Too much Same Old - Compiling Forum indexes.

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

It has been pointed out that 7th ed and the Asrai army book have been out for a long time so we are getting a high percentage of repetitive topics in Army Lists and Tactics.

How do I deal with:
a. Monsters
b. Steam Tank
c. Armoured cavalry
d. Super-high magic

FAQs have changed a few things but, otherwise, the answers are the same.

Many army list posts seem to be : These are my models, what can I do with them?

Newbies don't know this site well enough to search for the answers, so I understand that, and they don't know the joys of the LEAF and Army tutorial.

Is there anything we can do, should do, or would want to do to address this situation?

There is plenty of heat and light as we work out what changes are necessary to counter the recent and powerful new army books.

[Beithir Seun]

What exactly are you asking for here AMA? A compiled list of answers with how to deal with A,B,C and D? A guide for Newbies on how to find threads on the topics they're looking for, or might need to read? Or a list of suggestions to improve the site and how it dispenses tactical advice and army lists?

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

a. Is this perceived to be a problem by members?
b. Is there something we could do to make the site better by indexing or compiling the 'standard' questions?
c. Could we service 'newcomers' who may be experts elsewhere?
General navel-gazing.

[Sethayla]

I just believe that it should be made a systematic approach to posting on the forum to begin by "searching" you're question.

If the result isnt found there, address in the post why any old topics were not sufficient to answer questions so that the discussion can be more productive specific.

Also, before posting army lists, looking through some other, similar lists to see comments would help refine the list so that the subsequent commenting could make the list even better as we would start out with a better list.

Possibly sticky some common comments?

-Seth

[almundis]

Why not have an archive of some of the better posts regarding frequent questions, perhaps even with a mod post at the beginning giving the general consensus (if there was one) so that people can choose to just glance at the answer, whilst also having the option of reading through the entire post to see how the conclusion was reached. And while this will obviously be a fair bit of work, I think if limited to the more frequent questions it could be quite effective. Because while teh LEAF and site FAQ are good they are very general, it is often nice to read and understand why people have reached a general conclusion about units/rules/strategies and builds. Rather than just be told one person's view (as per LEAF, we don't get to see the hours of deliberation about why Dryads favor 8 strong units etc etc)

[Beithir Seun]

The problem with searching topics (unless you go through every forum topic by topic to find things) is that the Search function can often not find anything. Even I have trouble finding topics even when I know exactly what I'm looking for! How are you supposed to find topics on Forest Dragons for example, without using the keywords 'forest' and 'dragon', which returns a "these keywords are too common" result. If I can't find a specific topic without typing in almost the entire topic title then how is a newbie going to find anything?


My suggestion would be similar to Almundis'; an 'archive' of threads referring to a certain topic. Schmeag has already done this in the Grove of Tales with archive posts for Roleplays, Fiction Articles and Wood Elf Background threads. I've also referred several newer members to a selection of threads on a couple of topics recently (if I remember correctly, they were Uses of the Moonstone and Alter character configurations, or something along the lines).


If that's the sort of thing that would be useful I would be happy to trawl through the forums and collect threads on whatever topics people want In other words, I'll do it

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

I don't think that you have to do it all yourself Beithir Seun. It might be better if those of us interested started collecting threads and their general subject, that we feel worthy, and collect and post the links. You, Beithir, can then decide which ones you want to use and how to categorize them. We have many helpful members why not make use of them?

I agree that the Search function is almost useless for most general purposes. I cannot even find my own posts that I knew I wrote.

One collection for Army Lists, one forTactics, and one for Rules???

[Dilgar]

Upgrade the LEAF. To answer the most common questions asked(about anything WE). The problem is that the LEAF isn´t well known. And not everyone finds there way there BEFORE they ask the same old question. A simple way around ti would be to post a sticky thread in every forum/glade and a link to the parts in LEAF conserning the issues discussed in that particular forum.

I just can´t help to want to refer to bolterandchainsword.com, and this thread (DON`T open it yet!):

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/inde ... pic=150103

It is a compiled topic which upgraded all rule querks conserning the Deamonhunters VERY old codex in 40k. Everyone that found something "different" posted it there, they went through/solved it and kept updating the first post with answers and instructions on how to work them out. It is easily found and and even I managed to crawl in there begging the Inqvisitors forgivness for my lack of knowledge without anyone pushing me there. And boy did it help! (You can opne it now ) Now our similar topic would ofcourse be a bit different, it wouldn´t have rules explained(atleast I hope ), it would host questions like:

Treman or Dragon?
Treman or Treeman Ancient?
Brancwraith or Spellsinger?
Free wood?
Sethayla what is this?
Dual Treeman IMBA?
Treesing for the win?
N & A on a dragon or eagle?
Drayds really this good?
Glade Riders or Glade Guards?
Dragon Highborn equipments?

It could also host questions and answers(!) like (this hits close to LEAF):

How do you use effectively:
...Treesinging
...A Treeman
...Machine gun Highborn
...Glade Guards
...Ethernal Guards
...Warhawk Riders
etc. etc....sorry got carried away with the questions.

My main point is that we make a thread sticky that clearly reads "Common questions about WE/FAQ about WE units and tactics"...basically copy paste a link to the LEAF in every glade boy did I write alot of crap

My 0.045 cent

[Sethayla]

I love these Ideas. I would be glad to lend any assistance.

-Seth

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

Do we want to try and organize this, perhaps by agreeing to focus on specific forums, or do we just want to let it happen?

[Sethayla]

I vote organization. Everyone interested can take a particular forum and send their product to AMA, then after deemed ready, the posts will be stickied.

Thoughts?

-Seth

[Dilgar]

Organized work definetely. This would be best done by dividing the work to different forums, some forums of course demand more questions & answers others.

Dunno how much I can help, with my limited experience. Only played ALOT of games against DE & Lizzies with my woodies, then I got a few games against HE, WoC and Empire. I do however feel I know enough to contribute to strenghts & weaknesses, working combos etc. WITHIN our own army book

[Beithir Seun]

Right, from everything so far I think we've got three main suggestions:

1. An archive of useful threads for each thread, directing members to those existing threads that address specific topics.
2. A BolterandChainsword.com-esque 'Q&A' thread, where members contribute questions and the answers to said questions are compiled into a single thread.
3. Expanding the LEAF to include specific tactics articles


The first can be done quite easily; anyone interested in trawling a forum to find useful threads can collect those and I'll compile them into archive threads as Schmeag has done in the Grove of Tales.

The second requires a lot more work and perhaps a dedicated group of people (similar to the LEAF Writers) to assemble such a list of questions and answers. The best bit about this idea is that it will grow over time; if we miss something, others will point it out

The third is not so much a question of work, but of time. The information for such topics as Dilgar suggests is all on the site, in various forms, but it takes time to collect all that and process it into an article. To that end, anyone who is interested in writing such articles for the LEAF should contact me


So, in an attempt to get organised, anyone who is interested in contributing to one (or all) of these ideas, sign up below Remember to state what you want to help with

If AMA doesn't mind, I'd be happy to "take charge" of all this. A project manager, so to speak
If you do mind, I cede to your greater authority (and post count )

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

I'm as lazy as any ten other guys. It's all yours.

This will be a great 2009 project and a way to improve the site.

I have the admin. permissions so can help get this done. I'll trawl with the best of you and give Beithir any help he wants.

The key forums seem to be:

Enlightenment
General
Hunt

I'll probably concentrate on Generals getting some basic army list stuff together.

[almundis]

I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

[Bad Beast]

if you need my help with anything, don't hesitate to ask, and i'll see what i can do

[Beithir Seun]

I would also go through the Discussion forum as well, so all the 'main' forums except Hall of Honours


If AMA wants to trawl through the Generals forum, Bad Beast and Almundis can pick which they want and I'll do the one that's left Additional help can be enlisted as required.

Basically, just go through the forum finding useful threads, copy/paste the link into a big list (make sure you write the topic heading as well please) and then email/PM me and I'll categorize them.

While your at it, if you find any FAQ-type questions that could be part of the Q&A thread, make a note of them (and the answer, if you find one) and we can start compiling that as well We may need to 'employ' people specifically for that job eventually but there's no harm in making a start now.


Anyone else who wants to help can do so Just let me know and you can be 'assigned' a job As I've said already, anyone who would be interested in writing part or all of a LEAF article on a particular topic (not necessarily one from Dilgar's suggested list) then again let me know.


Is that OK with everyone?

[Bad Beast]

sounds good to me, i can Trawl through the pool of enlightenment since i seem to spend most of my time there anyway (there's a reason I'm considered the walking rulebook in my gaming group)

[Beithir Seun]

So it's the Hall of Discussion or the Call of the Hunt for you, Almundis


EDIT: Damn, should have bagsied the Discussion; Hunt has 73 pages


EDIT #2: A sudden thought; it might be a good idea to ignore all those topics that are pre-7th Edition and no longer relevant, correct or useful. I know a lot of the army lists will be old enough to either be invalidated by new rules or similar...

[Sethayla]

I will gladly split the largest forum with someone so as to lighten the work load. If you want, i have no problem with taking a forum to myself. (I run Dual monitors so I can always occupy myself with something when doing work on the computer )

-Seth

[Beithir Seun]

In that case Seth, you and I can work on the Call of the Hunt while Almundis (or someone else) does the Hall of Discussion. We'll start at either end and meet in the middle Sound OK to you?

[almundis]

Roger!

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

I'm going to start by collecting together

How to deal with

threads on:

Dragon
Monsters
Steam Tank
Knights
Dwarf Gunlines
Heavy Magic


Any other important topics you can think of?

[Beithir Seun]

Well, you might find other useful threads while you're searching If you do, just collect them together and add them on. I think the list you've got so far are the main sort of topics.


EDIT: There might also be several threads on how to face specific armies; would it be worth collecting those up? I know of at least three threads asking 'how to deal with High Elves'...

[ArchMagosAlchemys]

I was thinking of a multi-pass process looking for specific types of threads. The armies will be next.