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PostedJun 20, 2009 1:45 pm Last edited by kikix12 on Oct 05, 2009 6:27 am. Edited 6 times in total
Chapter 2: More In-Depth Look
General Advices
1) Titles:
These come from general forum guide to which link is in the first post of this thread.
kikix12 wrote: |
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First of all, titles need to say what hides behind them. If you need help on finding goblins on a map, don't use "Help plz" as title. Write "Need help on finding goblins." Is it longer?! Yes. But on the other hand if I don't know the answer, I can skip it. If I'll ever browse for "unfinished" threads in which I took part, I'll be able to find out which is which only by looking at title.
Also, some people simply skip threads whose titles don't give them knowledge whether what is inside interests them.
Second, try to use description for more complex topics. If these goblins are for quest on map 1, but appear only once a day, and near to them there are couple different types of goblins, then title is not enough. On the other hand you can write in the subtitle (with the above title) "I mean the map 1, one day spawn quest goblins."
Third, short and sweet. Don't use what you don't have to use. No one will be interested that you hate the quest, as far as the topic goes, so don't write "Need help on finding these stupid quest goblins". If you really feel the need for that, add it in the post itself. The less words you use, the better.
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2) Messages:
There are more advices in the general forum guide. Also, they are explained there further.
- Please don't use all-caps. These are seen as "shouting" and are deemed rude on majority of occassions.
- Please don't use wall of text. Use proper punctuation and "Enter" button.
- Please don't attack any specific person or group. If possible, do not use any guilds name. NEVER use guilds name in addition to a persons name. Each person is a separate entity and his actions are his alone.
- Please make use of the available format tags, but refrain from abuse of them (especially the color and size tags).
Important Rule: Necroing
Necroing is basically posting in a thread that was not active (no one posted in it) for an extended amount of time, or if it served its purpose already.
NOTE: There is no specific time the thread must be "inactive". Basically if the thread is older than a week or two, if you have nothing to add, don't post in it.
- Never post in old threads that are made as questions. Those that made them, more than likely already got the answer or are no longer playing.
- Don't post in old signature/avatar/background making service threads. There is likely a reason they are dead. Before posting, first send a PM or a comment to the person offering his service to check whether it's still valid.
- Don't post in old guides if there is a good replacement stickied already. If they were taken down or never stickied, chances are there are many errors or they simply were no longer needed.
- If the thread is of "discussion" nature and you think that the discussion is still valid and that you can add something to it, then you could post. Things like "I think it's a great idea" are not adding something valuable to the thread. Either way remember that time could bring change to the discussion, so take that into consideration.
- Never bump old threads, no matter how good they seem to you. If you want to bring them up as they are, add something constructive. If threads still serve purpose, they more than likely wouldn't be locked and they can get a "second life", but if you can't add something to them, assume that others can't either.
- Always check the date of first and last post in a thread when you are linked to it. Often people are linked to threads that are old and no longer active, as a reference, but then they needlessly necro them because they didn't look at the date.
Barter Board:
Please keep in mind that the content of this part (unless noted otherwise by a proper quote or credit given) are strictly my opinion.
Also, thread worth reading regarding barter boards can be found here.
1) Titles and Subtitles:
In barter board, it's especially important to notify the viewers of the content of the post. If you sell only one or two items, please give their full, proper names. Similarly, if you sell a group of items, if possible, generalise the topic as much as you can.
Examples: "Selling Adamas Stones and UM Human Mount", "Selling lvl56 Weapons" or "Selling High-level Armors and Weapons".
If you sell items by groups, if possible, give further description of the content in the sub-title of thread. That will allow to find the proper threads sooner.
Examples: "Weapons available are for Casters/Ranger/Fighter and fury equivalents." or "Item requirements are between lvl45 and 59."
Furthermore, I advice using tags. This even further allow to find what you are looking for. Add the tag before the topic.
Tags I advice to use are:
[Auction]: This consists of majority of threads currently. Whenever players are to offer a price, it's nothing more than auction, that will end when the seller/buyer will get a satisfying one, or after specific time-frame given by the poster.
[Shop]: Some have many items and don't want offer flood. Others want to have a specific price. If there is no offering, but simply a fixed amount, then this is like a shop. This does not mean it have more than one item for sale.
[Closed]: Many posters either don't ever use it (often making a last post saying that auction is closed or doing nothing), some don't do anything, while others change the whole topic to "Closed". Neither of these is good.
Post: If the information is by post only, then the thread was opened without need and time was wasted. Also, some don't read posts other than the first, and may not see it.
Nothing: This is obviously the worst way. It results in major waste of time when someone waits for response from the maker of the thread, when he simply won't get any due to the offer not being available anymore.
Removing Title: This is the least obvious, but still important. Some look at barter board for prices of items. If a thread is closed but it's title and message were removed, then it serves no further purpose. If such thread was left alone though, with only the tag [Closed], then the thread itself still may serve evaluation purpose.
2) Message:
Second important part is message. There are few things that should or may appear in it.
- Full names of items for sell/buying. Pretty obvious, but many simply give messages of the type "Title says it all. Serious offers only." Why full names?! If for nothing more, then because not everyone will know what for example "PID" or "BDM" means.
I take this as mandatory part.
- Offer type. Is it fixed price, auction or trade. Is there a minimum price?! If it's fixed, or there is minimum price, state it.
I take it as mandatory.
- Offer expiration. Regardless of whether it's auction or shop, there should be a time frame given, even if it's "until the item is being sold."
I take this as mandatory.
- Contact details. Character names, server (if in general/linked section) and faction. Used account names, if different. Possibly more personal means, like instant messenger address.
I take it as mandatory.
NOTE: Never give your private message address on public forum. Use one made specifically for using it publicly. Furthermore, remember to set your PM options as to allow messages from potential buyers/sellers/traders.
- Screenshots, especially if the items are rare/lapised.
I take it as optional, but for armors/weapons, very valuable.
- Time frames of availability. If someone is on always during specific times, it helps to get in contact with such a thread poster. Some have more random times though.
I take it as optional.
If the amount of items to sell/buy/trade is large, it'll be best to sort them in groups, possibly using tags and group titles.
Guilds:
1) Title and Subtitle:
When making a title, depending on what you are trying to post, there are things to put.
If it's thread to look for members to create a new guild, the title should look around: "Creating guild Guide Example". In subtitle, please add something around "Looking for characters of all levels/modes to create a new guild."
It it's thread to look for guide, title should include "Looking for <Faction> Guild". In the subtitle, please add the classess, modes and levels of characters for which you need the guild, for example: "Lvl50 HM Priest, lvl50UM Fighter".
If it's recrutation thread, title should include the guilds name and information on the topics nature: "Guide Example looking for Members". If there are restrictions, it's good to make a short overview in the subtitle, for example: "Only experienced HM+ characters at 40+ levels. Includes knowledge test."
2) Message:
Depending on the type of topic, information in it should differ:
If it's thread to look for members to create a new guild or recruit members to existing one, the message must include all the requirements clearly stated in an easy to read way, as well as means of applying and/or contact information.
It it's thread to look for guild, all additional information (players requirements for the guild as well as what he/she can offer to it) should be included.
NOTE: Please do not compare your guild to any other. Please don't flame or bad-mouth any guild. Opinions should be left to the people that do look for a guild.
Gameplay Help:
1) Title and Subtitle:
Basically, the general. Topic must include the most basic information on what is the content of thread. Subtitle may include additional, more in-depth overview of the problem. For example: Title- "Looking for quest driads." Subtitle- "Driads are for quest "Pesky Tree Guardians" on map 2 of light side."
Please do not include anything that does not inform the viewer of the content. This includes things like "Pls help", "Read pls", "Urgent" and anything general "Few Questions", unless it can't be avoided (for example, if the thread have 5 questions on very different topics).
2) Message:
All available information and all questions should be given politely and to the point. Don't include your opinions on the topic within the questions themselves. Please don't jump from question to question. If you have more than one question on more than one topic, please group them.
If you did read some information on the topic already, SAY SO. It's not uncommon for people to give links to threads that by their opinion to give the answers only to hear "I did already read that thread, but I want to hear more opinion.". If that's the case, say that in the first post instead of wasting others times.
Remember! Always state your faction! Almost all questions have answers that are faction specific!
Suggestions:
Title and Subtitle:
Clear information on the content. If it's a compilation of few suggestions on ranger, something along the lines "Ranger Suggestions" is fitting for a title. If it's a suggestion to add skill to a class "New Skill for Ranger/Assassin" should be in the title.
Don't use your imaginative skills/mechanics/whatever name in the topic, because no one will know what it means. This means that "Vorpal Slash for Ranger" is not a good topic, but at least gives chance for the viewer to guess what it is. Titles like "Battle Royale" though are utterly useless. Such name could be for event, skill or mechanic, for example, therefore the threads title as well could not exist in the first place.
You may want to add some tags. For example [Event], [Skills], [Promo], [Content] or similar.
Subtitle should include more in-depth information for more complicated topic. For example, "Includes mechanical changes to ballance caster classess in PvP." would be good subtitle for "Caster Classess Suggestions".
Message:
Message must include reason for the suggestion and suggestion itself. If the reason is a problem, include a detailed information on it. Also, include how the suggestion is supposed to affect it. For example suggestion to make bless on servers dependant on linked PvP maps, would include "This would increase importance of linked zone increasing it's population." If the change brings nothing, then there's no point in doing it, so suggesting it is a waste of time.
It is a good idea to include pros and cons of the suggestion in the original post as well.
Remember to be polite. Suggestions of the type "Limit the nossess in 1-15 so these f****** rich pigs won't ruin it anymore!" are only made to start a flame war, which in turn is agains't the rules.
NOTE: The above, vulgar, statement is just an example. It does not in any way show my opinion, nor was it made to offend anyone.
Always back up your opinions with arguments!
For any other sections, if there would be a need, feel free to inform me of it.
I do not plan on posting information about Technical Problems (but if someone from that sections regulars so wishes, I can add such a section as given by him).
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