Structure of the forum

[Dana]

Here's how I see it:

The Game
YOUR STUFF
Post-Mortem

The Game would consist of a single archived forum, containing all of the character threads and such. We'd condense it down so that it's not taking up OMG ALL OF THE SPACE, but I do think it should be at the top. Many people are using this as a resume piece, and it would be nice for it to be easily findable.

YOUR STUFF is up for debate. This can be one forum with multiple subforums, two forums with multiple subforums...whatever. This is for you all to decide.

The Post Mortem is, obviously, this forum. We may stick it in with the rest of the game stuff. We'll see what looks best, and what works best for you guys.

So now...ideas for the YOUR STUFF parts?

[Pixelmage]

I had a plan to structure it on a fan-forum in the following format:

Metaguard Projects (Christmas Carol, for one. The ARG Profiles and whatever we're working on.)
General (Which would be pretty much Off-Topic, just to talk about stuff)

I'd need to sit down and draw out a plan to get into more detail though.
I might just do that within a few hours.

Scratch that. I'm going under now to draft a plan.

[narrativedilettante]

The one thing I can say with confidence is that we should have a Roleplaying section.

[RotavatoR]

I would like subsections on different kinds of media. Would we still be able to edit the structure later if we're not happy with it? Also

two forums with multiple subforums

What do you mean by "two forums"?

[Pixelmage]

Ok, here it goes:

Fan Continuity Section

• Planning: So far, the only board we'll need for this section. Once we decide on the events, we'll need to have other subsections parallel to this to actually run them. I have Tom's requirements in mind for what we can do with this. So it's a sensitive area, but assuming we will attempt to run events like a monthly Wall Emergency, or go through with Xana's spin off idea, it would be wise to have it organized. How many and what will the other forums under this section is hard to pin down at the moment, because we don't have a set plan for this yet. I would't expect this to get more than 3 or so. Anything bigger and it'd be wiser to move this into a dedicated domain.
  
  General Discussions Section: This will actually be our off-topic, with a slightly more orderly approach.
• General Discussion: A traditional off-topic for everything that fits nowhere else. It's possible to split even this into subsections like Literature, Gaming, etc. But I don't particularly believe it's necessary. What I mean is, having a thread to discuss Butcher, and one to discuss PTerry is not enough reason to have a literature subforum. The volume of content without the subdivisions will probably be big, but making the subdivisions means each sub-section will have precious few content... Or some will have a lot while others will be left to dry.
• Metaguard Projects: This would be a hub for us to organize group efforts (Christmas Carol, ARG Character Profiles) and talk about projects we're working on, like the thread about TvTropes pages we edit or NaNoWriMo novels, namely, stuff we're working on and want input or hivemind power on. I'd make this separate from the Fan-Continuity because the things that would fit here would be more of one shot works than anything resembling an actual continuity.
• Roleplaying: Well... We hope to keep our current games running. And other people manifested desire to run games, along with non-players who are interested in getting into one of these. Having a section for this means we can keep it well contained and organized.

[Adell]

Ok, here it goes:

Fan Continuity Section

• Planning: So far, the only board we'll need for this section. Once we decide on the events, we'll need to have other subsections parallel to this to actually run them. I have Tom's requirements in mind for what we can do with this. So it's a sensitive area, but assuming we will attempt to run events like a monthly Wall Emergency, or go through with Xana's spin off idea, it would be wise to have it organized. How many and what will the other forums under this section is hard to pin down at the moment, because we don't have a set plan for this yet. I would't expect this to get more than 3 or so. Anything bigger and it'd be wiser to move this into a dedicated domain.
  
  General Discussions Section: This will actually be our off-topic, with a slightly more orderly approach.
• General Discussion: A traditional off-topic for everything that fits nowhere else. It's possible to split even this into subsections like Literature, Gaming, etc. But I don't particularly believe it's necessary. What I mean is, having a thread to discuss Butcher, and one to discuss PTerry is not enough reason to have a literature subforum. The volume of content without the subdivisions will probably be big, but making the subdivisions means each sub-section will have precious few content... Or some will have a lot while others will be left to dry.
• Metaguard Projects: This would be a hub for us to organize group efforts (Christmas Carol, ARG Character Profiles) and talk about projects we're working on, like the thread about TvTropes pages we edit or NaNoWriMo novels, namely, stuff we're working on and want input or hivemind power on. I'd make this separate from the Fan-Continuity because the things that would fit here would be more of one shot works than anything resembling an actual continuity.
• Roleplaying: Well... We hope to keep our current games running. And other people manifested desire to run games, along with non-players who are interested in getting into one of these. Having a section for this means we can keep it well contained and organized.

I'm for this set up, unless other people have suggestions

[Pixelmage]

I'd like to bring up one question here as well. Assuming that model:
Administrative tasks, like board-specific moderator nomination, sub-section creations for the fan-continuity board... Would one of you keep track of that? I do realize that since you'll be using the archives as part of your resume, you'll all keep an eye here. What I'd like to know is how you'll approach that issue of day-to-day watch.

On of the points raised in the chatroom that I'll already mention here, is the idea of promoting one of us to handle that. I realize that idea brings up a lot of concerns though, so I'll not elaborate on it for now. I may bring up my ideas if you do consider it.

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

I think we should also have a canon discussion section. I mean, yes, the ARG is over, but there's still plenty to discuss-- for example, Radio Void Rebel, and the secret messages we're still trying to decode and things (and possible connections with past and future episodes of Echo Chamber).
Just my two cents.

[Pixelmage]

I think we should also have a canon discussion section. I mean, yes, the ARG is over, but there's still plenty to discuss-- for example, Radio Void Rebel, and the secret messages we're still trying to decode and things (and possible connections with past and future episodes of Echo Chamber).
Just my two cents.

Oversight on my part. Sorry about that. Here goes V2:

Fan Continuity Section

• Planning: So far, the only board we'll need for this section. Once we decide on the events, we'll need to have other subsections parallel to this to actually run them. I have Tom's requirements in mind for what we can do with this. So it's a sensitive area, but assuming we will attempt to run events like a monthly Wall Emergency, or go through with Xana's spin off idea, it would be wise to have it organized. How many and what will be the other forums under this section is hard to pin down at the moment, because we don't have a set plan for this yet. I would't expect this to get more than 3 or so. Anything bigger and it'd be wiser to move this into a dedicated domain.
  
  General Discussions Section: This will actually be our off-topic, with a slightly more orderly approach.
• Adminverse/Echo Chamber Discussion: It's not like we'll stop following the developments with Radio Void, or the episodes of EC. There's season 3 coming up, this really deserves a separated place. It could be a sub-forum of General, and initially I just assumed we'd have threads on this subject there... But this place is the result of the Echo Chamber ARG after all. This really should have it's own section. Credits to Q for pointing out. And after some thinking... New people coming to read the archives should have a place like this to talk to us directly about it.
• Metaguard Projects: This would be a hub for us to organize group efforts (Christmas Carol, ARG Character Profiles) and talk about projects we're working on, like the thread about TvTropes pages we edit or NaNoWriMo novels, namely, stuff we're working on and want input or hivemind power on. I'd make this separate from the Fan-Continuity because the things that would fit here would be more of one shot works than anything resembling an actual continuity.
• General Discussion: A traditional off-topic for everything that fits nowhere else. It's possible to split even this into subsections like Literature, Gaming, etc. But I don't particularly believe it's necessary. What I mean is, having a thread to discuss Butcher, and one to discuss PTerry is not enough reason to have a literature subforum. The volume of content without the subdivisions will probably be big, but making the subdivisions means each sub-section will have precious few content... Or some will have a lot while others will be left to dry.
• Roleplaying: Well... We hope to keep our current games running. And other people manifested desire to run games, along with non-players who are interested in getting into one of these. Having a section for this means we can keep it well contained and organized.

I also switched the order a little, so that it feels as more relevant content is higher up. No contest that Roleplaying is bottom line, as that will only be of interest to those playing.

[Dana]

I would like subsections on different kinds of media.

You know, I feel like there's a place for this already!

Would we still be able to edit the structure later if we're not happy with it?

Of course. I'll be sticking around, if nothing else to check up on things, so I can edit things as you please.

What do you mean by "two forums"?

Like how Post Mortem is one forum, with four subforums. The subforum Characters within the Post Mortem forum is further divided into subsubforums.

I'd like to bring up one question here as well. Assuming that model:
Administrative tasks, like board-specific moderator nomination, sub-section creations for the fan-continuity board... Would one of you keep track of that? I do realize that since you'll be using the archives as part of your resume, you'll all keep an eye here. What I'd like to know is how you'll approach that issue of day-to-day watch.

On of the points raised in the chatroom that I'll already mention here, is the idea of promoting one of us to handle that. I realize that idea brings up a lot of concerns though, so I'll not elaborate on it for now. I may bring up my ideas if you do consider it.

As for super duper administrative tasks, I would rather keep us in charge of the major changes. Board-specific moderators and subsections are easy enough to do, so you could probably just like...email one of us and we can take care of it in a few minutes. However, I'll look into the possibility of assigning some administrative tasks to some of you guys.

V2 of the layout proposal: blablabla not quoting the whole thing here

That looks pretty good to me. If people are happy with this layout, I'll introduce it soon and see if it works. Sound good?

[Dryunya]

Thread hop: I had this thorn in my mind that the General Discussion should be archived too - more precisely, the threads that were created over the course of the game. And, possibly, the on-topic offtopics (as impossibly as it sounds), like the Coffee Room and Happy Wacky Fun Time (yes, it was actually an on-topic gambitting thread, for those who don't remember). Basically, we should have 3 top sections:

1. WTF forum, entirely frozen in stasis at the point the ARG officially ended. General discussion, off-topic, announcements and all.
2. Post-mortem.
3. Metaguard hangout.

I sincerely hope that moving stuff around won't change the links, because it will be a huge pain relinking everything on the timeline.

Also, I still think it would be a better idea to move our new hangout to a separate forum instance. It's just how it should be.

[Sicon112]

Well, locking General would give me nowhere to work on Connor Raikes' puzzle or look into the hidden message in EPF, and obviously nowhere to talk about RVR and A's tweets.

[Pixelmage]

Well, locking General would give me nowhere to work on Connor Raikes' puzzle or look into the hidden message in EPF, and obviously nowhere to talk about RVR and A's tweets.

You know... I did take that into account Sicon. Those topics would be moved the this section here, as outlined in the V2 layout:

• Adminverse/Echo Chamber Discussion: It's not like we'll stop following the developments with Radio Void, or the episodes of EC. There's season 3 coming up, this really deserves a separated place. It could be a sub-forum of General, and initially I just assumed we'd have threads on this subject there... But this place is the result of the Echo Chamber ARG after all. This really should have it's own section. Credits to Q for pointing out. And after some thinking... New people coming to read the archives should have a place like this to talk to us directly about it.

Either you restart the thread, or move the current threads into that section. Either way, no big deal.

1. WTF forum, entirely frozen in stasis at the point the ARG officially ended. General discussion, off-topic, announcements and all.
2. Post-mortem.
3. Metaguard hangout.

I like that order. Again, relevant stuff up top. And I don't think changing the display order messes with the links Dryu. Each post has an unique link, where it is in the linked-list shouldn't affect the pointers to it at all.

[Sicon112]

That comment was directed at Dryu. I was agreeing with you that we needed somewhere to speak of the game and the rest of the adminverse.

[Pixelmage]

Oh... I see. Sorry about that.

But it does not change much. The threads we'd keep are few enough that it should be possible to move them out before locking that content. Or we can just start over, making a laconic first post out of the archive threads and continuing from there. Most of what's in there is not being used anymore, so it makes sense to lock it up as part of the archives.

And regardless of where in the list the "Metaguard Hangout" section stays, it has the room to host that discussion.

[Tom]

There may be additional things to discuss if Season 3 happens, etc.

With that said, I support the idea of archiving the General Discussion forum. It'd preserve the ARG as a completed thing, which would be preferable to me for personal reasons.

If there is a solution which involves archiving all the in-game boards and creating a new one for further discussions in the Adminiverse, that's one I'm in favor of.

[narrativedilettante]

One question I think we need to address is:

Adminverse or Adminiverse?

[Qara-Xuan Zenith]

Adminiverse sounds like it's a miniature 'verse.

[Dana]

I am partial to Adminverse, as it has the same number of syllables as the word "universe" and therefore rolls off the tongue better

[Endless Sea]

I kinda prefer Adminiverse, mostly because it flows easier when vocalized.

[Tom]

I've used both interchangeably.