Well...you can't have ALL the cookies.
**quickly puts hands behind back**
Dec out.
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You think it would help to describe your mission in Rikti?
Classification: Nemesis Plot. Assistance: Required. Threat: Planetary; Political Control. Sentient Life Cessation Probability: 94.37%. Difficulty: Extreme. Archvillain: Detected.
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You win a cookie for that.
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Cookie: Appreciated. Expression of nom: triplicate.
[Guide to Defense] [Scrapper Secondaries Comparison] [Archetype Popularity Analysis]
In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
(Please support the best webcomic about a cosmic universal realignment by impaired angelic interference resulting in identity crisis angst. Or I release the pigmy water thieves.)
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Expression of nom: triplicate.
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If I were currently working on an arc with Rikti in it, I'd so steal that. Hm, come to think of it...
Just checked my arc to ensure I mentioned that little detail. 
Which I had.
Also just added to the mission description just to make sure no one is surprised by the time they get to the final mission...
131430 Starfare: First Contact
178774 Tales of Croatoa: A Rose By Any Other Name ( 2009 MA Best In-Canon Arc ) ( 2009 Player Awards - Best Serious Arc )
Thanks for the replies Posi!
Everything you said made perfect sense, I HATE finding an AV/EB without notice! However, one thing still confuses me.
Why have there been NO new dev's choices at all? I do not expect hundreds, that would defeat the point of it but why none?
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I suppose I could stop trying so hard to use complete sentences.
[/ QUOTE ]
You think it would help to describe your mission in Rikti?
Classification: Nemesis Plot. Assistance: Required. Threat: Planetary; Political Control. Sentient Life Cessation Probability: 94.37%. Difficulty: Extreme. Archvillain: Detected.
[/ QUOTE ]
I will only use Rikti as mission contacts from this point forward.
Please try my custom mission arcs!
Legacy of a Rogue (ID 459586, Entry for Dr. Aeon's Third Challenge)
Death for Dollars! (ID 1050)
Dr. Duplicate's Dastardly Dare (ID 1218)
Win the Past, Own the Future (ID 1429)
So, to sum up:
* There is apparently no process and no well-defined criteria for getting Developer's Choice designation. It does not even include getting a lot of 5-star votes.
* The devs are stuck using the same haphazard searching methods that the rest of us use to find new arcs.
* It appears that additional arcs will be tagged DC when a dev has "spare time."
* In the three weeks since release two additional arcs have been added.
* The vast majority of arcs seem fall into one of these categories: 1) "tests" by people playing with MA, 2) farms, 3) incomplete arcs published so that other people can try them out, 4) arcs people make for themselves or their friends with no interest in becoming anything more. In short, many of the authors have no desire for their arcs even to be considered for DC status.
* A minority of arcs seem to be stories that people actually intend for other players to run for fun, and be considered for DC status.
My hope for the MA and the DC status was that it would be an alternate source of high-quality, non-repetitive content. This does not seem possible, because there's no way for the devs to find and evaluate such content. The problem is prolific writers will wind up unpublishing good content to make room for their new work. That means we'll lose their previous work.
To alleviate some of this, I suggest that one or two flags be added to arcs when they are published, which can be searched on along with the number of stars and DC status:
1) A "ready for prime time" flag. This arc is intended to be played by the general public. It is complete and debugged. It not a test version, a farm, or a player- or SG-specific arc.
2) A "submitted for dev's choice" flag. The author of this arc wants it to be considered for DC status and gives prior consent for it to be taken as is. The devs will only look at DCing arcs with this flag set.
Second, a set of technical and mechanical standards should be drawn up for arc authors based on common mistakes that the devs see. This would include things such as providing proper singular and plural text for goals, criteria for the mission's dialogs (such as mentioning team requirements for AVs), etc. It will help writers satisfy the currently unspoken criteria that the devs are looking for in new content. My guess is the devs already have a set of these standards for internal use that could be massaged for general publication.
Finally, the devs should appoint either an NCSoft emloyeee or "trusted representatives" in the fan base to look at arcs requesting DC status and recommend good ones to the devs.
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It's nice to know that the devs are actually looking into arcs that aren't just currently at 5 stars. A few of the arcs that I've played and liked, with a great story, well written, and were fun to play, sometimes end up getting 1 starred by people with no comments or feedback at all, dropping their rating.
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I'm hating the rating system at the moment myself. Because people in general don't seem to understand the concept of rating something. They look at it as a yes or no question. Do you like something? If yes 5 if no 1.
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2) A "submitted for dev's choice" flag. The author of this arc wants it to be considered for DC status and gives prior consent for it to be taken as is. The devs will only look at DCing arcs with this flag set.
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This is a great idea. This way they don't even have to take the time to contact the author when they find one they like, and though they will still get some garbage submitted, it should dramatically reduce the number the devs have to sort through since farmers obviously won't want a dev looking at their arcs!
Please try my custom mission arcs!
Legacy of a Rogue (ID 459586, Entry for Dr. Aeon's Third Challenge)
Death for Dollars! (ID 1050)
Dr. Duplicate's Dastardly Dare (ID 1218)
Win the Past, Own the Future (ID 1429)
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I'm hating the rating system at the moment myself. Because people in general don't seem to understand the concept of rating something. They look at it as a yes or no question. Do you like something? If yes 5 if no 1.
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The problem here is just laziness. I think of the stars as a checklist--good story? There's a star. Interesting mish? There's another. I like creativity. If your custom enemies' appearance is just a costume from the ready-made ones found in the character creation screens, well....don't hurt yourself (of course, I'm anal about costumes and have been pleased when folks have asked permission to take a shot and replicate my costumes).
All that being said, when I provide feedback I'm clear about why I gave the rating I did.
It is incredibly frustrating to get bad ratings and no feedback. I run my arcs with friends invited specifically because they will give honest feedback.
Maybe what we need is a cross-server group of veteran players willing to volunteer and run arcs with the specific goal of providing feedback. I know that as a badge [censored] par excellence I'm gunning after that Chosen One badge someday; without player feedback how I can be sure I'm up to snuff, ya know?
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Why have there been NO new dev's choices at all? I do not expect hundreds, that would defeat the point of it but why none?
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I think there have been one or two.
But this is diametrically opposed to previous dev statements to the effect that there would be a "lot" of Devs' Choice arcs early on.
And its even worse when you factor in something that I said back in beta: That the devs might have arbitrary criteria that disqualify arcs, but which they do not share with us.
Tonight I stumbled into this thread. So I find out that my arc might have lost out because I didnt say bring friends to a mission in which an EB exists... even though, in my opinion, anyone who cannot handle an EB solo is not using proper inspirations and/or common sense. Are we heroes or not? Sheesh.
This situation is very, VERY discouraging to me. Im a badger, and badges are what keeps me playing this game. But the devs have created yet another Devs Whim badge (the first being Bug Hunter) that I will never get unless I know the secret formula.
I do not play computer games in order to feel frustrated and/or helpless. If I want to feel that way, Ill pick up a newspaper.
IMHO, the Devs failure to pass out more Devs Choice badges is going back on their word. And it makes it very unlikely that I will ever be able to keep up with the new badges. With sooooo many frikkin farms out there, my arc needs recognition somehow. And without Devs Choice, it aint gonna get it.
I hate to say it, but i14 has really shown me the writing on the wall.
There is a lot of good stuff in MA.
But the desire for the badges associated with it is robbing all the joy out of this game.
I can no longer make progress on my badges simply because of my own effort, but because of the whims of others. Which is something over which I have no control.
And nothing makes me feel less heroic than a lack of control.
And feeling heroic is why I started playing this game in the first place.
And before anyone starts accusing me of sour grapes or whatever, PLAY the arc listed in my sig file, and tell me honestly that it sucks.
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
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But my desire for the badges associated with it is robbing all the joy out of this game.
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Fixed that for you.
I'm never going to have every badge (not even close); despite your best efforts, neither are you. If that's the only reason you're playing this game, or enough of a reason that it destroys your enjoyment of the rest, I'm sorry.
My characters at Virtueverse
Faces of the City
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Why have there been NO new dev's choices at all? I do not expect hundreds, that would defeat the point of it but why none?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think there have been one or two.
But this is diametrically opposed to previous dev statements to the effect that there would be a "lot" of Devs' Choice arcs early on.
And its even worse when you factor in something that I said back in beta: That the devs might have arbitrary criteria that disqualify arcs, but which they do not share with us.
Tonight I stumbled into this thread. So I find out that my arc might have lost out because I didnt say bring friends to a mission in which an EB exists... even though, in my opinion, anyone who cannot handle an EB solo is not using proper inspirations and/or common sense. Are we heroes or not? Sheesh.
This situation is very, VERY discouraging to me. Im a badger, and badges are what keeps me playing this game. But the devs have created yet another Devs Whim badge (the first being Bug Hunter) that I will never get unless I know the secret formula.
I do not play computer games in order to feel frustrated and/or helpless. If I want to feel that way, Ill pick up a newspaper.
IMHO, the Devs failure to pass out more Devs Choice badges is going back on their word. And it makes it very unlikely that I will ever be able to keep up with the new badges. With sooooo many frikkin farms out there, my arc needs recognition somehow. And without Devs Choice, it aint gonna get it.
I hate to say it, but i14 has really shown me the writing on the wall.
There is a lot of good stuff in MA.
But the desire for the badges associated with it is robbing all the joy out of this game.
I can no longer make progress on my badges simply because of my own effort, but because of the whims of others. Which is something over which I have no control.
And nothing makes me feel less heroic than a lack of control.
And feeling heroic is why I started playing this game in the first place.
And before anyone starts accusing me of sour grapes or whatever, PLAY the arc listed in my sig file, and tell me honestly that it sucks.
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I'm not going to say such a thing, but I am puzzled by your attitude. There's no physical way to get all the badges associated with the game, so I don't know why that's even on your list of "destroys every bit of fun I have in this game."
As far as why there haven't been any recent Dev's Choice missions added, there could be any number of reasons.
1) They've been busy -- with the 5th anniversary stuff and all the interviews they've done, as well as working feverishly on I15, they just don't have time.
2) Dev's Choice requires a quorum, maybe, and not enough of them have played the arcs they're interested in yet. (See #1.)
3) Maybe they have an honest disagreement over the missions up for consideration, without a clear majority. They are people, after all, so they're bound to have different tastes.
4) Maybe none of the arcs available are good enough.
5) It takes time for the system to publish a Dev's Choice after it's been approved.
6) There's a bug keeping the Dev's Choice from being seen.
That's just off the top of my head. There are probably another half-dozen possible reasons why there aren't any new additions.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
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As far as why there haven't been any recent Dev's Choice missions added, there could be any number of reasons....
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Add to that that the thing isn't even out a month yet and there's a gigajillion of arcs. A month ago the devs were talking about how cute the Tribbles are... now they're raining out of the Quadrotriticale bins.
.
Check... and Mate (poster) - Arc ID# 15095 (comments)
Invasion on Earth BX1132! (poster 1) - (poster 2) - Arc ID# 98943 (comments)
Global @ARH
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...ureBanner2.jpg
Wow, Herring, awesome nerd reference! Quadrotriticale indeed! My hat is doffed to you, good sir!
Zuben--I will play your arc tonight, or tomorrow morning and I WILL send you feedback about it. Ask, and ye shall receive!
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Re: Feedback - Yes I send it, usually to tell the author that there was no warning about the AV/EB in one of the missions.
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I had no idea it was that important. Could you add that to the "Dev's Choice: Becoming the Chosen One!" thread?
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But my desire for the badges associated with it is robbing all the joy out of this game.
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Fixed that for you.
I'm never going to have every badge (not even close); despite your best efforts, neither are you. If that's the only reason you're playing this game, or enough of a reason that it destroys your enjoyment of the rest, I'm sorry.
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Fair enough fix. 
But before i14, there was every possibility of getting all the badges. I only needed Empath, the 2-billion influence badge (forget the name) and Bug Hunter.
Bug Hunter has been widely criticized for being awarded arbitrarily by the Devs themselves and not by any objective, measurable standard. A player could try and try indefinitely and never get this badge for reasons beyond his control.
But now there are more just like it.
Now I cannot just play the game the way I want, run the new stories, enjoy myself while making slow progress on all the new shinies. Because there are 2 or 3 new badges that will require me to do a lot of promoting and advertising and begging people to play my stories. So much of my time and attention now is focused on these things I dont want to have to do. And this bothers me.
You personally might be fine with this. Fair enough. But I dont like it. And Im perfectly fine to state that this is a possible deal-breaker for me.
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
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I'm not going to say such a thing, but I am puzzled by your attitude.
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Did you play the arc yet? 
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There's no physical way to get all the badges associated with the game, so I don't know why that's even on your list of "destroys every bit of fun I have in this game."
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Actually, this is demonstrably false. Beef Cake has all the badges (or he did just prior to i14), and so do a few others who were fortunate enough to be awarded Bug Hunter. It is physically possible.
But I could "sort of" live with Bug Hunter, even though the odds of my being able to get it are vanishingly small. It was a goal I could still reasonably strive for. But with the introduction of another "devs' whim badge" and the new "players' whim" badges in i14, it seems that the goal post is receeding from me much faster than I can run toward it.
And because of this, sitting for an evening's play session is now a negative experience for me, rather than a positive fun one. It feels too much like work. And work at a job I have no reasonable chance of succeeding at.
It makes me sad. I'm just sayin' 
"OK, first of all... Shut Up." - My 13-Year-Old Daughter
29973 "The Running of the Bulls" [SFMA] - WINNER of the Mighty Big Story Arc Contest !
- The Stellar Wind Orbital Space Platform
You forgetting about the rating griefing. Some players will rate arc with 0 or 1 star to make it disappear from first pages.
After playing some of the Dev's Choices we already have last night, I'm sort of glad we don't have more. Some of those were the bottom of the barrel arcs in the entire system. And if a dev thinks those were good arcs, that might explain some of the other issues with the game.
I suspect some of the Dev's Choice arc are authored by buddies of the developers, but that's just me.
My Mission Architect arcs:
Attack of the Toymenator - Arc # 207874
Attack of the Monsters of Legend - Arc # 82060
Visit Cerulean Shadow's Myspace page!
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I suspect some of the Dev's Choice arc are authored by buddies of the developers, but that's just me.
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Just wanted to add personal experience on this one, because it keeps coming up. At least in my case, I know no Devs or rednames, either from regular teaming or from real life. As I understand it, I pretty much got lucky when I posted it originally on Test. I put it up late one night, and about six hours later I had a msg from pohsyb stating that it was DC'd. He caught wind of it earlier that morning, when he'd asked, "any good stories to recommend?"... and someone had mentioned mine.
There were about 40-50 arcs DC'd on test: Some for quality, some for inventiveness, some for testing. The second round of DC awarding came from Posi and Hero-1 about a week before I14 went live, which was about a day or so after I got the note from pohsyb. I didn't find out my arc made the cut 'til 2pm-ish on I14's release.
Just wanted to put this out here. I've had a bunch of arc feedback where users state "u r soo lucky u know a dev my arc is bettur then urs", and from a personal experience from what I usually expect as quality feedback avenues on my arc, I'm rather tired by it.
@TURGENEV - Freedom Server / IRON / B.A.N.E / HORDE
Turg Fiction: Ghost in the Machine Acts III & IV coming 2012!
Turg Fiction: IX is now LIVE on Architect Entertainment!
Perhaps in your case it isn't true. But several of those "Dev's Choices" arc... just aren't that special, which makes the selection process questionable at best.
My Mission Architect arcs:
Attack of the Toymenator - Arc # 207874
Attack of the Monsters of Legend - Arc # 82060
Visit Cerulean Shadow's Myspace page!
What someone said above, about the kajillion farms leaving little room for good, well-written arcs to be noticed... is how I feel. I put a lot of time and effort into my Attack of the Monsters of Legend arc (see sig, below) and have had a total of six people bother to rate it. Everyone is busy farming.
It probably is unfair to say that the Dev's Choice arcs are buddies of the Developers. But it is also frustrating to NOT feel that you have the chance to receive said award, simply because you don't have enough time in the day to play a billion random arcs and leave messages begging them to play yours, or that everyone is too busy farming to look at anything else.
I would welcome feedback on any of my arcs, especially the Attack of the Monsters of Legend one. I did get one very thorough feedback via PM here (thanks Frozen_Northman!) who bothered to give me props as well as constructive criticism, which I very much appreciated. Most are just the one-liners through the game, and those are rare; of the big whopping six people who rated the arc, four didn't bother to leave any sort of feedback at all.
I'm also seeing mindless farms with misspellings everywhere and billions of Rikti comm officers that have 5-star ratings by hundreds of people. That is most frustrating of all, and really makes me reconsider why I should even bother creating good, playable, story-driven missions.
I DO want my arc considered for inclusion in the Dev's Choice. My work, like anyone else, will always have room for improvement. If you (player, developer, whoever) play it and think something can be improved, tell me. I have used 99.92% of my allotted 100k, (I was at 127% by the time I realized there was a limit - bye bye custom minions!) but will certainly take any suggested changes into consideration.
If anyone wants to take a look at it:
Attack of the Monsters of Legend - Arc # 82060
Thanks for listening.
My Mission Architect arcs:
Attack of the Toymenator - Arc # 207874
Attack of the Monsters of Legend - Arc # 82060
Visit Cerulean Shadow's Myspace page!
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You think it would help to describe your mission in Rikti?
Classification: Nemesis Plot. Assistance: Required. Threat: Planetary; Political Control. Sentient Life Cessation Probability: 94.37%. Difficulty: Extreme. Archvillain: Detected.
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You win a cookie for that.
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I wish I posted that
That blue thing running around saying "Cookies are sometimes food" is Praetorian Cookie Monster!
Shoot on sight, please.