Development Cycle Archive
Thread: SWG Forum Ranking Changes...
Nuke490
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:15 am
#79
The Primary problem I have always seen with the star system is that people are inherently lazy. (this isn't a slam on anyone, it's a statement of truth).
For example: I see a great post. Often times, someone else got to it ahead of me and '5' starred it...I agree that it's 5 star worthy, but I'm just a bit too lazy to re-5 star it. Then some 'bandit' comes though, and 1 stars it a day/week/month later, bringing its rating down considerably...
The other problem with inherent laziness is that most folks either '1' or '5' star a post...never anything in-between! Perhaps we could use some wording over the stars, or make the stars themselves 'descriptors' like on slashdot: 'funny', 'informative', 'useless', 'horrible grammar', whatever 
THOSE would seem more useful than a 1 or 5 
THOSE would seem more useful than a 1 or 5 Finally, why all this need to focus on the stars? Why not just take a hint from the EQ2 forums, and rate based on Post count OR Reader count. I personally would listen to a person with a 100K reader count, but with a small number of high quality posts than a 5000+ post spammer 
Nuke490
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:17 am
#80
I also find it hilarious that the '5 star bandit' is out in force here today!
CommanderKendall
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:18 am
#81
Garva, I was working through some calculations with the rank structures and I discovered that with the requirements as given there would never be anyone who is star rank 6 or 7.
Take for example someone who has just reached their 9 month minimum, and has posted 250 times. They would qualify for rank 6 Community Elder under the normal ranks, but the post requirement of the equivalent star ranking means that they will never qualify for star rank 6, since by the time they qualify for the upgrade to star rank 6, they will already have qualified for normal rank 7 which has the higher overall rank. This also holds true for star rank 7 as they will have qualified for normal rank 8 prior to ever achieving the post count/star rating necessary for star rank 7.
It would appear that those star ranks are impossible to achieve.
LAR
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:18 am
#82
It looks like a good setup, I like it. Especiallysince it rewards contentinstead ofpost count.
Later,
LAR
LAR
Witnezz
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:19 am
#83
wonderfull, not only do you encourage ingame grinding now this ...
""OMG OMG i have to grind my post count to the next lvl ... ""
""Hey bra ill 4 star you if you 4 star me ... ""
""Anyone got a forum macro ... "
Go ahead 1 star me ya noob ...
""OMG OMG i have to grind my post count to the next lvl ... ""
""Hey bra ill 4 star you if you 4 star me ... ""
""Anyone got a forum macro ... "
Go ahead 1 star me ya noob ...
Owen-Lars
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:19 am
#84
and rate based on Post count OR Reader count.
Arg no! hehe
The ranger forum has a very small regular population compared to alot of forums so our read rating is going to be alot less than most others hehe.
GarVa
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:23 am
#85
To those asking you do not want me trying to fix anything with the game, I am not a programmer or a game designer (although those things do interest me) I am if anything artistic.
Tuscany
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:31 am
#86
SimDroid wrote:
Mattt wrote:
GarVa wrote:
If you see your self getting lots of low ratings you may go "oh wonder how I can post better to keep that from happening", or you can just choose to ignore it.
I disagree. I think it will make you go, "oh, I guess I shouldn't disagree with anyone. My opinion isn't welcome here." You could ignore it. I'd ignore it. Will everyone ignore it? I don't know. Some people take things more personally than others. I know a lot of people who avoid "the oboards" because of this sort of thing... :/
Exactly. Most people here don't use the stars as "quality of post" ranking, but rather "opinion like mine" ranking. too bad....
The fact that I've made no offensive posts, this is my third total post, and someone chose to one star one of the first two, pretty much supports that's theory. I'll just go back to the unofficial boards.
GarVa
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:31 am
#87
I fixed the discrepancies in the time/post count, the final star ratings are still being worked on.
Owen-Lars
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:49 am
#88
Even if all of Thunderheart's posts are 1 starred, does that mean I'll stop reading them for information?
It was justsuggestedas a temporary measure to 'witness' the immature griefing behaviour that ruins the rating system in its current form. 
BaronJedi
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:49 am
#89
Garva, there should be a way to tell who starred you what. Just because it adds a little accountability to the system. We'll see less people one starring people who just have different opinions and more people saying, "I one starred your post, and lemme tell ya why". People might even start using stars other than 5 and 1 Just a thought....
Just a thought....
CommanderKendall
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:51 am
#90
GarVa wrote:
I fixed the discrepancies in the time/post count, the final star ratings are still being worked on.
Okay sounds good then Garva, although the weighted average or bell curve standard deviation averages would seem to be more fair for star rating scores. Although admittedly I don't know what calculation goes into the post and user ratings currently and Ihave beenassuming, based on my observation, that it is currently a straight forward average; such that if other communities have found and proved that this type of system of averages works well, then I would be willing to try it out even if I consider other types of averages more fair.
Lotussutol
Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:53 am
#91
GarVa wrote:
We are currently in the process of revamping the Forum Ranking System, and wanted to fill you in on how it will work. We are changing it for two reasons. First to add diversity and fun to the ranking system (its pretty slim currently), and to encourage better use of the star ranking system. You can reply to this thread with your thoughts on this system. Please also make sure to read the questions at the bottom to ensure it that I did not already answer it, I will update that part of the thread as the replies come in.
Forum Ranking System
2 Ranking Trees
a Star Ranked tree
a Non star ranked tree
All users under 1 month "New Member"
There are 18 ranks after new member, in the two trees, 9 star ranked and 9 normal ranks.
Posters willget the normal rank -or- if their star ratingis high enough they will get the star rank, star ranks will override any normal ranks. So if you qualified for normal rank 6, but had the appropriate star weight you will have the star rank 6 (Galactic Ambassador). Additionally in the coming weeks we will be adding more avatars and other forum abilities that will be distributed throughout the ranks.
The colors that the line is written in below willbe the "name" color for each rank
Normal Ranked:
Required for rank 1 (Community Member same as current) 1 month minimum 50 post
Required for rank 2 (Sr. Community Member) 3 month minimum75 post
Required for rank 3 (Community Contributor) 3 month minimum100 post
Required for rank 4 (Community Veteran same as current) 6 month minimum125 post
Required for rank 5 (Community Guide) 6 month minimum175 post
Required for rank 6 (Community Elder same as current) 9 month minimum250 post
Required for rank 7 (Community Advisor) 9 month minimum2.75 starrating300 post
Required for rank 8 (Community Leader same as current) 9 month minimum 3.0 star rating350 post
Required for rank 9 (Community Advocate) 12 month minimum 3.0 star rating750 post
Star Ranked:
Required for rank 1 (Advisor) 1 month minimum 3.1 average rating given 50 post
Required for rank 2 (Steward 3 month minimum 3.2 average rating given75 post
Required for rank 3 (Emissary) 3 month minimum 3.5 average rating given125 post
Required for rank 4 (Diplomat) 6 month minimum 3.7 average rating given150 post
Required for rank 5 (Galactic Counselor) 6 month minimum 4.0 average rating given250 post
Required for rank 6 (Galactic Ambassador) 9 month minimum 4.2 average rating given 250 post
Required for rank 7 (Galactic Senator) 9 month minimum 4.5 average rating given 350 post
Required for rank 8 (Chancellor) 9 month minimum 4.7 average rating given 500 post
Required for rank 9 (High Chancellor) 12 month minimum4.9 average rating given 1000 post
Questions I'm sure will be asked, and Answers.....
1. What If I just have my buddies go through and 5 star all my post wont that get me higher up pretty fast?
A: It may help in the short term but the more post ratings you have the less it has an effect on your ranking and will actually hurt you at the Higher post ratings. So the system naturally discourages this type of behavior.
2. What about one star bandits (eq: those that go through one starring every post)
A: Contrary to popular belief, these are 1. rare and 2. have very little effect on the rating or ranking systems. The only thing it hurts is the bandits wrist. It takes 20 1 star ratings to cause a post to be hidden by the default system. Additionally we are putting measures in to be able to track and even "title" these posters so everyone will know who they are. When we findsomeone who abuses the rating systemwe do lower their "rating" weight to prevent abuse.
3. Why are you doing this?
A: We want to encourage to post more responsibly and using the time/post count along with the rating system we can do this. We will also be granting icons, titles and even some privileges based on the new rankings.
4. What if I qualify for normal rank 8 but also qualify for Star rank 7?
A: The highest "rank" you qualify for will be the one you get, regardless of the star side of things... this is due to the fact that your "star" rank can come and go, you will always have your base rank. In the case above you would be Normal Rank 8.
5. Can I choose to stay at my current rank?
A: Sorry but the answer is no, if you qualify for a higher rank you will get it, unless you stop posting
6. What privileges come with my current rank?
A: We will have this list as well as the associated privileges posted when we convert to the new system.
Message Edited by GarVa on 08-19-2004 08:11 AM
Message Edited by GarVa on 08-19-2004 09:29 AM
Please do NOT bring stars into the rating...one star bandits run rampant and the star system sucks...