[TrekRPGNet] Your input requested

Just two short comments conerning avatars and the rank structure:

Maybe I am the only one, but avatars really annoy me if the same people post several times in the same thread. This usually means having to endure the same avatars over and over again. Would it be possible, without too much work, to display the avatar only besides the first post? This would be enough to show everyone that you have joined the discussion without the drawbacks mentioned above.

Would it be possible to use different rank styles in the Trek and the LOTR sections? For example, when posting in the Narrator's Ready Room you are a Lieutenant, whereas your title in the Council of Elrond would be Lord, or something like that.

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Originally posted by Ergi
Just two short comments conerning avatars and the rank structure:

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I think the answer to both of those is "no," but I'll check for you. ;)

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Don,
Any idea when you are wanting to have the changes made by? I just don't want to be caught out to pasture on this.

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Originally posted by Phoenix
I just don't want to be caught out to pasture on this.

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I don't have a final decision, or a date yet, but were we to go forward, no one would lose anything. (Aside from perhaps the Search feature if we go that way.)

Regarding the chat room, my only thought regarding it is that it would be neat if we could somehow arrange monthly chat with people involved in Trek, like some of the RPG writers, book writers, and the like. I don't know if the membership at large would appreciate such a thing, but it's a thought.

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Originally posted by Ineti
Regarding the chat room, my only thought regarding it is that it would be neat if we could somehow arrange monthly chat with people involved in Trek, like some of the RPG writers, book writers, and the like. I don't know if the membership at large would appreciate such a thing, but it's a thought.

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We used to do this with LUG. Every week we'd get about 20 or so, sometimes more to chat with the Line Developers.

Well, for what it's worth i'd be more than willing to pay a yearly fee to access more material on the site.
As others have mentioned, i'd like to see primarily adventures but any downloadable source material would be cool.
This site has provided me with so much useful material and inspiration that I can't begin to list it all so i'd be willing to contribute in whatever way possible to keep the site on the move.

Regards

Renny

I'd pay a fee. $12-24 annually isn't a lot.

I can pay $20 - $25 Yearly.

Thank you to everyone that participated. If anyone has anything further to add, you're more than welcome to. I will sit down and think things through and try to come up with a solution to everyone's satisfaction. I would like to share the following items:

• I remain dedicated to the notion that any membership plan would be voluntary and would only provide perks. Aside from maybe one or two features, the site would continue to remain free of charge.
• Any income would be used to maintain the site, defray my costs, and surplus towards the development of new material. It wouldn't, for example, be used to take a vacation to Italy. (Although I'm in desperate need of a vacation)
• If the site goes away I will try to provide ample notice. I'll also entertain offers from people to take over the DB (about 300MB in size) along with the templates and such. I would also probably consider selling the domain. (Again, this is a "what if" scenario.)
• I am troubled that some of the people that voiced objections in this thread haven't been willing to provide substantive suggestions on how to best proceed. Essentially, these are the nay sayers that aren't adding value to the discussion. Clearly I can't please everyone but I'd sure like to try. Their lack of input (but willingness to complain) is exactly what prompts me to consider closing this site.
• Recently I have had a major personal emergency at my home that places greater demands against my time, energy, and funds. It's happened since this thread was started and will play a major role in my decision.

Again, if anyone has any further ideas or comments, feel free to share them. I'm still looking for the perfect idea that keeps everyone happy and relieves me of some of the financial burden of running this site.

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Originally posted by Don Mappin
Recently I have had a major personal emergency at my home...

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I think I can pretty safely speak for the entire site's population when I state that we all fervently hope that this was nothing of a life-threatening nature, and that - whatever it may be - the recovery is as quick and complete as possible.

Although I think I've been pretty forthright about my position on this thread's central issue, I'd like to reiterate once again my dedication to seeing it continue under present management. Whatever it takes will be gladly forwarded.

Again, best wishes in this stressful time, Don, and hoping you and the family are well. :)

Don, I also hope whatever family emergency you had/have isn't life-threatening. My thoughts are with you.

I don't have anything to add to the site's fate, except to reiterate that I'd be happy to pay a membership fee. I'd like to do all I can to keep the site and the games alive, even after Decipher finally drops the axe.

A little late, but here're my thoughts:

First off, I'm more than happy to pay up to US $30 for membership. I certainly don't want to pay it on a "per-par" basis as Phantom suggests, because £30 is significantly more! :)

I'm thinking a webzine approach to the main site might encourage people to think more in terms of paying. Have a stream of columns and articles from any of the members. There are a number that regularly come up with good ideas in the forums - putting these into the main site will let the casual users see them, and make them easier to find for the regulars. I'm thinking of the likes of C5, Tyger and so on here - possibly strictly by invitation (or acclaim)? I'd guess authors, editors and layout people could volunteer. We've got enough wannabe writers here that it would be a good place to build up a portfolio. Likewise for artists.

Archive the older articles, in a manner similar to the old site. Categorise them by subject, degree of canon, period.

The zine itself would be pay, the archive free (with the delay already mentioned).

Add a forum(s) strictly for online gaming. I notice there are a number of people playing in the gaming forum, but it does rack up the noise level for TT games hunters. You could make these available to the paying customers only. (With the dearth of gamers in Sussex, I'd probably sign up for that!)

Keep the forums more or less as is. They are a superb resource for ideas and information. Come to think of it, maybe someone could work their way through the old threads on the forums, and format/archive them? With the permission of the original contributors of course.

Ranks were always fun, and I'd like to see them back (I think I was well on my way to lt commander when they disappeared!). Of course, paying customers are officers (up to Captain) and non-payers are enlisted... If the system allowed for it, you could even let the user select a service and rank system (allowing for the LOTR fans).

I don't know what the general opinion is, but maybe a section for fiction? Online gaming is practically there already, and it's another way of encouraging people to contribute. If you're worried about the quality of a writer, line it up in a forum, get general feedback
then post in the zine.

Oh, and don't lose the LOTR section. Spin it off in to a parallel system at most. Although I'm not invloved there seems to be quite a community evolving there.

I have no idea what avatars are, but I'm sure they're fun!

Sorry but I have to say that I am against paying!

1) I´m living in Germany so I have to use such things like Paypal or the like an then it would be around 50 Dollars for me.

2) I loved this side as it has been.