Avicus Archive

Discussion #3: STAFF -> PLAYER Communication by Howsie August 6, 2014 at 2:08 PM UTC

Hey everyone. Once again I'd like to start another discussion in order to gain feedback from the community on different important topics. These discussions are becoming very important when we (the senior staff team) look to design and execute new ways to improve upon the server and its community. 

Today's Topic:-

What do you feel able the current communication between yourself and the staff/senior staff team?

Do you feel it is effective enough, or do you feel it could be greatly improved on? 

BoldAndBrash August 6, 2014 at 2:08 PM UTC

Its perfect.

Porkyyy August 6, 2014 at 2:08 PM UTC

I think that it is quite efficient the way that it is.

Because the Sr. staff members all have Skype, it is easy to communicate with them.

If they also had individual emails, it would be even easier, such as "[email protected]" or something of that same basic principle, but it does truly cost a lot more, so Skype will have to be the easiest way of communication.

Howsie August 6, 2014 at 2:08 PM UTC

I think that it is quite efficient the way that it is.

Because the Sr. staff members all have Skype, it is easy to communicate with them.

If they also had individual emails, it would be even easier, such as "[email protected]" or something of that same basic principle, but it does truly cost a lot more, so Skype will have to be the easiest way of communication.
I personally wanted private emails for the senior staff but it does cost a fair bit now with google's new pricing.

D00ZiE August 6, 2014 at 2:08 PM UTC

A good majority of the new staff team is very active on TS. This provides almost instant communication between players and staff. Many of my bans come from regs on TS who tell me verbally where there is a hacker :)

Arachadonic August 6, 2014 at 3:08 PM UTC

It's pretty good. 

I do wish and think that IvyCode needs to start communicating more. I mean does he even read all of the suggestions that come in? If he does, it doesn't really show. He is the only Dev right? ( correct me if I am wrong)

awesome_apricot August 6, 2014 at 3:08 PM UTC

It's pretty good. 

I do wish and think that IvyCode needs to start communicating more. I mean does he even read all of the suggestions that come in? If he does, it doesn't really show. He is the only Dev right? ( correct me if I am wrong)
You're right ;)

MLGtino August 6, 2014 at 3:08 PM UTC

Try and get some of the staff to stop reading out of a textbook and be a bit more laid back. Not too laid back, but just not to stiff.

Flebula August 6, 2014 at 3:08 PM UTC

I think the staff's communication is great! I'm also happy that the staff are bringing these topics up to make sure Avicus maintains it's number one spot on the servers. But the staff team could get better with the upcoming staff applications if you catch my drift :)

Notalgicular August 6, 2014 at 4:08 PM UTC

I feel like the Sr staff are easier to speak to than other staff, just my opinion and I don't know how to elaborate

MLG_Jirafa August 6, 2014 at 4:08 PM UTC

The communication is the only bad thing about the moderators (not all just some of them) they need to warn somebody in chat before kicking them or giving a warn because most of the time it's just a missunderstanding, a lot of people gets warned or kicked for hackusation/being mean in chat without any chat warn, for example I get a warn for hackusation when I was just derping with a friend (The Jr.mod didn't ask why did I hackusate and more important why didn't I report) after that everything is perfect with mods, compared to other networks we have the best staff (exceptions can be made)

LeCobalt August 6, 2014 at 5:08 PM UTC

Jake is always there

UnicornSniper August 6, 2014 at 5:08 PM UTC

I personally wanted private emails for the senior staff but it does cost a fair bit now with google's new pricing.
What you talkin' bout? Google is charging for their email o_O?

steven5703 August 6, 2014 at 5:08 PM UTC

What you talkin' bout? Google is charging for their email o_O?
ye, you can get one for free if its username@gmail.com, but gmail also allows custom domains for the email (example@avicus.net), which costs money.

Maybe seniors should just be required to make their own gmail like, "[email protected]". ofc the username would have to actually be their username, no nicknames. (Howise < Howsie22)

Joao_Victor August 6, 2014 at 6:08 PM UTC

What you talkin' bout? Google is charging for their email o_O?
Google allows you to have your custom e-mail on their server and engine.

Notalgicular August 6, 2014 at 7:08 PM UTC

What you talkin' bout? Google is charging for their email o_O?
Basically, 
if howsie wanted an email [email protected], that'd cost $10 a month

_Phyre August 6, 2014 at 7:08 PM UTC

hmm.. There isnt much i would change, but I think there should be:

More mods (Since this is a pretty big server)
When a mod recieves at least 3 - 4 reports on a player they should check the specific player.
And final... and Most of all important.... Knowing the punishments of the player .-. Im saying this cause some staff kick before warn, Ban before kick, etc. But either than that i think its fine... It could be improved just a little maybe but... What you gonna doe eh?

Mooch24 August 6, 2014 at 8:08 PM UTC

hmm.. There isnt much i would change, but I think there should be:

More mods (Since this is a pretty big server)
When a mod recieves at least 3 - 4 reports on a player they should check the specific player.
And final... and Most of all important.... Knowing the punishments of the player .-. Im saying this cause some staff kick before warn, Ban before kick, etc. But either than that i think its fine... It could be improved just a little maybe but... What you gonna doe eh?
Moderators should check every report that comes in unless it's invalid. If there's many reports, it's set to a higher priority.
Ex: Someone reported once for "Spamming" is less of a priority than someone reported 5 times for "Fly Hacking."

MerlinMaster August 6, 2014 at 8:08 PM UTC

What do you feel able the current communication between yourself and the staff/senior staff team? I think the mods need to not hide up in the moderator chat all the time and when people poke and ask for help or whatever, that they should answer the pokes. Earlier today I poke 5 staff sitting up there and only 2 poked me back. And none were AFK. 
Do you feel it is effective enough, or do you feel it could be greatly improved on? 
I think it could GREATLY improve

Cxnfirmed August 6, 2014 at 10:08 PM UTC

sr staff hates me.


apart from that its all good :D

UnicornSniper August 6, 2014 at 10:08 PM UTC

So I guess we won't be able to add messaging to this forum then o_O?  I am still wondering if we would be able to message each other plus staff o_o'  That would cut out the need for skype and teamspeak when they are afk on ts or busy with real life.

ayy August 6, 2014 at 10:08 PM UTC

It's alright, but I know many more moderators than the average player, that could do with some improving.

MENGA August 6, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

It's ok, the staff I don't like retired or were demoted :)

Polar_Express August 6, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

I like the mods, I think communication is as good as it can be for non paid positions. They have lives and are split between many things. Do I have all my questions answered? nope. Do I get a reply in and hour or two? Not most of the time, but it is what it is, and I really don't have anything to complain about. Avicus mods are not employees so any help I get I really do appreciate.

Normally when  I report someone - or someone reports me, they seem to be very quick and respond pretty fast and communicate fast, other ways of communication are hit or miss, but again, I am glad we do get the communication we have. Keep up the good work.

Phobiaxx August 7, 2014 at 12:08 AM UTC

communication is so-so. but yah, like yaazey said, we need to add like a PM system on the forums. and... ivy needs to communicate more, but we need more DEVs, so he can have time to communicate...

jojobloblo August 7, 2014 at 12:08 AM UTC

I sent a skype request to IvyCode 2 months ago and he has neither declined it, accepted it, or told me anything about it :/

_Gill August 7, 2014 at 12:08 AM UTC

Its not Ivy's job to deal with the community, its my job. Please send all questions to me, and I will forward severe issues to Ivy. Feel free to send anything else to any member of the Sr Staff team for the best answer.

UnicornSniper August 7, 2014 at 1:08 AM UTC

thanks Avi, in the meantime will we be adding a messaging on this forum so that we can msg our friends and any mods? (^_^)?

SnowSX3 August 7, 2014 at 6:08 AM UTC

When I fisrt came to Avicus, I was very suprised at how laid back the moderators are.
In my opinion this is a good and bad thing.

A good thing because I feel that the moderators are much more approachable compared to other servers. They are very friendly and I love that.

But...

I have always thought the infraction system has been far too lenient towards players. For example, I have seen players with several warnings for the same thing. In my opinion it should be Warn,Kick,Tempban,Permaban.
Not Warn,warn,warn,kick,warn etc.

Not trying to be disrespectful, it's just my two cents.
But still, something to think about? Yes?

The Avicus Network staff is my favourite staff team out of all the servers I play on. Keep up the great work!

:)

Howsie August 7, 2014 at 6:08 AM UTC

thanks Avi, in the meantime will we be adding a messaging on this forum so that we can msg our friends and any mods? (^_^)?
It'd be a cool feature but we've got other priorities at the moment.

Zedther August 7, 2014 at 7:08 AM UTC

I think the staff is a lot more active, especially Cupcake, who does an awesome job in handling reports ^_^

Mooch24 August 7, 2014 at 1:08 PM UTC

When I fisrt came to Avicus, I was very suprised at how laid back the moderators are.
In my opinion this is a good and bad thing.

A good thing because I feel that the moderators are much more approachable compared to other servers. They are very friendly and I love that.

But...

I have always thought the infraction system has been far too lenient towards players. For example, I have seen players with several warnings for the same thing. In my opinion it should be Warn,Kick,Tempban,Permaban.
Not Warn,warn,warn,kick,warn etc.

Not trying to be disrespectful, it's just my two cents.
But still, something to think about? Yes?

The Avicus Network staff is my favourite staff team out of all the servers I play on. Keep up the great work!

:)
It would take an huge amount of time if staff had to check a players infractions before giving them any punishment.

OmniDom August 7, 2014 at 1:08 PM UTC

I think the staff communications are generally really good, but reporting, I never feel like it exists. A great addition would be if a player you reported got banned, kicked etc. The reporter would get an automatic reply saying something like (report handled), so it feels like reports actually work.
Just a recommendation (And what about that friend button?)

Mooch24 August 7, 2014 at 1:08 PM UTC

I think the staff communications are generally really good, but reporting, I never feel like it exists. A great addition would be if a player you reported got banned, kicked etc. The reporter would get an automatic reply saying something like (report handled), so it feels like reports actually work.
Just a recommendation (And what about that friend button?)
Staff don't like to reveal their identity just in case there are others breaking the rules. Some staff make an announcement in public chat saying the hacker is punished, some don't.

Friend button is being added soon :D

kycrafft August 7, 2014 at 4:08 PM UTC

It should say kicks, tembans, and bans in global chat.

> > > kycrafft has been banned for bad idea m8

RCMP_Mountie August 7, 2014 at 9:08 PM UTC

Staff don't like to reveal their identity just in case there are others breaking the rules. Some staff make an announcement in public chat saying the hacker is punished, some don't.

Friend button is being added soon :D
Maybe they could /msg the reporter if the one whom he has reported has been punished?

Friend button... Yesssss :D

MissCarmel August 7, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

Me and most of the staff are great friends :D although I am partly pretty close to them because I used to be staff

MissCarmel August 7, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

Maybe they could /msg the reporter if the one whom he has reported has been punished?

Friend button... Yesssss :D
You can only /msg people on your friends lists :( Unless it got changed but yeah

jracer15 August 8, 2014 at 1:08 AM UTC

The staff are great, I think them being more social creates me to think of them as help and not some police patrolling the server.  At the same time, I'm glad they take the position serious and enforce any rules broken. One thing though is treat everyone fair.  A staff may know one person and not know the other.  They should make sure your not to feel exclusive to anyone.  If someone joins the server they should feel welcome and know the staff has their back.

SnowSX3 August 8, 2014 at 6:08 AM UTC

It would take an huge amount of time if staff had to check a players infractions before giving them any punishment.
Yeah, there should be an in-game command for them to use that instantly shows them the player's infraction list.

NewVoltdrive August 10, 2014 at 12:08 AM UTC

What do you feel able the current communication between yourself and the staff/senior staff team? Not very good, being as that I am scared to talk to any staff about any problems, because I am afraid they will be seen as offensive, and end in my banning.

Do you feel it is effective enough, or do you feel it could be greatly improved on? 
Uhhhhh......except for the support e-mails (which are terrible, find a new system) they are pretty good.

Joao_Victor August 10, 2014 at 1:08 AM UTC

What do you feel able the current communication between yourself and the staff/senior staff team? Not very good, being as that I am scared to talk to any staff about any problems, because I am afraid they will be seen as offensive, and end in my banning.

Do you feel it is effective enough, or do you feel it could be greatly improved on? 
Uhhhhh......except for the support e-mails (which are terrible, find a new system) they are pretty good.
The efficiency of support e-mails has improved greatly since senior mods were given access to it.

ProfessorUtonium August 10, 2014 at 2:08 AM UTC

I'm not a fan of what the mods don't say. I keep reporting people say spawn blocking even though a mod warned them. When they warn/ban/kick someone they should say something like -Thanks _______ this player was punished - so I can finally stop spamming /report on someone punished already.

RefuseToSink August 10, 2014 at 2:08 AM UTC

I think the communication is really good. I have some of the staff on skype and that makes it really easy for me to talk to them if I ever need anything. Also, it's nice to have them on team speak so you can say "There's a hacker," if you're in game.

Yung_Metro August 10, 2014 at 11:08 AM UTC

Try and get some of the staff to stop reading out of a textbook and be a bit more laid back. Not too laid back, but just not to stiff.
Agreed.

Shadowbladz August 10, 2014 at 12:08 PM UTC

The dev team really needs to listen more to suggestions by players, there are some great ones out there.

Joao_Victor August 15, 2014 at 8:08 PM UTC

The dev team really needs to listen more to suggestions by players, there are some great ones out there.
We only have one dev (Ivy), and he can be really busy, but I do think he should check suggestions when he can.

jracer15 August 15, 2014 at 8:08 PM UTC

We need more devs :D

San_David August 15, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

One thing that has always bugged me is the Map Rotation, and how it's managed. More specifically, I'd like to know what maps are in the Rots, and what maps aren't. While I do know that there's the MD Thread, it just feels like it doesn't work for me, mainly because I have to follow a trail of "which maps got removed in this update, which maps got added back in this other update, etc., etc.,"

What I'd suggest is having a main thread, (preferably stickied), with a list of the current Map Rots. It be a bit of a hassle for the Map Devs, but I do feel that the extra work would help regular players immensely when trying to follow the maps.

BoldAndBrash August 15, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

We need to get like, 10 devs. Also, maybe more staff members :o

kycrafft August 16, 2014 at 12:08 AM UTC

We need to get like, 10 devs. Also, maybe more staff members :o
+1

Tarheelkiwi August 16, 2014 at 12:08 AM UTC

+1

OldManTigerMask August 16, 2014 at 11:08 PM UTC

It's pretty good. 

I do wish and think that IvyCode needs to start communicating more. I mean does he even read all of the suggestions that come in? If he does, it doesn't really show. He is the only Dev right? ( correct me if I am wrong)
I Agree

resepignev August 17, 2014 at 8:08 AM UTC

It's very good! This can be approved maybe trough a section in the "Administration" called "Staff Questions". There you can post Questions about other players or just staff related Questions. It would be like the "Player Report" section (only staff and the thread creator can see the thread). This would be useful, if you want the opinions, advises or answers from the staff members. Also if you have any consults related to the thread. I know skype can be used for that, but there you have only one person answering and if they don't know the answer you have to contact another staffmember. Same with the Emails. So I would like to see the new section.

Riskayyy August 17, 2014 at 8:08 AM UTC

It's very good! This can be approved maybe trough a section in the "Administration" called "Staff Questions". There you can post Questions about other players or just staff related Questions. It would be like the "Player Report" section (only staff and the thread creator can see the thread). This would be useful, if you want the opinions, advises or answers from the staff members. Also if you have any consults related to the thread. I know skype can be used for that, but there you have only one person answering and if they don't know the answer you have to contact another staffmember. Same with the Emails. So I would like to see the new section.
I love that idea.

Howsie August 17, 2014 at 9:08 AM UTC

It's very good! This can be approved maybe trough a section in the "Administration" called "Staff Questions". There you can post Questions about other players or just staff related Questions. It would be like the "Player Report" section (only staff and the thread creator can see the thread). This would be useful, if you want the opinions, advises or answers from the staff members. Also if you have any consults related to the thread. I know skype can be used for that, but there you have only one person answering and if they don't know the answer you have to contact another staffmember. Same with the Emails. So I would like to see the new section.
We had this a while back it was called Ask the Staff and it was public for all players to reply. If we dont do this you can always either email support for questions of post a topic in Avicus Help http://avicus.net/forums?topic_id=34 and you will more than likely get a reply from an able staff member. ^_^

resepignev August 17, 2014 at 9:08 AM UTC

We had this a while back it was called Ask the Staff and it was public for all players to reply. If we dont do this you can always either email support for questions of post a topic in Avicus Help http://avicus.net/forums?topic_id=34 and you will more than likely get a reply from an able staff member. ^_^
Yeah it was in the old forums. I never used that, it's sad, if I think of it now.
I looked in to the old forums and I think it would be better, if only staff and thread creator can see the threads. I would use it, to ask about other players or ban appeals form others. And yeah, if it won't gets added I aslo would use the email. I sent a detailed email with the Pros and Cons via email. I still hope it gets added.
Also thank you for the fast reply :D

Howsie August 19, 2014 at 9:08 AM UTC

Yeah it was in the old forums. I never used that, it's sad, if I think of it now.
I looked in to the old forums and I think it would be better, if only staff and thread creator can see the threads. I would use it, to ask about other players or ban appeals form others. And yeah, if it won't gets added I aslo would use the email. I sent a detailed email with the Pros and Cons via email. I still hope it gets added.
Also thank you for the fast reply :D
er support email isn't really about suggestions so dont expect much of a reply through there

resepignev August 20, 2014 at 7:08 PM UTC

er support email isn't really about suggestions so dont expect much of a reply through there
Ohh, I didn't know this. I tought so, because you can select suggestion. Well I chatted with jozzy about this and he/she said maybe it can be added. Anyways, thank you.

Arachadonic August 20, 2014 at 7:08 PM UTC

What do Managers do? I feel like the fact that I don't even know what they do is like a breakdown in communication on their part.

I only ever really see 1 Manager post sometimes and I've only seen 2/3 ingame.

_Mx_ November 22, 2014 at 3:11 AM UTC

I think it is quite good, but I do wish there was a kind of tab for asking admins questions. There probably is one and I just missed it, but if there isn't maybe we could add that. If there is one could you point me towards it? I have a question about teamspeak.

Numberz_ November 22, 2014 at 3:11 AM UTC

I think it is quite good, but I do wish there was a kind of tab for asking admins questions. There probably is one and I just missed it, but if there isn't maybe we could add that. If there is one could you point me towards it? I have a question about teamspeak.
This is the help tab for Avicus http://avicus.net/forums?topic_id=34
For TeamSpeak the program is Teamspeak3 other info can be found here http://avicus.net/forums/20b8f59f7

Hope this helps.

OldManTigerMask November 24, 2014 at 8:11 PM UTC

The staff is great! I would say.

But like many others have said I would prefer if Ivycode would communicate with us! It would help a lot because I'm 99.9 % certain he is the only one who access console and is Dev right?

JKawesome November 24, 2014 at 8:11 PM UTC

The staff is great! I would say.

But like many others have said I would prefer if Ivycode would communicate with us! It would help a lot because I'm 99.9 % certain he is the only one who access console and is Dev right?
Yeah, only he has console access.