I, for one, had thought that was the case all along. After all, you (the staff) must have a basic story line along which you want MarsDawn to follow. No matter how much we contribute, we must follow the essential confines of that outline or become hopelessly mired in tangents.
The level of interactivity that we see here is really terrific. It is clear that we directly influence the story. It is good for us and the staff that a reliance upon the audience exists for the continued enrichment of the plot, but it is incumbent upon the staff to guide the story along the planned outline and to give it an occasional nudge in the right direction.
There have been some points where I have wondered when are they going to introduce the next major plot element? What are they waiting for? I did not realize you were waiting for me or one of the other MARSupials to come out and demand it.
Just as the audience needs to be proactive in pushing the plot along, the staff needs to be proactive in keeping it in line with the overall plan for the story. You have the (ever evolving) outline in front of you. You know what key elements must be uncovered and in what order. We rely upon those revelations to be reactive and, in the process of reacting, become proactive.
No one in this group (staff and MARSupials) can be all three at all times. Neither can anyone afford the luxury of being only one. We must constantly change hats and assume those roles as conditions demand and allow it.
Koala, Captain, Team Andrew
aka Space Turtel
aka Marc Weintraub