The Interview
1. What made you get into roleplaying? I’m always curious what motivates people to join internet sites that allow such creative outlets and collaborative efforts.First and absolutely foremost, I want to thank you guys for this award. There’s so many others more deserving, and I was absolutely blown away when you told me I was this month’s pick.
It’s hard to even remember what got me into roleplaying… I’d written (bad) fanfiction since before I even knew anyone else did it, and I’m not sure I ever questioned what got me into it. It just seemed like a natural thing to do with the Mary-Sue-glutted daydreams about my favorite animes. By the time I’d evolved into slightly better regular fiction, I’d joined a site with a small side “shop” that offered drawn character art in addition to a roleplaying scenario. I joined mostly for the art, and ended up getting hooked on the roleplaying from there.
2. What is your dream project on Mizahar? If you had free rein to develop or do anything you wanted to on Mizahar – PC wise or Contributor wise – what would you pick? Why? What makes it a dream project?Free reign, oh my goodness… It’s really hard to pick, as there’s so much I knew I could tackle if I only had the time. I’d love to work on the last couple Gods and Gnosis that aren’t developed yet, as well as the skills that only have a line or two in their wiki page. I’d also love to finish up the last of Riverfall’s locations, if only to finally look at the business list and not see any unlinked names. And I love animals. I’d love to do more with them, though I never know what.
The shiny pinnacle of wishful things, I suppose, would be to put on a really big quest. Something with ridiculous twists and gods showing up and crazy awesome special effects. And with this being a perfect dream quest, I’d of course be able to reply to it constantly, and always within the timeframe I set for myself… Aaah, dreams.
3. What is your favorite part of being a contributor? Why did you choose to join the staff and what do you really get out of being a staffer?I joined the staff honestly because Goss kept nudging me to. Before she suggested it, I figured the most I’d ever contribute to the site were a few development articles and whatever my PC got up to. When Goss first approached me about it, and even for a while after I was promoted, I really felt like I was too green for the job, that I wasn’t working hard enough, that I didn’t know the lore well enough, that I’d make some stupid mistake and be publicly roasted as a failure. It was a good while before I was able to accept that these people with the fancy colored names were just that – people. The whole community of STs, from ASs to Founders, are a bunch of truly caring people who are really doing the best they can for their cities and Mizahar as a whole.
Aside from the community of STs, the most enjoyable part is really the same as when I was contributing as just a PC. Seeing people use the things you’ve developed as part of their storylines, whether it’s a location, event, or moderated thread, is so rewarding. Even the small things really make it worthwhile, like when someone PMs you to thank you for some critique you made on their CS intervention or their thread grade.
4. If you had the ability to change one or two things on Mizahar, either attitude wise or system wise, what would those one or two things be?I had to think really hard on this one, since there really isn’t a whole lot I would like to change… I think I’d like to see more people step up and apply to be STs. I’m pretty lucky in Riverfall that we’ve got a couple people and it’s an easily managed city, but I see other cities’ grading threads and other STs' offices and I just wish I had more time so I could help out there too. Being an ST is a
lot of fun. It’s definitely a lot of responsibility, but as I say above, it’s very much worth it.
5. What contribution are you most proud of and why? What gave you the inspiration for it?It might seem like a silly thing, I’d have to say my little
Spring Tournament event is what I’m the most proud of, which is still ongoing so I can’t give any details on the most exciting part – the final round. It’s a very small, side event, and not even close to the earth-trembling awesomeness of my dream quest, but it was my first event that I fully realized as an ST. After I posted the signups, I’d get so excited, I just wanted to tell
somebody day-by-day updates on who was signing up. A whole four people! I was completely over the moon – after half expecting there not to be much interest in it.
As for the inspiration, Goss said somewhere that part of her inspiration for the Akalaks came from pro wrestlers, and I had just seen last year’s WrestleMania at that point, so I wanted something that spoke to that mentality. I wrote the announcements and descriptions all in Hulk Hogan’s voice and tried to be as macho as possible.
6. Grading can be very difficult on Mizahar. What motivates you to do so much of it in so many areas? Every time we turn around, you are giving another staffer a hand either with grades or with projects in the staff lounge. What are you thinking when you volunteer and what goes through your mind when you step forward to assist?I really don’t think I grade nearly as much as I could… I never seem to get as many threads done as I want, and I’m not nearly as fast at it as I’d like to be. I could be grading the most intense, exciting thread on the site, but if I’ve done more than a couple already, I’m moving through it like molasses. I’m enormously envious of people like Limey, who can blaze through with such apparent ease.
I’m not sure I really think anything of it, I just want to help? I always wish I could take more on, but I have so many projects outside of Mizahar (learning Hindi, starting a new exercise plan, and just picked up Magic: The Gathering…), I don’t have the time of day that I’d like. I saw in a tv show once that some of the characters got their sleep removed so they had more time to get things done. Imagine, an extra 8 hours a day…
7. We need a lot more contributors on Mizahar. What would you say to would-be staffers interested in joining but whom are hesitant due to one reason or another? Can you give them some insight on the best and worst things about your job on staff?The best: It’s so much fun, and is much more rewarding than you think. There’s really no way to convey how awesome it is to weave an intricate little plot and watch PCs walk through your little web, never knowing what’s around the next turn.
The worst: There’s nothing I really dread about being an ST, but I’m not a huge fan of grading, mostly because it just tires me out so much. I won’t lie, being an ST takes a lot of time and energy. I think Phoenix put it best in one of her calls for applicants: Take your most active PC, and multiple the time you spend on them by three.
If you feel like you’ve got a good handle on the lore, and feel like you’re here to stay, apply! Even if you’ve never considered being an ST, just try it. Everyone here is more than happy to help you get comfortable, so long as you can give us your best.
8. What’s one thing you haven’t tried on Mizahar – with a skill or maybe rping in a new area – that you’d like to explore in the future that you know nothing about but are dying to learn? There’s plenty of things I’ve been curious about, but just never got the chance to get into. Cults, for example. Not from an academic standpoint, but writing a character who’s in one. I’d also love to work with Eyktol, whether with my PC or as an ST, and really get elbow deep in some political intrigue. I’m also a little jealous of all the other STs who do video blogs, though I know that’s not really for me. Just not much to say… (as I pointedly ignore the wall of text above…)
9. What sorts of things draw you and what sorts of things repel you both as a PC and ST? Why or why not?There’s not much that repels me except for really, truly, unpleasant people. I haven’t come across any such people here, though I do hear the occasional horror story from chat. Though I'm not talking about the people who lose patience and lash out – that happens to everyone. And certainly not the people who just haven't gotten all the way through the lore and make an honest mistake. I'm talking about the people who refuse to listen to reason and refuse to acknowledge that the STs really aren’t trying to kill their dreams of a vampire king PC, we’re just trying to hold everyone to the same yardstick.
The things that draw me, I’ve mostly covered above. Genuine people are always a pleasure to talk to, even if they just need a good listener for a little bit. People with big plans are a big inspiration to take my PC further (so long as these big plans fit within the lore).
10. Everyone always says the nicest things about you. I’ve never personally heard a bad word or diss or slight about you at all. Everyone gushes when they talk about your moderation, grading, or even your presence in threads or chat. One might even say you are very popular. What do you think the secret is to this success in the game?I’m…I’m…popular??
I don’t spend time in chat like I’d like to, but shocked and flattered to hear that, and a huge thank you to everyone who says so. I don’t really know any secrets to success… Just be a pleasant, helpful person, with as much patience as you can afford, and do your best at whatever you’re doing. I know it sounds like something off an elementary school poster…but that’s really it.
11. Is there anything else you’d like to say to the group? Here’s your chance. Thanks for everyone’s kind words, and reading my ramblings… And um… Ok, end on something inspirational... Love your neighbor! Well, unless they’re married… I mean, still love them, but not too much. Unless they’re into that sort of thing… Oh forget it. World peace. Myrians and Dhanis, come on now. Hug it out.
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by Elaine Spade on July 2nd, 2013, 4:50 pm 
