Forum leads do not have any moderation powers whatsoever. They do, however, have a direct voice to the WotC Community Management team. They are here to help represent your community. If you have any feedback or suggestions you'd like to see passed along, let them know!
Forum Lead Mission statement;
Forum leads work as advocates for the community, providing WotC with suggestions and ideas regarding their community, while also helping to provide guidance and help to all forum members, new and old.
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The leads for this forum are: DrMorganes, Zherog
Congrats on the level-up, Zherog!
I really want to hear any ideas folks have for making this forum as awesome as it can be. Even if it's a wild idea, like arranging for a developer to come in once a week to answer questions, I want to know what you think. I can't promise anything, other than I'll make sure your ideas get heard. (and, given my big mouth, I'll make sure they get heard more than once, most likely ;) )
As for suggestion...I know it won't happen but could get our old mod back...I miss the cat...
I can't think of a better lead then you. Cheers and may your administration be fruitful and long.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
As for suggestion...I know it won't happen but could get our old mod back...I miss the cat...
Two points here. Cat has resigned and moved on to the feline retirement home.
Even if he hadn't resigned, though, the moderation method has changed for the entire community. You might notice that there are no longer individual WizOs listed as moderators on the forums. The "old" model had mods assigned to forums, and they dealt with the problems on that forum, without having a set schedule. The "new" model has the mods working set shifts, and the "on duty" WizO responds to reported threads in any forum. That means, just as an example, that it's possible to have a WizO from the "Magic: the Gathering" side come in to this forum to deal with a reported problem.
There's ups and downs to the new method, and if you'd like to discuss them further I'd recommend hopping over to the Boards Business forum.
1) This seems to be one of the few forums without a FAQ. Does it need one? If so, what sort of questions should be answered? I have a few things in mind, but I'd love to hear what others think.
2) In addition to a FAQ, I was thinking of compiling a list of "important threads and links." I would include that right in the same thread as the FAQ, so there wouldn't be too much clutter. Again, I have ideas of what should be on such a list, but I want to hear what you think should be on that list.
And the discussion isn't limited to these two topics. If you have an idea that you think will improve this forum, please let me know. If you don't want to post to this thread, I accept PMs and my e-mail address is available in my user profile.
As for suggestions, I have two things to discuss right off the bat, that I hope people can provide feedback on.
1) This seems to be one of the few forums without a FAQ. Does it need one? If so, what sort of questions should be answered? I have a few things in mind, but I'd love to hear what others think.
Sounds like a good idea. But it would have to be stickied, and stay stickied. When the DM2do FAQ fell from the top page it became useless.
As for what sorts of questions, well there are the more common ones;
1) My DMs a Noob and put our level one party up against Orcus. What do I do?
2) My DM is a noob and started us all off with 30 in each stat and 1 billion gold, what do I do?
3) My DM says X is too powerful, how do I prove him wrong?
4) I think player Y is a dork/Noob/Team killing ****tard/drama queen/power gamer/x y and Z...What should I do?
5) My group is power gamer/drama queens/noobs/vets/retired generals and I'm the opposite. What do I do?
6) My paladin farted, and no my DM says I'm evil and fell.
7) What's the next feat/class level/item should I get?
8) How do you beat X?
edit: 9) The party rogue is an evil bastard/kendar/clepto. Can I Kill him?
Thats all I can think of. We should also include a list of frequently asked questions regarding admin. Like what exact a formun lead is, and a link to the CoC etc.
Also we should have a couple of poeple answer the questions so as to giove a couple of different perspectives on each answer. Maybe open it up to a bunch of different people?
2) In addition to a FAQ, I was thinking of compiling a list of "important threads and links." I would include that right in the same thread as the FAQ, so there wouldn't be too much clutter. Again, I have ideas of what should be on such a list, but I want to hear what you think should be on that list.
The index to the 101 threads
Important player links, CoC board, character development board, the fallacies, and uhmmm I think thats about it.
1) My DMs a Noob and put our level one party up against Orcus. What do I do?
2) My DM is a noob and started us all off with 30 in each stat and 1 billion gold, what do I do?
Hammergun
3) My DM says X is too powerful, how do I prove him wrong?
Math
4) I think player Y is a dork/Noob/Team killing ****tard/drama queen/power gamer/x y and Z...What should I do?
5) My group is power gamer/drama queens/noobs/vets/retired generals and I'm the opposite. What do I do?
See the link in my siggy
6) My paladin farted, and no my DM says I'm evil and fell.
Hammergun
7) What's the next feat/class level/item should I get?
CO Boards
8) How do you beat X?
With Y :P
edit: 9) The party rogue is an evil bastard/kendar/clepto. Can I Kill him?
Solve the problem at the source: kill the player. With fire.
Sounds like a good idea. But it would have to be stickied, and stay stickied. When the DM2do FAQ fell from the top page it became useless.
I have the ability to control what is and is not stickied on this forum, as long as no more than three threads are ever stickied. So yes, I can make sure the FAQ and Thread Guide would stay at the top. (and the reason I want to put them in the same thread is so we have a bit of leeway when determining what is and isn't stickied.)
As for what sorts of questions, well there are the more common ones;
...
6) My paladin farted, and no my DM says I'm evil and fell.
Thats all I can think of. We should also include a list of frequently asked questions regarding admin. Like what exact a formun lead is, and a link to the CoC etc.
You know, oddly enough when I thought of a FAQ I never dreamed of tackling the "My DM suXX0rs, what do I do?" style of question. But you're right, it makes perfect sense to include it.
It seems we would need two sections. One would be "administrative," and would discuss what the forum is for, who the mods are, what a "forum lead" is and all that sort of stuff. The second section would document - as best as possible anyway - the most commonly asked questions from the forum.
Also we should have a couple of poeple answer the questions so as to giove a couple of different perspectives on each answer. Maybe open it up to a bunch of different people?
I agree. What I'll do is start a whole new thread in a day or so to begin gathering potential questions, starting with your list, and group answers to those questions.
The index to the 101 threads
Important player links, CoC board, character development board, the fallacies, and uhmmm I think thats about it.
This covered a lot of the ideas I had, as well. I was also going to link to the SRD (both the "official" version on the WotC site as well as d20srd.org, and maybe a few other versions as well), The Boards Business forum, the "Dictionary of Terminology" on D&D General, and probably a few other sites. As for threads here, I was going to include links for the Hero Craftsman contests. Are there any other threads in this forum that are "must see" type stuff?
*
Good stuff. Let's keep the general suggestions flowing for a day or so, then I'll start a thread so we can begin working together building questions and answers for a FAQ.
@ Z the lead dude.
1) I would add a link to the rules counsellings in the links section as well.
2) I've noticed a serious problem with these forms...my quote bottom is dysfunctional. Sometimes it works well, other times it only quotes one of the X people I'd like to, and in this case it didn't work at all.
3) This was ignored on another form, but could we have the term "shyster" added to the filter please? Thankx.
But other than that, sure. Send me a self-addressed envelope and stamp, and I'll bleed on it and mail it back as a DNA sample.
2) I've noticed a serious problem with these forms...my quote bottom is dysfunctional. Sometimes it works well, other times it only quotes one of the X people I'd like to, and in this case it didn't work at all.
Multi-quote hasn't worked in quite some time. You can - sort of - get it to work for two posts. Click on the "plus" for the first post, then hit the "quote" button for the second. Other than that, though, you won't have any luck getting it to work. Sucktastic, I know.
3) This was ignored on another form, but could we have the term "shyster" added to the filter please? Thankx.
I have no control over what is actually in the filter, but I will bring up the issue with the Community Management team. Is it an insult you see regularly on the forums? I honestly can't recall seeing it before.
I have the ability to control what is and is not stickied on this forum, as long as no more than three threads are ever stickied.
Does that limit include your Forum Lead thread right now? I think it makes more sense to have the FAQ and Important Threads separate, but if you're crunched for space, there's not much you can do...
You know, oddly enough when I thought of a FAQ I never dreamed of tackling the "My DM suXX0rs, what do I do?" style of question. But you're right, it makes perfect sense to include it.
Many of the threads we see here are about such general topics. I seem to recall that we used to have a FAQ that covered these things, and had multiple answerers for input...or maybe I'm thinking of another forum here?
Anyway, I remember reading the whole thing and being very impressed by it.I pretty much agree entirely with the rest of your post.
Does that limit include your Forum Lead thread right now? I think it makes more sense to have the FAQ and Important Threads separate, but if you're crunched for space, there's not much you can do...
Yes, it does. However, I could (conceivably) include the Forum Lead announcement/info in the FAQ document.
Assuming we have a separate FAQ and "Important Links" document, we'd still have a free slot that way.
There can be brief exceptions, as well. For example, if an announcement needs to be made a forum can temporarily go over their 3 thread limit for the life of the announcement.
2) In addition to a FAQ, I was thinking of compiling a list of "important threads and links." I would include that right in the same thread as the FAQ, so there wouldn't be too much clutter. Again, I have ideas of what should be on such a list, but I want to hear what you think should be on that list.
Just a few Suggestions about this.
Definitely should be in:
Dictionary of Terminology
Dictionary of Terminology Part II
Link to the CoC
Probably should be in
links to the SRD (Sometimes helpful to players.)
Links to the Errata's (Hopefully they get updated
)Best Lines Ever (Just for laughs)
Link to the Character development board (to help players with their background)
Link to the Char Ops (...)
Link to Real Adventures....
(how'd that get there)Becket360,
D&D is a social game. As such, the idea is to forge and strengthen friendships with people. Presumably, this person is a friend or at least an associate or potential friend. He just isn't a particuarly good player. So...
Imagine you folks were doing some other social event. Say tennis partners, or a member of a band? How would you approach someone who isn't that good? Do you wack him with a tennis ball, mess with his drum set, try making it so unpleasant that he leaves, etc. Would that work? Even if it did, you've lost a friend, made everyone angry, etc. Most folks wouldn't do that. They would try helping him improve, and/or ask him to leave.
In the end, how you handle this says more about you than it does him. Lots of folks don't have the maturity, patience, or aptitude for the game. Sometimes people just don't fit in well.
1. Try improving his game
Not easy, but you have to ask yourself why not try.
a) Have the DM talk with him. Say that he has noticed that problems with the other PCs and ask if he is having any problems outside the game, if there is anything the DM can do, etc.
b) Try taking him out to public games or conventions. RPGA type stuff, where he isn't with the group and/or DMs don't allow anti-social behavior.
c) Try having the DM run some one-on-one stuff with him.
d) Try inviting a guest to the game. A female player if you can find one. Many people act much differently in front of strangers and most male gamers suddenly start acting mature with ladies present. A young person at the table might also discourage anti-social players.
e) Enforce some type of 'anti-social' rules. No evil alignments, no swearing or threatening other players, no player vs. player, etc. RPGA ethical play guidelines or something.
f) Find another guest DM. Someone who can lay down the law and help show him the way folks are expected to work together. Again, a public game day might be helpful.
g) Try having the DM invoke in-game reasons for him to cooperate. Backgrounds, NPCs, personal quests, etc. which require him to work with other PCs.
h) Try different styles of games or encounters. Try some short-term modules with pregens for a bit. Try dungeon crawls. Try core-only rule sets.
i) Try making some in-game effort to be friendly to his PC. Buy him some personalized equipment, invite his PC to a play, come up with a party "oath", etc.
j) Try improving friendships outside the game. Bring snacks, try other activities besides gaming (movie nights, birthday dinners, sporting events, etc.), etc.
2. Ask him to leave
Never fun but you can do a number of things so that you aren't a complete idiot.
a) Talk with him individually, and let him know that you are not appreciating the table fighting and ask if there is anything you can do to help. i.e. guilt sometimes works. Have the DM to it the next week if things aren't improving.
b) Talk with him as a group and let him know that you aren't enjoying gaming with him. Let him know that he is welcome to movie nights and other events, but that your gaming styles don't appear to match well, and that the resulting fighting isn't good for friendships.
c) Keep in touch with him. Invite him to other events, public game days, etc. No need to be bitter or resentful about having him leave. If he wants to be angry, fine. Then at least you have done your best.
Our forum name has been changed back to What's a Player to Do?! YAY!