Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Location: [st]Ultrinnan[/st] [st]Edonil[/st] Nec'perya
!
beautiful entry page
_________________ Slander [Zanthair Akarupa of the Horsemen of the Apcalypse] - Sorcerer 'Mediocreare' Isendu't'tar Ussen'd'Vhid d'My'ana'd'Xull'd'Vharcan - possibly the longest name in Amia Tiffany Seagrass - weak and fragile weaver of words
silly question, how does a new front page effect geting new members too amia, wont they have to know of Amia to be able to go to the site.
I thought the idea was to find new members who dont know of amia, maybe someone should buy ad space on a back of bus or on the raido
There's two ideas being discussed here. Catching potential new junkies and keeping them hooked after the first shot of Special A. That first try has to be good quality stuff, else they'll go get their crack elsewhere.
I would have chosen a new server just based on the website. Seeing a bare-bones gold-on-black text website gives the false impression that effort isn't put into it.
Aye, the website doesn't do Amia justice. Amia is an amazing place and we can't thank you guys enough for the work you've put in here.
Falling Spider wrote:
Last place, and a bit familiar, has a very intense neatness factor: Almost every class is augmented somehow. Monks get Ki abilities, druids get Thousand Faces, blackguards get /spells/! Spells for blackguards. Ye. Gods. You can change your spells using a book, and you can find new spells for your assassin.
The deity system, the job system, the housing system, the teleportation system, the mythal crafting system, the dream coin system, the amia messenger system. The subraces, the great summons, the spell fixes, the great monster designs, the great monster AI, the great dungeons. The international cast of DMs and players, the creative DM and player events/plots/quests, the awesome factions, the great roleplayers! Last and the most important, a helpful build thread!
Convey all those exciting things to the visitor and how could they refuse!?!
Torin wrote:
Amia could have a boost of players if you manage to have a Neverwinter Vault Persistent World Spotlight, interview, something like that.
It could also helpful to have some commercials/announcements on the bioware boards.
That's definitely my second suggestion - to start actually spreading the word. But before we put the old girl back into the dating market, I think she could use a makeover first. Tidying up the house first before inviting guests is a good policy. Give them the old razzle dazzle...
Nekhy wrote:
Is not centered;
It bothers me too but considering it was done so quickly, it looks great. Amazing job, that looks so much more welcoming than just the forum. I have some critique still but that's because it's easy to criticize and judge the work of others.
But I can't script people who update them, and I don't have the discipline myself.
I guess I could make a nice introduction page... but who's gonna keep it up-to-date?
That's why I strongly suggest using Wordpress for the main site and giving the DM team accounts so they could keep it up to date. If something's outdated, amians are quick to point it out in the forums anyways, so any DM could simply go in and update the outdated part. The DM are great writers too, I'm quite confident they can work out a player's handbook and fill up the contents.
Wordpress has a bunch of plugins available to easily manage a good looking gallery and other things; it also allows players/characters to comment on it. It's easy to use, no need to know html or css - contributors could concentrate on content. It's easier to rely on it's template system too for creating new pages so you don't have to keep creating something from scratch.
SephiraAndy wrote:
I like the idea of revitalising the Amia Recorder. Maybe a faction idea??
I like it too! Journalist-characters interviewing tournament winners, the newly crowned fire giant king, commoners and high ranking city officials, etc. It can even be run by characters not actually present in-game - just reporting on events and inventions (Mythal tubes). Some features on fashion, famous bards, etc. An obituary section where the same adventurer keeps re-appearing on. An ad section. etc.
I like it too! Journalist-characters interviewing tournament winners, the newly crowned fire giant king, commoners and high ranking city officials, etc. It can even be run by characters not actually present in-game - just reporting on events and inventions (Mythal tubes). Some features on fashion, famous bards, etc. An obituary section where the same adventurer keeps re-appearing on. An ad section. etc.
This has always been available to the players, btw. Here's a brief history of the Amian Paper.
It was a purely forum thing that kept people up to date on the plots, and really was kind of an advertisement. Then an enterprising player wanted to be the editor of the paper and his PC was allowed to do so. It flourished, and he and others wrote a good deal of material for several issues. Some of those back issues were made available IG, and some PCs still have them to this day. Then that editor left, and the Amian Paper was defunct for a long time.
Until I needed it for plot purposes. I revived it, called it The Amian Recorder and placed an NPC as the editor, Ethan Starr. Although I was using it for purely plot purposes, I opened the door for PCs to be journalists and do their own research and write their own stories. That never really happened. Two problems cropped up, and if you're serious about using the paper, you need to pay attention:
1) Losing interest. Don't lose interest if you want it to work. It also hurts other people who are writing. DM Bobo had a PC write an excellent editorial piece, but it never could see the light of day because the other PCs who were working on assignments for that issue never did the work.
2) Freelancing. Do not expect me to give you an assignment. That is not how it works, unless you are a staff writer, and you don't become a staff writer until you can really prove you've got a knack for the craft. The PC-as-a-journalist should find the story that has interest: hard news, human interest, feature, events coverage, travel reports, restaurant/venue reviews, personal interviews with major NPCs or with celebrity adventurer PCs...YOU find the story you want to investigate and write, YOU investigate it, YOU write it, then YOU PM it to me and I do copyediting and package it for presentation. There is a lot of work involved, but really, for some people, that's just their thing and it is fun.
If anyone is genuinely interested in doing this, you do the work, you PM me the story, and I can build an issue's release.
With regards to this journalism thing, I must say it sounds good. Perhaps our antique society might publish a few periodicals on our topics of discussion. Will bring it up IC for the next meeting.
Bobo had a PC write an excellent editorial piece, but it never could see the light of day because the other PCs who were working on assignments for that issue never did the work.
No reason to waste it, it could still be published as the main article.
Just imagine the rest of the issue with filler content, gossip, tabloids, whatever.
Joined: 17 Aug 2005 Location: Land of the Scorching Sun, Empowered by Global Warming
D'oh!
I just saw this thread. After I have already posted on the one Selve made.
Anyway!
Repeating a suggestion made there, just in case...
Do you think there could be a way to insert Amia's map(s) (the ones made by Jaq and Disco) as a background to the text?
_________________ BlackDahlya
Once Upon A Time Played Adr'ael Ken'rahel, Auron Teken’ath, Aurora Mesodias, 'Daniel' Daoskinaxarijikkym, Eilin'ira, Helena Rios, Layla Faircurrent, May'Une Do'Ndar, Mellinda Tellus, Michael of Cliffside, Rizzen of Twilight, Valkirya d'Claddath
It bothers me too but considering it was done so quickly, it looks great. Amazing job, that looks so much more welcoming than just the forum. I have some critique still but that's because it's easy to criticize and judge the work of others.
I don't think that's a good idea. This is a heavily used forum and I just cut out everything that was in the way. I will see if I can use a few elements in the layout, though. Those borders are pretty funky (and stolen from a game site, *cough*). I wouldn't expand the intro page either, the idea is to make it as easy to get through as possible.
Quote:
Dev Disco wrote:
But I can't script people who update them, and I don't have the discipline myself.
I guess I could make a nice introduction page... but who's gonna keep it up-to-date?
That's why I strongly suggest using Wordpress for the main site and giving the DM team accounts so they could keep it up to date. If something's outdated, amians are quick to point it out in the forums anyways, so any DM could simply go in and update the outdated part. The DM are great writers too, I'm quite confident they can work out a player's handbook and fill up the contents.
Wordpress has a bunch of plugins available to easily manage a good looking gallery and other things; it also allows players/characters to comment on it. It's easy to use, no need to know html or css - contributors could concentrate on content. It's easier to rely on it's template system too for creating new pages so you don't have to keep creating something from scratch.
You miss the essential part of my remark: it's not the system that's the weak link, it's the people. We have been through all these phases, and in the end if somebody (most often Iron) gets the spirit changes are made, even if it needs to be carved out in wood. I am going to move most of the sidebar topic pages towards the forum, though, so that the modifications can be updated by any DM or Dev.
I guess a new topic could be added under About Amia called "New in Amia?" which helps you to find your way.
I think the front page needs a subsecton of Tormak's most agressive response-posts, Yossarin's dreams in details, the cooky vegan debates and Cory's signature "Shifter Fix." If we have those lined up for newcomers, we'll catch the ones we want. Lunatics.
_________________ Profiles: DakoDako & ElWacko
Characters: Currently trying my best to stick to Beridoc Brushgale
_________________ "Most assume that all the followers of Lathander are great morning people. They're very wrong." "I think we are the only group where AD&D stands for Attention Deficit Disorder."
I think the front page needs a subsecton of Tormak's most agressive response-posts, Yossarin's dreams in details, the cooky vegan debates and Cory's signature "Shifter Fix." If we have those lined up for newcomers, we'll catch the ones we want. Lunatics.
you forgot harm potions
_________________ ================-<Cory ShadowFlame>-================ Risenlord-Shifter(OMG a Non-Dragon Shifter that can hold his own in PvE)
Well, I wouldn't know where to put us under Nwvault if it wasn't for Gameworlds. Not sure about the Wikia. I am bad with those (the WIKI concept is a user-unfriendly design accident, if you ask me) and whenever I get too fluffy the dude running the wiki makes my text more objective.
Seems we need to get a few people in PodCast. Not me... I don't even have a microphone.
Utilize Yurell's posting skills by throwing him in the nwn bioware forums.
Don't know of any other nwn community.
Last I knew, the NWVault declined to do an interview with us on the basis that we were simply an offshoot of Arelith, but this was more thnan a couple years ago.
_________________ Davion Telemos - Monk of the Four Winds Korthan Isharnos - Dragon Shaman of Thunder Spirit Zamasham
Last I knew, the NWVault declined to do an interview with us on the basis that we were simply an offshoot of Arelith, but this was more than a couple years ago.
What a douche. It's not like Amia is covering up/ashamed of its history.
Maybe try again guys, hopefully the ass isn't there anymore.
No, I understand their viewpoint. Amia and Arelith still have a lot of the same areas and even feature the same major cities to my knowledge. For a prospective on existing Amia servers, to go into interview-depth detail on both Arelith and Amia would be redundant. Although from our perspective our servers are really nothing alike in a lot of ways despite the shared (alternate) setting, to them, and to a broader audience, that divine isn't so easily made.
And if ad writer for NWNVault tried to explain that divide, it would ultimately come across as negative press. Arelith would get the preferential treatment for being the "original" of which Amia is a splintered copy, so in the case of having to choose between the two, Arelith the progenitor would be selected.
It isn't rude, it is just an editorial decision, the same I would likely make myself. If I weren't a DM for Amia, and therefore completely biased.
Joined: 18 May 2005 Location: XC HQ Alpha, Sol System, Sirius Sector.
I'll start advertising on my sites and hosted servers.
Also, if you need someone to do podcasts, can do.
We do XC Radio all the time, which are podcasts of insane XC hilarity, most often that occurs on our Teamspeak server.
Regards,
_________________ "Come under the flag of truce, and brook no treason... for mineself is Death, and care not whom knows mine touch."
- Frey Asaid'De Majere
I agree with ticket, though. I made the forum a power-user application. It's completely streamlined for daily use (well, not the updated changes etc, but I can't script people who update them, and I don't have the discipline myself). It's not really inviting for the first-time visitor.
I guess I could make a nice introduction page... but who's gonna keep it up-to-date?
I think the intro page looks sweet. I know I'm slow to get on and say so, but get it Disco!
Another thing is.. shove the unique features in there. Let a new monk know that he can get new ki-strike abilities as he levels, let the barbarian know about the rages.
Missed this one from before...
Maybe spawn a widget/info book about the class changes in-game for everyone.
A new player logs into Amia and made a monk? He gets a non-plot book that tells him about all the wonderful new abilities without spoiling him/her on where to learn them (maybe some strong hints).
Monk takes his first BG class? He gets another non-plot item that fills him in about the new goodies they get in Amia!
Could grab new players' attention when they first happened to hop in the server without going through the site first.
No, we used to do that and it adds another level of info upkeep, something which we are notoriously bad at. I removed all that stuff from the journal for that reason. Better no info than outdated info.
We should make an introduction topic/page to Amia from an IC perspective. Something to give new players an idea of what they'll find within. An overview of locales, perhaps some major factions, and what new players should/could do.
I'm not gonna do it anytime soon, though!
_________________
On Joon, Kjetta wrote:
The guy that probably has sexual fantasies about masturbation. I mean, Iron, you're a bookworm nerd that even in your wildest escapism fantasies flee to the internet to play the role of another bookworm nerd? Come on!
Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Location: On a Disk, carried by four elephants, which stand on a gigantic turtle.
Oh, I can do that.
*Cherry the elf hugged her companion within' the alcove of Cordor Temple, she smiled and snuggled into the warmth of her companion. Just then the world suddenly went red, and then black. Large words encompassed her view, and with a scream of dispair she collapsed in horror filled realisation. She again reads the words "You Died, Click to Respawn".*
<_<
_________________ I keels u with my axe!
"Do ye know where the Holy-Flamin' Frost-brand Gronk-slayin' Vorpal Hammer o' woundin' an' returnin' an' Shootin'-Lightnin'-out-yer-bum is?"
This might sound kind of...well....I dunno. I'll just say it and let others decide how it sounds. *slaps this site up* http://www.neverwinterconnections.com/
BAM! This is a site that I have loved a while. Not only is it a fast search for players looking for PWs but also for events in a certain range for their PCs. Just about the only issue I can possibly see here for Amia is that NWC usually lists events on servers which have scheduled the event ahead of time.
Actually that might be less of a problem and more of a solution. Yes I am fully aware that DM login times and lengths are random and subject to change and that many of the mini events are rather sporadic in nature to reflect the pressures of IRL demands. I promise that I totally get it.
Buuuuuut, there was one server that I first started on that had a DM overseen newbie night. New players would all meet in a local tavern along with old ones. It was a chance for everyone to get together and meet ICly as well as for new players to have a chance to have alot of questions about the server answered. It also gave them an initial impression about the server that the website/forums may not have imparted. Reading is great but from the sheer amount of questions which show up IG at times, one on one is appreciated more I think.
Now...this might just be me and it might just be insanity talking...I don't know. *holds up hands* What if there was a DM overseen 'happy hour' at advertised local taverns both on the surface and below for each server? Nothing like the weekly gatherings which RoA had advertised on NWConnections.
Maybe..dunno...bi-weekly or just monthly if twice a month is too much. The starting time could be for about two hours with rotating time zones to help those that aren't all on the same time for both players and staff? From the sound of it, weekends are a given. RoA was a happy hour Friday but after a while it didn't pan out so well and they shifted.
*lowers one hand and holds up a finger* Before people think this is going to be a hot wings and margarita picnic...those happy hours usually turned into some of the most memorable RP moments including a few duels, a drunken game of darts (that poor waiter was never the same), and the entire inn being dropped into the caverns below with everyone inside having to party up from lowest to highest and fight their way to freedom.
The Meet-and-Greets weren't lengthy plots, they weren't ongoing events, they were just one shot things once a week. The beauty of them is that at the end of the night, it could either result in folks getting together to wander off on an adventure or the DMs stepping in with a mini event just for new player interest to remain piqued.
Yes there are some wonderful player-run start up groups and those are full encouraged. Actually...on that note. Anyone with a largely free schedule be it DM or Player could offer a once a week hosting at a local tavern in random locations and advertise it on NWConnections as well as this forum.
Pardon the length of the post, I really do have an issue.
HOLY CRAP!! Did anyone else know about this?! http://www.nwcon.net/ Is Amia featured here? Did Amia even get a nod in on this? OOOOH!! *wiggles excitedly* Can we go to it?! Can we jump in it and just babble about the rich Amia goodness?!
Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Location: Kohlingen, and a Basement in Canada
IronAngel wrote:
We should make an introduction topic/page to Amia from an IC perspective. Something to give new players an idea of what they'll find within. An overview of locales, perhaps some major factions, and what new players should/could do.
I'm not gonna do it anytime soon, though!
Based on what perspective you want to provide, I could try to write something like this up if folks like?
I actually have something of an interesting idea. ^^;
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