How to rebuild Deep Six?, My loyal minions, cast your vote!

[Matt]

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I put it to you that your administrative staff have failed you. One had disappeared entirely and the other seems to reappear for brief periods before vanishing once more.
However, I would like to remind you that the one who does come back now and again does care, misses the good old days of Deep Six and wants to rebuild. To do this he needs your help.

I hope you can all forgive me and accept that I've had a few RL issues keeping me off the interweb for a long while now. The recession in the UK, loss of jobs, pressure at work, illness in the family, personal financial issues, getting engaged - heck I've been busy. Good news is though that I've cut out almost 20 hours of work per week by changing jobs!

Therefore, not only am I back, but this time it's with a vengeance.

I am as serious as I'll ever be about getting this place back on track, and I'll need some serious help. I no longer have my co-admin or my mods, so I'll need active replacements. If you're interested, you have the time and you want to help me and the community to rebuild, please volunteer! I will give you a special place in my heart - or siggeh. Either one.

I no longer have the deciding vote on what we do about the rebuild in my honest opinion. This is because you've all put in as much or more than I have into Deep Six over the months we've been running, and I want what we can all agree is best.

We have several choices, as listed above. Please vote and then post explaining why you feel this is the best thing to do! Let's discuss things properly - something we failed to do before. We need to get organized! You options are also detailed below.

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Option 1
Clear out the forums completely - All new Characters & Threads

This means all of our existing characters go, as do their posts and threads and we start from scratch. Unfortunately much of my grand master plot has been revealed, though much more awaits us. This is the most harsh reset, but also the most fresh and interesting.

Option 2
Partially clear out the forums - All new Threads, same Characters

Here we keep the same characters but all of their threads, posts, development, and interaction is deleted. It will be hard for us to maintain the perspective we need IC to imagine we're working with new characters again and to prevent some crazy shizzle happening IC where we all know everything about each other before out charrie's even meet, but we at least get to keep some of our hard work - our characters.

Option 3
Try to carry on from a specific point in the RP storyline

This will be near to impossible with key RP'ers and their characters missing. We will all struggle to remember who we were and where we left off - let lone what we were all up to.

Option 4
Do out best to pick up where we left off

Need I tell you this will be the hardest of all?

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Love,
Your friendly neighbourhood Admin - Matt

(So dubbed: 'Our fearless leader' - Ty Devyn)

[Kayleigh Doyle]

I'd love to help in any way I can, classes just started, so things will be a bit busy for a bit.

I know I haven't actually rped on this board, but I love the plot and I recently submitted an application (though the site had died by that point). Option one would be the most effective, in my opinion, and I'm sure a lot can be done with whatever hasn't been revealed yet.

[Dollian Teague]

I know I disappeared long ago, but if options 1 or 2 (or even 3 to some degree) are agreed upon, i'd love to jump back in.

[Darius Gray]

I'll most likely be available to help if we do this. I think we should just go for the total reboot. I don't know about everyone else, but I know I'd have difficulty finding inspiration to play Darius now, plus I think it might be more inviting to new and prospective members if everything starts anew; hopefully we can reignite the fire and keep it lit for much longer.

[Katy Collins]

I voted for total reboot. It's the only thing I can see working. Matt, if this is really going to happen this time I have no problem offering my help. I'll be unemployed within two weeks so it looks as though I have some more free time than I originally thought.

[Matt]

Thanks for coming back you trolls! (jk ) Also welcome to a new member! We need more fresh faces to help this place get back on track!

I'm glad to see such a rapid and enthusiastic response, and thank you all for sharing your opinion (and teh poll votes) with everyone. I also voted for the total reset, as it will allow us more creative freedom, let new people join more easily and make the whole process much more interesting.
I only ask that those of you who have been knocking about here for a while keep some of the plot developments to yourselves if we do a total reset, so new members don't get bummed out by spoilers. I can tell you that we've got a lot more plot ahead of us. As you all know it hasn't even started getting bloody and scary yet.

I'm going to go about the process of creating new staff positions and archiving the old threads soon, probably starting tonight. Once that's done, we'll be another couple of steps closer to seeing Deep Six back up!

I'll keep the poll open for a while. In fact I probably won't close it until I archive this thread too, to give every one of our 64 registered email account holders (could I have really made such a popular site? *Shocked* ) a fair chance to respond.
If a total reset is still the favourite by Sunday @ 12:00 AM GMT then that's what I (and hopefully my new team!) will set about doing.
If we do lose any members because they disagree with the community decision in the end. . . . well let's say I hope it doesn't come to that.

Now. . .

A new subject for discussion. This may be a tad premature, but it will take some time to figure out.

The terms of a full reset
Now, obviously this means we will all need new characters and will have 0 - Zero - Zilch - Squat in the way of posts on the board. There are a few particulars I would like to bring up;

1) User accounts

I think we need to delete all user accounts and start again. Each member has to re-register their accounts, choosing a new name for a new character in the process. Simple, effective cleanup? Any comments, suggestions or objections?

2) New characters

How similar can we allow new characters to be to the old ones? Do we need to implement a restriction or not? Please comment!

3) Archiving

Do we want the old board to be public, passworded or closed? Do we forget the past entirely and lock it away, or leave it there for all to see, or do we allow the old guard passwords to browse the content they created, whilst keeping new members untainted by spoilers? Comments!?

4) New member guides

Is there anything about the setting, world, history, technology, currency or whatever - anything that you think could be better explained for new members? If so, what and how - I'll be happy to help!

[Pilate Harrigan]

I find it funny that every single time I think about roleplaying, my mind always strays back here. This is by far the best site I have ever written on, and since Deep Six went into recess, I never got back into writing on any other forum. Thus, here I am, as always! I will be active pretty much every day, as I have no more education to get in the way. I am looking for a full time job, granted, but I can't see that happening too soon, and I can afford to stay online well into the earlier hours of the morning now. I did vote to keep our current characters but erase the plot, but that's just me ;D I am also up for starting from scratch if that is chosen.
About archiving, I for one adored all of the characters interactions back in the day, so I think it's unfair to just delete all of those wondrous words and hard work, I say we password the old archives so those of us who were involved can look back on our old posts and smile? (:

[Marissa Velez]

I love this site! I want to keep Marissa.

[Dollian Teague]

1) User accounts

Re-registering takes only a few minutes, I support the blank slate startup.

2) New characters

I think new characters are a good idea, but I also trust anyone here to roleplay their current character in the new Deep Six without being ruined by their past roleplay in the old Deep Six. So personally, I think changing your character should be optional.

3) Archiving

I think we may as well just get rid of it entirely. Blank slate.

4) New member guides

...hm. Something i'll have to go back through and look at before I can give my opinion.

[Darius Gray]

2) New characters

I know some people want to keep their old characters and I think that should be an option. Perhaps people who want to keep their old characters can request to do so and those apps won't be deleted. It would also make it easier to track down and get rid of inactive characters.

3) Archiving

I think we may as well just get rid of it. If people do want to be able to browse the old threads and what not, then I think it should at least be passworded, because knowing very little about the plot at the beginning was one of the most fun things about Deep Six.

[Yirea Killohi]

I too think clearing out the forums completely is the best choice. Doing otherwise just seems to be an invitation for inactivity, as can be seen from previous attempts to restart.

As for helping, I really love to write for other people, so if anyone needs anything - or Deep Six - I'd be more than happy to lend my services.

New characters is a really good idea. I think it'd be much harder to keep an older character, as well as generate muse for him/her. Maybe key ones could stay, but I think in general, it should be a complete wipe. If someone really wanted to keep a character, maybe they could re-introduce them later on after the ball is already rolling, so to speak?

The user accounts goes right with the new characters, unless an older one is staying they'd be better off deleted. There's also the idea that even if someone's character is kept, the account should be deleted anyway, to make sure the intention is concrete. It doesn't take much to create another account, and the chances of the name being taken - even with the member population - is very slim indeed.

My first thought about the archives was to simply delete them, but now I'm thinking more of passwording them. However, if the archives were to be deleted, the posts could always be saved in notepad, office, open office, etc for memories sake. Although I do think if they were passworded it'd be harder for the new members. It would be something they would never see, and in doing so might create animosity over the concealment factor, even though it would be for the good of the plot.

New member guides are a definite must, no doubt about it. Despite the plethora of information, I know I had questions when I first joined. A layout of the ship would be really nice or at least some guidelines. Since the pilots/navigators know the layout of the ship, it's one thing to invent some random corridor going to the mess hall only to realize later that corridor you just created runs through the engine room. Also some general descriptions of the necessary rooms would also be kinda nice, so once again we won't be contradicting one another. More class information about ships/planets/civilizations/society in general, although I would say there should still be room for some fresh ideas/imagination. As of right now, these areas are relatively lacking, though I do believe a planet thread was started awhile back? It's just nice to have a little bit of outline - especially when you're new - even if the outline has a nice hole to let in some fresh air.

[Matt]

Thanks for the input guys! If the general consensus around character creation is that people should be allowed to choose to keep their original characters then I'm good with that. We'll just have to make sure everyone keeps their wits about them when RP'ing the old charrie on a new board!

And with regards to archiving I'm going to start that later tonight. I've got work till 5pm today so it will be sometime this evening. The old archives will probably be passworded.

And as for the new member content, I'm going to think on that some and see what I can do. If anyone wants to help contribute with any ideas that would be great too.

Soon we'll all be back up and running!

[Devyn Catherwood]

*stumbles in unexpectedly...but still alive!*

I swear this site is like a cockroach- it never dies! And while that sounds totally off the bat with how pleased I am that there are people still alive out there for "resurrection part deux" its the best metaphor I can think of right now. So!

I don't know if its too late to register my opinion or not and I'll probably sound like a fantastic hypocrite when I do so. Buuut I'm also for keeping around older characters. If we wipe the board clean and that includes all CI that the old characters had I still think it works if you keep the original templates.

As for the idea of new member guides- they're great to have. And Matt if you're comfortable with people working on bits and pieces of things why don't you have Yirea start working on that?

I think one of the problems we had earlier was that all the work sort of rested on one person's shoulders. Not that I'm one for insubordination oh fearless leader (yes I see your comment above ) but I'm finding out more and more with friends I see running their own sites...its alot of work. Not to mention with the attention span of most RPers these days you stay inactive for a few days of the week and people start disappearing.

(And this really doesn't include any of you guys because this site is and hopefully will continue to be exceptional)

But we already saw it with one of the "newer" applicants that took down his application within a week. Not that I would be interested in having members like that on the site, but there's a fine line between taking all the responsibility on yourself and good old fashioned teamwork.

I think its safe to say the people still active can be trusted to stick around. So while planning is all well and good before you try and do everything yourself *aherm* let us help! I think its been emphasized previously but what would be great to see is a tally of all the volunteers and a new post or something with "okay! *insert name here* why don't you go do this?"

I can personally volunteer some of my time (here's where the hypocrite part comes in) but I know I'm never going to be able to hold a position like Co-Admin and whatnot. I say find the people that are though and start putting up those applications for staff that you used to have.

PS: This is my two cents which can easily be ignored and is the product of a pleasant surprise and several days of night shifts at the hospital...enjoy and know I mean no offense

[Matt]

Welcome back Devyn! Don't worry, you're not ranting, raving or offending anyone at all. You have a few good points all in all, and I'm okay with giving people the option to keep their old characters if they feel they can still maintain perspective and have the inspiration to further develop them. I'm going to start rebuilding the forums tomorrow morning, as I'm not at work till 12 XD

[Eaton_Kepplinger]

::peeks head in slowly:: I don't right know if my opinion matters at this point any more but hey, figure'd I'd pop in again. Life's been rather insane over here and finally things are dying down. Won't bore you with all the gritty crappy details. But I think that maybe a near full clearing out (if not total) is a pretty good idea. Maybe starting somewhat fresh is a good thing.

I'd like to offer my services as well (I know that seems ridiculous considering my penchant lately for inactivity...but most of that was due to work. I now have a pda phone with full interweb access so even at work I can keep up.)

Pardon the scattered and short reply, but I'm still half asleep haha. But I wanted to say hi. Because I really do miss you guys, and this board. The creative juices were always a'flowin. I'd love to see us get back there!