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Community Spotlight: Kit Williams
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| Kit Williams and his wife at a Colts game. Yes, that is the Lombardi Trophy. |
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This month we'd like to recognize a community member who has done quite a lot for players: Kit Williams. As a member of the 2D Steering Committee, Kit Williams is constantly helping new players and answering questions about user content.
Below, Kit Williams talks about several topics including how he came to join the 2D Steering Committee and what changes he's noticed since free-to-play.
What drew you to Pirates of the Burning Sea originally?
I hung your sign at GenCon '08! I work at the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in the Sound and Light department.
You all had a booth there and, being a gamer, I had to come back and check it out after hanging the sign. I bought the retail pack at the show and loaded it on my laptop at work the same day.
I used to play all the time at work hitting F11 when my boss would walk in. He asked me time and time again where he could get, "that cool screensaver!" (I never told him I was playing a game!) Anyway, once I started playing I was hooked.
What is your favorite aspect of Pirates of the Burning Sea now?
I would have to say the social aspect. I am in a small Society that has a lot of fun fleeting, running the epic missions (we have figured out FDL and the Dread Saint missions with only five players), and econ.
The Society started out with just two of us with the goal of building a 'Couronne' Mastercraft Galleon—after that we built several 1st and 2nd rates and just about every other ship in the game.
What is your favorite Nation & Career combination?
Started as a Brit Privateer, still love that one. It is the character I have done the most with. I also have a Pirate character, but I really don't play that character much.
What drew you to User Content and how did you become involved in the 2D Steering Committee?
A Society friend made a custom sail one day and was handing them out. I thought, hmm, I know Photoshop like the back of my hand, I can do that. So I did some homework on the forums, found out what I needed to do and with a fair amount of help from Sadet, got my first sail through.
After I figured out the formula that worked for me, I was hooked! I started helping others figure out a formula for them. About that same time Aegir asked me to be on the committee. The committee opened up a whole new aspect of the game for me that was just as fun as being in the game.
What are the most common difficulties players have when submitting user content for the first time?
I would say a good understanding of the rules for period design as well as a working knowledge of graphics programs. They try to use images that just would not have been used in the 1700's or techniques that would have been used then as well.
Any other advice you can give someone who wants to become more involved in user content.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. I would prefer players posted a thread, had the community look at it, had the community help with revisions, and then have the players get their user content into the game on the first go. Rather than players posting designs that will never make it in only to get the "rejected" email.
Most of the time, when someone posts in the forums, gets advice, makes changes, and submits for voting, their user content goes through on the first go around. That is when they find out what works and we have a new flag and sail junkie.
Anything else you'd like to say to the Community?
With Free to Play we have seen a lot more traffic in the Flag and Sails forums which is a blast. Keep making them, post them for review, and let the 2d Steering Committee help you get them through.
Thanks FLS for doing something not many other games do—let the community put their own art work into your game!
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