The Interview
1. How did you end up discovering Mizahar?I had actually discovered Mizahar about six months previous to joining. Some of the other sites I rp on had hit a lull or detonated on themselves due to infighting and drama. I was in the market for another roleplay site. I came upon Mizahar after bouncing around a flurry of sites that ranked roleplays and zoomed right past Mizahar on my first flyby. I’m not sure why I didn’t stick the first time, but I did favorite the site with an intention to read up on it later. Instead I just read a bunch of threads on the site, enjoying the level of fantasy and intrigue people put into their characters and narratives. I joined in six months later when my life slowed down enough to let me build a character sheet (Character sheets are my bane, I’m so slow with them….always so slow)…and I’ve been on Mizahar ever since.
2. What is your favorite and least favorite thing about Mizahar?As I’ve probably babbled on about countless times before, I love the level of epic plot potential Mizahar has. If you work hard enough and stick around long enough, you can build something truly epic. Be the Champion of a god! Found a new group! Build your own business! I bet you could theoretically participate in running a city if you set your mind to it. Mizahar has this mercurial raw potential that simmers, ready for the taking. Storytellers want players more invested in their realm, Players want to feel more important and have a sense of permanence to their actions within the game…and Mizahar can provide ALL of that. Want to be Champion of an evil god? Go for it. Want to battle epically on a tossing ship amid the frothing seas? Done.
Collaborate with your fellow players and storytellers, make the site your own! That’s what I love about it.
I suppose if I had to pick one thing about the site that could use improvement it’s something that I don’t think can be easily changed. Drama destroyed one of my favorite sites. Friends turned against friends, and one or two pretty villain-grade manipulators turned the whole thing into an Armageddon. I’ve been here long enough to see people come and go…and I’m always bummed out to see people head out…especially over disagreements or hurt feelings. I know that it’s way too naïve to think everyone will just get along with each other, but we all gather here to build some great stories and collaborate. I wish more folks stuck around rather than let a few bad run-ins drive them out. Everyone is so creative, I just want to keep you all. *Poises over the community like some creepy collector*
3. You won this featured contributor award due to the amount of activity you participate in with regards to keeping people’s spirits up. How did you find yourself in that role? Was it deliberate or was it something that you just happened upon?I have a great love for roleplay communities. Without the staff we wouldn’t have the framework or world to put our imaginations into, and without the players we wouldn’t have anyone to play in that world. That balance is always what is important. Some staff are players and some players are staff. I know that sometimes it’s hard to get to know people over the internet. I sometimes have trouble with context…since I can really only interpret words on my side and imagine the tone they’re spoken in. Sometimes we all have trouble getting an accurate read on people…so it’s usually my policy to be fairly forgiving and try to be understanding. Not that I’m always awesome at it, but I try. I think I found my way into the position because I try to treat people with cordiality and respect. In the end, that’s what many of us want. I mean, Mizahar is a fun place and I think we should all have fun on it. The more folks are involved, encouraged, and respected, the more they want to stay. It’s…well…I see it like this. We can have one of the most interesting and creative worlds out there, but a roleplay is about community as well as story. We have a chat box, we have out of character places, we trade social messengers and keep up with our lives outside the game world…we make friends, build a kinda chimera family.
I like to think that this is just the person I am. I like to make people happy, I enjoy collaborating on awesome ideas, and I take joy in seeing a community thrive. We can all get wires crossed every now and then, but there’s no reason we can’t bounce back from it. Community, a sense of belonging, of acceptance and appreciation will always keep folks coming to Mizahar. Maybe I sound way too much like a corny kid’s show ending, but I really like you guys and that’s why I’m so nice to you
4. In terms of your longevity here, what has been one of the most exciting things that has happened to you as a contributor and a pc?As a contributor? Well, when I first joined Mizahar I figured I’d just be another name in the masses…not someone of interest to the Storytellers that had huge realms to run. What has been most exciting for me is when the folks in purple, green, light green, blue, or red listen to my suggestions on a possible plot idea or a suggested change to the lore and actually give me the time of day to consider it. It feel awesome when a storyteller tells you that the plot you came up with for their realm is an awesome idea and that they’ll incorporate it. Adding to the lore, leaving your mark on Mizahar in the form of an organization, or a location, or something that players then USE…man…that’s the tops of a gratification rush. Maybe I’m weird like that, but I love seeing my creativity taken in new directions by different people. As a game master outside of Mizahar (Who maybe runs a liiiiiiiittle too much tabletop) I can say that when you see the light in someone’s eyes that seize on one of your ideas and incorporate it with their own…that’s the most valuable thing about storytelling and contributing to me…to know someone is paying attention to you, appreciates your ideas, and wants to use them to help build their own narrative.
As a plaaaaaayer. Well, Wren has had some crazy ups and downs. I really enjoyed the plaguing of Zeltiva. Wren was responsible for a WHOLE lot of deaths that CHANGED Zeltiva…a prominent player even incorporated it into a character’s backstory. Going back to why I love contributing, I had a sense of permanence, that something I did changed the flow of the story, that it meant something. Although if we’re going sheer rollercoaster ride excitement….that fight with Imass in Sahova was crazy. Two gods intervening, drama, violence, evil vs good (sorta)…man, that’s the stuff of plots I want to see more of.
5. You are currently knee deep in a remodel project in terms of Alvadas. What are some of the first things you are doing to make the city your own and get the city back up on its feet?Well, that secret is out of the water. Yep, I’m Tapestry. My first project was to take the few players I had in the realm and get them involved with some moderated plots, start bringing back the fun I enjoyed in cities when the fancy-colored storytellers paid attention to me. In the background, I’m wrestling with some reforms to the Alvadas government, establishment of prominent families, and a few new fun little tidbits for the players who want to stay in Alvadas long term. More illusions! More intrigue! I’m working on a new player’s guide right now where I intend to make the illusions a bit more accessible for self moderation. The city needs an update and although I’m…kinda terrible at coding…Elysium has been nice enough to let me borrow her template for making some new locations and rehashing old ones. Keep an eye out for a new player guide, ya’ll…it will herald more changes to come.
Ultimately, I think Alvadas is a place of infinite plot. Illusions are so real, they might as well be true. The city is as big or as little as I need it to be…even with the dimensions of its walls, and so we have a lot of room to mess around with. I’d love to have more folks jaunt over to my realm because, honestly, the more player input I have…the more directions I discover to make the city more inviting and intriguing for guests. Due to a performance group shuffling in, I’ll be focusing on some Inverted shenanigans and a better focus on the crazy arts of Alvadas! Plus I need to go over their policy on magic…locations…
*Trails off as his mind explodes*
6. You became a mentor and a grader almost immediately upon the program being announced. Why was this and how has each role enriched your life and lead you to be part of the full time staff?Well…the mentor program seemed to be a no-brainer. I WANT new players to come to me with questions. Even if I can’t answer them, chances are I know someone who will. I know Mizahar can be big and full of lotsa lotsa articles, and some folks get intimidated by that and shy away from the site. But really, most of us veterans know the lore pretty well (most of the time) and can help new players narrow in on how to belong quicker. I love helping folks our and developing stories. I harken back to the creepy collector metaphor. I can’t possible thread with all of you (And those of you who are threading with me know how bad of a partner I can be sometimes) But I delight to see the community thrive with new creativity and voices, so anything I can do to make folk want to stick around a little longer or add their narrative genius to the mix is a job worth doing for me.
7. If you could change one thing about Mizahar, what would it be?Change one thing about Mizahar? Huh. Well, I think I enjoy the way everything runs. I’d love to see the presence of the gods more..some Uldr shenanigans, maybe the Krysus murder cult stepping in to mess things up…maybe the appearance of a Champion or two and what they’re up to. Folks want to be in those big divine questy quests and I certainly love reading them. Really just more development…more gnosis, locations, groups, more opportunities for players to get involved in.
Oh. And more Ruv’na. I want to see some high and mighty gnosis wielder get slapped down by a Ruv’na agent.
8. Contributors often develop things in game. If you could invent one thing that people would use and use and use, what would that be?Whoo! If I could invent something? Manoman. I was super looking forward to this question when I saw it on the docket…the question is, what one thing would I want to invent? Well, the first thing that came to mind was a timeline. Because not all of us are the best at organization (me), sometimes my threads are a little mixed up. A timeline where you can track where you were and when would be awesome. Also, I would love to invent a way for an easier immersion into character backstory. Usually to know someone in the past, one must flashback with them…but as some folk might not have the time to flashback with everyone…I’d love to have invented an easier way for players to collaborate on past experience, quick notes, kind of where you can establish a past relationship and then just collaborate in present time on the ramifications of that. It would help some new players link up to vets and feel included and give folks less of the ‘Mizahar’s population is small, but somehow I’ve met NO ONE that isn’t an NPC until right now’.
Just an easier way to link stories and relationships to maximize threading opportunities without all the ‘Meet and greet’ threads that some folks shy away from. What might also be a pretty awesome project would be a Mizahar timeline. For the momentous events that shook Mizahar…NPC and PC created, we have a timeline with links to the threads they occurred in. Folks can see the state of the world, what’s changed due to PC efforts or developments, and have a scope on what they can accomplish if they put in the time and effort. The cities can slowly evolve…lose important figures, gain new ones, lose buildings in disasters, build new ones…and there could be a quick reference for all the notable events that happened which players can incorporate into their backstory when choosing a city.
Maybe that’s a bit out there on work, but that’s my take.
9. Where do you see your future on Mizahar going? What does the next year hold for you?From here? Well, as a storyteller, I want to transform Alvadas in the hub of active roleplaying it used to be. I want to collaborate with Riverfall, Kenash, and Syliras for shared plots involving the trade networks that have likely been set up between the cities. I want to weave some epic tapestries of shared PC plots, give folks a chance to dip into the history of Mizahar, grasp something, and make it theirs…to really help steer changes in the city I’m in. I’d love to see someone shoot for being on the Triad, or to build a competition business, or start a gang, or anything new and innovative in the city.
As a character? Wrenmae was always supposed to be larger than life. I wanted him to be hated and beloved of gods…cursed and blessed. I wanted to rock the boat on the established quo and force a state of flux around him…a state in which PC’s can take advantage to help or hinder his goals. Wren wants to build a new human empire, unite the cities…and that’s a plan so long term that I doubt it will get close to finishing during my time on Mizahar (although wouldn’t it be cool if I DID get far?) I want Wren to create more opportunities for people to plot. Spread sickness and plague, disrupt how things are. Wren is a wrecking ball plot device that I want people to shove right back up against. We need more heroes, more villains, more epic, more plot! I intend for Wren to begin the Scars in Sunberth to try and eliminate the Daggerhand and take their place…and have that be a front for his real goals to slowly bring control. Other players have offered interest and perhaps to start their own chapters in other cities…and I really want to see folks run with it, make it their own (Wren super can’t be everywhere at once, so it’s kinda the player’s call on how they want to run with it). We can all make epic stories. I want to give other people epic stories. I want the chat to talk about some of the awesome exploits of new characters and veterans alike.
Let’s have a ball.
10. Here’s your chance to take over the soap box. Do you have anything to say to the player base in general? Now that you have their undivided attention?*Steals the soapbox and scuttles away with it, crab-like* Hey. I NEED the soap in that box. Most of our characters probably smell a little ripe.
But seriously, if I had to impart anything to you guys it would be to keep writing and being awesome. If you see a post you really liked, or a thread that jazzed you up, send a pm to the participants, tell them how much you enjoyed their writing. If you see a new player who signed up for a city but hasn’t started any threads in a few days, reach out to them…see if they want to plot and join stories. Collaborate, build, grow, reach, develop, narrate! We’re all storytellers and I am nothing but excited to see new posts from people. Reach for grand goals, write the hard stuff, have your character lose an arm or something drastic…be dramatic!
Or…you know, do what you find personally fun, I’m just babbling. Make Mizahar your own. Join the community, make friends, encourage writers, contribute locations and lore, abscond into corners with storytellers and craft plots for yourself and other players while laughing maniacally. Have fun with it! Mizahar should be a place we come to have fun, grow as writers, and support each other’s journeys. So long as we follow the rules, and imbibe a little bit of respect, we should all get along and even help each other make something truly unforgettable.
Alright. I’m done being corny *switches off the Chariots of Fire music* You may all return to your scheming.
And if you’re still with me after all my blathering…thanks for being awesome. Thanks for threading with me. Thanks for putting up with my absences and my flub-ups sometimes. I love you guys. You make this site worth writing in. All of you from the orange named hordes of characters up through the purplies, greenies, light greenies, founder-blues, and the Tarot-red.
I really look forward to seeing where this site will go in the next year…and as always, drop me a PM if you have a question or want to talk.
by Fallon on January 1st, 2014, 9:01 pm 
Awesome interview!
