22-05-2001 17:07									#31
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Originally posted by Rand Al'Tor I DO care about being able to put a nice pic next to my name.

you now have 99 options for the avatar, in a few days you will have over 200, perhaps more. you'll have to wait until you have 1000 posts to use a custom one. it's not that big a deal is it?

	22-05-2001 17:18									#32
	Increase Your PM Length

Well Markos, all of us useless OTers have a heads up over anybody who will register from now on due to our "unfairly" inflated post counts.

Also, please explain to us how posts in the "Other Games" and "S&D" forums contribute to the Civ community whilst the OT posts don't. I'm kinda confused on this matter...

	22-05-2001 17:20									#33
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

Mark - I think his point is that without the OTF nobody new is going to reach that 1000 post threshold. Hell, I know I don't have 1000 posts outside the OTF... I'm sure there are plenty in the same boat. It wouldn't surprise me if at least two of the mods didn't have 1000 posts outside the OTF - not to say that they aren't on topic posters but the on topic forums move a hell of a lot slower. The "custom avatar" thing discriminates against newbies in the first place and this will do so even more. How long does it take the average on-topic poster to reach 1000 posts? Forever...

Now, with the limit on message length and the need to post loads before receipt of a custom avatar, whilst at the same time removing post count from the OTF, it seems you're doing one thing to try to prevent spam and another to encourage it.

	22-05-2001 18:00									#34
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Well Rand Al'Tor you have already more than 1000 posts, so whats the problem?

	22-05-2001 18:23									#35
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by JohnT Well Markos, all of us useless OTers have a heads up over anybody who will register from now on due to our "unfairly" inflated post counts.

you will have to decide whether or not this decision make ot posters second-class or first-class citizens...

quote: Also, please explain to us how posts in the "Other Games" and "S&D" forums contribute to the Civ community whilst the OT posts don't. I'm kinda confused on this matter...

last time i checked this was a gaming forum. last time i checked "other games" and "s&d" where about games. last time i checked bush's new energy plan was not about games.....

	22-05-2001 18:57									#36
	Over here! Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Hmm are my comments not worthy of reply?

	22-05-2001 19:14									#37
	Down with post count or... Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Just to let the admins know, I'm still against the decision. We have adequate defence against spam in the OT already.

You can't say post count doesn't matter if you give avators and titles on that basis, and I haven't even heard one reason for taking it away in the OT.

	22-05-2001 19:14									#38
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by *End Is Forever* it seems you're doing one thing to try to prevent spam and another to encourage it.

i'm glad you see a balance in our decisions

(how's that for a reply?)

	22-05-2001 19:17									#39
	ROFL... Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Very good, Markos, very good...

But no help whatsoever.

	22-05-2001 19:19									#40
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by MarkG last time i checked this was a gaming forum. last time i checked "other games" and "s&d" where about games. last time i checked bush's new energy plan was not about games.....

Ah ha! I knew this was going to happen, so I had pre-empted it in my first message in this thread.

What have you got to say about <em>that</em>, Markos?

	22-05-2001 20:01									#41
	Re: What I said somewhere else... Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by Urban Ranger The thing is though it has evolved to more than just a gaming forum.

this site is first defined by it's owners, then it's users....

does that sound megalomaniac to you? if yes, it's a civ site, we cant help it

quote: I am sure some of them don't give a rat's arse about post counts, however some do, and I don't see why they should take a back seat to the people who post in the on topic forums.

according to other people, ot posters now have an advantage cause they have generally more posts and on topic posters wont be able to get the same titles as easy as the off topic posters did

	22-05-2001 20:08									#42
	Inflate your Upload Space

Yeah, I do have more than 1000 posts. Just noticed... odd. I became a king just recently and that was... euh hoe many posts again (the old FAQ is gone. Yes, I wanty cheese with the whine. And make it a chenet please. Fruity) Maybe someone wanted to be nice to me.... Hmm, just in case. A little strategic diplomatic remarks never hurt so...

BRING THE PILLARS HOME!

edit: Oh and if posts in the OT don't count, than us poor OT-ers will never be able to use custom avatars without spamming the other boards... Or am I missing something?

	22-05-2001 20:14									#43
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by Rand Al'Tor edit: Oh and if posts in the OT don't count, than us poor OT-ers will never be able to use custom avatars without spamming the other boards... Or am I missing something?

only thing, if you spam you'll get a pcr, which, believe me, are very easy now....

	22-05-2001 20:21									#44
	Compromise is Good Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Just a couple of thoughts...
Wouldn't it be relatively simple to make OT posts count for 25% of a post or something? I'm no programmer, but it seems like a simple little equation? That way, the sheer volume of OT vs. On Topic would be acknowledged and allowed for, rather than just swept under a rug.

And MarkG: A lesson in salesmanship--when a company wants to attract customers, it uses something flashy, like balloons or hotdogs or free pony rides.
The OT is your free pony ride...I will not refer any more people to it if it becomes bland and boring, why would I want to asscoiate myself with that?
As much as it may be a thorn in your side, the OT is the big draw for a lot of people, hardcore players and "fair weather players" alike.
It's the frosting on your cake, so to speak...I wouldn't treat it too lightly...neither would I pander to its advocates...but I do think that a little imagination and mathematics might put this all to rest.

	22-05-2001 20:31									#45
	Suffering from ads?

So, posts in the other games forum don't increase your count either? That's lame.

Good thing I'm just here to spam.

	22-05-2001 21:48									#46
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

Free pony rides can turn a classy floor very ****ty very fast. Oh! stble boy, come and muck out.

	22-05-2001 22:21									#47
	OT posts count! Increase the size of your Attachments

This is the first time I've ever disagreed with you, MarkG. The OTF is my internet home!

	22-05-2001 22:34									#48
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Hm. I don't like this.
Just when I was nearly going to be King (and lost interest in Civ some time ago).

Now all the spam will migrate to the on-topic forums where it doesn't belong.

Can't there be some compromise? Off-topic posts count half, something like that?

	22-05-2001 23:09									#49
	Tired of ads?

quote: "Why do you feel you are paying any price? Is post count that important to you?" Easy enough to say when you're already a Deity and have a administrative title. Who ever made this decision: Not that you'll care, but I'm outta here. This IS discrimination against the OT posters. I can't stand injustice, and this definitely fits my definition. I can't do anything about it, so I'm leaving. I know you won't miss me. Why? Because like greedy feudal landlords, though you may own the town, but because of your attitudes towards us you are not, have not been, and never will be part of the community that lives there. You won't care one wit if that community loses a member. You are not one of us, and now you are using your right of eminent domain to trample us.

LOL! Yes, I'm only saying this beacuse I'm already a Deity and am a News Editor... Get real! I have been one of the most vocal proponents of getting rid of special titles and post counts all together.

Discrimination? Life isn't fair, people get discriminated against...

Greedy feudal landlords... ROTFLOL! You aren't stumping for the revolution, you are writing a post on a game forum!

That said I don't really agree with Mark, but he has made his decision...

	22-05-2001 23:15									#50
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

My feeling is that the old rules kept most of the spam on OT where it belonged. I fear an invasion of spam on to the SMAC boards.

Probably not the right spot for it, but some feedback on the "new look": we now have no end of options and eyecandy. My problem is that 'Poly has always loaded slowly. It is now that much slower.

The only other complaint I have is that I now seem to get an e-mail every time I post. I realise that there is an option to defeat this, but I would prefer that the default was no e-mail and that you would have the option to add it. I say this because I suspect the vast majority of us don't want a ton of extra junk e-mail.

	22-05-2001 23:44									#51
	Irresponsible Assumptions Tired of ads?

Everyone:

I've noticed that some posters fear there will be a flood of OTF spam onto the OT forums now that post counts don't count in the OTF anymore.

Talk about an excellent job of assuming and painting everyone who participates in the OTF with your stereotypical paintbrush. Perhaps you'd like it if I, from now on, referred to all Civ players as one-dimensional Quake and Duke Nukem rockheads whose only interest is shoot 'em ups and RTS. Since I am a Civ player myself, though, I know that isn't always true. So I can't employ stereotyping and assumptions as easy as some OT forum posters can about the OTF.

And I speak as one who posts in both the OT and OTF.

CYBERAmazon

	23-05-2001 00:15									#52
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

First

quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui I have been one of the most vocal proponents of getting rid of special titles and post counts all together.

Then

quote: [SIZE=1] That said I don't really agree with Mark, but he has made his decision...

Huh?

	23-05-2001 00:33									#53
	key issue Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by *End Is Forever* Mark - I think his point is that without the OTF nobody new is going to reach that 1000 post threshold. Hell, I know I don't have 1000 posts outside the OTF... I'm sure there are plenty in the same boat. It wouldn't surprise me if at least two of the mods didn't have 1000 posts outside the OTF - not to say that they aren't on topic posters but the on topic forums move a hell of a lot slower. The "custom avatar" thing discriminates against newbies in the first place and this will do so even more. How long does it take the average on-topic poster to reach 1000 posts? Forever... Now, with the limit on message length and the need to post loads before receipt of a custom avatar, whilst at the same time removing post count from the OTF, it seems you're doing one thing to try to prevent spam and another to encourage it.

You all are missing the point. The solution is to use Civ2 general or Apolyton Forum as OT forums.

	23-05-2001 02:27									#54
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by MarkG last time i checked this was a gaming forum. last time i checked "other games" and "s&d" where about games.

The last time I checked this was a Civilization site. Last time I checked "other games" and "s&d" weren't about Civilization. So do you have a real point?

	23-05-2001 03:19									#55
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Can't we just freeze the post count on the spamming people...I only visit OT most of the time...and I was getting very close to becoming King...and I want my own avatar

	23-05-2001 04:56									#56
	Get a bigger avatar today!

Markos: "last time i checked this was a gaming forum. last time i checked "other games" and "s&d" where about games. "

And the last time I checked "Guns, Germs, and Steel" was about a book.

	23-05-2001 05:40									#57
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by JohnT And the last time I checked "Guns, Germs, and Steel" was about a book.

so you're under the impression that we have a forum for a book?
check again....

	23-05-2001 06:01									#58
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by MarkG actually, it's really hard to find people to buy ad space on general topic forums these days....

ACtually Apolyton is better since :

a) usually quite smart people post here
b) if not, they are usually funny
c) if not, they get banned
e) Apolyton is the most addictive forum i've been to. I know I'm still here.

Anyway, if we're in this "no promoting spammers" policy, then disable post count for the Community and the Staff forums.

We don't want you mods spamming either! :P

	23-05-2001 06:03									#59
	Remove this text

Mark could I ask for my 4500 posts back (I know you don't really need something else to do ; it would be much appreciated b/c I made my decision not knowing about this forum change). Otherwise it looks like I'm going to remain settler forever (until civ3 comes out it seems).

Last edited by Evan von Christoph on 23-05-2001 at 08:13

	23-05-2001 06:34									#60
	...in whatever case Get a bigger avatar today!

I've come to love the changes, Mark, if not the fact that apparently my input here will no longer.