We have some exciting news! For a while we have discussed the possibility of a player council, a place for players to meet with developers directly in order to pass on concerns, discuss upcoming game changes or just game concepts and mechanics. We wanted to avoid the pitfalls of many of the other council-type groups that you can find in games like EVE Online or many Sony Online Entertainment games, so we looked at those groups and spoke to members of those teams to get a better idea of what to go for.

In the end, we decided it would best to make a "trial run" council, made for the sole purpose of analyzing, protecting and possibly tweaking the lore, with the possibility that we would eventually open it up to other areas of the game like combat or the economy. 

So, what would we need from you?

We'd like five volunteers to join us in weekly forum meetings to discuss a range of topics concerning the lore of Illyriad. Some of these topics could include the current date and time as it sits in the entirety of the backstory, the list of central characters who make up the ruling family or parties, faction details or maybe regional differences. We will post our findings the after each meeting, allowing a gap for the next discussion to take place. We could eventually open the discussions to different formats like Skype or Google Hangouts, all depending on how the players work out. You'll get a special forum title, access to a private forum and in-game medal if you join!

What is required to join? 

First, an account in good standing. You cannot have a history of chat issues or cannot be in the middle of breaking a handful of rules. (It sounds obvious, but it's not to many players.) 

Second, an interest in the lore and setting of Illyriad. We will be discussing a different lore-based topic each week, so you'll need to be a fan of the lore at the very least. We'll be using this as a chance to learn more about the lore ourselves, so there will be no pop quizzes required.

Third, access to the game, the internet, the forums and possibly Skype and other social media. If you hate Skype or cannot stand the idea of talking to other players outside of the game, this will probably not be for you.

Fourth, the ability to hold your tongue. While NDAs (non-disclosure agreements or "shut-mouth-about-this") are not something that will likely pop up, there is a possibility that we will seek the wisdom of the council while designing a new event or writing a piece of lore. In other words, in the unlikely event that we ask you to keep a secret and you do not, you jeopardize not only the council but your account as well. So shush.

The five positions (for now they will run for 3 months) are as follows:

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please let us know here in this thread. We want the process of picking players to be in the open, with other players having the ability to speak their mind. We will be looking at potential members until the end of the month. We will announce the council and start the discussions by the second week of September. 

If lore interests you or if you find yourself quizzing over the size and shape of the Illyriad world, let us know! 

Though I'm no poet when it comes to write lenghty texts, poems or dramas, I think I'm nontheless quite creative... plus I tend to focus on details, which might disturb the overall picture.

And, sticking around for some 4 years in this awesome game, I might know quite a bit of player/war/updates/tournaments history. 

...Would this qualify as a historian or biographer?

GM Rikoo

Cheers!!

If it helps the players have an input into the game and to a certain extent development priorities, it can only help customer satisfaction and customer retention.

In the world of accounting software, user groups, for want if a better word, are pretty standard and have distinct benefits: the users get stuff they would like and the developers get to know their customers and what they want.

This initiative is to be applauded as it is a marked and welcome departure from the the way things were before.

Well done.

+support

I would be interested in the position of Geographer. As the leader of an Alliance I am always involved in the location and the finding of locations for our members to settle their cities. I am always studying the map and looking fro strategic and resource-plenty locations. This goes for Elgea itself and the Broken Lands. I am always challenging myself to learn more as well. MY record is clean having never been banned even once. I try to make a small amount of time daily to play. Thank you for your consideration.

TanyaFairy

Hiei

I'll say hi this initiative (although this is for you is not that important because I'm not  consumer of prestige points, i just supporting this game, giving about 1% of my social wellfare) and give support only when You, sir Rikoo answer the following questions: 

Do you know who are brake-rulers, and by your words there are at least a handful who break the rules?

(I didn't mean chat rules) 

(in my humble opinion, you know who they are very well) 

Will anything be taken against players who break the rules? 

If you will not do anything against players who systematically and continually break the rules, I kindly ask you to tell me why it will not do. Is the reason for the failure to take the players who break the rules are good consumers of prestige points, or something else?

Thanks for answers in advance!

Ficho

 

I am interested in this idea and would like to nominate myself for the council.

Not only will I nominate myself I shall suggest a novel post for myself. One of the utmost importance that has yet to be considered.

 

The post is that of naysayer.

 

Today, due to the culture of style over substance the role of a naysayer is much maligned.

 

Historically they did not complain for the sake of it! They were recognised as an important check and balance to the powers that be. Let me elaborate...

 

In the day of lore a king/warlord/etc would have a court. The court would seek the favour of the boss man. As such any edict the top dog devised in his cups would be hailed as a work of genius.

This was less than conductive to the stabilty of the said main man as bad ideas went unchallenged causing issues down the line.

 

Now you do not get be the grand high pooh-bah by having a lack of smarts. This problem was recognised and addressed.

A naysayer was employed.

 

Thus if King Big Nob woke up with the stunning revelation that taxing big toes was the solution to his debt his court would say "hell yeah" in the hope of becoming the tax collector.

In steps the naysayer with a reality check, "If you tax big toes people are gunna chop em off  - do you want an army that always falls over?"

 

Anyway, thats my pitch.

 

Also you may need to address the following...

 

 

So the council is on a trial regarding lore, no impact on game play.

I have faith that lore would not be introduced giving X allaince +10 attack because they have a very weak arguement in favour of it.

However the posssibility remains, however small it may be, that council members may favour the agendas of their alliance or indeed those they hold personnal to themselves.

No matter how small this chance is it exists. Furthermore it will be used as a weapon against both the council members, their alliances and indeed the devs.

 

Are you read for this?  Because it will happen, (me a naysayer...?), the truth of the matter will not be an issue.

 

In summary the council will be accused of vested interests whether they exist or not.

 

I applaud they gist of involving the player base. But is that not what the suggestions forum is for? I think the risk of bias inherrent in apointing a council if imagined or real is greater than the benefits. Especially as other ways of engaging the player base are available.

 

Special sloppt kisses,

 

M6

You can talk to me about this in another thread or in an IGM, as it is not really on topic with what we are talking about here. You can also send me an email at community@illyriad.co.uk !

GM Rikoo

In game I only ever witnessed one supposed multi account years ago, all other players I talked with were fair minded and more or less peacefull (apart from war topics in forums, of course ).

So I don't get your problem... If you have evidence for some rule breaks, mail them to GM Rikoo, else please let this thread return to it's original topic... 

However, if you guys need help in beta testing, I'd happily oblige. It's my line of work, and I'd love to add that to my CV, and I have plenty of time. :)

I thought someone would throw my name forward! Didn't think it would be so early in the thread though. 

I will through my hat into the ring to be counted with the others. All of the positions are of interest to me in one way or another so its hard to say one I'd prefer to be considered for above the others. 

Like Rill says though I may be too busy with mini-Manannan to devote too much time to this but I'm sure its something that can be discussed with the GMs should my name be considered.

That is the most honest ans awesome post I have seen on the forums in quite a while. Way cool

Could there be a more foul four letter word for a Dev in any online game? :)

This game does not have that problem- so I will lol the sentiment for other games- then send to the bin.  Tongue and cheek ofcourse

I am not sure I said this anywhere, but I will double check. ha

As the post says, we will let you know by then end of the month. Gimme a few days and there ya go. We are still thinking about a few of the details. Thanks for your interest, everyone.

GM Rikoo

1) Players will be contacted by this weekend (through the end of the month) and, once they accept, they will be announced in a different thread.

2) I will not tell others who these players are in game. If the members want to mention it, great, but because most of the communications are going to go through the forums, players can keep others in the dark as to who they are in game (off of the forums.)

GM Rikoo

Decent idea, but too much of a popularity contest. A lot of knowledgeable people won't even bother posting a request to join. And no, I'm not one of them. Not into this sort of thing.

1) The only people who will volunteer, in your construction, are "popular" (whatever that means).  

JMO and no I will not name names.  If you feel it is you then maybe you should really look at your actions and find out why you have those feelings, but my guess is they are so narcissistic they won't even think it is about them.

GM Rikoo