Poll: The Escapist Forums - Credit System?

[Lord Krunk]

Spoiler: Just For Closure

Now, I know that there is a 'User Suggestions/Complaints' thread, but this is a work-in-progress idea.

For those who don't know already, I was on holiday for a while, rendering me unable to use the forums. Naturally, time away from the computer gave me time to think about things; and I came up with an interesting idea.

Enter:
[HEADING=1]THE ESCAPIST FORUM CREDIT SYSTEM![/HEADING]

My idea is that the Escapist could further and improve its gaming roots by introducing a credit system - basically an 'Escapist Currency', if you will. People can obtain credits by doing specific things (for example, obtaining badges, not getting banned/probation'd in a particular amount of time/posts, impressing staff members, or even getting some given to you by other users), of which can be used at a 'Vendor Page' to buy cool-looking badges or titles (this might be an issue - maybe only for people who have Gone Gonzo?).

Now, I'm sure that a lot of us veterans are getting bored of 'Gone Gonzo' underneath our name - I'm a little sick of it myself. Possibly, you could even 'downgrade' your name to make yourself a Pulitzer Laureate or Anonymous Source by buying said title with your Credits.

The other aim of Credits is to promote good writing, more polite attitudes and new ideas - something that would be helpful, especially on a forum.

The only issues I have with the idea (and thus - why I am making this thread) is that it is not complete yet. We need to work out something that will give everyone an equal chance (within reason) to recieve these Credits, as newcomers will be at a disadvantage and Badge Whores will be severely advantaged conversely.

I would like to ask if you have any ideas, opinions or helpful advice in regards to this system that I am proposing. If so, please share them here, and we can work together to make The Escapist more awesome than it already is.

CHANGES + INCLUSIONS

Removal of Automated Credit - Earning - People can cheat the system, and it's just a reason for a seedier element to enter these forums.
Removal of Credit-Sharing - Obviously, people can cheat the system, such as creating multiple accounts.
An 'Epic' button - using the same functions as the 'Report' button (it takes two to go through), this button sends a message to Staff/Mods, who can see the post and decide for themselves whether they should obtain credits.

Oh, Custom Titles and a 'Thumbs Up/Down' button will not be incorporated. Just FYI.

 

[Incompl te]

this will introduce credit whores...not good

 

[Varchld]

First of all, Welcome Back.

I don't really like it sorry.
There's already quite a gap of elitism prevelent regarding newcomers.
I like that you're thinking of ways of adding more motivation, interest and dynamics to the forum.

I just think that it encourages useless posting and would negetively impact the overall quality of the forums. There's enough badge and postcount epeen already for me.

 

[Lord Krunk]

this will introduce credit whores...not good

I was thinking more along the lines of people having to genuinely earn them. For example, doing something original, or posing ideas, concepts or general awesomeness.

There is a way to eliminate credit-whores, I just haven't thought of it yet.

 

[MrBrightside919]

I don't think that would work. It would STILL bring in credit whores who will be posting bullshit threads just to get more credit.

I think badges are fine. They are more than you get anywhere else.

 

[black lincon]

to do something like that you might have to introduce a post rating system, I.E. thumbs up thumbs down, along with the report button or something to that effect, and then we just get a whole bunch of people who abuse the system. It's a good concept, especially if you could make your own title, I've had a good idea for mine and I'd really like to make one.

 

[Lord Krunk]

to do something like that you might have to introduce a post rating system, I.E. thumbs up thumbs down, along with the report button or something to that effect, and then we just get a whole bunch of people who abuse the system. It's a good concept, especially if you could make your own title, I've had a good idea for mine and I'd really like to make one.

Custom titles may be taking it a little too far. I think we should have preset ones that we can buy.

As for everything else you said, post rating is WAY too far. Maybe I should can the 'users giving other users credits' idea and merely keep it to the staff/mods to decide who gets what.

 

[tijuanatim]

to do something like that you might have to introduce a post rating system, I.E. thumbs up thumbs down, along with the report button or something to that effect, and then we just get a whole bunch of people who abuse the system. It's a good concept, especially if you could make your own title, I've had a good idea for mine and I'd really like to make one.

Custom titles may be taking it a little too far. I think we should have preset ones that we can buy.

QFT. I love the Escapists, but left to their own devices I could see a handful of highly unappropriate titles.

I like the idea as well as the intentions (I'm al for making the internet more civil). Although (as you said) it is still a work in progress and I forsee a very long Beta proces. I vote YAY!

 

[Lord Krunk]

Hmmm. Credits may not be the way to go, but I surely feel we need some new "rank" names.

What if every 1000 posts after Gonzo you earned one name-change to the name of your choosing? This way, every year or half-year depending on your posting habits, you could re-choose your handle. With of course, mod oversight that they get final say on what's an allowed "rank/handle".

A great idea you have there, if not directly helpful to my idea.

What if the name is changed depending on what forum you post on the most?

 

[Gitsnik]

Hmmm. Credits may not be the way to go, but I surely feel we need some new "rank" names.

What if every 1000 posts after Gonzo you earned one name-change to the name of your choosing? This way, every year or half-year depending on your posting habits, you could re-choose your handle. With of course, mod oversight that they get final say on what's an allowed "rank/handle".

And some sort of assurance that the "half-year" is enforced. I know I haven't been around that long but it's really been annoying me that people are signing up in December and getting 1000+ posts now that we're in Jan. But I am a bit elitist and can probably be discounted.

 

[Anarchemitis]

There's something like that on FPSBanana. It makes me sad to look at.

 

[Lord Krunk]

There's something like that on FPSBanana. It makes me sad to look at.

What's FPSBanana?

Are you going to say 'precisely'?

Anyway, I just know there's a way to make this work. Somehow.

 

[Knight Templar]

this will introduce credit whores...not good

I was thinking more along the lines of people having to genuinely earn them. For example, doing something original, or posing ideas, concepts or general awesomeness.

There is a way to eliminate credit-whores, I just haven't thought of it yet.

The credits are given out by people?

 

[black lincon]

You should seriously put this on the suggestions thread, or at least bring this idea to the attention or Virgil or one of the other tech guys so they might help you out with some of the kinks, I actually like this Idea and I think it would be cool to see it applied to the site.

 

[Tattaglia]

Hmmm. Credits may not be the way to go, but I surely feel we need some new "rank" names.

What if every 1000 posts after Gonzo you earned one name-change to the name of your choosing? This way, every year or half-year depending on your posting habits, you could re-choose your handle. With of course, mod oversight that they get final say on what's an allowed "rank/handle".

I agree. Maybe we need a petition for more posting ranks?

 

[Novajam]

I doesn't sit right with me. If you made it automated, then people would find a way to exploit it. If it's community operated, we get lynch mobs and gangs, resulting in horrible unbalance. If it's staff controlled, then they're bound to miss deserving people, and it'd create a state of overwork (Nil and Wil have better things to do than dole out credits, I'm sure.)

I can't see it working properly. Great idea, but it wouldn't stop post spammers and pointless threads. As was recently demonstrated by the thread necromancer.

EDIT: Maybe the option to go back to old titles. I'm not looking forward to Gonzo. I want to stay a Laureate.

 

[Honkifyoulovepeaceandquiet]

I think that there are easier ways to bring new dynamics into rewarding forum junkies than installing a system that puts emphasis on currency. I agree that credit whores would be an issue. How about just an addition to the badge system that sets up a teeter-totter effect? Like say for example if you post more exclusively on any one forum section, you get a reward that reflects that and at the same time you get downgraded based on the section you visit the least? I dunno. More I think about it the more my brain swells. Not sure anything should change, really.

 

[Lord Krunk]

this will introduce credit whores...not good

I was thinking more along the lines of people having to genuinely earn them. For example, doing something original, or posing ideas, concepts or general awesomeness.

There is a way to eliminate credit-whores, I just haven't thought of it yet.

The credits are given out by people?

That's the plan.

I doesn't sit right with me. If you made it automated, then people would find a way to exploit it. If it's community operated, we get lynch mobs and gangs, resulting in horrible unbalance. If it's staff controlled, then they're bound to miss deserving people, and it'd create a state of overwork (Nil and Wil have better things to do than dole out credits, I'm sure.)

I can't see it working properly. Great idea, but it wouldn't stop post spammers and pointless threads. As was recently demonstrated by the thread necromancer.

I never wanted an automated system; but you might be right there in the fact that staff members might feel a little bit overworked. Maybe there should be a system like the 'Report' button, with the same 'It takes two to go through' mechanism incorporated. Therefore, staff/mods can check it out and decide for themselves.

EDIT:

EDIT: Maybe the option to go back to old titles. I'm not looking forward to Gonzo. I want to stay a Laureate.

Same here, really.

 

[Blue Sonnet]

I used to be on a forum where you were allowed to edit your title once you got past a certain post rank, but that was on a pretty small forum so there would definitely have to be some sort of time limit set as well.

Not 100% sold on any more achievements or credits, I've seen similar on other forums before and they end up (directly or indirectly) completely soulless, and I couldn't stand it if that happened here.

If it does come to pass for some reason I keep thinking of having a special moderator for any extra badges etc., like the "banker" in Monopoly (have no idea why I have that analogy). Basically one or two people who cannot moderate in the usual sense, but have sole responsibility for whatever this new credit system is. Perhaps they could also "vet" the name changes requested by entitled users.

I dearly hope that any "credits" (sorry for the quote overuse) will not be purchasable with real money - that sort of thing does my head in, it's pure cash cow and means any kid can get anything depending on how much they pester their parents.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I still am in favour of the old Facepunch smartness points idea.