Want to volunteer to help in some way? Feel free to post it here so woof and the others will know that you're willing to help and where. :)
We've had a couple of volunteers already via PM's. I thought I'd open this thread because my PM indicator is kinda iffy when there are multiple GM recipients.
ijason
member, 1 post Fri 27 Sep 2002 at 17:13
msg #2
Re: Volunteers
Web hosting - I able to get good deals on reliable web hosting - I only need be told how much space needed for RPoL and piktures - then I go get good deal and kum bak and tell you how much - then you treasurer decide.
Really, I can do this. Like I posted before, I just need to know what we need.
fatman
member, 3 posts Fri 27 Sep 2002 at 17:49
msg #3
Re: Volunteers
Available for grunt work. FAQs, Portraits, editing, etc.
Razewun
member, 1 post Fri 27 Sep 2002 at 18:19
msg #4
Re: Volunteers
Hi guys,
Sending in a donation today. Just came to the RPOL site in the last couple of weeks. Very cool indeed, just warming to it in two games. I am willing to help in some fashion.
I have time to spare for this, though am am neither a net nurd, computer geek, or rulesmonger (I believe in the absolute deity of GM's). But if there is somewhere I can help, I will.
Agony Aunt
bin cleaning out
Just let me know, what, and I'll work with you to do it as best I can.
Have a great day,
Raymond : )
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 4 posts Long Live the Thane! Fri 27 Sep 2002 at 19:57
msg #5
Re: Volunteers
Tack me along for Gruntwork with fatman. I've no problem being someone's winged monkey!
oddmanout
member, 2 posts Fri 27 Sep 2002 at 20:09
msg #6
Re: Volunteers
I can also spend some time doing grunt work. I'm pretty good at turning pictures into portrait size, but there's a lot of us who can do that. Anyway, mindless task? I'm your man!
Razewun
member, 3 posts Fri 27 Sep 2002 at 20:12
msg #7
Re: Volunteers
Mindless Tasks, have you got any that don't require that much mental energy. LOL
Just let me know what I can do, I'll let you know if I can do it.
Mace_Windex
member, 3 posts Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 07:21
msg #8
Re: Volunteers
*Duct tapes Doll's mouth before he posts*
I'd be willing to help.
dollsteak
member, 1 post Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 13:30
msg #9
Re: Volunteers
Hey, want to be secretary, Mace?
despyzer
member, 1 post Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 14:20
msg #10
Re: Volunteers
I'd be willing to help, but I'm not going to say that I would be available to help with whatever's necessary because that simply isn't true. However, I really don't know what needs to get done, what anyone needs help with, and how much of a time commitment it entails.
Could someone create a Help Wanted thread that states what needs to be done and how much time it should take... along with any other pertinent details of the task? Maybe then I would have a better idea of how I could be of help.
Shannara
GM, 21 posts Treasurer
Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 14:26
msg #11
Re: Volunteers
Thanks everyone. Friends of RPOL is still in the organizational stages, but hopefully we'll be able to coordinate so that the things that woof wants done and would like help with gets matched up will all the volunteer skills.
However, your posts let him know that he's got a lot of support and a lot of people who appreciate having this warm, friendly site to indulge in their favorite roleplay hobbies, and that we're all willing to pitch in.
:)
Thanks again for helping to make the site the friendly place that it is.
JohnB
GM, 26 posts Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 14:28
msg #12
Re: Volunteers
One of the p[roblems we have at the moment, is that while we have talked generally about finding people to help, we haven't been able to pin down any specific jobs with Jase - so its difficult to advertise ATM.
I want to concentrate on getting the Donations side working first - because paying for the server is probably the most effective thing we can do to make sure RPoL can support itself.
However, I guess that one of the ares that needs some work are the FAQs. I Wrote the beginners FAQ sometime ago but wasn't able to have a go at the others. Woof has done a good job with them - BUT are those FAQs what you needed whan you came here as a new player/Admin?
Could you rewite them?
Should we write a PBW conversion FAQ for those guys who come over here if PBW does close next June? How about conversion FAQs for other game sites? Should we write those to help new users settle in when they come here?
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 5 posts Long Live the Thane! Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 19:50
msg #13
Re: Volunteers
If you'd like, I can create a PBWers Guide to Rpol.
JohnB
GM, 30 posts Sat 28 Sep 2002 at 23:10
msg #14
Re: Volunteers
I think a conversion Faq would be a good thing - detailing the differences between the sites and how to do all the things here that they are familiar with. Especially if we can get a 'this is how you did it at PBW' along side a 'This is how you need to do it now'. :)
However - I haven't spoken to Woof abouit it recently - and whether it goes up on the board will be up to him.
despyzer
member, 4 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 02:15
msg #15
Re: Volunteers
Are we expecting another influx of PBWers? After all this time I would imagine that most of the PBWers that planned on moving their games have done so by now.
Mace_Windex
member, 4 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 05:50
msg #16
Re: Volunteers
Hmmmm.....secretary. (Looks in dictionary....WooHoo! Spelled it right!)
Uhhh...what would I have to do specifically? If I choose to be it.
dollsteak
member, 8 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 06:09
msg #17
Re: Volunteers
Well... first, you would need to convince at least two of the existing board members into thinking you were good enough for the job.
woof
GM, 7 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 09:34
msg #18
Re: Volunteers
Do the guide KtD! Just remember to put a lot of "this may seem harder at first, but..."
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 6 posts Long Live the Thane! Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 10:59
msg #19
Re: Volunteers
Alrighty then, here's the outline of how I'll address things.
Section 1- The Main Page.
-All those nifty little links at the top
-Wha? We get to pick the colors? Sweet!
-The difference between a general board and a game board
Section 2- Joining a Game.
-Where in the blazes is my character list?
-Ahh.. so that's how it's done!
-The sticky list of games!
-Those nifty links at the top of the game.
Section 3- Creating your own Game.
-The Admin Game Menu
-Will I get an e-mail?
-Adding new Players
-The groups List
Section 4- I like Dwarves because...
JohnB
GM, 32 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:00
msg #20
PBW FAQ
While I am trying to help the guys from PBW set up a group to take over from Jim, before he closes the site down in June next year - I don't actually have a lot of confidence that we can put something together that Jim will hand control of PBW over too. Even if he does, there is no assurance that PBW will be a saveable concern by that point.
The membership list at PBW is closed, - new people can't join. Nor is there anywhere to advertise for new players - so new games can't start and old games can't find replacement players.
Last time I looked, something like a third of the games were marked as inactive. That means no posts for a few weeks and seems to indicate that the game will close in a little while.
PBW as it stands is a dying community and I think that there will be people leaving it and looking for a new home to play.
So yes - I think there will be more people moving from PBW to here over the next year, and maybe many more looking for a new home after June 2003. I would like to be able to make them feel at home here as quickly and as easily as we can.
Having said that - I don't see why we shouldn't have conversion FAQs for people from other gamesites as well. I know there are people who play at other sites as well as at RPoL and it would be nice to make new member for those sites at home as well.
bigbadron
GM, 19 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:03
msg #21
Re: Volunteers
Not to mention a lot of "and most of this will change because Woof likes to improve stuff all the time"...
JohnB
GM, 34 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:22
msg #22
Re: Volunteers
Kabin - looks great - just remeber its a conversion - so you might like to think a long the lines
At PBW you had a character pool ..
Here at RPoL things work a little differently - you creat a character as you join a game, and the character stays as part of that game.
Or
To Join a game at PBW you needed a character already prepared-
Here you just need to send in an RTJ and then you build the character with the Admins help ...
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 7 posts Long Live the Thane! Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:27
msg #23
Re: Volunteers
I've got it all nice and organized how it should be. A short introductory to the main page, the links therein at the top, and what they do. I'll explain the difference between general forums and games, then delve right into the differences with 'Wheres my character list!?'
JohnB
GM, 35 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:33
msg #24
Re: Volunteers
Cool - was just offering ideas :)
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 8 posts Long Live the Thane! Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:35
msg #25
Re: Volunteers
Hmm. You know.. I could ALSO include pictures of things.. which might be cool too.. If woof allows it, that is.
JohnB
GM, 36 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 11:45
msg #26
Re: Volunteers
You might want to check out the format of the FAQs trhat Woof has been using before - they look very much like normal threads - and remember we pay for the band width :) And images could wack that up.
It might be good to stick to the original format, but write them in a way we can add images later - if we can find a way to run the bandwidth? But that needs talking through with Woof first.
Mace_Windex
member, 6 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 22:10
msg #27
Re: Volunteers
HMmmm
*Section 4- I like Dwarves because...*
I like dwarves because they are tasty. Does that count, Kabin?
*ducks/dodges/rolls out of the way/jumps over/runs away* (Choose yer action!)
JohnB
GM, 39 posts Sun 29 Sep 2002 at 22:20
msg #28
Re: Volunteers
Dwarves tasty? No they aren't, they are tough and stringy - OK in an emergency I suppose ...
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 9 posts Long Live the Thane! Mon 30 Sep 2002 at 00:54
msg #29
Re: Volunteers
Mace..
*sits/stares/quirks an eyebrow/quirks the other eyebrow/rubs eyes*
(a perfect complement to each and every one of your escapes)
bigbadron
GM, 21 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Mon 30 Sep 2002 at 03:23
msg #30
Re: Volunteers
Dwarves tough? If you beat them soundly with a tenderiser they soon soften up...
Brandon
member, 2 posts Mon 30 Sep 2002 at 20:16
msg #31
Re: Volunteers
I'm here, need anything done?
bigbadron
GM, 22 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Mon 30 Sep 2002 at 20:38
msg #32
Re: Volunteers
Welcome aboard.
At the moment we seem to have more volunteers than there are jobs to hand out, but rest assured we will find something for you eventually.
Meanwhile... the grass on my lawn is getting a tad long... *hopeful expression* ;o)
Brandon
member, 3 posts Mon 30 Sep 2002 at 22:04
msg #33
Re: Grass
Er.. sorry, that's building maintence, I'm an electrician. Need a service change, no problem. If you're not in my service area, I'll make an exception for RPOL'ers. Just bring the house to me, and I'll get it fixed right up. ;-)
Is Dollsteak still editing pictures? All of that stuff, is it separate from Friends, or part of it? I know it was debated a bit, but I'm not sure of the conclusion. I don't mind volunteering on one side or the other, or both, as long as it's ok. I don't see ay problems with that, and as long as I'm not handling money or something I can't imagine anyone else having problems, either. (Still don't think there's a problem with the way money is handled, either, but then I'm prejudice already.) OK?
woof
GM, 10 posts Tue 1 Oct 2002 at 03:40
msg #34
FAQ layout
To make my job easier lay the FAQ out like thus:
Q) < u>Section 1 - The Main Page< /u>
Q) All those nifty links at the top.
A) The links at the top are for...
A) As the GM you can...
The info script does the table stuff and the light and dark headings for you/me, we just need to provide it with the .txt file. Very little HTML needed, tho it can easily be included. Pictures can be included, but I'd rather not! (c:
bigbadron
GM, 23 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Tue 1 Oct 2002 at 03:57
msg #35
Portraits
Yes, the last I heard, Dollsteak is still dealing with the portraits.
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 12 posts Long Live the Thane! Sat 5 Oct 2002 at 19:20
msg #36
Re: Portraits
Hey woof! I finished!
woof
GM, 11 posts Mon 7 Oct 2002 at 00:39
msg #37
Re: Portraits
Excellent, care to email it to me?
Namshaske
member, 1 post Tue 15 Oct 2002 at 20:21
msg #38
Re: Portraits
*Waggles a paw*
If anyone needs a graphic artist for anything, you've got one.
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 13 posts Long Live the Thane! Tue 15 Oct 2002 at 22:26
msg #39
Re: Portraits
Can ya do a Dwarf holding a battle hammer?
Brandon
member, 9 posts Tue 15 Oct 2002 at 22:48
msg #40
Re: Portraits
Anyone can do that. Just draw a short, ugly human... ;-)
Namshaske
member, 2 posts Wed 16 Oct 2002 at 06:16
msg #41
Re: Portraits
Kabin? Just for that, I'm tempted to snick an Unreal Tournament model, squash the picture down a bit, and sketch in a beard 'n hammer in MS Paint.
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 14 posts Long Live the Thane! Wed 16 Oct 2002 at 07:25
msg #42
Re: Portraits
I just wanted to know if you could..
Namshaske
member, 3 posts Sun 10 Nov 2002 at 22:12
msg #43
FAQ volunteer?
FAQs;
If RPOL still needs a basic Newbie FAQ, I can write one in fairly short order, if anyone would want it, and possibly simplify/expand some of the other FAQs while I'm at it. I have gobsmacks of time, and knowledge of HTML.
elSpike
GM, 19 posts Mon 11 Nov 2002 at 00:24
msg #44
Re: FAQ volunteer?
Actually all you need for FAQing is to do the following
Q)Why did the chicken cross the road?
A)To get to the other side
Q)How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuch could chuckwood?
A)About as much wood as a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood!
As long as questions are prefixed with Q)
and answers with A)
the parsing script will do the rest. Feel free to e-mail them to woof or myself once done.
JohnB
GM, 45 posts Mon 11 Nov 2002 at 11:24
msg #45
Re: FAQ volunteer?
Cool - all sorted before I got here :)
cruinne
member, 1 post Mon 11 Nov 2002 at 15:57
msg #46
Re: FAQ volunteer?
I was gonna volunteer for working on FAQs but it looks like Nams snatched it up. Coises! Foiled again ;-)
Anyhow, as it turns out, I'm gonna work on portraits for a bit with dollsie, but after that I'm interested in fleshing out the help files. Mmmm, fun.
JohnB
GM, 46 posts Mon 11 Nov 2002 at 23:31
msg #47
Re: FAQ volunteer?
I started on FAQs some time ago - and ran out of time and steam - But I guess there might be more scope for FAQ writing than those shown - maybe conversion FAQs for people from other sites?
As to the help system - we will have to ask Woof he feels feels about that - he has the final say on anything that is site related.
Namshaske
member, 4 posts Tue 12 Nov 2002 at 01:25
msg #48
Re: FAQ volunteer?
JohnB;
Or perhaps just a general explanation of the system, as opposed to a per-site 'conversion FAQ'. A general overlay of the site and how it tends to work.
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 15 posts Long Live the Thane! Tue 12 Nov 2002 at 21:34
msg #49
Re: FAQ volunteer?
My PBW to RPOL conversion faq is something like that.. But it needs to be updated..someone moved Community Chat from the Contemporary section and made it so you didn't have to request to join..
JohnB
GM, 47 posts Tue 12 Nov 2002 at 23:58
msg #50
Re: FAQ volunteer?
Nams - I agree there is plenty of scope for general FAQs, I was just suggesting some extras that might be of value. One of the things I noticed during the exodus from PBw (and in some discussion with people who stayed at PBW) was that it was initially difficult for people to come to grips wih a new interface. Just seems a good way of welcoming people :)
dollsteak
member, 13 posts Tue 17 Dec 2002 at 11:49
msg #51
FAQ for portraits
I think I'll be making one of them fancy-dangle FAQs for portrait submissions. I'm getting tired of repeating myself.
dollsteak
member, 16 posts Mon 23 Dec 2002 at 05:56
msg #52
Re: FAQ for portraits
Woof,
Here is a FAQ for portrait use. I think I have everything covered.
Q) I hear all this talk about portraits, but I don't see any in the messagebases.
A) Under your User Preferences, you need to turn the portrait viewing on. Some people prefer not to use portraits, so it defaults to off. There are no portraits in the public forums such as General, Wanted - Players or Wanted - GMs.
Q) What is the standard portrait dimension and size?
A) When all is said and done in the editing department, portraits are submitted at 100 pixels high by 100 pixels wide (100x100) and less than 5 kilabytes in size.
Q) 100x100? But they look much smaller in the messagebases.
A) In the messagebases, portraits in use are shrunk to 50x50 for space considerations. To view the portrait in it's full size, click on it.
Q) Ah, there they are. How do I go about selecting a portrait for my character?
A) click on the hyperlink at the top of the page that says "Character Details". Then you'll see a hyperlink to 'change portrait'. Click on that and it will take you to the gallery. Wander through the gallery until you find the right image for your character, and click on it.
Q) What's with all the dorky pictures in the gallery? Why don't you get rid of them?
A) Evenutally, we may ditch portraits that are not in use and of low quality. We can't do that until we establish a way to determine which portraits are in use.
Q) There are no portraits that fit my character, can I submit one?
A) Yes. The Portrait Gallery is constantly growing. Please only submit portraits you intend on using for a character. Our file space is limited.
Q) What if I can't edit the portrait to 100x100 and 5k in size?
A) If you send a portrait larger than 100x100 pixels and/or >5k in size, I can edit it down to fit the gallery requirements.
Q) What if I send you something smaller than 100x100?
A) Don't. Smaller pictures, when enlarged, become too fuzzy to be quality pictures. Then if I am expected to edit it to satisfactory quality, it could take me an hour or more touching up the picture and sharpening up the features, and sometimes It's beyond my capabilities. Sometimes the portrait might end up looking like someone else when I'm all done with it. It's just better all around if you find another larger picture and send that.
Q) What about a file that's less thank 5 kilabytes?
A) The smaller the file, the less quality is involved. So long as the quality of the image is satisfactory, the size of the file is negotiable... but it won't exceed 5k when I'm done with it. That's the server space cap we put on our portraits to allow for so many submissions.
Q) What type of image file do you accept?
A) Just about anything ... but try to avoid .gif files. I have to find alternative software to convert .gif files to some format I can edit. I prefer .jpg if there is a choice. That's what they all end up being in the end.
Q) Can we submit pictures with animation?
A) No. .jpg files do not support animation, so any animation in the file you send will be lost in the end result.
Q) Who decides what goes in?
A) dollsteak is the head editor for the portrait submissions. As such, he has say over what images are approved and which are not.
Q) Why wasn't my picture used?
A) Images may be rejected if they are too small, duplicate, too blurry to make out the details, show nudity, or have words on the image.
Q) Why can't my portrait submission have my character's name on it?
A) Portraits will not be approved if they are associated with just one name. This is too limiting for our needs at RPOL.
Q) Is there anything else I need to consider before submitting a portrait?
A) Yes. We cannot accept copyrighted portraits. It is assumed that anyone submitting a portrait has checked with the artist/owner of the image to make sure it's ok to use in our gallery. If the artist/owner comes to RPOL and complains about the unauthorized use of his or her picture, we will be forced to remove it from the gallery without any forewarning.
Q) Anything else?
A) Yes. The image is going to be cropped to a square shape. If you submit an image of a face that is closely cropped, the image normally comes out to be rectangular shaped. In order to make it 100x100, I either have to cut part of the head away, or add an ugly border on the sides. Please try to send me a portrait that is/can be square. I hate borders. They detract from the picture's appearance.
Q) Where and how do I submit a portrait?
A) Attach your picture to an E-mail message and send it to and it will likely be added shortly.
Q) I sent my picture two minutes/hours/days ago, why hasn't it been used yet?
A) The portrait submissions are taken care of bi-weekly. If 14 days has gone by and you still don't have your portrait in the gallery, then you might want to send another E-mail to portraits@rpol asking on the status.
Q) Why bi-weekly?
A) Portrait submissions are checked for quality, size constrictions, and edited as necessary before they are uploaded to the server. Even for the small portraits we use, it takes a considerable ammount of time to edit all the submissions. Because of the time requirements, and the fact that I can only edit portraits on my home computer, I am limited to performing these duties on my 'weekend'. My work schedule is such that my 'weekend' is actually a bi-weekly break.
Q) Is there anything I can do to get my portrait uploaded sooner?
A) I take bribes. Otherwise... I don't even treat my own submissions any more special than everyone else's.
Q) Where in the gallery is the picture I sent you?
A) If you included in your E-mail a specific gallery where you felt it should be located, then it might be there. If it's determined better fitting in another category, you will be advised.
Q) I submitted a full-body shot, but all there is in the gallery is a smaller, close up version. Why is it not the full body?
A) When a large image is shrunk down, details are lost in the conversion. The image loses quality the more you have to shrink it. By getting a close-up of the head, I don't have to shrink the image so much, and much of the detail remains.
woof
GM, 14 posts Mon 23 Dec 2002 at 06:07
msg #53
Re: FAQ for portraits
Thanks dollsteak, so easy to put up too! I just had to fix a few spelling mistakes and it was 100%! (c:
dollsteak
member, 17 posts Mon 23 Dec 2002 at 06:13
msg #54
Re: FAQ for portraits
I aim to please.
Blue Alyrinth
member, 1 post Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 04:52
msg #55
Portrait Library
I was thinking... (oh no).. that maybe I could start looking through pictures and writing down the ones that were being used.
Perhaps we could lessen the amount of pictures in the library..
::
cartman
member, 4 posts Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 20:06
msg #56
Re: Portrait Library
Hey blue. That might be impossible. Because you need to be in every game to do that. Besides you never know if a new person to RPol might want to use it. So I think It could not work. But hey thats just my opinion. But if.....
JohnB
GM, 56 posts Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 20:20
msg #57
Re: Portrait Library
Hi Blue - as cartman says, you can't check out the images used manually, or you can't do it quickly enough to have a reliable overview, because by the tine you get to the end, on eof the people you checked at the beginning may have changed their portrait.
the information is stored in the RPoL databases though, and Jase could write a routine to list those currently in use, IF he felt the need to do that.
When the server space gets full, Jase will have to decide whether to clean out the pics that aren't in use, or to find a way to get more diskspace.
However, its not an immediate issue :)
Blue Alyrinth
member, 2 posts Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 21:52
msg #58
Re: Portrait Library
Then give me something painful and time-consuming to do. ;)
::
cruinne
member, 4 posts Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 22:04
msg #59
Re: Portrait Library
How about brokering peace in the Middle East? That should keep you busy. ;-)
Blue Alyrinth
member, 3 posts Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 22:06
msg #60
Re: Portrait Library
Woo~ I'm on it.
::
JohnB
GM, 57 posts Tue 25 Feb 2003 at 22:59
msg #61
Re: Portrait Library
Sorry mate :) Not something thats in my gift :) Jase is the final arbiter of who can help :)
My best guess would be to volunteer to check over the FAQs and Help files for typos, errors that slipped through etc :)
elSpike
GM, 22 posts Thu 27 Feb 2003 at 01:26
msg #62
Re: Portrait Library
And the winged-monkeys enjoy a good back scratch every now and again!
Shannara
GM, 34 posts Treasurer
Thu 27 Feb 2003 at 02:44
msg #63
ooooh :)
*scratches elSpike's back*
*scritch* *scritch* *scritch*
elSpike
GM, 23 posts Thu 27 Feb 2003 at 03:42
msg #64
Re: ooooh :)
<sigh!>
Woof, promote that woman, give her a medal or something!
dollsteak
member, 20 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 08:47
msg #65
Tutorial
Hey hoss and company...
What do you think about me making a tutorial... step-by-step on how to create and advertise your first game?
cartman
member, 5 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 21:11
msg #66
Re: Tutorial
I think that would be great Dolls. That would help out alot of newbies. Because alot of message boards refer to that.
dollsteak
member, 21 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 21:28
msg #67
Re: Tutorial
Yes, plus it could cover many of the things that people complain about, like pointing them to the game system acronym list, or fully detailing the Game Info, or posting an accurate and complete advertisement.
cartman
member, 6 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 21:30
msg #68
Re: Tutorial
Nice.......
bigbadron
GM, 27 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 21:42
msg #69
Re: Tutorial
Sounds like a good idea. By all means go for it.
dollsteak
member, 22 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 21:46
msg #70
Re: Tutorial
I just have to determine where we'll be keeping that list of acronyms. :P
bigbadron
GM, 28 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 22:05
msg #71
Re: Tutorial
I think Heaven would be a good place for it. I could send Jhael an update every so often.
Jhael
GM, 21 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 22:09
msg #72
Re: Tutorial
I still fail to see the point of them sorry :)
dollsteak
member, 23 posts Mon 17 Mar 2003 at 22:46
msg #73
Re: Tutorial
It serves as a quick reference. If the GM names his game ending with the acronym of the game system, (For instance, "The Greatest Game Ever - GURPS") and someone comes along looking specifically for a GURPS game, they can easily identify them out of the hundreds listed.
Much better than going into each game just to read the Game Info (only to find out 50% of the time that the information isn't in there) or read Game Mechanics or Character Generation threads of each game to find out what system's being used.
Jhael
GM, 22 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 00:07
msg #74
Re: Tutorial
Don't people for whom game system is an issue already do this with their games? I notice a lot of them have the system listed.
dollsteak
member, 24 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 05:12
msg #75
Re: Tutorial
But we have no official list of Acronyms handy for people to know what it stands for. It's hidden in the general message threads. And not everyone thinks about using it.
If I'm creating a tutorial, I'd like to make the suggestion to refer to the acronym list for reference' sake... but I can't say "Go hunt it down in the general messages" and if I add it in whole to the tutorial, it won't be updated with the real list.
Still, I'm not making a tutorial until I'm assured that it will have a place. I'm not going to toss it into the message threads just to get lost after months of conversations like the acronym list almost did.
woof
GM, 15 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 09:22
msg #76
Re: Tutorial
If it's going to be something that everyone's going to use then I'd rather alter the way the games are grouped, even if it involves sub-grouping.
Jhael
GM, 23 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 09:25
msg #77
Re: Tutorial
I can assure you not everyone will use it.
I think if you're going to write up a guide on setting up a game, dollsteak, then putting it on the FAQ is a better idea than putting it in Heaven - easier accessed.
dollsteak
member, 25 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 09:28
msg #78
Re: Tutorial
Huh, well... I don't think anyone was suggesting making it manditory... but it could probably be added in the "Create a New Game" rigamarole. Might be another collumn on the data for the game, another column displayed on the game menu...
If you make it so that the space for game type is not bordered, then if it's left blank, it'd look just like normal.
I would hate to make any extra work for you because of this though. That wasn't my intention.
dollsteak
member, 26 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 09:29
msg #79
Re: Tutorial
As for the tutorial ... I don't rightly care where it's kept so long as it's semi-permanent. I hesitate in putting it in a message thread because it's so easily lost in there, and usually the last place people weed through to find the answer they're seeking.
dollsteak
member, 27 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 09:35
msg #80
Re: Tutorial
Anime Games GM
2017: NeoTokyo* Taka
Could be changed to:
Anime Games System GM
2017: NeoTokyo* FF Taka
Problem is, however... the space. With long game names and long GM names, that doesn't leave a lot of space for the System acronym. *sigh*.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:37, Tue 18 Mar 2003.
Jhael
GM, 24 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 09:41
msg #81
Re: Tutorial
I have a preference for not - but - the caveat there is that I seldom use a full screen for the browser and everything is clogged in together.
In addition I feel like its a lot of changes to accommodate a few pretty poor GMs who can't be bothered providing system information in their game name or info screens. As with some of the suggestions about autoprompting for game advertisements I wonder if we're not making things too easy for people to be slack.
I do think that the tutorial would be extremely useful though, and well worth adding to the FAQ.
dollsteak
member, 28 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 10:43
msg #82
Re: Tutorial
Jhael:
In addition I feel like its a lot of changes to accommodate a few pretty poor GMs who can't be bothered providing system information in their game name or info screens.
That's why I suggested it just be a text I could reference to instead of changing code. That way, GMs ... once they were introduced to the idea ... could elect to put the game system at the end of their game name if they felt like it.
Problem is, not a lot of people are introduced to the acronym list. Take a look at the game names and tell me how many of them you can discern the game systems from just a glance? Maybe half? Would you want to go into each game and read the system info just to find a RIFTS game or a World of Darkness game?
Jhael
GM, 25 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 10:58
msg #83
Re: Tutorial
Well if my choice is that or having to learn a lot of acronyms, or having to go into a FAQ to look the acronyms up, I think I'm kinda screwed either way on timing, but the advantage of having it under game info means that I get to find out about the game as well.
I'm not sure how many people would browse specifically on system (other than Namshaske). I do know that its not something that appeals to me and its not something I would use, hence my laissez faire attitude to the implementation.
dollsteak
member, 29 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 11:01
msg #84
Re: Tutorial
With the exception of two free form games and one home-brew game of my own devise, all I play are d20 games. The acronym list use would help me out emmensely. To each their own.
Shannara
GM, 37 posts Treasurer
Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 11:48
msg #85
Re: Tutorial
I'd use it -- It's rather disappointing to check out a great game idea, then get to the end only to discover it'll be using a system that I don't know. Some of us stick to the familiar systems, and have limited interest in learning another. (I know -- very stick-in-the-muddish.)
cruinne
member, 5 posts Tue 18 Mar 2003 at 16:19
msg #86
Re: Tutorial
I'd use it. Except where I can't because I'm not using anything like a game system (Mystery Debate Theater comes to mind) and I wouldn't to scare potentials away with a "Homebrew" label, even though that's what it is :-)
woof
GM, 16 posts Wed 19 Mar 2003 at 06:20
msg #87
Re: Tutorial
Sounds like time for a poll. (c;
Namshaske
member, 12 posts Wed 19 Mar 2003 at 07:05
msg #88
Re: Tutorial
*Grins faintly at Jhael*
As much as I like the idea of being able to browse by system, I don't particularly want to have to add a system acronym to my titles mandatorily-- I do it voluntarily anyways, in most cases.
woof
GM, 17 posts Wed 19 Mar 2003 at 08:15
msg #89
Re: Tutorial
The 'system' column might not be a bad idea.
dollsteak
member, 30 posts Wed 19 Mar 2003 at 08:17
msg #90
Re: Tutorial
Cool. I had an idea that "Might Not Be Bad"... whoo-hoo! Chalk one up for me...
(*does a victory dance*)
Kabin The Dwarf
member, 16 posts Long Live the Thane! Wed 19 Mar 2003 at 18:56
msg #91
Expenses
Well woof, it looks like we ALMOST have enough donations to cover those expenses posted. Go Rpol! whoo!
dollsteak
member, 31 posts Wed 2 Apr 2003 at 18:00
msg #92
Walkthrough
So you want to start your own game... huh? Well follow these steps and I'll walk you through the process real quick-like.
I. At the Main Menu (assuming you already have an account to play by), scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the hyperlink "Start your own game!"
- You are now at the "creategame.cgi" menu. It tells you how many games you are authorized, and how many you own. If you own as many (or more?) as you are authorized, you're going to have to beg jase to adjust your limit.
*Important* Do not attempt to use colors, bold, underline or italics in setting up the game, character info or game messagebases. You can only use special text formatting codes when in a message editing box, such as the Character Sheets, Character Descriptions, Game Introduction, or when entering a message into a public or private messagebase.
(Moving on assumes you have a spare game slot left.)
II. Now you need to fill in essential information about your game.
A. Decide a unique and interesting name for your game. You are limited to fill out the Game Name slot with a name of a hundred characters or less. To make it easy for players to identify your game system you intend to use, I suggest you end the game name with one of the following acronyms for easy identification.
A
ADnD _ed - AD&D (insert edition number)
ADRP - Amber Diceless Roleplaying
Alt - Alternity
B
BB - Blood Bowl
BBSW - Big Breasts, Small Waist (hentai version of BESM)
BEER - Brawn, Ego, Extraneous, and Reflexes: Kobolds Ate My Baby (aka KAMB)
BESM - Big Eyes, Small Mouth
BFG - Battlefleet Gothic
BnB - Bunnies and Burrows
BP - Babylon Project
BtS - Beyond the Supernatural
BtVS - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
BWBH - Bat-Winged Bimbos from Hell
C
CF-T - Castle Falkenstein (original Talisorian version)
CnS - Chivalry and Sorcery
CoC - Call of Cthulhu
CoC d20 - Call of Cthulhu d20 rules
CoC v5.5 - Call of Cthulhu version 5.5
CP - Cyberpunk
CP2020 - Cyberpunk 2020
CS - Crimson Skies
CtD - Changeling the Dreaming
CX - Conspiracy X
D
DBZ - Dragonball Z
DnD 3rd - D&D 3rd Edition (sometimes D&D3e)
DCH - DC Heroes
DCU - DC Universe
DL - Deadlands
DQ - DragonQuest
E
ED - EarthDawn
EPT - Empire of the Petal Throne
EQ - EverQuest
F
FFRPG - Final Fantasy RPG
Free - Free-form (only a suggestion)
FS - Fading Suns
FUDGE - Er... Fudge
G
GCF - GURPS Castle Falkenstein
GG - Ghouls and Ghosts
GT - GURPS Traveller
GURPS - GURPS... as you'd expect
GW d20 - Gamma World d20 rules
H
Hack - HackMaster
HB - "Home-brewed" rules (ie: not commercially avalable, and not free-form)
Heroes - Heroes System
HU - Heroes Unlimited
HU2d - Heroes Unlimited 2nd Edition
HW - Hero Wars
I
=][= - Inquisitor
IN - In Nominé
J
JD d20 - Judge Dredd d20
K
KAMB - Kobolds Ate My Baby
L
L5R - Legend of the Five Rings
LOTR - Lord of the Rings
M
MERP - Middle Earth Roleplaying
MH - Mordheim
MMM - Man, Myth and Magic
MSH - Marvel Super Heroes
MSPI - Mercenaries, Spies, & Privat Eyes
MT - Megatraveller
MtA - Mage the Ascension
MW - Mech Warrior
MWG - Macho Women with Guns
N
Necro - Necromunda
OP
Pal - Palladium RPG
Para - Paranoia
Pen - Pendragon
PnP - Powers and Perils
QR
Rifts - Rifts (duh?)
RM - Rolemaster
RNW - Renegade Nuns on Wheels
RQ - Runequest
RT - Robotech
S
SC d20 - Spycraft d20 rules
SLA - SLA Industries
SR - ShadowRun
SM - Spacemaster
SO - Space Opera
SPQR - Steve Perrin's Quest Rules
SW d20 - Star Wars d20 rules
T
T2K - Twilight 2000
T4 - Mark Miller's Traveller (aka Traveller 4)
T5 - Traveller 5
T20 - Traveller d20
T2300 - Traveller 2300/2300 AD
Tal - Talislanta
TC - Classic Traveller (the Little Black Books)
TMNT - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
TNE - Traveller: The New Era
TnT - Tunnels and Trolls
UV
VnV - Villains and Vigilantes
VtM - Vampire: the Masquerade
W
WB - Worlds Beyond
WEG SW - West End Games Star Wars
WHFB - WarHammer Fantasy Battle
WH40K - WarHammer 40K
WFRP - Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying
Win - The Window
WM - Warmaster
WoD - World of Darkness
WoT - Wheel of Time
Wt - Wraith
WtA - Werewolf the Apocalypse
XYZ
(If you have anything to add to this list of acronyms, please email .)
(II.A. continued)
So, for example. Let's say you want to run a Middle Earth Role Playing Game called "Quest for the Rings". You would enter into the Game Name slot Quest for the Rings - MERP. Players will know by looking at the title you intend on using the Middle Earth Role-Playing game system.
B. The next slot, GM, (going right to left, top to bottom) is for filling out the GM's primary character name. How do you want to be known within the game? Do you prefer to use your account name? Would you rather be called Dungeon Master, Keeper, Narrator, or Story Teller, etc? Whatever you want the players to address you as, this is where you assign YOUR name in the game. You are limited to 30 spaces for your GM name.
C. Select a classification. Would your game be better off in a fantasy setting? Is it a horror game? Is it comical? By properly categorizing your game into an appropriate classification, it will be grouped with like-minded games. A player can come along later looking for a specific classification of game, and be presented with only those games that apply.
D. bio1 and bio2 slots are for filling in any extraneous information you feel might aid the players. Perhaps an E-mail address, or a phone number... maybe your mother's maiden name. Whatever you feel comfortable putting in here. Or, leave it blank - optionally. Both of these slots are limited to 30 spaces a piece.
E. Click on Create Game.
- Your game is created, and you will be redirected into it.
III. Set Up Your Basic Game Information. At the top of the screen, click on Admin Game.
A. If you decide you want to change the game name or classification where you have the game located, you can do so in the Edit Game Details section. (If you decide to change the game name or classification after you have players, send them all private messages afterwards to reattach the game to their 'sticky list'. See the FAQs for details on what a 'sticky-list' is.)
B. Next thing you want to do is set up your game introduction. Click on Edit the game introduction. (You can edit the text format using colors, bold, underline, strikeout, or italics)
1. The game introduction is what a player is going to come look at to see if the game is interesting to them. Put an introductory preface of what the game is going to be about. Introduce the people to your game's story and gain their interest by making it exciting and/or intriguing to read.
2. Follow up with a reitteration of what game system you intend on using (see the list above).
3. Post what sort of character concepts you are looking for, or limitations on character creation (levels, money, magic items if applicable).
4. Feel free to come back as the game changes direction or you need to find more players and update the information posted here.
C. Return to the Admin Menu and click on the following to link your game with external web space files:
1. Update the game map - this selection can be used to upload a game map to RPOL of 30 kbytes or less in size. Use .gif, .jpg, or .png for map file images.
a. Enter the map path/name or click on the Browse button to find it on your harddrive.
b. Click on Upload Map.
2. Specify the game website link - this selection is for linking your game with a web site dedicated to the game. This is a great way to add and enhance your game and show off your html programming skills. Plus, some players are attracted by games with fancy websites. To show the extra effort as a DM to fancy up a web site for a game tells the players just how enthused you are about it.
3. Edit the external file links - this selection is for adding specific URLs for reference sake so the players won't have to worm their way through the Internet to find important files.
D. Click on Toggle players wanted status. By default, the 'players wanted' indicator (a little red asterix next to your game name on the main menu) is on. If you want to toggle it off or on, this is the place to do it. For now, just click on just return to the admin menu.
IV. You are ready to start adding messagebases now. Click on Public Messages.
- You see that you have no public messagebases yet. Not a problem. We'll add one.
A. At the top-right corner area, you'll find Post a new Topic. Click on it.
B. You are at the Message menu where you can add/edit your first post of a message.
1. Select the name you wish to post under. You really should only have one to select from if you've followed the walkthrough. If you only have one, it's selected for you. If you have two or more player names, you'll have to select one to post with. If you want to, you can post with some other name by typing it in the slot Other Name:.
2. Select a Subject for your messagebase thread. This will appear as the title of the messagebase. If you want to change the title later, you can merely edit the first post's Subject in your messagebase thread, and it will change the title displayed.
3. Enter your post, a welcome to the game note, or maybe set up the adventure... whatver you want to do with this messagebase. You can use text formatting again in this section, colors, bold, strikeout, italics, and underline.
4. Click the Preview box to check it if you want to check how it looks before posting it. Good for if you're using a lot of formatting to make sure you don't miss any tags or got all the colors and highlighting right. (If you do preview the post, remember not to use your browser's "Back" button. There will be a selection to take you back to the edit mode. Use that if you want to go back. Very important, I can't stress that enough.)
5. Select your group. Groups are 0 through 8 for the game play. 0 is default and typically open for everyone. Group 9 is special and shouldn't be used for regular game play. See the FAQs for notes on Group 9. Group Public is a message base that everyone will be able to see, but only the GM can post to. Leave your first message base for 0. You can change it later by editing the first post in the messagebase thread if you decide you want it as a different group.
6. Select Notice if you want this messagebase to remain on the top of the list at all times. Otherwise, just leave it unchecked.
7. Once your initial message is complete, click on Post Message and it will be posted into your Public Messages section.
V. Advertise your game - Now you're ready to advertise. Remember how we had typed up the Game Introduction? Let's take another look at the Game Introduction:
A. Click on Game Info.
- You see the entire game introduction you typed up earlier.
B. Click on Edit the game introduction (to get the formatting tags if you used colors/bold/etc.)
C. Highlight the whole passage with your mouse.
D. Hit Control-C to copy (or right click and select copy).
E. Click on Main Menu
F. From the Main Menu, click on Wanted - Players
G. Click on Post a new topic (upper left corner area)
H. In Subject type your game name.
I. Click in the Message box and hit Control-V, or right-click in the message box and select paste.
J. Select Post Message.
- There you have it. Your first game is set up and you're ready to accept new players! Good luck!
bigbadron
GM, 32 posts He's big, he's bad, but most of all, he's Ron... Wed 2 Apr 2003 at 18:19
msg #93
Re: Walkthrough
Excellent work... I'm sure there'll be a lot less questions about this stuff now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:21, Wed 02 Apr 2003.
dollsteak
member, 32 posts Wed 2 Apr 2003 at 19:53
msg #94
Re: Walkthrough
Thanks, Ron.
cruinne
member, 6 posts Thu 3 Apr 2003 at 03:09
msg #95
Re: Walkthrough
Berry Nice :)
dollsteak
member, 33 posts Thu 3 Apr 2003 at 03:26
msg #96
Re: Walkthrough
Thank you too, Cruinne.
And there is no copyright on it folks. If you have suggestions, corrections, improvements ... please do.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:56, Thu 03 Apr 2003.
Robin
member, 3 posts Thu 3 Apr 2003 at 12:12
msg #98
Re: Walkthrough
Nice work dolls. That's really comprehensive. Now I've seen it on the beta site too (in FAQs) and it looks even better and clearer thanks to being broken into different boxes of text with bold headings.
Just one suggestion. In section IV you use the terms "messagebase" and "messagebase threads" a lot. Most of the time it would be clearer if you referred to "message thread" instead. As I understand it a messagebase is a whole bunch of threads rather than just the individual thread you are talking about. ie each game has just two messagebases - a public messagebase and a private messagebase.
(I hope I haven't got this wrong but if I have that would indicate a certain amount of confusion about the term "messagebase" out there in the RPoL community.)
In the list of abbreviations you've got D&D3e as an alternative to DnD 3rd. That won't work. "&" is an illegal character in game names. I just tried. ):
Similarly, CoC v5.5 won't work as "." is an illegal character in game names and =][= won't work as ] and [ are illegal characters too.
Note to jase: [ and ] aren't listed on the list of illegal characters for game names when I try to start a new game. Also, having each character listed as '&', '/', '|', etc is a bit confusing, especially since the second ' in each pair is sloping. It would be clearer if it was a simple list like / & \ | [ } ] ^ and #
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Thu 03 Apr 2003.
dollsteak
member, 34 posts Thu 3 Apr 2003 at 18:44
msg #99
Re: Walkthrough
Thanks Robin. Glad you pointed those things out.
Incidentally, with jase considering calling public messagebases and private messagebases something else, I wasn't sure what to call them in the walkthrough.
dollsteak
member, 35 posts Thu 3 Apr 2003 at 23:36
msg #100
Re: Walkthrough
jase,
The walkthrough looks easier to follow in your setup. I like the tidy appearance. Just wish we could put that accronym list elsewhere and just refer to it within the walkthrough. People are going to have to refer to the walkthrough later if they want to see the list... but eh... I'm not that busted up about it.
jase
GM, 14 posts Tue 17 May 2005 at 13:50
msg #101
Re: Walkthrough
Wanted: One (or more) SQL gurus.
Need to be able to help with database design; namely table structure, primary keys, query optimisation, foreign keys etc. Especially relating to message-type structure, eg Private Threads and the upcoming rMail.
PM or email me if you think you qualify. (c;
erbmjw
member, 1 post Sat 3 Jun 2006 at 14:47
msg #102
Re: Walkthrough
Um Jase
I'm not trying to pester you but, direction/requirements on the SQL changes requested/need would be very nice.
Michael
Valour
member, 12 posts Hero of the past present and future Wed 11 Mar 2009 at 10:59
msg #103
Re:
Well I'm pretty good at photoshop and story creation if anyone needs help in such areas
Lucas Wraith
member, 29 posts Sun 29 Aug 2010 at 04:28
msg #104
Re:
Without knowing, specifically, what RPoL's needs might be, I can only say that I am very much willing to volunteer my time and energy in any way possible. My skills are primarly as a writer/editor, so I'm not sure what I could do with regards to anything graphical.
Eggy
member, 14 posts Sun 13 Jan 2013 at 02:14
msg #105
Re:
Is it too late to volunteer? I thought I could help with putting keywords and tags on the portraits.
Alexei Yaruk-Mundhenk
member, 1160 posts Ad Majorem Dea Gloriam Wed 23 Jan 2013 at 04:10
msg #106
Re:
I would like to raise my hand alongside eggy.
jase
admin, 2917 posts Cogito, ergo procuro. Carpe stultus! Sat 26 Jan 2013 at 02:11
Mad Mick, and anyone wanting to help out with the portraits, please head over to the aforementioned Portrait Posse and request access there.
Thanks to one and all who do!
RPGuru92
member, 48 posts Tue 23 Jul 2013 at 02:36
msg #110
Re: Help
I would be willing to help, though in what capacity I have no idea. If its writing or editing I'm up for it.
Kala leaf
member, 1 post Mon 19 Aug 2013 at 02:33
msg #111
Re: Help
i would be willing to help also, if the need is still there.
adrasteia1
member, 1382 posts Even a small star shines in the darkness Mon 19 Aug 2013 at 10:17
msg #112
Re: Help
If you're looking for arty things like more images or logos, I wouldn't mind helping with them.
Shadowysilence
member, 59 posts Thu 24 Jul 2014 at 03:57
msg #113
Re: Help
I'm not really knowledgeable about programming, nor do I have copious amounts of cash, but I can do grunt work like nobody's business! If there is any need for that, I might be your man, if not I'll sit on the burner if need later!
Just send me an rmail if there is anything for me to do, it will get my attention faster than replying in this thread
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