Spell/Potion/Homework System
I agree with the others, I don't mind changes and definitely would like to see the site grow, but I would love if this site caters to more rp. The old system has intrigued me too. As someone who just started this site, I would not want other new players disheartened so easily (as someone who checks the forums here especially the deactivated/deleted forum). I want this site to be player friendly for people who just started to this site.
From,
Angel
| Angelace ©
Sta: 8 | Eva: 6 | Stre: 5 | Wis: 7 | Arc: 3 | Acc: 1
From,
Angel
| Angelace ©
Sta: 8 | Eva: 6 | Stre: 5 | Wis: 7 | Arc: 3 | Acc: 1
Spell/Potion/Homework System
Even though I wasn't here during the transition and have never experienced the old system, I do think some things could change in this system. There could definetely be more RP things added.
For one, you could bring back giving all spells and potions at the end of the year but make a note of which ones are given, and when the player uses that spell, their WDC for that specific spell can be higher.
Solution 1
I also think (and I know there was some disscussion of it in the OOC Chat) that you can give the students a choice. A 200+ word RP (where anonimity is not needed) or, 10 questions (anonimity optional/needed)
Next, I think spells could be made cheaper. I really like Dealla and Avery's idea for 1 × Year = Galleons which is the cost for the spell. I realize some spells are special IC, so make those 1 galleon or a few sickles higher, OR make those only available with my idea below.
Solution 2
Another idea, is that you do a proper thread. The professor does 1 starting post for each lesson at the start of the year, and to get the spell students need to post in it. That os nearly the same as writing a lecture so it shouldn't be a problem. I also like Kim's idea, and taking from it, after the post is made, a grade and house points are given through through a d20 roll, but the grade is only for RP purposes. You get the spell when you post regardless of the roll. Before the end of the year, the professor makes an ending post, but the thread is left open for anyone wanting to do previous year's homework. I say this because all the homework that is currently being done, is basically a reading comprehension about IC things which wouldn't help. I mean if somebody does want the etymology, incantation, etc. of the spell, there is already a thread (a "book") which has it. If the professor finds it too much work to write the starting post, they can make one up to reuse for each lesson, or simply copy the current lecture. The ending post can either be standar or custom, depending on what the professor wants. If the post is made after the ending posts, only 1 housepoint is given regardless of the grade.
This shouldn't be much work for the professors as only a roll needs to be made and the wc to be checked.
This isn't a big problem, but if you could, can we maybe have a seperate "spells" category? No big deal, but it would be great if it could happen.
Housepoints Solution
I think their should be more ways of getting housepoints than just homework. Since staff already monitor the forums and check threads, simply add the thing that if somebody, IC, is doing a good thing, then house points are awarded, but if someone IC, is doing something bad, house points are deducted.
RP Roles
I know there are staff roles, but more than for RP purposes they are to do OOC work. I appreciate all in the staff to keep this site up and running, but their could be the addition of roles RP wise. Prefects can be solely for RP Purposes and only as a title, or if work is needed, they can grade homework. All current prefects can be promoted to head boy/girl. We can do a slight change from canon lore and have 2 head girls and 2 head boys for each house. They will do all current prefect work. This is only to encourage more RP, and I know a lot of people, like me, are under age, or possibly don't have discord. Many are discouraged by that and therefore this could help.
Thats all I have to say to the issue, but I will monitor the thread as I am interested in getting the ideas and opinions of others. I'm also curious to have a staff post and see what they think.
For one, you could bring back giving all spells and potions at the end of the year but make a note of which ones are given, and when the player uses that spell, their WDC for that specific spell can be higher.
Solution 1
I also think (and I know there was some disscussion of it in the OOC Chat) that you can give the students a choice. A 200+ word RP (where anonimity is not needed) or, 10 questions (anonimity optional/needed)
Next, I think spells could be made cheaper. I really like Dealla and Avery's idea for 1 × Year = Galleons which is the cost for the spell. I realize some spells are special IC, so make those 1 galleon or a few sickles higher, OR make those only available with my idea below.
Solution 2
Another idea, is that you do a proper thread. The professor does 1 starting post for each lesson at the start of the year, and to get the spell students need to post in it. That os nearly the same as writing a lecture so it shouldn't be a problem. I also like Kim's idea, and taking from it, after the post is made, a grade and house points are given through through a d20 roll, but the grade is only for RP purposes. You get the spell when you post regardless of the roll. Before the end of the year, the professor makes an ending post, but the thread is left open for anyone wanting to do previous year's homework. I say this because all the homework that is currently being done, is basically a reading comprehension about IC things which wouldn't help. I mean if somebody does want the etymology, incantation, etc. of the spell, there is already a thread (a "book") which has it. If the professor finds it too much work to write the starting post, they can make one up to reuse for each lesson, or simply copy the current lecture. The ending post can either be standar or custom, depending on what the professor wants. If the post is made after the ending posts, only 1 housepoint is given regardless of the grade.
This shouldn't be much work for the professors as only a roll needs to be made and the wc to be checked.
This isn't a big problem, but if you could, can we maybe have a seperate "spells" category? No big deal, but it would be great if it could happen.
Housepoints Solution
I think their should be more ways of getting housepoints than just homework. Since staff already monitor the forums and check threads, simply add the thing that if somebody, IC, is doing a good thing, then house points are awarded, but if someone IC, is doing something bad, house points are deducted.
RP Roles
I know there are staff roles, but more than for RP purposes they are to do OOC work. I appreciate all in the staff to keep this site up and running, but their could be the addition of roles RP wise. Prefects can be solely for RP Purposes and only as a title, or if work is needed, they can grade homework. All current prefects can be promoted to head boy/girl. We can do a slight change from canon lore and have 2 head girls and 2 head boys for each house. They will do all current prefect work. This is only to encourage more RP, and I know a lot of people, like me, are under age, or possibly don't have discord. Many are discouraged by that and therefore this could help.
I really like this idea!!If you want to keep homework the way it is, you can just redo the lessons for spells/potions and teachers can write an rp for each lesson as a lecture but then instead of questions/homework at the end, have it be the student does an rp of the spell the lesson taught as themselves (remove anonymous since it doesn't matter). Then when they submit it, the teacher 'grades' it by rolling your wisdom against the spell you are trying to get. If you cast it you win the spell if you don't, you have to wait until next month to try again. Easy. Simple. Makes sense. Lightens workload on professors. Everyone is happy, except those who failed lol but they have a chance to redo the homework next month to get it. Also if they want to get the spell ahead of time if they fail they can buy it but incorporate the idea of Y1 spells are 1 galleon each, Year 2 spells are 2 galleons each etc... or have them all cost 1 silver.
Thats all I have to say to the issue, but I will monitor the thread as I am interested in getting the ideas and opinions of others. I'm also curious to have a staff post and see what they think.
Spell/Potion/Homework System
One more thing, I like the idea of reverting back to having your spells/potions shared by your iNPC too. Or if that's too much trouble, then being able to copy/paste your homework answers from your PC and doing it for your iNPC should be fine because it's literally your own work. Before in the past both were shared, but with the new system they are separate but I don't think they should be because it seems unfair to make you do the same homework on both characters but not be able to copy and paste the answers of one to the other one. Since they used to be tied to the same account before we established separate iNPC accounts, I think it would be better if when you get a stat point, spell or potion on your PC it counts towards your iNPC too again.
The old system was 90% perfect imo. There's a saying, "Don't change something that's already perfect." Because if you mess with near perfection, it has a tendency to become worse.
But that's just my own opinion. I appreciate all the work staff do and they are doing a great job because coding is so difficult and time consuming and frustrating. But the changes that were done... I don't think those changes should have been made in the first place. I really think the current system should revert back to the old system. Before staff were saying that they make decisions to make it fair and appeal to the majority of people which is totally understandable and I support that because it makes sense. But if that is still the case, then imo you should revert back to the old system because it seems that is what the majority want now.
Or maybe just revert 80% of it back to the old system and add the new tweaks that me and some others in this thread have given as alternatives.
The old system was 90% perfect imo. There's a saying, "Don't change something that's already perfect." Because if you mess with near perfection, it has a tendency to become worse.
But that's just my own opinion. I appreciate all the work staff do and they are doing a great job because coding is so difficult and time consuming and frustrating. But the changes that were done... I don't think those changes should have been made in the first place. I really think the current system should revert back to the old system. Before staff were saying that they make decisions to make it fair and appeal to the majority of people which is totally understandable and I support that because it makes sense. But if that is still the case, then imo you should revert back to the old system because it seems that is what the majority want now.
Or maybe just revert 80% of it back to the old system and add the new tweaks that me and some others in this thread have given as alternatives.
| kim sato tone bakugo | sta • 10 | eva • 16 | str • 2 | wis • 10 | arc • 7 | acc • 17 sta • 10 | eva • 15 | str • 12 | wis • 7 | arc • 4 | acc • 17 |
PC ENCY iNPC ENCY |
Spell/Potion/Homework System
Hiya, just a small point to make.
As the homework system is changing to be easier so people can earn spells from Homework, it also means that only some of the homework tasks have been changed. Charms for me is still the old system with a 10ptx and 15ptx. While Care of Magical Creatures is the new version of the system.
Before the spell system, I think I had around 50G which i thought was fairly large amount of money, however I bought 4 spells (12g+12g+12g+ 4g) which is 40 galleons. As the spells are expensive it feels like I'm missing out from the IC flair of being able to cast theses spells.
Also I was 2nd year when they stopped doing the mass spells transfer so I only have all of 1st year charms with minimal 2nd and 3rd year spells which is a shame.
But the staff are trying and doing a great job! I just wanted to say my opinion.
As the homework system is changing to be easier so people can earn spells from Homework, it also means that only some of the homework tasks have been changed. Charms for me is still the old system with a 10ptx and 15ptx. While Care of Magical Creatures is the new version of the system.
Before the spell system, I think I had around 50G which i thought was fairly large amount of money, however I bought 4 spells (12g+12g+12g+ 4g) which is 40 galleons. As the spells are expensive it feels like I'm missing out from the IC flair of being able to cast theses spells.
Also I was 2nd year when they stopped doing the mass spells transfer so I only have all of 1st year charms with minimal 2nd and 3rd year spells which is a shame.
But the staff are trying and doing a great job! I just wanted to say my opinion.
Spell/Potion/Homework System
I would just like to add that maybe you could do like a homework sharing system with the INPC. Meaning, if I do Charms Y1L3, upon getting a passing grade, I get the spell(s) and so does (if I have one) my INPC. For house points you can either (1) award it only to whoever does the homework and the other has to actually redo the work if the want house points (Not my favourite idea) or you can (2) award the spell(s)/potion(s) to both PC and INPC.Disclaimer: This suggestion is for the current system, but it can, and I would love for it to be, implemented in any new/old system, should the change take place.
This is because currently, homework is completely OOC and simply repetitive should I need to do the same thing again on my INPC. I don't mind if copy-pasting is allowed, but I prefer my idea above.
If the system I shared above (pasted in the reducio) is implemented, then the INPC makes the post outside of Hogwarts (anywhere where it is allowed) then simply posts an OOC note in the main thread, linking their post
Reducio
Solution 2
Another idea, is that you do a proper thread. The professor does 1 starting post for each lesson at the start of the year, and to get the spell students need to post in it. That os nearly the same as writing a lecture so it shouldn't be a problem. I also like Kim's idea, and taking from it, after the post is made, a grade and house points are given through through a d20 roll, but the grade is only for RP purposes. You get the spell when you post regardless of the roll. Before the end of the year, the professor makes an ending post, but the thread is left open for anyone wanting to do previous year's homework. I say this because all the homework that is currently being done, is basically a reading comprehension about IC things which wouldn't help. I mean if somebody does want the etymology, incantation, etc. of the spell, there is already a thread (a "book") which has it. If the professor finds it too much work to write the starting post, they can make one up to reuse for each lesson, or simply copy the current lecture. The ending post can either be standar or custom, depending on what the professor wants. If the post is made after the ending posts, only 1 housepoint is given regardless of the grade.
This shouldn't be much work for the professors as only a roll needs to be made and the wc to be checked.
Another idea, is that you do a proper thread. The professor does 1 starting post for each lesson at the start of the year, and to get the spell students need to post in it. That os nearly the same as writing a lecture so it shouldn't be a problem. I also like Kim's idea, and taking from it, after the post is made, a grade and house points are given through through a d20 roll, but the grade is only for RP purposes. You get the spell when you post regardless of the roll. Before the end of the year, the professor makes an ending post, but the thread is left open for anyone wanting to do previous year's homework. I say this because all the homework that is currently being done, is basically a reading comprehension about IC things which wouldn't help. I mean if somebody does want the etymology, incantation, etc. of the spell, there is already a thread (a "book") which has it. If the professor finds it too much work to write the starting post, they can make one up to reuse for each lesson, or simply copy the current lecture. The ending post can either be standar or custom, depending on what the professor wants. If the post is made after the ending posts, only 1 housepoint is given regardless of the grade.
This shouldn't be much work for the professors as only a roll needs to be made and the wc to be checked.
Spell/Potion/Homework System
Hey there! So, as a firstie, I'm still trying to get the hang of everything on this wonderful site! OOC, I am really busy, but IC, Rosie is relatively smart/enjoys class! I don't know if I quite agree(zero hate) with making our character's IC abilities(for spells/potions) dependent on the amount of time we have OOC to complete homeworks!
I have 2 suggestions to contribute to the discussion! I love what people have already posted, and sorry if this is similar, I promise I'm not copying!
1. Have an option! A, do the homework. B, buy the spell(I'd say less expensive, like 1 galleon for Y1, 2 for Y2, etc). C, do a thread of learning it in class/studying/brewing/whatever!
2. Make the homeworks easier/shorter! Less questions, more about the basics of the spell. Demonstrate that you get it(ie incantation, movement, what it does, whatever), then have it! All the questions, in my opinion, are redundant/unnecessary!
Thanks for reading, hope y'all have great days!
I have 2 suggestions to contribute to the discussion! I love what people have already posted, and sorry if this is similar, I promise I'm not copying!
1. Have an option! A, do the homework. B, buy the spell(I'd say less expensive, like 1 galleon for Y1, 2 for Y2, etc). C, do a thread of learning it in class/studying/brewing/whatever!
2. Make the homeworks easier/shorter! Less questions, more about the basics of the spell. Demonstrate that you get it(ie incantation, movement, what it does, whatever), then have it! All the questions, in my opinion, are redundant/unnecessary!
Thanks for reading, hope y'all have great days!
Spell/Potion/Homework System
Guys, I don't want y'all (staff I mean, it doesn't bother me much if the general community feels that way towards me) to feel mad or aggravated with me, especially when I was one of the ones who backed this push for spells as items.
I don't want to speak too much on this, but I will say as someone who graded homework, constantly, I didn't really enjoy giving spells out as items. It took more time than I wanted to contribute. I loved grading! Never get me wrong on that! But I hated handing the spells out. I preferred having them post an update for index, but even index falls behind a bit as everyone gets busy, and having to return to putting spells as things for your trunk can add to their workload tremendously. Anyone who has worked index understands this frustration. But I think anyone who worked as a professor or assistance can also understand the annoyance of having an extra task of handing out spells.
I am not sure if there really is a good medium. Everyone has their own preference. I don't mind having them as items, it's just giving them out is the annoying part. I don't mind them in the trunk, but index would have to be a little more active or update their workload minimum per member, open up the team to more members. But opening it up takes people away from Validations.
I made homework easier because I didn't want people to spend 20 or more minutes on the homework. All you need to do is find the answers, answer the questions and click submit. I don't want anyone doing writing portions because then it breaks anonymity when people want to do the RP part, but also because those were my least favorites to grade.
I don't really see a happy medium. Lowering spell prices may be ideal, but as someone who doesn't save money or collect stipend, nor is as interested in buying the spells or doing the homework for spells, I cannot speak on this.
--
I also saw, in the linked post in the first post of this thread, Percival and Dealla's message, and all I want to say is, I would not be part of a sports team if we got rid of stat points. That is the only reason I'm even participating. I don't care about house points, those mean nothing to me. Stat points do. They allow me to have a partial leg up with my stat array for threads that call for it. House Points are ooc.
---
I want to boost user engagement, I want everyone engaged, but all I am seeing is that new users - and old users - are all frustrated because maybe things are as streamlined or as easy on the player as they could be. If I had to be entirely honest, and I really wish I don't say anything, but to be honest, I'm not as invested in homework if it has a writing part, I will get prodigal in that subject and not even do the writing portions. I'm the polar opposite of the rp'ers in this community, and I greatly apologize for that, but with that being said, I don't do homework for spells, I do them to get house points (the very thing I don't want as a reward from errands or sports) to go towards ball planning because while I am not a big fan of planning balls, it gives me some control over something where I don't feel like an npc on this site.
So.. what I am saying, is that there isn't a happy medium that doesn't end up squishing three roles or teams; professors/assistants, index or validation. It's kinda like a balloon, if you squeeze one side, sure that side gets smaller, but it bulges the other side.
The real issue isn't so much spells as items or spells in index, it is more so the fact that the system as a whole, no matter what way it is done, requires manual labor in a community where everyone is already stretched thin. That being professors/assistants with grading and lesson work as well as having to entertain the idea of roleplaying with students and still have ooc commitments and also spend maybe 30 minutes to maybe two hours handing out spells, depending on how much homeork they graded.
I've been a member of Index twice, a professor twice and an assistant once. The second time around, we were hit hard during the transition period, and so that was a lot of work as a professor, as an assistant, and as an index member and I, like other staff members that volunteered during the whole chaos and overwhelming work, took on the responsibility and felt a huge wave of burnout.
What I'm saying is the system needs automation or simplification. We aren't getting automation because that requires Zach to come up with a way to automate this stuff. Preferably when you complete a homework and it gets graded, you get the spell automatically without having to add to the professor's workload. But not everyone wants spells as items. Nor do they want to entertain the idea of buying them due to how expensive they may be.
We don't need redistribution though.
I know there are people that say they don't do homework for "funsies" and rather hate the idea of being mandated to use that system just to get spells if they don't want to buy it. I understand this even if my reason for not doing homework is different. I will support this opposition though, no matter how easy we make it for people, not everyone wants to do the homework regardless. That's hard for me to say because both times as a professor, I aimed to make the subject's homeworks easier because I didn't want anyone to lose interest in it, to become one of the few higher years to submit homework. But also to give people an easy grade in the class when other subjects are harder. To give them 25 points that they would've struggled to get the old way of homeworks before I changed the questions.
And let's be real, speaking of homework, it sucks when you don't get an outstanding, for those who are perfectionists, it is not fun. There was a user that had an A in one fo the subjects and refused to do the subject again because of that A, I believe it was in transfiguration but I could be mistaken. Having Outstandings only encourage people to do the homework for that subject a little more, it's like something positive. Your brain needs that positive remark.
--
But I also saw where people want writing parts back in homework, as said earlier, and we don't really allow people to use their characters when doing rp parts of their homework. This breaks anonymity. However, I will say, a good professor or assistant can grade homework without being biased. If we truly did have that issue of a biased professor, as much as it pains me to say it, I don't think they should be grading. All professors should be able to grade without bias. Professors can grade their own homework too in their own subject (not really in other subjects as you don't know their answer keys well enough), which makes it sound bad or anything, but an honest professor would grade exactly how the answer key provides. If they were wrong, they lose points. I am one of those honest professors, you can check my report cards.
That being said! Assuming anonymity never changes, I just want to say this already right off the bat. I wanted homework to be fast, without stress, anonymous AND accessible. It might seem lazy or too easy, but is it really so bad to have people passing a class and answering correctly? To obtain those spells that they would've had to, in the past, write an entire 400 word essay or rp for to obtain. I hated this part so much.
Soooo to try and bring the point back home, players seem to want agency, progression, rewards that matter and systems that don't feel like they are chores. Staff wanted a manageable workload with consistency, fairness and a system that doesn't really bog anyone down.
I know thy want autonomy and rewards that are meaningful and mechanics that respect their time and to feel like their character matters, but it seems most of this is driven in a narrative that is rp focused and like some of you want the old system back. As I said, I'm not opposed to either systems, but there are drawbacks to both of them that I highlighted earlier on.
I'm not meaning to ruin anyone's day, I just wanted to provide my insight on both sides of the case. Because I understand both sides.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind, we've gone too far. (Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles)
Clark
I don't want to speak too much on this, but I will say as someone who graded homework, constantly, I didn't really enjoy giving spells out as items. It took more time than I wanted to contribute. I loved grading! Never get me wrong on that! But I hated handing the spells out. I preferred having them post an update for index, but even index falls behind a bit as everyone gets busy, and having to return to putting spells as things for your trunk can add to their workload tremendously. Anyone who has worked index understands this frustration. But I think anyone who worked as a professor or assistance can also understand the annoyance of having an extra task of handing out spells.
I am not sure if there really is a good medium. Everyone has their own preference. I don't mind having them as items, it's just giving them out is the annoying part. I don't mind them in the trunk, but index would have to be a little more active or update their workload minimum per member, open up the team to more members. But opening it up takes people away from Validations.
I made homework easier because I didn't want people to spend 20 or more minutes on the homework. All you need to do is find the answers, answer the questions and click submit. I don't want anyone doing writing portions because then it breaks anonymity when people want to do the RP part, but also because those were my least favorites to grade.
I don't really see a happy medium. Lowering spell prices may be ideal, but as someone who doesn't save money or collect stipend, nor is as interested in buying the spells or doing the homework for spells, I cannot speak on this.
--
I also saw, in the linked post in the first post of this thread, Percival and Dealla's message, and all I want to say is, I would not be part of a sports team if we got rid of stat points. That is the only reason I'm even participating. I don't care about house points, those mean nothing to me. Stat points do. They allow me to have a partial leg up with my stat array for threads that call for it. House Points are ooc.
---
I want to boost user engagement, I want everyone engaged, but all I am seeing is that new users - and old users - are all frustrated because maybe things are as streamlined or as easy on the player as they could be. If I had to be entirely honest, and I really wish I don't say anything, but to be honest, I'm not as invested in homework if it has a writing part, I will get prodigal in that subject and not even do the writing portions. I'm the polar opposite of the rp'ers in this community, and I greatly apologize for that, but with that being said, I don't do homework for spells, I do them to get house points (the very thing I don't want as a reward from errands or sports) to go towards ball planning because while I am not a big fan of planning balls, it gives me some control over something where I don't feel like an npc on this site.
So.. what I am saying, is that there isn't a happy medium that doesn't end up squishing three roles or teams; professors/assistants, index or validation. It's kinda like a balloon, if you squeeze one side, sure that side gets smaller, but it bulges the other side.
The real issue isn't so much spells as items or spells in index, it is more so the fact that the system as a whole, no matter what way it is done, requires manual labor in a community where everyone is already stretched thin. That being professors/assistants with grading and lesson work as well as having to entertain the idea of roleplaying with students and still have ooc commitments and also spend maybe 30 minutes to maybe two hours handing out spells, depending on how much homeork they graded.
I've been a member of Index twice, a professor twice and an assistant once. The second time around, we were hit hard during the transition period, and so that was a lot of work as a professor, as an assistant, and as an index member and I, like other staff members that volunteered during the whole chaos and overwhelming work, took on the responsibility and felt a huge wave of burnout.
What I'm saying is the system needs automation or simplification. We aren't getting automation because that requires Zach to come up with a way to automate this stuff. Preferably when you complete a homework and it gets graded, you get the spell automatically without having to add to the professor's workload. But not everyone wants spells as items. Nor do they want to entertain the idea of buying them due to how expensive they may be.
We don't need redistribution though.
I know there are people that say they don't do homework for "funsies" and rather hate the idea of being mandated to use that system just to get spells if they don't want to buy it. I understand this even if my reason for not doing homework is different. I will support this opposition though, no matter how easy we make it for people, not everyone wants to do the homework regardless. That's hard for me to say because both times as a professor, I aimed to make the subject's homeworks easier because I didn't want anyone to lose interest in it, to become one of the few higher years to submit homework. But also to give people an easy grade in the class when other subjects are harder. To give them 25 points that they would've struggled to get the old way of homeworks before I changed the questions.
And let's be real, speaking of homework, it sucks when you don't get an outstanding, for those who are perfectionists, it is not fun. There was a user that had an A in one fo the subjects and refused to do the subject again because of that A, I believe it was in transfiguration but I could be mistaken. Having Outstandings only encourage people to do the homework for that subject a little more, it's like something positive. Your brain needs that positive remark.
--
But I also saw where people want writing parts back in homework, as said earlier, and we don't really allow people to use their characters when doing rp parts of their homework. This breaks anonymity. However, I will say, a good professor or assistant can grade homework without being biased. If we truly did have that issue of a biased professor, as much as it pains me to say it, I don't think they should be grading. All professors should be able to grade without bias. Professors can grade their own homework too in their own subject (not really in other subjects as you don't know their answer keys well enough), which makes it sound bad or anything, but an honest professor would grade exactly how the answer key provides. If they were wrong, they lose points. I am one of those honest professors, you can check my report cards.
That being said! Assuming anonymity never changes, I just want to say this already right off the bat. I wanted homework to be fast, without stress, anonymous AND accessible. It might seem lazy or too easy, but is it really so bad to have people passing a class and answering correctly? To obtain those spells that they would've had to, in the past, write an entire 400 word essay or rp for to obtain. I hated this part so much.
Soooo to try and bring the point back home, players seem to want agency, progression, rewards that matter and systems that don't feel like they are chores. Staff wanted a manageable workload with consistency, fairness and a system that doesn't really bog anyone down.
I know thy want autonomy and rewards that are meaningful and mechanics that respect their time and to feel like their character matters, but it seems most of this is driven in a narrative that is rp focused and like some of you want the old system back. As I said, I'm not opposed to either systems, but there are drawbacks to both of them that I highlighted earlier on.
I'm not meaning to ruin anyone's day, I just wanted to provide my insight on both sides of the case. Because I understand both sides.
In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind, we've gone too far. (Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles)
Clark
Spell/Potion/Homework System
Anonymity has nothing to do with the staff actually being corrupt, it is about protecting them from being accused of corruption. it is impossible to defend against general statements like - "my grades are bad because the staff hate me" or "notice how the staff and all their friends have good grades." True or not, once claims like that happen, there is drama and accusations. The process exists as bidirectional protection of staff and players. By saying "we have 0 way of knowing who you are if you are a friend or an enemy" eliminates the potential not only for the bias but the claim of bias. Also, it was something the site owner asked us to do when we were given the HW system.
Game theory does not support "get everything with graduation" as a good system. In fact, it would be the opposite. It is like playing survival minecraft in creative mode. It is engaging for all of 2 minutes before it is slice of life anyways. There is no effort, no grind, it is all just there.
HW is too hard, but if it was easier then it would be done. Well, we have had several people make several different claims for what that looks like and no it is not fair or realistic to say "well support all of our likes." Some people wanted those charms essays, in fact I got my ass kicked over suggesting a change to them prior to Katherine and not just from the professor who was very against it. Every class is not going to be for everyone and everyone's subjective view of what is easy is not going to be the same.
As for making edits to existing classes, be wonderful if some professors could but we have been validating hundreds of users each month. We have been dealing with users that spam the site with AI derived slop and then argue they are just "skilled" writers who can crank out 30 posts in a day. And we actually investigate to the best of our ability these claims and that takes so much time. The amount of time we spend doing the things that keep this site functional is a lot, and there is a massive lists of things I would love to see done and changed but every change comes with the opinion of 20 other people, no change is fast or easy. And there are a lot of opinions, even here that absolutely contradict.
There is something about ambition, how it not only propels you but also defines you.
Game theory does not support "get everything with graduation" as a good system. In fact, it would be the opposite. It is like playing survival minecraft in creative mode. It is engaging for all of 2 minutes before it is slice of life anyways. There is no effort, no grind, it is all just there.
HW is too hard, but if it was easier then it would be done. Well, we have had several people make several different claims for what that looks like and no it is not fair or realistic to say "well support all of our likes." Some people wanted those charms essays, in fact I got my ass kicked over suggesting a change to them prior to Katherine and not just from the professor who was very against it. Every class is not going to be for everyone and everyone's subjective view of what is easy is not going to be the same.
As for making edits to existing classes, be wonderful if some professors could but we have been validating hundreds of users each month. We have been dealing with users that spam the site with AI derived slop and then argue they are just "skilled" writers who can crank out 30 posts in a day. And we actually investigate to the best of our ability these claims and that takes so much time. The amount of time we spend doing the things that keep this site functional is a lot, and there is a massive lists of things I would love to see done and changed but every change comes with the opinion of 20 other people, no change is fast or easy. And there are a lot of opinions, even here that absolutely contradict.
There is something about ambition, how it not only propels you but also defines you.
Spell/Potion/Homework System
Having experienced both the old system (I have a deactivated character) and the new system, I can say that both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, like many people in this thread, I too believe that the disadvantages of the current system are more noticeable.
1) Since I’m a bit of a nerd, I’m not all that bothered about doing homework. I can’t say I adore it, but if I stretch my imagination far enough, I’m quite adept at slipping into a delusional mindset where I imagine Roland is the one doing those hws. However, the elephant in the room is that it's clearly an OOC obligation. And the fact that the only way to learn spells is through an OOC requirement (none of us are that wealthy to buy them all) doesn’t really align with the experience most people fundamentally expect from an RP site, I believe.
2) The character I deactivated had the ‘Prodigal DADA Learner’ ability. Under the old system, characters with this ability had to complete a 400- or 600-post (I can't remember quite well) roleplay in order to add a spell from a higher class to their trunk. These were some of the posts I enjoyed writing with Saunders the most. Because they truly offered the experience of being a Hogwarts student. Solving tests, writing story fragments with anonymous characters that no one would see, or saving up the daily stipend for days and days - these are not comparable to that experience.
3) To give you a comparison, I've recently bought a spell from a higher class for Roland to use. This was something I couldn’t do before (even the Prodigal talent only allowed the character to learn spells one class level higher). I must admit that having access to these spells via an alternative route is rather nice. However, as a roleplayer, I haven’t had an experience that satisfies me regarding how he actually learned it. I simply logged into the site every day and was able to purchase this spell – this definitely undermines the role-playing flavour. I worked on it, but it'd be nice to have something to encourage us.
4) It might sound a bit off-topic, but the reason why many players -myself included- don’t like Hogwarts Legacy is that it makes you feel as though you’ve just happened to be at Hogwarts by chance. It’s as if you’re not a student, yet you’re constantly at Hogwarts. The fact that actual roleplaying doesn’t blend with the lessons, and the homework system in its current form, makes me feel this way, only slightly, from time to time. I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of this platform, but I can’t say I don’t feel like Roland is constantly decorating the school, preparing gifts, meeting people, and not actually live a student life - in the academic sense of the word. I would love make him actively engage in lessons, rp-wise. I, therefore, wholeheartedly agree with the thread system mentioned above. There absolutely should be threads for lessons, I believe, and posts should be able to be made to these throughout the year. Someone wishing to learn a spell could do so by posting a post exceeding a certain word limit in these threads, by completing a hw, or by purchasing it. Even if the current system isn’t completely scrapped, opting for an alternative that enhances the roleplay experience wouldn’t create a significant additional workload, I sincerely hope.
1) Since I’m a bit of a nerd, I’m not all that bothered about doing homework. I can’t say I adore it, but if I stretch my imagination far enough, I’m quite adept at slipping into a delusional mindset where I imagine Roland is the one doing those hws. However, the elephant in the room is that it's clearly an OOC obligation. And the fact that the only way to learn spells is through an OOC requirement (none of us are that wealthy to buy them all) doesn’t really align with the experience most people fundamentally expect from an RP site, I believe.
2) The character I deactivated had the ‘Prodigal DADA Learner’ ability. Under the old system, characters with this ability had to complete a 400- or 600-post (I can't remember quite well) roleplay in order to add a spell from a higher class to their trunk. These were some of the posts I enjoyed writing with Saunders the most. Because they truly offered the experience of being a Hogwarts student. Solving tests, writing story fragments with anonymous characters that no one would see, or saving up the daily stipend for days and days - these are not comparable to that experience.
3) To give you a comparison, I've recently bought a spell from a higher class for Roland to use. This was something I couldn’t do before (even the Prodigal talent only allowed the character to learn spells one class level higher). I must admit that having access to these spells via an alternative route is rather nice. However, as a roleplayer, I haven’t had an experience that satisfies me regarding how he actually learned it. I simply logged into the site every day and was able to purchase this spell – this definitely undermines the role-playing flavour. I worked on it, but it'd be nice to have something to encourage us.
4) It might sound a bit off-topic, but the reason why many players -myself included- don’t like Hogwarts Legacy is that it makes you feel as though you’ve just happened to be at Hogwarts by chance. It’s as if you’re not a student, yet you’re constantly at Hogwarts. The fact that actual roleplaying doesn’t blend with the lessons, and the homework system in its current form, makes me feel this way, only slightly, from time to time. I’m absolutely delighted to be a part of this platform, but I can’t say I don’t feel like Roland is constantly decorating the school, preparing gifts, meeting people, and not actually live a student life - in the academic sense of the word. I would love make him actively engage in lessons, rp-wise. I, therefore, wholeheartedly agree with the thread system mentioned above. There absolutely should be threads for lessons, I believe, and posts should be able to be made to these throughout the year. Someone wishing to learn a spell could do so by posting a post exceeding a certain word limit in these threads, by completing a hw, or by purchasing it. Even if the current system isn’t completely scrapped, opting for an alternative that enhances the roleplay experience wouldn’t create a significant additional workload, I sincerely hope.
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