I too am back, and I too and tired... (Please Read!)
 

(Please read all of it before posting)

Greeting fellow Graalians, if you don't know who I am then allow me to introduce myself as William (also known as Zurkiba on Graal). I started Graal around the late years of 1999 and I played on Classic of course. I later moved to G2k1 when it was released, well after a bit of refusal to pay for a server. I quickly fell in love with a server, which probably pulled you in also.

I believe myself and Tseng (also known as Lance) are friends, or atleast he is still my friend. We met when we were both a part of Dustari... later when I lead the Zormite Empire. We both have an affinity to Graal Bomy Moon (hence forth to be called G2k1), but now I fear that I have a greater affinity towards the server I love oh so dearly. I have come to a point though where I have recently discovered that G2k1 is lacking a manager.

When I posted this thread I started to receive dozens of PMs in Graal, Forum PMs, and AIM messages from various people, most I've never heard of or met before, telling me I should be the manager for G2k1. I personally have nothing against Lance... he has been a good friend, but I fear he lacks the essential skills to be a manager. Something needs to be done, and "it seems that the only person who can do anything about it is me"

For 15 months, little has been done for G2k1. I've only heard rumours of add-ons to farming, dolls, and Graaloween items. I've also only heard of the production of a single kingdom from Shadowless, whom has now quit. Something needs to be done.

For some strange reason, Lance is unable to keep his staff. When I inquired about why he has no staff I was told that they were all fired for being inactive. I accepted the story until recently when I started to actually ask those staff members. They all quit because of Tseng's management, or his lack there of. I tried doing to scout talent for G2k1, most refused to work under Tseng and the others were just rejected by Tseng with excuses such as 'We can not have two separate level styles mixing as one" when in fact Graal 2001 was made by more than one LAT.

Currently 2k1 has this staff base: Tseng as Manager, --Chris-- as FAQ, Gani, GFX, and Levels (I believe), Gryffon as Kingdoms Admin, Excalibur for Levels, and Galdor has access to G2k1 Dev (I am unsure if he is currently working for 2k1 as he put on the impression that he is not the other day). There is a problem though, Excalibur was never notified that he was working for G2k1, he did not have an assignment, and he was not working on a kingdom. How do you expect a pre-Christmas release if no one is working?

If we take a look on the history of G2k1 managers . . . We'll discover two prime examples of managers who did nothing. We have Kamuii who sat idly by, but he had the luxury of having a talented staff base, therefore G2k1 always saw change. Then came Jeff with the first revival of 2k1 . . . His somewhat inactive state, I fear the first revival failed because of Jeff. But during Jeff's management all of the staff quit because of poor management skill. Now we have Tseng, probably the worst of the three. With Tseng we find no search for staff, no use of valuable resources, inactive working, a tendency to be late (example: being two weeks late after 2k1's countdown release), And to top it all off, his staff has quit and refuse to work for him due to bad management skill. Do you detect a pattern? . . . I do and I believe it is safe to say that Tseng took the worst parts of both Jeff and Kamuii and somehow managed to fuse them together. If we look back we find that Kamuii stepped down and Jeff stepped down. We know that Jeff stepped down because of popular demand and the failed revival of G2k1. Why hasn't Tseng done the same? The players demand a new manager, yet there is no change; Tseng failed at a revival, yet there is no change. Why should we repeat the tragedy that was the first G2k1 revival? We have given Tseng the most slack out of all the managers and with that slack he does little.

"Graal 2001 is my home," Tseng stated this on March 26, 2003 . He also stated that he would not rest until G2k1 was finished and completed in its original glory. I have seen no such thing. I believe Tseng has abandoned his home. On March 26, 2003 , Tseng also stated, "You are guilty of many of the things Kamuii was fired for, and then some.” So here on November 21, 2004 I must say the same. Tseng you are guilty of many of the things Kamuii and Jeff were fired for, and then some. When people question if anything is being done on G2k1, various masks are made to end the conversation. We are led to believe things that misled us. Why was G2k1 released two weeks late even after the countdown said "Happy Graal2001?” . . . Simple, Stefan just wasn't there to reset the server. Has anything new been added? . . . Simple, We just added tomato farming. Items such as this are merely to mislead you into thinking actual work was happening.

So what's the purpose of this thread and these revelations to some? I am here, on behalf of the players, to request that Lance (also known as Tseng), the current manager, step down from his position of power so that the wonderful server that is Graal 2001 may be revived and flourish.

Some will ask if Tseng steps down or if he is removed . . . Who will take his place. I am here to officially state my desire to become Graal 2001's next manager. Overwhelming player support has motivated me to request such a position, and what I have now is just that – a simple desire. I sincerely believe I can revert Graal 2001 back to its former self. I also ask anyone else who believe they would be a good manager to step up.

What makes me qualified? . . . Every month I go to leadership seminars hosted by the United States Government which train me in various leadership skills, I have lead many kingdoms on Graal, I have held many leadership positions on Graal (in her servers and such), I am still active in the BSA which is an organization made to train leaders, I am currently a football captain for my team, and last but not least . . . I have Westpoint field admission scouts contacting me due to my leadership skills. I do all of this and I still have time for Graal and my agenda will not change, it has not changed for years. I also have a collection of talented staff members who are ready and willing to work for 2001 . . . I have submitted some of them only to discover they're not good enough to work for G2k1 when in fact they are top notched.

Tseng please reflect upon your own statements about bad management and please open your eyes to what's happening. Also take note that no one in this community thinks less of you in any way. All we wish is that you step down as manager and hand it off. We all think of you as a friend . . . And only friends would be this honest with you.

"I am stabbing you in the front, and not in the back, because you are a good friend". We just mustn't allow 2001 to fail again. Writing this is making my heart sink... because it hurts to do this to a friend, but 2001 means so much to me and countless others. I also request that this thread not be deleted, the players have a right to know. This thread breaks no rules and is encouraged by the Rules of Conduct. I am willing to help 2k1 but I am unable to do so right now.

Please post your comments and views about the matter. Tseng... I'm more interested in your input, you have my AIM screen name if you wish to contact me.Thank you for your time in reading my rather lengthy speech.

No offence, but I've lost faith in 2k1 ever comming back. Tseng's not doing much, so if you want to take a stab at it, I'm rooting for you.

It's times like these I wish I had dev skills.

Edit: If you need ANY non-dev help, ANY AT ALL, IM me right away. I want 2k1 back. Now. ^^

Zurk, we talked about this already. So you know my feelings.

To the rest of you, I want what is best for the community. I have talked to over a hundred people in TWO DAYS that said they would live on the server if it was finished. Some of them even offered to help.

Anyway, I think I need to talk to some people involved in this to get some things straightened out. :(

I take offense to that. >:[ I am sorry that I have a different approach to managerial activities, in that managers are supposed to direct people and keep things in line as opposed to throwing themselves headlong into the same work that their staff are doing. I did not sit "idly by", I just watched the development move forward according to how I wished it (and sometimes not so) and stepped in when needed.

Excuse me for liking to give my staff a lot of personal freedom and liberties to create how they wish. >_>

Notice the relationship between this speech and Tsengs, 15 months or so ago.

Intentional. Poet Justice and whatnot

Anything to get it going again. As it stands, it's just a waste of space on Cyberjouers' servers.

Yeah okay. Can you script, can you make levels?

That has about nothing to do with this. It would be useful, but hardly necessary. Tseng can script, but obviously nothing is happening because of it.

Why is it required that a MANAGER has to script or make levels? A manager needs one skill, leadership.

I somewhat agree with Raab, if a manager can do all of it himself why hire the other staff members?


It cuts back on the headaches a manager has, if he's not there to fix a broken quest for some reson, that's where the hired staff step in to help.


And when does jewel open shop?!?! (the girl that runs the mining tools shop?)

Like 8 or 10 or something around there. ;)

And I hope Tseng gets around here sometime soon. x-x

We'll just get more of the same. "I can't find any staff!", "I don't have time for this right now!", "I don't want to release it now because (x)!", etc.

That won't happen and if it does, Lance knows what would be comming. :(

I thought Tseng quit graal?
Anyway, goodluck to you, I know alot of people want G2k1 back, I would help if I could but I know next to nothing about the server =(

Yes, but a good manager has skills in other departments, usually those of which he is supervising employee's, or in this case, the staff of the server.

Keep that in mind, if all Zurki can do is point and say what to do, he won't get far.

I'm behind you, but I doubt anything spectacular shall happen.

You have to keep in mind managerial skills aren't the only thing that makes a server. I'm pretty sure if Graal Kingdoms was never released, whether or not Lance/Tseng was very active he would have a huge playerbase and motivated staff. He was given the server in a dead state. It's not like there were players pressuring all along for it to be revived, they all fluttered to GK while 2k1 needs them in order for it to work and all I see now is a handful rebelling months later after they themselves abondoned the server.

It takes players for this server to work, a consistant amount of around 60, not 5. You guys pressured for a release before. Why didn't you patriots support it while there was staff there working on the kingdoms until the release of them? Surely that isn't all to the server, I for one liked it for the economy.

I don't believe it's right that you suddenly put pressure on him when he decides to get something done. Give him time to make arrangements with Excalibur, it's only been a day you guys started being persistant. _When_ it is revived, I'm positive Lance would do a better job as manager than any of you ever can. I've worked with him first hand, I know what he's capable of.

Furthermore...I'm pretty sure there are far more competent server managers than you, Zurkiba.

Edit: One more thing, he has tried hiring and arranging meetings with staff occasionally. THEY did nothing. Not even show and when they did, not stick to plans. Many are these supposed "talented" supporters of yours. Despite of this a lot of kingdoms work was done, best quality you can get at that, along with a few little extras here and there. It's not like there was a large demand for the server until NOW and again, you are just a handful. I wouldn't doubt it would never return to it's original state and the classic tab players would neglect it despite of good content, staff, etc just because of how small and diversified the population is on a whole.

We abandoned it for the same reason we aren't on it right now; lack of development and poor organization.
No private servers have playercounts like that. Additionally, it helps when the server is actually playable.
It has been months. The fact we have to say anything at all is testament to the fact that he cannot run this server effectively. What he can do on his own isn't going to pull this server together.
Even if that were true (I don't know Zurkiba that well, to be honest), at least something would happen. Right now, nothing is happening.

Chris, it doesn't take players to fix the problem. Lance needs staff. He said he WOULD NOT let G2k1 die. He failed.

I know over 50 people that would flock to G2k1 if it was finished.


And why did we pressure him today? Why not? I don't think we should wait any longer. Thanks. And why does this have to wait for me? I'm sure he can find other people to help him make some scripts or graphics or something. ;o

Also, how can you say that there are more comptent Managers out there than Zurk when he has never had the chance? He has the qualifications to be a Manager.

Anyway, I don't want Lance to leave all that much. I want him to either get his act together or be a mature adult and step down. <3 Lance.

"We abandoned it for the same reason we aren't on it right now; lack of development and poor organization." - VT

Lack of development and poor organisation? Graal 2001 has only improved. The different between now and then was that it was public, having blatant advantages. Again, GK had a lot to do with it's death.

Edit: Worded badly. ^

"No private servers have playercounts like that. Additionally, it helps when the server is actually playable." - VT

It wouldn't have had to gone private if you supported it while it was public. Of course it isn't playable, it needs players to have an economy and events =D

"It has been months. The fact we have to say anything at all is testament to the fact that he cannot run this server effectively. What he can do on his own isn't going to pull this server together."

The previous LAT took months. Can't have more than one working on the same thing really unless their styles are similar. Quality + style inconsistancy = bad.

"Right now, nothing is happening." - VT

Don't expect something overnight. He is putting effort into it again, give him a chance.

tseng had his chance.

I will give a hand for graal2001. Just ask me and I will do so.

I looked at the posts here, and remembered a few posts in other places on the graal forums, And i have to guess a few folks left since there were not many events being held since event staff had to use their resources to start events.


If the right staff were located for that job (nobody that would later give tons of free gralats to a friend on the sly, that would merit getting fired) and were allowed such priviledges as a special gralat supply, that would fix the events team right up.


Allow the gralat storage to be open only at certain times, (every 2 hours maybe for 5 minutes?) so events can be held quite often, no big prizes, maybe 45~50 gralats a game and that would be a good ammount for anyone, and even folks in different time zones will have a chance for fun.



Also allow a max limit on how many gralats can be taken from storage in a day? So it's not out of control? I'm just having a few ideas that would keep the abuse of power to a minimum should you wind up with an angry staff with thoughts of revenge later.



Same with GP, this takes screenshots too, if a GP is out of control and jailing folks without a good excuse and you get proof, this would be good.

Emily, lets leave that stuff for later. Right now we are discussing the ability of Tseng/Lance.

Chris, stop the excuses please.

haha yey for 2k1

im in dog.


i havent gotten along with 2k1 staff in forever and zurkiba wont **** with me so him for manager

I see no difference in this situation then the situation with Jeff. 1+1 will ALWAYS equal 2... I dont care if you're some god, 1+1=2. Tseng pointed out obvious facts against Jeff. Now we're pointing out nearly, with extras, those same points against Tseng. So if Tseng believed Jeff should've stepped down for those points why doesn't Tseng himself step down?

I did not abadon the server... ever so often myself and Gryffon would discuss the kingdoms and generate ideas for them. I believe Tseng abandoned the server.

If G2k2 was never released then we wouldn't have to worry about a revival or anything now would we? But why is it that a server such as Classic can keep more players then 2k1? You cant blame G2k2 as the downfall of G2k1 anymore as it is an illrelevent situation.

You need staff before the players. How do you think everything happens? I dont see Graal 3D with a playerbase of 60 but development is going on it. Why is G2k1 exempt from the same laws?

The Staff... I do not believe they were as lazy as you say they were, as they refuse to go back to G2k1 and work for Tseng. That's just saying something =x

There has always been a huge demand for G2k1. We're just getting an urge to feast on it again. We've been pushing Tseng recently and apparently all he's been doing is playing other games. Has Excal even been contacted? Does Excal know his job? Have you once thought that you will need more than one LAT? That's probably why you are losing staff... because you have one person doing the workload.

If you'd read my speech I've only expressed a desire. I believe I would do a better, if not the best, job as manager on 2k1. You have no proof to back up your claim that I would be a bad manager. If you read my speech you'd also see that if people think they can do better than I can as a manager then to speak up for themself.

As for the managers need some development skills. This is all too wrong, it's shameful that Graal has gone into a state of mind that says the manager has the be the best developer. This is why so many servers fail, and others just fall into a horrible sense of quality. A manager needs one skill, Leadership. When you lack that one skill then everything falls apart. Why is it that I have a staff base willing to work for me and not Tseng? I'll let you draw your own answers.

Classic players would neglect G2k1? Hardly. The other day I did a survey on the classic servers. An overwhelming support for the return of 2k1.

You simply do not understand what you have here. You just dont understand. If you're wondering why we just started all of this? Tseng hasn't done anything for G2k1 at all. Please dont generate your lies to cover it up ethier :(

2k1 wasn't made by one person... and look at it now. Good levels and such.

And have you ever wondered why the previous LAT took months? Because there was only one and he probably wasn't motivated. I mean he quit because of the lack of management.

It came out a second time and died because there were no updates.



Players should not have to dedicate themselves to a server. It should keep them coming back.

When you have a game that does not hire level makers to work 8 hours a day, you can not expect a server to work that way. Unless Tseng wants to do that, one LAT will never get the work done.


He never should have stopped. That alone shows a lack of management skills and responsibility.

Maybe if it had a Manager that was willing to dedicate him or herself to the task of being a Manager and running the server, that would not be a problem.

I'm well aware of this. The whole theme of this thread is Tseng's lack of management ability.

45~50 gralats on g2k1 is a lot. Money used to be so difficult to obtain so a measily 20-25 gralats made you wealthy. Events were usually held for about 5-10, maybe 15 if the ET was feeling generous.

Yeah. The economy was one of the things that made 2k1 fun. It wasn't easy. The number of priviledges a staff should have is low on a server like this, because of how badly the rest of the server can suffer if someone gives themselves 200 gralat or something.

I think that when it is revived, a system should be devised to allow players to activate events on their own.

Come on guys, stop taking about irrevelant stuff. Stick to the topic becaues I want some change and some answers, just as much as everyone else.

Anyway just to add about the LAT; one level maker cannot create an entire kingdom by himself, in a reasonable amount of time that is. I belive atleast three to four people would be nice per kingdom.

Say like two - three people doing the hardest area, and one doing the easier area. (Easier being the area -- outside or inside -- with less work)

I see your point if two people are trying to edit the same level or something, but come on, you can't be serious. -_-

That'd be a good idea, but there'd also have to be automatic prizes. Even something that just has a list of presets and picks a random one, or something like that.

I would be willing to devote 6-7 hours a day on weekdays and about 18 hours a day on weekends devoted on levels.

A full time level editor :eek: ?
Anyhow, Stefan is planning on looking into this or something.

...Seriously? Wow. I'm just amazed!

See, you can make a difference

At least something's happening. :)

Oh really?

Now I'm interested. Time to come back to the boards again, I guess. Let's see how this plays out.

LOL. LOL. LOL. Right, because Shadowless and I really didn't care at all. Because Shadowless didn't waste so much of his time working on kingdom levels, because I didn't waste so much of my time making custom tilesets and many other graphics including the Horde. Shadowless and I also never tried to hold meetings ourselves, you're right. We never did anything. But you on the other hand, whoa did you do ever so much! You're superior skills to us, oh what were we thinking? :rolleyes: I haven't been annoyed with Graal for awhile, but this is it.

There are many staff members on 2K1 not getting anything done, and it is not because of Tseng. If 2K1 is ever revived, it will be because one person rebuilt it themselves. And that person is going to need to be able to script and make levels at a very high degree of skill. Zurkiba is not that person, and it is quite possible that such a person does not exist who is willing to become manager of 2K1.