Tier 1
6.
I’ve talked about this idea multiple times in the past to people personally, and I even got it submitted as a rules proposal through that informal Colorado rules summit, though I honestly forget what that summit was about and what came of it. Anyway, somehow it got voted on, and it was voted down. The rule I am speaking of, which I hope one day is named the “Jimi rule” dictates that the amount of TPE allotted for a fully completed Ultimus Week task be 12 TPE. Now the base logic for this proposal is really quite simple. When you break down Ultimus Week into it’s true nature, you see that it really is four point tasks (PT’s). The point system is based entirely around normal PT’s, with one change. Normally you get 3 TPE for a 200 word PT, but a 200 word Ultimus week task gives you 2.5 TPE. This mean, for an unknown reason, you are punished more for having only been able to complete half of Ultimus week, considering being at the “.5 level” allows your TPE to be rounded up. Indeed you get maximum value for your work at 200 and 600 words in Ultimus week. It’s just a strange system and I’m not sure why the original creators didn’t just realize you should be awarded 12 TPE for it. In fact, I wouldn’t even mind if you were awarded more than 12 TPE for it. Make it 14 or 15. It seems to be the task that provides the most stress for people since so much is asked of you at once. Sure, you have a longer timeframe to do it, but often I find people have more difficulty going tasks that FEEL overwhelming, whether or not they actually are. I could go into a psychological discussion about cognitive diffusion and reducing the real weight of our anxieties, but since it’s not quite relevant, I’ll just emphasize the fact that 800 words simply feels bigger than it really is. Also, let’s be honest, it’s very likely that the vast majority of those that submit fully completed Ultimus Week tasks did the whole thing in one sitting. With this known, why are we giving less TPE for the same work of 4 PT’s? It’s ludicrous, but what’s even more ludicrous is that this was brough to rules voting once before and was VOTED DOWN. Now for someone who is first hearing about this issue I’m randomly passionate about, you’re probably wondering why such a simple and understandable change would be voted down. The answer I got, though I admit I never heard from all or even many of those that voted no, was that the TPE system is built delicately. There needs to be a relationship between TPE earned per season by players, the timing of regression, etc. Essentially, adding more TPE into the mix could upset the balance of these well though out system. To this point, well meaning as it is, I raise my counterpoint. Don’t be ridiculous, we’re talking an extra 2 TPE PER SEASON. This is the equivalent of one extra activity check for a player PER SEASON. It’s not that this TPE is being added randomly and out of nowhere. We’re not talking charity incentive TPE. This is TPE that users work for through their Ultimus Week submissions that is for some reason not being given to them. This is TPE that should already be in the system. I can only assume they thought 10 was a nice, even number, so they just stuck with it.
I think the reason I am most interested in seeing this change comes from being a DSFL GM. When you’re a DSFL GM, sometimes you have to really struggle with keeping users from the brink of becoming inactive, and beyond that you also need to prepare all your players to eventually play in the ISFL. This involves helping them to earn as best you can. If you’ve ever had a user who you had to use all your strength to get them to do a point task, try telling them about Ultimus Week and see how it goes. It’s just not worth it to them. Now I’m not saying that upping Ultimus Week by two TPE will suddenly massively increase the percentage of users who complete it, but at least I can explain it to low earning users that it’s at least an efficient use of their time. This is also why I wouldn’t mind it being worth even more than 12 TPE. That way, I could actually explain that for this specific long task they will actually get more than they normally would if they were the typical point tasks. I know that there are people that don’t want earning to be incredibly easy, but I think that increasing the TPE amount for Ultimus Week is worth it for increasing the engagement on such a task. Additionally, it just makes perfect sense. We’re doing 4 PT’s, so give us the TPE for our effort. If this goes to rules voting again, I hope people don’t make the same mistake again.
857 words
6.
I’ve talked about this idea multiple times in the past to people personally, and I even got it submitted as a rules proposal through that informal Colorado rules summit, though I honestly forget what that summit was about and what came of it. Anyway, somehow it got voted on, and it was voted down. The rule I am speaking of, which I hope one day is named the “Jimi rule” dictates that the amount of TPE allotted for a fully completed Ultimus Week task be 12 TPE. Now the base logic for this proposal is really quite simple. When you break down Ultimus Week into it’s true nature, you see that it really is four point tasks (PT’s). The point system is based entirely around normal PT’s, with one change. Normally you get 3 TPE for a 200 word PT, but a 200 word Ultimus week task gives you 2.5 TPE. This mean, for an unknown reason, you are punished more for having only been able to complete half of Ultimus week, considering being at the “.5 level” allows your TPE to be rounded up. Indeed you get maximum value for your work at 200 and 600 words in Ultimus week. It’s just a strange system and I’m not sure why the original creators didn’t just realize you should be awarded 12 TPE for it. In fact, I wouldn’t even mind if you were awarded more than 12 TPE for it. Make it 14 or 15. It seems to be the task that provides the most stress for people since so much is asked of you at once. Sure, you have a longer timeframe to do it, but often I find people have more difficulty going tasks that FEEL overwhelming, whether or not they actually are. I could go into a psychological discussion about cognitive diffusion and reducing the real weight of our anxieties, but since it’s not quite relevant, I’ll just emphasize the fact that 800 words simply feels bigger than it really is. Also, let’s be honest, it’s very likely that the vast majority of those that submit fully completed Ultimus Week tasks did the whole thing in one sitting. With this known, why are we giving less TPE for the same work of 4 PT’s? It’s ludicrous, but what’s even more ludicrous is that this was brough to rules voting once before and was VOTED DOWN. Now for someone who is first hearing about this issue I’m randomly passionate about, you’re probably wondering why such a simple and understandable change would be voted down. The answer I got, though I admit I never heard from all or even many of those that voted no, was that the TPE system is built delicately. There needs to be a relationship between TPE earned per season by players, the timing of regression, etc. Essentially, adding more TPE into the mix could upset the balance of these well though out system. To this point, well meaning as it is, I raise my counterpoint. Don’t be ridiculous, we’re talking an extra 2 TPE PER SEASON. This is the equivalent of one extra activity check for a player PER SEASON. It’s not that this TPE is being added randomly and out of nowhere. We’re not talking charity incentive TPE. This is TPE that users work for through their Ultimus Week submissions that is for some reason not being given to them. This is TPE that should already be in the system. I can only assume they thought 10 was a nice, even number, so they just stuck with it.
I think the reason I am most interested in seeing this change comes from being a DSFL GM. When you’re a DSFL GM, sometimes you have to really struggle with keeping users from the brink of becoming inactive, and beyond that you also need to prepare all your players to eventually play in the ISFL. This involves helping them to earn as best you can. If you’ve ever had a user who you had to use all your strength to get them to do a point task, try telling them about Ultimus Week and see how it goes. It’s just not worth it to them. Now I’m not saying that upping Ultimus Week by two TPE will suddenly massively increase the percentage of users who complete it, but at least I can explain it to low earning users that it’s at least an efficient use of their time. This is also why I wouldn’t mind it being worth even more than 12 TPE. That way, I could actually explain that for this specific long task they will actually get more than they normally would if they were the typical point tasks. I know that there are people that don’t want earning to be incredibly easy, but I think that increasing the TPE amount for Ultimus Week is worth it for increasing the engagement on such a task. Additionally, it just makes perfect sense. We’re doing 4 PT’s, so give us the TPE for our effort. If this goes to rules voting again, I hope people don’t make the same mistake again.
857 words
