[h2]GM Update 2[/h2]

Well here we are, [b]3-Weeks Operation[/b] and as promised here's your second GM Update. Let's get right down to business:

1. [b]Membership[/b]: We had a strong push last weekend and made it up to fifteen total characters, which is awesome and we almost doubled our player base in less than two weeks. The goal for Alexus and myself was always 20-25 [i]minimum[/i] and we're tracking that direction nicely. I think if we hit those numbers we'll probably need to appoint another GM. I think we're also right at 100% participation, meaning everyone that has submitted an app has posted at least once in the OOC. With that in mind, I have noticed we tend to hit a pretty brisk pace from time to time here in the IC and I don't want our slower posters to feel like they're being left behind. [b]I am a slower poster[/b] so don't fret, you are not being forgotten. We are not planning to close the current event for a while still.

2. [b]Expansion[/b]: Hitting on this point again with membership, we have a holiday week coming up so Alexus and I are planning on hitting the ad blitz pretty hard. I'll probably bump/refresh every IC we have ever put out until I get told to stop. Holidays, at least in my experience, tend to be when people bite the bullet and jump-in as they have a little time on their hands away from work and school to read, catch-up and complete applications. As always, [u]we ask for your help in this[/u]. Even if you just post a status about the game it helps us immensely. Good OOC plotting and chats keep our game at the top of list in the forum which, as I have noticed, is HUGE here.

3. [b]Second Characters[/b]: I know this one has been on everyone's mind and Alexus and I have discussed it. Second characters can work for and against an RP for various reasons. Right now we're going to open this up, but with the condition that the second characters be [b]FEMALE[/b] because the current character balance is skewed towards the guys. For a while we were worried we would  have to change the name of the game to Sausage City, so no male second characters right now. The only other stipulations are your second character cannot be related to your first in any way. Also, no RPing with yourself, please.

4. [b]Random Chance / Character Protection[/b]: When we made the game we said pretty openly that we were going to be throwing in random events to spice things up and keep things interesting. Since it looks like we're starting to hit our stride here, expect some of those things to start happening (cue evil laugh here). As an extension of that, if you would like your character(s) to be up for random events on a [i]individual level[/i], please let us know. I want to come out and ask because I've been in games where the GM's did not make it clear that they were going to be screwing with people's characters on a spectacular level. A character is a time investment by a player and some people don't care for having to write for situations that they have no interest. On the other hand, some writers love random events. I was never in the latter category myself, but if you are then that's great and we'll be glad to accommodate you. Volunteering for this will not gain your character any advantages in the game, its just for plot movement, nothing else. Just remember events can be both positive and negative for your character. 

5. [b]Future Planning[/b]: In the last GM Update (OOC, Page 9), we were planning to do [i]Thirsty Thursdays[/i] in Corona Park, but seeing as how the current event has become slightly more a drinking occasion than a jazz occasion (which is fine, btw), we've decided to hold on the next event being Thursday night for fear of essentially doing the same thing twice. Right now our plan is to have one short "open" Wednesday night and then a longer Saturday that will also be open, meaning there will be no set event for either of those days. Players will basically be free to roam and do whatever they so desire so think about that in your planning. We would advise also playing some of our unused locations. Just a suggestion. What you'll also notice in these two days is a significant amount of foreshadowing of future events in the game. 

That will do it for now, we're not planning to do another time skip for a bit or at least until the current event plays out a little further. Once again, be sure to let us know your thoughts.