PSA: Open Discussion on Improving the Link Boards

[Scabe]

Goals and Direction

'The Goals' that I have in mind for the Sm4sh Link boards is to:

• Help viewers of this board become a better competitive Link Player
• The number 1 place for finding information on improving Link’s Metagame.

So far what I have done to get us a tiny footstep closer to 'The Goals' is reducing the clutter of threads. You may have noticed that there is now a lot of locked threads. The reason for that is so that people won’t bump old threads, and also to make this an area you can easily find information about becoming a better Link player.

Reasons for Locking Threads

Threads were locked if they had speculative stuff of what Link will be like. For example http://smashboards.com/threads/will-bomb-jumping-and-or-good-hookshot-return.345139/
The reason for this now the game is out we now have facts on what Link is like and so any speculative stuff is not needed.

I allow new threads to be made such as http://smashboards.com/threads/good-kill-set-ups.369947/ which would normally be asked in a QandA thread. Reason for this is that new threads promote discussion. And having a new thread gets more attention than compared to posting in a QandA thread. More attention may have an increased chance of a someone posting a hidden gem about Link.

BUT! A rule that I will be implementing is that after a month of no replies and if the thread is not useful to 'The Goals', I will then lock the thread.

If you have a thread unjustly locked, just let me know and I’ll unlock it. In my haste I may have unjustly locked some threads.

How You Can Help Improve the Link Boards

If you are interested in volunteering in helping The Link Boards, just post in this thread with what you would like to do. Here are some thread ideas that you can create once you have been approved:

• A WiFi Thread Thanks Costlow!
• Compiler of useful threads. (Big job)
• Tournament Results thread Thanks Costlow!
• A Q&A thread Thanks CostLow!
• Skype Group Thanks Costlow!
• Matchup compiler thread Thanks The BuzzSaw!
• Multiple discussion threads on Link's Moveset (e.g. week 1 Jab, week 2: Dtilt)

Nothing is Set in Stone

Got thread ideas? Ideas on improving the Link boards? Want a thread stickied? Want a thread unstickied? Disagree with what I have said? Just post in here! Everything is up for discussion!

 

[Scabe]

Just locked a few threads and added tags towards titles which I hope helps people find the content they want.

[AT] = Threads relating to Advanced Techniques
[MU] = Threads relating to talks about matchups
[Records] = For threads that deal with setting new records in the other modes
[Guide] = Guides that help you learn about Link
[Critique] = Critique my Link. (Should be posted in the Video thread though)

 

[TheBuzzSaw]

I could probably start work on the matchup thread index.

 

[CostLow]

I have just a few questions and comments.

1) What would Wi-Fi thread entail?
2) In the "compiler of useful threads" topic, would this include stuff outside of the smashboards, or just stuff that is found to be useful to us throughout the boards?
3) I saw something in another thread where, at the bottom of the few most popular threads the OP included links to the other most popular threads. Almost like advertising the other threads. I feel like that was a nice touch. Is that something we could look into using here?

 

[TheBuzzSaw]

http://smashboards.com/threads/link-matchup-index.374493/

 

[Scabe]

I have just a few questions and comments.

1) What would Wi-Fi thread entail?

I was thinking it could be an online tournament series. The only thing it would prove is that you're the best WiFi Link player in Link dittos

Also: it could be a place where people who don't main Link who can come in the thread to battle out one of the Link mains on this board to get matchup experience.

Now that I think of it, the idea of a Wi-fi thread doesn't seem that good to me... But again it wouldn't hurt.

2) In the "compiler of useful threads" topic, would this include stuff outside of the smashboards, or just stuff that is found to be useful to us throughout the boards?

Well my idea at first was just a thread that compiled useful threads that people have created on the Linkboards. I think it may have already been done by your QandA.

But now that you mention it, I think it would way more helpful if it included useful stuff outside of the Linkboards.

3) I saw something in another thread where, at the bottom of the few most popular threads the OP included links to the other most popular threads. Almost like advertising the other threads. I feel like that was a nice touch. Is that something we could look into using here?

Wouldn't hurt, so I think it's cool if anyone wants to try that.

Could you link the thread just so I can see what it looks like.

 

[CostLow]

I was thinking it could be an online tournament series. The only thing it would prove is that you're the best WiFi Link player in Link dittos

Also: it could be a place where people who don't main Link who can come in the thread to battle out one of the Link mains on this board to get matchup experience.

Now that I think of it, the idea of a Wi-fi thread doesn't seem that good to me... But again it wouldn't hurt.

Thanks for clearing that up. I don't think I have the time or energy to add that to my list of projects. I also don't know how well it will work out, but if someone wants to try putting one together, I'd certainly participate in the competition from time to time.

Well my idea at first was just a thread that compiled useful threads that people have created on the Linkboards. I think it may have already been done by your QandA.

But now that you mention it, I think it would way more helpful if it included useful stuff outside of the Linkboards.

I'm not sure if my Q&A is really adequate or expected to be that kind of thread, but maybe I can add it to the second part of the Q&A? I'll start that up and let you see what I come up with. If it seems like it works then I can try to keep it going, and if not, then at least we tried.

Wouldn't hurt, so I think it's cool if anyone wants to try that.

Could you link the thread just so I can see what it looks like.

Ok. So, I have to admit that I was kind of tooting my own horn a little bit when I suggested it. But it wasn't my idea really. I just saw a couple other threads on the Pac-Man board that did it so I did it too, but here's the thread that gave me the idea: http://smashboards.com/threads/pacmans-m-ms-metagame-and-match-up-discussion-thread.370926/

 

[Scabe]

My god that thread is aesthetically beautiful. I see now, they plug other threads nicely.

 

[CostLow]

I decided to create another thread. This one might actually cover a few of your hoped for bullets. I decided to call it the Royal Hyrule Library. Basically, it's my Q&A on steroids. The Q&A is still viable the way that it is, but this new thread is the "important threads" library, wifi, skype, and tournaments thread all wrapped into one. I was kind of thinking that I could start it, and then if it gets to be too time consuming for me someone could just copy what I've done up to that point. I've still got a bit of work to do on it before I'd say it's really ready, but right now I think it's in a place where I can at least make it more open to people to utilize. Maybe let me know what you think of it? If you don't like it I'll gladly stop where I am, but I just thought I'd give it a shot.

 

[Scabe]

It looks really good CostLow, you are amazing. And yeah if it gets too time consuming I'm sure someone can step up to take over it.

Now my only concern is, I think we have too much stickied threads. I wonder if we can prune some away.