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I Would Like A Site Admin To Read And Respond Please.
I am rather ambivalent about the titles associated with post count thresholds. I think I am currently a Prince, but I have no idea what it means. I've been a 'registered' member of APS since January of this year but lurked through here on several occasions shortly after Civ2 came out. I liked the information posted on the Civ2 boards which introduced new concepts about game play I would have never thought up on my own. I, however, did not like the rantings associated with most forums in general and felt it was the domain of hormone addled teenagers out to prove their manhood. Being that I was several years out of teenagerdom I didn't wish to participate. I played Civ2 until I grew tired of it, then purchased ToT and played it until the novelty wore off. I 'rediscovered' the game towards the end of 2000 and was using it as a stress reliever from work. The game was, and still is, a great way for me to get my mind of work, problems, etc... Having rediscoverd the game I thought it would be fun to play the MP version and thus remembered the Civ2 site with the strange name I had run across in the past. Through the wonders of AltaVista I found myself back at Apolyton and lurked in the Civ2 forums until I felt confident I understood the culture and the 'rituals' needed to find an MP game. I downloaded ICQ, posted info, etc.. until I realized there isn't much of an MP ToT community. Everybody that played seemed to use MGE.
One day someone posted a site that was selling MGE for less than $10.00 (Chips and Bits I think?). I clicked on the link through Apolyton and bought my very own version of MGE. I even mentioned in the sales info that I bought the game because of the Apolyton site. I then successfully found an MP game and discovered the length of time they actually take. Not something I can devout the amount of time necessary to complete at this point in my life. During this time I also discovered the OCC idea proposed by Paul. I have played nothing but this type of game since reading about it in the Civ2 forums. Having no interest in any of the other versions of Civ, I stuck to the Civ2 forums exclusively. I'm not much of a poster there since I am by no means an expert at the game and only like to play for recreation and not competition. I do, however, read a lot of the posts.
Sometime during all this (3- 4 weeks after registering) I looked at the complete list of forum topics and stumbled into OT. Oh how my life has changed. An entire community of fellow Civ players who gathered to share their thoughts on the world in general. Serious discussions. Stupid discussions. Games. Music trivia! I love music trivia! The whole Name That Tune series is like a dream come true. I even learned about a way to volunteer my computer for Cancer research. (Thanks yin!) I enjoyed reading the Gimps/Bugs posts on whatever he happens to write about. I enjoyed reading the little spats people get into over the most inconsequential nonsense. I enjoyed reading SuperSneaks take on life and general. I absolutely loved drakes Name That Tune series, but a change in work schedules precluded me from continuing to play. I did, however, shamelessly copy his format and start a later version of the game. All in all, I felt like a real member of a Community. I realize I have never, nor probably will ever, 'meet' any of these people. Even so, it is a place I enjoy spending time.
Today I logged on (after a business trip) and discovered a new BBS with lots of neat bells and whistles. I still don't know how to use them all, but eventually I'll figure it out. You can even put a picture next to your name. How cool is that! Some people even have pictures they made themselves. Even cooler! So I directed my browser towards the control panel, changed my settings, and looked into adding a picture next to my name. I'm not defined by Civ so I wanted to find out how to add a custom picture. I scrolled through the the available Avatars figuring I would stumble across the way to upload your own. Nope. Hmmmm. So next I jump to the Apolyton Community forum and start scrolling through the posts. I see mention of OT posts not counting towards post totals anymore and I also find out you have to have over 1000 posts to get your own customized Avatar. Doing some more checking, I also find out I am somewhere in the 300's as far as post count goes. Far, far from ever getting a custom Avatar.
Since I have registered, I have followed the posted rules about spamming, staying On Topic, etc.. in the forums. When I read threads I'm interested in, I don't post silly one line responses. I don't engage in battles over pride and hurt feelings. And I've been very respectful of other posters and moderators. I ask questions when I'm not sure about doing the proper thing. I understand the owners wanting to extend a modicum of control over how things are operated, and I appreciate the job the moderators do in keeping 'order'. People can get mean, silly, and/or stupid and I like and appreciate the fact it is hard to get carried away doing so. Anyway, on to my real complaint.
I would very much like to use a customized Avatar by my name. It is a very silly and immature reaction, but I'm pissed about the 1000 post limit on customization. Had I spammed my way to the required threshold in the last 5 months, I could do that now. Myself, and those like me, who have followed the rules, avoided pointless spamming, and have not made a nuisance of themselves are being penalized. I've noticed all the moderators are sporting customized Avatars and almost every person who is eligible to do so has added one to their name. This is another way for members to add their 'uniqueness' to the community. By excluding me from doing so, I feel like I am not welcome here. While I am certainly not the most visible or active poster, I do feel a sort of bond to other members of the OT community. Something I would like to continue to be a part of. Although I understand their is no obligation to do so, I would like to know why I am not able to use a customized Avatar? What is the rationale of 1000 posts? Why am I getting worked up over something so trivial? Thank you for wading through this.
One day someone posted a site that was selling MGE for less than $10.00 (Chips and Bits I think?). I clicked on the link through Apolyton and bought my very own version of MGE. I even mentioned in the sales info that I bought the game because of the Apolyton site. I then successfully found an MP game and discovered the length of time they actually take. Not something I can devout the amount of time necessary to complete at this point in my life. During this time I also discovered the OCC idea proposed by Paul. I have played nothing but this type of game since reading about it in the Civ2 forums. Having no interest in any of the other versions of Civ, I stuck to the Civ2 forums exclusively. I'm not much of a poster there since I am by no means an expert at the game and only like to play for recreation and not competition. I do, however, read a lot of the posts.
Sometime during all this (3- 4 weeks after registering) I looked at the complete list of forum topics and stumbled into OT. Oh how my life has changed. An entire community of fellow Civ players who gathered to share their thoughts on the world in general. Serious discussions. Stupid discussions. Games. Music trivia! I love music trivia! The whole Name That Tune series is like a dream come true. I even learned about a way to volunteer my computer for Cancer research. (Thanks yin!) I enjoyed reading the Gimps/Bugs posts on whatever he happens to write about. I enjoyed reading the little spats people get into over the most inconsequential nonsense. I enjoyed reading SuperSneaks take on life and general. I absolutely loved drakes Name That Tune series, but a change in work schedules precluded me from continuing to play. I did, however, shamelessly copy his format and start a later version of the game. All in all, I felt like a real member of a Community. I realize I have never, nor probably will ever, 'meet' any of these people. Even so, it is a place I enjoy spending time.
Today I logged on (after a business trip) and discovered a new BBS with lots of neat bells and whistles. I still don't know how to use them all, but eventually I'll figure it out. You can even put a picture next to your name. How cool is that! Some people even have pictures they made themselves. Even cooler! So I directed my browser towards the control panel, changed my settings, and looked into adding a picture next to my name. I'm not defined by Civ so I wanted to find out how to add a custom picture. I scrolled through the the available Avatars figuring I would stumble across the way to upload your own. Nope. Hmmmm. So next I jump to the Apolyton Community forum and start scrolling through the posts. I see mention of OT posts not counting towards post totals anymore and I also find out you have to have over 1000 posts to get your own customized Avatar. Doing some more checking, I also find out I am somewhere in the 300's as far as post count goes. Far, far from ever getting a custom Avatar.
Since I have registered, I have followed the posted rules about spamming, staying On Topic, etc.. in the forums. When I read threads I'm interested in, I don't post silly one line responses. I don't engage in battles over pride and hurt feelings. And I've been very respectful of other posters and moderators. I ask questions when I'm not sure about doing the proper thing. I understand the owners wanting to extend a modicum of control over how things are operated, and I appreciate the job the moderators do in keeping 'order'. People can get mean, silly, and/or stupid and I like and appreciate the fact it is hard to get carried away doing so. Anyway, on to my real complaint.
I would very much like to use a customized Avatar by my name. It is a very silly and immature reaction, but I'm pissed about the 1000 post limit on customization. Had I spammed my way to the required threshold in the last 5 months, I could do that now. Myself, and those like me, who have followed the rules, avoided pointless spamming, and have not made a nuisance of themselves are being penalized. I've noticed all the moderators are sporting customized Avatars and almost every person who is eligible to do so has added one to their name. This is another way for members to add their 'uniqueness' to the community. By excluding me from doing so, I feel like I am not welcome here. While I am certainly not the most visible or active poster, I do feel a sort of bond to other members of the OT community. Something I would like to continue to be a part of. Although I understand their is no obligation to do so, I would like to know why I am not able to use a customized Avatar? What is the rationale of 1000 posts? Why am I getting worked up over something so trivial? Thank you for wading through this.
), and enough so that all the regular posters in the community feel they have access to this sort of personalization.
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