[Sandman2012]

I was gong to make this a poll but it looks like you can't make polls in this sub-forum. :(

In any case, I just wanted to start a thread for discussion of the Community Games forum. The latest Diplomacy thread goes pretty off-topic between turns. Not being a player I don't really mind it, but I'm curious to hear what you guys think about game threads. Should they have guidelines and be more heavily moderated? Or do most of you not mind the banter? Should the entire sub-forum have set rules, or would it be enough to give the gamemaster final say (ie. GM determines the rules of the thread for the game they're running and then the staff would moderate accordingly)?

Post your opinions here, and I'll bring it up backstage with the rest of the staff.

:up:

This post has been edited by Sandman2012: 20 April 2006 - 06:03 AM

[Payneos Maxamaian]

A game without witty banter just isn't fun! Although I think the O'Payne Report is safe anyways as a sanctioned part of the Patroclus network, without the constant jibes back from those who I take shots at, it's just not fun.

[Phiscas]

A thread where the only contact is a list of moves and the occasional map just isn't any fun. I mean, there is definately stuff that goes on behind the scenes (tries not to draw attention to occupied Turkey :whistling: ) but that's only part of it and it certainly doesn't help people who are watching the game for fun. I mean, these are forum games, they're as much for the fun of the participants as they are for the rest of the forum.

[Sandman2012]

Phiscas, on Apr 19 2006, 11:25 PM, said:

A thread where the only contact is a list of moves and the occasional map just isn't any fun.

On-topic doesn't have to mean just moves and maps and things. It could mean the difference between comments that have to do with the game and its progress as opposed to off-topic banter about other stuff.

[Magilla]

Is IPB capable of having discussion threads in a Slashdot-like format? What I'm thinking:

Game
|-Setup
|-|-Setup Reply 1
|-|-Setup Reply 2
|----|-Reply to Setup Reply2
|-Turn 1
|-|-Turn 1 Reply 1
|----|-Reply to Turn 1 Reply1
|-|-Turn 1 Reply 2
|-Phisca Wants Briscas
|-|-Briskas Wants Phiscas' territories

etc etc

[Sandman2012]

Magilla, on Apr 19 2006, 11:33 PM, said:

Is IPB capable of having discussion threads in a Slashdot-like format? What I'm thinking:

Game
|-Setup
|-|-Setup Reply 1
|-|-Setup Reply 2
|----|-Reply to Setup Reply2
|-Turn 1
|-|-Turn 1 Reply 1
|----|-Reply to Turn 1 Reply1
|-|-Turn 1 Reply 2
|-Phisca Wants Briscas
|-|-Briskas Wants Phiscas' territories

etc etc

You can switch to that format in the "Options" box at the top-right of any thread. I think that's how it works.



edit: something like this is the closest you'll get:

http://img95.imagesh...likethis0yu.jpg

Is that what you meant?

This post has been edited by Sandman2012: 20 April 2006 - 06:45 AM

[Hugh]

Magilla, on Apr 19 2006, 11:33 PM, said:

Is IPB capable of having discussion threads in a Slashdot-like format?

Sandman2012, on Apr 19 2006, 11:41 PM, said:

You can switch to that format in the "Options" box at the top-right of any thread. I think that's how it works.

I didn't even know that worked like that, I thought it just showed all the replies in chronological order. SWEET. :)

To stay on topic, I'm happy for game threads to be deemed "strict" or "loose" ( :shifty: ) by the GM< and then moderated accordingly by teh Mods.

[Magilla]

Yeah, just checked that out myself. I had a look on the diplomacy thread, and it *nearly* works. Hmmmm...

[Hugh]

If everyone used the QUOTE and REPLY buttons every single time, it would work.

IF. :)

[Sandman2012]

Hugh, on Apr 19 2006, 11:45 PM, said:

I didn't even know that worked like that, I thought it just showed all the replies in chronological order. SWEET. :)

Magilla, on Apr 19 2006, 11:46 PM, said:

Yeah, just checked that out myself. I had a look on the diplomacy thread, and it *nearly* works. Hmmmm...

I added a screenshot to my other post of the Outline format. Is that what you meant?

Hugh, on Apr 19 2006, 11:48 PM, said:

If everyone used the QUOTE and REPLY buttons every single time, it would work.

IF. :)

I don't think a lot of people understand the "Quote" button. I still see a lot of posts with one "Reply" type quote, followed by generic "Quote" tags.

[Magilla]

Yes, that's what I meant. :flowers:

[SammytheMc]

I always figured the shoutbox was for things not in any way related to any of the topic threads. I'm all for the natural evolution of discussion, but talking about Payneos being Native American has nothing to do with a board game. Tangents are OK as far as I'm concerned, but outright derailment can be tiring when I'm all juiced for some hot diplomacy action; we have the shoutbox for random stuff like Briska's token black guy boyfriend. I'm not saying that that incredibly off-topic stuff should be cause for action on the part of our mods, but it'd be nice, IMO, if it was kept to a minimum (especially the hostility between Eric and Mike. Cool it you guys, this ain't the place).

This post has been edited by SammytheMc: 20 April 2006 - 06:57 AM

[Sandman2012]

Magilla, on Apr 19 2006, 11:52 PM, said:

Yes, that's what I meant. :flowers:

Flowers from Magilla! Yay!

SammytheMc, on Apr 19 2006, 11:55 PM, said:

...especially the hostility between Eric and Mike.

Is that Payne and ixlr8? Yeah, that stuff does get kind of tired fast.

[Magilla]

A shoutbox for the thread could be cool...

[hestermofet]

I don't see why the Diplomacy thread is so special that it deserves a shoutbox whereas other threads do not. THE Shoutbox is for all posts that don't belong anywhere else. If it's inspired by Diplomacy, but doesn't belong in the Diplomacy thread, then it belongs in the Shoutbox.

[Sandman2012]

Also, a special shoutbox would probably require a forum plugin or something. It would definitely mean work on Pab's part, and we don't have six months to wait for him to come back. :P

[Magilla]

:lol:

[Briska]

I know I'm the one that brought it up, but playing devil's advocate, on the other hand Diplomacy is the type of game that gets the thread back on track. If you don't wish to read the banter, you can just check in when Pat posts.

[VanWalpinator]

Good point, but whats this got to do with pinball?

Attached File(s)

•  homer.jpg (3.69K)
  Number of downloads: 1

[Sandman2012]

Briska, on Apr 20 2006, 06:34 AM, said:

I know I'm the one that brought it up, but playing devil's advocate, on the other hand Diplomacy is the type of game that gets the thread back on track. If you don't wish to read the banter, you can just check in when Pat posts.

Actually, I posted this in response to pat's assertion that he might need to sic a mod on your collective asses. IIRC your request for a split was DENIED! :P