Past Time to Consolidate the Realms Forums? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Past Time to Consolidate the Realms Forums?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mr_Miscellany
Jul 26, 2011 13:43:20 Hello All,

Would you say it's past time for the Realms Forums to be consolidated?

If yes, would you prefer they be reduced to two forums? Or one?

In my opinion one forum is more sufficient given the slow traffic, but that's just me.

What do you think?
#2
18DELTA
Jul 26, 2011 15:07:39 I have brought this up to Webster numerous times in the past in the Community Business forum. I don't think that any consolidations of forums will take place. Posters keep asking for other forums to be moved, and the powers that be won't do a thing about it. I have accepted that we are stuck with 3 (almost)dead forums.
#3
Mr_Miscellany
Jul 26, 2011 15:14:42 Yikes. Well, it was worth a thought.

Thanks for talking to Webster, Delta.
#4
Stigger
Jul 26, 2011 15:37:59 I say merge them... at least it'll look like there's something going on here, even if its just sniping over 4e sucking or being awesome.
#5
Mr_Miscellany
Jul 26, 2011 18:07:43 Hellz, a consolidation might just drown out the sniping.
#6
Jorunhast
Jul 26, 2011 18:32:48 Wouldn't a forum merge mess up peoples' bookmarks? Or at least the ability to find certain threads more rapidly? I don't really see a benefit, and it would emphasize how our forum traffic has died.
#7
Timmeh
Jul 26, 2011 18:38:19 I responded in the thread that Mr. Miscellany posted in the Community business, but I figured I should put it here since you guys probably check this place a bit more often.
there is likely a forum reorg looming in our future

I don't remember the post it was gotten from (General Discussion is quite a bit cramped), but Wrecan quoted it on the Community Boards in this post. Wrecan already suggested putting the Realms into one forum and I think that the powers that be looked at that topic and are likely taking into account its advice.

As for bookmarks, probably. I don't think its that huge of an issue though.
#8
Jorunhast
Jul 26, 2011 19:01:58 Thank you Timmeh, but... are there any real benefits, though?

I vaguely remember that it was like pulling teeth to get multiple forums for the Realms. Why screw that up now? Other than to perhaps serve someone's control issues.
#9
Timmeh
Jul 26, 2011 19:46:59 A more structured forum may make it easier for newer forumgoers to find where they are going. The Realms may not see many benefits from merging, but overall a restructure is a pretty good idea. And since the trend is to lower the amount of forums and make it easier to find what you want to talk about, perhaps the Realms might get a bit more traffic. I mean, you guys are pretty low on the list. If the end product looks like this, its pretty easy to find the Realms and hopefully some of the GD topics that ask about the Realms could find their way here.

If not, well, I think this looks a lot better with 1 Realms section than 3.

#10
DoctorBadWolf
Jul 26, 2011 19:48:15 I'm for it. Not down to one forum, but a general and a realmslore forum seems like all that should be needed.
#11
Jorunhast
Jul 26, 2011 20:03:18
I'm for it. Not down to one forum, but a general and a realmslore forum seems like all that should be needed.

If they do it, it's far more likely we'll get cut down to just one.

#12
DoctorBadWolf
Jul 26, 2011 20:45:12 I'd rather that then one forum's worth of posts split amongst 4 forums. But, I also think we should wait until after neverwinter comes out. who knows, maybe it will get things jumpin again
#13
DoctorBadWolf
Jul 26, 2011 21:41:09 also, timmeh, I like it.
#14
sfdragon
Jul 26, 2011 21:46:03 the forum is dead enough, and with one forum it will be even deader trying to look for particular threads...
#15
18DELTA
Jul 26, 2011 21:48:10 Maybe some of them threads needs to diez...;)

#16
Timmeh
Jul 26, 2011 21:50:03 Just so I understand your logic, how would making 1 forum out of 3(4?) be making it harder to find threads? Or making it deader?

It would seem to me that if all new threads were on one forum and you had an idea of how long ago the thread was posted, it would be easy to find it. The old pinned threads and active topics can be moved.
#17
18DELTA
Jul 26, 2011 21:57:53 It's because people dont wanna look for them.

Just subscribe to them. It not difficult.

I was asking Webster about 2 years ago to re-org these forums. that was right after they died. When WotC gave us this new lay out. Look on any of these 3 forums and you will find phantom threads from the other FR forums with no topic and empty posts. Great spam threads...
#18
Jorunhast
Jul 27, 2011 1:56:11 Meh, I don't care any more. Shank the forums.
#19
Diffan
Jul 27, 2011 9:12:50 Honestly, what does it matter? I doubt it'll increase post counts nor do I think consolidating the forums would lessen confusion (if anything, it'd be promoted). I could see 2 forums (Running the Realms and Realms General) which one would be for Players and DM alike to talk about the mechanical side of the game and the Realms while the other would be a general talk about the setting as a whole. But I doubt they'll do such a thing.
#20
Mr_Miscellany
Jul 27, 2011 10:19:09 In my opinion, if a consolidation led to even the appearance of more traffic, that would be an improvement.
#21
Plaguescarred1
Jul 27, 2011 18:50:39 I would like they be consolidated too.
#22
The_Silversword
Jul 29, 2011 22:09:27 Id say at the very least we need 2, one for "official" Realms stuff and one for homebrew stuff. Ive never really understood the difference between Realmslore and Realms General, and sometimes its hard to decide where to put a thread, is this lore? or is it general?
#23
Mirtek
Jul 30, 2011 6:37:06
the forum is dead enough, and with one forum it will be even deader trying to look for particular threads...

I doubt that, even the merged forum wouldn't sport enough active threads to go past page one

#24
sfdragon
Jul 30, 2011 7:53:54
Id say at the very least we need 2, one for "official" Realms stuff and one for homebrew stuff. Ive never really understood the difference between Realmslore and Realms General, and sometimes its hard to decide where to put a thread, is this lore? or is it general?

+1
#25
Jorunhast
Jul 30, 2011 12:12:55 You greedy will get ONE forum and you'll all be HAPPY about it. OR ELSE.

#26
Iluvrien
Jul 30, 2011 18:16:14
Id say at the very least we need 2, one for "official" Realms stuff and one for homebrew stuff.

This. I've argued it before, and actually decided to see what others thought before sticking my oar in again... but I have always thought that there should be an easily recognisable difference in whether you are asking about the canonical Realms (for whatever reason, including for ideas that you will change for your campaign) or whether you are asking for, providing or just beginning a discussion about homebrew ideas.

The point of General, for me, has been a place to go over the things about the Realms that don't relate directly to the world itself and the games people run in it, for example the announcement of new Realms products (and discussion about them) might be in General, dicussions about Realms articles published in DDI would likely appear here too (I used to like those threads) and so on...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mr_Miscellany Jul 26, 2011 13:43:20	Hello All, Would you say it's past time for the Realms Forums to be consolidated? If yes, would you prefer they be reduced to two forums? Or one? In my opinion one forum is more sufficient given the slow traffic, but that's just me. What do you think?
#2 18DELTA Jul 26, 2011 15:07:39	I have brought this up to Webster numerous times in the past in the Community Business forum. I don't think that any consolidations of forums will take place. Posters keep asking for other forums to be moved, and the powers that be won't do a thing about it. I have accepted that we are stuck with 3 (almost)dead forums.
#3 Mr_Miscellany Jul 26, 2011 15:14:42	Yikes. Well, it was worth a thought. Thanks for talking to Webster, Delta.
#4 Stigger Jul 26, 2011 15:37:59	I say merge them... at least it'll look like there's something going on here, even if its just sniping over 4e sucking or being awesome.
#5 Mr_Miscellany Jul 26, 2011 18:07:43	Hellz, a consolidation might just drown out the sniping.
#6 Jorunhast Jul 26, 2011 18:32:48	Wouldn't a forum merge mess up peoples' bookmarks? Or at least the ability to find certain threads more rapidly? I don't really see a benefit, and it would emphasize how our forum traffic has died.
#7 Timmeh Jul 26, 2011 18:38:19	I responded in the thread that Mr. Miscellany posted in the Community business, but I figured I should put it here since you guys probably check this place a bit more often. there is likely a forum reorg looming in our future I don't remember the post it was gotten from (General Discussion is quite a bit cramped), but Wrecan quoted it on the Community Boards in this post. Wrecan already suggested putting the Realms into one forum and I think that the powers that be looked at that topic and are likely taking into account its advice. As for bookmarks, probably. I don't think its that huge of an issue though.
#8 Jorunhast Jul 26, 2011 19:01:58	Thank you Timmeh, but... are there any real benefits, though? I vaguely remember that it was like pulling teeth to get multiple forums for the Realms. Why screw that up now? Other than to perhaps serve someone's control issues.
#9 Timmeh Jul 26, 2011 19:46:59	A more structured forum may make it easier for newer forumgoers to find where they are going. The Realms may not see many benefits from merging, but overall a restructure is a pretty good idea. And since the trend is to lower the amount of forums and make it easier to find what you want to talk about, perhaps the Realms might get a bit more traffic. I mean, you guys are pretty low on the list. If the end product looks like this, its pretty easy to find the Realms and hopefully some of the GD topics that ask about the Realms could find their way here. If not, well, I think this looks a lot better with 1 Realms section than 3.
#10 DoctorBadWolf Jul 26, 2011 19:48:15	I'm for it. Not down to one forum, but a general and a realmslore forum seems like all that should be needed.
#11 Jorunhast Jul 26, 2011 20:03:18	I'm for it. Not down to one forum, but a general and a realmslore forum seems like all that should be needed. If they do it, it's far more likely we'll get cut down to just one.
#12 DoctorBadWolf Jul 26, 2011 20:45:12	I'd rather that then one forum's worth of posts split amongst 4 forums. But, I also think we should wait until after neverwinter comes out. who knows, maybe it will get things jumpin again
#13 DoctorBadWolf Jul 26, 2011 21:41:09	also, timmeh, I like it.
#14 sfdragon Jul 26, 2011 21:46:03	the forum is dead enough, and with one forum it will be even deader trying to look for particular threads...
#15 18DELTA Jul 26, 2011 21:48:10	Maybe some of them threads needs to diez...;)
#16 Timmeh Jul 26, 2011 21:50:03	Just so I understand your logic, how would making 1 forum out of 3(4?) be making it harder to find threads? Or making it deader? It would seem to me that if all new threads were on one forum and you had an idea of how long ago the thread was posted, it would be easy to find it. The old pinned threads and active topics can be moved.
#17 18DELTA Jul 26, 2011 21:57:53	It's because people dont wanna look for them. Just subscribe to them. It not difficult. I was asking Webster about 2 years ago to re-org these forums. that was right after they died. When WotC gave us this new lay out. Look on any of these 3 forums and you will find phantom threads from the other FR forums with no topic and empty posts. Great spam threads...
#18 Jorunhast Jul 27, 2011 1:56:11	Meh, I don't care any more. Shank the forums.
#19 Diffan Jul 27, 2011 9:12:50	Honestly, what does it matter? I doubt it'll increase post counts nor do I think consolidating the forums would lessen confusion (if anything, it'd be promoted). I could see 2 forums (Running the Realms and Realms General) which one would be for Players and DM alike to talk about the mechanical side of the game and the Realms while the other would be a general talk about the setting as a whole. But I doubt they'll do such a thing.
#20 Mr_Miscellany Jul 27, 2011 10:19:09	In my opinion, if a consolidation led to even the appearance of more traffic, that would be an improvement.
#21 Plaguescarred1 Jul 27, 2011 18:50:39	I would like they be consolidated too.
#22 The_Silversword Jul 29, 2011 22:09:27	Id say at the very least we need 2, one for "official" Realms stuff and one for homebrew stuff. Ive never really understood the difference between Realmslore and Realms General, and sometimes its hard to decide where to put a thread, is this lore? or is it general?
#23 Mirtek Jul 30, 2011 6:37:06	the forum is dead enough, and with one forum it will be even deader trying to look for particular threads... I doubt that, even the merged forum wouldn't sport enough active threads to go past page one
#24 sfdragon Jul 30, 2011 7:53:54	Id say at the very least we need 2, one for "official" Realms stuff and one for homebrew stuff. Ive never really understood the difference between Realmslore and Realms General, and sometimes its hard to decide where to put a thread, is this lore? or is it general? +1
#25 Jorunhast Jul 30, 2011 12:12:55	You greedy will get ONE forum and you'll all be HAPPY about it. OR ELSE.
#26 Iluvrien Jul 30, 2011 18:16:14	Id say at the very least we need 2, one for "official" Realms stuff and one for homebrew stuff. This. I've argued it before, and actually decided to see what others thought before sticking my oar in again... but I have always thought that there should be an easily recognisable difference in whether you are asking about the canonical Realms (for whatever reason, including for ideas that you will change for your campaign) or whether you are asking for, providing or just beginning a discussion about homebrew ideas. The point of General, for me, has been a place to go over the things about the Realms that don't relate directly to the world itself and the games people run in it, for example the announcement of new Realms products (and discussion about them) might be in General, dicussions about Realms articles published in DDI would likely appear here too (I used to like those threads) and so on...