Master and Grandmaster Forums

[Al]

Just a thought, are we going to put these in here? Were they useful or not? I am not sure that they were very useful, especially as there became so many Masters and GMs.

What do you all think?

[Beowuuf]

I would say for the interrum site, not really. It's good to have a section which rewards members who have made a contribution where they can start to discuss serious issues with the site even if they are not moderators or staff, but I think this forum has less features and so far less members so all the discussion can be in the standard forums without it gettign in the way or being inappropriate for general viewing

Plus, incase no one has noticed, the password screen is a catch all - so if you are logged into one (like the warrior forum) you aren't logged into another (like the site forum). So for now probably the less password protected forums the better!

[eviltb]

TBH I dont think they are needed on here. There are seperate forums for various classes, but I dont think we need to segregate even further by giving master/gradmaster forums, especially with a member count below 40.

[Simey]

I think we may already be veering towards this site being a little too much like TotS, so I reckon keeping it as slim and as simple is possible is the best option. Recreating TotS as closely as possible should not be the intention of this site to my mind. All the great RP stuff like classes and ranks and all the wonderful details like that that made TotS so terrific should be put aside until we're back on TotS.

[Doomy]

Agreed. But even then I think we should look at dropping certain aspects which weren't really all that useful.
As someone who came to TotS after it was already well-established, I have to say it was rather overwhelming at first. It had become far too elaborate which impacted on user-friendliness, IMO.

At the very minimum, I suggest that once TotS goes back up the homepage needs redesigned so it is easier for newcomers to navigate.

[Al]

doomy said:

Agreed. But even then I think we should look at dropping certain aspects which weren't really all that useful.
As someone who came to TotS after it was already well-established, I have to say it was rather overwhelming at first. It had become far too elaborate which impacted on user-friendliness, IMO.

At the very minimum, I suggest a complete redesign of the homepage so it is easier for newcomers to navigate.

Agreed, I was put off joining for some time because of that - it was two members from PA who got me to TOTS (NH and DF)

[Doomy]

Similarly, you and Beowuuf had to show me around TotS because I was completely bamboozled at first.

[Beowuuf]

I must admit that was what overwhelmed me at first so I didn't go to the site for quite a while after first seeing it - hence why I knew exactly how overwhelmed you were Doomy!

However, wouldn't want to remove the complexity, that's what makes the palce so interesting to keep coming back to and interacting around. I guess what we need is some newbie filter (and the default skin that removed all the experience bars and graphics might be a start to that) that allows you to browse the site, then decide to let the full madness gradually come upon you - oepning up the shop buttons, money, rank badges, etc

I guess the insistence. fun game though it was, for everyone to pounce onto new people to join a class might not help. Then again, I dont' think epople posted o nthe dormatory til they get slightly up to speed, did they?

[Doomy]

The Dormitory was the first place I posted, IIRC.
A "diet TotS" version of the site is a brilliant idea - it would allow much faster browsing and cleaner layouts, while the roleplayers could turn on all the atmospheric bells and whistles.

[zipp]

I agree with Doomy that certain aspects of the site had become redundant but were still overwhelming. For instance, the gold and experience system seemed like nice bells and whistles, but they didn't do anything, and more than once I had new members contact me, concerned that they had to keep an eye on those things.

Basically, it started out overwhelming, and then they minute they discover they don't do anything, they become irrelevant to all but the most hardcore TOTSers. I think we can do better than that on a redesign.

I will say that one nice thing about this proboards forum is that it reminds us of what TOTS was really about. A place for people with a common interest to meet. A forum shouldn't have much of a learning curve, and there shouldn't have to be "newbs."

[Maerin]

Just to respond to the question that started this topic, I think it worth pointing out that, at least as I recall on the Master's forum, there were only two threads particularly active:

1. The thread welcoming new Master's to the forum.
2. The thread discussing possible new medal recipients.

Since the first was, well, rather redundant, and the second has no applicability anymore, I would concur that this forum and community needs neither.

[zipp]

maerin said:

Just to respond to the question that started this topic, I think it worth pointing out that, at least as I recall on the Master's forum, there were only two threads particularly active:

1. The thread welcoming new Master's to the forum.
2. The thread discussing possible new medal recipients.

Since the first was, well, rather redundant, and the second has no applicability anymore, I would concur that this forum and community needs neither.

Also, as much as it was respected as a reward for long term and contributing members, the boards also served to create an unneccesary hierarchy which defenitively seperated new members from old.

Like Maerin said, they weren't actually adding anything to the site, or discussing things that were truly relevant to only old members, so I'm all for their removal, and would be in support of a new forum not having them, either.

[Beowuuf]

Well, separated non-power posting new members from old, I think there are a few of us here who saw that place pretty quickly. Even then though, it was after we'd started to get to know the site and peple on it so could post meaningful suggestions

[zipp]

beowuuf said:

Well, separated non-power posting new members from old, I think there are a few of us here who saw that place pretty quickly. Even then though, it was after we'd started to get to know the site and peple on it so could post meaningful suggestions

But the most meaningful suggestion were always posted in general forums, to the board at large so anyone could respond to them.

Remember, some of our oldest members were given access to the moderator boards last. I just don't think they are a good measure of whose opinion is valuable to the site. As I said, since the most useful suggestions were always posted to the board in general, others seemed to innately agree with this.

So I don't think they are needed in a new site. That's my two cents. Medals were a much better way of recognizing members.

[Al]

zipp said:

So I don't think they are needed in a new site. That's my two cents. Medals were a much better way of recognizing members.

Agreed