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What your opinion on forum structure

ForzaRammer
ForzaRammer
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Should the forum structure be simplified?

What your opinion on forum structure 73 votes

Yes, only keep “general”
23%
nick59349b14_ESOMuizershadyjane62DestaiESOUser0x00Inaya1Snowy_Wyndra_KarnArchangelIsraphelThe_BoggartNorith_Gilheart_FlailGray_howling_parrotFayJolynNeuroticPixelsKrymsyn_PandajoerginoMasteroshi430dcrush 17 votes
No, the current structure is fine
54%
kargen27DragonnordSatanicSisterjbrianjAstironCadburyfizl101Number_51RaddlemanNumber7LadyHeloisemeekmikoCerilonJierdanitHertoginJannekejaws343JaimehTúrin_VidsmidrAutumnMystMichaeDack_Janiels 40 votes
Don’t care or no opinion
21%
DTStormfoxElsonsoReverbKlauthWarthogNord_Raserijtm1018Rasande_RobinForzaRammerhuskandhungerPhartosSoul-Forged-BranchAka_RandomUser123XSTRONGNotoriousBTKLozeenge 16 votes
  • Braffin
    Braffin
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    No, the current structure is fine
    A forum with only one category would be a forum without any category at all.

    Some sort of grouping threads by different interests is helpful sometimes.

    Besides that a single "general" category would simply just double the "recent" tab.
    Never get between a cat and it's candy!
    ---
    Overland difficulty scaling is desperately needed. 9 years. 6 paid expansions. 24 DLCs. 40 game changing updates including One Tamriel, an overhaul of the game including a permanent CP160 gear cap and ridiculous power creep thereafter. I'm sick and tired of hearing about Cadwell Silver & Gold as a "you think you do but you don't" - tier deflection to any criticism regarding the lack of overland difficulty in the game. I'm bored of dungeons, I'm bored of trials; make a personal difficulty slider for overland. It's not that hard.
  • XSTRONG
    XSTRONG
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    Don’t care or no opinion
    I would like to see a Eso app not only for forums but for many more helpful things.
  • spartaxoxo
    spartaxoxo
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    It needs less categories, but there should still be some categories.
  • ForzaRammer
    ForzaRammer
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    Don’t care or no opinion
    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    It needs less categories, but there should still be some categories.

    I probably should’ve made the poll better
  • Tandor
    Tandor
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    This is supposedly already under review, and the community's views were sought a few months ago.

    I imagine it's probably gone the same way as "improved communication", but perhaps @ZOS_Kevin would kindly update us?
    Edited by Tandor on September 9, 2023 8:36PM
  • Danikat
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    I think we could have fewer categories, but we need more than just 'general'.

    In the previous topic I did a whole detailed list of what I would do - categories I'd merge together and how I'd arrange them, the end result was getting the 'general', 'community', 'solo and group PvE' and 'player vs player' sections down to about 15 categories in 2 sections so there's less to browse through but it's still possible to find discussions on a specific subject when you want to.
    PC EU player | She/her/hers | PAWS (Positively Against Wrip-off Stuff) - Say No to Crown Crates!

    "Remember in this game we call life that no one said it's fair"
  • Elsonso
    Elsonso
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    Don’t care or no opinion
    Don't care.

    I use "Recent" and "Participated" to read the forum... the latter does not work on mobile, but I am rarely there.

    Unless a mod moves a thread, I don't know or care where someone else puts their discussion. When a mod moves it, I look out of curiosity, and that is usually followed by a long period of "don't care".

    I only care when I start the discussion, and then I just pick the best choice. I really don't care what the choices are as long as there is a best one. I suppose that if there isn't a best choice, as is often the case with in-game and forum report categories, I just pick one that isn't too awful.

    ESO Plus: No
    PC NA/EU: @Elsonso
    XBox EU/NA: @ElsonsoJannus
    X/Twitter: ElsonsoJannus
  • KlauthWarthog
    KlauthWarthog
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    Don’t care or no opinion
    Elsonso wrote: »
    Don't care.
    I use "Recent" and "Participated" to read the forum...

    Basically this, and Dev Tracker.
  • the1andonlyskwex
    the1andonlyskwex
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    I mostly use recent, so it's not super important to me.

    That said, I do see some value in keeping PvP, PvE, housing, other cosmetics/roleplay, ToT, and bug/problem reports as separate things. I know I've gotten some value from being able to ignore threads in housing or ToT without having to actually read them.
  • MajorDavood
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    Elsonso wrote: »
    Don't care.

    I use "Recent" and "Participated" to read the forum... the latter does not work on mobile, but I am rarely there.

    (snip)

    *thumbs up* for "Recent." That's my go-to category. My first year, I was navigating to each sub-forum...what a pain. "Recent" is a big win.
  • TaSheen
    TaSheen
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    Structure needs pruning - way too many sub-fora, not many really used.

    Before that though, needs better forum software.
    ______________________________________________________

    "But even in books, the heroes make mistakes, and there isn't always a happy ending." Mercedes Lackey, Into the West

    PC NA, PC EU (non steam)- four accounts, many alts....
  • kargen27
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    No, the current structure is fine
    Forums would be much better if members made more effort to post in appropriate categories. We got used to just sticking everything in general and now that the powers that be are trying to bring back some form of order it annoys us. More a user problem than a forum problem.
    and then the parrot said, "must be the water mines green too."
  • Destai
    Destai
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    Yes, only keep “general”
    Less categories and less moderation
  • TaSheen
    TaSheen
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    Destai wrote: »
    Less categories and less moderation

    There won't ever be "less moderation".
    ______________________________________________________

    "But even in books, the heroes make mistakes, and there isn't always a happy ending." Mercedes Lackey, Into the West

    PC NA, PC EU (non steam)- four accounts, many alts....
  • Amottica
    Amottica
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    No, the current structure is fine
    XSTRONG wrote: »
    I would like to see a Eso app not only for forums but for many more helpful things.

    This has nothing to do with an ESO app. It is only about the forum structure.

  • Amottica
    Amottica
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    No, the current structure is fine
    Braffin wrote: »
    A forum with only one category would be a forum without any category at all.

    Some sort of grouping threads by different interests is helpful sometimes.

    Besides that a single "general" category would simply just double the "recent" tab.

    This. It makes sense to have sub-forums which is why it is a common design for such forums. For anyone who wants to see all recent activity, there is the recent tab as this person has pointed out. This solved ages ago.
  • chessalavakia_ESO
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    I'd lean towards neither.

    Forum activity may be too high for dumping everything in one forum but, it feels like the number of users we see in many of the posts outside of the General isn't all that high. Forums are interesting as a player because you get to see different people's perspectives. If I'm just seeing the same users over and over it becomes a bit redundant.

    One potential solution might be to replace General's contents with Recent and add categories to cover everything that would be in General.

    Thus, people that are just checking on forums in General would actually see a wider variety of topics and could comment on them and people that are after a specific category could find just that.
  • phaneub17_ESO
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    I like the option of being able to customize the order of forums I visit that would be: General, Combat & Mechanics, Crafting, Housing, Bug Reports, Crown Store, Public Test Server, Players Helping Players, Player Guides, and Community Creations.

    It's easier on mobile, everything is lined up instead of as blocks. I still like to be able to move them around.
  • sleepy_worm
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    The sheer number of moved threads makes it difficult to read the forums using any option other than Recent. Attempting to force an organizational structure on users who opt out of it is, in my opinion, a stubborn mistake and makes the forums worse.
  • Elsonso
    Elsonso
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    Don’t care or no opinion
    The sheer number of moved threads makes it difficult to read the forums using any option other than Recent. Attempting to force an organizational structure on users who opt out of it is, in my opinion, a stubborn mistake and makes the forums worse.

    Unfortunately, moving a thread to a new category apparently means leaving the locked carcass of the old thread behind.

    Moving threads to new categories would be better if that did not happen.
    ESO Plus: No
    PC NA/EU: @Elsonso
    XBox EU/NA: @ElsonsoJannus
    X/Twitter: ElsonsoJannus
  • TaSheen
    TaSheen
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    Elsonso wrote: »
    The sheer number of moved threads makes it difficult to read the forums using any option other than Recent. Attempting to force an organizational structure on users who opt out of it is, in my opinion, a stubborn mistake and makes the forums worse.

    Unfortunately, moving a thread to a new category apparently means leaving the locked carcass of the old thread behind.

    Moving threads to new categories would be better if that did not happen.

    Part of not being very good forum software to begin with. When I move threads on my phpBB3 forum, they are gone from where they don't belong unless I CHOOSE to keep a shadow in place.
    ______________________________________________________

    "But even in books, the heroes make mistakes, and there isn't always a happy ending." Mercedes Lackey, Into the West

    PC NA, PC EU (non steam)- four accounts, many alts....
  • Amottica
    Amottica
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    No, the current structure is fine
    Elsonso wrote: »
    The sheer number of moved threads makes it difficult to read the forums using any option other than Recent. Attempting to force an organizational structure on users who opt out of it is, in my opinion, a stubborn mistake and makes the forums worse.

    Unfortunately, moving a thread to a new category apparently means leaving the locked carcass of the old thread behind.

    Moving threads to new categories would be better if that did not happen.

    @Elsonso

    Clicking on that thread that indicates it is locked due to it being moved leads the user to the active thread in the new location. It is not a carcass at all.

  • MasterSpatula
    MasterSpatula
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    None of the above.

    I think it needs fewer categories, but more importantly, the moderators just need to stop treating us contemptuously.

    They know what happens when they move a post. There's no chance they don't. We've complained. Kevin has acknowledged seeing the complaints and understanding why the complaints are made, even agreeing with the sentiment. The behavior has not decreased. If anything, it has skyrocketed in frequency.

    That's simply disrespectful. Respecting a community should be a non-negotiable requirement for moderating a community.
    "A probable impossibility is preferable to an improbable possibility." - Aristotle
  • vsrs_au
    vsrs_au
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    Amottica wrote: »
    Elsonso wrote: »
    The sheer number of moved threads makes it difficult to read the forums using any option other than Recent. Attempting to force an organizational structure on users who opt out of it is, in my opinion, a stubborn mistake and makes the forums worse.

    Unfortunately, moving a thread to a new category apparently means leaving the locked carcass of the old thread behind.

    Moving threads to new categories would be better if that did not happen.

    @Elsonso

    Clicking on that thread that indicates it is locked due to it being moved leads the user to the active thread in the new location. It is not a carcass at all.
    Yes, it provides a link, but it doesn't stay at the top of its original category when the linked thread gets new replies. Eventually it vanishes off the first page of its original category.
    PC(Steam) / EU / play from Melbourne, Australia / avg ping 390
  • ArchangelIsraphel
    ArchangelIsraphel
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    Yes, only keep “general”
    The current forum structure would be fine if it weren't for the fact that the other sections of the forum are basically a desolate no mans land where one must pray to every god in Tamriel for a reply. A no mans land to which posts are frequently exiled, with seemingly no rhyme or reason, never to see the light of day again.
    Legends never die
    They're written down in eternity
    But you'll never see the price it costs
    The scars collected all their lives
    When everything's lost, they pick up their hearts and avenge defeat
    Before it all starts, they suffer through harm just to touch a dream
    Oh, pick yourself up, 'cause
    Legends never die
  • Amottica
    Amottica
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    No, the current structure is fine
    vsrs_au wrote: »
    Amottica wrote: »
    Elsonso wrote: »
    The sheer number of moved threads makes it difficult to read the forums using any option other than Recent. Attempting to force an organizational structure on users who opt out of it is, in my opinion, a stubborn mistake and makes the forums worse.

    Unfortunately, moving a thread to a new category apparently means leaving the locked carcass of the old thread behind.

    Moving threads to new categories would be better if that did not happen.

    @Elsonso

    Clicking on that thread that indicates it is locked due to it being moved leads the user to the active thread in the new location. It is not a carcass at all.
    Yes, it provides a link, but it doesn't stay at the top of its original category when the linked thread gets new replies. Eventually it vanishes off the first page of its original category.

    Well, the intent and for a short time informs players that the thread has been moved.

  • Naftal
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    They should remove general category and polls.
  • Destai
    Destai
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    Yes, only keep “general”
    There was a post a while ago where players outlined feedback and responded to a survey. Supposedly, the forum's being reworked and this effort has been in progress over the summer. However, given that any recent comments don't push it back to Recent discussions (for me at least) and it doesn't show in General either, it feels like it's being swept under the rug.

    I think there's too many categories and the amount of thread moving feels disruptive to our conversations. I could be happy with just a general category, but that might get too noisy, so some condensing would be better. Certainly don't need players helping players since it conflicts with General too much.
  • Elsonso
    Elsonso
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    Don’t care or no opinion
    Destai wrote: »
    There was a post a while ago where players outlined feedback and responded to a survey. Supposedly, the forum's being reworked and this effort has been in progress over the summer. However, given that any recent comments don't push it back to Recent discussions (for me at least) and it doesn't show in General either, it feels like it's being swept under the rug.

    Yeah, the discussion date is still July 12, but it does show you as the last commenter, even though that happened on August 30. I believe this is what they call "sinking" the discussion.

    In that discussion, ZOS_Kevin said "a few weeks", so it seems to me that we will hear more on the subject before the end of the year. I am not sure if that message got read widely, though. He posted it in August and it is not in the Dev Tracker. I saw it for the first time, today.
    Destai wrote: »
    I think there's too many categories and the amount of thread moving feels disruptive to our conversations. I could be happy with just a general category, but that might get too noisy, so some condensing would be better. Certainly don't need players helping players since it conflicts with General too much.

    I am warming to the idea of not allowing new discussions in General, actually.
    Edited by Elsonso on September 11, 2023 12:39PM
    ESO Plus: No
    PC NA/EU: @Elsonso
    XBox EU/NA: @ElsonsoJannus
    X/Twitter: ElsonsoJannus
  • TaSheen
    TaSheen
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    Elsonso wrote: »

    I am warming to the idea of not allowing new discussions in General, actually.

    If what they really want is NO input from anyone, so they can close the forum down, that would certainly accomplish exactly that.

    ______________________________________________________

    "But even in books, the heroes make mistakes, and there isn't always a happy ending." Mercedes Lackey, Into the West

    PC NA, PC EU (non steam)- four accounts, many alts....
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