Development Cycle Archive
Thread: SWG Forum Ranking Changes...
GarVa wrote:
Thanks for all your feedback I have emailed Lithium with some questions and will update the system probably tomorrow, I do appreciate the feedback. Just a note to some of you who say "get rid of the star system" as I have stated the star rankings will not grant that much more than the regular ranks in the end version. Other than color and Title, this is meat to diversify the forums a little, EG: spread a little fun to those who enjoy those sort of things. I do not work on the game coding or anything else like that, my job is the forums so saying I should invest my time on the game systems is [dangerous] and [scary]
People positively identified as a one star bandit, get their post rating ability nullified (eg: they can still rate post but it has zero effect)
Also note to satisfy those that are not interested in post ranking systems at all, the edit post ability comes at 3 months of forum time and only75 post.
Message Edited by TantoComo on 08-20-2004 02:07 PM
TantoComo wrote:
GarVa wrote:
Thanks for all your feedback I have emailed Lithium with some questions and will update the system probably tomorrow, I do appreciate the feedback. Just a note to some of you who say "get rid of the star system" as I have stated the star rankings will not grant that much more than the regular ranks in the end version. Other than color and Title, this is meat to diversify the forums a little, EG: spread a little fun to those who enjoy those sort of things. I do not work on the game coding or anything else like that, my job is the forums so saying I should invest my time on the game systems is [dangerous] and [scary]
People positively identified as a one star bandit, get their post rating ability nullified (eg: they can still rate post but it has zero effect)
Also note to satisfy those that are not interested in post ranking systems at all, the edit post ability comes at 3 months of forum time and only75 post.
*taps foot impatiently*
(the quote is from August 19 btw)
Message Edited by TantoComo on 08-20-2004 02:07 PM
Robbjedi wrote:
TantoComo wrote:
GarVa wrote:
Thanks for all your feedback I have emailed Lithium with some questions and will update the system probably tomorrow, I do appreciate the feedback. Just a note to some of you who say "get rid of the star system" as I have stated the star rankings will not grant that much more than the regular ranks in the end version. Other than color and Title, this is meat to diversify the forums a little, EG: spread a little fun to those who enjoy those sort of things. I do not work on the game coding or anything else like that, my job is the forums so saying I should invest my time on the game systems is [dangerous] and [scary]
People positively identified as a one star bandit, get their post rating ability nullified (eg: they can still rate post but it has zero effect)
Also note to satisfy those that are not interested in post ranking systems at all, the edit post ability comes at 3 months of forum time and only75 post.
*taps foot impatiently*
(the quote is from August 19 btw)
Message Edited by TantoComo on 08-20-2004 02:07 PM
*stalks tanto*
*turns around*
*doesn't see anyone*
*realizes it must be his imaginination*
Thunderheart wrote:
Please let us know what you think about this.
Thanks!
Sounds reasonable.
Any ranking system based on the infantile star system should be permanently erased from all SOE hard drives.
The last thing we need is more ninja raters running around making the star system even more worthless than it already is.
Bad move, GarVa and TH. Very bad move.
SioBabble wrote:
Any ranking system based on the infantile star system should be permanently erased from all SOE hard drives.
The last thing we need is more ninja raters running around making the star system even more worthless than it already is.
Bad move, GarVa and TH. Very bad move.
This is how it is over at the EQ forums, and as far as spam goes I think they're a lot better off.
EDIT: minus the bandits of course
Message Edited by TantoComo on 08-20-2004 02:58 PM
GarVa wrote:
Required for rank 9 (Community Advocate) 12 month minimum 3.0 star rating750 post
Dubolom wrote:
GarVa wrote:
Required for rank 9 (Community Advocate) 12 month minimum 3.0 star rating750 post
In 2-3 years 75% of posters on the forum will be Advocates. You guys need additional ranks at like 1500, 3000, 5000, 10000 posts.
True, but they have 2-3 years to make them
btw, sarcasm aside I too have been longing for ranking for REALLY high post counts.
Well, it's getting better. ![]()
Still not entirely reasonable, though. First of all, there's still the issue of stars not really being as good an indicator of a poster's value to the forums as they should/could be. But I've already addressed that (back on page 12 of this thread). I will say, however, thatI'd sign on in a heartbeat to groovysplat101's concept of just a single star meaning "great post!" -- that absolutely nails the problem with the star system.
The secondpoint concerns the tweakage of post counts as indicators ofdesirable forum behavior. Post counts can actually be a good indicator of participation,but they'd be a better indicator if they also considered post length. Just flinging one-liners intoa forum to bump up a post count or to joke around with friends doesn't help enlighten new forum members, shed light on questions,suggest effective solutions to problems, generate creative new feature ideas, or motivate new forum members to participate in posting. Those are the kinds of things a good forum structure encourages, and sheer post count doesn't really identify the forum members whosemessagesconsistently accomplish any of those tasks.
So let's look at this from the ground up: What are thekinds ofmeasurable forum actionsthat should be rewarded (and thus encouraged)withcool forum titles? Here are some suggestions, ranging from easiest to implement to hardest:
- number of posts (higher is better)
- length of forummembership (longer is better)
- star rating (higher is better)
- number of posts receiving an Official "Good Contribution"Accolade (higher is better)
- average number of views of all posts (higher is better)
- number of new posts started (higher is better)
- number of forums posted in (higher is better)
- number of forums regularly posted in (higher is better)
- average length of posts (higher is better)
- number of posts linked to by other posts (higher is better)
- averagehelpfulness of post content(subjective -- more is better)
- average friendliness and courtesy (subjective -- more is better)
These attributes might be considered ina future enhancement to the ranking system.
Meanwhile,here's my take on what a forum ranking system using the existing three attributesmight look like:
Required for rank 1 (New Member same as current) no requirements
Required for rank2 (Community Member same as current) 1 month minimum 50 post (Edit Granted)
Required for rank3 (Sr.Member)2 month minimum(Edit Granted)
Required for rank4 (Sr. Community Member)2 month minimum100 post
Required for rank5 (Contributor)4 month minimum
Required for rank6 (Community Contributor)4 month minimum200 post
Required for rank7 (Veteran) 6 month minimum
Required for rank8 (Community Veteran same as current) 6 month minimum300 post
Required for rank9 (Guide)8 month minimum
Required for rank10 (Community Guide)8 month minimum500 post
Required for rank11 (Elder same as current) 9 month minimum
Required for rank 12 (Community Elder same as current) 9 month minimum600 post
Required for rank13 (Advisor)10 month minimum
Required for rank 14 (Community Advisor)10 month minimum700 post
Required for rank15 (Leader)12 month minimum
Required for rank16 (Community Leader same as current)12 month minimum800 post
Required for rank17 (Advocate) 14 month minimum
Required for rank18 (Community Advocate) 12 month minimum 2.7 star rating 1000 post
Required for rank 19 SWGPetty Officer16 month minimum (Bronze Officer insignia)
Required for rank20 SWG Chief Petty Officer 18 month minimum (Bronze Officer insignia)
Required for rank21 (Diplomat)12 month minimum3.0 average rating50 post (Bronze Diplomat insignia)
Required for rank22 SWGWarrant Officer 24 month minimum (Bronze Officer insignia)
Required for rank23 SWG Ensign 28 month minimum (Silver Officer insignia)
Required for rank24 (Ambassador)16 month minimum3.2 average100 post (Silver Diplomat insignia)
Required for rank25 SWG Lieutenant 30 month minimum (Silver Officer insignia)
Required for rank26 SWGCommander 36 month minimum (Silver Officer insignia)
Required for rank27 (Senator)20 month minimum3.3 average rating250 post (Gold Diplomat insignia)
Required for rank28 SWGCaptain 40 month minimum (Gold Officer insignia)
Required for rank29 (Jedi)24 month minimum3.5 average rating 500 post (GoldDiplomat insignia with crossed lightsabers)
Required for rank30 SWGGeneral 48 month minimum (Gold Officer insignia with star cluster)
Required for rank31 (Jedi Knight)36 month minimum3.8 average rating 1000 post (GoldDiplomat insignia with crossed lightsabers and star cluster)
Required for rank 32 (Jedi Master) 48 month minimum 4.0 average rating 2000 post (GoldDiplomat insignia with crossed lightsabers and wreath)
Basically I've just made a fewtweaks:
- changedsome of the requirementsnumbers for balance
- rationalizedthe color scheme to better indicate advanced rank
- changed some of the rank names for a better blending of Ground/Naval/Air/Jedi ranks
- changed the insignia scheme to betterreflect advanced rank
- added a 32nd-degree Master Mas--er, Jedi Master

Comments?
--Flatfingers
Previous edits:08-20-2004 06:45 PM, 08-23-2004 02:42 PM
Message Edited by Flatfingers on 08-23-2004 03:01 PM
GarVa wrote:
CharPrime wrote:
how many people have a 4.9 stars rate? most like nothing, never
now the star system do mean something because someone can grief your ranking away.
Your concern is answered above, and while its possible it is likely not to happen. Because 1. We can tell (and may make it so others can) when people are doing nothing but one starring others. and 2. It is a community thing and while At first some people will have the urge to do this it is something that over time, will even out. The more ratings you get the less each individual one will have.
This is also why we have made the 2 trees for the rankings, and they will both have similar privileges for both trees. You will still get those and lastly, yes we know that the last few star ranks will be hard to achieve and if they do become impossible we will make the necessary adjustments
lol plz give one star bandits a bandit tag,i'd love that