My new project

yasueh

yasueh

OG
sewowhelp.info - My new project

I don't know if anyone else here has ever played EVE, or been a member of the Eve University corporation, but having been a member myself for a few years, I've seen they have a lot of good systems in place to support a very strong community, based around helping new players.

I want to do the same thing for WoW players on Starter Edition accounts.


Eve University has an in game corporation, but players don't have to join to take part in activities or lessons (except for ones that involve shooting at people, because of the game's agression mechanics, and the way the NPC police respond to people who shoot at each other who aren't in the same corp, or who haven't bribed said police to shoot at members of another corp).

They have a forum:
  • Split into sections dealing with different play-styles, allowing members to organise events, and keeping the corporation from focusing on just one activity.
  • A special section where all the trolling can happen, and they stamp down on it heavily anywhere else, so they can focus on their mission of helping new players to learn.
  • A big section split into different topics just for Q&A, to keep questions out of other sections.

They have a wiki:
  • Somewhere for people to write guides on practically any topic related to the game, where anyone wanting to make additions or improvements to the guide may do so.
  • Somewhere to keep the audio recordings of any in game lessons.
  • Somewhere to keep a database of the ships in game, and loadouts for them (a better database than the official one).

They have a mumble server:
  • Like the wiki it shares login accounts with the forums, meaning everyone joining has their own password, and they can be banned without being able to give away the password for the whole server.
  • Players can be put into groups with permissions as to what they can do on the server, including banning/muting other members, moving them out of channels into others, or adding/creating new channels.
  • Mumble supports having mutiple push to talk keys, so you can talk into different channels, so you could have 2 arena teams, with one button to talk to just your team, and the other to talk to everyone.




So far I have a cloud server, It's got Linux, Nginx, MySQL and PHP installed, along with the Mediawiki application (the same one used by E-Uni, WoWpedia and Wikipedia).

I've yet to install either a forum software (I'm still deciding between the new phpBB 3.1, and the old phpBB3, which has more extensions available) or the mumble server.

Once I do have all those installed I've got to work out how to get them to share one login database (I might have to ask e-uni how they're doing it), and skin the forums and wiki so they look nice.



Then comes the fun part, I open it up to you guys.

Writing guides on a wiki will be a bit different from on forums, as it would be expected that, eg., class/spec guides all follow the same layout (you can make use of templates though on a wiki, so editors just put in text and upload images, and the wiki automatically does all the formatting. I'm an admin on the FireFall wiki, where I've been working on templates).




I could also get a level 25 guild on AP Horde. I was thinking of naming it <S E WoW Heros>, and giving the website the same domain. People in the guild would be helping new players in WoW, and memberships would require having the F2PAddon installed, along with maybe a couple of others to make it easier to help people. Of course if there were enough max levels we could also do some casual raiding / PvP.



The website would tie in to the addon and where it's progressing (I might even rename it Starter Edition Addon), with information on the wiki going into a help system built into the addon, and vice-versa with data collected by the addon. To go with the subsections on the forums for different play-styles, the addon could support separate channes for general chat, and forming groups for different activities like arenas, BGs or dungeons.

It could also make use of code I started working on well before f2p, which was intended to act as a referee for wargames at 19, giving some classes restrictions on gear so that less capable classes could be played alongside them without being at a disadvantage.

While the addon can't provide better management of the channel, having a tie in to a guild would allow the addon to request information from guild members, like who among the f2ps in the channel is considered a part of the guild, through it's forums, even though they can't join in game. That would allow the addon to display an icon next to actual members names, distinguishing them from those who are in the channel, but aren't 'guild' material.


This project would differ from TI in several ways:
  • It would be focused on helping new players to improve at the game, rather than twinking, although it would still cover twinking at 20 to a large degree, as that is Starter Edition endgame.
  • Twinking in this case would refer to attaining gear or levels that allow you to play at the highest possible equal level to others, rather than in order to maximise an advantage over them. In 20-29 games this would leave you free to roll/gear as you like, but in wargames there may be gear restrictions imposed on some classes in order to provide a challenge for all, as well as choice between classes/specs (within reason *cough*shadow priests*cough*).
  • Co-operation and community would be at the heart of the project's intent. There would be much higher standards of behaviour than are present on TI, with a near zero tolerance of discrimination or discriminatory language, on grounds of race, sex, sexuality, or disability, as well as behaviour which could be deemed harassment. This is to permit recruitment of S E players who have yet to have found the addon/chat.
  • You would be expected to roll characters on both factions in order to help fill places in BG wargames, otherwise another player could be picked over you for having both. Also with the lower gear requirements for wargames rolling several classes would be encouraged, in order to help provide variety in arena comps.
  • Similar to E-Uni It would be run as a benevolent dictatorship, bearing in mind that I value diversity, tolerance, self-improvement, self-reliance, responsibility for one's actions, cooperation and altruism, while being opposed to ignorance, intolerance, dishonesty and selfishness.


I don't want donations towards something I haven't done yet, only for past work, because: "8) Blizzard Entertainment has the right to disable add-on functionality as it sees fit. " and I can't guarantee that any of this will be completed, remain usable, or be relevant in future due to change they may make to the game. If and when the site is up and running, then I might add a donation button (I'd prefer to run off donations than plaster the site with adverts, but I might have to if it becomes popular).
 
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This is a really good idea.

So to summarize, the impact would be geared based balancing of classes?

And the input required would be related to having P2Ps in a guild?
 
we don't need to move to another website, just like AP horde, we need to stay and fix it amirite
 
I dont want to leave TI. We can get F2P wiki which is a great idea, but I don't really wanna move from here. Adding a database to the addon sounds fantastic and if You will be able to create such thing then it will be amazing.

Have to reread this as I get home but I've got mixed feelings ranging from "woah awesome!" To "hm, this all seems like a project for AP only."
 
I like this idea quite a bit, as someone with EVE experience who has seen what the uni can do (never a member but I've sent several new players their way). I understand the people that don't wish to leave TI but I'm afraid that, in general, the atmosphere isn't conductive to the environment you wish to foster and at this stage it's probably too late to start policing this place in a manner that would change things. My old corp had some luck with an academy feeder corp for a while where the older players gave instruction to newbies (I taught the combat overview and small ship combat courses, it was fun!).

Issues I see arising:

Lack of membership, unlike EVE WoW is spread over many servers so finding new folks that want to learn AND roll specifically on AP might be difficult unless you can find a way to get the word out.

Lack of interest in folks willing to help. Admittedly I find this less a problem in WoW than EVE where everyone is out to get something from you, mostly.

The aforementioned splitting of the f2p population, although there are probably TONS more people that are f2p that have never heard of TI than ones that actually come here, and even the people that come here don't always bother to sign up. I was one of the latter until recently; I've been ghosting these forums for probably two years before I finally made an account.

Having said all that, I think this is a wonderful idea with lots of potential and if you'd like some help, and my time allows, I'd be more than willing to give you a hand. I have experience in web design and forum admin and such if you need help on that end and I've been playing since '05 so I have a decent (note I'm not saying I'm an expert on anything) grasp of game mechanics. Just send me a PM if you'd like to chat.

On a side note, Firefall HATES my graphics card, wish I could play but I got to level 3 or 4 on one of my suits and gave it up as unplayable. :( Hoping Overwatch works well on my machine so I can play that instead.
 
Would the referee coding allow for restrictions to be set ingame with those parties preference? Reminds me of staking in Runescape. Gear/class/comp restriction in a premade setting is always highly disputed and those conversations can get out of hand very quickly.

The guild tie in is excellent.

In some cases people may consent to "OP" comps in wargames, I'd highly recommend allowing for that option.

I'm impressed [MENTION=7838]Yasueh[/MENTION]. You've got my support.

I take it you're wanting to position this for all trials, not a specific server? If I have that right, how will you allow for server specific organization? Have you considered translations for our non-english speaking friends including EU?
 
Forum and wiki will be open to all players, some of the mumble channels too. I think we can get away with restricting the guild tie-in and the group activity side of things to just AP, because of how easy it is to roll a trial and get it to 20 (and for bigger events we may be able to 'bridge' trials between servers by using pairs of p2ps). If we have lower gear requirements that makes it more accessible too, like giving the referee addon a setting where all classes start of in white gear, with only the weaker ones being allowed a few easily gained green+blue items in order to buff them. Of course nothing much is going to be happening so long as AP is at capacity, and no-one can join the server.

I want to set something up that has some credibility with both Blizzard and the wider playerbase outside of twinking. I can't do that on a site that's advertising account sales, and supports private servers and exploiting, as well as somewhere focused on twinking, because that's got a bad reputation so entrenched it'll never go away.

There's the problem that twinking seems to attract people with anti-social personalities, thanks to that whole gearing-up-to-ruin-the-game-for-other-people thing, and I get the impression that a lot of people are unhappy about being unable to do anything constructive on TI, because so many negative people are tolerated here, who like to take things off topic or start arguments for their own amusement. If you're completely happy here you're probably not the kind of person that would be wanted on a site that's trying to be welcoming to new players, and dedicated to helping others.
 
Yasueh said:
I could also get a level 25 guild on AP Horde. I was thinking of naming it <S E WoW Heros>, and giving the website the same domain. People in the guild would be helping new players in WoW, and memberships would require having the F2PAddon installed, along with maybe a couple of others to make it easier to help people. Of course if there were enough max levels we could also do some casual raiding / PvP.
Click to expand...

Well, for one thing guild levels have been removed so you dont have to grind that or buy a lvl 25 guild anymore. My only concern is, i would have to transfer my toons over. (Which is fine, i've been searching for a good reason to move to AP anyway) Will this branch out to Alliance down the road or is Horde the only focus, now and in the future? I have a few Horde toons i play regularly, and would be willing to do this with, but the Alliance is my first love.

Also, i would add the donation button anyway. You've done a lot -for free- in the way of helping out the trial community, and alot of players here would be willing to give back i think.
 
Would be nice to have the guild on both factions. I'm in the process of levelling an alliance char to at least 90, and will probably use my boost on alliance too. With the idea of the mumble server being to get both factions involved in wargames, it would make sense for that reason too.
 
Activate said:
Would the referee coding allow for restrictions to be set ingame with those parties preference? Reminds me of staking in Runescape. Gear/class/comp restriction in a premade setting is always highly disputed and those conversations can get out of hand very quickly.

The guild tie in is excellent.

In some cases people may consent to "OP" comps in wargames, I'd highly recommend allowing for that option.

I'm impressed [MENTION=7838]Yasueh[/MENTION]. You've got my support.

I take it you're wanting to position this for all trials, not a specific server? If I have that right, how will you allow for server specific organization? Have you considered translations for our non-english speaking friends including EU?
Click to expand...

runescape nostalgia 2004
 
Activate said:
Have you considered translations for our non-english speaking friends including EU?
Click to expand...

Mediawiki supports parallel versions of pages in different languages, and subforums could be made for other languages too.



Rollop said:
My only concern is, i would have to transfer my toons over. (Which is fine, i've been searching for a good reason to move to AP anyway)
Click to expand...

I think adding a way for battletag friends to invite themselves over to AP using the addon might help.
 
Done so far:

  • The domain sewowhelp.info is registered (but for now the firewall is set only to allow access from my computer).
  • Forums and wiki are running.
  • Accounts can be created on the forum, and they can be activated using the link in an email you're sent.
  • Logging in to the forum will log you into the same account on the wiki.

A little more tidying up and I'll be ready to temporarily switch account activation over to 'by admin', instead of 'by user (email verification)', and let a few select people loose on the site, the idea being to get some content onto the wiki, throw some ideas around on the forum, and test things a bit before making the site public.
 
I'll soon be making the sewowhelp.info site publically readable (got to tidy a few things up and make one last backup*), so as of right now I'm accepting applications (in this thread) for the initial few site contributor/developer positions, who will be given write access, and work on shaping how development goes forward.

Once again I'd like to point out that the site's focus won't be twinking, being aimed more at new players, although it will have some twinking content on the wiki where it provides a better format for some content than forum posts. The sewowhelp forums will initially be limited to the development of the site, with new player and event/guild sections being added later.

The aim of the site will be to get new players up to speed, so that hopefully more F2P accounts can be pointed here to progress onto 20 'endgame'.


* Appologies to Shamatix, but I had to delete your account to get a 'clean' backup before release. The site was supposed to be invisible to the web, but for some reason an update disabled the firewall, and you managed to get a a preview.
 
I still love this project, for it's specific purpose as well as the possibilities for the FULL twinking community. I'd be happy to offer content contributions as my schedule allows. I'm afraid I'd be no help on the developer end, I'm extremely green.
 
I really like the idea of introducing a wiki, but as the idea for a new guild on AP, idk if it would work well. The only active guild is crit or gtfo, and if there isn't any incentive for players to join another guild. More will just join crit or gtfo (Nearly all of the vet community in ap is in this guild). I suggest trying to gather information from a already existing population of players, rather than trying to create a separated guild just to acquire information, based on player inquiries.
 
I should probably have said, if you want your account activated, PM me with the user name through TI, so I know I'm not just letting in randoms.
 
I saw the wiki page, I hope this project takes off! Using this new site as a valuable resource for newer player is perfect!
 
I know nothing about the developer stuff D:
but I want to participate with translations (only to spanish) of the content, if that's okay to you :D
 
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