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DEATHMATCH June 18/19th

  • Member
    June 18, 2016

    Don't take this the wrong way, but that sounds a little bit like you're setting up the non-Ravager builds to fail. Is there a bit of bias there?

    Not that I disagree with your point about lack of effort, no, and yes, clearly the Ravager is head and shoulders above the other builds, in presentation, grammar, build play, everything. It helps that it's the only build of the lot that doesn't hurt my head to look at. Like I said earlier, it's not overly awesome, but it's not terrible, either. And I'm a bit of a perfectionist. Well, very much a perfectionist.

    I think it's pertinent to note that the Ravager had something like 3 or 7 likes at the start of the day. It's now sitting at 21, I believe. A little bit of positive attention (even if only by comparison) and it climbed straight out of Bloodworks. That sort of suggests to me that it's not just the build quality, it also has to do with attention. Obviously no amount of attention will help if the build sucks (and the build author doesn't do anything), but isn't there the chance that a solid build might be lost due to lack of attention?

  • June 18, 2016

    Well isn't that what the "Bloodranks" thread is? There's a thread in CB for each rank where a build is highlighted from that rank in hopes of it getting more attention? 

  • Member
    June 18, 2016
    Sure, check the request.
  • June 18, 2016
    We've had death matches were all 6builds survive. Is the ravaged the clear winner? Definitely. But these other builds would very likely lose against any other build. The whole point of the death matches is to clean house so the group isn't flooded by thousands upon thousands of builds. It would be unfair for the hosts alone to be the ultimate decider of a build's fate. So we leave it up to the readers in a 24 hour poll. The deathmatch is also a chance for unnoticed builds to shine. Think of it as a hidden gem spotlight specifically for bloodworks builds. Good or bad, every build gets that 24 hours to shine.
  • Member
    June 18, 2016

    True, I cannot dispute any of that dude. I guess it is why I struggle to put my finger on the problem I see, or even if it is a problem. Like, with art, I can't imagine giving criticism unless the artist asks for it. I may say how it makes me feel, pick up on the good bits if the overall is not exactly to my taste or simply not comment at all.

    However the CB Group is pretty much the only group in which there is a tacit agreement that by posting you are accepting the possibility of criticism. Therefore it doesn't follow the same rules as elsewhere, the process suddenly becomes that much more complicated. An invisible shackle gets attached, a feeling that you cannot live up to expectations set by yourself or perceived those set by the community as perceived by you. 

    That is probably the crux of it, perception. How an individual sees their project and perceives how others may view it. That is really complicated. An artist shouldn't be thinking how others may view it, rather he or she should be just doing. Or maybe he or she should be thinking that but still do it anyway. Yet that artist is safe in the knowledge that he will never face a deathmatch.

    Please understand I don't have an answer. Just feelings of sympathy and empathy. Striking the balance between encouraging quality and supporting those whose struggle is hard. Maybe the answer lies not in how to do it but why to do it. 

  • Member
    June 18, 2016

    I do vaguely recall that thread. There is, however, no link to it on the CB main page. Not is it linked from the Character Build Archives page. To find it, I had to search "Rank:Bloodworks" and flip to page two, and somehow I doubt that the average person won't be clicking Rank:Bloodworks when looking for a build to play.

    It was simple enough to find when I looked for it, sure, but that necessitated knowing of its existence and then searching for it. The 'knowing of its existence' might be an issue in that regard. A bit of extra visibility might do that thread good.

  • Member
    June 18, 2016

    Actually they are linked on the main page. The icons next to each rank description will take you to that rank's page if you click on it. Admittedly you have to know that it's there otherwise you most likely wouldn't be able to tell.

  • Member
    June 18, 2016
    Maybe you should try the workshop, Relycs. Trust me, fixing your build will make it more "popular". My second build is the only one that hasn't benefited from a presentation overhaul. :( I used to care about how many likes I got until I realised it was pointless. If just one person enjoys your build, then your build is a success.
  • Member
    June 18, 2016

    The... icons. Yes, I see. Click on the icons. Instead of the extremely obvious hyperlink beside them. You'll have to forgive me for overlooking those icons. Also please forgive the sarcasm. The point is, if it's there but no one knows it's there, it might as well not be.

    Well, at least I learned something today.

  • Member
    June 18, 2016

    And after the death match? Just let the surviving build/s disappear into mediocrity?

    Perhaps I'm not being entirely fair. I simply get the feeling that a build wouldn't be in Bloodworks if the builder, pardon my language, gave a damn at all. Even considering the Ravager: posted on March 10, 2016. Only posts on the build besides today? March 10, 2016. A cursory search reveals that Kojo's Last Activity was on March 11.

    Is the Ravager bad? No, not at all (well, an argument could be made for 'yes' if you're a perfectionist, but all said it's really not terrible). Is it going to get any better? Not unless Kojo comes back and makes changes. Is that going to happen? Somehow, I doubt it.

    I do understand cleaning house, and I suppose the hidden gem spotlight effect is a secondary benefit. I just kind of feel like it's kind of a worthless benefit.