Q1 - So Leo, the term or rather position as a Game Master/Developer, can you briefly tell us what do you actually do in a day's work ? Do you also come online onto the live servers often? 

A1 - First, I'd like to help clarify a bit of a misunderstanding, that has always picked at me
since I became a developer.

"Game Master" is a bit of an old term, where the "GM" was seen to be the god of the game. Old
table top games, like Dungeons & Dragons, this was the legit title for the one who ran the game
session. It translated in to our world of online gaming for anyone who was able to assist with
game related matters. But, in more modern day uses or terms, they are typically customer
support personnel, who assist with game issues or complaints. So, while I may still somewhat be considered a "GM" in many's eyes, I am and I am not. I can't provide direct customer service for certain types of issues, which I'm sad I can't help with sometimes, but at the same time I have to keep perspective that there is an entire team dedicated to providing that service, which frees me to do other tasks.

Having first been one of the old "GM"s in the customer service team, has given me a great insight to what it's like to have to deal with issues and carrying that to the development side of things, I want to help them just as much as our player base. There were so many times back then, I wished that the old developers would just "fix" a certain something that was just so common, that it would solve so many issues players experienced. So that can influence our priority, if the Customer Support (Currently now called the Player Experience Team)

In a day's work, on average, it's checking with the forums, lately with the Class Representatives, and looking for the common issues that are going on within the community and seeing if there's a developmental solution for it. Some matters take more thought than others, some take more time to simply implement a fix for. And when there's nothing too dire, I'll turn towards the future plans of implementation and continue creating the plans and guides to follow through with them so everyone knows what's intended and how they should work.

I do come online fairly frequently, but most times while I'm at work, it's for work related matters. Sometimes I do just take a little time to play for myself. But then I get reminded about some areas that are underused, and it sends me in to a frenzy of "how can I make this better?" and I go back to work, haha.
 
Q2 - What is the favorite part of the job ?
A2 - That I'm helping create a world that many enjoy.  In all honesty, when I was a kid, and first told that I could have a career making games, it blew my mind and I wanted to help create a fantasy world ever since. I'm pretty happy that I'm able to do that now.
 
Q3 - Okay, many new players and also myself are very curious about one thing Leo. Is the server Leonis named after you ? Or did you pick the name from the server for yourself?Is there a story behind the name "Leonis" ?
A3 - The server name actually came from a constellation's name. Originally my name was just "Leo" but somehow fully adopted the server's name of "Leonis" over time. I've always had a certain fondness for lions, and that's due to my birth sign. Yes, I'm a Leo, and for some that may say something about my personality on the forums and from past interviews and interactions. But hopefully it won't be held against me. 
 

 

Q4 - We all know that content developing is no easy
job and in fact, it can be very stressful. Plus the
updates/changes we saw  since the major skill update
last year, how does the Rose team in WP cope with
all these tweaks/updates/designs/new costumes/
contents? It seemed impossible to cope with especially
when it was publicly admitted that the Rose team
consist of only 2 men. Whats the secret to success here
leo ?
A4 - Well, we're actually 3, myself and two very capable
programmers I could never do this without, one being
Genesis, the other wishes to remain anonymous. And then we
have a contracted artist, who also does work for Requiem
and another internal project of ours, which is based on ROSE's
platform. So, I jokingly say 3.5, for my ROSE Dev Team. But being so few, it is stressful. How we do it? The love of ROSE and what we do, I suspect. Gen and I both have long standing histories with ROSE and a tremendous passion for it.
 
Q5 - As the person responsible for many changes and updates in Rose online, you must have plenty more of ideas or rather Vision you hoped to see Rose Online will achieve one day. So far, what is your greatest satisfaction and dilemma ?  
A5 - Greatest satisfaction has been the amount of production we're able to put out, especially because we're such a small team. I've always have been impressed with the amount of work and what we're able to do with so few and little resources we have available to us.

Greatest dilemma, that we're so few! There are the times (DB Update) where the tasks and projects we want to do require more than what we're capable of, in the normal given timeline we like to try and keep to, which is within a month, so we can keep the content and updates frequent enough, but not so long we're forgotten. The DB update has been a large thorn in our side, because we're only able to half give attention to it, during the course of it's production, because it is such a huge task. But we've held on to the fact that it's completion will yield a far greater benefit for us in the long run, we know it will be worth it.

                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's a lot that I can go in to behind this particular update, but in the end the result is that it's beginning to have the effect I wanted. There's less total reliance on the Cleric, it's a little more competitive, though the feedback regarding offensive power is seemingly unanimously stating everyone feels weaker and we should put it back, it shows me two things. First, that bottle neck dependency on Clerics was that strong. Second, it means we can start pushing power in to the other classes, because the buffs are no longer the end deciding factor and game play is a bit more leveled out now. Proceeding forward with giving more power is going to be a build up from here on out and with what's planned for the future, it looks like it will shape up well. So I'm excited to see it unfold. I'm only sorry we aren't able to get it out faster.

Q7 - Some players been asking if an updated drop list from the mob be available soon because the ones at Kuro tenjima site is getting outdated. What can you tell us about this ?
A7 – To be quite honest, the past attempts to update the drop table were done under the restriction of using the existing drop table system in place. Having the experience of seeing how things can vastly improve when we step outside of that restriction, there's a new drop system design in the works that will offer an expanded and more flexible and controllable mechanics for us.

It also goes a bit hand in hand with other future plans to expand on the amount of content there is within ROSE Online for game play, that we'll be sharing as time goes on and it becomes more active a project. But the updated system should allow for a vastly improved drop availability, that won't feel quite so lackluster and disappointing for our community, whether you're farming or hunting for that rare.

Q8 - After a tiring half day at work , you feel hungry. Who's the usual lunch buddy ?
A8 – Most anyone in the office really. We're all pretty good friends and have some good laughs as well as discussions. Oda, ShazamO, Heimdallr, the programmers, any of the player support or community managers.  

Q9 - Music leo, do you listen to any while working ?
If you do , please share some of your playlist.
A9 – Lately, I've been listening to this    - > 

I do have a play list of my own when I'm going to and
from work though that keeps me in high energy as well.
Muse, Daft Punk, Conte, Pretty Lights, Skrillex, Final
Fantasy soundtracks, just to keep my energy up through
the day.  But if I'm feeling like an easy day, I'll drop in
some random Disney soundtrack music.

Q10 - The Roles of the Volunteer Mods, Class Reps and Senates are crucial to the growth and stability of the community in Rose. However one can't help but to be curious about their roles and scope of duty, can you please share with us on what they are expected to do ?
A10 – The Volunteer Mods in-game, were organized to help add extra eyes for patrol against shouters and certain types of blatant abuse and unwanted game play. They also share a role in where if we do personally handled events, they can provide assistance in-game, in addition to the "GM" or "DEV" member handling it in-game.

The Class Representatives were organized to add extra eyes and ears to the community. Each one belongs to a specific class group, so that the community may know who to turn to if they wish to offer feedback about that class, good or bad. It's then the Class Rep's job to collect this feedback and provide it to us, the development team, so we can keep our ties to the community, and stress less on needing to read every thread posted in order to find it.

The Senate, has been disbanded and is no more. It was a great idea when it was formed, but it was another time and originated by another individual who is no longer with us. Because I was not personally part of its concept or management, I am unsure of the goals and ideals it was created for. And rather than try and skew the original intent, I opted to close it down and create the Class Representatives instead. I'm sure there are some shared ideals and goals, but differences as well, in how it is handled and operates.






 

 

 

 

 

Q13 - Finally  Leo, before we conclude this much appreciated session with you, can you share some tips or hints with us on what exciting update will be coming up next ? Also , is there anything you would like to say to our readers ?
A13 – Tips, would be not to be afraid to try a build you have interest in. Though it may not be the most powerful, if it fulfills the role you wanted, you succeeded and should be proud of that. Most of all, ROSE is an MMORPG, which means it's about playing with others. So be kind, work together and hopefully it will become easier to see that teamwork will always be of more benefit than going it alone.

Hints, don't always look at the numbers on your character menu to figure out what's best. Skill use, timing and again cooperation, can have just as much an impact to the outcome of game play and combat than how strong you might be. Knowing when to run, pot, inflict a skill effect, can be the difference in battle.

And what's up and coming, aside from the DB update, we'll be turning more towards content. I want to finish up the class treatments I've been slowly going through each class, bit by bit, giving enhancements to offer strength and interesting aspects of game play to. The next classes are the Knight, Champion, Bourgeois and Artisan. There may be some minor adjustments class wide, given the recent changes to Cleric's buffs, to restore some offset of power to other classes.
   And as for any final words:

                                   " I'm never going to give you up.

                               Never going to let you down. "   - Leonis