Org Promotion

[Axalon]

I am skeptical that an index restructuring would do any real good. The current indexing was done because it was so hard to find specific subforums for mods and stuff, so I dont think it can be blamed for our declining user base.

You can be skeptical all you want... That won't change the fact that the index is a major part of the problem - if you truly can't see that, then you are in full denial. We have had several years of general decline and it has clearly played a major part of it. The activity dropped sharply right after it was introduced in 2012 and it has essentially never recovered from it. Things has only gotten worse ever since that point (it has damn near killed my sub-forum for instance). The two are clearly connected, obviously its not some supposed "persistent coincidence" that "won't go away"... Its obviously hurting this site, bad... It also disables this site to actually compete with, or offer an alternative to, other TW-sites. While the CA official TW-site made itself irrelevant and a marketing-joke (now more then ever), the TWC is not. The TWC offers better coverage and infrastructure in all regards except for MTW1 and STW1, in these instances it essentially suck as much as this site does (and basically every other site for that matter). BTW people still play those games, imagine that... And as long as they do, they will also be interested in a place that deals with, and covers them in detail, providing stomping grounds and places for discussing it, and without being forced or relegated into a hidden corner of utter obscurity, for simply wanting to do that. All it takes are two serious sections on the index and this place will offer something unique on da entire internetz, right there. Its a virtual freebees, just waiting to be picked up and realized. Yes, it won't bring hordes of people, but it sure as hell will bring some, and more folk here then what this place got now... Its a start, and it is in the right direction, for a change. The maintenance for it will be easy too. Most importantly, it will be competitive and offering something unique, totally unavailable elsewhere. Just set it up, and leave it. Attach 2 moderators to each section (in case someone does not like a particular moderator - it happens - then they can always turn to the other one).

Then lets do that for all games, provide the infrastructure and have it ready for instant use. Let nature have its course. As long as people play the games somehow, people will come, and they will use it. If nothing else, as to serve their own petty needs like "help me with blabla"... It never fails... And some might even stay and begin to build up traffic and a micro community around that game. Having the infrastructure ready for instant use - allows all this, it enables it. The absence of it does not. As simple as that. Obviously, some sections will be larger and more popular then others, but that is natural - its ok - don't worry about that, the site will still benefit regardless of size - just provide the infrastructure and let nature have it course. It sure beats what we got now...

In some 4-5 years down the road, this site could then be a very different place for sure. People will still play and mod these games, and they will still want to go somewhere for it, why not provide them the option of this site? If it can offer attractive and serious enough settings sections for these games, treating each game with equality and respect - people will come - not in hordes, but they will come. As simple as that.

Point is, its going to take something massive to grow our membership and I just dont know what that would be.

You are absolutely right... It will take something massive and initially it will probably be spelled "new index", and "individual sections", and "reboot the TW-focus", and "apply and enforce game-egalitarianism", and "new priorities and practices", and "recognition of micro communities". I gathered that you guys in staff don't like any of that, but that is essentially what it takes.

- A