Helping restore Apolyton

[Asher]

Please no one feed the trolls and maybe they will go away...

but seriously. Apolyton has gone downhill, and ive been talking to Ken about it. I personally think that there is ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS MODERATION here. I have made maybe 50 posts outside of the ModCast threads, and this is over several years. Most of those posts were for my Mod that noone else posted in (except by wouter once or twice). the rest of them were in various places, and EVERY SINGLE THREAD HAD THE SAME TROLLS AS ALL THE OTHER THREADS.

Trolling is killing this site, and the cabinet and staff allows it every day. Now its to the point that the majority of posts here are done by the same cabal of trolls.

Apolyton as a whole should focus on our successful podcasts, civcon, and more podcasts. and as well should reward those who aren't being trolls.

In addition to all the things "Murg" said

Shock and awe: Someone who is heavily involved with the podcasts/modcasts thinks that's where all effort should be.

Maybe if Dan (and yourself?) wasn't so obsessed with these time-consuming things (didn't Dan say a single pod cast takes 17 hours or so to make?) then more time could've been spent stimulating conversation in the on-topic forums or moderating it to your strict standards, or posting news stories more than once a year (the lack of news instantly makes the site look dead to new visitors).

This *cast obsession is part of the downfall, not the solution.

You can say the casts were successful, but given all the time the administration spent on them at the expense at other areas of the site, it's clear they have not outweighed the benefits they bring.

The reason the same "cabal" of trolls keep posting here is we're the only community this site has left. After 10 years in the same forum some liberties start being taken, and the on-topic folks sure aren't doing a very good job of bringing in fresh meat. They're too busy recording these lame polycasts so they can hear their voices on a fake radio and feel good about it.

[Velociryx]

Dale was still an important presence here, hosted many discussions here, and did a lot for the gaming side of the community (which, for a gaming site, is more important than the OT).

People can qualify that however they wish (saying that his Mod wasn't all that creative, that you could have done better, etc., etc., etc), but at the end of the day, Dale DID the work, and a lot of it was done here, on 'poly.

He's gone now, and another of the (few remaining) gaming voices are absent from this site.

One cannot have a successful gaming site if no one comes here to talk about or develop stuff FOR the games we cover.

We used to hear all the time that we were known for being friendly and helpful. Now we're known for the trolls in the OT.

One is productive and beneficial to the site. One is not.

I'm not saying to ban all the trolls (wouldn't work anyway, even if you tried), and I prefer the openness of 'poly over the more rigid structure of CFC, but at the end of the day, CFC has more people talking about the deep mechanics of the games we cover and has more modding folk plying their wares there than we have here, so when a new player comes looking for information or mods for their fifty dollar game, it's no surprise they follow the information.

And sadly, it ain't leading them here any more.

How do we get that back?

A couple things come to mind. I like AAHZ's idea, but I think we need to focus on luring some modders back too. Contests with cash prizes for the best mod (broken down by theme), free hosting for sites detailing their mods...several options here.

Also we need more focused discussion from people who can really get into the guts of the games. They need a reason to come here and do what they do.

Content is driven by two things: News releases from the companies themselves, and mods/creative posts ABOUT the games from creative people.

We are essentially seeing a "brain drain" of those kinds of folks away from 'poly and to other sites (like CFC). There are lots of reasons for that.


-=Vel=-

[Asher]

Come on -- cash prizes? I'm sure the admin love that idea, so long as you're footing the bill.

Let's be serious here. CFC is where people go to play Civ and its related games now. Offering cash prizes, even if you could get the money, isn't going to change that. People at CFC have found their community and they like it, and you need to deal with that.

Apolyton's next chance for a gaming revival would be a release of a new Civ game, and with that new player bases to target. The playerbase for Civ4 is worn, and Colonization is non-existent in the big picture. There needs to be a new game for a new chance for Apolyton.

[Velociryx]

Well Asher...we don't really have any control over when the next Civ game comes out. I agree, it'll be an opportunity when it happens, but the thrust of this thread, as I understand it, is how WE can help restore 'poly right now.

Waiting til the next Civ game comes out is one way, sure, but that doesn't move the ball right now.

-=Vel=-

[Lancer]

I disagree, off topic is the path to success for the simple reason that we have one that isn't too oppressive, these days anyway. CFC doesn't have that. Fix the OT and people from there will come here to BS. Then, maybe they'll start caring about the site and modding here.

Other than that, maybe a game...

I really don't think they're too worried about it. This is a club site for the mods and admins. An 'I have a Civ site' role playing game of sorts.

[rah]

I have to mostly agree with VEL when he talks about content. Game content is important. Apolyton's down turn to me was most obvious when I wanted to download the newest BTS patch and couldn't find it here and after looking for almost 30 minutes relented and found it on CFC in about 20 seconds.

Giving leagues and contests more space here would help. Maybe while they're checking out their standings they'd check out the strategy threads and the likes. It could only help.

On the other hand, the OT here is one of the biggest traffic producers at the site. Not having Nazi moderators I think is a plus. But it would help if the OT trolls showed a little more restraint when not in the OT. Yes, asher, we know you are the expert at everything and you're always right, but is it necessary to make everyone else seem a lesser being. The excuse that you like to tell it like it is, is just an excuse for any lack of manners. And even more pathetic when you must focus on others inabilities (like BK) to distract others from your obvious lack of any people skills. And if you say you have people skills but choose not to use them here, wtf. Then you're just a mean spirited bully. You enjoy insulting and ridiculing people who actually contribute to this site and eventually they get tired of you while you just rest back on your ass. Then you complain that there aren't enough people doing work on the site. DOH.

[Grandpa Troll]

Here is what I see thus far:

We have naysayers who have done nothing more than share why things wont work, how bad it is here (I am NOT saying this!), ect.

We have people who say that trolls run people off, I have to agree to a certain extent, but how to deal with those people, I am more than willing to let those with opinions offer them, because those do detract and its a shame that happens.

We have thoughts of ways to invite modders, excellent and would think this is yet another "root" that could grow a strong Apolyton tree with a diverse base of opportunities within the community

I do not wish to call anyone out here, but remember, the intent of me posting this thread, was after a discussion with someone here last night, felt the need to show why I, Brother Bruce come here to post, sure, I do get off in the wild and not so attractive state when I post an inappropriate image and am wrong when doing so.

I post because I enjoy Apolyton, I want Apolyton to suceed, I love gaming,, ask anyone who plays me, I aint very good when it comes to competition for a WIN but when it comes to fun, learning I finish first in my book. I learned when competiting in Martial Arts, I was a Red Belt Black tip, about 6 months before my First Dan in Tae Kwon Do, I would compete against 2nd and 3rd Dan Black Belts with 3-5 years experience. I would very rarely win, but would learn so much and advance in my own division and therefore a challenge for me to pick it up a few steps, same in business, I came up through the ranks, didnt go to a college or University yet I usually place in a higher percentile for R.O.I. because I follow basic Tenets.

Now, how does tis apply here?

I am not a website owner, I have no knowledge of website design, I do however know what a lay person such as myself is looking for when coming here, I am so lost when it comes to coding, however, thanks to Hatschy, Locutus and a few others, made my very own CTP Scenarios!!! man I was on top of the world!

But this was because we had a community of people who took the time, including Dale, who despite this last issue, was a very solid contributor to the site and the gaming community. For my birthday, he made a mod for me, and helped me to understand some of the CIV IV intricacies.

So when I come, open hand, open heart and ask how do we restore, please understand I am serious. I took a lot of time, thanks to a conversation last night, to reflect on me, Brother Bruce, why I do what I do. I decided to just say the heck with being a disruptive sort, the heck with critiquing negativism's, but instead, look up, look forward, be positive.

So, lets follow the leader so to speak, lets be innovative.

Please, I beseech thee to lets dig deep, with what we have, lets try to make a more welcome site, a more modding friendly community, be active. Pick a niche' and expound upon it in a positive way.

I truly believe if we all try, others will follow.

Thanks and looking forward to more ideas, more implementations!

Grateful to be able to express the tru intent of my heart

Brother Bruce

[Grandpa Troll]

I have to mostly agree with VEL when he talks about content. Game content is important. Apolyton's down turn to me was most obvious when I wanted to download the newest BTS patch and couldn't find it here and after looking for almost 30 minutes relented and found it on CFC in about 20 seconds.

Giving leagues and contests more space here would help. Maybe while they're checking out their standings they'd check out the strategy threads and the likes. It could only help.

On the other hand, the OT here is one of the biggest traffic producers at the site. Not having Nazi moderators I think is a plus. But it would help if the OT trolls showed a little more restraint when not in the OT. Yes, asher, we know you are the expert at everything and you're always right, but is it necessary to make everyone else seem a lesser being. The excuse that you like to tell it like it is, is just an excuse for any lack of manners. And even more pathetic when you must focus on others inabilities (like BK) to distract others from your obvious lack of any people skills. And if you say you have people skills but choose not to use them here, wtf. Then you're just a mean spirited bully. You enjoy insulting and ridiculing people who actually contribute to this site and eventually they get tired of you while you just rest back on your ass. Then you complain that there aren't enough people doing work on the site. DOH.

Thanks rah

[Asher]

I have to mostly agree with VEL when he talks about content. Game content is important. Apolyton's down turn to me was most obvious when I wanted to download the newest BTS patch and couldn't find it here and after looking for almost 30 minutes relented and found it on CFC in about 20 seconds.

Giving leagues and contests more space here would help. Maybe while they're checking out their standings they'd check out the strategy threads and the likes. It could only help.

On the other hand, the OT here is one of the biggest traffic producers at the site. Not having Nazi moderators I think is a plus. But it would help if the OT trolls showed a little more restraint when not in the OT. Yes, asher, we know you are the expert at everything and you're always right, but is it necessary to make everyone else seem a lesser being. The excuse that you like to tell it like it is, is just an excuse for any lack of manners. And even more pathetic when you must focus on others inabilities (like BK) to distract others from your obvious lack of any people skills. And if you say you have people skills but choose not to use them here, wtf. Then you're just a mean spirited bully. You enjoy insulting and ridiculing people who actually contribute to this site and eventually they get tired of you while you just rest back on your ass. Then you complain that there aren't enough people doing work on the site. DOH.

I don't FOCUS on Ben's inabilities. He's on my ignore list, for christ sake. He just happens to follow me around and pokes me and tells lies about me, which inevitably leads to the glorious display of his inabilities. If you take a look at all the threads the guy's posted in lately, it's not just me. His inabilities are overwhelmingly obvious to everyone who participates in the thread and many people can't help but comment on them, as they really are unprecedented.

As for Dale, the whole thing is just bizarre. The whole thing with him got started because I posted about my gripes with Colonization, which he took very personally (even though it wasn't even his mod I was using). He became a bit of a **** about it and I was more than happy to oblige, and then he blew up. Blaming me for what Dale did is not fair.

I'm nice and even helpful to the vast majority of people on this site. I do hold a grudge like no one's business, but it's never for no reason whatsoever.

[BeBMan]

To sum up, at CFC some mods are nazis, here some of the posters are

[KrazyHorse]

Are you aware of Planetfall?

Now I am. Is it good or is it some sort of ****ty half-playable community generated game?

[xmen510]

Very well said Grandpa Troll and rah!

[Lancer]

A year and a half ago when I was last in the Philippines I loaded up CivIV and made a bunch of thread in the CivIV General forum, incl the 'Top Ten Reasons I'm Lousy at CivIV thread that was featured on PolyCast. There were quite a few others, fun stuff mostly that was Civ IV related. Went home to the US, no comp that could play CivIV so I quit posting there. Got back to the Phils, played the game, made a thread in the Civ IV forum which got deleted right off. That was a little less than 5 months ago and I haven't been back.

I know where I belong now and it isn't on topic, no fun allowed there.

When I did post in that forum last trip I believe my threads drew a fair amount of posters and livened the place up a bit.

[KrazyHorse]

I suggest we bring back the MacCiv forum.

[Lancer]

It wasn't the thread but I did just bump one in the community forum about another thread that got deleted from the CivIV forum.

The thread was a compliment to the creators of the game...

The great library was just a library, some other such thing and then ...and CivIV is just a game. To eliminate any confusion I threw in this guy...

Kind of a civ related way to give a compliment. So I asked about it in the thread now bumped in the community forum and I got trolled for my trouble...and people want to know why I troll Ming.

That was my 'help' when I asked for it.

So, you want more on topic posters? Why does it not seem that way?