Technical Note - 2014.02.27 - No more stars and changes in groups

[Rasmus]

I removed the stars under the the user profile pictures, mainly because they didn't bring much of information except being another representation of the post count. Users could get more stars if the belonged to a certain group in the forum, like admin, vlogger or developer, but I just felt that this was a big misrepresentation.

So the stars are now removed and instead of them I added a group image for the developers and the admins in the forum.

Later on it would not be totally wrong having something else than stars that could show of the involvement in forum, maybe that the frame around the profile image changes or something like that. But that will have to wait a little longer as we are planning on moving the forum and merge it with the Dwelvers website soon.

If you have ideas on how you want the user rating and groups to be shown you could come with suggestions

[Mello Tonin]

Just noticed that they still show up if you look at the member list. It would also be cool if instead of the title 'Developer' was under each of the team's profiles, if it were more descriptive like 'Graphic Designer', 'Lore Master', and 'Composer' for example so if one were curious they could identify who does what in the development of the game. I know it's not a big priority, just thought it could be helpful.

[Sebt]

I have an idea for something that wouldn't be called ranks, but - achievements. Forgot about only one rank and that's only post depended and let's make it not only to have a rank, but as something that would be a stimulus for people's creatio, activity on forum and on other places.

At the beginning of making this idea long time ago when I looked into it today I noticed that different achievements sums up into the one number - like now Evil Meter is a sum of different things that gives us these points. Maybe it's a good idea, but then this system would discriminate some ranks, for some you could get more for other less points, now I think instead of this different achievements would just show below community member avatar - something like gallery, but visible for everyone.

So my idea is to show achievements, but also you could choose different themes, just by joining one of the group - that could be changed every time one want. These achievements are shown as images only (like medals, circles with specific for each achievement graphic), but when you hover mouse on each of the achievement you can see it's name and number. Achievements are divided into 4 categories - there are really many achievements, so on the forum only 4 from each category you can show below your avatar on the forum, so choose the best.


Achievements:
1. Given for forum activity (simple by doing things more and more you get higher lvl of an achievement):
- Post counter achievement - as more posts you make as better image you'll get for them, because each of the images are indicated on what level of achievement you're now.
- Respect meter/Alcohol level meter - counts pluses/beers you get from people (actual reputation system).


2. Given for non-forum activities (automatically give a point for each activity you upload on Dwelvers website, for example -> 1 point is given for one video made by user directly and then uploaded in Videos section - of course each thing uploaded on website has to be approved first, so this would avoid cheating. What's more when you click on someone's achievement will be directed to "clicked" user list of things this user made - if these would be pictures clicker will be send to that user gallery):

- Video maker - show number of videos you made.
- Artist - as above, but about any graphic or music stuff.
- Editor - as above, but about any article somewhere in the net - user adds to recent articles it's own and after admin approval link to editor's article will be added to recent articles section and user will get a point for Editor achievement.
- World maker - as above, but depends on number of mods you upload in Mods section.
- Lorebuilder - show number of campaigns you made.
- Realm creator - show number of maps you made.
- Sended to Torture Room - someone that got warn by admin/moderator.


3. Given for in-game activities (if we could merge user with game achievements - like Blizzard made it - users could gather points from in-game activities)
- Realm Conqueror - show number of realms/maps you passed.
- Ruler of the world - show number of different campaigns you passed.
- Best friend - show number of players you've invited to the game.
etc. - depends on achievements we will implement to the game.

4. Special:
- Damned - banned user throwed to Pit of the Damned for bad behavior.
- Ghost - achievement for former team member.
- Evil advocate - special achievement for special members who are very close to DDT members.
- Evil operator - rank for anyone who's a website/forum moderator or admin
- Dancing Devil - special rank for DD company member, like Rasmus.


Themes:
Each of the user has to choose to which group want to belong - each group means a creature specie in game. User can choose from different avatars of creatures that belong to selected specie (maybe if website could handle this we could have animated gif avatars). Also each of the specie will have it's own avatar window border - like here was implemented.

[Seriously Unserious]

These are all such good ideas, from everyone who's posted here so far.

[Xiemas]

Ooh I also like these ideas especially Sebt's idea with the achievements!

[Sebt]

Thanks guys.
I love getting achievements in various games and I feel that achievements are certainly what says about your work, like one real life, an achievement is a new car, later even a luxury, electric car like Tesla S or a first flat then buying an apartament, etc. Of course having only trophies are not enough rewards for your intense work, so that's why I came to idea of showing for what exactly members got higher levels of their achievements, especially that members could get reputation points for each their work separately from people who click +1 or something like that option located below others images, videos, realms etc. Also I don't like names I used to call these achievements, well they could be more dark humorous and more related to Dwelvers, so if have any idea anyone post it!

[Xiemas]

Yea I always make my own achievements my big achievement is to get more post as SU but with usefull post so not crap spamming

I'm not the best with names.

[Seriously Unserious]

You've got a long way to go to get there, Xiemas.

[Rasmus]

Just noticed that they still show up if you look at the member list. It would also be cool if instead of the title 'Developer' was under each of the team's profiles, if it were more descriptive like 'Graphic Designer', 'Lore Master', and 'Composer' for example so if one were curious they could identify who does what in the development of the game. I know it's not a big priority, just thought it could be helpful.

Can't see the stars at the member list :S
Yeah, it would be more informative to have specific titles on the developers. But at this forum I have to put them all in different groups to change their group picture and that could be a little messy. I will wait until we make the forum move to fix that

I have an idea for something that wouldn't be called ranks, but - achievements. Forgot about only one rank and that's only post depended and let's make it not only to have a rank, but as something that would be a stimulus for people's creatio, activity on forum and on other places.

I like this But it will need a lot of maintenance from our side to keep it all running and deliver the points

[Xiemas]

Then maybe you need to find some people who will help with the forum
SU seems like a great Forum mod

[Seriously Unserious]

Just noticed that they still show up if you look at the member list. It would also be cool if instead of the title 'Developer' was under each of the team's profiles, if it were more descriptive like 'Graphic Designer', 'Lore Master', and 'Composer' for example so if one were curious they could identify who does what in the development of the game. I know it's not a big priority, just thought it could be helpful.

+

Can't see the stars at the member list

You could be viewing a cashed version of the member list???

Then maybe you need to find some people who will help with the forum
SU seems like a great Forum mod

Thank you. That takes some doing too since I don't even have any mod privileges here...

[Sebt]

There are no stars in member list after post about that still they're in member list. I noticed they're indeed still there, so I removed them all.

So if we could add achievements just to the forum and maybe later in connection with the game you would be satisfied, right?
I discussed with Rasmus that we couldn't implement them yet only because we don't have knowledge, time and resources, but it's doable if we would have them and I'm sure we will do it if people will still like this idea and not proposed something better.

I wonder how else we could reward people's activities, thoughts?

[Rasmus]

The problem with having the achievements implemented in the game is that I would have to have a database somewhere that could both be modified and read from the game, and that is a security issue that I am a little afraid to face, also this database can't have any sensitive information that would block the players playing progress if it is down. Maybe we can look into it later, but it is not anything I focus on atm.

Hmm, the first step with having a database that is run from the game is that I could use it for read only, for news and update information and stuff like that. If that works as it should we can move on to more individual info.

[Xiemas]

Yea, security is a big issue, I have problems with it myself.

Maybe it is possible to just add them on the forum and later on in the game. Or just use only in the forum, a lot of people who play games just play the game, they don't report buggs and just play the game like I do for some games. So A guess is that maybe 100 out of 500 people or more joins the forum.

[Seriously Unserious]

Yea, security is a big issue, I have problems with it myself.

I couldn't agree more.

Maybe it is possible to just add them on the forum and later on in the game. Or just use only in the forum, a lot of people who play games just play the game, they don't report buggs and just play the game like I do for some games. So A guess is that maybe 100 out of 500 people or more joins the forum.

I would say probably few then 100 out of 500 join the forum, and even fewer still post anything. The usual rule of thumb I go by is that for every person that speaks up, there are at least 10 more who do not, so if you have 500 people playing the game, then expect about 40 to 50 members, and about 5 of them posting regularly. In fact, I'd say this forum follows those stats quite closely, I just checked, and we have 108 members, and we usually have about 5-10 of those members actively participating in the forum's discussions at any given time.

For example, the members I see posting regularly ATM are me, Rasmus, Sebt, Mellow Tonin, Xiemas, TopperHarley, Prof_ion, TakticBlack and Rikas Khan (although he's not posting as much as he did about a month ago). That's about 9 members give or take 1 or 2 I may have missed, which is right about par for the course of the 1 in 10 rule.