, a game completely focused on everyone trying to off everyone else gets boring and annoying. But some nice subtle, and character driven internal animosity is fun, and PvE just makes sense to me. If you make something angry and/or do something dumb, there SHOULD be concequences. Its a world of DARKNESS, so the world should have nasty big bad things that will melt your face off if you poke them with sticks. And you should never assume that other character's won't too, unles syou have some in character reason to be buddy buddy. SO I guess my opinion is, trust is dumb and everything is out to get you!!!!! =p         

3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla - I know this isn't a common opinion, but... Playing a neonate vampire means that there are bigger, badder vampires pulling your puppet strings, and if you mess up too much or too badly, or go sticking your nose where they don't want it, they should make you disappear. I think for the size of Columbia, we have a fine amount of NPCs. I don't think the players fear them as much as they should, but... whatever.


Ascension: Tradition - Well, I can only think of like... 4 NPCs that we actually interact with (unless you count acolytes)? And three are Nephandi so... The world actually feels a little barren to me. But that also may be the Lillian in me waiting for a Quaisitor to come relieve her of being Chancellor, and a Janissary to kill her in a back room.... (forgive my horrid spelling of house names). I'm not saying I think we need more NPCs, and I think they do a fine job of not butting in all the time to rescue us children. I guess the world just feels very isolated to me.


Apocalypse: Garou Nation - I think with the back story to this genre there is a fine number of NPCs. I think there are alot of characetrs who get away with things that should NEVER be allowed... but we sorta have to in our itty bitty caern. Kinda waiting for some real werewolves to catch wind of things (you let Metises do WHAT!? And Spirals are where/did what?! Wait... hunters attacked the caern that directly and you STILL don't know how they knew what you were, or where you were, or who the fuck THEY were!?) and come kick our asses, but *shrug* Our NPCs are ok.



4.      What is missing from the game for you?
         - I dunno, I guess part of me feels like I'm bowling with the gutter rails on. But I'm not sure if that's so much something that can be fixed, cuz some people like it that way.

Other
1.      Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share

with us? - Nah, I'm sleepy and feeling terrible, so I've probably caused enough damage as it is. =p

[Sarah DeRosier]

 

---

Date: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 15:17:33 -0600
Subject: Re: [Sepia] Player Survey
From: silverl...@gmail.com
To: sepi...@googlegroups.com

World of Sepia Player Survey

Player Name: Sarah DeRosier
Sepia ID #: (I am not entirely sure of it off the top of my head)

Genres Played (Circle all that apply): 

       Masquerade: Camarilla - Yes
       Ascension: Tradition - Yes
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation - Yes

Characters Played:

       Masquerade: Camarilla - Miss Gracey 
       Ascension: Tradition - Rose Smith
       Apocalypse: Garou Nation - "Rabbit"

      
Genres:
1.      Rank these genres (1 lowest, 3 highest) for you personally. Please
take into consideration, not only the game as it has been run, but the
interest you have in the game as a whole. (i.e. if there are aspects
of Mage that you really enjoy theoretically but they have not been
included in game, then take that into consideration)

 - Masquerade: Camarilla
 - Ascension: Tradition
 - Apocalypse: Garou Nation
(I am not really sure right now I think its at a one maybe less in each game, I have not had a lot of opportunity to play)

2.      Rank these genres (1 lowest) for you personally. We are including
the three main genres because we still want to see where in the line-
up they fall.

a.      Masquerade: Camarilla (10)

b.      Masquerade: Sabbat (9)
c.      Ascension: Technocracy (7)
d.      Ascension: Tradition (6)
e.      Apocalpyse: Garou Nation (2)
f.      Apocalpyse: Other Fera (4)
g.      Changeling: The Dreaming (5)

h.      Hunters: (Not Reckoning) (3)

i.      Wraith: Oblivion (8)

j.      Other? (Write In and Rank) (1)

3.      For each genre list why you do or do not play it
a.      Masquerade: Camarilla

         -I have always loved dark fantasy themes but vampires have always stood out to me (and I thats the truth cause I am watching true blood right now as write this survery) They are wonderful fantasy figures cause they are, or more so were humans and they show the true dark side of humanity in its purest form) and yet they are still romantic beautiful figures. The few things I don't care for with Vampire is the politics I have never cared all that much for all that.

But vampire was the first genre of white wolf games I was exposed to when I first got into playing white wolf, so pardon my poor gaming sympathetic self, but it will always have a soft spot for me.

b.      Ascension: Tradition
         - I really and truly have hard very, very little contact in this game at all, not until I joined sepia, and I still don't know near as much as I think I really should. I guess that why I am struggling with finding out just what kind of person my girl rose really is, not enough exposure to the genre. I almost which I could have had some more exposure to it in a more modern setting for my first time I think that would give me a firmer grasp on just how the game functions, and maybe just how magic actually works. But I do like the game and hope I can grow more in my knowledge of it.

c.      Apocalypse: Garou Nation
         - I guess werewolf is odd for me cause un like most of the other players, I don't really get functioning as a group, I get it a lot more to be alone and be an individual, so I feel venerable when its not just me thats being asked to be relied on, but instead all of my actions influence the pack as a whole. I am still trying to find my way within the werewolf universe I guess.

4.      For the Other genres that you are strongly for or against, list why
or why not

   I think changeling could be fun, cause I have heard a few good things about that game in old world, and it would be interesting to try something different, basically that is my feel on pretty much all the games I have an interest in which are mostly Vampire: Sabbat, Kindred of the East, and wraith

5.      What is missing from the setting of the game?

          - I don't really think much is missing for me personally its that I have not probably spent near enough time on costuming to suit the era we are in but then again I am far more used to modern settings then older ones. But other then that I think everything is going just fine. But I am not a really advanced or techical gamer so my opinion is probably not as important as others might be in this matter.

Play-style
1.      Rank these play-styles (1 lowest, 7 highest) for you personally.

a.      Horror (4)
b.      Mystery (5)
c.      Action (3)
d.      Pulp (2)
e.      Political (1)
f.      Exploration (6)
g.      Other (7)

2.      Do you prefer PvE, PvP, or a balance of the Two, and why?

         - I hate to say this but I am honestly un sure I have not been doing gaming epically in white wold and epically in old world to know what I like more or less then each other. So sadly again I can't really give any input, mostly just cause I don't have a ton of experiences with this.          

3.      Discuss your opinions of NPCs by Genre, are there too many, are
there not enough, how well are they interacting with PCs, what should
their primary responsibility be in the Genre, etc. Feel free to put
any thoughts or opinions here.

Masquerade: Camarilla - I guess it seems like any vampire game to me everyone else is really wrapped up in their political personal games, and to me (or my vampire more or less) my vampires tend to like to just be social and go along with their lives, if like they would if they were still human,most of them don't like the fact they are what they are now, and don't like feeding off humans so they usually try do it in wine if at all possible. They tend to come off as quiet and squeamish around other vampires but thats just the way I feel like I would feel if I was a vampire someone one is what they are, but there is not much they can do about it even though they don't like that. With Miss Gracey she has to do that in a lot of ways cause not only is she a vampire now but she also has never had the ablity to speak she know she was fortunate to find a job that helped her use her talent to her advantage but now with her new life as vampire she does not know what to do with her self and she is afraid of only being know for her stardom.  Since she is a little different from others, I think the interaction she has had with NPC will be beneficial to her, cause this vampire game I see a lot less politics and more socializing with others, and this is what I like about vampire so I think any character interaction with NPCs or regular characters is a good thing. But in this venue i have not noticed NPCs as much as others.


Ascension: Tradition - I don't get the feeling there are as many NPCs in this venue BUT I do whoever think they help progress the game along enough, granted a lot of my opinion on that is going off the last game at the cross venue where we used quite a few NPC and it seemed like we used a few more NPCs from mage then other things but I could be totally wrong in that. But there seem to be just the right amount in this game and they really add a lot to the game, lots of actions and lots excitement.


Apocalypse: Garou Nation - I am un sure just how much exposure to NPS in Werewolf, I have had. But it seems like good ones that helped move the story a long pretty well. But I am un sure how much more I can give on it since I am still trying to adjust to werewolf as a game in general right now. 

4.      What is missing from the game for you?

         -I honestly think the thing that is lacking for me in game has nothing to do with you guys, it more so has to do with me just not knowing as much as I would like to about the systems, and not enough about my own characters which makes me be hard on myself but then again i am hard on myself in almost all aspects of my life so its not terribly surprising I am like that with game to. But I feel like if I sat down and did  a little extra research on the games in general and personal background info for my characters I think that might help my feel on things. Other then that things feel like they have been going really greatly.

Other
1.      Do you have any other questions, comments, concerns etc. to share

with us? - Nah, I think I have said all I need to that is of the out most importance for me to say at this time.

---

Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now.

[John Sita]

Cam: Masterson

Garou: Barrowhound

Tradition: Neville

 

 

1.

       1. Garou

       2. Masquerade

       3. Traditions

 

2.

       1. Oblivion (sounds fun, but impossible to manage)

       2. Hunter (blegh!)

       3. Other Fera (Diet Werewolf?)

       4. Garou (still not my cup o' tea)

       5. Sabbat (vampires without remorse? meh.)

       6. Cam (Yeah angst!)

       7. Changeling (Come along O human child...)

       8. Technocracy (...yes.)

       9. Traditions (get rid of this, and I'll quit.)  (just kidding.) (no, but seriously, I'll quit.)

 

3.

       a. "James Henry Masterson! At your service, Sah!"  That's why.

 

       b. In depth, complicated conversations about theoretical nonesense.  Awesome!  Plus, Jenny and Amanda are hot.  That helps a little, too.

 

       c. Here's one where I have alot to say. Lemme start off by saying that I think I know less about this setting than any other and that very ignorance may be, in fact, the source of my contention with the game.  That said, here's what I think.  I think Werewolf could be an awesome, epic game about grandeous heroics and the struggle of monumentous forces.  But in reality, its a game about political struggle.  More so even than Vamp.  Which is not to say that a bit of politics in werewolf is a bad thing.  Not at all.  Where it becomes a problem is when we spend more play time resolving a series of challenges that serve only to establish the pecking order than we do actually adventuring... almost every game!  So there.  There's my rant.  Suck it.

 

 

4.

       I already TOLD you that shit!  Weren't you paying attention above?!

 

 

5.    

       This one is kind of a hard call.  I think before we can have a really well defined 1920s Pulp feel (as you notice the Pulp before you notice the Gothic, I think) the players need to have a broader base of experience with the period.  Which is a project that falls to both the players and the Storytellers.  I know, I know, you want to say that if they don't do the studying themselves, screw 'em, and that may be valid, but I think helpful reminders and perhaps occasional period newsletters or something would be the sort of encouragement that motivates people to seek out the knowledge themselves.

      Then again, our players are pretty damn lazy (said the pot to the kettle).

 

Play Styles

1.

1. Action

2. Exploration

3. Pulp

4. Political

5. Horror

6. Mystery

 

2.

         PvP balanced with PvE.  Hunting your buddies is only fun if you might need them later to kill something bigger.

 

3.

a. Masquerade needs fewer or at least weaker NPCs.  The players should be able to wrangle the higher-end political deals.

 

b. Werewolf is OK.  We've got enough players to make the game go round and few enough NPCs that the STs aren't constantly shifting forms.

 

c. Mage.  Hmmm... Again, I think we need fewer NPCs.  Not as much so as in Vamp, but I know Christopher spends a lot of time changing personalities.  There are a lot of NPCs that are absolutely vital to plot, however, so getting out of that may be harder than getting out of the Middle East.  Ouch.  Yeah, I went there.

 

4.

More props/setting materials couldn't hurt.  I know we're working on it, I'm just sayin'.

 

Other stuff:  "The beauty of living things is not in the atoms that go into it, but the way those atoms are put together."  -Carl Sagan.  If our game is a living thing, perhaps we should look more closely to the interrelationships of our "atoms."

On Sat, Jan 2, 2010 at 5:14 PM, Christopher Margraves US2007039649 <captainm...@gmail.com> wrote: