Fyni - Deputy Lore Master

[Fyni]

Ckey: Fyni

Discord: @fyni

How long have you been playing Aurora?: I played a little as early as 2017, for a short burst in 2019, and then extremely consistently since about 2022.

 

What do you believe you can bring to the team as Deputy Loremaster?

I have a boundless creative drive and energy when I focus down – and Aurora is something on which I have focussed down on. The DLM position is about more then creativity and writing (though that is something I have plenty of), but listening (reading), managing, co-ordinating a frankly extensive lore team. On top of this, I believe I have a vision for Aurora lore which goes from a micro “daily life” scale to a macro “Spur politics” – having both is something I often feel is lacking. I also now have plenty of exprience running special rounds, and this is something which can be improved with the DLM position.

I will cover everything I said above in answering the other questions, so I will not elaborate more here.

 

Do you have any experience managing a Team? The duties of a Deputy Loremaster often revolve around being a Project Lead, not necessarily just writing. This is especially true going forward.

Yes! From leading several university projects (including my university’s roleplay game society), into my charity work leading a small team of volunteers. On a creative level, I have partaken (usually at the head) in several world building jaunts (sci fi and fantasy) and even lead a small fan made adaptation of a roleplay system. On a professional level, I work with and manage several part time workers all week.

The important thing is, I have worked with a wide variety of people from all sorts of different backgrounds, on a variety of projects from creative writing to practical organizing, dealing with conflicting schedules, absentee underlings, different work paces and attitudes. I know many of the lore writers, and I know Aurora is fortunate to have a wide variety of creatives writing for it now, and I am sure in the past, but I also know what we all share and what joins us together. This is my highest strength, and I feel it is what the DLM position needs the most.

 

Aurora is starting development of NBT2, and as Deputy Loremaster, you will be heavily involved at a high level in this - what do you believe fundamentally needs fixing from a lore perspective that can be accomplished with NBT2?

I believe there are two answers to this: the new player experience, and the long time player experience. Let me explain first the new player problem:

Aurora lore right now has a lot of depth, but it is a murky depth. So many details are hidden in frankly poorly laid out lore articles – too little is presented in an easily accessible format. I recently made a push on the wiki for easier access to simple facts, resulting in the nation info boxes. Now, a player on a glance can know the name of the leader of their state, their language, their religion. To those of us who have played and made characters in this setting for years upon years, we know Strom is Prime Minister of Sol. Until that change was made, a new player had no way to know this without searching out the articles. This is consistent issue and can make the lore frankly extremely difficult to approach. The writing style on the wiki been consistently “in character” can also make things difficult. This is the problem for new players. I know Trio is working on a guide, and it’s something I would very much like to directly contribute too. However, the solution to this can also lie in part two:

The long-time player experience. Here it becomes less of an issue of accessibility, and more a question of quantity. While the Spur is wide, and I love the number of planets and origins we have, it is fair to say a lot of them are underrepresented. This come from characters playing said origin, antags using that lore in game (something I think is very important) and news. The lore is best when it is been engaged with in game, having interesting conversations and experiences based on that lore. Some origins, like for example Dominia, instantly have an obvious unique roleplaying hook associated with it. Others need more pushing to keep them relevant. This can be fixed by a shift to more “small” news. Even a small news article can bring an origin into conversation, give questions which the wiki can answer.

The format we deliver our lore needs more work – and this is something with NBT2 coming I believe can be over hauled. For both new and old players, there are problems.

 

On the other hand - what do you believe is the strongest point of our lore currently?

Despite everything, Aurora does not hem you into playing simple stereotypes. Even what should be more strictly tight laced origins allow you to play around within it – and I appreciate a lot of care has gone into allowing them, despite the Horizon’s potential limiting factors.

 

Furthermore, regarding NBT2, give a general description of how you think the logistics of such a massive rework should be done - I.E, what should be decided on and written first, and then what should follow? In general, no more than a paragraph.

Broad decisions need to be made early. This character must die, this planet must change, that corp needs this. Anything essential needs to be flagged as such. These simple clear end goals which can be handed down to each species lore team, to make their own broad strokes within their particular sandbox, who should work from a top-down perspective where possible to bring these ends goals around. This means starting with the nations, boiling down to planets, and then people. But any micro goals which may be determined to be required should be early decisions. As each element solidifies, it makes each thing around it hopefully easier and easier.

 

What timezone are you normally awake during?

I purposefully do not check in on Discord from when I awaken until when I finish work (though I am willing to change this somewhat). Currently I am usually available from 5pm until 4am UTC+0

[triogenix]

Hello, and thanks for applying! Got a few questions to sling your way

The following 1/(x) questions are about the OOC administration aspects. Please limit all answers to no more than one paragraph.

1/1. When the Lore Team is fully staffed, there are a total of twenty-one writers, one Deputy Loremaster, and one Loremaster; or in other words, two administrative managers and over twenty writers. While theoretically the deputy writers are under their relevant species writer instead of the Loremasters, in practice, writers are differentiated by team, with the Loremasters overseeing all teams. Do you think this is an effective way for the team to be run? Why or why not?

1/2. Assuming that you had complete and total permission to change the structure of the lore team in any way you wish - how would you structure it?

The following 2/(x) questions are about OOC aspects that show how you are to work with. Please limit all answers to no more than three sentences.

2/1. For the loreteam, the work for NBT2 will be large, tedious, and at times, frankly un-enjoyable. This goes doubly so for the LTA, as much of the interesting work will likely be done by individual teams. With that said, are you confident you'll be able to stick it out?

2/2. How would you describe your work personality? IDK if that's an official term, that's just what I learned it as.

The following 3/(x) questions are based on your answers to Question Three. Please keep answers two paragraphs in length at most.

3/1. When it comes to your vision for the wiki, can you expand more on how you think we can better present information? If you feel giving an example would help illustrate what you mean, use the Republic of Biesel page and generally elaborate on what things you'd change regarding it.

3/2. As a follow up - how would you try and stop massive directional changes in lore when positions turn over? This can also be answered through both OOC and IC means.

3/3. I'd like you to expand on the "small news" part and how you envision it being implemented.

3/4. As a follow-up to all the above questions, the lore team is comprised of volunteers, and as the past has shown us, the Loremasters can say or do anything; however, it means little when it is not followed through by the team at large. In general, and assuming I do not exist, how would you go about ensuring the changes you wish for are actually made?

 

Thank you. Remember, there are no incorrect answers! (Unless you go over the limit, that's an incorrect answer)

[Fyni]

When the Lore Team is fully staffed, there are a total of twenty-one writers, one Deputy Loremaster, and one Loremaster; or in other words, two administrative managers and over twenty writers. While theoretically the deputy writers are under their relevant species writer instead of the Loremasters, in practice, writers are differentiated by team, with the Loremasters overseeing all teams. Do you think this is an effective way for the team to be run? Why or why not?

I think it’s fairly effective. People have the lore they are specialized in / interested in, and they can focus in the efforts in those areas. This sort of compartmentalization generally is for the best, though in big projects like NBT2 I can see it been potentially problematic – it comes down to the managers then to make sure information, ideas and goals flow correctly. As long as said managers are effective, this structure is.

 

Assuming that you had complete and total permission to change the structure of the lore team in any way you wish - how would you structure it?

While I think the compartmentalization is a superior structure for this sort of team, on a practical level we lack the people now to fully fill this team - I know several species teams lack full deputies. I wonder if some writers would like to work for two species perhaps? Additionally, I find certain lore aspects (megacorp lore) been separate can be difficult, especially with the Horizon’s intention to integrate such themes deeper into the setting (obviously this doesn’t apply directly to NBT2, and is merely an example). Additionally, I think the numbers cap can be limiting. Human lore, who is looking for a deputy writer right now, clearly has interest enough to sustain more writers, and given how wide the human sandbox is (that is, the number of nations and planets), I would add an additional deputy to that team.

 

For the loreteam, the work for NBT2 will be large, tedious, and at times, frankly un-enjoyable. This goes doubly so for the LTA, as much of the interesting work will likely be done by individual teams. With that said, are you confident you'll be able to stick it out?

Absolutely. Ask Mel for my record as a mod – another position where the “Interesting” work is beyond your hands.

 

How would you describe your work personality? IDK if that's an official term, that's just what I learned it as.

From a work / professional stand point I do function best as a leader. I am able to grasp the big picture, and see where efficiencies can be made from a stepped back position. Able to manage and direct people to work which needs doing, and motivate too. By demand, I am able to juggle several tasks myself when required, but am never afraid to delegate when needed.

 

When it comes to your vision for the wiki, can you expand more on how you think we can better present information? If you feel giving an example would help illustrate what you mean, use the Republic of Biesel page and generally elaborate on what things you'd change regarding it.

When I first applied for wiki maint, it would take a lot of work to find out Ake Torvald was the President of the Republic of Biesel. Even after it was updated, the info was not easy to find. However, the Republic’s page is largely in a good place, though it lacks in easy and quick access to the important snippets of lore. Look at it from the perspective of a new player – the dramatic events of King of the World are not there. A new player, who is prompted to play a Biesellite, would not know OOC about invasions and battles in which their character would have been very much involved in. While the push to frontline the phoron scarcity has pushed this out of the spotlight. The invasions of KOTW are linked to, but the only to the news article page, which again as a new player is immensely dense. My solutions are simple. A new look at format and priorities. The wiki has a whole has a bad habit of not providing new player friendly summaries – while also having inconsistent formats which make finding information quickly without knowing what you want almost impossible. Pages could be reformatted with minimal effort – with the correct authority of course – and these summaries could be created.

 

As a follow up - how would you try and stop massive directional changes in lore when positions turn over? This can also be answered through both OOC and IC means.

It’s important to know what direction we want lore to go, and how important certain lore directions are. It’s a matter of weighing the importance of that direction against each candidate when said positions do turn over and then it is a matter of been forth right, putting what is wanted / required on the table early. Clarity of direction early and often are important.

 

I'd like you to expand on the "small news" part and how you envision it being implemented.

Small news / lore is something I have been an advocate for a long time. Cards on the table, it is something I spoke to several friends about the matter – you can see it happening right now from human lore, with a series of small news articles. With the number of teams and writers I can foresee it been a simple matter of having to have similar news articles from each team even on a semi regular basis. I believe lore has been too tied up with big arcs, when I see fresh small things to talk about IC (and OOC) can keep interest going in the gap between those arcs. Small news can also be delivered more through chirper, and even possibly mechanically integrated more into the game via the newscaster. Ultimately, I’ve love to see more frequent in game things sprout from this, be is micro events or player led moments. All these smaller tools, easier to wield, keep the Auroraverse continuously alive.

 

As a follow-up to all the above questions, the lore team is comprised of volunteers, and as the past has shown us, the Loremasters can say or do anything; however, it means little when it is not followed through by the team at large. In general, and assuming I do not exist, how would you go about ensuring the changes you wish for are actually made?

With ultimate authority comes the power for much, but it’s a matter of pulling strings correctly and knowing the members of your team(s). A soft word and gentle hand can achieve much with the right members. Additionally, the earlier question’s answers come up. Clear and open direction according to what changes are desired, repeated as required with gentle reminder.