Gustav

This was allowed for first-gens prior to their first WJC back in S66 and talked about as if it were still a thing (although I'm unaware of other cases) later on. It still could be a thing that just hasn't come up as an issue in its specific WJC-related context. I'm for this in cases where there's an actual reason, like the previous "international teams are too crowded and new players aren't getting chances" example or something real-world popping up that makes someone's chosen nation strongly conflict with their values. I agree with this needing to be finalized before the start of international play for that player in all but the most extreme cases of the latter (which I'd imagine would be best solved in private with a message to the blues anyway). I'm not necessarily a fan of it "just because" and I can see some stupid Greenland-type shenanigans coming out of this. Imagine a VHLM GM telling their players that it would be really fun to get on the same team or something.

What's up dude! I'll never forget an old signing of mine I remember draft profiles and I'd certainly welcome some promo for the best of the leagues this website has to offer. I've had my own level of success with writing a series as well and I'm wishing you the best should you decide to pick that back up. Scouting is always a wonderful go-to for articles, and so is anything that lets you look at every team briefly and say something about them. Best player on every team, best trade idea for every team, every team's hottest prospect, whatever you'd like. I'm also a huge fan of league history--there's an endless supply of stuff on our forum that most people here weren't here to experience. Way back in the day @Matt_O was super dedicated to his Rewind series with VSN and it was great. You don't really need ideas to write articles, though. I used to do a graphic when I couldn't think of anything; these days I fall back on a series installment most of the time and cover individual topics when they're of interest. Glad to see you back!

It's a seasonal occurrence that @Spartan and I have to hire someone new. As much as as we love our new GMs, the job is demanding, activity naturally shifts over time over circumstances that often aren't foreseen, and the VHLM is always hurt by the perception that VHL jobs are "better" or more desirable. That almost forces us to love our new GMs, because watching some of our best leave us every couple months leaves us with the need to go out and get some more of the best. One might think that, because that sweet VHL job is more desirable, there's more to take care of. That's not the case at all. Of course, there are things that mean that a VHL GM needs to have been around the league for long enough to understand very well how it works. Trade talks are more involved, long-term strategy is actually a thing, and there is a bit of an unfortunate perceived need to be among the league's elite that can sway players to want to play for one GM or another. But VHLM GMing carries challenges of its own. There's a need to be online a lot to keep up with new players, the same questions need to be answered over and over, it's a lot more risky in that some new people aren't mature enough to stick around without blowing up or are just here to spam your server, and it's very frustrating for a GM that's invested in their players' success when someone new and promising decides they'd rather not be the latter. It might even take different sorts of people to do well in different places. I'm much more "interpersonal and caring" than I am "logical and calculated", and let's just say I was a very good VHLM GM and leave it at that. Since there's a lot of work, but not in the most obvious ways, there are lots of things I would say to someone GMing for the first time, and there are also lots of things I would say to someone who hasn't yet gotten the chance. Let's talk about both. If you're new to GMing (hi @JCarson, @Dadam30, @LucyXpher, and @Nathan_8! I can't believe it's the first time for all of you): SCOUT THE INCOMING DRAFT CLASSES. People today like to complain about not feeling properly valued if they're not scouted. Respectfully, they can pound sand as far as most of this point goes. You should scout recreates as well, for sure, but scouting first-gens is great for getting them involved and it can also tell you so much about the type of player you're getting and whose company you'll get to enjoy (rather than "have to tolerate") while they play for you. You should ask just a few questions that are relevant to the player experience (I'm still not over getting a 3-page Google Form when I was in the PBE with questions including, and I quote, "Favorite Cheez-It?"). Question lists are acceptable when sent to first-timers, but outright disrespectful to some experienced members who you should know already--go ahead and write up a list for someone who's never been here, but I think it's better in either case to just reach out and try to have a conversation. Nice answers that require thought and are written in complete sentences are a HUGE green flag and can get you massive steals if others haven't put in the same work. Make friends with other GMs. VHLM GM chat can be a very cool place and you want to be right at the front of someone's mind if they're searching for a solid trade partner. They'll also want you to like them for those same reasons and will act accordingly. You will meet people you don't like. You may not get along with every GM, and you certainly won't love every single player that comes into your server. Treat those who aren't outright problems with respect, and feel free to speak up to us if you've got any that are. Every season will feel the same and that's OK. Something I wasn't expecting, and something I started to be dissatisfied with by the time my fourth season rolled around, was that the same exact things always had to be explained to people and the roster mostly reset from one season to another. It might not feel like you're getting anywhere after a while, and this might suck a little bit. But every time you answer one of those same questions for someone, you're helping one more person get where they need to be. Don't lose sight of how special some of your interactions in this first season will be, and realize that you get to do exactly that every time. Your players are going to think you're really cool. VHLM GMs are rewarded like no other role in terms of how they're viewed by new members. Your players will worship the ground you walk on, sometimes even after you move up. This is normal, you should take it as a compliment, and you should live up to that image with every chance you get. And if you're trying to get in? Show us that you're active enough by being active enough. We often have candidates who just simply haven't done enough to convince us that they're capable. I don't doubt that we've had candidates who would have made good GMs had we noticed. Getting active and staying there for at least a season is certainly a good way to notice, and you should be doing more than just earning. Post interesting stuff on the forums and be on Discord enough that it's reasonably possible that I'll run into you at some point. Also, just be a nice person. We aren't in the business of hiring people that could cause issues. Keep trying. I know it's discouraging to put your name in for something and watch others get hired. Lots of the time, we'll hire something like 2 people when we have 3 or 4 that we think are good enough. That's wonderful and gives us names to keep in mind for next time if you keep trying. Having these first two points in mind will absolutely get you a job if you keep at it long enough. Be a GM for other league tournaments. Running a team for World Juniors or World Cup or even one of the others that isn't officially run by the league is a great way to teach yourself how STHS works, run your own locker room, and have something to mention in your GM applications. It's a great test of whether you'll end up liking the real thing and it might be something we notice you being involved with. Be an AGM. This one is fairly self-explanatory. I don't personally care about anything you do as an AGM, but presumably you'll learn things from your GM that will be transferable skills to a GM job of your own. It also just shows that same willingness to get involved that's present in the last point. Ask questions. My inbox is open, for one. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that. But aside from anything I may or may not have to offer, try learning from those who are already in the positions you want. A lot of that comes with things like being an AGM, but it can also just come from staying connected to GMs by being part of the league. Which mostly just relates to the first point again. Be active and be cool. The VHLM is an incredible place and I hope all of you have had positive experiences being a part of it. It's with that in mind that I hope you want to have more of that while also creating it for others--and as someone who runs it, let's work together to make it even better.

I hate you because I know that either: You've submitted this already, or; If the right people see this, it will be a question regardless

Try as they might, the VHL will never be able to keep us from hiring good people. Really excited to work with this season’s overhauled VHLM! It’s going to be a great look into what some of you are capable of.

And Week 4

Yeah, let's get this over with. Gustav has a good time talking to some very uncommitted people who have probably not changed their minds one bit. Inspiring the next generation of Gustavs is somewhat difficult. But, in other news, Salem has gathered today to take care of @Adrest245. Votes were needed, votes were received, and the chair is kicked out from under yet another resident. Whose fangs promptly fall out of his mouth. One VAMPIRE after another has made Salem's life difficult. @Berocka has smelled like garlic since his first gig as VAMPIRE HUNTER back in S71, and it's finally paid off. None are left. That also means that no one is left who opposes Town--its PIRATE, @jacobaa19, rides off with a VHL-record 4 kills. Only three townies remain, but that's enough. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS, THE TOWN AND THE PIRATE! To address some things mentioned earlier--I'll have things related to the MEDIUM role added to the official rule set soon. Those being the following: Players may not use things known personally between them and someone in dead chat to confirm a Medium claim. I am not picking on Doom for having tried this in this thread, because it's been done many times before--but in the spirit of the game, confirming a Medium should be done with info that is strictly related to the game. I hope I can trust you guys not to do that moving forward and to not participate in it if it's brought up. This applies to any role--please don't directly copy-paste messages from Discord. I don't really care if you copy the text of an individual message, but copy-pasting names and time stamps along with it, especially if they're formatted, is too far. Dead chat has been changed in this game to reflect the actual role's mechanics (can talk only at night). It was my fault that I didn't specify this. In any case, thank you for playing this game as always, with an added thank you for putting up with some confusion caused by the Medium business and me being gone late last night. Here is the game's spreadsheet, which I will probably have to update more extensively when I have time. @Adrest245 - BODYGUARD/VAMPIRE @Advantage - VIGILANTE @Alex - BODYGUARD @Berocka - VAMPIRE HUNTER @Cartripp14 - MAFIOSO @Dadam30 - SHERIFF @Da Trifecta - DISGUISER @Doomsday - INVESTIGATOR @eaglesfan036 - LOOKOUT @GoodLeftUndone - ESCORT/VAMPIRE @Grape - GODFATHER @jacobaa19 - PIRATE @jhatty8 - VAMPIRE @Lemorse7 - ARSONIST @NSG - FORGER @omgitshim - EXECUTIONER @Ptyrell - LOOKOUT @Ricer13 - CONSORT @rory - JAILOR @woog - MEDIUM

Gustav will have to move fast this morning, and probably also tonight. No formatting for you. @GoodLeftUndone was staked by a VAMPIRE HUNTER--you guessed it, he was a VAMPIRE. @Advantage, as Salem knows by this point, was a VIGILANTE who took himself out last night. Last will: Gustav hopes to be reasonably on time tonight but cannot guarantee it. List of living players (5) @Adrest245 @Alex @Berocka @jacobaa19 @rory

Hi. Gustav is getting undergrads drunk. Hatty was a VAMPIRE. I will move what’s absolutely necessary on Discord now and do the rest in a bit.

STHS does have an option to include injuries. And yeah, it's turned off because it's not completely fair to the players. It's an interesting dynamic that does make management fun though. There have been lots of management leagues over the years where you control a team rather than a player and I think it would be cool to work with in that case.

Yo ho ho, as they say. The fourth PIRATE death of the game goes to @woog, who was in fact a MEDIUM. Last will: I will clarify that I did indeed change the way dead chat worked for this game. I have said in the past that I would in all likelihood move to "real" dead chat if possible, but still should have clarified that it was what I was actually going to do here. I apologize for any confusion that may have arisen from this and we'll talk later about some other non-ideal things from this game. But before I leave, @Doomsday, an INVESTIGATOR,was shot by a VIGILANTE. Last will: Gustav will be trying to get potential new students drunk tonight and cannot guarantee anything in the way of being on time. List of living players (8) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @GoodLeftUndone @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @rory

I'll elect not to say anything on game mechanics (one way or another) now, but we'll have to talk about metagaming later. No one is voted out, but it isn't for lack of an...interesting...day. Gustav will see you tomorrow morning! List of living players (10) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @rory @woog

Two more dead! @Cartripp14 is yet another Salem citizen to be swashbuckled. A PIRATE death for the third time in four nights, he was the MAFIOSO. Oh, and a "TALLY HO LADS" for the third time in a row caps off a perfect execution game for the JAILOR. This time, it's @Da Trifecta--the DISGUISER. After a couple days untouched, the Mafia are dropping like flies--but it ain't over 'til it's over. I am not sure yet what's happening, but there's a possibility tonight comes late. List of living players (10) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @rory @woog

It's Day 4, and the town has finally come around to its senses on voting someone out. The first lynching of Game 29 goes to none other than @NSG, who's survived up to this point on relatively limited info. That could be suspicious or just plain difficult to sort out, but in this case, the town has lynched the FORGER. Last will: List of living players (12) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @rory @woog

Gustav falls asleep reasonably well for the first time in a while. And then tornado sirens go off at 5:30 this morning. Ain't life grand? Perhaps Salem could have benefited from a siren or two, because those who were complacent enough to sleep through last night certainly regretted it in some cases. It's not at 5:30, rather, it's right on time, but a second "TALLY HO LADS" still starts the day plenty bright and early. @Grape was taken to jail last night and put in the drunk tank... @Dadam30, taking part in his first game, seems to have attracted some MAFIA attention after yesterday's discussion... Yesterday has also brought the focus of the Town to @Ricer13, who in a surprise move has been shot by a VIGILANTE who's seen enough. Perhaps it was a risky move... How about four? If three wasn't enough, PIRATE deaths have hit this game early and often, and it's one suffered by @Ptyrell that makes our graveyard more than double today. Ptyrell was... Tally ho lads, indeed. Gustav is off to another embarrassingly unproductive day at work. List of living players (13) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @NSG @rory @woog

Gustav is 7 minutes late because he is making moqueca--it's Brazilian! Every week I make my coworkers give me a country and I go home and spend all night making a food of theirs. It's the small things that keep you interesting and interested. Anyway, the day phase did enough to keep me interested. Rumors swirl, people throw shade, town is called stupid. And, in the end, a few names going around result in Ricer being pushed...but not killed off entirely. See you tomorrow morning! Or not. List of living players (17) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Dadam30 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @Grape @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @NSG @Ptyrell @Ricer13 @rory @woog

Oh shut up Laughton was underrated though. There always was a spot for that level of activity in the VHL, even if it probably didn't feel like it given all the trades. I remember seeing you post once or twice about being frustrated by being moved around so much and I felt kind of bad. That was part of why I kept Shawty around; I was never under any pressure to move you but I wanted to keep what you wanted in mind. I'm glad you had a career in one place even if it was a shorter one. But it will be interesting to see where Obuz can go and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

It's Tuesday, and Gustav is already tired and unmotivated. But let's get this party started. Gustav also can't wait to bring most of you another day of all that goes on in Salem. Starting with the town's first "TALLY HO LADS" in a while. Yep, that's the JAILOR's grapeshot cannon firing. Unfamiliar to some, but unfortunate to @Lemorse7, who's on the wrong end of it. Lemorse was... There's also a little red rose on the ground in place of @omgitshim, who's become the first kill recorded so far by the MAFIA. omg was... Time to get going. Ping me if you think I did anything stupid. List of living players (17) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Dadam30 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @Grape @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @NSG @Ptyrell @Ricer13 @rory @woog

*Gustav on mobile noises* Day 2 has come to an end, with apologies for not being exactly on time. See you at a similar time tomorrow morning to when I was here this one. List of living players (19) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Dadam30 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @Grape @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @Lemorse7 @NSG @omgitshim @Ptyrell @Ricer13 @rory @woog

I do think trivia has a major accessibility issue these days. A lot of questions are either a.) pointless; b.) worded in confusing/misleading ways, or c.) intentionally made obscure enough that you need to know the forum inside and out to even get a hint at the answer. I’ve seen people get laughed at on Discord for having an issue with all of those things and I don’t think that’s right. I can see where the idea that you should be putting in work for your answers comes in to justify those questions for people like me who have been here for years and DO know how to find just about anything. But I don’t think “lol, just try harder, idiot” applies for a new member or a casual one who might not have any idea how to navigate. Now that the portal labels first-gen players, we should be able to have questions marked as appropriate for new members (reasonably easily found on the portal or the forum’s HoF section) or otherwise and have the weird ones excluded from those players. I think that would keep trivia expectations more fair across the board.

I can see this being hellish to figure out a balance for. It’s an interesting idea, but you’d have to be really methodical about running your tests in a way that’s reflective of the ways that players would actually update and how that would conceivably work in the sims. And even then, what’s a “successful” outcome in terms of the starts that a backup would get? It’s probably better to just require that teams follow that successful outcome in the first place. I also have no idea how endurance and fatigue work—does it change over the course of a season or just reset at the start of each game? The latter wouldn’t exactly work in the way this is intended.

"Same ol' river Same ol' sea Same ol' waters rushing over me "Same ol' moon Same ol' sun Same ol' race that we've always run" Also, same ol' @eaglesfan036 being targeted early. Sadly for the Town, they've lost their first member and it's a LOOKOUT--perhaps not every Day 1 claim is to be believed, and perhaps that's not even an evil strategy. Eagles was killed by a PIRATE. Last will: Gustav may be a bit late tonight, but it shouldn't be too terrible. Proceed with your Day 2. List of living players (19) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Dadam30 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @GoodLeftUndone @Grape @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @Lemorse7 @NSG @omgitshim @Ptyrell @Ricer13 @rory @woog

*Gustav noises* It's Day 1, and seeing as we've been at it for over 24 hours at this point, and there's no point in continuing, let's make it Night 1. What will happen here? You'd think by Game 29, we'd have a pretty solid idea--but as always, nobody knows. May you live to see the light of the work week. List of living players (20) @Adrest245 @Advantage @Alex @Berocka @Cartripp14 @Dadam30 @Da Trifecta @Doomsday @eaglesfan036 @GoodLeftUndone @Grape @jacobaa19 @jhatty8 @Lemorse7 @NSG @omgitshim @Ptyrell @Ricer13 @rory @woog

Week 3

I do fully disagree with the idea of giving out a free 12, but I don't mind agreeing with the motivation for that. Part of me is intrigued by the idea of doing catch-up tasks--perhaps someone could earn at least some stuff back that they previously wouldn't have had any opportunity to by doing things that would otherwise have been claimed in other weeks. I don't even fully like that because I think it introduces some real discussions about burnout and hitting new players with too much at once, but it could also be a valid counterpoint that we do run into people every now and then who absolutely would do that and let it shape them into a more involved member, faster. I'd have to think about whether or not I actually want that, but I think it's at least interesting.