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[ArchaeoGirl]

I have just joined StoryCrafter for the first time.  I have a few initial observations:

1) We need a list of all the stories you are involved in, in your "Member Center".  I'm only in one for now and even that is awkward and therefore extremely annoying - I have to have basically two bookmarks.  If there is a link somewhere, then it probably needs to be re-thought out as I haven't found it yet.  I cannot imagine how people in more than one story cope with it.  (If you have a better way, please tell me.)

You should have a "Character Watch List" under the "Member Center", which is where your current characters will be listed (you need to go into your character list and tick the box to make a character appear on the front page).  The book beside the character, which opens when there are new posts, is a link to the story.  At least, I think that is what you were asking…?

And just a comment about point four, I suspect the reason there are no optional forum themes is that this place is actually rather seldom used.

[SteveLaw]

I have just joined StoryCrafter for the first time.  I have a few initial observations:

1) We need a list of all the stories you are involved in, in your "Member Center".  I'm only in one for now and even that is awkward and therefore extremely annoying - I have to have basically two bookmarks.  If there is a link somewhere, then it probably needs to be re-thought out as I haven't found it yet.  I cannot imagine how people in more than one story cope with it.  (If you have a better way, please tell me.)

You should have a "Character Watch List" under the "Member Center", which is where your current characters will be listed (you need to go into your character list and tick the box to make a character appear on the front page).  The book beside the character, which opens when there are new posts, is a link to the story.  At least, I think that is what you were asking…?

Ah-ha!  Thank you, that is exactly what I needed!  What a difference!  Was I being dense or is that not entirely obvious?  Okay then that'll cover point 1) - or we could replace it with a FAQ or Introduction to Newbies section... (Thank god for that though, I wondered how you could possibly cope!)

And just a comment about point four, I suspect the reason there are no optional forum themes is that this place is actually rather seldom used.

Yes, I had begun to gather that impression from all the cobwebs I was battling through to post!  I do like to jump into a new project with both feet (remind you of anyone ).  I could be slightly facetious and suggest that that is because of the lack of themes... but I won't.

[ArchaeoGirl]

The "About" link at the top righthand corner does make note of the Watch List and its purpose, though I don't think it goes through the steps entirely.  But, to be fair, it's not very complicated once you know what it is supposed to do, eh?

[SteveLaw]

The "About" link at the top righthand corner does make note of the Watch List and its purpose, though I don't think it goes through the steps entirely.  But, to be fair, it's not very complicated once you know what it is supposed to do, eh?

It never is once you know

("About" just says the Watch List will inform you of updates to your stories - which the name would suggest - but not about convenient links to them.  But I don't want to dwell on it, I probably should have been more patient and asked someone in OOC - patience is not always my strongest trait )

[SteveLaw]

An idea for extending the watch list.  Would it be useful to add stories to your watch list in which you do not have a character?  Perhaps you are following along but not participating.  Wouldn't it be useful to be able to tag that to be "watched" as well?  Maybe it wouldn't, but it was a thought. (Or can you do that already as well?)


Mod:  The only way to do this is to ask of that specific SC to allow you into the cast as an observer only.  (Essentially, you'd be added as a cast member, but it would be up to that SC to 'police' you from posting).

[Lex]

First off, welcome to Storycrafter (or as we all call it, SC).  Once you've had a chance to wander the site, you'll see that we host a varied number of stories here, and hopefully you'll find one (or ten) to your liking that are active and engaging.  You're also free to create your own and, with lukc, enough people will want to join.  New stories appear almost daily, and a few have had the fortune to have stood the test of time and have been ongoing for years.  Best of luck.

Ok, now to answer your questions.

1.  I see #1 has been answered to your satisfaction already.  The little purple books are indeed your link to the story that character is in.  And they DO 'open' when there is a new post for that character to read. (Sometimes a SC might have a private act with another character which yours is not allowed to see.  In that case, you would not get a 'new post' indicator).

2.Yes, as of right now there is no way to 'remove' an avatar, but, should you wish a blank picture, enter '23' as the picture code.  This was from the old database, so not entirely sure that is possible once you click on an image from the new database.  Perhaps a suggestion for a future update.  Which brings me to...

3. The Founder is the only one with the power here to make those kinds of site-wide changes.  Not sure why the 'remember me' is not working, but even the most complex of passwords is easy enough to remember and type in in a matter of seconds, so, unfortunately, it's not going to be a high priority i'm afraid.  The Founder also, unfortunately, has a busy personal life and can't always spend as much time here as he used to, or would like to.  That might change as his family gets older, and things settle down, but it is what it is right now.  The site is stable, and things function by in large, but there are those 'little' things that we would all like to work differently.  Would it be nice if they were changed? Yes.  Can you still function on the site the way it is?  Yes.

There are a few of us mods here that can usually answer your questions, or fix minor problems, or give you a work around.  Simply ask.  Plus the community as a whole is pretty knowledgable in these regards as well, sometimes even through trial and error.

I check the forums at least once a day, as well as the image database to approve or deny any requests (I likely approved your portrait for you).  We're around. Though the forums in general do not see a lot of activity, SC as a whole, does.

Constructive criticism is always welcome.  Keep those ideas/suggestions coming, and keep on writing.

One last bit of advice...the site does time you out after a while, which has the annoying habit of eating up your post, chewing it up, and not even having the common deceny of spitting it back out so that you can recover some of it.  I highly, HIGHLY, recommend you write up any and all posts in an outside program (such as MS word) and simply copy/paste the document into your post.  Trust me, you'll save money on Tylenol or Advil that way.

Enjoy!

[Lex]

You wrote another question while I was posting my other one, I answered it within the body of your original post.

[SteveLaw]

For the record, as I am aware it may seem that way, I'm not asking for changes; I saw a thread asking for suggestions and I thought I would make some as I thought of them.  Yes it's old, but it's still open, and as mentioned, most of the action appears to take place off this main forum so age of threads is not necessarily an indicator.  As a newcomer I may be in a position to see something the regulars don't.  That's all it is.  I have joined a new community and I am trying to be a constructive member of it.

(But thanks for the replies anyway.)

[Lex]

We appreciate and applaud the efforts. 

[SteveLaw]

Thanks Lex. 

[mahallette]

I'd love to see SC admin more involved in the maintenance of stories here...and I think that when a story is started, that the SC's primary ID needs to be displayed somewhere, so we know which SC's to avoid.  The forum here has a dismal failure/abandonment rate, and if we could see who is starting a new story, we could determine if it is someone who has a previous history of abandoning stories and avoid them.  It's annoying to go to all the trouble to make up a character and get into the idea of the story only to have the SC disappear after two weeks, and this has been more the norm than not in my experience here.  Sadly, I won't recommend any of the stories here to friends, since I actually expect the stories to fail.

[SteveLaw]

Time stamps on the story pages should be synchronised with your (forum) profile time offset.

Story thread pages might benefit with a link to "bottom of page" to quickly jump down to newest posts (or better yet a link directly to first unread post in each thread - the little ^new graphic would be a perfect place to put it).

[Shanna]

I'd love to see SC admin more involved in the maintenance of stories here...and I think that when a story is started, that the SC's primary ID needs to be displayed somewhere, so we know which SC's to avoid.  The forum here has a dismal failure/abandonment rate, and if we could see who is starting a new story, we could determine if it is someone who has a previous history of abandoning stories and avoid them.  It's annoying to go to all the trouble to make up a character and get into the idea of the story only to have the SC disappear after two weeks, and this has been more the norm than not in my experience here.  Sadly, I won't recommend any of the stories here to friends, since I actually expect the stories to fail.

Regrettably, this is a ridiculously common problem among PBP games in general.  I know Rpol does list the SC's handle openly, which can be a plus.  It was decided on Storycrafter that SC's would remain anonymous, but I'm sure the Founder will take this into further consideration when he checks back in again and reads this thread.

Welcome to all new members.    I think I'll be stopping by the forum more often, now, since people seem to be using it.

[SteveLaw]

It was decided on Storycrafter that SC's would remain anonymous, but I'm sure the Founder will take this into further consideration when he checks back in again and reads this thread.

I have noticed, in my very limited time browsing around, that certain SC's tend to be quite open about who they are, where.  So it does happen, and I think it might be better to leave it anonymous by default (presumably to avoid "disputes" or "personality clashes" following people around) but allow the option to say who you are (which, technically, there already is as an OOC comment, or a line in the Rules, Prologue, Character description, etc.).

[Lex]

It was decided on Storycrafter that SC's would remain anonymous, but I'm sure the Founder will take this into further consideration when he checks back in again and reads this thread.

I have noticed, in my very limited time browsing around, that certain SC's tend to be quite open about who they are, where.  So it does happen, and I think it might be better to leave it anonymous by default (presumably to avoid "disputes" or "personality clashes" following people around) but allow the option to say who you are (which, technically, there already is as an OOC comment, or a line in the Rules, Prologue, Character description, etc.).

As is, it is only if the SC him/herself wish to make that kind of announcement.  Often times, though, the style of writing can give a particular person away, or the same kind of subject matter.  A good indicator...if the SC has taken a lot of time in setting up the game before it starts (Good prologue, details, rules, etc), then chances are they are serious about wanting to stay long term.