MP to Action Points

#1

Just a thought... A small epithany actually.

Action points, not magic points.

By making this mental shift, we stop thinking about them in the way we have been think about them and they serve the purpose they should have... to limit splatters (those who splat a number of small posts in an attempt to boost their standings on the board) and promote idea posts. The creation of the chatter areas is a step in that direction. (The word game is a classic example of splatting... a pointless game that is an excuse to generate a ton of posts with little to no effort).

Base action points should be the following formula: Two plus one point per level, plus a point per each notable post (one of my average notable ones lets say) and plus two points for each large post (an article sized piece). A little larger than what most people post. (Plus bonus points for moderator, administrator, and favored regular members status..to be determined).

There really should be points generated for ideas posted on the other site. I am sure there is no way to do this manually. Perhaps we can have a manual add for every 10 quality ideas on the front of the site.

Each time you post, you use an action point. Use up all your action points, and you can't "move".

Plus, if you are "bad", we can penalize you action points, gagging you for the moment or slowing you down anyways.

Each day, you regenerate one action point (two if you are admin or moderator or have 10 or more points, three if you have 20 or more points, and so on.)

These revisions make it easier to deal with and make the tool useful.

We can make hitpoints based on what we are basing magic points on now, perhaps modified by level (level x(5+(mp equasion/100))), with it going down if not used (losing hitpoints if you don't post).

These will create numbers that are somewhat useful and still give us values that are fun to play with.

If we finally agree upon a stable system, we can stop having all these discussion about the points and how they change.

Thoughts? We can discuss this one in the moderator area if it makes more sense for you.

MP to Action Points

#2

Action points should be a formula: Two plus one point per level, plus a point per each notable post (one of my average notable ones lets say) and plus two points for each large post (an article sized piece). (Plus bonus points for moderator, administrator, and favored regular members status..to be determined).

The points will have to be based on the average size of the persons posting. Basically a slide rule. We set a minimum post size (which is 150 right now if I remember correctly) and decide how many extra points they get for each number above that amount. If they post below that they get negatives.

Mods and Admins will have to stay on the same program as everybody else.

(There really should be points generated for ideas posted on the other site. I am sure there is no way to do this manually. Perhaps we can have a manual add for every 10 quality ideas on the front of the site.

This can be done. It just adds numerous queries to every single post in the forum which may take a fraction of a second longer to generate the page.

Each time you post, you use an action point. Use up all your action points, and you can't "move".

There is currently no way to stop somebody from posting if they have 0 points. It will just be an embarrassment for them.

Plus, if you are "bad", we can penalize you action points, gagging you for the moment or slowing you down anyways.

Can only basically make negative points for below average posts. Might be interesting to be able to gag somebody, but there is no way to really implement this.

Each day, you regenerate one action point (two if you are admin or moderator or have 10 or more points, three if you have 20 or more points, and so on.)

So the more you have the more you get? Will have to expand on this idea for me.

We can make hitpoints based on what we are basing magic points on now, perhaps modified by level (level x(5+(mp equasion/100))), with it going down if not used (losing hitpoints if you don't post).

I can work with that idea.

MP to Action Points

#3

Seems to have a few ideas inside, but as for me... I want a switch.

I chatted with MoonHunter about various things, including stats, and he correctly pointed out that stats that are well set up can motivate people to do quality posts, and help in identifying stupid users (like D., don't say the whole name, IT might return!) that care only for stats. That's all correct and nice and it is sometimes funny to observe how your stats grow. (I was yesterday surprised when I had over 900 MPs, and am surprised to have over 300... but if I had 10.000 I wouldn't care less. But I would show off anyway.)

(Wait... I do have over 900 next to my post, but some over 300 in the view profile part... :what: Looks like a bug.)

But the point is, I want a switch. Stats don't really excite me. I know who has good ideas. And occasionally, I want to make a short post (or many), without feeling bad for my stats decreasing.

So, if there could be a tiny little option in Profile/Preferences, saying Display User Statistics At Post: Yes/No, I would be happy. And pages would be smaller. And server load too. And the world would be a nicer place. And if I ever desire it, I could flip the switch back, to see what's new in the Stat Game.

(I know, that you have much to do, Strolen, so you don't have to put this too high on your list. Maybe I am the only user that wants it... or maybe not.)

MP to Action Points

#4

Sounds good to me. We've had fun with them, but they may be more trouble than they're worth, what with explaining to newbies and being munchkin magnets.

Hmmm.

#5

I could of sworn you mentioned that magik points at zero actually prevent you from posting (or was that just a veiled offuscating comment?). If the stats don't do anything, then perhaps shifting them away from game stats.

I personally like action points. They function well and keep people from just splatting the board. However if they can't serve that function, what is the point?

Maybe they should not be game stats.

All gamers have knee jerk reactions to game stats, even the most roleplay orriented ones. We panic when we see falling hit points. We cringe and try to regenerate lost magic points ((stopping posting since that is how they recover). We try to increase our level, just to see them go up and see what we get. We see game stats and treat them that way.

If we make them other than game stats, they become self explanatory.
Level is okay. The fireballs are neat, though people keep asking what they are for. Perhaps we list: Last day posted, Longest Post size, Average Post size, and post per day or some combination of the above or similar.

I like something like the action point formula because it can be used as a "quality"/ quantity guide.

In addition, what about the "buying things" idea. What would be used to buy things then? Or should that Idea just rest in peace.

Oh and Manfred, not everyone knows who has a clue... especially the newbies. The stats are just a good guideline on who has been here a while, who has been productive and such.

MP to Action Points

#6

That's why I asked for a switch for me only. ;)

But this sentence might solve it all:
Maybe they should not be game stats.

(Or not. But we did not try it yet.)

MP to Action Points

#7

I must travel to the Wise Man of The Mountain who can answer all questions no matter how frivilous. I must first meditate on the question to ask since it must be pointed and not lead to other questions as the Wise Man of The Mountain is adept at turning the question onto itself.

It may be a start to simply change the titles from HP/MP/EXP to

Posting regularity (? yeah right)
Post Quality
Posts Overall

Or something similiar to get away from the game stats and put it more site orientated.

Could get rid of MP entirely, turn MP into HP and call those two stats good. Maybe three stats is just forcing an extra stat that doesn't have a lot of meaning. Just twist MP a little so that the MAX is what MP is now.

So HP could be
Max= Standard Number for your level + (Avrg post length - Min. post char count)

So if you have a high avrg post length you get bonus, if you have less you have a negative to the standard score.

Then the current HP could be a little how it used to be.
Take the time you have been on the board, make the avrg post per day 1. and depending on how you meet the average you will have that percentage of HP. So no matter what you max, you will still lose HP for falling below the avrg post a day. The longer the person is on the board the less % that they loose for each day not meeting the 1 a day postings. (could be .5 a day too, whatever we decide)

So you have 100 posts in 100 days (100/100) you have 1*max MP HP = 100%

You post more then that, should you get another bonus?

You post 50 in 100 days (50/100) you have .5*max HP = 50% HP

The one stat shows both things. Max is you post quality and HP is posting frequency, just dump MP all together. The EXP is posting overall quantity and you got all the important ones in two stats.