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State of the Jedi Academy Address -doobie - Nov 09 06:52pm |
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::adjusts microphone and waits for rousing standing ovation to settle::
Ladies and gentleman of the Jedi Academy, it is I, your leader, massadoobie, here to present to you the state of the Academy. Well, the last couple days have been rather interesting, to say the least. Going back to when L-Rod left, there's been a lot of stuff going on, some of it good, some of it bad. On the good side we've had a few promotions in the trainers ranks (Zero to Mentor, Avalon to Council), cHoSeN-oNe becoming Supreme Chancellor (although the dark side clouds his future...  , we've launched our learner and journeyman trials (and finally gotten the site updated to match), we've added another Huxley server, and we've taught a lot of good people civility and skill.
On the bad side, there have been entirely too many arguments lately. Students fighting with students, students fighting with trainers, trainers fighting with trainers, all sorts of stupid petty crap. It's time to put a stop to all of this. From now on, if any JACs or JATs see you arguing without even trying to set your egos or whatever aside to settle the argument, you will receive a warning. Yes, that seems strict considering you only get two warnings, but to be honest, all this fighting is over stupid stuff. Also, the Council and the Trainers will be having a meeting tomorrow to discuss, amongst other things, trainer conduct. I know this is a big concern for a lot of you, and it is for us as well. Furthermore (don't you love those connecting words you learned in English class?), we're in the process of analyzing the ranking structure to see if we can improve things. Although sometimes it may not seem like it, we do read almost all of the comments made on newsposts and sent to us via email, and there have been a lot of good ideas tossed about. Our job now is to take those ideas, mold them so that they can apply best to the JA, and implement them (quickly). A few things for everyone to look out for. We're going to be having new JATs very soon. Six JATs just isn't enough. We're also going to be doing the aforementioned ranking structure changes... more details on that when we actually have them. Knight trials will be coming soon as well (although remember that you have to be recommended by a JAC or JAT to receive a knight trial). Someday, eventually, hopefully, Derelict Crusader will finish the Jedi Academy Map, version 2.0. To finish this off, I'd like to make a plea to all of you. One of the main objectives when we started the Academy was to have a place where maturity and respect would reign above all else. For the most part I feel as though we've acheived this objective. I have been truly impressed by the maturity level, civility, and respect a majority of our members show towards one another. However of late that has been missing a bit. What I would like is for every member of the Academy, from the Council on down through to the newest Initiate, to take a look at themselves and how they treat the other members. If you see yourself treating others without the respect that they deserve as people (even if you don't personally respect them), then you have two choices. One, you can (and I recommend this) try and fix your attitude towards others and see if you can turn the other cheek and treat everyone with respect. Or two... You can leave the Academy. It's that simple. To be honest, we don't want you here if you're going to be rude, disruptive, ego-driven, or disrespectful to ANYONE (and that includes everyone, including our favorite Scot JumpinJedi... I point out his name only because he seems to be a lightning rod for trouble... some of it deserved, some of it not. But he's a prime example of someone who has turned the other cheek (most of the time) and whom a lot of others must turn the other cheek about). Along the same lines, I must make an apology to anyone I offended with my post about the Knights Council earlier. Although I didn't mean it negatively when I said some people wanted power they didn't deserve, I can see how people could misconstrue that as being a slap in the face. So to those people, I'm sorry. Members of the Academy, we have a great thing going here. Lets try to keep it that way. Feel free, as always, to email the Council email account (fixtheja@hotmail.com) if you need anything. Also, feel free to leave us comments on this news post. See you on the servers! ::walks out quickly before anyone wakes up from trying to read this long post:: |
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Bubu - Hubbub 
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so i guess this thread finally died out...  _______________ make install -not war |
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Bubu - Hubbub 
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the key word there is SABER ffa.. yes, SABER! not guns! _______________ make install -not war |
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Aayla Secura - Ex-Student 
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Yes, FFA in the main hall is fine, as long as everyone there agrees and wants to fiddle around. Also, the door to the outside also need not be mined, much less the corridor leading to that door. |
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Bubu - Hubbub
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yeah yesterday we had a major saber FFA right in the main hall of the academy.. there were quite a few people, even eclipse (a JAT) and aayla secura (who just became a JAT). everyone went nuts and we killed each other like mad men.. but we all agreed upon it and it was fun like hell.. and then, out of nowhere, SOMEONE (you know who you are) starts shooting big fat rockets at the big pack of people.. ok, we all say stop. he does. we continue fighting. a couple of minutes later, same guy comes back with other weapons and blows us all to oblivion. we told him to stop several times and he claimed that since he was standing outside the door shooting, he was not violating any rule.. now this is the kinda stuff that really pisses me off.. all these smart asses out there who think they are so clever, you don't deserve to be in here!
so in light of this, i wanna say that the corridor leading outside, between the two big doors, is considered inside! and also, the "no guns inside" rule, should be changed to "no shooting people who are inside" or something like that... i really don't wanna spend the rest of my time in the academy floating in bacta fluid! _______________ make install -not war |
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Kueller - Student 
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Jippie, we are just one big fam. Occasionaly something goes wrong but we all correct it. Yesterday I was at the server and someone was anoying. Everybody said something about it. THAT IS THE JA SPIRIT. So I think the only thing we have to do is have fun and as evrybody says watch ourselves. _______________ Personal sleepness-nights-supporter of Virtue. Owner of the 1000th comment of Daidalus and 1943th comment of Gradius! Owner of the 300th comment of Carda! -Taught Gradius all his laming skills 
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Bubu - Hubbub
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woohooo!! i got the 60th comment!
this thread is blooming! so much stuff coming out in here.. as doobie said: Exxxxx-cellent... _______________ make install -not war |
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DJ Sith - Jedi Council 
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Doobie if you do that I've got some great olllld logs i can post from back in the JS999 days.. like when L-Rod 1st came to the academy and the server was ffa_bespin, and I couldn't get force powers right on the server. _______________ My car is made of Nerf. |
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doobie - Jedi Council 
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::twiddles fingers like Mr. Burns::
Exxxxx-cellent These comments are exactly what I hoped for when I wrote my speech, and are the most encouraging things I've ever read on this site. I have to be honest, sometimes it gets to the point (and I think DJ will agree) that this whole thing just doesn't seem worth it... but then I remember all the cool cats (and kittens) I've met here, and I'm grateful that I replied to that random post on Lucasforum looking for help starting some thing called the Jedi Academy. Speaking of which, maybe someday I'll post my original design for the site (and you'll see why i'm simply the brains behind this monster, and DJ is all the technical skill... and occasional brains) _______________ -Academy Leader/Dictator/Defeater of DJ Sith and JACen Solo in the JAK+ Tournament -I do think it (the JA) will help convert dozens, maybe hundreds, to the dork nation... --me |
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Ulic Belouve - Student 
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Nice quotes, JavaGuy.
I recently finished my own little post (on my profile page if you wish to read), and here's the end of it, to quote the Great Ulic Belouve (or Peon-Who-Thinks-He's-Great Ulic Belouve, same person) >>> Point is: if you apply yourself, you'll get where you want, whether that just be the ranks in the Academy, or anything in life. One might hate discipline, but when one disciplines themselves, they truly are a Force to be reckoned with, as close to a Jedi as one can be. I think this is a valid solution to the immaturity issues we are having. _______________ Jedi do not fight for peace. That's only a slogan, and is as misleading as slogans always are. Jedi fight for civilization, because only civilization creates peace. |
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JAcen LW Solo - Retired 
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As I keep reading the replys generated by this post, one thought comes to my mind.
That the incidents ocurred a few days ago that originated this State of the Academy Adress have resulted on the most positive movement from Students and Leaders that I ever witnessed since I joined the Academy. Not only are we finally debating our problems as a hole, but we are also taking some time to know eachother. I've learned more abaut you guys in this post then on weeks of playing at the servers. I feel that are growing as a comunity by the day, and I dont know abaut you but I am damn proud of being part of it. - Jace PS: I don't think that this thread is going to end ever. _______________ "Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I shall fear no evil .For I am the baddest mofo in the valley" |
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JavaGuy - Student 
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Kueller writes:
"Well, if I look in this list of people who commented i suddenly see that the JA is going to stay good for a long time." That's a good point, and an encouraging one. Aeth S'kray writes: "don't watch others... watch YOURSELF!" This brings to my mind two of my favorite sayings: "Don't just MEET the standard. SET the standard!"--Fred Holden "Character is what you do when no one is looking"--I don't know who said that one. Having read everyone's thoughts on the undercover-JAT idea, I'm no longer sure it's that great an idea, but I still think it might be worth a try. We'll never know how well it works otherwise. Come to think of it, even if it DOES work, it is quite possible nobody other than the JATs will know it. I liked Ulic Belouve's comment on the subject--maybe, rather than being like undercover cops, a JAT could just ocassionally "lurk" for fun and to get an idea of how people behave when they have only their consciences to monitor them. Heck, for all I know maybe they've been doing that for months. I have my screenshot key bound and have tried holding it down as I fall. The only thing I get is a whole lot of screen shots. Do I need to tap the key furiously, rather than simply hold it down? I'll try that as soon as I'm done writing this and report on my results. Or maybe take screenshots AND download porn. If my wife walks in I'll just explain that I'm doing a very important experiment. I totally agree with what Hux wrote about the role-playing aspect of JA. Yes, I am 33 years old, and Star Wars still does as much for me as it did when it came out in 1977 and I, eight years old, watched it on the big screen, jaw hanging open. Since then, some of the things that appealed to me when I was eight are no longer that exciting, but there are other things about it that are appealing to me now but beyond the mindset of an eight year-old. I was never a Quake person, never liked Doom. The first first-person shooter that I really got into was Half Life. All the other Quake Engine games were fascinating to me from a technical standpoint but did little for me as a gamer. Then along came Jedi Outcast and rekindled my love of Star Wars. I absolutely love the idea that I can become completely immersed in this amazing 3D environment and play the part of a Wookie in training to be a Jedi, complete with Force powers. _______________ My signature is only one line. You're welcome. |
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Ulic Belouve - Student 
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Hmmm...
I think the undercover JATs sounds like a decent idea, but needs to be a balance. Like in the real world, I don't have a cop looking over my shoulder. But...a lot of RL crimes get foiled because of an off-duty cop. So maybe, if a JAT says, "I'm just gonna play under this different name, keep myself secret, and just have fun (repeat: JUST HAVE FUN, no hunting)" then maybe things would shape up. I also think that the undercover JAT would serve a different purpose, and to snap into honest mode: JATs can be jerks like the rest of us. So, a JAT does his normal stuff under a fake name, like "JuniorJedi914". We can say "Hey Junior, you really shouldn't do that, knock it off." MAinly, JATs can do annoying stuff, but we just don't tell them, because they're JATs, and one doesn't want to tick them off. So an advantage there. So undercover JATs: not really. Having JATs play under aliases: sounds OK. Doing this purely to police: no. An off-duty cop does not look for crime, but if they see it, they can remedy it. So, I semi-petition "off-duty JATs". Also, I like the deterrence idea. Wouldn't make one paranoid, but being able to become a National Security Analyst in about 1 year, and already studying Classified stuff, I can say that deterrence goes a long way. But, c'mon, police yourselves. We are playing Jedi, so one should grow up a bit. And for the advancements, I have made comments and am in full support that as one advances, it is nore about maturity than about skill. Like I said, I fear an immature Knight more than the MLA on crack. (nothing against Jacen, but that would be scary...) So yes, place more maturity into the advancements. I also suggested that the Knights have a council be more "watchers" in the sence that they just "observe" what is going on. Then they can say: JuniorJedi914 IS ready to be a knight in all skill, but he was really being a jerk the past week by doing [blah], so maybe someone should let him know that if he fixed the prob, he'll get a trial. Well, again, I am getting long...so to still refuse an award, I hereby subtract 150 points from my word score. KEEP YOUR TROPHY! _______________ Jedi do not fight for peace. That's only a slogan, and is as misleading as slogans always are. Jedi fight for civilization, because only civilization creates peace. |
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vudusmith - Ex-Student 
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I must lead a charmed life, because I have yet to run into any problems at the Academy.
(besides getting my butt kicked regularly) So just find me online and you will find happiness...follow the vudu way, the way of the perpetual ingrate...aaahhh I mean initiate, like the idiot zen cook in the monastary, knowledge may eventually leak in or out of my fractured skull...ignorance is bliss and remember,knowledge is not wisdom or is it only the wise shall inherit my mirth... |
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Icco - Student 
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well i think huxley is right but i think the reason everyo one is gone is because of school (at least for me) im still in highschool and have essays papers and tests all of the time i can barley get on during the week ends because of hwso when the sumer comes more people will be on but on holidays im suprised that barley anyone is on... where are you guys? _______________ "this is Icco. Icco is old. Icco is lost. Icco is cool, but Icco doesn't know what the meaning of 'macrophageal sex'." - Vaughn /Icco |
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Aeth S'kray - Retired 
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1) The "undercover JATs/Guardiens" would maybe help... but as I said, the guys would have to THINK first. and.. well... would you like to be watched all the time? it's not only watched, they would be just WAITING for someone to break the rules. and would play less as their REAL names, so everyone would complain about no JATs playing
2) don't like having a new rank. we're an academy, not a commusit country where everything what you do is watched by state 3)no offense for anyone living in a communsit country, just the way I see it. correct me if i'm wrong 4)don't watch others... watch YOURSELF! if everybody would watch himself, noone had a problem and Java: i understand you now. if i'm honest i might be a little bit a "health-nazi" too. (sorry tiamat i will try to stop it now, you convinced me _______________ Aeth S'kray *June 2002 +September 2003 |
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Kueller - Student 
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Well, if I look in this list of people who commented i suddenly see that the JA is going to stay good for a long time. I agree that there must come some action to set the temporary problem from now to a halt. If this problem is settled is see a bright future in the force. JO is getting old, there are fewer gamers avery day. Conclusion: all people who really give their heart at the academy stay and the 2% stupid **** just go because the other people play on a basis of respect. One more time for the one's on prozac, LOOK AT THE COMMENTS, and there will be a Han Solo grin on your face for at least a hour.
By the way, I say that the oldbie group is a very firm basis for al the regulars with respect and fun . _______________ Personal sleepness-nights-supporter of Virtue. Owner of the 1000th comment of Daidalus and 1943th comment of Gradius! Owner of the 300th comment of Carda! -Taught Gradius all his laming skills
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Bubu - Hubbub
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first of all, javaguy, it doesn't matter if you got cable.. take a screenshot and it will lag for a moment, a long enough moment to confuse the game and forget that you fell into the spikes...
just bind the command, i forget what it is, to a key and press it just before you hit the spikes. second of all, we're all beating length records here by presenting our opinions and it's all very nice. However, i would like to know, and i'm sure i'm not the only one, what you people up there are really going to do about this, which ideas you are going to consider.. coz if you just ingore us then all we are doing here is just getting our fingers sore, which is kind of a waste in my opinion... _______________ make install -not war |
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DJ Sith - Jedi Council 
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Hux: actually we started as a kind of video game school and it grew to this. Why? Because the JACs are a bunch of nerds and think it's fun.
Still.. our first priority is to teach people how to play the video game "Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast". The Jedi atmosphere and all the movie tie ins and such come second (a very close second. ) _______________ My car is made of Nerf. |
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Huxley - Retired 
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Ok, I just started here at the Academy 2 months ago. I have seen quite a strange change going on. I'm sure there's a lot of reasons that things change, life is life and that is what happens. However, I do think that people need to decide what their dedication is to this game and the whole experience that Lucasarts has created.
The ability this academy gives is to move the game to a new level. It creates a very RPG type of setup. With new goals and levels to reach (like the different rankings). This is great! It really adds the realistic flavor of being a jedi and training at the Jedi Academy. Now as cheesy as this sounds, this is what is supposed to draw people to the Academy, but suddenly its tearing it apart. In order to create the true essance of the Jedi Academy, orders and rules and regulations must be in place. There must be a council and ranks and rules and manners. For the most part, everyone has been extremely nice to me (whethere donating 2 servers is the reason, or I'm a nice guy I dont know). So I haven't been directly involved in any incidents that I'm aware of (except that rendevous with that droid and the Bacta canister but that only happens if I'm in "that" mood...) but I see alot of incidents in the temple, and I just think that people need to figure out how they want to play this game. Do you want to be in character and be a member of a Jedi Academy? or do you just want to play the game? I think it shouldn't be more complex than that. The Academy lets anyone join, but you have to WANT to be a part of it to enjoy it. If you dont want to, then dont half-participate with the classes and the trials, if you dont want to follow the rules. And not SOME of the rules, all of them. Its the limits defined by the game enviroment, in this case the JA that makes the game. The Academy is a new way to play the game, if you don't like the way its played, then don't play 
I've been a huge server hag since I started here, and I barely see the council members or even most the regulars on much. I come on only at night, and I understand people play at different times, but I watch the live php pages from work (cause I'm lame like that) and there isn't many regulars on anymore. Especially in the last few weeks. I'm worried that everyone is forgetting why they joined in the first place: Cause it sounded like fun to train as a Jedi at a "Jedi Academy" (Atleast I hope that's why everyone joined, and not to find Star Wars girls to hookup with, like me.) So I leave you with a thought: If you want to be a member of the Jedi Academy, then obey your thirst, and drink Sprite and do what a JEDI would do. (rather than doing what a kid playing a video game on a server who is bored, would do) And I do mean that in all seriousness. So just remember, we are all Star Wars geeks here, and this is just how to do it to the extreme so enjoy it! -Padawan Huxley |
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Icco - Student
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have you ever sat around and read every single oppinion in the akademy ... well i was bored because i was waiting for some stuff to dl and well i read everyone to date !!!!
man i have too much free time. ;-) _______________ "this is Icco. Icco is old. Icco is lost. Icco is cool, but Icco doesn't know what the meaning of 'macrophageal sex'." - Vaughn /Icco |
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Aayla Secura - Ex-Student
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LOL @ Java Guy.....
I thought DJ was the one downloading porn, thus the lag spikes.... Seriously! Three things: 1. Respect your fellow students. 2. Respect the Trainers, Council, and Staff 3. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. |
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JAcen LW Solo - Retired
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Ok heres my two cents on this subject.
I'll try to make it short for a change. There is no problem with the actual rank system. I think the only thing that needs some work is the trials: 1st - Do the trials as if they were classes, schedulle them and have students enroll on them. That should end all the nagging we've been having latelly. 2nd - Keep the Learner trial a technicall one, based on skill.The Journeyman trial looks good but it laks an etic component. It is here that character should strat to count. The Knight trial should be 90 % abaut character and 10 % abaut skill. 3rd - No need for undercover JAT's. We're not running the Gestapo in here. The only problem with the actual JAT's is that there are too few of them. JAK's should be able to keep classes too, a bit like replacement teachers. That should end all the "damn my JAT canceled todays class" naggin. 4th - Considering my fellow students beavure the last few weeks I must say that I'm very disapointed. But I also would like to point out that the average age of students has droped a lot. So I have said it once and I will say it again, people can be tought and guided, 90 % of these troublemakers just need to be educaded and the other 10 %, well, can be banned. But this education and guidence must be transmited not only by JAC's and JAT's but also by other students. 5th Guys, this is a game, and the purpuse of any game is to have fun. So as The MLA say's "The only thing better than JA is a Chocolate Jelly Donnut", so keep it clean and keep it fun. -Jace _______________ "Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I shall fear no evil .For I am the baddest mofo in the valley" |
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JavaGuy - Student
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But I have cable modem!
Maybe if I download enough porn archives simultaneously... _______________ My signature is only one line. You're welcome. |
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JAcen LW Solo - Retired
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JavaGuy, the keyword is lag. If you generate the right amaunt of lag before hitting the ground you wont die.
Thats why you get all sort of explanations for it. Personaly I just take a screenshot just before hiting the spikes. That usually does the trick. -Jace _______________ "Though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I shall fear no evil .For I am the baddest mofo in the valley" |
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JavaGuy - Student
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I seriously doubt that anyone with enough brains to be a JAT would get upset about somebody getting blasted by stray fire from a free-for-all in the courtyard. I also like to think that a "lurking" JAT would not waste his and the Council's time reporting trivial technical violations, especially if the violator stops when asked to stop.
I liked the comment about the Academy being a high-tech chat room. I was saying something similar to my wife a couple weeks ago. It's like IRC, only there's this huge, realistic-looking three-dimensional environment. Rather the typing "join" and a room name, you actually _walk_ down the hall to the room you want. Way cool. I think the Academy needs a lounge, and maybe a topless bar (and I don't mean a bar without a roof). I'll never go back to text-only chat again. Maybe JK3 will even have integrated voice-over-IP. That would rule. Okay, I have to ask this: How do you jump into the spikes without dying? I've been told by using an /am-command after jumping. I've been told by holding down the screenshot key while falling. I've been told all kinds of things but never been able to get any of them to work. _______________ My signature is only one line. You're welcome. |
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