On The RVS: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:42, 12 April 2017

Nobody likes the Random Voting Stage, but in daystart games, there's no way to begin with content. Heck, even most night-start games (rare as they currently are) feature an RVS; pretty much the only games lacking one are games where there was a mechanism allowing for content discussion immediately.

The reason why we use the RVS over alternatives is that no alternative has proven superior in generating content. The RQS, for instance, ultimately proved to favor scum over town, while failing to get the game started any sooner. There have been games where players have suggested skipping the RVS and generating content immediately--but in the process of discussing generating content, they took just as long or longer to get actual content compared to RVS methodology.

Simply put, the RVS isn't an ideal method at getting what we want (content ASAP)--it's just the best available option. Using it, a game can exit the RVS potentially before the end of page one. It typically lasts only a couple of pages and is usually finished within 48 hours of the game's start regardless of length. It is the method easiest to generate content quickly, and also typically the method which has the greatest fun factor. You can make jokes that don't otherwise fit into the game, you can have in-jokes that reference previously-played games, you can basically do your own thing.

Thus, the strong hold in games. That doesn't mean we like it. I have fun in it, but I still hate it. The RVS is awkward, and while it's possible to get reads immediately, accuracy is obviously skewed. This doesn't mean you are powerless. For instance, while pure RQS may benefit scum, you can ask questions as part of the RVS that benefit exiting; you may also cast votes which are semi-serious, discussing things and generating content in a lighthearted manner.

Still, the RVS is a necessary evil of games, because there's no method to avert an icebreaker; the RVS is our best-available conversation-starter. There is no way to rid yourself of it as a player. All you can do is make the most of the situation you have been handed.

HOWEVER, on the modding side of things, you CAN influence this. Simply introduce a mechanic that changes early-game dynamics, and instantly the RVS is almost assuredly gone.

Play around. Experiment. See what mechanics work and what don't. (For instance, one mechanic that might help is giving votes far more power than normal, thus, making players more cautious to simply throw them out.) Ultimately, your efforts will merely put a dent in the dominance of the RVS. But it's something that's different, something that's fun, which can set the bar high for other mods to aspire to accomplish, that breaking of the norm, of the RVS.

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-Original Lecture: [http://forum.mafiascum.net/viewtopic.php?p=5461939#p5461939 On the RVS]
+Part of [[Mastin Academy]].
-You wish the RVS didn't exist because nobody likes the RVS, but there's no way for games to begin with content in a day-start game. Heck, even in most night-start games (rare as they may be these days), there will still be an RVS. Pretty much the only games that don't feature an RVS are games where there was a mechanism in place that allowed for content discussion immediately.
+[http://forum.mafiascum.net/viewtopic.php?p=5461939#p5461939 '''Original Lecture:'''  On the RVS]
-The reason why we use the RVS is because it's impossible to start a game immediately with content unless, as mentioned, there is a mechanic in place that strongly favors there being content from the get-go. Thus, a method of generating content must be used. Other alternatives have been tried. The RQS, for instance, being a popular one, albeit one that ultimately favored scum more than town and didn't get the game rolling any sooner. There have been games where players have suggested skipping the RVS and generating content immediately--but in the process of discussing generating content, you take just as long if not longer to get actual content than using the RVS methodology.
-We use the RVS because it's the method that has, by-and-large, proved the most effective at getting the results we want--content, soon, and useful content at that. Using it, a game can typically be out of the RVS before the end of page one (generally in smaller games) or two (in larger games). You might occasionally get an RVS that lasts longer thanks to some posting a ton of times in it, but even then, it typically ends in the same amount of time. (Generally within two real-life days, the Random Voting Stage has passed.) Not only is it easier to generate content soon in, but it's also something that can be fun. You can make jokes that don't otherwise fit into the game, you can have in-jokes that reference previously-played games, you can basically do your own thing for fun.
+Nobody likes [[Random Voting Stage|the Random Voting Stage]], but in [[Day Start|daystart]] games, there's no way to begin with content. Heck, even most [[Night Start|night-start]] games (rare as they currently are) feature an RVS; pretty much the only games lacking one are games where [[Game Mechanic|there was a mechanism]] allowing for content discussion immediately.
-Thus, why it has such a strong hold over games. That doesn't mean we like it. I might have fun in the RVS, but I hate it. I find it awkward, and while I can get reads immediately from it, my accuracy is typically skewed as a result. I much prefer games that have that content rolling. There are ways to get more than the RVS. For instance, while the RQS is typically scum-oriented, you can ask questions in the RVS that (while more random than in other stages of the game) are beneficial to getting out. You can have RVS votes that are semi-serious as well, in that you're immediately discussing things and generating content, albeit in a more light-hearted way.
-Still, though, RVS are a necessary evil of games by-and-large, because there's no method on the players side to avert the icebreaker that they give. On the modding side of things, though, you CAN influence this. As I said, simply by introducing a mechanic that changes the dynamics of the early-game, you've given a MASSIVE chance to the game lacking an RVS and having that immediate content, because the dynamics of the game have been changed. There may still be RVS votes, but they won't be the focus of the game.
+The reason why we use the RVS over alternatives is that no alternative has proven superior in generating content. [[Random Questioning Stage|The RQS]], for instance, ultimately proved to favor [[Scum|scum]] over [[Town|town]], while failing to get the game started any sooner. There have been games where players have suggested skipping the RVS and generating content immediately--but in the process of discussing generating content, they took just as long or longer to get actual content compared to RVS methodology.
+Simply put, the RVS isn't an ideal method at getting what we want (content ASAP)--it's just the best available option. Using it, a game can exit the RVS potentially before the end of page one. It typically lasts only a couple of pages and is usually finished within 48 hours of the game's start regardless of length. It is the method easiest to generate content quickly, and also typically the method which has the greatest fun factor. You can make jokes that don't otherwise fit into the game, you can have in-jokes that reference previously-played games, you can basically do your own thing.
+Thus, the strong hold in games. That doesn't mean we like it. I have fun in it, but I still hate it. The RVS is awkward, and while it's possible to get reads immediately, accuracy is obviously skewed. This doesn't mean you are powerless. For instance, while pure RQS may benefit scum, you can ask questions as part of the RVS that benefit exiting; you may also cast votes which are semi-serious, discussing things and generating content in a lighthearted manner.
+Still, the RVS is a necessary evil of games, because there's no method to avert an icebreaker; the RVS is our best-available conversation-starter. There is no way to rid yourself of it as a player. All you can do is make the most of the situation you have been handed.
+HOWEVER, on the ''[[Game Moderator|modding]]'' side of things, you CAN influence this. Simply introduce a [[Game Mechanic|mechanic]] that changes early-game dynamics, and instantly the RVS is almost assuredly gone.
 Play around. Experiment. See what mechanics work and what don't. (For instance, one mechanic that might help is giving votes far more power than normal, thus, making players more cautious to simply throw them out.) Ultimately, your efforts will merely put a dent in the dominance of the RVS. But it's something that's different, something that's fun, which can set the bar high for other mods to aspire to accomplish, that breaking of the norm, of the RVS.
 [[Category: MastinMD]]

On The RVS: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:42, 12 April 2017

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