15 replies to this topic

[Eileendover]

Fed up with poachers.

Sorry. There's no polite way to say it. I'm so sick of it on all my stars. I don't get it on NU. That's the only place. Maybe they just know it's hopeless or since I'm the low level in that studio, I'm not such a target

[CaptC]

On Nu1, they know you are already in the very best studio ever, so they likely don't bother you. Plus, the bosses in the top 10 or so have a more or less observed gentleman's agreement that poaching from each other is a bad thing.

 

On UK1, everyone is desperate for players. The only reason I haven't tried to poach you is that I can talk to you on NU1. 

 

I can't speak to the other servers directly, but I CAN talk about running a studio. A successful studio is ALWAYS recruiting. Because out of 30 players, someone is always leaving, or thinking about leaving, or has already gone zombie.  Try not to be too hard on bosses and producers that have little choice but to look for new players... and to some extent, take it as a compliment that they are asking YOU.

[Eileendover]

Well, there's no effective way built into the game to combat it. That's why I posted the topic, I guess just to have a dialog going. I've politely declined, asked people politely to stop. In some cases blocked a person or people. Even if you do that, you just end up getting it a couple days later from someone else in the same studio.

I thought maybe give people a way to flag offenders as poachers, but that would just get abused I'm sure. Maybe the best they could do is ad a happy where I'm at flag for people to fly on their own star.

[CaptC]

People generally do that in their descriptions. 

 

You CAN explicitly ban studio invites, and I have had to block a couple of persistent suitors myself.

[CaitlinCumgusher]

I feel for you Eileen, I have had quite a few try poaching over time, and generally I try to write back a nice message to explain why I am not interested, but sometimes you do get multiple from different members in the studio, and it becomes annoying and the way they are worded sometimes I really do not feel like responding to them at all, I look at it in a way if one of your studio declines the offer and chooses to stay then they have shown their loyalty there, and they are the members you need to have around, another thing I noticed at the really low levels people were not interested in getting me to join a studio, but once I advanced then I was inundated with offers, maybe studios should find the new players, work with them and nurture them, and give them somewhere to call home so to speak.

[Eileendover]

and the way they are worded sometimes I really do not feel like responding to them at all

 

 

Yes, I got one a few days ago in which the person felt the need to criticize the studio I was in and how it's members were approaching the current temple. I didn't respond to it (fortunately for them) but I had the thought that if I ever was going somewhere, it would not be to their studio

[CaptC]

Negative recruiters tend to reflect a negative culture. Positive recruiters get the same effect by listing the positives of their studio, rather than the negatives of the the other. And also send the implicit message that they are part of a supportive positive culture.

 

I understand the annoyance, but ... if multiple positive players approach you from the same studio, what does that really say? There are multiple passionate members in a positive culture, trying to improve their studio. 

 

Even better, you caught the eye of multiple people like that.  

 

If the recruiters are positive, take it purely as a compliment.

[CaptC]

another thing I noticed at the really low levels people were not interested in getting me to join a studio, but once I advanced then I was inundated with offers, maybe studios should find the new players, work with them and nurture them, and give them somewhere to call home so to speak.

 

This is tough to do, Caitlin. After the 10th 'enthusiastic new player' craters on you and goes zombie in their 3rd or 4th week, it strains your desire to take on really low levels for nurturing.

 

But it can be done. On NU1, we formed a really strong relationship with another studio. My studio is run by with competition in mind. The other studio is much more laid back, players looking for some chat and a few laughs. When we get an applicant who hasn't yet paid their dues, shown some longevity, we point them at our more laid back ally to gain a little seasoning. 

[Eileendover]

 

You CAN explicitly ban studio invites

 

I'm not finding this option in mailbox or settings. What am I missing?

[Analis]

I'm not finding this option in mailbox or settings. What am I missing?

 

When you go to your inbox:

>> Ignored >> Ignore studio invitations

[CaitlinCumgusher]

This is tough to do, Caitlin. After the 10th 'enthusiastic new player' craters on you and goes zombie in their 3rd or 4th week, it strains your desire to take on really low levels for nurturing.

 

But it can be done. On NU1, we formed a really strong relationship with another studio. My studio is run by with competition in mind. The other studio is much more laid back, players looking for some chat and a few laughs. When we get an applicant who hasn't yet paid their dues, shown some longevity, we point them at our more laid back ally to gain a little seasoning. 

 Yeah I can understand that frustration as well, but I try to give each person the same level of respect, it is sad when they just go zombie as you word it, and not say anything to the studio, but I will keep trying as eventually there will be that one who is dedicated, as for the studios, is that like a team having a feeder club?

[CaptC]

It is exactly like a feeder club, but we call it a developmental studio.  It is also populated by ex-competitive players from my studio, who due to life requirements or personal choice, want a more relaxed playstyle.

 

This arrangement is good for both studios -- as long as the second studio doesn't actually aspire to first place, too. 

 

My studio feeds the development studio both high level players and newbies, then. That means the veterans mix with new players, impart some knowledge, train them up to be competitive.

 

BTW, I didn't say anything about disrespecting new players. There is a difference between not having room, and being rude. Newbie applicants are treated courteously, and I take the time to explain how we do things and suggest they join our development studio. Some people are very happy to learn and grow this way. Others are almost insulted that I want them to prove themselves before they can join the first place studio. Those people most likely never get a second chance, but I am never rude. They might not fit with our current needs, and they are perhaps too impatient to succeed in a marathon, but they are still fellow humans and deserving of courtesy.

 

(At least, unless they get rude themselves, first. That has happened, too. Rude people are permanently blacklisted. It takes a remarkably insensitive person to think it will work out well if they can bully their way into a studio. SMDH. They can be someone else's problem, I don't want their drama.)

[CaitlinCumgusher]

I was not saying being rude, maybe I worded it wrong, what I try and do is just give each new player a chance and I put in some effort with them and if they go zombie or leave then so be it, but I understand how your development studio works now, my studio is not big or strong yet to be able to implement that, but it is a great idea, as for rude players yeah I would boot them pretty quick no matter what level they are, no point in having one person bring everyone else down

[TrekkieGal]

As of late I have picked up a handful of offers, seeing I have my own studio seemed not to matter.  I already invested X amount of Cash, and Diamonds into it, and the only 2 members are me, and myself.  I have tried recruiting, but only member that have no studio.  As it is, I will keep my studio, and doubt I will do anymore recruiting.

[Jason777]

If any of my members of my studio on UK2 have done that, I'm sorry for that. Always if I ask someone, I just am polite in asking and if they answer, that's best, I respect their choice then (but it does can happen I forgot I tried them and I get the same answer back though and/or they are rude).

 

Recruiting can be difficult and surely when noone wants to move even if the studio is 100 ranks lower ranked xD

[BigBadWolf]

I remember having a description

bbe players be like, no thanks i love my studio - it only has 3 members who haven't been on since april last year and no expansions but its great here so thanks for the invite but im really happy where i am..

 

..

recruitment is the hardest part of maintaining an active studio.

its also a necessary evil if you plan on maintaining a competitive studio.

 

maybe theres a better way to manage this...???

 

 

perhaps there could be a half-yearly draft where players can nominate if they wish to be part of the draft or remain in the studio they are in, studios could list players they dont want to the draft as well

Existing studios could get a certain number of picks in the draft, perhaps even trade future picks as part of player trade deals...

 

now that would mix it up a bit!

we might all end up thinking we were playing football though