Hey all. As you may or may not know, I am the VCL for the DDi subset of forums. Some of you may know what a VCL is. Some of you may be wondering just what the hell a VCL does. Well, the start can be found below:
Who are VCLs?
VCL Program defined by CM.
VCLs are Volunteer Community Leads. They are volunteers who answer to the Community Management side of the forums. They are responsible for assisting in the content moderation of the forums. Content moderation is ensuring that posts are in the proper forum, that threads that have gone wildly off-topic are closed in addition to stickying threads and gathering information from the community. They are chosen by WotC based on their posting history on the forums and their track record of helping people. VCLs work directly with WizOs for editorial moderation; the VCL asks that a moderation task be done, the WizOs perform the task. VCLs work with FLs, CM, and the WizOs to perform their tasks.
VCL Program defined by CM.
VCLs are Volunteer Community Leads. They are volunteers who answer to the Community Management side of the forums. They are responsible for assisting in the content moderation of the forums. Content moderation is ensuring that posts are in the proper forum, that threads that have gone wildly off-topic are closed in addition to stickying threads and gathering information from the community. They are chosen by WotC based on their posting history on the forums and their track record of helping people. VCLs work directly with WizOs for editorial moderation; the VCL asks that a moderation task be done, the WizOs perform the task. VCLs work with FLs, CM, and the WizOs to perform their tasks.
...nuff said.
Nonetheless, congrats. =D
There also needs to bea clear way to feedback to the Dragon/Dungeon editors about errata or clarification on rules that result from the articles. Does a VCL feedback to the designers, to anyone?
Is raising something in the forums pointless or does stuff actual get back to the people that matter and can make changes?
As for Errata, how would you prefer I organize it? I am thinking one thread for each issue in the Dragon and Dungeon forums. Then have a stickied index thread listing the issues and a link to the thread on the issue. I can't guarantee that the editors will look at it, but keeping it in one place for them to find it *should* make it easier for them to find it and comemnt on it, if they desire.
@Rakor
Thanks. But after 4e C&C and General Discussion, you guys are a breath of fresh air. All of you here are here because you like 4E and want to play it. ALl of you want to use the online tools. The major differences are differences in opinion on how they are (or are not) being implemented.
As for Errata, how would you prefer I organize it? I am thinking one thread for each issue in the Dragon and Dungeon forums. Then have a stickied index thread listing the issues and a link to the thread on the issue. I can't guarantee that the editors will look at it, but keeping it in one place for them to find it *should* make it easier for them to find it and comemnt on it, if they desire.
Seems as good an idea as any.
Ask what your VCL can do for you!!
I have a request, could you get a WizO or somebody to remove the poll tag from the one active thread , or for that matter prevent its use at all?
Reason I ask is the display of the closed poll slows my navigation.
Sorry.
Congrats guys!!
So can you News Guides actually post news in the Article Discussion forums yet? I'm guessing not since you don't appear to be able to.
A WiZ0 needs to grant permission, it might be soon, just hard to guess how soon soon is. At least as I understand the process.
A WiZ0 needs to grant permission, it might be soon, just hard to guess how soon soon is. At least as I understand the process.
Yup, I'm still seeing locks, but I'll post for articles as soon as I don't.
Then again. . . with Origins looming, someone else will likely beat me to it.
1 - Forum software/hardware problems.
2 - CM (Community Management) wants to avoid having too many different groups of people with different abilities to post here and there and all over the place. As such, I think (my guess) that NGs will be allowed to post in the DDi Announcements forum, but not to start posts in the Dungeon/Dragon discussion forums.
For those forums (which I don't have access to yet either, due to #1 above), unless a WotC staffer starts the thread, the work-around will be to start a thread in the Dungeon/Dragon General forum discussing the article (use a clearly defined title which makes it clear the issue, the section and the title) and ask me to get it moved.
The Ken Troop stickies have not had a reply of any kind in almost a week. Perhaps they no longer need to be stuck. The FAQ can point to them should one be seeking them.
However, he has been finding being a DDi NG less and less something that he enjoys. This is not due to the DDi community, but rather due to a dissatisfaction with 4E, the direction of the e-magazines and a desire to focus more on the version of the game (3E) that he prefers.
Another request. The icons have changed but appear limited in labels.
That is red form indicates one can not start threads, in announcements and other forums. Blue strange thing however appears there is readable things, and as far as it goes after finally figuring out the fact that red meant no unread, the fact is two of the sections allow for replies just thread starting is limited to a few.
I do not know who changed the icons to funny things, but perhaps you can have the funny things more correctly labeled?
You could always try one of the other styles to see if it is more to your liking.
There is a new proposed Transparency Policy that is being discussed here. If you have any comments, please feel free to drop them in that thread or, if you would prefer to remain anonymous, to do so here or by PM and I will collate them and post them in the thread.
Would you be willing to ask Ken Troop to post again? I think people would rather have a peeved developer who rants about our constant negativity and lack of foresight than an invisible one.
Well, since this appears to be some sort of wishlist...
Would you be willing to ask Ken Troop to post again? I think people would rather have a peeved developer who rants about our constant negativity and lack of foresight than an invisible one.
He doesn't talk to Ken Troop. He isn't an employee of Wizards. Besides, didn't you know Ken Troop doesn't exist? :P
IMO WOTC making someone a VCL is just another way for them to dance around the issue again by having them ask yet again "tell us what the issues are" then them not getting back to us.
I hope thats not right. But with the way things have been going with Wizards, you never know.
I ask again of the senior VCL please get the Ken Troop video unstcky. It has no current value IMO.
Mudbunny has been a bit scarce of late (I understand Real Life is taking a little priority right now).
I've sent him (and Gamer_Zero) a PM with a link to this request, however. Still up to him if it needs unstickied or not, but at least he'll be aware of the request.
Sorry for missing it the first time 'round!!
You may now commence the hazing.
And Yay, Me!
Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm AsmodeusLore. Most people call me Asmo for short.
I'm interested in online gaming, the Scales of War adventure path, and all things technological.
In real life, I'm a computer programmer by day, and a web developer by night. I operate a fansite for online gaming, focusing on Virtual Table Top games.
I think thats all, except I'm looking forward to helping out as a News Guide.
P.S.
My choice of name is actually -not- based on the Lord of the Nine Hells, though I have sort of grown into the role.
Thank you 4th edition, for turning me into a deity.
Should you have comments, either positive or negative on the job that I have been doing the past several months, please post them in the VCL Open Discussion Forum.
SOlice said something about not wanting to inflict you guys on some "poor noob". Not sure what she was talking about, you guys are just great.
Also, now that I am starting my second term as VCL, is there anything that you would like done in the DDI forums that isn't currently being done? I make no promises, but will try my hardest to fulfill it.
WotC has made the decision to keep me on as VCL for DDI.
SOlice said something about not wanting to inflict you guys on some "poor noob". Not sure what she was talking about, you guys are just great.
Also, now that I am starting my second term as VCL, is there anything that you would like done in the DDI forums that isn't currently being done? I make no promises, but will try my hardest to fulfill it.
Can we have ponies? Or if that's not possible, can I at least have a pony?
(On a serious note I can't currently think of anything, except maybe talk to the forum leads of other forums about how to allow free expression while still putting down idiocy and whining. Case in point, I used to enjoy browsing the FR forums.)
Can we have ponies? Or if that's not possible, can I at least have a pony?
Ask and you shall receive.
:D
(On a serious note I can't currently think of anything, except maybe talk to the forum leads of other forums about how to allow free expression while still putting down idiocy and whining. Case in point, I used to enjoy browsing the FR forums.)
I have been looking through the FR forums, and have been chatting in a thread with LK as well as the VCL for the section and a number of other people, both involved in the FR forums and not, but all interested in how smoothly (or not) the boards run.
The general feeling is that it is similar to the situation in General Discussion immediately after the release of 4E. Feelings are fairly high, and the feeling of hurt and betrayal for people who don't agree with the changes have been re-intensified, so they are lashing out. Most are doing so appropriately, however, some are not. Give the forums time, and it will calm down. In the meantime,
- report people who violate the CoC;
- use your ignore list; and
- encourage discussion by responding to those who disagree with you in a polite manner and ignore those that respond to you with a flame or personal attack.
Ask and you shall receive.
:D
I have been looking through the FR forums, and have been chatting in a thread with LK as well as the VCL for the section and a number of other people, both involved in the FR forums and not, but all interested in how smoothly (or not) the boards run.
The general feeling is that it is similar to the situation in General Discussion immediately after the release of 4E. Feelings are fairly high, and the feeling of hurt and betrayal for people who don't agree with the changes have been re-intensified, so they are lashing out. Most are doing so appropriately, however, some are not. Give the forums time, and it will calm down. In the meantime,
- report people who violate the CoC;
- use your ignore list; and
- encourage discussion by responding to those who disagree with you in a polite manner and ignore those that respond to you with a flame or personal attack.
I can't believe that actually got a response; but meet Thorbjorn! Pony champion of the Lord of Thunder!
(Must learn to type elsewhere and paste things so Gleemax stops timing out on previews and losing my posts.)
As for the second part, that surprises me as well honestly, but if you're actually getting together to discuss things I'm quite pleased to hear that. Also, please keep in mind that if I can tolerate the sometimes heated posts here but not on the FR boards... It's only an opinion of course, but hopefully that tells you something.
I also do report people, use my ignore list (a list that is now 20 people but before 4E was 0) and try and participate productively whether here or elsewhere. It's just that despite all of that it's tiring. I am absolutely tired of the editions wars. I'm tired of all of the attacks and the belittling of others just because they enjoy different things. In short I am very much tired of people attaching their egos to recreational products. There's nothing personal about any of this and no one should treat it is as such, launching their criticisms from proverbial shelled bunkers on the eastern front. Everyone gets worked up sometimes, and that's forgivable. But some of these people, it's amazing to see such literal hate. At the very least use that anger for something that truly matters in the grand scheme of things.
Now I mentioned the Realms because I myself am a Realms junkie and I find a number of the posters over there to be the worst offenders of all in a lot of this. I'm sorry you don't like the changes, I'm not a fan of a number of them too. For example I don't like the fact that Tyr is dead, the Triad was a focal part of each and every campaign that I ran. Yet I can still voice my disappointment over that without making it into a personal war. I'm also free to deviate from canon in my games. Will there be official support for my choices; likely not. But will there still be resources for me to tap whether they're new products from WotC or not; definitely.
I do understand those who simply enjoyed reading the fiction and not gaming are effected more, they're not playing a game so they're more closely stuck with what's considered canon. However, there are very few people who have read every single piece of Realms fiction. Plus, even if you have, I know for a fact that Ed Greenwood is even now writing/finishing a novel that is set pre-Spellplague, and if there's a significant interest I certainly can't believe that more books set in various stages of the timeline won't follow. Will most novels be in the current timeline; likely. Will those be the only novels published; I truly don't believe that and Ed Greenwood's current projects are proof of that.
In short, I grow very, very tired of the hate, whining and bile being spewed so often. Yes I can understand it, I truly can understand the motives, but that doesn't make it right in and of itself.
Sorry to go on like that for a bit, but thank you for listening.
Congratulation on temporary job security, MB.
Remember a VCL chooses his Forum (News) Guides. So his security is our security. ;)
Congratulation on temporary job security, MB.
Yes, totally forgot that of course, but glad to still have you around for another cycle of watching all of us so we don't kill one another =)
D&D Insider FAQ is going to be unstickied
Cort Odekirk Question/Answer thread is going to be unstickied
Subscriber-only content discussions is going to be unstickied
They will not disappear, rather I will be working on a "Welcome to" thread that will provide important links to those threads. Ideally, I want only two or three stickies at the top of the forum.