Feedback sought regarding the Equipment, Quests and Rate my Gear sections.

[Akasha]

Feedback time! This is actually something I have been procrastinating on for a couple of months now - takes forever when you keep forgetting hehe. It was brought to the front of memory queue today by a member's feedback, which it was also done about a month ago before I forgot, so I'm jumping on it now before I forget... again. It's to do with the Equipment and Quests, as well as the 'Rate my Gear' section. This is probably going to ramble on a bit, most of this is me just putting my thoughts out so you all know where my head is at... Scroll to the bottom for the 'gist' of it all.

First, the 'Rate my Gear' section's name... it's bugging me. It isn't really worded properly to match the idea of the section in my head. As much as it was created for the 'look @ my gearz and rate me plz' threads that were suffocating the forum a few months ago, it was also designed to house all the 'help with my gear' type threads - the ones that were more than just an armory link and a request for a full critique. The ones that were based along people returning and unsure of where to go next, for those who couldn't decide between a few items (more than say, just boot options). Basically the threads that required assistance with member's gear 'in general'.

So, first feedback point. I've been toying with the idea of renaming the section to 'Pimp my Gear!'. I feel this covers the idea of the section much better. I think it's the word "rate" that's throwing me off at the moment. Not everyone who needs help with improving their gear is necessarily asking to be 'rated'.

So - what do people think of the name change from "Rate my Gear" > 'Pimp my Gear'? Can anyone offer some alternatives?

As brought up in a feedback email a month ago - "what sort if questions can you post in the equipment section then if all gear questions go in rate my gear?"

A very good question. The main equipment section was originally created to discuss the more in-depth aspects of what Warlocks wear - ie exactly how Stamina effects us, how much we want of spell damage, crit, etc, while also covering enchants and other enhancements. Unfortunately everyone used it as a "I can't make a choice, tell me what to wear" section which a lot of the members got tired of seeing day in and day out. With the rate my gear section now open, it's used more as a specific question forum. Some examples given at the time were:

• Boots of Blasting or Incantations which is about a single item (or slot) and a choice of two items.
• How to gain more crit. which is fairly self explanatory by its title. In fact, these are the types of threads the section was originally created for - the 'discussion' based threads more than the 'help me' type threads...
• Talioring for End Game Affliction Lock which discusses tailoring items for the end game
• Vitality or boars speed which is about two specific enchants
• Spellstrike and FSW - when to break the sets? a general question

One thing I want to do, and have wanted to do for a while, is get rid of the 'Quests' part of the Equipment and Quests section. The quests in WoW are pretty self explanatory and don't really require threads to complete them - they are also so short. When I originally created the section, I was still fresh from EQ where quests were more in-depth. The only ones in WoW similar to that are things like the Pet Quests, Dreadsteed Quest etc - and these all have guides to cover them. So, I really don't think we need the Quests section anymore. Any odd question that does come in, can either go under the Pet section (for those I just mentioned), or under the General WoW discussion section.

If that's the case, is there really any point having an "Equipment" section and a "Pimp my Gear" section? Do they need to be separate? Could we make them all one? Only problem I have with that though, is the current rate my gear threads require approval to show, to ensure people follow the required layout, and if I make it all one, then it removes that process and it could all go back to threads like "Hey, i wanna buy either one of those off-hands but i cant decide which one is better for me. Someone help me choose one."

SO... this is where I am. (This is the 'gist' of it...)

1. Do I remove the 'Quests' section from the Equipment section?
2. If I do that, do I leave the 'rate threads' and 'general equipment' threads separately? Or merge them together?
3. If I keep them separate, do I rename the section to Pimp my Gear?

At the moment, I'm leaning most towards removing the Quest portion, but keeping them separate and renaming Rate my Gear to Pimp my Gear, asking that all 'personalised gear' questions (ie those covering the 'I'm stuck, help me with all my gear' type threads, as well as the 'I can't choose between these two items' threads) be placed in the Pimp my Gear section, leaving the general section for more 'discussion' based threads.

Examples of 'general discussion' threads:

• Netherweave gear. Is it good for Affliction lock?
• Talioring for End Game Affliction Lock
• From rags to riches to confused - Spell Damage down why?
• Spell hit - Gear Swapping?

[Theleb]

At the moment, I'm leaning most towards removing the Quest portion, but keeping them separate and renaming Rate my Gear to Pimp my Gear, asking that all 'personalised gear' questions (ie those covering the 'I'm stuck, help me with all my gear' type threads, as well as the 'I can't choose between these two items' threads) be placed in the Pimp my Gear section, leaving the general section for more 'discussion' based threads.

This seems to be the best solution.

As far as quests are concerned, perhaps keep a small section open for the Warlock-specific quests, but for the rest there are a thousand add-ons which provide faster and more accurate answers to questions than we can provide (as well as ingame directions, arrows, bells, whistles and all that manner of eye candy).

For equipment, I guess as long there's a format to follow in order to keep things as clear-cut as possible then it won't matter if the threads vary from "Help, I'm stuck" to "Which of these two are better" as long as its immediately obvious.

On the subject of helping folks with gear, I would definately include some links to the "Gearing your Warlock" threads, Leulier's spreadsheet and possible even sites like Chardev just so that people have all the possible information at hand before they even think about making a post. That way the threads should be limited to those who genuinely need assistance rather than those who registered and posted within a 5 minute interval without actually taking the time to look around or search.

[Figgs]

Originally Posted by Akasha

... keeping them separate and renaming Rate my Gear to Pimp my Gear, asking that all 'personalised gear' questions be placed in the Pimp my Gear section, leaving the general section for more 'discussion' based threads.

I agree with this.

I've been lurking for quite a while and only registered not so long ago. I've never understood the need for a Quests section. There's simply too little to discuss about quests that aren't already easily accessible on other sites, like WOWHead.

For the equipment forums, I'd like to think of them this way:

1) "Discussion" forum is a wealth of information that one can read through, learning from the conversation and getting to know the pros and cons; or, even, discovering some piece of gear that one previously didn't know about. We don't ask about things here; instead, we share information, we clarify facts, and we debate the finer points.

2) "Personal help" forum, because we all know gear and talents go hand-in-hand, and progression determines what kind of gear are accessible.

When one has a gear question, we search through the Discussion section and learn the basic knowledge that will help us decide. Being "discussion" threads, the content itself acts as a filter that enhances the effectiveness of search keywords.

If we still need help, then we go to the "help" forum, and seek assistance on how to "use" that knowledge we just learnt. How that knowledge applies in our specific case, how that data should be taken, in context of our personal situation.

Often, threads in the "help" forum can expand into quite detailed discussions, and these can be summarized and quoted, to appear in the "discussion" forum as a feedback post.

So...how about "Help ME Gear!" and the other perhaps "Gear Talk" or something along those lines...?

[Coud]

thinking in the long term the equipment section will be for wrath when spirit comes onto our gear which will require some discussion not to mention the half a billion other items that get introduced on the way to 80. i agree tho that getting rid of "quests" since other sites like wowhead etc has that covered or the dozen or more mods out there.

as for the rate my gear section... Pimp my gear works... I was thinking "Help me with my gear" but i guess that's too bland =p

perhaps we can unlock that section so that ANY gear help threads can be made in there without the need for mod approval?

[Akasha]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Pretty much agree with everything here (probably because it's also agreeing with my initial thoughts hehe).

I've never understood the need for a Quests section. There's simply too little to discuss about quests that aren't already easily accessible on other sites, like WOWHead.

Yeah. I probably should have looked at it long ago. As I mentioned, the site and forum were created when I was still fresh from EQ. EQ never had quests for leveling, but more for specific items, and they were long drawn out processes. My last experience with them was the Mage Epic... /groan. Stupid Karanas!

Not knowing what the quests in WoW would be like, given we started before the game was released, I included it. Of course, leaving it there for so long is just me not really thinking about it hard enough heh. But yes, I definately think it should go - thankyou for clarifying what I already felt.

Any quests we do need to discuss, can either go in the general WoW Discussion section, since that covers all "Warlock + WoW" topics, or under the pets section if they are the pet quests.

Ok, so Quests section - going!

For the equipment forums, I'd like to think of them this way:

1) "Discussion" forum is a wealth of information that one can read through, learning from the conversation and getting to know the pros and cons; or, even, discovering some piece of gear that one previously didn't know about. We don't ask about things here; instead, we share information, we clarify facts, and we debate the finer points.

2) "Personal help" forum, because we all know gear and talents go hand-in-hand, and progression determines what kind of gear are accessible.

Yup, excellent! That's pretty much exactly how I see them, you just worded it much better than my sleep deprivated brain could.

thinking in the long term the equipment section will be for wrath when spirit comes onto our gear which will require some discussion not to mention the half a billion other items that get introduced on the way to 80.

Very good point, I had forgotten about the new discussions coming with Wrath of the Lich King. Thankyou for reminding me.

Ok, so I think I'll definately still keep the sections (discussion and help) seperate. Now to think of the name. I like the 'Pimp my Gear' section as it does aptly describe what it's there for, although as my husband pointed out, one might have to know of the Pimp my Ride and other off-spins of the show to understand it. The last thing I want to do is confuse people...

I was thinking "Help me with my gear" but i guess that's too bland =p

Hehe yeah, I want something funky!

[Alifeyl]

I agree with the direction you are heading, and I think "Pimp My Gear" is a fun title! I think most people will get the idea, even if they don't know the TV shows. Here's another idea based on a TV show: Project Pwnway. hehe But that's probably even more obscure than Pimp My Gear!

I think it's important to have a place for people to ask individual questions - sometimes doing the research just doesn't yield the answers one needs. If someone finds the question too elementary, they don't have to respond to the thread. But not everyone on the forums is an expert, yet, and sometimes the whole gear issue gets really overwhelming, especially for people who aren't real detail-oriented (like me!).

Thanks for everything you do, Akasha.

[RomaGoth]

I love the "Pimp My Gear" concept, it screams at us dark-magic users to read the incredibly useful guide from Canadianpimp. I also believe that a quest section for gear is not all that useful, however it may be for new warlocks or those who don't like to use addons (I personally love addons). Perhaps a small section for quest reward gear within the "Pimp My Gear" section would be appropriate.

Additionally, maybe a thread for those people who can't choose between 2 items (or 5 items as the case may be). This would give the casual gear people a place to ask specific questions without feeling overwhelmed by the standard "Pimp My Gear" section.

I believe that the more options people have the better. Also, the easier it is for them to find what they are looking for, the less likely another worn-out thread will begin somewhere it shouldn't.

Overall, I like your ideas Akasha.

[Necroscope]

I can tell you that the Rate my Gear section has completely turned my WoW life around. Canadianpimps guide is way too much info for me. I suppose it works for experienced players...but for Warlock noobs like myself I have no desire to comb through all that stuff to look for what I need. Having the ability to post in the section....and get actual feedback specific to my toon...is invaluable. If you want to change it to Pimp my Gear...then ok...but I still want the ability to post my armory link and ask people to give me advice.

[Akasha]

but I still want the ability to post my armory link and ask ppl to give me advice.

That was never planned to change.

[Hellblazer]

I'd go with "C-Pimp My Gear"; It would be both a tribute and a phrase that most readers of this forum would understand.

Hell.