A New Year! A New Outlook.

[Iris|Kairi]

Hello FM! This is your friendly neighborhood admin speaking!

It is now 2009 (well, where I am anyway, but you get the idea) and finally, changes will come. This is not an empty promise. Events have worked out in a way opening up things to finally get done. As you can see, our lovely graphic artist Katsumi has made us a new pretty green skin to start the new year off with! If you still see purple or some other back ground..go into your profile and change it to Green Time/ Heartless!

And that's the first of the changes to come.

I've already changed the Advanced RP rules (the ability rules) back to how they used to be. Three abilities, no need for a base. The Template has been changed to accompany this. I can't promise that this is the last of the changed to the ability system, but it is a start to try and help everyone out.

I am toying with a few ideas here for the entire forum. Generally I'm trying to stay away from a forum wide plot this time around, seeing as how most of you have expressed that you do not want one anymore. I have to say, if I am presented with a wonderful working plot idea, I reserve the right to roll with it and give it a try. HOwever, what I am looking for is more of a Roleplay setting. Something that effects everyone, but doesn't necessarily require staff made events to further it. This would allow each person to take their own route in reaction and purpose in RP. A setting wouldn't generally involve directly focused RP. This encourages personal plots and individual takes on the setting as well, which is what we seem to need.

It has also been brought to my attention that most of you are feeling a bit...tired of Kingdom Hearts? I don't know how to word it correctly, but I have heard several mention needing a change of pace and setting. That said, I've been entertaining the idea of incorporating more of a Square Enix feel. I don't want to say crossover...but that might be what it is. It would still contain strong Kingdom Hearts influences and systems I believe (as I said, I'm still attempting to work it out to see if it can even be done), but it would also include a more upfront Final Fantasy influence, as well as some The World Ends with You elements. I'm not opening it up to all over Square Enix...because Sora or Cloud talking to Sly would be weird. That said, I can see some very positive ways that plot and/or setting could be combined to refresh the atmosphere around here and provide that pace and setting change that is needed. I don't want FM to get so stale it dies.

If what I just told you scares the life out of you, makes you mad, or otherwise sounds terrible, let me know with CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM! I'm not saying I WILL do this change, I am merely toying with the idea. It is one of many possibilities I am discussing with some people.

Another is a party/team based outlook, which could be really fun, but it requires more active people than we have. In short, it's similar to the factions element we already have only smaller. I'd say three or four members team up ICly and work either for or against a common forum setting goal that is hinted at. Instead of being strongly battle based, it'd be more of the mystery riddle type. As I see it, every "party" would have their own faction board complete with password where IC chat about solving the riddle or mystery could be held. The fun of this could be that party members have fall outs or some other drama that causes one to leave, possibly leaking special information they've acquired pivotal to accomplishing their goal and solving the riddle as well as the party effected having to find a new member. The possibilities for personal plot and interaction are endless...but as I said, that takes a rather large member base. One we used to have, but don't anymore.

In any case, once the changes have been decided on and made, I will send out a mass e-mail inviting all our wayward members back. I don't know if they'll return, but I can hope for the best. In the meantime, I need everyone's help! RP as much as you can! Form bonds, make personal plots...be active! And help me in advertising for FM to pull it out of the slump!

When we get new members, include them quickly! Draw them into our tangle-y web of awesome! XD

I think I've said enough for now...time for everyone to read and digest. I'll leave this thread open for comments. Keep it nice guys. No fighting. <3

~ Iris

[aleX]

When I first logged in, I saw this weird combination of the new skin and old... It was pretty amusing. But I love the new one. Good thing we have a jungle... I have to scrounge about the SE database to find some panther-like character... Or I could just make one -,-...

Anyway, great work. Keep it up. Or else....

[Iris|Kairi]

...What about a jungle? O.o -lost-

Anyway, his weird comments aside....I would like comments. XD Please.

[High's .Valentine.]

Oh yes, oh yes, comments. *ahem*

These better not be empty promises [already told you this yesterday, but for the sake of a comment...] if they don't happen, you know who's gonna be knocking on your...MSN...door...>.>

I'll bug you until they happen.

Otherwise, expect my 1000% support for whatever whacked up changes you're going to put through FM. I mean, do we even have the right to complain about what you do to this place to bring it back to life? XD

[Iris|Kairi]

I didn't think they were that "whacked up". XD

And I don't make empty promises!

[Shinn]

You just do what needs to be done so we can kick this year off right.

[Shane {Naminé}]

If I may make a few suggestions to the ideas you've already come up with, Iris?

I am toying with a few ideas here for the entire forum. Generally I'm trying to stay away from a forum wide plot this time around, seeing as how most of you have expressed that you do not want one anymore. I have to say, if I am presented with a wonderful working plot idea, I reserve the right to roll with it and give it a try. HOwever, what I am looking for is more of a Roleplay setting. Something that effects everyone, but doesn't necessarily require staff made events to further it. This would allow each person to take their own route in reaction and purpose in RP. A setting wouldn't generally involve directly focused RP. This encourages personal plots and individual takes on the setting as well, which is what we seem to need.

I love the idea of staying away from a forum wide plot. I mean I think it would be a good idea and would allow members to merely come up with their own plots if they so choose to do so. Though, a few options I have with this would be to start with the settings idea. On having something would allow members to take their own course of action in a setting. Now this idea I like. I mean I do think it could be easy to work with. Perhaps by doing sign ups and and choosing from those who signed up to be part of a group like two members, three, or even four members in one group. You could either use an already existing Kingdom Hearts world, or even create a new one that would tie into Kingdom Hearts and perhaps a staff member (or someone else responsible for it) could create the thread. Describe the scene, and perhaps even a scenario that they are faced with. Then just let it be a free for all and let them roleplay it out anyway they wish to do while adding their own twists on things?

Another suggestion I had is to perhaps make a small optional plot? For those who need some kind of plot to get off the ground with? It doesn't have to be big. It could be small and vague if you wanted and then just let the members choose what happens there. Like I said it could be something that's optional so it's not like the entire site has to take part in it. And that way it might give some members an idea of where they could go.

It has also been brought to my attention that most of you are feeling a bit...tired of Kingdom Hearts? I don't know how to word it correctly, but I have heard several mention needing a change of pace and setting. That said, I've been entertaining the idea of incorporating more of a Square Enix feel. I don't want to say crossover...but that might be what it is. It would still contain strong Kingdom Hearts influences and systems I believe (as I said, I'm still attempting to work it out to see if it can even be done), but it would also include a more upfront Final Fantasy influence, as well as some The World Ends with You elements. I'm not opening it up to all over Square Enix...because Sora or Cloud talking to Sly would be weird. That said, I can see some very positive ways that plot and/or setting could be combined to refresh the atmosphere around here and provide that pace and setting change that is needed. I don't want FM to get so stale it dies.

Now this is something I'm not exactly thrilled with. I mean isn't the reason this site was created was for roleplaying Kingdom Hearts? Not any other Square Enix games like Final Fantasy games, but Kingdom Hearts. I can see throwing in a few more Final Fantasy characters like Zell from Final Fantasy VIII and a number of others because there are other Final Fantasy characters in the game already. I just don't like the idea of it almost being a free for all Square Enix forum. I mean isn't possible members can join other sites to release their need to roleplay different things? I mean this should stay more Kingdom Hearts then anything, but by throwing more into the mix you're more likely creating some form of a crossover by jumbling more games up. I'd just as soon keep this more geared toward Kingdom Hearts and perhaps add a forum where members can roleplay other things if they should choose to. I just don't think it more square Enix games should be thrown in.

Another is a party/team based outlook, which could be really fun, but it requires more active people than we have. In short, it's similar to the factions element we already have only smaller. I'd say three or four members team up ICly and work either for or against a common forum setting goal that is hinted at. Instead of being strongly battle based, it'd be more of the mystery riddle type. As I see it, every "party" would have their own faction board complete with password where IC chat about solving the riddle or mystery could be held. The fun of this could be that party members have fall outs or some other drama that causes one to leave, possibly leaking special information they've acquired pivotal to accomplishing their goal and solving the riddle as well as the party effected having to find a new member. The possibilities for personal plot and interaction are endless...but as I said, that takes a rather large member base. One we used to have, but don't anymore.

Now this I think would make a great event, provided members could be active with it. I mean I've noticed in the past the regardless of the event that is created it starts out active or semi-active and then members just stop posting. Or they don't post as often as they once did. Granted, I realize things do come up in peoples lives, but that should not halt the entire event, and often times it does. I think it could be a good idea, especially since it's not really battle geared as it is toward riddles. This would give people who are better with riddles a good chance to get in on an event, as opposed to last time when things were pretty much oriented around battles. I'm just a little worried that it'll go inactive too soon. I'd like to see this as an event, but only if members could guarantee activity for the duration of the event.

Outside of the suggestions you've already listed though, I did notice one more thing as I was about to post this. Looking back at the home page and how some of the boards are set up, I can't help but think they just seem a little jumbled and a little unorganized. Now this coming from the master of organization who likes everything to have it's own place, I just started to notice just how screwy some of the board placements were. I mean you have Arena and Faction in an RPG General category. Now personally I would have made them their own category and put their boards in each of their categories. Just to make it more organized so not every category is going to have a clutter of boards around it. And there are a few other things that I would change with the boards as far as where they're placed. But to me it just seems like an organized mess I guess

Okay that's all of the suggestions I can think of. At least for now. With my luck I'll think of more before the end of the night.

[aleX]

Uh, not to make a completely worthless comment, but High... You can't exactly give 1000%.... You've only got 100% to give away... That's it. Period.

Oh, and I forgot to mention it, but Shane beat me to it. I agree that the party thing is a good idea, but it needs people to work on it. ACTIVE PEOPLE!

I nominate Northie onto my team.

[Violinist]

I'm iffy on crossovers. VERY iffy. Yes, I am tired of the KH setting, but that doesn't mean adding in even more stuff, not to mention stuff that I don't know jack about, will revitalize my interest.

I don't really understand what you mean by "setting," but I'm willing to give it a go.

I'm also up for trying that team thing as long as the larger Factions aren't excluded completely.

~Vio

[Akito]

There wasn't really a strong KH theme to begin with here, given the KH universe to be so readily expansive.

Myself, I liked the idea of base abilities, but whatever. I do believe you need to fix the shop to accommodate your change as well, though.

[High's .Valentine.]

Alex on my team...? DX

I mean, wheee!

Well, we already allow people to audition for all kinds of Square Enix canons, don't forget that. >.> I don't see how much of a change it will be...

[Shane {Naminé}]

That is very true. I mean that we already let members audition for a number of Square Enix things. Not to mention regular Disney things. Which in that case, I don't understand why people could be tired of Kingdom Hearts when they have the ability to add in Disney things as well.

Which now that I do think about that, why should we allow any more then that? I mean we're already allowing things that have nothing to do with Kingdom Hearts into the site...I don't think it would be very fair to allow anymore in right now that has nothing to do with Kingdom Hearts.

[Iris|Kairi]

Technically OCs have nothing to do with KH either, but they are molded into it. That's what I ask other Square Enix imported characters do. They have to adapt. I like it being more open because it adds that extra appeal for some people to be able to play their favorite character from another game.

The boards might possibly seemed unorganized to a very organized person...which I am not. They looked pretty organized to me, but I'll see what I can do.

Who's gonna be on my team? ;-; XD

I would really like to make the teams idea work....and I would also like wonderful ideas from all you members.

[Shane {Naminé}]

I'll be on your team, Iris! *Schnuggles*

Well I don't know whether unorganized would be the right word for it. I mean it does seem like it, but I guess the right would be to say cluttered. Like when you look at the number of sub-boards there are, the sub-boards all seem cluttered. I mean the Announcement sub-board could be an actual board under the Information category because it's still part of the information for the site. And I don't know why but it always bothers me to see the Character Management board comes before the Rules and Guides board. Though I suppose that's more of a personal preference type thing.

Things like the Your Story board could easily fall into a sub-board for Bulletin Board where all of the other things that directly relate to the roleplays go. And I would group Advertisements and Affiliates into their own category and give them their own boards. The only reason I say this is because as I own several sites of my own certain people who are advertising their site (or linking back for that matter) like to see the Advertise and Affiliates boards out in the open. Much easier to get to often and so much easier to find.

Those are just some minore things but like I've said they're simply what I believe.

As far as the as the site being more open with characters, before actually deciding whether to add anything further as far as openness, if I may suggestion doing some sort of thread to get members opinions as to why they're tired of Kingdom Hearts? I mean perhaps just figuring out why the majority of them are getting tired of it might help figure out a quick solution to the problem

[Iris|Kairi]

I thought I did that already...kinda. Maybe I need to post a new one that's more focused...though honestly I was hoping I'd get answers to that effect here as a direct response to what I suggested... >> I'm hoping my first large New Years post as an admin wasn't a tl;dr (too long, didn't read). XD

And good tips on the organizing. I'll see what I can do. ^^