Friday, February 1, 2019

What I Learned from the Players' Meeting

by Matt "Vesper" Hewitt

What I learned at the Players' Meeting is:

  • Before making any proposal be sure to check with older players in the community to get some context and history on previous rulings 
  • Be clear and concise with the wording of your proposal; any vagueness or typo could kill the proposal 
  • Present your proposal to others before the meeting as a way to prepare common clarifications people may need from you 
  • Keep answers or clarifications short and focused. Rambling will make people lose focus on the topic being discussed 
  • Do not hold onto your blue card for later, if you have something you believe must be addressed do not be afraid to make sure you are heard 
  • Take your breaks fast or you could get back to the meeting in the middle of a proposal you care about 
  • When making a vote do not look around the room too much; it may sway your choice to go with or against the larger group 
  • Vote for what you want no matter what those around you choose. Your vote could make or break a proposal 
  • Be careful with how many proposals you put up especially if proposed in a row or you could end up giving a lecture to the entire meeting 
  • Be sure to stand and stretch regularly; restlessness could cause irritation 
  • The meeting will be mentally exhausting and tiring, be sure to get a good night's sleep and plenty of caffeine to stay awake and alert 
  • The longer a discussion takes the more likely people are to hold up orange cards and cut the discussion short so be sure to say your part but not give a speech 
  • Do not get defensive when discussing your proposal, aggression and curtness is not productive to the game or conversation 
  • Be polite - people will be more willing to listen to what you are trying to say, which could be enough to get your proposal or amendment through the meeting 
  • At the end of the day everyone who attends is trying to improve or better the game; whether we all agree on the execution or not, we all have the same goal