theworldofdreams.com

There's an increasing trend of (what I guess to be) new players asking questions about in-game things on the forum.

If this is a positive thing, maybe it could be encouraged to a forum devoted to Player Guide Question and Answers.

If this is a negative thing, maybe there should be a bit more of a rigiourous way upon account acceptance to ensure people have read the manual (a few questions, perhaps).

The idea just occurred to me when I kept reading threads posted everywhere about in-game questions, and I figured well, if it was an increasing trend, maybe it could be accomodated. Just a suggestion. I don't particularly feel strongly for this (if at all), so comments/criticisms are welcome, without the fear of me leaping up on my soapbox.

-M

I think it would make sense to have this as a hard print part of the application, consider whether they actually read the manual based on how high a score they get.

Taking into account that most people can access the manual WHILE they do the quiz, it's not necessarily a good idea.

-M

By having a quiz, even if they can access the manual, they will still learn some important information.

Learning by rote isn't neccessarily good learning. I agree they would learn *something*, but then it is a question of what the questions should focus on. There is a big emphasis on 'values of playing' as part of WoD rules, and any guide would either have to be comprehensive (and exhaustive) enough to cater to every question, or so specific that every new applicant would have the exact same information ... and ask about everything else.

I'm sure everyone who filled out the questionairre doesn't role-play, so what's to say that answering questions about rules will instill a respect for them?

But, this is off-topic. The point of my suggestion is if it is viable to have a Q&A forum, or not. Not argue the intricities of the application forum, or any amends to it.

-M

I'm confused. Don't we already have an In-Game Assistance forum?

I think what he wants is a newbie forum.

However anyone should feel free to ask questions at will, here or in the brit bank. I'm sure someone would be happy to help, no matter where you ask.

This is why we have forums, so that the players can ask questions and get help. Everyone should feel free to not only ask but also anwser questions.

It is true we have an in-game assistance forum. And to be honest, I didn't think of that before I posted.

When I went back and had a look (and a think), I found that it was one of the least used forums (not counting the "new" ones), and taking your point into consideration, maybe the "In-Game assistance" forum could be renamed to the "Q&A forum" because when I think "In game assistance" I immediatly think that

- I must be in the game to use it
- It's one of those "please hold" sort of dissatisfaction things.

I can't be certain, but I would venture a guess at maybe making the forum a bit more accomodating, even if it is only on the surface level, might see it get more use.

-M

Least used?

It has more posts that the Traders/Craftsman board, has more posts than the scripting board, has more posts than the New Players board, it has more posts than the For Sale Auctions board.

If we were to rename it to Q&A forum, then that might encompass other boards and create more confusion as to which board to post to. Q&A is too general, and we already have a General board.

I might add that the last post to the In-Game Assistance board was only about 2 hrs ago.

Make that an hour and 10 mins ago. (My computer clock is off).

As far as the manual goes, we can't force people to read/browse websites, only encourage the use of it. When the time comes that they Need the information, they will go there. It's supposed to be a reference, not a book.

Tamla wrote:It has more posts that the Traders/Craftsman board, has more posts than the scripting board, has more posts than the New Players board, it has more posts than the For Sale Auctions board.

Then perhaps these [other] boards are too specific? It's a question of utility, I think. The meaningness of having a Q&A forum (as an idea), is that it will be a place where people with questions go. Given the nature of those questions to be "spread" throughout the forums, the idea is that with all the questions in once place, perhaps a person may be able to look there for an answer, rather than trawl the entire Forum for an instance where it was mentioned.

Tamla wrote:If we were to rename it to Q&A forum, then that might encompass other boards and create more confusion as to which board to post to. Q&A is too general, and we already have a General board.

From this quote, I understand that you are against the idea of renaming the forum In-game assistance, or having the concept invoked at all. If I am incorrect, please say so. However, if that is the point being made, then I argue this:

Which boards would it encompass? If we are to continue assuming what players do and do not know, then it is evident that they do not know where to post questions in this case, because they are spread out throughout the entire WoD forums. If there was a place that was clearly marked as a place to ask questions and have them answered, then perhaps it would benefit the community as a whole. Looking at this idea as to the value of it's worth to an individual may not neccessarily be the wisest decision.

Tamla wrote:When the time comes that they Need the information, they will go there. It's supposed to be a reference, not a book.

Please tell me the difference between a reference and a book. What I think you are trying to say is a reference and a manual, being that a reference is a guide referred to in times of need, and a manual being a comprehensive list of instructions that is much more volumous. In that case, I agree with you.

No one can be forced to read the manual, nor learn from it. But the advantage the manual has over the forums is that it is specific, easy to search and the topics are indexed clearly. If, by a logical step, more people read the forums than use the manual, does it not make sense to then ensure that the forums are as clear and concise as the manual itself, so that even when reading the forums, they might act as a "guide", standing alone?

I would like to think so.

-M

Marius, please don't take this question the wrong way. But I feel it needs to be asked.

Is there anything about WoD that you don't think needs changed?

Because just about every thread that I see your name in as having started, or participated, ends up involving something you believe needs to be changed.

I did edit, I edited two of those once. It doesn't say that I edited though. The second was an afterthought, and the third was a different subject. You don't have to point out the edit button, I know it is there and I do use it. I won't apologize for that, and I shouldn't have to defend myself. It's not even associated with the topic at hand. Why bring it up? Sounds more like your saying, "You're a fool, and I am superior to you." Well gee thanks. I'll remember your pointing out my shortcomings.

I think the utility of the boards is just fine the way it is. They are not too specific and it is pretty clear now where to post what, and if a topic is unclear where it goes, then people use the General Discussion board. There are enough posts to each forum to suggest that it is viable.

As far as finding posts on a specific topic, well that is what the search button is for. Example: I want to know who posted what about harvesting. There might be posts in the Ingame Assistance, and there might be posts in the tech forum, and there might be posts in the General discussion on this very thing. Are we to say we need a new board for "Harvesting" questions? No.
(This also answers the question of what other boards it might encompass.)

Why rename the In-game Assistance board? What would you rename it to? Q&A? Because you are dissatisfied with it? No one has to be in the game to use that. It's a messageboard!

All forums have questions in them, isn't that part of what message boards are all about? Asking questions? If they want to know where to post a specific question, it should be based on the type of question it is. Does it have to do with something not working right? (Tech board) Does it have to do with quests? (Quest board) Does it have to do with making jewelry? (General shard discussion) You get the idea I hope.

Reference vs Book. What I mean there is that a book you would read front to back, and a reference is used to look something up. For example, you don't read the dictionary front to back, but you refer to it, hence the meaning of "reference". Do you really expect players to read the manual front to back? I know I wouldn't (but I have only because I have written it before). Our WoD manual was originally intended as a reference.

More people read the forums more than the manual because of people posting daily and having discussions. You don't get discussions from (again!) a REFERENCE website. The forums don't have to act as a "guide" as you put it, thats what the Manual is for! What is wrong with the search option?

If it isn't broke, why fix it?

As was already said, the 'In-game Assistance' forum already exists for this sort of function. You're probably right that it needs a new name, though, but I don't think 'Q&A Forum' is all that much better. So what other names might work better than its current name to reflect that its the place to ask 'basic' questions about the game? (And please, no "Help, I didn't read the manual! Forum" suggestions )