TOT 2022 Round Will Keep Mixed Matching

[pumpkinkingmod]

Thank you everyone for your feedback, both before and after the 2021 round! I've decided to keep mixed character and relationship OR matching for 2022.

The decision was based on a number of factors: both pre- and post-exchange feedback; how smoothly the 2021 round went in terms of matching and pinch hits; requests and offers data; the balance of work categories in the collection; and conversations with Shipoween Mod.

Shipoween Mod has confirmed to me (and given permission for me to say) that Shipoween is officially retired, and won't run in the future.

Participant feedback was the most important factor, but I looked at the rest in case opinions were very closely split.

Other notes:

• The FAQ will emphasize that gen and ship prompts are both welcome for character requests, just like always.
  
• The work reveals time will definitely be earlier next year, though I don't have an exact time for that yet.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for keeping it mixed!

[ashling]

Great! 🥰

[(Anonymous)]

Fantastic news! Thanks for everything you do! <3

[sheliak]

I'm sad to hear this, though at this point someone was going to be sad no matter what decision was reached.

I hope that the exchange continues to be enjoyable for the people who like it as it now is.

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for moving the time of reveals! I'm looking forward to next year.

[meteordust]

I'm very sorry to hear that this change will be permanent, although I appreciate your recent consultation with the community. I was impressed by the huge amount of feedback (80+ comments from a 300+ participant exchange). Clearly people care a lot about Trick or Treat.

I've taken part in Trick or Treat since 2015, the second ever exchange I joined after Yuletide. I'm sorry for the loss of the only character matching exchange of its kind. I'm also sorry to hear of the retirement of Shipoween.

My concerns about matchability remain, as do my concerns about a shift in participants away from people who would request and offer characters, and my concerns about a shift in how relationships are requested and offered.

Most of all, it seems clear that this issue has deeply divided the community - perhaps irreparably. Even if I take part next year, I don't know if it will feel the same again.

[narya_flame]

^^ I echo these sentiments, particularly the last para.

[(Anonymous)]

Most of all, it seems clear that this issue has deeply divided the community - perhaps irreparably.

I understand why it would feel that way to someone who was happy with the way things were before, but the community hasn't been divided by the change in matching algorithm. It was divided before that.

Some of us have been deeply unhappy with ToT using character matching only for years, which is the whole reason Shipoween was made and why we stopped doing ToT as soon as there was a ship matching alternative. The only difference is that now a different ground of people is unhappy.

I think having two different people exchanges running simultaneously to serve both interests was the best possible solution - but the fact that it was necessary alone shows the long-standing and pre-existing divide of the community.

[sandrine]

I'm sad to hear that Shipoween is definitely not going to come back, and I hope the Shipoween Mod is okay.

In the light of that, I'm really relieved that Trick of Treat will be sticking with mixed matching. And an earlier collection opening will be great, especially for those of us who are on GMT and earlier. \o/

[(Anonymous)]

and conversations with Shipoween Mod.

Shipoween Mod has confirmed to me (and given permission for me to say) that Shipoween is officially retired, and won't run in the future.

Certainly none of this was a surprise, but the way the entire changeover was handled left a sour taste in my mouth and I won't be participating any further.