Changes YOU Want Made to the Forum.
a thread by Causality started on 2189-03-08 06:49:03 last post on 2189-03-24 17:42:23
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 Causality [CLASSIFIED] |
Ladies, Gents, and Citizens of a Different Breed:
As you are no doubt aware by this point, Cerberus Daily News will soon be migrating back to the phpBB system to address a number of communication issues with our players. As the administrator and the dedicated technician behind the Valiant System, we would like to thank the user Diplomatic Immunity for all his hard work over the past year and a half, and hope that he look back on his labors with a strong sense of pride. In the meantime, however, migrating the boards provides us with a prime opportunity to discuss the sort of features we want on the new system, and since we want folks to keep posting their misadventures here, this is where you come in. The simple question is: What sort of board features would convince you to keep posting on Cerberus Daily News? We're not talking about features such as the Private Messaging System - cornerstones such as those are largely why we're making the migration. Instead, think selfish. What board widgets - beyond what we had on the original forum can you think of that would enrich the Cerberus Daily News Experience for you? Keep in mind that our own programming skills and free time are both limited - the forum currently lying at your fingertips was created using several months of Dippy's blood, sweat and tears. If it's an entirely new feature that would require intensive coding, it likely won't meet the cut. On the other hand, if you can supply not only a description but a forum or the source code to implement the change...well, you've just made that change that much easier for us to make. Also, feel free to ask about changes that don’t change the code. There’s more to this site than just the formatting - it’s a community, and that means we need to hear from you on a personal level too. What would you as players want from the board to keep you interested in playing? What is it that you think would help define your characters better and keep you interested in interacting not only with each other out of character, but incharacter? Don't be surprised if you see us moderators adding ideas under our non-mod alts. After all, we're ostensibly here because we want to be here, not because we have to. We'd like to keep it that way - consider it a way for everyone to get their ideas heard on equal footing. So please, go wild. Talk to us. What would changes would get you, the writer, to talk more often? |
 Triskele |
A bigger inbox, pretty please?
Also, I know it's sorta still-kinda not a thing anymore, but PY had set up on the old forums an 'Editor's Guild'. I would not mind having that come back. And I know the old forums didn't have it, but I really like having the RP forum separate from the IC forum. It's a lot easier on the head when one looks at threads. Edit: I'd also like to have some form of auto-PM sent to new players/characters, with all the relevant links to IRC creation, retros, wiki, etc. A nice little 'welcome to the forum' that doesn't smother them on their first post. May you never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten. |
 The_Sarcastic_Salarian  |
Posting from my phone so no quote, but arrow - you considered "gang tag" signatures?
Forgotten Daughters Foundation - [CLICK HERE to donate to the OTRAVO RELIEF FUND] Emon Spiza, owner of Aphin's Place - Level 31, Zakera Ward. Best Drinks on the Citadel. |
 Arrow Patch 'em up. |
Yeah, that's typically how it's done now. I was just wondering if a way to formally link them, be able to click on Titan and see all the profiles associated with that faction, or the Na'Hesit, etc. Just a stray thought that came to mind, is all.
AEGIS: Protection, Liberation, Vindication. We Help the Helpless |
 Teilhard |
The_Sarcastic_Salarian wrote:
Teilhard wrote:Where is the information about this board migration? I haven't seen anything about it prior to this thread.
In particular, I'm concerned about when it is and what exactly I'll have to do when it occurs. And will the archived old forums be affected? The news broke out in a couple of areas, many of which were on chat and were poorly documented here - a problem we largely intended to fix with this thread, as the first that announced the move was made under stressful circumstances for board management. As for the time when we change, that's not nailed down - again, largely because we want to hear from the CDN community (especially including long-time lurkers like you) about what you'd like to see on the new boards. Once we have a good idea of what we can and will implement, we will lay down more concrete dates for the incoming transition. The forums here will NOT be lost - instead, Valiant will become archived much like the original forum was, so don't worry about losing any of the RP work you (or anyone else) have done. In that case, I suppose I ought to mention some of the things that have kept me from participating in the past that I think could be addressed on a new forum: * The IRC. I don't know how to chat and, more importantly, I don't really want to. People say it's not really essential, but I've never been able to shake the impression that I'm missing out on important information by not participating in it (and this thread supports that). I would really prefer if there was a way for everyone to have access to important information from the chat, whether or not they participated in it. * A lack of knowledge about what's been established as "CDN canon". The Codex forum that's been mentioned is a good start, but I'm concerned about its implicit user-driven nature, which is the reason why the wiki is not as helpful as it could be. I'd really appreciate it if there was a clear source (think the Retrospectives) of very basic data about things CDN has added to canon. As for more minor changes, I second the suggestion for custom smilies. A wider list of options in post creation would also be nice. For all the facile explanations we offer, the truth remains. |
 asari_promiscuity |
Just thought of something. On the new front page, how about having our homegrown ad banners? I really like the idea of them, but they're so ephemeral currently - if you're not reading the thread they appear in, or happen to be browsing while the ad server account is still showing in 'most recent post' for the thread, you'd easily miss them, and while it is fun when they pop up someplace amusingly inappropriate, that's a lot of work for their handler. If they were on the front page - beneath the main content, not getting in the way - and drawn randomly from the available stock every time the page is loaded, that'd be much simpler than them having to be manually posted, and I think that'd be a draw for random passers-by browsing the site too; if I saw something like that I'd probably end up refreshing the page a bunch of times to see them all, and definitely wind up interested in whatever else is going on on the site in the process.
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 SteelUnifier Die for the Cause |
To address a couple things:
Teilhard wrote:The IRC. I don't know how to chat and, more importantly, I don't really want to. People say it's not really essential, but I've never been able to shake the impression that I'm missing out on important information by not participating in it (and this thread supports that). I would really prefer if there was a way for everyone to have access to important information from the chat, whether or not they participated in it.
If someone ever told you this, they weren't being honest. Intentionally or otherwise. One of the unfortunate realities of the community as of late has meant an implicit expectation that everyone is on or participating on the IRC, and so that's where some news naturally breaks (and never leaves). It's absolutely fine to not be part of it, and the IRC should not be an obligation, so we'll be doing a better effort keeping everyone in the loop.* A lack of knowledge about what's been established as "CDN canon". The Codex forum that's been mentioned is a good start, but I'm concerned about its implicit user-driven nature, which is the reason why the wiki is not as helpful as it could be. I'd really appreciate it if there was a clear source (think the Retrospectives) of very basic data about things CDN has added to canon.
As this was being discussed by us in various Secret Dealings, I will say that the Codex that we're planning is not going to be user-editable. It won't be the wiki, in other words; all the documentation will be done by the mod team. Although we've been hashing out ways that players could contribute to the section, I don't think the Codex board itself will be anything but read only for anyone except for the staff. |
 dwik  |
SteelUnifier wrote:tl;dr a krogan version of this
 :elchord:  :conspiracy:  :paragon: :renegade:   :holyvoly: :colbertsalar:  :farewell:  :pl:  :shepurrd:  :tapleft:  :tapright:  :oldestprofession:  :quarian:  (VL only) :speculation:  asari_promiscuity wrote:how about having our homegrown ad banners?
yes yes yes yes yes yes YES  [DWICK DWICKCAST SYNDYKYT] da best shows on holovision |
 Akmawt  |
Just a note with regards to the reputation system: Please please please don't include a 'downvote/upvote' type of setup. They're not very good on boards that have them, they're not helpful, and on CDN in particular there's the problem of distinguishing OOC/IC.
A 'props' system would be much simpler in every way - it's entirely OOC by default, and it's entirely positive so no jackass like me runs around downvoting all of say, FourEyes' posts (strictly an example). It's just a little thing you click that brings up a one-line text box where you can provide a reason for having liked the post. Then people can click a similar icon to see the list of props given to any single post, which has a lot of advantages. It's not anonymous, it's entirely positive, and in the case of an RP post it can be a great way to show each other what we like and want more of without telling people their characters suck or whatever. Optionally there'd be an option in a user's control panel to 'view props' which would basically just show the posts they've been props'd on and let them look through for easy reference. There'd be no public record of how many times overall a user has been props'd, because it is totally irrelevant. Good writers can make bad posts, bad writers can make good posts, and props'ing is just an easy way to say "Nice job on this!" It can be used to provide simple, easy-access feedback to new players who, if they have questions about something said in a props, can then PM or ask in the VL for further information. It's so easy, and entirely constructive. |
 Harrad_01 |
Akmawt wrote:Please please please don't include a 'downvote/upvote' type of setup.
That was never the plan, so fear not. PS: dwik u r so banned. |
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dwik |
charity case bein' all
terday [DWICK DWICKCAST SYNDYKYT] da best shows on holovision |
 Pariah |
There actually is one more thing I want to see that wasn't on the original forums to my knowledge. The ability to change usernames.
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Harrad_01 |
Pariah wrote:There actually is one more thing I want to see that wasn't on the original forums to my knowledge. The ability to change usernames.
This is already an option within phpBB, but only administrators (not moderators) can apply changes. It will likely stay that way, since from my own experience users being able to change their own names gets troublesome fast. |
 Haseri |
Pretty much everything has been said, so I'll just add one thing.
A really funny reason why the board's changing. Full on meltdown between the mod's characters, death threats, yelling, entire planetary networks going dark, even if for a few seconds, in this shadow war for the control of a poky little extranet board. Or we just change and nobody acknowledges it IC. Everything is as it always has been, denizen. Continue with your day. |
 WavesHaveBroken This one is unsure what to place here. Greetings! |
Haseri wrote:Pretty much everything has been said, so I'll just add one thing.
A really funny reason why the board's changing. Full on meltdown between the mod's characters, death threats, yelling, entire planetary networks going dark, even if for a few seconds, in this shadow war for the control of a poky little extranet board. Or we just change and nobody acknowledges it IC. Everything is as it always has been, denizen. Continue with your day. Or only one character (we all know it's Spiza) knows that the board's changed, but mysteriously everyone else is completely oblivious. It's almost as if this is now a parallel universe or timeline, one virtually identical to the other one with the only differences being the look and feel of CDN and one other random and trivial matter, like the clock on the mantelpiece is now red, not blue. :P "I was blind, and I cannot say I had eyes to see the truth. I was a fool, and I cannot say I had sense to know the truth. I was lost, and I cannot say I could have found the truth. In the darkness, truth found me." |
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The_Sarcastic_Salarian |
We have always been at war with Eastheshtok.
Forgotten Daughters Foundation - [CLICK HERE to donate to the OTRAVO RELIEF FUND] Emon Spiza, owner of Aphin's Place - Level 31, Zakera Ward. Best Drinks on the Citadel. |
 Neila_Soree |
I'm just going to be basic and say that it'd be awesome to have some more basics around.
I love that this site has so much information, with most of it organized really well, that people can dig through... but some things are caught up next to more information than someone needs just to get started. See how at the top we can see our dashboards, or the main threads/forums, or the wiki? It'd just be nice to have a few more of the basics up there for quick options. ...ugh. I'm hating how I'm getting my words out right now. Here's some chat stuff:
20:20 <its_a_ghost>: I just wish it were laid out a little better.
20:20 <its_a_ghost>: The site could use a few "THE SHORT VERSION!" edits to some posts. Namely in how to get here. 20:21 <its_a_ghost>: Someone needs to go the the IRC instructions post DESPERATELY and do that. Just "THE QUICKEST WAY: Go here ( http://www.magicstar.net/chat2/ ), type in a username, and then /join #cdn !" 20:22 <its_a_ghost>: I was SO LOST staring at those IRC directions for a while. 20:22 <its_a_ghost>: Then when I finally figured it out? 20:22 <its_a_ghost>: Most of it was something I couldn't even get to because of internet shit. 20:22 <its_a_ghost>: I couldn't download things to set it up any way other than coming to this site and running it through a browser. 20:22 <its_a_ghost>: Which is BY FAR the simplest way, and someone filled me in on. 20:27 <Pariah>: Ah, here we go "Edit: I'd also like to have some form of auto-PM sent to new players/characters, with all the relevant links to IRC creation, retros, wiki, etc. A nice little 'welcome to the forum' that doesn't smother them on their first post. " 20:28 <its_a_ghost>: Or even just a QUICK LINKS section at the top of the page. So anyone can bring it up anytime. 20:29 <its_a_ghost>: I just know that CDN has a TON of information, and MOST of it is organized fairly well... 20:29 <its_a_ghost>: but most of it is also in-depth, showing all kinds of options and details... 20:29 <its_a_ghost>: and sometimes you just need to be as simple as you can, for the newbies. 20:31 <its_a_ghost>: http://www.foxkei.com/forum/ 20:31 <its_a_ghost>: See the top bar there? 20:31 <its_a_ghost>: Quick Links to member listings, rules, etc. All at the top of every page. 20:31 <its_a_ghost>: CDN right now has some of that, but MAN would it be nice to have a bit more. 20:39 <its_a_ghost>: I'm going to push for that one anyway. And mention that it's specifically for this forum. Someone needs to highlight a simple way here. 20:42 <its_a_ghost>: This forum's not gone yet. 20:42 <its_a_ghost>: I'm not saying a SITE edit. 20:42 <its_a_ghost>: I'm saying a POST edit. 20:42 <its_a_ghost>: A site edit can be saved for the new one. 20:43 <its_a_ghost>: But why leave the post with directions here more complicated for two weeks when you could make it simpler for two weeks in about 30 seconds? 20:43 <its_a_ghost>: What about all the players right now that DON'T come here? That don't know everything so well (Because it's VERY hard to track it all without the chatroom) 20:44 <its_a_ghost>: That might get completely lost when everything switches over? 20:44 <its_a_ghost>: Even if it's just to get THOSE few in here now, so they can join the community proper and follow us all to the promised land 20:44 <its_a_ghost>: It'd be worth it. ...I'm so freakin' lazy. Hopefully my thoughts make any sense in there. I'll poke around and answer questions if anyone wants to know anything specific about my nonsense. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Done. |
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The_Sarcastic_Salarian |
Just to be clear, are you talking about something like this, or something even simpler?
If that's what you're looking for, this is an organization issue and we should fix that - it was in the Mainframe as a stickied thread, but all things considered this really should be in the VL. Forgotten Daughters Foundation - [CLICK HERE to donate to the OTRAVO RELIEF FUND] Emon Spiza, owner of Aphin's Place - Level 31, Zakera Ward. Best Drinks on the Citadel. |
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Pariah |
@Harrad. Fair enough :P
The_Sarcastic_Salarian wrote:
If that's what you're looking for, this is an organization issue and we should fix that - it was in the Mainframe as a stickied thread, but all things considered this really should be in the VL.
Less sub-forums would also be ideal I think. One for the codex being discussed, one for extranet discussion and another for RP threads, and the VL of course. Any more and you risk spreading things out too much or having sub-forums that never get used for their intended purpose. edit: and the biography forum derp |
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Neila_Soree |
The_Sarcastic_Salarian wrote:Just to be clear, are you talking about something like this, or something even simpler?
I referred to that a bit, but I meant something ADDED to that, at least. Just a super quick thing in laymen's terms at the top of the post or something. It is nice to have everything listed there in the way that thread already does, so someone can see all the options they have, but for new people, it's more important to just simply get there. If that makes sense. I know a message like this would've helped me IMMENSELY when I was trying to figure it out at first: THE QUICKEST WAY TO JOIN THE CHAT: GO HERE, type in a username, and then type: /join #cdn Something simple in laymen's terms for all the new idiots like me that come in here and don't even know what "IRC" stands for, can't figure out how to get it working, or (also like in my case) didn't have the internet ability to try all those other ways at the time. Simple is good for new people, and the faster they can get to people that can help with things, the faster they'll be productive, and the better the odds of them sticking around. At least the way I see it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Done. |
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The_Sarcastic_Salarian |
Makes perfect sense. I'll bullet point that to the current thread the moment I get home, and we'll have that front and center in the next VL.
Forgotten Daughters Foundation - [CLICK HERE to donate to the OTRAVO RELIEF FUND] Emon Spiza, owner of Aphin's Place - Level 31, Zakera Ward. Best Drinks on the Citadel. |