Closing Down

[Bre]

I've been mulling this over for a bit, but putting it off just seems like a bad idea. Ain't a great one either way, but there's no good option here. Simply putting this up seems better.

I want to step down from administrating Guardian's Sky.

I put some blame on time. I don't have as much as much as I did. Many of you are busy. I'd probably feel even worse than I do, and believe me, I do, if many of you weren't busy. I love GS. I love that you all post. That's why this isn't easy.

Time isn't the main reason though. I'm not going to pretend that there aren't other things on the internet I could give up to put more into GS. I may add more things in the future.

That's exactly the thing. There's other things I want to do. GS should be more important than them, but it isn't. I can keep GS going. I can advertise and recruit and push and plot. I know how to do that. But I don't want to do it. At the same time as that, I don't know what to do. I don't know how exactly I want to do the plot. I don't know what to tell you guys when you want to do things. I don't feel like doing it.

Closing a site is an option that people too often decide, but GS has reached a point of neglect and apathy from me that isn't fair to any of you. I love this site. I love the idea. I love so many of the things that happened here. However, at the same time, this seems like a learning experience. We've had a long run for a site, but at this point, I've finally entered the mindset that GS isn't what I want. GS isn't my one true love. It used to be sister to Dalibor, but now it's playing second fiddle. That isn't fair. Heck, I don't even get it. GS is more original than Dalibor. I know that, but that doesn't change how it is here.

If some of you think you can make it work without me, I would love to hand it over. I probably should have talked to Lan before now about this, so her input is needed, and she's done a great job. I could definitely see her running a site. Unfortunately, with me ducking out, I don't know if GS is worth salvaging. I don't really want to say that or admit it, but I just don't know at this point. Any offer has to come with the promise that it will last, that you all have the time to make it work. There's also the option of a spinoff site of some sort. I certainly don't want to waste the tons of effort many of you put into here. I'd more than love to have all of you at Dalibor.

[Kilnarak]

I'm hoping you'll pass it on to someone else. I figure most of the inaction from the players at the moment, at least, is due to the college semester hitting it's swing again. Everyone has projects and papers and whatnot due, and RP is gonna have to take the backseat - although that doesn't necessarily mean that they won't want to come back to it later, when they have time again. If you're not feeling up to running it anymore, however, like you said, if it were me I'd discuss it with the other mods to see if any of them would like to take over instead.

It seems sorta like this is popping up just as people are beginning to get back into posting again - I know I have been, and Kat, and Quill, and all of the other people in Altaph's flight. Zeis tells me she intends to get back into posting once her class workload goes down a bit. And Khealis has been working on a post. I imagine play could still continue, and I'd like to think people aside from me also still want to RP this.

I could probably make this more coherent if I wasn't so tired. I sorta just really don't want to see another thing I enjoy get broken up because the leader-person has gotten tired of it. Just went through a giant guild break-up that happened for more or less the same reason, and it seems kinda unfair if enough people still want to play. That isn't to say that I don't understand why you might not want to relinquish control to one of your other admin, 'though. Because it's your brainchild, and you put a lot into it, you wouldn't want someone else to go muck it up.

And um. Yes.

[Lan]

Well... this is certainly interest to come back to. o.o

I admit that right now, between just feeling like crap from being sick and still sort of processing everything, I'm not quite sure how I'm feeling or what I'm thinking. And I certainly don't want to hastily decide anything.

I guess I should have seen it coming, really. There's been little to no activity from staff or members alike for several months, and it isn't any one member's fault, nor is it really anyone's fault. People just get busy. I get that. Really, I do. I've been really busy and neglecting you guys as well. And I'm truly sorry about that. Like Bre, I've also been putting far more effort into Dalibor than I have here. It's a shame, really. I love the idea of GS a whole lot more. I love my characters here and the people here and there's something about the atmosphere of the community here that is not like anywhere I've ever been. It's mature without being pompous. It's silly without being ridiculous. Okay, it's a bit ridiculous, but that's what we're good for, right?

However, as the odds stand, like Bre I'm skeptical about any rejuvenation that can happen. I've done revamps for sites before, some successful and some definitely lacking in success, but from what I've seen it never really sticks for long. There might be some great revival with old members and new members alike, but the appeal wears off fast. If people were too busy before, chances are they'll be too busy later. Call me a pessimist, but I've seen enough sites die multiple times to earn my status as a cynic.

It's not like I want to let GS die, though. If someone gave me reason to believe, I might be interested in making an off-shoot site featuring perhaps some Southern Riders... but I don't want to make any promises I can't keep.

Not to mention with both grayriders gone (with Winged's recent absence), it'd be kind of awkward to continue anything here. >.> An Eyrie or a Weyr is not merely run by the male lead... actually, in my experience male leads can be sort of useless.

So... yes... in my frazzled state of mind that is my two cents. As other people respond I'll go more in depth about my opinions, but at the moment I'm highly skeptical.

BUT I LOVE YOU ALL. You guys mean a lot to me. And if any of you wanted to join Dali or TW I'd plot with you guys like craaazy. Because, to be honest, the hardest part about considering closing a site is losing you guys. You're kinda awesome. <3

[Fox]

I admit readily to being one of those who hasn't been on recently, since some crappy family issues have left me with very little inspiration to roleplay. What's more, I start uni in April so it'll probably get worse before it gets better. But nevertheless.

Still, this was quite a shock, since I do think that people are starting to come back and post. While I can see Lan's point about activity, I do think that we have our very loyal members who'll stick to this place like glue. I'm sorry you feel the way you do, really, since for me GS is, I think, one of the best-- if not the best-- site I've been on in a very long time. I'm very much in favour of you passing the administration on, if you really feel you've lost interest in the site, and perhaps we can give this place a trial of sorts? Like, a probationary period to see if we can revive it and keep it revived. And if not, well. A spinoff is very possible.

But yes, whatever happens, I do love you all and the characters and atmosphere here. It's been great. And that's really all I have to say for the moment, as incoherent as it might have been.

<3

[Lan]

Mostly, my above opinion was based on the fact that two grayriders seemed to be going inactive. If even Winged would be willing to stay, it'd be possible to salvage the site. Of course, it'd all have to be talked over with Bre. Ro'za and Eceph would probably end up getting killed for convenience's sake... which is a crying shame. That also means that G'len and Alianph, after Laraph rises, would probably have to step down as Senior Commanders. That means you'd be losing two admins in the long run. =/

And a probationary period is a good idea, though. I might be able to roll with that, granted enough people come back and chip in to help out. One Senior Commander, one Junior Phoenix, and one Wingletmaster do not an Eyrie staff make. And we'd have to do a LOT of advertising. Again, this would need a lot more than just a couple of people to revive. It'd be a lot of hard work, and I can't even guarantee our attempts (should we choose to make them) will succeed. And not just staff, but members also have to do their part.

To be honest, I'm still a bit skeptical, but it'd at least be possible if one grayrider stayed.

[Bre]

We can change the admin system. IC rank to OOC rank isn't going to work. The plot will have to be trashed. Kill Ro'za. Use a wild gray, probably from the south. It means big changes. It won't be the same.

My biggest worry is that . . . love for a site doesn't make it work. You can love it and love it and love it, but making and running a site also means a lot of time and work I don't think anyone has. As sad as it is, it is a game.

[Cy]

[Kat]

I will post a real reply later, but I believe that we can salvage the site, and that we can find a way to work around the problem of losing both gray riders. It would be an awesome plot to have both die, and then have to make the Eyrie continue without one.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

But I need a few days, still, before I'm home and not busy and/or very intoxicated to write a post with all my thoughts.

[Aikaph]

No.

I know that I am sporadic in posting, and seem to be going into a leave of absence a LOT, but... GS and Dalibor are my homes. I don't want one to float away. I want to be able to actually use Pr'sel at least once, if this place is going to close down (and not just in a lesson).

If we do try to revive it, I'll be willing to take on the Admin role. Sure, it'll be the first time I was an admin of anything, but I already have a plot in mind, albeit not a fully-formed one, but it's there.

All of the members here are my family. I'd hate to see this place go (I feel like I'm repeating myself here). If we cannot revive this place, the spinoff site sounds like the best option. I had talked with Bre about a plot idea for a sister site, and it had turned out that she had wanted to use that as a plot device. However, since she wants to step down, that's her choice, not mine. So. That's my rambling. If we do end up leaving this place for good, I'd love to see you guys at Dalibor or even at the spinoff site.

But still. I don't want this place to go away. It's kind of ironic how this place may be going to the rubbish dump when people are starting to come back (I'm not criticizing, just speaking my mind). I'd miss Sa'nia, Xo'li, and all the rest of them. Especially your characters, Bre. If you feel you have to step down, I can't stop you. If we can't get back on our feet if/when you leave, and we cannot get a spinoff site to work out, could we at least keep this site open and have a link to it on Dalibor, kind of like a memoir? It would mean a lot to me. (=>

[winged]

It would be a big shame to see the entire site shut down. However, it's a tremendous amount of work. I'm not sure that I could keep up with all that role-playing, although I could happily commit myself to moderation to help keep things running from behind the scenes.

So, if you need a behind-the-stage actor, I'll chip in.

[Quill]

Okay, finally got my thoughts together.

I have not been the best roleplayer, especially for joining this place so early, but I love this place. I really do and I know love does not keep a site alive. When you roleplay for ten years, you see some stuff, but I think GS can survive. It may take some tweaking and hard decisions, but I think it can survive. Love doesn't work. The work that comes from love of a site does work. I think if we pitch in, give feedback for the plot, I think we can get things going. Advertise. Affiliate.

Sometimes it works; sometimes it flops. A spinoff site would be a good idea. Just a basic move would be something good though a bit of work.

[Para]

I... don't really know what to say. I was going to use traveling as an excuse to figure out what to say, but I'm now done traveling and still not sure, so this is probably going to turn out kind of rambling.

I really don't want to see this close, or shut down or end or whatever. I like the people here, and I like the ideas and concept behind the site. I've never roleplayed before, but I like it, and from what I've heard about other sites it sounds like I was really lucky to start here.

That said, I don't really know what I could do. I have a decent amount of time, but I've never been a mod or admin; I suspect I'm not outgoing enough to be a good advertiser, but I'm willing to try, though I think it might take a bit to start making a noticeable difference.

So basically, if this does continue in some way, I don't know what I can do, but I'm willing to try just about anything if someone can think of something I'd be able to help with.

[Kilnarak]

I have some ideas that could be used to have the plot continue without a gray (but this is only if Winged isn't around, and it sounds like she will be, so). It would be traumatic for the Eyrie to lose it's Phoenix, but I imagine it could continue on. The hierarchy might be shaken - I can see maybe Altaph rising to be the primary female at least until Laraph rises and exerts dominance. I would be willing to offer my time toward an admin position, if it was wanted - I usually check the site at least once daily, even if I don't always have time to write up a real RP post.

A spin-off might be interesting too, although I'd like to be able to continue playing these characters as well - I enjoy them, and I enjoy their interactions together. And um. Yes. Still trying to get ahold of Zeis so she knows what's going on. Looking like I might not see her until Tuesday 'though. *sigh*

[Kat]

I really think we should try to keep this site going.
I know activity always goes down during school time, but it also always bounces back.
I mean, look how well we revived for Christmas!
Furthermore, we have a really dedicated and loyal core group of people, and I think that as long as the members we have stick around, we will have roleplaying and activity on this site. We also have one of the best sense of community of any site I have ever experienced. I love everyone on this site, and I am not willing to give up the community, the respect, or the companionship of the Guardian's Sky community. I really don't see any reason to abandon a site when people, while not necessarily active all the time, are at least always about to return and never absent.

I think we should try to save the site; I think we have people willing to continue it, even wanting to continue it, and I am not willing to give up yet. I will do what ever I can to help, including admining or modding.

As for ideas about solving the problem of the lack of gray riders, I had an idea as I was driving home. I think it would work to have another group of riders come up from the South, and have them have a gray rider. Since we don't have a lot of people, and we'd have to man the riders, so to speak, maybe it is a small group, either because the living conditions in the South are worst than on our continent, or because the original clutch was small, perhaps 5-7 riders including a gray. Anyway, that group comes up, and then the gray challenges Eceph to some sort of battle, and the new gray wins, and thus takes over control of the Eyrie. It would be an interesting addition to Simourv politics, and I think it would totally work. And then our riders would have to deal with the fact that they were now being controlled by another Phoenix, and also some sort of problems with loyalty.

[zeis]

I'm going to be honest and say I saw this coming. Part of this is my fault, for sure. I've always tried to be around on GS, and answer peoples questions, etc. These past weeks though my attention has been elsewhere, and I haven't been around to talk to people, or post at all. My apologies to you all.

That being said, this is the first RPG I've ever been staff on, and even though its in trouble I'm still willing to keep going. Regardless of the ultimate fate of GS, simourv are still incredibly awesome to me and I'll be willing to RP with you guys wherever we take them, and draw them too. If our riders stay here, or find another home on another site, you can count me in to lend a hand as best I can.

Also, just something I have thought about. I realize some of the appeal that GS has for people is that it has a sort of 'entering new territory' feel. The riders we are playing are some of the first generations of riders. This is different from most Pern RPGs for example, where dragonriding is already so established that its commonplace. I was wondering what it would be like if the setting were more like that. Simourv would be slightly more established, there would be more riders for people to app, allowing them to 'transfer' custom made pairs similar to Dalibor to wherever they needed to go, or go through the Candidate process at the Eyrie. This is just mainly something I think about since recently we seem to be getting fewer and fewer candidates to keep up with the Hatchings.