Official QB Quarter 2, 2007 Nominees With Q&A Responses (in Contests)

This thread is Carnage Blender's permanent record for Quarter Blender 2007, Quarter 2. This thread will remain locked.

Chatmails have been sent to each nominee. Each chatmail contains 5 questions. The questions are a combination of questions asked before in the previous QB election and some questions asked via the nomination ballot. Upon receiving the responses, I will post them here to help aid your QB vote. Responses must be turned in to me (by E-mail) no later than 8:00 PM EDT on Wednesday, August 15, 2007.

The questions that the nominees will be answering (listed right below this post) will certainly be used to narrow down the choices quite a bit to help decide who will be crowned QB 2007, Quarter 2. And now...


The Nominees (in alphabetical order):

• AvoidCXT [Submitted]
• Flamey [Submitted]
• GodWolf [Submitted]
• Miandrital [Submitted]
• Mythology [Did Not Submit]
• Nerevas [Submitted]
• NightStrike [Did Not Submit]
• novice [Submitted]
• Pit Spawn [Submitted]

These are the questions that the nominees will be answering:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.
2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.
3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?
4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.
5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

Flamey:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   I'm sure this answer would shock most, but I keep coming back to CB because of the community. I've realised many a time, that I'm not playing enough to be fully competitive, but I stick with my character and buying BA and see people pass me, which is depressing. I like the forums, but I love chat most of all, the forums are too slow for me, I make a few posts then have to wait a long time or till the next day to get a response. Anything goes (PG, of course) in chat and is just a tad faster paced. I've stayed logged in for hours talking in chat or browsing the forums or wiki, without having any BA to burn.
   
   To answer the second part, I've said it before that we have to be friendly as soon as these new players arrive. We have to show that there is more than 5 or 6 players on CB, because that is what it looks like when they join. No one is talking in chat and when they introduce themselves on the NP forum they get 5 or so responses when there are way more players, if we just said "Hey" or "hi" it shows there are more people in the game.
   
   The main reason why people stay is the community, we need to show them this as quickly as possible.

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   I'll give more than one. Mainly because the other nominees have been here longer, contributed more to the community and are better people. Oh, another reason is that I was once chat/forum banned last year, which I'm not proud of, but I mentioned it for everyone to see.

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   Hehe, well I've had this username for quite a while, been about 7 years. I was 8 years old (gasp! He's 15!) and I was playing Perfect Dark on N64 with my brothers, and my older brother had a nickname so I wanted one (you know, being a kid and all). I thought red (my favourite colour), which led to fire (which was cool and still is) and had to make it into a name, so Flamey popped into my head. Originally spelt flamy, but that didn't work out, so I added an E.

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   Nerf the ToA! It gives too much, You need a monster Evasion to be coupled with a massive set of DB to beat this thing, Up higher you don't even need PTH on your weapon, the ToA will give you 100 or so. This has been discussed too many times, so I wont make it a strategy discussion :P.
   
   Aside from that, I don't think I'd make anything too large, anyway.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   A little background info on this question. I'm from Australia, never heard of these things in my life, I then set out to discover what they were and with my research I have concluded that it is a lollipop with a different flavoured filling, this was confirmed by OB.
   
   Who licks lollipops, seriously? Lollipops last so long as it is, and you're going to prolong it by licking it? I suck them (get your head out of the gutter, OB :P). Plus if you licked them, wouldn't it cause an imbalance, because only part of it will get to the centre? If you were to equally lick out the lollipop to get to the centre then it would take you forever.
   
   Thus, I conclude, sucking FTW.

novice:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   CB offers a mental game unmatched by anything else I've played, the various levels of play (growth, clanning, and long term strategy) combined with real opponents make for some amazing gaming. I believe adding both account and character bios could go a long way to keeping new users around. The initial game can seem like such a bland grind simply because you don't know anything or anyone, having an explanation of the char on the inspect sheet, or personal history on a users page could make the difference between staying or logging off before hitting 100 mpr.

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   Mythology, AvoidCXT - These are the names of the hallowed halls of CB history, nothing I've done compares in any way to the contributions of these two fine fellows. Nothing against the rest of the candidates, who also outshine me; but we are all feather weights watching two super heavy weights trade blows.

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   Shortly after I joined CB I changed my name to lvl 1 human novice. I was paper gaming a lot at that point, and liked the theme. I changed it to novice to reflect some of my interest in Buddhist ideals, CB is a place where always attempting to look at things through new eyes can be very useful. I try not to get trapped by a single idea of how to play, which also excuses my many sell offs and strat changes.

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   I would add a feature addition system similar to the black market. Users could nominate a change, and people with votes (long timers, people who win tourneys, attribute or stat record holders) pick the best of them.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   Thirty seven; Kevin Smith is a funny funny man.

AvoidCXT:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   I've always enjoyed trying to find the numbers behind CB, and then figuring out how to use them to make a better character. Lately, however, my interest in that kind of stuff has waned a bit, and I mostly log on to chat for a while. Which is why I think the best way to keep new players is simply by everyone keeping chat lively, friendly, and fun. I've seen many jump into a conversation right after finishing the tutorial, and a lot of them are then back the very next day.

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   That's easy, I'm simply way too studly to be QB. Also, I haven't been very active this past quarter. I've logged on once a day at best, and rarely for much longer than an hour. Plus a grand total of 11 forum posts since April, four of which were just public record or FS/WTB posts that aren't quite contributing to the community. And my answer to #4 is a change that benefits me. And I'm lazy. And I'm bad at spelling and grammar. And I'm a peanut.

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   Many years ago, even before I joined CB, I used TripitakaMan as my user name for everything. Then, slightly less but still many years ago, and still before I joined CB, I discovered that Tripitaka is not the made-up word I thought it was, but instead the Tripitaka is a Buddhist canon of scriptures. At that point I felt it was time to either change my religion, or change my username. I opened a book and pointed to a random word, which heppened to be "shemale." My next attempt gave me "avoid." I figured the word by itself was boring, so I added three random letters to then end, oblivious to the slew of "What is CXT and why should I avoid it?" questions which I would be destined to receive.

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   Unlike question #2, this is a very difficult question to answer, mainly because there is not really anything wrong with this great game. But, as luck would have it, I've been pushing for a change to clan score for a while. I'd like to see a type of non-linear scale which makes getting attacked by a ton of people less of a burden on one's clan score. I made a post on it a while back.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   N = 4.93218E (r1^3-r2^3)/(K*F*D) where r1 is the radius of the tootsie pop, and r2 is the radius of the inner tootsie roll. E is the average energy per volume of the chemical bonds that hold together the outer shell. K is the coefficient of kinetic friction between the tongue and the surface of the delicious candy, which varies with temperature and enzyme saturation levels. F is the force exerted by the tongue onto the shell. D is the total distance the candy moves while in contact with the tongue. Both F and D have to be average values, as lab results have yet to produce a consistent lick, and too many lab subjects just bite the stupid thing. This equation does have a few obvious errors, and that is because I devote most of my time to blow pop research.

Nerevas:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   Everything. First, the gameplay; The balance and strategy is amazing. I absolutely love the challenge of learning every aspect of CB's gameplay and trying to create the greatest all around strategy possible. The integration of the stats and items and the possibilities of synergized strategies is just insane. Most of CB's population greatly limits themselves with the strategies they choose, however. I love to give advice too, but I give it within the boundaries of the strategy they already have going. If you ask me to give you a whole new strategy my answer is always for you to go experimenting. That's how you truly learn the game and gain appreciation for its complexity. And what other game can you play from work so easily?!
   
   Next, the economy. Its quite Schweet. I've built myself a nice little buy/sell/trade business and I love it. It powers my insane spending habits caused by changing strategies every other day and burning through NCBs like candy. I learned alot of things along the way. Like, reputation is key. Its difficult to buy and sell for large profit and not have people hate you for it. I've mostly switched to large items for this reason- my profit comes from having the patience to endure the long wait it takes to sell a large item at the best price. The original sellers understand an item is worth more, but don't have the time or interest to wait, so they settle for a lower price. Both parties are happy in the end, and that is key to good business.
   
   Last, and of course, the community. Such a close knit and diverse group of people (ages, geography, and personalities) is quite a rarity. I have not seen it anywhere else. As others have mentioned its easy to often spend hours just chatting away with no thought of CB at all. Chat, forums, $contests$, its all hugely fun. Despite what some believe, I think the BA changes were for the better, and I still find myself spending tons of time just enjoying CB's community aspect IRREGARDLESS (that one's for Bast) of being out of battles.
   
   On to part deux of this question... I think its very difficult to reel people in once they've gotten here as so many judge the book by its cover and lets face it CB's cover is unsnazzy. I understand the turn rate is quite low with new players- few make it through or stay past the Tutorial. The tutorial is definitely necessary of course, and I don't know if it can be peppered up much more. The best suggestion I think is to allow players to enter chat immediately upon account creation, even while they are doing the tutorial. Seeing that chat bar there has a magical effect I think, makes people feel less alone. Other than that, I'd up the advertisement of CB. Perhaps widgets aren't a bad idea. But more than just that, start throwing it in top100 game lists. Or start sending CB to big websites that post daily links to games and such. We the players could get this done. Not everything must be in Jon's hands. Bad retention or not, more incoming visitors = more players. I don't know if there's much we can do for people who don't even give the game an hour, but for those that give it more time I think CB sucks them in on its own which is how we all got here.

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   Most QBs have been the type that hold contests and give away money/items all the time. I'm not that type. In fact I'm quite selfish in this respect. I want all the money I can get, as its part of the whole making a powerful character bit. So no, I don't like to give away money, and you'll likely never see me holding a contest unless its one designed to evade my wallet. Final statement on this: Give me your monies!!!! (Seriously. gimme them.)

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   It doesn't really have a meaning. I chose it because I needed an online name. I wanted it simple, and I wanted something that visually and audibly resounded with me. The fact that I had just gotten off a long stretch of playing Morrowind around its creation time is probably a factor, though I didn't think of it at the time. In Morrowind, the savior of the world is Nerevar (or the Nerevarine).

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   Not much, really.. I'd probably change a couple small things. NUB/NCB xp bonus could stand to be increased slightly because the current bonus is insufficient and it should be able to reach *slightly* further into the top ranks than it currently does when used to maximum potential. I'd also put a hard cap on ToA PTH bonus, though at what point is difficult to say without having lots of numbers in front of me. So basically, just some small things that aren't too big of a deal. I love the way CB is. I prefer to roll with what is rather than worry about what might be or what I think should be. Oh ya, every day would be bonus $$ for Nerevas day.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   Honestly, who knows, really? I haven't seen a Tootsie Pop in ages. Plenty of lolipops, no Tootsie Pops. But if a giant owl came to me and could speak, I'd bloody listen. If he tells me a Tootsie Pop takes 3 licks to get to the center, I wouldn't question it. It doesn't matter why he chose to communicate that to you... when an owl starts speaking english, all games are off.

Pit Spawn:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   It's the people that keep me playing cb. There are times, like now because my internet sucks, which I don't spend much ba because its agonizingly slow, but im still on cb, just to chat with people, who by now are all good friends :).

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   I would say that some of the other nominees have contributed more than I have to cb, so they should probably get it before I should.

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   I used to play a game call Magic the Gathering, and trying to find a name that wasn't already taken, I ended up using one of my favorite creatures from that game, Pit Spawn.

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   I think the most overpowered aspect of the game is AC. With the vb nerfed and TsA regenerating health AC has gotten even more powerful. So I propose a spell, maybe called disintegrate, which lowers enemy AC, similar to the way the old protection worked, but in the opposite direction, instead of adding to AC it would subtract from it. It would remove the AC from enchantments (armor +s) first so it would be equally useful to mages and tanks. It should also only remove the AC part of the enchantment, but not the special bonuses gained from the pluses, like the extra st from a TsA.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   It depends. If the person is a tank or a wall they are probably too engrossed with training to be able to really enjoy a Tootsie pop, so it only takes them one bite. If the person is a mage or an enchanter, they are engrossed with studying and so they don't actively lick them, but just let them dissolve in their mouth until they are gone, so one long lick.

GodWolf:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   Simple. It's been said many times before. The community. I love everyone in this game. Yes, everyone. Even you. Yeah, I know you don’t believe me. But I love you =D The community makes this game great. I mean great. I could go into a huge amount of other reasons...the purity of the strategy, Cone of cold, well balanced economy...but truthfully...I'm here for the other players.
   
   But as was asked...how do we encourage new players to play and stick with this game? Simple, really it is. Break out of your cliques. Stop clinging to your old friends. I'm not saying anyone ignores new players. But I am saying that the community would be better if new players didn't have to stomach constant references to the old days, when they weren't around. And reach out. Make those killer bonds that you have with others. Who could ask for better friends then some of the people in this game? And you want an example? Imagine back to your first day. Now imagine coming into chat and having people like OB, or Johnnywas on you immediately lol. How could you not be drawn in? Now if everyone was like that, tried to be more active in chat, at least the players we have would be happier. It might not keep a lot of players who log out immediately, but it would keep the ones who give us a chance.

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   One reason? Just one? Let me tink...I would like to point out I just said tink. And...well honestly, what have I really done? I mean, to be brutally honest, most of my attempts for the good have the game have failed. Basically, I'm a bleeding heart, but not smart enough to pull any of the ideas off lol. Yeah...there ya go =D

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   Godwolf...ahh...very old name. I love wolves. And I love the idea of immortal wolves. Just felt...natural. Power, strength, beauty...doesn't really represent me, but the ideals of what I believe a wolf to be. And I wanted to be the best wolf. So there you go. But at this point...it's nostalgia really. As long as I use the name, I remember all the things I've done with it. All the fun, friendships I've lost, people I loved. Like one giant memory in 7 letters. Hope you get it :P

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   One change. What's with the ones? Can't I get like...As many as I wish for any question? Honestly...Ya know what? Here’s my idea. And I KNOW a lot of you will dislike it. After one week, every chatter automatically gets op status. What does that mean? Basically, unless you lose the rights to be an op by abusing it, you are no less powerful than anyone else. It's the whole, guilty until proven innocent. I know, it's silly. But I dislike the idea of some chatters being "more" trustworthy and responsible than others. Just my penny.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   3. Because the owl said so. And who can forget the turtle? It just depends on things. Tongue size, personal like of tootsie pop. Lip and tongue piercings...Wind speed...humidity...Blah...Blah blah...bleh blah...

Now...can I say something? Probably not. But I just want to emphasize how much I care about you all. Even those of you who do not think I care about them. I do. If -anyone- ever needs someone to talk to, or needs to get something off their chest, I will be there. Always. And why say it here? Because it will probably get more then my average of 10 readers per post :P Thanks all for making my CB experience great. *hugs*

Miandrital:

1. What keeps you coming back to CB? And, how can we encourage others to play and stay? Provide an example for the latter question.

   CB is one of the coolest websites on the internet because it attracts a more mature group of gamers who all have similar interests. The discussions that take place on the forum cannot be found anywhere else on the internet. CB also has a huge amount of strategy, and the wiki is proof of that. Finally, CB is just downright fun to play :)

2. Give one reason you should NOT be considered for this honor.

   Because I am sure it won't mean as much to me as it would to others. And I probably don't deserve, but that is what we are all saying. Also, XingU still probably hates me...

3. Explain the meaning of your user name. Why did you choose it?

   Back in my early years with the internet I used stupid user names, and they were usually always taken on the websites I needed to register for. Then I sat down and tried to come up with an original name. Miandrital started off as a bad spelling of Neanderthal, and it seemed unique enough, so I stuck with it.

4. If you could make one change to CB, what would it be and why? Explain.

   Make the weapon damage upgrade costs exponential like they used to be. That way mages would still have a chance at the high ends.

5. How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop? Explain your answer.

   42!

The poll should be up soon.