2014 - Toreador - Jonathan Gravely
Introduction and Background:
I would be honored if the member chronicles of One World by Night would allow me to serve a second term as the Genre Coordinator for Clan Toreador. This last year has been astounding and has only solidified my commitment to this organization and its players, especially those in Clan Toreador. I have always felt a strong connection to Clan Toreador, likely due to my background as an artist in real life. Toreador was my first character, back when the Vampire game in Gainesville, Florida joined the org in 2000, and Toreador has always been my go to clan and been the clan with which I had the most fun.
My time over the past year has shown me even more reasons to love the Toreador Clan and the Toreador players in OWbN. Additionally, it has given me the opportunity to get to know and work with some of the other amazing Coords and Storytellers in OWbN. The Toreador players in OWbN are honestly one of the easiest groups to work with because they love to jump right into their own stories. The Toreador Clan has gone through some serious hardships over the last year and is in a time of rebuilding. Please carefully review my thoughts on the appropriate direction to take the Clan over the next year in my “Goals” section. I highly encourage anyone who has additional questions to reach out to me, either privately or over one of the many public forums of which I am a member.
Administrative Experience:
OWBN administrative background
Toreador Coordinator, March 2013 – present: I have served the past year as Toreador Coordinator for OWbN. During this year, I oversaw the addition of a new Archon and her subsequent destruction. I also oversaw the overhaul and In-Character upgrade of the Toreador communications network. I have been working on a new binding packet which will follow the same vein as my fellow coordinators of changing the R&U status of a few items to bring the Toreador Clan in line with other Clans in OWbN. I have also been working on a non-binding Genre Guide (AKA Companion Guide) to better explain some of the genre aspect of the Toreador Clan in OWbN which differ greatly from the written materials or were created through In-character role play by the players.
Toreador Subcoordinator, January 2002 – present: Served under Jen Loopy Smith, Rick Klasgtad, Kenny Lull, Kayti Holley, and Chris Foster in various capacities. I handled administration of the Southeastern region of OWbN handling all player and ST interaction. I have also have served and currently serve as the Listmod for all Coord controlled email lists and have a long standing history of same-day or next day replies to list add requests. As a point of clarification for any who know me personally, the unbroken chain above is due to the fact that the only reason I ever was not on staff was due to playing a Toreador PC. As soon as said PC was no longer around, I was always immediately either asked to rejoin or welcomed back to the staff.
Wed Subcoordinator, Administrative, October 2012 – March 2013: Served under Autumn Wright handling administrative duties for the web team. Duties included: update chronicle territory listings, ensure accuracy of data entered onto website and associate database spreadsheets, investigate copyright infringement cases, notify owners of website(s) found to be in violation, track responses/lack of responses, report monthly to web coordinator on progress.
Storyteller/Council Rep, Gainesville: Mysteries in Darkness (now Gainesville: New Confederacy) – Served as Storyteller and Council Rep from 2002 – 2004. During this period, each ST was responsible for running individual plots and NPCs. Coordination was via weekly meetings where all STs would report on plots with updates. Delegation was the key for making sure the game ran smoothly.
Guild Lord of North America, April 2010 – November 2011: For those who are unfamiliar with the Toreador Clan, know that the Guild Lord is akin to the PC position of Lord or Regent in the Tremere, or to Praetor in the Ventrue. However, whereas the aforementioned positions are typically regional in scope, the Guild Lord’s purview is national. There is a large level of responsibility and the Guild Lord interacts regularly with the Genre Coordinator in implementing new plots and introducing new directions for the Toreador Clan as a whole. My experience as the Guild Lord for North America, many think, should have turned me off to being a Genre Coordinator. On the contrary, I was able to gain great insight and it only fueled my desire.
Professional Administrative background
I would like to augment my OWbN experience with relevant items from my professional work history.
Clinical Administrator, Medical Practice, August 2005 – present: I have been the coordinator of a very busy medical practice for almost 8 years. This has included not only day-to-day patient care needs but also personal administrative needs for 7 physicians. My clinic has routinely been rated at a 4 or 5 star rating (out of 5 possible) by our patients. As I have told several close friends of mine, if I can keep 7 Neurologists, 3 ARNPs, 1 Neurosurgeon, and over 1600 patients happy…I honestly feel very capable to put those skills to use in the role of Toreador Coordinator.
Music/Choral Director, 1998 – present: Being a musician by training, I started running my own choral program at 16. It kept going, through present, and I have designed, implemented, and successfully turned over 7 choral programs since then. 5 of these programs were failing. Problem solving seemingly unsolvable problems is something I have a great deal of experience with. I believe that this skill is integral to any Genre Coordinator, as most issues that arise are not cut and dry.
Personal Statement:
OWBN Participation
I was gaming in Gainesville before our game was officially OWbN. I came into the Gainesville game as we were first putting our application up and got to see the game as it went through probationary status and, eventually, full status into the org. This was in 2000. I have been an active member in the local game since then. I have played all 7 Cam clans along with Assamite, Setite, and Lasombra in all three major genre areas since then.
My most recent Toreador character was Keiran Rylie, Guild Lord of North America, and (to my surprise) a nationally known character. Keiran was the perfect example of the unintentional rock star. I have also had the privilege of portraying both local and coordinator level NPCs, having played plot specific NPCs at KublaCon in San Francisco three times.
In this previous term, I oversaw the acquisition of a new Archon to the Toreador Justicar and her subsequent death at a major event. We also lost another Archon, a nationally known and well-connected individual. Needless to say, the Toreador Clan has been in a bit of a fog and is definitely in a time of rebuilding. It has been exciting to watch as the players have worked to overcome these loses and to fill the power vacuum left behind.
Achievements from 2013 (and follow up on Goals set 2013)
1) I truly feel that I have been able to facilitate “fun” for the Toreador Players this year.
2) My response times have *mostly* been in the 24-48 hour range. Unfortunately, despite my best intentions, it didn’t happen all of the time and I had to be poked to respond a few times. The sheer volume of requests, especially at the beginning of the term, was more than I had anticipated. However, having seen what to expect, I am now better prepared for another term and know that I can succeed in this where I faltered last year.
3) I increased NPC usage this term, when requested by STs, or when requested by players with approval from their STs.
4) I have maintained a friendly and professional relationship with all of my fellow coords in our interactions. While those interactions were not always fun, I am appreciative that we can work together professionally and cordially even when we disagree.
5) Unfortunately, I received no requests for Toreador specific plots on a local level, which is completely fine, but I did not get a chance to really push that aspect this term and will hopefully get that chance if elected for a second term.
Goals:
Goals for 2014
1) Completion of binding genre packet – I wanted to get this done this term. Sadly, the finer points of putting together a solid binding packet that rides the balance of making the players happy, making the Coord happy, making the STs happy, and passing through Council were far more complex than I had initially thought. After several months with my subcoord team, and then a few more months with current players who have been with the Clan for many years, and then putting it to the Toreador players to make sure I was adequately addressing their needs…the packet is ready, but just less than 24 hours too late to be propped as we had already begun the HC application process. I have the packet ready and waiting, along with the corresponding genre prop that will be required as it does move a few items into Coord Approval (thereby changing R&U and requiring a prop), and it will be propped immediately following elections should I be reelected. And as a note, this binding packet is only 7 pages long, with a handy table of contents at the beginning and a table clearly listing all items which require some form of Approval or Notify.
2) Completion of non-binding genre guide – I feel very strongly for this packet. The most common questions Team Toreador receives are questions about how Clan based organizational structures work differently from the written source materials. Additionally, there are several player created structures within Clan Toreador throughout the years and the players need to know of all resources available to them. I am in final edit mode on this packet, which is significantly longer than the binding packet, and plan to send it over to the Marketing Team once edits are finished so they can fine tooth comb it to make sure it’s good for public consumption. As this packet’s aim is to describe how various Clan Toreador structures work in OWbN specifically, I don’t foresee any large issue with it being approved fairly quickly.
3) Continue to support PC efforts in regards to the Extremis Boon – Political machinations have been amazing in this side plot for Clan Toreador. The players have been very proactive throughout the year with the only slide down being when one of their major political figures was killed. I plan to ramp up some of the NPC voices to ensure that the players know that they have friends in high places.
4) Reorganization of the Toreador Justicar office – Now before anyone gets scared here, I’m not getting rid of Petronius. However, we have a large number of players every year who wish to meet with Petronius personally. My reorganization would be to change up who would be the first line for all communications with the office. Additionally, I plan to farm more work out to my various subcoords by way of NPC Archons, as the agents of the Justicar should be handling most issues and not the Justicar himself. Finally, I plan to improve the total elapsed time that people wait on scenes with the Justicar. Over the last year, I was learning and getting to know how this Office runs. Now, I’m older, wiser, and ready to jump in the deep end (as it were) and will be having an even greater hands on approach regarding the Toreador Justicar’s office.
5) Search for new Archons – It is no secret that this office was hit hard over the last year in regards to PC agents. I would like to draft a couple new agents for this office, but am in no rush to do so. I list it here only in so much as something that will be on my mind, that I’ll be watching and looking, but have no interest in rushing into any decisions just simply to have PC Archons.
Final thoughts/conclusions
Again, as you can see, I am passionate about this organization and its players, with a special love of Clan Toreador. If elected, I can promise to do the absolute best I can and to always be accessible and amenable to players, STs, and Coords alike to discuss what works, what doesn’t work, or just simple suggestions related to Clan Toreador.
I would be honored if the member chronicles of OWbN would do be the amazing pleasure of re-electing me for a second term as Toreador Coordinator for 2014.
Sincerely,
Jonathan L. Gravely
Toreador Coordinator 2013