TCQ: GM Expectations
I've been having a great time and want to thank you all for making this so easy on me. Other than a few bumps in side threads, and some really horrible planning on my part in the Purifier thread, (seriously, what was I smoking?! Putting PCs at complete odds and expecting it to go smoothly.) things have gone so much better than I'd hoped for.
With that said though, I need to get an idea on whether everyone is comfortable with continuing, or if they'd like to take the end of the Prequel as an opportunity to reduce their role to a guest appearance basis, or decided that maybe the game isn't for them. (pace might be too fast, might be too dark, etc. - any excuse would be accepted by me with no hard feelings.)
Please read through the following, and send me a message privately or here, if you want to bow out. Unless I hear otherwise, I'll assume you're staying. 
I told you all that these prequels would help me determine the pace of the game going forward, by observing how often the majority of the players are able to post. So, I want to take this opportunity to tell you my expectations, going forward, so that you can take it into consideration when you decide if you want to stay on.
1. I want a firm commitment of checking the site 3 times a week. AND if you have an open tag, replying to it. If you can't make that commitment, but want to stay on...we need to talk a bit and come to an agreement that works for both of us w/o holding up the game. But I would prefer you step back to a part time status if that's the case.
2. IF you're going to be away, you're totally excused from #1. BUT, give me a clue. Let me know you're going, paLEEZ. I'll NPC you or write you out with an errand till you return. Missing PCs, have hit me 3 times in the Prequels, and going forward my tolerance for them will be minimal. We'll go live with the team, and everyone will have a clean slate, but going forward, please tell me if you'll be in a situation where you can't meet the 3X per week check in expectation.
3. IF anyone has a problem with being placed in a thread with the AGM, you need to tell me now. I really don't think that's an issue...but I almost lost a player once over an AGM, and I'm sensitive to that possibility and want to bring it up now. (
-JShowell)
4. Side Threads, JPs, Fiction Pieces, etc. - I have been blown the hell away by the side threads. You'll be getting XP for them of course, and are welcome to continue these. There's several of you that haven't done many of these, and that's A-OK. It's not a requirement. ...but, what concerns me, is that if you aren't doing them because you don't feel like you have a 'hook', we need to talk. 
Some of you players are just coming up with your own story lines and have found that I've been accommodating (I hope) in allowing them in the game and running with them. I just don't want anyone to feel excluded or like they have nothing to add. IF you wanna write a side piece and want to be more involved, but don't know how, talk to me and don't let it become a frustration.
5. Check the Forum and Get involved with the Wiki. The forum is necessary, pleas check the forum when you're checking the site, 3X a week should work. Wiki is optional...but I'd love to see participation there as well. Starting with getting all of the character histories up.
6. Communication. I'm anticipating that with this game, our communication is going to have to be very active. With some of our players, playing unsavory characters, it's easy to get a complex about them. Perceptions can get easily twisted...and 'IC' stuff can seep into 'OoC' stuff. Let's all be diligent in remembering what we know and what we don't know, and bring problems to me as soon as you start to notice them, so that I can be more proactive in watching for them.
7. Lastly, this kind of goes hand in hand with #6. This is unfolding into an even darker game than I originally imagined. IF, any of you have threads that you think you won't enjoy, or are worried that you might get landed in the middle of... send me an email with a list of anything that creeps you out a little too much, and I'll be sure to steer clear of them with your PC. Also, if JShowell or I write something that you feel should have had an advisory, give me a heads up, and I'll be more diligent in adding them.
Comments
Missing Players
Alright, the holidays are approaching and all that, so things will be slowing down soon, methinks. It's the trend that we usually find in games.
The staff meeting thread, isn't one that will waist away under momentum, loss. It will be fairly organized until Q&A time.
But time of year aside, we've had our share of players going missing for a week or more at a time with no word. But we're now on our FOURTH or FIFTH person to disappear.
Unfortunately, now that we're in crunch time, I have to make actual decisions on how to handle this. I loathe NPCing characters during critical encounters, especially early in the game when I don't know them very well. Unfortunately, I don't see any other option.
Going forward, in the event of a Player's disappearance that lasts for two or more weeks, with no heads up or word to the GM, I will remove your player from active game play. ...which will likely mean just side lining them, using them as a plot device, or if I'm really irked (repeat offenders) - writing them out of the story.
I will begin NPCing them after 5-7 days of inactivity unless I get a heads up from the player. As a player, you're also free to choose another player to NPC for your character if you prefer.
I think this is a fair process, but if anyone disagrees or has suggestions, please holler.
...and for the record, once a player returns, I have no issues with them returning to the story and making edits as they see fit to make the story more accurately reflect their vision of their character. As long as it doesn't require mass rewrites. Rewrites would only be approved if the players in question were willing to revisit the post.