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Let's discuss which forums can go.
- Thread starter Spock's Beard
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Legends forum doesn't get many posts. Homes and Castles doesn't get many posts. But when people post I see them. It's a feature of the forums
Oh btw, I wouldn't consider 9 likes a mandate by the Stratics community
I see a mention of uo players corner as a place where we are supposed to discuss gameplay. I never even heard of that forum until just now. I've been asking and answering questions about gameplay in uohall for years, and asking more specifics about templates in some of the professions forums. What does gameplay or players corner mean anyway. Everything about ultima online is gameplay - so how can a players corner make any sense in the first place? I'm not for changing much, but it seems that's one forum that could go.
..and add in that u have nowhere near the RL success that I have
The Cog theme utilized for the 16th Anniversary launch was simply designed by Catalin.. the Child theme is based on a customized version of Paladin theme, done by Dojo Digital with more customs done by myself. I still have that theme and a lot of that code floating around on my dev-rig. I also continued the relationship with Dojo Digital into my consulting business - utilizing several of their themes and plugins for clients' sites.
Although I haven't been on staff for a quite a few months, I tend to not let go of projects I work on.
I've been tinkering with the old xenforo bridge with Wordpress and got it working on a private site on my internal server. Took some nifty scripting and loads of research, but it is feasible to get the bridge working as it was originally intended to...
article posted to Wordpress --> auto-post to pertinent Xenforo board w/linkback to WP for conversation --> authentication for designated users (staff) between each platform (primary being XF)
comments and conversations were to be in the forum whereas articles and content in wordpress.
Further, I was adapting a lot of the calculators and custom scripts by Xena Dragon intothe Wordpress.. one was already done and applied to the wordpress when I was told to stop. A lot of the content and widgets over on the wordpress is also set to display only for certain functions, posts and articles.... eg: creature key would display for the hunter's guide, but not the item catalog.
That was "scrapped" by Stratics when the decision was made to move everything into Xenforo... and a major reason for my leaving as staff.
Something a lot of people keep forgetting is that it was the CONTENT that brought them over here... the forums for the most part were (and still are) for conversation - but how many people would scream into my PMs if portions of the content site were not working? Hunter's Guide, Quest Guides, Housing Guides.... all over in the WP and considered content is what brings a lot of ppl to Stratics and what is searchable by the web-crawlers for the search engines and what brings new ppl to Stratics, and the forums. Crawlers tend to not go over forums for the SEO is atrocious, it is "conversation" not "content"
I think you all keep forgetting about that.
Back in the day, the forum admin would go through and prune (meaning archive and remove) certain dead forums/boards. This is a part of the forum management.
Where I agree with a lot of what you have here Deraj, again, this is the desire of a single person whereas the Board (and subsequent Admins) need to consider the value of a board and its content for the entire community as well as prospective new members while maintaining the history of the site/content/conversations - for that there is the main purpose of the stewardship.
With all this talk about merging, pruning and shuffling the forum - WHY?!
Is there a tech issue with the forums?
Are the forums sucking up all the resources of the server?
Personally, and this I speak from knowledge... these forums are MINISCULE compared to others out there. The hit and sticky rate for the forums are dismal and really don't generate that much of an impact on even a low-level server at peak time. The forums go wonky when something is going on in the background by Admin - who need to set up a maintenance schedule and stick to it.
I do not think anything should be done to any software/content/forum until the Board has 100% possession, decides where to host (if a host move is needed) and get their plans going. All this speculation about merge this, shuffle that, change the forums is really just not being much of a help IMO until the Board says they are doing this and that. I don't see any announcements or news post regarding such and the conversation is missing the entire point of WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UO.Stratics.com needs to be fixed - the three platforms (old content/newcontent/php content) need to be merged FINALLY - as was the project myself, Larisa, Tamais, Giggles and others were working on. Choose the format/template for the WP - get it updated (for I know for a fact it isn't updated to current WP standards) and get the content up-to-snuff. Set up the SEO, reassign the main domain (I know - ugh - but Stratics.com should be on the CONTENT not the FORUM) and get Stratics viable again.
*steps off her soapbox and returns to her mundane crap*
Riyana
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Taylor
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This has worked seamlessly for over a year at The Noobist, even through software upgrades. SSO anywhere across the WPMU network or XenForo, news posts automatically create discussion threads, WordPress comments or XenForo thread replies automatically sync to the opposite software. It worked perfectly out of the box and has since, which makes me think it was probably addon conflicts or server security settings that created the issues in the past. But in retrospect, maybe it was only a handful of us who wanted to see universal SSO and discussion become a reality.
Echoing this, Stratics was one of the first "large" communities to adopt XenForo. We started with 1.0 beta. After we switched, we saw numerous other major communities, especially in the gaming community, switch to XenForo--IGN, Sony Online Entertainment, Red5, etc. None of these are super hacked, either, just optimized. If XenForo can handle IGN's 114 million posts, I think it can handle Stratics' 1.8 million.
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I don't think the meaning of these posts are to hinder or decline past work or continue efforts to keep the boards going. To me this is simply a way to see how people view the boards. Physical changes are not needed based on space, but tweaking the visibility for first impressions, new users, and old vets alike, no harm in discussing it. At the end of the day I do believe we all back you @Kirthag and the mondain tasks you have to do. We back the stratics crew, even now to the point of ownership of the boards. We support you and your efforts. Lots of stuff needs to get done before any of this would become viable, but I like seeing what people care about on the boards... I'm still waiting for the RPers to step up and defend their forums! Stratics has been and will continue to be the best forums on the market for ultima. We respect what you and the new owners are doing. Stay strong in those boring tasks and remember that we stand by you and your button pushing!
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We already do, I have a public forum for Safe Haven Safe Haven, Siege Perilous and I believe I made the TDO forum The Dark Outlaws, TDO*, SP public too. not sure how much I can control it other than make it not public
*Edited* When looking closer, I can see, I have some ideas to improve this forums in the guild.
The one manage the guild/community forum should be able to moderate them and so should the staff members of the guild pace. I can manage the Member and the Staff wall, but I can't do that on the new forum we got, I can't make a post sticky, I could that on old guild forums.
Would it be possible let me manage my forum?
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I believe it's the place for annoying threads, I had seen several Jirel threads, that would fit fine there
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Spiels and Rants (SNR) and UHallOT were my first moderating gig. I think SNR is super under-utilized. The defining feature is that developers aren't able to see it. But aside from that, it's generally been more lightly moderated than UHall, making it really a great place to blow off steam with other players about things that make us all unhappy. Unfortunately, because most of the threads that appear there are moved there, it can feel a little like the penalty box, which isn't intended to be the case.I believe it's the place for annoying threads, I had seen several Jirel threads, that would fit fine there
Nah, SnR was where all of the NHB clan posted before NHB existed, but it was a bit more tame...aka a bit less fun.
As a matter of fact, a pretty large group of SnR UO players had a guild over on Siege...la
As a matter of fact, a pretty large group of SnR UO players had a guild over on Siege...la
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The Time of Legends forum currently has a total of three threads that have been bumped in the last week.
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Yes, and the Oceania forum has had 6 threads bumped in all of 2016.
There are a lot of forums that are significantly more dead than the Time of Legends forum is. If we were going to get rid of some it would make more sense to remove the truly dead ones that barely get 1 post a month before removing the Time of Legends one that is actually somewhat active compared to the other forums like it (warrior forum, stygian abyss forum etc.)
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Where would those recent posts in ToL end up? In UHall? That doesn't make much sense either. We might have a large number of forums, and I would be open to seeing some consolidated some how if we could come up with a meaningful way to do it, but I also believe that having separate forums for separate topics allows us to break up and categorize a bit better. If we just consolidated everything into UHall, it would be a real mess and hard to properly research older topics without having to scan through several pages of UHall threads.
It's easy to identify an issue, but difficult to come up with a reasonable solution.
It's easy to identify an issue, but difficult to come up with a reasonable solution.
Would it be possible to do any or all of the following?
- When creating a new thread, require the OP to assign a prefix to the thread and to select one or more tags.
- Have a Stratics staffer assign one or more tags to previously created threads.
- Display a tag cloud in each forum and sub-forum that provides a visual representation of topics covered in that forum and which ones are most common/most popular.
If prefixes and tags were used for every thread, it might be easier to consolidate some of the subforums that don't get a lot of use now.
- When creating a new thread, require the OP to assign a prefix to the thread and to select one or more tags.
- Have a Stratics staffer assign one or more tags to previously created threads.
- Display a tag cloud in each forum and sub-forum that provides a visual representation of topics covered in that forum and which ones are most common/most popular.
If prefixes and tags were used for every thread, it might be easier to consolidate some of the subforums that don't get a lot of use now.
Captn Norrington
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Yes, this is possible and is in place for multiple forums already. Mostly in the trade forums.
Yes, this is technically possible but would be tremendously time consuming for us since it would pretty much end up being me and one other moderator handling that for 100's of threads.
I'm not entirely sure about this one, but it probably would not be possible due to technical limitations.
It looks like XenForo has an add-on to batch update tags after you've used criteria to search for/filter for threads to receive certain tags: Batch Update Tags .
Also, I found this on the Xenforo forum regarding tag clouds: Most Popular Tags . Don't know if either of these are now or could be made available for the Stratics forum.
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Those seem kind of cool, @Nexus is the one in charge of adding new plug-ins to the site, maybe he could look into those.
It looks like there are several services/tools out there that you can paste text into and have it analyze the text to come up with keywords or most frequently used words. Maybe that would be an option to help come up with tags for already-created threads? I'm sure there are lots of resources on tagging and tag clouds out there. This is one specific article that I found that looks at least somewhat helpful, although it's a bit old now (from 2007): https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/11/tag-clouds-gallery-examples-and-good-practices/ . If it's something that the Stratics board thinks would be a good idea, I'm sure you could find a few volunteers to help with tagging old threads.
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Leave the Profession forums up. I agree that they need work, but they still serve a purpose. At one point I did an overhaul on the warrior forums faq. Then again a few years later someone else did an overhaul on it. Spell-caster forum definitively needs a rework to many stickies. Long as a forum still generates traffic it should be there. Its not easy to rewrite a faq. People still come up with different templates, or things changes in the different professions.
*grabs an electric clippers and looks at Spock*
*grabs an electric clippers and looks at Spock*
Will the game last that long?
Breath... not holding it.
And Does anyone remember how the "Official Forums" were before? Where if you got banned there they banned your account as well.
And I have to say I highly doubt anyone is going to get much more of any response from the team on any official forum than you do here except that when it starts its possible they will quit visiting here which IMO would be a shame.
How did we even get a separate ToL forum?
"Uh oh, a new expansion! If people start posting about it in Uhall all the time then Stratics might start looking like a halfway-thriving community that's actually interested in the game they play, and not the same ten people making the same couple of threads over and over again about how they hate the billing system and are butthurt that they didn't get an EM drop! Posts might fall off the front page in less than a week! MADNESS!"
Seriously is there any other gaming site on the planet that thinks dividing itself into 400 different forums (397 of which are dead) because "it's easier to search" is a good idea?
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The time of Legends forum was created because people were complaining they couldn't find information about it in Uhall.
Sidenote: as I am no longer Stratics Staff I have no control over this anymore.
If BS did make their own forums, I'm sure those moderating it will be volunteers (2 guesses who that will be...) Which will pretty much ensure the forums are a pathetic joke full of only the most flowery of praise and butt kissery. Furthermore, if said forums were tied to actual game accounts, can you imagine the butthattery volunteers (i.e. other players) could inflict?
Pass.
Oh I agree... and the thought scares me.
At least there you had to have a reason to get banned....................................
If it were an official UO Forum run by BS then it would be no different than the old UO Forum, both would be owned by EA and the DEVs would run the new one just like the old one and also EA will not allow volunteers to do it because of the last bullcrap from volunteers
Disagreeing with a DEV was enough to get you banned.
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I agree. Consolidate away!
Yeah because one of them disliked something you said. Because you didn't kiss them and cheer when they put out buggy garbage...
To give my honest opinion about the forums and about things like ToL and Styngian Abyss... Things like this should be around long enough to gather up information to put on the Guide.... and then after the guide is updated to offer help with the new stuff and a nice indexed and updated resource of knowledge they should be archived.
I think we have too many forums. I think we should have far fewer. Something like this:
- UHall
- PvP Forum
- Professions Forums
- Trade Forums (All Shards and rares, but I would merge the shard specific trades into the respective shard forums)
- Shard Forums (includes EM and shard specific trade)
- Misc (Off Topic & No Holds Barred)
- UHall
- PvP Forum
- Professions Forums
- Trade Forums (All Shards and rares, but I would merge the shard specific trades into the respective shard forums)
- Shard Forums (includes EM and shard specific trade)
- Misc (Off Topic & No Holds Barred)
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I happen to like the Home Decor and Design... where does that fit in here?
I would suggest a Combat Forum with perhaps a sub for PvP and one for Non-PvP. I believe there are plenty of folks who do not PvP that would benefit from that type of slant to templates and such. Perhaps 2 forums ... Non-PvP Combat, PvP Combat. Tactics against a monster are different than a human foe.
For the rare times, where would a new player go to get basic information? Altho New Players is a relatively dead place it has good info on some early basics anyone can use to get going. And not all is combat related, nor trade, nor home deco, nor professional.
Agree with Malagaste - Homes and Castles should remain. I use it as well.
I admit I forgot about the Homes and Castles forums. I've used that from time to time when I am looking for decorating ideas.
I didn't include a combat forum because I think those discussions often go into the respective Professions Forums. The UO Players Corner forums doesn't get used very much. Maybe the purpose should be tweaked for that forum.
I didn't include a combat forum because I think those discussions often go into the respective Professions Forums. The UO Players Corner forums doesn't get used very much. Maybe the purpose should be tweaked for that forum.
I'm going to go out on a limb here ... Shard Forums and Shard Trade Forums. Combine them with mandatory thread prefixes. If merged, existing threads in the Trade section are prefixed "Trade", whereas the Shard posts are prefixed "General".
New posts are either General prefix or Trade prefix ... or whatever may be more appropriate. That should prune a few forums.
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Would it be out of place to have a NEW Forum - Player Info. That then becomes edited collections of New Players tips, etc plus Profession data that is relevent and other data in that vein. Purpose ... while things get organized these are the repositories for templates, etc. When a more correct place is determined - forum, article or archives - it is moved. End result is that this collection would go away as the info gathered pertains (and goes to a good home) or it doesn't (and is scrapped/archived). Once empty it disappears.
Aside to this ... New Players could go when this collection place is created or whatever. Most of what is there is the tip sheets, mantras and stuff anyway. It's already been noted UHall has been getting most of the questions any way. <thinks> Heck, rename New Players to this new place, allow Mods and higher the right to create/edit and have at it with the data collection.
New posts are either General prefix or Trade prefix ... or whatever may be more appropriate. That should prune a few forums.
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Would it be out of place to have a NEW Forum - Player Info. That then becomes edited collections of New Players tips, etc plus Profession data that is relevent and other data in that vein. Purpose ... while things get organized these are the repositories for templates, etc. When a more correct place is determined - forum, article or archives - it is moved. End result is that this collection would go away as the info gathered pertains (and goes to a good home) or it doesn't (and is scrapped/archived). Once empty it disappears.
Aside to this ... New Players could go when this collection place is created or whatever. Most of what is there is the tip sheets, mantras and stuff anyway. It's already been noted UHall has been getting most of the questions any way. <thinks> Heck, rename New Players to this new place, allow Mods and higher the right to create/edit and have at it with the data collection.
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whos not being serious? and i have a feeling a poll would only confirm this (unless that poll were only posted on UOhall. the vast majority of players i know see UOhall as nothing but bad news in the end, and only use the trade forums. which after the recent events of the past few weeks i have accepted as the best option. i have permanently un-bookmarked uohall.On a serious note I think the Mods should do a Poll and we make our decision that way
my current UO bookmarks:
traders hall
rares forum
atlantic trade
uo.com
the facebook uo site
the forum where captain norrington mods now
uocraft
uoguide
various player run random pages on rares, events, commentary.