|
Post by Peter Pettigrew on May 29, 2022 12:44:04 GMT 10
Accio Wizengamot Judge Number Two:
![](https://i.imgur.com/5CsCh5a.png) I now invite Hedwig's Killer to address the finalists.
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 29, 2022 18:53:10 GMT 10
Hello. I like you both. Black, I'm sorry I didn't give you my wands. I didn't want to think about anyone involved at the MC that I left. Yax, I'm not that sorry though, because you were cool. When I left this game I couldn't muster up a single opinion about any part of this game. Everything that happened up to that point had been utter nonsense, and I was therefore unable to care about anything that happened afterward. My request of you both is to help me care. Make me care about this result going one way or another, in any way. The following are some example questions that might help you get a read of what could work (because I genuinely don't know what, if anything, will). You do not need, nor are expected to, nor do I want an answer to these directly. They are an aid to get you into my mindset. The worst thing you could do is simply answer these questions in a list. I want something with insight from you personally, while considering the brain that is currently thinking about: 1. Did Hedwig's Killer add anything of substance to this game? Why did he even play? 2. Why did some, who Hedwig's Killer considered allies, never talk actual strategy with him? 3. What did Hedwig's Killer do wrong to be eliminated, or was it just random? 4. Who in this game was considered a Big Threat at any point, and does being a Big Threat actually make someone threatening? 5. Are ORGs like other multiplayer games (board, video, online or real life) ----5a) If so, do the same etiquette rules apply? ----5b) If not... what makes them different. ----5c) Either way, is this how it should be? 6. Should I bother playing an ORG ever again, given answers to the above? 7. Do Items and Idols make games more fun, or just artificially exciting? 8. Are there just people who, no matter how many games they play, cannot win an ORG no matter what? 9. How much of an influence on all of these questions is the demographic makeup of the types of people that play ORGs? 10. Does skill in the written word help or hinder one's ability to play ORGs? ----10a. Where exactly on the sliding scale of wordsmithery does that switch? 11. Should someone play in a way that is not fun if it allows them to win? 12. How many people play ORGs for fun, and how many play for some other motivation ----12a) What other motivations are there? how many? I would like your responses delivered using the exact format and rules of Owl Post (between players), for the irony. I will respond exactly once with my feedback to your letter, upon which you may, if you feel it is necessary, make a second attempt. If I am left unsatisfied by both parties I will decide my vote using a method that is as befittingly nonsensical (not randomly Peter Pettigrew dont worry) as I found this game to be.
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 29, 2022 23:22:33 GMT 10
Oh, and this is largely unrelated, but fun fact I intended to reveal when one of you reached Wizengamot, Corban Yaxley I 100% lied about Regulus Black saying nice things about you and wanting to work with you at Malfoy Manor. I just wanted you two to be friends so we could all meet up at merge. This won't affect my vote but I am curious if that affected anything.
|
|
|
Post by Regulus Black on May 30, 2022 0:59:50 GMT 10
Date: Day 30, May 30 To: Hedwig's Killer From: Regulus Black
Hey Hedwig's Killer
I thought you were amazing. Your commitment to your persona early on was good value and you played it well. I know that it's hard to not do as well as you'd hope in games like this; but I hope that when it's all said and done, that you can look back at this experience as a positive one. I hope that you had fun with it as you really contributed to the immersive nature of the game. Speaking of hopes for the game, I certainly didn't expect to win. I have far from an encyclopedic knowledge of this magical universe and to be honest, I felt out of my depth early with several people- yourself included, seemingly having no problem playing your character effortlessly. I still remember posting in Malfoy Manor something like "It's nice to be reunited with you all" and then you came back with some message entitled "This is not a reunion" - I felt like I'd probably struggle, given my lack of HP knowledge. I'm a decent level fan, but would know far less than most of the cast. I didn't come into this game hoping, or expecting to win- I literally just wanted to have a good time, which took a bit of the pressure off and allowed me to play around. Share banter and even just laugh at myself. I remember when I got banned from Owl Post for a round- had I been approaching this entirely seriously, I'd have possibly worried myself about the implications of the ban for my game. But I just took it in my stride and just appropriated a classic HP quote, which I did a few times - on that occasion, it was "I could DIE, or worse ... be banned from Owl Post". The point being, that if your reason for being here is to have fun and mess around- as long as you're doing that, you can leave feeling contented. I feel like you probably put a lot of pressure on yourself to make it deep and were planning on winning this thing. Unfortunately, that wasn't on the cards this time. But so much luck is involved, that your finishing position doesn't reflect on your abilities as a player. For all we know, Carrow is the best player of us all- she couldn't help being hospitalised when she was- so much luck is present at every turn. Had there not been a split council, you might have won. Had the challenges been in a different order, maybe Tonks, or Kingsley go on an immunity run. Had Lestrange started out on the Order, maybe he wins? Then we factor in items and idols.... I don't have the computer skills for these to be a realistic possibility for me to hope to claim, so I just try to play around them the best I can. But sometimes it can be difficult. I found that with idols played at 8,7 and then at 5, along with dual immunity each round, that the game felt very clogged up at these times. I mean... at 5, it was literally just Diggle and I eligible to receive votes. So yes, randomness is present- but being able to move through the game without any items/idols and having outlasted the clear majority alliance along the way make it even more rewarding to have safely navigated around. But it's one of those things where if you have them, they are always more fun and I can see the value and merits of including them. Because of all these variables and the fact that we are dealing with 20 independent thinkers, in combination with various unknown and known twists, these games are different to board games and computer games in my experience. In these other types of games, there is less variance and more predictability usually. Accepted 'best' ways of playing which invariably lead to success. This isn't the case in ORGs in my experience- they are very much case by case. A threat is really subjective. The phrase 'big threat' can be a cop out sometimes, which I think is what you are referring to. To me, someone like Lily was a big threat here- because of how well insulated she seemed to be from all angles. This was something I remember mentioning to you. While to other people, players with bigger public presences, like Diggle, or Malfoy are seen as more threatening. I know this is cliche, but someone's threat level really just comes down to the jury and what they value. And ultimately how the players can sell various 'threats' to the fellow players in such a way that you can find common ground. But more often than not, I think the jury rewards people they just like more. So that's probably the simplest answer I can give as far as outlining what makes a big threat.
This variance gives everyone a chance on any given day. It's an appeal of sport and really any form of competition, including Survivor. Anyone has a chance to win on any given day. It can make it frustrating, but also is what makes it so fascinating to watch these games play out. Because they involve people. You are still invested enough to be regularly checking in- despite being voted out weeks ago, so I think there's still some intrigue, fascination and desire about these games within you. As long as you find the games fun and take something positive out of them, I encourage you to keep playing. Because the attitude we carry into a game and the spirit in which we play it can usually determine how we feel about it once it's all said and done. But if you are feeling burnt out, disinterested, or jaded- maybe it's time to take a year before your next game. Or even consider co-hosting, or lurking for a bit? I play these games sometimes with a couple of years in between outings- and I think the longer breaks might be helpful to some people.
As far as other motivations- they are endless. For this game, I can see the Blood v Water twist drawing people to it- it's a novel concept. The Harry Potter fandom element is obvious. So I can see people motivated to play for an immersive Harry Potter experience. Some people might want to try out a schtick. Others might be achievement oriented and set various achievement goals - wanting to make the jury, or to find an idol, or win the game. While some people could be here for the social interaction if they are bored. Alternatively, there could be people who want to try out different game strategies. Some might be here because they love competing in challenges. The list could go on endlessly. There are as many motivations as there are different kinds of people. As long as you play within the general rules, there is a lot of freedom about what occurs within the game. With the fun twist that the players themselves are the ones who decide what is valued and not valued - as well as what qualities they would like to reward. Which contribute to making the game so hard to play. I think generally skill with the written word is usually helpful, but not always. I tend to be partial to people who come across as genuine, who I can vibe with and I prioritise that over someone who can write well.
I don't think your question regarding your supposed allies not talking strategy with you applies to me? Because I was pretty direct and upfront with you in that regard. But being pulled apart for a week was a shame.
I hope this long note reaches you well
Best wishes
Regulus
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 30, 2022 1:15:18 GMT 10
Regulus Black That was a complete and utter failure of the brief. You said some nice words and I respect the effort put in, but you didnt attempt to address my actual request, making me care, at all. This one question should have been your only focus. Instead you went ahead and directly answered the myriad of questions I explicitly asked you not to answer. The closest you got was "hoping I look back on this experience as a positive one". And that is not a persuasive argument. The purpose of the questions was for you to consider the current mindset of someone who is thinking about these things, abstractly. I am not here to seek answers but to determine whether I will leave this game with any personal attachment to it whatsoever. You have 1 attempt remaining.
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 30, 2022 1:18:16 GMT 10
You are also lucky that your submission far far FAR exceeded the character count and was invalid anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Corban Yaxley on May 30, 2022 4:52:40 GMT 10
Hullo HK,
I reckon it's cruel of you to ask such int'restin' questions n' then limit how much we can write in an answer. Hopefully regardless o' how this pans out, we can talk 'more 'bout ORGs in general, 'cause I think it's a lotta real int'restin' questions you're askin'. If you just want my unedited thoughts 'bout it, check Episode 7 in my confessional.
Largely, I'd say ORGs are bizarre games in that from most angles, playin' 'em doesn't make sense. They have an absurd time cost and massively over-reward folks who can spend longer on it than folks who have other things to do. The mechanics of usin' a forum are exceedingly janky, forcing a game into a structure that was never designed for those things. Most aspects of an ORG can be done better elsewhere; if you like challenges just puzzle-solve competitively. If you like trickery there are too many boardgames to count that allow you to have fun lyin', swindlin', or dealin' with folks in a fraction o' the time. Like 'em both? Just play Twilight Imperium, it'll only take a day rather than a month.
But a lot o' those weaknesses also form it's strength. All that time commitment, all the weird friction, all of it means those play get insanely over-invested. The (typically) simple rules guarantee most folks can grasp the mechanics extremely easily, allowin' for the entire game to be played with the folks you're playin' with rather than focusin' on the game itself. That commitment n' social focus means these games are incredible at makin' stories n' relationships that feel genuine and powerful without feelin' pre-written or forced. It also means that playin' in them always risks 'em goin' awry, because without the risk o' crushin' failure, the soar of success would feel dull, or unearned. I think that's why folks, includin' you, play 'em.
I think a lot o' the specifics are flexible. Do Idols make things more fun? Depends on the game n' how they're used. Is there an etiquette? Ask the folks at the table.
Cheers, Yaxley
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 30, 2022 9:22:51 GMT 10
Corban Yaxley, your letter is nice, but it does not sway me. It is broad and sweeping. Why should I care about this ORG in particular? You have 1 attempt remaining.
|
|
|
Post by Corban Yaxley on May 30, 2022 11:30:09 GMT 10
Hullo HK, again.
I reckon I won't be countin' the characters on this one. Feels 'bout right that letter 2 is a bit shorter than the first one?
If you don't find the stories o' the folks in this game interesting, then you don't. I've tried buildin' card games, tabletop games, video games, the whole nine yards, and never in my life have I convinced anyone to care 'bout sumthin' they were predisposed to not care 'bout. RAB n' I are both fightin' like hell and if none o' that means anything to you, I'm not gonna change that in 2000 characters. I'm not dumb enough to try.
What are you hopin' for here? I know you're a smart bloke, so it's hard to imagine you think we can actually make you care emotionally about a game you lost two weeks ago, unless you care 'bout one of us. If you cared 'bout either of us though, you'd not need us to persuade you o' that. Do you want us to say you were a huge part o' our game? I talked 'bout your impact on my game in my speech already, I'm not wastin' my last couple hundred characters redescribin' that.
For me you're a clever n' inventive bloke. I think if you hadn't been away all merge week you'd have had a deeper run, but I can't pretend you were so strongly amazin' and set up you shoulda survived regardless. I thought we were decent enough mates that you wouldn't be so apathetic? I thought I'd be persuadin' you to care 'bout me more rather than just trying to get you to care at all, but I guess I misjudged you.
Cheers, Yaxley
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 30, 2022 12:51:15 GMT 10
I care about you Yax. I like you both a lot. But I feel incredibly disconnected from this game in a way I never have been before. I was hoping for a pitch, like you were to convince someone of a tv show you liked, to get me invested again.
I don't mean any disrespect to you or Black or Peter but thats just my mental state right now. I dont think I can make any kind of informed decision on traditional 'who played best' criteria because I dont think I have any frame of reference to appreciate whats been said, both at Wizengamot and here at fmc.
This isnt meant to be a HK pity party, or fishing for ego boosts or platitudes. For what its worth, on paper I think you both played great games worthy of a win.
But if I were to cast a vote at this stage it would feel like deciding randomly, it might as well be a coin flip. I can not at this point make a meaningful decision one way or another, and that is not something worthy of this game and not something that is fair to you or Black.
Thats why I make the request I did. I would like to be in a state of mind that makes my decision feel like it had intention.
|
|
|
Post by Regulus Black on May 30, 2022 18:35:00 GMT 10
Date: Day 30, May 30 To: Hedwig's Killer From: Regulus Black
I think you kind of missed the point of my message? You should care about the game because of all that you have invested in it. You should care because you have shaped how it has played out in more ways than any of us can know. You should care because you are still here and reading this. You should care because at least at one point, you felt passionate enough about it to commit to not just playing, but to playing a clever schtick. Sure, that passion may not be as strong as it once was, but honour it and honour yourself by at least caring. Passion is rare and can't just be created at will- as it seems you have discovered. If this doesn't give you a reason to care, then I don't know how much more I can say which will be much more effective.
Best wishes
Regulus
|
|
|
Post by Hedwig's Killer on May 30, 2022 19:27:20 GMT 10
Sorry to both of you for the hassle. I know this isn't really fair to put this on either of you. I hope that my vote does not affect the outcome.
|
|
|
Post by Regulus Black on May 30, 2022 19:35:50 GMT 10
You are fine, HK. I've been where you are - dejected, feeling empty, jaded. From time to time it just happens, it creeps in slowly and then seems to be all you can feel/see. Being asked to fill the role of a juror in the middle of it must be very challenging.
I know it doesn't feel like it at the moment, but I will assure you that it is temporary. It might not go away tomorrow, or by next week- but it will eventually pass.
|
|