As someone participating in a Gamma mission, I think the pacing for those missions were decent, since those were primarily planet-based reconnaissance/research/etc. missions which allow for meandering and deliberation so in nature they would inherently be less pressing, but I also think for missions like that, anything longer than two weeks would be a bit much. However, from what I've been reading and seeing from those participating in Alpha and Beta missions, since the nature of those missions were intended to be urgent, I think a shorter timeframe would be better!
I personally think a month-long event/mission is too long unless the entire game is able to participate in it without having to formerly sign up for designated missions, if that makes any sense. Or, alternatively, there could be more missions with a similar agenda available (like collecting flora/soil samples could have definitely gone to a few more potential teams). For me, two weeks seems best as a maximum amount of time for time sensitive, team-based missions like Alpha and Beta, whereas exploration-based events can last for a bit longer assuming more characters are able to freely explore the setting. I think that would also solve the issue of activity on board the ship grinding to a standstill as well, if freedom to explore was open to more players than just those who have signed up for the limited amount of missions instead of only being stuck aboard the ship. THAT BEING SAID I think once this game's meta plot regarding the Eluvio gets rolling, there will be more incentive to stay aboard the ship, perhaps with the intent of unlocking other mysteries of the ship and its crew.
Also, with mission sign ups, I think there should be measures to enforce players to state their preferred method of plotting, by either linking to their plurk so team members can add/ping them, or by stating that they don't have a plurk and would prefer plotting with teammates via the plotting post itself/a private journal entry/etc. This is admittedly more relevant to the players than to the mods, but perhaps it is something the mods should highlight in plotting posts? This is really only a thought, since I had no issue adding and communicating with teammates via private plurk, but know there are likely some people in this game who don't use plurk.
That being said, the modteam is very good at receiving and answering questions, and questions are answered in a rather quick manner, which I think works perfectly with the freedom afforded to players with these plots. In the case of guidance, I think it is up to the players to decide whether they should ask the mods if they're uncertain of a particular idea. For example, the mods were very helpful when I had a question about whether it was okay to find a baby Trilk, and what to expect of the creature.
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I personally think a month-long event/mission is too long unless the entire game is able to participate in it without having to formerly sign up for designated missions, if that makes any sense. Or, alternatively, there could be more missions with a similar agenda available (like collecting flora/soil samples could have definitely gone to a few more potential teams). For me, two weeks seems best as a maximum amount of time for time sensitive, team-based missions like Alpha and Beta, whereas exploration-based events can last for a bit longer assuming more characters are able to freely explore the setting. I think that would also solve the issue of activity on board the ship grinding to a standstill as well, if freedom to explore was open to more players than just those who have signed up for the limited amount of missions instead of only being stuck aboard the ship. THAT BEING SAID I think once this game's meta plot regarding the Eluvio gets rolling, there will be more incentive to stay aboard the ship, perhaps with the intent of unlocking other mysteries of the ship and its crew.
Also, with mission sign ups, I think there should be measures to enforce players to state their preferred method of plotting, by either linking to their plurk so team members can add/ping them, or by stating that they don't have a plurk and would prefer plotting with teammates via the plotting post itself/a private journal entry/etc. This is admittedly more relevant to the players than to the mods, but perhaps it is something the mods should highlight in plotting posts? This is really only a thought, since I had no issue adding and communicating with teammates via private plurk, but know there are likely some people in this game who don't use plurk.
That being said, the modteam is very good at receiving and answering questions, and questions are answered in a rather quick manner, which I think works perfectly with the freedom afforded to players with these plots. In the case of guidance, I think it is up to the players to decide whether they should ask the mods if they're uncertain of a particular idea. For example, the mods were very helpful when I had a question about whether it was okay to find a baby Trilk, and what to expect of the creature.