State of the NAFtion

[Darkson]

Thank you for contributing, and for tempering it from some of the language on the NAF forum (but really, bite me?).

Probably because he knows that, unlike the NAF forum, this one actually get's moderated, but hey, they're volunteers, so we shouldn't expect that - oh, wait...

So there's another one to add to the list of "what should the NAF do" - get some forum moderators that actually give a damn.

[sann0638]

Can we have an apostrophe moderator?

[Gaixo]

I'm with Pako as well, particularly on the lack of communication from the NAF leadership. I understand that the community can't be directly involved in every decision, one would think that some sort of statement could be made when there is such obvious anxiety over the future of the organization. It's nice that sann created this thread, but it would be a lot more meaningful were there some sort of feedback from those at the top.

[phil78]

. It's nice that sann created this thread, but it would be a lot more meaningful were there some sort of feedback from those at the top.

It would be useful if we could get some "official" feedback on how the staff see the role of the NAF.

Sadly the more I think about it the less reason I see to join up again.
No block dice and my rankings are always going to float around 150 whatever happens (and let's not consider the pointlessness of any coachranking system) so it's not really worth paying to have that recorded on the web.

[sann0638]

No block dice and my rankings are always going to float around 150 whatever happens (and let's not consider the pointlessness of any coachranking system) so it's not really worth paying to have that recorded on the web.

And interestingly, it's been pointed out elsewhere that once you have been a member your ranking gets updated anyway! But there have been good reasons for being a member pointed out in this thread, which is kind of what the thread is for.

[Winged_Human]

My Hope is that someone (everyone) from the NAF organization is reading this thread and that if anything, the one thing they take away from it is this:

People WANT to be involved in the NAF. They WANT to pay the membership fee for that involvement. The problem that everyone is trying to say is that the VALUE in paying for that membership isn't there.

We all understand that the NAF are volunteers, but those volunteers DID commit to this organization by taking the responsibility of the roles that they WANTED to fill. They weren't forced. I'm sure that if the NAF choose to do an "All call" for some key roles that could implement some of the changes that have been suggested you'd hear less of "this isn't worth it" to "Man, things are looking up, I'm glad that I renewed."

Just my .02

[sann0638]

People WANT to be involved in the NAF. They WANT to pay the membership fee for that involvement. The problem that everyone is trying to say is that the VALUE in paying for that membership isn't there.

Any time anyone wants to contribute to the newsletter, my door is open...

Or make sure your league is listed on the NAF site?

[Manuel]

+ a lot to Pako's statements.

By the way, could someone get in touch with one of the NAF comitee and tell them to come here and say something? Or they could post it in their forum. Anyway, it would help knowing their opinion about all of this.

[Long_Bomb]

I just want to say that I appreciate what the NAF guys do and I would not be willing to offer the to give up my time in the same way they do. If you think you know someone who would do everything the current committee do and more then start campaigning for them for the next election.

[Digger Goreman]

+ a lot to Pako's statement.

+∞

[sann0638]

Your 8's fallen over

[robsoma]

As long as those moderators aren't as argumentative as those found on some forums

[Geggster]

Some really scathing comments aimed at the NAF committee here and on the NAF forum.

Pako is welcome to his opinion, although surely he could express it with a touch less hostility. Same goes for MrHannah.

The website could indeed be improved and this has been the case for some time. I don't know when you can expect this. Not much of an update, I know, but the committee is aware that the website needs at least an overhaul and that the membership wants it.

Warhammer World will no longer allow non-core games to take over the hall and Bugman's. GW are not trying to upset non-core fans - they just more room for their core games. Whilst I didn't like the decision, it doesn't bother me for a corporate to act in what they believe is their best interests and anyone that went to the NAFC two weekends ago may have been pleased that GW forced our hands. This has been public knowledge for some time.

Losing blocking dice this year was disappointing - we've had to annually renew our deal and we've nearly lost the dice on a couple of occasions before, until Lycos oiled some GW wheels (believe this if you will, I imagine some will not). This time there was a real barrier - Legal/Licensing would not budge. I can't make my mind up if it's because they just got fed up with the annual renewal trouble (we tried to make it easy for them and we tried multiple angles) or because maybe, just maybe, they are producing them (or slightly different ones) themselves because they are about to rerelease the game. I really don't know and I have no inside knowledge but it could mean that they we never had a chance.

Black dice, gold inlay, d6s, d8 and d16 - to match the very first dice the NAF "created" were a unanimous committee decision. Blocking dice were not on the agenda. Could we "do" blocking dice? Well I guess we could, but we've been told that it would kill off any remaining relationship with GW. Now some say that would be no problem at all because "we aren't getting anything any more, so screw 'em".

There is a view that if we don't aggravate GW, perhaps we will still be in a position to benefit from any change of heart. Well I wonder how likely that really is but I think there's a bigger issue. GW have maintained the dice agreement for ten years. Ten years that have been very good for the members and the organisation. Do people think that as soon as they exercise their right not to provide us dice from their IP, we should immediately act against them? I don't hold to that theory - although I appreciate I might be in the minority. I recall Digger Goreman was very forthright in extolling our neutered balls and GW's puckered purse.

Future years renewal gift could be different coloured dice, perhaps miniatures, perhaps some other form of BB memento - the committee haven't made progress on this just yet. We've only JUST started the new dice year on June 1st as it is and a lot can change in the next 6 months.

I haven't - and will not - counter every criticism levied at the NAF and myself in the last few days. Some of the criticism can indeed be justified, but some of the criticism lacks objectivity and some of it is just odd ("shameless lack of precision on the accounts"?)'. No doubt the NAF will be further lambasted for not "being open" or requiring outright abuse to "open up a little".

But just a point of order, if someone wants answers, then why don't they actually ask the person that might have the answers? That's what I would do. If I actually wanted answers. And yes, it does work.

[Darkson]

As long as those moderators aren't as argumentative as those found on some forums

Argumentative is fine, as long you don't get insulting with it (or just insulting, as MrHannah did).


Paul, thanks for the response.

[Pipey]

To add to Geggster's comments...

Opinions and constructive suggestions always welcome. In particular the comments re tournament info and tournament support are of interest to myself.

This is of course something of a crossroads for the NAF now the goalposts have been moved as regards the dice. Rest assured we are discussing this, and the feelings expressed on the NAF site and here will certainly be taken into consideration. As Geggster says, it's hard to respond to everything. But rest assured we will be communicating with the membership as we go forward.