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| Author | Message / Information |
| MactabethShenorak Quote | Reply | | New serious PA posted on: 7/17/2002 5:33:57 PM I have begun planning on a new PA, this PA will be primarily a town. Hopefully, however we will be able to expand to other planets. This PA is for serious players, anyone exepted should not be a newbie. We will strive not to be the PA that has a horrible geocities website and will not walking around saying that we are dark jedi masters, because this is a REAL PA, and dark jedi we are not. Of course some of us very well may be a dark jedi, but there is no way of deciding that. Please join this PA, hopefully you will be part of something. To join email me a msg about wanting to be in the new PA, make the subject line "New PA" and send it to me, MactabethShenorak@yahoo.com |
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airshep
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Re: New serious PA
replied on: 7/17/2002 8:07:14 PM PLAYER ASSOCIATION CREATION TIPS So. You've decided to create a group for Star Wars Galaxies, but either you don't know exactly what that means, where to begin, or you want to be sure you are on the right track in what you are doing. The following is a list of information/suggestions you may find beneficial in your plans to give you the best chance for success. Note, however, that these are my opinions alone, and do not reflect any required or absolute formula for creating a PA: it's simply practical advice that you can take or not entirely at your discretion. What is a PA? A Player Association (PA) in Star Wars Galaxies will simply be a group of characters who have formally declared themselves as an organized entity within the game itself. Keep in mind that the name "player association" is slightly misleading: membership in a PA is CHARACTER-BASED, not PLAYER-BASED. As a player, you could actually have different characters in the game who belong to different PA's (entirely up to you), or some characters as members in PA's and others not. The specific mechanism to officially form a PA in the game is not yet known, nor is it known how many characters are needed to form a PA (heh--you might even be able to form a PA of one). While you certainly don't have to form a PA to team up with other players, having a group that is recognized by the game will give that group access to certain mechanics and functions which can be advantageous and make grouping easier and more fun. Such perks may include things like the ability to declare war as a group on other PA's, being able to share resources on the fly, and being able to spar with other members without the game mechanics misinterpreting the activity as a criminal or aggressive act. Plus, having a group that is officially recognized in the game can bring a greater sense of cohesion to members, and acknowledgement from other players. Where Do I Begin? Before you decide to take the plunge or add a group to my list on a whim, it's wise to take some time and figure out what it is you are trying to accomplish. Beyond the official recognition, a PA can be many, many things--all of which are solely up to its creators and members. As the potential creator of a PA, you should start by outlining your purpose for the group. The first thing to do is to establish your group's identity and goals: ie. determine what the PA is going to be about. Are you a group of smugglers? merchants? farmers? trandoshans? rebels? bounty hunters? are you a mixture of various occupations/species with some other common goal(s)? Do you seek the destruction of the Empire? Or to corner the commoditeis market? Do you sell your combat services to the highest bidder? Deciding what your group is about is important in establishing an identity and getting others to buy-in to your vision and want to join. The more specific you can be, the clearer your objectives, and the more successful you will be at having a truly compatible and dedicated membership (since they know what to expect). Of course, you could even simply be a group whose core purpose is nothing more than to have companionship with others--regardless of the members' individual pursuits. The point is to have a good idea of what your group is and wants to achieve. Establishing a name for the group should follow this initial step, for the only naming stipulation is that it shouldn't conflict with your group goals. Next, determine what your membership base will consist of. Will the group consist of a small number of personal friends of yours? Players in a certain region or time zone? Will you take in anyone who wants to join? Will you have a membership size limit? What types of players/characters are you looking for to be a part of the PA? Characteristics here will set the tone of your PA when you gather together, both in-game and out. And your decisions here may be influenced by your PA identity (and at the very least, should not conflict with it), which again is why you should establish that first. Just remember that a PA is every bit as much defined by its members' behaviour and disposition as it is by what it actually stands for. Once you have a feel for these two primary aspects of your group (identity and membership), you are on your way. To Faction Declare or not to Faction Declare, That is the Question The next item for consideration is whether or not your PA will be "Faction Declared". If you don't know what it means to declare to a Faction, go to the Battlestation's Career Services section and look under the Factions heading for a complete description. Currently, a PA cannot contain declared Faction members AND sympathizers (perhaps this will change down the road). So if you decide to have your PA be a declared Rebel, Imperial, or Hutt organization, keep in mind that any potential PA members must also be declared members to that Faction in order to join. Of course, you could also be an undeclared PA that is simply loyal to a particular Faction, but then none of your members could ever be declared Faction members. PA Faction declaration is thus basically an "either/or" condition that defines which of the two types of characters can join in the game--which is also why it is important to identify early on. Establish a Hierarchy Before announcing your PA, you should determine how your group will be organized. Will there be ranks or levels of members in your PA,or is it an organization of total equals? Will certain positions/offices be available with specific tasks or areas of responsibility? Who will have a say in making decisions in your PA affairs and how will they make them? And more importantly, how do you think the system you wish to set up will be taken or accepted by the types of players you wish to attract (as you established above)? From outright dictatorships to pure democracies, just about any form of PA organization can be successful and fun if the leadership understands its membership base and has a clearly defined structure so that members (and potential members) know exactly what to expect. Establish a Membership Policy As a minimum, the final component to have in place before announcing your PA is to determine your policies for membership. This starts with a methodology for recruitment. Will you have a formal process for potential candidates to go through in order to join? If so, what is that process? Who will determine whether or not a candidate is acceptable to join? And will potential candidates be required to give something (like an initial members fee) or establish loyalty (like a formal oath or pledge) to join? Next, what is required of members themselves? Will there be an expected level, degree, or period of participation, or can members participate whenever and however they choose to? Will there be periodic in-game dues or other financial requirements for the advancement of the group, or will such contributions be on a voluntary basis only? If a member fails to meet any requirements, or simply becomes either a disruptive or negative presence in the PA, is there a formal process for their removal? Again, who makes such decisions and how? Lastly, will certain aspects of the PA be hidden from some members? Or will all members have access to knowing anything and everything about the dealings of the PA and/or its leadership? How does this policy relate to the group hierarchy? Knowing exactly how you will approach all of these matters will actually make running the PA and interacting within it much smoother, easier, and fun for everyone involved. Advertise, Advertise, Advertise Now that you have established all of the aspects that define your PA, you can set about the task of attempting to attract members. There are four aspects of this that will give your PA the greatest chance for success. The first is to establish a place where players can find out as much about your PA as possible. The Battlestation's PA Database is actually set up specifically to give you this opportunity. The more information you provide about all of the aspects you have established for your PA, the better your chances of attracting serious inquiries from players who have a genuine interest in sharing your plans. Establishing a PA website can definitely help this as well, but is not necessary (more on that below). The second is to be open and accessible. A working email address is a must, and always respond to player questions as promptly, courteously, fully, and above all else, as honestly as possible. Be sure that any other members of the PA understand the importance of responding in kind if they are ever asked--a PA's reputation starts and ends with the conduct of its membership. Taking this aspect less than seriously is an easy way to ensure that your PA is neither well received or remembered. The third is to advertise as much as possible. There is, however, a fine line here between positively promoting your group/reminding others of its existence, and being viewed as a nuisance. Try to avoid an appearence of "spamming" message boards by being careful and strategic in your group ads. Be sure to take full advantage of opportunities that come up where players ask about PA's being formed, etc. One of the easiest ways to avoid the potential problem of spamming and still promote your group is to simply include the PA name and your group contact email address with your signature whenever you post things. Fourth, the best way to promote your PA is to become a positive active member of the SWG player community. PA members who establish themselves as visible, positive contributors to the community at large give their group the greatest promotion it can possibly achieve. My Kingdom for a Website There is alot of debate regarding whether or not a PA needs its own website to be successful. One of the greatest misconceptions gamers tend to make is that a good website equals a good PA. This is not true. While certainly a good PA can have a great looking website, the reverse is not always true--just because someone is a good web programmer doesn't mean they know the first thing about organizing and running a PA. Likewise, some truly great PA leaders don't know the first thing about programming. Having said that, a website is yet another tool potentially at your disposal for advertising your PA, and can be a great central asset for members and visitors alike. So do YOU need a website for your PA? The answer depends on you, your PA goals, and your abilities as a promoter. I've seen a number of well-run PA's that were successful without one. In general, however, having a website can't hurt--as I've stated, it simply means more exposure for the PA while providing an out-of-game "home" for members. But consider also that a bad looking website might potentially turn some players off, so I would recommend that first-time web page designers be cautious about venturing down that road hastily. If you are set on making a website, be sure you are willing to commit the time and effort to making it interesting and as helpful as possible, and be willing to maintain it. Honesty is the Best Policy When you first start a PA, and you are anxious to attract members, there is a natural desire to make your group look and feel as grand as possible to get others interested. Sometimes, however, that desire can get the better of anyone, and a tendency creeps in for exaggeration--even outright fibbing--about various aspects of your group. Just remember that eventually, potential members will find out the truth of your group's ins and outs. Even the most tolerant players don't usually like being "suckered in" by false information. In the end, such tactics are thus self-defeating, and will put your PA in a very negative light--possibly an irreversible one--as news of your falsehoods spread through the community. Therefore, I highly recommend you be as honest as possible with potential recruits. Players will appreciate your candor, and many may be willing to overlook some initial weaknesses if they see a potential foundation on which to build--and honesty is a necessary cornerstone of that foundation. Secret Societies Sometimes, players wish to create PA's that are "secretive" in nature. As such, they tend to not want to share or divulge some group information to the general public, but still wish to recruit. Such PA's have an uphill recruitment battle ahead of them, but can be helped by remembering a few concepts: First, give as much information as you CAN give about your PA that doesn't divulge the aspects you wish to keep only amongst members. In the absense of being able to give very much in-game information in that regard, consider at least giving out information about the type(s) of players you are, what types of potential players you are looking for to be a part of your PA, and your out-of-game objectives. Also specifically explain how players can learn more about the information you are unwilling to intially offer up. Second, don't skimp on the other aspects of PA promotion: mention your PA often and make sure that members are visible and active in the player community. Both of these will at least aid your efforts in attracting new members in the face of not being completely forthcoming about your group's identity and/or activities. Be Open, be Flexible, but be Smart about It Having done everything above, always keep in mind that PA's have the ability--and sometimes the inevitability--to change and evolve. While you should keep all of the above aspects in mind at all times, there are no hard fast rules that don't allow you to CHANGE any them at any time, provided you note the changes, update your information, and weigh the repercussions of doing so. Is this a change you want alone, or do all members of your PA agree? How will your membership react to the change? How will you orchestrate the change? Is a transition period needed? You should always consider such things when you want or feel the need to make such changes. Make sure that communication with your members is clear and complete in both directions--assumptions can easily split groups apart, especially in an online environment where people converse through written word as their primary source. But Blade, I've done All of That, and I'm still not getting the Response I want My response to this is to keep trying. Re-evaluate what PA policies you have and try to consider if any of them are potentially unreasonable or unpopular. Make sure that your information is complete and easily conveyed. Beyond that, sometimes forming a PA is a matter of perception, persistance, and a little bit of luck. All of the above suggestions provide no guarantee of populartity or success. Even the best prepared PA's don't always make it. All you can hope to do is position your PA to the best of your ability in order to give it the best chance possible to succeed. Good Luck! Blade The Shadows conceal much, both good and bad. The brash approach them with contempt. The cautious approach them timidly. However, the successful people respect the shadows, and approach with confidence and wariness. |
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