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Thread: Player Advocates

  1. #1

    Text Player Advocates

    Let’s begin by acknowledging all representatives, administrators and moderators work for or otherwise serve Evony, LLC. Even the so-called “community liaisons” represent the Evony vision of a community. This is, of course, without regard for those who comprise the community: the game players. This disregard has led to issues between players and the Evony Team innumerable times and will continue to do so without some kind of amicable intervention.

    I will try my best to avoid being negative, but we have to deal with reality here. The Evony community has been and will continue to be stifled as long as the players, many of who pay to play the game, have no discernable voice in the community. Personally, I have read comments from Evony Team members which tout how wonderful the Evony Community is. Yes, the players and posters are, for the most part, a good group of people. However, I fail to see where having one representative and two liaisons governing over 8 million established accounts has any hope or expressed expectation of ever truly being able to handle community-related issues.

    Sure, we have a moderating crew who do an excellent job of maintaining the community; however, even they get frustrated at times. They are expected to carry and tend to a burden which has been termed (paraphrasing multiple comments) an unprecedented growth with unforeseeable complications.

    Moderators are being asked to act as Evony representatives and community advocates at the same time. There is a natural conflict which arises when legitimate disputes come up. One person cannot represent “the company” and the community at the same time; they must revert to being Evony Team members at these times. This, of course, only serves to exacerbate legitimate disputes.

    I suggest Evony, LLC continue in its precedent-setting ways and allow for the creation of Player Advocates. Player Advocates are as the name suggests: they would defend legitimate player concerns and players alike. They would not be “company players” or take the company’s side. In fact, Player Advocates would not get involved in matters which are not deemed legitimate by counselling with the Evony Team. For example, ranting posters on the forums would not be defended by Player Advocates. Those instances would be left to the moderating crew to deal with appropriately.

    The functions of Player Advocates would fall into one of two categories: Promoting a healthy community and defending player interests. These categories seem to be and are intended to be adversarial in nature toward the company. Aggressive defense of player interests must be adversarial as the company wishes to maintain its vision while the playerbase actually exists within that vision – which oftentimes makes for incompatible situations. Likewise, and as with any growing community, the status quo must be challenged in order for change to be enacted... change which benefits all.

    Players with legitimate complaints, suggestions and/or community-oriented innovations have been stifled. We all understand the defensive nature of the company comes from excessive complaints and irresponsible attacks made against the company. However, Player Advocates could assist in quelling and reducing the amount of animosity which drives attacks against the company by setting players straight on facts and details which are often overlooked in the heat of frustration, and by acting as a buffer while keeping the lines of communication open.

    Which leads us to Player Advocates would work to establish and maintain an open line of communication between the Evony Team and the playerbase. Too many times it has been stated the Team is working on this issue only for communication to completely breakdown. I know for a fact communication among Evony Team members is sadly lacking as well. Communication is critical to the success of any community.

    Where the Player Advocates go from there will be left to both the community and the company. Hopefully, the company will allow for the creation of this position and the players will accept Player Advocates as their own. There is a choice to be made here: Act to intervene on the state of affairs in our community or simply let it ride. The decisions made will say a lot about the parties involved - for better or for worse.

    This is not my application to become a Player Advocate. This is merely my proposal.

  2. #2

    Default

    I think it is a great idea, however Evony seems to be more interested in selling medium medal boxes than customer/player service. Evony has the worst customer service that I have ever seen, not just in a game, but anywhere.

    Great idea though, seems like it would be a step in a better direction...

  3. #3

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by GhostOfKempion View Post
    This is not my application to become a Player Advocate. This is merely my proposal.
    I would nominate you

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    Nice post.
    Well thought out and a considered argument, with a positive suggestion.
    I hope that others will keep this in mind and try to keep making this a Bash Evony thread, as that will go no-where.
    PEACE

  5. #5

    Default

    "Cliff notes" version: Evony is a work in progress. Here is another idea.

  6. #6

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by GhostOfKempion View Post
    "Cliff notes" version: Evony is a work in progress. Here is another idea.
    LMAO nice cliff notes.
    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
    -Edmund Burke

  7. #7
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    I whole heartedly agree with you. And I would love to see this implemented. May I rightly infer that Player Advocates would work "with" mods on disciplinary actions that players feel are misdirected or overly harsh??

  8. #8

    Default

    I would say "working with mods" on disciplinary actions is not quite what I had in mind. Mods would do their jobs normally still. They know what they are doing. If, however, a player were to feel unjustifiably infracted, suspended or banned, then they should be able to take that issue up with an advocate. (This would free up the reps to do other things as well.)

    Advocates would not be here to cowtow to players though. The vast majority of infractions are earned. Some are excessive for the acts committed. An advocate would work with mods to the extent of making sure infractions are fair as there is no system in place, currently, to govern these. For example, an infraction can be given points based on a numerical value. What is the range of points? What are the limits of acceptable point accumulation? Why is one act worth 1 point while the same act is worth 4? There is obviously too much subjectivity involved in the current system. I feel there should be a review made to ensure everyone is on the same page. Handing out points subjectively isn't going to bolster confidence in the community.

  9. #9

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    are the player advocate getting pay for this?

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Location
    Oregon, USA
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    If that was not your primary concern, what then was? What else would an Advocate do?
    @spa i dont think they should. who would pay them? evony? how does that promote the idea that they are on the players side?

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