House keeping and reporting threads

[Catiline]

Quirites.

The quality of this forum has declined rapidly over the past couple of months. I have long held that I avoid closing or editing threads, yet I've done so more in the last month than in the prvious 6. That is not a happy state of affairs. I'm also in the happy position of having Nelson at my side and and assistant moderators to back us up. That I should be wielding the stick more often is, under these circumstances not a good thing.

Some things for you to bear in mind.

1) Trolling, flaming and baiting are verboten anywhere on .org. Some of the behaviour in here recently would shame the backroom - where one would expect a more rowdy atmosphere. All such behaviour will cease. If you cannot post in this forum on a subject directly pertaining to a game, then do not post. If you feel a question can only be answered by some iteration of 'Dude you're shit' then keep your opinion to yourself.

2) If you have a question then please provide enough information to enable other patrons to respond seperately' why do I keep losing/' is not gonig to help you. Treat this as a version of the apothecary. You can't be helped without full specs there.

3) Stay on topic, leave any vendettas at the door

4) There are undeniably some great mods out there. This is why they have their own forums - use them. Again the people posting there are better suited to help you with any issues, and they are the reevant part of .org. This is not the place for pissing contestests about which mod is better

5) Controlled and reasoned criticism of the game is fine, abuse of the developwers is not, and will not be tolerated.


I will edit, and I will warn for infringements until we've established some sort of order. I do not want to wield my moderating stick, but if the current situation continues I will feel no compunction in doing so. I have PMd this link to several of you who I feel might benefit from reading it.

Feel free to ask any questions. I'm sure Nelson will add some suggestions. All this really requires is an adult attitude and a modicum of fore thought. What a crazy experiment...

[Spartiate]

I was wondering Cataline as RTW seems to have more mods at this stage in it's existence than either MTW or STW did, with more on the way and being such an integral part of RTW single player mode if maybe it could be tolerated in this forum.I play many of these mods as do most of the members who frequent the forums and we enjoy discussing the merits, pros and cons of each mod, how we managed in them and learn of ones that other members have tried out.It also seems to be a case that these mods are mostly an improvement on the original game rather than mods in the sense that NTW was or even BKBs supermod which was a complete over-haul of the entire game and every unit there-in.
What i'm saying is that for us this IS RTW single-player we are discussing and i think the Colosseum will become a lot quieter if we cannot post about our experiences in various mods here and encourage members frustrated with the Vanilla game with tales of our exploits in said mod.
By the way i am in no way criticising your decision on the mod issue.Just wondering if the rules on it are set in stone and if they are not for some clarification on what we (i) can get away with.
Many thanks and appreciation for the great job you do here.

Sincerely
Spartiate

[Catiline]

It's more the - 'i'm using RTR version 6.7 and I've had this problem' or 'lets all play the same version and see what happens' threads. THere are other forums for those here at .org. i've no issues with people suggesting mods as solutions so long as it doesn't derail threads from there purpose.

[Nelson]

Conforming to the guidelines Catiline posted should not present a problem to any patron of good intent. Common sense and civility demand no less nor will we settle for less.

The Org staff is of one mind on this issue. We want our site to be the best that it can be. Help us to make it so.

[RomanCavalry]

are ANY threads related to CA removed? or just those of a negative nature?

this site seems to (recently) be following in the footsteps of totalwar.com in that it just convenienty shuts up anyone who discusses negative issues related to CA and the game.

obviously that wouldn't be "making the site the best you can".

[sapi]

are ANY threads related to CA removed? or just those of a negative nature?
this site seems to (recently) be following in the footsteps of totalwar.com in that it just convenienty shuts up anyone who discusses negative issues related to CA and the game.
obviously that wouldn't be "making the site the best you can".

This site needs that - i'm sick of coming to the colosseum and finding 10+ different threads about how the ai sucks, the load/save bug etc. - just shut up!

We do not need to be reminded of some of rtw's problems, we have enough threads about them as it is.

Maybe we should start a complaints thread, everyone flames there, and those of us who come to the org for other reasons can just ignore it.

Grow up, people

[Uesugi Kenshin]

There has been enough complaining about CA and it is more productive to give suggestions of how to make the game better. Instead of focusing on how RTW is not as good as it could or should be people can start threads such as the City State mdoe threads. These threads give advice on how to make the game more difficult and interesting.

[RomanCavalry]

it's one thing to troll, it's another to intelligently discuss an issue that hasn't gone away.

I mean what's worse...the fact that people keep discussing the same problems with the game, or the fact that CA still hasn't fixed it?

the backwards attitude here (not matter of opinion, it's backwards) always leaves me scratchig my head.

[Catiline]

are ANY threads related to CA removed? or just those of a negative nature?

The answer is no. We do close threads that breach the rules of .org on occassion but only as a last resort. As to deletion - I can't remember the last time I did that.

Rerread my post. There is nothing wrong with constructive discussion and criticism. we're not sahutting up dissent, but we are requiring that it's considered, reasoned and polite. THere will be no abuse of CA, no negative campaigning against the game you are apparently here to celebrate...

[Armoryk]

Really, it seems a simple enough set of guidelines, not backward at all (that's a fact, not an opinion, by the way)....

We're here in the community to discuss a game. We're posting in the single player community to talk about shared experiences that we have playing that game. Some of us come here for the tips and the viewpoints of the other members. Some others seem to come here to post negative opinions about the actions of others.

It's really very tiresome to have some people use this board as a vehicle for venting their spleens at CA developers, or worse, board moderators.

A proposed rule of thumb for "problem-based" threads: If it's something that the community can actually help you with by identifying a problem that can be avoided or worked around, then post it here. If it's an issue that doesn't seem to have been discussed as a problem before, and it might help to point it out, post it here. If the problem is based in someone else's behaviors or traits or personality, keep it under your hat. We can't do anything about it here, it only brings the quality of the conversation down to quibbles and flames, and creates a negative atmosphere.

On your first point, Catiline, I think the change in tone is connected to the life-cycle of the product. As we get more experienced as a community with a game and with each other--and as new membership slows down-- there's simply less "news" and the discussion becomes more about the members of the community that it is about the game itself.

I've purchased the game fairly recently, and I've found this community to be very helpful. I'm still at the stage where I spend more time playing than I should...but all things pass.

[Mongoose]

I am all for people bashing RTW...but couldn't we do it in 2-3 threads? rather then 5-10?

[Dutch_guy]

why not just 1 thread, then the n00bs - respect )- wouldn't have to post a thread about '' AI sucks '' Romans overpowerd "etc etc time and time again.

A thread Kind of like the ''RTW bugs thread '' would be an option

[Viking]

The bug thread exist already, and it`s well used

Edit: Ah, ok. I misread

[Dutch_guy]

I know Viking , I meant that the thread that I was talking about could be just like the bug thread.
A sticky, 1 sticky, just for the ranting / flaming if you will.

That way we won't get those ''I don't like .. '' threads that are filling the colosseum, then we would have just 1 rant thread.

[sapi]

Yeh - a single thread titled "noobs come here to rant/flame/ruin the colosseum for everyone" would help so much...
//dreams

[Mikeus Caesar]

are ANY threads related to CA removed? or just those of a negative nature?

this site seems to (recently) be following in the footsteps of totalwar.com in that it just convenienty shuts up anyone who discusses negative issues related to CA and the game.

obviously that wouldn't be "making the site the best you can".

There's no problem with complaining about something or other, but when you start comparing them to Nazi Germany, then you're going too far.

[sapi]

You've summed that up exactly, Mikeus Caesar (though the reference to nazi germany may annoy some, it's about right)

[Kekvit Irae]

I'd like to redesign Rule 3, if I may...

3. Stay on topic, to include creating threads or discussions that relate to the RTW single player experience. Questions/tactics/whatever about mods, technical problems about your PC, discussions about multiplayer, and general chat will be moved to other subforums where they are more welcome. Discussing mods is a grey area, as tactics in a mod could also be translated into the unmodded version of RTW, but the rule of thumb is: if it has to do with modifications, it goes in the RTW General Modification subforum. Let's keep this subforum free from redirected/moved threads.

[Kekvit Irae]

And if anyone has a question on weither or not a thread should exist here or not, do NOT be afraid to ask a moderator. That's what we are here for.

[marcus aquila]

Hello to all of the fellow fnatics out there....a question, remedial perhaps.
I seem to have frequent rebellion problems in these two cities regardless of having large armies and steadily building infrastructure...what am i doing wrong? Also, is it necessary to keep certain outposts of the ones empire loaded with troops? Isnt it possible to keep the troops mobile and in the field rather than as a garrison?

Your wisdom is appreciated!!

[pezhetairoi]

er...marcus? this is a housekeeping thread. You would do better to put this in some other thread about rebels. I know there's one in the Colosseum now.

As it is, though, there's too little restraint practiced on this forum. If people would just try to laugh things off more often the forums could be such a nicer place.

But, mods, are you saying the Colosseum is only for Cherry Vanilla players? Because from observation it looks as if the Colossum is sort of the central gathering point for players trading tips, whether cherry vanilla or not. As long as they leave off promotion of their own mods, I don't see why it's wrong to post 'I'm playing RTR 6.0 and I have this problem' threads...

[sunsmountain]

I have a feeling that members of The Creative Assembly usually visit this forum, over twcenter.net & totalwar.com, exactly because this forum is civil, non-spamming and kind.

However, recent development (RTW: BI) makes everybody a bit giddy and i'm afraid you'll have to suck it up, Catiline. I'm sure that a month after release everything will be orderly as you like it.

[Kekvit Irae]

Reporting a post will send an email to all the moderators of that paticular forum, so when we (the moderators) are not currently at the forum, we will be able to see when trouble arises. However, to avoid report abuse, here are some one of the things you SHOULD report:

• Foul/Obscene Language
• Threads in the wrong forum
• Racial comments/slurs
• Anything violating The Org's policies

...and a list of what NOT to report:

• Asking to close/delete a thread for reasons other than the above
• Sigs higher than the forum limit (these can be corrected with a polite PM to the offender)

Remember, the Colosseum is a forum for discussion of the Single Player portion of Rome: Total War (and the expansion). As such, the follow threads should be reported so they can be moved to their proper location:

• Announcements and discussions of modifications (SPQR, RTR, EB, etc). These go into the RTW Modification forum. The exception, however, is modifications such as Bug Fixer, as they are more along the lines of "unofficial patches" rather than mods.
• Technical support. These go into the Apothocary.
• Storywriting. These go into the Mead Hall.
• Discussion about the forum itself. These go into the Watchtower.