ORG, TWC, and the Official Forum - what would the ORG specialize in?

[Axalon]

Interesting thread… In more ways then one… Anyways....

The greatest contribution anyone can give to the Org is simply to post. The more people post, the more it encourages others to post. The less people post, the less incentive there is for others to post.

Your assessment does have some merit - to a degree. The problem is that this view it is too simplistic and limited. It is not a matter of just posting, it also a matter of what we are posting as well. That “what” is more important then the actual post as such. If it were not so, we could all start spamming right now and everything would be just hunky-dory here… And even if some people here are very able spammers at times - the reality is that it is nowhere enough to create any circumstances that would somehow answer or solve the real questions here. In short it just fails to truly address the actual questions of this thread. Namely…“Why should I come here?”, “Why should I post?”, “What makes it worthwhile and attractive to do both - here?” All these questions are warranted to ask and the very reason this thread exist’s in the first place – as I understand it….

Staff alone cannot sustain all the conversation, the members themselves need to help out.

This is true, but yet again only to a limited degree… Now, in order for that to happen somehow - the people responsible of this site - must also be able to offer some sort of reason or motivation as for why the members should do so in the first place…. As long as that aspect is not truly resolved you will never have a real change of current circumstances - this regardless what anybody do or promise here.

If anyone seriously wants to help the Org improve, you can easily do it by making an effort to write a post or two every day in a TW forum.

This is also true, to a degree… Again it is too limited… Again it fails to truly and properly address the questions raised in post:1. “Why should I come here?”, “Why should I post?” “What makes it worthwhile and attractive to do both - here?” And this even if all people were to actually do the stuff outlined - the questions would still be essentially unanswered all the same.


Now, I agree with you, TinCow, upon that this place/site should indeed stick to the "TW-framwork" and I do believe there is a future for that somehow. However that framework needs to be defined - openly, properly and clearly - and once that is done - acted upon accordingly.

As for the rest above, I essentially interpret that stuff - rightly or wrongly - as some sort of argument pro "status quo" which is the last thing I want here. In the event that I am right about that, I can only say... Unless you guys (read ORG-brass) are not seriously willing to listen and honestly re-examine your current doctrines – the very doctrines that obviously have heavily influenced and shaped the supposedly unwanted realities that this board has today - then all this is basically pointless. If so, I fail to see why we should even bother to discuss this at all?

I mean, I (and possibly others) may very well have some few ideas and suggestions that could set this site apart from the rest, however all that is meaningless unless you guys don't really want things to change here, right? So, my question to ORG-brass is - are you serious in this discussion or not? Or is it just for show? Because discussing colors of thanks-buttons, avatars etc. etc. does not set this place apart, it does not truly attempt to address the actual questions essentially raised in post 1... “Why should I come here?”, “Why should I post?” “What makes it worthwhile and attractive to do both - here?”

So, I wonder... Are you - the ORG-brass - willing to actually listen here and prepared to change current doctrines, for real? Y/N?

(BTW, I am saying this nicely)


- A

[TinCow]

So, I wonder... Are you - the ORG-brass - willing to actually listen here and prepared to change current doctrines, for real? Y/N?

Absolutely. I'm not sure if people have really noticed, but the Org has changed more in the past year than it did in the previous five years. We want to keep this place alive, so if you've got actual plans that can be implemented we are eager to hear them.

[Beskar]

So, I wonder... Are you - the ORG-brass - willing to actually listen here and prepared to change current doctrines, for real? Y/N?

Slightly unfair question. It assumes that the volunteers at the Org have twaddled their thumbs, refusing to do anything to make the experience better, when things are constantly being looked at and changes are being made, most notably, the Org "brass" itself.

There are some fantastic support facilities currently deployed and are being deployed for Mod creators, Vidya-Crowd, and other content creation aspects of the TW series which look quite exciting. There have been big shifts in policies, especially with a major staff change-over which has brought differences. When I first joined, the Backroom was a place where you had to be vetted and approved, there was even a "junior member" rank where you wasn't even allowed to edit your own posts and had to demonstrate yourself. Now, there are no such ranks, people can freely come here and freely contribute, the Org is a far less rigid and far more fluid.

Admittedly, some changes haven't moved as fast as I have liked them in some aspects, then there are other changes which people have proposed which I personally disagreed with. But to answer your question more directly, if you want to feel listened to on the Org, then this is currently the best time in it's history to make those valuable contributions and be heard.

[edyzmedieval]

Absolutely. I'm not sure if people have really noticed, but the Org has changed more in the past year than it did in the previous five years. We want to keep this place alive, so if you've got actual plans that can be implemented we are eager to hear them.

Definitely agreed here. Lots of changes have been implemented by TinCow and the group.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I think the first thing that needs adressing is the .org's blatant racism towards the Japanese.

Top-notch thread here btw, can't believe I missed this. I like how Sasaki Kojiro became "Saigo", echoes of Bartix there, nice.

[johnhughthom]

Definitely agreed here. Lots of changes have been implemented by TinCow and the group.

Seconded. I have been a member here for nearly five years, and lurked a good three or four before actually signing up, the past year or so has easily been the most productive in terms of staff efforts to improve the org. If I had an idea, I would certainly feel comfortable bringing it forward, and confident it would be assessed fairly by the staff.

[Axalon]

Absolutely. I'm not sure if people have really noticed, but the Org has changed more in the past year than it did in the previous five years. We want to keep this place alive, so if you've got actual plans that can be implemented we are eager to hear them.

Ok then... I'll try to write it down somehow...

It assumes that the volunteers at the Org have twaddled their thumbs, refusing to do anything to make the experience better, when things are constantly being looked at and changes are being made, most notably, the Org "brass" itself.

Not necessarily, I think it is a matter of applied perspective. However at this point, we do have bigger fish to worry about then that (I will not deny you that attempts to change somehow has indeed been made - as outlined - and at least in some limited regards I certainly do too believe it is for the better). What truly matters here is that I (and all others) have had a straight answer, both from you and TinCow - loud and clear. Now, I'll act accordingly and somehow post up some ideas for you guys to ponder upon and I will discuss them with you - once I have something "to bring to the table" so to speak.

There are some fantastic support facilities currently deployed and are being deployed for Mod creators,

Such as? I honestly don't have a clue what that exactly means... This could be interesting...

... Vidya-Crowd ...

Help me out here because I don't even have a clue what that means? I can only do wild guesses here. Sorry...

, and other content creation aspects of the TW series which look quite exciting.

Such as? (I'm honestly asking)


Anyways, I'll try to write some stuff down somehow...

- A

[Beskar]

Such as? I honestly don't have a clue what that exactly means... This could be interesting...

I am unfortunately not the best person to go into details as I have been merely "Looking over the shoulder" so to speak. But I believe we are assembling effectively a "Modders Toolbox" of sorts, such as offering File Sharing services. @frogbeastegg is person who should probably speak about this.

Help me out here because I don't even have a clue what that means? I can only do wild guesses here. Sorry...

I might be using the term incorrectly, but I basically it is Video-Game-Videos. This might be replays, streaming, or even videos about games. Example of where to access this on the forum is here:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/media.php

Such as? (I'm honestly asking)

Have to tie that into the answer of the first question.

But as a general answer, feel free to bring forward suggestions, from my limited experience behind the scenes (I haven't been a volunteer team member myself that long), if a good idea comes up and it is feasible to implement, then it will most likely occur.

[frogbeastegg]

How about changing Thanks to red or something more obvious and perhaps a passionate icon? Or move it to the right so people notice it it while clicking reply.

We'll take another look at the system, see what we can do. I agree that the current system is not perfect.

Another way to encourage people to give thanks is to have a "thanks received" and "thanks given" counter for each member.

We tried that on one of our test versions. A lot of people complained because they felt it was too close to a reputation system.

Sainty contributors who require no thanks or acknowledgement only come once every century.

Precisely. One simple "Thank you!" can mean a lot - there's a reason why it's considered a vital part of polite conversation out in the real world. Too often people's efforts go unrecognised, people don't take the time to post some thanks. The button system was supposed to help counter this by making it possible for people to show appreciation without feeling like spammers.

I am unfortunately not the best person to go into details as I have been merely "Looking over the shoulder" so to speak. But I believe we are assembling effectively a "Modders Toolbox" of sorts, such as offering File Sharing services. @frogbeastegg is person who should probably speak about this.

That one died a slow death due to lack of interest amongst those we hoped would use it.