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AKradian – Mod Application

AKradianAKradian
Reactions: 40,310
Posts: 6,340
Member, Private Tester
edited January 2018 in MapleStory VFM Application
This is going to be long, so I'll start with the official format and then elaborate.

A brief description of why you'd like to become a VFM.
I would like to become a VFM in order to be able to communicate to Nexon, with one less middleman, the concerns of the community.

What do you hope to accomplish as a VFM??
I hope to get Nexon to understand, and act on, the concerns of the community, and to communicate better and more openly with us.

Do you have any experience moderating for other communities?
I have been a moderator for a Maplestory fan forum for the past 5.5 years. It's not particularly active anymore.

Regarding the expectations:
- 18 Years or older. - I am.
- Must be active and on the official MapleStory forums & Discord. - I am.
- No history of using exploits or illegitimate programs. - I have none.
- Moderate and participate on the Maple community forums &Discord. - I can do that.
- Be courteous and kind towards other forum members. - I try.
- Uphold the Forum Code of Conduct and enforce the rules fairly. - I can do that.
- Assist planning ideas for creative and fun contests. - Not really my strong suit.
- Provide a helping hand on community temperature reports. - I will.
- Must be levelheaded when addressing difficult situations. - I believe I am. Others may disagree.
- Must possess excellent written and communication skills. - I believe I do. Others may disagree.
- Value providing constructive suggestions & feedback - I do.
- Must not be a supporter of the Black Mage. - Would you take my word for it?
- Must be in REBOOT or have a strong understanding of the server's unique setting – I played in Reboot from shortly after it was released, until V patch. I did not, however, play the “meta”. I didn't meso farm (with Kanna or otherwise), join a guild, or get otherwise carried. I do not play Reboot anymore but I do keep up with its mood and concerns via the subreddit.


So much for the short and formal part. Now for the long story, for those who have the patience:

In the past, people have told me “you should be a VFM” after I gave them (or others) a good solution to a problem with the game, or helped them some other way, or when they noticed my level of activity on the forums.
I have always laughed the suggestion off, because VFMs have traditionally been - how shall I put it politely? - people who exhibit faith in Nexon. They've always represented Nexon to the players. And I, well, my negative opinion of Nexon is well-documented in thousands of forum posts.

However, last October, Arwoo wrote [url=”https://www.reddit.com/r/Maplestory/comments/76g6xn/datamined_content_will_no_longer_be_allowed_on/dogjuqe/”]on the subreddit[/url]:
Arwoo wrote:
there is a reason why I kept the VFM application public and open to the community. I'd like this community to have a voice and a choice in the individuals that represents them.
To see the very VFMs chosen by this community in the recent application to be accused of white knighting or making that their purpose of posting is quite disheartening.

This puzzled me, because I did not remember the “How to apply” post saying anything about representation or the community choosing anything. But I had no proof, since the post had been hidden. I did make some comments on the last round of applicants, but it never occurred to me that “this person is too much of a Nexon fan to properly represent me” would be a valid objection. Because, as I wrote above, VFMs have always been “Nexon fans”. It seemed to be a requirement of the job.

Now the post has been made public again, and I see my memory did not deceive me. It still says nothing about VFMs representing the community or the community choosing them.
But if VFM are now also a sort of new MLC, who represent the players to Nexon, then I believe I do have a place on this council. I think there are quite a few players who feel the way I do about Nexon, and I wish to represent them.
And if VFMs are not required to white-knight for Nexon, as Arwoo wrote on reddit, then I could be one while still speaking my mind as I have all these years. That would let me skip one layer of middlemen in my neverending quest to get Nexon to understand our concerns and communicate their intentions to us.

Should I be (s)elected, I intend to:
  • Continue my forum and Discord activity as before, including:
    • Answering such player questions as I am able to;
    • Posting Bug Reports and Feedback/Suggestions as called for;
    • Criticizing Nexon decisions, actions, and inactions that I disagree with, both in public (as before) and internally;
    • Thank/praise Nexon when they do something exceptionally right.
  • Press Nexon to be more open and communicative, as promised repeatedly and only rarely carried out;
  • Press Nexon to be more professional in their handling of bugs and suggestions from the community;
  • Perform such moderation/housekeeping tasks as I may be assigned on the forums or discord.
I do NOT intend to:
  • Defend Nexon against unhappy players, when I believe the players are in the right;
  • Allow users to break the CoC of the forums or Discord;
  • Break NDA (Note: I currently post “speculations” about how things are done at Nexon. I would not like an NDA to become a gag order on those. This would need discussion.)


That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anything else I'll add it in a response post, because I still, months later, can't edit my own posts on these forums. Maybe as a moderator I'll finally be able to?
ArlongArgentYinYangXTorippiFennekinPhantomMasterThiefMrCardsLightningSparkPeekAtChuHHG1and 19 others.

Comments

  • DarkPassengerDarkPassenger
    Reactions: 8,980
    Posts: 2,669
    Member
    edited January 2018
    I fully support AKradian's application. Has incredible insights and is relatively objective in responses and posts.
    NeonTwilight
  • ArgentArgent
    Reactions: 3,090
    Posts: 272
    Member
    edited January 2018
    You have my vote. We need to come up with a duress code in case you get selected though.
  • KingofrunesKingofrunes
    Reactions: 865
    Posts: 38
    Member
    edited January 2018
    My one concern is how much is he committed to Reboot and his knowledge of the Reboot Server. This current round of mod applications is specifically for Reboot so I would want to make sure they truly know Reboot inside and out before I throw my support in.
  • msInfluxmsInflux
    Reactions: 205
    Posts: 5
    Member
    edited January 2018
    I definitely also have concerns with the knowledge of Reboot this candidate possesses.

    Given the entire incentive for this round of VFM applications is to look for an individual with a substantial knowledge of Reboot, the individual should be someone who currently mains Reboot, and is knowledgeable regarding the overall process. If not, that defeats the entire purpose of looking for a new VFM, given the existing VFMs generally have varying degrees of basic knowledge pertaining to Reboot already.

  • DarkPassengerDarkPassenger
    Reactions: 8,980
    Posts: 2,669
    Member
    edited January 2018
    As top contributor AKradian shows plenty of knowledge of the game. Doesnt have to main in reboot to know what reboot is about.
    ShadowParadox
  • FennekinFennekin
    Reactions: 2,941
    Posts: 471
    Member, Private Tester
    edited January 2018
    LOL it finally happened. support tho. this should be interesting.
  • ArgentArgent
    Reactions: 3,090
    Posts: 272
    Member
    edited January 2018
    Honestly, as a Reboot main, I don't think our concerns vary too far from the general servers and AKradian is very responsive and willing to invest time into learning. I'd hope that if selected he would restart playing our server and if he needs info it's easy enough to get a hold of people here on the forums or Discord.
  • PhantomMasterThiefPhantomMasterThief
    Reactions: 3,195
    Posts: 480
    Member, Private Tester
    edited January 2018
    I hope you get picked i feel like your contribution to Maple Story, would really help deliver Our Opinions and what We think should or should not be present in GMS.

    Anyways Good Luck!
    ShadowParadox
  • HeyaBabycakesHeyaBabycakes
    Reactions: 400
    Posts: 7
    Member
    edited January 2018
    Argent wrote: »
    ...We need to come up with a duress code in case you get selected though.

    "I love Nexon!"
  • greenhulkgreenhulk
    Reactions: 430
    Posts: 3
    Member
    edited January 2018
    *deleted*
  • ShadEightShadEight
    Reactions: 3,110
    Posts: 381
    Member
    edited January 2018
    pfft......sellout
  • DarkPassengerDarkPassenger
    Reactions: 8,980
    Posts: 2,669
    Member
    edited January 2018
    ShadEight wrote: »
    pfft......sellout

    I would say the purpose of the application is so that AKradian can communicate directly so things won't get lost in translation.
    ShadowParadox
  • TorippiTorippi
    Reactions: 1,540
    Posts: 46
    Member
    edited January 2018
    (Finally! Thought you'd never apply!)

    As the game mechanic between the normal worlds and Reboot aren't largely different, I don't believe it will make much negative impact. The candidate shows they are very knowledgeable in terms of game mechanic as well as what the user base wants, as proven by his post history.
    NeonTwilight
  • TransformingThunderTransformingThunder
    Reactions: 1,620
    Posts: 63
    Member
    edited January 2018
    +1
  • EdgyYetBlackEdgyYetBlack
    Reactions: 210
    Posts: 5
    Member
    edited January 2018
    Best candidate application in my opinion, he definitely keeps up with the communities including reboot.
    NeonTwilight
  • SorrowSorrow
    Reactions: 2,780
    Posts: 314
    Member, Private Tester
    edited January 2018
    AKradian has demonstrated to be active, helpful to others, and he is a great candidate for this role. He cares and would act upon the best interest of the community when issues arise, rather then defend Nexon when he disagrees with their decisions.
    NeonTwilight
  • IvangoldIvangold
    Reactions: 2,985
    Posts: 588
    Member
    edited January 2018
    I support AKradian request, he/she knows a lot of Maplestory and hardly much people would know more, even more put into words everything that the game need to be much better, it would really help.
  • UzumeUzume
    Reactions: 2,525
    Posts: 173
    Member
    edited January 2018
    I logged on just to say I support this even if I'm not active on the forums anymore. When I was active AKradian always did their best and had everyone's best interest at heart, and always brought up legitimately good arguments for and against a topic. This is probably the best person you could ever have as a mod and tbh I'm shocked it hasn't happened sooner.
    NeonTwilight
  • PetalmagicPetalmagic
    Reactions: 7,660
    Posts: 1,572
    Member
    edited January 2018
    I would say you have great mod potential, despite any possible disagreements we have had in the past. Good luck to you (i was thinking about applying till i read this)
  • DarkPassengerDarkPassenger
    Reactions: 8,980
    Posts: 2,669
    Member
    edited January 2018
    Petalmagic wrote: »
    I would say you have great mod potential, despite any possible disagreements we have had in the past. Good luck to you (i was thinking about applying till i read this)

    last round of applications, i believe 2-3 were chosen
This discussion has been closed.