Strolen's Citadel

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Admin Chatter

Started by manfred Mar 4, 2006 1,314 posts Locked

  1. Admin Chatter

    #1
    This shall be a thread for random talks and notes of what kind ever, not fitting other threads or topics.

    ---

    One thing that has captured my interest recently, was Kevin Cook's thread 'Dice Talk'. You know, the weird guy collecting dice. I thought it useless and harmless, but there ARE people asking stuff of him (where to get a certain dice, or how to make one, etc) and he is answering them.

    So while still weird, it is becoming useful for some of our users, which I find... neat. Amusing even. Unexpected but pleasant development.

  2. Re: Admin Chatter

    #2
    Yeah, I wanted to delete every question that was put in there so as to not encourage him.

    The diceman cometh and he has a few dice loose and rattling around upstaires.

  3. Re: Admin Chatter

    #3
    Okay. Okay. I am sorry for accidently bringing him here. (He followed the link I put in the IGW thread to his site.) He is a nut case, but he is a relatively harmless wierdo. (His social skills could use a little polishing, but he is a internet using gamer, so he has at least one strike against him and he is a fantatic about his area of interest, that is two.... ) Once he gets a clue, he seems to be okay. His topics, though of only passing interest to me, are related to gaming. He is a perfectly valid gaming thread.  We have dealt with worse and this one is no more than an annoyance we can generally ignore.

  4. Re: Admin Chatter

    #4
    I am just trying to figure out the motivation beyond "showing off."

    Maybe I should start topics on different forums and update them monthly:

    ---------------------------------

    Strolen's Citadel

    Now with over 2300 submissions.

    Many new comments to look at.



    If you have any questions....

    :)

  5. Re: Admin Chatter

    #5
    Ah... completely unrelated.  I have a request to reactivate one of the rps that got shunted into the Archive.  It's okay if I move it back to the active section, assuming that the players will be active, yes?

  6. Re: Admin Chatter

    #6
    As far as I am concerned, RP stuff is all yours again if you want it.

    Move stuff around as you wish.

    Also, you see the subforum ability with the Settings. If it makes sense to do some of that for any of the games to allow them to spread out that would be fine too. Not sure how serious any of them are and if they would benefit from being able to spread out, I rarely get in there to read what is going on.

  7. Re: Admin Chatter

    #7
    So how we all doing today?

  8. Re: Admin Chatter

    #8
    Actually, quite good.

    Work has been gentle at least until now.

  9. Re: Admin Chatter

    #9
    My life is good!  I have a job finally, and it doesn't involve dealing with real people beyond coworkers!  *happy*

  10. Re: Admin Chatter

    #10
    Ummm.. cool?

  11. Re: Admin Chatter

    #11
    I have a new job too. I am happy. It is the dream job... The dream job. I design stuff in photoshop, but mainly I code. C++ Windows API. I am a Java / ANSI C/C++ dude, so I need to learn lots and lots.

    To be honest: I love the job so much, I expect it to slip from my grasp any second. Irrational fear I guess.

    I love my new job.

    Did I mention that I love my new job?

  12. Re: Admin Chatter

    #12
    We need to go back to anonymous voting.

    We need to make the HoH votes regenerate slower.

    I want to be able to vote 2,5 on Cheka's submissions without having to defend myself in front of a grand jury.
    (just an example)

    I want people to base scores on their own opinion.

    I'd surely like signs of excellence starting to pop up around here. Scrasamax would probably look bashing covered from top to toe in bling-bling. Users with an average score of 4.4 or higher ought to get special recognition. BLING-BLING I SAY!

    ag OUT

  13. Re: Admin Chatter

    #13
    Foh-shizzle yo! Where mah bling-BLING beotch!

    I agree with AG, I would like the voting to be anony again, I feel that people being able to see my vote influences how I vote, a prime example being the latest piece from Cheka Man, the two Ma-O posts. I gave him the idea and some details and he has run with it, but I voted higher than I thought it deserved because I didnt want to hurt his feelings since he has been here and was getting back into posting (encouraging others to post!!!) and it was my idea that got him rolling.

  14. Re: Admin Chatter

    #14
    .....tilts head in thought.....

  15. Re: Admin Chatter

    #15
    http://www.strolen.com/guild/index.php/topic,2726.0.html

  16. Re: Admin Chatter

    #16
    Try that poll again... in the admin section... the answer will suprise you.  You could try it again in the general population... I think you will get a different answer.

  17. Re: Admin Chatter

    #17
    Ok, lets give it a go. No harm in it but what options do you want to ask about?

    Associate All Votes with Username
    Associate No Votes with Username

    and leave it black and white?

    Or repeat the same poll?

  18. Re: Admin Chatter

    #18
    I know I held a different opinion before. But experience has made me wiser. I no longer advocate that particular point of view (as I did in the thread Strolen linked to earlier).

    There are pros and cons to both approaches, but, really, don't you see the problems here? I don't want people to vote me highly because of who I am I.

    I want them to kick me in the spleens, if that is indeed what I deserve.

    I don't want to have to consider the person for whom I vote. I want to vote on the sub, not on the person that wrote the sub.

    I do that today with the notable exception of people who are easily hurt.

  19. Re: Admin Chatter

    #19

    Ok, lets give it a go. No harm in it but what options do you want to ask about?

    Associate All Votes with Username
    Associate No Votes with Username

    and leave it black and white?

    Or repeat the same poll?

    -Associate all voters with "VOTED" stamp, WITHOUT the actual score they assigned!
    -Associate all voters with red or green icon based on whether or not their score was 3.0 or higher

    Oh, one more idea:
    XP award revision idea:
    vote = +1 XP
    comment = +1 XP IF the comment exceeds 14 words.

  20. Re: Admin Chatter

    #20
    I like the idea of the VOTED stamp, but rather than using a red light green light to show how it was voted on, use the thumbs up or thumbs down icon if there is one. This would be less conspicuous and not make the submission a christmas tree.

    The thought of posting a sub, and seeing it blasted with red lights might be more than some posters are willing to accept.  :hyper:

  21. Re: Admin Chatter

    #21
    *thumbs up*

  22. Re: Admin Chatter

    #22
    Personally, I think I'd just prefer the VOTED stamp, without any indication of how high or low the vote was. 

  23. Re: Admin Chatter

    #23

    Oh, one more idea:
    XP award revision idea:
    vote = +1 XP
    comment = +1 XP IF the comment exceeds 14 words.


    Currently you don't get anything for just voting.
    Comments are 1XP < 300 characters and  2XP

    I don't have a problem with the vote stamp either.

  24. Re: Admin Chatter

    #24
    Associate All Votes with Username (like it is now)
    Associate No Votes with Username (show no votes at all on comments)
    Associate all voters with a VOTED icon, WITHOUT the actual score they assigned!
    Associate all voters with a VOTED icon, with one icon for > 3 and a different one for < 3

    ---for the poll
    does that cover it? If we get most votes in the last two then we can hash that out but we have a solid starting point. Likewise of the others. See what happens I suppose. I am hoping for a clear decision of some sort. Hey, I can hope.

  25. Re: Admin Chatter

    #25
    Oh, yeah. I like the idea of just a voted icon and leave it at that.

  26. Re: Admin Chatter

    #26
    I kinda see an icon that resembles the spray paint stencils used to make crates, jauntily tunred at a slight angle, perhaps 30 degrees, and done in white, kinda like it was spray stenciled on. As for the vote + or - sign, in retrospect, I think that anonymous voting would be better, with just the Yay! I voted icon.

  27. Re: Admin Chatter

    #27

    Associate All Votes with Username (like it is now)
    Associate No Votes with Username (show no votes at all on comments)
    Associate all voters with a VOTED icon, WITHOUT the actual score they assigned!
    Associate all voters with a VOTED icon, with one icon for > 3 and a different one for < 3


    For the record: The second is my favourite, the third option closely following it.

  28. Re: Admin Chatter

    #28
    No time tonight to play with any changes. If somebody wants to post that poll, feel free, else I will get to it at some point. Busy day.

  29. Re: Admin Chatter

    #29
    The third option is my favourite, followed closely by the second ;)

  30. Re: Admin Chatter

    #30
    Thank you!

    Thank you for limiting the HoH votes. The "Cheka section" on top of the main page (aka the HoH list) was really, really, really beginning to annoy me.

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    Thank you ,Strolen!

  31. Re: Admin Chatter

    #31
    I second the delirious jumping for joy.

  32. Re: Admin Chatter

    #32

  33. Re: Admin Chatter

    #33
    Oh no!? Well, look at these:



    Username: MoonHunter
    Personal Title:
    Location: SF Bay Area
    Website: http://www.openroleplaying.org/tools/tips/
    Initiated: Mar 17, 2003 12:50
    Last Sojourn: Mar 23, 2006 19:46
    Signature: MoonHunter
    Sage, Gamer, Mystic, Wit
    "The road less traveled is less traveled for a reason."
    Authentic Strolenite ®©
    Eventually posting 2000+ RPG Tips @ GameCraft.rpgcitadel.com
    View # Posts Per Page 20
    Level: 10
    Level Title: Holy Scrivener of Extreme Wit
    Experience: 12383
    HoH Nominations available: 1
    Votes available: 25

    ----------------------------------------

    Username: CaptainPenguin
    Personal Title: Bastardo!
    Location: Idaho (U.S.)
    Website:
    Initiated: Jan 23, 2003 01:20
    Last Sojourn: Mar 24, 2006 09:01
    Signature: "Get three coffins ready..." -The Man With No Name

    Currently Reading: "Wilkes: His Life and Crimes," by Winston Schoonover

    Currently Listening To: Avenged Sevenfold, "City of Evil"
    View # Posts Per Page 20
    Level: 8
    Level Title: Archmaster of skillfull Ink Slinging
    Experience: 6063
    HoH Nominations available: 1
    Votes available: 25

    -----------------------------------------

    and most importantly:

    Username: Cheka Man
    Personal Title:
    Location: Whitstable,UK
    Website:
    Initiated: Jun 21, 2004 16:17
    Last Sojourn: Mar 23, 2006 16:51
    Signature:
    View # Posts Per Page 20
    Level: 6
    Level Title: Thane Adept of Plentiful Musings
    Experience: 2916
    HoH Nominations available: 1
    Votes available: 25


    YAY!

  34. Re: Admin Chatter

    #34
    Yup, there's much less HoHs now than there used to be. Good thing that.

    ---

    Did you incidentally notice that V2 was more about functional matters, and 2.1 about design stuff? I am actually afraid this will provoke more arguing on our part, while the questions are less severe, they go even more towards our personal likes and dislikes. Don't get me started about a design that has to be perfect. ;)

    If you others have any opinions on the matter of our evolving design, join one of the current threads.

  35. Re: Admin Chatter

    #35
    Okay, one vote does not work it.  Having them renew once a week (and only last 24 hours) works pretty well.  However, since there is only ONE vote.. many members seem desperate to use it.

  36. Re: Admin Chatter

    #36
    Oh, yes, that HoH....Yes, did update that in the database. It regenerates every night still. (I forgot).  :shock:

    So let them use it, lets see what happens. Having 3 HoH makes them not want to use them?

    Nothing is going to work, you realize that right? As we continue to grow it will grow worse.

    How about anti-HoH. The ability to use your HoH to remove another post from the HoH. Wouldn't that be grand fun and non-conflict contributing.

    Going to leave it the way it is for a bit and see what happens. Two days is hardly a good experiment.

    We pretty much have most of the function so it is natural to now try and make the entire thing more presentable and easier to use. I am the first to admit I am not a good designer and can't afford 100k+ to hire a consulting team so we are just going to have to peck away and see what happens. Where there is an agreed upon design problem, we have to do something to satisfy the overall visitor. Trying to figure out how to do that through trial and error and I am not scared of a little argument....it got us this far. :)

  37. Re: Admin Chatter

    #37
    I was looking at the stats explanation on the "What is the Citadel" page, and something isn't right somewhere.  On the level definition, it says that going up in level gives you more votes of various sorts.  But every level (except Barbarian Horde) has 25 votes, and all but the very last has 1 HoH vote (the last has 11).  Now, this is either the page not being updated, or something is wrong with the actual coding.  I am not guru enough to know which.

  38. Re: Admin Chatter

    #38
    Both those things were a community decided thing, sort of.

    Votes, limiting votes was the initial idea but with the opening of V2.0 it was decided to open up the votes in order to enable many of the 100s of new posts that were being added weekly (moved from the forums into the Citadel) to get comments/votes. It has just stayed that way since then out of laziness and lack of need to actually change it back at this point.

    HoH was different up until about 4 days ago when I changed the to all 1's to try and alleviate the large amount of HoH submissions that people got sick of seeing.

  39. Re: Admin Chatter

    #39
    Well, why don't you shift the number of votes down some... giving it that graded curve. (You had it that way originally).  Nothing too drastic, but when you next shift the number of votes per level down to the original levels, nobody is going to have a total conniption.

    About the HoH.  I think, like votes, certain members, feel obligated to use every vote they have.  The people in question were rabid voters in the past. (Of course, they only vote on new things... not thinking there might be old things they could vote on).  This attitude was prevolent in the days of the change... now it seems almost outdated. Thus we can begin to reduce the number of regular votes per day back to what your originally forsaw them and adjust the HoH process.

    My take on the solution.  Either keep the original number of HoH votes or halve them per level.  The HoH is still there for 24 hours. HoH votes regenerate once a week.  This way people can "point to" something cool, but there is no way to flood the system every day.  More active posters/ those of higher level, can just highlight posts more often. Since the mods and such tend to be higher levels, you can be assured that things will be more to what you expect.   

    I would push for the ability to HoH your own posts as well at like 7th level or such. That way you can highlight things you have done. Sure there might be excesses, but social controls... through admin/ mod society.. will keep this from running amok. 

    HoH is here for us to "show case" things and stir the pot so people will look at certain posts.  It does that reasonably well. It is only when there are dozens of them that it seems to cheapen the effect.  With the HoH seach function working a bit better. I think it will begin to even out.

    Oh and can we even out the level progression a little.  I have a huge chunk of the posts, in terms of percentage, and I am 10th.  I have a huge gap to progress to 11th.  Perhaps evening out the curve all the way through the system might be better.  Might I suggest you look at a level based game you really like the progression on (It would be Tri-Tac's Fringeworthy for me) and use that as a basis for your curve. Scroll posts should also count in some way towards progression.

  40. Re: Admin Chatter

    #40
    Good point on the votes. Messed with them a little tonight.

    The more I think of the replicating of votes making it weekly, the more it makes sense to me. Just have to figure out the math to identify weeks since the script runs nightly. Probably something divisible without a remainder or something but haven't thought too hard on it yet.

    Mixed feelings about voting for yourself though, especially only allowing higher levels to do it. Probably aren't going to convince me on that one.

    Level progression: On that, unless you spoon feed me, I am never going to get around to that. ;) I don't have the experience or the time to redo that one when there is so much else I really need to get going on the site.

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