Greetings!

This is not the ideal setup I had for doing the fireside, but due to scheduling in August, when it was supposed to happen, and September creeping away I just wanted to start getting some information out there so we can begin discussing things and prepping for the next stage of things for ObteN.  Anything here is open for discussion and can be commented here or discussed on the discord in the #🔥fireside🔥discord channel.

Update from last Fireside

Just to update on a few things from the last one…

• Content – We are looking at bringing back the “From Shadows” live show/podcast.  We are working on some final scheduling and host duties to see where we stand with it.
• Positions – We have a section below on this…..
• ObteN Academy – This has been put on hold until I can start proper recording videos for some of the courses.  Much of the course work has been outlined and about 40% of initial courses have been written out.  That said, anything specific you guys want to see?
• ObteN Casual League (OCL) – We are setting this up and have plans to unveil this closer to the end of the year or into early part of next.  We’re still looking at offering free and paid entry events but removing some, if not all, the league fees (such as registration).  We’d like to see games that you’d like to see represented here to see what we should focus as an inaugural game.

New Business

With that out of the way, onto the meat of this.  Where we want to sharpen the focus of ObteN and what it means to call yourself a member of this community, changes to bring some livelyhood and meaning to the creator program, and some other odd and ends.

ObteN Focus

“In the dark, even the smallest light can shine brightly.” – New motto

Overall, I’d say many of you are at the very least happy with who you interact with within ObteN.  But what does it mean when you say, “I am a member of Obtenebration Network/ObteN” to someone?  How do you describe ObteN to someone you’re wanting to come over and join us?  We’re just a gaming group? We do a lot with streamers?  For the most part, I’m sure many of you (myself included) have had hiccups when describing this to someone and many are probably answered with a resounding “meh” as it sounds like just another gaming group.

I’d like to hear more on what you think it means (or should mean) to be a member of ObteN.  What defines us?  What makes you proud to be a member of our community.

To that end, I’d like to start with the following Tenants.  Subject to consensus and more definition.

• Community – Friendly, Supportive, Open
• Sportsmanship – Integrity in our activities and games
• Dedication – 100% in all aspects
• Inclusive – Everyone can have a voice and feel included.  Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to take part.

Other areas of bringing ourselves into focus include what exactly we cover.  I believe we need to bring our focus from a “General Gaming” community, down to a PC gaming community.  This is where the majority of us are and it keeps everyone generally in the same space.  And we should emphasize that we are a “Gaming > Creator” space, meaning we’re a gaming community first.  We do a lot to help and promote creators but that is not all that we do.

Creator Program Evolution

We’ve struggled with this as we’ve evolved. It’s purpose has shifted over time to represent something completely different from its conception. The creator program is a group of dedicated content creators that should represent the best aspects of our community in all that they do.

One issue we’ve had with leveraging the creator program, is its something different to everyone in the community. For some it’s been a collection of Youtubers and streamers while others it’s a focus for honing their craft with like minded creators.

Defining it, as it should be now….

[blockquote]The creator program is a team of content creators that work on a platform. They adhear to the Tennants of ObteN and aim to grow themselves as well as the ObteN community as a whole.[/blockquote]

We aim to offer perks to the creator program in exchange for the efforts and good faith they put forth into growing and expanding the ObteN community. This in the past includes but not limited to ;

• Content promotion
• Content opportunities
• Merchandise/sales opportunities
• Growth incintives via giveaway participation.
• Website perks

Some of these have changed forms (we used to not allow non-cp members to promote content) or never got off the ground (website perks). But overall, it was a very passive thing. We are aiming to re-identify the creator program by bringing back importance to it.

Goals going forward

1. All creator program members should be active in their fields
2. Leverage the creator program members in an effort to attract sponsorships for the community and individual creators.

As such, we are looking at the following changes and clarifications to the program.

• Will remain a singular tier
• Active on their platforms
  • This will be done by monthly analytics reporting and will further be discussed within the creator program chat
• Promote ObteN Network and it’s active or ongoing campaigns
  • This can include sponsorships, giveaways, contests, or events.
  • This also includes the link back requirement based on platform. Which we are wanting to review and provide some resources to make this easier
• Failure to follow or great negative impact on the community can be grounds for removal from the program.

The analytics reviews will be done monthly and include things such as follow/sub counts, average viewerships, days streamed/video’s released, etc.  It’s all information that can be gathered from your analytics dashboards and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes each month.  We’ll send the form out when they’re due so if you’re active on the discord you don’t have to remember.

Creators participating will receive the benefits offered before, as well as

• Share in sponsorships that are passed down from ObteN.
  • Details on this will vary from one sponsorship opportunity to the next.
• ObteN Academy perks
  • Free group coaching via creator program private channel (like that offered via ObteN Academy)
  • Discounted 1-on-1 coaching
• OCL perks
  • Opportunities for promotion at/during events
  • Opportunities for co-casting

All current members will have the option to be grandfathered in, no questions, as long as you submit the first months analytics and then continue to follow the new guidelines.  Future members we will allow anyone to apply, but will be more scrutinizing on who we allow in or not.  You should be able to be proud of being called one of OUR creators, as much as we’re proud to call you one of ours.

Overall, the goal here is to further the community and the members of the program equally.  If this doesn’t work in the end, we can look at changing it.  And feedback would be highly appreciated.

Community Positions

Currently, based on previous fireside chat, we do want to bring on another community lead. This isn’t a replacement for Mibu as his contributions in the past have been impeccable. But his life circumstances have changed. So this is in addition to him.

What is a Community Lead?

• The lead is a point of contact for the community as well as outside.
• Bring forth ideas and help steer future of the community with the community team
• Lead community events
• General moderation

If you are interested, please contact me on the discord. I will have further information later as well as a proper signup. We aim to have a new lead soon to go further with these changes.

Odd and ends

These are things that I’ve thought about but don’t have a proper section to put them in. Thoughts?

• Monthly newsletter, with a way to submit items for it
• Bring back the clip contest?
• Income for the community – sponsors is a way we’re looking as aluded to here…but if you want to help support, don’t forget we offer membeships which we’re always interested in extending benefits of as well as sales of things on here and selling of advertising.  If you have other ideas, please put them up!
• We’ve added an “Ideas and suggestions” page to the website! Visit it in the dropdown menu or click here!

Wrap up!

Thank you for reading this.  I don’t think this is too bad for what would have been an hour or so meeting.

I appreciate all of you and for being a part of this community.  I look forward to the next steps we’re going to take.  Hopefully in 6 months (Februaryish) we can have a proper fireside then!

Take care!