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Hosting Tips and
Hints
To make games and life in the
Dreamscape more fun, established hosts, players and sponsors have
contributed their experiences to help others get the most out of hosting
games.
The following are suggestions, not rules.
We hope they help
you!
- Your fellow
avatars
1. Know your game program or your
game.
- Know your game before you try to host it. Attend the
same game hosted by others and learn how they host. Don't be afraid to
ask hosts questions after their game has ended.
Some games do not need a program. If this
is so, make sure players are informed of how you run the
game.
If a program is available for your game,
get it and use it. Check the
How To Play page for links
to game card hosters and rules.
Practice, practice, practice with your
program!!! Learn how to do everything, including
recover.
Do practice rounds of your game with
friends. If you don't do this your wonderful new game could become a bad
experience for you and others.
Ask for help if you need it. Most hosts
and programmers will be glad to help you get the most out of your game.
They also appreciate feedback on how their games work.
2. Have rules and let your players know what
they are
- Rules are set by the host, and are needed
to help the game go smoothly.
Set your rules and follow them. Do not
make up new rules during the game or change the rules, even for
friends.
Have a web page with your rules if
possible, and link the page to your avatar, the main schedule, and game
locale.
When posting your rules, include the
following: How to play the game, how the game is scored (if a score is
needed), how ties will be broken, define what "cheating" is in your game
if needed, time limits (if any), and any special behavior guidelines you
wish your players to follow.
Many games also need the host to run a
macro, explaining the main rules and some of the same items your web
page would explain. If you don't use a rules web page, you should use a
macro.
Make your macro short and to the
point.
Macro the rules only at the beginning of
the game, and as requested during the game. During the game it's easier
to refer players to your web site if you have one, as it keeps the game
moving.
3. Get good help...have an assistant or
co-host
- Having a co-host/assistant is recommended
and is essential on major event weekends.
The goal of a co-host is to help keep the
game running smoothly and help the host in any way
possible.
A co-host should know the rules of the
game and perhaps even own a copy of the game program to back you up in
case of emergency.
Co-hosts may not host games, using
Acolyte prizes, unless they too are a sponsored
host.
Co-hosts (or assistants) can help players
with questions about the game, run door prize programs, hold and hand
out prizes, record names of winners, and either write down or save text
to preserve point totals during the game-in case the program fails to do
so (this is suggested when the game has a monthly
prize).
Co-hosts may be able to play the game, if
it does not hurt their ability to co-host, or raise suspicion of
cheating. Some co-hosts play the game, but only play for fun and do not
accept prizes if they win.
Co-hosts can also help with security in
private turfs. See below for more information.
4. Choose your game locale with
care.
a. It's recommended that you host your game
in a public locale whenever possible, but if the nature of your game
requires a turf, keep these things in mind:
- Give your game turf a short, memorable
name without crazy characters in it. Don't place too many objects in the
turf: More objects means more lag for your
players.
Keep your prizes in a special turf
created just for that purpose, with ONLY you and your sponsor on the
lease.
Do not place prize items on the ground or
in boxes/containers which may be opened by anybody in the
room.
If there is a disturbance during the game
remember in your turf you have the ability to utilize your turf controls
to remove the disruptive individual.
If you need to eject an avatar from your
turf make sure your co-host knows so they may watch for the return of
this avatar and continue ejecting them while you continue with the
game.
b. If your game is in a public locale
- BY ALL MEANS, HOST IN A PUBLIC LOCALE. It will keep our world alive
and healthy, as well as attracting new players to your game!
- Do not host in locales other avatars need to use in Kymer. This
includes ATM, Pawn, Elevator, Teleporter or Vendo locales.
- Be careful in your choice of locales, as some avatars enjoy being in
certain locales often, and might object to using that locale for a game.
Be familiar with a locale and the avatars who use it a lot before
choosing the locale.
- If an avatar makes a disturbance ask them politely in ESP to stop
what they are doing. Some avatars will not realize they were causing a
problem, and you save them embarrassment by helping them privately.
- If an avatar wants to create a disturbance they probably will
unghost at some point. Most disrupting avatars only want attention. Save
pertinent text and take a screen shot of the offending behavior, then
use the ignore function and advise others in the locale to do so as
well. This may be enough to cause the disrupter to just go away.
- You or your co-host may also page an acolyte for help, using the
help menu.
5. Act in a professional manner
- Be on time or ahead of time for your
game, and start promptly. When you have a game or event on the schedule
you have made a promise to the other avatars. Keep that
promise.
If you cannot host your game try to
inform others ahead of time that you will not be
there.
Keep a professional image. You and your
co-host must keep the language clean.
Keep the game moving as quickly as
possible: avoid running long lists of players when possible (specially
if your program sends confirmations), don't run scores until it is
necessary, and refer questions to your
co-host.
Keep movement and animation to a minimum.
Do your best to eliminate lag that is under your control.
Thank those who help you (including your
sponsor) at the beginning and end of the
game.
If you must deal with problems during the
game do it in ESP, and involve your co-host. There is no need to
embarrass your players over simple misunderstandings or damage the fun
for your other players if there is a real
problem.
If there is a legitimate problem inform
the person with the issue that you will talk with them after the game is
over if the problem cannot be solved quickly and by your stated
rules.
Receiving criticism and suggestions from
your players comes along with hosting. Be prepared to be criticized, and
listen to your players- sometimes a criticism can turn into a great idea
to improve your game, and if your players are not having fun they won't
return.
Accept that some avatars will not be
gracious losers, and will have complaints that you can do nothing about.
Be polite, and offer to talk to them after the game if you wish, but do
not let them shake you up during your game.
Keep in mind that you are doing a great
thing for other avatars by hosting a game for their enjoyment (and yours
too). Don't take criticisms personally.
The DreamScape is what
we make of it.
If you have ideas you think should be added to this list
please email World
Managers |
