a new subforum maybe?

[Kojusoki]

hello,

sometimes, I find it difficult here to check if there are any new games avaible. What do you think about creating a completly new subforum in the "Multiplayer and AARs" part? Forum called "New games" or something. After the game is full and ready to launch, the thread must be moved to the regular forum.
The problem is that in the recent situation, on the top, there are threads which are most popular - so those are usually "running games" with plenty of people who are already involved in the game.
If one creates a new game, sometimes it is difficult to see that. What do you think about this?

[lch]

Not that bad an idea, but non-moderators can't move posts.

[Aezeal]

Well I don't see the problem really.. I think at most 10-20 games are starting at one point.. it wouldn't be that much of a problem if a started game remained in the yet to be created subforum for a few hours.... So if a mod checked it once a day and then moved the started games to the new forum it would be good enough (and if a game wasn't actually started but looked like ti was (mightbe due to a lot of post and pplz posting and the host being a bit vague about being started or not I guess) and it was moved then probably the ones already interested could find it on this forum too

I'm 100% for this idea

[djo]

Are the thread prefixes changeable later by the thread owner? If so, maybe splitting the "MP" prefix into "MP-new" and "MP-running" would work.

[Tifone]

use the function "search this forum" (under the pages index) for the word "recruiting"? ;)

[lch]

Are the thread prefixes changeable later by the thread owner? If so, maybe splitting the "MP" prefix into "MP-new" and "MP-running" would work.
Yes, by editing the top post. It was always customary to change thread titles according to the game status. Introducing a new MP prefix for games looking for players is a good idea, but has to be added by the Shrapnel administration first.

[djo]

I knew the title was, I didn't know if the tags were. On the other hand, people would have to remember to use them, and given that even the titles often aren't updated, maybe it's a duplication of functionality that isn't used that much anyway.

[Lokean]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's no real troll population to speak of on these forums, right?

With that in mind, why not create a user ID called something appropriate ('MP_Updates'?) and make a topic 'New games' in the sticky list. Give out the login and password to the more trustworthy and well known personalities on the forums and ask them to update it when they've got the time.
People can post new games to the sticky (or send PMs) and the trustees can go through them every so often and update the top post. There'll probably be circumstances where a game doesn't get put on the list for a day or two, or circumstances where a full game isn't taken off, but as long as links are provided to the posts for each particular game people will be able to check for themselves, too.

[Gandalf Parker]

That is what we do, more or less. But in the opposite direction (which from long admining I have learned works best). Someone first creates a thread that they feel is worthy, and then its made sticky. But your idea would work well if someone wanted to do it. In fact, it probably even wouldnt need to be sticky since it would get updated so often.

[Lokean]

The point of having a semipublic ID is mostly so the top post can be edited by several people, making it easier for players (especially newbies) to see what's going on at a glance.

I'm happy to set up an account for it and work on the format for the first post.

[JimMorrison]

The point of having a semipublic ID is mostly so the top post can be edited by several people, making it easier for players (especially newbies) to see what's going on at a glance.

I'm happy to set up an account for it and work on the format for the first post.

I'm pretty sure what Gandalf was getting at, was that if you provided a thread with a good introduction, and nice formatting on it, and people began to use it to post games, that it may be made sticky, and then the forum Admins would update it from their own accounts. They'd be the only ones with access anyways, most likely.

[Lokean]

I've actually mailed the admins about the possibility now. Odds are currently in favor of them saying 'no, you're not allowed to have access to multiple accounts in any way shape or form'.

The problem is, it would not be part of the Admin/Moderators' purview to maintain such a list, so the odds of them doing so are not that great. I'm aware that the post would most likely have to be made sticky by a general consensus and request to the moderators, but I feel the need for it to be administered by a group of trustees, to provide robustness and accountability to the community, remains present.

If the admins say no to an 'open account' I'm afraid somebody else would have to take responsibility for keeping it going if it did get off the ground; I'm simply not on the forums often enough to be in a position to maintain it.

EDIT: I could probably just PM one of the Moderators and ask, but I think it's better to ask the admins using their nice online form, just to show I care. ;)

[lch]

I've actually mailed the admins about the possibility now. Odds are currently in favor of them saying 'no, you're not allowed to have access to multiple accounts in any way shape or form'.
That's exactly what Shrapnel administration is going to say.

If somebody announces that he's going to administrate a list of new games and update it reasonably often, we'd probably be all for it and sticky it. Almost all the people that provide the most-used game servers around here (Gandalf, llama, me) are mods that can directly edit the post, too. But I wouldn't bet on that too much, because game admining is usually left for other players, and we only supply the facilities. Hence somebody would need to step forward for this like it's the way for the Strategy Index, MP Hall of Fame and similar lists.

[Lokean]

Well then, pending the Adminsitrators having a Scrooge moment, I suppose I could certainly start work on things. If I can't keep it updated and there's somebody willing to take it over I suppose the mods could just copy the content across into a post by the new guy and then delete the original and sticky the copy.

[Gandalf Parker]

I wouldnt start a new account for it. That will violate the rules here and set off the watchdog scripts. An action such as a special shared account would have to be agreed to by the staff. Personally, I dont see enough reason for it to justify watering down the dual-account securities for it.

But by all means feel free to begin such a thread listing open games.

[lch]

I suppose I could certainly start work on things. If I can't keep it updated and there's somebody willing to take it over I suppose the mods could just copy the content across into a post by the new guy and then delete the original and sticky the copy.
Yeah, that's the idea and what's current practice with the other lists.

Start a thread in here and report back when you're done so that we can sticky it.

[Lokean]

Well, the alpha version of the thread is up. I could only actually find one game seeking players, at the moment. If there's others that I've missed then that's a pretty strong indicator that the list might be useful :rolleyes:

[Gandalf Parker]

You could always list the games on the servers that are looking for players.

[Lokean]

I'm new to MP in dominions, but I had assumed that most of them were being organised in private. I could post a link to the games, but that might result in people joining a game and filling a slot intended for someone else, might it not?

[Gandalf Parker]

I dont remember that being much of a problem. The games that are organized in the forums do ok with that.

And there are plenty of anonymous games on the servers (Llamas and mine)

[Lokean]

To clarify, then. Are games on your server that are listed as OPEN essentially free to all comers? And is there a way of checking to see whether there are other players signed up to a particular game without connecting to the server?

[Gandalf Parker]

Yes, the open game will list the nations that have signed up.
http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/blitz_chk.cgi
http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/cbm_chk.cgi
http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/vsAI_chk.cgi
http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/Chaos_chk.cgi
http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/demo_chk.cgi
http://game.dom3minions.com/bin/mids_chk.cgi
Mega games tend to get their own webpages.

Hmmm Im considering yet another couple of game categories.
Maybe its time to create a single page just for listing the open ones in all categories.

[Lokean]

Ah, I see. The page I clicked on (CBM blitz) didn't have any nations signed up at the time, in that case.

If you put up a general page for the open games I'd put that up as a point of reference, but would then specify particular games if players posted a notice in the thread. In general I expect there's less organising required for the sort of small game your server hosts, since it's essentially each player joining in a vacuum, without prior knowledge of the other players or their preferences.

[Kojusoki]

good job Lokean! That is what I was looking for:)