Hello everyone! I realized I should have done this much sooner, but those of you who do not have jobs, this first part of the post is directed at you!
If you do not have a job added to your Storyteller Secrets thread (especially if you don't even have a Storyteller Secrets thread), please PM me with a request for your desired job. I would like to get these done and assigned as soon as possible (now that I'm thinking about it) so that you all have time to write some job threads to get seasonal wages. If you're not sure what jobs you qualify for, feel free to shoot me a PM with questions.
Sorry this took me so long to think of! I was skimming through the Request thread and realized half of you don't have your SS threads linked, and I thought... "Oh right! They don't have jobs." So. I would like to remedy that haha.
Of course, if you don't want a job, that is also totally fine, just remember that negative ledgers are very bad. If you have negative ledgers, please PM me and we can work on that together.
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I would also like to take this time to just make an OOC post about language proficiency here. I noticed quite a few of you have Common as a basic language - which is totally fine and fits all of your characters' histories. However, if you take basic common, please do not write it as fluent. At basic, characters should have a limited (though operational) vocabulary and a grasp on syntax. PCs at this level of fluency should be presenting issues both with speech (grammar, pronouns, synonyms, idioms especially - all of these things will depend on the respective character and their native language) and with comprehension. At basic, understanding the gist of what is being said is fine, however implications, intricacies, and advanced abstract concepts that may not be clearly defined might cause issues.
These things, however, will take time to adjust to as they have not been previously addressed. I understand that it probably isn't want you're used to writing when you want to have your character speak, so as long as I see an effort to write at the PC's language proficiency, I'm not going to smite you for using a contraction here and there. Really, language barriers can be a huge tool to push characters towards development, color their understanding of others around them, and really be a powerful force in storytelling. All threads prior to this post do not need to be edited for language, I just want you all to be aware that from this point on, I will be expecting to see PCs played at their language proficiency. How exactly you want to go about doing that, however, is up to you! Have fun with it! Some of the most hilarious things I've ever heard have come from language miscommunication. Peanut butter is a pretty funny word when your friend pronounces the "ut" as "us". Heh.
So far, from what I've read, Alvadas is no slouch when it come to good writers. I think I've said this a lot, and I'll probably continue saying this, but I am very pleased with your individual skills at writing. It makes grading more enjoyable, and each of your quirks and techniques are fun to see how they trace back to your PC and you as a writer. Please continue to bear with me while I finish sorting out the grading que and all the previously un-addressed issues I find along the way. I want all of you to know that if I am correcting something in my notes or asking for changes, I am not upset with you. If anything at all, I am upset that you have not been told sooner. I want you to be successful storytellers in your own rights, and I am taking steps to better equip you for that, I hope.
If you do feel like I am being unfair or personally attacking you, first please know that that is not my intent. Second, please PM me and talk to me about it. I really want to have a good line of communication with all of you. If you have questions or frustrations, I want to hear them. I cannot help you if I don't know you need help, nor can I adjust my own way of handling things to better suit your needs if I don't know what those needs are.
Anyway, again, thank you guys for your patience! So far, I am very pleased with the characters I've interacted with so far, and I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better!
by Trista on February 2nd, 2015, 2:43 am 
