Post by Shun Minamoto on Nov 1, 2015 12:53:47 GMT -5
More news for everyone!
We've got some changes rolling out!
First, I'd like to announce that Dewis is no longer a member of the full Staff team. Instead, he'll be staying on board with a new initiative we're doing: a Chat Moderation team. These members are not full Staff members, and do not have the full obligations (such as grading, discussions, etc.) that full Staff members do. Instead, they're only job is to keep an eye on the Chat.
So, on to the more complicated changes regarding the Application process, grading, and Base GP:
The bare minimum you can earn from any new application is the new universal starting point of 1,500 Base GP. All new characters start with 1,500 Base GP. The application is submitted, scanned for any glaring errors as part of the approval process, and when all concerns are addressed, the character is free to play--just as how pre-approval works now--the difference being that you know you've got 1,500 GP to play around with from the get-go.
For those looking to squeeze a little more out of their applications (we expect most people will want to do this, but feel the option to skip it should exist), a more in-depth grading pass will stand to earn an application up to an additional 1,500 GP which does not count toward Base GP. This means, as before, that the theoretical maximum for any new application is 3,000 GP, and the process exists in two steps. The fundamental differences are that Base GP remains at 1,500 no matter what your application scores, and that you always have at least that amount to start with.
Just as before, if you aren't pleased with the first grading pass, you can apply for a re-grade, where the additional 1,500 GP score is reevaluated.
To recap to make things abundantly clear:
1. You write an application using the currently existing guidelines
2. Approval is issued once the requirements are met and no glaring errors (such as unacceptable powers or histories) exist and the character starts with a Base GP of 1,500. This is the step that will replace Pre-Approval.
3. A grade can be pursued (a process that staff will always ask to initiate for the benefit of new players inexperienced with the workings of BG) for an additional 1,500 GP that does not go towards Base GP. The current grading scheme has been tweaked to account for the new totals and the reasoning for the grade will be publicized so that improvements may be made if you so choose. This is the step that will replace Final Approval.
4. (Optional) If you would like a re-grade after edits are made, one such re-grade can be requested in the same way re-grades have always been requested: in the requests board.
5. In due time, you become King of Hueco Mundo/Captain-Commander of the Gotei.
To keep in line with this approach, Retirement and Death GP is being tweaked ever-so-slightly. Right now, your Transfer GP is split 50/50 between Base and Earned. This, combo'd with the previous setup of dumping all application GP into Base, resulted in characters with absurdly high Base GP amounts.
From now on, the process is always the following: You can bring over no more GP than would bring your character to 7,000 Total GP (we felt 8,000 was pushing it). This final Total GP is then split 50/50 between your Base and Earned GP. This means that the most powerful a character can start is 3,500 Base and 3,500 Earned.
We're also adjusting the values for Death GP. Right now you get 30% and we'll be lowering it to 20%. Retirement will stay at 40%. This particular change will not affect any current players as we do not take GP away from players.
So, how does this affect current players?
You can choose (you are not required; I will be forgoing this change as it would positively benefit me, as it should everyone) to adjust your Base GP accordingly. How so, you might ask? I can explain.
Let's say your Base GP is currently 3,000 (2,000 from your Application and 1,000 from Milestones). That's 500 extra GP in Base GP, from the Application, that can now be moved to Earned GP. Meaning you now have 2,500 Base GP (1,500 Base GP from Application and 1,000 from Milestones) along with an extra 500 Earned GP (bonus for the quality of your Application, moved to Earned GP).
Characters who have done Death and Retirement transfers may adjust their totals as well. Kionchi is the only one who broke 7,000 from his Transfer GP and he can be grandfathered in, we don't take GP away from players due to rule changes. However, he may also adjust his setup so that way his initial build was a 50/50 split between Base and Earned.
Another, simpler example might be Cheshire. She got 3,000 GP on her Application. I'm going to assume that she has not done a Milestone yet. So what happens is that her Base GP drops from 3,000 to 1,500 and she moves the remaining 1,500 GP into Earned GP. This means that she's no longer being shorted 1,500 GP in those early Milestones just because she wrote a good application. You're welcome, Cheshire!
As always, if you need any help we'll be on-hand to assist with this transition. Myself, Tokiyo, Miyuki, and Robert are all on top of the change and the process. In particular, Miyuki and Robert can directly answer any questions you have about the adjusted application process.
We've got some changes rolling out!
First, I'd like to announce that Dewis is no longer a member of the full Staff team. Instead, he'll be staying on board with a new initiative we're doing: a Chat Moderation team. These members are not full Staff members, and do not have the full obligations (such as grading, discussions, etc.) that full Staff members do. Instead, they're only job is to keep an eye on the Chat.
So, on to the more complicated changes regarding the Application process, grading, and Base GP:
The bare minimum you can earn from any new application is the new universal starting point of 1,500 Base GP. All new characters start with 1,500 Base GP. The application is submitted, scanned for any glaring errors as part of the approval process, and when all concerns are addressed, the character is free to play--just as how pre-approval works now--the difference being that you know you've got 1,500 GP to play around with from the get-go.
For those looking to squeeze a little more out of their applications (we expect most people will want to do this, but feel the option to skip it should exist), a more in-depth grading pass will stand to earn an application up to an additional 1,500 GP which does not count toward Base GP. This means, as before, that the theoretical maximum for any new application is 3,000 GP, and the process exists in two steps. The fundamental differences are that Base GP remains at 1,500 no matter what your application scores, and that you always have at least that amount to start with.
Just as before, if you aren't pleased with the first grading pass, you can apply for a re-grade, where the additional 1,500 GP score is reevaluated.
To recap to make things abundantly clear:
1. You write an application using the currently existing guidelines
2. Approval is issued once the requirements are met and no glaring errors (such as unacceptable powers or histories) exist and the character starts with a Base GP of 1,500. This is the step that will replace Pre-Approval.
3. A grade can be pursued (a process that staff will always ask to initiate for the benefit of new players inexperienced with the workings of BG) for an additional 1,500 GP that does not go towards Base GP. The current grading scheme has been tweaked to account for the new totals and the reasoning for the grade will be publicized so that improvements may be made if you so choose. This is the step that will replace Final Approval.
4. (Optional) If you would like a re-grade after edits are made, one such re-grade can be requested in the same way re-grades have always been requested: in the requests board.
5. In due time, you become King of Hueco Mundo/Captain-Commander of the Gotei.
To keep in line with this approach, Retirement and Death GP is being tweaked ever-so-slightly. Right now, your Transfer GP is split 50/50 between Base and Earned. This, combo'd with the previous setup of dumping all application GP into Base, resulted in characters with absurdly high Base GP amounts.
From now on, the process is always the following: You can bring over no more GP than would bring your character to 7,000 Total GP (we felt 8,000 was pushing it). This final Total GP is then split 50/50 between your Base and Earned GP. This means that the most powerful a character can start is 3,500 Base and 3,500 Earned.
We're also adjusting the values for Death GP. Right now you get 30% and we'll be lowering it to 20%. Retirement will stay at 40%. This particular change will not affect any current players as we do not take GP away from players.
So, how does this affect current players?
You can choose (you are not required; I will be forgoing this change as it would positively benefit me, as it should everyone) to adjust your Base GP accordingly. How so, you might ask? I can explain.
Let's say your Base GP is currently 3,000 (2,000 from your Application and 1,000 from Milestones). That's 500 extra GP in Base GP, from the Application, that can now be moved to Earned GP. Meaning you now have 2,500 Base GP (1,500 Base GP from Application and 1,000 from Milestones) along with an extra 500 Earned GP (bonus for the quality of your Application, moved to Earned GP).
Characters who have done Death and Retirement transfers may adjust their totals as well. Kionchi is the only one who broke 7,000 from his Transfer GP and he can be grandfathered in, we don't take GP away from players due to rule changes. However, he may also adjust his setup so that way his initial build was a 50/50 split between Base and Earned.
Another, simpler example might be Cheshire. She got 3,000 GP on her Application. I'm going to assume that she has not done a Milestone yet. So what happens is that her Base GP drops from 3,000 to 1,500 and she moves the remaining 1,500 GP into Earned GP. This means that she's no longer being shorted 1,500 GP in those early Milestones just because she wrote a good application. You're welcome, Cheshire!
As always, if you need any help we'll be on-hand to assist with this transition. Myself, Tokiyo, Miyuki, and Robert are all on top of the change and the process. In particular, Miyuki and Robert can directly answer any questions you have about the adjusted application process.