[MilesBeyond]

On the server front though, I have a glimmer of good news there: I've been able to get a new VM spun up on my (very nice) work laptop with the last server backup I have from February 8 running on it. I need to discuss some details with the staff, but it *may* be possible that I could at least have this temporary server running while I'm gone to give you all your daily fix of Thay, since I won't be using that work machine anyway while I am on vacation. But then deciding what to do when I come back is the big question that needs to be worked out first to avoid doing so causing even more problems. More to come on this front after I've talked it over with the staff. Stay tuned...

We could spin it into a new campaign, where the February 8 server is an alternate universe. When we get the main server back up, we could have all the characters from the Feb 8 server invade the main server, try to kill their counterparts, and take over their lives.

Hahaha, I'm kidding.

I don't think a temp server would be a bad idea, but the problem would be the uncertainty. If people think the server won't be permanent and everything will be erased when the main one's back up, they might do all sorts of silly and ridiculous things they might not otherwise do. Of course, if it then turns out that the main server can't be recovered, we're left with this server where everything's gone crazy. At the same time, if there's a possibility that the server can be recovered, then people might be reluctant to take this time all that seriously because it could be investing time into a black hole (which, in the grand scheme of things, I guess is what we're doing anyway, but you know what I mean).

Not that I think the time on the Feb 8 server would be a descent into mad chaos, but I'm guessing it would probably require heavier moderation than usual.

1) Go ahead and restart Thay so people can have their daily fix. Include a HUGE disclaimer that it's a temp situation and old/rebooted Thay will be restored if possible and will likely render the next few weeks moot. Players can use this time to have fun, test out new builds, and keep from going into DT's. *grin*

A period of OOC time like between the final campaign of the old world and the beginning of the new one could be fun for sure.

Hmmm, perhaps we could have a contest where everyone tries to replicate and imitate someone else's character. Or does that dip too much into the sort of mad chaos I talked about above? ;)