Topic: What Ideas Might Be Had For W-E?

[GamesPoet]

Generally speaking, we seem to be holding in on this site.

However, what ideas might some folks have regarding W-E

Looking for creative and constructive concepts.  This isn't to say every thing that is mentioned will happen, although there does seem to be more to pulling from multiple minds rather then just a few, so let us know what ya might have.

[Syphon]

Well, to be honest, forums are dead. Places like reddit or discord are the future.

That said, reddit is a cesspit and you will get an account ban if you go to the wrong subreddits.

I believe we already have a discord but I've not been able to find those yet. I have my own server there, too.

[GamesPoet]

We're probably not interested in something where there isn't some ownership, so there can be a good sense of liberty, so to speak.  With an exploration underway, and since we don't really know what that might bring, we're moving slowly in our quest to learn what we don't know, and evaluate along the way.

Also, although a future platform could be considered, the question was also in relation to the current platform.  We aren't what we once were, perhaps won't ever be, but we aren't dead yet.  However, there are ideas brewing, and hoping something arises for the current site as options are considered with current and potential futures both in mind.

Thank you!

[StealthKnightSteg]

Well, to be honest, forums are dead. Places like reddit or discord are the future.

That said, reddit is a cesspit and you will get an account ban if you go to the wrong subreddits.

I believe we already have a discord but I've not been able to find those yet. I have my own server there, too.

I made the Discord for W-E but it never took off as only a few joined, the FB group is faring better

[Zygmund]

Two different veins of ideas:

1. Improve the community

A) The 2018 idea that this site could be an empire of things Warhammer, including all the fantasy armies and even 40K, hasn't flown. What is this forum about if not The Empire? What brings people here if not the tradition of The Empire and the knowledge that long-time Empire hobbyists possess? Focus on something! Otherwise everyone here is alone with their own hobby, and only oldtimers gather here - because of the old times and the connections built five or ten years ago.

B) We should do something together. Sadly, we're nowadays spread so thin that any kind of meeting, or meetings in different parts of the globe, seem to be ruled out. The BeNeLux meeting has been some sort of a focal point, at least for people within a sensible driving distance in NW Europe, but I don't know how that will be faring in the future, with the thinning of our ranks.

C) Is there some way to share the hobby more, even to play games, on the forum? Does the forum offer any better function for us to come together? Or are other channels and platforms better for that? Like the live chats GP has been organizing? How did the campaigns of old function? I remember they were marvelous, with new unit types and scenarios and all that. Or could we all somehow join Padre's campaign? 

D) Close the Back Table for good. No real world politics. The Tavern should be good enough for non-hobby blabber.

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2. Improve the functions the platform presents to the users.

A) Easy photo sharing, perhaps with some photo editing, is the key if you want people to share their projects. If this doesn't happen, there is no way to compete with other, modern social media platforms.

B) A LIKE button. And perhaps some sort of ranking system tied to the use of that button. So if you like more, you will get nice titles. (I don't know if the latter would speak to anybody here, but that LIKE button would be handy.)

C) A flawless search engine would be needed if the archive function of an old forum is to be exploited. I can't find sh41t on this site. The Warhammer Wiki and Lexicanum offer a much better encyclopedic functionality. If this site cannot compete with them, then people are not coming here to search & discuss the data.

D) Look at what The Ninth Age forum offers for the fans. That's the best and only modern WHF (iterating) forum/site, and by far the largest and most alive. Heck, just look at what the FB group Warhammer Fantasy: The Empire offers for the members. This site would need to do at least that in order to be attractive.

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However, I really think this forum has been always reacting to things going on in the bigger world. This site was big when WHF and forums were big. Every single peak of activity was connected either to a new edition of WHF or a new Empire book by GW, and to a lesser degree an official or site-specific campaign.

So an official revival of square-based-WHF is perhaps the only thing that might bring in new blood. Also if all the other social media platforms would collapse, people would perhaps seek out a good old forum. Actually, both of these would need to happen for a WHF revival to lead people here. How likely is that?

My local hobby hub is bigger and more active than this forum. There are many WHF, Warmaster and Mordheim players there, some playing and building Empire stuff, some of them even ex-members of W-E. But there is absolutely no impetus to share that hobby activity over here. And why should there be?

-Z

[Syphon]

A) The 2018 idea that this site could be an empire of things Warhammer, including all the fantasy armies and even 40K, hasn't flown. What is this forum about if not The Empire? What brings people here if not the tradition of The Empire and the knowledge that long-time Empire hobbyists possess? Focus on something! Otherwise everyone here is alone with their own hobby, and only oldtimers gather here - because of the old times and the connections built five or ten years ago.

Good idea, but it'd require changing the name of, well, a brand. WE is a brand and I'd be hard pressed to call it something other than WE.

B) We should do something together. Sadly, we're nowadays spread so thin that any kind of meeting, or meetings in different parts of the globe, seem to be ruled out. The BeNeLux meeting has been some sort of a focal point, at least for people within a sensible driving distance in NW Europe, but I don't know how that will be faring in the future, with the thinning of our ranks.

Covid

C) Is there some way to share the hobby more, even to play games, on the forum? Does the forum offer any better function for us to come together? Or are other channels and platforms better for that? Like the live chats GP has been organizing? How did the campaigns of old function? I remember they were marvelous, with new unit types and scenarios and all that. Or could we all somehow join Padre's campaign? 

I will repeat this later, but this place with its BBcode is outdated if not outright antiquated.

D) Close the Back Table for good. No real world politics. The Tavern should be good enough for non-hobby blabber.

Indeed. Divisive topics will only cause friction.
.

2. Improve the functions the platform presents to the users.

A) Easy photo sharing, perhaps with some photo editing, is the key if you want people to share their projects. If this doesn't happen, there is no way to compete with other, modern social media platforms.

B) A LIKE button. And perhaps some sort of ranking system tied to the use of that button. So if you like more, you will get nice titles. (I don't know if the latter would speak to anybody here, but that LIKE button would be handy.)

C) A flawless search engine would be needed if the archive function of an old forum is to be exploited. I can't find sh41t on this site. The Warhammer Wiki and Lexicanum offer a much better encyclopedic functionality. If this site cannot compete with them, then people are not coming here to search & discuss the data.

D) Look at what The Ninth Age forum offers for the fans. That's the best and only modern WHF (iterating) forum/site, and by far the largest and most alive. Heck, just look at what the FB group Warhammer Fantasy: The Empire offers for the members. This site would need to do at least that in order to be attractive.

All of these are part and parcel of using an old page. I mean, I like coming here but like you say, it's mostly just oldtimers here. Old stuff will not pull in new blood.

However, I really think this forum has been always reacting to things going on in the bigger world. This site was big when WHF and forums were big. Every single peak of activity was connected either to a new edition of WHF or a new Empire book by GW, and to a lesser degree an official or site-specific campaign.

So an official revival of square-based-WHF is perhaps the only thing that might bring in new blood. Also if all the other social media platforms would collapse, people would perhaps seek out a good old forum. Actually, both of these would need to happen for a WHF revival to lead people here. How likely is that?

My local hobby hub is bigger and more active than this forum. There are many WHF, Warmaster and Mordheim players there, some playing and building Empire stuff, some of them even ex-members of W-E. But there is absolutely no impetus to share that hobby activity over here. And why should there be?

-Z

Well said.

[StealthKnightSteg]

Two different veins of ideas:

1. Improve the community

A) The 2018 idea that this site could be an empire of things Warhammer, including all the fantasy armies and even 40K, hasn't flown. What is this forum about if not The Empire? What brings people here if not the tradition of The Empire and the knowledge that long-time Empire hobbyists possess? Focus on something! Otherwise everyone here is alone with their own hobby, and only oldtimers gather here - because of the old times and the connections built five or ten years ago.

I agree it hasn't flown in a sense that it has made the forum bigger with more people getting involved, but I do feel it was needed to keep members we already had active here and in that it had a part in keeping this forum going and "survive" the past few years

[Zygmund]

Yes. Possibly.

It's like a soup kitchen that starts to sell hamburgers in order to keep its customers. Then add an Asian buffet. Then maybe donuts. It allows oldtimers to keep visiting the same locale to get what they want. But I feel it's not a way to find new customers when you can get specialist service visiting different special places - all with more focus & atmosphere.

-Z

[S.O.F]

C) Is there some way to share the hobby more, even to play games, on the forum? Does the forum offer any better function for us to come together? Or are other channels and platforms better for that? Like the live chats GP has been organizing? How did the campaigns of old function?

So my work will ideally be calming down soon, this was my hell week/pay my property taxes with 90 some hours in 9 days time, but I do have the new version of Heroquest. I think with some adjustments to placement of my bar area compy and camera set up could work for a reasonable Zoom game. If GP and folks would be interested say late month (people's holiday vacation time vs family commitments) or some point in January totally up for it.