Author Topic: Idea for restructuring the forums (Read 15533 times)

webhead · « **on:** May 30, 2011, 10:06:37 PM »

I think I've already gotten all the input on this that I'm going to get from the select few people I've shown this to, so I'm opening it up to anyone and everyone now.

The idea here is that I think some of the existing forums contain threads of many different topics, and separating them out better could help people find things easier/faster. Additionally, it could help bolster community involvement by providing separate areas for certain topics that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle.

This is an EtherPad document. Changes you make can be seen in real-time as you type (if anyone else is online watching), and there is also a chat box to discuss the document as you make changes.
If you want credit for any changes you make, be sure to type your name into the box on the top-left.

http://piratepad.net/rIfecpOYwu

Basically I'm just looking for opinions and recommendations.

HaRmonY · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2011, 11:10:40 PM »

when i've time i will have a look for pirate-pad.

SkaDooSh · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2011, 12:13:59 AM »

I think this is a great idea. It should be easy to implement, though it might be a pain to sort and move all of the old threads into the new subsections.

I think the Mapping section should only contain the guides, tutorials, etc. with subsections of Beta, Completed, and then the Mapping Committee Discussion.

And maybe make the Clans, Matches, and Tournaments more separate as well. Making them into three different subsections.

payl · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2011, 04:07:15 AM »

I personally think, that isn't so needed and it take much effort to move just lastest topic into new categories. Idea itself is good, but rather than moving all topics, there should be something called "old forum" where all old topics stay (of course, readonly).

f3l1x · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2011, 06:01:59 AM »

Quote from: payl on May 31, 2011, 04:07:15 AM

I personally think, that isn't so needed and it take much effort to move just lastest topic into new categories. Idea itself is good, but rather than moving all topics, there should be something called "old forum" where all old topics stay (of course, readonly).

Not only your ideas are awesome and perfect. This is imho great idea. Yes, it took much time but on the other hand, new forum will be cleaner, faster and useful.

payl · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2011, 06:18:52 AM »

Quote from: f3l1x on May 31, 2011, 06:01:59 AM

Yes, it took much time but on the other hand, new forum will be cleaner, faster and useful.

If you look carefully, you will see that 'general discusion' have 87 pages, i don't think anyone will move every single topic... Or, we can remove old topics, but i think that creating 'old' section will be better.

Quote from: f3l1x on May 31, 2011, 06:01:59 AM

Not only your ideas are awesome and perfect.

Why do you think that i think so?!

Chucki · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2011, 06:27:12 AM »

Isn't there an option to select & move all threads?

HaRmonY · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2011, 06:52:37 AM »

Quote from: SkaDooSh on May 31, 2011, 12:13:59 AM

I think the Mapping section should only contain the guides, tutorials, etc. with subsections of Beta, Completed, and then the Mapping Committee Discussion.

And maybe make the Clans, Matches, and Tournaments more separate as well. Making them into three different subsections.

great idea. but i think we needn't the categorie "Matches"
I would say we make "Matches & Clans" and Tournaments.

webhead · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2011, 09:00:06 AM »

Quote from: SkaDooSh on May 31, 2011, 12:13:59 AM

it might be a pain to sort and move all of the old threads into the new subsections.

Quote from: payl on May 31, 2011, 06:18:52 AM

i don't think anyone will move every single topic...

actually its sorta fun, to me, to organize the forums -- but yes, it would certainly be a lot of work. I would probably do it, but not all in one day

Quote from: SkaDooSh on May 31, 2011, 12:13:59 AM

I think the Mapping section should only contain the guides, tutorials, etc. with subsections of Beta, Completed, and then the Mapping Committee Discussion.

good idea, why don't you put it in?

Quote from: HaRmonY on May 31, 2011, 06:52:37 AM

great idea. but i think we needn't the categorie "Matches"
I would say we make "Matches & Clans" and Tournaments.

This is how I originally had it, but jitspoe said there's not enough tournament activity to warrant a separate forum for it.

pvtjimmy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2011, 09:17:08 AM »

I think the idea isn't that bad at all, but pity the one that has to do the sorting out. Furthermore, I'm not sure whether the new setup will decrease the amount of "less talented" people, who do not know how to use the search-button properly.

I think it would already help to filter and sort the help section. I don't know whether it's possible, and if it would help, but I think it would be very helpful to make sticky posts with the most common questions, separated by main problems, like "global login account issues", "server issues", etc. Furthermore, I'd definitely lock and move topic with all questions answered to some kind of "resolved area", to prevent them from being opened in the next few years (probably by someone who didn't use the about-to-come sticky's

)

HaRmonY · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2011, 10:12:34 AM »

@webhead: ok. I will post there a 1on1-Cup in next time (:

webhead · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2011, 11:18:59 AM »

I should have known that some immature people would go on there and do things like delete sections and add spam. Please quit.

Rick · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2011, 05:58:53 PM »

Quote from: webhead on May 31, 2011, 11:18:59 AM

I should have known that some immature people would go on there and do things like delete sections and add spam. Please quit.

It's the DP community, what did you expect?

webhead · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2015, 06:13:52 PM »

Hey jitspoe! I've revisited this document and made some more changes -- including a step-by-step implementation plan to make it super easy for you!
What do you think of it now?

As before, any opinions/feedback/tweaks are welcome from anyone.

jitspoe · « **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2015, 10:51:52 PM »

I did a bit of rearranging. I don't want to create too many subforums/categories as then it becomes a bit ambiguous where you should post certain threads, or sometimes there's just not enough content to make them worthwhile and it's better to have a couple active forums than a whole bunch with just a post or 2. Let me know if there are any you feel strongly about.

webhead · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2015, 01:38:29 AM »

Awesome!!

I think having the "Help and Support Graveyard" would at least be helpful on a temporary basis until I/Cameron/other mods get the other two H&S subforums under control.
Also, I do feel strongly about the new subforum I called "Community Development", but I'm not sure what name would be best -- I'm not feeling that name strongly enough to press for it.

In any case, I've updated the document to reflect what you've done, so feel free to refer to that.

Cameron · « **Reply #16 on:** August 18, 2015, 02:10:03 AM »

Quote from: webhead on August 18, 2015, 01:38:29 AM

I think having the "Help and Support Graveyard" would at least be helpful on a temporary basis until I/Cameron/other mods get the other two H&S subforums under control.

Agreed. Temporarily would be nice to sort the resolved/unresolved, then the unresolved can be moved back into the main board. Also, to prevent confusion about where to post while the sorting process is going on, the temporary board could have permissions that don't allow thread creation. I think there's a board here like that anyway, from memory its feature votes?

jitspoe · « **Reply #17 on:** August 18, 2015, 08:45:50 PM »

Quote from: webhead on August 18, 2015, 01:38:29 AM

Awesome!!

I think having the "Help and Support Graveyard" would at least be helpful on a temporary basis until I/Cameron/other mods get the other two H&S subforums under control.
Also, I do feel strongly about the new subforum I called "Community Development", but I'm not sure what name would be best -- I'm not feeling that name strongly enough to press for it.

In any case, I've updated the document to reflect what you've done, so feel free to refer to that.

I don't know that I really want to separate community and official development, though. Ideally, we'd have talented people contributing to all aspects of the game, and some of these contributions would make it into the official builds. The forum divide is basically "map development" and "<everything else> development". I don't know that there's really enough official development content to warrant its own forum. What's the benefit of separating the community development?

I added a Help & Support Archive (Sounded better than "Graveyard", as that implies a large number of help requests jut die).

flamer · « **Reply #18 on:** August 18, 2015, 08:58:35 PM »

On the go, you could always add a ''Review previous forum bans'' and unban NavyseaL from the forums. I like the idea.

webhead · « **Reply #19 on:** August 18, 2015, 10:08:36 PM »

Quote from: jitspoe on August 18, 2015, 08:45:50 PM

I added a Help & Support Archive (Sounded better than "Graveyard", as that implies a large number of help requests jut die).

Haha, good point I guess. Thanks.

And about development, I guess my idea is more about separating threads about the game's actual code and things that could potentially make it into the distribution vs. things that are blatantly unofficial / side projects / addons with narrower appeal or less polish... Is that making any sense??

For example, let's say several people want to make and distribute their own menu packs. They would do so in something like a Community Dev subforum – but then, let's say you liked one of them so well you wanted to include it in the game as default; in that case, I suppose that thread would be moved from community dev to general dev.