So, following a lengthy discussion on one of the TEF discords, it's come to our attention that there are things worth bringing up, discussing, and voting on. Many have expressed disappointment in the overall tone of the event, finding the interactions unsatisfactory particularly in the area of actual competitive game-play and realism.
While the Rut is already intended to support serious and realistic play styles, it was distinctly lacking this year for a more party based atmosphere. This isn't intended to condemn such however, but we do need to try to strike a balance that leaves as many, if not all participants, happy with the event.

In the conversation we've managed to come up with some suggestions and critiques. I'll first begin with well meaning suggestions that were bought up by community members, for community members, in how we might be able to try to help accommodate the event overall. Please bear in mind that this is not an attempt to tell people exactly what to do, or how to play, but recommended ideas that might help the event as a whole succeed better in future, for everyone.
The biggest problem seemed to be that many members were AFK and unresponsive. This is something that we as a community have been used to and comfortable with for a long time. Unfortunately, during the Rut, especially while gathered in groups, this proves to be detrimental to everyone else's experience.

The most common suggestions to help in this area are:
* Asking people to, if they can, move to the no-rut zones to AFK so that no one needs to expect anything from you.
* Let your deer sleep when AFK, so again no one expects anything from you.
Alternatively:
* Try to rely less on Discord. Or at least check in more often if you're able.
* Try to be less hesitant to contact one another outside the game.
* If you don't see anything going on, then try to be the one to start something.

Deer — not bears, bees, sharks or scorpions — are the animal that kills the most Americans. However, the deaths aren't because of viscious Bambi attacks — most of the fatalities are a result of car accidents.

Fourlegged deer that is

They lurk around America's vast countryside and sometimes make their way into cities. They're cute and furry and have big round eyes. Nope, they aren't bears — deer are America's deadliest animal, as summized by an analysis of CDC data from LCB.

These furry mammals are responsible for an estimated 120 deaths a year, usually due to car crashes rather than attacks


So I am assuming that the deer have grouped up and outside the forest have went on raid, attacking htat which attacked.....

Furry companions with razor sharp hooves and kamikazy ways coming your way because they could not play in the peaceful endless forest.

The fabled musk deer searches the world over for the source of the scent which comes from itself.

Ramakrishna

The more I see of deer, the more I admire them as mountaineers. They make their way into the heart of the roughest solitudes with smooth reserve of strength, through dense belts of brush and forest encumbered with fallen trees and boulder piles, across canons, roaring streams, and snow-fields, ever showing forth beauty and courage. John Muir
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/deer

Oh Where oh Where can the Deer writers be?
Oh where oh where can the herd be,
With their scenarios
And fantasy bios

Oh where oh where can they be


Did someone find a secret door to the deer library in the pit?
Everyone sitting on top of the trees again?
Hiding in the sycamores where the blue flowers grow?

Rohit's Rut Blog Logs

I'll make this pretty with css later.