Little announcement for DGamers

[Vinylic.]

Regarding to dgames and hydras, I'd like to suggest an option to switch between accounts and save the hassle of logging in and out.

Is that alright or not?

Warcham listened and...

You guys got one other new feature if it applies to you:
http://smashboards.com/account/Qus

Delivered. We have the option to link to hydras and switch between our original account and alts. Cheers to warchamp.

All you do is...

and you'll see this...

Sync your hydra accounts, click on any and....Presto!

When you're done, you can switch back to your original account by the time you're done. Hope this tool comes real handy for everyone!

 

[#HBC | ѕoup]

Truly, a champion of wars. Praise his name.

 

[#HBC | Gorf]

I do not have permission to view why ?

 

[#HBC | Nabe]

Is it a Premium-only thing? I thinkkkkkkkkk so

 

[#HBC | Gorf]

That's ****ing ********. The only premium members who'd need it are DGamers. Hell, the only USERS who'd need it are DGamers cuz it's kinda banned throughout the rest of the site.

 

[#HBC | ѕoup]

@ Warchamp7

Could you elevate Non-premium DGamers to be able to use this feature also? I don't know if it's too much work but I doubt any of them would abuse it.

 

[Circus]

This is incredibly cool for premies.

As a non-premie, I think it would be very cool for us as well, but it's much better than nothing and anything that could possibly make hydras easier to deal with (and thus reduce the potential for headaches for game hosts who allow with hydras) is super duper great in my book.

Though I think that the OS rule of using different tabs/windows for different accounts when intending to use both is still smart.

 

[Circus]

oh gosh are me and gorf allowed to post in this thread? i see a lotta blue bloods in here

 

[Warchamp7]

@ Warchamp7

Could you elevate Non-premium DGamers to be able to use this feature also? I don't know if it's too much work but I doubt any of them would abuse it.

It's something we could discuss. It's obviously something we don't want at the disposal of everyone, and granting it to one group can become a slippery slope. On top of all that, Premium isn't hugely cost prohibitive. If the convenience and other perks aren't worth the price, the old methods still function fine.

 

[ranmaru]

Don't have the money. I like the idea tho. For now I'm going to use incognito. Best I could do lolz.

 

[Circus]

For what it's worth, I find the link between paying for premium and acquiring little perks like this to be pretty legitimate.

 

[ranmaru]

Question though. If you go premium, link hydras, and later in the near distant future, your premie goes out, does your hydra link POOF too?

 

[#HBC | Gorf]

@ Warchamp7

Could you elevate Non-premium DGamers to be able to use this feature also? I don't know if it's too much work but I doubt any of them would abuse it.

Yea, no sweat if it can't be done, but it just feels like such an incredible convenience for those running multiple hydras (hydras are used to act as a joint account when playing games here, but I'm sure you knew that lol).

Edit: I think if we all get access to it too it could potentially make games more organized and neat, since we'd be able to enforce the hydra rule better (no posting out of hydra PERIOD, punishable by modvote).

 

[#HBC | marshy]

well here i was about to congratulate you til i read this only applies to a minority of us

motion to force vinyl to pay premium for all dgamers

 

[#HBC | Acrostic]

It's something we could discuss. It's obviously something we don't want at the disposal of everyone, and granting it to one group can become a slippery slope. On top of all that, Premium isn't hugely cost prohibitive. If the convenience and other perks aren't worth the price, the old methods still function fine.

If I'm not mistaken, you are already granting the privilege to one group, which are donators. If you allow other groups to get benefits given to donators, then it could be a slippery slope where other groups will also demand linked account privileges to optimally complete any joint-projects that would benefit from the feature. If you are being genuine that there will be a slippery slope dilemma, then you must believe that this feature has a pragmatic value of interest to many users and also user groups. Encouraging collaboration and group participation should be a core interest for a forum board community. It's true that we have old methods that function fine. However, there is still a scale of difference between aiming for enabling users to participate on an optimal level versus having them on relying on current methods which are now considered a compromise in comparison to the privilege of having the perk to expedite the process all together. I understand that bigger avatar size and signature perks should be charge transactions, however enabling features that expedite written content should be an intrinsic value of a forum board.

Finally, I understand that the site should be profiting and don't believe it should ever be pro-bono. However, this site profits by the low-cost model via loaning donator status to users resulting in them renewing when their subscriptions expire. The initial payment is rarely the issue, but rather the idea of not effectively using the loaned status effectively during the duration it is given. Arguing that the payment model is low isn't what detracts me from placing a donation back into the site, it's that I don't know what will happen to me in a week that might cause me to be MIA on this site until maybe a month or two from now. For instance, I had premium status in the past and donated, however it expired and I understand that a feature such as linked accounts is not an available option to me. However, the idea that one goes from premium to regular is a jarring concept given that this is one of the few forum boards I've been on that don't have a permanent donator status feature.

Premium isn't cost prohibitive, it's lunch money. However, if we're arguing cost, how much effort was required to download and implement a Xenforo patch. Colors and accounts were add-ons developed by the developers or a third party. The perk isn't objectively worth the price set on it certainly if we are insinuating that worker's compensation plays a role in a subscription fee since it is a feature that doesn't need to be maintained to be effective and also wasn't coded by any of the staff. Subscription donations aren't also objectively worth the price for a site that's being driven by user contributed content. However, hosting and management of the site is worth the contribution, not an enrollment to a subscription plan, but at least a donation.

 

[#HBC | Acrostic]

@ Warchamp7

I apologize for being confrontational in addressing any of the points you brought up. Due to my cynicism, I viewed your offer for discussion as being lip service. I didn't react favorably when the following three sentences were reasoning as to why you would deny us the feature that you would bring up in talks. My response was written from the point of view that this was an issue you would bring up to shoot down. However, that still didn't merit the connotations indicated in my responses, especially if you are responding in your capacity as a professional.

 

[#HBC | Dark Horse]

@ Warchamp7 If there's a dgames group (I'm assuming that's how we get the fancy postbit), couldn't you apply it to to members in that group, since we're really the only ones that need it?

 

[Warchamp7]

Question though. If you go premium, link hydras, and later in the near distant future, your premie goes out, does your hydra link POOF too?

Your links will not vanish but you'll lose access to actually switching. Renewing Premium would return that, links intact.

If I'm not mistaken, you are already granting the privilege to one group, which are donators. If you allow other groups to get benefits given to donators, then it could be a slippery slope where other groups will also demand linked account privileges to optimally complete any joint-projects that would benefit from the feature. If you are being genuine that there will be a slippery slope dilemma, then you must believe that this feature has a pragmatic value of interest to many users and also user groups. Encouraging collaboration and group participation should be a core interest for a forum board community. It's true that we have old methods that function fine. However, there is still a scale of difference between aiming for enabling users to participate on an optimal level versus having them on relying on current methods which are now considered a compromise in comparison to the privilege of having the perk to expedite the process all together. I understand that bigger avatar size and signature perks should be charge transactions, however enabling features that expedite written content should be an intrinsic value of a forum board.

Finally, I understand that the site should be profiting and don't believe it should ever be pro-bono. However, this site profits by the low-cost model via loaning donator status to users resulting in them renewing when their subscriptions expire. The initial payment is rarely the issue, but rather the idea of not effectively using the loaned status effectively during the duration it is given. Arguing that the payment model is low isn't what detracts me from placing a donation back into the site, it's that I don't know what will happen to me in a week that might cause me to be MIA on this site until maybe a month or two from now. For instance, I had premium status in the past and donated, however it expired and I understand that a feature such as linked accounts is not an available option to me. However, the idea that one goes from premium to regular is a jarring concept given that this is one of the few forum boards I've been on that don't have a permanent donator status feature.

Premium isn't cost prohibitive, it's lunch money. However, if we're arguing cost, how much effort was required to download and implement a Xenforo patch. Colors and accounts were add-ons developed by the developers or a third party. The perk isn't objectively worth the price set on it certainly if we are insinuating that worker's compensation plays a role in a subscription fee since it is a feature that doesn't need to be maintained to be effective and also wasn't coded by any of the staff. Subscription donations aren't also objectively worth the price for a site that's being driven by user contributed content. However, hosting and management of the site is worth the contribution, not an enrollment to a subscription plan, but at least a donation.

There is a very important difference between putting a feature behind Premium and granting it to a particular user group though. It's no doubt this is a useful feature for those who might need it, that's why it was added, but there are pros and cons to giving access to it to just the general userbase. With it being limited to Premium, it allows us to put a monetary investment on the idea that some users may use it to be a more efficient nuisance. If we were to give it to DGamers, the next group to request it would likely be tournament organizers with event accounts, after that, I can imagine some people in shared households may want it (Though I really really wouldn't recommend that usage). By making it Premium only it ensures two things: A. It isn't granted to all users globally and B. any user who desires the convenience is on equal footing as far as acquiring it.

As far as costs go, I think the existence of Smashboards is worth $1 - $3 a month to most users, but that really isn't the topic here.

 

[#HBC | Acrostic]

Your links will not vanish but you'll lose access to actually switching. Renewing Premium would return that, links intact. There is a very important difference between putting a feature behind Premium and granting it to a particular user group though. It's no doubt this is a useful feature for those who might need it, that's why it was added, but there are pros and cons to giving access to it to just the general userbase. With it being limited to Premium, it allows us to put a monetary investment on the idea that some users may use it to be a more efficient nuisance. If we were to give it to DGamers, the next group to request it would likely be tournament organizers with event accounts, after that, I can imagine some people in shared households may want it (Though I really really wouldn't recommend that usage). By making it Premium only it ensures two things: A. It isn't granted to all users globally and B. any user who desires the convenience is on equal footing as far as acquiring it. As far as costs go, I think the existence of Smashboards is worth $1 - $3 a month to most users, but that really isn't the topic here.

I understand your points and where they are coming from, however having been accustomed to a site that allows a linked account on the house with each additional alternative account being worth a set standard price I don't believe that I can grasp the feature as being something that deserves to require payment into a subscription system, especially since we both agree that this is a feature that has pertinence to two niches on the site. If this were about perks that are cosmetic in nature like colored user titles/avatar size or access to an exclusive sub-forum then I can understand the incentive behind monetizing it. But when we mutually agree that this feature could enhance core communities on the site to do what they do, then I don't share a mutual view that there should be a price tag on allowing users a better method of contributing to what the site is about. I feel like we mutually understand the points each other is making, however I don't think that you can convince me to endorse your perspective and vice versa. Although if I were speaking as an admin of the site, I would take on the same position you are taking now considering that the effort to input our group in as an exception is not worth the complications that will come from it. Especially since our stance is that we want the feature without paying for it at all which must be a no compromise position from your end of the table.

@ #HBC | Dark Horse Just because we have a need for it, doesn't mean that we deserve it more than anyone else. Just because a group has an exclusive interest in a paid feature doesn't justify it being loaned out to us. When it comes to a slippery slope situation with an unpredictable user group, you either keep a solution contained or you enable it for all users. The SS dilemma by it's very nature eliminates people from taking a middle ground because it argues that everything in the middle will fall to the bottom. It's also true in this case that if you enable this feature to a few individuals, people are going to question it and also want a part of the perk. The behavior in the Debate Hall with people wanting the post bit and the pink colored user title because it was one of the easiest groups to get access and maintain privileges is indicative that a SS situation is worth considering. Especially since people simply left the group after they obtained the bling.

 

[Kataefi]

Just ignore me if I've been answered already, but could this privilege not be given under a user retention principle? You have to play 5 games here to earn your dgames postbit, which could then grant you these hydra powers. I imagine users recognised as TOs go through a similar process. Earning opportunities are great for this type of forum in attracting dedicated users.

I say this because I don't see switching between multiple accounts as that great an incentive to buy premium from the average user. It doesn't strike me as something they would consider first over the other features offered... and as such seems like a waste if it were tacked on to the premium package.

Also user groups that want this feature would be the specialist ones as you say like Dgamers (and TOs and the occasional family household). Are these groups large enough to sell to? I don't know in the grand scheme but the Dgames community is at most what? 10-15 active members?

This is a really good feature. What I'm getting at is it seems much better advertised as something that could be earned and not sold, (still making it valuable to the forum in general that wants to build a dedicated userbase). There are many instances here where users have come and gone because they've grown bored of Mafia and the ability to earn features like this (maybe more) could be a step in the right direction

 

[#HBC | Acrostic]

Your links will not vanish but you'll lose access to actually switching. Renewing Premium would return that, links intact. There is a very important difference between putting a feature behind Premium and granting it to a particular user group though. It's no doubt this is a useful feature for those who might need it, that's why it was added, but there are pros and cons to giving access to it to just the general userbase. With it being limited to Premium, it allows us to put a monetary investment on the idea that some users may use it to be a more efficient nuisance. If we were to give it to DGamers, the next group to request it would likely be tournament organizers with event accounts, after that, I can imagine some people in shared households may want it (Though I really really wouldn't recommend that usage). By making it Premium only it ensures two things: A. It isn't granted to all users globally and B. any user who desires the convenience is on equal footing as far as acquiring it.

To reply to this more directly, you are emphasizing that there would be a trickle down demand line for the item. You're arguing that putting a price tag on the demand will allow the site to rake in profits. I'm arguing that it is a feature that has demand because it is conducive to the general purpose of the site and should have any strings attached to it. You see it as a privilege loaned out to those who shell out lunch money as an indication of impartiality. I'm arguing that you should give it to everyone because I see it as a core feature for this board therefore eliminating any dispute over egalitarianism. In our discussion it hasn't been touched upon why it's irrational for this to be a core feature aside from the site profiting from the people who will throw money into it. The site should have another profit stream aside from donations that could see a spike from enhanced user-features, although I understand that ad-market income can be a questionable source of revenue.

 

[ranmaru]

If it was a one time buy thing I WOULD purchase it to support the site. I'm just not really down for a sub because I got other bills to pay.

 

[#HBC | Ryker]

Acrostic, are you arguing just to argue again?

 

[#HBC | ZoZo]

Shut up and pass the popcorn, Rikker.

 

[#HBC | Ryker]

 

[ranmaru]

and sweet and sour chicken fingers

 

[#HBC | Acrostic]

Acrostic, are you arguing just to argue again?

I just wanted to scratch an itch.

 

[ranmaru]

Arguing is fun.

 

[#HBC | Nabe]

Vote: Xonar


FOS: Acrostic

 

[#HBC | Kary]

Do you even hydra tho?

this is funny XD

oh gawd

-Karryu

 

[Axel]

There are already requirements to be in the dgames usergroup are there not? It would really make life easier if Dgamers had this feature. There's really nothing slippery 'bout it. Take for instance "tournament directors". I'm not sure if that is still a group that one must apply for, but when it was, TDs were given calender access as well as greater inbox space and the ability to send more PMs out at once. This was not something than members outside the tournament directors group had. And there was surely no complaint as it was easily comprehensible. Why would a debate haller need access to the calender? Tournament Directors used to apply to online tournament hosts as well so it made sense that they were given the PM enhancements.

@ Warchamp7 I highly doubt there will be any thing near a **** storm for giving Dgames linked accounts. There shan't even be any rain.

 

[Warchamp7]

Apologies for the delay on this, I was literally out from 6AM to 1AM. The key reason for it being placed behind a barrier is to prevent less savory folks having an easier time being undesirable towards other members, like I've mentioned. Premium is the fairest way to put a limit on something without playing any particular sort of favoritism. I really dislike how heavily the money aspect of it keeps getting dragged into this, in a manner as if it all gets funneled into some black hole. I'm sure you've noticed the recent sponsorships of VGBootCamp and CEO. This is money from Smashboards going directly back into the community, and it's by no means the end of it.

Cop can scan me tonight, you'll know I speak honestly.

I just wanted to scratch an itch.

A townsperson would not go on such an aggressive crusade only to suddenly switch to apathy before a response.

FOS: Acrostic.

 

[Axel]

 

[#HBC | Joker]

I think it's a super neato feature, and I really only see it being terribly useful for dgames. That said, there will be no tears shed if I don't get access to it for free. I'll keep managing it the old fashioned way. I think Orbo and I posted on hydra flawlessly all through the game where we played rid****ulous

 

[#HBC | ѕoup]

Apologies for the delay on this, I was literally out from 6AM to 1AM. The key reason for it being placed behind a barrier is to prevent less savory folks having an easier time being undesirable towards other members, like I've mentioned. Premium is the fairest way to put a limit on something without playing any particular sort of favoritism. I really dislike how heavily the money aspect of it keeps getting dragged into this, in a manner as if it all gets funneled into some black hole. I'm sure you've noticed the recent sponsorships of VGBootCamp and CEO. This is money from Smashboards going directly back into the community, and it's by no means the end of it.

Cop can scan me tonight, you'll know I speak honestly.



A townsperson would not go on such an aggressive crusade only to suddenly switch to apathy before a response.

FOS: Acrostic.

From seeing the way you present yourself and argue and how you manage to make a Mafia-related jab at Acrostic, I'd much prefer see you playing a game if you ever had the time.

 

[#HBC | Gorf]

Apologies for the delay on this, I was literally out from 6AM to 1AM. The key reason for it being placed behind a barrier is to prevent less savory folks having an easier time being undesirable towards other members, like I've mentioned. Premium is the fairest way to put a limit on something without playing any particular sort of favoritism. I really dislike how heavily the money aspect of it keeps getting dragged into this, in a manner as if it all gets funneled into some black hole. I'm sure you've noticed the recent sponsorships of VGBootCamp and CEO. This is money from Smashboards going directly back into the community, and it's by no means the end of it.

Cop can scan me tonight, you'll know I speak honestly.



A townsperson would not go on such an aggressive crusade only to suddenly switch to apathy before a response.

FOS: Acrostic.

Vote: Warchamp

Can't even lay a vote down pfft

 

[Xatres]

Wouldn't linked accounts make it EASIER to track down and punish the less savory folks? You'd have this nice little paper trail running between accounts. Ban one, ban them all. Also, don't we we already have rules in place that say hydras can't post outside the Dgames forum? And isn't it easy to identify hydras thanks to the custom titles? Seems like we already have the infrastructre in place to properly manage giving Dgames members access to this feature.

Vote: Warchamp

@Mod: Request votecount

 

[#HBC | ѕoup]

Vote: Warchamp

@ #HBC | marshy show the newcomer how the HBC works in these parts let's lynch this probably townie guy but i have to vote the popular wagon so i dont look bad scumbag

 

[Warchamp7]

Jumping on someone for being cautious with their vote, alright.

Gorf and Xatres with the quick reveal on being mafia. Gonna hope soup is just bandwagon'ing.

Vote: Gorf
You're first

 

[#HBC | ѕoup]

Xatres has a solid argument though, so my vote isn't just a bandwagon. I think his response is solid and concrete enough for me to think you have something more sinister in mind. How hard is it to allow such a function that explictly helps DGames in a huge way, let alone one suggested from someone who is from DGames? I understand that you can't be going around giving perks to everyone, but I don't really see how else it's more useful to someone who isn't a DGamer where hydras and alternate accounts are more relevant and allow us to do broader and bigger things. There was a game @WashedLaundry wanted to play called Pick Your Poison, which involved using many throwaway alternate accounts and made the whole game anonymous, but it was hard to get going because of how hard it is to create alternates in the first place, let alone tracking them.

I'm not asking for an under the table deal where you're slipping us a card and keeping it discreet from everyone else, and I imagine more people would want to sign up and play DGames if they were able to use this feature (of course under a certain requirement like @ Kataefi suggested) which helps us even more.