A way to restore life to this forum?
Keybounce
Posts: 474 ✭✭✭
So I've seen people complain that this forum has become much less significant over time, with less of the good players talking here, and less useful information being shared.
And I was thinking about ways to improve this forum.
One idea: Start making this the primary source of official information about the game, and make the community discord the secondary source.
... I know, it's a radical idea, taking an official forum, that has an easy way to search past topics for information, and making it an official, primary source of information.
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I am with you on this, @Keybounce. I actually find it slightly disrespectful that the official community forum isn't used as a primary line for infirmation, and it does feel like this (and us as users) aren't valued by HPWU. Even @hpwulola is quiet these days, and most of the others on the team seem to have disappeared, with Fazes and the others preferring reddit and discord.
+1 🙃👍
And so I've just seen on Discord that they are asking for ideas for scalable and fresh Brilliant Event tasks. So why has noone asked on here? Yet again, completely left out of the loop and treated like our thoughts don't matter.
I sometimes wonder if this forum is actually wanted or if we are just seen as a burden by TPTB.
There are a few problems with this forum
As stated above, it’s not used by Niantic to release information here
Lack of moderation with a single user allowed to ab.use the privilege of membership
Community cannot happen without a means for people to connect in-game
Absence of Niantic involvement here - this is different to moderation
Edit - The “like” function is not helpful as it polarises views and can dissuade alternative views
Despite the absence of other regulars I haven’t given up yet. However, once lost it is incredibly hard to regain forum use
The question is “what would it take to reinvigorate this forum?” Some answers above, but there will be others
All of this!!!
@Keybounce good discussion. Thank you for starting it I also agree with the comments and observations.
Muggle life can get stressful and the forum can be a funny positive place to share and support each other. And....sometimes it's not. That's life and human nature.
I like to be quirky and silly here with people to get my Potterverse geeking.
Also I've been meaning to ask if you'd comment here for fun.
https://community.harrypotterwizardsunite.com/en/discussion/3872/your-name/p3
When I first came to this forum it was soooooooooo buggy to a point that I gave up trying to contribute/participate. Now I can type a message and actually see what I'm typing rather than having to type blind and hope that my Autochicken doesn't try to mess with me.
It's made participating here much more enjoyable, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were others that came and went and unlike me, haven't come back.
I don't get how it is that Niantic don't use this space. It's on their official website, how is this not the Official place for announcements and engaging with players?
Must I really install yet another App just so that I can see announcements from Niantic about the game?
Apparently the answer is, "yes".
Apparently one of the Tasks for the 4th Page was going to be "participate in a Fortress Challenge in your highest unlocked Chamber", and the Discord gamers complained and whined so vermently that the Devs backed down and now we have "Get 1500 Wizarding XP from Fortress Challenges".... [snore] booooo! The other one was much more interesting!
Note: They didn't say we had to win the Challenge, just that we had to give it a go. One Level 1 Runestone later... "Tick". But no, apparently that was too hard. 🤦🏻♀️😤
The version I read, @Razorgirl, was win a challenge in your highest chamber. Participate, I have no issues with. I mean, if I know it is too hard, I chuck the level 1 stone in and get a few strategic spells cast and boom. Interestingly, I had a really goo roll of the dice earlier in a forest chamber where I only got 4 foes and they were rrlatively easy. I also did a Dark 1 and finished with almost 4 mins to spare. I found it a challenge to use 3 healing potions tonight!
Part of the reason they changed that task was due to the coronavirus @Razorgirl. They were reminded that a number of people play in groups and at least here in Seattle we are being discouraged to congregate (even conventions are being canceled or moved to summer dates). So meeting up with a group of 5 or more just increases the chances of spreading the disease.
I too would love to have that challenge put back in. RNG for me is all over the place when it comes to playing the dark chambers. I've had times where I finished with time to spare and runs where I should have just given up because it was so foe heavy in the wrong way. But I would say put that task as a bonus, not as a requirement for the main event.
@Razorgirl if you're really disappointed that the "complete a challenge at your highest unlocked level" task was changed, you could always pretend that it's still required. Go ahead and do a challenge at your highest level, just for the fun of it. And on the plus side, doing so will probably earn you enough XP to complete the replacement task.
You're adorable @MtPollux ... I do Dark V at least a couple of times a week, though my preference is to do it with others so that I can use my Level 5 Runestones and get the most out both the Runestone and the Chamber. My experience seems to be in line with yours, @Bormacska . I'm yet to be able to solo it with a Level 1 Runestone consistently, but that just makes the times I'm able to do it all the more thrilling.
Tasks like that one encourage players to try new things and to maybe be surprised at how well they can do.
Maybe it should have been, "attempt your highest white chamber" - ie. not the ones the game realises you can't solo.
The tweet they made about the task didn't say anything about it being changed due to the pandemic - I'd completely understand if it was. However, instead it was made due to players in a Discord channel whinging about it being too hard. 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
The reason I think it's an excellent Special Assignment is that it scales for level. New Players will have much lower Chambers unlocked and will be challenged to reach new heights - solo or with others. Experienced players will be encouraged to tackle Dark V Solo or to get together with their posse and take it on as a group.
I think you're spot on about "win your highest unlocked chamber" is perhaps being better suited to a Bonus Task than a 4th Page Task, @Bormacska. But I think "attempt your highest white or unlocked Chamber" is still OK for a standard page - especially if it doesn't require winning it, just attempting it like our Daily Task does.
Hopefully we'll see it in future events later on in the year once the Pandemic has subsided. 🤞
But this is off-topic. This thread is about this forum. My comment about the task was meant as an example of how the Discord Community were able to impact the development of the Brilliant Tasks. This forum has an entire board dedicated to Feature Requests, but if the developers aren't here because they're off paying attention to what the Discord players want, then why have this forum at all?
There are approximately 20 folks with @HPWU usernames here - not including the generic mod, admin, and team accounts. I've only ever seen one of them post once (Lola in the thread about Usernames). I'd like to think that just because they don't post doesn't mean that they aren't here.
Perhaps one way the Devs can "Restore Life to This Forum" as suggested by Keybounce in the title of this thread, is for the Devs to be more active here. By them participating more, players will see that there's value in being here beyond meeting some lovely folks that we're unlikely to ever meet. Forums are a different medium to Discord, and allow for discussion to occur with a different flow. It's why it's my preferred medium. Discord has it's place too, so there's value in the Devs dedicating time to both mediums. Whether they have the time/resources is another thing. Be a shame to discover that they triaged the forum on their own website in favour of Discord though. Maybe one of them will chime in and clue us all in to the background and goings on of this place, and how it factors in to what they do.
#idaretodream.😉
🙃👍
@Razorgirl a lot of good points brought to light. Yes, this is definitely a different type of format from discord. I think the hardest part is we can see if fazes is online in discord. Here we merely have to guess that the HPWU moderators are checking in.
I will also recognize that the wutubers and Orange Wizard are also active and accessible on discord and don't have any representation here unless someone posts a link to their vlog or images.
I try to remember that although it says there are 20 HPWU usernames only three take the time to respond (blue, Lola, and Robert). Are the others in training or just don't have time? I can't even guess. I asked back in January and was told they had a bunch of people they were bringing on, so I hoped we'd see a little more interaction. It appears we got less.
I don't want or have the authority or brain power to moderate a forum. I came here last September to get an answer about the game and found some amazing people here. It dawned on me pretty early on they were responding and passing along answers as best they could, but there was little interaction even then with most of the HPWU team. I try to help as well, mainly because I have worked in the past for companies that don't support their own, much less the needs of the clients and it is hard to be that employee in the middle beaten up on both sides.
But it is also very frustrating when we repeatedly reach out and get silence from the other side. Part of what I read from this is that either they are held back by their bosses or they may also be in the dark on many of the things we ask about daily.
@Bormacska I can confirm that moderating, whilst fun and rewarding, can be tine consuming and aggravating, especially when big personalities don't play by the rules. I used to be a moderator on an official TV show forum. I ended up leaving because I couldn't manage that and my day job.
I used to be a moderator on an official TV show forum. I ended up leaving because I couldn't manage that and my day job.
DING DIGN DING DING DING
This needs to be a * paid position*. It is a full time job on any reasonably sized forum.
That you were somehow expected to do this as a volunteer for a TV show ... tells me a lot about the TV industry.
Yes, @Keybounce. It was the official forum for a Syfy TV show. It started off as a small, grassroots project, though, before getting picjed up by the network. So would have been okay as a volunteer role originally. We did have several mods on shifts, but it still got overwhelming.
good points @Keybounce re post #1 and @Magpie31 re post #2.
@kiheikid - Are there no other good points in this thread? In other words, is only one viewpoint valid?
As Voltaire said “I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it.”
For a forum to thrive all points of view must be considered and weighed, affirming the good and critiquing the bad
Unduly negative, critical, divisive or contentious comments do nothing to advance this forum, but it is clear some are unable to contribute in a positive way. Shame there isn’t an ignore button
if you want to bait someone to attack you, @OriginalCaruso , go do it elsewhere. if you want to fiddle, go try under the hood of your jag.
i applaud @Keybounce and @Magpie31 for what they say and for having the guts to say it.
Your disrespect and disregard for others on the forum stating their opinions has been tiresome for a very long time @kiheikid. Please refrain from the bully tactics and learn about how to give constructive criticism of the forum.
As for an ignore button, @OriginalCaruso@OriginalCaruso and anyone else who might need it, there is the ability to put someone on an ignore list. Go to preferences, scroll down to the bottom and boom:
It doesn't work 100%, but it can cut down on some of your frustration.
@kiheikid I think what @OriginalCaruso was getting at is that other people in this discussion had several other good ideas so why are you just calling Keybounce and Magpie out instead of being inclusive to everyone’s ideas and supporting other people’s comments? The point of this discussion was to brainstorm on how we can ALL TOGETHER try to get this forum back to where it was a few months ago. But your response to Caruso is in itself one of the main issues with this forum -UNNECESSARY and INFLAMATORY NEGATIVITY. By attacking him or anyone else on this forum what do you think that accomplishes? Or maybe the correct question is what do you get out of being negative to certain forum members? It is my understanding that the majority of the people on this forum are adults and some of us are VERY passionate about the game and HP but this type of behavior is quite honestly appalling. We can always agree to disagree.
Imagine a new player coming into this forum and seeing these types of posts? What are they going to think of our community? When I first joined this forum you were the first person to be very kind to me and help answer my questions so I don’t know why there has been such a substantial change in your responses. If there is someone on here who just rubs you the wrong way then ignore their posts - just keep scrolling past their responses would be my recommendation.
I know there are people on this forum with strong personalities but there is no justification for personal attacks. And what is this obsession with someone’s car? What does it honestly matter that Caruso has a Jaguar? What does that have to do with the game and the actual discussion on how to make this forum better again?
A rule of thumb that I live by is if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.
Be a part of the solution NOT the problem!!!
@Bormacska - Thanks, worth a try
@kiheikid - Affirm the good, critique the bad, hopefully a period of introspection on your posts will be enlightening
Well said @OriginalCaruso, @Bormacska and @ClairabusGryff. I’ve not said anything on this topic at all yet. Like many others I’ve talked to, I’ve started typing something out but then deleted it, thinking better of it. I like to contribute in positive ways, as should all. But I agree - this negativity is ridiculous.
To get back to the topic, I think we should focus:
Sure, it would be nice to get everything we want... but if expressed as an expectation, that's desire (which if unfulfilled will make us unhappy).
Sure, it would be nice to be heard and appreciated... but to depend on being heard and appreciated and liked will make us unhappy.
Happiness is attractive and empowering.
And to get more people to interact, participate and contribute, we need to create a space and a community that attracts and empowers.
Beautifully stated @Lucoire, thank you.
Hey everyone! I am collecting the feedback in this thread and yours @ClairabusGryff and sharing this with my team!
One thing we are working on is creating a notification system for Announcements. Whenever there is a new update, we do post to the Announcements section and 'Announce' the post in the forum, but if a forum user isn't looking at Recent Discussions they may miss it at first. This notification feature will allow users to opt in for email notifications whenever there is a new post in certain categories, ie Announcements. We are still trying to figure out how this will work for users who have signed up via Facebook.
Another note, let's continue to maintain a friendly environment here. I love how our community has come together by bonding over the game and stories of Wizards Unite adventures! The next few weeks may present unique challenges to different folks, and I would love for the forum to continue to be a place that is welcoming and respectful.
@Lucoire thank you for sharing that comment at the end, beautifully stated indeed!
by applauding the points of some, that does not mean or imply anything about the points of others unless directly opposing those i have applauded. and i certainly do not appreciate pot-stirrers who try to engineer a slight from my not applauding someone’s comments.
there is no obligation to like the ideas of everyone.
this is not summer camp where everyone gets a certificate of appreciation. i will respond where warranted to those who attack me or try to bait me.
if you want an attaboy or attagirl from someone, earn it, don’t beg for it.
ps - the reference to a jag is indeed irrelevant, but no less so than all the other previous posts devoted to jags within threads whose subject titles have nothing to do with jags, etc. ... and yes, we all have posted tangentially from time to time ... and some way more than others. it is what it is, since there is no private messaging in this forum, nor even an off-topic section.
ps - i certainly don’t go out of my way tagging folks i would rather ignore. funny how it works out that way.
@kiheikid No, but you seem to enjoy tagging me and pulling me into conversations to deliberately antagonise others. I really don't appreciate it and am fed up, quite frankly. I once considered you a friend and someone I looked up to.
@hpwulola and @Lucoire I am really sorry. I know you both asked for kindness and friendliness, but I find that every time there is an argument, I am pulled into the middle. It is not fair on anyone, least of all me, and I had to say something.
all i did was to applaud two good posts, without any implication regarding others. that’s not pulling anyone into a conversation. tagging me to criticize for perceived slights, now that’s pulling someone into a conversation. you don’t have to tag me unless you have nothing better to binge-watch. really, i don’t mind.
if this board really wants to foster positivity, then take a look in the mirror before saying anything. or don’t say anything at all. but please get off your pulpits (bully or church). you know the term for those of you who shout from them.