Name: Raegan

Being A Weyrwoman…

1. OOCly or ICly? Big qualities OOCly are basically dependability, love of the game, and having an active interest in their character. OOCly, I would have to say dependability is the biggest issue that comes to mind. Someone of whom you know will be there when you need her to be. Someone who will undoubtedly stay active, and who will devote themselves to the weyr without question. Not to sound corny, but a goldrider needs to be someone you can count on to be active, and /stay/ active. She also has to be a good diplomat. A goldrider who is rude to new players, or doesn’t have tact when it comes to running things can be more of a burden to a weyr, than a blessing. The least important OOC quality, I suppose, would have to be the ability to code. Being able to be a good diplomat and a good helper to newbies and others that come to the weyr are much higher on the list of reasonings to impress a goldrider than her ability to code stuff up.

ICly, the main qualities I would prefer in a goldrider are someone who is a little different from the other goldriders. Someone who isn’t a stereotype, and a character that is well rounded, and well thought out. A character that dramatically doesn’t change personalities in the heat of the moment, and whatever the consequences may be, does what she would do at any other given time. I, personally, have a dislike for fickle characters. I suppose the least important quality in this category would be to fill the role of the stereotypical Weyrwoman; aka, being organized, well mannered, generally prim and proper, that sort of thing. A weyrwoman who displays in depth knowledge of their character is much more qualified than one who ‘fits the mold’.

2. I would consider the OOC responsibilities of a Junior Weyrwoman to be as follows. She would have to devote her time to RPing, doing OOC leadership stuffs, and helping out. A Junior Weyrwoman is one step down from the highest position that a female can hold in the weyr. She must constantly take on new challenges, and prepare herself for the time when she may or may not have to take over. I think, to be a Junior Weyrwoman, one needs some of the basic qualities that a teacher needs; aka patience, caring, and the strive to help everyone achieve their goals, as a whole. She’s responsible for being one of the top figures of the weyr. Newbies, and seasoned players alike will look up to her. She has to be able to take all situations in stride, and handle them without looking like she’s uber-stressed. Her responsibilities include helping with newbies, creating TPs and plots to generate RP, perhaps running a search, and generally offering RP. RP is a very large responsibility. Set a good example.

ICly, the major tasks of the Weyrwoman are to take charge, and retain order. ICly, Weyrwoman are very much respected and looked up to, and though she doesn’t have to set a pristine example, as Raegan is more than likely not going to, she should be able to follow the rules of the Weyr, as well as restrictions. ICly, a Weyrwoman would be fairly busy, and have a lot of delegating and such to do. Basically, in the in-character sense, a Weyrwoman is a lot like other riders, only with a little more options to RP.

I, personally, do not see many differences between Junior and Senior Weyrwoman, save for the slightly bigger shiny knot. I suppose that the Senior Weyrwoman would hold more sway over the Weyr Council, and slightly more OOC responsibility regarding the rules and the actual running of the Weyr, but nothing earth-shatteringly different. The reason why? Weyrwomen are picked for their abilities to RP and their OOC strengths. Senior Weyrwomen are then picked from that elite group. They’d be the best of the best.

3. Quite honestly, remaining a Junior Weyrwoman for a little to a long time is probably the best way to do things. That way, before being thrust into the highest rank possible, you have experience with the role. It definitely wouldn’t bother me at all to stay a Junior for awhile. On the other hand, if thrust into a Senior position, I suppose I would do what anyone else would do, and that’s adjust. What else would one do if in such a situation? Handling that sort of thing would require strength and some adaptation; especially if it was an extremely abrupt switch. To get used to it, I might employ the Weyrleader to help show me the ropes, especially if the retired Senior disappeared after retiring. Perhaps I’d even create a committee on the Weyr Council to find out what needs done and what I have to pick up. I can’t really know what I’d do, unless it comes to that, I suppose.

4. To put it simply, sharing roles is a very good thing. If one person has all the weight of the Weyr on their shoulders, he or she is likely to either burnout, or not be able to handle it for very long. The more opinions you get from members of the Weyr, the more you are able to cover the broader scope of every option. If there is a large committee made up of several members, you are more likely to keep everyone happy than to have a single person in charge of everything.

I feel I could contribute a rather interesting character to the Weyr; either to cause trouble, or to just stir things up. I have been playing on StarStones for over three years now, on several alts, so I feel that I have a good knowledge of the game and I have been active for those three years. I feel I could, at this point in my life, devote a lot of time and energy to the Weyr, and MOO alike.

As a Junior I would contribute plots involving lots of characters. I love to plot, you can ask anyone. I can think up of crazy things that just may work, and will be loads of fun for people to play. Just take a look at the Neen, Nmeii, Rh’nan, Ni’shen situation at Telgar. Plotting is our friend. I would also try to set an example by RPing often myself, so that people will follow and RP and that will boost a lot of activity. Also, as a personal goal, I’d like to try to revive some of the unused areas. Jowl’s Farm and Crom being my main top priorities. Planning events at those two places, as well as going there to RP might help to promote activity.

As for something I wouldn’t like to do, I suppose, it’d have to be standing the shadow of the Senior. I have no clue if that makes any sense, but Raegan would, with the dragon personality I’ve written up for her, be a rather strong figure. I’d like to help out as much as possible, really.

5. Yes, I would like to become Senior at some point in my MOOing career, because I feel that with my experience, and those I’d gain from being a Junior would well prepare me for the roll, and that I could handle it. If the Weyr needed a Senior, I would gladly step up, because I’d be willing to help out in any situation.

Yes, I would also be content to remain a Junior. It would be, as I’ve heard, a lot less stressful and somewhat less responsibility. It would help me get very comfortable in a higher-up leadership roll, as well as a higher up OOC position.

6. I truly wouldn’t make any major changes unless the reason I was plucked is because drastic changes truly needed to be made. Easing in the roll is much better than barging in and changing every little thing. That can make a lot of people uncomfortable.

If I wanted to implement changes, I would do it slowly, so it doesn’t seem that I’m changing too much too fast; as well as changing it with the help of the other OOC heads of the Weyr.

7. Yes, I think it’s very fair to make it work that way. It assures that an active goldrider will be SearchLead, and that you won’t have to scrounge around to get people to work for a Hatching.

If I didn’t like a policy, I’d state my opinion to those involved with making the decision, and back it up with facts. I’d make sure I had a case that actually made sense, rather than being just a stick-in-the-mud. If outvoted or proven wrong, I’d let the issue slide and make the best of it. Once I’ve stated my case, there is no need to keep bringing the issue up.

Search and SearchCrew…

1. The role of a non-clutching goldrider would be simply to take a very active part in Search, and do whatever the clutching goldrider cannot or does not have time to do. Basically, just to support her, offer advice, help with descing and the inspirations, as well as doing any interviews that need to be done. Basically, just helping behind the scenes without taking over the clutching-goldrider’s search.

2. Running Search is a very long and involved process. I’ve been in the inner-workings of Search before, and it is not an easy task. ICly, running Search means getting out there and RPing with applicants/Candidates, and taking on the roll of a clutching Weyrwoman. ICly, she’d spend most of her time on the sands, so it’s difficult to have a variety of RP stuffs. But as long as one plays the part successfully, all is well. ICly, the Weyrwoman is also one of those in charge of the Candidates. OOCly, the Weyrwoman is responsible for much, much, more. She must write run her mating flight, do egg descs, hold a clutching with clutching messages, hold egg touchings with messages for the Candidates, handle the voting on the applicants and Candidates for impression, write up inspirations, and make sure everything is running smoothly and on time. She must work efficiently and set up due dates for everything. This is all true for a PC clutch. An NPC clutch, depending on how in depth one is going, requires much of the same efforts, minus the egg-touchings and inspirations.

3. I’ve done SearchCo twice over at Telgar Weyr, once for a gold-search. I’ve done numerous inspirations by myself, and stuffs like that. I co-ran CCTeam with other members of SearchCO both times I’ve been on the Co. Once with Dany, and this last time with Tarlin. Um, this last Search I did a lot of the Rpviews, and searched three people, I think. I ran two egg-touchings before, and did a lot of hatchling-puppeting this last Search.

4. For a bronze or brownrider to catch my gold for a PC clutch I’d look for activity. Activity is a big thing. I would also look at their past record. Did this bronze/brownrider ever catch a clutching gold before? Did he help? Did he stay active and participate in Search?

Personally, I would encourage the catcher to participate in Search, but I wouldn’t make that a requirement, because if they really don’t have the time, or won’t do a good job, it’s not worth it.

5. Well, a character that rides bronze doesn’t HAVE to have OOC administration duties. To impress a bronzerider, I would look mainly for RP. If he were a good RPer, that could handle RPing a bronzerider, then I would say all right, fine. We have plenty of bronzeriders on the MOO. As for picking a Weyrleader, I would pick someone the same way I would pick a Junior Goldrider. They would have to put in a lot of time, effort, and be pretty gosh-darn dependable. Weyrleaders and such are just as important as Weyrwomen, they should be judged the same way.

6. For a Candidate to ride gold, I’d look for a lot of things. I’ve broken it up into small categories, to better explain it (and without uber-spamming ya’ll)

First is Time. Whether it’s how long she’s been on the MOO, or how active she’s been while being on the MOO, time matters. She should be active, and RPing, and using her time effectively to make the Weyr and the MOO more active.

Second is Effort. If all she does is sit around and idle to get hours in and be #1 on the @c-a, then, that’s not something I’d want. If she RPs every chance she gets, and helps out, then that’s much more important.

Third, and slightly less important, is RP ability. If she can pose well, and has a good grasp of her character, all the better.

Forth, and probably most important, is dependability. If you can count on this girl to be there through thick and thin, never to call it quits, or just leave you hanging, then you know you have a winner.

For a Senior Weyrwoman, I would look for all of this qualities, only amplified. Now that the Candidates are not trying to impress SearchCo, do they STILL put in all those things?

OOC Admin vs. IC Role-Play….

1. Honestly, I would choose IC Role-play over Administration. You can do Admin on any character, with any position, if you so choose, and I’m already on different types of Admin. I have yet to experience the unique RP that a goldrider gets to do. However, I do, of course, love Admin, and would be more than willing to help.

2. I have never ridden gold in my life. It is every girl’s dream, who reads Pern books, to ride gold. I, too, have always had that dream, but never the desire nor time to devote to such a thing until now. I’m entering my senior year in high school. I’ve dropped math, and well, it should be a very easy year for me. We’re not doing a musical, and Band isn’t as big of a commitment. So thus, I feel I have a lot of time to devote to being a Weyrwoman. I am really looking forward the unique experiences and the responsibility of being a Weyrwoman. It also gives me a completely different path to develop Raegan than even she would ever conceive for herself. I think I could benefit as a player, as well. It might not change /me/ terribly much, but it would give me great experiences as a higher-up admin.

3. First of all, Starstones is my favorite MOO. I feel very very comfortable at StarStones. I know Starstones like the back of my hand. I like the people at StarStones, and I like how laid back everyone is. You hardly ever see the same squabbles you hear about on Harper’s Tale or any of the other Pern MU*s. This is the only game I would ever even consider riding gold on. This MOO got me through the later-phases of my twink-ness without anyone making rude comments behind my back, and I feel I’d like to help other people in the same way. I’d like to “give something back”, so to speak.

First of all, I have a rider character that I absolutely adore at Telgar. Having two characters at the same weyr and keeping them active would be a trick, really. Secondly, and much more importantly, Raegan fits in at Igen. People understand her. There are people a lot like her at Igen. Telgarians, well, they’re somewhat more .. normal? Is normal the word? I don’t know.

Qualities about Igen that attract me are basically that at Igen, I know who is in charge. Igen is very well structured. Telgar, not so much. I could probably list out the upper ranking members of Igen in a heartbeat, while finding out who is expressly in charge at Telgar might take a little bit of research.

4. No. N/A.

5. N/A.

6. The pros of riding gold are all the experiences you get, and how unique they are. The fact that you've finally achieved something, that you have such different options than other riders in the Weyr. The cons of riding gold are mainly the fishbowl effect and the stress it puts on you.

The fishbowl affect is when people watch you all the time and wait for you to mess up. They will constantly criticize you.

Well, to handle all of this, I have a good support system. My best friend MOOs, so she's always there when I need to rant or de-stress about something. And I have a lot of friends that will listen to me rant about anything what-so-ever.

7. I have been a guide, a newbie helper, guest welcomer, and twink educator for awhile now. I think I'm up to all of this because I've been doing most of this stuff for such a long time. I have the experience and the willingness to keep going doing what I'm doing. I think I do a fairly good job at what I do, so basically, that's my record.

8. Canon refers to the world that Anne McCaffrey created. Playability refers to how that world is adapted for game structure, to make Pern WORK. I would handle it as everyone else does. Go with the flow, as long as it doesn't break any rules.

Leadership…

1. I really like working in teams. Everything gets done so much faster, and it's generally the best work that comes out of it. Everyone is mostly happy, and no one can complain they weren't part of it. I think working on a Weyr Council were other people have different opinions is a good healthy council. If everyone agreed all the time, then, well, it'd be just weird. One would just have to be fair, listen to other's opinions, and be open minded.

2. I would say that mostly I see equal standing. Everyone in the leadership roles seems to have equal say in the running of the Weyrs, and I really like it that way. That way, it's not just one person running the show, but everyone in that capacity. I would like the weyr and Moo to stay this way, if at all possible.

3. I think one of the most important things is taking everyone's opinions into account. Make sure you're not excluding anyone, and make everyone feel significant. The Weyr is not all about the Weyrwoman and Weyrleader. What makes a Weyr is all the other people in it. I would Role-play a lot and set a good example for the other members of the Weyr, as well as offer plots and TPs.

4. Yes, I have. I've been on both Weyr and Craft Councils before.

I hold the Weyrsecond position, currently, at Telgar Weyr, so thus I'm a part of the staff, and that sort of thing over there. This means I know Weyr structure inside and out, and already have experiences with Weyr Council and stuffs like that.

I'm also a Master Baker/Master Farmer on Harper's Tale, and x2 of the FarmCraft. I know different structures of Leadership and have been in one of the top two positions, so I know how to run things, if need be.

5. I like working together with people to do something good. Least of all, well, I hate the reprocussions of making those decisions, because someone is always not happy. I consider myself one of those people that likes EVERYONE to be happy, and thus I would try my hardest to make that so. I would thus delegate, and compromise a lot. I see myself as a very easy leader, someone who you could come to with a problem, and she would try to fix it. My weak points are simply the fact that I hate making people unhappy, and I tend to stress over things.

Personal Attributes…

1. Raegan, well, Raegan knows how to please people. *cough* She knows how to talk to people and get what she wants out of them. Because of this, I feel Raegan would be an excellent diplomat. Raegan is also a very strong character. Her personality shines through whatever she's doing, and I think that's something else I could offer. Also, with Dragoneth's help, Raegan would be a very formidable enemy to those who would try to cross her. Making enemies is something Dragoneth would muchly enjoy, so this could be a fun quality to offer.

2. I can, with the proper dragon personality, see Raegan developing a temper, and a very nasty one at that. She can get irritable from time to time, but with Dragoneth's help, she could easily fly off the handle. If Raegan were ever to become Senior Weyrwoman, I think she'd become slightly more straight-edge. She knows what her responsibilities would be, and I suppose Raegan would do well, if she thinks it is her duty. Raegan is big on duty.

3. No, I would be perfectly happy riding brown, simply because I don't want Raegan to play into the stereotypical greenrider role, to which she could easily be. If she was a brownrider, she would have a lot less responsibility than if she was a Weyrwoman, so that would leave her a lot more free, more 'loose' if you could call it that, rather than riding gold. I would foresee her becoming slightly more laid-back about her sexual partners, and delving more into the drinking and gambling aspects of her personality.

4. I have been on Help Staff for awhile now, and I love it. I remember, quite well, when I was a newbie, and needed help. I've also been a Guide, and an Apprentice Master once, so I can handle the newer players with maybe more patience than some of the others. Plus, relatively speaking, I'm somewhat newer to MOOing, having only started 5 years ago, so maybe that gives me a closer connection to the newer players.

5. Me-the-player, well.. I could give you my life story, but that'd be pretty boring. Raegan was my first character that.. well, isn't like ME. She's my polar opposite, so while at sometimes she comes easily, other times she's hard to play. But I do work really hard on her, and I feel that she's coming to me more and more easily everytime I RP her.

Hypothetical Situations…

1. If she is better qualified than me, then I would simply suck it up. If she was more active, RPed more often, and that sort of thing, what right do I have to be angry?

2. I would send a mail out, introducing myself to the Weyr, and sincerely explain that I'm not trying to replace the old Senior Weyrwoman, but enforce and add to what she did to make the Weyr work and run smoothly. Though I may not live up to her, that I would try my best.

3. I would first ask her what holes or problems she sees in my way of running the weyr. Very casually, and maybe just out of the blue. Once she offers her opinions, if she's not like "You're running this weyr awesomely!", I'd take them into a account. Then I would confront her, asking her why she has been attacking me. If she doesn't admit to it, I'd simply explain why I'm doing what I'm doing, and hope it stops.

4. I would just tell her that we had concerns about her, and that we thought she could handle Candidacy better the second time around. Tell her not to take it personally, because we wouldn't have searched her if we didn't like her.

5. I would page her back and tell her that it truly wasn't my doing. It was SearchCo's decision, not some great providence of mine, to put me on gold. I would tell her to talk to SearchCo about their decision, and either try to set up a meeting with them, or talk to the SearchLeads.

6. I would give them a serious warning. Explain what I've heard has been going on, explain that there may or may not have been a log. Tell them the reprocussians of their actions, and what could happen. In other words, I'd try to scare him into stopping. If it doesn't work, then I would talk to the Wizards about getting him game-banned or nuked.

7. I would set up a meeting for her with all members of that SearchCrew present, a few days after the Hatching. I would then explain that we searched her because we felt she had potential, but it just wasn't her time. I know, before some Hatchings, there have been Tea-Times in which we inform the Candidates what they need to work on as a character, and OOCly. Perhaps this would help solve this kind of situation before it ever occurs.

8. I would have a meeting of the Weyr Council, in which we invite any residents that feel their voice needs to be heard. If say, no one shows up, maybe I'd create a small team of residents to have their own mini-council in the Weyr, and poll them before making any decisions.

9. First, I would re-open the debate about it, and see if anyone changes their mind after listening to all the reasons, for and against. If everyone stands firm, then I would say we should try it once, and get feedback. If, say, there isn't enough applicants, or no one likes the policy, then we'll change it back to the way it was.

10. I would either ask a very active member of the weyr to NPC a Weyrleader, or I would ask a Weyr with a slew of active bronzeriders if they wouldn't mind sparing one, and asking one of them if they'd like to transfer over.

Final Question: I love my fellow Candidates. Seriously, I would be sad if I didn't impress with them. I would also be happy on a brown. Which is why, brown is my second choice.