Sort Out The Forum

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31.01.2010, 16:18

After reading the lated=st interview with newbies, they commented on how bad the forum is with help. They comment that

I also look for help in the forums but it seems to be pretty scattered and hard to find easily

I did read it but found most of the help section disorganized. You need to look in too many places to find information. I also found the FAQ section to be way too short and very basic.

So if newbies are finding the forum as such a lame duck then we need to sort it out. I think an easy way is to be nicer to people asking and don't say "This has been asked millions of times" because that makes the writer bad and can scare them away. We could also give more advice out freely and try and get the FAQ better (with some help fom Goldeneye hopefully) because they commented on it and I also found it of no help whatsoever when I started.

Most of yous will agree that the forum has been becoming less and less active, most of the serious discussions have faded and we need to do something about it. So lets get pro-active and save the forum

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31.01.2010, 20:38

Hmmm ok. Perhaps the paper can help. In the next issue maybe we can ask for newbies to write in with the basic questions they have no matter how bad they seem or sound and we can add them to the FAQ with a full explanation?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31.01.2010, 21:14

Newbies are still free to post questions here if they can't find them, but 'newbie activity' has gone down as well.

I'll be glad to answer questions now that I'm more experienced in the game and will actually be able to help, but I haven't seen an opportunity for this so far.

It would be nice to have a KapiTimes page that shows forum questions and their answers as a sort of FAQ within the paper, but with the lower amount of forum questions, this has been hard to do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 31.01.2010, 21:21

VerConMat Industries BV wrote:Newbies are still free to post questions here if they can't find them, but 'newbie activity' has gone down as well.

I'll be glad to answer questions now that I'm more experienced in the game and will actually be able to help, but I haven't seen an opportunity for this so far.

It would be nice to have a KapiTimes page that shows forum questions and their answers as a sort of FAQ within the paper, but with the lower amount of forum questions, this has been hard to do.

I've said it before and I'll say it again- In game advertising of the forums with uses etc

pearlbay · Post by **pearlbay** » 01.02.2010, 09:00

felixbluindustries wrote:Hmmm ok. Perhaps the paper can help. In the next issue maybe we can ask for newbies to write in with the basic questions they have no matter how bad they seem or sound and we can add them to the FAQ with a full explanation?

This sounds like a great idea. I wouldn't just invite newbies though, maybe more experienced players could write their thoughts as well, and say "You know, when I first started I really wanted to know XYZ, but couldn't find the information anywhere".

I think I can also speak for GoldenEye if I say we'd be happy to update the Forum FAQ, if it helps new users to get more acquainted with the game!

Best regards,

pearlbay

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 01.02.2010, 15:50

At least some people agree with my views that the forums need some work to them. As for bigger players most of them have rock solid trade agreements so dont need the forums for buisness any more. it is such a shame. Also thanks pearlbay for deciding to at least think about updating the FAQ, it is a bit dated.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 01.02.2010, 18:29

Well king it's your idea, how do you want it to roll?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 02.02.2010, 03:36

The problem with newbies is that they are newbies. Most of them haven't figured out how to write those of us at the paper or even post on the forums.

I think we should get together and all submit questions in a long list. Then we can get people to answer and use the best answers in a new FAQ thread. (Multiple answers for each question. As we all know, there is more than one way to skin a cat.)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 02.02.2010, 15:33

Then couldnt the FAQ be un-locked? I know it would cause some spamming but Goldeneye could start a thread and we answer and there would be rules about spamming and banning spammers in the area.

Feilx, I weas just hoping people would realise that we are kinda scaring away the newbies and parts of the forum arent that help and some of us (including me) have resorted to spamming to give the forum the appearnce of life.

pearlbay · Post by **pearlbay** » 03.02.2010, 08:18

Well, I'd like to talk with GoldenEye on how best to approach this. Simply opening the FAQ section is probably not the best idea, as it would allow everyone to post there, and apart from possible Spam in this section, we might end up turning the area into a discussion space rather than an FAQ section where to players can find quick and concise answers to their questions.

So as Azer suggests, getting together and submitting questions, then adding to the FAQ based on those, sounds like a good idea. We could open an extra thread for that, and those willing to write texts based on some of the questions could give it a go.

Just a thought from my end, I'll ask GoldenEye to add his input, and I am sure we can scrounge something up together!

Thanks for all your ideas here!

Cheers,

pearlbay

Edit:

I have justed talked to GoldenEye, who is currently busy. The best idea, from our perspective is, to adapt the FAQ according to the way it is laid out on the German forum. It is very clear and concise there, and we could take over this system to the English forum. GoldenEye was planning on getting started here anyway, once he isn't not that busy anymore, which will be by mid-/end-February.

We will then create a special sub-forum, where Kapi veterans and everyone else can post their ideas for additions to the FAQs. I am hoping we will have the forum updated to phpbb3 by then, so we can easily add a special sub-forum here. Then those FAQ ideas/texts that are especially helpful, can be added to the FAQ area.

I hope you'll enjoy our plan

Of course you can keep discussing this topic, and start collecting ideas until we have our special area right here.

Best regards,

pearlbay

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03.02.2010, 17:24

Good to hear, pearlbay.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 03.02.2010, 17:37

I really like the idea and thanks pearlbay for listening to us and putting some time in this. I really appreciate it and i think most people would agree that thsi something for the better. Also good luck Goldeneye.

pearlbay · Post by **pearlbay** » 04.02.2010, 15:40

You are welcome!

I hope we'll be able to adapt the FAQ according to everyone's liking.

Best wishes,

pearlbay

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 06.05.2010, 21:55

And there we go: The FAQ-archive has finally been released!

You can now visit the new FAQ-archive. Enjoy it!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 07.05.2010, 18:36

Thank you Goldeneye. I think it is a great improvement on the old version and comprehensive.

PS: It looks very similar to the German one