Global RC Message to Graal Administration

NicoX · #1 08-28-2012, 02:00 PM

I would like to see a command for the Managers of CLASSIC Servers to global PM PWAs/Stefan. Since it is so hard to catch Stefan, this would be a great feature. Sometimes there are issues which only Stefan can fix.

I know that some kind of command already exists for the global Staff team.
Since it is only for the Manager of a Classic Playerworld, this shouldnt be a huge problem.

Skyld · #2 08-28-2012, 02:20 PM

You really should be sending emails to us if you have problems. A lot of the time global privmsgs are really easy to miss if you aren't watching the RC chat like a hawk anyway.

NicoX · #3 08-28-2012, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyld

You really should be sending emails to us if you have problems. A lot of the time global privmsgs are really easy to miss if you aren't watching the RC chat like a hawk anyway.

Well the past just proofed that alot of e-mails never been handled. Seems like you people get flooded with alot of emails and such, but then I would recommend to just hire more people? PWAs are easy to find, and Developers, well seems like unixmad has to grab in his wallet and pay some.

But that feature wouldnt hurt at all.

Skyld · #4 08-28-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoX

But that feature wouldnt hurt at all.

We get enough PMs, forum PMs, emails as it is without people spamming us with global privmsg every time we're trying to do something. I'm very against the idea.

xXziroXx · #5 08-28-2012, 02:52 PM

I want a global command to reach Skyld with. Only for me, of course.

Crono · #6 08-28-2012, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXziroXx

I want a global command to reach Skyld with. Only for me, of course.

i call it AIM )))

NicoX · #7 08-28-2012, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyld

We get enough PMs, forum PMs, emails as it is without people spamming us with global privmsg every time we're trying to do something. I'm very against the idea.

Yeah I understand your point of view, but still that doesnt help the Managers of Servers with real problems being ignored....

xXziroXx · #8 08-28-2012, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono

i call it AIM )))

Oh yeah, guess I've got it already then.

ffcmike · #9 08-28-2012, 05:43 PM

Can't hurt to have a faster method in which to realise you're being ignored.

NicoX · #10 08-28-2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyld

We get enough PMs, forum PMs, emails as it is without people spamming us with global privmsg every time we're trying to do something. I'm very against the idea.

Also I remind you again, it is ONLY for classic Server Managers (including Delteria, Classic, Npulse...) so not for just everyone....

Or Tig starts to hire like 3 more PWAs to handle all the support emails. Im still waiting for like 5 emails being answered since over 6 months. I mean seriously.

Stephen · #11 08-28-2012, 06:27 PM

Yea, an easier way for people to contact admins is definitely not the solution right now... the problem is that the few admins available (including Stefan) have way too much on their plate.

To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised we don't see a higher turn over in their positions.

Tim_Rocks · #12 08-28-2012, 06:30 PM

What exactly do you even need help with so much that you would need this?

NicoX · #13 08-28-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_Rocks

What exactly do you even need help with so much that you would need this?

Alot.

Skyld · #14 08-28-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoX

Alot.

Like?

NicoX · #15 08-28-2012, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyld

Like?

Well there are several emails sent to the support. Dont want to discuss such things in this thread now.

The Fact is that the Managers of Classic Playerworlds are also representing Graal Online, which means they should have a way to work close enough with Stefan or other high Global Admins. For example, our Manager on Valikorlia sent like 4-5 mails to the support and Stefan, they got never answered. If the Manager is already being ignored, how the Players are feeling?
Well its going off-topic now.

This suggestion was just an idea to let the Managers of Classic Servers work closer with Stefan and improve Graal PC at all. But since nobody is interested on the PC Platform anymore, we could just let it die or rather shut down.

Tim_Rocks · #16 08-28-2012, 06:50 PM

Not to burst bubbles, but that's not going to happen, ever. If you're being ignored by mail, you're going to be ignored by a "Global Message" which would just in turn become spam to harasse globals.

#sorry

NicoX · #17 08-28-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim_Rocks

Not to burst bubbles, but that's not going to happen, ever. If you're being ignored by mail, you're going to be ignored by a "Global Message" which would just in turn become spam to harasse globals.

#sorry

I guess you missed the point where I said its just for the Managers. If you want to harass globals with that function go for it, im sure a Global Ban wouldnt take long.
Someone now can close this Thread.

Tim_Rocks · #18 08-28-2012, 06:59 PM

I take it back, make this happen so we can spam him some more.

MonkeyBob · #19 08-28-2012, 07:04 PM

We don't even require this on Era and we have a player count.

NicoX · #20 08-28-2012, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonkeyBob

We don't even require this on Era and we have a player count.

You have Sinkler everyday on there.

ffcmike · #21 08-28-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised we don't see a higher turn over in their positions.

In regards to PWA, I'm surprised all global staff minus Skyld are rolled into one group. There seems to be a lack of candidates suitable for governing PlayerWorlds, trustworthy for handling Account Support, and with a knack for rental server issues.

While there is nothing which explicitly states a PWA can't be enlisted to fulfil one specific role, it makes more sense to me for globals to be compartmentalised into 3 groups. This way would increase the hiring pool as there'd be more candidates who meet one set of criteria who might not meet another. There would also be possibilities such as further designated emails that would allow the groups to operate more efficiently.

That said Tig's supposed new hiring has been delayed for how long now?
Either it's someone highly controversial or Stefan is happy to let this game rot, and would rather see it suffer in order to give his negligence more justification.

Bell · #22 08-28-2012, 08:01 PM

I only know of one older issue not addressed at this point. Stefan has been made aware of it on numerous occasions but its quite possible that its simply a matter of his response being no. Kind of like when you pray to God and get no answer, maybe its just no. Sounds cold I know but sometimes life just doesn't give us everything we want.

NicoX · #23 08-28-2012, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bell

I only know of one older issue not addressed at this point. Stefan has been made aware of it on numerous occasions but its quite possible that its simply a matter of his response being no. Kind of like when you pray to God and get no answer, maybe its just no. Sounds cold I know but sometimes life just doesn't give us everything we want.

Hm, so you say praying to God and not becoming in answer is the same thing mailing to the Support and not getting the answer x-x? Well..... Im done here I guess lol

Bell · #24 08-28-2012, 08:15 PM

I'm saying that as far as I'm aware there is only one support issue not resolved in your regard. Stefan's support emails are normally forwarded to him through us if its something we can't handle. Even then we try to at least acknowledge the receipt of the email and tell whomever that we are forwarding it.

As far as to how Stefan handles things from his end I can't predict anymore than I could predict what god would say or do when something is asked of her. I've just always thought the "the answer may be no" reasoning was the most logical answer one could perceive.

Tim_Rocks · #25 08-28-2012, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoX

You have Sinkler everyday on there.

I haven't seen or heard from Gabriel in a week, so your argument is invalid. Nor do I need help with issues in the first place. Let's not get this out of hand though, this is a poor suggestion and wouldn't ever work. Your messages would go un-seen or just straight up ignored.

Stephen · #26 08-28-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bell

As far as to how Stefan handles things from his end I can't predict anymore than I could predict what god would say or do when something is asked of her. I've just always thought the "the answer may be no" reasoning was the most logical answer one could perceive.

I'm not sure about this, I've had several people contact me over the last few weeks asking me to contact PWAs personally. Their emails had gone ignored, such as password resets and questionable bans.

All of the complaints I received were valid, unfortunately they were not really high priority. The problem, in my opinion, is that there are simply not enough support staff. Little problems build up and existing support staff spend so much time trying to resolve the simple problems they usually have very little resolution.

cbk1994 · #27 08-28-2012, 08:32 PM

This suggestion doesn't address the real problem. It's already easy to contact a global over IM, and in my experience, Stefan responds to urgent emails very quickly (either via reply or getting on the server, often within 5 minutes). It's often harder to contact the server manager than it is to contact a global.

There certainly needs to be better and faster support for players (a support center would go a long well toward helping, but keep in mind we still had lots of complaints about slow support even when we had one), but the kind of solution OP is proposing isn't really useful except in emergency situations (e.g. the server is resetting people on login and we need a global now).

ffcmike · #28 08-28-2012, 08:39 PM

In my experience Stefan usually replies within 5 minutes when he can think of a lame excuse to avoid acknowledging the content of your email. Otherwise you have to wait a week or 2 for it to be safe to say you've been ignored, being able to contact him immediately would make it only take a few minutes to realise you're being ignored, allowing you to focus on other things.

cbk1994 · #29 08-28-2012, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffcmike

In my experience Stefan usually replies within 5 minutes when he can think of a lame excuse to avoid acknowledging the content of your email. Otherwise you have to wait a week or 2 for it to be safe to say you've been ignored, being able to contact him immediately would make it only take a few minutes to realise you're being ignored, allowing you to focus on other things.

It depends entirely on what you're asking for. I've had some emails sit for weeks and other emails get immediate attention (like when the servers go down).

Stephen · #30 08-28-2012, 08:54 PM

Yea, if it's low priority it's going to get low priority treatment. Stefan logged on GK a few days ago to fix some glitched boats - which I really appreciated.

The problem with the whole administration is pretty simple - there are too few people. Too few to help with player support. Too few to help with server support. Too few to help with program issues. The result is that admins have no other choice but to ignore low priority problems... leaves a lot of people unhappy.

Bell · #31 08-28-2012, 08:57 PM

Very true Stephen, its a no win situation.

Stephen · #32 08-28-2012, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bell

Very true Stephen, its a no win situation.

Yeap. Admins get treated poorly for "ignoring" problems and some players / staff get ignored. Everyone loses, unfortunately the admins are made to look like the bad guys when they're volunteering their time to help make Graal a little better.

WarriorCam · #33 08-28-2012, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicoX

Hm, so you say praying to God and not becoming in answer is the same thing mailing to the Support and not getting the answer x-x? Well..... Im done here I guess lol

Stefan works in mysterious ways

Crono · #34 08-28-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Yeap. Admins get treated poorly for "ignoring" problems and some players / staff get ignored. Everyone loses, unfortunately the admins are made to look like the bad guys when they're volunteering their time to help make Graal a little better.

Except when they focus their attention on the wrong things.

Matt · #35 08-28-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

Yea, if it's low priority it's going to get low priority treatment. Stefan logged on GK a few days ago to fix some glitched boats - which I really appreciated.

The problem with the whole administration is pretty simple - there are too few people. Too few to help with player support. Too few to help with server support. Too few to help with program issues. The result is that admins have no other choice but to ignore low priority problems... leaves a lot of people unhappy.

Agreed and so very true.

linkrulz4 · #36 09-09-2012, 05:46 AM

Considering it seems that majority managers now, especially after the downfall of classic subscriptions, are just narcissistic overly privileged teens or old as dirt players that won a popularity contest with no real development skills, I really doubt Stefan wants to hear from any of them. There isn't an honest system put in place to determine whether or not someone should be a "manager" of a server, thus they have no credentials or place in getting a VIP one-way red alert to the PWA team. Managers are and have always been to Stefan and Unixmad as just another kind of player. This is from their mouths to myself back when I had several RC's and dealt with them regularly. They're nothing special. They just can alter flags in their own little playground and feel important.

Considering most of them have never even cared to read the EULA or Rules of Conduct, or even follow them, that also really reinforces the issue of no one caring to listen to their every beck and call. If Graal ever gets a surefire way to apply as an official manager of a server, not based on time spent playing the game or how popular someone is, but by how ethical their decisions are and how much they can actually benefit the development cycle, with PWA involvement and possibly some contractual agreements, Stefan and Unixmad have all the more reason to delete emails and blow them off. Honestly, there hasn't been a real competent development team currently active on PC Graal for who knows how long that could potentially revive the game, sans some people on these forums (who are amazing at GS2, and you know who you are), so its not like anyone is really going to get their full attention (besides those people who are actually being innovative with GS2 on these forums).

If you want their attention, be a go-getter and generate some money for them without them having to hold your hand through it; act professional on and off client; know the EULA and the Rules of Conduct and enforce them properly without bias; revamp your application processes to be serious and treat RC like an actual job instead of a secret VIP chat room; then and only maybe then they'll talk to you regularly and answer those emails you think are super important and oh-so-vital to the survival of your server. That's what Zodiac was doing. They got pretty far with it. If you went on their RC, it looked like what you'd expect a console for a paid administration would look like on a much more successful MMORPG.

Also considering that the attention you guys want doesn't even happen for their cash-cow iOS variant of Graal, I highly doubt it's going to happen for the PC version. Classic servers get free hosting anyways, so it's not like they lose any money ignoring you.

I'm with Skyld at the beginning of this thread on this one.

Feel free to hate me for standing on a soap box. I don't care. I've seen this played out too much over the years too often to think nothing of what I said isn't fact.