>
>>>>Because it's a volunteer operation, not a path to fiscal
>security.
>
>I was expecting a response along these lines. Let me
>translate this for the players.

Why don't you just translate for yourself, you look like less of an asshole that way.

>We as the imm staff are not
>interested in doing things better over the course of time
>because we enjoy working harder to affect the same results.

This is my hobby, not my job. I do it because I like to, not because I'm paid to. I think I do it well and continue to make a positive impact on the game.

What you talk about I do on a daily basis at my real job (I'm a Test Lead at Microsoft). Some of that is reflected in my work here. Am I going to tear down CF and conform it into that sort of business model. No.

>Just because your not recieving money for your product does
>not mean cf is not one. further because the processes are
>performed by volunteers does not mean they can't be examined
>and improved upon. This should be easier with volunteers
>because would you rather spend 2 hours working on a project or
>one?

Nice "trap" question. There are many processes that have been improved on over time. Just recently I added in a new command for immortals to flag roles, trying to add some consistency and ease of use for the entire staff. Things like this happen behind the scenes all the time and you don't need to know about them.

>This also does not need to cost money. Often times some of
>the biggest time/cost savers are free. You could run a
>streamlining event once a month where you as an imm staff
>examine a process and think of a way to do it better/easier
>for you. You spend X amount of hours at this time with the
>hope of saving even more hours in the future.
>
>For example areas are still entirely written by hand. this is
>a lot more time consuming then using a development tool or
>creating a development tool to facilitate the writing. I mean
>there is one thing if you changed in some way that could help
>the imm staff over all. By reducing time to write and get an
>area into the game (not by working harder but by working
>better) you now cut down the rate of heroimm failure.
>
>If you do not try to continually improve your processes as cf
>gets bigger eventually the immstaff will get crushed. these
>changes will indirectly affect the player and directly affect
>you. You keep talking about those 10 hours of grunt work to
>add to the game why not attack the reasons it takes 10 hours
>and not 4.

That's all great in theory. Do you want us spending all of our time trying to improve our process and never actually improve the game? Your example of writing a tool to do area generation is a perfect example. It would probably take me three times as long to get a tool done and in any sort of working state as it will to get the shifter revamp done. So far it's been about 6 months of my freetime. So in 18 months (with no visible changes to CF), you can get a tool that'll help you write areas better/quicker. Which is more valuable? I'd argue the shifter revamp.

>>>>Having a third party review some of our processes, means
>spending money on something that we do as a volunteer basis.
>You're making this a second job (which it already feels like
>at times).
>
>well I mean if your doing this for the fun of doing this, why
>not do it well.

Thanks for the backhand. I do think I do it well.

>This process doesn't have to cost you money.
>It could be something you talk to a friend about. so on and
>so forth.
>
>the process sounds like extra work but in reality once you sit
>down and do it once or twice its really not that hard at all.
>Cf is a business and while you guys don't get paid perhaps you
>should consider incorporating more business-like ideas, such
>as dedicating marketing immortals.

One of the things about a volunteer organization...you're there because you have something to offer and a point of interest. My interests lie in architecting and coding features/solutions to the game. I have very little knowledge or desire to market. Honestly...I don't even know where to start, or how to go about it. I don't think there are very many (if any) on the staff who understand/want to market. I'd love it if we did, and they'd probably have free reign to go do that, but we don't.

So long, and thanks for all the fish!